Poverty and the Global Sex Trade Essay

As the global economy continues to slide downhill, the global poverty case worsens. Major businesses are forced to shut down, causing more and more people to lose their jobs everyday. People are willing to do anything just to earn money in order for them to put food on their plates. Because of this, many are forced to do things they don’t even want to do. This is the case of the global sex trade. Fueled by the worsening global poverty, more and more people resort to prostitution in order to survive. The culprit: poverty Before we discuss the growing problem of global sex trade, we should focus first on its main cause: poverty. In the 2005 World Bank report on poverty, it is stated that almost half of the world’s total population or more than 3 billion people live on less than two and a half dollars a day (Shah, 2009). Also, around 80% of all humanity lives on less than ten dollars every day (Shah, 2009). With that established, we can say that majority of the people are suffering from poverty, pushing us to doing whatever we can to earn money for our survival. The facts mentioned above were taken even before the global economic crisis that we’re experiencing now. So if we consider it as another factor, it is easy to assume that the global poverty problem even worsened. From what I’ve read, I can say that everyone is affected by the global poverty problem. Even the rich people are shutting down their businesses. But still the ones more affected by the worsening case of poverty are the poor people. They are poor to begin with, so as the poverty problem worsens, their situation also worsens. They’re poor even when they have a job, so when they get fired or laid off because of the global economic crisis, then they’ll be the ones who will be forced to do anything just to earn money. They’re more likely to commit crimes or be involved in prostitution not because they wanted to, but because they have no other choice. The crime: global sex trade We have now established that poverty could push people into doing things they don’t want to do. We now focus on the specific problem of sex trade or sex trafficking. According to Sarah M. Gonzales, as spokesperson of Captive Daughters Organization, sex trade acts â€Å"as the delivery system for prostitution† and that it involves a lot of young, poor women and even under aged girls turning to sex trade and prostitution as that they would be able to provide for themselves and their families because they’re left with no other choice (Gonzales, 2008). What most of us don’t know is that usually, sex trade is a big business, wherein some people are exploiting others for their own profit. It is a big business, coming in second to drug and gun trafficking worldwide. According to the United States government, the profit that criminals make out of the sex trade business can reach up to $9. 5 billion annually. There are efforts to curb this problem, including the arrest of the people behind major sex trade business. But as the poverty problem worsens, more and more people resort to this business despite its illegal, exploitative nature. The trade has continued to grow worldwide, as we continue to suffer more with poverty. In order to address this problem, two aspects should be addressed properly. One is capturing the criminals who orchestrate the sex trade, and the other one is addressing poverty, which is the main reason why sex trafficking continues to proliferate. The victim: the youth For me, I am against sex trade, and with the worsening of its global condition, I firmly believe that we should give our best efforts to solve this problem. In order to further understand why we need to give more focus on this problem, we have to look at the ones who are directly affected by these problems. It isn’t really the middle-aged working class who suffer more from this problem. It’s the youth who bears this burden in their shoulders. At times of need, these young men and women are compelled to risk their bodies and their lives just to earn money to support their family. They’re the ones exploited; the ones who are supposed to be our future would end up getting exploited and abused all because of poverty. This exploitation of the youth in sex trade is not confined to one part of the world only. It affects every corner of the globe, rich and poor countries alike. As long as poverty exists, the youth will continue to be exploited and be a global commodity in the sex trade. According to Stephan Faris, a WEnews correspondent, a foreign prostitute in Italy could make â€Å"far more than Nigeria’s average income of less than a dollar a day† and this could be a very encouraging deal for a girl’s family to send their daughter into sex trafficking (Faris, 2002). When sex trafficking became popular, Nigerian girls were seen as good for making money, though before they were viewed as something dispensable (Faris, 2002). They found their worth only as a source of income for them, so the families are really open to sending their daughters to sex traffickers, not minding where they’re sent. It is a pretty harsh environment for these young women, because their only chance to survive is to sell themselves for sex, and in foreign soil, they have no one else to rely on except themselves. At a very young age, they have to experience such things already, all because of poverty. The adverse effects of Global Sex Trade Another reason why I believe that we should give more attention to worsening case of global sex trade is its adverse effects. These outcomes affect not only those directly involved with the sex trade, but also other people in our society. Probably the most evident effect is the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence. In a United Nations report made available through the U. N. Wire, it is said that â€Å"the influx of sex workers has sparked fears about the spread of AIDS† in various places including refugee camps, communities, and a lot more (Nuhu, 1999). The situation is worsened because some people, including government officials, lack a sense of commitment to address this problem, and the people living in the community have very limited understand about these diseases. It is also said that with the worsening case of poverty, those who are likely to be affected by HIV/AIDS are the young children who are trying to make a living out of prostitution. Solving the problem For me, I can see this as a challenge to us all. Of course, we have to consider ourselves first before we deal with others, especially in this time of need. But still, there are some things that we can do to help solve this problem. One is through information. We can contribute to the solution by spreading what we know, about the causes, the victims, and the effects of this problem. The people who are able to give or lend a hand should do so, especially if they have some extra money or help that they can spare. Even though we are dealing with the poverty problem ourselves, we could still do something to stop another problem like sex trade from worsening. It does not only protect the young people who engage in the trade, but it also protects the whole community, including us. References: Faris, S. (2002). Italy’s Sex Trade Pulls Teens Pushed by Poverty. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www. womensenews. org/article. cfm/dyn/aid/1005/context/archive Gonzales, S. M. (2008). Poverty & Sex Trafficking. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www. captivedaughters. org/gatesfoundation. htm Nuhu, A. (1999). Poverty Fuels Commercial Sex Trade, HIV/AIDS. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www. unwire. org/unwire/19990618/3267_story. asp Shah, A. (2009). Poverty Facts and Stats. Retrieved April 3, 2009, from http://www. globalissues. org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

Hamlet Questions Answered Essay

Question 1: Laertes and Polonius provide several explanations of their reasons for Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet. Both their opinions appear to be unreasonable, which is evident through their oppressive and restrictive attitudes. Laertes believes Ophelia is beneath Hamlet on social level, therefore he voices that the prince’s, â€Å"choice must be circumscribed.† This is unreasonable as Laertes is diminishing Ophelia’s confidence by referring to the fact that Hamlet’s partner will be chosen for him, and Ophelia would not fit this role, or be considered for it. Laertes continues to refer to Hamlet in a negative matter, stating that his, â€Å"love,† is, â€Å"not permanent,† and, â€Å"the perfume and suppliance of a minute,† meaning it is brief, and temporary. Polonius also presents unreasonable arguments as to why Ophelia should stop seeing Hamlet. The hypocritical nature of Polonius is evident through his commands to Ophelia: â€Å"To thine own self be true,† which is later followed by, â€Å"you’ll tender me a fool.† It is clear that Polonius is only concerned with sculpting Ophelia to act a specific way to ensure that his own reputation is not tainted. Polonius states, â€Å"give every man thine ear, but few thy voice.† This also acts as a contrast to the previous statement, as Ophelia cannot be true to herself if she has to, â€Å"reserve,† her true self. Evidently, Polonius offers an unreasonable opinion to encourage the discontinuation of Ophelia’s relationship with Hamlet. Question 3: Both soliloquies voiced by Hamlet contain similar ideas and concepts, which are crucial to understanding the nature of his character. The two soliloquies present Hamlet as an isolated figure, which is seen by the language such as, â€Å"and thy commandment all alone shall live,† and, â€Å"break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.† These statements express the mental anguish Hamlet is experiencing in his, â€Å"distracted globe,† a metaphor for his scattered thoughts. The soliloquies also contain elements of hatred towards women. For Hamlet it particularly involves his mother, however he generalises his statement by voicing, â€Å"frailty, thy name is woman!† This is continued in his second soliloquy where Hamlet states, â€Å"O most pernicious woman!† Evidently Hamlet struggles to respect the role of women and the mannerisms of his mother, whom he refers to as a, â€Å"beast,† who married Claudius at a, â€Å"wicked,† speed. Question 6: Hamlet gives signs for potential madness in his first soliloquy, where he desires to commit suicide if it were not for the fact t hat â€Å"God† is, â€Å"’gainst self slaughter.† He refers to his hatred towards the world and it’s, â€Å"weary, stale, and unprofitable,† atmosphere. The negativity towards the nature of the world expressed by Hamlet provides a possible reason as to why he often isolates himself. Isolation is a dynamic that ultimately lead to madness, which is eventually what occurs with Hamlet. Furthermore, the audience obtains an indication of Hamlet’s potential for madness in the scene where he tells Horatio and Marcellus to, â€Å"swear,† their silence in relation to the ghost. Hamlet explains that he will put on an, â€Å"antic disposition,† which means he will, behave in a strange manner. The irony in this statement is that Hamlet does in fact go mad, and he announces this to Horatio and Marcellus as a means of giving himself permission to act, â€Å"out of joint.† Question 7: Claudius attempts to win over Denmark with his charming and manipulative behaviour, which is seen in the irony of his words: â€Å"Our dear brother’s death, the memory be green.† Claudius associates the death of his brother with new life and growth, so when the audience becomes aware of the, â€Å"unnatural,† and, â€Å"foul,† murder he committed, we are confronted with his wickedness. To establish his popularity Claudius repeatedly uses language that signifies national unity such as the, â€Å"jointress of this warlike state,† and â€Å"our hearts†¦our whole kingdom.† This conscious work displayed by Claudius demonstrates his methodology in having Denmark view him as a compassionate and practical King. Question 8: There is a reference to the fact that Denmark is a Catholic country when the ghost states that he was, â€Å"cut off even in the blossoms of my sin/Unhousel’d, disappointed, unaneled;/no reckoning made† This provides evidence for Catholicism as the apparition was not able to confess his sins (died without the Last Rites). A second reference which expresses Denmark as a Catholic country is shown when Hamlet remarks, â€Å"O, that this too too solid flesh would melt/Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d/ His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter.† This excerpt indicates that Hamlet wished to commit suicide, but cannot as it is considered wrong in the eyes of God, therefore he would not be able to forgive himself in the afterlife. This is why Hamlet wishes he could, â€Å"melt,† which would save him from the guilt he would feel due to self-slaughter. Question 9: There are significant differences between the previous King Hamlet and King Claudius. The audience is given evidence that Old King Hamlet was a respectable and genuine leader through Prince Hamlet’s remark, â€Å"So excellent a king†¦so loving† It is clear the King Hamlet was honest and caring in all his actions; this contrasts with King Claudius’ character, who is scheming and power-hungry, so much so that he murdered his own brother, which he concealed due to his deceptive personality. King Hamlet tackled foreign policies openly and was so good a leader that he defeated Old Fortinbras, which had him take his land for the people of Denmark. King Claudius acts in a less honourable manner, where he leads Denmark on the basis of impressions, similar to politicians as seen in the modern age.

Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House Essay

Henrik Ibsen’s play A Doll’s House is about â€Å"domestic politics† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2).   Ibsen created a seemingly perfect atmosphere, enough to make one believe that marital bliss exists in such a setting.   As Hurwitt (2004) narrates, â€Å"the whole household contributes to the impression of marital bliss† (p. D-2). However, as the play progressed, it slowly becomes obvious that Ibsen wanted to show more than the problems of a married couple.   He evidently wanted to paint a socially significant picture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The play’s story is domestic in scope, primarily because two of the main characters are husband and wife.   Nonetheless, the play did include broader issues.   It showed how society in the 1800s view marriage, the functions assigned to man and wife, and the limitations it gave to women in general.   It is also climactic in structure. The three main characters are Nora and Torvald Helmer, and Krogstad.   The gist of the play revolved around them.   Nora is the play’s heroine; the beautiful loving wife and doting mother.   Torvald is her husband, who works as a manager in a bank.   Then there is Krogstad, the character responsible for the past to slowly unfold and for the story to begin.   A few years back, when Torvald was sick, Nora was forced by circumstance to borrow money from Krogstad.   She kept that from Torvald, and she was scared for him to find out.   Now that Torvald is manager, he could now also fire Krogstad, who also works at the bank. Krogstad now threatens Nora that he will reveal her secret if she does not help him keep his job.   Nora then talks to her husband and tries to put in a good word for Krogstad, but to no avail.   Thus, the past is revealed to Torvald through the letter, and the real story begins.   Torvald is outraged, and begins calling Nora names.   What she has done is out of duty to her husband, being the obedient wife that she is.   Instead of thanking her, he greets her with anger.   Torvald is simply infuriated. By the time he forgives her, however, Nora has had a realization and decides his forgiveness no longer matters.   Nora undergoes a drastic transformation, a change in her individual persona that Torvald did not expect.   Hurwitt (2004) describes Nora as, â€Å"so animated in her kittenish sexuality, so maddeningly delightful in her teasing manipulations, and so punishingly fretful in her fear of discovery – that the stillness in her final disillusionment is enormously eloquent† (p. D-2).   Nora is the doll referred to in the title.   She was Torvald’s doll: she was his possession, his play thing.   She was under his control, and was extremely dependent on him.   Their home is the house; â€Å"the room is very much Nora’s dollhouse domain, as indicated†¦by the child’s table, chairs and tea set downstage† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2). All her actions, decisions and choices are made by her husband, and she operates on his demands.   Everything she is involved in is mere play, because she is but an object.   His husband cannot even discuss serious matters with her because she herself is not taken seriously.   This is until she decides to leave everything behind and free herself from the prison that is her marriage.   She walks out the door and never looks back.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ironically, in contrast with Torvald’s treatment of her wife, the overall quality of the characters is serious, simply because it mirrored a serious social problem.   The majority of the play can be considered tragic, except the hopefulness described by Nora’s escape.   The characters are simple.   At the same time, they hold meaning and weight because not only are they telling the story of a problematic marriage, they are also trying to discuss gender issues. The other aspects of the play also helped in clearly conveying the message.   The language used was easy to understand.   It remained faithful to the language Ibsen used, one that was neither shallow nor overcomplicated, yet it revealed real life emotion.   It was â€Å"emotional, thematic, and metaphoric† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2).   The stage set-up was also instrumental in bringing the message to the audience.   In a play, usually these things are overlooked.   Yet if one pays enough attention, the setting call also help tell the story and make the play come to life. Hurwitt (2004) observes, â€Å"A box constrained within boxes of social strictures, the Helmers’ tidy living room is redolent of the genteel poverty from which Nora dreams her husband’s new job as a bank manager will allow them to escape† (p. D-2).   The living room is then responsible for telling the viewers the social status of the family.   There were no special techniques used, no special music. With an already weighty play to speak of, it would be unnecessary to overembellish it.   In the instance of viewers, it was interactive in a sense; the play’s â€Å"deliberate pacing somewhat undercuts the tension, leaving room for audience members to make their own vocal contributions on opening night, rooting for Nora to get out and slam that door behind her† (Hurwitt, 2004, p. D-2).   The audience had been able to contribute to the play. In the end, Ibsen’s play is as personal as it is communal.   The family is the basic unit of society, and affairs between husband and wife are private matters.   Nonetheless, these matters are also influential in the social sphere, hinting that the problems of individuals are also characterized by issues in society.   Everyone should watch A Doll’s House because Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece is as relevant then as it is now.   References Hurwitt, R. (2004, January 16). ACT draws out sexual politics in ‘Doll’s House.’ San Francisco Chronicle, p. D-2.

Enlightment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Enlightment - Essay Example He considered education a tool for enlightenment which needed to be observed at all costs. Freedom of religion was also taken into consideration and was considered equally important. Frederick the Great also wrote many books about religion. He allowed his subjects to believe in any type of religion they liked (Murvar, 2013). Frederick is also considered as enlightened despot because of his contribution to promoting industry, commerce and agriculture. He reorganized the indirect taxes system, which provided the state with additional revenue than before. Additionally, Frederick the Great is considered as an enlightened despot because his mother brought him up with the educational values of the enlightenment. In his childhood, his mother tutors who were in a position to teach him poetry. French culture and the Greek classical literature. His father also insisted that he needed to be taught matters related to politics and military. Therefore, he became a military genius (Halpern, 2007). Lastly, Frederick became a patron of arts and sciences. He was also a talented musician, writing flute sonatas. At some point, he corresponded with intellectual leaders of enlightenment such as Voltaire. In his scientific work, he encouraged the Berlin academy and encouraged architects to build elaborate buildings and structures. Such structures and buildings established Berlin as a cultural capital (Halpern,

Statutes and Enforcement, Organized Crime Coursework

Statutes and Enforcement, Organized Crime - Coursework Example Use of the RICO standard is what allowed Galante's employees and associates to be charged; under that statute, even belonging to his organization is a crime (Abadinsky, 2010, pp 369). Galante's organization was a group of companies involved in trash hauling, also called carting. He was the owner of twenty-five companies that among them controlled approximately eighty percent of the waste-hauling market in Connecticut and eastern New York state. At least forty other companies were found to have connections to Galante's organizations, and Galante himself was found to have connections to larger organized crime enterprises (FBI, 2008). One of the individuals charged as a member of this group was a member of the Genovese crime family, a group in New York City involved in several other cases of extortion and illegal gambling rings (FBI, 2008; Department of Justice, 2010). Also involved were several public officials, including a former mayor of Waterbury CT, Joseph Santopietro, â€Å"a fed eral drug agent, and a Connecticut state trooper† (FBI, 2008; News-Times, 2008). Galante's group was guilty of racketeering due to their organization of what the FBI calls a â€Å"property rights system† (FBI, 2008). ... This set-up caused an imbalance in the bidding system for the customer contracts, since the companies involved in this organization communicated with each other to rig the bidding. The lack of competition led to higher costs for the customer accounts; since these were primarily municipal customers, this meant higher prices for the individual taxpayers in these districts (FBI, 2008). Federal agents used wiretaps to determine which companies were connected to Galante's organization, and which were victims. Some of the phone calls that were intercepted even allowed them to warn potential future victims about the scheme. The key to the investigation was the use of an undercover agent working for a victim company. The undercover agent was eventually hired by one of Galante's companies as a salesperson, giving him unparalleled access to Galante's operation. The other method used to collect evidence against Galante was an analysis of his and his companies tax records (FBI, 2008). Galante wa s indicted by a grand jury at the same trial as twenty-eight of his co-conspirators, and was held awaiting trial without bail, though all others charged by the same jury posted bond. The charges at this point included â€Å"racketeering, extortion, conspiracy, wire and mail fraud, witness tampering and tax evasion† (News-Times, 2008). Galante was eventually convicted of â€Å"racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the IRS, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud† (Koonz, 2009). He was sentenced to the maximum federal prison term, eighty-seven months, and then an additional year under a plea bargain for violations of state campaign finance laws (News-Times, 2008). Additionally, all twenty-five of Galante's companies were forfeited to the federal

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Essay

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management - Essay Example They needed to disprove men’s suspicions that they could be efficient workers. Men were surprised at the skills women were learning at such a fast rate that they were usually at a loss as to what orders to give them. Women were initially trained to the same standard as men, but employers eventually didn’t want to hire fully trained women because they received better pay, which upset the trained male workers, causing friction in the workplace. The government tried to remedy this problem by reducing the length of training courses for women, which inevitably resulted in the occurrence of work-based accidents among women. The government also entered into the ‘relaxation agreements’ with trade unionists, which stated that women could undertake men’s jobs as long as they were regarded as temporary and were paid the same as men. The predominantly male trade unions, therefore, initially looked like they truly wanted equal pay and equality for women, but in r eality, they were merely trying to protect the traditional working rights of men. Yet, when faced with discrimination, the majority of women continued to work hard to gain their superiors’ respect and often carried out their jobs to a higher standard than their male equivalents (Trueman, 2000). The new millennium has ushered overwhelming changes that call for the empowerment of men and women alike to contribute to globalization efforts. Women, in particular, have seen the change in their roles more dramatically than in the past centuries. The most salient change is their joining the workforce and even climbing up the hierarchy to positions in organizations that were previously reserved for men. However, sexual stereotypes passed on from generation to generation seem to dictate that women have no place in the workforce and their rightful place is at home, caring for their family. Thus, some work places may not be too accepting of the empowerment of women in employment and may strip them of their dignity to make them realize that they do not belong there. In the United Kingdom, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (amended 1986 and in the Employment Act 1989) makes it unlawful to discriminate in terms of gender who is offered the job; opportunities for promotion, transfer and training. (Equal Opportunities Management Guidelines, 2006). The Gender Equality Duty, which is included in the new law as of April 2007, requires public entities to remove sex discrimination and facilitate equality in all their services, policies, and employment and recruitment practices (Thompsons Solicitors, 2012). Presently, women now can occupy positions even in professions considered male-dominated. Many researchers try to prove that women are more responsible and hard working and can perform with more efficiency than their male counterparts. However, there appears to be a constant conflict between mutually beneficial relationships and contemporary situations, where males dominate t he social, political and professional spheres (Taylor, Kemeny, Reed, Bower, & Grunewald, 2000). Many women claim that they have fewer opportunities to succeed in their work than men do and have to exert greater effort in order to be promoted in their jobs. Men are more readily employed and more supported by their employers than women (Bergman, 2003). Research funded by the European Commission showed that generally women who work full-time, receive only three-fourths of the hourly earnings of men.

Privity of Contract Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Privity of Contract - Case Study Example This facet of the rule became a hindrance, where the contract was made to the benefit of the third party. Collateral warranties support the viability of this rule. Prior to 1833 there existed decisions in English Law, which permitted enforcement of the provisions of a contract by persons not party to the contract. The doctrine of privity emerged together with the doctrine of consideration, which states that consideration must move from the promisee. That is if nothing is given for the promise of something to be given in return, that promise is not legally binding unless promised as a deed. In the case of Price v Easton, where a contract was made for work to be done in exchange for payment to a third party. When the third party attempted to sue for the payment, he was held to be not privy to the contract, and as such his claim failed1. This was completely linked to the doctrine of consideration and was established by the case of Tweddle v Atkinson, where the plaintiff was unable to sue the executor of his father-in-law, who had promised to the plaintiff's father to make payment to the plaintiff, because he had not provided any consideration to the contract. The husband's claim against his father - in - law's estate was dismissed on the grounds that no consideration had moved from the husband2. The doctrine was further developed... Sometimes, the doctrine does not apply, either because of supervening principles of law or because of specific statutory provisions which allow a third party to enforce a right conferred on him by the contracting parties. In Beswick v Beswick, a nephew bought his uncle's coal business. A term in this transaction was that the nephew would support his uncle's wife on the uncle's death. However, the nephew did not honour this and the widowed aunt was permitted to sue as executor of her husband's estate and obtain compensation4. In Vandepitte v Preferred Accident Insurance co, it was held that a party to a contract can become a trustee for a third party of a right under the contract and thus confer such rights to a third party. After this the trustee can initiate steps to enforce performance as in the case of other equitable rights5. In McCannell v Mabee McLaren Motors Ltd, the extent of enforceability of a contract between Studebaker, a car manufacturer, and a dealer by another dealer was decided by the court which held that "the agent of the several dealers to bring about privity of contract between them. The consideration is not moving from the company to the dealer, but from one dealer to another" and that the test of agency was created by the efforts of the manufacturer in bringing the parties together6. Further, in New Zealand Shipping Co. Ltd v A.M. Satterthwaite & Co. Ltd, Ajax was a manufacturer and vendor of drills sent the same by ship to New Zealand from England. The drill was damaged in transit by the NZ Shipping Co. The bill of lading contained clauses, which stipulated that the shipper and sub contractors could not

Macroeconomic convergence, economic growth and financial development Dissertation

Macroeconomic convergence, economic growth and financial development of India - Dissertation Example India is an emerging country that has developed into an open market economy. In 2010, CIA World Fact Book ranks India as 5th in the world economy having $4.06 trillion gross domestic product (GDP.). However, same source indicates there are still traces of its past autarkic policies because of the social democratic policies that have governed the country since 1947 to 1991. At that time, the economy was characterized by extensive regulation, slow growth, protectionism, and corruption. Reforms introduced in early 1990s that included trade and industry liberalization, removal of government control from the industries, and transfer of control of government resource to private business sector accelerated economic growth. Vernani (n.d.) estimated India’s economic growth since 1951 up to 1971 stayed at 3%, and in 1995 went up to 5%. Since 1997, India’s expansion has been more than 7%. India’s growth comes from farming, cultivation, craft, new industries and other ser vices (CIA). Total labor force is 478 million; 52% is in agriculture, 34% is in services and 14% for other industries. India boasts of a large educated English-speaking population that becomes its asset for its export of information technology and software workers. The economic growth slowed down to 6.7% in 2008-2009 but has improved to 7.4% for the rest of 2009 to 2010 (Virnani) Due to big local demand  in 2010, the country recovered strongly from the economic meltdown and has charted over 9% growth. (Virmani,) At this time too, investment growth rate doubled as well as private consumption and imports accelerated; however, government consumption slowed down. Vernani explained that in 2007, investments were over 35%; demands were much higher than previous years; investment rate grew to 18%; domestic demands climbed to 60.1% and a negative rate for exports. However, despite the pronounced growths, CIA showed problems of India that include extensive privation, insufficient infra structures, limited employment opportunities in non-agriculture sector, inadequate way in to quality education, and accommodation of â€Å"rural-to-urban migration†. Financial development in India The process of financial system in India according to Sandhya (2009) †is an interaction of financial institutions, financial markets, financial instruments/assets/securities and financial services which are controlled by the government† . The Indian financial system is also parallel in the role of other governments in the financial markets. Cihak (2011) said the role of governments in finance was less before the global crisis because empirical studies showed harmful effects of government interventions. The crisis changed the minds of the people and thought that it is time for the government to adopt policies to maintain stability, drive growth and create jobs. As such, clearer roles emerged for the government to adopt direct interventions such as ownership, credit gua rantees and liability guarantees. Government has to regulate and supervise economic activities and to promote competition, infrastructure and technology, Cihak said. Empirical results of macroeconomic convergence theories. Economic convergence starts with simple cooperation on agreed upon aspects from among member countries that often lead to integration or merger of these countries. Maruping (2005) defines macroeconomic convergence as a local assimilation that requires joining of two or more states, basically thru a Privileged Agreement, sometimes done thru Bilateral Trade Agreeements.  He describes economic convergence as an organized plan intended for the easy access of service and goods as well as coordination of foreign economic policies of these states in the same region. According to the Dictionary of Trade Policy Terms of WTO, regionalism is described as â€Å"actions by governments to liberalize or facilitate trade on a regional basis, sometimes through free-trade are as or

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Accounting - Essay Example Moreover, the article describes the purpose of the income tax and even provides links to sites that stipulates the requirements for filing income tax. Several terms such as â€Å"gross income† and â€Å"taxable income â€Å" is also given so that common people can understand these terms. The page on Resources leads to a lot of information of sources where different types of taxation can be found. Sources for Federal Income Tax and State Income Tax are given with various links that can provide primary information on the topic. Even recent state judicial decisions are pointed out in this page as well as links to income tax websites and Federation of Tax Administrators. Unfortunately , the page for case example does not have any content yet. This site is my choice since it is reader-friendly, simple to understand and has a good lay-out. As a researcher, it is important that the website I am looking into has clear instructions and does not contain many tabs that would discourage me from further browsing. The site is very accessible and clearly defines terms that is necessary for researching. More importantly, I chose the site because it provides good links that can supplement my research. Circular 230 clearly applies to tax advisors such as â€Å" attorneys, certified public accountants, enrolled agents, and other persons representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service†.( Par 1.  §Sec.10.0). These are the people who can give advice on the filing of Income Tax . Specifically Sec.10.3 stated that aside from attorneys , certified public accountants, and enrolled agents , there are other individuals that are under the scope of Circular 230. These individuals are: enrolled actuaries, enrolled retirement plan agents, government officers or employees as well as state officers and employees. As for the public servants, they should have not violated 18 U.S.C.  § 203 or 205

Without middleware, the integration of application in distributed Term Paper - 1

Without middleware, the integration of application in distributed application environment is difficult - Term Paper Example This delay can cause increase in queuing time and can lead to slower system response and the system can even crash. Middleware acts as a broker between different software applications in the form of coded request processing. This paper examines the importance and role of Middleware in distributed computing. A literature review and case studies with examples from Middleware implementations are analyzed. The findings indicate that Middleware is very important in modern distributed computing environment considering the huge variety of third party applications. The paper concludes that it would be very difficult to integrate the vast variety of applications without Middleware applications. Middleware has been described as the software glue that integrates objects distributed across a large number of heterogeneous IT systems. It is also regarded as software that helps to make integration of application easy by providing standard program interfaces that act as hooks and software developers need to make their applications latch to these hooks. Middleware is called as software that allows different applications to talk with each other, exchange data and complete the transactions. Thus, Middleware acts as a broker between software applications. The software industry complexity has increased with new languages, platforms, operating systems, applications and their new versions being launched almost continuously and Middleware helps in the integration of these applications (Maximilien, et al, 2009). With thousands of developers and different flavors of software application, operating systems and platforms would not be able to process connectivity and compatibility requests from these entities. In other words, a web program written in Java would want to connect to another server program written in say VC++. There would be differences in syntax, procedures, calls, and sub routines and so on. It would not be possible for

Comparing Two Perspectives of Management Essay Example for Free

Comparing Two Perspectives of Management Essay Management is the attainment of organisational goals in an effective and efficient manner through planning, organising, leading and controlling organisational resources (Samson Daft, 2009, p. 12). In essence, the final outcome of management is to achieve organisation goals and managers in various levels should achieve goals effectively and efficiently by intelligently utilizing financial, human and other resources in hand. The four skills which may assist managers to achieve these organisational goals are planning, organising, leading and controlling. Traditional vs. Modern Perspectives The practice of management can go back as far as 3000 BC. It developed over thousands of years from Traditional style of management to Modern today. Traditional Perspectives Traditional Perspectives includes (Samson Daft, 2009): 1.Classical Perspectives – concentrates on making the organisations an efficient operating machine. 2.Humanistic Perspectives – emphases understanding human behaviour, needs and attitudes in the workplace. It has taken more consideration of behaviors, needs and attitudes as well as social interactions and group processes. *For the purpose of the report, I will not elaborate on each item mentioned above. Use Human Resources Perspective as an example. It suggests that Jobs should be designed to meet higher-level needs by allowing workers to use their full potential (Samson Daft, 2009). This theory was initially supported by a ‘dairy farm’ view and further illustrated by the Maslows hierarchy of needs and McGregor Theory X Theory Y. It is my understanding that the theory suggests people generally perform better if they are given full rein to their imagination and creativity. This, in details, means: 1.People are given freedom to fulfill their desired physiological, safety, love/belonging, self-esteem and self-actualization (Maslow’s Hierarchy) needs and wants. They may not be satisfied with all five of them, but fulfillment in any of the above may somewhat increase productivity; 2.Management assumes that employees enjoy working and will seek responsibilities under working/learning process and does not believe in punishment to keep the employees in line. Instead, it believes that employees will exercise self-control if they’re committed (McGregor’s Theory Y). Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the world leading automobile producers and its philosophy is the famous ‘Toyota Way’. The two pillars are ‘Wisdom and Kaizen (improvement)’ and ‘respect for human nature’ (Saruta 2006). Without going into the full description of ‘Toyota Way’ philosophy, we will mainly discuss one component as an example: Improvement. The company motivates employees through a series of incentives, such as wage, on-job education, and progressive promotion. Hence it presents work as something interesting and worthwhile for worker’s self-motivation. In the Japanese operation, this philosophy helped the company achieved long working hours and concentrated labour. Unfortunately it hasn’t been working as successful in other countries. Does this mean the employees in other countries haven’t fulfilled any of their interests? Managers must understand that employees will be motivated by unmet needs; and that once a need is satisfied, it is no longer a motivator (Fisher 2009). There may be environmental factors the management did not consider. Cultural difference for instance may affect the effectiveness of this philosophy. Being in a country with a generous welfare system like Australia, people’s desire for a balanced work/social life style is much stronger than financial achievement. In this instance, Toyota management in other counties should realise the differences in worker’s needs and present other incentives accordingly. Modern Perspectives Modern Management Trend is developed to collaborate with the more complicated technologies, organisational environment and unforeseeable uncertainties in today’s world. Modern Management Theories are focused on how individuals contribute to organisation and corporate performance while the performance of the chief executive is dictated by the organisation’s financial returns and shareholders’ expectations (Weymes 2004). The three major contemporary extensions of the perspectives (Samson Daft, 2009): 1.System Theory; 2.Contingency View; 3.Total Quality Management. *For the purpose of the report, I will not elaborate on each item mentioned above. Use Contingency View as an example. This theory is an extension of the humanistic perspective in which the successful resolution of organisational problems is thought to depend on management’s identification of key variables in the situation at hand (Samson Daft, 2009). It believes there is no universal approach that works consistently in every situation. Management should always consider aspects within and outside the organisation and utilise various concepts and techniques appropriately. Looking at this theory from a horizontal angle, Knootz (1981) has simplified it into ordinary words, ‘there is science and there is art, there is knowledge and there is practice. One does not need much experience to understand that a corner grocery store could hardly be organised like General Motors, or that the technical realities of petroleum exploration, production, and refining make impracticable autonomously organised product divisions for gasoline, jet fuel, or lubricating oils’. Different organisations have different variables which determine the size of the company, the management hierarchy, the service procedure and so forth. Looking at it from a vertical angle, an organisation may have diversified subsystems and external affiliates. Today’s managers cannot afford to ignore the uncertainties evolved around these elements. Grandori (1984) noted a decision maker needs to classify the state of uncertainty that characterises a decision situation, eliminate the strategies that are not feasible in that situation, and select a feasible strategy. To realise the contingency approach its potential as an effective construct for maintaining and improving managerial effectiveness in a hyper dynamic environment, its development must proceed in a systematic unified and directed manner (Luthans Stewart, 1977). IKEA, as an example, is the world’s most successful mass-market retailer, reaching 33 countries and hosting 410 million shoppers a year; the furniture is made by about 1,500 suppliers in more than 50 countries. Its signature feature is the flat packed product that customers assemble at home. To target the dramatic technology development in 21st century, the company introduced online shopping to address convenience and traceability. The company designs its own, and also broadens the product mix into food and general living supplies (â€Å"IKEA Company Profile†, n.d.). Investment risks can be sufficiently minimised, and it is best described by the old adage â€Å"never put all your eggs in one basket†. Traditionally, a showroom with a team of salesmen and delivery truck drivers is the focal point of a typical furniture retailer. Globalisation and widely spread use of internet will eventually force them out of the market. IKEA tackled these issues from supply-chain, customer satisfaction and diversification of investment risks. It further demonstrates the contingency approach is used to sustain IKEA’s completive edge in all time. Although these strategies may not be suitable in 10 years time, contingency view will always exert management to evaluation situation at hand and make decision accordingly to sustain performance. Conclusion Generally speaking, the traditional perspectives of management tend to standardise a managerial approach across the board by analysing one particular scenario with a number of assumptions. However, the modern perspectives recognise the uncertainties in reality and take many aspects into consideration of their decision making process. Contingency view is not a brand new theory that is completely different from the traditional perspectives. Whilst we are not suggesting the traditional perspectives are untrue, managers should be selective according to the situation at hand and use a combination of approaches to tackle from all angles. Management in the modern world is no longer a unitary practice; it is an art. Continuous education and professional development can only offer the mandatory knowledge. Real life experience and rational conduct at time is the key to successful management.

Drug Essay Example for Free

Drug Essay This paper will illustrate several aspects of how drugs affect our lives. Addiction philosophies including the psychology and physiology will be explained in an attempt to describe how drugs affect our bodies both physically and mentally. Secondly, different drug categories types will be covered including: stimulants, depressants, narcotics, hallucinogens, and cannabis. Each of these categories has different addiction potentials and effect levels including withdrawal symptoms. Finally, the abuse of prescription drugs and their effects will be discussed. Addiction is primarily psychological although addiction can be defined as the physiological changes in the body. Addiction continues to be considered as a social, cultural, genetic and experiential process as well. According to Lande, addictive behavior is seen as any behavior that gives temporary or short term pleasure and also provides relief from discomfort although there may be long term adverse effects. (Lande, 2012) According to Roy, addiction is generally described as dependence on any drug and results from substance abuse. Any drug or alcohol can produce addiction as can other things such as the internet, gaming, gadgets, chocolates etc. However the physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol are detrimental and actually result in loss of productivity, withdrawal and physical dependence and lack of attention and such other conditions. The primary feature of addiction is dependence as an individual shows increased psychological and physiological dependence on the substance he is addicted to and without the addictive substance the person is unable to return to normal life. Roy, 2009) Dependence on anything may not be too bad and some amount of social dependence is expected of us as social beings. However, when there is excessive dependence with inability to live without the substance in question, then withdrawal symptoms result and there are physiological changes in the body including pain and in some cases medical attention is required. Addiction is an extreme dependence that causes people t o lose sense of reality as people become crippled without the substance they are addicted to. Addiction leads to crime and anti-social behavior as addicts can resort to violent behavior, to stealing, to murder simply to attain their goal. Addiction to a substance could be separated from healthy use of the substance such as some amount of alcohol is considered acceptable and healthy in a social setting but being completely dependent on alcohol to that which amounts to addiction can have adverse social and personal implications for the individual. (Roy, 2009) Some of the common addictive drugs and substances are opium, alcohol, nicotine and barbiturates. Giving up any addiction, requires strength and this is largely the strength of the mind that aids in stopping any addictive behavior. According to Lande, if addiction is a disease, the cure of addiction or even its prevention is largely a psychological process suggesting that the mind is responsible for the addiction, the beginning of it and also the end of it. (Lande, 2012) These addictions affect the body in many different ways based on what type of drug the person has taken. According to a Medscape reference, stimulants are substances that induce a number of characteristic symptoms. CNS effects include alertness with increased vigilance, a sense of well-being, and euphoria. Many users experience insomnia and anorexia, and some may develop psychotic symptoms. Stimulants have peripheral cardiovascular activity, including increased blood pressure and heart rate. They encompass a broad category of substances, including those prescribed for medical conditions; those manufactured for illicit substance abuse; and those found in over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants, herbal extracts, caffeinated beverages, and cigarettes. Preda, 2011) Narcotics are another substance that is heavily abused in the workplace. Like many drugs persons taking narcotics can develop a tolerance as well as psychological and physical dependence. With this dependence, users must increase the dosage to gain the same effect. Some signs of narcotic abuse are analgesia, sedation, shallow breathing, slurred speech, and or/confusion. Withdrawal symptoms are usually severe and can be seen as early as 12-1 4 hours after the last dose. Symptoms of Narcotics withdrawal are irritability, craving, runny nose, muscle aches, and anxiety. Along with the previously mentioned symptoms are many complications such as infections, pneumonia, seizures, and constipation. (Zwanger, 2010) According to Doctor Parish, hallucinogens are a diverse group of drugs that cause an alteration in perception, thought, or mood. A rather heterogeneous group, these compounds have different chemical structures, different mechanisms of action, and different adverse effects. Despite their name, most hallucinogens do not consistently cause hallucinations, which are defined as false sensations that have no basis in reality. Often, they are more likely to cause changes in mood or in thought than actual hallucinations. (Parish, 2011) Hallucinogens have very specific symptoms that pose a particular physical risk. These include increased heart rate, high blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and even coma. In regards to withdrawal from the use of hallucinogens, these drugs do not seem to be physically addictive but may pose a psychological threat to users because they feel emotionally dependent on them. (eGetGoing. com, 2010) Approximately 2. Million Americans abused prescription drugs for the first time this year according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Most of these users were females between the ages of 12 and 17. The majority of abused prescription drugs were opioids which are also known as pain relievers. These drugs can be found in over-the-counter form or prescription. Most users begin with the over-the-counter variants but with continued use the user seeks stronger forms to curve their pain r elief needs. Using these drugs at a level that is above the prescribed amount can lead to liver failure, coma, and even death. Throughout this paper were references that illustrated the potential negative effects of drugs such as hallucinogens, stimulants, narcotics, and prescription drugs. The use or abuse of these drugs has significant effects both psychologically and physically. Withdrawals from these substances can be severe and potentially life threatening and should be monitored by medical personnel. Millions of Americans suffer from chemical dependency and threatens or livelihood as being a traditionally wholesome nation.

Cyclone Nargis in Burma: Aid Analysis

Cyclone Nargis in Burma: Aid Analysis Introduction On May 2nd 2008 a category 3 cyclone hit the Irrawaddy delta in Southern Myanmar. Nargis, as it was named, was the worst natural disaster in Myanmars recorded history (TCG 2008). It ended up claiming the lives of almost 140,000 people in addition to displacing a further 800,000. The United Nations reported that overall the cyclone had disrupted the lives of nearly 2.4 million people (Crisis Group 2008). The Myanmar government, or the State Protection and Democracy Council (SPDC), had neither the resources nor the experience to deal with such an event and as a result, assistance from the international community was needed (Selth 2008). The purpose of this paper is to examine the aid delivered to Myanmar by various international government and civil society groups. In an attempt to do so the paper looks at the at delivery of the aid in light of the influence of international politics, the domestic policies adopted by the SPDC, international funding issues, the effectiveness of the human rights system, and issues related culture, environment and gender. Influence of International Politics One of the factors that had a significant impact on the delivery of aid to the cyclone victims was the influence international politics on the decision making process. This section of the paper takes a look at the manner in which politics determined the course of the humanitarian operation in Myanmar. First of all, it is of importance to highlight the fact that for twenty years before Nargis struck the Irrawaddy delta, Myanmar had been deprived of international aid. The international community hoped that by enforcing sanctions and trade embargos they would be able to force the military regime out of political power and bring in a more democratic government. The devastating consequence of cyclone Nargis, however, made the international governments and non government organizations realize that they had to suspend those polices temporarily in an attempt to provide the much needed humanitarian aid to the victims. (Crisis Group 2008) Unfortunately, for several weeks the SPDC continued to hinder the international humanitarian operation. They insisted upon delivering aid themselves with as little help from overseas as possible. They blocked access to the affected region and refused to grant visas to international aid workers (Selth 2008). They also prevented French, UK and US aid vessels from entering Myanmar territory. Despite the fact that these ships were carrying supplies to feed and shelter the survivors, the junta feared that the humanitarian operation could be used as a pretense to overthrow their government. Consequently the aid vessels, which the SPDC viewed as warships, were left anchored in international waters for weeks awaiting permission to unload the much need supplies, before they went back. (Stover and Vinck 2008) This pattern of events prompted several European countries to view the SPDCs response to the disaster as a crime against humanity. They accused the SPDC of having had inadequate aid measures in place and its continued rejection of aid from abroad was considered to be a deliberate disregard for the citizens of Myanmar (Crisis Group 2008). Therefore, the French government, with the support of the British and US governments, requested the UN Security Council to authorize the Responsibility to Protect  doctrine for the purpose of delivering aid to the victims by force if necessary (Belanger and Horsey 2008). However, Chinese and Russian governments rejected the proposal based on the fact that the doctrine did not apply to natural disasters and as a result was not sanctioned by the Security Council (Selth 2008). Eventually signs of cooperation between the SPDC and the international community began to emerge. First there was a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), where it was established that aid could be delivered to the region through ASEAN representatives. Next, at a meeting between UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Senior General Than Shwe in Naypyitaw it was agreed that the SPDC would allow international aid workers full access to the disaster sites. As an outcome of these two meetings the SPDC along with representative from the UN and ASEAN set up the Tripartite Core Group (TCG), as a means to coordinate the cooperative relief effort. (ALTSEAN 2008) Domestic Policies Even after granting visas to the aid workers, the SPDC implemented certain domestic policies that hindered the international relief effort. An example of such a deterring policy is the confinement of international aid workers to the immediate Yangon area. As a result of this policy, foreign staff members distributing relief materials and food donated by the international community could only work from Yangon region. They had to rely on the junta to distribute it outside the city borders. In addition, the junta also set up road blocks preventing access to the affected areas in an attempt to further restrict the movements of international aid workers. (ALTSEAN 2008) Additionally the SPDC was cautious of the types of materials they allowed to be brought in as aid. They prevented aid agencies from delivering any materials that could be used by the survivors to gain access to outside world. As a result, the SPDC banned the import and use of communication equipments unless purchased from the government, at a price of $1,500 per phone. Each agency was allowed purchase a maximum of ten phones. Furthermore, the SPDC did not allow aid agencies to import vehicles or machinery from abroad either. An offer by the British government to provide the SPDC with equipment capable of unloading planes faster was turned down. As a result, because of these policies adopted by the SPDC, the delivery of aid was not only slow and delayed but huge quantities of relief supplies ended up in Yangon warehouses as confiscated items instead of being delivered to the victims. (ALTSEAN 2008) Another major criticism of SPDC domestic policies was the fact that they conducted the constitutional referendum despite the cyclone disaster. The purpose of the election was to legitimize the authority of the junta. As a result they went ahead with the elections amidst widespread disapproval. Even though, the junta postponed the referendum in the cyclone affected areas they went ahead with the elections the in other regions (Selth 2008). Consequently, the SPDC had to commit the limited resources it had to the referendum which diverted the much needed attention away from delivering aid to those affected by the cyclone. In addition the SPDC forcefully evicted many of the survivors from both government and unofficial shelters for the purpose of conducting the referendum. For example, the SPDC evicted around 90 people from a hall in Yangon so that the hall could be used as a polling station (Amnesty International 2008). Therefore, international politics combined with domestic policies ensured that the delivery of aid for the victims of Nargis was not an easy matter. To complicate things further the international community faced certain funding issues as well. The next section of the paper takes a closer look at those issues. International Funding Issues Aside from the onsite hindrances of delivering aid the international aid agencies had issues related to raising adequate funds. During the initial emergency response the World Food Program (WFP) estimated that the daily aid delivered to the victims was only one third of the required amount (ALTSEAN 2008). A year later half a million people are still without proper housing and 350,000 people require food donations from the World Food Program (Solomon 2009). The original Myanmar Cyclone Flash Appeal had requested for 187.3 million dollars for the rebuilding effort. However, after a more comprehensive assessment of the affected area and the victims a revised Flash Appeal requesting $481 million was launched (UN 2008). Unfortunately, during the emergency phase of the operation, international aid agencies were able to raise only 66 percent of that amount. Similarly, of the nearly $700 million required for the three years Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP), initiated by the SPDC in association with ASEAN and the UN, only $100 million had been pledged by donor countries (Mungpi 2009). The lack of adequate funding drastically reduced the rate at which aid was being delivered to those in need. Despite the obvious need for additional funding, international aid agencies were unable to accumulate funding the way in which they did during the 2004 Asian Tsunami. One of the major reasons for this was the reluctance of governments to provide additional funding to military junta. They feared that their donations were being diverted away from the victims and were being used to strengthen the military regime instead. Such fears were reaffirmed by evidence of aid being stolen and redirected by the SPDC. For example, the first two WFP planes carrying food into Myanmar were seized by the government upon arrival. The WFP responded by suspending their flights to Myanmar, however, in light of the extent of the humanitarian crisis the WFP realized that they had to resume the flights and send aid irrespective of fact that it might get sized again. In addition there were reports of incidents where the victims being made to pay for the relief items. In some cases the government agents forced the survivors to vote Yes  in the referendum before giving them their aid supplies. Survivors were also reportedly given rotten, low quality food instead of the nutrition-rich biscuits that the international donors had sent. Instead, these items ended up being sold in the markets along with the rice and oil donated by international organizations. To counter these accusations SPDC issued a warning to take legal action against anyone caught stealing relief supplies. However, the threat never materialized, and as a result reports of stolen and missing aid continued to appear, which further discouraged international donors and caused additional funding issues for the aid agencies. (ALTSEAN 2008) The implementation of the human rights system According to an international system of human rights, in the event of a natural disaster, every individual has the right to be given protection from natural hazards, evacuate if necessary and be given access to adequate quantities of food, shelter, and medicine. It is the national authoritys responsibility to provide these services; however, in cases where the authority is either unable or unwilling to provide these services the international community has a humanitarian obligation to deliver the aid instead (Caritas 2008). It was this system of human rights that was used by the international community to aid the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Facing numerous previously mentioned SPDC created obstacles the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on June 18 condemning the continued violation of the rights of the cyclone survivors. The resolution demanded that the SPDC allow aid workers immediate, full and unhindered access  to the Irrawaddy delta and stop forcing t he survivors to return to their cyclone affected village homes where access to emergency relief was inadequate. (Akimoto 2008) However, a year later international relief workers still find it difficult to get visas for Myanmar. Those that do get the in are only allowed a limited period of time to work in the Irrawaddy delta (Solomon 2009). Furthermore, since declaring the end of the rescue and relief phase of the cyclone Nargis response on 20 May 2008 the SPDC ordered increasing number of traumatized cyclone victims to return to their homes despite the fact that they no to access to food, shelter or other aid supplies in those villages (Amnesty International 2008). Therefore, even though it was through the human rights system that the international community was able to provide assistance to the survivors, the domestic policies adopted by the military junta greatly diminished the effectiveness of its application. Many of these domestic policies that hindered the delivery of aid to the victims of the cyclone resulted from certain cultural beliefs that the military junta has. The next section of the paper takes a look at some of these cultural issues that have made delivering aid difficult. Cultural Issues One of the major cultural issues that made the process of restoring the Irrawaddy delta immensely difficult is rooted in the isolationist principles of the military junta. Since the 1960s the government of Myanmar endorsed a self-reliance doctrine where they believed that their nation and citizens would do better if left on their own. Consequently they avoided accepting assistance from abroad even if caused more hardships (Belanger and Horsey 2008: 2). This belief was a major factor behind the initial denial of international assistance. This tradition of self reliance also resulted in the survivors being prematurely sent back to their cyclone devastated homes. Just after a month after the cyclone, the government declared that the survivors had to return to their villages and resume their way of living. According to the SPDC, cyclone victims would otherwise become too dependent on relief from international donors and not be productive enough to support themselves. In some cases, the government forcibly evicted people from their shelters and sent them back to their villages by the use of force. In Yangon, for example, the military reportedly threatened to shoot those that would not return to their villages. (Shwe 2008) Another major cultural issue within Myanmar stems from the fact it is a multi-ethnic country with several groups in conflict with one another. Even the delta region is home to a number of different ethnic groups with the Bamar being the dominant group in the region followed by the Karen and then the Rakhaing. As a result the international aid agencies had to ensure that no particular ethnic group was given preferential treatment or overlooked during the operation. Otherwise intergroup tensions worsened the already strained relations between the various ethnic groups. On the other hand aid through an equitable and non-sectarian delivery of aid the aid agencies were able to make different groups together. (TCG 2008) Environmental Issues Environmental issues also presented themselves as factors that needed to be considered by the aid agencies. Due to the damages caused by the cyclone the local environment in the Irrawaddy delta created severe health issues for the survivors. The contamination of the ponds and lakes, used by villagers as drinking water, with sea water and dead bodies spread dengue fever, diarrhea and dysentery across the region. Despite efforts by the government and international medical groups the damage done to the local environment, continued to create serious health concerns for the survivors. (Shwe 2008) Aside from causing physical harm, environmental damages placed a severe strain on the economic wellbeing of an already impoverished society. The fact that the majority of the victims of Nargis belonged to rural societies they relied on agriculture as their main source of income. In addition the delta region also produced a major portion of the countries of food supply. Therefore, the destruction of the agricultural sector meant that not only were the residents of the Irrawaddy to suffer severe economic hardships, but the entire country would have food shortages for several years unless the aid agencies addressed the issue. Therefore, the rehabilitation of the region, expected to cost $11 billion, remains a top priority for aid agencies (TCG 2008) A third environment related issue is associated with the loss of the mangrove forests in the region. The spread of shrimp farms and rice paddies for over a period of ten years resulted in the loss of significant portion of the mangrove covering. The presence of the mangrove forest would have reduced the extent of the damage caused by Nargis (TCG 2008). Consequently the IUCN suggested that once the emergency aid had been provided, the government and other organizations needed to restore the mangrove forest and other coastal ecosystem in order to avoid future devastations caused by cyclones. (IUCN 2008) Gender Issues According to a report published by the TCG, 61 percent of those that died in the cyclone were women, with the number being even higher in certain villages. Furthermore, the majority of the women that died were aged between the 18-60 years, the age group that is the most the productive and reproductive. Therefore, the cyclone created a gender imbalance in the delta region which in turn created several issues for the aid agencies (TCG 2008). This section of the paper takes a look at some of the gender issues created by Nargis, particularly the ones related to division of labor, migration of women into cities and the overall difference in needs of men and women in the aftermath of a natural disaster. First of all Nargis caused a shift in the division of labor among men and women. The death of the female members of the household meant that the men had to take on responsibilities that were traditionally reserved for women, such as cooking and childcare. Similarly, in families where the men died women had to take on the responsibility of earning money in addition to their previous roles. As a result it created additional burden for the widows and widowers and prevented them from performing other duties and as such had to be treated as among the most vulnerable groups in the community (TCG 2009) Another gender related issue created by the cyclone involves women migrating from the rural sectors to the urban regions. The devastation to the region that Nargis caused left unmarried women with very limited opportunities to earn a living. As a result many were prompted to leave their villages and look for work in the city. Once in the city, these women, with no experience of life outside their village, became easy targets for exploitation, forced labor, prostitution and trafficking. (TCG 2008) Finally aid agencies had to implement different aid mechanisms for the men and women of the delta region who experienced the natural disaster in different ways and as such needed to be looked upon as separate interest groups with specific needs, limitations and abilities. Due to cultural and social restrictions women, comparatively, have fewer opportunities to improve their conditions on their own. As a result the aid agencies, helping women recover, needed to provide services that allowed women to improve their ability to participate in activities and decision making processes. (TCG 2008) Conclusion Therefore, it can be seen from this paper that the delivery of aid to a country devastated by a natural disaster requires the consideration of a variety of factors. In the case of Nargis wrecking the Irrawaddy delta in Myanmar, the international community had to deal with a military government intent on hindering the aid effort. After having convinced the SPDC to let international aid workers enter Myanmar the aid agencies faced additional difficulties due to the domestic policies. Moreover, with the junta diverting and stealing aid the availability of international funds became an issue as well. Despite, having had used the international system of human rights to initiate the delivery of aid to the affected groups, the overall international response was not as effective in preventing the violation of the survivors human rights. Cultural, environmental and gender issues inside the Irrawaddy delta complicated matters further; illustrating the complexity of the delivering aid to an isolated developing country struggling to cope with a natural disaster. Reference Akimoto, Y. (2008) Post Nargis Analysis: The other side of the Story  [http://www.dhf.uu.se/pdffiler/burma_post_nargi_analysis.pdf] ALTSEAN (2008) SPDC turns disaster into catastrophe [http://www.altsean.org/Docs/PDF%20Format/Thematic%20Briefers/SPDC%20turns%20disaster%20into%20catastrophe.pdf] Amnesty International (2008) Myanmar Briefing: Human rights concerns a month after Cyclone Nargis [http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA16/013/2008/en/8592e938-32e5-11dd-863f-e9cd398f74da/asa160132008eng.html] Belanger, J. and R. Horsey (2008), Negotiating humanitarian access to cyclone-affected areas of Myanmar: a review  Humanitarian Exchange 41 Caritas Australia (2008) Burma Cyclone Nargis Humanitarian analysis [http://www.caritas.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Caritas_policy_documents_PDFsTemplate=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfmContentID=4006] Crisis Group (2008) Burma/Myanmar After Nargis: Time to Normalize relations  Asia Report 161 IUCN (2008) Restoring natural habitats in Myanmar a reconstruction priority  IUCN Press release May 23, 2008, Geneva [http://www.ddrn.dk/filer/forum/File/IUCN_Myanmar_press_statement.pdf] Mungpi (2009) Global support for cyclone victims not sufficient: UN  Mizzima [http://www.mizzima.com/nargis-impact/one-year-after-nargis/2063-global-support-for-cyclone-victims-not-sufficient-un.html] Selth, A. (2008) ËÅ"Burma and the Threat of Invasion: Regime Fantasy or Strategic Reality?, Griffith Asia Institutes Regional Outlook Paper 17 Shwe, K. (2008) An Alternative Assessment of the Humanitarian Assistance in the Irrawaddy Delta Situation after 60 days [http://www.cohre.org/store/attachments/Cyclone%20Nargis%20-%20Alternative%20assessment.pdf] Solomon (2009) A year on, Nargis victims still lack adequate support  Mizzima [http://www.mizzima.com/nargis-impact/one-year-after-nargis/2042-a-year-on-nargis-victims-still-lack-adequate-support.html] Stover, E. and P. Vinck (2008) Cyclone Nargis and the Politics of Relief and Reconstruction Aid in Burma (Myanmar)  JAMA 30(6): 729-731 TCG (2008) Post-Nargis Joint Assessment  [http://www.aseansec.org/21765.pdf] TCG (2009) Post-Nargis Social Impacts Monitoring  [http://www.aseansec.org/CN-SocialImpactMonitoring-November08.pdf] UN (2008) Myanmar Revised Appeal: Cyclone Nargis Response Plan Consolidated Appeal  [http://ochadms.unog.ch/quickplace/cap/main.nsf/h_Index/Revision_2008_Myanmar_FA/$FILE/Revision_2008_Myanmar_FA_VOL1_SCREEN.pdf?OpenElement]

Relational Aggression :: essays research papers fc

Relational Aggression   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A high school student cried as she recounted being tormented in middle school by her classmates. For some reason she was targeted as a â€Å"dog,† and day after day she had to walk the halls with kids barking at her. How did it stop? The girl said she stopped it. But how? She picked out another girl, someone worse off than herself, and started to call her dog. Then the others forgot about her. Then they barked at the other girl instead. Girls may be made of sugar and spice and everything nice, but on the inside, they are just plain mean. â€Å"Girls tease, insult, threaten, gossip maliciously, and play cruel games with their friends’ feelings and set up exclusive cliques and hierarchies in high schools.† (Omaha World Herald, 10A).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Relational aggression is a fairly new development, which involves adolescent girls and their emotions. To understand this newly found term, one must start from the core word â€Å"aggression.† After understanding the forms of aggression, one can slowly begin to understand relational aggression. Aggression is defined as behavior that is intended to harm others. Aggression can take many forms including physical violence, date violence, and criminal violence. Most have related aggression with the male physical violence or â€Å"beating up.† Most females have low or do not show any form of aggression; therefore, most people believe women to be the lesser aggressive sex. It is true that males are proven to be more aggressive than females, but not by far. This is depending on which form of aggression is being studied.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  So why are girls so â€Å"aggressive?† Nicki Crick, PhD, a researcher at the University of Minnesota says: â€Å"Physical aggression isn’t very accepted for girls, so they turn to manipulation and emotional threats as weapons† (Murray, par 3). â€Å"In recent research, it indicates that gender differences in aggression disappears when the definition of aggression is broadened to include aggressive acts in whish the victim’s personal relationships are manipulated of damaged-- that is, relational aggression† (Miller, 145).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Relational aggression is defined as behaviors that harm others by damaging (or threatening to damage) or manipulating one’s relationship with his/her peers, or by injuring one’s feelings of social acceptance.† (Ophelia Project, â€Å"Issues† par 3). This type of aggression is mainly directed toward the emotions rather than physical behavior. Some examples of relational aggression include: Purposefully ignoring someone when one is angry with the other (i.

Religion and Love in Mexico :: essays research papers

Marriage in Colonial Mexico: Patriarchy and Economy In To Love, Honor, and Obey in Colonial Mexico, Patricia Seed argues that the Bourbon Century drastically changed the view of marriage in New Spain. She suggests that the emphasis on virtue and free will in marriage gave way to a new quasi-bourgeois family unit based upon status and patriarchal control. While this is true for the elite of eighteenth century New Spain, this could not have spread to the urban or rural poor. They did not have an overwhelming emphasis on economic prosperity or status and did not have a necessity for strict patriarchal order. The Bourbon order prompted changes in family structure. From the outset, there was a stringent focus on patriarchy and male dominance. Marriage was a decision not left for the to-be-married to decide out of love and desire, but an issue with which the entire family, especially the father, was involved. Instead of marriage being simply an expression of the mutual feelings of man and woman, it was a system of social and economic status in which the honor of patriarchal lineage was at stake. Children and parents alike had distinct visions of social moralities, but those of the father prevailed. This was the change, as described in Seed’s text, of the Bourbon century in New Spain. However, this change was not fully encompassing. The urban and rural poor would not be affected nearly as much by patriarchal domination or the evolving status of honor. As social hierarchy began basing itself more upon economic ideas, New Spain’s poor population became increasingly disenfranchised. Members of the upper class were responsible for the elevated value of status. It was the fathers of well-off families in New Spain that were encouraged to marry â€Å"honorable† spouses as to not bring â€Å"dishonor† to the family name. The daughter of an elite family would be prodded to marry and an elite man simply because of his honorable status, not his honorable sense of rectitude or moral consciousness. The church was once a sanctuary to marry those who felt bonded by an unworldly devotion, but now the church served as administrator for the will of elite patriarchs. The lower class, being void of elites, the high status of honor, and overbearing patriarchy was exempt from this defiling of sanctity. For the urban and rural poor there was no vested interest in retaining status. They were at the bottom of what had become the class system of eighteenth century colonial

Is it Literature? Essay -- Writing Storytelling Language Essays

Is it Literature? When most people consider how to tell a story, they think in terms of plot and character. While these are often the most visible aspects of a story, there is an underlying foundation of principles that support a well-told story. These principles could be compared to a house foundation. Without a solid foundation, the other effects of the house, its "character and design," cannot be fully enjoyed. In the same fashion, the principles of storytelling are also mostly out of sight, but the effect of badly laid story foundation has effects just as damaging as a badly constructed house foundation. The purpose of this essay is to lay out the principles, that well-constructed literature will contain, in a manner that they can be considered individually. The principles can also be understood as a unified piece of rationalism that offers an overview of what well constructed literature consists of, and how it is written. Understanding these principles should be able to help a reader to distinguish between well-constructed literature and what tries to pass as literature. Literature is a world where every character, every action, every element has meaning and purpose. This is what makes literature fundamentally different from life. Life offers facts that don't necessarily have a clear purpose, meaning or outcome; events that generate emotional states that have no clear purpose or fulfillment; or events that captivate the senses, but not in a meaningful, dramatic, or fulfilling way. Real life, then, can be chaotic, or appear to lack a desirable purpose and meaning. For example, we don't marry the love of our life... or we do, and then things can go terribly wrong. Or the one we love is taken from us by a freak accident. Or we work hard but don't get the rewards we desire. Even worse, the rewards may go to someone who appears to be completely undeserving of the reward and honour we've worked to attain. So real life can be painful, unpredictable, or even wildly rewarding, but in spite of our best-laid plans or efforts, we can never clearly predict the outcome of any action or actions. Most people, then, have a need for something that gives meaning and purpose to the events of life. This is what literature will do. However, the beautiful thing about literature is that it may do this, or it may do the exact opposite. It may leave issues or c... ...grew up there. We can readily internalise this story because it is about the universal human experience of self-realization. The plot, the movement of the story, is just a means to this end. Well-constructed literature, then, can be analysed by understanding these principles of storytelling. By exposing the reasons why we desire stories, and how well-constructed literature can meet these needs that we bring to it, I sought to reveal what well-constructed literature will contain and how to identify it. During the colloquies, I struggled with a definition of good literature. However, I came to the conclusion that well-constructed literature is not necessarily good literature, and vice versa. So, instead of trying to conclude what good literature is, I decided to tackle the idea of what well- constructed literature is. It is important to remain aware of the fact that good literature is many things to many people. Different people will try to reach a different type of fulfillment. In my opinion, it is impossible to judge or define good literature, one may only attempt to judge or define what well-constructed literature is, as I hope to have done here, in this essay, for you.

The weight of the nation

The movie we watched is called â€Å"The weight of the nation†. I learned that:Worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980.In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.35% of adults aged 20 and over were overweight in 2008, and 11% were obese. >65% of the world's population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.More than 40 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2011.Obesity is preventable.Most of the food commercials make you want to eat.My reaction to this movie is that people started eating more food over the 30 years so they should start taking food seriously.  What makes people obese is  an increased intake of energy-dense foods that are high in fat and an increase in physical inactivity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, and increasing urbanizati on.Not only the food matters but your physical activities that you do every day. Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of obesity, premature death and disability in adulthood. But in addition to increased future risks, obese children experience breathing difficulties, increased risk of fractures, hypertension, early markers of cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and psychological effects. Overweight and obesity, as well as their related noncommunicable diseases, are largely preventable. Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping people’s choices, making the healthier choice of foods and regular physical activity the easiest choice (accessible, available and affordable), and therefore preventing obesity. At the individual level, people can:limit energy intake from total fats and sugars;increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts; >engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes per week for adults).

Healthcare Industry

The global healthcare industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.7%. This is made possible by the leveraging of various analytics tools and practices by the healthcare providers for improving their operational efficiency. Source: http://www.thehealthcareanalytics.comUnited States is at the front of the growth, accounting for 65.84% which can be attributed to country's substantial investment in healthcare. Europe and Asia are on a path of steady growth with increased expenditure on technology, R;D and the emergence of Big Data. Source: http://www.thehealthcareanalytics.comThe volume of data available is expected to be increasing at an exponential rate in the years ahead. Current cumbersome techniques of evaluation will soon have to pave the way for advanced analytics. These techniques, which have the ability to process, act on, manage and distribute data from variety of sources, will become the backbone of the healthcare sector. With this evaluation, the vast health data will be better understood and more effective, real time, specific decisions can be taken. Source: http://www.techferry.com Current SituationBefore discussing about the future, it is important to reflect upon the current scenario. After the introduction of Electronic Health Records (EHR), amount of data collected have gone up significantly, creating meta data that can be used for querying. Healthcare organizations have resorted to analytical tools to improve the efficiency of patient examination. With a wide range of information about patient's history, genetics and demographics, more customized quality care could be provided. More and more venture capitalists have started investing into healthcare analytics. However, healthcare organizations are a long way from making effective use of such information. Proper understanding about the vast applications of such a resource is still scarce. Differentiating between quality data and noise has been becoming more and more difficult. High cost of analytic solutions and lack of skilled professionals have been a pain point in many organizations. Leveraging bigdata analytics in healthcarePatient profile analytics: Analytics can be applied to the existing patient profiles to identify those who may need preventive care. Patients who are at a risk of developing a disease like diabetes can be helped with lifestyle changes and preventive care.Public health: By analysing the large amount of data available, disease patterns can be identified and outbreaks can be predicted by finding various correlations among the data points.Resource management: With the development of location tracking technologies like RFIDs, patients, staffs, instruments and other resources in the enterprise can be effectively tracked and managed on a real time basis.Fraud analysis: Hospitals on a daily basis receives large number of insurance claims. With the help of big data analytics, valid claims can be segregated out reducing wastage of time and resources.Genomic Analytics: Genes of an individual and high-powered computing are combined to produce personalize d treatments for each patient. Genetic disorders can be identified and target therapies can be developed.Real-Time health care: Various mobile applications are being developed that help individuals to manage their care in a personalized manner. Wearables are being developed that can effectively track the safety and monitor the conditions in real-time by analysing the large volumes of fast moving data.R & D: Predictive modelling and statistical methods can be used to improve clinical trials and finding the follow-on indications. Trial failures can be reduced and new product development can be given the push it demands.Concerns and mitigation strategiesData Integrity: The data in many situations comes from places with questionable data governance standards. Obtaining data that meets with the standards required for accurate use is one of the major ongoing battles in organizations. Lack of understanding of the usage of EHR (Electronic Healthcare Records) and importance of capturing qual ity data further adds to the lack of data quality.Future: Improvements in data capture by prioritizing valuable data types and educating clinicians about how to ensure that data is useful for downstream analytics are some of the ways forward.Filtering: Presence of inaccurate unwanted data (noise) can derail the effectiveness of the analytics system. The data, which comes from disparate data sources in multiple formats, unless acted upon properly will lead to inconsistency. Though Data cleaning, process of ensuring the datasets are consistent, accurate and relevant, are being done, most organizations still use inefficient manual methods. Future: IT vendors are now coming up with applications which use machine learning that use rules to filter and segregate data, which will make the process effective and affordableStorage: With the latest developments in technology, amount of data being generated and captured is increasing at an alarming rate. Even though most enterprises currently pr efer on premise data storage which has the advantage of having better control on security and access, it has become difficult to modify, scale and adapt to situations.Future: Many organizations are slowly shifting to cloud storage and various hybrid approaches to store their data. This provides a highly scalable, cost effective solution which provides ease of access.Security: With the recent episodes of high profile hackings, security breaches, ransomwares etc security has become a huge concern in this technological era.From a small action like leaving the laptop unsecured to highly sophisticated hacking, data is not safe in spite of many initiatives being taken.Future: Employees are being educated in transmission security, authentication protocols, and controls over access, integrity, and auditing. Procedures such as using latest anti-virus software, setting up firewalls, encrypting sensitive data, and using multi-factor authentication are some of the ways to prevent security attac ks. As we move forward in 2018, organizations will have to analyse much more complex and high-volume data. With the development of customized, highly efficient data analytics practices, organizations can make sense of the data and use it for providing efficient personalized care. Data integrity is bound to become the most important factor as effectiveness of data analytical methods are dependent on incorporation of error free, relevant data from quality sources.References1. http://www.thehealthcareanalytics.com 2. Healthcare Industry The global healthcare industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.7%. This is made possible by the leveraging of various analytics tools and practices by the healthcare providers for improving their operational efficiency. Source: http://www.thehealthcareanalytics.comUnited States is at the front of the growth, accounting for 65.84% which can be attributed to country's substantial investment in healthcare. Europe and Asia are on a path of steady growth with increased expenditure on technology, R;D and the emergence of Big Data. Source: http://www.thehealthcareanalytics.comThe volume of data available is expected to be increasing at an exponential rate in the years ahead. Current cumbersome techniques of evaluation will soon have to pave the way for advanced analytics. These techniques, which have the ability to process, act on, manage and distribute data from variety of sources, will become the backbone of the healthcare sector. With this evaluation, the vast health data will be better understood and more effective, real time, specific decisions can be taken. Source: http://www.techferry.com Current SituationBefore discussing about the future, it is important to reflect upon the current scenario. After the introduction of Electronic Health Records (EHR), amount of data collected have gone up significantly, creating meta data that can be used for querying. Healthcare organizations have resorted to analytical tools to improve the efficiency of patient examination. With a wide range of information about patient's history, genetics and demographics, more customized quality care could be provided. More and more venture capitalists have started investing into healthcare analytics. However, healthcare organizations are a long way from making effective use of such information. Proper understanding about the vast applications of such a resource is still scarce. Differentiating between quality data and noise has been becoming more and more difficult. High cost of analytic solutions and lack of skilled professionals have been a pain point in many organizations. Leveraging bigdata analytics in healthcarePatient profile analytics: Analytics can be applied to the existing patient profiles to identify those who may need preventive care. Patients who are at a risk of developing a disease like diabetes can be helped with lifestyle changes and preventive care.Public health: By analysing the large amount of data available, disease patterns can be identified and outbreaks can be predicted by finding various correlations among the data points.Resource management: With the development of location tracking technologies like RFIDs, patients, staffs, instruments and other resources in the enterprise can be effectively tracked and managed on a real time basis.Fraud analysis: Hospitals on a daily basis receives large number of insurance claims. With the help of big data analytics, valid claims can be segregated out reducing wastage of time and resources.Genomic Analytics: Genes of an individual and high-powered computing are combined to produce personalize d treatments for each patient. Genetic disorders can be identified and target therapies can be developed.Real-Time health care: Various mobile applications are being developed that help individuals to manage their care in a personalized manner. Wearables are being developed that can effectively track the safety and monitor the conditions in real-time by analysing the large volumes of fast moving data.R & D: Predictive modelling and statistical methods can be used to improve clinical trials and finding the follow-on indications. Trial failures can be reduced and new product development can be given the push it demands.Concerns and mitigation strategiesData Integrity: The data in many situations comes from places with questionable data governance standards. Obtaining data that meets with the standards required for accurate use is one of the major ongoing battles in organizations. Lack of understanding of the usage of EHR (Electronic Healthcare Records) and importance of capturing qual ity data further adds to the lack of data quality.Future: Improvements in data capture by prioritizing valuable data types and educating clinicians about how to ensure that data is useful for downstream analytics are some of the ways forward.Filtering: Presence of inaccurate unwanted data (noise) can derail the effectiveness of the analytics system. The data, which comes from disparate data sources in multiple formats, unless acted upon properly will lead to inconsistency. Though Data cleaning, process of ensuring the datasets are consistent, accurate and relevant, are being done, most organizations still use inefficient manual methods. Future: IT vendors are now coming up with applications which use machine learning that use rules to filter and segregate data, which will make the process effective and affordableStorage: With the latest developments in technology, amount of data being generated and captured is increasing at an alarming rate. Even though most enterprises currently pr efer on premise data storage which has the advantage of having better control on security and access, it has become difficult to modify, scale and adapt to situations.Future: Many organizations are slowly shifting to cloud storage and various hybrid approaches to store their data. This provides a highly scalable, cost effective solution which provides ease of access.Security: With the recent episodes of high profile hackings, security breaches, ransomwares etc security has become a huge concern in this technological era.From a small action like leaving the laptop unsecured to highly sophisticated hacking, data is not safe in spite of many initiatives being taken.Future: Employees are being educated in transmission security, authentication protocols, and controls over access, integrity, and auditing. Procedures such as using latest anti-virus software, setting up firewalls, encrypting sensitive data, and using multi-factor authentication are some of the ways to prevent security attac ks. As we move forward in 2018, organizations will have to analyse much more complex and high-volume data. With the development of customized, highly efficient data analytics practices, organizations can make sense of the data and use it for providing efficient personalized care. Data integrity is bound to become the most important factor as effectiveness of data analytical methods are dependent on incorporation of error free, relevant data from quality sources.References1. http://www.thehealthcareanalytics.com 2.