Pornography On The Internet Essays (1932 words) - Feminist Theory

Pornography On The Internet Pornography It started by way of messengers and scribes, evolved through the presentation of newspapers and radio, brought us together with television, and now serves us world-wide by the ever-popular Internet. It is the mass media, and even from the beginning it has contributed greatly in ways that both enlighten and enrich society, and ways that deteriorate and corrupt it. It is not a surprise to learn, then, that the mass media is the most powerful source of information we have, and nothing else in today's world influences public perception quite as heavily. Unfortunately, most of what is broadcast in the news today is something that society as a whole sees as negative or damaging. But the news on television is not the only type of media taking the criticism of society. Other forms of mass media, specifically movies and television programs containing pornography and violence have been heavily criticized. The question here is; are these images of pornography resulting in increased violence against women. There is no concrete evidence supporting this theory. Research by Baron (1990) shows that gender equality is greater where pornography is more prevalent, answering the question for us. The key here is that the mass media does not cause undesirable social behavior and in actuality, the media people should not be labeled as the ?bad guys?. They simply use their power in the most constructive ways possible in order to promote their ratings and popularity. One way to do that is to concentrate on what sells: sex, violence and disaster. Having said this, why is it then, that many in society still believe otherwise? Why do they continue to believe that pornography is ?evil? and is a major cause for violence against women, specifically rape? There are many reasons for this misinterpretation and through the following few points, an attempt will be made to show that pornography has very little to almost no connections to violence against women. In order to demonstrate this, it must be made evident that pornography is not ?evil? and does not cause undesirable social behavior by displaying nude women in sexually explicit circumstances. Thus, it is important to indicate that women are not treated only as sexual objects through the media. This is done in an attempt to quash any traces of ?evil? in pornography. For thousands of years, sex itself has been considered ?evil? and revolting. This is exactly why the concealment of the sex organs and teaching feelings of shame toward human sexuality is so common worldwide (Christensen 1990:4). These same feelings of shame are the chief reasons that sex is considered a personal and private matter. Contrary to the beliefs of many, the mass media did not create these settings; society creates this image. In some societies, women have no reservations with regard to living their entire lives completely naked, while in other societies, females cover themselves from head to toe, only revealing their eyes. The sex industry is easily topping $20 billion per year. Because of this, the media has been bombarded with criticism, overwhelmingly from the female community, pertaining to the amount of sexually explicit material that is published in magazines and that appears on television. A common argument against pornography is that the media portrays women as being nothing more than sexual playthings and objects to satisfy male sexual desires. The media once again, is not to be held responsible for creating this image. These views are products of society. It would be crazy to assume that women in this society are treated as sexual objects only because the media releases or broadcasts pornographic material. To say that pictures featuring nudity, etc. are making objects out of women is foolish. One should consider females who pin-up posters of male rock stars or children who collect hockey or baseball cards. Society, however, does not say that objects are being made out of these rock stars and sports heroes; pictures of clothed people are no less objects than pictures of naked people. It is also said that the media reduces women to a collection of body parts through pornography (Christensen 1990:74). But why then are their no complaints of advertisements in magazines displaying only ears,

How To Calculate Percent

How To Calculate Percent Calculating percent is a fundamental math skill, whether youre taking a class or just living life! Percentages are used to make car and house payments, calculate tips and pay taxes on goods. Percent calculations are fundamental to many classes, especially science courses. Heres a step-by-step tutorial on how to calculate percent. What Is Percent? Percentage or percent means per one hundred and expresses the fraction of a number out of 100% or the total amount. A percent sign (%) or the abbreviation pct is used to denote percentage. How To Calculate Percent Determine the total or whole amount. Divide the number to be expressed as a percent by the total.In most cases, youll divide the smaller number by the larger number.Multiple the resulting value by 100. Example Percent Calculation Say you have 30 marbles. If 12 of them are blue, what percent of the marbles are blue? What percent are not blue? Use the total number of marbles. This is 30.Divide the number of blue marbles into the total: 12/30 0.4Multiple this value by 100 to get the percent: 0.4 x 100 40% are blueYou have two ways to determine what percent are not blue. The easiest is to take the total percent minus the percent that are blue: 100% - 40% 60% not blue. You could calculate it, just like you did the initial blue marble problem. You know the total number of marbles. The number that is not blue is the total minus the blue marbles: 30 - 12 18 non-blue marbles.The percent that is not blue is 18/30 x 100 60%As a check, you can make sure the total of blue and non-blue marbles adds up to 100%: 40% 60% 100% Learn More How To Calculate Mass PercentHow To Calculate Percent Composition by MassPercent Error CalculationVolume Percent Concentration

Business law Aldi Supermarkets Negligent - Free Sample

To prove the above issues, the analysis of the law of negligence is required. In Donoghue v Stevenson (1932), the law of negligence was analyzed for the first time wherein it was held by Lord Atkin that no harm must be caused to the consumer for the products supplied by the manufactures. So to prove negligence the basic requirements include: (RN Moles, 2016) Once proved, the defendant is negligent. But, if the defendant can prove that the damage which is caused to the plaintiff is not by the performance of the defendant alone but the plaintiff has also acted negligently and it is her negligence which has also resulted in the contribution of damage then the contributory defense can be availed. The liability of the defendant can be reduced proportionately Kalokerinos v Burnett  [1996]. It is submitted that the Aldi Supermarkets is negligent and must pensate Tamara. The negligence is established because of the following reasons: Thus, Aldi can be casted with the DUTY OF CARE that it must furnish against Tamara. So, all the above facts when applied to the case laws reveal that the Aldi Supermarkets is totally negligent in its actions because the duty of care is not furnish by its properly and which has resulted in causing loss to Tamara. But, Aldi Supermarkets cannot be held liable for all the losses and it has a defense of contributory negligence. Aldi can prove that though it has not catered its duty properly which has resulted in the loss of Tamara. But, the loss that is caused to Tamara is exaggerated by her actions as well. If Tamara would have not run very fast on the aisle of the supermarket in order to grab the chocolate knowing the fact that the market has frequent visitors and that some other customers is also approaching the chocolate section, then, the loss that is suffered by her can be reduced. Tamara has contributed because she ran very fast knowing the fact that it was a wet day and there are chances that she might get sip if she will run fast. Thus, Tamara has contributed to her own loss. So, Aldi can rely on the defense of contributory negligence. The Aldi has not provided adequate care to the market visitors and this breach of care has resulted in loss to Tamara. So, there is clear negligence on the part of Aldi. But, Aldi can prove that Tamara was also negligent in her actions and has contributed to her own loss by running fast on aisle on the wet day. Atkins et al. (2014) Ethics and Law for Australian Nurses. Cambridge University Press. Barnett K, (2014) Equitable pensation and remoteness: not so remote from the mon law after all’. P Latimer (2012) Australian Business law, CCH Australia Limited. R N Moles (2016) Law Reports, McAlister or Donoghue (Pauper) v. Stevenson (1932). Burnie Port Authority v General Jones [1994]. Naxakis v Western General Hospital (1999). Wyong Shire Council v Shirt  [1980].

Resistence to Change Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Resistence to Change - Case Study Example The report further asserts that, lack of communication across the organization heightened resistance because majority of employees were unaware of impending changes that were being introduced (Griffin & Moorehead, 2012). In above connection, lack of single culture to integrate the whole organization was a significant source of resistance to change because almost every department at NASA had its own culture different from other departments (Griffin & Moorehead, 2012). Lack of proper risk mitigation measures in place to consolidated organization culture, was major factor that caused resistance to change (Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 2003). The report suggested that, termination of risky flights was not solution of reducing escalated cases of accidents but rather NASA should focus at establishing structural procedures that guarantees sustainability of a safety culture (Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 2003). Therefore, this analysis focuses at providing an insight of Col umbian mishap concerning resistance to change and how it contributes to accidents. The analysis will further focus on both individual and cultural resistance as well as the impact of the board recommendation on individual and structural barriers. Individual sources of resistance to change and their causes The Sources and causes of individual resistance could be attributed to numerous factors that may include; fear for unknown. People tend to fear uncertainties that may to occur as a result of change (Griffin, & Moorehead, 2012). This is because individuals find it difficult to cope with dynamics for instance, it can be scrutinized that lack of prior cultural integration within all departments at NASA brought great resistance (Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 2003). Additionally, Inability to adjust and start doing things using new ways may make people fear change and therefore, they may develop resistance. Inability to adjust may be overcome by ensuring that there is efficient and effective integration of NASA cultural goals and mission during the earliest juncture possible (Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 2003). In above connection, it can be scrutinized that individual developed resistance to change due to a lack of effective communication, whereby, NASA engineers could not effectively communicate safety measure to the management leading to individual resistance (Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 2003). On the other hand, NASA managers failed to communicate issues raised by engineers to all the departments leading to resistance among employees because changes were introduced without a prior notification (Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 2003). Lack of proper leadership within organization contributed significantly to individual resistance because managers were not involved in directing employees on what to do to ensure that safety standard were being observed. According to a report by Columbia Accident Investigation Board 2003, misund erstanding between managers and NASA engineers was significant source and cause of resistance. Structural sources of resistance to change and their causes The most common sources of resistance to change include; inertia within the organization structure (Griffin & Moorehead, 2012). Whereby, most organizations contain some mechanisms that enhance stability and sustainability making it difficult to

The City Hall of Los Angeles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The City Hall of Los Angeles - Essay Example The pride of the nation is clearly manifested by the fact that the top of City Hall's tower was designed to resemble the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The City Hall of Los Angeles is another building that represents the pride of a powerful nation in the 21st century just as El Escorial stood as a sign of a great nation in the 16th century. These two structures served their purpose of showing to the world what the country they represent was capable of doing in terms of arts, engineering, and science and technology. There are several aspects where we can equate this two architectural figures against each other. We can examine as to their purpose and usability, the motive of its conceptualization, the approach and styles the structures were developed, and their respective contributions to the history of architecture and structural engineering. This essay digs down into the essence of these facts and would try to explain them. There maybe other landmarks in the United States and the world greater than the City Hall but once in recent history it brought pride to the nation because of its structural magnificence and proportion. Besides, this structure also represents the advancement of a nation in terms or economy, culture, and science and technology. ... The building of such enormous structure serves to remind the nation of its capabilities. Speaking of the structure as a show of economic might, the LA City Hall is built in a highly progressive city within an economically superior state which is part of a super powerful nation. It represented the government being the based of its management and operation. It was built from materials obtained from different parts of LA which clearly show that its creation is a pooling of everyone's pride. The building stood in a place where nature is so unfriendly LA being in a fault and a seismic hazard. Yet it rose to the top undaunted by this geologic challenge. The gamble could only be best when the sophistication of modern architecture combined with science and technology warrants more that fifty percent of survival. It indeed survived the challenge, proof to that is it still exists today. As further evidence to the technological advancement of its structural systems, the seismic retrofit at Los Angeles City Hall was selected as a winner in Buildings magazine's 2003 Modernization Awards among other awards and citations. One important culture of the people that pushed for the building of LA structure is risk taking attitude. Taking the challenge in a rational way and making use of creative thinking and harnessing available resources and good minds makes nothing impossible. For the creative developers some things are just difficult but never impossible. Added into its pride was designing the top of City Hall's tower to resemble the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today with continuous upgrading and reinforcing the LA City Hall survived the challenges of times. Newer structures around the

Pips conversation with Biddy Essay Example for Free

Pips conversation with Biddy Essay Pips change whilst being in London, has meant he sees wealth as everything. If I could have kept him away by paying money, I certainly would have paid money. Showing that firstly, hed do anything to stop Joes visit, and also he can buy anything, and that money can solve anything.  Pip feels embarrassed, he doesnt want to be seen with Joe, my greatest reassurance was, that he was coming to Barnards Inn, showing he doesnt want to be associated with someone of Joes status. Joe himself realises the change in Pip, you wont find half so much fault in me if you think of me in my forge dress. This displays Joes uncomfortableness, and unease, he realises Pip has change, and doesnt see Joe the same as before. However Pip also becomes conscious of his change, if I had been easier with Joe, Joe would have been easier with me. Showing Pips tension, and impatience with Joe. Pip makes Joe feel uneasy, us two now being now alone Sir. The key word is Sir, Joe sees the change in Pip and feels obliged to call him Sir. As Pip has grown accustomed to his great expectations, he has noted the change in himself. I had insensibly begun to notice their effect upon myself, showing he realises the effect people have had on him, which has caused him to change during the course of his expectations. He recognizes this effect is not all positive, I knew very well that it was not all good, screening he has accredited the change within him. We see Pip build a sense of guilt, towards Joe and Biddy, I lived in a state of chronic uneasiness respecting my behaviour to Joe. My conscience was not by any means comfortable about Biddy. He has realised his mistreatment toward them.  Upon hearing the death of his sister Pip, starts to notice her, in his world. In my rooms too, with which she had never been at all associated, there was at once the blankness of death. Showing the effect of her death within him.  Biddy tells Pip she is leaving the forge, he replies with: I am not going to leave poor Joe alone, showing his fondness of Joe, which is a drastic change, from their previous meeting in London. Even whilst at the forge and with Biddy, Pip still relates to wealth, I would spend any money, showing his continuous thought of money, which is such a change from his young childhood.  Pip changes towards Joe, good-bye, dear Joe!- no dont wipe it off- for Gods sake give me your blackened hand. This shows he respects Joe and likes him for who he is man he was. Pip realises he prefers London, he thinks Joe and Biddy knows he does, he thinks they believe he wont come back, his response is a they were quite right to. This is a clear representation of his change since his younger years. When Pip sees Magwitch, and learns that he is in fact his benefactor, he is disturbed, he is positively repulsed to find, Magwitch is the person who has raised him to become a gentlemen. The abhorrence in which I held the man, the dread I had of him, the repungance with which I shrank from him, could not have been exceeded if he had been some terrible beast. Dickens choice of words, illustrate Pips horror and hatred towards Magwitch, abhorrence, repungance, and dread. He uses animal imagery to convey his pure displeasure that Magwitch is in fact his benefactor. We see the change Magwitch brings about in Pip, O, that he had never come! That he had left me at the forge-far from contented, yet, by comparison, happy. For the first time since being in London, Pips views of the forge, have changed. He reconsiders his current position in London.  Pip doesnt want anything to do with Magwitch, he laid his hand upon my shoulder. I shuddered at he thought that for anything I knew, his hand might be stained with blood. He sees Magwitch as dirty, he sees the money to be untrue and dirty also, which is a change, as before the money was everything to him. When pip finally reconsiders his situation, he is thoroughly disheartened: It was not until I began to think, that I began fully to know how wrecked I was, and how the ship in which I has sailed was gone to pieces. Showing that he believes his, ambitions, aspirations and hopes are all shattered.  Pip regrets his mistreatment of Joe and Biddy, worthless conduct, he sees how bad hes been. He sums his emotions up at the end of the chapter, thick black darkness, this is how he sees his life after his changing reunion with Magwitch. Within chapter 40, Pip is still demoralised by finding Magwitch to be his benefactor, I was greatly dejected and distressed. Showing the change Magwitch has had on Pip since he made himself recognized. Pip analyses Magwitch, he ate in a ravenous way, that was very disagreeable. This is a sign of his change, he notes his manners, and sees his etiquette as wrong. Dickens used the word disagreeable, which, represents, that its disagreeable to Pip, in his new found hierarchy. Dickens again uses animal imagery to convey Pips feelings towards Magwitch , he looked terribly like a hungry old dog. This represents Pips dislike for Magwitch. Pip is desperate to know how long Magwitch will stay, in a frenzy of fear and dislike. I want to know how you are to be kept out of danger, how long you are going to stay. The key words are: fear and dislike, these are clear depiction of his disgust towards Magwitch.  We notice a huge change within Pip. He now recognises his affection toward Magwitch. He believes he should do right by Magwitch before he dies, it became the first duty of my life to say to him, and read to him, what I knew he ought to hear. Showing his consideration of compassion for Magwitch. Pip informs Magwitch about Estella, she is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her He feels his duty, is to complement Magwitch on Estella. The change in Pip is that he inevitably forgives and pardons Magwitch, he wishes the best for him. O, lord be merciful. This is a drastic change to his initial thoughts towards him, when he discovered he was his benefactor.  Within chapter 57, as Pip comes out of his fever, we observe a change in him. Pip again worships Joe, O, God bless him! O, God bless this gentle Christian man! Showing his repentance. Pip changes his view of the word wealth. Wealth of his good nature, showing his new appreciation of wealth, he has realised that, wealth in money terms doesnt make a gentlemen, where as wealth in nature, and kindness does. Pips change is shown with: I went towards them slowly, for my limbs were weak, but with a sense of increasing relief as I drew nearer to them, and a sense of leaving arrogance and untruthfulness further and further behind. This shows he believes hes leaving his arrogance and untruthfulness behind him, these are the factors of a gentlemen he now perceives to be appalling. Pips appreciation of Joe is exposed with, my first thought was one of great thankfulness, that I had never breathed this last baffled hope to Joe. Hes so happy he didnt destroy Joe. This is a change in his feelings for Joe. His further appreciation of Joe is shown within Pips conversation with Biddy. Dear Biddy, you have the best husband in the whole world, and if you could have seen him by my bed you would have-But no, you couldnt love him better than you do. This shows his sheer delight with both Joe and Biddy. He both recognises Joe and Biddy as good natured people, but also he recognises his mistakes. You were both so good and true. To grow up a much better man than I did. He identifies his life wasnt all good, and he acknowledges his mistakes.  In conclusion, Pip has changed his depiction of the word, gentlemen. He no longer sees it to revolve around education, wealth and social standing. Due to the positive effect that Joe has upheld within Pip, Pip appreciation of a gentlemen is to be concerned with, faithfulness, generosity and goodness. Pip lost everything whilst in London, he now however has gained so much more, with respect and understanding, of not only himself but others also.

Virgils The Aeneid Essay -- Virgil Aeneid Essays

Virgil's The Aeneid   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Webster’s dictionary, a leader is defined as a person that has commanding authority or influence over others. Such a leader can be found in The Aeneid, written by Virgil. The main character in the epic, Aeneas, shows the journey of a leader through struggles and trials. One can see the true definition of leadership through Aeneas’s strategy, bravery, and persistence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Fall of Troy, Aeneas shows strategic leadership while pushing through the Greek lines. As the Trojan warriors defeat a surprised Greek crowd, Coroebus suggests that the men wear their trophies. Aeneas agrees and has his men wear the Greek insignia as a shield when breaking through enemy lines. Having success, Aeneas states, â€Å"Many a combat, hand to hand, we fought in the black...

Beginning of Israel’s History Essay

2006 The Lord said to Abraham, â€Å"I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed† (Genesis 12:2-3). Such promise was made when Abraham had no son hence it was made in reference to the Jewish nation. Willmington (1985) summarized the early history of Israel this way: It is generally known that the nation Israel began with the call of Abraham in Genesis 12, that Moses led its people out of Egyptian captivity, and that Joshua brought them into Canaan. After this the nation floundered under the Judges, fluorished under [the father and son kings], David and Solomon, and fragmented again under wicked King Rehoboam. It finally suffered exile at the hands of Assyria and Babylon, only to be returned and restored to the land by God during the days of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Israel’s Exiles. The northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah) were exiled to Assyria in 722 B. C. and to Babylon in 587 B. C. , respectively. These exiles definitely entailed great hardships to the people who were forcibly removed from their homeland to settle in a new territory. Lamentations and weeping were not far from their midst, as the psalmist pictures weeping in Babylon, â€Å"by the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and wept [†¦]. How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill† (Psalm 137†1-4). Going back to the question posted earlier – if Israel is indeed the chosen nation of God, how could such exiles along with the perils of insecurity and uncertainty happen to them? The answer is both political and theological as evidenced in the Biblical accounts of the exile. Politically, the exile was the result of anti-Babylonian policy adapted by the later kings of Judah. Theologically, both Israel and Judah have the tendency to forsake the Lord and adopt the customs of their heathen neighbors. Such Assyrian and Babylonian captivities that Israel experienced were in line with the prophesy of Moses that if proven disobedient, â€Å"the Lord will scatter [Israel] among the people [†¦],† yet, if they would turn to God, He would be merciful to restore them, â€Å"for the Lord [their] God is a compassionate God; He will not fail [them] nor destroy [them] nor forget the covenant with [their] fathers which He swore to them† (Deuteronomy 4:27-31). As fulfillment of the Lord’s promise, in 536 B. C. , Cyrus issued a decree that permitted the Babylonian exiles to â€Å"rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel† (Ezra 1:1-4). This action of Cyrus was predicted by Isaiah about 150 years earlier, â€Å"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, [†¦], it is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My Shepherd! And He will perform all My desire. ’ And he declares of Jesuralem, ‘She will be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid† (Isaiah 44:24-48). It is noteworthy from these Biblical accounts that only the true God can predict the future with total accuracy. Moreover the decree fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophesy, â€Å"[†¦] ‘I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the Lord [†¦]† (Jeremiah 25:12). The Medes and Persians captured Babylon in 539 B. C. According to the NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible (1989): The exile served to emphasize the fact that God was in no sense confined to Palestine. He providentially cared for His people in Babylon (cf. Ezekiel 11:16). The experience far away from the land, city and house where the Lord had chosen to dwell, brought to the fore the monotheism of Israel. Their suffering, coupled with face-to-face contact with the realities of false religion, purged the people once and for all of idolatrous desire. Many exiles following the decree of Cyrus remained in the Persian Empire, with the result that in due time Judaism became international in scope. The chastening of Israel is not only evident in the Old Testament accounts. Willmington (1985) cited that, in Jesus’ time mighty Rome ruled over the Holy Land and, four decades after His ascension, [†¦] On September 8, A. D. 70, by God’s judgment, the Jewish Temple in Israel was burned and destroyed by Titus, the Roman general. On October 6, A. D. 1973, by God’s grace, the Jewish state of Israel was saved from destruction from the Egyptians and Syrians. The following is but the briefest summary of those swift-moving, often sorrowful, and always eventful years between [A. D. 70 and A. D. 1973]. These nineteen centuries can be historically divided into ten main periods: Roman Period (A. D. 70-325); Byzantine Period (325-614); Persian Period (614-634); Arab Period (634-1072); Seljuk Period (1072-1099); Crusaders Period (1099-1291); Mameluke Period (1291-1517); Turkish (Ottoman) Period (1517-1917); British Period (1917-1948); and Independent Period (1948-present day). Israel as a Declared Nation A land, a law, a language, and a Lord was given to the nation of Israel when God chose them. But because of Israel’s disobedience to God, God allowed them to be dispersed among the nations as prophesied in Deuteronomy 28. But what God promised in Jeremiah 31:10, â€Å"[†¦] He who scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock†, He fulfills. After wandering and being dormant and dead for nearly nineteen long centuries, Israel was once again established as a nation in her beloved land in 1948. And at that time, with a population of only 650,000, Israel defended itself against 40 million Arabs in six Arab states that vowed to destroy them. Outnumbered 1001 to 1 in military equipment, Israel won the war, and has won two thereafter. Some of the key paragraphs in the proclamation of Israel’s freedom read as follows: The land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and national identity was formed. Here they achieved independence and created a culture of national and universal significance. Here they wrote and gave the Bible to the world. [†¦] Our call goes out to the Jewish people all over the world to rally to our side in the task of immigration and development and to stand by us in the great struggle for the fulfillment of the dream of generations – the redemption of Israel (http://stateofisrael.com/declaration). Conclusion Today, though much of the south of Israel’s land is desert, it has a fertile plain along the country’s Mediterranean coastline, which makes Israel as one of six nations that produce enough food to feed themselves and others. The Law of the Sabbath is the law of the land for everyone in Israel, though only 5% of the 6,276,883 population estimated in 2005 make-up the God-fearing Orthodox Jew. Furthermore, Hebrew is the official language, the only dead language that has ever been restored to life in the history of mankind. With a land, a law, and a language revived after two millenia, Israel still has one problem – they still reject the Lord, the very God who has made them as His chosen nation. Perhaps, this fact points out to the primary cause of Israel’s exiles and constant struggle for peaceful coexistence with neighbors dedicated to its destruction. Therefore, the next time someone asks what makes Israel the target of various terrorist organizations, and why is it the most disputed strip of real estate on planet earth, the one who understand the nation of Israel can point the answers to both of Israel’s Biblical narratives and historical texts. Works Cited Declaration of Israel’s Independence1948. Tel Aviv. 14 May 1948 (5th of Iyar, 5708). 11 March 2006 . NIV Compact Dictionary of the Bible. J. D. Douglas and Merill C. Tenney, eds. Michigan: Thje Zondervan Corporation. 1989. Ryrie Study Bible: New American Standard. Charles Caldwell Ryrie, expanded ed. Chicago: Moody Press. 1995. Willmington, H. L. Willmington’s Guide to the Bible. Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. , 1985.

Ethics: Social Responsibility and Strategic Planning Essay

Strategic planning can be defined as the formulation of plans that will lead to well informed and sound decisions and actions that when implemented will help achieve all short and long term organizational goals. During this process, the creation of well defined mission and vision statements along with organizational values and policies that are directly related to the company’s goals will help the business organization achieve long term success. Because success or failure directly impacts all stakeholders, whether employees, suppliers, investors, the local governments or community in general, special considerations of their needs should be included in the strategic planning process. Because of recent well known corporate scandals, business organizations have incorporated business ethics codes and social responsibility programs as part of their strategy to boost their public image and reputation in the community along with the reduction of potential legal fees or financial settlements resulting from legal actions against the organization. Ethics refer to the fundamental principles of an individual or a group. Social responsibility is how a business performs its activities to meet its wider obligations toward the society and environment, such as by avoiding activities which may be harmful. Strategic planning is an essential preliminary step in the corporate world in which senior management defines the organization’s strategy, direction and decision-making. Ethical values and social responsibility serve an important role in the strategic planning process. Social Responsibility To the Stakeholders o Management must ensure that strategic decisions are reached after taking into account the possible impact on the stakeholders. Stakeholders are suppliers, customers, societies and anybody who is affected by the activities of the business. A socially responsible company treats stakeholders equally. Wider perspectives also have to be considered in terms of environmental and social impact of planned activities. Transparency o Members of management should provide information transparently and honestly to help all involved discuss, debate and reach better decision-making. This enables the team to identify and monitor any potential risks which may arise and find an alternative solution. In terms of social responsibility, transparency also enhances the company’s credibility toward its external stakeholders. Independence o A management meeting provides an opportunity for management team members to raise concerns and come up with new ideas. It should be conducted in a professional and coherent manner and everyone should be independent in providing ideas without fear or hesitance as this helps improve the quality of the discussion and the decisions reached. Respect o Members should respect others’ opinions by giving them the opportunity to speak and by listening to their ideas with interest. Constructive comments develop more intellectual discussion but should be dealt with in a way which does not hurt the other members’ feelings. Discussion in a friendly environment improves the relationship among the members, strengthens the strategic planning process and results in better decision-making. Fairness and Truthfulness o During the planning process, the team should take a fair and truthful look at the possible risks and impact of decisions reached. These need to be thoroughly considered to maintain the welfare of the stakeholders such as employees and the society at large. Members should be truthful and frank in providing ideas and comments. Loss of employment and retirement funds, double bonuses, tax evasion, and the dark side of office politics are some of the challenges affecting organizations like a virus causing professionalism and efficiency to be questioned. Walker and Lanis (2009) found that an organization influences and is influenced by the society within which it operates (Cengage, 2009); therefore, an organization needs to take into consideration issues such as product safety, regulations, legal, ethical and economic responsibilities to the society within which it functions. One of the methods which could be used to do so is to integrate ethical and socially responsible techniques in an organization’s strategic plan whilst taking into consideration the needs and agendas of stakeholders. This concept is supported by Drozdenko, and Jin (2010) who suggested core values and beliefs exhibited at the strategic level influences decision making and outcomes throughout an organization. The objective of this research is to explain the role of ethics and social responsibility in developing a strategic plan while considering stakeholder needs and agendas, including an example of a company which overstepped ethical boundaries and preventative measures which could be taken to avoid this type of situation. Ethics appears to be a subject most people take for granted. According to Ciulla (2004), most people think of ethics as practical knowledge and common sense as opposed to theoretical knowledge. Social responsibility involves operating in a society or environment not only to gain or increase profits but to do so in accordance with legal and ethical standards therefore making a positive contribution by adding to the value of life in an area of operation. What is strategic planning and what is the role of ethics and social responsibility when developing a strategic plan? Strategic planning as defined by Bryson (2004 cited from Olsen & Eadie) is â€Å"a disciplined effort to produce fundamental decisions and actions that share and guide what an organization (or other entity) is, what it does, and why it does it† (p. 6). One of the most important needs of a strategic plan is to determine the long term effects of decision making to ensure accountability. Therefore, if an organizatio n takes into consideration its ethical and social responsibilities to its clients, employees, and stakeholders when developing its strategic plan some important areas to focus on includes: Economic Responsibilities – A business should provide goods and services which the society wants at a fair price that provides adequate profits to ensure its long term survival and growth as well as to reward investors (Cengage, 2009). Therefore, although the main objective of an organization is to make a profit, it is imperative to remember profits made should not be made at the detriment of the society. Legal responsibilities – These are laws and regulations under which the organization is expected to operate (Cengage, 2009), however if the organization does not abide by these laws if needed, there is a mechanism in place to seek redress. Ethical responsibilities – The law, according to Cengage (2009) does not cover every issue or emerging issues which may be encountered by an organization. Ethics covers activities which are prohibited even though legislation may not exist at the time the unethical act occurred (Cengage, 2009). Philanthropic responsibilities – According to Cengage (2009) this is when an organization voluntarily â€Å"gives back† to the society by providing assistance, forming relationships and making contributions to improve the community. Kaufman, Browne, Watkins and Leigh (2003) indicated that one of the issues which caused the collapse of Enron, a giant US energy company was that the focus of its executives was for self profit as opposed to seeing to the well being of the stakeholders. By inflating stocks, presenting fraudulent financial reports, cheating, lying and intimidating employees Enron caused employees to lose their jobs, retirement plans, and stakeholders to lose billions of dollars. Additionally, hundreds of dot.com companies came crashing down, shocking international markets as stocks plummeted when it was discovered that â€Å"stocks were inflated through personal ambitions rather than the value they would deliver to shareholders and external clients† (p. 31). Johannesen, Valde, and Whedbee (2008 cited from Odell) stated â€Å"a society without ethics is a society doomed to extinction† (p. 5). This also applies to an organization. Therefore, an organization that is not ethical or socially responsible is doomed to fail. This is supported by Rhodes, C., Pullen, A., and Clegg, R., S. (2010 cited Verschoor, 2004) who believed there was a need to create moral strength and character by reintroducing personal conscience, responsibility, and values in organizations. The best measures to use in order to incorporate this type of behaviour, beliefs, and values within an organization is to integrate ethical and socially responsible objectives, goals, and activities into the strategic plan. Hence to prevent unethical behaviour and social irresponsibility it is important to put measures in place. Following the implementation of the Sarsbane-Oxley Act of 2002 it is imperative that organizations ensure financial reporting is done in a responsible manner. According to Cengage (2009) this legislation was implemented to minimize the use of fraudulent financial reporting and to protect the interest of all stakeholders. Creating policies and guiding principles are also measures which guides the organization to be ethically and socially responsible to its stakeholders by taking their needs into consideration. Last but not least creating a code of conduct which should be followed by all employees not only sets a standard within the organization but can be used as a criterion to reward and punish employees who adhere to or who do not adhere to the code. Conclusion: To create an ethical and socially responsible atmosphere within an organization it is imperative to put in place optimistic, high, achievable standards which must be incorporated at all levels of the organization. By focusing on legal, ethical, philanthropic, and economic responsibilities when creating a strategic plan which sets the direction and guiding principles of an organization ensures transparency and accountability. The world is changing and stakeholders are becoming more ethically conscious and prefer to develop relationships with responsible organizations. Therefore, employee safety, human rights abuses and other concerns such as bribes, corruption, the abuse of cheap labour, questionable payments and child labour which could negatively affect and organization, its image, and reputation should be at the forefront of the minds of executives when creating a strategic plan for the future of the organization.

Origins of the French Revolution in the Ancien Regime

Origins of the French Revolution in the Ancien Regime The classic view of the ancien rà ©gime in  France- the state of the nation before the French Revolution of 1789- is one of opulent, corpulent aristocrats enjoying wealth, privilege, and the finery of life, while totally divorced from the mass of the French people, who stooped in rags to pay for it. When this picture is painted, it is usually followed by an explanation of how a revolution- a massive smashing of the old by the massed ranks of the newly empowered common man- was necessary to destroy the institutionalized disparities. Even the name suggests a major gap: it was old, the replacement is new. Historians now tend to believe this is largely a myth, and that much once regarded as purely the result of the revolution was actually evolving before it. A Changing Government The revolution did not suddenly change France from a society where position and power depended on birth, custom, and being obsequious to the king, nor did it usher in an entirely new era of government being run by skilled professionals instead of noble amateurs. Before the revolution, ownership of rank and title was increasingly dependent upon money rather than birth, and this money was increasingly being made by dynamic, educated, and able newcomers who bought their way into the aristocracy. 25% of the nobility- 6000 families- had been created in the eighteenth century. (Schama, Citizens, p. 117) Yes, the revolution swept away a vast number of anachronisms and legal titles, but they had already been evolving. The nobility was not a homogenous group of overfed and debauched abusers- although these existed- but a vastly varying set which included the rich and the poor, the lazy and the entrepreneurial, and even those determined to tear their privileges down. Changing Economics A change in land and industry is sometimes cited as happening during the revolution. The supposedly ‘feudal’ world of dues and homage to a master in return for land is supposed to have been ended by the revolution, but many arrangements- where they had existed at all- had already been changed into rents before the revolution, not after. The industry had also been growing  pre-revolution, led by entrepreneurial aristocrats benefiting from the capital. This growth wasn’t on the same scale as Britain, but it was large, and the revolution halved it, not increased it. Foreign trade before the revolution grew so much that Bordeaux nearly doubled in size in thirty years. The practical size of France was shrinking too with an increase in travelers and the movement of goods and the speed with which they moved. Lively and Evolving Society French society was not backward and stagnant and in need of a revolution to clear it out as once claimed. Interest in enlightened science had never been stronger, and the cult of heroes took in men like Montgolfier (who brought people to the skies), and Franklin (who tamed electricity). The crown, under the curious, if awkward  Louis XVI, took on board invention and innovation, and the government was reforming public health, food production, and more. There was plenty of philanthropy, such as schools for the disabled. Arts also continued to evolve and developed. Society had been evolving in other ways. The explosion of the press which helped the revolution was certainly bolstered by the end of censorship during the upheaval but began in the decade before 1789. The idea of virtue, with an emphasis on the purity of oration over text, sobriety, and scientific curiosity was evolving out of the trend for ‘sensibility’ before the revolution took it to more extreme heights. Indeed the whole voice of the revolution- in as much as historians ever agree on a commonality among the revolutionaries- was developing before. The idea of the citizen, patriotic to the state, was also emerging in the pre-revolutionary period. The Importance of the Ancien Rà ©gime on the Revolution None of this is to say that the ancien rà ©gime was without problems, not least of which was the management of government finances and the state of the harvests. But it is clear that the changes wrought by the revolution had many of their origins in the earlier period, and they made it possible for the revolution to take the course it did. Indeed, you could argue that the upheaval of the revolution- and the ensuing military empire- actually delayed much of the recently proclaimed ‘modernity’ from fully emerging.

Relationship between prison overcrowding and violence Essay

Relationship between prison overcrowding and violence - Essay Example A number various alarming issues are emerging as warned by policymakers and scholars, due to this undesirable trend, such as the administrative chaos, unprecedented violence and health issues. Consequently, corresponding emergency measures have been taken, to cater these issues.As stated by Gaes and McGuire it has been reported based on the laboratory experiments that crowding and congestion leads to aggression. Linear regression techniques were used in the late 1970’s to detect the connection between the customary indicia of antagonism and increasing prison populace for instance the official ‘incidents’ and convict aggression. Most if these researches were on strong belief that the increasing population's densities in prisons may result in convict violence and hostility and lead to mismanagement in the prison facilities. Nevertheless, even though some early declarations to the converse, their studies have on the intact failed to ascertain an unequivocal associati on between spatial concentration, communal concentration, or convict discernment of swarming, and enlargements in prisoner aggression. Most of the studies in this regard, associated the raise in the inmate violence with augment in populace levels of the prison facility. Nevertheless, most of these researches were unable to realize other critical variables in reaching there results such as racial segregation tensions, prison’s administration, and inmate age trends. ... Linear regression techniques were used in the late 1970's to detect the connection between the customary indicia of antagonism and increasing prison populace for instance the official 'incidents' and convict aggression. Most if these researches were on strong belief that the increasing populations densities in prisons may result in convict violence and hostility and lead to mismanagement in the prison facilities (P. 41-65). Nevertheless, even though some early declarations to the converse, their studies have on the intact failed to ascertain an unequivocal association between spatial concentration, communal concentration, or convict discernment of swarming, and enlargements in prisoner aggression. Most of the studies in this regard, associated the raise in the inmate violence with augment in populace levels of the prison facility. Nevertheless, most of these researches were unable to realize other critical variables in reaching there results such as racial segregation tensions, priso n's administration, and inmate age trends. Moreover, studies that were carried out more recently and claim to have incorporated these aspects in their studies seem to elucidate the previous incoherent conclusions. (Freedman, P. 83-88) According to the findings of Robert Leger (P. 167-181) for the notion of overcrowding, ethnic tensions were mainly responsible, particularly in those groupings that are in the minority prisons. He adds that density adds no logical variance to these issues. Moreover, Ekland-Olson (P. 163-176) and quite others recognized that for the deviations in inmate misdemeanors rates, not crowding but the age of the convict population was

Early 20th century Shanghai Divergence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Early 20th century Shanghai Divergence - Essay Example The article starts off by attempting to place Shanghai in the context of other cities of the world like Amsterdam, Budapest and Houston that Baverstock et al have placed in the category of â€Å"gamma-global-cities†. What this means is that these cities have been given a separate place from the other cities of the world in terms of their tendency to what Wasserstrom calls â€Å"re-globalizing† nature i.e. the ability of the cities to re-integrate them with the global landscape. The author attempts’ to place Shanghai in context leave him bewildered considering the range of transformations that the city underwent in its existence and the fact that it is still a â€Å"work in progress†. The author reaches the view point that Shanghai is a city that is â€Å"good to think† which means that attempts to compare Shanghai with other cities have proved fruitless. And the article quotes Rudolf Wagner who suggests a moratorium in comparing Shanghai with other cities. Wasserstrom is not deterred by the academic community’s decision on de-linking comparisons of Shanghai with other cities. On the other hand, â€Å"While there is a strong case to be made for Wagner’s argument and the modification of it just described, this article argues that this is a good time for Shanghai specialists to enter the admittedly treacherous waters of far-flung comparison. And it will suggest a specific strategy for doing just this by proposing that we think of Shanghai as a reglobalizing When we use the term â€Å"re-globalize†, we effectively mean that there was a time when these cities were part of the global mainstream in terms of their relations with the rest of the world be it for trade or exchange of ideas. Shanghai has a particular significance in this respect as it was one of the cities in the East that had interacted with the West before the opium wars and the hundred years of treaty enforced port-period when it was a bustling port that served as a center for commerce and