Work Place Ethical Dilemma

Work place Ethical Dilemma Brenda Paz BSHS-331 August 25, 2010 Roberto Vara Jr. Work place Ethical Dilemma According to Freeman, S. (2000) Ethics: An introduction to philosophy and practice ethical dilemma is a complex situation that will involve conflicts between moral imperatives. This is also called ethical paradox which plays a central role in ethics debates. We are not animals and thus should not act and behave like animals. All humans have social acceptable behaviors we must abide from. Standards we all follow to what we believe, having our own opinions, from obeying the law and knowing what is morally right and wrong.For example the ethical admonition to â€Å"treat others as you would like to be treated† is not always easy to follow especially if the individual you should treat with respect does not in turn respect you. This is an example of ethical decision clashing. About three years ago I experienced an ethical dilemma in the workplace which made me feel puzzled, un appreciated and even confused for just doing and following procedure and protocol to my work responsibilities which my job duties required me to do.I worked for a nonprofit organization which helped advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families. My job title was that of a project assistant of a youth group which empowers young adults with disabilities gather the tools necessary to live a more independent and healthier way of life. The problem to the dilemma consisted in nepotism taking place by my immediate supervisor. The organization I worked for was just a small branch which was extended from the main office which was located in Albuquerque, NM.I did not have another immediate supervisor to question any such ethical dilemmas. Each year our project needed to provide accountability of ten new additional youth members to the group. Membership to the group required the creation and development of a goals and dream planning map. Once the member reached three months of attendance to monthly meetings the individual was then issued a stipend of five hundred dollars to assist in reaching such set goal in the plan. As a project assistant one of my job responsibilities was to locate youth with disabilities and invite them to become part of the group.Part of our initial protocol was not to use the stipend as the initial incentive to join the group but rather to make the youth group more appealing by emphasizing social group gatherings, activities, advocacy and the initial growth of one’s self confidence and development in learning to advocate for themselves and others who cannot speak for themselves in front of congress. My supervisor however did not follow protocol and often selected individuals from her immediate social circle of friends and family members to join the youth group.Secondly those initial members were not required to meet the three month required time limit of monthly meeting attendance to acquire the stipend. One day I politely q uestioned her selection process and she quickly gave the explanation that she needed to meet the quota and had to sign up 10 youth members no matter who they were so the project would not loose funding. Yet when I confronted her about trying to sign up my son or family members with disabilities I was informed I could not because I worked for the organization.I was informed by her that she needed to bend the rules to meet quota but when I offered to help by suggesting to enroll individuals with disabilities from my social circle I was denied. I should have just dropped the issue right there and them, however I went on to question her actions and she abruptly stated† How dare you question me? Don’t try to undermine me Brenda†, then she just changed the conversation right away. Well, soon after that our work relationship was very shaky and when my employment contract ended I was not offered a new contract again.Based on what I learned since I began my study at the Un iversity of Phoenix and through my continued work experience I think I would have handled the situation in the same manner but I would have chosen my words differently. At the time I believe my questioning of her actions and the way I came about it was wrong in the sense that I was trying to fight fire with fire. I was trying to justify my possible actions and suggesting the same methods she was using to recruited my circle of members in the same manner.I now realize that you should not try to suggest justification of one’s actions by doing the same thing the other individual is doing. I needed to fight fire with water and in turn make her analyze her actions and view her ways in a cam and professional manner. Then if that did not work I should have escalated to the next level and called her supervisor in Albuquerque just as a note of information not an accusation. According to _________Ethics can be seen as both the highest and the lowest standards of practice expected of a practitioner, reflecting both the standards of the community and the profession.Codes, rather than being precise dictates, are actually combinations of rules and utilitatian principles that do not provide a rational as to why a particular behavior is right or wrong in a particular situation or circumstance. Therefore, many issues cannot be resolved solely by relying on codes of ethics. Practical judgment and informed conscious reasoning are necessary in the proper application of codes of ethics. Various professional organizations have established codes of ethics for their members however in similar professional, the codes of ethics and acceptable behavior can vary greatly.When faced with an ethical dilemma, a practioner would do well to think of the formal code of ethics of his/her profession and then through a formal ethical decision making process to expedite s sound solution.References Freeman, S. J. , (2000). Publication manual of the Wadsworth group, a division of Thomson Learn ing Inc. Ethics: An introduction to philosophy & practice Environmental Protection Agency Website, (2009), Publication research group of the Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from http:// www. epa. gov/progress/#i

Literary Anlysis of Jane Eyre – Victorian Era

Many themes, styles, genres, and modes of Victorian Literature are reflected in the works of the Bronte Sisters', especially that of Jane Eyre. Common themes of victorian literature are shared with Jane Eyre. Food was a reoccurring theme of throughout many Victorian novels because of the hunger that many people faced in this time period. This theme is reflected in the vivid description of under nourishment at Lowood School in Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Another common theme was women's morality and sensuality.Before the publication of Jane Eyre, women were simple and genuine under the expectations of society, the â€Å"wife and mother from whom all morality sprang† (Lowes). After this novel was published, the â€Å"new woman† became predominant who was based off the main character, Jane, who was independent, strong, forward, and radical in the sense of marriage and contraception opinions. The theme of sex scandal goes along with women's morality and sensuality because it, also, went against the prior conservative social expectations and beliefs for women. This theme started to become common in victorian literature.An example of sex scandal is in Jane Eyre when Jane got involved with Rochester, her wealthy boss, and ended up marrying him. Jane Eyre is written in first-person from the point of view of Jane. The genre of Jane Eyre can be classified as many different types; Romance, Mystery, and Gothic Fiction. It can be considered a classic romantic novel because of the passionate relationship that Jane and Rochester form. It is a mystery in the sense that throughout the book, Jane suspects something about Rochester and his past based on the incident of Grace Pool accidently setting his bed on fire in a drunken state and not getting fired for it.She then discovers the secret of his past that he has a wife, Bertha, who has one mad and was the one who set his bed on fire. It is considered Gothic Fiction because of the supernatural and fantasy element s that Charlotte Bronte includes (http://www. shmoop. com/jane-eyre/literary-devices. html) Through Charlotte's unique writing style, she incorporates â€Å"fantasy elements in Jane Eyre through references to fairy tales, prophetic dreams, mythic imagery, and extraordinary plot twists,† (Shwingen).An example of the mythic imagery is shown through Charlotte's emphasis on the image of passion. Jane was always a passionate and emotional character since she was a child. Charlotte writes about Jane after her cousin hits her with the book, â€Å"my blood was still warm; the mood of the revolted slave was still bracing me with its bitter vigor. † The image of her warm blood and her intense anger compared to that of a revolted slave shows Jane's great emotion even as a child.This image is emphasized through imagery when Charlotte writes of Jane's feelings for Rochester as â€Å"fiery iron† and â€Å"blackness and burning†. These figurative images of a fire portra y to the reader the intense passion that Jane has for Rochester. Fire is another image that Charlotte writes about throughout the novel; â€Å"in the bedroom blaze which Jane saved Rochester from, in the language that both Rochester and Jane use in describing their emotions towards each other, and in the final fire that destroyed Thornfield Hall, crippled Rochester, and killed Bertha,† (Vaughon).In Vaughon's opinion, this imagery of fire and passion was Charlotte's way of emphasizing the unethical and sinful love that Jane and Rochester shared with each other based on the fire of hell. As said before, in Victorian times, this relationship would be considered scandalous not only based on the difference in their classes, but also because they believed in purity. Charlotte goes against the traditional beliefs with her imagery of passion and lust between Jane and Rochester. Charlotte's writing style is generally educated, complex, and emotion filled.Most of her sentences are cont ain numerous adjectives and sensual images. Her unique style may be overwhelming for some readers, but it's powerful and strong. The reader is able to identify with Jane Eyre as a character through the complex sentence structure that is filled with emotion and imagery. (http://reviewmaterials. tripod. com/english/jane_eyre. html) According to George P. Landow, Jane Eyre is divided into five distinct settings. The story starts off when Jane is a child living in her relative's, the Reed's, house in Gateshead Hall.Then she is sent to Lowood school and has many experiences there with Miss. Temple, Helen Burns, and Mr. Brocklehurst. After eight years in boarding school, she lives at Thornfield as a governess to Adele. This is where she falls in love with her boss, Rochester. Then she moves out after he discovery of Bertha, Rochester's mad wife. She is then taken into the Moor House by her cousins, the Rivers. In the end, she is reunited with Rochester at the Ferndean Manor. Each setting of the book has it's own unique mood in strong relation to the characters present at each place. For example,Robert B.Martin points out that the setting of Thornfield is much more personal than the two preceding settings at Gateshead and Lowood because of the connection Jane makes to Rochester and the connection Rochester has to Thornfield (George P. Landow). In chapter 11, Mrs. Fairfax first makes mention to Rochester when she says, â€Å"Great houses and fine grounds require the presence of the proprietor†. Because Mrs. Fairfax said this, Jane felt as though it was not alive unless Rochester was present which is strongly connected to how Jane felt lonely and down because when he was not there.This connection between character and setting reflects the complex mood of Thornfield depending on whether Rochester is there or not. When he is away on a trip, the mood is somber and desolate because the reader can understand and feel the longing that Jane has for Rochester and the lo neliness she feels in the huge, empty house. When he is there, the mood changes to exciting and intimate because of the strong feelings that Jane has toward him and the liveliness that she associates with the house. Charlotte Bronte does a great job with reflecting the characters in Jane Eyre to the reader through her writing.One very unique and interesting character is Bertha, Rochester's insane wife. The Victorians during the nineteenth century had a fascination with health, sometimes greater than that of politics, religion, and Darwinism. They believed â€Å"an interdependent mind-body connection gained strength, and many people saw physical and mental health as being interrelated rather than separate entities,† (Sonja Mayer). According to Mayer, these attitudes of the time are reflected in Bertha's character through her mental illness and the physical threat she puts on Rochester.Compared to Jane, Bertha is her opposite and portrayed to the reader as a monster. Rochester â€Å"describes her as having ‘red balls' for eyes, a ‘mask' instead of a face, and ‘bulk' instead of an attractive form like Jane,† (Sonja Mayer). Jane is strong in body and mind. She endured the unhealthy conditions at Lowood where many students had died and survived through cold and hunger when she had ran away from Thornfield and lived outside. Her mental strength is shown through her courage as a child with her evil aunt, bullying cousin, and hypocritical head master.She stayed true to herself and motivated to be successful as a woman in this time despite the difficult situations these people had created for her. In contrast, Bertha is portrayed by Rochester as having â€Å"gone mad†. The Victorians would view this as a lack of mental strength. She, also, poses a threat to Rochester physically by her acts such as setting his bed on fire while he was sleeping, lunging at him and Jane in the room, and actually succeeding in burning down the house a t the the end of the book. Rochester is depicted as the ideal hero of the Victorian times.He is very romantic and charming which adds to the gothic style of this novel (Lowes). Despite his charm, there was much controversy over Rochester's character in Victorian times. English law at the time said that a man whose wife became insane could not get a divorce. To deal with his problem, he put his wife into confinement, locked in a room with a servant to care for her. He then proceeded to almost partake in bigamy by marrying Jane. Many Victorians of the time questioned why Jane would ever go back to such a man. (http://reviewmaterials. tripod. om/english/jane_eyre. html) The character of Jane isn't the traditional heroine of the time. In many romantic novels of the Victorian era, the heroine was beautiful. Jane is described by Charlotte as â€Å"simple and plain†. She also differs from the traditional heroine in her strength as a woman. Charlotte created a woman character that wa s equal to the male character. Jane is not equal in status or class, but in emotional strength and maturity. This went against society's beliefs of the time because Victorians traditionally believed that women were not capable of strong.

Nursing Documentation Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nursing Documentation - Term Paper Example The term records is used in this periodical to mean any written by electronic means generated information about a patient that describes the service or duty of care provided to that client. Health records may be paper documents or electronic documents, such as images, electronic medical records, faxes, e-mails and video record or audio. Body Via documentation, nurses converse their explanations, decisions, procedures and consequences of this deed for clients. Records used as exact explanation of what happen and when it happened, hence they give clear information on them. From documentation, information given to individual clients or groups of clients according to the nature of the individuals relates to the consequences of observation. For individual clients, documentation provides entire statement of the status of the client, the proceedings of the nurse, and the client results. Nursing documentation clearly describes an evaluation of the client’s fitness status, nursing inte rventions carried out, and the result of these interventions on client impacts. From nursing health chart, care plan records client’s requirement such as goals of clients and wishes. If care plan, needs any change nurses usually report the information to other health care or physician on behalf of client. For groups of client, this document provides information about therapy groups and public health programs service records hence nurses record overall observations pertaining to the group (Carpenito, 2009). Reasons for nursing documentation Nursing documentation usually help in facilitating communication, it provides good nursing care and it meets professional legal standards. Facilitation of communication Nurses usually communicate with other nurses, client and family members of client. In addition, documents usually show interventions that nurses used and outcome from them and care provided to the client by health team (Lippincot & Wilkins, 2007). Promotion of good nursing c are Documentation is used as a source of fund and it gives management a good picture on how to pay their nurses hence carrying out nursing resources on how nurses produced their job such as if the quality of work given is low or high. Nurses also make decision on work based with outcome information and they make changes from base evidence (Treas, & Wilkinson, 2013). Meeting professional and legal standards Documentation helps management to acknowledge nurses skills and knowledge via nursing client relationship. In a court of law, the client’s health record serves as the legal record of the care or service provided. Measurement of Nursing care and the documentation of that care measures according to the standards. Tools for documentation Documentation has tools such as flow sheets, worksheets and checklists, Care maps and client care plan are some of tools used to describe health records (Treas, & Wilkinson, 2013). Worksheets Nurses use worksheets to classify care provided to manage their time and many rights of the client. They also communicate surgeries, upcoming test and available orders in the clinic. Client care plans Client care plan are outlines of individual care and they make permanent health record I hospital. They also used to record clearly the wishes and needs of client. Flow sheets and checklists Flow sheets and checklists are also used in document routine care, observations and records kept on a regular basis, and there are permanent health

Stem Cell Research (outline) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stem Cell Research (outline) - Essay Example The issue is a nuanced one that society really needs to think about. Whether or not you believe using an embryonic stem cell for research purposes is destroying a potential life, you must admit that it is opening up the possibility for someone else to live longer or better. B. Pro. We can now see foetuses in the womb and this makes us think harder about these issues. Certain moral questions have exploded in recent years because of the way technology is changing the moral dimensions of our lives. Debates over the building blocks of life are bound to be emotional. It is not hard to see why people take such things so personally. Indeed we face many new moral debates as technology allows us to alter our biological destiny. This is all a great opportunity to help people, but just because stem cells are useful does not mean we should jump aboard every new bandwagon as it comes along. Cloning for example can offer huge problems. We must carefully examine the evidence at issues at hand before deciding whether we should pursue a new form of scientific research or avoid it

TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY COMPARISM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY COMPARISM - Essay Example Tourism is a new paradigm or entrepreneur development that takes into account tourism as an investment, that improves competitiveness but with greater sensitivity towards social actions and the environment. Sustainability and tourism are in fact two sides of the same coin. They are the results of favoring the best economic results, the best benefits and the best social and environmental impacts to generate development, growth and social well being. The social responsibility of tourism must be contemplated from two main perspectives. From the public sector, tourism is contemplated as a multiplying effect, as a generator of wealth and well being, and concern resolves arou8nd the difficulty that developing countries could have in defending their scenario of development in the industrial area, as tourism is where there is a great source of progress. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact to their achievements on consumers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment in all aspects of their operations. ... al responsibility of business to use its resources and engage in achievements designed to increase its profits as long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engage in open and free competition without deception or fraud. One part of social responsibility is being responsible to people, for the actions of people, and for actions that affect people. Social responsibility is about holding a group, organization or company accountable for its effect on the people around it. People within the company, people working with the company, the community the company is in and those who buy from the company. The idea of being responsible to customers has actually long been imbedded in the ethics of business. The idea of treating a customer with respect and attention is not new particularly in sales and commission based work. What is new is the idea that it's not to profit from the customer, but to genuinely care about what the customer wants and needs. Accountability for people inside a company is something new. Many times when a scandal or irresponsible behavior comes to light in the corporate world the company and those involved often try to distance themselves as much as possible. Cover ups, buy offs and "golden parachutes" all fall under this behavior. Social responsibility would nearly be the opposite of what goes on in the business world today - a company taking the blame and doing what is needed to fix the problem rather than committing more crimes to cover up the first one. Ethics Ethics is a major branch of philosophy is a study of values and customs of a person or group. It covers the analysis and employment of concepts such as right and wrong, good and evil and responsibilities. Ethics are generally perceived as a set of social standards that

Euthanasia Should Be Allowed Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Euthanasia Should Be Allowed - Essay Example Euthanasia is applicable for â€Å"terminally ill† patients, who have no scope of recovery and the rest of their life is bound to be full of suffering. However, in some conditions like comatose where there is a possibility of recovery, the decision to terminate life is not straight forward. So, it is argued, since no one can be sure of the impossibility of recovery, it would be unethical to kill the patient. Another argument put forward is the misuse of the concept for financial consideration. As the expenses incurred to keep alive a seriously ill person is very high, some may decide to employ euthanasia so as to cut costs. It may sound very base and inhumane, but not everyone can afford the high cost of advanced treatment. Some say that euthanasia is like acting against the will of the person. Since nobody likes to die and the seriously ill are not in a condition to decide their future, it would be acting against the patients’ will. Others believe that each and every human life is sacred and has to be preserved no matter what. It may have theological connotations; yet, many people do take their religious beliefs seriously. The sentiments and beliefs of people cannot simply be shrugged aside for scientific and practical reasons. Equally sound points could be raised in favor of euthanasia. The foremost being its utility in putting an end to the intolerable suffering and pain of the affected patient. It hurts the relatives too, to see their loved one undergoing such agony. It is not unusual for the spouse or parent of a suffering patient to opt for euthanasia, for they believe that is the best they could do, both for themselves as well for the patient. There is also legal backing for euthanasia. It is legal in most countries to commit suicide and since euthanasia is similar to suicide, why not? This makes sense as every person has absolute right over his/her own mind and body and can choose to do whatever with it as long as it does not

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 227

Assignment Example Biodiversity and abundance in the same water is also average, relatively lower than site three because of less favorable habitats in agricultural lands. Site two, on the other hand, is an urban area. The Institute for Natural Resources, nd, paragraph 4 describes water from such sites to have the lowest biodiversity and abundance due to less favorable habitats, high concentration of dissolved heavy metals like Lead and Copper from industries as is the case here. The water also has the lowest pH as a result of dissolved acidic gases from the atmosphere, highest conductivity due to high concentrations of dissolved salts picked up by run-off. Furthermore, it has high Biological Oxygen Demand due to high temperatures from rooftops and pavements. Site three is open woodland. Water from this site has the highest biodiversity and abundance due to favorable habitats, low Biological Oxygen Demand because of low temperatures, lowest conductivity due to low concentrations of dissolved salts. In addition, fecal bacteria are high due to uncontrolled wastes. The same has lowest concentrations of nitrates, phosphates, Copper, Lead and dissolves salts due to absence of pollutants (Institute for Natural Resources, nd, par

Customer service assignment Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Customer service assignment - Case Study Example t an ambience to its customers, which not only helps the customer in enjoying the drinks and meals but also helps in the restaurant in gaining goodwill. In order that the restaurant is able to satisfy the customer and re-invite them in future, it is very important that restaurant is able to market itself in an effective manner. Traditionally, four Ps are considered of prime importance for an enterprise to market itself. The marketing mix is thus known to comprise of1 Product, Price, Place and Promotion. Though Ahmed might be offering the best products at reasonable prices, but in this case, what seems to be lacking is the promotion. Promotion doesn’t necessarily mean coming out with advertisement in newspapers or commercials in television or radio. But, a satisfied customer can often prove to be an effective ambassador of the product or service. A well behaved customer care executive or salesperson can also help in assisting the good word about the business entity. The restaur ant must not only be looking at tangible benefits, but intangible benefits also prove to be of immense importance towards the success of the venture. For example, intangible benefits like goodwill and brand equity can only be strengthened with a pro-active attitude from the employees and customers. It needs to be emphasized here that engaging the customer and informing him or her about the products or services on offer is extremely important for them to make a choice. There might be regular customers fully aware about the products, but even those customers love to get pleasant surprises in the form of new dishes or new schemes. Being unfriendly is certainly an unpardonable act towards the customers. Therefore, in order that the observed shortcomings can be done away with and employees behave in a professional manner and prove to be friendly for the customers, they need to be trained. The rule of thumb in customer service is that whosoever comes in contact with the customer, is supposed to

Employee Benefits-Medical Plans and Health Care Research Paper

Employee Benefits-Medical Plans and Health Care - Research Paper Example The rising trend of health care cost can be attributed to the increase in prices of care especially due to consolidation of the hospital industry. Hospitals have been spending much on ensuring effective provision of health care services. Recently, the prices of all major categories of health care such as surgical procedures and hospital stays. Consolidation of hospitals through mergers and acquisitions has also contributed largely to increase in the cost of health care. For instance, prices of hospital health care services rose by 33% between 2009 and 2010Â   when there were major cases of mergers and acquisitions. The cost of provider services in the United States in very high than other countries such as Europe. This is due to increased spending on clinical and physical services. One of the leading reason is the high prevalent rate of obesity in the United States which require adequate medical spending. The medical field has also been characterized by regular advancement in medica l technology which has significantly influenced an upward shift in the cost of care services. Of the overall 65 % increase in prices of health care spending, 30% of can be tracked spending on the implementation of medical technologies. The new technology is required in hospitals as it expands the options available for the treatment of different medical needs. However, the approach involves replacing lower-cost medical procedures and options with those that are higher cost. Healthcare benefits cost-sharing has become very strained.

To examine a sector in the service industry and analyse the service Assignment

To examine a sector in the service industry and analyse the service marketing issues affecting one of the organisations in that sector - Assignment Example Over the last one year the industry has been the hot topic of discussion due to the recent global financial turmoil which has shaken the banking industry in most of the developed countries in the world. UK is one of the largest economies in the world. As a result its banking industry greatly influences not its own economy but also the global economy. UK banking industry is the third largest banking sector in the world. It is one of the most efficient and dynamic industry in the entire Europe. It serves almost 95% of UK’s total population. Almost 3.5% of total workforce in UK is employed in UK banking industry. It has been found that productivity of UK financial sector is growing at a rate which three times higher than the pace of the UK economy. The sector is heavily influencing the GDP of the country. In 2007 financial sector and banks contributed approximately 70 billion euro to the national output of the country and this amount is almost 7% of UK’s GDP. Most importan tly this amount has witnessed an increase by 100% from the year 2003. UK banking sector is considered as the world leading center for private banking, investment and cross border banking. It is holding the fifth position in terms of global international lending. It has been observed that almost one third of global foreign exchange business involve banks in London only. As of December 2008 there are 381 credit institutions in UK. Moreover there are total 163 foreign credit institutions. Furthermore there are 2,241 investment firms in UK (Financial Service Authority, n.d.). The banking industry has gone through a radical transformation because of market liberalization. Significant deregulations and competition that was created out of that were the two main reasons behind this. In UK banking industry deregulation started when Competition and Credit Control in 1971 (CCC) was introduced in 1971. The competitiveness of UK banking

Group Development Essay Example for Free

Group Development Essay First, here is a summary of the development stages of a team. In the forming stage, team members come togetherand form initial impressions. They socialize in order to get to know each other and bond with other team members. In the storming stage, team members experience hostility and infighting over tasks and how the team works. In the norming stage, team members start to come together and realize what needs to be accomplished. In the performing stage, team members are well-organized and well-functioningand maintain a positive balance. In the adjourning stage, team members achieve closure when the project is accomplished. At the end of the cask study the team is still in the storming phase of team development. The team has not fully come together. There is still some infighting with Mike and the presence of cliques is developing, for example, the situation in the cafeteria. Overall, I think there is tension within the team. Christine’s leadership abilities could benefit by having knowledge of the stages of group development. Aside from the very first meeting Mike was not present at any subsequent meetings. He missed out on the forming stage of team development. During this stage Mike could have talked with the team about his outside distractions, job and girlfriend, that may prevent him from fully participating at the meetings, and on the project. If Christine had some knowledge of team development she would have recognized this lapse in the forming stage and could have been able to address this issue with Mike before it became a bigger problem. Christine, as the team leader, could have pulled Mike aside and talked to him about the importance of attending the meetings. She could have spoke with him after the cafeteria incident to reassure him that he was not being excluded, but that all the team members being there was truly a coincidence. Also, she could have told Mike her opinion about how she felt he had a lot to offer the team, the value of his contributions and how it would help with the success of the team. PART II – Problem Identification The primary problem that appears in this case is Christine’s lack of knowledge in team development and as a team leader. The secondary problem is Mike’s unwillingness to contribute to the team. Since Christine did not have knowledge of team development or experience she was ineffective as the team leader. She could have organized the team better by assigning tasks’, scheduling meetings in advance, and possible scheduling a team building event to solidify the forming stage of development. Mike was the second problem to overall team success. Although Mike had issues outside of the team he should have talked to the team at the beginning and asked for assistance and support. After the incident in the cafeteria Mike simply walked away. He should have stayed for a few minutes and discussed the situation with the other members. I don’t fell Mike did his part to interact with the team to enhance the forming stage of development. After the first meeting he immediately set himself as an outsider. Christine as a leader must understand the each group of individuals is going to have its own personality, both individually and collectively. When you understand the needs of each member, and the dynamic that each one brings to the group, then and only then, are you able to develop a strategy to utilize team development to achieve the groups ultimate goal. The goal is to complete a quality project on time. If Christine’s knowledge of team synergy, social facilitation, and overall team effectiveness would have server her well in her role as project leader. Lastly, Christie needs to learn how to assign tasks based on the strengths, and weaknesses of each team member. Other members of the team each had something to offer, including Mike. He was classified as a clown. Clowns tend to be very spontaneous in their thinking; this is a possible source of new and innovative ideas. This should have been communicated to Mike as well as the rest of the team. PART III – Retrospective Evaluation In order for Christine to solve her primary problem two things need to occur. First, Christine should take a class in organization behavior. Understanding the team development process, as well as, team effectiveness, and teams in an organization will definitely help Christine. She will be able to understand, and identify positive and negative aspects of her project team and would have been able to implement steps to correct any deficiencies. The second aspect was Christine’s lack of effectiveness and her inability to integrate Mike into the team. After the first meeting which Mike attended, the problems started. Mike did not make meeting, and was submitting hand written notes. Christine should have structured a meeting that Mike could attend, or scheduled a team building social event. in addition, she could have started reviewing his notes with the other team members at the meetings since he was not there to do it himself. This would at least have given the other team members the knowledge that Mike was making an effort on his part of the project. PART IV – Reflection In my opinion Christine was presented with a challenge that was way above her level of experience. Her lack of knowledge in team development, and as a team leader was evident in the project team. The team did not make it past the storming phase, and therefore never fully developed into an efficient team. She failed to integrate one individual into the team. This caused friction within the team and left one section of the project incomplete with one week remaining until the deadline. Overall, I do not believe Christine was an effective group leader. REFERENCES 1. Schermerhorn, J.R. Jr.,Osborn, R.N., Uhl-Bien, M., Hunt, J.E., Organizational Behavior 12th Edition (2012), John Wiley Sons, Danvers, MA.

Should the US End Overseas Military Operations?

Should the US End Overseas Military Operations? Do we really feel the protection that our country is giving us? Are wars productive for a nation? Do we have to fight with each other to get better? The United States has always been involved in international issues because they always want to be the saviors of the world. The planet earth is composed of wonderful and fascinating places in which humans live, but wars in the economy and social area destroy those wonderful and exciting places. Wars bring severe consequences to our society and economy that causes destruction and lives lost. Today, sometimes distinguish between armed conflicts and wars. According to this view, a conflict would only be a war if the groups have made a formal declaration of the same. In a conception of U.S. military doctrine no distinction is made, it is referrer to armed conflict as fourth generation wars. Invasions by the United States in the world in many countries, war against terrorism and progressive impairments through the years. Although U.S. troops were on the battlefields of France in 1918, there were not serious confrontations between these countries. President Wilson wins reelection on campaign promise of maintaining neutrality, but United States is soon drawn into war raging across Europe. World War I proves to be bloodiest war in world history, often referred to as The Great War or The War to End All Wars. After World War I, disagreements arise regarding proper U.S. role as regulator of world affairs. At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? American losses 48,000 killed in battle, 56,000 lost to disease seemed trifling compared to the staggering costs paid by other countries. Germany lost 1.8 million people; Russia, 1.7 million; France, 1.4 million; Austria-Hungary, 1.2 million; and Britain, 950,000. The War to End All Wars, as it was called, turned out to be just another test of humans aptitude for killing other humans in large quantities. Will the U.S.-led military coalition hold together even as France and others dash for the exits in coming months? Will enough Afghans come to embrace the corrupt government in Kabul as a preferred alternative to the militant Taliban? We are probably headed for stalemate in 2014, says Stephen Biddle, a George Washington University political science professor who has advised U.S. commanders in Afghanistan and Iraq. If that is the case, the U.S. will have to pump billions of dollars a year into Afghanistan for decades to prevent its collapse, Biddle says. Theres no reason why Americans should die when Afghans are perfectly capable of defending their own country, Obama said. Terrorism: According to Martin Indyk, vice president and director of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, the tragedy of 9/11, and the subsequent war on terrorism waged by the Bush administration affected the U.S. role in the world. In the future, the U.S. administration will depend much of the Joint Special Operations Command, a military body à ©tite secret that has increased tenfold in the last decade, said The Washington Post. As American interests in the Pacific expanded, easy access to the region became vital. For that reason, U.S. leaders proposed a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Some people in Latin America and the United States opposed Roosevelts actions. They believed that he had interfered in Colombias affairs in order to cheat it out of land. In 1921, the United States finally paid Colombia $25 million for the loss of Panama. The Panama Canal was only one sign of U.S. involvement in Latin America. As the U.S. economy continued to grow, so did Americans interest in the resources of their southern neighbors. As economic interests drew the United States deeper into Latin American affairs, U.S. leaders became concerned about political stability in the region. They were especially worried that instability might tempt European nations to intervene in the region. The War in Afghanistan (2001-present) began on October 7, 2001, as Operation Enduring Freedom, a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States of America (U.S.). This marked the beginning of the U.S. War on Terrorism. The stated purpose of the invasion was to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy al-Qaeda, and remove the Taliban regime which had provided support and safe harbour to al-Qaeda. The imperative to monitor, suppress, attack, and ultimately eradicate international terrorist groups seeking to strike the United States, its citizens, its interests, and its allies is prompting significant changes in the demands placed on the armed forces of the United States. U.S. forces will often be called upon to assist foreign governments that wish to eradicate terrorist groups on their territory but lack the capabilities to do so on their own. Despite a surge of troops to nearly 150,000 soldiers, the country remains a war zone. Earlier this month, 30 American soldiers were killed when their helicopter was shot down by the Taliban, bringing our death count for 2011 to 299. This, combined with a major Taliban offensive in May and the assassinations of prominent leaders, such as Karzais half-brother and the governor of the Oruzgan Province, indicates that military success is unlikely. It shows that U.S. has paid for its wars either through debt [World War II, Cold War, Afghanistan/Iraq], taxation [Korean War] or inflation [Vietnam]. When comparing the direct multiplier effects of military spending to other forms of government spending, it is not as productive in economic terms as spending in infrastructure, education, or even as tax cuts to increase household consumption. The U.S. economy has other problems, but Europes troubles have undermined consumer and business confidence on both sides of the Atlantic. And the deeply divided U.S. political system has delivered growth-chilling uncertainty. The economy shed a staggering 8.8 million jobs during and shortly after the recession. Since employment hit bottom, the economy has created just over 4 million jobs. So the new hiring has replaced 46 percent of the lost jobs, by far the worst performance since World War II. The essential act of war is destruction, not necessarily of human lives, but of the products of human labor. War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent. Said George Orwell. Findley suggests that war can alter a persons behaviour negatively. War has been a constant part of human history. It has greatly affected the lives of people around the world. These effects, however, are extremely detrimental. Soldiers must shoulder extreme stress on the battlefield. Those that cannot mentally overcome these challenges may develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Sadly, some resort to suicide to escape their insecurities. Soldiers, however, are not the only ones affected by wars; family members also experience mental hardships when their loved ones are sent to war. I disagree with the wars because besides many innocent lives lost, we also lose millions of money that we could invest in schools, our seniors, in top positions work for all Americans and the millions of immigrants entering each year day in this country. In conclusion, I say that the wars against other countries are not the way how we are going to deal with the problem with have in our planet. The wars against weak countries are unfair and damaging more lives because they cannot defend themselves because they do not have weapons necessary and not even often lack the mentality to fight against others. Although the United States is a country rich in many fields, is losing the essence and respect for other countries because of wars. The money spent each day for these foolish wars we could use it in areas that really need help to grow and move forward as a nation entities. The economy suffers with the wars and with it we also suffer because a country without a stable economy does not help its citizens to get what they want. Wars not help but destroy. Work Cited Tran, Hinh. America should no longer be involved in costly wars overseas. The Daily Californian. August 21, 2011. Opinion. October 24, 2012. America should no longer be involved in costly wars overseas Rand Office of Media Relations. Americans Will Back Military Action Overseas If They Believe the United States Has Important Stakes in a Battle. For Release May 29, 2005. Web. October 24, 2012. http://www.rand.org/news/press/2005/05/29.html Bingham, Amy. War in Afghanistan. ABC News. Oct. 15, 2012. Web. October 1, 2012. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/afghanistan/index.html Bowman, Steve. Iraq: U.S. Military Operations. Congressional Research Service. July 15, 2007. Web. October 24, 2012. Ochmanek, David. Military Operations Against Terrorist Groups Abroad: Implications for the United States Air Force. Monograph Reports. December 3, 2003. Web. October 26, 2012. http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1738.html Burns, Robert. New Afghan war phase, with no decisive end seen. AP National Security Writer. October 26, 2012. Web. October 29, 2012. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgNrnpMS0e0Qm905d0U4wPF2Cx3w?docId=5e1baf1d205e4dc29097f2ee2b284200

Developing Low Energy and Sustainable Homes

Developing Low Energy and Sustainable Homes Climate change and energy security are the greatest challenges facing the world today. Climate change is causing global warming, which is the increase in the average temperature on the earths surface, air and oceans. The release of greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere, from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation have been a major factor in their increase over the last 100 years. Energy security is vital for any developed economy. The OPEC member countries control about 75% of the worlds oil reserves (R). Many of these countries are politically unstable and they can control the price of oil. In the early years of this decade, the UK was a net exporter of gas and it is estimated that by 2020, they will only be able to meet about 40% of their oil and gas needs themselves(R). The UK needs to reduce its green house gas emissions and meet their energy demands without having to rely on other nations. The Kyoto protocol was established to limit and reduce the amount of green house gases released into the atmosphere. Industrialised countries, and those is transition to a market economy, which were called the Annex I countries have agreed to ratify the agreement and reduce their emissions to a 1990s baseline (R). The UKs commitment under the protocol is to reduce their green house gas emissions by 12.5% of 1990 levels, by 2008-2012. This involves an 8% reduction in their C02 emissions, the main cause of global warming, over this time frame. Further aspirational targets are set out in the DTI Energy White Paper published in 2003, such as to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050 (R). In 2002, the residential sector caused 27% of the UKs CO2 emissions, of which 82% of the energy was for space and water heating (R). The proposals, as laid out by Gordon Brown in 2006 stated that within ten years, every new home will be a zero-carbon home. The Code for Sustainable Homes was introduced in 2007, the code rates the sustainability of homes over six levels based on certain criteria. In theory, constructing zero-carbon homes (homes which can generate their own electrical and heating needs either onsite or locally) is a fantastic idea which will eventually lower energy demands and then lower the CO2 emissions countrywide. But they are ambitious plans and there are several issues that need to be resolved such as: Zero-Carbon Home: Definition New Construction Techniques Building Regulations The Code for Sustainable Homes Planning Laws Grants and incentives Whats happening now? Certifying Agencies Zero Carbon Homes: There is still some confusion as to the detailed description of a zero-carbon home. The Housing Minister, John Healy published on the Communities and Local Government (CLG) website the zero carbon homes definition: A zero carbon home is one whose net carbon dioxide emissions, taking account of emissions associated with all energy use in the home, is equal to zero or negative across the year. The definition of energy use will cover both energy uses currently regulated by the Building Regulations and other energy used in the home. (R) Detailed information is still needed about energy imported and used in the zero carbon homes. The energy standards state that there has to be onsite renewable energy and a locally connected heat supply to achieve a 70% reduction in the carbon emissions from current levels. Currently there is no allowance made for renewable energy generated off site, for example, wind and wave power. If I design a proposed zero carbon home and connect it to an energy company that is generating electricity in the north of Scotland, I might not achieve the rating I want which is unfair, even though he electricity is generated from a renewable source. The life cycle of a building is not taken into account in the definition of a zero carbon homes either. The construction, renovation and disposal can cause significant amounts of CO2 emission to be released. A life cycle analyses of a zero carbon home should include the embodied energy within the materials and waste disposal. Of course, not all of the material could be sourced locally as this would be impossible, but each council/local government should be able to compile a list of materials that are located locally. Ideally, a certain percentage of the local materials should have to be used. This would not only decrease the embodied energy within some of the construction materials but also help support local businesses. The government should invest more in the research of this idea, with many businesses suffering in the current economic climate, we should be buying locally, not importing. New Construction Techniques Building Regulations: Our European neighbours have been developing low energy houses and energy saving construction techniques for over 30 years. While some of the techniques might be new to the UK, they have been tried and tested on the continent. Currently the averaged U-Value for Walls, Roofs and Floors (wm2K) in Part L of the Building Regulations for the UK is 0.24, whereas in Germany and Switzerland the Passivehaus and Minergie-P regulations are achieving an average of 0.10(R). In 2013 the averaged UK Part L will lower to 0.18 and then in 2016 to 0.14. (R) The German designed Passivhaus has been a hugely successful energy saving concept that has only reached the UK in recent years. The basic principle include very good levels of insulation with minimal thermal bridging, utilising solar and internal gains by house orientation, window design and location, excellent levels of air tightness and good indoor air quality provided by whole house mechanical ventilation system with highly efficient heat recovery.(R) Sweden, also has produced energy efficient house designs since the 1970s, with different mandatory standards for the north and south due to the difference in climate. There performance standards are among the highest energy efficiency requirements in the world, already in line with Passivhaus standards. Over 7000 home have been constructed across Europe to the Passivhaus standard, the techniques used can easily be adapted here within the UK. The highly insulated and airtight passivhaus have a heating requirment of 15kwh/m2/year, which is nearly 90% less energy used to heat a standard UK home (R). These homes often need little or no heating for 9 months of the year. This will not automatically mean that the houses will achieve the highest level on the Code for Sustainable Homes. If we are to achieve the standards of the Passivhaus, the design and construction techniques should be introduced into the university courses now, for such degrees as I studied (Architectural Technology). These techniques are the future for zero carbon residential, commercial and industrial building. Starting with the basic house construction, if we are thought the techniques on how to construct dwellings that minimise their heat and hot water demand, less energy is needed, and expensive renewable options such as PV cells, geothermal pumps and domestic wind turbines can be reduced. We can then adapt these techniques for other building types. Code for Sustainable Homes Sullivan Report: The Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) was introduced in England on a voluntary basis in May 2007 and a code rating for all new buildings became mandatory from 1st May 2008. The Code Level 3 rating for newly constructed homes promoted or supported by the Welsh Assembly Government became mandatory from 1st May 2008 also and from 2nd June 2008, Code Level 3 is required for all new self-contained social housing in Northern Ireland (R). The Code does not apply in Scotland. A panel was appointed by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Changet, chaired by Lynne Sullivan, they made recommendations to develop a strategy to achieve zero net carbon emissions. Experts for the UK as well as from Norway, Denmark and Austria participated. They agreed on eventual and staged recommendations to be achieved by new build and existing homes in Scotland. The following was recommended for all new build homes in Scotland: Net zero carbon buildings (i.e. space and water heating, lighting and ventilation) by 2016/2017, if practical. Two intermediate stages on the way to net zero carbon buildings, one change in energy standards in 2010 (low carbon buildings) and another in 2013 (very low carbon buildings). The 2010 change in energy standards for non-domestic buildings should deliver carbon dioxide savings of 50% more than 2007 standards. The 2010 change in energy standards for domestic buildings should deliver carbon dioxide savings of 30% more than 2007 standards. The 2013 change in energy standards for non-domestic buildings should deliver carbon dioxide savings of 75% more than 2007 standards. The 2013 change in energy standards for domestic buildings should deliver carbon dioxide savings of 60% more than 2007 standards. Backstop levels of U-values and airtightness for building fabric should be improved in 2010 to match those of Nordic countries, but consideration must be given to the social and financial impact of measures that would necessitate mechanical ventilation with heat recovery in domestic buildings. The ambition of total-life zero carbon buildings by 2030. The Code for Sustainable Homes was introduced to replace Ecohomes which was the energy assessment rating for all homes in B.R.E.E.A.M. (R). The CSH was intended to be a single national standard for design and construction of sustainable homes. The code complements the system of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) which was introduced in June 2007 under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) (R). All new homes (and eventually all homes, when they are sold or leased) will have an EPC which provides key information about the energy efficiency/carbon performance of a home. The CSH and EPC and energy assessments used the same terminology. The CSH was developed by using the existing Building Research Establishments (BRE) EcoHomes System. The Code has a scoring system of six levels. The different levels are made up by achieving both the appropriate mandatory minimum standards together with a proportion of flexible standards. Level 6, being the highest level achieves a Zero-Carbon Home standard. The Code has been designed so it is closely linked to the Building Regulations, which are the minimum standards by law. The minimum standards for the Code compliance have been set above the requirements of the Building Regulations. The Code has been set out as a baseline in relation to carbon emissions from energy use in a home. The introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes will encourage developers to build to higher standards. Homes that will be constructed to the higher standards set out in the Code will produce lower levels of CO2 and generate lower energy bills for the occupants. Including the 6 level scoring systems is a good opportunity for developers and buildings to try various construction techniques and see what level they can achieve. The levels are a good stepping stone to achieve a level 6 score and obtaining a zero-carbon home status. The Code for Sustainable Homes was designed to show how sustainable a home could be. Sustainable homes should include the three pillars of sustainability: Environmental, Social Economic. In the Code, only one of these pillars is addressed, Environmental. For the Code to be truly sustainable the social and economic issues need to be included in the design, construction and operation of all new homes. The location of new homes, either in a rural or built-up area could be added to the weighting system for points scoring. Constructing a home within a certain distance of a public transfer route could also gain points on the scoring system, this would reduce the home owners daily car use and CO2 emissions. The government or local authorities could have specially designated areas, preferably Brownfield sites that could be classed as sustainable sites. A points system could be incorporated into the CSH for constructing a new home in this area. As transport makes up over 23% of UKs GHG emissions (R), encouraging alternative-fuel vehicles and electric cars would be beneficial. An alternative-fuel top up station could be constructed within these proposed sustainable sites area. This would meet some of the economic issues by creating employment within the green industry. Until the social and economic issues have been addressed, we should consider contacting the Department for Communities and Local Government and asking them to rename the Code for Sustainable Homes to the Code for Environmental Homes. Planning Laws: As stated in Section 1.0, Zero-Carbon Homes will have to incorporate either on-site renewable technologies or locally sourced combined heat and power (CHP) for their energy needs. The National Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy gives national guidance in England, on the installation of renewable technologies. Statement 22 was last updated in 2004, but has been supplemented by the updated Planning Policy Statement 1: Planning Climate Change published in 2007. Currently there is a consultation draft to be updated and published before the end of this year (2009). The equivalent planning statement in Scotland is the National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy Developments. It provides the Scottish Executives policy on national land use and planning matters regarding renewable technologies. New permitted development rights introduced on 6th April 2008 in England and the 12th March 2009 in Scotland have made it easier to install renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and biomass boilers(R). These permitted development rights have lifted requirements for planning permission for most domestic micro-generation technologies. In England, The General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) gives rights to certain forms of development on the home without the need to apply for planning permission. In Scotland, these rights are under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Developed) (Domestic Micro-generation) TCP (GPD) Scotland Amendment Order 2009. Currently the Welsh Assembly Government and Northern Ireland Government are considering changing their legislation to permit certain renewable technology development without having to apply for planning permission. Both governments hope to introduce legislation in 2010. The GPDO in England and the TCP (GPD) in Scotland include the following technologies: Solar PV Solar Thermal (Roof Mounted) Solar PV Solar Thermal (Stand Alone) Wood burning boilers and stoves Ground source heat pumps Water source heat pumps Air source heat pumps Micro and small wind (due to legal technicalities not included yet but further legislation expected later this year) The DPDO and TCP (GPD) are for guidance only. Each local authority has their own regulations that are set exclusively for their area. For example, a dwelling constructed within a conservation area would have to comply with stiffer standards with regard to installation of renewable technologies towards a dwelling not located in a conservation area. The Mid-Lothian Local Plan was published in 2007 and within NRG2 Individual Wins Turbines and Micro-Generations it states, The Council will support development that proposes the use of individual and community scale wind turbines and other micro-generation technologies for localised power requirements, provided they are located to minimise any potential adverse impact on the local community. The cumulative visual impact of such proposals will be taken into consideration when assessing individual planning applications There certainly is a good system in place in allowing the installation of certain renewable technologies without the need for applying for planning permission. The National Planning Policy Statements (England) and National Planning Policy Guidelines (Scotland) provide national frameworks which help local planning systems to evolve and deliver sustainable development. The current planning system is definitely driving us towards a sustainable future and the possibility of making ZCHs a reality by 2016. It is great to see that certain micro-generation technologies do not need to apply for planning permission, even if certain restrictions apply. But the main concern for home developers and owners is the cost of these technologies. Grants Incentives To construct a home that achieves a Level 6 in the CSH and a ZCH status requires new construction techniques and materials. There might be a higher initial cost to incorporate these techniques and materials than constructing a current standard home, but energy savings can be achieved over the whole life cost and operation of the home. The cost of constructing a ZCH is greater than a standard home because of the requirement to install renewable technologies. The cost of renewable energy generation depends on which type of technology is going to be installed within a home. In the UK, the government, energy suppliers and local authorities all provide grants towards installing renewable technologies into your home. The Department of Energy Climate Change (DECC) low carbon building programme provides grants for householders. The grants are available for micro-generation technologies including Solar PV, wind turbines, small scale hydro, solar water heating, heat pumps and bio-energy. The programme also funds renewable CHP, micro CHP and fuel cells. In Scotland, the Energy Saving Scotland home renewable grant scheme provides grants for homes. It is funded by the Scottish Government and the Energy Saving Trust. Funding is set at 30% of the installed cost up to a maximum of  £4,000. The grant covers Solar water heating, solar PV, solar thermal space heating, small scale wind and hydro systems, ground source and air source heat pumps and biomass boilers and stoves. In Scotland, you have the choice to apply for an Energy Saving Scotland home renewable grant or a low carbon buildings programme grant, but you cannot apply for a grant from both programmes for one technology. The grants available help towards the cost of the installation of renewables, but are they enough? With the current economic climate, people are being very careful with their money. Renewable technologies can save money over the whole life costing of a home, but its the initial cost that is important to people now. The grants available should be increased to really entice people to purchase these technologies. There are also feed-in tariffs available, if a home is generating more electrical energy than it needs, it can sell it back to the main energy suppliers. There are currently two main types of feed-in tariffs available, the Export Tariff, where you are only paid for the electricity you export to the electricity network and the Generation tariffs, where you are paid for all the electricity that your system generates even if you use it in your own home. There are also some Set Price Tariffs available where a fixed amount is paid by the energy supplier based on the type of system installed. The tariff feedback system is a chance for all consumers to become producers. All homes could become energy-plus which could make the UK a net exporter of renewable energy in the future. In Germany, they have been using a feed-in tariff system for over 10 years. It has been a huge success. Under the German system anyone generating electricity from solar PV, wind or hydro is guaranteed a payment of four times the market rate for 20 years. This reduces the payback time for cost of the renewable technologies to less than 10 years and after the payback time is complete, the home owner has a regular income from the electrical company for the power they generate. The cost is spread by generating companies among all users and has added about one cent/kwh to the average bill, or an extra à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.50 ( £1) a month (R). The growth in home electric generation and renewable technology use in Germany has created jobs and reduced the initial cost. With more companies competing for a share of the market, they have lowered their prices, a typical 3kw PV system costs about  £17,000 in Britain but less than  £10,000 in Germany (R). It has been proven that the feed in tariff system in Germany is lowering the initial cost of renewable technologies, creating employment and generating income for the home owner after the payback period is over. This system should be introduced worldwide, and promoted as a sustainable method as it incorporates the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. Certifying Agencies BREEAM (BRE Environmental AssessmentMethod) is the leading and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. It sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de facto measure used to describe a buildings environmental performance (R). An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is required for all homes whenever built, rented or sold. If you are buying or selling a home it is now law to have a certificate. They are also required on construction of new homes and are needed for rented homes the first time the property is let after 1 October 2008. The certificate records how energy efficient a property is as a building and provides A-G ratings. These are similar to the labels now provided with domestic appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines. The UKs governments Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), assess the energy performance of dwellings and produces the EPC. Energy performance is based on consumption per unit floor area, energy cost rating (SAP rating), an Environmental Impact rating based on CO2 emissions (EI rating) and a Dwelling CO2 Emission Rate (DER). The SAP rating is based on energy costs associated with space heating, water heating, ventilation and lightings, less cost savings from energy generation technologies. The SAP rating is expressed on a scale of 1 to 100, the higher the number the lower the running costs. An EPC is always accompanied by a recommendation report that lists cost effective and other measures (such as low and zero carbon generating systems) to improve the energy rating. A rating is also given showing what could be achieved if all the recommendations were implemented. EPCS are produced by accredited energy assessors. Whats happening now? Some local authorities in the UK have been making exemplar progress in delivering a low carbon economy, such as Fife in Scotland and in the near future, Merseyside Council are to become the biggest UK low carbon economy (R). The Zero Carbon Hub is a web-site set up by the Government to help you understand the challenges, issues and opportunities involved in developing, building and marketing low and zero carbon homes. The Zero Carbon Hub shares practical experience and uses this information to accelerate main stream adoption of low and zero carbon methods and technologies. The web-site identifies successful examples of low and zero carbon housing solutions. This will help identify successful design, method, technologies and approaches. Currently major house developers within the UK are constructing prototype zero carbon homes. They are using the developments as exemplar projects on techniques and technologies needed to be included within a home to achieve Zero Carbon status. The following developers and companies have all developed a zero carbon home. Stewart Milne Group Sigma Project Kingspan Off-Site The Lighthouse Creo ProKoncept The Creo House Barratt Developments Plc The Barrett Green House Miller Homes Ltd. Miller Zero Housing Project Tarmac Ltd Level 6 Home University of Nottingham It is encouraging that the major house developers are constructing their own example of zero carbon homes that can be mass produced. They are experimenting with new techniques and materials and then sharing their results and information so everyone benefits. The Stewart Milne Group claim, for their Sigma project to achieve a Level 6 on the CSH, the initial cost for renewable technologies is currently from  £60,000- £70,000. They suggest we should be concentrating on super-insulating our homes instead of trying to generate energy. They make a valid point here, if we super insulate our homes we will need less energy to heat it, requiring less renewable technologies to generate electricity. It is highly likely that by 2013 many of the sustainability stumbling blocks for the UK will have been swept away by neccesity. Retrofit solutions to existing properties must be part of the future. If only our banks were to protect their assets by financing a UK wide improvement programme. As practitioners of sustainability we have the following summary for you all What is a zero carbon home? A zero carbon home would qualify for zero stamp duty if its design emission rating (DER) were a negative number and its Heat Loss Parameter HLP sufficiently low. At present; the embedded energy of the materials used the energy from appliances and fittings and fixtures the energy associated with transport and servicing are not included. The term low carbon home is rather vague and ambiguous for the consumer Regards The impact of achieving the 25 per cent and 44 per cent improvements above the current Part L standard in 2010 and 2013 is estimated to have a net impact on the economy up to 2016 of around  £1.9bn. These costs are based on assuming that developers choose technologies on the basis of minimising the capital costs of construction. However, if the impact of on going costs and benefits is taken into account in technology choices, then the overall cost to the economy is reduced to  £0.85bn, which is nearly half of the  £1.9bn cost. Under this scenario there is a slightly higher capital outlay (the percentage increase in Part L above 2006 in 2013 is 6.2 per cent compared with 5.4 per cent when the capital costs are minimised), but the difference in size of the ongoing benefits is clear.

Silas Marner :: Free Essays Online

Silas Marner Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe In the manuscript, the title read: ‘Silas Marner:/The Weaver of Raveloe/A Story/ by/George Eliot’. In a letter to John Blackwood, her publisher, on 28 February 1861, she asked for the words ‘A Story’ to be removed. It was taken out of all printed editions. Silas Marner took five months to write. It was written between September of 1860 and March 1861. Eliot was working on Romola when she received a summons to write Silas Marner. She put Romola, which was written in installments, aside to write Silas Marner. It was written for publication. She was inspired to write Silas Marner after reading Wordsworth's poem â€Å"Michael.† She quotes three lines from the poem at the beginning of her novel: 'A child, more than all other gifts That earth can offer to declining man, Brings hope with it, and forward-looking thoughts.' She told her publisher, John Blackwood, in January 1861 about her idea of writing the novel. She wrote that it was â€Å"a story of old-fashioned village life, which has unfolded itself from the merest millet seed of thought† (Modern Library). On 24 February 1861, she said, â€Å"it came to me first of all, quite suddenly, as a sort of legendary tale, suggested by me recollection of having once, in early childhood, seen a linen-weaver with a bag on his back; but, as my mind dwelt on the subject, I became inclined to a more realistic treatment† (Modern Library). George Eliot’s real name was Marion Evans. She changed it because she did not want people to read her novel just because they were interested in her scandalous life. She was living with G.H.Lewes at the time and had been doing so since 1854. He and Marion Evans were unable to marry. His wife, Agnes, cheated on him with his friend Thorton Hunt, by whom she bore four children along with the three she had with Lewes. Eliot wrote to her brother Isaac in May 1857, telling him about her relationship with Lewes. He did not approve and refused to speak to her ever again and told sister Chrissy to do the same. This was a hard time for Marion. In March 1859, her sister died. Married women shunned her because of her affair. In September, she and Lewes moved together into London to provide convenient home for Lewe’s son Charles who returned home from Switzerland. In December 1860, when she was halfway done with writing Silas Marner, Eliot suffered from ill health and depression.

Relational Database Model :: essays research papers

Comparing and Contrasting the Relational Database Model and OO Model The relational database model is based upon tables or relations. In this model, the physical implementation of the database is abstracted away from the user. Users query the database using a high-level query language, such as SQL. The relations are made up of columns, which have headings indicating the attribute represented by that column. Tables have key fields, which can be used to identify unique records. Keys relate tables to each other. The rows of the relation are also called tuples, and there is one tuple component for each attribute – or column – in that relation. A relation or table name, along with those relation’s attributes, make up the relational schema. Relational Database models are server-centric.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When designing a Relational Database, you must create a table for each entity type, choose or invent a primary key for each table; add foreign keys to represent one-to-many relationships; create new tables to represent many-to-many relationships; define referential integrity constraints; evaluate schema quality and make necessary improvements; and choose appropriate data types and value restrictions for each field (if necessary).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The real power of relational systems lies in the ability to perform complex queries over the data. Relational systems are well understood, and can be highly optimized in terms of queries, scalability, and storage. There is a uniqueness of table rows and primary keys, as well as ease of implementing future data model changes – flexibility and maintainability. To build an effective and efficient application in the relational model, the developer must have a comprehensive knowledge of the tables, and any relationships among them.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Object oriented database management systems are viewed as an alternative approach to meeting the demands of more complex data types. The need to handle complex object-centric data as the main data element is the driving force behind Object Oriented database models. These systems attempt to extend Object Oriented programming languages, techniques, and tools to provide a means to support data management tasks. Object Oriented models are client centric. Object Oriented databases uses attributes containing object identifiers to find objects that are related to other objects.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When designing an Object Oriented model, you must first determine which classes require persistent storage; define persistent classes; represent relationships among persistent classes; and choose appropriate data types and value restrictions for each field.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Object Oriented database models approach from the opposite direction (a programming language itself) to solve the problem of handling complex data types.

William Faulkners The Bear and Barn Burning: A Comparison :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William Faulkner’s The Bear and Barn Burning are two different short stories, but are very much alike in several ways. The theme in both gravitates toward the finding one’s self theme, where both the main characters must find themselves amidst many different circumstances. Faulkner also portrays the main characters in each story much the same. There is a difference in the tone between the two stories however, proving that he can write two different stories, but put in many similarities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finding your true self in a complicated world is the theme of many stories, and The Bear and Barn Burning are no exceptions. In The Bear, the main character, whom remains nameless, finds himself in a forest, alone, and faced with a tough decision. Sarty, the main character from Barn Burning, finds his true self, alone, having just faced a tough decision, in the wilderness, much like the other boy. Even though both boys faced some obstacles they learned skills from each of their experiences. Sarty learned he must get away from his family to live a good life, and the other boy learned the hunt and track like men twice his age. Each boy learned lessons and life long skills that helped create their true, adult selves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Faulkner portrays each of the characters in a different light, with different circumstances, but both possess many of the same traits. Sarty comes from a very poor family, while the other boy comes from a well off family, as they have a cabin they can hunt from, and Sarty does not have a place to live. In each short story, the boys give up something they love or greatly desire. The Boy gave up a bear that had been hunted for generations, and Sarty gave up his family. They both became adults by choosing their own paths and not following their fathers. The Boy’s father would have shot the bear if he had the chance, and if Sarty stayed in his family, he could possibly become a barnburner and cheat like his father and brother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A very hostile environment prevails in Barn Burning, while a relaxed one shines through in The Bear. Faulkner’s use of nigger, the constant berating of the family and abuse make the story have a harsh tone, and it remains the same until the end. In the other story, dogs bark from the depths of the forest, while quietness and a relaxing air emanate from the pages. William Faulkners The Bear and Barn Burning: A Comparison :: essays research papers   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  William Faulkner’s The Bear and Barn Burning are two different short stories, but are very much alike in several ways. The theme in both gravitates toward the finding one’s self theme, where both the main characters must find themselves amidst many different circumstances. Faulkner also portrays the main characters in each story much the same. There is a difference in the tone between the two stories however, proving that he can write two different stories, but put in many similarities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Finding your true self in a complicated world is the theme of many stories, and The Bear and Barn Burning are no exceptions. In The Bear, the main character, whom remains nameless, finds himself in a forest, alone, and faced with a tough decision. Sarty, the main character from Barn Burning, finds his true self, alone, having just faced a tough decision, in the wilderness, much like the other boy. Even though both boys faced some obstacles they learned skills from each of their experiences. Sarty learned he must get away from his family to live a good life, and the other boy learned the hunt and track like men twice his age. Each boy learned lessons and life long skills that helped create their true, adult selves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Faulkner portrays each of the characters in a different light, with different circumstances, but both possess many of the same traits. Sarty comes from a very poor family, while the other boy comes from a well off family, as they have a cabin they can hunt from, and Sarty does not have a place to live. In each short story, the boys give up something they love or greatly desire. The Boy gave up a bear that had been hunted for generations, and Sarty gave up his family. They both became adults by choosing their own paths and not following their fathers. The Boy’s father would have shot the bear if he had the chance, and if Sarty stayed in his family, he could possibly become a barnburner and cheat like his father and brother.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A very hostile environment prevails in Barn Burning, while a relaxed one shines through in The Bear. Faulkner’s use of nigger, the constant berating of the family and abuse make the story have a harsh tone, and it remains the same until the end. In the other story, dogs bark from the depths of the forest, while quietness and a relaxing air emanate from the pages.

Coexistence of Private and Public Sectors

New Economic PolicyFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search For the Malaysian New Economic Policy, see Malaysian New Economic Policy. Soviet Union This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Soviet Union ——————————————————————————– Government[show]ConstitutionGovernment MinistriesState CommitteesExecutive OfficerCouncil of People's CommissarsCouncil of MinistersCabinet of MinistersState CouncilPresidential Council Communist Party[show]Communist Party CongressHistoryGeneral Secretary PolitburoCentral CommitteeSecretariatOrgburo Leadership[show]LeadersPremiers CabinetsPresident (List) Vice PresidentCollective leadership Legislature[show]Congress of Soviets Central Executive CommitteeSupreme Soviet Soviet of the UnionSoviet of NationalitiesPresidiumCongress of People's Deputies Speaker1989 Legislative election Judiciary[show]Law Supreme CourtPeople's CourtProcurator General History[show]1917–1927 RevolutionCivil War1927–1953 World War II1953–1964 Khrushchev Thaw1964–1982 Era of Stagnation1982–1991 Dissolution Ideology[show]State Ideology Soviet democracyMarxism-LeninismLeninismStalinism Economy[show]Economy AgricultureConsumer goodsFive-Year PlanKosygin reformNew Economic PolicyS cience and technologyEra of StagnationMaterial balance planning Society[show]Culture DemographicsEducationFamilyPhraseologyReligionTransportRepre ssion CensorshipCensorship of imagesEconomic repressionGreat purgeGulag systemCollectivizationHuman rightsMass killingsIdeological repressionSuppressed researchPolitical abuse of psychiatryPolitical repressionPopulation transferPropagandaRed Terror ——————————————————————————– Atlas USSR Portal view  ·talk  ·edit The New Economic Policy (NEP) (Russian: , , Novaya Ekonomicheskaya Politika) was an economic policy proposed by Vladimir Lenin, who called it state capitalism. Allowing some private ventures, the NEP allowed small animal businesses or smoke shops, for instance, to reopen for private profit while the state continued to control banks, foreign trade, and large industries. [1] It was officially decided in the course of the 10th Congress of the All-Russian Communist Party. It was promulgated by decree on 21 March 1921, â€Å"On the Replacement of Prodrazvyorstka by Prodnalog† (i. e. , on the replacement of foodstuffs requisitions by fixed foodstuffs tax). In essence, the decree required the farmers to give the government a specified amount of raw agricultural product as a tax in kind. [2] Further decrees refined the policy and expanded it to include some industries. The New Economic Policy was replaced by Stalin's First Five-Year Plan in 1928. Contents [hide] 1 Beginnings 2 Policies 3 Disagreements in leadership 4 Results 5 End of NEP 6 See also 7 Multimedia 8 Further reading 9 Footnotes 10 External links [edit] Beginnings This section requires expansion. The NEP replaced the policies of War Communism. Whilst some leading Bolsheviks were opposed to it, it seemed necessary due to circumstances to allow limited private commercialism in the form of the NEP. [edit] PoliciesThe laws sanctioned the coexistence of private and public sectors, which were incorporated in the NEP, which on the other hand was a state oriented â€Å"mixed economy. † [3] Rather than repossess all goods produced, the Soviet government took only a small percentage of goods. This left the peasants with a marketable surplus which could be sold privately. [4] The state, after starting to use the NEP, migrated away from Communist ideals and started the modernizing of the economy, but this time, with a more free-minded way of doing things. The Soviet Union stopped upholding the idea of nationalizing certain parts of industries. Some kinds of foreign investments were expected by the Soviet Union under the NEP, in order to fund industrial and developmental projects with foreign exchange or technology requirements. [5] The move towards modernization rested on one main issue, transforming the Soviet Union into a modern industrialized society, but to do so the Soviet Union had to reshape its preexisting structures, namely its agricultural system and the class structure that surrounded it. The NEP was primarily a new agricultural policy. [6] The Bolsheviks viewed traditional village life as conservative and backward. The old way of village life was reminiscent of the Tsarist Russia that had supposedly been thrown out with the October Revolution. With the NEP, which sought to repudiate the â€Å"old ways,† methods were put in place which promoted the pursuit by peasants of their self-interests. However, the state only allowed private landholdings because the idea of collectivized farming had met with much opposition. [7] edit] Disagreements in leadershipLenin considered the NEP as a strategic retreat. [8] However, he justified the NEP by insisting that it was a different type of capitalism. He i nsisted that this form of â€Å"state capitalism† was the last stage of capitalism before socialism evolved. [9] Leon Trotsky and Joseph Stalin disagreed over how to develop the Soviet Economy after the World War and the Civil War. Trotsky, supported by left-wing members of the Communist Party, believed that socialism in Russia would only survive if the state controlled the allocation of all output. Trotsky believed that the state should repossess all output to invest in capital formation. On the other hand, Stalin supported the more conservative members of the Communist Party and advocated for a state run capitalist economy. Stalin managed to wrest control of the Communist Party from Trotsky. After defeating the Trotsky faction, Stalin reversed his opinions about economic policy and implemented the First Five-Year Plan. [10] [edit] ResultsAgricultural production increased greatly. Instead of the government taking all agricultural surpluses with no compensation, the farmers now had the option to sell their surplus yields, and therefore had an incentive to produce more grain. This incentive coupled with the breakup of the quasi-feudal landed estates not only brought agricultural production to pre-Revolution levels but surpassed them. While the agricultural sector became increasingly reliant on small family farms, the heavy industries, banks and financial institutions remained owned and run by the state. Since the Soviet government did not yet pursue any policy of industrialization, and did not allow it to be facilitated by the same private incentives that were increasing agricultural production, this created an imbalance in the economy where the agricultural sector was growing much faster than heavy industry. To keep their income high, the factories began to sell their products at higher prices. Due to the rising cost of manufactured goods, peasants had to produce much more wheat to purchase these consumer goods. This fall in prices of agricultural goods and sharp rise in prices of industrial products was known as the Scissor crisis (from the shape of the graph of relative prices to a reference date). Peasants began withholding their surpluses to wait for higher prices, or sold them to â€Å"NEPmen† (traders and middle-men) who then sold them on at high prices, which was opposed by many members of the Communist Party who considered it an exploitation of urban consumers. To combat the price of consumer goods the state took measures to decrease inflation and enact reforms on the internal practices of the factories. The government also fixed prices to halt the scissor effect. The NEP succeeded in creating an economic recovery after the devastating effects of the First World War, the Russian Revolution and the Russian civil war. By 1925, in the wake of Lenin's NEP, a â€Å"†¦ major transformation was occurring politically, economically, culturally and spiritually. Small-scale and light industries were largely in the hands of private entrepreneurs or cooperatives. By 1928, agricultural and industrial production had been restored to the 1913 (pre-World War I) level. However, unemployment skyrocketed under the NEP and a wider gap was created between classes. [2] [edit] End of NEPBy 1925, the year after Lenin's death, Nikolai Bukharin had become the foremost supporter of the New Economic Policy. It was abandoned in 1928 after Joseph Stalin obtained a position of leadership during the Great Turn. Stalin had initially supported the NEP against Leon Trotsky, but switched in favour of Collectivization as a result[citation needed] of the Grain Procurement Crisis and the need to accumulate capital rapidly for the vast industrialization programme introduced with the Five Year Plans. It was hoped that the USSR's industrial base would reach the level of capitalist countries in the West, to prevent them being beaten in another possible war. (Stalin proclaimed: â€Å"Either we do it, or we shall be crushed. â€Å") Stalin proposed that the grain crisis was caused by the NEP men, who sold agricultural products to the urban populations for a high price. An alternative explanation for the grain crisis (which is more popular among western historians)[citation needed] revolves around the focus on heavy industry creating a significant consumer goods shortage; which meant peasants had nothing to spend their resources on, thus resulting in the hoarding of their grain. For Lenin and his followers, the NEP was intended as an interim measure. However, it proved highly unpopular with the Left Opposition in the Bolshevik party because of its compromise with some capitalistic elements and the relinquishment of State control. [2] They saw the NEP as a betrayal of communist principles, and they believed it would have a negative long-term economic effect, so they wanted a fully planned economy instead. In particular, the NEP created a class of traders (â€Å"NEP men†) whom the Communists considered to be â€Å"class enemies† of the working class. On the other hand, Lenin is quoted to have said â€Å"The NEP is in earnest and long-term† ( — ? ), which has been used to surmise that if Lenin were to stay alive longer, NEP would have continued beyond 1929, and the disastrous collectivization would have never happened, or it would have been carried out differently. Lenin had also been known to say about NEP: â€Å"We are taking one step backward to later take two steps forward†, suggesting that, though the NEP pointed to another direction, it would provide the economic conditions necessary for socialism eventually to evolve. Lenin's successor, Stalin, eventually introduced full central planning (although a variant of public planning had been the idea of the Left Opposition, which Stalin purged from the Party), re-nationalized much of the economy, and from the late 1920s onwards introduced a policy of rapid industrialization. Stalin's collectivization of agriculture was his most notable and most destructive departure from the NEP approach. It is often argued[citation needed] that industrialization could have been achieved without any collectivization and instead by taxing the peasants more, as similarly happened in Meiji Japan, Otto von Bismarck's Germany, and in post-World War II South Korea and Taiwan. [edit] See alsoEconomic calculation problem Planned economy [edit] MultimediaVladimir I. Lenin: About Natural Tax (Text of the speech in Russian, Record (help ·info)) [edit] Further readingDavies, R. W. (ed. ) (1991). From tsarism to the new economic policy: continuity and change in the economy of the USSR. Ithaca, N. Y. : Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801426219. Fitzpatrick, Sheila, et al. (ed. ) (1991). Russia in the Era of NEP. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. ISBN 025320657X. NEP Era Journal: http://www. d. umn. edu/cla/NEPera/main/index. php Nenovsky. N,(2006). „Lenin and the currency competition. Reflections on the NEP experience (1922-1924),â€Å". International Center of Economic Research Working Paper,Torino, No 22, 2006 [edit] Footnotes1. Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor; Anthony Esler (2007). â€Å"Revolution and Civil War in Russia†. World History; The Modern Era. Boston: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp. 483. ISBN 0-13-129973-5. 2. ^ a b c Service, Robert (1997). A History of Twentieth-Century Russia. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. pp. 124–5. ISBN 0-074-40348-7. 3. ^ V N. Bandera â€Å"New Economic Policy (NEP) as an Economic Policy. † The Journal of Political Economy 71, no. 3 (1963):. http://www. jstor. org/stable/1828984 (accessed Mar 4, 2009), 268. 4. ^ Sheila Fitzpatrick, The Russian Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 1984; pg. 95. 5. ^ Fitzpatrick, The Russian Revolution, pg. 96. 6. Vladimir P. Timoshenko, Agricultural Russia and the Wheat Problem. Stanford, CA: Food Research Institute, Stanford University, 1932; pg. 86. 7. ^ Sheldon L. Richman â€Å"War Communism to NEP: The Road from Serfdom. † The Journal of Libertarian Studies V, no. 1 (1981): (accessed Mar 4, 2009), 93. 8. ^ New economic policy and the politprosvet's goals. Lenin V. I. Collected Works v. 44. p. 159 9. ^ Sheldon L. Richman â€Å"War Communism to NEP: The Road from Serfdom. † The Journal of Libertarian Studies V, no. 1 (1981): (accessed Mar 4, 2009), 94. 10. ^ Sheila Fitzpatrick, The Russian Revolut ion, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1984), 115. [edit] External links

Acquisition of a Good Education

Education is defined as acquiring skills. There are many different ways to be educated and many subjects that can be studied. A good education is one that teaches a student to think. This is proven by Edith Hamilton, Malcolm X, and Adrian Rich in their works to define what they believe about learning and its importance to our world. In Edith Hamilton's essay, The Ever-present Past, she described a good education as one that is modeled after the ancient Greek's ideas. She defines being educated as being â€Å"able to be caught up into a world of thought† (752). The Greeks were taught to think. They were cultivated on an individual level so that they knew how to conceive ideas on their own. During the times of the ancient Greeks students were shown how to appreciate poetry, music, arts, and mathematics. They carried their education of thought into their government and their ways of life. The era of the ancient Greeks was laid by the teachings of their schools and therefore helped make them into a notable civilization. Today, Hamilton believes that with our set way of teaching we are not encouraging individuals to think. She concludes that we are â€Å"headed towards a standardization of minds† (756). Hamilton believes that we need to challenge our society to shape our educational goals after those of the Greeks. With the problems our world faces we should study how the Greeks triumphed in a savage world and how they were educated to do so. Then maybe we can learn how to prevent the â€Å"standardization of the minds† in our society and avoid repeating the ill-fated history of the ancient Greeks (754). In Malcolm X's, â€Å"Freedom Through Learning To Read†, a chapter of his autobiography, he describes a good education as being able to understand life. He wrote of how he desired to acquire more knowledge. This inner struggle began when he envied his friend's intelligence and when he was unable to express himself eloquently in letters. From that point he began to read everything. Malcolm X started by copying a dictionary to learn all the words he could. From there he never spent fifteen minutes free time without a book (48). As he studied the works of Mr. Elijah Muhammad he realized how the history of the black Americans were not included in most books. He searched to find a book to learn the history of the African-Americans and finally found a few that taught him about slavery (49). Malcolm X said that through his domestic education a new world had been opened up to him. He achieved his goal of learning to read and through that obtain what is considered by many a good education. He was able to read, understand, and form ideas and opinions based on what he had read (53). Through reading Malcolm X was capable of expressing his own views and our society benefited greatly from this self-educated man. In Adrienne Rich's, â€Å"Claiming An Education†, a speech given at Douglass College, she describes a good or serious education as the study of languages, ideas, methods, and values (58). Part of being educated is â€Å"refusing to let others do your thinking, naming, or talking for you†(59). Some of the most important things needed to fulfill intellectual independence are to learn the ways of rationalizing, deep discussions, and writing. Rich writes about how it is our own responsibility to claim an education and how we should not sell ourselves short (59). In order to learn we first need to assess what we hear and read in our courses to form an opinion (57). In order to form an opinion, Rich says that we have to first commit ourselves to our studies and expect others to show us respect. Rich describes an education as a commitment and a responsibility (59). Throughout these essays the main ideas were that to be educated a student has to be an individual and be able to think. There are many arguments over what we should study and how we should be taught. There is no wrong or right way to teach or certain subjects that need to be studied. As long as the students are taught to think for themselves and have the desire to learn, they will be able to obtain a good education.