American Shortcomings Beneath the PostCivil Rights Facade Essay

American Shortcomings Beneath the PostCivil Rights Facade - Essay Example Nettles, M.T. & Perna, L.W. (1997). The African American education data book. Volume I: Higher and adult education. Executive summary. Retrieved May 5, 2007, from Education Resources Information Center: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/ content_storage_01/0000000b/80/26/12/fa.pdf. Orfield, Gary. (2001). Schools more separate: Consequences of a decade of resegregation. Retrieved May 5, 2007, from Education Resources Information Center: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/content_storage_01/0000000b/80/0d/99/c6.pdf. .. 17. What should be acting as equalizers are proving ineffective (Patterson, 2001)(Orfield, 2001)(Nettles & Perna, 1997). 18. Black Americans have been disproportionately charged with crimes and imprisoned (Fairclough, 2001)(Klinkner, 1999)(Giroux, 2004). 19. None of the problems black Americans face exist in isolation; they all feed and one another. (Giroux, 2004)(Nettles & Perna, 1997)(Orfield, 2001). 20. The government lays the blame for black Americans face on black Americans (Giroux, 2004)(Fairclough, 2001)(Klinkner, 1999). References Fairclough, A. (2001). Better day coming: Blacks and equality, 1890-2000. New York: Viking. Giroux, H.A. & Giroux, S.S. (2004). Take back higher education: Race, youth, and the crisis of democracy in the post-civil rights era. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Jacobson, J., Olsen, C., Rice, J.K., & Sweetland, S. (2001). Educational achievement and black-white inequality. Statistical analysis report. Retrieved May 5, 2007, from Education Resources Information Center: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/ content_storage_01/0000000b/80/0d/6d/c8.pdf. Judd, D.R. (1999). Symbolic Politics and Urban Policies: Why African Americans got so little from the Democrats. Without justice for all. Adolph Reed, ed. Boulder: Westview Press. 123-150. Klinkner, P.A. (1999). Bill Clinton and the new liberalism. Without justice for all. Adolph Reed, ed. Boulder: Westview Press. 11-28. Nettles, M.T. & Perna, L.W. (1997). The African American education data book. Volume I: Higher and adult education. Executive summary. Retrieved May 5, 2007, from Education Resources Information Center: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2/ content_storage_01/0000000b/80/26/12/fa.pdf. Orfield, Gary.

Patient Abuse in Nursing Facilities Essay Example for Free

Patient Abuse in Nursing Facilities Essay Patient abuse in nursing facilities is becoming more prominent. Abuse is not only physical, but emotional, sexual, neglect and financial exploitations. The elderly are the most vulnerable and least likely to complain, so unfortunately they are the targets. Most families research in depth about the nursing facility that they will place their loved one, in hopes that abuse doesn’t occur. Although the research is done, families should still look for signs and symptoms of abuse since they are leaving their loved one in stranger’s hands. According to (Center), A recent investigation concluded that employment checks do not always provide adequate protection against elder mistreatment. For instance, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services prohibit nursing homes from hiring persons with a prior history of committing abuse in a nursing home setting, but those who have been convicted of other forms of abuse like child abuse may still be hired. Some states require a criminal background check, while others do not. Even so, these checks usually do not uncover convictions in another state. Furthermore, in some states, non-caregiving staff such as maintenance workers and others without a direct patient care role do not undergo criminal checks even though they may have direct access to patients and patient areas. Understaffing is a common cause of nursing home abuse. When staff members become overworked, they may begin to lose their patience with the nursing home residents. In addition, understaffing leaves many workers unsupervised or untrained, which can lead to nursing home abuse. Still, physical abuse in nursing homes is illegal, and the owners of the assisted living facility can be held liable if a resident is subject to nursing home abuse or neglect. Sometimes, it is difficult to identify nursing home residents who have been physically abused. Very often, members of the nursing home staff will state that the residents injuries were the result of a fall rather than the actual causenursing home abuse. In addition, the staff member may bully the resident into agreeing with their story. Because detecting signs of physical nursing home abuse can be difficult, loved ones should pay careful attention when visiting the nursing home. Be aware of the common signs of physical nursing home abuse, including: unexplained bruising, cuts, sprains, fractures and broken bones and open wounds. In addition to physical signs, nursing home patients who have been physically abused may also show changes in their behavior. If the resident appears withdrawn, fearful, nervous or depressed, they may be suffering from physical nursing home abuse. The most common type of physical abuse is battery, which can include forcing the resident into restraints for no valid reason. Other forms of physical abuse in nursing homes include: overmedication, use of excessive restraints, chemical or physical, for no reason, burning, pushing, shoving, force feeding, hitting the resident with the hand or an object, pulling the residents hair and mishandling the resident when transporting them from beds, bathrooms etc ( (Morgan). According to (Emotional Abuse in Nursing Homes), Emotional abuse in nursing homes is not as overt as other forms of abuse. Regardless, the effects that emotional abuse in nursing homes can result in are damaging to the happiness, health, and other areas of that resident’s life. Not knowing what signs to look for can allow emotional abuse in nursing homes to continue. Often times, a resident thinks that telling someone about abuse suffered, including emotional abuse in nursing homes, will make them a burden to the family or they feel afraid of enduring an increased amount of abuse. If emotional abuse in nursing homes is occurring the family members should immediately notify the facility. The facility should amend the situation at once but if the emotional abuse in nursing homes persists, the family should take further action. The chances of the emotional abuse in nursing homes occurring to just one resident are very slim so other residents are probably suffering as well. Emotional abuse in nursing homes can include humiliation, harassment, threat of punishment, deprivation, and intimidation, as well as other behaviors. One of the most pervasive forms of nursing home abuse today is that of neglect. Nursing home neglect is too frequently overlooked and results all too often in a decline in general health and eventually the death of those elderly people entrusted to nursing home care facilities. The problem can occur anywhere and can take many shapes. What makes this particularly sinister is that it can be overlooked or ignored for so long. Even upon repeated visits to a nursing home, the signs of nursing home neglect can remain hidden. In order to understand the scope of the problem, it is important to know the different types of nursing home neglect and nursing home abuse. The most obvious, most egregious, and the first that comes to mind for many people is physical neglect. Unfortunately common in nursing homes today, neglect takes many forms, however, all of which are disturbing in their own right. Any of the following forms of neglect warrant contacting a nursing home abuse lawyer to bring justice to the victim of neglect, as well as make conditions safer for other residents (Center). According to (Financial Exploitation of Nursing Home Residents), Financial exploitation of the elderly occurs when an individual takes or uses the money or property of a senior for any wrongful use, or with the intent to defraud the elder. Senior citizens who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities can be victims of financial abuse by their direct caregivers or by the administrators of the nursing homes. Financial exploitation is defined as the wrongful use of an individual’s finances or property for another’s advantage. This can occur when residents personal or financial resources are taken from them without their consent, either because the residents were incapacitated and unable to give consent or because they were subjected to threats, intimidation, manipulation, and deception. Examples of financial exploitation include cashing an elderly person’s checks without authorization, forging a senior’s signature, stealing an older person’s money or possessions, or deceiving an older person into signing any contract, will, or other document. According to (Nursing Home Abuse), It is critical for every resident to understand their nursing home patient rights in order to successfully acclimate to the very different living environment of a skilled nursing facility. Patients and their families should become well versed in the policies and procedures inherent to life in the facility and must know exactly what they can and should expect when it comes to care and safety. In the US, the federal government and each state government have written legislation which guarantees each nursing home resident specific and general rights while under professional care. Most foreign counties have similar laws enacted to protect elders from abuse and neglect in nursing facilities, as well. When your loved one is placed in a nursing home, it is required that they are given a written bill of patient’s rights. It is recommended that the family and loved one go over this bill of rights in detail so they are familiar with the rights of their loved one. Most often, nursing home patients cannot defend themselves, due to several different reasons: physical health, mental health, social isolation or dependency issues. Unless someone comes forward for these patients, they won’t get help and no one is penalized for their actions. Many do not know how to report nursing home abuse, so they remain silent and struggle with their disturbing knowledge of the abuse or neglect. Once the repost is filed, the organization that is responsible, will investigate thoroughly and will hold the person/persons responsible for their actions. If you are a family member and suspect any minor abuse or neglect, it is always wise to report the activity to the nursing home administrator directly. Tell them that you have evidence of the abuse and that you intend to take this matter as far as it will go. Do not back down. If the infraction is minor and resulted in no real damage, then you may consider allowing them to discipline the staff member internally. Just be sure to watch out for any retribution which may come back to your loved one if the staff member is not fired. If the infraction is more serious or you do not feel completely confident that the matter will be settled in the best interest of your loved one, then take the concern one step further. Immediately call police and report the incident. Additionally, contact adult protective services, your ombudsman, your local nursing home regulatory agency and Medicare, if applicable. You might also consider consulting with a nursing home abuse attorney and filing a civil lawsuit (Nursing Home Abuse). Although abuse in nursing facilities is becoming more prominent, there are several things that family members can do to protect their loved one from being a victim from this horrible crime. The elderly are very vulnerable, but they do not deserve the abuse that the under paid, aggravated staff member may give them. If someone suspects abuse in a nursing facility, they should report it immediately. If not, this makes you just as guilty.

Platos Meno Essay -- essays research papers

The dialogue opens up with Meno asking what virtue is and whether it could be taught. Socrates asks Meno for a general definition of virtue, since as Socrates points out, we cannot figure out if virtue can be taught if we do not have a clear idea what it is. Socrates is looking for a general, or formal definition of virtue, not just examples or instances of it. Socrates wants to know what all the examples of virtue have in common. He wants to know the essence of virtue. Meno initially offers a list of virtues, but Socrates rejects this as a sufficient account. Meno also states that there are different virtues for everyone. The virtue of a man is to order a state and the virtue of a woman is to order a household. I believe that virtue can be found in everything, good, bad, or ugly.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Meno makes an interesting point. How will one know when they find virtue if they do not know virtue? The Socratic paradox is Socrates’ visible claim that virtue is a kind of knowledge, and vice a kind of ignorance. It is a paradox because people usually think a person can know the good and still fail to do it. That is, people usually think that virtue is more than a matter of knowing, it is also a matter of willing. Socrates says that if virtue were knowledge, then anybody who really knew the good would automatically be good. Indeed if Socrates is right that virtue is knowledge, it would be impossible to know the good and not to be good. For example, Christians know s...

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Bride -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeche

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Bride Hello everyone. I guess this is slightly unusual - the Bride doing a speech - but as you all know, the chances of me being able to stay quiet whilst everyone else does a speech were pretty slim. A good speech, they say, should be like a mini-skirt - short enough to be interesting, yet long enough to cover the essentials! So here goes........ Thank you all for coming to share the day with us. Many of you have had to take time off work and/or travelled a fair distance to be with us today - we really do appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for us. Of course, there are some faces missing from this celebration as I look round the room and for whatever reason, cannot be with us to share this special occasion. I'd like to make a toast now to the different people we've known and loved who are looking down on this celebration and hopefully having a little one of their own up there! Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please stand and raise your glasses to 'Absent Friends and Loved Ones'. Thanks to everyone who has helped in one way or another. I won't mention names as I'll more than likely forget someone and upset them! Special thanks to Mom, Dad, Irene and Jimmy for their generous contributions. Also, thankyou to Irene and Jimmy for raising James so well, althoufg I understand that the warranty's out of date and the refund deadline has long since passed. I think I'l... ...finally start to let himself go! Anyway, thankyou James for turning up today, on time and appropriately dressed. (Turn to hubby) You are the love of my life, my best friend and now my hubby. I don't think anybody could be as happy as I am today and I can't wait for us to share the rest of our lives together. I'll drink my own private toast to James later. Iwould now like to propose another toast, this time to you, our guests. (Get hubby to stand up) Cheers everyone! I had a great laugh writing this speech and even more of a laugh delivering it - especially as the Best Man (and everyone else) had no idea it was coming and he was geeing himself to stand up!! Hope this helps other Brides planning a speech.

Communication and Crisis paper Essay

When a certain crisis is going or a situation at the time then the emergency management office is going to be communicating with one another inside of the office and also outside of the organization as well. When dealing with and issue or matter however you look at it no matter what but also sometimes to it can be very difficult for the organization to meet up with one another at the time to get information about what is going on in the community or town during the time. But when you are working with so many different organization at the time communication can be hard for all of them that why you to come up with an idea for the groups or organization when discussing a certain topic with information you have it must be a design timely matter for things to be cover and also each member must be available while working with one another and also be very cooperation to when it comes to the organizations so you won’t cause the public to have an panic attack about the matter that is going on in the community. That which could cause a lot more of problems down the line for the town as well your own self while a crisis is going on that is why the emergency management office have to be very carefully what they say on news and television and the radio broadcast station about a crisis so they don’t put people under more pressure while communicate about the crisis that is involved the community. When a crisis is taking place at a certain time there are going to be many advantages and challenges with every organization as well to for the public no matter what. The one thing you have to do is make sure there are no challenges or advantages that might make the people in the community have a panic attack or a nervous breakdown while a crisis is going on that which  harms them at the time. But when the emergency management office get certain information about a crisis at the time they must get expertise information from other resources that is adequate when dealing with a certain matter that is why they take precautions also to as well to. Because when a certain crisis is going on people can breakdown under pressure so this is why the organizations should be prepared for things like this also there should be more integrated communication plan in place while collaboration with one another at the very moment about a topic or crisis. Differences in communication processes what one has learned from the scenario and how one might incorporate that knowledge to improve healthcare communication strategies? I know there are so many different types of communications processes that you can used when dealing a certain situation or crisis at the time. But also you must have effective communication with one another while a crisis is going on and making sure you have a better understanding as well to. I think the best way to go with communication method is the effective way because every little thing will be on the television, news station and the radio station along with the social media to because when a certain crisis is going on at the time one must find a way to communicate about the situation or matter that is why now it is a lot more of technology available to communicate today around the world. When trying to send a message out to others that is why one must find out what communication strategy method work for them best when trying to improve healthcare communication skills with one another at that time in the field of medical. Appropriate technology like social media and how technologies may be used to enhance communication when a crisis is going or even an certain situation at the moment there are certain things that should be used and appropriate to use or say in the social media while you are reach out to a lot of people around the world at the time like this. Because sometimes people can go online and add more things about the crisis or situation that might not even be true at all that is why the organization must be very carefully when sending out a message to the public about a certain topic or matter also the  social media must have information to back up a crisis that is happened while they are communicate about topic with information that is mostly reliable and telling the truth as well also before it even get out to the public. Because you don’t want to send out the wrong message to the public because that will be worldwide no matter what also the technology should enhance their communication skills during and time like this in the social media but in the healthcare field they should try to come up with a lot more of communication theory that is going to be very effective in a crisis by having more advancement in technology. How technology may be used differently now then it was during the crisis is in certain crisis at the moment that is going on one must use the appropriate communication skills strategy that fit them very best to their ability with the most accurate information in an crisis form of communication that is being broadcast all over the different types of networks at the very important moment. This is why one must have a certain type of communication method while working with technology today in the social media spotlight that is going to be on the local television stations and radio station as well also to for the emergency management technologies while they are reaching out to the population around the world about a main disaster crisis at the time with updated information in a more timely manner. Media opportunities during a crisis The media have so many different opportunities when it comes to an crisis that is taking place at the time with television airtime and news station and radio station as well also to with the newspaper no matter what. Because this is a lot more of good media time for them with many more opportunities as well when they look at it for the time being that which will put them on top in the big spotlight by promote their self and business to because they know many people are going to watch the news for information about a certain crisis or issue that is being broadcast as well that is going be good for publicity In an crisis that is going on at the moment it is an essential to have good  communication skill for the people inside of the community at the time by let them know what it is going and also by not causing any problems or panic attacks by trying your best to describe what is being done as possible to prevent this matter. By having good communication skills strategy when it all comes down to communicating with each other in all of these types of organization in the field so everyone can get the information in a timely manner and order as well to. But however you look at it there are going to be some challenges and advantages while things is being address to the public about certain situation when talking to the community and town of people. And also when one is discussing an crisis at the time they must make sure it is appropriate to the technology as well also to with the social media that they are going to using in the spotlight and also this is a very good opportunity to the media as well to while a crisis is going on that is a competitions. References Du Pre, A.(2005) Communicating about health: current issues and perspectives (2nd Ed) Boston, M.A MC Graw Hill J, S . H . & Randolph, T.B. (2002) toward a synthesis model for crisis communication in the public sector Journal of business and technical communication Retrieved on June 13, 2013 from proquest database Stephenson D, R (1982) How to turn pit falls into opportunities in crisis situation: public relation quarterly retrieved on June 14, 2013

Psychology Term Paper Topics

Psychology Term Paper Topics If you are having problems with your psychology term paper assignment – this article might be able to help you. If you are confused with what to write about in your psychology term paper – try not to panic, a good psychology term paper is just around the corner, and youll be able to write it easily. The first, and by far the hardest step in writing a psychology term paper is the psychology term paper topic. The topic of your psychology term paper is the one which will define your psychology term paper, and on which depends the further text of the psychology term paper. If you dont know what topic to choose for your psychology term paper, you can use your copy book on the web to gain some inspiration. Here is a list of topics for you to find your golden moment of inspiration:   Ã‚   1. Try to describe the life and way of thinking of a great psychologist or a philosopher. This is always a good topic, and is always handy. You may be able to find a lot of interesting facts if you have enough material. It is always interesting to read some interesting facts about some famous people of the past. If you include a proper part of the psychology analysis – your psychology term paper will become golden and you will definitely get the highest grade for your psychology term paper. 2. Another easy way to come up with a good psychology term paper is to try to describe a famous experiment. The history of psychology is filled with various experiments, and you can always find something, which is unknown, yet needs to be known. All you need to do is analyze the motives of the experiment, the whole process and of course, the results of the experiment, and the effect of the knowledge gained out of this experiment.    3. Another path you can go is try to analyze a group or an individual from the psychological point of view. You can never be dull with a psychology term paper of this type. Every person is an individual, and if you are able to find something interesting from this analysis – is the best way to do the psychology term paper. 4. You can describe a specific occupation in the field of psychology. The best way is to write how psychology helps in a specific occupation. For example, if you are working as a promotional manager, or something in advertising, and how you can affect people using your own psychology knowledge.   Ã‚   5. Another good way to have a psychology term paper written is to make a critical analysis of some piece of literature. It is always popular to write a critique on a famous book in psychology. If you want to deep into classics you can analyze Freuds books, or you might want to consider something from the latest editions. It is always hard to write a literature critique, but the result is totally worth it.    6. The best thing you can do in your psychology term paper is describe an experiment you would like to conduct. It is always fascinating to conduct a research with the help of experiments, and now you actually have a chance to conduct one. You can start of describing what would you like to achieve, and later – explain the methods you are conducting your research. Nothing is more interesting than following an experiment. There is always a various range of topics, where you can conduct your research, and everything is just waiting for you. Here is a list of the most interesting psychology essay topics: 1. What is Psychology and Why it is Important? 2. Social Psychology: Do Humans control their attitudes? 3. History of Psychology 4. The Influence of Mechanism on the Science of Psychology 5. Anthropology vs psychology 6. Psychology: Can It Be Regarded As A Science? 7. Humanistic perspective of psychology 8. Environmental Psychology 9. The Effects on Human Psychology caused by Violent Music Lyrics 10. African Psychology 11. Forensic Psychology 12. Jungian Psychology 13. Development Psychology 14. Perspectives in Psychology 15. Psychology Disorders 16. Impact of Psychology on Finance and Traders 17. Cognitve Psychology 18. Psychology Types 19. Reverse Psychology 20. The Psychology of Death and Dying 21. Psychology Mental Abnormality

Party Government and the United Kingdom (UK) essays

Party Government and the United Kingdom (UK) essays Party Government is the type of Government we use in the UK; five main features can be identified from party government. Firstly, in nearly every general election it is just one party that wins a majority and forms the government, there have been exceptions, but usually, a one-party majority is a case. Secondly, party manifestos can be written, particularly around an election, and the party is winning the majority has a mandate to carry out of the policies in the manifesto, even the unpopular ones. Thirdly, the Government, and also the opposition party, have nearly all control of parliamentary time and agenda. Private Members Bills are occasionally discussed, but the bulk of the time is reserved for the government or opposition party. Fourthly, many official posts, including ministers and chairs of committees, are appointed by the leadership of parties, mainly the Government and opposition parties. This means a great deal of patronage is involved in party government. Finally, opposit ion to the government is normally through the official opposition party and other large parties that didn't form a government. Pressure groups and the public also have an impact on the opposition, but opposition is mainly in the form of the opposition parties. Party government, has its benefits to the country, but also its disadvantages. The main advantage to Party government is the fact that after a general election a clear and decisive government can form. This government normally stays united and rarely splits, providing a stable government. Another advantage of party government is that the electorate knows the policies that the government will be carried out because their election manifesto states their policies. The Doctrine of 'Manifesto and Mandate' allows the government to follow its policies without any major opposition because it says that a government has been elected, and so has authority to carry out its policies. Also, the fundamental dis...

Study on E-Commerce Essays

Study on E-Commerce Essays Study on E-Commerce Essay Study on E-Commerce Essay Prospects of E-Commerce in India Shweta Sharma, Sugandha Mittal Management Department, Swami Devi Dayal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Barwala, Haryana, India Abstract E-Commerce has unleashed yet another revolution, which is changing the way businesses buy and sell products and services. . E-commerce stands for electronic commerce and pertains to trading in goods and services through the electronic medium. India is showing tremendous growth in the Ecommerce. The low cost of the PC and the growing use of the Internet is one of reasons for that. There is a growing awareness among the business community in India about the opportunities offered by eCommerce. The future does look very bright for ecommerce in India with even the stock exchanges coming online providing a online stock portfolio and status with a fifteen minute delay in prices. . In the next 3 to 5 years, India will have 30 to 70 million Internet users which will equal, if not surpass, many of the developed countries. 4800 crore online market in 2007-08. The travel portal MakeMyTrip. com has attained Rs 1000 crores of turnovers which are around 20% of total e-commerce market in India. Further an annual growth of 65% has been anticipated annually in the travel portals alone. 3. Growth of e-commerce During the year 2000-2001, two major Industry Associations produced separate reports on e-commerce in India. One was prepared by the National Committee on ECommerce set up the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), while the other was commissioned by the NASSCOM and prepared by the Boston Consulting Group. Both the reports are optimistic about the growth of e-commerce in India. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) report estimates the volume of e-commerce to grow to Rs 500 billion (US$ 10. billion) in the year 2003. The NASSCOM-BCG Report, on the other hand, estimates for the same year that the total volume of ecommerce will be Rs 1,950 billion (US$ 41. 5 billion). Amul, a milk cooperative, is successfully using ecommerce to deepen its brand loyalty. Likewise, corporate in the automotive sector are improving their customer relations through this medium. Some of th e new names that are rediscovering e-commerce through new portals at relatively low capital cost, without venture capital funding include: Key 2 crorepati, Music Absolute, Gate 2 Biz. The low cost of the PC and the growing use of he Internet has shown the tremendous growth of Ecommerce in India, in the recent years. According to the Indian Ecommerce Report released by Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and IMRB International, â€Å" The total online transactions in India was Rs. 7080 crores (approx $1. 75 billion) in the year 20062007 and expected to grow by 30% to touch 9210 crores (approx $2. 15 billion) by the year 2007-2008. According to a McKinsey-Nasscom report the e-commerce transactions in India are expected to reach $100 billion by the 2008. Although, as compared to the western countries, India is still in is its initial stage of development. E-Marketer forecasts that online sales will more than double by reaching $168. 7 billion in 2011. market share is moving toward Australia, India and especially China. China’s share of regional B2C e-commerce will grow more than threefold from 4. 1% in 2006 to 14. 3% by 2011. At the low end, South Korea’s B2C e-commerce sales 1. Introduction As a symbol of globalization and in many ways its leading feature, e-commerce represents the cutting edge of success in this digital age. E-commerce stands for electronic commerce and pertains to trading in goods and services through the electronic medium, i. e. the Internet or phone. On the Internet, it pertains to a website, which sells products or services directly from the site using a shopping cart or shopping basket system and allows credit card payments. It involves conducting business with the help of the electronic media, making use of the information technology such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). In simple words, Electronic commerce involves buying and selling of goods and services over the World Wide Web. Customers can purchase anything right from a car or a cake sitting comfortably in his room and gift it to someone sitting miles apart just by click of a mouse. 2. Scope of e-commerce India is showing tremendous growth in the Ecommerce. Rival tradeindia. com has 700,000 registered buyers and it has the growth rate of 35% every year which is likely to double in the year 2010. Indiamart. com claims revenues of Rs. 38 crores and has a growing rate of 50 every year. It receives around 500,000 enquiries per month. Undoubtedly, with the middle class of 288 million people, online shopping shows unlimited potential in India. The real estate costs are touching the sky. The travel portals share in the online business contributed to 50% of Rs will grow by 13. 3% over the same period. Between 2006 and 2011, the aggregate CAGR for the five countries will be 23. 3%. E-commerce in these markets will have come of age when consumers start buying more expensive, high-touch categories such as apparel, home furnishings and jewelry. 4. Status of e-commerce in India Today E-commerce is a byword in Indian society and it has become an integral part of our daily life. There are websites providing any number of goods and services. Then there are those, which provide a specific product along with its allied services Multi-product e-commerce- These Indian E-commerce portals provide goods and services in a variety of categories. To name a few: Apparel and accessories for men and women, Health and beauty products , Books and magazines, Computers and peripherals, Vehicles, Software, Consumer electronics, Household appliances, Jewelry, Audio/video, entertainment, goods, Gift articles, Real estate and services Single-product e-commerce Some Indian portals/websites deal in a specialized field, for example: 1) Automobiles- On these sites we can buy and sell fourwheelers and two-wheelers, new as well as used vehicles, online. Some of the services they provide are: Car research and reviews, Online evaluation, Technical specifications, Vehicle Insurance, Vehicle Finance. ) Stocks and shares and e-commerce- In India today, we can even deal in stocks and shares through e-commerce. Some of the services offered to registered members are: Online buying/selling of stocks and shares, Market analysis and research, Company information, Comparison of companies, Research on Equity and Mutual Funds. 3) Real estate and e-commerce - They provide information on new properties as well as properties for resale. One can deal directly with developer through consultant. Allied services: Housing Finance, Insurance companies, Architects Interior Designers, NRI services, Packers Movers. ) Travel tourism and e-commerce- India has a rich history and heritage and e-commerce is instrumental, to a large extent, in selling India as a product, encouraging Indians as well as foreigners to see its multifaceted culture and beauty. The tourist destination sites are categorized according to themes like: Adventure trekking, mountain climbing etc, Eco-Themes pertains to jungles, flora and fauna. 5) Gifts and e-commerce- In the bygone days, one had to plan what to gift a loved one, trudge across to your favorite shop, and browse for hours before purchasing a gift. The gifts are categorized as: Collectibles like paintings and sculptures, Luxury items like leather goods, perfumes, jewelry boxes, etc, household curios and carpets, etc, Toys games, Chocolates, Flowers, Woodcraft metal-craft. Fig. 1 sales of selected countries in Asia Pacific Online travel is the largest e-commerce sales category in most major countries. For the same group of five countries, plus New Zealand, online leisure and unmanaged business travel sales totaled about $17. 7 billion in 2007 and are forecast to rise to $41. 7 billion by 2011. E-Marketer forecasts that from 2006 to 2011 online travel sales will grow at a 24. % annual rate, higher than the 23. 3% rate for B2C e-commerce. This indicates that travel is one of the key drivers of e-commerce sales in the APAC region. Fig. 2 Graph of sales in selected countries In China and India, online-travel spending drives B2C ecommerce sales, and it accounts for a majority of total sales. Consumers are less wary of buying servic es like train or airline tickets online, and sellers can avoid the logistics and delivery problems associated with physical goods. Jeffrey Grau, senior analyst at e Marketer, said that such preferences underscore how e-commerce in the region has a vast amount of growth ahead. ) Hobbies and e-commerce- The most popular hobbies from time immemorial are reading, music and films. The books cover a wide range of topics like Business, Art, Cookery, Engineering, Children’s Stories, Health, Medicine, Biographies, Horror, Home Garden, etc. 7) Matrimony and E- commerce- It is said that marriages are made in heaven, but in the world of E-commerce they are made on marriage portals One can search for a suitable match on their websites by region of residence (India or abroad), religion or caste. Allied services for registered members: Astrological services, Information on Customs and Rituals, Legal issues, Health Beauty, Fashion Style, Wedding Planners. 8) Employment and e-commerce- Two major portals like www. Monsterindia. com and www. naukri. com (meaning job. com in Hindi) are instrumental in providing job seekers with suitable employment at the click of a mouse. The service for job seekers is free and for Employers they charge a nominal fee. Jobs are available online in fields ranging from secretarial to software development, and from real estate to education. 5. Facilitators in Chennai, Lucknow and will shortly set up offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kathmandu, Bhopal. 2) Candid Info: This Indian E-commerce company is based in New Delhi. It is a renowned Offshore Outsource Web designing development e-commerce Company. It offers off shore web development, designing, and SEO solutions for large corporations and SMEs. 3) Chenab Information Technologies Private Limited: This E-commerce company in India comprises of web enabled business and web bases services, airline and security systems by using the internet technologies and tools of the state of the art. The company has three Software Development centers in Mumbai and the overseas branch office in New York. It is the first software company across the globe to get the certification of ISO 9001:2000. 4) Euro link Systems Limited: This leading E-commerce company provides consulting and e-business solutions, FlexTCA Systems, Trillium Protocol services to the global community. The company has its office in England, U. S, Switzerland, and India with about 200 employee strength. 5) HashPro Technologies: It offers e-business and traditional analysis, development, implementation, design and strategic planning. It is a leader in the provider of integrated talent management software organization in India. It is key technology consulting provider. It renders services like the E-commerce Hosting, Internet Marketing and Human Resources. The e-Workforce initiative of the company will enable the company to become a 100 percent e-Corporation. 6) Compare Info Base: The company is leading provider of e-commerce portals and IT solutions. The company manages about 1500 websites and portals with 4000 domain names. It has web presence in Maps, SoftwareDevelopment, GISTravel, Education, Media, and Greetings etc. It specializes in Content development services, Website development services; PHP Programming Development etc. It has its office in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. 7) Sanver E-solutions: This company is based in Mumbai. They believe that Information Technology is a way to the business objectives. It is a IT consulting and Solutions Provider which offers personalized and personal business solutions using Information and Communication Technology. ) Planet Asia: This E-commerce company in India uses track record and deep experience in externalized applications to produce high quality B2SPEC(Business to Partner, Supplier, Customer) solutions to global enterprises. 9) Candid Web Technology- This fast growing E Commerce Company in India is a provider of Complete of e-commerce in India A. Information directories: The products and services are listed with appropriate sub-headings to make it easy for a serious information-seeker to find what he wants. Allied services provided by them: Message boards, chat rooms, forums, etc. B. Banks: 1) Net banking/phone banking: This is an online banking facility available for savings account holders as well as current account holders. Some of the special Net banking services are: Demat accounts for sale/purchase of stocks and shares, Foreign Exchange services, Direct/Instant payment of bills on the account-holder’s behalf, Financial Planning advice, Electronic Funds Transfer, Loans to account-holders. 2) Credit/Debit Cards- Banks facilitate E-commerce by providing the most vital trade instrument, namely the Credit or Debit Card, without which E-commerce would be impossible. . List of Top E-Commerce Companies of India 1) ASA Systel Communications Pvt Ltd: It is a leading E-commerce company in India which provides innovative and superb quality web services which encompasses the building of e-commerce related websites and portals. The company also uses the latest payment modes and security. The company has its offices Web Solutions for the design and development of dynamic web sites . The clients of the e-commerce company spans from the small scale companies to corporate organizations. 0) Trisoft Design: Trisoft Systems is a software services company that offers solutions exclusively on the Microsoft Platform to customers worldwide. 10 years of experience on the Microsoft Platform puts the company at the forefront of . Net Technology. We invite you to explore our website and we look forward to helping your business unleash its potential. The young population find online transactions much easier 8. Bottom of Form Barriers to Ecommerce in India Some of the infrastructural barriers responsible for slow growth of eCommerce in India are as follows. Some of these even present new business opportunities. A. Payment Collection: When get paid by net banking one has to end up giving a significant share of revenue (4% or more) even with a business of thin margin. This effectively means y parting away with almost half of profits. Fraudulent charges, charge backs etc. all become merchant’s responsibility and hence to be accounted for in the business model. B. Logistics: You have to deliver the product, safe and secure, in the hands of the right guy in right time frame. Regular post doesn’t offer an acceptable service level; couriers have high charges and limited reach. Initially, you might have to take insurance for high value shipped articles increasing the cost. C. Vendor Management: However advanced system may be, vendor will have to come down and deal in an inefficient system for inventory management. This will slow down drastically. Most of them won’t carry any digital data for their products. No nice looking photographs, no digital data sheet, no mechanism to check for daily prices, availability to keep your site updated. D. Taxation: Octroi, entry tax, VAT and lots of state specific forms which accompany them. This can be confusing at times with lots of exceptions and special rules. E. Limited Internet access among customers and SMEs F. Poor telecom connectivity and infrastructure for reliable 7. Benefits of E-Commerce to Businesses There is a growing awareness among the business community in India about the opportunities offered by eCommerce. Ease of Internet access and navigation are the critical factors that will result in rapid adoption of Net commerce. Safe and secure payment modes are crucial too along with the need to invent and popularize innovations such as Mobile Commerce. India Reports provides accurate and easy to understand India specific reports that capture trends, map business landscapes and custom-made reports for specific needs. The other reports available on India Reports are on retail, outsourcing, tourism, food and other emerging sectors in India. Easy reach to a fast growing online community Unlimited shelf place for products and services Fuse the global geographical and time zone boundaries Helps reach national and global markets at low operating costs. Research studies have indicated several factors responsible for the sudden spurt in growth of ECommerce in India such as: Rapidly increasing Internet user base Technology advancements such as VOIP (Voiceover-IP) have bridged the gap between buyers and sellers online The emergence of blogs as an avenue for information dissemination and two-way communication for online retailers and eCommerce vendors Improved fraud prevention technologies that offer a safe and secure business environment and help prevent credit card frauds, identity thefts and phishing Bigger web presence of SME’s and Corporate because of lower marketing and infrastructure costs. G. Multiple gaps in the current legal and regulatory framework H. Multiple issues of trust and lack of payment gateways: privacy of personal and business data connected over the Internet not assured; security and confidentiality of data not in place. 9. Future of E-Commerce in India Today, we are talking about e-commerce progress level of India, the seventh-largest by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Indian eCommerce space percentage is getting higher as more and more online retailers enter the market. Although this level of entry in the e-commerce market is good from a long term perspective, the challenge is that most entrepreneurs don’t have the resources or capital to wait for years before they can get profits. The past 2 years have seen a rise in the number of companies embracing e-commerce technologies and the Internet in India. Most e-commerce sites have been targeted towards the NRIs with Gift delivery services, books, Audio and videocassettes e. t. c. Major Indian portal sites have also shifted towards e-commerce instead of depending on advertising revenue. The web communities built around these portal sites with content have been effectively targeted to sell everything from event and movie tickets the grocery and computers. This is not to say that the e-commerce scenario has been bad in India as highly successful e-business like baba bazaar and India mart have proved. Indian Banks too have been very successful in adapting EC and EDI Technologies to provide customers with real time account status, transfer of funds between current and checking accounts, stop payment facilities. ICICI Bank, Global TRUST BANK AND UTI-Bank also have put their electronic banking over the internet facilities in place for the up coming e-commerce market speed post also plain to clone the federal express story with online package status at any moment in time . The future does look very bright for e-commerce in India with even the stock exchanges coming online providing a online stock portfolio and status with a fifteen minute delay in prices. The day cannot be far when with RBI regulations will able to see stock transfer and sale over the Net with specialized services. to 5 years, India will have 30 to 70 million Internet users which will equal, if not surpass, many of the developed countries. Internet economy will then become more meaningful in India. With the rapid expansion of internet, ecommerce, is set to play a very important role in the 21st century, the new opportunities that will be thrown open, will be accessible to both large corporations and small companies. The role of government is to provide a legal framework for E Commerce so that while domestic and international trade are allowed to expand their horizons, basic rights such as privacy, intellectual property, prevention of fraud, consumer protection etc are all taken care of. REFERENCES [1] Sinha (April 2009), â€Å"Ecommerce in India – The Real Challenges† [2] Chaudhury, Abijit; Jean-Pierre Kuilboer (2002). EBusiness and e-Commerce Infrastructure. McGraw-Hill. [3] Frieden, Jonathan D. ; Roche, Sean Patrick (2006), ECommerce: Legal Issues of the Online Retailer in Virginia, Richmond Journal of Law Technology,13 (2). [4] Miller, Roger (2002), â€Å"The Legal and E-Commerce Environment Today†, Thomson Learning, pp. 741 pages. [5] Turban E, Lee J King D and Chung H M (1999),† Electronic Commerce: A Managerial Perspective†, Prentice Hall [6] Ubois, Jeff (1995), â€Å"Wheels of Commerce- an Interview with commerce†, pp 62-69 [7] Megna, Michelle (2008); â€Å"E-Commerce Trends for 2008 and 2009†. [8] Rastogi, Rajiv; â€Å"Country’s report on E Commerce Initiatives†. 10. Conclusion A developing country can become industrialized and modernized if it can extensively apply IT to enhance productivity and international competitiveness, develop ecommerce and e-governance applications. An information-based society or knowledge based society is composed of IT products, IT applications in society and economy as a whole. Many countries in Asia are taking advantage of e-commerce through opening of economies, which is essential for promoting competition and diffusion of Internet technologies. Large enough to have a critical mass of 10 to 20 million users to be able to make an impact on e-commerce and e-governance. In the next 3

Was alexander the great really great Research Paper

Was alexander the great really great - Research Paper Example ign, Alexander conquered many territories and until to date, he is considered one of the brilliant military leaders who used unique tactics to bring down their opponents. The main reason why he was called the â€Å"Great† because of his victory in conquering the Persian Empire (Anson 2). This paper explores the legacy of Alexander the Great and presents an argument that he was really the great. Notably, Alexander was named the â€Å"Great† after his death and he is known worldwide as Alexander the great since then. The question that arises from this is whether he really deserves to be called the great or not. Undoubtedly, Alexander the Great was great, for instance, he was a great conqueror who managed to establish the largest empire in the ancient world. The greatness of Alexander is usually covered in respect of his achievements, conquests and influence when he was a king. Arguably, establishing great cities is one of his greatest legacies. Alexander established one of the largest empires in ancient history, which acts as one of his biggest achievements that made him popular. He was able to stop Persians from encroaching further upon Greece, and he conquered an empire that stretched from the Balkans to modern- day Pakistan. As Anson (1) noted, Alexander’s conquests spread over two million square miles. There are many cities, about fifty-eight, in the world that are named after Alexander the Great. The names that were given to these cities showed that the founder, Alexander wanted these cities to be great and prosperous (Anson 183). Secondly, he was a great military tactician because he won almost all the battles that he was involved in. His unique tactic was to attack in more than one direction simultaneously and this enabled him to win many battles and defeat his opponents accordingly. Alexander was a good soldier who never hesitated to lead his army in his attempt to conquer the world and motivated them by being part of them during the battles. His military

Kosair Children's Hospital Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Kosair Children's Hospital - Assignment Example According to the discussion the hospital is heavily equipped with equipments and facilities to handle all child conditions. The physical facilities include beds, intensive care units, and cardiology equipments among many others. The facilities are well arranged in the hospital depending on the type of service they offer. They are also well arranged and put in records to ease access in emergency times. A perfect example is the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) which has a 97 bed capacity which are for intensive and critical care newborns, isolation rooms, private rooms for storage of beds and other valuables, Kids Kare which is a home settings for all the babies in need of long term care or those who are machine dependent as well as Pedway access between the hospital and Norton Hospital.From this paper it is clear that the hospital has a large patient or client base considering the fact that it offers medical attention to all children regardless of their parent’s ability to p ay for the medical expenses.   The hospital takes care of around 120,000 children per Annum, a large number which the hospital cannot take care in terms of finances and that is why it receives donations from the Children’s Hospital Foundation and other well wishers.  The hospital engages in numerous clinical activities which include child safety, nursing care, cardiology, allergy and immunology services, intensive care unit, surgical services among many other activities.

ENGLISH 4 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ENGLISH 4 - Research Paper Example This keeps off diseases that cause death in humans. Even so, the presence of accidents both in the present and future stands out as the only deterrent to the achievement of this objective. Thus, this research report analyses examples from the article to determine the effectiveness and reliability of the emotional, ethical and logical appeals that the author uses to pass across the intended arguments and persuade the reader. Emotional Appeal In this essay, figurative language has been used to appeal to the reader’s emotions. For example, the word, â€Å"party,† has been used by the author in place of the word, â€Å"life,† as in the phrase â€Å"leave the party† (McCarthy 550). This portrays life as being fun that one cannot afford to lose. It thus becomes easier to have a discussion on immortality appeal to the readers. Therefore, the author uses this figurative language to emotionally gain the support of the reader on the need to increase human life so as to allow for a longer time of fun with life. Furthermore, the author appropriately uses metaphors and comparisons to appeal to the reader’s emotions. For example, talking of the â€Å"path of long life† and the â€Å"highway of immortality† aims at portraying the intended lifespan as being long, just as a path or highway is (McCarthy 544). Moreover, placing the phrases in the same paragraph helps the author make immortality more appealing by comparing it to a highway rather than long life which she compares to a path. The author makes immortality more appealing, even though both long life and immortality entail longer life. The author also uses irony to appeal emotionally to the reader. For example, â€Å"I have accepted my own mortality†¦ [but] I don’t accept the mortality of my loved ones†¦ I don’t want them ever to die† (McCarthy 548). This shows that the author is least concerned about whether she dies, but willing to do all i t takes to ensure that her loved ones do not die. It is ironical for one to wish others well more than self. The author uses this irony to emotionally gain the reader’s trust who will consider her as selfless. It, thus, becomes easier for such an audience to agree with the author’s arguments. Ethical Appeal In this essay, the author establishes ethos through appropriate choice of words. Use of technical terminologies related to the studies of human anatomy gives the article an ethical appeal. Terminologies used in human science such as DNA, chromosome and telomerase have been used by McCarthy (545) in the essay. This enables the author to convince the reader that she has the technical knowledge on human anatomy. The perception of a qualified author in the field of human science makes the reader qualify her as a reliable authority to discuss human immortality. Logical Appeal Examples used in the essay have been appropriately chosen so as to establish logos. The author h as borrowed examples from credible sources so as to logically appeal to the readers. The use of titles and describing the cited sources aims at establishing a logical appeal in the essay. For instance, McCarthy (545) cites the argument by Dr. Francis Collins, a director at the National Human Genome Research Institute at the NIH, that within the next 30 years, the genes responsible for aging in humans would have been known. She further cites Dr. Huber Warner, a director at the aging program biology based at the National Institute of Aging, NIA, as being optimistic about humans living longer through

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Read the assignment carefully before you start - Essay Example Law and economics is more likely than other branches of legal examination to use empirical or statistical methods to measure these responses to incentives. Law and economics shares with other branches of economics the supposition that individuals are rational and respond to incentive My choice was also based on the economic principle of how people respond to incentives. As people make decisions by comparing costs or benefits, their behavior might change when the costs or benefits vary. This is a characteristic of law and economics as it emphasize on incentives and people’s responses to these incentives. For instance, the resolution of damage payments in an accident, law is not to reimburse injured victims, but rather to offer an incentive for potential injurers to take effective cost-justified insurances to evade causing the accident. In sum, law and economics will enable me to minimize on the financial frauds such as bankruptcy, creditors-debtors misery. Specializing in law and economy will assist in intensifying contracts and corporations in order to gain efficiency in any branch of economics. That is to say, law and economy crosscuts all the branches of

How is Indian Art and Southeast Asian Art are Connected Research Paper

How is Indian Art and Southeast Asian Art are Connected - Research Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that  the society again involved in making contributions towards art, literature, culture and religion. All along with the development of the society, art and architecture played an equally important role. They were also influenced by the religions practiced by the society in those periods like Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Indo-Islamism.   Indian art is not to be studied from the time-based evolution perspective but rather from the region and period of its evolution perspective.  This study highlights that Indian art has continuously evolved through time and is still evolving. It begun with rock painting, moving onto rock cut caves and temple architecture and then paintings and sculptures. Alongside these forms, India also showed progress in the tribal form of art as there were various cultural and social groups in India. However, it is worth mentioning that almost all art forms were inspired by the innumerous Gods and Goddesses that people be lieved in, who were transformed into contemporary forms and familiar images. Indian society has been very secular ever since ancient times and has encouraged different practices all along. This rich philosophy, both spiritual and rational, made its impact on Indian art and architecture. Temples and stupas were seen to incorporate symbolic languages based on important philosophical concepts. These included the Chakra or wheel of time, Padma or lotus, the symbol of creation, Swastika representing aspects of creation and motion, Mriga or deer the symbol of erotic desire and beauty and many such symbols.

Read the assignment carefully before you start Essay - 1

Read the assignment carefully before you start - Essay Example Law and economics is more likely than other branches of legal examination to use empirical or statistical methods to measure these responses to incentives. Law and economics shares with other branches of economics the supposition that individuals are rational and respond to incentive My choice was also based on the economic principle of how people respond to incentives. As people make decisions by comparing costs or benefits, their behavior might change when the costs or benefits vary. This is a characteristic of law and economics as it emphasize on incentives and people’s responses to these incentives. For instance, the resolution of damage payments in an accident, law is not to reimburse injured victims, but rather to offer an incentive for potential injurers to take effective cost-justified insurances to evade causing the accident. In sum, law and economics will enable me to minimize on the financial frauds such as bankruptcy, creditors-debtors misery. Specializing in law and economy will assist in intensifying contracts and corporations in order to gain efficiency in any branch of economics. That is to say, law and economy crosscuts all the branches of

Analysis paper Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

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Exploring South Africa Culture Essay Example for Free

Exploring South Africa Culture Essay There are many countries that display various types and forms of communication, especially in some countries of Africa. One of the most toured and â€Å"rainbow† diverse country in Africa is apparently South Africa. Even though most of the country is predominantly black, it is also known to be one of the most multicultural countries in the world. In fact, there are many different ethnic groups that make up the countries’ population in urban areas. Also, it explain black people of South Africa colonialism and immigration have brought in white Europeans, Indians, Indo-Malays, Chinese and many more. The best the thing to do is describe some of South African culture, customs, manners, etiquette, values in order to understand the people better. You may be going to South Africa on business, for a visit or even hosting South African colleagues or clients in your own country. Remember, this is only a very basic prologue and is not meant to stereotype all South Africans you may meet! South Africa can be described as a social community that has a various types of communicational style, depending on the ethnic group or maybe the area At the same time they value human politeness over materialism. People living in the city live their life in the fast lane, which affects their outlook. People from the city Johannesburg can quite often be regarded as having materialistic values, and being more concerned in what you own rather than who you are in general. They prefer to see themselves as urbane and their country cousins as less sophisticated. However, in rural areas family ties, long-term friendships and social standing are all important to South Africans. The many rural black communities and villages are still rooted in the traditions of their heritage, whereas the increasingly urban black community combines their roots with the urban environment and international influences that surround them. In order to be accepted by the majority of South African culture, you must first understand their customs. South Africans are openly expressive when it comes to their customs. In fact, some of the countries customs are related to the United States in a way. For instance, the United States and South African share similar greetings, the English language and attires. When trying to get to know someone, South Africans, regardless of ethnicity, prefer meeting and greeting someone face to face instead of impersonal communication like email, letter, or telephone. Greetings are unhurried and can include time for social conversations and the exchanging of them too. â€Å"Currently, there are several greeting styles in South Africa, depending upon the ethnic heritage of the person you are visiting. When dealing with foreigners, most South Africans shake hands while maintaining eye contact and smiling† (Kwintessential 2004). Some women of South Africa don’t like to shake hands, usually they will merely nod their head, so it is best to wait for a woman to extend her hand first. Men can also kiss a woman they know well on the cheek in place of a handshake; something like France. Gender can also play a role in communication in some parts of South Africa. Traditionally, South African women have held second-class status to men. African social structures are centered on men, leaving women powerless (Martinez,1). Basically this called â€Å"Patriarchal†. This is mainly the belief of social communities throughout the entire racial and ethnic population of South Africa. Women roles is to cook and be the caregivers instead the household providers. Sometimes there are women in South Africa who have to follow their husband around or cannot go anywhere without them. Some continue to follow their traditional values; mostly are tribes and those living in villages. Sadly, Patriarchal societies remain prevalent today in South Africa. Another form of the South African culture would be celebrations. There’s one event that is celebrated in the South Africa called the â€Å"Rainbow† Cuisine (Hill, 1). The Rainbow Cuisine is meaningful and traditional to the country. It brings all ethnicity and culture together by using music, dance, cultural food and turning it into a big festival; something like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl put together but bigger. In general, South Africans give gifts for birthdays and Christmas like Americans. However, South Africans only celebrate two main birthdays 21 and 40 while Americans celebrate 16, 18, 21, and 50. â€Å"Most South African’s birthdays are often celebrated with a large party in which a lavish gift is given† (Kwintessential 2004). It is common for several friends to contribute to this gift to help defray the cost. If you are invited to a South Africans home, bring flowers, good quality chocolates, or a bottle of good South African wine to the hostess (Kwintessential 2004). Wrapping a gift nicely shows extra effort. Gifts are opened when received. Just like the United States when you are invited to a South Africans household. A person must always arrive on time if invited to dinner. It’s considered very rude to show up late or don’t even show up to an invited dinner. Contact the hostess ahead of time to see if she would like you to bring a dish. Every guest have to be in casual wear or at least look presentable for other guest who are also invited and for the host as well. There are some ways to be appreciative of your host’s invite and that’s to offer to help the hostess with the preparation or clearing up after a meal is served. Most South Africans feel well respected when someone show kindness towards them and their family, especially over their food. Gentlemen can also get away with wearing jeans or shorts at a dinner, but they have to be pressed and not wrinkly. So before arriving to the dinner it is always a good idea to check with the hosts in advance. In the urban areas of South Africa, the casual is dressier than in other parts of the country so a person shouldn’t wear jeans or shorts unless you have spoken to the hosts. Now, there is some comparison with South Africa and the United States on some issues. One would be is how South Africa and the United States are conducting business ties with each other. Apparently, South Africans want to maintain agreeable working protocol relationships, so they shun confrontations. It is said that being imperative can help to develop mutual trust before negotiating with someone in business. Another rule in company’s or business negotiating it to never interrupt a South African while they are speaking. Interrupting can cause a huge fail between the buyer and seller, more over it can mess up business. South Africans strive for consensus and win-win situations. South Africans do not like bargaining over price, they believe in final decision- making. â€Å"Decision-making may be concentrated at the top of the company and decisions are often made after consultation with subordinates, so the process can be slow and protracted† (U. S. Library of Congress). However, in South Africa women today still have yet to attain advanced professional positions. If you send a woman, she must expect to encounter some condescending behavior and to be tested in ways that a male colleague would not. Women might have equal rights as men, however they are still treated unequally in higher business positions that’s ran mostly by men, like in the United States. South Africa and the United States are practicing friendlier connections in many areas. â€Å"More than 500 United States companies have more than US$5 billion in direct investments in South Africa in the mid-1990s, and trade between the two countries is increasing steadily† (U. S. Library of Congress). Despite the alleged disagreements in government between the two countries, they both learned to communicate and cooperate with each other by coming to verbal agreements on how business should be ran. South Africa can be an overall great experience for any tourist. Their culture can be easily understood by any ethnicity around the world. Hopefully South Africans will continue to expand traditions, culture, values, customs, and etiquettes in their country, despite diversity. The â€Å"Rainbow† nation will continue to shine their colors and will always be equally match to other countries, even the United States.

Impact of Chemotherapy Induced Diarrhoea (CID)

Impact of Chemotherapy Induced Diarrhoea (CID) This assignment will critically explore one impact of cancer treatment, examining the physiological nature of the impact. I will analyse strategies for alleviating the impact, considering the contribution of the multi-disciplinary team. I will discuss the contribution of healthcare professionals to holistic care analysing the professional and ethical dimensions of practice. Finally I will evaluate the effectiveness of the current management of the identified impact. The one impact of cancer treatment which I have chosen to look at is chemotherapy induced diarrhoea (CID). The London Cancer Alliance (2013) reports that patients receiving chemotherapy are at risk of developing severe diarrhoea, and the prevalence has been reported to be as high as 50–80%. Sherman (2008) explains that diarrhoea has a significant impact on quality of life and can contribute to malnutrition, weight loss, immunosuppression, and mortality. I have personally encountered CID in my practice and have seen how debilitating it can be for service users both physiologically and psychologically. According to Stein (2010) the pathophysiology of chemotherapy induced diarrhoea is multifaceted, complex and still undergoing further investigation. This is also acknowledged by Gibson and Keefe (2006) who believe that CID is likely to be caused by combinations of varying factors which include, altered gut motility; colonic crypt damage, impairing water absorption in the colon, changes to intestinal microflora, affecting absorption and altered fluid transport in the colon. Robinson and Dobish (2007) believe that the absorptive and secretory capacity within the gut is altered during chemotherapy due to the toxicity damaging the intestinal epithelium, inflammation of the bowel wall and superficial necrosis. Which according to Stringer (2009) causes a difference between secretion and absorption in the small bowel resulting in diarrhoea. Viele (2003) suggests that there are two mechanisms by which chemotherapy may induce this. First, the diarrhoea is caused by changes in intestinal absorption which may or may not be accompanied by excessive electrolyte and fluid secretion. Second, the diarrhoea may be a consequence of a combination of mechanical and biochemical changes caused by the chemotherapy. These intestinal functional changes are thought to be a result of direct toxicity of the chemotherapy on the colonic crypt stem cells. Death of these cells leads to a cascading effect where immature crypt cells attempt to compensate by releasing more secretory compounds (Viele, 2003). The small intestine is also thought to play a role whereby the villi are unable to absorb fluids correctly, leading to a skewed ratio of fluid absorption and secretion. In addition, chemotherapy is reported to destroy the brush border enzymes, which are responsible for the digestion of both carbohydrates and proteins, and this causes more gut-wall secretions to occur (Rutledge and Engelking, 2008). Sharma (2005) informs us that if CID is uncontrolled the consequences can be devastating both physically and psychologically. According to Cherny (2008) diarrhoea can lead to, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, renal issues and even death. Viele (2003) reminds us that the impact if CID is not just physiological, the psychological effects of diarrhoea include depression, social isolation and anxiety. Patients suffering from CID will often require additional healthcare resources, such as admission, which will raise the cost of the patients care for the healthcare service (Dranitsaris et al 2005). Arnold (2005) explains that CID can interfere with cancer treatments affecting scheduled treatment plans, dose reductions ultimately leading to a worse outcome. In a reflective study of cancer patients who acquired CID, Arnold et al (2005) discovered that 65% of patients experienced a decrease in dose intensity, a dose reduction was required in 45%, a delay in treatment was experienced in 71%, and 3% had their therapy discontinued. Maroun et al (2007) conclude that treatment delays, discontinuation and dose reductions have a direct adverse effect on patient mortality and morbidity. Therefore clear objectives must be in place in order to manage chemotherapy induced diarrhoea effectively. According to Skelley (2005), healthcare professionals must promptly diagnose and treat patients with CID, minimise treatment delays, maximise chemo intensity and therefore maximise the patients’ quality of life whilst undertaking treatment. Skelley (2005) states that to manage diarrhoea in an acute setting effectively healthcare staff need to maintain an accurate stool chart and should grade diarrhoea using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Diarrhoea. The London Cancer Alliance (2013) supports the use of a grading system and shows one in their management literature and has added symptoms into the table to help aid in grading diarrhoea more effectively. The LCA (2013) add that mucositis and neutropenia from the chemotherapy treatment can also significantly increase complications associated with CID. Prompt recognition and swift appropriate treatment are essential. Therefore by completing the aforementioned measures, medical staff are enabled to choose the correct treatment options and it also helps to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. Also we must ensure that a stool culture taken, so as to rule out any infections or other causes which could further prolong or alter treatment plans. It is important for healthcare professionals to actively encourage patients to report their bowel movements, because patients can fear that reporting diarrhoea will delay their treatment (Maroun, 2007). As a healthcare professional we should aim to reassure patients that prompt diagnosis and early treatment can prevent delays to their chemotherapy. According to Cherny (2008) patients with CID should have a full assessment including medical history, dietary history and medication review. Before treating CID other common causes of diarrhoea should be considered and excluded. These could include, adverse medication effects, concurrent Disease such as, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and ulcerative colitis, viral Infection, bacterial Infection, faecal Impaction, diet and psychological Factors (LSA, 2013). Benson (2004) believes that patient education is the vital underpinning to the management of CID and before commencing chemotherapy, patients must be fully informed of the potential risks and what actions to take, if they develop diarrhoea. Patients will require nutritional advice and the LCA (2013) guides us by showing the initial management for CID which we can in turn offer to patients. This includes drinking 8–10 large glasses of clear fluids per day to prevent dehydration and stopping lactose-containing products since lactose intolerance can develop when the mucosa is damaged. Patients need to avoid spices, high-fibre foods, high-fat foods, caffeine, alcohol and fruit juices. Small frequent meals such as bananas, toast and plain pasta are also recommended. There are many more aspects to dietary advice therefore input from a dietician would be beneficial. Benson et al (2004) show that in diarrhoea grades 1–2 Loperamide is the recommended medication, 4mg followed by 2mg after every loose stool up to 16mg daily. If diarrhoea persists, high dose Loperamide should be used and Codeine Phosphate 30–60mg QDS can be added, also a stool culture needs to be taken if not previously done. The patient will need to be admitted to hospital if not already an inpatient if the diarrhoea persists or becomes grade 3-4 after 24-48 hours. At this point Octreotide is the recommended treatment as a sub-cutaneous injection, 300mcg/24hr for 5 days, increasing to 600mcg/24hr if not effective (LCA, 2013). According to Barbounis et al (2001) Octreotide has a 60% 90% success rate in resolving persistent diarrhoea. Zidane (2001) explains that although Octreotide has proven to be more successful than Loperamide, it still remains as a second line treatment due to its high cost. Chemotherapy induced diarrhoea has tremendous effects on patients’ quality of life, the management of cancer patients requires increased attention to this side effect from nurses. Targeted education is needed to help nurses implement systematic assessment and documentation. Nurses must ensure to communicate effectively with patients and caregivers in every setting about the nature of diarrhoea and its causes, as well as develop appropriate interventions for each individual. As such, nurses need to maintain current knowledge of the causes and available treatment strategies for CID. It is also imperative to remember the beneficial effect that diet may play in alleviating diarrhoea symptoms. Reference List Arnold, R. J. Gabrail, N. Raut, M. Kim, R. Sung, J. C. Zhou, Y. (2005) ‘Clinical implications of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in patients with cancer’. The Journal of Supportive Oncology, 3(3), pp. 227-232. Available at: http://www.oncologypractice.com/jso/journal/articles/0303227.pdf (Accessed: 22 March 2014). Benson, A.B. Ajani, J.A. Catalano, R.B. Engelking, C. Kornblau, S.M. Martenson, J.A. (2004) ‘Recommended guidelines for the treatment of cancer treatment-induced diarrhea’. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 22, pp. 2918–2926. Available at: http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/22/14/2918.long (Accessed: 30 March 2014). Cherny, N. I. (2008). ‘Evaluation and management of treatment-related diarrhea in patients with advanced cancer: A review’. Journal of Pain Symptom Management, 36(4), pp. 413-423. Available at: http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0885-3924/PIIS088539240800111 5.pdf (Accessed: 8 April 2014). Dranitsaris, G. Maroun, J. Shah, A. (2005) ‘Severe chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in patients with colorectal cancer: A cost of illness analysis’. Supportive Care in Cancer, 13(5), pp. 318-324. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15614493 (Accessed: 01 April 2014). Gibson, R J. Keefe, D M. (2006) Cancer chemotherapy-induced diarrhoea and constipation: mechanisms of damage and prevention strategies. Support Care Cancer. 14, pp 890–900. Available at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-006-0040-y (Accessed: 01 April 2014). Hogan, C M. (1998) The nurses role in diarrhea management. Oncology Nurses Forum. 25 (5), pp879-86. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9644704 (Accessed: 23 March 2014). London Cancer Alliance (2013) LCA Acute Oncology Clinical Guidelines. Available at: http://www.londoncanceralliance.nhs.uk/media/56533/FINAL LCA Acute Oncology Clinical Guidelines September 2013.pdf (Accessed: 9 March 2011). Maroun, J.A. Anthony, L.B. Blais, N. Burkes, R. Dowden, S.D. Dranitsaris, G. (2007) ‘Prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea in patients with colorectal cancer: a consensus statement by the Canadian working group on chemotherapy-induced diarrhea’. Current Oncology, 14, pp. 13–20. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1891194/ (Accessed : 10 March 2014). Rutledge, D N. Engelking, C. (2008) Cancer-related diarrhea: selected findings of a national survey of oncology nurse experiences. Oncology Nurses Forum. 25, pp 861–873. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9644704 (Accessed 01 September 2012). Sharma, R. Tobin, P. Clarke, SJ. (2005) ‘Management of chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, and diarrhoea’. Oncology. 6, pp. 93–102. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470204505017353# (Accessed: 5 April 2014). Sherman, D S. Fish, D N. (2008). Management of protease inhibitor associated diarrhea. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 30, pp 908–914. Available at: http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/6/908.long (Accessed 01 April 2014). Skelley, K. (2005) ‘Management of chemotherapy induced diarrhoea in adults with cancer’ (Online). Available at: http://www.ruh.nhs.uk/about/policies/documents/clinical_policies/ local/405%202006 %20Management%20of%20Chemotherapy%20Induced% 20Diarrhoea.pdf (Accessed: 22 March 2014). Stein, A. Voigt, W. Jordan, K. (2010) ‘Review: Chemotherapy-induced diarrhea: pathophysiology, frequency and guideline-based management’. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology. 2 (51). Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles /PMC3126005/pdf/10.1177_1758834009355164.pdf (Accessed: 28 March 2014). Stringer, A.M. Gibson, R.J. Logan, R.M. Bowen, J.M. Yeoh, A.S. Laurence, J. (2009) ‘Irinotecan-induced mucositis is associated with changes in intestinal mucins’. Cancer Chemotherapy Pharmacology, 64, pp. 123–132. Available at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/d45k70508772318j (Accessed: 3 April 2014). Viele, C. S. (2003) ‘Overview of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea’. Oncology Nursing, 19(4 Suppl 3), pp. 2-5. Available at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S074920810300114 (Accessed: 23 March 2014). Zidan, J. Haim, N. Beny, A. Stein, M. Gez, E. Kuten, A. (2001) ‘Octreotide in the treatment of severe chemotherapy-induced diarrhea’. Annual Oncology, 12, pp. 227–229. Available at: http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/12/2/227.long (Accessed 22 March 2014).

Ideal Woman :: essays research papers fc

Does anybody know what the ideal woman is supposed to look like? Is this woman thin and tall or fat and short? Why are woman judged on how they look and how they dress, but males are not? Why are images of woman everywhere? Why do woman feel that they have to be gorgeous so society can love her? Believe it or not, society plays a big role in people lives. The biggest role it probably plays is how a female should look. For instance, if you look at the television, if you look at movies, and if you look in different magazines covers, most of the woman appears to look thin. Other woman sees this body image and they began to think they need to look like her. Most actresses today are becoming younger and thinner and some of them have an eating disorder in order to stay thin. Trying to keep the Barbie doll image is very dangerous to woman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is kind of hard to believe that some of our wants and needs are based on images, the Barbie doll look. According to Olds, 69% of woman said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape (Olds, 1999). The media send messages that if you are thin and beautiful then you will get whatever you want. According to a study by Health and Welfare Canada (1992), they documented that 37% of females age 11, 42% of females age 13, and 48% of female’s age 15 say they need to lose weight (National Eating Disorders Information Centre, 2000). Most women do not realize this but the media sends woman subliminal messages through television. The average woman sees about 400 to 600 advertisements per day (Dittrich), and by the time she is 17 years old, she has received over 250,000 commercial messages through the media (LaVoie). These messages from the media tells woman in order to be successful you must be attractive and thin, which is not really true. T oday beautiful young and thin woman sees everything. They sell products from alcohol to shoes, you see them everywhere. These messages tell woman that appearance is more important than character and personality. According to the Health Canada (1997), â€Å"In the western culture slim is promoted not only as beautiful, healthy, and sexy but self-disciplined and good. Attractive people are perceived to be kind, interesting, outgoing, and to have a variety of socially desirable character traits. Ideal Woman :: essays research papers fc Does anybody know what the ideal woman is supposed to look like? Is this woman thin and tall or fat and short? Why are woman judged on how they look and how they dress, but males are not? Why are images of woman everywhere? Why do woman feel that they have to be gorgeous so society can love her? Believe it or not, society plays a big role in people lives. The biggest role it probably plays is how a female should look. For instance, if you look at the television, if you look at movies, and if you look in different magazines covers, most of the woman appears to look thin. Other woman sees this body image and they began to think they need to look like her. Most actresses today are becoming younger and thinner and some of them have an eating disorder in order to stay thin. Trying to keep the Barbie doll image is very dangerous to woman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is kind of hard to believe that some of our wants and needs are based on images, the Barbie doll look. According to Olds, 69% of woman said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape (Olds, 1999). The media send messages that if you are thin and beautiful then you will get whatever you want. According to a study by Health and Welfare Canada (1992), they documented that 37% of females age 11, 42% of females age 13, and 48% of female’s age 15 say they need to lose weight (National Eating Disorders Information Centre, 2000). Most women do not realize this but the media sends woman subliminal messages through television. The average woman sees about 400 to 600 advertisements per day (Dittrich), and by the time she is 17 years old, she has received over 250,000 commercial messages through the media (LaVoie). These messages from the media tells woman in order to be successful you must be attractive and thin, which is not really true. T oday beautiful young and thin woman sees everything. They sell products from alcohol to shoes, you see them everywhere. These messages tell woman that appearance is more important than character and personality. According to the Health Canada (1997), â€Å"In the western culture slim is promoted not only as beautiful, healthy, and sexy but self-disciplined and good. Attractive people are perceived to be kind, interesting, outgoing, and to have a variety of socially desirable character traits.

Heart of Dracula Essay -- Character Analysis, Dracula, Hearth of Darkn

Within Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, the reader is introduced to two â€Å"men†, a term that is applied loosely, whom come to represent the realization of the dying days of the Victorian Era. Heart of Darkness’ Kurtz comes to be the representation of the realization in that he sees what is required from him, as well as the rest of humanity, in order for them to survive. Dracula, in contrast, is the idealization of what has to be done in order to survive. Furthermore, Dracula comes to represent the next step, in almost evolutionary terms, in that he starts to attack England on its home soil, going to so far as to transplant his own soil onto England. This reverse colonization by Dracula is the resultant action he takes based on the fact that he was able to do that which Kurtz is seemingly unable to do, sacrifice the last of his humanity to become a monster. By examining the character of Kurtz, we see that he comes to represent the degenerating institution of colonialism. Jonathan Dollimore remarks that Kurtz â€Å"embodies the paradox which degeneration theory tries to explain but only exacerbates, namely that civilization and progress seem to engender their own regression and ruin† (45). We can see this through the fact that Kurtz goes into the Belgian Congo in order to strengthen the European world, yet is ultimately unable to do so as he comes face to face with the realization of what he must do in order to succeed and survive the degeneration of the world he has known. To do this, Kurtz’s monstrosity, or as close as he comes to monstrosity, stems from the fact that the society which he is a part of and represents is dying a slow death. Therefore, his final words of â€Å"The horror! The horror!† can be interpr... ...gue of Vampirism. Stoker plays upon the irony of England, at this time one of, if not the largest, colonizing countries, being colonized, not by another country but by an intangible immigrant. Dracula’s intent is not of material wealth or power, but of controlling the people and using them as livestock. We can see this when Dracula tells Jonathan Harker that he â€Å"[has] come to know your great England, and to know her is to love her. I long to go through the crowded streets of your mighty London, to be in the midst of the whirl and rush of humanity, to share its life, its change, its death, and all that makes it what it is† (Stoker 19). Kane reaffirms this by contending that Dracula is an example of â€Å"invasion literature† acting upon the readers on England by playing with â€Å"a considerable variety of fears regarding the state of England and the English themselves† (9).

Europe vs. the United States of America Essay

Executive summary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The time of the masses when individuals were forced to all think alike has long set. The contemporary period makes significant efforts to encourage individuality and diversity of opinions among society members. This generally leads to major differences in lifestyle, regarding basically all moments of live from the act of being born up until the death. Currently, these differences are most obvious between the countries of the Middle East, which promote a rather delicate human rights policy, and the rest of the globe that has strict rules regarding civil rights.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However the differences between the countries of the Middle East and the rest of the world seem to be most relevant at the time, there are also numerous elements that generate diversity between countries that promote similar civil rights as well as similar social, political and economic policies. A relevant example of such differences is obvious in the relationship between two great contemporary powers: the United States of America and Europe represented by the European Union.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The last decades have supported the U.S. as the irrefutable global leader in economics, finance, politics and military equipments and capabilities. However, history teaches us that Europe is not to be neglected. The old continent has always been able to rise above its enemies and, today, some specialists believe that it might be just a matter of time until Europe regains supremacy. â€Å"It is too soon to tell whether Washington and Brussels will head down the same road Rome and Constantinople – toward geopolitical rivalry – but the warning signs are certainly present.†[1] Economic differences   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The are numerous features of the economy that differentiate Europe from the United States, the most relevant of which being the historical factor, the status of their currencies, the citizens’ life styles determined by the levels of productivity, the unemployment rate, the formation and supported growth of the European Union or the administration of small and medium-size companies. The historical factor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The historical factor basically refers to the two world wars Europe was involved in and which brought about dramatic consequences upon the society as a whole and its individuals. Economically destroyed after the First World War, Europe sought aid from the United States, which soon became their main creditor in all domains from education and medical care system to politics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the years 1920 the world’s economy registered impressive growths in both Europe and the United States. Such impressive was the growth that it boasted up all economic activities and drove manufacturers towards overproduction. The overproducing of goods and services, combined with the already existent shortages generated the crash of the New York Stock Market. This led the United States, and automatically its debtors, into the great economic crisis of 1929–1933, known as the Great Depression. While recovering from the depression, the American countries focused most of their finances onto supporting their own economy, leaving the European countries without their main creditor. The currencies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Highly relevant to the economic sectors of U.S. and Europe are their currencies. Up until January 1999, when the EURO was introduced, the U.S. dollar was the second strongest currency of the world (following the GBP, Great Britain Pound). Today, the American dollar is only the third strongest currency in the world, being preceded by GBP and EURO. However the strength of the U.S. currency has decreased, the USD continues to remain the safest currency. Proof of this stand the statistics of the International Monetary Fund. The statistics reveal that from 1999 to 2006, the accumulation of USD has only decreased from 70.9% to 65.7%,[2] the currency still detaining majority. Productivity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another significant difference that balances power towards the United States focuses on the industrial and production sectors. However there are several countries in Europe that register increased levels of life standard, the overall European standard of living is inferior to the U.S. For instance, â€Å"productivity in the three big European countries, Germany, France and Italy, stopped catching up with the United States’ productivity in the early ‘90s, and then lost ground in the recent slowdowns and the U.S. speed-up.†[3] Unemployment   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A direct consequence of the decreased productivity rate is the increased number of unemployed citizens in the European countries, compared to a rather stable and controlled unemployment rate in the U.S. Besides productivity, Edmund Phelps believes that responsible for the large unemployment rate is the demographic factor. As such, the continuous increase in the European birth rate generates an overpopulation of the continent, an overpopulation that Europe is unprepared to support and hire. The European Union   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The European Union was established in the year 1992 and its main objective is to improve the general features of the continent in order to make it highly competitive on the international market, and reach a high level of economical, financial and political development.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However up until today Europe is still inferior to the United States, the European Union has contributed significantly to the strengthening of Europe’s international position. â€Å"The United States already feels pressured by the euro and the growing strength of Europe’s economy and its top corporations. The EU’s geopolitical ambition is still limited, but there are clear signs of wind in the sails.†[4]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   A highly relevant example of the European strengthening position is statistically represented by the financial reports on American and European investments. More and more iconic symbols of the American economy and life style have been auctioned and bought by European investors. For instance, â€Å"among dozens of emblematically American companies and products now owned by Europeans are Brooks Brothers, DKNY, Random House, Kent Cigarettes, Dove Soap, Chrysler, Bird’s Eye, Pennzoil, Baskin-Robbins, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.†[5] Small and medium-size companies   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The same study points out that Europe is better qualified in their activity of administrating and financing their local businesses. Properly handling the small and medium-size companies is a factor of economic growth as these companies can easily become highly competitive, contribute to the economic growth of the continent or hosting area and generate available jobs. â€Å"65 percent of European jobs in 2002 were in small and medium-sized firms, compared with just 46 percent in the U.S.†[6]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Characteristic to both small and medium size companies, as well as to large corporations is the human resource policy. Europe offers better services for its employees that the U.S. For instance, on giving birth, European female workers are a granted forty-six weeks maternity leave paid with two thirds of their salary (Sweden) or three months of maternity leave and full salary (Portugal), whereas the â€Å"U.S. federal government guarantees nothing.†[7] Social differences   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However besides the previously presented issues there are numerous other relevant economic features that differentiate Europe from the United States of America, one has to also consider the social differences. Upon research numerous elements catch the attention, such as the cultural differences that derive from the diverse points of view on religion, education system or crime rate. Crime rate   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The criminality rate adherent to Europe and U.S. is approached in most cultural analysis studies and the conclusions are basically the same: America allows far more criminal actions than the continent. â€Å"What really strikes an old European in looking at the American way of life is the toleration of brutality†[8] says European Felix Voirol. The unbiased opinion of American Tony Judt from the New York Times states: â€Å"Yes, Americans put up huge billboards reading ‘Love Thy Neighbor,’ but they murder and rape their neighbors at rates that would shock any European nation.†[9] Migration of population and work force   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   America was globally perceived as the land of all opportunities, a land that makes dreams come true, that respects and protects individuals and with employers that pay them fair salaries. This was the motivation of millions of Europeans who fled their countries in search of a better life provided by the American land. However, the current situation has changed in the meaning that Europe has improved their general standards of living and has accordingly increased salaries, limiting the number of migrates to the U.S. Religious differences   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The predominant religious culture promoted by the Americans is Puritanism. The main controversy regarding Puritanism is the fact that the Puritan doctrine preaches the purity of both the soul and the body, but the American society seems to pay more attention to the body cleanliness, in the meaning of virginity that that of the soul’s. â€Å"A naked human body is â€Å"indecent† and, taken as dangerous for minors, simply censored. In contrast there are countless scenes showing people knocking themselves out, dropping to the ground bathed in blood or taking each other’s lives in ever more brutal way†[10], a state of facts that Europeans don’t understand.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, what is even more different in the religion of the U.S. when compared to the religion of Europe is the limited intervention the Church has upon the government. Religious freedom is more obvious in the U.S. that in Europe, continent almost entirely Christian. Shel Horowitz, editor at the Global Travel Review states: â€Å"The absence of state-sanctioned religion makes a huge difference to the cultural minorities in the U.S. As a Jew, I’m not at all sure I’d be comfortable living in a country where Christianity or Islam was completely intertwined with the government.†[11] Conclusions   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Along the years, renowned thinkers such as Adam Smith or Emanuel Kant have promoted the belief that national and international differences reside in culture and personal views of morality. The thinkers of today state that international differences reside in the diverse implementation of economical and political policies. This multitude of opinions reveals the fact that in order to best analyze the similarities and differences between countries, one needs to focus on both social as well as economical features.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In other words, a nation is a mixture of individuals with different backgrounds, opinions and capabilities. These individuals form up groups in accordance with their interests and the totality of these groups forms a country. To better understand the overall features of a country, as well as what are the elements that differentiate it from other nations, the researcher needs to clearly analyze the characteristics of all the groups that form the country. The analysis has to be developed from all possible points of view, including economy, politics, culture, technology or finance. Bibliography: Edmund S. Phelps, July 2006, Economic Culture and Economic Performance: What Light is Shed on the Continent’s Problem, Venice Summer Institute, Venice International University, San Servolo, 27 pages Kupchan, Charles, November 11, 2003, The End Of The American Era, First edition, Vintage Publisher, 416 pages The International Monetary Fund, 2006, Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves (COFER   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.imf.org/external/np/sta/cofer/eng/cofer.pdf, last accessed on March 16, 2007 Tony Judt, February 10, 2005, Europe vs. America, The New York Review of Books, Volume 52, Number 2, New York City, http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17726, last accessed on March 16, 2007 Felix Voirol, Old World vs. the New World, In defense of the â€Å"European quality of Life†, No. 7, http://www.taboo-breaker.org/lifestyle/america.htm, last accessed on March 16, 2007 Shel Horowitz, Europe vs. the U.S., Global Travel Review,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.frugalfun.com/europe-us.html, last accessed on March 16, 2007 Jim Blair, Guns and Pizza: The USA vs. Europe, Big Issue Ground,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.bigissueground.com/politics/blair-gunspizzausaeurope.shtml, last accessed on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   March 16, 2007 Timothy Garton Ash, December 22, 2002, United States of Europe vs. United States of America, Boston University Press,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.buworldofideas.org/shows/2002/12/20021229.asp, last accessed on March   Ã‚   16, 2007 Open Source Usage: Europe vs. the USA, January 13, 2007, Info World,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://weblog.infoworld.com/openresource/archives/2007/01/open_source_usa.html, last   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   accessed on March 16, 2007 George Irvin, January 16, 2007, Europe vs. USA: Whose Economy Wins?, The New Federal List, http://www.taurillon.org/Europe-vs-USA-Whose-Economy-Wins, last accessed on March 16, 2007 Simon Gordon, March 13, 2003, SAN adoption in Europe vs. United States, Search Storage, http://searchstorage.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid5_gci885852,00.html, last accessed on March 16, 2007 Howard LaFranchi, March 18, 2004, US vs. Europe: two views of terror, The Christian Science Monitor, http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0318/p01s01-usfp.html, last accessed on March 16, 2007 V.A. Gijsbers, Atheism In Europe vs. U.S.; Values; Truth; Sects, Positive Atheism,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9745.htm, last accessed on March 16, 2007 Europe vs. US, the challenge, Tourist Blog,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://blog.touristr.com/articles/2007/02/06/europe-vs-us-the-challenge, last accessed on   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   March 16, 2007 Matt Asay, January 13, 2007, Open Source: Europe vs. USA, Asay Blog   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://asay.blogspot.com/2007/01/open-source-europe-vs-usa.html, last accessed on March 16, 2007 [1] Kupchan, Charles, November 11, 2003, The End Of The American Era, First edition, Vintage Publisher, 416 pages [2] The International Monetary Fund, 2006, Currency Composition of Official Foreign Exchange Reserves (COFER) [3] Edmund S. Phelps, July 2006, Economic Culture and Economic Performance: What Light is Shed on the Continent’s Problem, Venice Summer Institute, Venice International University, San Servolo, 27 pages [4] Kupchan, Charles, November 11, 2003, The End Of The American Era, First edition, Vintage Publisher, 416 pages [5] Tony Judt, February 10, 2005, Europe vs. America, The New York Review of Books, Volume 52, Number 2, New York City [6] Ibid. [7] Ibid. [8] Felix Voirol, Old World vs. the New World, In defense of the â€Å"European quality of Life†, No. 7 [9] Tony Judt, February 10, 2005, Europe vs. America, The New York Review of Books, Volume 52, No 2, New York [10] Felix Voirol, Old World vs. the New World, In defense of the â€Å"European quality of Life†, No. 7 [11] Shel Horowitz, Europe vs. the U.S., Global Travel Review