Nursing - Medication Errors Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Nursing - Medication Errors - Research Paper Example To compress in a nut shell, it can be described as the wrong medication to the patients. This is where the role of nurses comes under scrutiny, as nurses could act as a major contributing factor for the occurrence of medication errors. Generally diagnoses of the diseases are carried out by the physicians with the aid of other medical personnel, including lab technicians. Monitoring the status of the patients and providing them with the right medicine as prescribed by the physicians at the right time frames is the basic and the essential task of the nurses. Moreover the medication errors are nurse-oriented, as they attend to each and every need of the patients, and are in direct contact with the patients, everyday. Hence they need to have accurate details about the medication given as well as the timings of drug delivery and perfect monitoring of the patients. When they fail to perform their duties in relation to drug delivery, it could end up in medication errors. Some of the major m edication errors that will be focused in this paper include the following, Over dosage of the medicine, or the route of administration Failure to prescribe or administer the exact drug to the patients Lack of observation – failure to observe the correct time of administration, this may be due to the difficulties in understanding the prescription and confusion about the different drugs which has similar names. These are some of the errors which can cause lethal effects to the patients such as drastic physical complications affecting various parts of the body, and in extreme cases coma or even death in some patients. Recent studies reveal that â€Å"Ten to 18 percent of all reported hospital injuries have been attributed to medication errors.† (Mayo and Duncan, 2004). â€Å"Of the approximately 44,000 –98,000 patient deaths reported each year because of medical errors, 7,000 were attributed to medication† errors. (Stratton et al., 2004). These statistical d ata would back up the fact of the lethal effects caused by medication errors caused by the nurses. Hence, this paper will discuss the issues related to the medication errors, which are issues related to nursing, direct and indirect impacts on the health care policy, statistical data to support the issue and other implications for future nursing practices. Medication errors related to nursing A patient who comes to a healthcare facility can be treated optimally only if proper diagnosis is made, and importantly correct drug therapy is prescribed and carried out. However, â€Å"drug therapy cannot be successful unless, and until, both the prescribing and medication delivery processes are conducted correctly.† (Flynn et al., 2002). During this prescribing and delivery process, there are many chances of error creeping in, with all the healthcare personnel including physicians, technicians, nurses, etc., liable for it. They could do some minor or even major error, and that could co ntribute to major problems for the patient, themselves and to the healthcare facility. However, the issue with these medication errors is that many errors go undocumented and unreported. This perspective was validated by Flynn et al. (2002), who stated â€Å"errors resulting in serious harm are reported because they are easy to identify and hard to conceal, yet they represent the "tip of the iceberg",† with many errors intentionally or unintentionally concealed by various players. Among the various players or healthcare person

Corporate Crimes And Corporate Governance To Combat Them

Corporate Crimes And Corporate Governance To Combat Them Corporate crimes refer to criminal practices by individuals that have the legal authority to have a word for a corporation or company. These can include presidents, managers ,directors and chairman , sales people and agent or anyone within a company that has the authority to act on behalf of the firm Corporate crimes often seen to involve a very different set of dealings between offenders and victims, as there are less obvious direct harm or blood on the streets (Clarke, 1990). It appears less personal as immediate victims are often employers, the government, the public health or the environment and in many cases, such as where Safety laws are broken, causing the death or injury of employees, there is no direct intent to harm. There are also different images of the structural dimensions of victimization. To some, all citizens are victims of this kind of crime, irrespective of age, class or gender, whereas to others the crimes of the wealthy and powerful prey on the poor and powerless. Yet at the same time, victims of some financial frauds may fail to attract sympathy as they are assumed to be wealthy and to have willingly parted with their money (Shichor et al., 2000). Corporate crimes: scopes and definitions As far as scope of the crime is concern this has to be noticed that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Many victims are unaware of any harm and cannot detect it themselves as happens, for example, with some major frauds, pollution, food adulteration and descriptions of consumer goods. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Victimization is often indirect and impersonal, affecting entities such as the government although there are indirect effects on individuals tax payers, for example, have to pay more and receive fewer benefits due to tax evasion. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Individual victims may lose very little yet the illegal profits may be large as in cases in which a bank employee takes one penny out of thousands of accounts or a firm sells goods which weigh less than indicated.  [1]   This term white collar crime was coined by Edward Sutherland in his pioneering 1949 study, White Collar Crime. It describes non-violent crimes committed by corporations or individuals in the course of their business activity. Examples of criminal behaviour in most jurisdiction includes: antitrust violations ,fraud ,damage to the environment in violation of environmental legislation, exploitation of labour in violation of labour laws ,and failure to maintain a fiduciary responsibility toward shareholders. In criminology, corporate crime refers to crimes committed either by a corporation (i.e., a business entity having a separate legal personality from the natural persons that manage its activities), or by individuals that may be identified with a corporation or other business entity. Corporate Crime is criminal activity on behalf of a business organization. During much of American history the primary legal stance relating to activity of business was decidedly laissez-faire (leave it alone to do as it will). Under the influence of capitalist philosophy American Courts adopted the view that governments should not interfere with businesses by attempting to regulate it. For a long period of history victims of defective and dangerous products could not sue corporations for damages because the guiding principle was caveat emperor (let the buyer beware), and unhealthy and dangerous working conditions in mines, mills and factories were excused under the freedom of contract clause of the constitution  [2]  . Although attitudes in the 20th century changed considerably, crimes of frauds, concealment, and misrepresentation continued to victimize all sorts of groups and individuals in society. Crimes such as these are actions committed during the course of fulfilling the name of corporate profits and growth. Today as corporations have been found to be involved in environmental and health and safety law violations. In the United Kingdom, following several fatal disasters on the rail network and at sea, the term is now also commonly used in reference to corporate manslaughter. In this category would also be included the culpability of Union Carbide in the 1985 accident in Bhopal, India and the current behaviour of the pharmaceutical industry which puts profits ahead of the needs of HIV and other patients worldwide. Yet a third category of corporate crime is State-corporate crime. In a globalized world where States negotiate and conclude agreements with corporations and other international part ies or bodies, opportunities will arise for unjust enrichment and national laws will be broken. The Enron Scandal: The first major scandal of the first decade of 21st century is that Enron Corporation, which has been called one of the most intricate pieces of financial chicanery in history and for investors in its stock and its employees. The Enron sandal did tremendous damage to the company created a crisis of investors confidence the links of which has been seen since the great depression. Enron was a $100 billion corporate empire that had more then 200,000 employees in 40 countries and controlled about one quarter of all trading in natural gas and electricity in the United Status. The company poured millions of dollars into political campaign and lobbyists arguing of further deregulation of energy markets. The Enron hierarchy expected the never-ending innovation and growth from its executive to feed this monster enterprise. In response executives created imaginary markets, paper partnerships and phantom growth that enabled them to report profits that did not exist and to hide debts hat did. Executives were accomplished at cooking the financial books in many ingenious ways, which kept Enrons stock prices rising and thus their own compensation. Because much of the competition received by Enrons executives was stock based, they had major incentives to make the company look as good as possible to investors by reporting high profits. Indian Scenario There are a number of corporate crimes that have come into light now days. One of the major havoc that is created in present times is because of mysterious disappearance of corporations. Of the 5,651 companies listed on Bombay Stock exchange, 2750 have vanished. It means that one out of two companies that come to the stock exchange to raise crores of rupees from investors loot and run away. Even big names like Home Trade came up with huge publicity stunts but after raising money, vanished into the thin air. About 11 million investors have invested Rs. 10,000 crore in these 2750 companies. We have Securities Exchange Board of India, Reserve Bank of India and Department of Companies Affairs to monitor the stock exchange transactions but none has documented the whereabouts of these 2750 odd companies suspended from the stock exchange. Many of the promoters and merchant bankers who are responsible for these are roaming scotfree Court in Assistant Commissioner, Assessment-ll, Banglore Ors. v. Velliappa Textiles Ltd Anr  [3]  . took the view that since an artificial person like a company could not be physically punished to a term of imprisonment, such a section, which makes it mandatory to impose minimum term of imprisonment, cannot apply to the case of artificial person. However, Supreme Court in 2005 in Standard Charted Bank v. Directorate Of Enforcement  [4]  in majority decision of 3:2 expressly overruled the Velliapa Textiles case  [5]  on this issue. K.J Balkrishanan J. in majority opinion held We hold that there is no immunity to the companies from prosecution merely because the prosecution is in respect of offences for which punishment prescribed is mandatory imprisonment. We overrule the views expressed by the majority in Velliappa Textiles on this point There is a severe need to fight this evil of corporate crime As has been belatedly recognized in many jurisdictions, corporate crime causes far greater damage than violent street crimes. It therefore deserves more attention from the law enforcement community. According to the FBIs 2001 report, the United States reportedly lost USD17.2 billion from robbery, burglary, theft and motor-vehicle theft while the Enron fiasco alone cost investors, pensioners and employees more than three times that amount. The United Kingdom estimates that in 2004,  £78 million (USD139 million) was lost to healthcare fraud, a reduction from  £171 million (USD305 million) in 1999. In 2004, Transparency International estimated that at least USD400 billion was lost per year worldwide due to bribery in government procurement alone. However due to the scarcity of consolidated and structured statistics on corporate crime, it is impossible to determine the overall cost of corporate crime to national economies worldwide. WHERE DOES CORPORATE CRIME LIES In the Administration Improvement Act (AIA) of 1979 the U.S. Congress defined whitecollar crime as an illegal act or series of illegal acts committed by non-physical means and by concealment or guile, to obtain money or property or to obtain business or personal advantage.  [6]   But still the sworn hang by this fact that the term corporate crime is used where the offence is committed by a corporation, usually to benefit the corporation while the term white collar crime is used where the offence is committed against a corporation, usually by its own executives or employees and the corporation is the victim. As it is stated above that corporate crimes are some or how different from white-collar crimes but still in an arena Corporate crime overlaps with organized crimes and state corporate crimes along with white-collar crime à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ White-collar crime: Because the majority of individuals who may act as or represent the interests of the corporation are employees or professionals of a higher social class; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Organized crime: Because criminals can set up corporations either for the purposes of crime or as vehicles for laundering the proceeds of crime. Organized crime has become a branch of big business and is simply the illegal sector of capital. It has been estimated that, by the middle of the 1990s, the gross criminal product of organized crime made it the twentieth richest organization in the world richer than 150 sovereign states (Castells 1998: 169). The worlds gross criminal product has been estimated at 20 percent of world trade. (de Brie 2000); and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ State-corporate crime :Because, in many contexts, the opportunity to commit crime emerges from the relationship between the corporation and the state. Corporate crime encompasses embezzlement (also known as criminal breach of trust in some countries), fraud, corruption, insider trading, unfair competition, healthcare fraud, computer crime, forgery and tax evasion. The central element of these crimes being cheating and dishonesty However, it also goes beyond these traditional boundaries.  [7]   Corporate environmental crimes The term corporate environmental crime, which may be defined as any environmental crime that has been committed by any corporate body .the importance of the inquiry was to hear from a range of corporate bodies and their representatives on the present environmental criminal justice system, while at the same time recognising that an environmental sentence for a corporate body is at present limited to fine .the reason for commiting corporate environmental crimes are also varied. The crime may occur because the business concerned is ignorant of its environmental obligations. It may also occur all too often as a result of negligent behaviour ,for example ,where business are poorly managed ,staff are inadequately trained or equipment and infrastructure has not been maintained to the required standard ,allowing a pollution incident to occur. But perhaps the most depressing cause is when corporate environmental crime is the result of a deliberate and intentional illegal act ,a decision taken in the full knowledge that the act is illegal and will result in environmental crime. In our paper our main concern would be corporate environmental crimes in which we will mainly concern about the worlds worst industrial disaster and a heinous corporate crime; the leakage methyl isocyanides (MIC) and other poisonous gases from Union Carbides Bhopal, India, pesticide factory on December 3rd, 1984.which killed 8000 people in first three days and poisoned more than 500000 people and at least 120000 people remain chronically ill and also 30 people die each month from long term effect of gases even today  [8]   The question would be arisen in your mind that why we choose Bhopal disaster as specific topic for our research and view. There are several reasons behind this ; it is only matter of time before the world is shocked and sickened by another Bhopal type industrial diasater .this is because the global economic forces that led union carbide to build and operate its ill fated factory in Bhopal have not gone away they have only become stronger. The fact tha after 20 years of the Bhopal disaster ,survivors are forced to drink poisoned water ,contaminated by stockpiles of abandoned chemicals ,clearly reflects the apathy towards communities and the environment. The lessons of Bhopal are still waiting to be learened. In fact, a 1000 Bhopals are happening in slow motion across india destroying the environmental and poisoning people with impunity. Environmental disasters , both chronic and immediate , induced by irresponsible corporate practices are becoming more frequent. Transnational corporations have learned to downplay damage ,and focus attention and liability on the local company to elude full criminal and civil liability. Bhopal corporate environmental crime Being the most worst industrial disaster itself fulfil the need to concern about it.the brutality of the incident can be fairly stated by a comment given by a Bhopal resident that Mothers didnt know their children had died ,children didnt know their mothers had died and men didnt know their whole families has died   [9]  simply after the unpleasant incident people said that We were choking and our eyes were burning. We could barely see the road through the fog, and sirens were blaring.We didnt know which way to run. Everybody was very confused  [10]  .before the occurrence Opposition legislators raised the issue in the State Assembly and the clamour surrounding these incidents culminated in a 1983 motion that urged the state government to force the company to relocate the plant to a less-populated area. Starting in 1982, a local journalist named Rajkumar Keswani had frantically tried to warn people of the dangers posed by the facility. In September of 1982, he wrote an articl e entitled Please Save this City. Other articles, written later, bore grimly prophetic titles such as Bhopal Sitting on Top of a Volcano and If You Do Not Understand This You Will Be Wiped Out. Just five months before the tragedy, he wrote his final article: Bhopal on the Brink of a Disaster. Yet when the Independent speaks of rape, the Guardian of disgrace and Jon Snow of a crime against humanity, they are not talking about THAT NIGHT but of what has happened since to those who survived it. Today, 25 years after the disaster, Bhopal remains a humanitarian disaster. Their breathless bodies no longer able to push handcarts and lift heavy loads, thousands have fallen into destitution and their families have learned the lessons of the abyss, binding cloths round their middles to give an illusion of fullness, giving children unable to sleep from hunger water to fill their empty bellies.  [11]   In the midst of this clamour, in May 1982, Union Carbide sent a team of U.S. experts to inspect the Bhopal plant as part of its periodic safety audits. This report, which was forwarded to Union Carbides management in the United States, speaks unequivocally of a potential for the release of toxic materials and a consequent runaway reaction due to equipment failure, operating problems, or maintenance problems. In fact, the report goes on to state rather specifically: Deficiencies in safety valve and instrument maintenance programs. Filter cleaning operations are performed without slip blinding process. Leaking valves could create serious exposure during this process. In its report, the safety audit team noted a total of 61 hazards, 30 of them major and 11 in the dangerous phosgene/MIC units. It had warned of a higher potential for a serious incident or more serious consequences if an accident should occur. Though the report was available to senior U.S. officials of the company, nothing was done  [12]  . In fact, according to Carbides internal documents, a major cost-cutting effort (including a reduction of 335 men) was undertaken in 1983, saving the company $1.25 million that year DOWs liability under corporate crimes Liabilty which is related to the 1984 Bhopal disaster was originally filed in 1987, and reinstated in 1991. Both Warren Anderson, the former CEO of Union Carbide, and the Union Carbide Corporation itself face criminal charges in India of culpable homicide (or manslaughter). Both Anderson and Carbide have repeatedly ignored summons to appear in India for trial, and are officially considered absconders (fugitives from justice) by the Indian Government. While Anderson, if extradited and convicted, would face ten years in prison, Carbide faces a fine which has no upper limit. Along with above mentioned liability DOW also owes environmental liability because keen to distance itself from disaster Union Carbide fled India leaving behind tons of toxic wastes strewn in and around the factory site. According to former workers of the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, while the factory was in operation, massive amounts of chemicals including pesticides, solvents, catalysts and wastes were routinely dumped in and around the factory grounds. These include deadly substances such as aldicarb, carbaryl, mercury, and several chlorinated chemicals and organic poisons. In 1977, Carbide constructed Solar Evaporation Ponds (SEPs) over 14 hectares 400 meters north of its factory. Toxic effluents and toxic wastes were routinely dumped there. Two tube wells dug in the vicinity of the SEPs were abandoned because of the noxious smell and taste of the water. Environmental criminal liability of DOW and Union Carbide A preliminary study of soil and groundwater pollution inside the plant, conducted in 1989 by Carbide, found plenty to be worried about. Some water samples produced a 100% death rate among fish placed in them. Nevertheless Carbide issued no warning. An internal memo refers to the need for secrecy, suggesting that the information should be kept for our own understanding. Not only did it fail to warn people living nearby, it vociferously denied that there was a problem and, incredibly, wrote to the Gas Relief Minister criticizing those who were trying to make people aware of the danger, suggesting that they were mischievous agitators. Carbide in the US meanwhile tried to portray Bhopal activists and their supporters ascommunists who aimed to restructure US society into something unrecognizable and probably unworkable. Carbide and Dow later relied on a report from a government organization called NEERI  [13]  which in 1997 published a report which found that water outside the factory was not contaminated. Consultant Arthur D Little had beenappointed in 1989 by Union Carbide US to work privately with NEERI. ADL believed itself to be working with UCC in Danbury, but all reference to UCC was to be deleted. ADL was to pretend to be working with UCIL alone. But a memo of 1993 shows the US Carbide executives in the driving seat. ADL eventually reported back to Carbide suggesting that NEERI had failed to find contamination because its sampling methods were flawed. In particular ADL suggested it was imprudent to claim that local water was safe for drinking and warned that groundwater contamination could happen far more swiftly and seriously than envisaged. ADL was unclear at one point as to whether NEERI was claiming that labourers were or were not exposed to contaminated groundwater. ADLs suggested ch anges ran to 17 pages, but none of them were incorporated in NEERIs published report, which is what Dow and Carbide still quote, knowing it to be worthless. Carbides own documents reveal that they knew for decades that their disposal practices in Bhopal were leading to massive contamination of the soil and groundwater, and that their sole concern was how to evade responsibility and cover it up. At last we would like to conclude about their liabilities by sayingthat the disaster was caused because Union Carbide had under-invested in an inherently hazardous facility located in a crowded neighborhood, used admittedly unproven designs, stored lethal MIC in reckless quantities, dismantled safety systems and cut down on safety staff and training in an effort to cut costs  [14]   The severity is not hidden now so further we would like to suggest 10 Bhopal principles on corporate liability  [15]  We have chosen to call them the Bhopal Principles because this disaster, more than any other, highlights the current failure of governments to protect public welfare and the failure of corporations to observe basic standards e.g. the avoidance of liability by parent corporations, and the avoidance of responsibility for compensation and environmental cleanup. And further question would is there any need for this kind of principles than we say yes why not because At the Johannesburg Earth Summit, Government looked at what has and has not been done to implement the Rio commitments. The Bhopal case shows that it is important to hold corporations liable and to provide compensation for victims of pollution and other environmental damage, that responsibility for liability and cleanup should be enforceable not only against the local corporate entity, but also against the multinational parent. The Ten Bhopal Principles on Corporate Accountability Implement Rio Principle 13. States shall as a matter of priority enter into negotiations for a legal international instrument, and adopt national laws to operationalise and implement Principle 13 of the Rio Declaration, to address liability and Compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. Extend Corporate Liability. Corporations must be held strictly liable without requirement of fault for any and all damage arising from any of their activities that cause Environmental or property damage or personal injury, including site remediation. Parent companies as well as subsidiaries and affiliated local corporations must be held liable for compensation and restitution. Corporations must bear cradle to grave responsibility for manufactured products. States must implement individual liability for directors and officers for actions or omissions of the corporation, including for those of subsidiaries. Ensure Corporate Liability for Damage beyond National Jurisdictions. States shall ensure that corporations are liable for injury to persons and damage to property, biological diversity and the environment beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, and to the global commons such as atmosphere and oceans. Liability must include responsibility for environmental cleanup and restoration. Protect Human rights. Economic activity shall not infringe upon basic human and social rights. States have the responsibility to safeguard the basic human and social rights of citizens, in particular the right to life; the right to safe and healthy working conditions; the right to a safe and healthy environment; the right to medical treatment and to compensation for injury and damage; the right to information and the right of access to justice by individuals and by groups promoting these rights. Corporations must respect and uphold these rights. States must ensure effective compliance by all corporations of these rights and provide for legal implementation and enforcement. Provide for Public Participation and the Right to Know. States shall require companies routinely to disclose to the public all information concerning releases to the environment from their respective facilities as well as product composition. Commercial confidentiality must not outweigh the interest of the public to know the dangers and liabilities associated with corporate outputs, whether in the form of pollution by-products or the product itself. Once a product enters the public domain there should be no restrictions on public access to information relevant to environment and health on the basis of commercial secrecy. Corporate responsibility and accountability shall be promoted through environmental management accounting and environmental reporting which gives a clear, comprehensive and public report of environmental and social impacts of corporate activities. Adhere to the Highest Standards. States shall ensure that corporations adhere to the highest standards for protecting basic human and social rights including health and the environment. Consistent with Rio Declaration Principle 14, States shall not permit multinational corporations to deliberately apply lower standards of operation and safety in places where health and environmental protection regimes, or their implementation, are weaker. Avoid Excessive Corporate Influence over Governance. States shall co-operate to combat bribery in all its forms, promote transparent political financing mechanisms and eliminate corporate influence on public policy through election campaign contributions, and/or non-transparent corporate-led lobby practices. Protect Food Sovereignty over Corporations. States shall ensure that individual States and their people maintain sovereignty over their own food supply, including through laws and measures to prevent genetic pollution of agricultural biological diversity by genetically engineered organisms and to prevent the patenting of genetic resources by corporations. Implement the Precautionary Principle and Require Environmental Impact Assessments. States shall fully implement the Precautionary Principle in national and international law. Accordingly, States shall require corporations to take preventative action before environmental damage or heath effects are incurred, when there is a threat of serious or irreversible harm to the environment or health from an activity, a practice or a product. Governments shall require companies to undertake environmental impact assessments with public participation for activities that may cause significant adverse environmental impacts. Promote Clean and Sustainable Development. States shall promote clean and sustainable development, and shall establish national legislation to phase out the use, discharge and emission of hazardous substances and greenhouse gases, and other sources of pollution, to use their resources in a sustainable manner, and to conserve their biological diversity. HOW TO HANDLE AND CONTROL CORPORATE CRIMES There are many ways for law enforcement authorities to combat corporate crime. Firstly, prevention. This can be achieved by encouraging awareness of the moral compass within corporations and among their employees and the promotion of self-regulation. This should be complemented by an effective corporate oversight regime through internal compliance programmes as well as regulation by the Companies Commission and Securities Commissions or its equivalent. For the latter purpose, it will be necessary to put in place effective laws and regulations in a timely manner. In turn, these laws will also have to be actively enforced by well-trained law enforcement agencies and prosecutors if they are to be a realistic deterrent. In this regard it is noted that although sustained enforcement against corporate crime is required as a strong deterrent and to maintain public confidence in the financial markets, enforcement should be seen as a measure to augment internal vigilance and not as a substitu te for it. Thus corporations must also play their role as responsible corporate citizens in the national and global communities. With regard to the investigation and prosecution of corporate crimes with a transnational flavour, be it through the multinational nature of the corporation or the elements of the crime, the importance of international cooperation to gather evidence and recover the ill-gotten gains cannot be overstated. States should therefore put in place a comprehensive domestic legal framework that includes laws to criminalize the relevant criminal acts and impose corporate and individual liability for them. Another crucial element will be effective whistleblower and witness protection laws. A network of bilateral and regional treaties on mutual assistance in criminal matters and extradition together with bilateral treaties on asset sharing is also indispensable. These instruments would complement the stand-alone framework provided under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Convention against Corruption. In this regard, countries in the ASEAN region are also able to utilize the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters which was concluded in November 2004 among the ten like-minded ASEAN Member States and is currently in force among Brunei, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. Suggestions from our side Amendment to section 62 of the Indian penal code by adding the following lines: In every case in which the offence is only punishable with imprisonment or imprisonment and fine and the offender is the company or other body corporate or an association of individuals, it shall be competent to the court to sentence such offender to fine only. In many of the acts relating to economic offences, imprisonment is mandatory. Where the convicted person is corporation, this provision becomes unworkable and it is desirable to provide that in such cases, it shall be competent to

African American Discrimination in the United States Essay -- American

African American Discrimination in the United States NO! NO? This is the word most often heard by African Americans throughout our vivid history. Although at one time we were a majority of judgment and unfair discrimination, it is now more than likely safe to say, white or black, we are proud to be Americans. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird she elucidates what it was like, during the 1930s, to live in a small town who often put judgment before thought. When thinking of discrimination the words unfair, segregation, and prejudice all come to mind. And why we ask ourselves, because someone or something is DIFFERENT. Is that really how our world should think? Should we separate ourselves into groups depending on our differences? This is a question that many white Americans neglect to ask themselves. According to statistics, African Americans make up approximately thirteen percent of the world’s population, with nearly ten million of them in poverty. A large part of black discrimination is due to white racism. Black is automatically seen as opposite of white and therefore seen as different. It is known that black skin stands out more than tan or white skin, which may be the reason why African Americans are the most segregated minority group in the U.S. society (faculty). Black Americans first received freedom from slavery in 1865, and the right to vote in 1870, when the 15th Amendment was established. Why then were they still discriminated against and not truly given the right to vote until 1964, when the Civil Rights Act was passed. To this there may not be an answer (Lieda). In 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed stating that: â€Å"All persons should be entitled to the full and equal enjoym... ...vantage of a young white woman when posed with the opportunity (Lee). This can be very misleading and inaccurate when it comes down to the innocence of a black man. That is in no way civil to all men if that is the way our justice system works in the U.S. today. When compared to how the way things were in the 1930s, it can easily be seen that our society has come a long way and such assumptions are not usually made. When one looks back through the piles of history our country has made it is easily visible that the world today is much different than it was years ago. Many obstacles have been thrown our way but it seems that each one of them was overcome with the strength and hope many of our people have. Remember different does not necessarily mean wrong. We as a whole have fought a long hard battle to bring us where we stand today, a nation united as one.

Substance Abuse: Driving Under the Influence

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 16,694 people died in 2004 in alcohol and drug related traffic collisions, representing 40% of all traffic related deaths in the United States. (â€Å"2004 Traffic Safety†¦Ã¢â‚¬  2005) In addition about half of the one million people injured in road accidents were also due to driving under the influence (DUI). These are startling statistics, which underscore the enormity of the problem posed by the vast number of people who drive while intoxicated. Another point of concern regarding drunk driving or DUI is that repeat or hardcore offenders are the cause of a large proportion of traffic accidents with one out of eight intoxicated drivers in fatal crashes having had a prior DUI/DWI conviction within the past three years. (Pena, 2005) As a result, a number of programs have sprung up around the country seeking to rehabilitate the repeat DUI offenders through education, counseling, and treatment. The laws against DUI and rehab programs have resulted in a gradual but steady decline in fatalities from drunk driving since the 1980s. In this essay, I shall focus on such programs that seek to address the problem of DUI, particularly programs for the chronic and repeat offenders. The laws and penalties against driving while intoxicated have been made stricter in the US since the 1970s. The drinking age has also been uniformly raised to 21 years, while it was 18 in several states prior to the 1980s.1 Currently, driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal offense in most jurisdictions within the United States.2 The punishment for DUI includes jail terms, monetary fines, mandatory DUI programs, and confiscation of driver's license for repeated offenders. Some states even treat DUI as a felony under certain circumstances such as the presence of a very high blood alcohol content (BAC), the severity of the accident caused by the drunk driver, or in cases where the driver is a repeat offender. (â€Å"Drunk Driving-United States† 2005) In case of alcohol consumption, most states laws have designated the legal limit of blood alcohol content (BAC) for drunk driving at 0.08 (i.e., 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood). In cases of driving under the influence of prescription medication or illicit drugs there is no â€Å"per se† or legal limit. Instead, in cases of driving under the influence of drugs other than alcohol, the key factor is whether the driver's faculties were impaired by the substance that was consumed. Due to this reason, the detection and successful prosecution of drivers impaired by prescription medication or illegal drugs is difficult. Besides performing a chemical test (blood, urine, or breath analysis) in order to determine the BAC of the offender, a law enforcing officer may also administer a Field Sobriety Test (FST) on a suspect driver. There are certain standardized FSTs such as the â€Å"Walk and Turn† test, the â€Å"One-leg Stand† and â€Å"Horizontal Gaze Test,† which can reliably determine the level of impairment of an intoxicated driver. (Ibid.) The Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) enacted in 1998 encourages States to enact Repeat Intoxicated Driver laws providing for minimum penalty for repeat offenders such as: a)Suspension of driver's license for not less than one year b)Impoundment, immobilization, or installation of ignition interlock system on vehicles c)An assessment of the individual's degree of abuse of alcohol and treatment as appropriate d)Not less than 30 days community service or 5 days of imprisonment for 2nd offense and not less than 60 days community service or 10 days of imprisonment for 3rd and subsequent offense. (â€Å"Minimum Penalties for Repeat offenders† n.d.) As mentioned in the introduction, there are a number of DUI programs in the United States that seek to control the menace of drunk driving through education, counseling and treatment of the offenders. Some of these programs are described below: California's Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program: California was among the first states in the US (along with New York) to introduce laws pertaining to drunk driving. It has also introduced an effective DUI Program, which is governed by legislation enacted in 1978. The State has a system in place that determines the need for DUI program services, licenses DUI programs, establishes regulations, approves participant fees and fee schedules, and provides DUI information. A person convicted of a first DUI offense are required to complete a state-licensed three-month, 30-hour alcohol and drug education and counseling program. Drivers detected with a blood alcohol content of 0.20 or higher must complete a state-licensed sixmonth, 45-hour alcohol and drug education and counseling program. These programs are designed to enable participants to consider attitudes and behavior, support positive lifestyle changes, and reduce or eliminate the use of alcohol and/or drugs. (â€Å"An Overview of California's†¦Ã¢â‚¬  2004) Repeat DUI offenders (second and subsequent DUI convictions) must complete an 18-month multiple offender program. Such programs provide 52 hours of group counseling; 12 hours of alcohol and drug education; 6 hours of community reentry monitoring; and biweekly individual interviews during the first 12 months of the program. A county in California may elect to provide 30-month DUI programs for third and subsequent DUI offenders, which provide longer periods of counselling, education, and community service, i.e., 78 hours of group counseling; 12 hours of alcohol and drug education; 120-300 hours of community service; and close and regular individual interviews. Presently, such services are available in Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties. (â€Å"An Overview of California's†¦Ã¢â‚¬  2004) The California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs (â€Å"CADDTP†) has been formed to help promote understanding of, and improve the role of the DUI programs in California. Most people agree that California's DUI program network is â€Å"the most inclusive, structured, and complex† and its entire programs are self-supporting through fees paid by participants. They have caused DUI arrests and alcohol-related fatalities to decline steadily in the last two decades when it was introduced. (â€Å"California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs† n.d.) Drug Courts for DUI: An American Council on Alcoholism (ACA) Program: In collaboration with the National Association for Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD), the American Council on Alcoholism Program (ACAP) seeks to promote and establish courts that focus on alcoholism treatment for drunk driving offenders. This is because ACA believes that the root cause of the drunk driving problem is alcohol abuse and alcoholism and unless we address the root problem of alcoholism, we will not be able to solve the problem of drunk driving. The ACA also believes that traditional means of prevention have had little or no effect on â€Å"hard core† drunk drivers or repeat offenders; therefore it is working for the application of the highly successful drug courts model to cure hardcore drunk drivers of their alcoholism. Drug Court Programs have been found to be highly successful in rehabilitating repeat and hardcore DUI offenders. Recidivism rate in such programs is remarkably low (about 11% v 60% for most other programs). A unique feature of Drug Court is the direct involvement of the judge in the treatment process who remains in direct contact with the defendant and engages in frequent discussion of the progress. The frequent contact between the judge and the defendant creates a paternal-like relationship between them and the judge is able to give positive reinforcement, issue instant reprimands or order incarceration for up to 30 days as the situation demands. (Kavanaugh, 2003). An example of a successful DUI Drug Court Program is the Butte County Revia Project started in 1996 for repeat drinking drivers. The key to this model of treatment is the use of ReVia (generic name: naltrexone) for weaning the repeat DUI offenders from their alcohol dependence. (â€Å"Butt County Revia Project,† 2003) The Century Council3 created The National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project in 1997 in order to coordinate efforts directed towards deterrence of hardcore drunk drivers who habitually drive while highly intoxicated. The Council's main aim is to call attention to the serious nature of the crime of drunk driving and to provide the needed framework in order to close loopholes in existing laws and programs, enact needed legislation, and ensure that the responsible agencies and organizations work together effectively to address the problem. The Council stresses that successful DUI programs for repeat and hardcore offenders should be based on swift identification, certain punishment and effective treatment. It conducts research on DUI and has published a comprehensive source book on the topic, which provides up-to-date data to assist legislators, highway safety officials, law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, community activists, corrections personnel, and treatment professionals in developing programs to reduce hardcore drunk driving. (â€Å"National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project† 2003) There are a number of other organizations in the US as well as many other countries that are engaged in conducting programs for the treatment of chronic and repeat DUI offenders. These include the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)-a support group of alcoholics that seeks to cure alcohol addicts from their addiction through a twelve-step process; the Al-Anon/ Al-Ateen Family Groups–a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope, in order to solve their common problems.4 The Al-Anon programs are based on the belief that alcoholism is a family illness, and that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Convicted DUI offenders can be sent to jail and fined, particularly in case of repeat offenders. Other alternatives to jail sentence, apart from the DUI Programs for rehabilitation that were discussed in the preceding paragraphs are: Electronic Monitoring (wearing of an ankle bracelet that monitors the whereabouts of the wearer); Work Release-the convicted person works at a place determined by the Probation Department and goes home to sleep; Work Furlough-an arrangement in which the participant keeps his job but returns to a dormitory style facility at night; and City Jail-operated by the local police where the participants spend the night but are released during the day. (â€Å"Jail Alternatives† 2005) Most DUI laws are aimed at deterring driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. One way of deterring DUI offenses is by making policies and laws that change the drivers' attitude towards DUI and by altering their perceptions of the likely consequences as a result of DUI behavior. (Greenburg et al, 2004). Such anti-DUI laws could be enacted and public information campaigns launched that enhance a driver's perception of â€Å"the certainty, swiftness and severity of prosecution† for drunk-driving offenses, or by increasing awareness of the physical dangers associated with driving while intoxicated (Ibid.) Some experts believe that the â€Å"moral component† of the laws is much more important than the â€Å"fear factor† of apprehension and punishment in the long-term control of drunk driving. This is mainly because the likelihood of detection for DUI offenders is very low or uncertain. According to a study quoted by Robin, â€Å"On any given outing, an intoxicated driver has less than a 1-in-1000 chance of being apprehended by the police.† (Robin 1991) Tough laws against drunken driving have a moral aspect that gradually develop a culture in a society that is intolerant of DUI regardless of the perceived legal risks to the driver involved. Hence, DUI laws are more likely to achieve their objective of controlling drunk driving if we emphasize the morality of the law rather than expect the hardcore violators to be deterred by the fear of getting caught. Despite a steady decline in the number of accidents and fatalities due to driving under the influence (DUI) in the US since the 1980s, the numbers are still unacceptably high. It is even more alarming that a large proportion of these accidents are caused by repeat offenders or hard core drinkers. As discussed in this paper, measures taken to control DUI range from stricter punishment to rehabilitation programs aimed at changing the behavior of chronic DUI offenders. Some of these programs have contributed significantly in reducing DUI offenses. However, a sustained, coordinated, and long-term effort is required for further reduction in DUI cases. Substance Abuse: Driving Under the Influence According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 16,694 people died in 2004 in alcohol and drug related traffic collisions, representing 40% of all traffic related deaths in the United States. (â€Å"2004 Traffic Safety†¦ † 2005) In addition about half of the one million people injured in road accidents were also due to driving under the influence (DUI). These are startling statistics, which underscore the enormity of the problem posed by the vast number of people who drive while intoxicated. Another point of concern regarding drunk driving or DUI is that repeat or hardcore offenders are the cause of a large proportion of traffic accidents with one out of eight intoxicated drivers in fatal crashes having had a prior DUI/DWI conviction within the past three years. (Pena, 2005) As a result, a number of programs have sprung up around the country seeking to rehabilitate the repeat DUI offenders through education, counseling, and treatment. The laws against DUI and rehab programs have resulted in a gradual but steady decline in fatalities from drunk driving since the 1980s. In this essay, I shall focus on such programs that seek to address the problem of DUI, particularly programs for the chronic and repeat offenders. The laws and penalties against driving while intoxicated have been made stricter in the US since the 1970s. The drinking age has also been uniformly raised to 21 years, while it was 18 in several states prior to the 1980s. 1 Currently, driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence (DUI) is a criminal offense in most jurisdictions within the United States. The punishment for DUI includes jail terms, monetary fines, mandatory DUI programs, and confiscation of driver's license for repeated offenders. Some states even treat DUI as a felony under certain circumstances such as the presence of a very high blood alcohol content (BAC), the severity of the accident caused by the drunk driver, or in cases where the driver is a repeat offender. (â€Å"Drunk Driving-United States† 2005) In case of alcohol consumption, most states laws have designated the legal limit of blood alcohol content (BAC) for drunk driving at 0. 08 (i. e. , 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood). In cases of driving under the influence of prescription medication or illicit drugs there is no â€Å"per se† or legal limit. Instead, in cases of driving under the influence of drugs other than alcohol, the key factor is whether the driver's faculties were impaired by the substance that was consumed. Due to this reason, the detection and successful prosecution of drivers impaired by prescription medication or illegal drugs is difficult. Besides performing a chemical test (blood, urine, or breath analysis) in order to determine the BAC of the offender, a law enforcing officer may also administer a Field Sobriety Test (FST) on a suspect driver. There are certain standardized FSTs such as the â€Å"Walk and Turn† test, the â€Å"One-leg Stand† and â€Å"Horizontal Gaze Test,† which can reliably determine the level of impairment of an intoxicated driver. (Ibid. ) The Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) enacted in 1998 encourages States to enact Repeat Intoxicated Driver laws providing for minimum penalty for repeat offenders such as: a)Suspension of driver's license for not less than one year b)Impoundment, immobilization, or installation of ignition interlock system on vehicles )An assessment of the individual's degree of abuse of alcohol and treatment as appropriate d)Not less than 30 days community service or 5 days of imprisonment for 2nd offense and not less than 60 days community service or 10 days of imprisonment for 3rd and subsequent offense. (â€Å"Minimum Penalties for Repeat offenders† n. d. ) As mentioned in the introduction, there are a number of DUI programs in the United States that seek to control the menace of drunk driving through education, counseling and treatment of the offenders. Some of these programs are described below: California's Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program: California was among the first states in the US (along with New York) to introduce laws pertaining to drunk driving. It has also introduced an effective DUI Program, which is governed by legislation enacted in 1978. The State has a system in place that determines the need for DUI program services, licenses DUI programs, establishes regulations, approves participant fees and fee schedules, and provides DUI information. A person convicted of a first DUI offense are required to complete a state-licensed three-month, 30-hour alcohol and drug education and counseling program. Drivers detected with a blood alcohol content of 0. 20 or higher must complete a state-licensed sixmonth, 45-hour alcohol and drug education and counseling program. These programs are designed to enable participants to consider attitudes and behavior, support positive lifestyle changes, and reduce or eliminate the use of alcohol and/or drugs. (â€Å"An Overview of California's†¦ 2004) Repeat DUI offenders (second and subsequent DUI convictions) must complete an 18-month multiple offender program. Such programs provide 52 hours of group counseling; 12 hours of alcohol and drug education; 6 hours of community reentry monitoring; and biweekly individual interviews during the first 12 months of the program. A county in California may elect to provide 30-month DUI programs for third and subsequent DUI offenders, which provide longer periods of counselling, education, and community service, i. e. 78 hours of group counseling; 12 hours of alcohol and drug education; 120-300 hours of community service; and close and regular individual interviews. Presently, such services are available in Los Angeles and San Francisco Counties. (â€Å"An Overview of California's†¦ † 2004) The California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs (â€Å"CADDTP†) has been formed to help promote understanding of, and improve the role of the DUI programs in California. Most people agree that California's DUI program network is â€Å"the most inclusive, structured, and complex† and its entire programs are self-supporting through fees paid by participants. They have caused DUI arrests and alcohol-related fatalities to decline steadily in the last two decades when it was introduced. (â€Å"California Association of Drinking Driver Treatment Programs† n. d. ) Drug Courts for DUI: An American Council on Alcoholism (ACA) Program: In collaboration with the National Association for Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and the National Commission Against Drunk Driving (NCADD), the American Council on Alcoholism Program (ACAP) seeks to promote and establish courts that focus on alcoholism treatment for drunk driving offenders. This is because ACA believes that the root cause of the drunk driving problem is alcohol abuse and alcoholism and unless we address the root problem of alcoholism, we will not be able to solve the problem of drunk driving. The ACA also believes that traditional means of prevention have had little or no effect on â€Å"hard core† drunk drivers or repeat offenders; therefore it is working for the application of the highly successful drug courts model to cure hardcore drunk drivers of their alcoholism. Drug Court Programs have been found to be highly successful in rehabilitating repeat and hardcore DUI offenders. Recidivism rate in such programs is remarkably low (about 11% v 60% for most other programs). A unique feature of Drug Court is the direct involvement of the judge in the treatment process who remains in direct contact with the defendant and engages in frequent discussion of the progress. The frequent contact between the judge and the defendant creates a paternal-like relationship between them and the judge is able to give positive reinforcement, issue instant reprimands or order incarceration for up to 30 days as the situation demands. An example of a successful DUI Drug Court Program is the Butte County Revia Project started in 1996 for repeat drinking drivers. The key to this model of treatment is the use of ReVia (generic name: naltrexone) for weaning the repeat DUI offenders from their alcohol dependence. (â€Å"Butt County Revia Project,† 2003) The Century Council3 created The National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project in 1997 in order to coordinate efforts directed towards deterrence of hardcore drunk drivers who habitually drive while highly intoxicated. The Council's main aim is to call attention to the serious nature of the crime of drunk driving and to provide the needed framework in order to close loopholes in existing laws and programs, enact needed legislation, and ensure that the responsible agencies and organizations work together effectively to address the problem. The Council stresses that successful DUI programs for repeat and hardcore offenders should be based on swift identification, certain punishment and effective treatment. It conducts research on DUI and has published a comprehensive source book on the topic, which provides up-to-date data to assist legislators, highway safety officials, law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, community activists, corrections personnel, and treatment professionals in developing programs to reduce hardcore drunk driving. (â€Å"National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project† 2003) There are a number of other organizations in the US as well as many other countries that are engaged in conducting programs for the treatment of chronic and repeat DUI offenders. These include the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)-a support group of alcoholics that seeks to cure alcohol addicts from their addiction through a twelve-step process; the Al-Anon/ Al-Ateen Family Groups–a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength, and hope, in order to solve their common problems. 4 The Al-Anon programs are based on the belief that alcoholism is a family illness, and that changed attitudes can aid recovery. Convicted DUI offenders can be sent to jail and fined, particularly in case of repeat offenders. Other alternatives to jail sentence, apart from the DUI Programs for rehabilitation that were discussed in the preceding paragraphs are: Electronic Monitoring (wearing of an ankle bracelet that monitors the whereabouts of the wearer); Work Release-the convicted person works at a place determined by the Probation Department and goes home to sleep; Work Furlough-an arrangement in which the participant keeps his job but returns to a dormitory style facility at night; and City Jail-operated by the local police where the participants spend the night but are released during the day. (â€Å"Jail Alternatives† 2005) Most DUI laws are aimed at deterring driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. One way of deterring DUI offenses is by making policies and laws that change the drivers' attitude towards DUI and by altering their perceptions of the likely consequences as a result of DUI behavior. (Greenburg et al, 2004). Such anti-DUI laws could be enacted and public information campaigns launched that enhance a driver's perception of â€Å"the certainty, swiftness and severity of prosecution† for drunk-driving offenses, or by increasing awareness of the physical dangers associated with driving while intoxicated (Ibid. Some experts believe that the â€Å"moral component† of the laws is much more important than the â€Å"fear factor† of apprehension and punishment in the long-term control of drunk driving. This is mainly because the likelihood of detection for DUI offenders is very low or uncertain. According to a study quoted by Robin, â€Å"On any given outing, an intoxicated driver has less than a 1-in-1000 chance of being apprehended by the police. (Robin 1991) Tough laws against drunken driving have a moral aspect that gradually develop a culture in a society that is intolerant of DUI regardless of the perceived legal risks to the driver involved. Hence, DUI laws are more likely to achieve their objective of controlling drunk driving if we emphasize the morality of the law rather than expect the hardcore violators to be deterred by the fear of getting caught. Despite a steady decline in the number of accidents and fatalities due to driving under the influence (DUI) in the US since the 1980s, the numbers are still unacceptably high. It is even more alarming that a large proportion of these accidents are caused by repeat offenders or hard core drinkers. As discussed in this paper, measures taken to control DUI range from stricter punishment to rehabilitation programs aimed at changing the behavior of chronic DUI offenders. Some of these programs have contributed significantly in reducing DUI offenses. However, a sustained, coordinated, and long-term effort is required for further reduction in DUI cases.

Why was Shepherd Wheel successfully built here?

Shepherd Wheel is a water powered grinding workshop located on the River Porter. The site is the earliest industrial building with records going back to the sixteenth century. The grinding workshop was powered by a waterwheel could once house up to ten men grinding blades at the same time. This particular workshop produced edge tools. The key to Shepherd Wheel successfully being built here was that it was built at the right place and at the right time. The workshop relied on local factors and national factors to be run successfully. There are a few local factors in the site itself, such as the River Porter. This river provided a fast, reliable water source from the Peak District. This meant that it was a good source of power all year round. A piece of evidence to prove that this river was a particular constant and reliable one was that it was popular for water wheel powered services because they are workshops built up and down the river. Another local factor to do with the site itself was the L – shaped valley. This made the land easier to build on and was a cheaper way of building because it didn't require excess digging. The steep sides made the river flow faster and the millpond and dam fitted perfectly into the valley floor with no excess digging. A final factor about the site itself is that there is a residential area nearby; Ranmoor. This provided the workshop with workers who became skilled as it was a local job. The quiet, green scenery also encouraged the workers to come to work and increase production. The residential are also provided customers boosting the demand for products and creating a reputation for Shepherd Wheel. Another set of local factors are the resources nearby. For example, wood. There was plentiful supply on the wooded valley slopes for fuel and building. Clay was located by fast flowing rivers, such as the River Loxley and the River Rivelin. It was also located beside the River Porter and was used for lining the millpond to prevent water leaking and a waste of power. Clay also was used to build â€Å"crucible† pots in the Industrial Revolution. Gritstone from the quarries in the Peak District was used for the grinding wheels and maybe used for excess building, such as steps. Another resource was coal nearby. This was located in Eckington, east of Shepherd Wheel. This was used as a key element to make steel. For the other ingredient of steel there was a forge nearby; Forge Dam, which produced Iron for steel. Iron was also located at Eckington. These resources' being so close decreased transport costs and was a constant source of steel for the blades. A final resource was the good transport links. These helped the products to be sent around Sheffield and England to build up a reputation and also to meet growing demands. Shepherd did not only rely on local factors to be built and run successfully in Bingham Park, but also national factors as well. Shepherd Wheel was built in the right place as shown by the local factors and a description of the site, but also at the right time. It was built before the Industrial Revolution but benefited from this time of innovation and inventions immensely. The Industrial Revolution was a time of innovation and inventions. First, the population increased. This provided an increase in workers. It also provided a higher demand for cutlery as there were more people. This lead to production increases and also demands increased. Second, the population started to demand a higher amount of steel products for jobs and personal use. This meant an increase in production, which gained Shepherd Wheel and Sheffield a bigger reputation. Inventions also aided to success of Shepherd Wheel. There were 3 key pioneers of the steel industry were Abraham Darby, Benjamin Huntsman and Henry Bessemer. Abraham Darby found a way to make steel stronger and of a better quality. This lead to production increase and demand increase. This was because the steel was popular, stronger and purer. The steel was produced for personal use, weapons and the basis of other industries. In 1826, Henry Bessemer invented the â€Å"converter† which made up to 20 times more steel. Also he invented the â€Å"Puddling furnace†, which also increased the steels quality. Benjamin Huntsman also helped by inventing â€Å"Crucible Steel Pots† which produced a lot more steel. By this invention Sheffield could now make its own steel and this cut down on transport costs and exportation costs. It also meant that Sheffield could now reach higher demands for steel. Now that Sheffield could specialize in steel, it became well known over the country. Transport was improved to meet demand better and start to export steel globally. This gained Sheffield an enormous reputation and was officially named â€Å"The Steel City†. To conclude, I have proven and explained that Shepherd Wheel relied on local factors and national factors to be built successfully. I believe thanks to the contribution of all these factors Shepherd Wheel was successful. The most important factors were the River Porter and the Industrial Revolution. These two factors fulfilled the theory Shepherd Wheel being built in the right place and at the right time. Thanks to the inventions from the Industrial Revolution pioneers and the layout of the L-shaped valley and surroundings, Shepherd Wheel and in the future Sheffield became a well known and successful place where good quality steel was produced to meet high demands.

Mexican War essays

Mexican War essays The Mexican War by Otis A. Singletary This book by Otis A. Singletary deals with different aspects of the Mexican war. It is a compelling description and concise history of the first successful offensive war in United States military history. The work examines two countries that were unprepared for war. The political intrigues and quarrels in appointing the military commanders, as well as the military operations of the war, are presented and analyzed in detail. The author also analyzes the role that the Mexican War played in bringing on the U.S. Civil War. The Mexican-American War of the 1840s, precipitated by border disputes and the U.S. annexation of Texas, ended with the military occupation of Mexico City by General Winfield Scott. In the subsequent treaty, the United States gained territory that would become California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. Mr. Singletary has been remarkably successful, despite the brevity of his book, in describing with important details the Mexican War. The book can be break into two main parts. The first part gives background which explains different reasons that played a decisive role for the break out of the war, and it relates the different campaigns that allowed the invasion of northern Mexico and the city of Mexico. The second half of the book deals with the way politician and generals behave during the war, and the book ends touching the role played by diplomacy in this war. The book has been organized in chronological order, which gives to the readers the opportunity to follow the events of the war without confusion. But it is not only a mere account of dates and events, because it explains briefly but concisely every decision making before the occurring of battle. The book uses maps and pictures. Maps and pictures are really helpful in visualizing what is being described, and they allow having and idea of how it was during this war. ...

Environmental Perils

Environmental Perils Thomas Friedman, Al Gore, and Mindy Lubber offer analyses of the environmental perils we face at the beginning of the twenty-first century and propose some solutions. In this paper there is going to be comparing and contrasting each of these analyses and solutions that are offered by the three analysts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental Perils specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Considering what is presented by Thomas Friedman, he promises that we should go green. He points out that thinking about how to live and work in a greener fashion – with cleaner electrons, greater energy and resource productivity, and an ethic of conservation, is being popularized and democratized (Friedman 290). According to him, at the present, this is â€Å"no longer an elite issue for those people who live in the West and East coasts or in the backyards of Vermont or Colorado† (Friedman 290). Friedman points out tha t â€Å"it is all about being green and every one is a winner† (Friedman 291). The farmers in the U.S are winners because they are going â€Å"green†. They get to grow ethanol and garner immense government subsidies for doing so even if it makes no real sense as a CO2 reduction strategy. More so, coal companies are going green and they are doing this through renaming themselves â€Å"energy companies† and stressing how sequestration of carbon dioxide will offer us â€Å"clean coal† (Friedman 291). He states that â€Å"in the green revolution we’re having in America today, everybody gets to play, everybody is a winner, nobody gets hurt, and no body has to do anything hard† (Friedman 291). It is pointed out that the most difficult facts are these â€Å"if we sum up the easy, cost-efficiency measures we should all embrace, the best we get is a slowing of the growth of environmental damage †¦ obsessing over recycling and installing a few s pecial light bulbs wont cant it† (Friedman 293).Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More We are supposed to be considering the basic change in our energy, transportation as well as agricultural systems instead of looking at the technological tweaking on the margins, and this implies changes and costs the present and future leaders tend to be afraid to discuss (Friedman 293). Another analyst who talks about the environmental perils is Al Gore. Al Gore who was the 45th Vice President of the United States of American as well as an environmental activist, was the winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace price and this was in recognition of his work â€Å"to build and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such† (Gore 301). In his speech that he presented in the Month of July 20 08, Al Gore called upon people to take the necessary measures to overcome the climate crisis and pointed out that electing President Obama in to office presented a hope of dealing with this problem effectively. According to Al Gore, the world authority on climate crisis, â€Å"the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, after two decades of detailed research and 4 unanimous reports, currently indicates that the evidence is â€Å"unequivocal†. To those people who are still tempted to engage in dismissing the increasingly urgent alarms from scientists all over the world, do not seriously consider the melting of the north polar ice cap and all of the other apocalyptic warning from the earth itself, and â€Å"who role their eyes at the very mention of this existential danger to the future of the human kind are supposed to wake up† (Gore 301). Al Gore, in the speech, raised awareness among people that they should care about the future generations by taking the appropria te measures to protect the future generations against the effects of the climate crisis. Al Gore mentioned that the bold steps that are supposed to be taken in order to deal with the climate crisis are similar steps that are supposed to be taken to deal with the problem of the economic crisis as well as the energy security crisis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Environmental Perils specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There is agreement among the economists that huge and quick investments in a job-intensive infrastructure initiative are the best way to revive the economy in a rapid and sustainable way. A large number of people as well agree that the American economy will fall behind in case the country goes on spending billions of dollars on foreign oil every year. In addition, national security experts in the two parties have come to agree that America faces a dangerous strategic vulnerability in case the world sudden ly loses access to the oil from the Middle East. Al Gore points out that the America’s Automobile industry should be helped to convert quickly to plug-in hybrids which can run on the renewable electricity which will be there as the rest of this plan comes to maturity. He points out that â€Å"in combination with the unified grid, a nationwide fleet of plug-in hybrids would also help to solve the problem of electricity storage†¦..with this sort of grid, cars could be charged during off-peak energy use hours; during peak hours, when fewer cars are on the road, they could contribute their electricity back in to the national grid† (Gore 303). Another measure that is proposed by Al Gore is that there should be embarking on nationwide attempts to retrofit buildings with improved insulation and energy efficient windows and lighting. About 40 percent of the CO2 emissions in the U.S originate from buildings and trying to prevent such pollution saves a lot of money for thos e who own homes and businesses. This measure is supposed to go hand in hand with the proposal in Congress to assist the American people who are overburdened by mortgages that are more than the value of their homes. Al Gore, in his speech, also proposes that the U.S has to be in the lead in regard to putting a price on carbon within the country, and should also take the lead in the global efforts to substitute the Kyoto treaty with a treaty that is more effective which caps global CO2 emissions and gives encouragement to countries to invest together in efficient ways to reduce global warming and pollution rapidly, through such ways as greatly reducing deforestation.Advertising Looking for essay on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Indeed, as pointed out, â€Å"the best way, and possibly the only way, to secure a global agreement to safeguard the future is by re-establishing the U.S as the country with the moral and political authority to lead the world toward a solution† (Gore, 303). In his forecast, Al Gore points out that he has great hopes that Americans will have the courage to embrace the changes that are vital in saving the country’s economy, the earth, and eventually people themselves. Considering Mindy Lubber, she is a former Regional administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He has won international awards for her work on combating climate change. She delivered a speech in the month of October 2008 at a Deutsche Bank conference during the financial downturn that followed the subprime lending crisis. In the speech, she started by point the fact that we are about to leave behind an environment that is imperiled to the future generation. She pointed out that the m ajor problem that is facing the world is global climate change. She blames the society for presenting the claims that it is taking action to deal with the situation but in the actual sense, it is not doing something close to this. The dangers that climate change poses to the profitability of companies are very immense and â€Å"even if we weren’t the â€Å"good guys† who want to save the planet for the planet’s sake our children’s, we had better pay attention as business leaders whose enterprises are at risk† (Lubber 316). She went ahead to point out that people are aware that ignoring the subprime lending disaster led to a stunning financial collapse on Main Street and wall Street. If a similar mistake is made in regard to the climate, the very human survival is put in danger in addition to the capital markets. She draws a conclusion in this regard that it is now time to be attentive and cease to think of climate change as an â€Å"off-trade† balance sheet risk. This is a risk which is supposed to appear on the balance sheet. Since the unchecked carbon emissions will bring about great damage to this world, we have to commit now to â€Å"building long-term shareholder value and creating new high paying jobs that do not revolve around oil and coal† (Lubber 317). She further points out that the near collapse of the America’s economy has got people’s attention and therefore, as one pays attention, there is need to talk about people’s exposure to climate risk, as well as the opportunities which await those that lead on this critical issue. There is need to put in place policies concerning climate change. As an initial step, the government action is required. In order to limit the climate change impacts, there is need to reduce global warming pollution by a minimum of 25 percent by the year 2020 and by 80 percent by the year 2050. The only way through which this can be realized is by putting in p lace strong government policies that set the compulsory limits of CO2 emissions, which implies placing a price on carbon emissions. Thomas Friedman, Al Gore, and Mindy Lubber give comprehensive analyses of the environmental perils that the world is currently facing and well as the possible solutions to these. In their analyses, all of them talk about the issue of reducing the carbon emissions. However, as on one hand Friedman man puts emphasis on going green, Gore and Lubber concentrate on the issue of giving a relationship between economic development and climate change. They point out that climate change can bring in a great negative impact on a country’s economy or the financial position of a company. In general, there is need to take the necessary measures to protect the environment in order for the future generations to also benefit from it. Friedman, Thomas. â€Å"205 easy ways to save the earth†. Writing and reading across the curriculum. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. London: Longman Publishing, 2009. Gore, Al. â€Å"Climate for Change†. Writing and reading across the curriculum. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. London: Longman Publishing, 2009. Lubber, Mindy. â€Å"Balance sheets and the climate crisis†. Writing and reading across the curriculum. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. London: Longman Publishing, 2009.

The Basics of Conducting Interviews for News Stories

The Basics of Conducting Interviews for News Stories Conducting interviews for news stories is an important skill for any journalist. A â€Å"source† - anyone a journalist interviews - can provide elements that are vital to any news story: Basic factual informationPerspective and context on the topic being discussedDirect quotesIdeas on how to approach the storyNames of other people to interview Things You’ll Need A thin reporter’s spiral notebook (can be purchased at most office supply stores)Several pens and a pencil if it’s winter (pens freeze in cold weather)A tape recorder or digital voice recorder (optional)A video camera for interviews you plan to webcast Preparing for the Interview Research: Do as much research as possible. If you’re going to interview, say, a cardiologist about heart attacks, read up and make sure you understand terms such as â€Å"cardiac arrest.† A well-prepared reporter inspires confidence in the source.Developing Questions: Once you’ve thoroughly researched your topic, prepare a list of questions to ask. That will help you remember all the points you want to cover. Keys to a Successful Interview Establish a Rapport: When starting out, don’t abruptly launch into your questions. Chitchat a little first. Compliment your source on her office, or comment on the weather. This puts your source at ease.Keep It Natural: An interview can be uncomfortable, so keep things natural. Instead of mechanically reading out your list of questions, weave your queries naturally into the flow of the conversation. Also, maintain eye contact as much as possible. Nothing is more unnerving to a source than a reporter who never looks up from his notebook.Be Open: Don’t be so focused on getting through your list of questions that you miss something interesting. For instance, if you’re interviewing the cardiologist and she mentions a new heart-health study that’s coming out, ask about it. This may take your interview in an unexpected - but newsworthy - direction.Maintain Control: Be open, but don’t waste your time. If your source starts to ramble on about things that a re of no use to you, politely - but firmly - steer the conversation back to the topic at hand. Wrapping Up: At the end of the interview, ask your source if there’s anything important that you hadn’t asked about. Double-check the meanings of any terms they used that you’re unsure about. And always ask if there are other people they recommend that you speak with. Notes About Note-Taking Beginning reporters often freak out when they realize they can’t possibly write down everything the source is saying, word-for-word. Don’t sweat it. Experienced reporters learn to take down just the stuff they know they’ll use, and ignore the rest. This takes practice, but the more interviews you do, the easier it gets. Recording an interview is fine in certain circumstances, but always get permission from your source to do so. The rules regarding taping a source can be tricky. According to Poynter.org, recording phone conversations is legal in all 50 states. Federal law allows you to record a phone conversation with the consent of only one person involved in the conversation - meaning that only the reporter is required to know that the conversation is being taped. However, at least 12 states require varying degrees of consent from those being recorded in phone interviews, so its best to check the laws in your own state. Also, your newspaper or website may have its own rules about taping.   Transcribing interviews involves listening to the taped interview and typing out virtually everything thats said. This is fine if youre doing an article with an extended deadline, such as a feature story. But its too time-consuming for breaking news. So if you’re on a tight deadline, stick to note-taking. Always take written notes, even if you’re using a recorder. Every reporter has a story about the time they thought they were recording an interview, only to get back to the newsroom to discover that the machine’s batteries were dead.

Online Banking Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Online Banking - Research Proposal Example Several studies have been conducted to with an aim of showing trends in the adoption of internet banking among adults and different geographic areas. Online banking services and products include both wholesale and retail products. Wholesale products are generally meant for corporate customers while retail and fiduciary products are meant for consumers. Online banking has become a popular and safe way for individuals, institutions and organizations to stay connected with their bank accounts. Online banking is mostly preferred above over-the-counter-banking since it is cheap and it offers the flexibility that is desired by clients (Hossein, 2004). It however also remains a high-risk subject considering that frauds are more easily conducted online and over remote distances than when banking activities are conducted offline. While several studies have been conducted on online banking, there is a clear gap that needs to be filled; how do different gender relate to internet banking. This study is therefore aimed at finding how different sexes respond to online banking. Of great interest is the ratio of online banking users in terms of gender, the specific services that are preferred by each sex and for what reasons other services are not preferred. Today's internet banking has succeeded distance banking services that were conducted electronically during the early 80s. The term online banking was commonly adapted inn the late 1980s to refer to the use of keyboard, monitor and a terminal to access the electronic banking system using a phone line. It was in New York in 1981 that online banking services began. The city's major banks Chase Manhattan, Citibank, Manufacturers and Chemical offered home banking services by use of the videotext system. United Kingdom's first online banking service was established by NBS (Nottingham Building Society) in 1983. The online system was based on the Prestel system, a television set, a computer and a telephone system. The system allowed viewing of statements online, bill payments, and bank transfers (John, Levine & Carol, 2007). In order for bill payment and bank transfers to be effected, written instructions had to be first sent to the NBS who then updated the Homelink system of the intended transaction. Many banks today offer secure, fully functional internet banking for a small fee or sometimes even free of charge. As online banking

Lipstick sales in the Recession Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Lipstick sales in the Recession - Thesis Example Women although consider lipstick an essential but purchase it as a luxury to give themselves satisfaction. The results of the research have been supported by economic theories of Keynes, the income effect, the lipstick index and the elasticity of income theories. The results defy the substitution effect and basic economic theory of demand and supply. An interesting point is that lipstick sales are being depended upon to assess recession however, the trend of buying lipstick is changing and women are substituting it for lip gloss. Thus the question arises as to how much can the lipstick index be relied upon or whether the theory should be revised to include a certain pool of cosmetics for the theory to be more dependable. Recession has the global market and the economic conditions are deteriorating both in the developed and developing countries. The unemployment rate is increasing and the purchasing power of consumers is shrinking (CBS News 2008). Consumers now have to make choices and switch to cheaper commodities. Most cannot afford to purchase the luxuries they could afford in pre-recession times. Thus the overall prices of all goods are increasing due to inflation and according to the law of economics the demand for all products should decrease (CBS News 2008). However, as per Keynes (2009) there are certain products whose demand and supply rises in recession which is against the economic law. Lipstick is one of these products as its demand rises with the recession and increase in prices. The research focuses on why the demand of lipstick rises even with the increase in prices. So much so, that the sales of lipstick are used to indicate the recession patterns and to know whether recession has set in or not. The greater the sales, the more the recession. In the makeup industry the lipstick index is ardently used to see the recession progress. At the same time, it is also

Critical response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical response - Essay Example As it was the fate of Jordan (and of many other women), they are pushed to the wall because they seem to live with people that do not appreciate them (June 361). Really, in some cases, some women even become the breadwinners in their home. They are given so much responsibility and much is expected from them, but they are never really appreciated. While reading it, one would easily notice Jordan’s unique manner of narration—the way she transposes between the past and the present. One is inevitably led to believe that the connection between her past and present is undeniable. Of course, the experiences she narrates are not just her but also those of marginalised women all over the world, not just Africans and those that have African root. Thus, June Jordan’s essay effective serves one of the purposes of literature which to creatively represent the (unvoiced) ideal and â€Å"unideals† of people. It must be noted that June Jordan is not the first person to write on these issues. One other person that has written on it is Alice Walker (Walker 7). Like Jordan, many of what one reads in Walker’s works is not just her but about many others like her. So, â€Å"Many Rivers to Cross† by June Jordan deserves lots of commendation but no one should ever make the mistake of thinking it is just the story of African or Africa-American

Memorandum of Law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Memorandum of Law - Case Study Example Likewise if he goes on to the wrong side of the road. It is no answer for him to say: 'I was a learner driver under instruction. I was doing my best and could not help it.' The civil law permits no such excuse. It requires of him the same standard of care as of any other driver. 'It eliminates the personal equation and is independent of the idiosyncrasies of the particular person whose conduct is in question.' The learner driver may be doing his best, but his incompetent best is not good enough. He must drive in as good a manner as a driver of skill, experience and care, who is sound in wind and limb, who makes no errors of judgment, has good eyesight and hearing, and is free from any infirmity."3 Applying the same principle to the instant case, the biker must, whether or not she is driving a car or a bicycle or motorcycle, whether in a road, highway, street, or bicycle path in a local park, as a driver drive in as good a manner as a driver of skill, experience and care, sound in win d and limb, who makes no errors of judgment, has good eyesight and hearing, and is free from any infirmity. ... er had been exchanging text messages on his mobile phone, and that it had been the driver's inattention through using his mobile phone that caused the accident. Likewise, in the case of R. v Payne (John),5 it was ruled that the driver was rightfully convicted because the driver allowed himself to be distracted whilst driving.6 In the case of the biker, he was not watching where he was going and has in fact been reprimanded by Cost Price Courier's on several occasions for failure to adhere to traffic regulations. Hence, the biker was negligent in his driving and in breach of his duty of care as a driver. Causation. To be able to claim against the for personal injury and/or damage to property under the law of tort and against the doctor for professional negligence, it is imperative for the boy and his parents to establish causation. There is causation when both factual causation and legal causation are present. Factual causation refers to the nexus between the defendant's action and the claimant's damage (the 'but for' test) while legal causation refers to the break or 'novus actus' in the chain of causation. Applying the 'but for' test applied by Lord Denning in Cork v Kirby MacLean [1952], and illustrated in Barnett v Chelsea and Kensington Hospital Management Committee [1969], the boy would not have suffered personal injury (head injuries and brain damage) and damage to property (probably his skateboard) but for failure of the biker to drive properly and carefully considering that he was not looking where he was going and that he has been repeatedly reprimanded by his employer on s everal occasions for failure to adhere to traffic regulations. The boy and the parents could argue that there is no evidence of a 'novus actus' breaking the chain of causation. The biker is

Take your own moral values on abortion (pro-life) and compare them to Assignment

Take your own moral values on abortion (pro-life) and compare them to the social work ethics and core values - Assignment Example It is interesting in this situation to look at a person’s own biases and prejudices while dealing with this issue. Since every person is situated in a society and can be looked at as a product of the history of that society, it is safe to assume that prejudices would be a part of every person. There needs to thus, be a conscious effort to rid oneself of the prejudices that are a part of one’s mind. It is here that one sees the importance of a code of ethics as laid down by the National Association of Social Workers. This paper shall look at the articles of this code and how it helps one to rid oneself of many a prejudice and work towards a more harmonious society. The code of ethics according to the NASW demands that people who are social workers accept the cultural changes that are a part of today’s society and learn to live in harmony without intentionally or otherwise, causing any damage to the sentiments of others. It is in this context that the issue of abortion becomes a huge issue that becomes difficult for people to grapple with. Any stand that is taken at present seems to be in violation of the beliefs of certain groups, as far as abortion is concerned. This is however, applicable only for those groups that advocate a complete ban on abortion or complete freedom. As in most issues of a multicultural society, the middle path would be the intelligent route to take in this matter. This is especially so since it tends to divide people into watertight compartments even at a political level where it becomes a major issue in pre-electoral times. This lack of discrimination is exhorted to be practiced as can be seen in this part of th e code of ethics- â€Å"Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,

Evolution of Color Vision in Mammals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evolution of Color Vision in Mammals - Essay Example Along with visual system alterations, these changes have caused significant differences in the salience and nature of mammal color vision (Schwab et al 11). This paper will seek to discuss how color vision has evolved in mammals, especially with regards to marsupials, dolphins, and primates, discussing the relevant biological mechanisms, color vision utility, and variations in color vision among the listed mammals. Majority of mammals are not able to distinguish color at all, instead living in a sort of black and white environment. Primates and marsupials are among the few mammals that can distinguish colors, which is proved by the distinct cells present in their retinas that are able to visualize colors (Schwab et al 23). Cone cells are fundamental in the ability to distinguish colors, thus color vision, while rod cells are found in animals that do not have the ability for color vision. Majority of mammals only possess the rod cells, except primates and marsupials. ... There are only two types of rods; one that has a short wavelength sensation, which enables it to sense blue color, and another for long wavelength sensation that allows it to sense for red color (Schwab et al 24). Color vision evolved from a vision in black and white with long wavelength sensing rods separated into red cones that sense red color and green cones that sense green color. Marsupials have also been found to have three forms of cones. As might be expected, color vision evolution in marsupials was distinct from the evolution of color vision in primates. This led to some distinct differences. The three cones that marsupials possess are not blue, red, and green. Rather, they are ultra violet, blue, and red because the rods for short wavelength sensing separated into ultra violet and blue cones (Gegenfurtner et al 44). However, as of today, no one knows what color sensations these cones have. The only way to find out something about marsupial vision is through behavioral testi ng. The quendka and cathemeral dunnart marsupials have trichromatic vision that is different to that of primates since their S-cones can sense UV light, whereas the L-cones of the fat-tailed dunnart have a special sensitivity for the spectral region in the green-yellow region. It has been hypothesized that the L and M cones combine to allow for sensing of brown and cryptically colored green. For the honey possum, the L-cones evolved to a further length than for fellow marsupials that conferred yellow-red sensitivity (Gegenfurtner et al 44). Color vision evolution for primates differs greatly compared to other eutharians. Primates are thought to

Take your own moral values on abortion (pro-life) and compare them to Assignment

Take your own moral values on abortion (pro-life) and compare them to the social work ethics and core values - Assignment Example It is interesting in this situation to look at a person’s own biases and prejudices while dealing with this issue. Since every person is situated in a society and can be looked at as a product of the history of that society, it is safe to assume that prejudices would be a part of every person. There needs to thus, be a conscious effort to rid oneself of the prejudices that are a part of one’s mind. It is here that one sees the importance of a code of ethics as laid down by the National Association of Social Workers. This paper shall look at the articles of this code and how it helps one to rid oneself of many a prejudice and work towards a more harmonious society. The code of ethics according to the NASW demands that people who are social workers accept the cultural changes that are a part of today’s society and learn to live in harmony without intentionally or otherwise, causing any damage to the sentiments of others. It is in this context that the issue of abortion becomes a huge issue that becomes difficult for people to grapple with. Any stand that is taken at present seems to be in violation of the beliefs of certain groups, as far as abortion is concerned. This is however, applicable only for those groups that advocate a complete ban on abortion or complete freedom. As in most issues of a multicultural society, the middle path would be the intelligent route to take in this matter. This is especially so since it tends to divide people into watertight compartments even at a political level where it becomes a major issue in pre-electoral times. This lack of discrimination is exhorted to be practiced as can be seen in this part of th e code of ethics- â€Å"Social workers should obtain education about and seek to understand the nature of social diversity and oppression with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,