Impacts of Keystone XL Pipeline on Environment

Impacts of Keystone XL Pipeline on EnvironmentIntroductionThe proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline Project ( KXL ) would slit through the heartland of the United States, from the U.S. Canadian outskirt shut to Morgan, Montana, to Steele City, Nebraska. KXL would consist of approximately 876 stat mis of new, 36 inch distance across grapevine, aboard twenty new pump Stationss. To power these pump Stationss, KXL would bespeak about 2,400 kVs and approximately 378 stat mis of new power lines. In enlargement, a 110 wide development right-of-way is required along the proposed grapevine way. A few fragments will compel â€Å" interim workspace scopes † for exceeding development schemes, for illustration, wetland intersections and even directional drilling wholly, an expected 1,206 subdivisions of land of land perturbation. Further, KXL would necessitate 1,226 subdivisions of land for channel stockpiling finishs, railway turnouts, and builder paces, and more than 500 subdivisions of land for development bivouacing countries. ( SPOT, 2015 ) One of the universe ‘s wealthiest woodlands extends crosswise over northern Alberta, doing the Canadian district place to a unbounded exhibit of relocating winged animate beings, assorted wild life, and the First Nations persons who one time flourished with the venue ‘s common copiousness. In any instance in late decennaries, mining organisations have torn up the country and dirtied its Waterss in a journey to concentrate pitch littorals, which yield an overpowering unprocessed crude oil caught in a mixture of sand and Earth. The fuel is grimy ; the extraction and refinement process is significantly dirtier. It ‘s so vitality escalated, truth be told, that tar littorals oil is barely conservative to convey to market. That is the ground the concern is so pressing to build Keystone XL. The proposed $ 7 billion pitch littorals oil grapevine would run 2,000 stat mis over the American heartland, traversing the state ‘s biggest fresh water aquifer to accomplish the Texas Gulf Coast. There, refineries would manage an awaited 830,000 barrels of grimy unsmooth every twenty-four hours, a big part of them headed for abroad markets, with immaterial consequence on U.S. verve liberty or gas costs. BARACK OBAMA used his veto power for merely three measures in his clip in the Oval Office: non precisely any president in late history. His veto of a measure O.K.ing the Keystone Pipeline yesterday proposes that figure will be lifting rapidly. With Republicans now in control of both houses, Mr Obama will be confronted with significantly more picks like this. The legislative issues is basic: the Republicans need to pin down the president into disregarding nevertheless many celebrated ideas ( or if nil else thoughts that Republicans like ) as could be allowed.Economic ViabilityAngels tout the project as a national employments Godhead. The truth is, Keystone XL would probably butcher a larger figure of businesss than it would include. Agring the State Department, it would do 1,950 development businesss for a long clip. Once finish? Thirty-five new immutable American businesss, as indicated by grapevine maker TransCanada. At the same clip wo n't polish tar littorals oil aid fuel the Unit ed States and decrease gas costs? Reconsider. Tar sands diggers need Keystone XL in visible radiation of the fact that it will assist them transport oil abroad to a planetary concern, where their point will convey more hard currency and include one million millions of dollars in annual benefits. That is a losing agreement for everybody – aside from Large Oil. ( Council, 2015 )Impacts on EnvironmentIn the Biological Assessment, the Department recognizes that KXL ‘s effects on recorded species incorporate expanded human coaction ; environment discontinuity, alteration, and bad luck ; decreased reproducing accomplishment because of disturbance and quiver ; and the devising of obstructors to motion. The most prompt effects would come about because of land exasperation connected with development exercisings. Constructing these 875 stat mis of new grapevine would compel a 110 wide development right-of manner through critical natural life home ground. Further, vehicular action along the grapevine class would increase. In sum, KXL will trouble oneself about 16,300 subdivisions of land. ( Council, 2015 ) Surveies demonstrate that pitch littorals grapevines are more powerless against interruptions than those conveying conventional rough in position of the oil ‘s destructive nature and the chemicals of import to do it gone through the funnels. Regardless of the concern ‘ great well-being instances, we to boot know from late spills and resulting authorities scrutinies that its interruption find models are non really impressive and its spill ordinance and clean-up modus operandis missing. ( D.K. , 2015 ) A grapevine spill would sabotage the country and H2O supply of precisely 110,000 farms and spreads in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska that created more than $ 40 billion value of nutriment in 2012. In those three provinces entirely, the grapevine would traverse 1,073 watercourses, lakes, and watercourses, integrating the Yellowstone River in Montana and the Platte River in Nebraska, alongside a immense figure of subdivisions of land of wetlands. It would likewise run inside a stat mi of more than 3,000 Wellss that give imbibing and lacrimation system H2O in those provinces. ( SPOT, 2014 ) Due to its salty creative activity, excavation and refinement pitch sands oil petitions a mammoth step of verve – significantly more than ordinary rough. Cornerstone XL would increase tar sands creative activity, compeling much more verve and doing more outstanding C taint: the similitude Americans driving an impossible 60 billion extra stat mis systematically. NASA research worker James Hansen gauges that the staying pitch littorals shops contain double the step of C taint discharged by the whole world-wide oil industry – in all of world ‘s history. â€Å" In the event that Canada returns and we do n't make anything, † Hansen wrote in a New York Times publication, â€Å" it will be amusement over for the ambiance. † ( SPOT, 2014 ) There are contentions that the grapevine will be a biological calamity to boot exaggerate things. Unquestionably, the extraction of Canadian oil from pitch littorals in Alberta includes echt natural adulteration, and constructing the grapevine will in fact aid to back up this by conveying down the disbursals of transporting such mussy oil. Be that as it may the oil is by and large efficaciously being removed, and rather a spot of it is being taken to market via train. More too bad, trains, non at all similar grapevines, have an disposition sometimes to bust up and split into fires. In 2013, more oil was spilled from rail cars in the United States than in the past four decennaries joined. Without whatever other activity to maintain the abuse of Canadian oil, a grapevine might at any rate better guarantee the extricated oil and the country through which it is transported. ( Publications, 2015 ) At this minute when ambiance activity is more sincere than any other clip in recent memory, piecing this grapevine would be a venture into a past instead than a motion into a clean verve hereafter. Cornerstone XL would talk to a long draw responsibility to the development of hazardous pitch littorals oil when we have to be seting resources into sheltered, renewable wellheads of verve. ( Digest, 2015 ) The whooping Crane is one of America ‘s most noteworthy and jeopardized species ; merely around 214 stayed in the natural state in 2005. The thin, ephemeral winged animal dwells merely in North America and voyages 2,400 stat mis from Texas to focal Canada every twelvemonth. The electrical overseas telegrams for KXL would slit specifically through the whooping Crane ‘s staying 170-mile broad motion passageway, and in Nebraska, about the whole grapevine class will be built inside this passageway. The issue with the project is that it has turned into a political unfavorable judgment. Although it’s non comparable to more built-in issues, for illustration, migration alteration, or making battling the Islamic State, this one is reasonably unsophisticated and the separating lines are clear. Republicans can accordingly use it to carry the president for his collected inability to do employments, without raging anyone or demoing up the clefts in their degage alliance.Plants CitedCouncil, National Resources Defence.Keystone Grapevine. 2015. Article. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.nrdc.org/energy/keystone-pipeline/ & gt ; . D.K, The Economist.Keystone xl and president veto. 25 Februaury 2015. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/02/keystone-xl-and-presidents-veto & gt ; . Digest, Congressional. â€Å" Environmental Analysis of the Keystone XL Project Potential for Oil Spills From the. †Congressional Digest( 2015 ) . Publications, ACS.Environmental Science and Technology. 2015. pdf. & lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //pubs.acs.org/doi/ipdf/10.1021/es303238z & gt ; . SPOT, Burd L. & A ; RESTO. â€Å" The Keystone XL Pipeline: Improper Reliance on Weak. †Journal Of Environmental Law And( 2014 ) . Document.

How was Islam founded? Essay

Islam was founded in the 17th century when the angel Gabriel revealed to the prophet Muhammad the revelations of God. What is the difference between a Shi’ite Muslim and a Sunni Muslim? The Sunni believes that the legitimate leaders to be recognized by the Muslims are Mohammad’s successors – the four caliphs. On the other hand, the Shi’ites believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliphs should succeed as a religious leader. Why was the site of the Great Mosque of Cordoba so appropriate? The Great Mosque is appropriate because it was originally built as a church and later became a mosque for the Muslims, which expanded and became the second-largest mosque. What events led to the end of the Muslim world in 1492? The main event that marked the end of the Muslim world in Iberia was the conquest of Granada. On the second day of January 1492, the Muslim leader of Granada gave up his kingdom to the Catholic Monarchs. This became the end of the reconquistas when all of the peninsulas were recaptured by the Catholics. How was the Ottoman Empire formed? The formal Ottoman Empire rose during the year 1299-1453, which is associated with the fall of the Roman Empire. Under this government, the religious and ethnic minorities had freedom from the central control with regards to their internal issues or concerns. How does the life of Galla Placida bring the fall of the Roman Empire to life? During the animosities between the Goths and the Emperor, Placidia was captured and later on married Athaulf after the fall of Rome and they settled in Southern France. How did the Norse use animal style in their art? With the use of seminaturalistic lions and bird motifs, the Norse used animal style in their art to create pieces that will represent the 9th to 12th century. Why were manuscript covers often reused or stolen?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Manuscript covers were often reused or stolen because it is made of silver and gold. What beautiful artistic elements characterize the Book of Kells? The manuscripts were made interesting by the use of vibrant colors and intricate knotwork of human and animal figures. The decorations were filled with Christian symbolism that illuminates the major theme of the illustrations. What was the fate of most Ottonian architecture and why? It is a pre-Romanesque style of architecture and also known as the Ottonian Renaissance. Architecture was influenced by Carolingian tradition. Of the vast number of Churches built, only a few are well-reserved, most have disappeared.

Conclusion Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Conclusion - Dissertation Example In the context of the political dimension and its correlation with the Saudi media, we infer that it is impossible to segregate the function of the information media from the general policy of the Saudi government, which is a written press policy. The SPA - Saudi Press Agency contributed as an intermediary between the agenda of the Saudi Arabian government and the work of the Saudi information media. The Saudi Ministry of Information appoints Editor-in-Chief who decides that what should be published and should not be published in the Saudi press and he is also completely accountable in front of the legal prosecutor of the state. The purpose of adopting this measure is to ensure that the newspapers in Saudi Arabia follow the path that has been designed for them so as to preserve the Saudi Arabian society as a conservative Islamic society, in its nature. The research findings through the content analysis shed light on why the Saudi press paid emphasis to the Bahraini conflict from the perspective of the military regime in Saudi Arabia. Firstly, the Saudi Arabian journalists were obligated by the Saudi Ministry of Information to provide state perspective or agenda to the Saudi people and Saudi society as a whole. Greater attention is given to the news belonging to the industrialized countries of the world such as the UK and the US. On the reasons for the dominance of Western and American news content could be the 'chess game' of politics as the Saudi Arabia supports these states and their governments. The 'geographic proximity', political and trade factors had influenced the amount of coverage given by the Saudi Arabian print media to the conflict in Bahrain. The Saudi media is viewed as an instrument of the state policy since it is governed indirectly by the Saudi government. It is can be expected that the policy of the Saudi government would be carried out from the media itself without showing any resistance. More particularly, the coverage of the activities of the Saudi government by the Saudi press would be positive in tone. Research Categories When creating categories for the content analysis, the newspaper content was classified with respect to the expanded and reformulated version of categories employed by Stevenson, et al. (Stevenson et al., 1990: 197-199). A brief description of these categories is provided below: Category A is classified as the main news topics, that include political, economic, military/defence, social service, education, religion, sport, crime/law/justice, natural disasters/accident, ecology/environment, multiple issues and many others. Category B is classified as the type of news. The selected types of news can be further divided into three categories: local or domestic news, international news that involves KSA and some other country irrespective of its geographical location and foreign news that has no association with KSA. Category C is classified as the tone of the main news topic, which can be further class ified as either positive or negative. This judgment was based on whether the news and its tone were favourable to the interests of KSA and the US. Therefore, the news items that emphasised only the causes or issues (such as discrimination, injustice, etc.) behind the situation in Bahrain were classified as having a negative

Customer and neighbourhood services( resit) report on CUSTOMER Essay

Customer and neighbourhood services( resit) report on CUSTOMER INVOLVEMENT STRATEGY WITHIN THE WORKPLACE - Essay Example This is because the response time has greatly decreased. The organizations now cannot wait to see if their products show positive response in terms of profit. The consumers are informed now like never before. The globalization has done wonders to the commercial world and the boom in internet has increased the reach of the customers. The products and services are just within the few clicks of the computer mouse. The competition is another important factor which determines the modern business environment. This competition is a byproduct of diversity. The increase alternatives available to consumers force organizations to continuously evolve and strive for excellence. The present era has thus high regards for the customization of the product and services. This is a result of third wave civilization. In second wave the emphasis was placed on standardization of products. The increase in customization automatically places customers as the key drivers to success. Therefore every possible measure is taken to satisfy the needs of the customers. Be it private or the public, both the types of the companies view customer satisfaction as one of the prime objectives. As the customers are the key drivers that help organizations make their decisions, the organizations are taking every possible measure to satisfy them in order to increase their market reach. For the purpose, many of the organizations are also involving the consumers and the customers in the decision making process. The marketing and management strategies are therefore formed with the customer at the core. Therefore practical involvement of the customer in decision making process is the key to success. Organizations find different methods to involve customers in the decision making process. Large FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods) organizations rely on surveys and customer feedbacks. Smaller orga nizations such as housing societies etc can directly communicate with customers and developed

Schools, Teaching, and Supervision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Schools, Teaching, and Supervision - Essay Example My supervisory platform will be based on the philosophy of experimentalism because on a personal level, I believe in the importance of co-operation and team work under a centralized leadership, as opposed to an authoritarian system. As an educational leader, a supervisor’s role is very important but complicated, necessitating the need for input from the various stakeholders in the education process in order to ensure that the output is both comprehensive and current. Even though many people do not like acknowledging this fact, leaders are guided to a large extent by their own beliefs and that is why experimentalism is core. According to Fairfield, a supervisory platform founded on the philosophy of experimentalism is best because of the volatile nature of information and innovation. Technological advancements have had a significant effect on the overall way by which teachers are used in classrooms and how students acquire information. For example, the emergence of the internet as an education tool has impacted on the student-teacher relationship. In the former epochs, the teacher was viewed as more of a provider of knowledge. However, nowadays, the teachers are viewed as being as being supervisors in the classroom, responsible for guiding the way that students acquire information, through the aid of a supervisor, who is responsible for setting up an educational curriculum (Fairfield, 2009). The internet and other technological advancements have challenged the conventional responsibility of teachers, since students can easily and conveniently acquire information on any subject due to the accessibility of educational material on an online platform. Consequently, this has necessitated the need for a more radical approach regarding the role of the teacher and that of a supervisor. That is why my personal supervisory platform will be based on experimentalism, which places emphasis on a more pragmatic approach to learning by focusing on a flexible curriculum for

A letter of divorce from Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A letter of divorce from - Essay Example Have you any idea how humiliating it is for me to hear the other women talking about you, and looking at me with pity in their eyes? It seems to me that you are more interested in your art and your political slogans than in your loving wife and your poor child. In recent times you have provoked angry reactions from your supervisors through your meddling in political affairs. Instead of getting along with the powers that be, you have chosen to mock them, and this has brought disaster to you and also to your family. I ask myself, what was the point of all this time spent on writings? Has it brought us a decent place to live and a peaceful family life? Your seniority in the plant should have been rewarded long ago, but it is your own fault that others have been chosen before you. All of this shouting and wailing, and all the cartoons in the world, will not change the powers that be. I have had enough of being the laughing stock of the whole region, married to a man who does not know his place, and cannot understand when he is up against an impossible task. I don’t believe any of your promises any more. Sometimes I wonder if you are really married to your brush and inkstand.

Nursing Theorists Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nursing Theorists - Essay Example Through nursing theories, people are able to develop, describe, disseminate and apply the present knowledge in nursing. The role of nursing theories is that they offer a framework through which nurses are able to systematize their practice of nursing (Tomey, 2002). Besides, nursing theories allow the validation and development of current nursing knowledge. Over the years, there have been various figureheads who have advanced their theories concerning nursing, and these are applicable even today. They include; Dorothea Orem, Ida Jean Orlando, Callista Roy, Florence Nightingale, Virginia Henderson, Hildegard Peplau, Margaret Newman, Jean Watson, just to name a few (Tomey, 2002). Of all the famous nursing theorists in history, Florence Nightingale’s philosophy appeals to me most and closely aligns with mine. Florence Nightingale Biography Florence Nightingale was born on the 12th of May, 1820 in Florence, Italy and died in London, England, on the 13th of August, 1910. She was the founder of modern nursing and her works contributed to noteworthy improvement in the public health sector. Hailing from a wealthy family, Florence led the high social life that her family had introduced her to. Even though she was tempted by the bliss of high social lifestyles, Nightingale wanted to be independent and active in some activity, while being a God fearing lady (Mark, 2008).

Ethics, Sustainability & Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ethics, Sustainability & Culture - Essay Example Many times in life, people ignore and underestimate the importance of moral values in attaining happiness and the well-being of the society. However, Kant has put forward two concepts entirely independent and he thinks that they are the heart of ethical life. Despite severe criticism, he notes that moral principle and moral obligation concepts are rational in the understanding of ethical life. Kants objective was to deduce the ethical theory using a priori reasoning from the concept that refers human beings as a rational agent (Aluchma, 2008). The ability of human beings to utilize reasoning in decision-making expresses the basics of the metaphysical principle under which Kants ethical theory has been built. Kant argues that, "Nothing can be conceived in the world, or even out of it, which can be called well without qualification, except a â€Å"good will."Kants argues that in life, there are those things that people seek and those that they avoid. Those things, that they dearly seek, can be said to be "good" while those things they dislike and tries to evade are called â€Å"bad.† The good things are classified into two; the first class is for things that are means to some further end and the others are good being ends in themselves. Thus, he further adds that different personalities are motivated by different ends, so they find different things either good or bad (depending on the needs that they have).For example, eating a lot of food is good for malnourished person, but it is â€Å"bad† for a person who is obese (Arvidsson, 2014). For something to be considered as good â€Å"without qualification†, it is not compulsory for it to be merely "good" that is merely meant to one end but "bad" as means in another end. The meaning is that something should be sought as good and being independent of acting as anything else but being "good in itself.† A particular thing

Describe slavery in the US especial black women in bondage .use Essay

Describe slavery in the US especial black women in bondage .use annotated bliliography that include primary and secondary source - Essay Example Through the mid-19th century, westward expansion of America, beside with a rising abolition movement in North-America would arouse a long discussion over slavery that could have divided the nation during the American Civil War (1861-65). After the end of this bloody war, though the Union’s victory freed four million slaves of the nation, but the inheritance of slavery sustained to influence the history of America, from the chaotic years of Reconstruction (1865-77) to the movement of civil rights (1960s), that came out a century after the end of slavery. Slavery in America In beginning of the seventeenth century, European colonists of Jamestown Virginia, in North America were the first who turned towards African slaves. (Alexander, and Rucker  55-56) These slaves were considered as a cheaper, extra hard working alternative of indenture servants. ("Slavery and Indentured Servants:Law Library of Congress.") These indenture servants were mostly poorer Europeans. Twenty African m en and women were transported by a Dutch ship to a British colony, slavery stretch all over the American colonies. Although it is not possible to give exact number, it is estimated by some historians that around six to seven million slaves were transported to the New World during the eighteenth century alone, divesting the continent of Africa from large number of its healthy and able men and women. Both men and women slaves experienced an equally devastating time. Both were deprived from a family and land of origin. Together were forced to carry out tough labor, subjected to psychological and physical humiliation, and were also denied of their very basic rights. During slavery these men and women were beaten cruelly, divided from loved ones randomly, and despite of gender, treated as private property in the eyes of the law.   African Women Early on, females slave were available to buyers in the colonies for working on their fields. These female slaves were available lower prices. Actually, skillful labor, like carpentry and blacksmith, was allotted only to men slaves; that further reduced the number of black men available for agriculture work. As an outcome, men were outnumbered in the field by women slaves.   On farms having a small agricultural area, only women slaves were forced to perform labor equal to men slaves. On large farms, field and plantations, work was divided amongst both genders, while male groups were given physically tough tasks. Commonly, men were assigned plowing while women were given hoed task. Motherhood of Enslaved Women Major role of women in Africa was that of mother. While in slavery, this primary role of African womanhood was dishonored. Inside the plantation system of America in the 18th century, women slaves during their pregnancy were considered as an economical advantage for their masters as a number of labor pool are multiplied. (Gilchrist) While in Africa birth of a child brought in respect for these black women. The avera ge age of enslaved woman giving first birth was nineteen years old and afterward, used to give a new birth every two years. As this cycle was advocated by the master, was also benefiting the mother. During pregnancy, she was given more food and lower working hours. She was also no likely to be sold as tested fertility made her more precious for her master Harassing the Dignity of Black Women Black women slaves were expected to

I-Kuan Tao Trough the Years Essay Example for Free

I-Kuan Tao Trough the Years Essay I-Kuan Tao is classified as a syncretistic sect that had rooted from Mainland China but because of Government’s transfer of control to Communism after the World War II, it had immigrated to the island of Taiwan together with the ousted Central Government. There it had flourished its numbers of followers through the years that made it the third most popular faith in Taiwan1. According to the Country Profile of Taiwan dating March 2005, of its 12. 7 million religion members, 6. 6 percent were believers of I-Kuan Tao, next to the two most prominent, the Buddhists, 42. 9 percent and the Daoism believers, 35. 6 percent2. Like any other religion, it had tried to propagate their teachings outside its host country. I-Kuan Tao had succeeded to have significant number of co-believers in the countries of United States, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan. I-Kuan Tao, literally translated as â€Å"The Tao that unifies all with the one†, is a syncretistic sect because it believes that with the corroboration of existing beliefs, it could make a unified set of rules that would govern the people and would lead them to salvation on the Day of Judgment. According to the Purpose of Tao by an I-Kuan Tao sect in USA, I-Kuan Tao recognizes the five world religions namely the Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam3. But since I-Kuan Tao is of Chinese origin, many of its beliefs came from the first three. Since Chinese had high reverence to their ancestors, purity of the soul, respect and moderation, I-Kuan Tao had adopted these and they were formed as its fundamental rules. The last two religion recognized by I-Kuan Tao had been added to the modern day I-Kuan Tao because they had considered the similarity of its teachings to the first three. 1. World I-Kuan Tao Headquarters, World I-Kuan Tao Headquarters. retrieved 22 October 2007,http://www. with. org/ 2. Library of Congress – Federal Research Division. Country Profile: Taiwan, March 2005 Retrieved 22 October 2007, http://lcweb2. loc. gov/frd/cs/profiles/Taiwan. pdf 3. MariMari. com, Taiwan Religion, retrieved 22 October 2007, http://www. marimari. com/content/taiwan/general_info/religion/religion. html I-Kuan Tao Definition: The name I-Kuan means â€Å"penetrating with one† or â€Å"one unity† and is derived from a passage of Analects where Confucius said â€Å"an all-pervading Truth†. The name Tao has many meanings including â€Å"way†, â€Å"path† or â€Å"Truth†. History: I-Kuan Tao definitely has a long history1. According to Zhu-zi’s Doctrine of the Mean that the â€Å"Origin of Tao is from heaven and absolute; it actually comes from within and is inseparable. † Literally, no words or language can describe the origin of I-Kuan Tao. The heritage of Tao can be classified into two categories. First, the origin of Tao in the continuity link refers to the period starting from the time of Patriach Fu-xi up to the early Ching Dynasty. Second was the Origin of Tao in the creative link refers to the period during the rule of the Ching Emperor Shun-zhi. The second origin was taught to have permitted the ninth patriarch Huang De-hui in Lu-shan of Jiang-xi to set up Xian Tian Tao or the Way of Former Heaven, now known as I-Kuan Tao2. Since 4,500 years ago, the religion I-Kuan Tao is being taught, especially in overseas Chinese communities, around the world. Basically, it is a new religious movement that originated in the twentieth century China. It is a religion that incorporates much older elements from other religions such as Confucianism, Taoism and Chinese Buddhism. The name I-Kuan Tao, also called Yi Guan Dao, can be translated as the persuasive truth and it recognizes the validity of other non-Chinese religions like Christianity and Islam. As of now, I-Kuan Tao has over 45,000 followers with over 3,100 temples. _______________ 1. I-Kuan Tao Encyclopedia, I-Kuan Tao, retrieved 22 October 2007, http://www. experiencefestival. com/a/I-Kuan_Tao/id/1960382 2. World I-Kuan Tao Headquarters, The Heritage of Tao by Derek Lin, retrieved 22 October 2007, http://www. with. org/ikuantao. html â€Å"The Tao part of the I-Kuan Tao Heritage is the oldest, going back at least to the time of Huang-Di, the legendary emperor who lived over 4,500 years ago. I-Kuan Tao states that the Tao is the real meaning and the spiritual truth behind all religions, philosophies, and schools of thought. It is also the source of everything, the driving mechanism of evolution, and the life force of the universe. This concept is named Lao Mu, the personified universe†. 1 â€Å"About 2,000 years after its ancient beginning, the sage Lao Tzu came and reviews the Tao beliefs and concepts into the classic Tao Te Ching. Another sage, Chuang Tzu, contributed to the expansion of the Tao beliefs with his stories, metaphors and a different sense of humor. †2 â€Å"At about the same time that Chuang Tzu and Lao Tzu were spreading their concepts, there are also other sages who were developing their own perspectives on life and spirituality. One of these sages is Confucius. He became popular as a great teacher and scholar as he revised social customs and ethics. And if you make your way south of China, the Buddha will teach you the path towards enlightenment3. These teaching also have big impact on the Chinese culture. And I-Kuan Tao identifies them and adopted these teachings into its system. † â€Å"Five hundred years after Lao Tzu came another remarkable teacher named Jesus4. His teachings, the Christian teachings, served as the foremost foundation of spirituality in the West. And just like with Confucianism and Buddhism, I-Kuan Tao embraced and incorporated the Christian Teachings. As a result, many Tao practitioners respect and study the Bible, again seeking the truth and wisdom that can bring all different beliefs closer together†.

Management of Multinational Companies

Management of Multinational Companies Abstract Staffing management of multinational companies is a complex but crucial issue to the international human resource management (IHRM) research. Based on literature review, this article is to investigate the staffing management in the multinational companies. Firstly, the author will summarize the conceptual introduction, general challenges, culture distance, and new alternative in the expatriate assignments. Secondly, the author will discuss how to retain subsidiary staff retention in the whole HRM of multinationals. Thirdly, in order to complete the research successfully, the author will utilize the qualitative research method through literature study and one-to-one interview to figure out the puzzle about the staffing management in multinational and draw the conclusion. Introduction The topic of this paper is the staffing management in the multinational companies by using qualitative research method. In this report, what kind of information is valued for this research? How to collect information? What kind of technology will be used and how to organize this research? All these questions will be described in the following parts. First at all, the clear understanding about qualitative research is necessary and helpful. Qualitative research is a field of inquiry that crosscuts disciplines and subject matters. It involves an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern human behavior. Unlike quantitative research, qualitative research relies on reasons behind various aspects of behavior. Objective The objective of this article is to investigate the staffing management in the multinational companies. In the last decades, an extensive amount of articles on this topic have been published. Obviously, the staffing management is a critical issue in the human resource management for the multinational companies. How to balance the PCNs, HCNs, and TCNs? How to reconcile the individual career plan to the corporation scope? How to manage the multicultural team? All of these topics have been explored in conceptual theory and empirical analyses. At the same time, with the development of the world economic and political, some new trends have appeared in international business, for example, global virtual team, the e-business, etc. These new challenges bring new patterns for the staffing management. Thus, in this article, the author focuses on new changes, such as alternative for the conventional expatriate assignments and the retaining of the local staff retention. Literature Review In order to get the general knowledge about the staffing management in the multinational companies, six books have been chosen as the literature related to the topic. In those books, the authors claimed that people are the foundation in a multinationals; most of the attention of human resource management in multinationals is concerned with the staffing management, while the staffing management is the most difficult task for them. How to effectively manage people in various countries and cultures is a big issue in the staffing management in the multinational companies. At the same time, in order to get the recent research topic in the multinational staffing management, some articles which were published in the academic journals have been chosen as well. 1. Conceptual Introduction Staffing management deals with a comprehensive term for all operative functions namely recruiting, placing, appraisal, rewarding, assessing, developing performed in HR management. According to International HRM model created by Patrick V. Morgan and Peter J. Bottrall, three dimensions are involved : Human resource functions Procurement Allocation Utilization National or country functions The host country where a subsidiary may be located The home country where an international company is headquartered And â€Å"others† countries that may be the source of labor or finance Employees functions Local/ host-country nationals (HCNS ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° Expatriates/parent-country nationals (PCNS) Third-country nationals (TCNS) Face to those options and wide resource, the managers in global enterprises have particular concern about the employees ability to disseminate knowledge and innovation throughout their global operations . The use of expatriates has seemed to be a logical choice for staffing, while the use of parent-country nations seems to be most appropriate in some specific situation. Some other global enterprises also prefer integrate the expatriates and local human resource. Nevertheless, each procedure has both advantage and disadvantage. With regard to executive nationality staffing policies, â€Å"There are major four categories on the HRM within Multinational corporations : the ethnocentric approach, the polycentric approach, the regioncentric approach, and the geocentric approach. In summary, those four approaches are useful for multinationals, and the MNC can choice one of four approaches to manage its international staffing. However, there are no restricting rules for staffing management. The following questions for the multinationals must to face: Predictors of expatriate success, expatriate failure rate, repatriation, equal employment opportunity issues, and recruitment and selection of HCNs and TCNs. 2. Challenges in multinationals The nature of international business is undergoing a sea change. The rapid expansion of global trade, business consolidation and geographical diversification are pushing companies for changes in their management structure and style. Multinationals now need to consider regional market conditions and develop strategies to cater to each of the regional markets. Another factor driving the need for change is the global mergers and acquisitions. Companies acquire other companies abroad need to change their HR policies as it is not applicable on the acquired company. It is beneficial to invite top executives of the acquired firm to join the parents top management. 2.1 Career blockage Lots of employees will be exciting to have the opportunity to work abroad. In fact, for host-country manager who always have limited opportunities to gain experience outside their own country and can not progress beyond the senior positions in their own subsidiary. While, the parent-country manager have limited too, and they will feel frustrate when they come back home to see their colleagues are promoted and their career have been sidetracked. 2.2 Culture shock Culture shock is the big challenge for multinationals, the difference brings the different thinking ways and working ways, and it needs time to adjust it. In most cases the expatriate manager prefer to emphasize and require the home office or home country values on the host countrys employees instead of accepting and learning within the new culture. 2.3 Lack of cross cultural training In fact, most multinationals ignore this training program during the staffing management. However, the better understanding about culture block can help managers to improve the effectiveness of staffing management. For example, The managers at Bell Canada were totally asked be training about Muslim laws of drinking and the treating of women there before he or she assigned a project for Saudi Arabia such like constructing the telephone system in there. 2.4 Family problems Family problem for PNC manager is another challenge. The oversea employees always think of their family. Sometime, such emotion will effect the concentrations in their work. These difficulties are usually underestimated. What the organization should do is to assist expatriates family to adapt their new environment. 3. Managing multicultural team Team members of multinational companies come from different countries with the different culture, economic, religions and habits. All of these differences bring the different thinking and working methods, thus, how to manage the multicultural team is a big challenge for the HRM in the multinationals. In the article â€Å"Managing multicultural team†, the author states that â€Å"Communication in Western cultures is typically direct and explicit. In many other cultures, meaning is embedded in the way the message is presented. The differences can cause serious damage to team relationships† (Jeanne Breeet , Kristin Behfar, and Mary C. Kern, 2007) . At the same time, the accent and the lack of fluent communication will affect the understanding and the integration between team numbers. The direct effect of misunderstanding can also be the barrier to constrain the team achieving the project common goal. Therefore, the scholar indicates the four strategies as following to mana ge the multicultural team (Jeanne Breeet, Kristin Behfar, and Mary C. Kern, 2007) : Adaptation: acknowledging cultural gaps openly and working around team Structural intervention: changing the shape of the team Managerial intervention: setting norms early or bringing in a higher-level manager Exit: removing a team member when other options have failed Although those four strategies can be used to deal with some challenges in the multicultural team, the first step to manage the multicultural team for team manager is to identify what kind of challenge the team would face. Sometimes, we can advocate the post-modern thinking as a popular but unofficial thinking which can be used among the team numbers. We try to understand and think about questions from the other side without prejudice. However, the official team management needs some norms and rules to keep the right orientation. In my opinion, when facing the team troubles, we should see the troubles from the culture angle, through the social thinking ways instead of from the personality. 4. New alternative in the expatriate assignments According to Edstorm and Galbraith(1977), there are three motives why MNCs use expatriates. As position fillers when suitably qualified host country nationals (HCNs) were not available. As a means of management development, aimed at developing the competence of the individual manager. As a means of organizational development, aimed at increasing knowledge transfer within the MNC and modifying and sustaining organizational structure and decision processes. However, the high cost and the family problems are the evident shortcomings of the conventional expatriate assignments. Recently, more and more research begins to question the utility and viability of the conventional expatriate assignments. According to the â€Å"Changing patterns of global staffing in the multinational enterprise: challenges to the conventional expatriate assignment and emerging alternatives† (David G. Collings, Hugh Scullion and Michael J. Morley, 2007) , there are five aspects related to the debates: supply side issues, demand side issues, expatriate performance and expatriate â€Å"failure†, performance evaluation, cost and finally career dynamics. By reviewing the reasons of those challenges, the authors explore some alternative forms in the international assignments now: Short –term international assignments Frequent flyer assignments Commuter and rotational assignments Global virtual team The HR implications of managing alternative forms of international assignments Although those new patters appeared in the international staging assignments, each alternative has both positive and negative influences. For example, as scholars mentioned that the short-term assignments are the most popular form of non-standard assignment. At the same time, they also identify the following situations in which short-term assignments are used in MNCs: (1) Problem solving or skills transfer; (2) for control purposes and; (3) for managerial development reasons. And the disadvantages: (1) taxation issues ¸ particularly for assignments over six months duration, (2) the potential for side-effects such as alcoholism and marital problems (3) failure to build effective relationships with local colleagues and customers and (4) work visas and permits (Tahvanainen et al., 2005) . Eventually, the challenge for IHRM practitioners is to ensure that each international assignment has clearly defined goals and in this context to continue the advancement of techniques aimed at measu ring the return of investment on international assignments. 5. Retaining subsidiary staffs retention It can be argued that the retention of staffing in the multinationals subsidiary conducts huge influence. The transfers between the PCNs, HCNs and the TCNs are the big issues in the staffing management strategy. Scolders identify that the HCNs and TCNs who are sent to the corporate headquarters (HQ) called inpatriates. As this article mentioned before, the ethnocentric approach, the polycentric approach, the regioncentric approach, and the geocentric approach are the four major nationality staffing policies in the international staffing, by analyzing the complex and the new situation appear in the relationships between the HQ and subsidiary, B. Sebastian Reiche (2007) explores the international stiffing-related retention strategies . Firstly, he claims that a pluralistic and consensus-driven approach to international staffing enhances the retention capacity of international staffing practices through increased responsiveness to and involvement of the respective local unit. He states that the knowledge and skill from the local staff can help multinationals to reduce the risk and culture-bound in the local market. He also believes that this approach can improve the loyalty of local staffs, and the local staff can achieve individual career plan to cohere the institutional development plan. At the same time, he states that the PCNs still act as the vital role for informal controlling and coordination in the multinational companies. Secondly, he indicates that expatriation of local staff can help to retain the MNCss retention. In this approach, he states that the â€Å"inpatriates can share their social and contextual knowledge of the subsidiary environment with managers at the HQ. And also inpatriates tend to be accepted by HCNs more willingly than foreign personnel.† According to the literature review, we can see that the staffing management is the big and critical issue in the multinational human resource management. Although some models and some rules can be used in the staffing management in multinationals, there is no magic formula which we can follow, and there is no silver bullet that gives the kill. Simultaneity, I also find some challenges and some new patters of the staffing management in multinationals, in order to get the better understanding about the staffing management strategy in multinationals, and to prove some confused questions in my minds, like why are there so few women on international assignments? The designed qualitative research which addresses the staffing management in multinational companies will be presented as the following: Methodology A successful qualitative research should have the clear introduction about the research methods, the detailed and scientific research, and the justice and related data analysis. In this part, how to develop and execute this qualitative research will be described: 1. Research methods Research methods are the tools to be used in this qualitative research. It is the basic elements to do the research, and the better and clear understanding is helpful and necessary for the success of the research. In the following part, I will introduce some research methods which will be used in this qualitative research. In-depth interview: are typically used in survey development. One-to-one interviews are conducted (with people meeting the criteria for completing a particular survey) when individuals complete the instrument. This method helps investigators understand how people perceive and interpret language and their own experiences as they refine the survey instruments. Five persons (individual profiles as the following table) will be interviewed to talk about this project. The questions sheet was designed for the interview. The purpose of the interviews is to figure out the strategic about the staffing management in the multinational companies, especially the challenges in the multinational is the major issues in the interview. Interviewees Age Gender Background Working experience 36 Male PHD Electric Engineer 7 years Engineer 33 Male Master engineer MPM 5 years HR manager 32 Male Master MPM 4 years marketing manager 29 Female Master MBA 2 year HR 25 Female Master MBA 1 year HR 2. Research Procedure In this research, the five persons who have the background with working in the multinational companies or who have the academic ideas about the human management will be involved in this research. This research have two parts, the first part will discuss about the important position for staffing management in one multinational company. The second part is about the challenges, and tries to find the solutions for those challenges. 3. Data collection and analyzing In this stage, the enough and useful data is necessary for qualitative research. Collecting data is the key step to achieve the research goal after in-depth interview and case study. Based on the four challenges about the human resource management in the multinational companies, through the in-depth interview with five persons and the case studies, the result about this research is to find the way how to solve those challenges. 4. Research Schedule All the research development will follow the deliverables on the course outline. Proposal: Deadline is February 20 Interview protocol: Deadline is March 12 Interview: Deadline is April 10 Oral presentation: Deadline is April 16 Research report: Deadline is April 28 5. Interview 5.1 Interview plan Traditionally, the detailed plan is the first step for a success interview. For me, the major thing should be described is about the interview tools. The in-depth interviews are typically used in the interview. One-to-one interviews are conducted as the individuals complete the instrument being tested. This method helps investigators understand how people perceive and interpret language and their own experiences as they refine the survey instruments. At the same time, based on the topic which is staffing management in the multinational companies, I will choice the telephone interview too. Five persons will be interviewed to talk about this topic. The purpose of the interviews is to figure out the strategic about the staffing management in the multinational companies, especially the challenges in the multinational is the major issues in the interview. Three persons are chosen from the classmates who had or have the working experience in the multinational companies, the forth person is my friend who works in a multinational company in Toronto, and I will meet him in the weekend to do the interview. The last person works in Montreal, and I will take a telephone interview. 5.2 Level of Language The effective communication is the critical issues for the success of the interview. The better understanding is helpful to achieve the purpose of the interview. 5.3 Interview questions Do you think the staffing management is a critical issue for multinational companies? Do you think staffing issues are different and complex in the multinational companies? Should there different strategic between the employees in local/ host-country nationals (HCNS), expatriates/parent-country nationals (PCNS), and third-country nationals (TCNS)? How to motives the expatriate employees? How to make the justice between local and expatriate employees? How to implement the performance management for the host-country nationals? How to manage the diversity management? Why are there so few women on international assignments? What kinds training are necessary for the international assignees? What are the challenges about staffing management in the multinational companies? 5.4 Analyses about the interview questions As I mentioned before, five persons were be interviewed to talk about this topic. Three persons are chosen from the classmates who had or have the working experience in the multinational companies, one person who works in the AMD in Toronto, I was meeting him last weekend. And another person who works in Montreal, I already called him to do the telephone interview. Those entire people have the common thinking which is staffing management is very importance and diversity in multinationals. The detailed analysis about the interview questions as following. 1. Do you think the staffing management is a critical issue for multinational companies? The same answers from five interviewees. All of them given yes to this question. Analysis: People are one of the most important parts in the multinational companies. The staffs are from different countries, they have diverse cultures, religions, and working styles. Therefore, the working environment can be very complex. Finding skilled and talented personnel and motivating them then become more and more important. How to resolve problems and conflicts, and integrate the diverse human resource and management is going to be a critical issue. 2. Do you think staffing issues are different and complex in the multinational companies? All of five interviewees answered yes in this question. Analysis: Compared to the national company, the multinational companys target market may be numerous country or while world. According this situation, the employees of multinational companies have different culture, religion and life habit. The employees diversiform culture background can help the multinational company understand the local market environment; however, it increases the cost of staffing management. The multinational companies should pay more an attention on the HR management. The enormous human resource data and complex work environment is a trouble for the multinational companies. At the same time, communication problem is also critical when people speak different languages. 3. Should there different strategic between the employees in local/ host-country nationals (HCNS), expatriates/parent-country nationals (PCNS), and third-country nationals (TCNS)? The answer is yes. Analysis: Based on the countries different conditions like economic, living standard, market, etc. The local, expatriates and third-country nationals employees are in the different positions. The HCNS are familiar with the culture, environment, and the communication habit. Therefore, the management strategy can be very simple and easy. However, for the PCNS and TCNS, they are unacquainted with the country, and it is harder to accommodate themselves with the new living and working environment. So the communication process will be more complex. Consequently, the companies should use different strategies between the different nationals employees. 4. How to motives the expatriate employees? In this question, building own company culture which is not only local culture but also expatriate and recognizing the and respecting the different culture and habits has been mentioned in all five interviewees. As interviewees C states that familiarizes the new employee to the companys culture, business values, people, organization and processes in an efficient manner. Then, helping the person fit into their new environment, lowers feeling of isolation and anxiety, and increases feelings of comfort, security and belonging. Also, creates a favorable impression and attitude. At the same time, interviewee D thought that Special benefits and holidays are the necessary and important rules to motives the expatriate employees. 5. How to make the justice between local and expatriate employees? The answers about this question related to the understanding about culture and habits and the performance evaluation. Firstly, a series of regulations and rules should be created, Then, try to avoid bias, think objectively, and stand by different positions to see the view. At the same time, the performance evaluation should have the same standard. 6. How to implement the performance management for the host-country nationals? The performance management should be made based on the appraisals which provide legal and formal organizational justification for employment decisions. Also, the appraisals are used as criteria in test validation and provide feedback to employees. Meanwhile, the appraisals can help establish objectives for training programs and determine organizational problems 7. How to manage the diversity management? In this question, there are many answers: A, create chance to know each other B, Equal opportunities is just one part of diversity, detailed policies and procedures should be user-friendly. C, establish a heterogeneous workforce performing to its potential in a fair work environment where no member has an advantage or disadvantage for any reason other than merit. E, Establish training system to reduce fail and conflicts. Establish effective communication to exchange information in time. 8. Why are there so few women on international assignments? In this question, there have the different answers between the male and female interviewees; two male interviewees state that this situation based on the history, culture, like working capability of women cant be accepted by everyone. One male interviewee claims that he did not find this situation because one of the groups in his department is all women who are in charge of both local and international assignments. The two female interviewees said that Women have more family and emotional burden, and women always lack of career progress (glass ceiling). 9. What kinds training are necessary for the international assignees? In this question, most interviewees mentioned that the international assignees should be trained of the knowledge of culture, religion, value and working style. Interviewee B still talked about the training should be connected with Sexual Harassment, Legal Issues and Global Corporate Finance. 10. What are the challenges about staffing management in the multinational companies? Touch different thinking approach and culture How to Improve Expatriate-Local Relations How to respect the diverse values, and establish the same corporation values is most challenge Conflicts between cultures, communication problems, performance standard. Unions want to cooperate but compete with each other for jobs Finding and Results The interviews proved my viewpoint that the staffing management is critical and complex to a multinational. Therefore, to successfully achieve its goal, the multinational not only insist its successful experience and culture but also should adjust the strategy due to the diversity and complexity of human resource management which includes the staffing management strategy. In my research, I focus on two aspects: first is about the importance of staffing management in multinational, which even should be considered as the most crucial part in multinationals life. My interview has proven my standpoint, all interviewers agree on the importance of staffing management. A mistake the multinationals may make is they believe the successful experience in the home country will work well in other parts of the world. But the fact usually says no. Therefore, the multinationals need to learn how to face the â€Å"difference† in different thinking ways, policy, culture and peoples desires. Thu s, the second aspect is how to make and implement the proper staffing management due to de complexity and difference of country situation. Base on this understanding, I listed my questions like â€Å"How to motives the expatriate employees†, â€Å"How to manage the diversity management?† and â€Å"What kinds training are necessary for the international assignees†. Most of these questions relate to the people. Undoubtedly, people are the most important factor in all aspects. No matter how correct a decision or strategy has been made, it depends on how people implement it. My interviewees answered the questions through different aspects which base on their experience. Clearly, all of the answers based on one common point that the staffing strategy has to meet peoples basic demands, culture, and inspire them properly. Above all, the interviews supported my original viewpoint and extended my visions in several aspects which I learned from the literatures. I will giv e the conclusion in next part. Conclusion In the past ten years many business cases proved that human resource management especially the staffing management is the critical factor for the business successful. Based on the analysis about the interviews, I got some conclusion. Firstly, the staffing management is the critical issue for the multinational has been proved. People are one of the most important parts within the company. People with different culture will cause a lot of problems because of culture differences for multinational companies. Because of globalization, business are not just addressed within a Country, and it becomes global as well. So how to find, select and train skilled and talented personnel and motivating employees then become more and more important. Secondly, the staffing management issues are different and complex in the multinational. These issues still related to the culture understanding. Different people have the different thinking ways based on the individual background, and different nations h ave the different habits by the history, religion, policy, etc. So, employees in a multinational have the different thinking ways for the same thing. Those results result to the complex and different staffing strategies. Thirdly the culture shock is another bid issue for the staffing management in the multinationals. All of the five interviewees talked about the better understanding of the different culture and habits, it indicates that diverse culture, religions thinking ways and working style become more and more important in the multinationals, and taking the justice between local and expatriate employees is very important too. In fact, as we all known, staffing for a multinational company is complicated by the more diverse environment , such as business, economic, political, legal, cultural implications and the Parent companys need for control. At the same time, as I mentioned before, there is no magic formula which we can follow, and there are even more challenges that Human Resource has to face when the organization goes international. In a multinational corporation, one of the most difficult tasks is to effectively manage people in various countries and cultures. As we discussed before in this article, the employees are the base for the company, and human resource management is the critical factor for the business successful. According to the situation of human resource management in one organization, the HRM managers take special responsibilities. In fact, there is also no denying that the status of the HRM in the enterprise will be higher than before throughout the next decade. At the same time, with the development of global economy, the multinationals acted the more and more important roles in the global trade. This fact enforce the enterprise have to developmen

Fight Club Essay -- essays research papers

The movie, Fight Club, has many themes dealing with some of the class-discussed vocabulary. Through a scene by scene, and dialogue-based analysis of the movie, I have found that these themes are emphasized through discussions, interactions, and non-dialogue scenes between the main character, his imaginary sidekick and the society that has had such effect on the main character. Some of these themes or topics that are shared by both the movie and the class vocabulary appear randomly, sporadically, and repeatedly throughout the movie. Most of the scenes have mainly to do with the materialism in their society and its limits on the freedom, which the characters are trying to obtain. Others deal with how they, the movie's characters, feel a sense of alienation and this alienation distorts relationships developing due to their self-determination. There is also how family interactions help to shape our development on our vertical and horizontal relationships. Then finally, hedonism and how it affects the way we treat each other and how we interact within society. All the characters in the movie deal with and dissect these themes, in all that they say and how they react to the main characters disillusionment with his life; although the main characters are mostly the ones bringing the themes to the forefront of the movie. This any man, main character dislikes his life, even to the point that he is unable to sleep. He is disillusioned with his life, unhappy and does not understand why. And in order to feel anything he has to make a lot of bad choices to under go a life transformation. This transformation originates through his interactions and dealings with Tyler Durden, his alter ego and his imaginary friend. The main character remains without a name until in the end you, as the movie watcher, are lead to realize that he (the main character) and Tyler are one in the same, almost on the level of the Trinity. However he goes without a real name because he is supposed to represent how he could and is Any Man, anybody, and everybody. But after he, Any Man, has made all these bad choices he has to run around and try to undo all the horror he has wrought. Any Man started Fight Club, which matured into Project Mayhem, which then ultimately resulted in the collapse of the institution of their society. In many ways this movie is an extreme moral movie, with the battle betwe... ...veloped enough that his subconscience allows for Tyler, his alter ego, to disappear. The Any Man feels abandoned yet again. His father abandoned him and then Tyler, the one who was helping him replace his father, left him; this Any Man was beginning to give up on all the progress he went through. He was willing in spite of all his sacrifices to go back to what he had before, his boring dull lifeless existence. The materialism that spawns from this society is the major cause of relationship development distortion, alienation, and the ultimate disillusionment of the male population within this society. In the beginning the Any Man's alienation stemmed from his distorted sense of materialism. It is this alienation that limits his sense of freedom and causes his disillusionment. This materialism is inherent in the self-determination that is prevalent in the core of this disfigured society. In order for this society to progress at all, they have to reject the controlling materialism and go through a rite of passage, that they felt they were lacking, into adulthood. In that, this rejection has to be the sacrifice of the society, the whole of society, or the whole process is pointless.

A Different Mirror :: essays research papers

A Different mirror: A History of Multicultural America   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ronald Takaki is one of the foremost-recognized scholars of multicultural studies and holds a PhD. in American History from the University of California, Berkeley. As a professor of Ethnic Studies at the same university, he wrote A Different Mirror: a History of Multicultural America as a fantastic new telling of our nation’s history. The book narrates the composition of the many different people of the United States of America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a lively account filled that is with personal accounts and the voices of people that were in the past left out of the historical armament, Ronald Takaki proffers us a new perspective of America’s envisioned past. Mr. Takaki confronts and disputes the Anglo-centric historical point of view. This dispute and confrontation is started in the within the seventeenth-century arrival of the colonists from England as witnessed by the Powhatan Indians of Virginia and the Wamapanoag Indians from the Massachusetts area. From there, Mr. Takaki turns our attention to several different cultures and how they had been affected by North America. The English colonists had brought the African people with force to the Atlantic coasts of America. The Irish women that sought to facilitate their need to work in factory settings and maids for our towns. The Chinese who migrated with ideas of a golden mountain and the Japanese who came and labored in the cane fields of Hawaii and on the farms of California. The Jewish people that fled from shtetls of Russia and created new urban communities here. The Latinos who crossed the border had come in search of the mythic and fabulous life El Norte.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ronald Takaki closes his book, a Different Mirror: a History of Multicultural America, with the 1992 Los Angeles racial explosion.

The Lottery Essay -- essays research papers fc

When â€Å"The Lottery† was first published in 1948, it created an enormous controversy and great interest in its author, Shirley Jackson. Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco, California on December 14, 1919. When she was two years old, her family moved her to Burlingame, California, where Jackson attended high school. After high school Jackson moved away to attend college at Rochester University in upstate New York but after only a short time at Rochester and, after taking off a year from school, she moved on to Syracuse University. At first, Jackson was in the School of Journalism at Syracuse but soon moved to the English Department to pursue her interest in writing. Jackson soon started publishing works in the school news paper and eventually, she and a classmate and future husband, Stanley Hyman started their own magazine under the supervision of teacher, Leonard Brown, who Jackson later described as her mentor. After graduating from Syracuse in 1940, Jackson and college sweetheart Hyman married and moved to Vermont. In Vermont, Jackson did a lot of writing, publishing many books, children’s stories and humorous pieces, including a book about family life titled â€Å"Life among Savages.† â€Å"The Lottery† was a radical departure from the tone and contents of her other works. (http://reagan.underthesun.cc/sjackson/sjackson1.html) In 1948, Jackson wrote what turned out to be probably her most famous short story entitled â€Å"The Lottery.† When â€Å"The Lottery† appeared in the New Yorker, it created a huge controversy and received a lot of press for its dark psychological horror. Many people believed that â€Å"The Lottery† was about how society can be cruel to individuals, the violence in society and the overwhelming need of humans to conform to the norms of society without regard to right or wrong. Many people found the story gross and disgusting because of the surprising murder at the end of the story. The story has been interpreted by many literary critics and scholars with the general conclusion that â€Å"The Lottery† is a satire on the willingness of people to engage collectively in abhorrent behavior, racial prejudice, and sexism all of which are social evils† (Barr 248-49). Jackson recalls when she first got the idea to write â€Å"The Lottery.† â€Å"The id ea had come to me while I was pushing my daughter up the hill in her stroller-it was, as I say, a warm morning, and the hill... ... a work of fiction, its underlying themes of human violence and cruelty, obedience to rituals and authority can be seen in many of the events of recent and contemporary history. The people of Jackson’s time era were not used to someone telling such graphic truths through a short story. If Jackson had written her Story today I am sure there would not be anything close to the public uproar that occurred in 1948 when the story was published.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Works Cited Barr, Donald. â€Å"A Talent for Irony.† New York Times Book Review (1949): 4 Rpt in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Thomas Votteler. Vol. 9 Detroit: Gale, 1992. 248 Crisis Group. â€Å"Crisis in Darfur.† 20 Mar. 2005   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hyman, Edgar Stanley. â€Å"Biography of a Story.† Come Along With Me. (1960): 211-25. Rpt in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Jenny Cromie. Vol 39 Farmington Hills: Gale, 2000. 181-185 Jackson, Shirley. â€Å"The Lottery.† Literature The Human Experience Reading and Writing. Ed. Richard Abcarian and Marvin Klotz. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. 328-334 Reagan, Bette. â€Å"Shirley Jackson – Life and Work.† 18 Mar.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

How Television Shapes Our Mind Essay

The television has displaced reading and thus inhibits the growth of reading skills. Watching TV requires less mental effort than reading. Television makes things tangible, while reading demands symbolic representation of language. While television maximizes the use of saliency(bright colors, loud noise, zoom) that appeals more to the right-brain hemisphere, reading depends on the understanding of syntax and the relatively slower, sequential processing of information-the of the left-hemisphere. There is an alarming increase in cases of dyslexia-the inability to read. Reading is a laborious task compared to watching TV. Recognizing the differences in letters, combining to words, distinguishing the order, comprehending the sentence, connecting to the next one etc. If a kid is raised on a TV diet, who finds reading or schooling attractive? Children who never learn to process language without pictures attached will have difficulty in school. Furthermore, writing ability correlates positively with the number of books read.TV viewing diminishes the quality of intellectual output (Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 21, 2000) Questions based on the above paragraphs must have been formulated in mind after the survey. Write your questions that vary as to 5 W’s and H. The first sample question is already provided. 1. What two ideas are contrasted in the first paragraph? 2. How does television displace the reading and communication skills? 3. What are the advantage and disadvantage of television in reading and communications skills? 4. Why reading is become a laborious task compared to watching TV? 5. How watching TV requires less mental effort than reading? 6. Why television viewing diminishes the quality of intellectual output? Read the two excerpts now completely, and highlight key ideas. Write below five important concepts in the left column then, describe each briefly in the right column. Highlighted Ideas Brief description 1. TV makes things tangible while reading. Through television we can easily see things we want to know while reading needs deep understanding on what we are reading to comprehend it. 2. Reading is a laborious. When we read, it requires time and effort to understand it compared when we are watching, it is easy to understand because we can visualize the idea. 3. TV viewing diminishes the quality of intellectual output. It means that by TV viewing it decreases the quality of learning and skills to be developed. In addition it weakens the mental abilities of a person to continue on the quest of learning. 4. Writing ability correlates positively with the number of books read. As long as the person understand what he is reading he can come up on writing a purposeful piece that will benefit readers 5. Watching TV requires less mental effort than reading†¦ It is a mere fact because the aid of TV viewing it provides definite description of the characters and other things by its feature, color, dynamic, audio-associated and the like, thus it results on negligence to explore and strengthen the true essence of learning. 6. An alarming increase in cases of dyslexia-the inability to read. Children who expose more on learning through watching TV had difficulties in oral and reading communication because they are more known with visual presentation.

Driving force in the lives of many people Essay

Nowadays materialism is a driving force in the lives of many people, motivating them to their achievements as many people argue. Although, it is considered that humans are controlled by their own avarice, I believe that people are simply motivated to achieve by personal satisfaction. As cynical as I am, I do not think that money and fame are a stimulus to people. Rather they accomplish their goals for personal and emotion gain, not physical. When recently learning the topic of motivation in my Psychology class, we discussed what the main driving force is for a person. Though there are many theories arguing the issue, a person can be mostly content when fulfilling a goal for their own personal satisfaction, not for a physical reward. When this subject, I also learned that one’s happiness and self-esteem are one of the major aspects of being a well-balanced person. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs includes psychological and emotional needs as the highest priority. With this I can conclude that those who strive to achieve goals do it for their own bliss. Money and fame may seem like the a dream come true , but like it is always said, â€Å"money can’t buy you happiness†. There are countless numbers of wealthy people and celebrities who live lavish lives that anyone else would die to have, but they are as miserable and lonely as one can be. I find it beautiful that in today’s society people strive to pursue their own interests without having the end result of money leading their decisions. There is a countless number of underprivileged, even poor artists, journalists, musicians, writers, etc. that enjoy their life fully, waking up every day to go to a job they simply love. Thus, money and fame can never be a satisfying reward without happiness. All in all, in my opinion, people are motivated to achieve by personal satisfaction rather than a physical reward such as money or fame. I consider that contentment is more important than anything to a human being, because fulfilling something for money or fame can lead to disappointment, thus straining ones emotional needs. We ask ourselves: what motivates us, to get up every morning, to go to school, to study, to wear what we wear, to act how we act? We do it basically to satisfy our needs, no to reward us with a prize, but because it is what we want, what makes us happy, and what pleases us emotionally.

Effects of Globalization Towards Our Culture Essay

This article focuses on the globalization of culture and the role of media in the ensuing identity crisis (both individual and social) resulting from this process. The article tries to display the basic concept of the process of globalization with all of its effects, threats, challengesï ¼Å'and opportunities and will illustrate its interaction with the media in developing countries. The essay will show that the main components of power structure in today’s world can be linked to these two complimentary processes –globalization and the information era. The interaction between these two phenomena has changed the quality of communications which, in turn, is creating new personal and social identities (personification and personifying). According to survey results, it is clear that in societies which are not efficient in reinforcing and strengthening their communication infrastructures and which are unable to compete with the new methods of communication and information exchange, identity formation gains political, economic and culturally adverse and asserts an unrepairable damage. In conclusion, the article tries to present some proposals for developing countries’ media –as the active player of this era – and offers ways to deal with the unavoidable process of globalization and identity crisis. Globalization, the New Phenomenon Globalization, which also has been called global construction, global orientation and global expansion by various schools of thought, is the latest phase process in an old process rooted in the expansion of modern capitalism and encompassing the political, economic and cultural realms worldwide. Modern capitalism that first emerged in the sixteenth century is a far more complex phenomenon embracing a broader economic spectrum and a more detailed definition than the concept of common market. Thus, some experts view it as â€Å"contraction and condensation at the global scale coupled with ever-increasing expansion of awareness† (Robertson, 1992, p. 8). Many have expressed different and even contradictory definitions of globalization in their discussions over the past few years. According to British sociologist Anthony Giddens, some social sectors are utterly pessimistic about globalization and reject it in its entirety. On the other hand, there are those who perceive globalization as an undeniable reality with profound and inevitable consequences. Yet there are others, who are generally referred to as Global Expansionists. They view globalization as an inescapable development developing ever-increasing momentum due to the intensification of global interactions and the waning importance of national boundaries. They believe that national economies, cultures and policies will integrate into a global network and that local and national authority and hence dominance will diminish in favor of a homogenous global economy and culture (Held, 2000). On the other side of the spectrum, there are opposing arguments against the virtues of globalization. Giddens (1999b) refers to them as the pessimists, and they include a gamut of those from the traditionalists to those challenging the dominance of capitalism. They perceive globalization as synonymous to westernization and Americanization. They even include the environmentalists. This school of thought argues that globalization will create a world of winners and losers along with the global conquest and economic domination of specific political groups, especially in the wealthy nations like the U.S. These groups are strong enough to resist any pressures to alter the new world-order and could impose their desires and goals as global agendas and work plans. The promoters of this school of thought point out to the waning of national sovereignty and local identity and the eventual prevalence of inequality and injustice in the world (Rupert, 2000). Meanwhile, some dispute the idea of the â€Å"global village† introduced by Marshall McLuhan and envision more of a â€Å"global pillaging† for the underdeveloped countries (Held, 2000, p. 25). There are other theoreticians who dispute this widely held view. For example, Giddens challenges this prospect and believes that the wealthy should not be blamed for all the negative aspects of this phenomenon, which actually is to some extent very similar to the westernization process. However, globalization is becoming ever-increasingly decentralized and thus it is not dominated by a certain group of countries or multinational companies. Even the western countries are being affected by this new trend. There is increasing evidence of Inverted Colonialism. Inverted Colonialism could be defined as the impact of non-western countries on the development of western culture and economy (Giddens, 1999a). According to Giddens not only is globalization a novel experience, it is a revolut ionary phenomenon. In addition to its economic consequences, its political, technological and cultural impact can not be underestimated. More than anything, globalization is influenced by the advancement of communication systems. In the middle of these two extreme positions, there is a third opinion, which is called â€Å"transformationalism.† This perspective gives limited importance to globalization and emphasizes the significance of national and local institutions (Mirabedini, 2001, p. 147). This third view does not condemn the whole of globalization and praises its positive aspects. These scholars note that although globalization imposes a great deal of pressure on local economies and cultures, it is possible to transform this threat into an opportunity, thereby resisting being conquered by it. Based on this viewpoint, the leaders of the world would support the notion of democratization of global institutions; and nations could play a decisive role in the policymaking process under the framework of the new world order and solidify their territorial rights and legitimacy (Held, 2000). The acceptance of this notion is reflected in the response of former French Premier Leonel Jospin on the issue of France’s national identity in the globalization process. He said, â€Å"We will do our best to make globalization an internal and endemic process in compliance and harmony with our way of life.† He argued that â€Å"The course this globalization process takes will depend on the action we take in relation to it, because although globalization is a fact, it is not an end in itself. We must bring it under control if we are to enjoy its benefits and prevent its negative aspects† (Jospin, 2001). It can thus be concluded that the present range of opinions on globalization, differs from the definition of capital expansion of the 16th century. In this sense it is a new concept based on the ever-increasing time-space compression and the enhancement of public knowledge and awareness due to the profound alteration in communication systems and its immense impact on economic, political and cultural trends. It can be stated fairly that â€Å"Globalization is a complex phenomenon, marked by two opposing forces. On the one hand, it is characterized by massive economic expansion and technological innovation. On the other hand, there is increased inequality, cultural and social tumult, and individual alienation† (Mowlana, 1998, p. 22). Globalization of Culture and Identity in the Information Era On the subject of globalization, the most controversial debate is raised on the issue of cultural globalization and its main topic, the â€Å"identity crisis† and the role of mass media as a facilitating tool for its expansion or limitation. The notion of cultural globalization has prompted various reactions, reflecting contradictory implications. Some perceive this phenomenon as an instrument for establishment of universal unity and democracy based on a global culture signified as the â€Å"global village.† According to the principles of McLuhan (1968, 1964), this is due to the expansion of new communication systems. However, others disagree and contend that globalization has not resulted in a unified political and economic identity (Rajaei, 2001). In contrast, cultural globalization has destroyed national identities. Fukuyama challenges the idea of cultural globalization. He argues that despite external economic pressures, societies tend to preserve their individual identities and cultural values eventually determine the economic direction of the countries. This doesn’t mean that societies will not be impacted by the globalization trend. However, there are more profound elements in national cultures, whic h resist the uniformity derived from economic and political ideologies. Critics argue that cultural globalization will result in cultural dominance and supremacy. The deterioration of endemic cultures will be replaced with a universal culture promoting excessive consumption and dominance of the economic and information technology powers of the world. These scholars believe that the western world is unfit to provide a suitable response to cultural globalization. This is because it is being challenged by numerous social and cultural predicaments, itself. Tomlinson, one of the world-class theorists says: â€Å"The cultural globalization that we are witnessing today is not the net result of human endeavors and experiences and even it has not equitably benefited from cultural diversities. Rather it is the manifestation of dominance of a certain overpowering culture† (Skelton & Allen, 1999, p. 23). These researchers emphasize that the efforts made to conform to the aggressive culture or interpret western culture in various parts of the world have had disastrous results and have revealed insurmountable cultural gaps. Thus, it is impossible to create a global culture with this procedure, and it only widens the existing gap between cultures. Doubtless, globalization has affected certain values rooted in major religions and cultures of the world. Concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, individualism and pluralism, individual interaction with the society and the very meaning of life are all warped and corrupted by global capitalism, international markets, mass media and the promotion of excessive consumption. Even some local languages and valuable traditions are on the verge of disappearance as the result of globalization. Global consumerism is now forming a homogeneous global culture where indigenous cultures of the South are being replaced by Western cultures (Muzaffar, 2002).

Being a Man

Being a Man in the male perspective may be projected with ease as it seems, however, masculinity or the concept of being a man in a strict sense is a trait that has an offending nature. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that the social conditions throughout history suggest that men are commonly compelled to show their masculinity in every domain of endeavor. As such, the framework from where the concept of manliness is based has created an almost irreversible plague that has gone hand in hand with history.Manly concepts belittle the core of their female counterparts due to the fact that the masculinity rouses a sense of self-glorification. In sports, in all fields of life, men have become triumphant at the expense of women. This is because of how boys are bred and raised to become â€Å"men† (Theroux 411), up and coming men become totally obsessed with the idea of proving their manhood through their chosen field. Therefore, the enthusiastic individual will do what he deems necessary to achieve such goal.Femininity plays a vital role in belittling their sexuality because of the female species' vane nature and alertness to man's inadequacy (Theroux 411). Alfonsina Storni's blatant aversion to manliness appears to be a of how manliness is being glorified objectively over and over. It is a good argument that men and women are equal beings each with distinct qualities, and given the distinction, it is also plausible to think that both genders have their set of issues to deal with.However, social constructs, media presentations, and cultures across the world suggest that the nature of manhood demean women in every way. Superhero archetypes for instance are all modeled after men, the earliest superhero characters Superman and Batman are patterned to the typical male image. Likewise, other heroes such as Supergirl and Batgirl are female characters influenced by male characters. Masculinity is not a written law obliging every male person to conform to so ciety's traditional standards.However collective social opinion backed by media sensationalizing and cultural practice dictates the concept of manhood. Furthermore, the dictated solidarity in the concept of being a man eliminates the concept of individuality and the true precept of manliness. Works Cited Theroux, Paul. Being a Man. Reading and Writing about Gender in The World is a Text: The Writing, Reading, and Thinking About Culture and Its Contexts (2nd Edition). by

World's Leading Producer, Distributor of Flooring Products, Mohawk Essay

World's Leading Producer, Distributor of Flooring Products, Mohawk Industries Signs with Harbor Payments for Accounts Receivable Automation - Essay Example Mohawk Industries, Inc. is the leading producer and distributor of carpet, rugs, stone, vinyl, ceramic tile, wood and laminate flooring, and all of the company's products are marketed under the most popular brands in this industry. Since the company has a lot of customers, this agreement is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the company's relations with them, i.e. facilitate the payment processes, as well as receiving and approving invoices and utilizing credits and discounts. Moreover, there will no longer be a need to print and mail checks. The company's officials also hope Harbor Payments system will boost the productiveness of their relations with their dealers, helping the latter be more profitable and efficient. It should not be overlooked, however, that Harbor Payments will obviously benefit from signing the agreement with Mohawk Industries, Inc., too. Mohawk Industries, Inc.'s decision to use the system offered by Harbor Payments will enable them to substitute the expensive and time-consuming process of printing and mailing invoices for delivering them through electronic channels which save both time and money;

Article Review pertaining to Ethics Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Review pertaining to Ethics - Article Example Most of these stories flowing within the companies are well established and openly expressed narratives with a clear design. However, some stories are fragmented and hidden from the public lime light. Stories have a moral position within organizations as they contain and deal with both bad and good issues. We can therefore conclude that story telling is a suitable tool for studying ethics within organizations (Gabriel, 2004). Stories on the other hand can be informative of leadership styles used within a company. This is because stories may refer to more democratic and empowering leadership. Instead of direct and intimidating command, stories are interpreted with a view to influence the listener or the follower. On the contrary, an empowering story may turn out to be disempowering to the follower or precisely to employees in an organization. Stories can also be used as a seduction or manipulation tool to staff in an organization. Manipulation in many cases is viewed as a non-ethical way of leadership. The use of hidden power is accounted for as stories are seen as latent way to influence followers (Boje, 2001). Plato stated that anyone who narrates the story governs. To further clarify; this means the narrator has the ability to influence followers through a discursive reality. The narrator can create a publicly expressed social reality and shape it to their desired motives. This places focus on ethical dimensions in leadership stories. Through this, an individual may have either good or bad intentions while narrating their story. The narrator may purse to conceal his intentions with manipulation unknowingly to the listener on the power wield attempts falling upon them. Thus, such a position of leadership is termed as bad and unethical (Ciulla, 2005). This begs the question of what kind of leader possess powerful story telling techniques and resources. A charismatic leader

Family Law - relating to divorce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Family Law - relating to divorce - Essay Example A division of the High Court, the Family division, also has the jurisdiction of hearing and determining family law cases, including divorce (Strong, DeVault & Cohen, 2011). Divorce should not be confused with marriage annulment, which refers to a legal declaration that a marriage is null and void. A legal process for divorce involves a wide range of issues including child custody, alimony or spousal support, division of debt and distribution of property (Manning & Cohen, 2012). This essay aims at studying the current law governing divorce in England and Wales as well as outlining the various reforms that have taken place to improve the law over the years. Types of divorce in England and Wales There are seven types of divorce cases recognized by the law in England and Wales. These are contested divorce, uncontested divorce, collaborative divorce, summary divorce, mediated divorce, at fault divorce and no fault divorce (Rapoport, 2005). Contested divorce refers to a case where the coup les fail to agree on one or more issues, which are the subject of the divorce such as child custody and division of family assets and liabilities. Contested divorce often takes a longer time and is very costly, as the couple has to hire lawyers to help in the process and the outcome if determined by the hearing judge. Uncontested divorce on the other hand occurs where both parties are able to agree on the issues around the divorce involving children, support and sharing of property. The couple will then present their agreement to the courts for approval, upon which the courts will grant a divorce. Uncontested divorce cases account for about 70% of all divorce cases in the UK and the litigation process often takes a much shorter time (Rapoport, 2005). At fault divorce is one that involves a partner proving to the courts that one of them committed an act that is incompatible with their marital union and warrants a divorce. The faults are often referred to as the grounds for divorce. C ommon grounds for divorce in the UK include adultery, desertion, unreasonable behavior, or two years separation with consent among others. No fault divorce on the other hand is one that does not require any proof or allegation of fault from either party. This type of divorce is very popular in the UK, The US and most Western jurisdictions (Cretney, 2005). Collaborative divorce involves couples coming to an agreement on the main issues of divorce. The agreement is usually conducted with the help of lawyers who have been trained in collaborative divorce processes. The lawyers will then be disqualified from representing the couples in contested legal proceedings in court when the collaborative divorce process begins. Mediated divorce involves third party facilitating the discussion between the two parties involved in the divorce. At the closing stages of the mediation, the parties will present their agreement to a court in order to be granted a divorce. Summary divorce is often used in cases where the parties meet specified eligibility requirements or if they agree on the main issues beforehand. Some of the eligibility requirements include a short marriage of less than five years, minimal or no property and no children among others. Family law on divorce in England and Wales The legal provisions of divorce are stipulated in the Marital Causes