Character sketch Essay

Michael Finley began walking to his room, very exasperated from the day’s occurrences. Michael was a diminutive adolescent with short black hair and dazzling blue eyes. Michael was wearing what he wore every single day, his decrepit blue jeans, a tangerine shirt and his bulky brown boots. Michael was a quiet and coy youth who had very few friends. Because he had very few friends , Michael became very introspective. Michael meandered aimlessly, cogitating about his fantasy. Michael fantasized about friendship, something that all people want. Michael entered his room and laid his body down on his bed remaining completely still. He started to evaluate his atrocious day. While contemplating, his immense angelic eyes became droopy, and had nearly fallen asleep. A moment passed, and suddenly the doorbell rang. Michael rose up from his bed and as he was opening the door, he heard sounds of laughter and discourse from the exterior. He opened the door and discovered an assemblage of his classmates. The classmates started walking into his house, seeming like they had been friends with Michael since childhood. His classmates sat down on his sofa and started to chat with Michael. Michael had not known what had happened but he didn’t care because his dream was coming true. Michael and his friends talked through the wee hours of the night. At that point Michael felt that he was one of them and didn’t care what happened in the past, he only cared what was happening now. Michael did something that he hadn’t in a long time; smile. In the morning, his friends departed after a night of celebration and companionship, and Michael walked to his room. He once again lay down on his bed and started to contemplate. But this time, Michael didn’t contemplate unhappily but contemplated blissfully. Michael’s dream was accomplished, but there was only one problem; it was just a dream.

Chemistry of Cancer

Molly HubnerPeriod 1Extra Credit Paper Chemistry of Cancer Cancerous cells develop when conditions for cells are favorable, therefore following the divisions to continually occur, never stopping. When this happens, a tissue mass of cells called a tumor is formed and does not respond to normal controls regarding cell growth. Cancer cells have the following characteristics: profound changes in the plasma and membrane cytoplasm, abnormal growth and division weakened capacity for adhesion, and lethality. The membrane permeability is intensified and some proteins may be altered or added. Enzyme activities may also change and the cytoskeleton shrinks, causing a chaotic atmosphere. Controls are lost and cell populations will dramatically increase. New proteins cause abnormal increases in small blood vessels. Due to the high numbers, the cells can no longer attach itself to the parent tissue. Unless the cancerous cells are removed, they will kill the individual. Cancer is the number one killer in America today. We can say the known causes of cancer are radiation, sunlight, pollution, cigarette smoking and improper diets. I will explain the major causes of cancer, but before I proceed let me define the term â€Å"cancer. To be defined cancer is an abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells that can spread beyond their natural boundaries to other parts of the body. Cancers can develop in numerous parts of the body. At first oncogene, genes with highly specialized functions were said to be the † cancer genes â€Å". This of course was wrong as oncogene promote normal c ell division and growth as well as the repair and replacement of damaged cells. Cancer starts when one out of as many as one trillion cells goes awry. When first damaged the cell loses its external controls and then the internal controls defect. From this it tries to develop a new set of internal controls by multiplying at a rapid pace which spreads colonies throughout the body. Cancer has been said to have two steps: mutation and promotion. During mutation the cell has been hit and permanently damaged; the cell is primed and ready to be molded known as a cancer cellPromotion is the cell division of the cancerous cell which then loses its controls- it then compensates itself by becoming an autonomous body Cancer can take 10 – 15 years to become fully developed, this depending on the cause or the ggressiveness of the tumor. Mature cells tend to progress slower. Metastases is the final stage when cancer is spread through the body by blood vessels or lymphatic channels. Single metastases can be cured usually by surgery or radiotherapy and multiple metastases is cured by chemotherapy . Metastases follows a path- from the primary tumor to a specific organ or organs. Lung Cancer is a disease marked by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. The abnormal cells may no longer do the work of normal cells and in turn crowd out and destroy the healthy tissue. Most of the victims of cancer die from lung cancer. Many of these cases could have been avoided because it most often occurs in people over the age of 50 with a history of smoking. There are different types of lung cancer involving different parts of the lungs. They have different symptoms and are all treated differently. If the cancer is located in one of the bronchi it can irritate the lining of the bronchus and cause a chronic cough. Otherwise known as â€Å"smokers cough†. In serious conditions of this cough some might actually cough up blood. If the cancer spreads it may fill up the bronchus so air cannot easily pass in or out. Repeated lung infections and pneumonia are common with this condition. The leading cause of lung cancer is smoking. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, many of which are carcinogens (may cause cancer). The three of the most damaging toxins are nicotine, tars, and carbon monoxide. Second-hand smoke inhaled by both smokers and nonsmokers is another important cause of lung cancer. Smoking is responsible for 90% of lung cancer deaths among men, 79% among women. Also smoking accounts for about 30% of all cancer deaths. Smokers that inhale two or more packs of cigarettes a day, have a cancer mortality rate 12-25 times greater than a nonsmokers. It has been estimated that if all the smokers in America stopped smoking, lung cancer would be virtually gone. The best known carcinogen is asbestos. Others include nickel, chromate, and vinyl chloride. Risk of lung cancer is greatly increased when combined with smoking. It is obvious that cigarette smoking is the single most powerful cause of lung cancer. The increase in risk has been observed not only in men, but more recently in women, for smoking has come engage in activities formerly considered the domain of men. Depending upon the number of cigarettes smoked, and the number of cigarettes smoked each day can increase the risk of lung cancer. It is clear that there is a definite and direct dose-response relationship between the smoking dose and the development of cancer. I believe that if someone smokes even a pack of cigarettes a day it will increase the risk of getting cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. It is a radioactive gas found in the earth's rocks and soil, formed by the natural breakdown of radium. Excessive exposure of radon in the home may increase the risk of lung cancer especially in smokers. If the radon levels are found to be to high, remedial actions should be taken. Another cause of cancer is on the job exposure to carcinogens . You can't see radon. And you can't smell or taste it, but it may very well be a problem in your home. It is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas, and when you breathe air containing the gas, you can get lung cancer. In fact, radon has now been declared the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high. Radon can be found all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets in to the air you breathe. Radon can get into any type of building, homes, offices, and schools and build up to high levels. But you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure in your home because that is where you spend most of your time. In recent years Cancer is disease that has seemed to scared and infected Americans. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U. S. with more than 1 million new cases occurring a year. With each day scientific findings give a better understanding of the causes of the disease. These findings have opened doors to help treat cancer patients more effectively. Scientists have gained a more specific knowledge of individual cancers and now through the wonders of science have found effective treatments for the disease. To treat Cancer doctors and scientist need an understanding of what the disease actually physically does. Cancer is defined as â€Å"new growth of tissue resulting from a continuing proliferation of abnormal cells that have the ability to invade and destroy other tissues. † Cancer is not restricted to what type of cell and tissue it may emerge from. Therefore, they describe the disease as a large number of diseases as opposed to just on single disease. Because Cancer involves cells that can easily enter the bloodstream the disease has the ability to spread quickly through the body making it an even more dangerous disease and harder to stop. The idea behind surgery for treatment of cancer patients is to remove all malignant cells and tumors. With new, more precise, surgical advances, far less tissue is required to be removed thus resulting in a quicker recovery and less chance for serious disability. Surgery is most effective if done in the early stages of Cancer, although it is effective in more developed stages in relieving symptoms. Surgery is also used to make other forms of treatment, such as radiation, more effective. With the reduction of the tumor through surgery radiation treatment may effectively eliminate the tumor. Radiation treatment of cancer uses gamma rays attack Cancer causing tissue. Since tumors are more sensitive to radiation than normal tissue radiation can effectively eliminate or reduce harmful tissues that surgery can otherwise not remove. Since normal tissues are not as easily harmed by radiation, the negative effects on healthy tissue are not as severe. If the tumor is reduced through radiation, it may become possible for a doctor to eliminate the tumor through surgery. Radiation can also sterilize tumors thus preventing or slowing the spread of the Cancer through the body. This can also help doctors remove the tumor more easily through surgery, and provides a much less involved, painful surgery. The combination of radiation and surgery, if effective, can offer a cure with fewer negative side effects to the patient. The final traditional means of treating cancer is Chemotherapy. This form of treatment involves the use of drugs. Chemotherapy is used when Cancer has grown throughout the body and is no longer accessible through radiation or surgery. Although after chemotherapy, surgery is often used to eliminate remaining Caceres tissue. In this treatment drugs are administered and pass through the blood stream effecting Cancer tissue and healthy tissue. Since the drugs affect healthy tissue the patient will become sick from the treatment but because healthy cells divide faster than malignant cells the patient is able to recuperate. Chemotherapy, like all Cancer treatments, is most effective when administered early the early stages of the disease. It is also important that the treatment is consistent and administered frequently in order to achieve the most successful results. Cancer is one of the most leading causes of death in women, children and the elderly in the United States of America. Cancer is the number one killer in America today. We can say the known causes of cancer are radiation, sunlight, pollution, cigarette smoking and improper diets. Until this day we can say the causes of cancer are many and definitely complex, while the development of most cancers still remain unexplained. Bibliography Avendano, Carmen, and J. Carlos Mendes. Medicinal Chemistry of Anti- Cancer Drugs† ElSever: Hardbook. April 2008 Kotasek, Dusan, and Peter Pannall. Cancer and Clinical Biochemistry. UK:ACB. Venture Publications, 1997

Selection of Sustainable Construction Materials

The faculty of human cognition often finds it difficult in making decisions concerning systems that are extensive and complex such as in the management of organizational operations, investment portfolios, military command and control situations and control of nuclear facilities. Even though one may fully comprehend the individual interactions amongst a system’s variables, it is usually very difficult to predict how a system will react to new stimuli as a result of a decision taken.Under such circumstances, the results of many researches have indicated that the judgment and decision making capabilities of human beings could well fall short of the optimal. Stress and complexities acts negatively on the human cognition system, making it even harder to make what could be termed as the most optimal decision. The decision to be taken can nevertheless be very crucial, and a wrong decision could lead to catastrophe.It therefore becomes essential to find some way to aid and help a huma n being in taking crucial decisions on complex systems not only in atmospheres of stress and pressure but also in normal situations. Science has strived to device such decision-making aids through out history. Operations research, statistics and economics have developed various methods for making rational choices. The advent of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and its dramatic developments in the last two-and-a-half decades has made it possible apply ICT in integrating various disciplines in aiding decision making in complex situations.As a result, information science, artificial intelligence, cognitive psychology and the neurosciences have come together to develop a variety of decision making aids. These decision-making aids are practically implemented as computer applications deployed either as stand-alone tools in individual systems or are installed to cover entire working networks. Such decision-making tools and integrated computing environments are together known as Decision Support Systems (DSSs), which is a very broad term incorporating a multitude of methodologies, tools, techniques, approaches and technologies.Druzdzel & Flynn (2002) takes all existing DSSs into consideration when they attempt to define them empirically as computer-based interactive systems that help users in making decisions. DSSs are sometimes also referred to as knowledge-based systems because they basically try to structure domain knowledge into a form on which mechanical decision making is possible. Decision Support Systems integrate information from various sources, allow intelligent access to the information sources that are relevant, and help in the process of organizing decisions to help human beings overcome their cognitive deficiencies.Decision Support Systems strengthen the conventional tasks of accessing and retrieving information with reasoning support based on a model and model building approach. Framing, modeling and problem solving are supported by DSSs. They are usually used for strategic and tactical decisions to be made by planners and senior levels in the management. Such decisions have a reasonably low frequency but their consequences have very high potential. Therefore the time and investment taken in using DSSs to aid in taking such decisions are paid off in the long run.Decision Support Systems not only define the alternative decision choices, but can help in picking out the most logical and optical choice amongst the alternatives adhering to and adopting elements from disciplines such as engineering economics, operations research, statistics and decision theory. Artificial Intelligence is used by Decision Support Systems to tackle problems in a heuristic manner in situations in which the problems are not amenable to formal conventional techniques.Decision Support Systems have grown in popularity because it has been found that when decision-making systems are used appropriately they tend to increase efficiency and output pr oviding appreciable competitive edge over rival businesses. This happens because organizations and businesses employing DSSs make sound choices in the deployment of technology, and in planning business operations, logistics and operations. Components of DSSs There are three fundamental components f Decision Support Systems are essentially made up of three basic elements: i. Data Base Management System (DBMS): The DBMS is the databank for the DSS.The DBMS is a storehouse for the huge volumes of data that the DSS has to deal with in providing solution for the type of problem for which it has been designed. Unlike in other databases which provide physical data structure, the DMBS works on logical data structures which the users can interact with. In a good DBMS, the physical database structure and the way the data is actually process remains hidden from the user. The user only knows the different types of data that are available and how best to access this data to aid in decision makin g. ii. Model-Based Management System (MBMS): The MBMS plays a similar role to that of the DBMS.The main task of an MBMS is to provide a mechanism whereby the applications that use a particular DSS are independent of the particular models that are used in the DSS. By doing so, the MBMS actually converts data available in the DBMS into information that helps in decision making. Users of a DSS usually have to handle unstructured problems. The MBMS is therefore required to help the users with building models. iii. Dialog Generation and Management system (DGMS): People use a DSS to comprehend a system in its entirety. The primary task of the DSS is therefore to provide insight.The interfaces that a DSS uses needs to be highly user friendly as many people who use them specialize in planning and managerial decision making and may not be very well acquainted or oriented towards computing systems. The interfaces not only need to assist in building the models bit also need to provide adequate interactions with the models so that the users are able to gain insight and extract recommendations from the DSS. The DGMS is therefore primarily tasked with providing easy access and meaningful access to the DSS. DSS for Selection of Construction Materials, its relevanceThis paper attempts to describe a Decision Support System to assist in making decisions to select construction materials based on a sustainability criterion. For every given construction job, there is a huge variety of construction materials to choose from. Economic factors and technology criteria have been traditionally the primary basis of selection of construction materials. Construction materials were selected against the requirements a desired life span, and a program of requirements and codes based on the characteristics of the material concerned such strength, viscosity, elasticity, bending moment, etc.Rapid depletion of natural resources required for construction materials has however forced a change in per spectives. The focus has now shifted to ecological, health and ethical considerations. Making a selection decision based only on human judgment and past experience, taking all added aspects into consideration, becomes almost an impossible task. According to (Pearce, et. al. , 2001) it was essential that some new mechanism of assessing the available construction materials for the highest utility of the specific project was required.The mechanism would have to evaluate the alternatives on the basis of their technical properties and cost parameters but also on the basis of the status of their availability in the ecosystem in the long-term context and from the perspective of natural resources. Such a holistic method could be implemented only through a Decision Support System. The DSS will have to provide all necessary information to enable the decision maker to take the most optimal decision keeping not only the technical and economical parameters under consideration, but also balancing the right degree of emphasis on the environment and sustainability aspect.To achieve such an objective in the design of a Decision Support System the following development steps will have to be undertaken: 1. Sustainability will have to be defined for the selection of construction material. 2. Based on the definition of sustainability developed, a methodology has to be developed for selection and comparison of the alternative construction materials that are available. 3. The methodology for selection will have to be automated by development of a Develop a conceptual framework for a Sustainability Decision Support System (SDSS). Defining SustainabilityThe United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as development keeping the concerns of the future in sight. Sustainable development is that development that meets the requirements of the present generation without in any way endangering or compromising the scope for development of futu re generations. (WCED, 1987). Sustainability is therefore the concept of meeting present requirements in such a manner that the resources that go to fulfill the present requirement can also be utilized to meet similar requirements in the long run.In other words, it is handling the present with an eye on the future. This concept of sustainability works on the inherent principle that human development is a going process that has to sustained at a pace at which the finite resources available in the world can easily cope with. A fine but much simplified example could be that of utilization of timber in the making of any civil construction. The decision maker will not only have to select the timber the quality of which is suitable for the construction in terms of strength, expected durability, etc.but will also have to ensure that the made is a type of timber that is not endangered or on the verge of being extinct, a type that is easily available in the area of the construction with no t hreat to its future. The next question that could face the decision maker is whether timber, considering the depletion rate of natural resources, should be used at all. And if timber is not used then what are the other available alternatives that could be used in the place of timber?The Decision Support System will have to be able to assist the decision maker in making these crucial decisions by providing structured and easy access to all relevant information. Sustainability is therefore a system with stability at its core. Changes to the system are not unrestrained but constrained so that a stable continuance of the system is maintained in the long run. Sustainability is very important for the construction industry because constructions have a very high impact on the ecology and the environment.The people who make decisions in the construction industry literally hold fate in their hands in the sense that considered and logical decisions based on sustainability go a long way in prot ecting and preserving the environment that in turn sustains human kind. Decision makers at different levels in the construction industry therefore have to make judicious selection of construction material in order fulfill the present requirements without negatively affecting the requirements of others or putting at stake the very existence of the human race on this earth.The main goals that a DSS has to meet in selecting of construction materials based on sustainability are to improve the selection process of the construction material during the conceptual stage itself and to promote the use of innovative materials which could have more sustainable properties than the traditional materials that are currently in use. Sustainability factor in Construction Materials With regards to construction materials, adoption of sustainable selection criteria would imply the following: i. Matter and energy consumption should be minimized ii.Minimum level of human satisfaction should be maintained. iii. There should be minimum negative environmental effects. Any effort to minimize the consumption of matter and energy has to target minimizing entropy gain and intergenerational of equity objectives. It has to be kept in mind that the process of consumption increases the entropy of materials and energy making them unsuaitable for use in the future (Roberts, 1994; Rees, 1990). The basic tenet of sustainability and sustainable material selection would therefore be maximizing utilization and minimizing consumption of matter and energy.In laymen’s language this translates into ‘doing more with less’. Doing more with less however has to be balanced with maximizing human satisfaction with the less of matter and energy that is being consumed in the process. Unless the satisfaction of people is achieved, sustainability would run into a dead end. People and users will not accept changes necessary to make the world a better place to live in unless they are satisfied by the results of those measures. Ensuring the satisfaction of people therefore becomes an integral part of sustainability.A part that is closely connected with economics as, in our economy-driven society, people are satisfied only when there is assurance that their economic interests will not only be safeguarded but also enhanced appreciably. Minimization of costs, maximization of comfort and safety and edification of the human spirit should be the ideal objectives in the process of selection of construction materials (Day, 1990). It all boils down to the sustainability of the human race which in turn makes it essential to ensure the sustainability and preservation of the ecosystem.The sustainability of the ecosystem is ensured when emphasis is put on maintaining biodiversity, species habitat is left undisturbed and environmental deterioration and pollution are brought under control. The design objective of any DSS for selection of construction materials on the basis of sustainabilit y will thus have to make these three global presumptions – less consumption of energy and matter, high human satisfaction and minimal negative effect on the environment.A set of metrics of sustainability based on the definition of sustainability has to be developed for the construction materials. The metrics would then have to be adapted into an approach for comparing alternative materials to help in the selection process. Classification of Sustainability Attributes The next step in designing a Decision Support System for sustainable selection of construction materials would be take the attributes of sustainability and develop a system or taxonomy for classifying them into the categories of technology, ecology, economics and ethics.Since technology is utilized to build construction facilities, it is imperative that sustainable technologies are applied. Carpenter (1994) defines sustainable technologies as technologies that do not harm the environment in any way and are based o n the concept of renewing, reusing and recycling materials. Materials have to contribute to sustainability by building up suitable technologies. For a specific use, the measure of a material’s adaptability to sustainable technology is obtained by the extent to which the material is able to meet the required technical performance.Span, reliability, ability to recycle and resistance to decay and damage are other technology-related indicators. Ecological sustainability can be achieved through material selection if the objective of material selection is to minimize environmental damage and degradation over the entire lifecycle of the material right from the stage in which the raw material is extracted to the final stage of either disposing the material or adopting it for reuse through the process of recycling.Of particular importance in the consideration of sustainability is the way the material will affect the ecology. The domain of all human activities comprises the natural eco logical systems which provide all the raw materials to meet the varied requirements of human beings (Norton 1994). Thus, integrity of the systems has to be maintained in order to ensure the continues availability of raw materials in the form of ecological resources. The search of feasible alternatives for limited natural resources leads us to the realm of economic sustainability.Alternative resources that can be developed at minimal cost to the society have to be maintained and identified by the Decision Support System. The total life cycle cost of a project depends on the life cycle costs of the constituent construction materials. Selection of construction materials based on the lowest life cycle cost ultimately brings down the life cycle cost of the entire construction project. Manufacturing, transportation, assembly, maintenance and disposal or recycling costs determine the lifecycle cost of a construction material.These lifecycle costs in turn determine the economic sustainabili ty of a construction material. The moot point of sustainability is adopting a futuristic view. The concern is not only with meeting the needs of the present generation but at the same time ensuring that resource utilization is done in such a way that it is possible to retain, invest and convert them in such a way that there is no scarcity to meet the requirements of the future generations (Daly & Cobb 1994). This is the principle behind the ethics of sustainability.The attributes of ethical sustainability are the extent of depletion of natural resources that utilization of the material could represent, extent to use the material can be reused and to which nonrenewable resources the material can be used as a substitute (Norton, 1994). The Decision Support System therefore has to base its classification of sustainability attributes on the taxonomy of technology utilized, maintenance of ecological balance, economic feasibility and ethical concerns for the future of human kind.The vast scope and complexity of such a DSS can be appreciated when we take all these factors into consideration. Determining the Indicators of Sustainability The DSS for construction materials selection has to consider indicators of sustainability of construction materials with respect to the three global objectives of sustainable development – resource consumption, human satisfaction and environmental impact. The more exhaustive the list of indicators, the more the DSS will tend towards perfection.Indicators could be as varied and wide ranging as the scale on which the harvesting is done, whether infrastructure for harvesting is available, how accessible the raw materials are, the extent of processing the material has to be out through, how renewable the materials, maintainability, toxicity, market pricing of comparable resources, etc. Each indicator has to be correlated with the sustainability of the material, and the correlation determined through sensitivity analysis and indexed and rated so that comparison of the materials is possible to the minutest details.Selection of indicators of sustainability of the materials therefore assumes great importance in any DSS. Database or knowledge base development in this respect has to systematic and incremental throughout the development cycle. Consideration of the context of use also holds equal importance in the determination of sustainability of any construction material. Contextual indicators could be as apparent as the availability and use of ice blocks in the poles and sand in the deserts. But these indicators could also be user specific, condition specific or site characteristic specific.Context modifiers therefore have to be built into any DSS. It is the context modifiers that make the sustainability ratings of construction materials for each project unique. Decision makers set threshold values in heuristics databases which enable them to specify the values that they want to be calculated. Edwards et al. (1994 ) and Greene (1994) give examples of techniques in transportation systems in which the energy required to transport a particular material from one place to another for various modes of transport can be calculated for different modes or types of transport. Materials Selection adopting the Rational Actor ApproachThe Rational Actor Approach is centered on the principal assumption that if human decision makers are provided with complete information on the possible results and options in the choices that they have to make, they would choose the optimal alternative, or the option with the maximum possibility of turning out to be the outcome that is most wanted or desired. This being true, the goal of the DSS is to enable the decision maker to select construction materials as per their sustainability so that the vast majority of the materials selected for construction are sustainable materials.The rational actor model has three phases (Simon, 1983): Phase 1: Determining all choices that ar e possible. Phase 2: Analyzing every choice for the consequences that it they may lead to. Phase 3: Finally choosing an alternative that is rated as the best based on considerations of utility and the most probable consequence or output.. In the DSS, the Rational Actor Model can be further fine tuned by the adoption of a few modifications. First, the material alternatives that are obviously not suitable for the project element could be pruned off the database based on classification of materials according to some given standards.The software will therefore prune materials such as ceramic tiles when considering the construction of a foundation footing column. This eliminates the possibility of users ignoring feasible but unfamiliar materials. A second modification could be the introduction of user weightings for each sustainability attribute. The weightings are a way of personalizing or customizing the system. Input of the weightings accord the methodology adopted in the system highe r acceptability for the user who provides the weightings. The weightings also enable customization of the sustainability of the final design product.(Pearce, et. al. , 2001). The ordered stages of the methodology adopted with modifications can now be defined for the Decision Support System. In its first step, the methodology generates the alternatives that would be available for making the selection. This is a comprehensive set of alternatives that could include all the materials available in the market. In its second stage, the clearly infeasible alternatives are pruned from the list of available alternatives through the application of some technical performance thresholds or other heuristics.This would result in a set of alternations that are all feasible for the application under consideration. The crucial third step consists of the Decision Support System ranking the alternatives based on the sustainability and utility of the material for the use that it is intended for. At this juncture, the decision maker feeds in his weights for each attribute of sustainability as per the priority that particular attribute holds for the decision maker.Manufacturer information and other sources determine the values for the sustainability attributes of each material, and a normalized value is worked out for each value of the attributes. The weights and normalized values for the sustainability attributes of each material are then multiplied and added together to produce the index of subjective utility for that material. A ranking of the alternatives is developed by sorting their utility values. The Decision Support System then outputs the alternative with the highest utility value to the user.The decision maker is at liberty to choose the highest ranked alternative for the particular application or any other alternative as he or she may deem suitable from the point of view of cognitive abilities and professional experience. The DSS then moves on to take up other design ele ments for consideration. From the Decision Maker’s Point of View From the decision maker’s or user’s point of view, the decision maker has to first feed in a list of the design components that have been conceptualized for the construction.Values for relevant parameters that describe the conceptual design and the decision making have to be fed in. The DSS uses these values to generate a list of feasible materials for each design element from the materials database of the DSS utilizing heuristics for material selection from the internal logic or knowledge base of the DSS. After the DSS generates a list of feasible materials for each element, it queries the decision maker for the personalized weightings for the sustainability attributes.The Sustainability Index Calculator calculates the values of the sustainability attributes for each feasible material. An Amalgamator Module of the DSS amalgamates the weightings of the decision maker with the sustainability attribu te values for each material that could be utilized and sorts the materials according to their individual rankings. The DSS recommends the material with the highest rating to the decision maker who is free to either accept the recommendation of the Decision Support System or to opt for an alternative from the list of alternatives provided by the DSS.Conclusions The Decision Support System for the selection of construction materials on the basis of sustainability therefore analyzes the feasible materials for each element of a construction from a wide range of perspectives. The factors that influence the ultimate output of the Decision Support System incorporate the technologies and economies of construction processes, the characteristics of the applicable materials, ecological and environmental concerns, sustainability aspects, and most important of all, the professional and personal preferences of the user or the decision maker.Each of these factors by themselves could constitute ind ividual expert systems. The complexity and sophistication of such decision support systems can thus be appreciated along with their great utility in helping decision makers to make crucial decisions. References -01 Carpenter, S. , 1994, Sustainable Communities. School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. Daly, H. , E. , and Cobb, J. , B. , Jr. , 1994, For the Common Good, 2nd ed. Beacon Press, Boston.Day, C. , 1990, Places of the Soul. Aquarian Press, San Francisco, CA. Druzdzel, Marek, J. , & Flynn, Roger, R. , 2002, Decision Support Systems, Decision Systems Laboratory, School of Information Sciences and Intelligent Systems Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh. Edwards, P. ,J. , Stewart, P. ,J, Eilenberg, I. , M. , and Anton, S. , 1994, Evaluating Embodied Energy Impacts in Buildings: Some Research Outcomes and Issues, in Kibert, C. , ed. Sustainable Construction. CIB TG 16, Tampa, FL, Nov. 6-9, pp. 173-182. Greene, D. , L. , 1994, Transportation an d Energy, Transportation Quarterly, v. 48, n. 1, Norton, B, G. , 1994, Sustainability: Two Competing Paradigms.Texas A&M Conference. School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. Pearce, Annie, R. , Hastak, M. , Vanegas, Jorge, A. , 2001, A Decision Support System for Construction Materials Selection using Sustainability as a Criterion, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.Rees, W. , E. , 1990, The Ecology of Sustainable Development, The Ecologist, v. 20, n. 1. Roberts, D. V. , 1994, Sustainable Development – A Challenge for the Engineering Profession, in Ellis, M. , D. , ed. The Role of Engineering in Sustainable Development. American Association of Engineering Societies, Washington, DC. Sage, Andrew, P. , 1991, Decision Support Systems Engineering. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. , New York. WCED – United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development. ,1987, Our Common Future. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.

How the theme of servant and master in the Tempest is connected to the Essay

How the theme of servant and master in the Tempest is connected to the scenic progression - Essay Example ..' however further on lines 348 and 349 we learn that Caliban tried to rape Miranda and was not sorry for it. He wished he could have succeeded as he says, 'Thou didst prevent me - I had peopled else/This isle with Calibans.' This seems to be the reason for Prospero treating Caliban this way and shows Calibans savage, vindictive nature. This quote shows they have exploited him by making him work for them and treating him as an inferior by relating him to an animal by calling him names such as 'tortoise'. However Prospero also says, 'we cannot miss him' which shows how Prospero and Miranda rely on him and should treat him with a little bit more respect. Other ways in which we see Prospero as the colonizer are he forced Caliban to learn his language and Miranda calls Calibans language 'gabble'. He also insults Calibans mother and refers to Calibans race as 'vile'. This is how colonizers would have behaved. They would see their race as far superior. Prospero is also viewed as a colonizer because he uses force to control Caliban. He says, '...I'll rack thee with old cramps/Fill all thy bones with aches, make thee roar...' This shows that if Caliban is not willing to obey and do things for Prospero he will make him do it by inflicting pain upon him. This is how some f the colonizers would have behaved because they wanted control. This shows Caliban is paying fo... This is how some f the colonizers would have behaved because they wanted control. We see Caliban as the colonized native because he was stupid enough to show Prospero all the resources f the island and then he lost his island to Prospero. Caliban tells us this by saying, '...And then I loved thee And showed thee all the qualities o' the 'sle, The fresh springs, brine-pits, barren place... Cursed be I that did so!...' This shows Caliban is paying for his actions and wishes he had never have shown Prospero the good qualities f the island. This mirrors how the natives behaved. They genuinely welcomed the colonizers and treated them well. Again in Act 2 Scene 2 Caliban the same mistake again when he says to Stephano, ' I'll show thee every fertile inch o' th'island. And I will/kiss thy foot - I prithee be my god.' Here we can see that Caliban is making the same mistake again which leads us to believe he really is dumb and fits into the category f the stereotypical native. However here Caliban can be seen as quite intelligent as he sees Stephano as a softer master and an easier way to eventually be free. We know this because Caliban sings, 'No more dams I'll make for fish, Nor fetch in firing At requiring, Nor scrape trenchering, nor wash dish, ....Has a new master-get a new man. Freedom, high-day, high-day freedom' Although Caliban appears to be smart here he says in his song he will no longer have to do these tough tasks Prospero makes him do even though he promised to do them for Stephano. When Prospero first came to the island he was nice to Caliban they way Stephano is being but that could change when Caliban does not do what he promised and Stephano could end up being a harder master. Evidence that Caliban was colonised by Prospero is that he is

Traditional Budgeting Procedures Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Traditional Budgeting Procedures - Assignment Example Senior management cannot take corrective steps in time unless a budget is available. This is how an elaborate budgeting process keeps an organization on track. Coordination is the second gain of detailed budgeting because organizations consist of departments and functions which are dependant on each other. The outputs and deliverables of staff functions are especially important and direct inputs on which line functions rely. The expectations and predictions of line functions in turn, affect capacity planning by staff functions. A budget serves as a forum for coordination, so that all parts of an organization work in unison towards shared goals. External stake holders such as suppliers may also be involved in a budgeting process (Dickey, 1992). The third advantage of elaborate budgeting systems is that of feedback, and perhaps the most important. Budgeting allows top management to appreciate the ground realities at the periphery of its structure, and gives an opportunity for people who are in direct and routine touch with market and environment realities to contribute their perspectives to their employers. Budgeting, in this sense, is not a procedure to be carried out in isolation, but is an instrument of great social interaction within an organization (Dickey, 1992). There are variations within the standard template of a detailed and formal budgeting system. Some management teams prefer a top-down process in which they specify minimal goals which are to be achieved. These refer to growth, profitability, and image in organizations which work for profit. Other organizations prefer to allow the lowest levels of hierarchy to propose opportunities around which a budget can be made. This approach relies heavily on scanning the environment by people who are in touch with customers, the distribution chain, and with competitive moves. It is difficult in real life to have an elaborate budgeting process which is entirely top down or developed from the bottom to the higher echelons of structure. The budgeting process tends to be iterative in nature, with various levels and branches of organization in negotiating dialogue with each other, before consensus on targets can be obtained. This iterative process of budgeting leads to one of its main criticisms about drawbacks. Budgeting can be an expensive and time consuming process, which can take a substantial part of personnel capacities. An excess of deliberations about the future can also distract attention and focus from short-term operational pressures. A second important limitation of formal budgeting relates to the uncertainties of a dynamic environment (Hope and Fraser, 2003). Conditions in which a budget has been prepared can change to such an extent that the accepted targets become irrelevant. The budget then loses its sanctity as a navigational tool, because it can no longer provide meaningful leads on how an organization fares. Budgets become invariably linked with individual performance appraisal matters. It is but natural to reward people who achieve or exceed accepted targets, and the reverse also applies, though in lesser degree in case targets are not met. Target achievement generates high expectations in terms of the people involved (Hope and Fraser, 2003). There are 2 consequences of this: firstly, people tend to build as much slack as they can in to target definitions,

Renting versus Buying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Renting versus Buying - Essay Example a house and actually own it since it is a symbol of one’s identity and association with a place, but this is certainly not possible for everyone given the varying financial conditions and personal limitations. In fact, a vast majority of people in the modern societies have good and valid reasons to rent a house instead of buying one. Owning a house can be a risky business. It requires a lot of investment on the part of the owner and has very less to guarantee that the investment would ultimately prove worth it. If one wants to make money out of the business of property, it is imperative that one waits for as long as the prices of the land and the property rise sufficiently up to promise a handsome profit. In a vast majority of cases, this happens over a long period of time and one has to wait for too long. It requires commitment and devotion. Owning a house is certainly not a wise decision to make if one can not somehow hold on to it for a considerable period of time. It becomes even more disastrous if one had originally decided to get it financed via a bank or any other source of sum. For an individual to sell a house without having to wait for long, who initially made a down payment worth 10% of the total cost, it would be very costly since he/she would be required to part with a considerable percentage in the commissions of the real state. The closing costs to be offered to the seller would be in addition to that. An even lower amount of the down payment would result in an even greater loss to the seller. Such a blow to the seller is large enough to outshine any appreciation gains made over the property over the period of ownership. renting in the present age given the high amount of uncertainty in the political environment all over the world in general and in the third world countries in particular. The emergence of war against the terrorism has destroyed the fundamental political, social and economic status of a lot of countries all over the world. This is

In regards to gender Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

In regards to gender - Assignment Example ry works like To Penhurst, Leviathan, and From Slaves Deus Rex Judaeorum by renowned authors like Ben Jonson, Thomas Hobbes, and Aemilia Lanyer respectively. Being one of the first female writers to be printed in English, Aemilia wrote ‘Eve’s apology in defense of women.’ Lanyer offers a different interpretation of this story, shifting some blame on Adam, the supposed stronger of the two. The superiority of men is acknowledged in this instance, and Eve’s betrayal is constantly used to ‘keep her in place. ’ Jonson’s Penhurst recognizes the significant role of human decency to social contracts. Hobbes’ Leviathan echoes this concept as he highlights a contract as the basis for collective moral order as well as all social organizations. To this end, both the two latter authors agree that despite having equal rights to all things, human beings must give up some of their rights in favor of

Academic and Professional Development Assignment

Academic and Professional Development - Assignment Example The paper manages to set up questionnaires that were used to capture accounting students’ attitude towards plagiarism. The questionnaires were administered to accounting students in both undergraduate and post graduate levels. The final results were then analyzed and comparisons were made (Yeo, 2007, p.12). Previous empirical studies have discovered a number of factors that relate to student plagiarism such as environmental factors, demographic variables and moral capability. However, none of the research has ever considered comprehensive factors of plagiarism (Barrett and Cox, 2005, p. 14). Most of the previous studies have often tested linear relationships between constructs instead of constructing the validity of hypothesized models. Considering the collection of data, all the previous studies sampled only undergraduate students and not post graduate students (Bornstein, 2007. p.17). This paper introduces a number of factors that have been left out in the previous empirical studies into a hypothesized model, for instance, accounting education (Bretag and Carapiet, 2007, p.19). The objectives of the paper is to identify factors that influence the plagiaristic behaviors of students, to develop and empirically test a model of factors that influence students plagiaristic behaviors and to make recommendations for accounting educators prevent student plagiarism. The paper has empirically tested and developed a model of factors that influence student plagiarism within the context of accounting education. 2. Analysis The internet is no doubt the major cause of plagiarism amongst students as the paper suggests. There internet has a lot of information that students can access without having to read a lot of books from the library. The internet has been expanding rapidly with information from a number of sources and this has facilitated plagiarism. There has also been the development of a number of online software that is used to detect plagiarism ((Sierles, Hen drickx, and Circle, 1980, p.29). Some of these online software include Turnitin and grammarly.com that are used to detect work that has been plagiarized. Approximately sixty percent of UK institutions use Turnitin to detect work that has been plagiarized. When lectures discover that students have plagiarized their work, they often penalize students. These penalizations are what make students fear plagiarizing their work. Students who intend to gain academic qualifications are expected to reveal appropriate levels of attainment and ability through examinations and coursework. This requires students to produce submissions that meet a certain assignment specification that is marked by a tutor to confirm that the work reaches the required standard. In most institutions, students are required to confirm that the submission is the result of their own work. Plagiarism may also occur when students self-plagiarize their work. Self plagiarism is usually a delicate and complex issue. Some acad emics argue that self plagiarism may not occur because plagiarism is theft and one cannot steal from himself. The major types of self plagiarism include duplicate and redundant publications, partitioning a larger sturdy into smaller published studies. The paper mentions plagiarism but fails to mention self plagiarism, which is one of the major concerns in academics. Students often plagiarize their previous works because of their laziness or to complete their work faster. The paper reviews nine factors that concern student plagiarism and these factors include demographic variables, cultural influences, institutional support, and new technology, accounting educat

Management Accounting (performance indication, product and service Essay

Management Accounting (performance indication, product and service costing, budgeting) - Essay Example Product and service costing analysis will clear out the unnecessary costs that are being incurred by the institution thus taking corrective actions for the same. Through the estimation of the incremental budgeting we can assess as to the implementation of the same is required or not thereby suggesting other budgetary procedure which may or may not be implemented by the institution based on the present circumstances. The University of Newland has therefore adopted measures through the mode of financial tools like return on capital employed, incremental budgeting, standard costing and various other cost restricting tools in order to increase the profit margin of the organisation. These tools would also help them in setting a probable standard for themselves so that any deviation from the same could be anticipated beforehand. Dealing with Performance Indication From the given data related to the project of Management accounting we can observe that few performance tools have been used as in the separate subject department is considered to be an investment centre. Return on investment is one of the main tools for calculation of the various investment centres mentioned in the paper. The total income earned by the institution is 185mn pound which also gives us the estimation of the capital employed or to be employed by the organisation (Mowen, 2011, p.554). However, the targeted return of 7% on capital employed is the return to be generated from the operations of the institution. The assets here have to be forecasted in order to bring a change in the operating cost so much so that the target could be easily achieved. If higher productivity is achieved with lower manpower so that the cost of labour can be saved; this in turn will be the major factor behind building the base for the return of the capital employed. As the pay rates will rise over the time span, labour hour saving will help in the generation of positive return on capital employed. It is calculated as: ROC E= Net Operating income after tax (Morrell, 2001, p.131) Capital Employed Here investment centre means the responsibility that is designated to the manager for executing the responsibility of managing cost and revenue of the organisation. They are responsible for generating income and executing responsibility related to investment base (Drury, 2007, p.396). The responsibility centre has three sub heads namely, cost centre, profit centre and investment centre. The measurement of the performance in the cost centre depicts the efficiency of operation in quantitative terms of inputs used for the production of the given output. From the word profit we can understand the difference between the expenditure made of acquiring the input and the income generated from output of the organisation. Hence it is quite possible to derive both the effectiveness and the efficiency from the profit centre. On the other hand, the possibility or scope of a probable investment opportunity gives rise to an i nvestment cen

Global Culture and New Culture Essay Example for Free

Global Culture and New Culture Essay The concept of Global Culture is defined as the idea of a â€Å"one world culture† wherein the â€Å"earth’s inhabitants will lose their cultural diversity and one culture will be experienced by all people† (Oregon State University, 2008). At present, this kind of phenomenon is one of the most controversial issues that is being discusses and debated by numerous scholars especially in its relation to the changes that is currently happening in the world. However, the idea of a global culture is not a new subject matter, as it had been perceived by previous notable personalities. This is greatly exemplified by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engel as they discussed the concept of global culture in the Communist Manifesto. The Communist Manifesto is considered as one of the world’s most influential political manuscripts in which the purposes and program of the Communist League is written. Nevertheless, this document also tackled the Communist League’s criticism of the Bourgeois In order to so, they also gave their perception of global culture and how this phenomenon affects the society. Marx and Engel began the Communist Manifesto by stating that the foundation all existing societies is the history of class struggle. They pointed out that early epochs up to the time that the manifesto was created the society is always composed of competing classes that are most appropriately described as the oppressor and the oppressed. The development and revolutions in history paved the way for two great classes that are directly facing against each other namely: the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. The formation of the modern Bourgeoisie is the product of a long course of development as well as the series of revolutions with regards to production and exchange (Marx and Engel, 1848). The Bourgeoisie is largely responsible in the changes of the mode of production, which give way to various modifications that greatly exemplified the idea of a global culture. The existence of the Bourgeoisie is dependent upon the continuous revolutionizing of the instruments of production and eventually the relations of productions. This includes expanding the market over the entire surface of the globe for the consumption of its products. Marx and Engel clearly explained the Bourgeoisie’s desire for globalization when they stated, â€Å"It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere† (Marx and Engel, 1848). In relation to the idea of market expansion, the Communist Manifesto also give due account of the concept of free trade, which is an important feature in achieving a global culture. The Communist League strongly believes that Free Trade is the main culprit in most people’s perception that personal worth is measured by the exchange of value that is most observable in the importance they give to material things. In order for the Bourgeoisie to pursue their objective of profitability by increasing production, they have to exploit other people by changing the way they think about themselves and modifying the values that they uphold (Marx and Engel, 1848). The Bourgeoisie’s exploitation of the world market is creating a cosmopolitan character to production and consumption of every country. Due to this, it is destroying the old-established national industries that are important in the national identity of a country. Industries do not merely utilized indigenous raw materials but they acquire it from the remotest parts of the world and their products are not merely consumed at their respective countries but also in every quarter of the globe. The globalization of trade also affects other factors such as communication. As such, the very way of life of the people is also influence wherein they adhere to the ideologies of the Bourgeoisie like being consumerists, which heightens the pursuance of this class’ interests (Marx and Engel, 1848). In this sense, Communists support the sentiments of the proletariat that they believed is being exploited by the Bourgeoisie. The league represents the common interests of all proletariats around the world regardless of their nationalities. They represent the proletariats in the different stages of development of the Bourgeoisie wherein there is an observable struggle of the working class. The primary aim of the Communist is similar with all other proletarian parties, which are: â€Å"the formation of the proletariat into a class, overthrow of the bourgeoisie supremacy, conquest of political power by the proletariat† (Marx and Engel, 1848). Nevertheless, the Communist Manifesto clarifies that it is not after the abolition of property in general but rather the eradication of bourgeois property. In doing so, they can be able to uphold the freedom, independence, and equality of an individual that is taken away from him or her due to exploitative wage labor (Marx and Engel, 1848). Communists clearly saw the creation of a global culture through the revolution of production that the Bourgeoisie are responsible for as the cause of most of the world’s evil. Some of the detrimental effects that it gives are the exploitation of people especially the proletariat, the destruction of old established institution like the family, and the very self-value of an individual. On the other hand, some notable scholars like Henry Jenkins and Rob Walker perceive the new culture of globalization in a different light. Their works show the effects of the technological advancement that Marx and Engels noted in the Communist Manifesto. Henry Jenkins main argument was on the concept of Media Convergence. He asserted that the perspective that merely focused on technology is shortsighted. Jenkins emphasized that the real important factor is the understanding of the way by which individuals in the contemporary culture could participate and combine numerous media sources. Comprehending the relationship among various media forms can be done in a more in depth manner if the participation of individuals will be given due consideration. In relation to this, Jenkins suggested that convergence should be seen as a cultural process that is evolving and developing rather than a mere technological end. Moreover, he also elaborated that there are different sited wherein the negotiations between consumers and producers take place. These sites are â€Å"modifying audience measurement, redirecting globalization, re-engaging citizens, renegotiating relations between producers and consumers, redesigning the digital economy, rethinking media aesthetics, regulating media content, redefining intellectual property rights, and restricting media ownership† (Jenkins, 2006). Jenkins’ was able to seriously and extensively study the effects of audience participation in media culture. He was able to highlight the influence of digital popular culture on the behavior of individuals especially in terms of their participation in the field of politics. Rob Walker is also one of the contemporary personalities that has its own perspective with the modern state of production and consumption that exists in the world today. His arguments are centered on the concept of money culture and means of technology like advertising, music, and sequential art. The focus of Walker study is in examining the consumer behavior of an individual from the lens of business and anthropology. He discussed various products and the corresponding consumer trend that is was able to create. Walker attempts to understand the reasons behind consumers’ response to a certain product, which ranges from toothpaste to alcoholic drinks up to television programs. In doing so, he tend to critical analyze the a particular product by trying to understand the underlying concept of its brand name, target consumer, and even its effect on those who patronize it. Furthermore, he also tries to establish a connection between the product and the consumer by explaining how the characteristic or attitude of a consumer is reflected in the products that he or she buys (Walker, 2008). Marx and Engels’ Communist Manifesto calls the people especially the proletariat to take action in abolishing the concept of private property of the Bourgeoisie class that tends to exploit other people and destroy the very culture of nations. On the other hand, Jenkins and Walker also give emphasis in the participation of people in the convergence of media but they pointed out that this aids in the formation of identity rather than a mere way for exploitative labor. National identities are formed because of the existence of mass media that allows its audience to create their own texts and introduce their own identities that allows other people in the globe to see and understand other cultures. The existence of mass media in terms of the concept of convergence is already regarded as a cultural process in itself that allows people to develop their identities. In this modern age, mass media is not merely a technological advancement but rather it is a tool that allows people to participate and interact in the international community. References Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York University Press. Marx, K. , Engels, F. (1848). Manifesto of the Communist Party. Retrieved December 8, 2008, from http://www. marxists. org/archive/marx/works/1848/communist-manifesto/ch01. htm. Oregon University States. (2008). Definitions of Anthropological Terms. Retrieved December 8, 2008, from http://oregonstate. edu/instruct/anth370/gloss. html. Walker, R. (2008). Buyingin: The Secret Dialogue between What We Buy and Who We Are. New York: Random House.

Climate Justice And Individual Responsibility Philosophy Essay

Climate Justice And Individual Responsibility Philosophy Essay In the last couple decades, ethical debates have begun to shed light on climate justice. The big questions these ongoing climate justice debates tend to ask are whether or not the disadvantages of future generations as a result of climate change finds present and past generations culpable, as a society or as an individual, and who it is that must take responsibility for the compensation and conservation that must now occur. The two fallacies that I have thus far encountered in reviewing some climate justice literature are as follows: first, that the non-identity problem is a sound argument to deny that our present inaction on global warming and climate change harms individuals in the future, and second, the view that Walter Sinnott-Armstrong holds that our individual actions in the present will have no impact on future generations, and therefore we hold no individual moral responsibility to go green, but rather our governments hold that responsibility for us (Sinnnott-Armstrong, 344) . In this paper, I attempt to resolve these two fallacies with my own argument on an individuals moral responsibility in the face of climate change, argued in part with Immanuel Kants deontology, and following some clarification on the nature of justice and ethical theories. I will come to assert that, assuming climate change is a grave issue that will harm many people in generations to come, individuals do have a moral responsibility to take action in regards to climate change in accordance with a moral duty, born of the rights of future generations. This argument is based on the assumptions that climate change is an issue that will create serious problems for future generations living in parts of the countries that are not able to properly adapt to the rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions that climate change will cause (Gardiner). It also assumes that climate change will cause harm to these future populations, as massive death and displacement will likely take place if adaptation measures are not taken. These are facts that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have studied and determined true, concluding in their research not only that the balance of evidence suggests discernible human influence on climate change, but also that the long-term impact of climate change will have predominantly, if not uniformly, adverse impacts on the health, cultural life, and economic prosperity of future human populations, (Page, 53-4). One of the biggest issues fracturing the climate justice debate is how justice can be defined in regards of the responsibility involved with climate change. Climate change is not a standard moral problem, and thus cannot be judged like one. The paradigm of a standard moral problem is where one clearly identifiable agent intentionally harms another clearly identifiable agent, close to the former in space and time (Schinkel). However, because climate change happens so gradually, and it is impossible to determine the exact impact of present acts of greenhouse gas emission on future effects of climate change, there is no clearly identifiable criminal, victim or even crime. As James Garvey puts it, theres no one standing red-faced next to a broken vase (60). This means that determining the consequences and who is responsible for them is very difficult. Our justice system is so far only compatible with identity-dependent theories of justice, theories that aim to make particular human being s, or animals, healthier or happier or rescue people from harm or disadvantage, particularly if these disadvantages arise through no fault of their own, (Page, 58). Because there is no identifiable harm to these particular human beings of generations to come, climate justice faces a problem of non-identity. The non-identity problem, explains Edward Page in his work Intergenerational Justice and Climate Change, arises from the fact that conception and genetic identity is so highly sensitive to antecedent events that after a few generations, and depending on which policy we choose, completely different sets of people will come into existence (Page, 56-7). These different sets of people will owe their entire existence to the decisions and actions of past generations, Page explains. Thus, because we assume that these particular individuals lives will still be worth living under those necessary conditions of their existence, we cannot determine how they are helped or hindered by our pres ent sacrifices (57). So, why sacrifice? In my opinion, the non-identity problem is a convenient excuse to attribute no crime, and therefore no responsibility, to present generations. It takes advantage of the insufficient data available to decipher exactly how much harm wasteful greenhouse gas emissions in the present will cause to individuals in the future. Although the amount of harm is indefinite, panels like the IPCC have concluded that certain communities of future generations will be significantly disadvantaged and deprived if nothing is done about climate change (Page, 53-4). Edward Page offers a revised theory of identity-dependence in light of this that he claims will solve the non-identity problem (63). The group-centred theory of climate justice states that the communities which future people will belong to are deserving of concern and respect in their own right; and if present actions have the result either that these communities die out altogether, or are damaged in the sense that various communal practices ar e undermined, they are morally objectionable (64). While this theory is a step towards moral progress on the climate justice issue, intuitively it does not feel sufficient enough. When it comes to intergenerational justice, what is the tipping point? How many people must be affected for a particular community to be deserving of concern and respect in their own right (64)? In light of this, I feel that this theory will still not do. Future populations will be affected, and thus future communities will be affected and future individuals will be affected; in my opinion, there should be no grand distinction between groups and individuals when it comes to harm and disadvantage. While Pages group-centred theory at least helps identify victims in the intergenerational injury, it still only recognizes our duty to future communities of people. While this may be sufficient enough to promote conservation methods, I still believe his theory does not go far enough in recognizing future individuals as victims to climate change. If the group-centred theory solves the non-identity problem by imagining victimized groups of people, why cannot the fact that there are individuals within that community that will be personally harmed by climate change negate the non-identity problem as well; individuals whose homes will be submerged or destroyed by hurricane or tsunami, causing them to be displaced or killed. Most would agree that a communitys risks of losing its culture or language are not as grave as an individuals risks of losing his home or life. Naturally, there is more utility in a community than in a mere individual, however I fail to see the difference in moral wort h between a community and an individual. To us in the present generation, both entities are moral patients, with rights and duties owed to them. Moral patient is a deontological term to describe a non-rational being with rights, such as an animal, a child or a person with a mental disorder (Gheaus). Because they are non-rational, they do not have moral duties, only duties owed to them by moral agents, rational beings who are capable of moral understanding (Gheaus). Those individuals that will be harmed by climate change in the future are currently very young or unborn, and therefore not yet rational. We have a duty to them to uphold their rights, and they have the right to the same conditions of life as their forefathers. However, while we can acknowledge that we have a duty to future generations, it is not as clear to us which actions are according to that duty. As in most moral problems, it is helpful to consider tried and true moral principles to determine how we ought to act. While I dont see universal merit in absolute Kantianism, I feel that Kants deontology is the right principle to consider for climate justice because it focuses not on consequences (which as I have explained is and has been unclear to present and past generations) but on duty according to the categorical imperative (Gheaus). The categorical imperative has two formulations: the first, to act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law, and the second, act so that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in that of another, always as an end and never as a means only (Gheaus) Sinnott-Armstrong denies that Kants theory imposes a moral obligation to prevent wasteful greenhouse gas emissions, claiming that when he goes for a joyride in a gas-guzzler on a Sunday afternoon, his maxim is to have harmless fun , and that does not make for a problematic universal law (338). However, Sinnott-Armstrong explains in detail earlier in the article that this gas-guzzling GHG-emitting joyride has no practical, emotional or clinical benefit for him (334). Therefore there would be little sacrifice involved in refraining from driving the gas-guzzler. Hypothetically if Sinnott-Armstrongs maxim were adopted as a universal maxim, and if millions of others worldwide began driving gas-guzzling cars on a weekly basis, or began doing other acts of wasteful greenhouse gas emission because they also considered it non-profitable harmless fun, then that fun would not longer be so harmless. All of those wasteful emissions would go into the atmosphere and contribute to the Greenhouse effect, eventually leading to climate change and indefinite harm on future generations. However, Sinnott-Armstrongs argument does shed light on the fact that using Kants deontological argument to defend climate justice is overly dema nding of supererogatory duty. Who should say that we in present generations should never have harmless fun when it emits wasteful greenhouse gas emissions? After all, our environment needs some greenhouse gas emissions to operate (Garvey, 9). This is where it is important to distinguish between the two types of duty in deontology. Perfect duty is to always act according to the two formulations of the categorical imperative, with absolutely no exceptions (Gheaus). A perfect duty is thou shalt not kill, for example. An imperfect duty on the other hand is to act such that we make other peoples ends our own (Gheaus). Imperfect duties are a little less clear, as the agent must choose when and towards what cause to perform these duties, since it is impossible to perform them all the time to everybody (Gheaus). Preventing wasteful greenhouse gas emissions is an imperfect duty; we are not required to perform it all the time and at every opportunity. If we did, that would likely decrease our own benefits such as money, time and convenience in the process to ultimately ensure that the same benefits of future generations are not decreased. This does not make sense to do. This leads me to the second formulation of the categorical imperative, to not treat any person as a mere means but also as an end. Sinnott-Armstrong rejects this formulation as well, claiming that for me to treat someone as a means implies my using harm to that person as part of my plan to achieve my goals. Driving for fun does not do that, (338). However Sinnott-Armstrongs argument is too narrow in its scope. Driving a gas-guzzling car is using the earths unlimited resources for ones own pleasure, and is thus using the earth as a means to ones purposeless ends. Of course, human beings are permitted to use the earth as a means to their ends and always have, but that is not to say we should treat the earth as a mere means and not an end at the same time. Even in an anthropocentric theory of intrinsic value, that attributes value to the earth only by virtue of its value to human beings, the earths ends are our ends (Page, 59). When the earths resources are exhausted or destroyed by cli mate change, humanity will be inevitably extinguished. Therefore we have a duty, though imperfect, to future states of humanity (as we in the present will not likely still be alive at the end of the world) to treat the earths ends as our own where it is not too overly demanding or costly. Sinnott-Armstrong argues that individuals do not have a moral obligation to conserve energy but only to elect a government that will adopt conservation policies (344). Finding and implementing a real solution is the task of governments, he argues (344). However, as a matter of the universalizability principle, this is not sufficient enough. Individuals have a moral responsibility to conserve energy where they can and when they can; I agree that electing candidates with conservation platforms is a proactive way to do something about climate change, but I also think the responsibility should be reflected in peoples lifestyle. Recycling, switching to energy-efficient appliances and lightbulbs and walking or biking instead of driving are all simple ways to modify ones lifestyle to conserve energy and uphold the duty to future generations. Action starts with the individual. While the theories of Page and Sinnott-Armstrong shed light on the issues surrounding climate justice, I feel that they do not go far enough in attributing moral responsibility to individuals to conserve. Looking to Kants deontology allows us to see that we do have a duty to future moral patients, and a responsibility to make the earths ends our own ends as well. I only hope that, for the future of our planet and generations to come, all these words exchanged over climate justice are followed by individual action.

Honda: SWOT and PESTEL

Honda: SWOT and PESTEL Introduction of Business Environment Business Environment is individual and organization that exist outside the business and have influence direct and indirect to the business. Business Environment refers to all those internal and external factors which impact the functioning or performance of a firm and its decision making particularly strategies in the organisations. According to Gerald Bell: An organization external environment consists of those things outside an organization such as customers, competitors, government units, suppliers, financial firms and labour pools that are relevant to an organizations operations Thus, it can be said that environment as the set of external factors such as the economic factors, social factors, and government factors legal factors, political factors, which are uncontrollable in nature and affects the business decisions of organisation or company. Types of Business Environment: The business environment are divided into two ways. Micro Environment Macro Environment MICRO ENVIRONMENT The micro environment of business consists of the forces in the companys environment that affects the performance of the company. These forces are more closely linked with the business than the macro factors. According to Philip Kotler: The micro environment consists of the actors in the companys immediate environment that affects the performance of the company. These include the suppliers, marketing intermediaries, competitors, customers and the public. Micro environment factors are related Suppliers Competitors Public Labour Financiers Customers Macro environment: The macro environment of business includes activities which are uncontrollable and need proper attention on the part of a business enterprise. According to Hill and Jones The macro environment consists of the broader economic social, political, legal and technological setting within which the industry and the company are placed. Macro environment factors are related Political factor Economical factor Social factor Technological factor Environmental factor Legal factor Environmental factors internal to the firm classified SWOT as strengths and weaknesses, and external firm classified as opportunities or threats. Such an analysis of the strategic environment is referred to as a SWOT analysis. It is provides information that is helpful in firms resources and capabilities to the environment in which it operates. As such, it is helpful in strategy formulation and selection. Introduction of Company Hero Honda Motors Ltd. is an Indian manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters. Hero Honda is a joint Venture that began in 1984 between the Hero Group of India and Honda From Japan. It has been the worlds leading manufacturer of 2-wheeled motorized vehicles since 2001.During the 80s, Hero Honda became the first company in India to prove that it was promising to drive a vehicle without polluting the roads. The company introduced new age group motorcycles that set industry benchmarks for fuel saving and low emission. A legendary Fill it Shut it Forget it campaign captured the imagination of commuters across India, and Hero Honda sold millions of bikes on the commitment of better mileage. Hero Honda has developed at double digits since foundation; and today, every second motorcycle sold in the country is a Hero Honda. Every 30 seconds, someone in India buys Hero Hondas top -selling motorcycle Splendor. This celebratory season, the company sold half a million two wheelers in a single m onth-a feat supreme in global automotive history. Hero Honda has a massive network of sales and service network now over 3000 customer touch points. These touch points cover of dealerships, service stations and spare parts stockiest and authorized representatives of dealers which are located across different places. Hero Honda has a proper value system and hence it cares for its relationship with its customers. It has a unique CRM initiative i.e. Hero Honda Passport Program which is one of the key programs of this kind in the world. The program has not only helped Hero Honda understand its customers and deliver value at different price points, but has also created a reliable society of brand ambassadors. Vision The Hero Honda story began with a simple vision the vision of a transportable and an empowered India, powered by Hero Honda. This vision was driven by Hero Hondas commitment to customer, quality and excellence, and while doing so, maintaining the highest values of principles and societal responsibilities and they are believes that the fastest way to turn that dream into a reality is by outstanding focused on that vision. Mission Hero Hondas mission is to effort for synergy between technology, human resources and systems, to produce products and services that get together the performance, price and quality aspiration of its customers. At the same time maintain the highest standards of principles and social responsibilities. Strategy Hero Hondas key policy has been driven by innovation in every field of activity building a strong product portfolio across categories, exploring new markets, aggressively expanding the network and continuing to invest in brand building activities. Manufacturing Hero Honda bikes are manufactured across globally manufacturing facilities. Two of these are based at Gurgaon and Dharuhera which are located in the state of Haryana in northern India. Technology In 1980s Hero Honda company pioneered the introduction of fuel-efficient, environment friendly four-stroke motorcycles in the country. Today, Hero Honda continues to be technology pioneer. It became the first company to launch the Fuel Injection (FI) technology in Indian motorcycles, with the launch of the Glamour FI in June 2006. Products Hero Hondas product series includes variety of motorcycles that have set the industry standards across all the market segments. The company also started manufacturing scooter in 2006. Hero Honda offers large no. of products to wide variety of requirements across all the segments. Key milestone of HERO HONDA Year Event 1983 Joint partnership Agreement with Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Japan. 1984 Hero Honda Motors Ltd. Incorporated. 1985 First motorcycle CD 100 rolled out. 1987 100,000th motorcycle produced. 1989 New motorcycle model Sleek introduced. 1991 New model CD 100 SS introduced. 500,000th motorcycle produced. 1994 New motorcycle model Splendor introduced and 1,000,000th motorcycle produced. 1999 New motorcycle model CBZ introduced. 2000 4,000,000th motorcycle produced. Splendor stated World No. 1 largest selling model. Hero Honda Passport Programme CRM Programme launched 2001 New motorcycle model Passion introduced. One million productions in one year. 2002 New motorcycle models -Ambition and Dawn introduce. 2003 Become the first Indian Company to cross the growing 7 million sales and Splendor has emerged as the Worlds largest selling model for the third calendar year in a rank (2000, 2001, 2002) New model Karizma introduced. 2004 Hero Honda became the World No. 1 Company for the third consecutive year. 2005 Hero Honda is the World No. 1 for the 4th year in a row. 2006 Hero Honda is the World No. 1 for the 5th year in a row 15 million production milestone achieved. 2007 Hero Honda is the World No. 1 for the 6th year in a row New Splendor NXG launched. New Passion Plus launched. New model Hunk launched. 20 million production milestone achieved. 2008 New model Passion Pro launched. New CBZ Xtreme launched. 25 million production milestone achieved. CD Deluxe lauched with power start feature. New Glamour launched. 2009 Splendor completed 11 million production marker. New model Karizma ZMR launched. Silver jubilee celebrations. Hero Honda Business Environment (P)olitical Factors These refer to government policy such as the degree of intervention in the economy. Political decisions can impact on many critical areas for business such as the knowledge of the workforce, the health of and the quality of the infrastructure of the economy, such as Customer protection laws: These laws are designed to protect customers against unfair practices such as confusing descriptions of the product related auto mobile. Opposition laws: These are aimed at protecting small firms against bullying by larger firms and ensuring customers are not exploited by firms with monopoly power. Employment or labour laws: These cover areas such as discharge, working hours and minimum wages. Health and safety: These laws are aimed at ensure the workplace is as safe as is reasonably practical. They face issues such as training, reporting accidents and the appropriate provision of safety equipment. (E)conomic factors Economic Environment refers what is happening within the economy, for example; economic growth, interest rate, exchange rate, inflation rate, demand, wages rate etc. Marketers need to consider the trading economy in short term and long term. Economic factors have major impacts on how business operate and how to they make decisions. Hero Honda has been strongly committed not only to environmental management programmes but also express the increasingly inseparable balance between the economic concerns and the environmental and social issues faced by a business. A business must not grow at the expense of mankind and mans future but rather must provide mankind. (S)ocial factors Social factors include the demographic and cultural aspects of the external macro environment. These factors affect customer needs and the size of possible markets. Changes in social trends can contact on the demand for a firms products and the availability and willingness of individuals to work. Culture is the set of morals and attitudes that are approved by a group of people and transferred from one generation to another. Social factors include health awareness, population rate, age, importance on safety. Hero Honda auto mobile change various management strategies use different strategies related age, gender, categories in society (income of society). Hero Honda has been set up on 40 acres of land along the Delhi-Jaipur Highway. The Centre-complete with wide approach roads, clean water, and education facilities for both adults and children-now nurtures a vibrant, educated and healthy community. Hero Honda taken up by the Foundation includes: Raman Munjal Memorial Hospital Raman Munjal Sports Complex Vocational Training Centre Adult Literacy Mission Marriages of underprivileged girls Rural Health Care : We must do something for the society from whose land we generate our prosperity. A quote from Chairman of Hero Honda Motors Pvt.Ltd. (T)echnological factors Technological factors include environmental and natural aspects, such as Research Development activity, technology incentive. Technology has played a essential role in developing the transportation system. Technology has also positively affected the economic status of some countries. It is generally practical that the countries employing a high level technology is a well advanced state. It has increased productivity and has contributed actually in producing more quantity with quality. Some benefits of technology in production process are: Reducing the record wastage. fewer waiting time. Decreased over production. -Reduces avoidable activities of employees. Hero Honda committed at all levels to achieve high quality in anything they do, mainly in their products and services which will meet and exceed customers growing aspiration through- Innovation in products processes and services. Continuous improvement in our total quality management systems. Teamwork and responsibility. (E)nvironmental Factors Environmental factors include the weather and climate change. Changes in temperature can impact on many industries including agriculture, tourism and insurance. With major climate changes happening due to global warming and with larger environmental awareness this external factor is becoming a major issue for firms to consider. Hero Honda environmental awareness of our employees and dealers , while promoting their involvement in ensuring noise environmental management. Institutionalise resource conservation, in particular, in the areas of oil, water, electrical energy, paints and chemicals. fulfil with all applicable environmental legislation and also controlling their environmental discharges. (L)egal Environment factor Marketing decision is affected by developments in legal environment. This environment is related of different types laws, government policies. Sometimes these laws also create new opportunities for business. (Kotler, p 2003). Legal environment refers to what is happening with changes to legislation. Legal Environment impact resources, import export, taxation, employment etc. It is reflect the policy framework and the move towards of the Governmental structure of the country and ensure that every company is performance as per the legislative structure of the country. SWOT analysis of Hero Honda (S)trengths: Sales Increase: Hero Honda experienced great growth throughout its early days. By 2002 Hero Group had sold 86 million bicycles producing 16000 bicycles a day. Today Hero Honda has many different models of motorcycles available. It holds the most popular bike in the world by sales for Its Splendor model in last many years. b) Fuel efficiency: Over all fuel consumption by its products is less in compare to other brands product. Hero Honda able to give better mileage. Because of this Hero Honda splendor has magical sales record and the reason of mileage. c) Service : Hero Honda offers free services on all their two-wheelers. Customer avail all these service within the time period or kilo metre range. d) High financial performance: The Hero Honda financial information shows that it has strong financial background in terms of sales, profit and assets. Honda Motors Ltd. the worlds largest two-wheeler manufacturer, today reported 31% per cent growth in profit after tax at Rs 275 crore for the third quarter October-December of financial year 2007-08. (W)eaknesses: a) High maintenance: Some of the products of hero Honda like Karizma, CBZ, Hunk require high maintenance. Less promotion and Lack of recycling scrap: The promotions and of Hero Honda are very less to its competitors and they have problem of recycling scrap. c) Labour relations: In Hero Honda Company there is no labour organized and family member of employees. The majority of the production workers, who are hired through contractors, these benefits are out of reach. (O)pportunities: a) Good will of the company: With new launch Hero honda can be benefited at present market scenario like Karizma, CBZ, Hunk has huge attraction in the younger generation because of its style, look, and power at high speeds. (T)hreats: Technical aspect: Competitor bike like Bajaj pulsar and TVS apache are threat to Hero Honda product like Karizma, CBZ and Hunk in respect to fuel economy. So if they dont short out in the new launches and give something extra in its engineering performance it may affect in demand of this company product. Inflation: If inflation increases the cost of raw material used in production will go high and selling price of product may go high that may decrease demand of the two wheeler.

Civil Rights and Legislation in Mississippi Essay -- Black Civil Rights

The civil rights movement spurred the passing of much federal legislation throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. Although, race relations eventually changed in Mississippi due to federal force, civil rights legislation would pass but segregation continued in Mississippi because of unsupportive state government, lack of federal enforcement and white Mississippians continuous threats and intimidation. The civil rights movement in the 1950’s and 60’s was a monumental event in American history. The large amount of legislation passed in accordance with this movement was greatly outnumbered by the many horrendously, violent acts that occurred throughout it. Judicial decisions such as Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 should have been able to inspire hope within black communities. Yet the brutality of events such as the murder of Emmett Till and Medgar Evens, as well as staunch, white resistance like the Southern Manifesto, kept many African Americans desire for freedom repressed by their desire for safety. The civil rights movement was opposed with some of the most unrelenting resistance in the state of Mississippi. Organizations tackling integration in Mississippi were met with unyielding violence and discrimination, by both citizens and local officials. â€Å"†¦going into Mississippi to organize was not like going to any other state in the South. Mississippi w as the heart and soul of segregation. It resisted integration more fiercely than any of the other southern states.† Legislation passed and judicial decisions continued to be made in favor of civil rights but the federal government failed to enforce these successfully. As early as 1947 the President’s Commission on Civil Rights declared, â€Å"The very fact that these outrages [lynching] c... ...ce equal rights eventually became the standard in Mississippi and throughout the South. Works Cited 1. R. Edward Nordhaus, â€Å"S. N. C. C. and the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi, 1963-64: A Time of Change,† The History Teacher, Vol. 17, No. 1 (November 1983), 95. 2. Eric Foner, "The United States and the Cold War, 1945 – 1953," in Voices of freedom: a documentary history. Third ed. (New York: W.W. Norton, 2011), 232. 3. Anne Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi, (New York: Random House, 1968), 413. 4. Moody, Coming of Age in Mississippi, 403. 5. Nordhaus, â€Å"S. N. C. C. and the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi,† 96 6. Eric Foner, "An Affluent Society, 1953 - 1960," in Voices of freedom: a documentary history. Third ed. (New York: W.W. Norton, 2011), 253. 7. Nordhaus, â€Å"S. N. C. C. and the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi,† 97

Speech on Powerful Nature of Books :: essays research papers

I'd like all of you to raise your hand if you have read a book. You may be wondering what I am doing, but I wanted to show you something. I wanted to show you how many people have read books. These people don?t always fit into one category. They may be young, they may be old, rich, poor, and even education levels differ. Books range in topics from sports to science fiction to western. At one point or another in our lives, we were probably captivated by the words or picture on the sleek pages. If that is the case for you, then you, my friend have experienced the immense power of books. You all know that books can give hope to a hopeless soul, and they can give one wisdom and intelligence. Maybe you have been feeling down, and in your angry state, for some reason or another decided to pick up a book. While tearing through the pages, you may have seen a glimmer of hope. Gary Paulsen, the well published author shared an experience when books gave him hope. He was a young kid, 10 years old, and just transferred from the Philippines to a public school in Washington D.C., He dropped his coat off in the in-room coat room, and was so frightened that he simply could not move. The teacher noticed this and went back into the room with him. She brought a book with a horse on the cover and let him turn the pages. This enabled him to interact with the book. When the teacher felt he was ready, she asked him if he wanted to come out. He agreed, and she held is hand as he was led into the classroom, to his seat. Paulsen?s story was just one of many stories of how books instilled hope in someone. Books gave Paulsen an escape from his drunken, screaming parents, gave him a plac e where he could be free from school bullies. Whether a book makes you go from a rage, to just a little sad, or from sad to happy, books can give one person hope. Books can do more than provide hope. Books, as you would expect, can give someone intelligence and wisdom. While, Paulsen was a young thirteen year old living in the a Minnesota town, he was selling newspapers to drunks, trying to scrounge up some extra cash to buy nicer clothes to fit in with the popular kids in school.