Abortion Vs. Euthanasia Essays - Euthanasia, Medical Ethics

Abortion Vs. Euthanasia When it comes to the question of law, there are endless debates on which laws are just or which are unjust. Euthanasia and abortion are both very serious topics that bring controversy, mainly on whether it should be legal or not. Currently in Canada, abortion is legal, although assisted suicide is illegal. By making euthanasia legal in Canada as well, not only would humans benefit but also the country as a whole. Euthanasia rather than abortion seems to be a more reasonable solution because of the following aspects; the reasoning in making such a decision, the pain and suffering endured, and whether or not human rights are being dishonoured. When a person decides to take their own life by doctor assisted suicide, the decision is very thoroughly thought out by the patient, their family and their doctor. The reason why certain people would choose to take their own life is mainly because the pain and suffering is unbearable. When the sickness or disease is incurable, the family suffers along with the patient. They already know that they are going to die soon. Patients who do suffer with these diseases and are physically unable to kill themselves and die painfully, and unhappily. Patients and family members, that decide committing suicide is for the best, it is because they can not bear to see their own family member go through anymore pain. Yet if the person is too ill to instruct what is to be done, it should be left up to the immediate family. Abortion on the other hand is a sometimes a solution for accidental pregnancies. Some people choose to have an abortion because they do not think that they have the suitable conditi ons to bring a child into the world. There have been some cases in which abortion is totally acceptable, for example, pregnancy from rape. Planed parenthood should be a well thought out procedure. In some cases where carelessness or irresponsibility was reason for the pregnancy, a life should not be taken away for someone elses mistakes. Abortion and euthanasia causes both emotional and physical pain. Abortions are not the safe procedures they are purported to be, however; besides having physical pain to contend with, a woman can also experience intense grief and guilt after an abortion. With abortion the mother and father are emotionally suffering because they have made the conscious decision to kill their own child. Having to go through with an abortion can be very unfortunate, and is something that stays with them throughout their whole lives. There are other alternatives, such as adoption. Patients that are sick die slowly and painfully, the victim is restricted, and is unable to have control over their own life. The family and friends surrounding them are emotionally distressed and are suffering as well, something they should not have to go through. By not allowing a patient to take his or her own life the government is forcing them to go through cruel punishment. There have been many cases in which people have gone through pain and suffering and were unable to die on their own due to the law. People have the right to live their remaining life with the inherent dignity of a human person, that they have control over their body, and that they should be free from government interference in making fundamental personal decisions concerning the terminal stages of their lives. They should be able to control the type of medical treatment being given to them, allowing them to avoid senseless pain and cruelty. By helping the end of suffering of a human being, you grant them the human rights they deserve. When ending the growth of an unborn child even before their life has a chance to begun, you, in some peoples opinion are committing murder. Although some people would say that you are only aborting a fetus not a human, regardless it is st ill a life. Who has the right to decide whether or not they can take away a life? The value of human life was, and still is, cheapened by this act. Women now have an easy way out of what they consider an inconvenience and a burden. Euthanasia should be legal

For the Love of Foreign Affairs

For the Love of Foreign Affairs Free Online Research Papers In the mid-Eighteen Hundreds, American citizens loved the idea of isolationism. Isolationism means a desire to stay out of the affairs of a foreign country. No one wanted to see their country involved in another’s business. People even urged to completely eradicate the Foreign Service because they believed it was a pointless expense for tax payers to pay. However, as Nineteen-Hundred approached, American citizens changed their opinions. They wanted to see their country become a global power, expand its boundaries, and become involved with other countries. The factors that led to this change were the war with Spain in 1898 and the spread of Yellow Journalism. The Spanish-American War helped to solidify America’s opinion. This war was also important in making the United States a controlling authority in the world, which was something the American people were pushing for at the time. As the war approached its beginning, the United States was unprepared for a full scale attack. President Mckinley called on the people of America for their help. Although he asked for somewhere around one-hundred and twenty-five thousand volunteers, almost one million responded. This shows the high attention and curiosity to what is happening in the world by the many people around America. People began to feel patriotic and interested in what their country was doing. The interest inspired many Americans to help push new laws and acts through the government on behalf of the people. With a million troops leaving for war, this meant close to a million families had a tie to the war. Many people listened with intent to the radio to hear what was happening in the war where their loved ones were stationed. The newspaper was also an important source of information containing the happenings of the war. It also helped to sway public opinions to support the war and end its idea of isolationism. Yellow journalism was a key factor leading the citizens of America to obtain an interest in foreign issues. There was a flourish of compassion for the Cuban people motivated by the use of yellow journalism in many of New York City’s biggest newspapers. It was one of the sole reasons that brought attention and interest to the war and other overseas relationships. Yellow journalism usually consisted of exaggerated stories and overstated headlines. Those stories and headlines could be about anything from utter destruction and devastation of the Cubans to a gruesome fatality rate which might have been exaggerated too. This truly inspired a â€Å"How dare they!† attitude towards the Spanish forces and many Americans gained a truthful sense of patriotism. It also inspired many people to take up arms against the Spanish and join the Army to fight. Yellow journalism also was a factor in making the Spanish-American War the first ever press-driven war. This meant that America sta rted to care about the war because of what they read or heard over the airwaves. After the Civil War, America wanted to have isolationism as George Washington had advised many years before. They believed that staying out of foreign politics was the right way. The government listened to its people and held on to isolationism. By the start of the Spanish-American War, this idea was still intact. America’s opinion changed during the war when they heard the over-blown stories in the newspapers. This shift in opinion led to the establishment of America as a world power. People cared about what their country was doing for them in other countries and embraced imperialism. The sudden urge to help Cuba because of yellow journalism and ties to the military helped to solidify America as one of the world’s largest and greatest countries. Sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA04/wood/ykid/yj.htm pbs.org/crucible/frames/_journalism.html Research Papers on For the Love of Foreign Affairs19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeQuebec and CanadaDefinition of Export QuotasTwilight of the UAWPETSTEL analysis of IndiaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceHip-Hop is ArtThe Hockey Game

Pregnant women who have more exposure to higher pollution areas are at Essay

Pregnant women who have more exposure to higher pollution areas are at more of risk for having children with autism - Essay Example This is the most recent in several similar studies to suggest this although it is the first national study. The suspect agents include diesel exhaust, mercury, manganese, lead, methylene chloride and nickel. Pollutants of this nature present in the atmosphere pose a higher risk to mothers in these areas for giving birth to children with autism. Mercury and diesel exhaust were found to pose the highest risk. Other researchers argue that there is a higher risk of autistic children being born to mothers living in areas polluted with several industrial pollutants. Windham et al. (2006), suggested that a potential association exists between autism and other elements of environmental pollution such as metal particles and possible solvents in the atmosphere. Pregnant women who lived near San Francisco bay and exposed to environmental pollutants were susceptible to autism spectrum disorders. This is due to the particulate matter in air and vaporization of mercury from asphalt during hot weather causing increased exposure to higher than normal levels of contamination. Windham et al. (2006) suggested that areas with increased concentrations of hazardous pollutants are at more risk of experiencing autism disorders. This also occurs along the west coast where there are increased ambient levels of particulate pollutants blown in from Asian countries that are the largest producers of these pollutant s from coal burning in power production plants. These pollutants are neurotoxins that cross the placental barrier to the baby during development in the womb and cause genetic changes leading to defective genes. These genes disrupt brain development by causing a breakdown in the process in the fetus and cause autism. According to Kalkbrenner et al., (2014), this may also be by retarding natural nervous system development or by hindering immune cells from assisting more efficient neuron

Coach Working at Different Levels within the UK Essay

Coach Working at Different Levels within the UK - Essay Example This paper illustrates that sports coaching has followed the trajectory of sports in the international market. Some coaches such as Alex Fergusson are as famous as the players whom they coach. This section discusses the functions and roles of coaches and helps in developing an understanding of their use. Sports’ coaching is linked to the economic and social events of the past and coaching follows the story of sports. Modern sports such as football, cricket, and others were not invented in the ancient times and the common people had neither the energy nor the inclination to take up sports after a hard days labor. The ancient Greeks conducted the Olympics and the first mention of athletes who trained under special trainers is known. Plato, Archimedes, Hippocrates and other philosophers also served as coaches for they believed in a sound body and a sound mind. Wealthy patrons brought in expert wrestlers and runners, winners of Olympic events became celebrities, and wealth was sho wered on the winner and his coach. Imperial Rome had trainers who trained slaves for gladiator contests and training was limited to war games such as wrestling, sword fighting, archery, Javelin, horse riding, running and other such events. Kings and Lords maintained armies and these were kept in fighting shape through constant training. Coaches toured villages and picked up fit and strong youths and these were trained as soldiers. Contests of strength and skills were held during community feasts and trained soldiers participated in these events. The common peasant or tradesmen never participated in these contests or sports and coaching was limited to only events that helped in war.

Philadelphia Fight Organization Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philadelphia Fight Organization - Assignment Example Besides just being concerned with the development of research and treatments, the organization provides a home to prevention, education and providing more information services concerning the disease. It has AIDS library and carry out a number of projects which are related to the disease as well as activism in combating the disease (Philadelphia Fight Organization, 2012). The organization is not big enough and it has its operations centered at Philadelphia where it provides the free services to the affected. The organization being a charitable and non profit organization, its hands are tied and can not get involved to activities which can make it get income. This has made the organization to depend entirely on the services of the volunteers which to a certain extent has some challenges. The reliance of the organization to volunteers has made it not to have clear human resource policies making it have challenges when it comes to human resource developments. The staffs do not undergo th orough recruitment since there is lack of money to pay the well qualified personnel. This has been the big challenge that the organization has been experiencing since its inception. The major legal concern of the organization is how to get justice done for the HIV/AIDS victims as many of them are suffering as a result of actions which were beyond them. Some of the victims of HIV they are working with were subjected to that status as result of rape by gangs which were beyond the patient’s control. The organization finds it challenging to get justice for these victims owing to the nature of events which is very difficult to follow. Similarly, the organization lacks the professionalism in dealing with legal challenges affecting the organization as many of the staffs are from medical field and don’t know more about law. This has rendered a legal challenge which the organization has to deal with in attempts to promote justice (Philadelphia Fight Organization, 2012). The org anization can competently deal with these legal concerns through setting a separate entity of staffs which deals with legal matters. This will help in dealing with the legal concerns which will see justice done to the patients who felt victims as a result of actions which were beyond their control. For this exercise to be effective, the organization needs to get experts through recruitment of staffs that can diligently deal with these issues and solve them. It also requires the organization to have money which will be used in recruiting staffs who will be addressing legal issues which are concern to the organization. Addressing legal concern which affects the employees needs experts hence this can only be dealt with through recruiting those suitable for it. The organizations need to take a number of actions into consideration in order to expand into other markets in the international arena. The organization needs to embark on the qualified staffs within its department’s in or der to get good and efficient services. This can begin from recruiting and training of staffs responsible for the human resource in order to equip them with the task they will be carrying out. Training of the staffs will also increase the competency among the human resource personnel which will intern be reflected to other departments resulting to quality of services being rendered by the organization. When the staffs are equipped more so

Design of the The Brion Tomb by Carlos Scarpa

Design of the The Brion Tomb by Carlos Scarpa In my study I intend to explain Carlo Scarpas thinking in his design of the Tomba brion vega, his most visited work and analyse the design of each element individually and as a whole. It is a site of elegance and poetry and epitomises Carlo Scarpas use of architecture to produce meaning and feeling. Carlo Scarpa himself describes the tomb as a pathway (Unora con Carlo Scarpa The Brion Tomb is situated in the north of Italy in the village San Vito dAltivole near Treviso. It was designed for the family Brion by Carlo Scarpa after the death of Giuseppe Brion. It was commissioned by the wife of Giuseppe, Onorina Brion; together they co-founded the electronics firm Brion-Vega. Giuseppe was born in San Vito and the family owned a plot of land in the local cemetery as well as a funerary chapel which originally stood on the site. Scarpas original idea and his early work for the family was for a number of seperate tombs for different family members on the original cemetery plot. These early designs were to later incorporated in to the final design. in 1969 the family bought an L shaped plot of land wrapped around the northern and eastern sides of the existing cemetery. Acquiring this plot of land allowed Scarpa to incorporate all the family tombs into a single master plan for the Brion families resting place. Not taking with the mainline trend that with money and power when death occurs a huge shrine or monument should be erected in memorial Scarpa went the opposite way. Scarpa states I believe it is mistaken to consider the Brion Cemetery the product of a wealthy capitalist. Rather it is quite the opposite. Of course I could have just made a large statue and left the rest a lawn, but I enjoy making things doing this he avoided the narrow dictates of rationalism, choosing rather to stress inner depth, dreams, and nostalgia. In this he creates a poetic resting place as much as a sculptural memorial in a green, calming garden. In March 1970 the Plans for the site had reached their final form and planning permission was given for construction. The Cemetery was completed in 1978 and is regarded by many as Scarpas masterpiece. Below is a quote from Scarpa on his design of the Brion Tomba. I consider this work, if you permit me, to be rather good and (something) which will get better over time. I have tried to put some poetic imagination into it, though not in order to create poetic architecture but to make a certain kind of architecture that could emanate a sense of formal poetry. I mean an expressed form that can become poetry, though, as I said before, you cannot intentionally make poetry. The deceased has asked to be close to (the) Earth since he was born in this village So I decided to build a small arch, which I will call Arcosolium. Arcosolium is a Latin term from the time of the early Christians in the Catacombs. Important persons or martyrs were buried in them.) I used a more costly version I thought it (was) a good idea for two people who had loved each other to be put in such a way as to be able to greet one another, after death. Soldiers stand erect, movements are human. The Arcosolium became an arch, a bridge span, an arch of reinforced concrete and would still have looked like a bridge if I hadnt had it illustrated, I mean decorated. But instead of painting we used mosaics, A Venetian tradition that I interpreted in a different way The statement above just shows how much thought went in to the design of his lifes masterpiece. The body of the cemetery The L shaped site has 5 main focal points; the arcosolium which was of great importance was placed on the north eastern corner to in Scarpas words benefit from the best view and sunniest exposure. The arcosolium acts as a kind of visual hinge on the L shaped site joining the north and eastern sides of the site. The family graves are situated on the north wall of the site sheltered underneath a canopy which shelters them from the elements. On the south side of the L shape is a pavilion which floats over a Lilly pond. To the western end he designed square chapel which leads to a private burial ground for local priests. Another entrance way to the site was constructed close to the pavilion where the original funerary chapel stood. The site is enclosed by a 2.3m high wall. Internally the views out from the site almost become a part of the design and Looking towards the site the 60deg slope of the wall directs sight over the cemetery causing minimum obstruction of the views out from the town whilst also masking its internal parts. Scarpa acknowledged that he had captured the sense of the countryside, as the Brions wished (Scarpa 1978-84) The Arcosolium The Arcosolium in history has been situated within a catholic burial chamber. A single catacomb would contain multiple arcosolium for important people and martyrs. They are arched recesses carved from solid rock with a solid stone coffin sarcophagus to the bottom. The arch and around it were often decorated with symbolic frescoes. In the image to the left is the arcosolium which is situated in Via Latina, Cubiculum E, a catacomb in Rome. You can clearly see the arched recess to the rear and the religiously painted walls. Scarpas arcosolium is the main focal point for the whole tomb, acting as a hinge between the two perpendicular areas of the site. The two heads of the family are buried here and is therefore sited with importance and was built on the north east corner of the site. Unlike the solid arch of the historic catholic arcosolium the arch Scarpa designed is sleek and slender and is made out of concrete and bows over the sunken ground on which sit the two sepulchers. The asymetical arch has four components or visual nuances which make the whole. The arch itself is visually two parts with the vertical main arch or the backbone spanning the sepulchres and below this sits a floating plane which shelters the crypts. The backbone has four fins which run the length of the arch. These fins are closed to their underside so to shelter the occupants. The two floating planes are decoratively layered to their topside rather like the arcosolium decoration of old. These are connected to the third and fourth components of the arch by pin joints and are the two concrete plinths which sit at the two ends of the arch and ground the design and also convert the otherwise compressional structure of an arch in to a tensile structure. The plinths themselves are split in to two parts with a solid mass capping the arch and a more dynamic form ending the completed arch. The plinths are decorated not with paintings or materials but with the zig zag form which dominates the cemetary. The two concerete plinths are orthogonally stepped three dimensionally lessening with weight the further away from the arch they are. Below the arch the two sepulchres sit in a sunken circular bowl which is sheltered by the arch above. Originally this circular base plate was to be surrounded by a water channel emanating from the north pool. The tombs themselves are made out of two tone marble with the sides facing each other being ebony, the top layer a speckled, black marble and the bottom layer a more grained white marble. The ebony planks on the facing planes of the coffins give them a softer touch. The two crypts are sat side by side underneath the arch and lean to each other as though they were trying to touch. This is also reiterated on the underside of the masses. Scarpa not wanting to ground the two objects too much curved the underside of them making them seem moveable and not stuck to the ground. Scarpa described it like this It is as it should be that the two people who loved each other in life to bend toward each other in greeting after death. A sense of Scarpas romance can be seen here. In Yutak Saitos book Carlo Scarpa, he describes how the two sepulchres are perceived to float like two boats beneath the arch. This is reminiscent of the buildings of Scarpas beloved Venice. Whilst under the arch the coloured glass tiles can be seen. Yutak Saito says The ceiling of the arch is covered in glass tiles, giving the sense of celestial brilliance The glass tiles run either side of an onyx strip which runs down the middle of the four fins of the arch, these omit a milky white translucence . Brion Tomba graveyard entrance The entrance lies down an avenue of trees which run the old Village Cemetery. Upon approach the first thing noticed is the two intersecting circles which lay at the end of the small corridor and their framed picture of the lawn and the ivy covered wall beyond. The entrance is sat beside other existing tombs and its scale is as those of the existing tombs. This gives the Brion Tomb a tardis like feel once inside having entered through here. The entrance is decorated with a zigzag design like the arcosolium with horizontal slices through the mass in which the sky or in Scarpas eye the heavens can be seen. On entering the square entrance opens up like a cave and upon speaking strange echoes bounce off the zigzagged inside. Again horizontal slices allow the sight of the heavens whilst inside this dark entrance way. Four steps lead up to the corridor beyond. These are slightly offset to the left hand side giving you a sense of direction in which one should travel. This small gesture The intersecting circles at the end of the corridor are rimmed with red and blue glass tiles. They signify the earth and the heavens and the earth and the intersected section signifies the spiritual world which may lie in between. You can also see this looking through the two circles with the green grass signifying the earth the sky the havens and the grey concrete wall which splits the two the spiritual world. With these two connotations Scarpa wanted to instil a sense of how close the three worlds are and how they intersect with each other. The corridor splits left and right now. The left hand side is brighter and beckons you down, another path indicator of which Scarpa is well known for. Looking down the corridor the left hand side of the arcosolium can be seen with the countryside in the background and the corrid or opens a few metres down. It opens to the right with the left hand side continuing further. At the transitional point between open and closed a water course continues the line of the structure which runs down in to the arcosolium adjacent to the walkway. Along this walkway are a set of offset steps which lead up to the grazed area above. These steps are of different thicknesses with each possessing a different sound when treaded upon. If you turn right at the corridor the path leads you down a darkened corridor which opens up onto a floating path which leads to the raised pavilion, the pavilion sits on the pond that feeds the watercourse. The Pavillion The pavilion sits on the north side of the site above a shallow body of water. At a distance it seems to float above the water. It is supported by a set of slender steel columns which rise out of the water. The idea behind the pavilion was to create a canopy under which the souls of the dead may enter to mediate. It is accessed via the main entrance way along a thin dark corridor and then through a glass door which is opened with an elaborate system of pulleys which are visible on the other side of the wall to the glass door. The top of the pavilion is clad in timber and Yutaka Saito in his book Carlo Scarpa notes the similarities in the depth and emphasis of the design relating to the series of torri gates of the fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. Below the weathered timber box sits a thin metallic modesty panel painted green and is textured with a pattern of nails which softens the strong material making the space more comfortable. From its exterior the pavilion looks like a solid structure and a sense of weight is felt on sight but the innards are hollow which lets light pass down in to the space where underneath sits a bench on which Scarpa imagined the spirits could rest after they have had their playtime in the surrounding gardens of the cemetery. Its openness gives a connection between the spirit world and ours allowing passageway of souls in to it. Underneath the pavilion a small seating area is found for the spirits and this sits on a small jetty which seems to float a few centimetres above the pond. This may not be a piece of aesthetic design but a great knowledge of how water and construction materials react over time with staining and corrosion. This can also be seen on the back wall of the pavilion with it seeming to float just above the water level. Use of water Carlo Scarpa was of Venetian origin and this influenced his designs in that water and the effects it caused were often key elements of his designs. Bodies of water and/or water courses were elemental. He spent most of his life in Venice, wandering down its narrow gangways with buildings either floating on or reflected in water; a world changing with the ebb and flow of the tides. The brion tomb is no exception with Scarpa designing two pools at opposing ends of the site which were to be connected by thin streams that would weave inbetween the tombs connecting them with a sense of life or movement of the flowing water. A relationship between the lagoon and the canal can be envisioned here. The concept was not fully designed in but can still be seen in the form of a channel running between the pavilion and the arcosolium. Being from Venice Scarpa knew the effect of the tide and how this could effect materials and sometimes whole structures, submerging their lower floors on some occasions and the water course and pool in the cemetery were designed to avert flooding the adjacent spaces when it rains. The pools themselves are rather shallow being only half a metre in depth at their deepest point with the zig-zag pattern leading down to the lowest point giving the water a sense of volume and a place for the sun to play in, creating moving shadows and reflections of the surrounding structures during daytime hours. There are a number of water channels on the site. They all flow to the arcosolium and narrow as they get closer. This narrowing of the channels give the feeling of a sense of momentum and in essence, life. Brion Family Tomb The small family tomb is situated on the south side of the site and sits against the exterior wall giving a sense of shade for its occupants. It is a triangular shaped structure with a small entrance to the west. The entranceway is small and was designed so that to enter one must bow as a sign of respect to the deceased occupants. Internally the space is small yet the horizontal slits in the form allow the external openness to join with the internal space. The roof of the tomb narrows towards the top with a slice taken out at its peak. This was again the idea that the spirits could roam freely around the site and come back to their resting places for repose. The chapel and Sacristy The chapel sits on the east of the site and its importance is emphasised by the continual vertical planes that cut through the horizontal plane of the flat lawn. This emphasis shows its hierarchy and label the structure as being the building of most importance. There are two entrances to the chapel, one through the gardens and the second which is used for more formal occasions such as church mass. The entrance through the gardens shows this hierarchy the most, the tall walls create a strong vertical volume to travel down. Two small steps are at the entranceway and act as a transition between the less formal garden space and the more formal chapel beyond. On the left hand side wall a grid pattern of concrete lines was formed with 10mm recesses in which layers of plaster were trowelled and then polished which reflects light down the corridor. On this wall the door to the private sacristy can be found and follows the same grid patten as the walls slightly camouflaging it to identify its privacy. At the end of the corridor stands a large steel and plaster sliding lattice door reminiscent of the style of Otto Wagner of whom Scarpa was a fan and the traditional Japanese screen. Beyond the doors stands the chapel and the chinese style threshold that leads in to it which allows for the easy passage of coffins and on occasion to cope with a large numbers of people. The predominant material used in the construction of the chapel was again layered concrete. The floor is made of small cobble like stones which run at a 45deg angle to the room towards the alter. Two marble steps lead up to the alter and junctions between the materials was planned meticulously. The journey was very important in the planning of the site and all the senses were thought of when designing. Although the site is made up of lots of separate elements they are all part of the whole and are linked by pathways sometimes physical and sometimes psychological. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Brion-Vega_Cemetery.html

The Multitasking Generation an Article by Claudia Wallis Essay

Though there are some positive effects, the adverse impact of technology on education has been extraordinary. The technology community has worked hard to bring useful technology into our classrooms, all with good intentions to broaden our knowledge. With these good intentions also came about unwanted side effects such as distraction and disruption in the classroom. I can clearly remember many of my teachers yelling at us to put our cell phones, iPods, and iTouch phones away especially during lecture and exams. The yelling was not without just cause, students cheated with their devices along with updating their Facebook pages during class too. Though being exposed to technologies like computers from an early age may have given us the ability to do things more efficiently, technology has also made us less dependent on ourselves. Claudia Wallis, editor for Time, in her article makes known in The Multitasking Generation, â€Å"That level of multiprocessing and interpersonal connectivity is now so commonplace that it’s easy to forget how quickly it came about. Fifteen years ago, most home computers weren’t even linked to the Internet† (63). There are many things that students are able to do on their computer that their parents aren't even aware of or that the parents couldn’t do themselves. My parents always tell of how looking through the library’s card catalog and searching for the books they needed only to find out that they have been taken out. Computers have allowed us to do many things faster for example, write much faster than a typewriter or pen and paper and correct typing errors wit hout starting over. The computers and technology we now have makes it easier to almost anything and with technology so easily at your fingertips it o... ... there is no doubt that it will be used as an educational tool and just as there are concerns now, there will be concerns then. I believe that in the following years physical classrooms will be a thing of the past, with virtual classrooms becoming the norm. With these virtual classrooms there will be even more cause for concern, and if they do become the norm who knows what other sources of distractions there will be. There will always be technology as long as there are people whether for better or for worse and their advances will always be debated. Technology such as computers, iPads, and cell phones should be used modestly in the classroom. Using technology for everything during our daily lives hampers our own independence. To stay sharp minded in the classroom, people need to rely more on them and less on the technology that dominates their life today.

Evaluating a Business Code of Ethics Essay

Businesses in today’s society share a purpose, a vision, that relates philosophy and principles of ethics to better meet the needs of the organization and stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, and communities. Without professional ethics, businesses and its programs would not have the ability to be successful. This paper will examine Humana, its business code of ethics, and its mission statement that assists in organizational values and goals of the company. The type of ethical system used by Humana will be explored, along with examples that support this system and its attributes. In addition, how the code of ethics is identified and used within the company will be addressed as it pertains to employees, management, and its board of directors. Upon further evaluation, this paper will explore the need for modification, if any, to their existing code of ethics. Reactions to the code of ethics, its effects of organizational culture on the code of ethics, and its effects on the organization will be defined. Lastly, this paper will provide an analysis of Humana’s business code of ethics and how the analysis exhibits significant key concepts to maintain and promote ethical decision making and business success. Business Code of Ethics and its Mission Statement Businesses developed codes of ethics starting back in the early 1970s within the United States. Business ethics â€Å"is the study of standards of business behavior which promote human welfare and good† (Santa Clara University [SCU], 2011, para. 1). Humana, a company that provides and administers health insurance plans, established its formalized code of ethics in 1995 and since established a 24-hour access to their ethics assistance hotline demonstrating its commitment and accessibility to business ethics (Humana, 2011, para. 1). Humana’s code of ethics was developed as a means of understanding Human’s ethical standards and promoting open communication and the well-being of members as it pertains to these standards. Humana’s code of ethics stresses its mission and vision of the company: â€Å"to become the most trusted name in health solutions. To foster a successful environment, Humana’s code of ethics is designed to educate each associate to contribute to the company’s success through ethical behavior and by doing the right thing in the right way for the right reasons† (McCallister & Catron, 2011, p. 1). Defining the purpose of the business’s code of ethics allows for better understanding of ways to promote ethical business behavior. Deontological Ethical System Ethical systems in business are the â€Å"contexts for making decisions in ethics, much like rules in an athletic competition,† giving significance and meaning to the performance and conduct of employees within an organization (Ulrich, 2010, para. 2). Ethical systems can be broken into subcategories depending on its purpose. Humana demonstrates a deontological, also known as a duty-driven ethical system. â€Å"Deontological comes from the Greek deon, meaning, duty. Deontologists base their decisions about what’s right on broad, abstract universal ethical principles or values such as honesty, promise keeping, fairness, loyalty, rights, justice, compassion, and respect for persons and property† (Trevino & Nelson, 2007, p. 98). Humana’s business code of ethics lays out its purpose and mission statement and supports these objectives by establishing ethical principles that employees and stakeholders are to follow to ensure compliance, quality, and business success. Within Humana’s business code of ethics, it discusses the key to integrity. The guidelines that are incorporated and integrated into Humana’s ethical code address several key issues that exemplify the business’ duty and obligations to ensure ethical standards are followed. For example, the key components of Humana’s code of ethics focuses on: â€Å"Honesty: act fairly and â€Å"honestly with those that are affected by our actions; compliance with laws: comply with laws, regulations, and act in such a manner that the full disclosure of all the facts would reflect favorably; business responsibility: adhere to the highest ethical standards of conduct; and responsibility for reporting violations: promote elationships based on trust and respect and reference policies, ethics hotline, and the ethics intranet within Humana’s website that further addresses compliance with Humana’s business code of ethics† (McCallister & Catron, 2011, p. 4). These components provide examples of a duty-driven, deontological ethical system. Th e code of ethics defines the ethical standards and expects employees and stakeholders to abide by these regulations in order to ensure the highest ethical standards and decision-making abilities. How the Code of Ethics is Used Humana’s code of ethics defines its mission and goals and how stakeholders can actively participated in ethical decision making within the organization. Employees, for example, are provided with Humana’s business code of ethics on the first day of employment. The purpose of this is to clearly define the organization’s ethical standards and address how employees can adhere to these standards through Humana’s vision. Employees are required annually to view and complete an ethical compliance training course. This reinforces Humana’s ethical standards and resources that are available when confronted with these ethical dilemmas. For example, one particular part of the code discusses how employees have the right to report workplace violence and harassment. The code lists several examples of unacceptable and unethical behavior that attributes to workplace violence. In addition to the 24-hour ethics hotline, the code of ethics provides additional resources and people to contact if this is occurring. Furthermore, if violence is occurring outside of the workplace, affecting any one of Humana’s employees, they are also encouraged to discuss this with Employee Assistance. Employee assistance provides Humana employees with support services and resources when faced with violence whether at home or in the workplace. Humana discusses how employee performance and success can be affected both internally and externally and feels each employee should be given the resources and support no matter where employees encounter violence. In addition to Humana’s business code of ethics, management and its board of directors also have another code of ethics, specifically addressing the ethical guidelines for leaders and managers, and directors within the company. The purpose of a corporate level code of ethics is to â€Å"maintain the highest standards in Humana’s financial reporting with governmental agencies† (Humana, 2004, p. 1). Management has responsibilities that require interaction and relationships with businesses, regulating and governing boards, and many stakeholders that participate in Humana’s business entities. The corporate code of ethics was defined for this reason and discusses standards such as conflicts of interest, accurate reporting, and compliance with these ethical guidelines. In addition, guidelines that address â€Å"avoiding personal activity or association with people that could interfere in making good judgment concerning Humana’s best interests† (Humana, 2004, p. 2). The corporate code of ethics is additional resource and tool that managers can refer to when faced with ethical dilemmas such as these. Code of Ethics and Modification Upon analysis of Humana’s business code of ethics, the guidelines are clear. Humana’s code of ethics is current, accessible, easily understood, and it provides a plethora of useful tools and resources that govern these ethical standards and offer support for Humana employees when face with ethical issues. In addition, a code of ethics is to: provide framework of acceptable behavior, promote high standards of practice, enhance a sense of community, create transparency in business activities, and offer guidelines to comply with government laws and regulations† (Fieser, 2008, para. ). Humana’s business code of ethics not only addresses the significant portions of a code of ethics, but also has 24-hours access to these ethical resources and guidance. When establishing a code of ethics, it is imperative to address key components of a company’s mission and company goals, along with clear guidelines that support a business’ vision. Reactions to a Cod e of Ethics When businesses prepare a code of ethics, consideration to addressing this code to ensure compliance is significant to ethical and organization success. A code of ethics should be addressed immediately upon hire or the establishment of a business relationship. Addressing it early promotes the significance of the code of ethics along with guidelines that employees and business partners should be informed up early on to ensure they are able to support these guidelines while maintaining the business relationship. Employees and business partners can either react negatively, stating that this code of ethics tells an employee what to say and how to act. Others react in a positive and constructive manner and understand the need for ethical guidelines within a business to ensure compliance, yet more importantly, ethical decision making in accordance within Human’s mission and vision, to ensure continued business success and growth. The organizational culture promotes the highest ethical standards that are directly in line with Humana’s mission and its guidelines that support the key to business integrity. The Effect of a Code of Ethics  Businesses are aware of downfalls and economic disasters that attribute to the lack of ethic performance and decision making. Humana’s business code of ethics affects employees, the organization, its stakeholders, and the surrounding communities in a way that displays moral and ethical importance, integrity, and success, attributed by the development of this code of ethics. Furthermore, Humana’s code of ethics promotes business responsibility, honesty, and fairness. These characteristics affect business and community relationship by promoting trust, a significant behavior in organizational and community success. Summary of Ethical Analysis In reviewing Humana’s business code of ethics, it is apparent that this 52 page code of ethics was not established merely to put it in place. It was established as a way of making clear and important ethical guidelines that support business growth and success. From its mission statement and supporting regulations, Humana’s business code of ethics supports high ethical standards, promotes trusting relationships, and keys to integrity. Addressing these key components and how employees can support these guidelines, along with several support tools, resources, and 24-hour access to ethical support, Humana provides a business code of ethics that supports ethical decision making and high ethical standards.

Maya Creation

Maya Creation The Mayans believe that Mother Earth was a gigantic monster. It was an alligator, toad, and a turtle combined. Above her was a sky with a layer for each planet and spheres of movement for the sun and the moon. Below her was the underworld where heavenly bodies passed when out of sight. All around her were the spirits of rain and thunder. The deities of the food plants and animals attended her. All nature was alive and it was constantly dying and being reborn (Burland 1771).The Mayans are American Indian people who lived in southern Mexico (Miller 'Maya' Grolier). The Yucatan was the center of the Mayan civilization from about the 1st century B.C. ('Yucantan' Grolier). They flourished in Mexico and central America from 250 to 1600 A.D. ('History of Agriculture' Grolier). Their ancestors had crossed the Bering land Bridge from Asia (Miller 'Maya' Grolier). Honduras was once a part of the Mayan Empire.Espaà ±ol: Retrato de Gregorio Mayans y SiscarIt had flourished between 250 and 950 A .D. (Seligson 'Honduras' Grolier). The Mayans also had lived in Mexican states: Yucantan and Chiapas, British Honduras, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador (Burland 1770)By 1200 B.C., they had dominated trade routes. The trade routes extended from the modern Mexico state of Guerrero to Costa Rica (Miller 'Maya' Grolier). The Mayans had constant cultural and commercial contact from other tribes such as the Aztecs. They were with the central and coastal Mexican civilization that had influenced them and influenced other cultures (Harrison 'History of Latin America' Grolier).The Mayans worshiped peace deities (Matthews 45). They also worshiped a creator who lived beyond the sky, and believed it was male and female. Mayans also believed that males were more important (Burland 1771). They explain this with the fact that man came first (Thompson Internet). They also believe in...

Free Essays on Animal Testing For Medical Purposes

The Big Decision: Whom do we Test? The controversy of animal testing for medical purposes has been a heated topic for many years now. Many feel that it’s acceptable and others see it as inhumane. â€Å"Many organizations have been formed with the sole purpose of keeping animals from laboratories,† (McCoy 54). I personally feel that there are other ways to test medical drugs other than on animals. Other options include testing on prisoners, people who are willing to be paid to have the drug tested on them, and people who are terminally ill, and as a last hope, want to try the â€Å"new drug†. Animals that are used for testing purposes usually end up dying. They are usually pumped full of a disease or virus and then they try a vaccine on them, which in the end, usually fails. In which case, the animal ends up suffering and dying. While being tested, they are kept in tiny cages, instead of being able to run free like they should. In some cases, animal testing may give a different result with humans. â€Å"Misleading animal tests can be devastating for human health.† (Bender 69). The early stages of an animals life in a laboratory is extremely stressful. In fact, many animals born within the laboratories live very short lives. Some common conditions of animals that are kept for medical purposes include; pneumonia, colitis, enteritis, gastric bloat and rupture, encephalitis, and spticemia. They lose fingers and toes, suffer from gangrene, and die from several bacterial infections. We must remember that even though they are animals, they too have feelings. They feel stress and pain. In laboratories, they suffer and die. Their deaths should be remembered and mourned. One alternative to testing on animals is testing on prisoners. If a person has committed a horrible crime, and is serving life in prison, we might as well use him or her for the testing of medications. That way, we would be able to see the effects o... Free Essays on Animal Testing For Medical Purposes Free Essays on Animal Testing For Medical Purposes The Big Decision: Whom do we Test? The controversy of animal testing for medical purposes has been a heated topic for many years now. Many feel that it’s acceptable and others see it as inhumane. â€Å"Many organizations have been formed with the sole purpose of keeping animals from laboratories,† (McCoy 54). I personally feel that there are other ways to test medical drugs other than on animals. Other options include testing on prisoners, people who are willing to be paid to have the drug tested on them, and people who are terminally ill, and as a last hope, want to try the â€Å"new drug†. Animals that are used for testing purposes usually end up dying. They are usually pumped full of a disease or virus and then they try a vaccine on them, which in the end, usually fails. In which case, the animal ends up suffering and dying. While being tested, they are kept in tiny cages, instead of being able to run free like they should. In some cases, animal testing may give a different result with humans. â€Å"Misleading animal tests can be devastating for human health.† (Bender 69). The early stages of an animals life in a laboratory is extremely stressful. In fact, many animals born within the laboratories live very short lives. Some common conditions of animals that are kept for medical purposes include; pneumonia, colitis, enteritis, gastric bloat and rupture, encephalitis, and spticemia. They lose fingers and toes, suffer from gangrene, and die from several bacterial infections. We must remember that even though they are animals, they too have feelings. They feel stress and pain. In laboratories, they suffer and die. Their deaths should be remembered and mourned. One alternative to testing on animals is testing on prisoners. If a person has committed a horrible crime, and is serving life in prison, we might as well use him or her for the testing of medications. That way, we would be able to see the effects o...

Corporate finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Corporate finance - Essay Example In tradeoff theory, the search is for an optimum capital structure. The tradeoff is between the interest tax shield, bankruptcy costs and agency costs. The firm would seek the optimum debt ratio that maximises the value of the firm. It therefore balances the marginal present values of interest tax shields against bankruptcy costs and agency costs. The theory therefore predicts the mean reversion of the actual debt ratio towards a target or optimum and also predicts a cross-sectional relation between average debt-ratios and asset risk, profitability, tax status and asset type. In pecking order theory, there is no optimal debt ratio. Due to asymmetric information and signaling problems associated with issuing equity, financing policies follow a hierarchy, with preference for internal over external financing and for debt over equity. The debt ratio is therefore a cumulative result of hierarchical financing over time. 2. Managers are prohibited from trading in the shares of the firm. This prevents them from going against the interests of the firm, example short-selling the shares before announcing bad news about the firm even though the firm is doing well. 3. 3. Investors use the face value of debt held by the company to tell whether the firm is successful (type A) or unsuccessful (type B). 4. By changing the capital structure, the firm alters the perceived market value of the firm even if the true value of the firm remains the same. 1 period interest rate r t = 0 t=1 V0 V1 Market perception Truth is revealed Manager's compensation, M, paid out at the end of the period t=1: V1 if V1 D M = (1 + r)0V0 + 1 V1 - C if V1 0, 1: positive weights of the value of the firm r: one period interest rate V0, V1: value of the firm at t=0 and t=1 VA: value of successful type firm at t = 1 VB:

Research Proposal on Steve Jobs and the foundation of Apple Computers Paper

Proposal on Steve Jobs and the foundation of Apple Computers - Research Paper Example These products would contribute to annually increasing revenue and profit margins, today making Apple, Inc. the world’s most successful technology company (Lashinksy). The organization’s tremendous success has brought Job’s leadership style to the forefront of consideration and analysis. Indeed, the subject is highly important as it relates to the very nature of business and leadership success. Job’s was recognized for a unique and demanding leadership approach. Many individuals even went as far as to claim Job’s was rude and arrogant. Undoubtedly it appears that Job’s was a perfectionist. The research functions to examine Steve Job’s personality in the context of his success as a the chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple, Inc. as well as his undeniable success as a leader. The underlining hypothesis is that through his persuasion, slight arrogance and perfectionism, Steve Jobs was able to create success for Apple, Inc. and attain his reputation of a strong leader. The research is significant both for advancing knowledge of successful leadership styles, as well as for further understanding the means an individual can mold and have a profound impact on a multinational organization. Ultimately, it is believed that this research will contribute to a furthered understanding of the very nature of success. ... is biography explores Job’s arrogance in terms of the ravage it wreaked on his personal life, but also how it was indicative of an approach to life that defined and shaped its own reality (Isaacson). Other researchers note that such arrogance may have contributed to Job’s ability to inspire others by getting them to view Apple as not just a company, but also a personal mission (Lundquist). Similarly, Jobs is considered a visionary. In an interview with Charlie Rose before returning to Apple, Jobs is said to have turned to the host and say that he knew how to save the organization, but they weren’t listening to him yet (Lasseter). In addition to being understood as a visionary, other researchers have focused on how Job’s leadership style as a perfectionist contributed to his specific organizational skills. One perspective examined Job’s nature as a taskmaster (Stengel). For instance, it’s noted that people who worked with Jobs said that he wou ld attempt to instruct his employees about every aspect of their job (Stengel). Other researchers have examined Job’s leadership approach against that of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. While Gates has been described as methodical and lawyer like, Job’s was recognized as â€Å"the quick, live-for-the-moment hare† (Wilson & Skovgard, p. 51). Even as Steve Jobs is recognized as a prominent motivator and visionary, other researchers have considered that Job’s arrogance and perfectionism also contributed to Apple’s success through his negotiation with outside vendors. For instance, during the late design period of the iPhone, Jobs was recognized for his clever and ruthless negotiations with telecommunications carriers ("The legacy of Steve Jobs," p. 3). Another research perspective considered Steve Job’s personality