A Plan to Win essays

A Plan to Win essays The Iowa Democratic caucuses were the first test for the contenders, and their organizations, in the race to become the Democratic Partys nomination as its candidate for the 2004 presidential election. This years Iowa caucuses can help develop a plan to win for the 2008 caucuses by learning from Deans mistakes and Kerrys winning strategies. Deans organization was filed with inexperienced, ill trained campaign workers, who did not know how to categorize voters, often having low standards for Ones. They lacked discipline and structure and conflicted with Deans senior staff. As shown in Kerrys organization, relationships play a key role in how successful the candidate is. Dean did not have a partnership with his campaign manager, Joe Trippi. I was said, in the article Turning Point in the July 19th issue of U.S. News dysfunctional and that Trippi often refused to take call from Dean on the road. Not only did Dean not build relationships with his organization, more importantly he didnt build one with voters. Unlike the rest of the contenders Howard dean did not give something for the voters to identify with. He admitted his failure to make a more human connection with voters hurt him. However this wasnt Deans only failure, Dean and his campaign were full of mistakes, blunders, and confusion. Dean told U.S. News that the three things I wanted to do are change the Democratic party, change the country and become president of the United States... in that order. That raised the question: Did Dean really want this? If you were to ask that question about Kerry the answer wouldve been absolutely Yes. The statement Dean made did not give the people confidence that he could take on Bush. John Kerry on the other hand had faithful people that were working hard for him. Kerr...

Humanism During The Renaissance Essays - Medieval Philosophy

Humanism During The Renaissance Essays - Medieval Philosophy Humanism During the Renaissance The Renaissance was an incredibly important turning point in Western Intellectual and Cultural Tradition. All of these changes centered around the idea of Humanism in which, people became less "God Centered" and more "Human-centered". I have narrowed down these changes, and will discuss in detail, these changes in three major categories: Political, Education, and the Humanism of Arts. The major pollical changes of the Renaissance were from the old Feudal System of the Middle Ages into a more flexible and liberal class system. This was most noticeable in Italy (particularly in Florence), where the divisions consisted of the old rich, the new rich nobles, the middle class, and the lower middle class(The poor didn't count). This created great conflict between these social divisions. The new rich consisted of successful merchants, capitalists, and bankers innovators of new systems of making money. The Humanism philosophy was also a very popular with the people and many political leaders rose to high positions with support of these ideals. Three humanists even became chancellors of Florence they used their rhetorical skills to strongly rally the people of Florence against their enemies. The great changes in Education of the Renaissance were inspired at first, by the desire of Humanists to be wise and to speak eloquently. The idea of useful education for the people, and very "well rounded" schooling in many different fields of learning were the new defined goals of Renaissance education. People all over (Especially in Florence) revived the Ancient Greek studies of Plato, Aristotle, and many others. People began seriously questioning what these people said and re-developed the "Scientific Theory" in which you didn't just accept whatever was said to you, but you tested the truth of it. In the area of Humanism and the Arts, Renaissance Artists no longer were subordinate to the interests and the values of the Clergy, and were able to create anything of their "artistic will". Both men and women were now able to appreciated arts beyond just religious themes. Artists could also now take advantage of new techniques, such as oil painting and linear perspective to enhance the quality of their works. All of the great artists of the time used became who they were solely because of this new artistic freedom that the Renaissance brought them. These artists also created works that were more complex than before. Taking advantage of this, artists such as Leonardo da Vinci the ultimate example of the Renaissance man working in all types of educational fields, and Michelangelo who was possibly the most famous artist and sculptor in history. As you can see, the Renaissance was to great extent and a major turning point in history from the Middle Ages in just about every element of the Society. The Renaissance have truly become the original roots of our culture from the West. This was was the time when people questioned the past, and decided to go back to the schools of learning taking the past of the Greeks into their present to make a better future.

13.2 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

13.2 - Coursework Example The portrait is staring sharply at an imaginary audience as if seeking attention. The principal feature in Schapiro’s Blue Angel painting is the feminist movement exhibited by the artwork is the woman’s professionalism and perceived autonomy. Blue Angel, woman represented in the picture, seems comfortable undertaking her career. She exhibits self-confidence evident in her sitting posture and dress code. The rough background of the painting most probably suggests the rough social background within which such women strive to attain high levels of prosperity (Love 408). Schapiro’s Blue Angel portrays a confident woman personality and exhibits a sense of superiority. Confidence and superiority depicted in Blue Angel’s portrait contradicts the traditional sexism notion evident among most Americans. In the contemporary world, women strive to find their place among male dominated society by pursuing relevant talents. Schapiro’s Blue Angel exposes a woman’s autonomy and self-worth that surpasses their oppression and sexism. Blue Angel and other feminist artworks by Schapiro focus on the female body and personality to dismiss negative notions held against women in a society dominated by sexist

Evolution and Triumph of Roman Civilization Research Paper

Evolution and Triumph of Roman Civilization - Research Paper Example Initially, the Roman civilization had a leap from a monarchy to an aristocratic republic and later into a Roman empire. â€Å"During its twelve-century history, the Roman civilization shifted from a monarchy to an oligarchic republic to an immense empire† (â€Å"History of Rome†). This paper will mainly focus on the distinct religious, political, military, economic, language and artistic structures of Roman civilization, which were the main factors that acted as the effective pillars in building up an effective empire. While focusing on the religious structure of the Roman civilization, it emerges that it mainly resembled the Greek gods. The religious practices of the Romans can be divided into three main phases. The first phase of the religious structure encompassed the three main gods namely Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus collectively known as Archaic Triad. The intervention of Greek influence in the Roman religion ultimately led to the transformation from the Archaic wor ship to more Greek dominated Captioline Triad. In this way of worship, Mars and Quirinus were replaced by Minerva and Juno. Next came the third phase, during which there was gradual diminishing of the triad worship, which was further accentuated due to the emergence of Christianity with the birth of Jesus Christ. â€Å"The beginning of the third phase and the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman empire occurred in 312 BC, upon conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great† (â€Å"Roman religion†).Thus, it was from this Roman Empire, Christianity spread all throughout the world, and evolved through ages thereby becoming one of the prominent religions of the world. This part of the paper will discuss the political and military structures of Roman civilization. Initially, the Romans formed a government called ‘Republic’ where people elected the officials who governed the state, and they took care of the welfare of the voters. Furthermore, they framed their constitution popularly known as â€Å"The Constitution of Roman republic† which ensembled a complex set of unwritten laws and other traditions that depicted the political setup of ancient Romans. â€Å"Romans created their first legal code by formally writing down some of their laws, which collectively became known as the Law of the Twelve Tables† (â€Å"Rome influence Western civilization†). The essential political bodies of the Roman Republic included the highest-ranking officials called Consuls. Then the Senate which consisted of nearly three hundred men who had control over the foreign and other financial policies. Finally, the Assemblies, consisting of the Centuriate and the Tribal assembly, which performed numerous roles in the Roman Republic. The paramount feature of the Roman political structure was that women were excluded from the political activity and only men participated in the government and took over the welfare ac tivities. The other important aspect of the Roman civilization would be its military structure with the Roman legions being the key driving force behind the expansion of the Roman Empire. Well trained and disciplined military men known as the legionaries fought with both military and strategic advantage. They had sound organization capacity and the troops were well equipped with effective weapons which were quite advanced in those times. The other vital element to be discussed would be the economic structure of ancient Romans.

Criminal Evidence Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Criminal Evidence - Dissertation Example The integrity of a witness is inferior, as the crime’s heinousness is superior. Experts on penal laws have taken on a different belief, that the trustworthiness of a witness is superior, for the criminal act is more unspeakable.2 In view of the above, this essay tries to answer the question: â€Å"to what extent is a characteristic of a witness is taken into account in criminal proceedings?† In order to clearly illustrate the arguments, this paper includes case law and statutes that govern the role played by witnesses in criminal cases. The author uses extensive library research and literature review. Role of Witnesses in Criminal Cases One of the objectives of criminal law is to make sure that the public honour the legal system in general and avoid perpetrating crimes. But, if an individual perpetrates a criminal act, their culpability should be determined through a properly established process and a justified penalty must be given. Criminal law specifies the provision s for implementing procedures in criminal cases, lays down the groups sanctioned to perform these procedures, the kind of procedures and the outcomes of violating the prerequisites of the law. As specified by the Law on Criminal Procedure, one of these processes is the evaluation of witnesses.3 The notion of witness should be viewed from two perspectives. Firstly, the identity and character of the witness, and, secondly, the reason the witness is involved in the trial; in short, the focus of the witness’ evidence should be determined. Criminal law permits and mandates the pertinent groups to determine the accuracy of evidence so as to take appropriate actions or make judgments.4 Evidence can be verified through a variety of ways, such as interrogating of witnesses. The interrogation of witnesses is strongly governed by a chain of legal prerequisites verifying the identity and character of the witness, those who should not be allowed as witness, the duties and rights of a witn ess, the handling of witnesses by officials carrying out the procedures, the interrogation methods, the principles, the assessment of the capacity of the witness to testify, the methods to document evidence, and the outcomes of breaching the abovementioned prerequisites.5 Evidence from a witness is a statement by an individual who is not the focus of criminal procedures. The statement is given to the group carrying out the procedure which will exercise it to assess the evidence on account of which the judgment shall be given. For example, the statement can be raised by the court in passing judgment, the prosecutor when making a decision whether to impeach, and by the accused when petitioning against the charges.6 Hence, witnesses play a very important role in criminal cases. Their importance goes above legal systems and is not confined to a specific form of bureaucratic structure or stage in the growth of a legal system. Even though recognised in different periods and territories as a useful and justifiable ground in which to establish a criminal sentence, evidence given by witnesses has long been dealt with doubt. Witnesses could bend the truth, overlook relevant details, recall events inaccurately or simply misunderstand an incident. In addition, witness may be influenced or manoeuvred and their testimony may hinge on the questions which will be thrown at them. This

Examining The Theories For Effective Practice

Examining The Theories For Effective Practice My choice to apply these two theories to the case scenario of Ms Joanna is based on the structure of these methods. Payne (2005, p 97) cites that Both crisis intervention and task-centred practice reflect a contemporary trend towards brief, focused and structured theories that deal with immediate, practical problems. Because of the recent diagnosis of breast cancer, Joanna is faced with some difficult decisions concerning her sons future. She wants to be sure that she would make the best decision available. Therefore task-centred approach would be the best way for her to achieving this and any other problems that might arise during the exploration process. Task-centred approach tends to be very structured and person-centred and it can be oriented to ease the most pressing problems. Task-centred practice has been developed within SW itself and tested in a wide variety of circumstances. The procedural aspect of task-centred practice has clearly been shaped by community care policy and care management. Time-limits, plan and contract based are key features of care management practice (Ford and Postle, 2000). The method is informed by a theoretical framework, which includes elements of systems theory, ego psychology, behaviourism, and empowerment theory. Hence the precise form it may take will be influenced by one or more of these theoretical traditions. Task-centred practice draws heavily from other problem solving methodology such as positive reframing from family therapy (Payne, 1997) and is in direct contrast to the more paternalistic professional practice traditionally employed. The values of self-determination and empowerment are central, as the service user, in this case Joanna, is seen as the best authority on her problems. Task-centred work fits closely with concepts of partnership and participation, in that Joanna should be fully informed and as fully involved as possible through out this process. Its principle stance on open, collaborative and accountable practice is clearly compatible with the values of AOP (Doel and Marsh, 1992). Ford and Postle (2000, p 53) the approach is focused on problem-solving, and is short-term and time-limited. The principle aim of task-centred work is to resolve problems presented by the service user. Hence the starting point of this practice is the problem. Task-centred practice is characterised by mutual clarity and therefore should only be carried out under the following three conditions. The service user must acknowledge the problem and be willing to work on it, they should be in a position to take action to reduce the problem and the problem must be specific and limited in nature. In this scenario Joanna has presented herself to the social worker, she has asked for help in decision making. Firstly the SW has to identify the main components and problems. For the SW this would be a task which would need careful consideration, planning and analysis. The recent diagnosis of an advanced breast cancer requires Joanna to explore different options for planning her sons future. Therefore the initial phase of task-centred practice is problem exploration. During this phrase key problems are identified, and then prioritised. There should be a maximum of three problems where the SW would be working on with Joanna. Too many selected problems will probably lead to confusion and dissipated effort Doel and Marsh (1992, p 31). Having identified the problem(s) the SW would then find out what Joanna wants are. Once the basis for work is established, the SW and Joanna precede in a series of incremental steps towards the goal(s). According to Doel and Marsh (1992) the journey from agreeing the objective to achieving it is measured in small steps called tasks. These are put into place by Joanna and the SW. As a result this would help Joanna in achieving her objective and the alleviation of the problem. Methods or techniques for achieving the task(s) should be negotiated with Joanna. Task-centred practice is designed to enhance the problem solving skills of participants. Therefore it is important that tasks undertaken by clients involve elements of decision making and self-direction. The task-centred approach would enable fast and effective support to Joanna. The time-limit is a brief statement about the likely length of time needed to reach the goal Doel Marsh (1992, p 51). A time limit is important for a number of reasons. It guards against drift, allows time for a review and encourages accountability. It also acts as an indicator of progress (Adams, Dominelli and Payne, 2002). The task stage is made up of a series of developments and reviews. The execution of reviews is important as it allows for an assessment of the success of the steps taken. The ending of the process of task-centred work will have been anticipated at the initial phrase. The concluding session should include a review of the work that has been accomplished by Joanna in order to alleviate the target problem. The main advantage of the task-centred practice are that it does not mean simply assigning tasks but it is a very well researched, feasible, and cost-effective method of working. The source of the problem is not presumed to reside in only the service-user. Attention is paid to external factors such as welfare rights and housing, and where there is scope to supply power it is taken in the form of information and knowledge giving. It also addresses the strengths of people and their networks. Task-centred attempts to put worker and client on the same level Coulshed Orme (1998, p 123). Althought the advantages to task-centred practice can be easily identified, the disadvantages and drawbacks are not as easy, as they are based on research. Therefore, it is not only looking at the approach widely and hypothesising disadvantages, but putting the approach into practice and gathering relevant information to analyse any negative conclusions. Some of these disadvantages would be that underlying problems requiring longer term approaches may go unnoticed, it requires sustained efforts from service user who may sometimes be unable to do this due to physical or emotional strengths. Clients may be overwhelmed by problems and unable to deal with them in a structured way. However the SW would still have a positive gain by improving their capacity for clearer thinking and forward planning, which in turn brings on successful intervention Coulshed Orme (1998, p 119). Moving on to Crisis intervention, which can be quite diverse with the models that uses. Payne (199, p 101) states that crisis intervention uses elements of ego-psychology from psychodynamic perspective. It focuses on the service-users emotional responses or reactions to external events and how to control them. Strategies of crisis intervention are based on psychological theory However, these are adapted and modified to fit the demands of the crisis situation. Crisis is a universal concept which affects people from all cultures. James and Gilliland define a crisis as a perception or experiencing of an event or situation as an intolerable difficulty that exceeds the persons current resources and coping mechanisms (2001, p 3). People in crisis situations may overlook or ignore important details and distinctions that occur in their environment and might have trouble relating ideas, events, and actions in a logical way. Crisis intervention, therefore, is an action plan to help people cope with immediate acute stressful demands. Hence, as crisis intervention focuses on resolving immediate problems and emotional conflicts through a minimum number of contacts. The first stage would be to enable the service-user to make sense of what has happened to them and to begin to feel in control. Drawing on Joannas situation, one can easily see that this type of approach would benefit her in many ways. Joannas cancer is advanced and the life-time left may not be very long. She is aware of her health situation and would need help with her emotional situation as well as Jacobs. Joanna sees herself in a state of emotional disequilibrium and is struggling to adjust and find a new sense of balance of all her problems, her emotional situation might seem insuperable at the time. Joana does not feel in control of her life anymore but still is trying to manage. Crisis intervention, intervenes when people have reached a situation in their lives they can no longer cope with. Thompson (2005, p 69) describes it as a turning point in peoples lives which creates a lot of energy that can be used positively to tackle problems, resolve difficulties and move beyond previous barriers to progress. This would empower and help Joanna to identify her major problems and find better coping mechanisms. By providing support such as home visits this would help with the breakdown of care for her son and family as well as offer Joanna time for herself to come to terms with her illness. The methods I would use are the Roberts (1995, p 18) seven stage model. The first stage would be by assessing lethality. Although Joanna presented herself to the SW she might not be the only person most at risk: it might be that Jacob is facing emotional reaction that can even lead to self harm. Therefore the SW should plan and conduct a crisis assessment as well as lethality measures. James and Gilliland emphasise that assessment should be a constant part of crisis intervention, because of rapidly changing emotions Payne (2005, p 105). The second stage of this model would be establishing a rapport and effective communication skills. This can be easily achieved by genuinely respecting and accepting Joanna and her family and sometimes reassuring that behaviour is not unreasonable or unexpected, this may help to achieve the rapport building. In the third stage the SW has to Identify what Joanna sees as her major problems. Myers (2001) distinction between affective, cognitive and behavioural aspects of the reaction to the crisis are also relevant here (Payne, 2005: 107). In the fourth stage the social worker would be actively working on Joannas feelings and emotions, as when dealing with an immediate problem, it can be easy to miss out or avoid to focus on feelings. The fifth stage involves looking at the past coping mechanisms. In Joanas situation, the death of her partner can be seen as a success. Success should be highlighted and reinforced Payne (2005, p 108). In stage six Joana would be working with her SW to understand why the crisis situation was so distressing. Finding a way to manage the situation and formulating an action plan that works for her, so that she can reach her goals and would feel empowered. In the final stage the SW has to make sure that Joanna would feel able to return if further problems arise and establish an action plan for Joanna and family, to help them indentify likely stressful points in the future. During this process, the SW should remain self aware of own biases and vulnerabilities and recognize how these could have an impact on her own judgment and actions. Payne, (1996, p 43) quotes that the term intervention is oppressive. It indicates the moral and political authority of the social worker to invade the social territories of service users. Even though Joanna presented herself for help, she could still see this intervention as being intrusive; this may oppress her and make her feel powerless. She has had the main role of the parent and house keeper in the family and may feel that these have been taken away from her. Joanna may feel detached from her family and internalize the problem, and may not focus on the situation; instead she may focus on the intrusion. So the SW may not get a true picture of her feelings and may interpret things wrongly and make assumptions. Crisis intervention can be seen as oppressive at times as it demands quick answers in a short time frame. Therefore not taking into consideration different culture background which may see this as questioning and make them feel discriminated against. In conclusion both try to improve peoples capacity to deal with life problems. Crisis intervention uses practical tasks to help people readjust; they place great importance in the emotional response to the crises and the chances of peoples capacity to manage their everyday problems in the future. Task-centred work focuses on performances in practical tasks which will resolve particular problems. Success in achieving tasks helps emotional problems. Crisis intervention has a theory of origin of life difficulties. Task-centred work takes problems as given, to be resolved pragmatically. Payne (2005) In summary, I have discussed task-centred and crisis intervention approaches and identified that despite their different origins and differing emphasis, both these approaches have a role to play in promoting the anti-oppressive approach in SW practice by restoring as much control as possible and validating and celebrating strengths. They both reject the long term intervention of psychodynamic work which makes the service-user more dependent on the worker. Both theories promote the time limited and more focused way of working with service-users. Although the approaches have limitations, they provide frameworks for SW to engage with the service-users in the most effective way.

Student Conduct and Violence in Schools :: Education

Generally, the conduct of students in public school is a deterrent to getting a good education. Violent behavior, drugs in school, and misbehaving students are distracting and break the learning environment for others. Violence in school creates an unsafe environment, and shifts the administrator's focus away from the curriculum towards solving the dilemma of violence.   When the environment that surrounds the students is not secure they become more preoccupied with their own safety than they do about learning (Rehr).   This disturbing behavior also takes both the student's and teacher's time away from the education process.   As Albert Shanker has written, "Nobody ever learns in a classroom that has one or two kids who take ninety percent of the time through violence or threats of violence.   It deprives children of an opportunity to learn" (464).   To cut down on violence, schools have guards at the entrance, gates, or metal detectors in buildings.   The effect of this though is that students sometimes have to miss first period because of the length of time it takes to check everyone's bag.   In addition, it can cause feelings of intimidation or anxiety due to the fact that "when yo u put metal detectors in buildings, that's a statement that schools are violence-ridden, out of control, and unsafe" (Glazer 790).   This worries educators because they start to "question whether a prison-like atmosphere, even when it is effective in reducing crime, can in the long run be compatible with good education" (David 12). In correlation with crime in schools are illegal drugs.   Drugs seems to be the majority cause of violent behavior in school.   "Teachers tell of some students being sent home because they were drunk; others have been involved in fights with other students, teachers, and administrators while under the influence of alcohol" (David 8).   When these students come to class under the influence of drugs or alcohol they are not able to learn or function responsibly in school.   This not only hurts them but also others who become more vulnerable when they see this behavior and do not see the person getting any kind of discipline.   As one student said, "If you get caught they will slap you on the wrist, say 'Don't do it again', or maybe send you to a different school.   Big deal" (Lipsky 104).   This kind of thinking makes drug use legitimate to other students. A third behavior students engage in that causes disruption and time taken away in classes is simply misbehavior.

Fall of House of Usher Essay

The Fall of the House of Usher Psychological Criticism Psychological criticism is the school of literary criticism that focuses on the psychological issues affecting the characters behavior. Throughout this piece Poe uses setting, mood, characterization, conflict, and symbols in order to portray the underlying meaning; Physical disintegration of the House of Usher which parallels the condition of its inhabitants. Poe uses setting and mood in order to foreshadow the ultimate disintegration of the family manor. The narrator notices â€Å"a barely perceptible fissure† running down the front of the building. The detailed description highlights the stories theme and creates a mood of fear. When discussing use of characterization one must consider Roderick Usher, the central character of Poe’s gothic tale. Poe uses direct and indirect characterization techniques in order to effectively convey his point. Usher’s anxiety is revealed through descriptions of his odd, disheveled appearance and mannerisms along with his rapid mood swings. The author describes the tone as â€Å"overdone cordiality† and by â€Å"sullen quality†. Also, when discussing the psychological criticism one must consider how Poe’s approach might lead the readers to see him as a hypochondriac. In addition to the given appearances of characterization there are numerous other descriptions that heighten impression of instability. â€Å"The Fall of the House of Usher† has a copious amount of metaphors and symbols. The narrator perceives the mansion as human like with its â€Å"vacant and eye-like windows†. This specific metaphor is extended throughout the entire story, becoming more and more sinister in its deep implications. When describing the house, it serves as almost a symbolic prison for Usher and his sister Madeline. Poe uses several descriptive words in his portrayal of the house. The reader’s first impression of the house comes from a direct observation from the narrator. This narrator states, â€Å"†¦ with the first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom pervaded my spirit.    As the narrator continues to describe the house he uses several similarly dismal adjectives. The gloom experienced by the narrator is not limited to merely the house itself. The vegetation, which surrounds the area, is described as â€Å"a few rank sedges and †¦ a few white trunks of decayed trees. †Ã‚   He emphasizes these facets of the house and its environs by restating the descriptions reflected in a â€Å"black and lurid tarn. While he claims that the house appears structurally sound, he takes time to comment upon â€Å"the crumbling condition of the individual stones. †Ã‚   He also emphasizes the long history of the house by stating that its features recall an â€Å"excessive antiquity. † It is obvious therefore that Poe means for the building and the family to reflect one another. His use of parallel descriptions of the house and family, the mood that both convey and the intertwined fate of both lead the reader to the inescapable conclusion that the house and the Ushers are one.

Pest Analysis Essay

The radical and ongoing changes occurring in society create an uncertain environment and have an impact on the function of the whole organization. A number of checklists have been developed as ways of cataloging the vast number of possible issues that might affect an industry. A PEST analysis is one of them that is merely a framework that categorizes environmental influences as political, economic, social and technological forces. The analysis examines the impact of each of these factors (and their interplay with each other) on the business. The results can then be used to take advantage of opportunities and to make contingency plans for threats when preparing business and strategic plans. PEST also ensures that company’s performance is aligned positively with the powerful forces of change that are affecting business environment. PEST is useful when a company decides to enter its business operations into new markets and new countries. i) Political As the government tightens the regulations on fast food advertising, MDD awaits further instructions from Malaysia’s Information Ministry. If its leading product, instant noodles, is to be classified as a â€Å"fast food†, the brand may be faced with an advertising ban and forced to explore alternative promotional channels once the mass media options are closed to it. However, this move towards greater health consciousness and nutritional awareness has been a gradual trend. As one of Malaysia’s largest food producers, we constantly manage and improve our material emission and waste standards. Independent verifications have been performed to ascertain that our emission levels are in compliance with the Malaysian Environmental Quality Act (Clean Air as well as Sewage ; Industrial Effluents) regulations. ii) Economic The global economy in the year 2009 began stabilising in the second half after governments worldwide intervened with stimulus plans. Some economies picked up earlier, particularly those within the Asian region; proving themselves to be more resilient to the downturn than initially feared. Likewise in Malaysia, the economy showed signs of recovery toward the end of FY2009, with Gross Domestic Product (â€Å"GDP†) rising by 4. 6% in the fourth quarter compared to the same quarter of the previous year. FY2009 was another record year for the MDD Group – a feat considering the challenging economic conditions. According to the 2009 Bank Negara Malaysia Annual Report, the food, beverages and tobacco industry helped sustain the domestic consumer demand, especially food products. The industry ended the year on a positive note as output picked up by year-end. iii) Social Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) MDD are constantly striving to reach out to the community, and this goes beyond tailoring company’s products to consumer taste or ensuring offerings reach the farthest corners of the globe. MDD too engage in community building and the fostering of moral values. MDD also committed to protecting the environment for the benefit of the younger generations. MDD manage the usage of recyclable materials, energy, water, emissions, effluent and waste to the approval of independent bodies and conform to the Malaysian Environmental Quality Regulations. MDD reached out to the underprivileged communities that they felt deserved their immediate attention, especially those who require dialysis care and children in need. MDD are committed to being a socially responsible company that endeavours to give back to the communities that the company operates in. MDD constantly strive to be able to improve the lives of the less fortunate, while ncouraging all employees to take a ‘hands on’ approach to company social responsibility initiatives. Caring, committed employees are the hallmark of a holistically successful organization and as a Malaysian entity, MDD are proud to be able to provide for the underprivileged in the society. Yayasan Mamee On Jan 1 2010, MDD have set up the Yayasan Mamee, and have pledged an initial RM2 million to need the foundation. Yayasan Mamee is the main benefactor to Yayasan Toh Puan Zurina, which is a foundation that cares for the needs of underprivileged dialysis patients. In 2009, MDD set up Yayasan with an initial contribution of RM800,000 which went towards the construction and upkeep of the centre, 10 dialysis machines as well as maintenance of trained medical staff. So far, MDD have extended free dialysis treatment and medicines to 5 End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients, and hope to extend to reach more patients in need in 2010. Caring for Children In 2009, the staff and management of MDD organized a series of visits to orphanages during festive periods, including Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali. Gifts of hampers or ‘ang pows’ are handed out to children, and staff are encouraged to spend time with the children to bring them a little festive joy. There are also plans in the pipeline to set up a Scholarship Fund to look into the educational needs of deserving students from primary and secondary schools all over Malaysia. . Reduce, Recycle, Reuse In 2009, MDD led the way into the ‘green’ future by recycling emission gases from company production plants into viable sources of energy that were converted back into power for plants. This reduction of waste also translates into a more efficient way of conserving energy, and will form the basis for company commitment to environmental conservation and responsible manufacturing. iv) Technology The Group remains committed to R&D endeavour to develop new wellness products that are nutritious to appeal to the target consumers. Its R&D department is manned by 13 full-time staff and plays a crucial role in product improvement and new product development to achieve the company’s export objectives. MDD factories have received prestigious industry certifications such as ISO 9002, ISO 9001 and HACCP, while the company’s flagship brands such as Mister Potato Crisps and Nutrigen Liteyo have been honoured with local accolades. In 2004, its subsidiary, Pacific Food Products Sdn Bhd was awarded a Brand Promotion Grant of RM2 million by MATRADE to promote the Mamee brand in the export market. Being a fast growing organization with far-flung operational centre, multiple product lines and distribution channels, MDD have upgraded its IT implementation systems, in order to shorten decision making time and ensure better and more accurate decisions. MDD put its trust in SAP and credit the SAP ERP solution to a great extent with helping to quadruple revenues from 2002 till now. According to Pang, MDD achieved greater transparency of its internal processes in its day-to-day operations. This was crucial as the company became increasingly geographically diverse and its organizational size grew. This system improved the organization of MDD’s database, particularly in the areas of cost analysis, customer service and reporting transparency. MDD also plan to further implement an ERP and MRP solution to even better link up with suppliers and distributors.

Rescheduling Marijuana in America essays

Rescheduling Marijuana in America essays In the United States today many people have seen great advances in terms of medicine and technology and how these advances have benefited people suffering from a multitude of diseases and the symptoms caused by diseases. One aspect of medicine that remains prehistoric is the use of medicinal marijuana. Numerous studies exist in the United States and other countries that show that marijuana is in fact beneficial from a medicinal standpoint, however the number of scientific studies is limited in the United States. Scientist and doctors have received little approval on proposed scientific studies on medicinal marijuana by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) because the federal government has scheduled marijuana as a schedule I drug. As a Schedule I drug, marijuana is considered illegal. The federal government does not recognize any of the laws passed by the eighteen states and D.C., legally allowing its use as medicine. People using marijuana for medicinal reasons, despite the fact that it may very well be legal in their state, could still face federal prosecution. Repeatedly the DEA has parried any advancement in the judicial process to make medicinal marijuana use legal. The DEA (2011) stated that The clear weight of the currently available evidence supports this classification, including evidence that smoked marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no accepted medicinal value in treatment in the United States, and evidence that there is a general lack of accepted safety for its use even under medical supervision (Drug Enforcement Agency, 2011, p. 2). It is time these draconian laws were reversed and the federal government reschedules marijuana to a lower class, schedule II, allowing marijuana to be fully researched by members of the scientific community and that marijuana be allowed to be used medicinally under the supervision of a physician without the threat of federal prosecution so that those patients who may ...

Admissions essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Admissions - Essay Example Moving in and out of state and having to go to different towns and strange places because we could not seem to attain permanence in keeping a ruined family, I eventually dropped out of high school and got my GED yet managed to obtain a hairstylist license after attending a beauty college. These were the times it occurred to me how real and excruciating the world could get at receiving various criticisms and discriminations from several people that it almost led me to bitter mistrust and disillusionment. In the process, however, I also learned to be flexible in dealing with different types of people and defend a good cause whichever side it is. My self-confidence even increased when I worked as a flight attendant for fourteen year, spending fifteen years in total in the airline industry which had taught me beyond the value of customer service. Sincerity of personalized service and letting people in general know how much you care specifically at instances when injustice is prevalent, is such a rewarding experience. My first marriage at the age of eighteen lasted a brief span of a year and a half while my present marriage has fortunately struggled forward with a partner who is fourteen years my senior. Relationships have by far enabled me to stretch my patience and find significant worth in listening and understanding an individual prior to raising any unnecessary arguments. I realize that besides holding good set of reasons to drive myself in asserting the most justifiable points, there is actually more to seeking to first heed the other person’s concern and settle the issue with both sides accounted for. Despite pregnancies and difficult times of getting on and off with school since 2005, the desire to pursue law studies does not cease and I particularly prefer specializing in family law and work on the area associated with juveniles. Knowing how tough and delicate this is in

How to prepare a survey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to prepare a survey - Essay Example ds to know, which demographic constitution of the population are being surveyed, is it the old, the youth, women, men, children, the schooling, the working population, among the rest of the population. Moreover, he should know their geographic distribution, and how they can be reached effectively and which survey method will give accurate results (Acebit, 2012). Furthermore, he should understand the time schedule for the target population, which will assist in setting up the period and budget for the survey. According to Acebit (2012) & Creative Research Systems (2012), the second step is defining the survey type and the method that will be applied in conducting the survey. Since most of the surveys are quantitative in nature and involves a lot of data collection and analysis, the crucial thing here is to pick methods that will give the most precise and accurate answers as possible. Depending on their target group, surveyors can pick from the following: they can choose interview methods, which can be person-to-person or via telephone conversation. Another method is a questionnaire, which can be sent via mail, email, or given to the population in person, then collected after a given time by the surveyor. The surveyor can also use observation, whereby he/she can interact with the target population, whether participatory or non-participatory to gather data. The choice of the method in the survey shall also determine the cost and outcome of the survey, depending on the demographic nature an d distribution of the population (Creative Research Systems, 2012). The third final step in conducting a survey is designing questions and means of analysis the results after the survey. The design of the questions whether in questionnaires or interviews needs to be pointed out clear, where all audiences can answer without strain. The questions should also be well structured and not ambiguous to enable the surveyor get the most accurate results. The questions are then pre-tested