What Is the Need for an External Audit

The need for an external audit in the case of companies arises primarily from the existence of split-up of ownership from control. When control is shared an audit report will be needed in order to ensure that all the partners or be it shareholders are on the same page as the managers (the ones who will be controlling the company) and know what has been happening in the company, what is happening at present and what can be expected to happen in the future in order to increase returns in the company.The case of an owner controlled company is different as usually the manager will be working in the company and will be aware of everything that will be taking place and will not need an audit report to find out what is going on. Since the owner is alone in decision making, he knows about all the decisions that need to be made and will not find out through an audit report that maybe the company has decided to expand and open a new branch using the accumulated or retained profits.The audit in volves the client’s staff and management in giving time to providing information to the auditor. The auditors need part of the staff’s time as they will not know where the proprietary’s accounts are kept and in which way they are filed. To gather all the information that the auditor will use in making his audit report he has to get it through staff. Since most owner controlled companies are very small and the staff members are few, it will make it difficult for the Professional auditors to plan their audit to minimize the disruption which their work will cause.The audit might end up inconveniencing other stakeholders such as customers because service can become slow as one of the staff members will be assisting the auditor, giving him all the documentation that he needs and accompanying him around as he investigates the internal control measures that have been created in the company to see how effective they are. Application to lenders/financial institutions for finance may be strengthened by the submission of audited accounts.However some financial institutions, a bank, for instance, is likely to be far more concerned about the future of the business and available security, than by the past historical accounts, audited or otherwise. Audited accounts cannot predict the performance of the company in the future, which is the information that the Bank will be trying to find out. Therefore; audit reports are not an issue of paramount importance, especially in owner controlled companies.Not all owner controlled companies need to be audited. Auditing of companies does not depend on the type of ownership (that is, sole trader, partnership or co-operative), but it mostly depends on the size of the company at hand. There are laws that have been made in the U. K that exempt certain companies especially the small ones and the owner controlled ones from being audited. Instead of following all audit requirements, the owner controlled companies can subm it shortened accounts.The main differences that can be produced under the banner of abbreviated accounts basically mean that an owner controlled company does not have to include a full balance sheet, profit and loss account or directors report which would normally be required by Companies House. The owner controlled company is still required to submit a shortened balance sheet together with notes that explain the year end balances shown in the balance sheet. Under the audit exemption rules the year end accounts for an n owner controlled company do not have to include an auditors report.When an auditor has prepared the accounts and submits a special audit report that report should state that in the auditor’s opinion the abbreviated accounts are being submitted in accordance with the appropriate section of the Companies Act. To qualify for being able to file shortened accounts a small company should satisfy at least two of three conditions. The three exemption conditions prior to April 2008 were that annual turnover is less than 5. 6 million pounds, balance sheet total is less than 2. 8 million pounds and the average number of employees is less than 50.Where the financial year started after April 2008 the parameters increased to, annual turnover less than 6. 5 million pounds, balance sheet total less than 3. 26 million pounds and average number of employees less than 50. When an owner controlled company satisfies the audit exemption parameters it can maintain that audit exemption for a full financial year afterwards even if the parameters were exceed in that following financial year. There are benefits in submitting abbreviated accounts as simpler and easier accounting records can be maintained reducing time spent on accountancy work.In addition although potential suppliers and financial institutions may require details of the year end financial accounts it is acceptable not to publish full details. In China, Owner controlled companies have an exemption f rom the audit and this gives management for smaller companies some newfound flexibility, Alyssa Martin says. Companies may not have to produce as much documentation or perform as much testing to produce management’s assertion as they might have had to produce for the sake of the audit, she says. They can use other measures, like ongoing monitors or their own personal experience, to assess internal controls when they don’t have to have the external auditor auditing their process or leveraging their process in performing the audit of internal control,† notes Weaver’s Martin. Yong Xu, CFO for Jingwei International, says he was grateful to see the audit requirement lifted, even though the company voluntarily produced the audit for its 2009 financial statements and is planning to have the audit again in 2010. Jingwei International is a China-based technology services provider listed on the stock exchange and is owned controlled.However while the recent legislat ion exempts smaller companies from the audit of internal control, it doesn’t relax any of the requirements for companies to establish and maintain an effective control environment or to report on the effectiveness of controls, says Alyssa Martin, an executive partner with audit firm Weaver. That’s because the Dodd-Frank bill does not exempt smaller companies from Section 404(a), which is the requirement for management to produce its own report on the effectiveness of controls to mitigate errors in financial statements. â€Å"It doesn’t really change the role of management,† says Alyssa Martin. They still have to understand the design of internal control and assess the effectiveness. †Ã¢â‚¬Å"It’s not a cake walk. If you’re not documenting anything or doing anything, you’re not following the SEC’s guidance. †Ã¢â‚¬â€Jim DeLoach, Managing Director, Protiviti. Owner controlled companies should audit their accounts as th is reduces the Risk of Fraud. A number of factors affect the risk or exposure to loss from fraud, and some organizations suffer more fraud than others. The incidence of fraud in books of account is distributed unevenly. Some industries, some companies, some occupations, and some persons are higher risks than others.If accounts are being constantly audited, employees will comply with the regulations and do the correct thing; on the other hand, this can become a motivating factor in the case of employees as they know that changes in the company for better that have been initiated by them will be recognized. Many companies have embraced voluntary environmental audits, commonly known as self-audits, as a valuable business resource. Consultants and experts agree that the practice can be of enormous benefit to enterprises in all types of industries, for it addresses so many facets of a company's operations.For example, Barbara Ceizler Silver, author of Environmental Self-Audit for Small B usinesses, described the self-audit as a valuable â€Å"diagnostic tool† that can be used by companies seeking to identify and address compliance problems relating to air, water, land use, solid waste, and hazardous materials prior to submitting formal permit applications or other business processes. The practice of voluntarily checking compliance with environmental regulations through the practice of self-auditing has garnered considerable support from state lawmakers as well. As of 2000, environmental self-audits receive significant legal protections in 26 states.The body of law in these states maintains that companies can voluntarily test for violations and correct all previously undetected problems without legal penalty. Companies that report violations avoid financial penalties and receive additional time to rectify problems. Most significant of all, the results of self-audit tests and programs in these states receive significant legal protections from public disclosure The advantages of an audit report in owner controlled companies may be there, but the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages and therefore I agree with the statement that owner controlled business should not have audit reports.This is because this will be a large and unnecessary expense to the company and will result in the company spending large amounts on auditing which could have been diverted to expanding the business. There are cheap alternative methods that owner controlled companies can use to manage their companies than auditing their accounts and getting audit reports every year. (1503 words)References Abdel-Khalil A. R. (1983). Why do private companies demand auditing? A case for organizational loss of control. Journal of Accounting, Auditing ;amp; Finance, 8(1), 31-52 Proviti Flash Report on SOX 404(b) July 17 2004.Accounting and Audit Exemptions for Small Companies in the U. K-Terry Cartwright Environmental Self-Audit for Small Businesses: A Quick and Easy Guide to En vironmental Compliance. New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Empire State Development, March 1998. Geltman, Elizabeth Glass. A Complete Guide to Environmental Audits. ABA, 1997. Power, Michael. â€Å"Expertise and the Construction of Relevance: Accountants and Environmental Audits. † Accounting, Organizations, and Society. February 1997. Environmental Self-Audit for Small Businesses- Barbara Ceizler Silver

Accounting treatment for inventory and loans

Runing Head: Fiscal Accounting Work 1 Your name: Course name: Professors’ name: Date Part A QUESTION ONEDetermine whether or non Large Mart would lawfully be allowed to alter its stock list cost flow premise from FIFO to Weighted-Average-Cost, and what ( if any ) legal demands would restrict Large Mart’s ability to do this alteration.Large Mart is lawfully allowed to alter its stock list accounting system from FIFO to leaden mean cost method. Harmonizing to International Financial Reporting Standards, an entity shall alter its policies merely if the alteration consequences in fiscal statements supplying dependable and more efficient information about effects of minutess, events or conditions on entity’s fiscal place and hard currency flows. The alteration should be adopted retrospectively pregnant accommodations should be made as if the new policy has ever been in being ( Hussey, 2010 ) . Disclosure should be made on the ground for alteration in policy, sum of alteration for current period and anterior periods.IRS allows one to take an stock list accounting po licy but requires the entity to utilize it systematically twelvemonth to twelvemonth. However, the IRS mandates the company to use stock list alterations method. In such a instance, the IRS must be informed in order to get permission for revenue enhancement twelvemonth when the initial execution of the new method of stock list cost was done ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) . As such, it is required that Form 3115 of the IRS be completed and submitted at the beginning of the twelvemonth when the alteration was initiated ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) . The alteration should be attached to revenue enhancement return for the twelvemonth in order for the alterations to take topographic point. More so, the concern must hold been ongoing for at least one twelvemonth.Discuss what impact ( if any ) a alteration from the FIFO cost flow premise to the Weighted-Average cost flow premise would hold on the fiscal place ( balance sheet ) of Large Mart. PLEASE NOTE: You are Not required to cipher the sum of impact of this alteration on the balance sheet. Alternatively, delight disco urse the POTENTIAL impacts of such a alteration in general.First in first out FIFO usually considers that the stock list bought is the stock list that should be sold foremost. As internal operations of the company continues, the FIFO calculates the existent cost. This is of import for merchandises that have a comparatively shorter shelf life, such merchandises are food markets. As such FIFO allows realisation of both cost and net income incurred on a merchandise. This besides applies in the fabrication industry because FIFO helps in accounting for the cost of the natural stuffs every bit good as the cost incurred in selling every merchandise and therefore the net income ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) . If FIFO is used but the stock list is damaged or destroyed in any manner, one should cognize precisely the loss in order to account for its value. Nonetheless, FIFO gives the merchandise cost for each merchandise manufactured. If the natural stuffs for the two units vary, so each of these units will hold different cost. If the cost of marked up to acquire the merchandising monetary value, the units will hold changing selling procedure ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) . Average Costing Method The monetary values can be set based on the mean stock list cost by increasing the monetary value of the norm. This allows for a lower net income border for expensive stock list. Despite the fact that there will be a lower net income border, this will be addressed by the higher net income border on the side of lower-cost stock list. This is specifically good for companies that are used to blending their stock lists as they come. This method is applied for mean net income degrees every bit good as mean nonexempt income. It besides works good in delegating the mean cost of production of a given merchandise every bit good as when the stock lists are assorted this non possible to delegate a given cost to a unit. One chief disadvantage of the mean costing method is the commixture of the stock list and hence doing it hard to account for every merchandise particularly merchandises which cost higher ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) . In the event that some stock list bought has to be returned, the mean will be inaccurate utilizing this method. As such, the bing stock list may be sold for a lower monetary value grade in order to do a sensible monetary value. Further to this, in the event that some stock list is to be disposed by using price reductions, it should be based on the mean cost. Notably, some will be sold at a loss because their purchasing monetary value will be higher than others. In this event, the full stock list must be sold in order to acquire the norm cost back. Impact on The Balance Sheet FIFO usually reports higher stock list in current assets and therefore a higher current ratio. In the period of worsening cost of stuffs. FIFO leads to a higher cost of goods sold, lower net income and accordingly lower income revenue enhancement. The stock list method that is employed by a company in the event of a profitableness ratio, the balance sheet is affected. As a consequence, the current ratio is higher, ( the current ratio is computed by spliting the current assets with the current liabilities ) ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) .. On the contrary, a company using the norm weighted cost on the other manus studies an mean stoping stock list. This produces current ration. More so, the stockholders equity is higher in this instance under FIFO method since the norm weighted method outputs a average plus base ( plus less liabilities leads to a higher FIFO ) . In add-on, other balance sheet ratios to see include, plus turnover ( gross revenues divided by assets ) , return of equit y ( net income divided by average amount of assets ) , and stock list turnover ( COGS divided by the average stock lists ) ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) . QUESTION TWO a )Explain how Large Mart must account for the depreciation of the equipment that was used in the edifice of the new machinery AND explicate why this intervention is required. Large Mart should handle depreciation as a concern disbursal for the twelvemonth and therefore bear down it to the net income and loss history. This is because it was incurred in the class of enlargement of concern. Since the depreciation disbursal belongs to 4 months of concern, every month is allocated an disbursal utilizing the consecutive line method ( Hussey, 2010 ) . This is necessary so that the right disbursal of depreciation is charged every monthExplain how Large Mart must account for the loan every bit good as the payment of involvement during the clip that the new machinery was built AND explicate why this intervention is required.Large Mart should account and enter the burden in general leger. First, it should debit the vase for the sum of burden which were given out by the company every bit good as the recognition short-run notes which are collectible for the part that is non to be paid during that fiscal twelvemonth ( Hussey, 2010 ) .Because the entire sum of loan is d ue to be paid back in less than a twelvemonth, there is no demand for long-run note collectible. Normally, there will be occasional monthly payments. When these payments are made, two variables to be considered are involvement and rule ( Elliott & A ; Elliott, 2008 ) . Principle refers to the original sum borrowed while the involvement is the cost incurred as a consequence of the adoption which is calculated based on the outstanding sum each twelvemonth. Entries are usually made by debiting notes collectible for the rule sum ( Hussey, 2010 ) . As such this is achieved by debiting involvement disbursal for the sum collectible and crediting for the entire payments. Part B( 0.5 Markss )1/5/201x Dr Computer a/c 5000 Cr Cash a/c 3500 Cr Discount received 1500 To enter purchase of computing machine in hard currency 2/5/201x Dr. Cash a/c 3500 Dr. price reduction received 1500 Cr Computer 5000 To enter return of computing machine to seller and forfeiture of price reduction 2 ) ( 1 grade ) – Cost of car= 45000 + 1000 = $ 46000 11/5/201x Dr. Car a/c $ 46000 Cr. Creditor/Vendor a/c $ 46000 To enter purchase of a auto on recognition 20/5/201x Dr. Car a/c $ 48000 Cr. Creditor $ 46000 Cr. Cash ( painting logo ) $ 2000 To enter purchase of auto and bringing 1/6/201x Dr. Creditor a/c $ 46000 Cr. Discount received $ 2300 Cr. Cash $ 43700 To enter payment to creditor. 3 ) ( 1.5 Markss ) – Before reappraisal ; Cost of the car= $ 48000 Depreciation =48000-2000 7 = $ 6571 per annum After reappraisal ; Cost of the auto = $ 46000 Depreciation=46000-2000 7 = $ 6286 per annum Reappraisal therefore has an consequence on depreciation as it has decreased depreciation disbursal from sh. 6571 to sh. 6286 per annum To enter consequence of reappraisal 1/7/201x Dr Car a/c $ 46000 Dr. Loss on reappraisal $ 2000 Cr. Car $ 48000 Mentions Elliott, B. , & A ; Elliott, J. ( 2008 ) .Fiscal Accounting and Reporting. New York, NY: Financial Times Prentice Hall. Hussey, R. ( 2010 ) .Fundamentalss of International Financial Accounting and Reporting. Michigan: World Scientific.

Neonatal Health Care in Nepal

NEONATAL HEALTH CARE in NEPAL 1. BACKGROUND In the mid way of 2000 and 2015, the analysis of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in developing world shows encouraging progress signs particularly in child health, but very less or no notable achievements in neonatal health (WHO, 2009). The proportion of neonatal deaths – deaths within the first 28 days of life – is expected to increase due to decline in burden of post-neonatal deaths (UN, 2009; USAID, 2008; WHOSIS, 2010).As per the WHO Statistics (2009), the progress on health-related MDGs shows about 37% of under-five (U-5) mortality occurs in the neonatal period, with most deaths within the first week i. e. early neonatal period. Over one million neonates die within their first 24hours of life due to lack of quality care, annually, worldwide (UNFPA, 2008). In Nepal, Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) is 32 per 1000 live births in 2004 (WHO, 2009). Fig 1 Continuum of care Source: Kerber et al. , 2007 The basic principle of de veloping strategies to address Neonatal Health Care (NHC) revolves round the ‘continuum of care’.Throughout the lifecycle as shown in figure 1, including adolescence, pregnancy, childbirth and childhood, the care ought to be provided as a seamless continuum that spans the home, the community and health centre, locally and globally (Save the Children [StC], 2006). Hence, reducing child mortality is more dependent on tackling neonatal mortality or in other words, managing the NHC. 2. KEY CONCEPTS AND ISSUES In Nepal, most of the deliveries take place at home with delayed care-seeking behavior; the NMR remains high in rural areas, frequently associated with cessation of suckling and shortness of breath (Mesko et al. 2003). While the Department for International Development [DFID] (2009) report reveals that, the factors causing poor maternal outcomes and ultimately resulting high NMR are poor and delayed transportation arrangements, weak financial status, long distance to h ealth centre, and even needing permission to seek care. As the survival of the newborns, older than a month is progressing quickly, there has been transformed concern in interventions assumed to improve neonatal survival.The questions about the new interventions: â€Å"providing thermal care to the newborn, postnatal care to the mother and newborn, and counseling on infant and maternal health care to mothers† has been added in the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) of Nepal, along with Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, to address antepartum, intrapartum, and postnatal interventions for the NHC (USAID 2008). Moreover, the target to reduce NMR from 34 to 30 per 1000 live births by 2010 has been set in the new Three Years Interim Plan (TYIP) for health 2008-10 (TYIP 2008-10, 2008).Pertaining to the revised target associated with neonatal mortality and to combat delays in seeking, reaching and receiving care, the Department of Health Services, Nepal (DoHS 2006/07, 2008) has postulated three major strategies: * To promote birth preparedness and complication readiness including raising awareness, improving the availability of funds, transport and blood supplies. * To promote use of skilled birth attendants at every birth, either at home or in a health facility. * To make provision of 24-hour emergency obstetrics care services (basic and comprehensive) at selected public health facilities in every district. . STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES The strengths and weaknesses of the NHC in Nepal can be reflected in broad spectrum, by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the National Health Policy and current heath services, in general. 4. 1. Strengths 4. 2. 1. Health as citizen’s right The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) aims to create a new healthy Nepali society, working in alignment with the prime objective of â€Å"bringing about a meaningful change in the overall health† as per the guidelines issued by the Government of Nepal (GoN) to establish health as a fundamental human right of each and every Nepalese. . 2. 2. Decentralization of health policy Decentralization in health policy – a starting point for consultation – and its implementation is under process, initiated with the coordination between the MoHP and Ministry of Local Development (MoLD). The major objective of the decentralization in health policy is to improve cost efficiency and effectiveness of government action, and strengthen community approach (DFID, 2003). The respective Village Development Committee has been handed over the administrative and financial management tasks, initiatives taken from the lowest level, i. . Sub-health Posts (NHSP, 2009). 4. 2. 3. Public Private Partnership The private sector’s involvement to a considerable extent is noteworthy (TYIP, 2008) in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) which initiated since 1950s (MoHP, 2008). The PPP has created continuous and uniform coordination of intervention s such as immunization and pneumonia treatment, significantly reducing children and neonatal mortality (UNDP, 2010). 4. 2. 4. Community based interventions Fig. 2 Neonatal mortality in past 15 yearsSource: DoHS (2006) The development and implementation of community-wide protocols has significantly reduced the NMR in the past 15 years, as shown in figure 2 (DoHS, 2006); and aims to ensure access to effective healthcare focusing the neonates, in a sustainable and equitable manner. A study conducted by Dutta (2009) reveals that home-based newborn care has been significant in about one-third to two-third reduction in neonatal mortality after home based care interventions. Whilst, a study conducted by Haines et al. (2007) reveals that the mobilization of local women through community based participatory intervention can be significant in improving the health of the newborn. 4. 2. Weaknesses 4. 3. 5. Weakening and unsafe care The weakly designed system, unable to ensure safety and hygiene standards has been enforcing high rates of acquired infection during the birth, along with medication errors and other avoidable adverse effects (IDA and IMF, 2007). 4. 3. 6. Uneven and fragmenting health care The broadening of specialized health care and cutting interest in the disease ontrol programmes, do not realize for the continuity of care. Due to poor and highly under-resourced infrastructure, the health services for poor and marginalized group of Nepalese is highly uneven, aiding fragmentation of development (WHO Report, 2008). 4. 3. 7. Inequity Equity in health care as a basic need to ensure highest possible minimum standards, has not been attainable. The majority of the care is redeemed by the people with the most means but with lesser need, while the neonatal health care in the rural areas remain almost virgin, with no redistribution of resources (WHO, 2008). . 3. 8. Others According to TYIP for health 2008-10 (2008), there are some general weaknesses largely affecting the novel objective of providing quality health care service that are easily accessible by all the citizens, also influencing the target of reducing the NMR in Nepal, such as; * lack of skilled human resources and problems in their mobilization to rural areas, * very slow pace of decentralization process, * inadequate supply of equipment and drug, * political interference in management, * weak monitoring and supervision, and lack of physical infrastructure and its inadequate repair and maintenance (TYIP 2008-10, 2008). 4. EFFECTIVENESS The performance of a nation’s health system can be judged against WHO Criteria: health status of the population and inequality, responsiveness and inequality in responsiveness and fair financing (WHO 2000); and Managing Cost, Care and Health Framework. 5. 3. WHO Criteria According to the WHO Report (2000), the health level of Nepal is ranked at 142 with Disability Adjusted Life Expectancy (DALE) of total population at birth 49. years, as shown in table 1. Table 1 Health system attainment and performance in Nepal, ranked by eight measures, estimates for 1997 ATTAINMENT OF GOALS| Health expenditures in international dollars| PERFORMANCE| Health Level| Health Distribution| Responsiveness| Fairness in financial contribution| Overall goal attainment| | | DALE (in years)| Equality of child survival| | | | | Level of health| Overall health system performance| Rank| Total Pop. at birth| Rank| Index| Uncertainty Interval| Level| Distribution| | | | | | 142| 49. 5| 161| 0. 585| 0. 513-0. 63| 185| 166-167| 186| 160| 170| 98| 150| There remains possibility of large inequality in the care provided at the rural and urban settings due to very poor health settings of workforce (DoHS, 2006). The inequality in responsiveness with very low respect profile for others and very poor quality of amenities has placed Nepal at 185 level, and the rank of 186 (sixth from the bottom) shows that each household faces very high financial risk and spend largely for healthcare, thus purchase of needed care enforces into poverty (WHO, 2000). 5. 4. Managing Cost, Care and HealthGoing with the global approach, Nepal has also adopted decentralized health care system, attempting â€Å"to make providers both independent and more accountable for the cost and quality of the healthcare services† (Kane and Turnbull, 2003). The supplier and consumer approach can hardly be realized in the health service provided by the government; effectiveness of the NHC – dominantly under the control of government – can be evaluated against the framework of managing costs at affordable levels, improved quality and access, and advanced health of the population (Kane and Turnbull, 2003). . 5. 9. Managing Cost The fairly existing systems operated by small number of agencies provide membership to the clients, cost borne by the clients or their employers on installment basis. The employees of government sector and labour organization are suppo rted with healthcare cost borne by social support schemes (WHO, 2003). There has been significant decrease in financial resources in the health sector due to shoot-up of concerns in conflict resolution and internal security (NHSP, 2009). The maximum portion of health financing is from out-of-pocket payment, i. . 85. 20% (WHO 2009), and there has been increased competition among the (private healthcare) providers to deliver the responsive behavior to the care-seekers (patients). But the larger portion of the consumers’ right to have an option of choosing economic and most compatible supplier still remains virgin. The Second Long Term Health Plan (SLTHP) 1997-2017 has emphasized the importance of restructuring healthcare and health insurance options, which has already been introduced but is almost non-existent.Delayed acknowledgement of managing insurance risk has lit some hope of effective healthcare, while managing utilization of services, and managing provider and supplier p rices are just unimaginable. 5. 5. 10. Managing Care Fig 3 Neonatal Mortality factors and interventions to reduce it Source: USAID 2008 NEONATAL MORTALITY Strengthening of Health Care System Ante-natal Care Neonatal Resuscitation Breast-feeding Clean DeliveryIntermittent preventive treatment for malaria Micronutrient supplementation Health Education Delivery by a Skilled Birth Attendant INTERVENTIONS The factors associated with neonatal mortality (as in figure 2) suggests that managing care can be improved and millions of new born be saved by approaching health issues of maternal care, neonatal care and child health, under the same umbrella; and interventions can be operated with lower cost (StC, 2006).The policies and programmes in packages can cut down the cost of training, monitoring and evaluation, and facilitate judicious use of the available resources, with greater efficiency and more effective coverage of the beneficiaries. 5. 5. 11. Managing Health Despite reduced neonatal m ortality trends in Nepal over the past 15 years (NDHS, 2006), the neonatal morbidity and mortality still represents major proportion of U-5 child mortality; principally due to the lack of SBAs, poor referral systems and lack of access to life-saving emergency obstetric care when complications occur (Safe Motherhood 2010).The revised National Safe Motherhood Health Long Term Plan 2006-2017 in accordance with SLTHP 1997-2017 focuses on improving maternal and neonatal health, and has aimed to reduce NMR to 15 per 1,000 live births by 2017; targeting to increase deliveries attended by SBAs to 60% and deliveries in a health facility to 40%, by 2017, increasing the met need of emergency obstetric complications by 3% and of caesarean section by 4%, each year (Safe Motherhood 2010).The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH) formed by merging three separate entities – newborn, maternal and child health partnership – has been established. This joint venture aims â€Å"[t]o create a more unified voice and facilitate creation of a continuum of care, work for achievement of maternal and child health-related MDGs by strengthening and coordinating action at all levels; promoting rapid scale-up of proven, cost-effective interventions† aligning the resources with the objectives, more efficiently and effectively (StC, 2006). 5.CHALLENGES and PRACTICALITIES 6. 5. Contextual Challenges * Low birth weight (14. 3%) and underweight (38. 6%) are the root causes of perinatal deaths (MoHP, 2007). * The nation wide campaign of polio (78%), measles (81%) and tetanus (83%) immunisation by 2007, had immense significance in reducing the child deaths (WHO 2009). Despite having 60% children fully immunized, disparity remains in service coverage as 8% of U-5C are not immunized at all (MDG 2005). * Though the poor people have moved closer to the poverty line with poverty gap ratio declining from 0. 12 to 0. 75, child malnutrition still remains another m ajor challenge for Nepal, which is the underlying cause for 50% of children deaths. Though, improved health and nutrition of the mother and availability of the SBAs can play role in reducing the NMR, it seems devastating to maintain the coverage rates with ongoing political conflicts and security problems. Hence, revisited strategies to combat this challenge will be more effective in reducing NMR due to the above contextual challenges. 6. 6. Leadership Challenges 6. 7. 12. Level of system funding With total expenditure on health 5. 1% of the GDP, and 30. % share of governments’ expenditure on health – the shortfall met by private spending (WHO, 2009) – reflects low political will and ability to invest in managerial and administrative infrastructure (Kane and Turnbull, 2003). This condition is prone to inhibit pooling of risks and the citizens are always prone to catastrophic payments, further aggravating the poverty in the poorer community like Nepal (WHO, 2009) . There is an alarming need of allocating financial resources for patient registration, disseminating information, monitoring and follow-up activities, and any other active management of the health services. 6. 7. 13.Provider market structure Nepal health market has countable specialists, very few care practitioners and poorly developed communication among the suppliers; lacking primary care capacity. As the large multispecialty of the provider market structure with influential medical leadership facilitates the success of managed healthcare mechanisms, there remains huge modification in the provider market structure. 6. 7. 14. Proportion of the population covered by health insurance In the span of six years, from 2000 to 2006, there has been decrease in out-of pocket expenditure from 91. 2% to 85. 2% of private expenditure on health.

Based on Stevensons evidence and the theory covered in ECO 344 do you Term Paper

Based on Stevensons evidence and the theory covered in ECO 344 do you think internet job search is improving the employment prospects of todays workers - Term Paper Example Internet provides powerful and fluid information that is of importance to any job seeker. Organisations have integrated web technology in their management, which has restructured the employment structure where employers nowadays use the internet to advertise job vacancies and recruit new employees (Fountain, 2005). People have, therefore, embraced internet as their job search tool to access the available vacancies. This essay discusses how internet job search is improving the employment prospects of today`s workers. The internet job search has enabled many new workers to find new employment opportunities from the convenience of their workplaces at lower costs. According to Stevenson (2008), 73% of households had access to internet by the year 2004 with one in four online adults visiting job websites. The people in the working class with internet access in 2004 were about 28%. Today the number has increased due to developments in many countries. For instance, in 2014, the number of people accessing internet was about 3billion according to the report released by the United Nations (Rodriguez, 2014). On contrary, today almost all employees in organisations have access to internet. This has increased their chances to search jobs with ease. Internet job search has, therefore, been an important factor in solving the frictional unemployment that is frequently occurring in many economies. Workers with aim of shifting from one organisation to another due to job satisfaction have been using internet as their quickest way of getting new jobs (Rodriguez, 2014). Today, internet job search is increasing and improving the employment prospects of workers in the following ways: Internet provides a broad range of information regarding employment opportunities thus increasing worker`s new job expectations (Fountain, 2005). For instance, almost every company has their websites

Integrated Marketing Communications Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Integrated Marketing Communications - Essay Example Nevertheless, the integration of communication tools helps overcome both challenges, as the mix helps create the brand awareness and enhance the brand recall as well as enhances the brand recall. Companies use different communication tools also known as the promotional mix such as: PR, sales promotions direct marketing and personal selling (Luxton & Mavondo, 2008). These communication tools differentiate among each other; however, the companies use them for the same reasons, such as to maintain the brand awareness, as well as to enhance the relationships with its stakeholders (Fill, 2009) The following report will evaluate the functions of the various marketing communication tools and compare the effectiveness of them. The report will also construct the marketing campaign for Cadbury corporation in order to deeply understand how those tools are used in practice. Advertising is one of the effective methods to promote the increase awareness of the brand in the mass media (Egan, 2007) (Table 2). The main advantage of the advertising is that the numerous channels are able to reach large audience, such as TV or print ads in magazines (Baines & Fill, 2011). Fill (2009) suggested that people who show a positive response to advertising are more likely to purchase a product than those whose attitude is neutral. Therefore, advertisers are particularly interested in creating an extraordinary with the â€Å"wow effect† message in their campaigns in order to make the customer’s experience memorable (Jo, 2004). Advertisers are able to use numerous features to enhance the appeal of the advertising, for example, some brands decide to use logical appeals that simply explain the â€Å"reason-why† its product outshines everything else in the market and attract the customer by functional reasoning (Miller, 2011). However, mass marketing is not useful for creating the long term relationships with the customer, as the

Critically Assess the Real Business Cycle Explanation of Unemployment Essay

Critically Assess the Real Business Cycle Explanation of Unemployment. How Strong Is the Evidence in Favour of this Approach - Essay Example The review of the literature published in the specific field has led to the following assumption: RBC theory can be used for understanding critical aspects of economies but the performance of theory in different market conditions is not standardized. It has been also proved that the evidence against the theory is significant, implying that many of its points should be reviewed as of their validity and accuracy. In any case, it seems that the weaknesses of the specific theory are many, as analyzed through the paper, so that its benefits cannot efficiently support its value as a theoretical tool for explaining one or more elements of modern economies. 2. Real business cycle explanation of unemployment – description and evaluation Unemployment is a critical part of the economy, at the level that it helps to evaluate the performance of the economy, either in the short or the long term. Economies with low unemployment rates are usually characterized as successful, even if the relev ant trends are just temporary, an issue analyzed below. Also, it can help to estimate the potential value of measures taken for supporting the performance of an economy: if unemployment trends remain high despite the introduction of measures for increasing GDP in a specific country, then the introduction of different approaches for supporting the local economy is made clear. In order to understand the effectiveness of the Real business cycle in explaining unemployment it would be necessary to present primarily the general framework of the concept, i.e. its core characteristics and parts. Then the use of the theory for explaining unemployment can be evaluated by referring to the existing evidence with reference especially to the approaches against RBC. 2.1 Real business cycle explanation of unemployment as a theoretical concept The real business cycle (RBC) theory, known also as the real business cycle models, was first introduced in 1980s for replacing the New Classical models (Gott schalk 2005). Like their predecessor, the RBC theory aimed to explain the ‘business cycle fluctuations’ (Gottschalk 2005, p.100), as resulted not from monetary events (a view used by the New Classical models for explaining business cycle fluctuations), but rather from real events. In this context, the RBC theory has been based on the rule that business cycle fluctuations are best explained by referring to ‘real shocks’ (Gottschalk 2005, p.100), such as ‘changes in technology or government spending’ (Gottschalk 2005, p.100). In accordance with Snower and Dehesa (1997) the RBC theory is based on the following rule: ‘macroeconomic fluctuations tend to be related to technological shocks’ (Snower and Dehesa 1997, p.19), meaning that each such shock is likely to be followed by microeconomic fluctuations, either in the short or the long term. From this point of view, those people that are best prepared to face such shocks are most capable of surviving in the job market, being able to respond immediately to the relevant market demands. Because of the continuous changes in market conditions due to the intervention of ‘real events’, or else of ‘real shocks’, the RBC theory h

Child neglect, abuse and its effect on juvenile delinquency Research Paper

Child neglect, abuse and its effect on juvenile delinquency - Research Paper Example The unseen types of child abuse are more destructive and make lifetime scars on the victims. This paper is a discussion on cases of child abuse, child negligence, and its effects on juvenile delinquency. The risk factors for child abuse and neglect are families with domestic violence, untreated mental illness cases, alcohol and drug abuse, and lack of parenting skills. Federal law on child abuse and prevention Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse and neglect as, â€Å"Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, severe physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse† (Child welfare web). Some myths depict that, for an action to amount to a child abuse, it must be cruel and only done by dishonest persons to the child. This is not always the case since other types of injury are invisible and do not include any violence. Additionally, some parents find themselves caught up with acts of violence due to mental and personal problems. Another myth is that child abuse does not occur in respectable families. The truth is that child abuse happens across all tribes, cultures, and economic status including reasonable, bad, and poor neighbourhoods. The following is some forms of child abuse. The first and serious category of child abuse is neglect. Statistics show that of all the child abuse cases reported every year, over 60 % of these cases are of minor neglect. Child negligence is a failure of the parent or a caregiver to bear a child’s basic needs. They may take the form of physical needs like food and shelter, medical needs, educational needs, and emotional needs. Additionally, child negligence result when a child is left alone to suffer from pain and damage from the harsh conditions of the surroundings without any communication from the parents. In such a case, the caregiver’s name and their whereabouts remain unknown. Negligence as a form of child abuse can also be

Australian Legal Professional Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Australian Legal Professional Practice - Essay Example Further, the education and training of legal practitioners may also be necessary in other areas – where more personal, moral know-how and judgment may be necessary. This may be required – as the operations of the legal framework often will call for informed opinions and in-depth know-how – mainly due to the dynamics of human relations and the modern society, which make up the epicenter of legal practice. One of these areas that really call for legal ethics and professional responsibility from lawyers is that of the nature, dynamics, and the effects of family violence, where areas like sexual assault – found at the center of the family violence context is given critical regard and review. In support of the personal responsibility to be exercised by lawyers in this area, is that consistent definitive meanings of family aggression across the varied legislative schemes – namely the state and regions need to be clearly understood. This is the case, as a common understanding of the types of the varied conduct that constitute or amount to family violence is to be formed or understood. The professional responsibility of the lawyers is also called upon, in the cases where implementation gaps are evident – for example in the area of sexual assault, mainly because written law and the practice in operation often are not in line with each other. Such a case is traceable in the case where some individuals, parties or localities give consideration to myths and misconceptions related to the nature and the dynamics to be considered.... This paper will be a documentation of the justification for this varied approach in the practice of law – which is supposed to provide a more accommodative field of practice, and give reasons and justifications as to why it is not enough for a lawyer to simply follow the guidelines of legal practice. The paper will also explain on what other sources or resources may be useful towards a more effective legal practice – with reference to Australian legal practice (Milne 112)(Zines 130). The basic proposition in question is that lawyers – despite being guided by the Legal practice guidelines, have to employ their ethical and professional sense of responsibility in the making or arriving at distinctive resolutions. This is the case, as the guidelines simply offer a basic framework within which the ultimate decision is to tend – but not any definite resolutions regarding the issues at hand. In this case, the moral and professional judgment of the lawyers is to b e put to use – in defining the appropriate course of action or decision to be taken, for the case at hand. This paper’s argument is fully in agreement with the basic proposition in question – and will be backed up by solid evidence to precisely show how the personal – as well as the moral judgment of the Lawyer are a major requirement in legal practice, if only legal practice is to be completely accommodative of each case and legal situation (Howard 75). Further, the education and training of legal practitioners may also be necessary in other areas – where more personal, moral know-how and judgment may be necessary. This may be required – as the operations of the legal framework often will call for informed opinions and in-depth know-how – mainly due

Kepak case study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Kepak case study - Essay Example Therefore, Kepak, over the years, has taken certain strategic initiatives such as commencing business through Agra Trading, offering convenience foods along with building a snacking brand spread across European market horizon among others. These incisive strategies as well as the use of co-opetition strategy can be invaluable prospects for the company in the future. However, it has to guard against aspects such as overcapacity to mitigate losses and to avoid downfall in sales. Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Kepak has been recognized to be a leading player in the Irish Beef Industry which has over the years tacked several difficult scenarios with its incisive strategic capabilities. The company initially started its operations as a retail business of butchers. However, it gained its major success through supply of its wholesale beef products in the varied market segments especially the UK market. It has been recognized that the beef or meat industry possesses certain significan t challenges for companies operating in the industry such as threat of new entrants, and high buyers’ bargaining power among others. ... nts 3 Introduction 4 Analysis of Kepak’s Business Environment 5 Kepak’s Current Strategy 8 Critical Appraisal of the Strategy 10 References 14 Introduction Kepak was established by Noel Keating, initially as a retail business of butchers during the mid-1960s. Subsequently, Noel Keating commenced the supply of wholesale beef to the food service sector as well as in large markets. The industry for beef in European Union and Ireland during 1970s and 1980s was considered as a commodity business. The process of selling beef under the intervention of Common Agricultural Policy of European Union (EU) was extensively utilised mainly in the regions of North Africa and Middle East. During this period, the strategy used by Kepak was to decrease the prices of products and increase the margin of sales for building Economies of scale and achieving greater monetary success. In that situation, Noel Keating was of the view that the intervention which was applied in the conduction of bus iness was not sustainable in the long run. This prompted him to formulate a strategy based on customer service and differentiation. It was during this period that Kepak started working with Coop Italia, the leading meat producer which was well known for rendering utmost quality based offerings. The company recruited a set of Irish farmers to enhance the quality of production along with maintaining the needs of the customers in the global market context. Kepak used to sell the beef products to Irish and EU retailers for their own profitability and enhancement of their product line. The company also looked for maintaining the quality of products and delivering it to the customers. It has been stated that about 25% of beef volume and quality standards are rigorously controlled by Kepak through the

Managing People in the Modern Workplace Research Paper

Managing People in the Modern Workplace - Research Paper Example The modern workplace has changed significantly as most employees are now increasingly involved in decision-making in addition to other tasks and they work as a team. Therefore, today, people work as a team in any organization and the employers expect the employees to work as a team in managing the workplace. People normally want to do good work in any organization and therefore proper management makes them feel that they matter and are actively involved in making a difference in the organization. Employees normally prefer working in places that magnify or increase their strengths and not focus on their weaknesses. In order to achieve this, they need some level of autonomy and structure, and therefore the organization must always be honest, coherent and open in managing the human resource at its disposal. However, achieving this may at times be tricky or difficult due to the competing needs of the organization as compared to that of individual employees. This is because managers are f aced with numerous challenges at the workplace and must continually work extra hard to forge ahead in pushing the objectives of companies. As managers strive to make the organizations authentic in one way or the other, they should realize the potential of their human resource in achieving their core values. Managing People Creating the best workplace is important in making the organization work at its best as the employees are allowed to realize their optimum potential (Goffee and Jones 2013, p.3). This involves nurturing the differences between each employee and the value of each employee is appreciated. Thus, all information available should be utilized towards improving the welfare of the company while at the same time making the workplace more rewarding (Goffee and Jones 2013, p. 4). Research has shown that employees who are highly engaged by their employers are likely to exceed the workplace expectations by 50% than those workers that are less engaged. This same result also sho ws that firms that actively engaged their employees in the workplace had a higher percentage of customer satisfaction by 89% and a chance of retaining their employees by 54% as compared to other firms (Goffee and Jones 2013, p.4). Similarly, research in other nations has revealed that employees who have the free will to express their real selves had higher levels of commitment to their organizations' performance at the individual level and the propensity to help fellow employees in their assigned tasks. An important strategy of managing people in the modern workplace is to let the employees be themselves in whatever task they are doing or undertaking (Atif 2009, p.60). This encompasses having thoughtfulness of the differences in perspectives, important assumptions, and habits of the mind.

The Civil Rights Movement Essay Example for Free

The Civil Rights Movement Essay The Civil Rights Movement is the most significant and eventful era in America and in African American history. The movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights in Southern states. The movement opened new economic, social and political opportunities to blacks. It had a strong effect on the way people thought and acted. The struggle was about far more than just civil rights under law; it was also about fundamental issues of freedom, respect, dignity, and economic and social equality. Significant achievements during this phase of the Civil Rights Movement were passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, that banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in employment practices and public accommodations. Further, Martin Luther King Jr. organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Finally racial separation on the buses in Montgomery was also declared illegal. After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 the civil rights movement, however, begun to lose momentum. The Civil Rights Movement marks a remarkable moment in history. Women’s Movement: The womens movement of the 1960s and 1970s drew inspiration from the civil rights movement. It was made up mainly of members of the middle class, and thus partook of the spirit of rebellion that affected large segments of middle-class youth in the 1960s. During the 1950s and 1960s, increasing numbers of married women entered the labor force, but in 1963 the average working woman earned only 63 percent of what a man made. Women argued that they had no outlets for expression other than finding a husband and bearing children. Women were encouraged to seek new roles and responsibilities, to seek their own personal and professional identities rather than have them defined by the outside, male-dominated society. The womens movement stagnated in the late 1970’s. Divisions arose between moderate and radical feminists and the movement failed to move beyond the middle class. Conservative opponents mounted a campaign against the Equal Rights Amendment, and it died in 1982 without gaining the approval of the 38 states needed for ratification. Oprah Winfrey: Oprah Winfrey is a popular African American television host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. Winfrey was born in 1954 in rural Mississippi to a teenage single mother and later raised in an inner-city Milwaukee neighborhood. She experienced considerable hardship during her childhood, including being raped at the age of nine and becoming pregnant at 14. At 18 Winfrey won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant. She is known for her self-titled talk show. Her show has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history. Winfreys talk show went national in 1986, and as it had in Chicago, Oprah took the top spot almost immediately. Its been the top-rated daytime talk show ever since. There is immense power in Winfreys opinions and endorsements to influence public opinion. She certainly has a place in one of the most powerful women in the World today. The Color Purple: The Color Purple is an epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker. It received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award. The book has been adapted into a film and musical of the same name. The story is told in the form of diary entries and letters. The story focuses on female black life during the 1930s in the Southern United States, addressing the numerous issues including their exceedingly low position in American social culture. Celie is a poor uneducated young black woman in 1909 Georgia who, aged only fourteen, is raped and impregnated twice by a man she calls Pa. Celie goes through life having a hard time noticing the beautiful aspects and appreciating them. She had a difficult life and was abused as an adolescent. The color purple is continually equated with suffering and pain. Eventually, Celies life is complete, as the two families join as one, despite blood relations and years of separation. The novel was adapted into a film of the same name in 1985. On December 1, 2005, a musical adaptation of the novel opened at The Broadway Theatre in New York City. (www. colorpurple. com) Reference http://www.buzzle.com/articles/1960s-civil-rights-movement-in-america.html

National Development Essay Example for Free

National Development Essay We are here to debate on our country and its developments.The citizens of India have the basic responsibility to think and do his best for the development of the country. In one sentence , te secret of development of india can be achieved on set up of Industries and thereby generation of Employment and value addition of Produce goods and for this infra stature of Good Roads and transportation mode has to be good enough . We need good governence in turn for the development of the nation. For a good Goverence , we need Good Government and a set of good Politicians form a good Government . As the post Politicians it self gives a sign of freedom to act politically / changing faces ., our politicians are have multi faces to manage money for SELF but NOT for the nation. We need good Governors and not Politicians . they shall be treated as Public Servents but not Social servents . A good pay for a lavish life style has to be given first , so that they earn and live at the highest level of life style , as the ae the Managers / Governors / care takers for a given area. To select these so said Governors ,there shall be a scale to measure the crediantial and mere being a Citizen of the nation. Even a Peon , whose work is to keep the office clean and place the work desk in order need basic educition , and why not a leader/ governor doesnt need !! If not education , he should have done good enough for the nation and Not on Mere records . So we have to concerntate on selection of these Leaders/ Governors.

Kantian and existentialist conceptions of freedom

Kantian and existentialist conceptions of freedom Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), best known for his work Critique of Pure Reason, was an instrumental philosopher in his contributions to moral philosophy. A devout Catholic, he firmly believed in the existence of God. Existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980), however, countered Kantian philosophy in their stance on the meaninglessness of existence. For existentialists, life had no greater purpose as humans lived in an infinite universe unconcerned with human existence. Despite this fundamental difference, however, the Kantian and existentialist concepts of freedom had more in common than the rest of their philosophic components. Though rooted in opposing bases, both Kantian and existentialist freedom had more similarities than differences. Kantian free will and the existentialist liberation from responsibility both stipulated that man was only constricted in his choice by his own conscience. Both philosophies concepts of freedom are rooted in human consequence, but where Kantian freedom differs is the calculus of Christian morals and sin. Though his philosophy was deeply rooted in religion, Kant did not try to reduce human freedom, emphasizing the Christian concept of free will (Guyer 1992, p. 2). Though free will theoretically empowers man to any action he so desires, Kant believed in inextricably linking human freedom to the moral law indoctrinated by the specter of an all-knowing, all-seeing God (Guyer 1992, p. 4). Unlike Sartre, Kant believed in a fundamental problem posed by human freedom. Because of the unlimited possibilities and anarchy posed by the free will of millions, Kant endorsed a priori, moral-based philosophy limiting the boundaries of human will to ensure preservation of the greater good. Kants ultimate view of freedom was one that emphasized the importance of limitation as the use of freedom led to the dangers of materialism and determinism, from which the principle of freedom had to be saved at all costs (Guyer 1992, p. 52). Perhaps most concrete about Kantian philosophy is its argument that man ca nnot exist without God; mans actions exist because God allowed him free will, and for no other reason. Existentialist philosophy revolves around the precept that there is no God on whose behalf mans actions ought to be relegated. God did not create man. Instead, man created God. With no God upon whom humankind relies, there can be no limit to the potentiality of freedom. Existentialism dictates that there is no predetermined end to mans actions, that, unlike in Kantian philosophy, existence is meaningless. Man is a creature like any other creature in the universe, and though endowed with certain mental capacities, exists only to perish leaving no great imprint on the infinite universe. Furthermore, every person is unique from the existentialist standpoint, and no two people can be subject to the exact same moral conduct. As a result, the existentialist conception of man developed, portraying the individualessentially still free even when in chains[as] master of his own fate (Howells 1992, p. 68). The limits on human freedom are those of a conscious, self-implemented nature. Mans actio ns are limited only by the conscious decision of man, wherein he/she is obliged to practice good will (Howells 1992, p. 33). In his The Transcendence of the Ego, Sartre examines his moral objectivist predecessor Kant, focusing on individuality as a pivotal point in existence. Sartre asserts that Kant says nothing concerning the actual existence of the [statement] I think, purporting that in Kants notion of free will and limitation, Kant does not take into serious account the possibility of man to dismiss the a priori system altogether (Sartre 1988, p. 32). Sartre argues that Kantian philosophy relies on man as being compelled to follow a series of moral laws, which in essence limits human freedom. Sartre argues that true freedom comes without fear of consequence. Only in the existential acceptance of the futility of action and existence can true freedom to act exist. A priori laws are a binding code, and though they exist for the greater good, they still limit the boundaries of the Christian concept of free will. Essentially, acting on compulsion through an intermediary such as religion still fetters mans range of action, thought, and ultimately inhibits freedom. Despite Sartres contentions of the greater freedom of existentialist philosophy, both the Kantian and existentialist philosophies have much in common. Kant believed in free will as granted by God to man; man, in turn, has the complete freedom to do as he pleases. Though the consequences levied by religion are made clear, man has the choice to accept the consequences of his actions and can decide whether or not to endeavor to exercise free will as he sees fit. Existentialist freedom, through the acceptance of existence as meaningless, endows man with a free will as well, though of a different nature. In existentialist freedom, mans actions are meaningless in the grand scheme of the universe, and he is totally free to do as he pleases. However, man is bound by the consequence of moral transgression, implicating that he ought not to act in certain ways on behalf of his fellow man. The only differentiating aspect is the utilization of a priori laws in Kantian philosophy, as opposed to th e consideration of others in existentialist philosophy. Both philosophies perceive man as bound by knowledge of his consequences, which inhibits freedom in the same manner. Whether aware of an afterlife or the effect of actions on others, both philosophies feature the same countermeasures to free will. The similarities between existentialism and Kantian philosophy are evident only when examined in a broader sense. The more intimately examined, the fewer similarities hold. Under scrutiny, the two philosophies are complete opposites, yet the direction of the two essentially remains the same. Both philosophies dictate the limitations necessary on mans freedoms in order to peacefully co-exist with his surroundings. Where they differ is the source of limitations. For Kant, the limitation comes from the a priori moral objectivist laws attributed to God. Existentialists, on the other hand, find the same freedoms, but from a different approach as they embrace the concept of the universes indifference toward man and the inconsequential existence of humankind.

Interpreting The Descent of Odin :: Descent of Odin Essays

Interpreting The Descent of Odin  Ã‚   There are several different ways to interpret a poem. Each word can either be a metaphor for something else or the words can mean exactly what they say. Either way there can really never be a completely wrong interpretation of a certain poem because everyone is going to see things in their own way. For example, an object or a phrase could have a double meaning. A conversation that seems somewhat insignificant could be very important to the meaning and the tone of the entire poem. This is the case in â€Å"The Descent of Odin† by Thomas Gray. The poem has several different hidden meanings and messages that might not be visible to the untrained reader. The poem has several interesting aspects to it. The first is the very obvious, over active id of Odin. He is trying to retrieve information from the Prophetess when all she wants is to be left alone. In the beginning he is very demanding about what he wants. He will not let her rest until he finds out all of the information he wants. â€Å"Yet a while my call obey; Prophetess, awake, and say,† (Gray, pg. 43). Odin’s child-like characteristics are very obvious. Finally after whining enough, he was able to obtain all of the information he needed, his superego takes over and represses the id from carrying on and tormenting Prophetess. He is able to let his superego take over, unlike Prophetess who is very selfish and is not in control of her own free will. Prophetess was also guilty of doing a little bit of whining herself. Instead of helping Odin right away, she complained about the fact that he had disturbed her. â€Å"What call unknown, what charms presume to break the quiet of the tomb? Who thus afflicts my troubled sprite, and drags me from the realms of night?† (Gray, pg. 41-42) She is annoyed that someone dared to wake her. Her selfish little id is rearing its ugly little head and causing her to complain and be grumpy. She is supposed to help people when they ask about the things that Odin asked about, hence the name Prophetess. Instead of being completely selfless, like she should be, she decides that being stubborn and rude is the way to treat people. Both characters are guilty of giving into their ids, but Prophetess is much more unwilling to let her superego take over to subdue her id.

Isolation in a Rose for Emily :: A Rose For Emily, William Faulkner

Isolation dominated the seventy four-year life of Emily Grierson in 'A Rose for Emily' by William Faulkner. Never in this story did she live in harmony with anyone one short time. Even when she died of age at seventy four, people in Jefferson town rushed into her house not because they wanted to say goodbye forever to her but because they wanted to discover her mystic house. Many people agreed that it was the aristocratic status that made Emily?s life isolated. And if Emily weren?t born in the aristocratic Grierson, her life couldn't be alienated far away from the others around her. Having been the only daughter of a noble family, Emily was overprotected by her father who 'had driven away' all the young men wanting to be close to her. As a result of that, when she got to be thirty, she was still alone. It was Mr. Grierson who alienated his daughter from the normal life of a young woman. If she weren't born in the Grierson, if she didn?t have an upper-class father, she could get many relationships with many young men in order to find herself an ideal lover. Then she might have a happy marriage life with nice husband and children In addition, as a lady descended from aristocracy, Emily was educated in how to behave as a noble, which became her huge barrier to people around her. Throughout the story, Emily always 'carried her head high enough', even when she went out with Homer Barron, bought rat poison, or talked to the Board of Alderman. A head carried high showed that Emily was absolutely aware of her status, which kept her from having a person to confide with. Even she never talked to the Negro servant who lived under the same roof with her for years. That was the reason why people only saw him go in and out of the house silently from the beginning to the end of the story. If Emily carried her head a little bit lower and spent time looking at people around her, she could find a reliable listener to help her escape from the isolation. According to people in Jefferson town, the Grierson was really a monument, although this monument was fallen, they considered Emily, the last Grierson, an example to the young people. As a result of that, townspeople, especially 'some of the ladies began to say that it was disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people?

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Sometimes it's easy to tell what is on a person's mind by the way they position their body. Facial expressions also give clues as to what other people are thinking. The way a person stands, positions their arms, and smiles can tell a lot about them. Men and women typically have different movements, which mean different things. People position their bodies in many different ways when standing. The most intimate of them being, face to face, hip to hip (Fenney 102). This is something that usually only men do when they're mad. When conducting an experiment, in which she acted like a man for a day, Susan Fenney stood this way towards a male coworker. He would keep inching away from her. Within five minutes he had done two complete circles (Fenney 102). Men usually take up more space while sitting down. It is not necessarily because they are bigger; men were raised believing that they have more power then women (Fenney 102). They are also more likely to take an armrest, and least likely to give up a subway seat to a pregnant lady (Fenney 102). The way men and women greet people is very different. Contrary to popular beliefs, men are more likely to touch women when they greet them, then women are to touch men. Men usually touch people on their upper body, for instance, back-slapping. When Susan Fenney tried this on her boss on her day as a man, he was startled and took a moment to answer her. It is more like women to touch people on the shoulder or arm (Fenney 102). Facial expressions are great indicators of what is on people's minds. The face has 44 muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, which can twist into 5,000 different expressions (Blum 34). Facial expressions are not always easy to read though. As Dr. Paul Ekman said, "In a sense, the face is equipped to lie the most and leak the most, and thus can be a very confusing source of information" (Blum 34). The face is able to signal emotions in a second, and it is also able to hide emotions just as well (Blum 32). Researchers have come up with 6 basic and different expressions that are usually the most easy to read and make. Those are: anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, and happiness (Blum 34). Smiles are the most easily recognized way of showing happiness.

Changes and Continuity in Western Europe

During the period of 1492 to 1750, Europe experienced drastic changes during their Age of Discovery. As a result of contact and colonization, Western Europe’s economy, political, social, and military systems changed, but also maintained certain aspects that enabled them to build strong civilizations. Such changes include increased (international) trade routes, more centralized governments such as monarchies, decreased unifying influence of the Catholic Church, and increased interest in military conquest and expansion. In terms of the economy, industrialization and manufacturing drove the economy forward, catalyzing change and developments that would contribute to the economy. Advancements in metallurgy produced an increased demand for skilled blacksmiths and detailed metal work. State sponsored trading companies and colonial ventures were investments that had a lasting influence. The ventures were mainly directed at the Americas, which were rich sources of gold, silver, sugar, and other desired goods. This new international trade opened infinite possibilities for the economy to grow and expand. These ventures also brought American crops back to Europe, such as potatoes, which increased specialized agriculture. However, through these increased changes within the economic system, many aspects remained behind. Most notably was in agriculture, where farmers continued relying on the methods and techniques of the Middle Ages, such as the three-field system. Although there were innovations during the 18th century, they were not enough to noticeably improve the productivity, and many old crops were grown along with new crops, which resulted in a lower production of the old crops. Politically, important changes, mainly the Glorious Revolution, impacted Europe in such a way that there is a lasting impression to this day. The decline in feudal balance resulted in more centralized government states, therefore leading to absolute and parliamentary monarchies. When France, England, and the Netherlands gained power through international trade, Spain lost its dominance while slowly falling behind the new major powers of Western Europe. Parts of the European political systems that remained untouched included the feudal political forms that remained strong, even with introduction of monarchies. Since European states thirsted for expansion of their states, military remained a top priority in funding; therefore, the strong feudal forms remained, although with shifted balance. Furthermore, ordinary people were not highly affected by the political changes, because politics did not concern them; all they had to worry about was paying their taxes as usual, and the general economic life was not altered. In terms of the social system and structure, a main change that altered the social structure was commercialization, which created a new social class, the proletariats, who suffered from poverty. Other notable social changes include the emergence of a European-style family, which emphasized the nuclear family structure, and intensified links between family and individual property, and the decline of influence of the Catholic Church, which cause a separation of peoples’ religious and daily lives. However, women maintained their low statuses as inferiors to men, and have fewer alternatives when Protestants abolished convents. In addition, although the Catholic Church lost its influence, the elite remained powerful and limited cultural movements, mirroring that of the Dark Ages but to a lesser extent because of the Enlightenment. Militarily, the main advancements were evident in the navy, and skills in building stronger, bigger ships capable of sailing the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The increased interest in military conquest supported state-sponsored expeditions and ventures. France formed a professional military, and Italy became more militarized, with majority of Western European states improving their navies. Similar to their ancestors, the European states used their dominating armies and navies to expand their boundaries and conquer neighbouring lands. The coastal states gained more territory as a result of having superior naval forces, notably Britain. Throughout the period of 15th to 18th centuries, the changes that occurred, heavily influenced the development of the states into independent, dominating forces with Western Europeans gaining their own unique identity. Although there were more changes than continuities, the aspects that did last through this period aided in the development of others, such as how the feudal political forms aided the emerging monarchies in becoming stronger, lasting till modern day. Europe’s Age of Discovery was a time for drastic and rapid changes, changes for the best, and not necessarily for the worst. Guns, Germs, and Steel. Dir. Jerad Diamond. National Geographic, 2005. DVD. Hoffman, Philip T. â€Å"Prices, the Military Revolution, and Western Europe's Comparative Advantage in Violence. † Economic History Review, Feb2011 Supplement. Vol. 64. 2011. 39. Print. â€Å"Outline. † World Civilizations, AP Edition. Pearson Education, 2010. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. . â€Å"Transformation of the West. † World Civilizations. Pearson Education, 2010. Web. 11 Dec. 2011. .

Corrido and Conjunto

Relate each of the three music genres that developed on the Texas-Mexican border to its cultural background and the group associated with its widespread acceptance and dissemination. How did it change over time? Corrido The corrido has roots back to Spanish descendents in the 12th century. By the 15th century, the style was more developed; but the corrido really emerged after the Mexican-American War in 1846. This style became very popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Mexico, and eventually Texas.The corrido showcased the change in the role of Mexicans in relation to Americans. Songs often spoke of events, tragedies, or conflicts. The songs were very racially focused and would often act as protest to the social prejudices that they faced. After World War II, the theme changed to cover the necessary changes in social structure. The reading â€Å"The New Chicano Heroic Corrido† by Jose Villarino discusses studies by Vicente Mendoza, the leading scholar in studies of the corrido. Mendoza finds that the subject of the corrido has constantly changed over time.He lists many topics that have been the focus of corrido music over the years: historical, revolutionaries, bravery, killings, political, robbers, jailing, rapes, persecutions, murders, evil, tragedies, horses, and a number of other categories. The reading also states, â€Å"Another category of corridos is that of focusingon women heroines instead of the traditional male heroes. One singer who made corridos popular was Lydia Mendoza. She is given credit for over 200 songs. She sang and accompanied herself by playing a 12-string guitar. Corrido used to just be sung a cappella, but she helped change this part of the culture of the corrido. Basis was founded by Spanish descendents in 1100-1200 AD * Well developed by 15th century * Emerged after Mex-Am War (1846-1848) * Became very popular in late 19th, early 20th century in Mexico * Documented change in role of Mexicans in relation to Ameri cans * Very racially focused (social protest agains prejudice) * After WWII, new theme, changes in social structure Conjunto The conjunto style of music began in the late 19th century along the Mexican-American border. It was a style of music for the working class that was made up of the accordion and the bajo sexto.The bajo sexto was originally used as a bass, but then became more commonly used as a regular guitar. In the 1930s, it spread through the southwestern United States with the help of the father of conjunto music, Narciso Martinez. He focused his music around a fast-paced accordion. Valerio Longoria added onto what Martinez began. Often referred to as the genius of conjunto, he tweaked his accordion to make it sound a bit different, and people have been trying to replicate it ever since. He also added drums and vocals to the music, which it didn’t have when the genre began.His music thrived after the Second World War. He helped raise the music to a higher level, but not to the upper class. The reading â€Å"Musica Fronteriza/Border Music† by Manuel Pena hinted at the causes of conjunto music. It states, â€Å"It is critical to an understanding of the conjunto’s significance that its complex social context be taken into account. Its emergence was a response to interethnic conflict of course, but it was, above all, a response to intra-ethnic class friction. † This was why it did not want to be seen as a song for those of the upper class.The working class took pride in their conjunto. Eventually, a man named Flacco Jimenez, advanced the genre more, by combining tejano music with country/western music from American popularity. * Emerged in the late 19th century along the border * Bajo Sexto, first used as bass, then as guitar * Humble, rural origins * Working class dance music * In 1930s, spread through Southwest US (Arizona, Cali, etc) * Narciso Martinez, father of conjunto music, focused on fast-paced accordion * Valerio Lon goria, tweaked his accordion, people have been trying to replicate it ever since.Added drums. * Genius of conjunto music, added vocals, thrived in post WWII. Raised to a higher value, but not upper class. Orquesta Speaking of upper class, this was where the orquesta thrived. It was developed in the 1930s, to give the upper class Mexicans a version of American ballroom dances, such as the swing and waltz. Many orquesta bands played the popular American songs, but new songs were also made, and were a good bit more popular. Noted by Pena in an interview with a member of an orquesta band, â€Å"The first hour we play nothing but American music and nobody’s dancing.Then we take off with Los Laureles, El Abandonado Ranchera, everybody starts dancing. † These songs are examples of orquesta dances such as Danzon, Bolero, Rumba, and Guaracha. In the 60s and 70s, orquesta is said to have fused with American jazz and rock. Pena again notes, â€Å"The old fashioned orquestas disa ppeared soon after the advent of the Mexican-American Generation. They were replaced by the surging, modern-style orquestas, which were capable not only of keeping alive the Mexican-Americans’ musical roots, but also of catering to the new generation’s more modern and Americanized outlook. In the 1940s and 50s, a man named Beto Villa (the father of the Mexican-American orquesta) mixed the Tex-Mex Polka style with American swing and foxtrot, creating a very new version of orquesta music. In the 60s and 70s, Little Joe Hernandez and his family became a very popular orquesta band. Compare and contrast the three styles in terms of form, lyrics, instrumentation and performance practice. Corrido (Ballad) The term Corrido described a type of song that was often very racially focused, telling a story about the prejudice that the Mexican-Americans were facing (this was especially true after World War II).The song El Corrido de Joaquin Murrieta told a story about a thief that th ey often referred to as the â€Å"Mexican Robin Hood. † Another song, El Corrido de Kiansis detailed a cattle drive by Americans that was going very poorly. Thirty American cattle drivers were failing to control the 500 cattle, but then five Mexicans showed up and had the cattle rounded up in 15 minutes. There were also Jarchas that told a story about the composer’s feelings or thoughts. They were often written in Strophic form based on copla, which had 4 lines, 8 syllables per line, and rhymed every 2nd and 4th line.They used to be sung a cappella, but are now often accompanied by a guitar. One artist that made this very popular was Lydia Mendoza who sang and played a 12-string guitar. She had over 200 songs to her name. Corridos were usually sung in any manner that befit the passing of a story, like while traveling, around a campfire, or just at home. Lyrics were passed orally and this often lead to words being changed over the years. * Very racially focused (social protest agains prejudice) * Strophic Form * Jarchas (songs about the composer’s feeling, thoughts, and ideas) * Told a story Based on copla (4 lines, 8 syllables, 2&4 rhyme) * Sung A Capella, now some include guitar * El Corrido de Kiansis (Cattle Drivers failed, mexicans succeed) * El Corrido de Joaquin Murrieta (Mexican Robin Hood) * Lydia Mendoza, singer and 12 string guitar (200+ songs) * Performance Practice: Passed orally, often changing words, sang while traveling, at home, etc. Telling story. Conjunto The conjunto was considered the soul of tejano music. It was a type of dance music meant for the cantina, bar, or party (eventually, it would make its way to concerts).These songs originated without lyrics, as words would cause it to become more upper-class. However, eventually the songs would develop lyrics about common life, working, and women, which kept it from becoming upper-class. The reading â€Å"Musica Fronteriza/Border Music† by Manuel Pena hinted at the causes of conjunto music. It states, â€Å"It is critical to an understanding of the conjunto’s significance that its complex social context be taken into account. Its emergence was a response to interethnic conflict of course, but it was, above all, a response to intra-ethnic class friction. They were written in strophic form. Instruments for the conjunto included the accordion and bajo sexto (which was originally used as a bass, but was eventually used as a guitar). A famous accordion was that of Valerio Longoria, the genius of conjunto music. He tweaked his accordion to sound different, and people have been trying to replicate it ever since. He also added drums to the conjunto scene. Flacco Jimenez was also very important to the advancement of conjunto music, as he combined it with Country Western music from America (most notably Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire). The soul of Tejano music * Dance music * Cantina music * Songs about women and life * For the working class * Valerio Longoria, tweaked his accordion, people have been trying to replicate it ever since. Added drums. * Genius of conjunto music, added vocals, thrived in post WWII. * Flacco Jimenez (Ring of Fire), combined tejano with country music, big time performer * Little Joe Hernandez, kinda orquesta, but also referenced in conjunto * Strophic form * Didn’t have lyrics at first, thought lyrics were for the wealthy * Added lyrics about life, women, troubles, etc. Used to be bajo sexto and accordion, then added drums and guitar and many other simple intruments * Shows, cantinas, parties, bars * Orquesta The orquesta walks the thin line between Mexican and American culture. It combines the tejano music with the style of American ballroom varieties. The orquesta was centered around the upper-class Mexicans as their version of an American ballroom dance. It began with violin, but eventually added brass, percussion, and other big band instruments. It incorporated the likes of waltz a nd swing music.When learning about the orquesta in class, Leah had said that there was no form. Orquesta music was used in upper-class parties or balls. Unlike other tejano music, it was not passed down by ear. Since this was the upper class, sheet music was used to pass down the songs. * Upper class dance music * Started with violin * Added brass, percussion, big band instruments * Incorporated waltz, swing, etc * Leah said there was no â€Å"form Compare and contrast the religious traditions of Afro Cuban Santaria and African American Christian slaves on southern plantationsThe Santaria is the largest Afro-Cuban religion, and is the Cuban mix of Yoruba spirituality with Roman Catholicism. The first thing I noticed was different between the Afro Cuban Santaria and African American slaves was the role of race. This undoubtably played a big role in their religion as well. In Cuba, it is said that race was not an issue as it was in America. Since religion was so often used by slaves as a way to stay optimistic about their situation, this was a clear difference. Another difference was the worship of Orishas, which the Cubans believed to be a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of God.In a way, this can be compared to a Saint in the Catholic Church. The Godess of Love and Fertility in Afro-Cuban worship was called Oshun. It was said that this was one of the first Orishas that an outsider would discover. As African American slaves were not allowed to use drums with their songs, the Afro-Cubans would use Bata drums that are said to hold an indwelling deity named Ana. These were drums sacred to their religion, and used for funerals, initiations, and other important ceremonies.Contrasting from regular sacraments of the Christian faith, the Afro-Cubans had an event called the Toque de Santo. It is an anniversary of initiation to honor the spirits. There is singing and dancing accompanied by the Bata drums. This ceremony would create an altered stat e of consciousness that they believed to be involved with spirit possession. This altered state of spirit possession was also present with African American Christian slaves. Trace the evolution and development of the Steel Band. Trace the evolution and development of the Calypso.

My role model Essay

To me a role model is someone in my life that has influenced me in a positive way. They help shape the way I am in the present and what I am going to be in the future. They are some one that I can look forward for advice in a tough situation and I know that they will give me advices with wisdom. They will never judge me on my past but only look to help because they really do care about me. Some one who I never feel awkward talking to about my problems because I know that it will not change their view of me and they will not reveal any information about me to other unrelated person or someone who are nosey. A role model should be sincere and not out for there own good but the good of others. I think that they should be older then I am because they need to have more experience then I do and need to have a deeper insight. It would be pointless to have a role model who knows less then me. Read more: My role model essay But apart from my parents, , teachers or very best friends like Brian Lee really do care about me a lot, there is nobody should be deserved to have a talk about, or can drag my attraction, or makes me change my personality and reach more achievements. I don’t have a real one honestly, but I would be searching for him or her! ( You must feel surprised that why do I write such a short paragraph this timeï Å )

Bankruptcy Court in Richmond

In the Eastern Edition of Wall Street Journal, an article was published on April 14, 2009 with reports that Circuit City sought the permission of U. S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Virginia to sell the â€Å"Circuit City† and â€Å"The City† brand names and related Web sites, phone numbers, and trademarks to Systemax Inc. , the same company who bought the CompUSA brand name in 2008. This kind of scenario in the business world is an example of acquisition.As defined by the Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms, the term â€Å"acquisition† refers to a process where: â€Å"†¦one company taking over controlling interest in another company. Investors are always looking out for companies that are likely to be acquired, because those who want to acquire such companies are often willing to pay more than the market price for the shares they need to complete the acquisition† (2006). In this project, the acquiring company is Systemax Inc while the target c ompany for acquisition is the Circuit City. Systemax Inc.(NYSE: SYX) is a Fortune 1000 company and leading retailer of brand name like TigerDirect, CompUSA, MISCO and Global Industrial Equipment, and of private label products including personal computers, notebook computers, consumer electronics, computer-related accessories, technology supplies and industrial products. Systemax sells these products through Integrated Marketing mix such as: branded e-commerce websites, direct mail catalogs, relationship marketers and retail stores. The company also manufactures and sells personal computers under the Systemax logo and computer components under the Ultra Products brand.The company reach extends to a wide range of customers from individual consumers, to small-to-medium sized businesses, to major corporations, to government organizations and to the educational market. On the other hand, Circuit City Stores, Inc. (Pink Sheets: CCTYQ) used to be the second largest U. S. electronics retail er, after Best Buy in brand-name consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software, and large appliances. At the time of liquidation, there were 567 Circuit City Superstores nationwide with store size ranging from 15,000 to 45,000 square feet (1400 to 4000 m?), when the company announced total liquidation. When the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2008, an additional 155 stores were closed with the intent of continuing business operations. However, as a consequence of global economic recession during the late 2000s, the lack of consumer spending and overall economic downturn resulted to the demise of the company. When the company shut operation, a small staff remains active at corporate headquarters to complete the company's business such as the termination of its many leases, and the sale of its company-owned real estate and Canadian subsidiary.From the acquisition and take over that happened between Systemax Inc. and Circuit City, we can now see h ow the managers of these two companies strategically implemented their business plans and goals. As for the Systemax Inc, the bankruptcy of Circuit City is a blessing not only because a giant competitor has closed operations, it can now enjoy the existing infrastructures and other stakeholders of the said company. With 14 million dollars cash plus a share of future revenue generated from those assets over a 30-month period, the managers of Circuit City can now address its internal concerns with the employees and customers.The employees can now receive separation payments as deemed by the Labor laws and the customers can now ask for refunds for the defective products sold at Circuit City. References ACQUISITION. (2006). In Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. Retrieved May 18, 2009, from http://www. credoreference. com. ezproxy. stedwards. edu:5000/entry/barronsfin/acquisition Morath, E. (2009, April 14). Circuit city aims to sell br and name to systemax. Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), p. B. 6. Retrieved May 18, 2009, from Wall Street Journal database. (Document ID: 1678320131).

The Erosion of Language and Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Erosion of Language and Culture - Essay Example A language represents human experience and knowledge, and, as such, must be preserved. Technology, specifically the Internet and electronic communications, offers an unprecedented opportunity to reinvigorate language and culture among a whole new community, one that exists in cyberspace. Keywords: Globalization, cultures, languages, homogenization, lingua franca, English, Internet.   The Erosion of Language and Culture: The High Price of Globalization The most important cultural issue facing the world is globalization and its overwhelming impact on so much that is culturally unique and worthy of preservation. The great downside of the technological revolution that has super-connected the most distant reaches of the planet is the homogenization of disparate cultures. While the developmental and economic benefits of electronic communication technologies cannot be denied, particularly in economically disadvantaged countries, the means by which â€Å"improvement† is accomplished is also the means by which traditions are marginalized and, most significantly, by which languages are threatened. Language is the expression of a culture’s soul and the repository of its history and artistic achievement. Yet globalization and the concomitant spread of the English language have contributed to the extinction of many languages and threaten countless others. It is as if technology and finance have succeeded in accomplishing, in a relatively short span of time, what centuries of imperialism, subjugation, and criminalization of native languages could not. Language extinction is not simply a matter of natural selection, a Darwinian weeding-out of moribund tongues. â€Å"Languages change as they pass from the lips of one generation to the next, but there is nothing about this process of transmission which makes for decay or extinction† (Ostler, 2006). When English overwhelms an ancient language it is, to be sure, a matter of â€Å"survival of the fittest.â €  It is also an erosion of human knowledge, a marginalization of the expressing and sharing of human experience (Haviland, Prins, McBride & Walrath, 2009, p. 170-71). As the medium for transmitting and growing culture, language is the source of the most desperate cultural struggle against the assimilating effects of globalization. In Haviland, there are two sections that address this issue, expanding on globalization as something much more than a mindless technological phenomenon that sprang into being so that countries could do business rapidly and efficiently. In â€Å"Language and Communication† and â€Å"Global Changes and the Role of Anthropology,† language is examined as an exploitable and vulnerable precious resource (Haviland, Prins, et al, 2009, pp. 162, 316). This being so, the rise of globalization has inspired a consequent reaction in many countries. Where once languages were taken for granted, many countries now regard their native tongues as priceless assets to be protected against foreign incursion. In France, a growing concern over the purity of the French language has led the government to launch a dubious campaign to expunge English terms, such as le hamburger and e-mail (Haviland, Prins, et al, 2009, p. 170).  Ã‚