Thursday, October 31, 2019
Movie Indusrty Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1
Movie Indusrty - Research Paper Example Indeed, The Economist (2010) noted that the industry ââ¬Å"churns out about 50 full-length features a week, making it the worldââ¬â¢s second most prolific film industry after Indiaââ¬â¢s Bollywood.â⬠In fact, the Hala Gorani reported that the industry was starting to catch up with Hollywood (Inside Africa, 2004). While the industry may be the most prolific, the quality of the movies is incomparable to the quality Hollywood produces. Jeff Koinange, reporting on location during a movie set, quipped that the ââ¬Å"movie set hardly stands up to its wealthier and distant cousin (Inside Africa, 2004). In this regard, the distant and wealthy cousin is Hollywood, which indicates that Nollywoods budget is one of the cheapest used to shoot a movie. Furthermore, Koinange noted, ââ¬Å"The props are cheap, the setup amateur, and the paychecks laughableâ⬠(Inside Africa, 2004). In conclusion, Nigeriaââ¬â¢s movie industry has become one of the most productive in the world and especially in Africa. With the movies playing in clubs, restaurants, and in various other African settings, most Africans identify with the themes in the movies and effectively making the industry famous. In addition, it is evident that the industry employs mane Nigerians directly during production and indirectly during the sale of the movie. Nevertheless, the industry has gained fame, and it might catch up with Hollywood one
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Organic Chemistry Aricle Critique - New Compound Synthesized Research Paper
Organic Chemistry Aricle Critique - New Compound Synthesized - Research Paper Example The compound is an aromatic ketone having a phenyl group directly attached to the carbonyl group; its chemical formula is C9H10O and its structural formula is COCH3C6H4CH3. Reduction occurs either by metal hydrides such as LAH or by hydrogen; ketones are reduced to secondary alcohols. The statement in the article is arguable because reduction and not oxidation occurs with either compound yielding a secondary alcohol. Catalytic hydrogenation or reduction by hydrogen is synonymous names for the same reaction; which is valid. Tollen's reagent is a reagent used to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones. Ketones do not react with the reagent which the author failed to demonstrate. P-methyacetophenone reacts to form a tertiary alcohol with ethylmagnesium bromide; this point is accurate. The compound reacts with Grignard reagent giving magnesium alkoxide which then yields the tertiary alcohol when water is added to it. All in all, p-metyacetophenone is a compound used in perfumes and its synthesis is of great importance for the chemists. Calibrated Peer Review (CPR) Site. 31 Nov. 2000. The National Scrutinizer. Volume 88, Number 9. A New Compound Has Been Synthesized! 04 Mar. 2009.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
ZARA SWOT and Competitor Analysis
ZARA SWOT and Competitor Analysis In this age of advanced media and technology, where customers are flooded with marketing messages all the time, it is very hard for the businesses to progress efficiently without marketing and especially internet marketing due to quick adoption of internet and use of computer and others related devices. With a nominal investment on the website and web based marketing, lots of new markets and customers can be attracted through this marketing technique. The retail industry is generally a very dynamic, fast changing sector. It constitutes one of the main sectors in the economy, in terms of transactions and turnover; as a result, it is a highly competitive and sophisticated industry. As Zara has an international presence in many countries of the World, it is now compulsory for Zara to adopt an online marketing strategy to compete with its competitors, capture and retain more market share and increase profits in this highly competitive environment where every customer is fully informed and equipped with information about the market. Digital marketing is very fast growing and cheap solution to reach maximum customers without any boundaries. Through customised digital marketing where you can convey your message only to potential customers and lots of new customers can be attracted by using different techniques. Todays economy is forcing everyone to search for the best deals they can find. Usually these deals are found on the internet. Digital marketing helps a company to increase its exposure to consumers who are actively seeking your product or service, making it much more effective than other forms of advertising. Increasing your companys exposure through digital marketing is the equivalent of McDonalds only showing you a Big Mac commercial when you are hungry It is targeted, effective, and relevant. Online marketing has many advantages for businesses as well as customers, but on the other hand there are some problems which are related to internet marketing and use of technology and its popularity among your target market. While using online marketing, you do not cut back your companys marketing budget during this economy; instead, focus on spending your marketing budget more effectively by investing in a highly targeted digital marketing campaign. In-fact, this is the best time for businesses to review their marketing strategies and bring internet marketing into focus because of increasing costs of marketing on traditional medias which do not guarantee that you are actually targeting your potential customers. Situation Analysis There are not many businesses which are running without any marketing in this age of communication and technology. If some business is doing good without marketing it dose not mean that the business has captured maximum market and there are no more opportunities to grow. If some business is already doing well, it can do better by launching a marketing campaign and can get more market share. If someone owns a business in todays marketplace, it is not easy to run a business without marketing and not enough to run an advertisement in the local newspaper to maximize the exposure of business. In fact, it is not even enough to run a television commercial on a local broadcasting station because the best marketing tools at anyones disposal have quickly become those associated with online marketing. In fact, if someone starts to explore marketing business via the internet he will quickly find that instead of reaching just a few consumers, he will now have the unique ability to reach both the millions of customers from a global approach and a more specified group of customers that are closer to him as well, a broader appeal than his business may have had previously. He can use social media as a marketplace, and also have a targeted market. Of course, before actually getting the benefits of a wider consumer base there is a need to attract them to the website which is where online marketing tools come into play. Products and services need to be presented in a clear and visually appealing way on the website. The website is a companys store on the internet, the products must be easy to find, priced properly for the market, and delivery methods clearly outlined. Adding a blog element to the website provides fresh content, photos, and innovations to customers, as well as satisfying the search engine criteria for active use and renewal. This also helps search engine placement. Other popular ways to help a business market its website include social media outlets like Facebook, Buzz and Twitter, link building and other search engine optimization tactics, or by using the Google tools like Google Local to increase the online exposure. With the help of all these tools and techniques, where we can promote our website through online marketing, there are some issues related to online presence. Online security is the main concern of the customers who are interested to buy online and want some sort of security that the information they are providing for transaction is safe and will not be misused in future. This matter can be resolved by getting some online security verification certificates and putting them on the website. Other online marketing concerns may be the annoying banner ads on the websites where you are advertising, viral marketing, too much information about the product on the main page which is not necessarily required by every customer, product search problems on the website. On the other hand before launching digital marketing campaign we should be very clear about our customers that do they use internet frequently and do they have proper training and skills to surf the internet easily. As far as Zara is concerned the main target market is people who like fashion and keep themselves updated with latest trends in clothing, so this type of people use internet very frequently to keep them update and interact with the community online most of the time. 2.1- Market Summary By keeping in view the current market trends and situation analysis our plan is to launch an online marketing campaign. Europe, America, Australia and Asia are our main target markets and there is an increasing trend of use of interne in the countries of these continents. We can see the growth rate of internet use and its penetration in last ten years in different regions of the world. With the help of these figures we can easily understand the importance and reach of internet marketing. Most of the market shareholders are now using internet marketing strategy and increasing their market share by giving information about the new products and designs, product offerings and offering buying online facility, business policies related to environment and customers through e-marketing. There are 383 million users of internet in China only and we can target them without spending lots of money on retails outlets all over China. Same is the case with Japan and India where we do not need to open stores in all the cities. We can open our stores in main cities and market our product through internet to other areas where we can find our customers and target them. This is the strategy adopted by most of the successful businesses like Clark, they do not keep all the stock on their out lets and promote their website by asking customers to use their website to see the full range of the products in different categories. 2.2 SWOT Analysis ZARA has 1,608 stores (including 213 ZARA kids stores) in 74 countries, with the companys international growth currently offsetting the economic downturn in the domestic Spanish market. ZARA has a very strong brand image and the number of outlets can be increased with the time and growth. Comparatively high product price is a weakness but we have opportunity to explore markets where we can find customers who want to buy high quality products. Entry of new competitors and non availability of sufficient raw material can be a threat in future. 2.2.1- (S)trengths ZARA has a very strong market Image due to quality, style and availability of products. Product/ Brand Image is also very high because of very high quality, reliable products for children, women and men. Strong financial position of ZARA is also our strength which will help us to invest adequately to get favorable results. Due to strong market position there is availability of finance from other financial institutions like banks. ZARA can benefit in saving the cost from existing infrastructure of suppliers. Vast network and store on different main locations all over the UK, Europe and other regions of the World is also our strength. At this time we have availability of suppliers who can provide us required raw material on good prices and we can build good relations with them for future when the competition will be higher. Online availability of our full catalogue is also our strength and customers can see, choose and make a final decision by just sitting home. 2.2.2- (W)eaknesses High product price is a weakness but we can not compromise on quality and customer services. Due to no marketing strategy and planning the rate of getting market share is very low. Proper management and implementation of the new system can take time. 2.2.3- (O)pportunities New market search is the next step after capturing our existing market we can go to US and central Asian markets more deeply. More innovation, improved quality and value added products for our customers. Adoption of new technology will help us to lower the cost of our products. Research and development department can be made more efficient and strong for product improvement and availability of the products. Improved and more focused customers service. Continuous training of the staff and labor for cost effective production. Strive to exceed the customers expectations through quality, innovation and customers services. Increase in promotional activities through online marketing to get maximum market share. Building relations and long term contracts with the suppliers will be beneficial for future buying. 2.2.4- (T)hreats Entry of new competitors is a threat for our product which can be avoided by building stronger product image in the mind of customer. Unavailability of sufficient raw material because of high number of customers for raw material in the market. In the near future there will be high price of raw material due to increased demand. Availability of raw material in future is another threat and can be managed by involving maximum number of suppliers in the beginning with small quantity orders to all the suppliers. Order quantity can be increased in future as per demand. Low buying power of the customers in existing markets is also a threat and can be managed by searching new markets. 2.3- Competition At this stage if we compare the top high street stores in the UK, most of them, i.e. John Lewis, New Look, Debenhams, MS, next, Bhs, HM, asos, peacocks and topshop are the main stores which are focusing on online presence and are among the top list stores on search engines in fashion and clothing search results. Because Zara is not in putting any effort for online marketing, that is why we do not find it in search results. John Lewis: The retailer has adopted Omniture SearchCenter to optimize paid search marketing.Ãâà This combination of products enabled John Lewis Direct to optimize customer preferences throughout the entire acquisition to conversion cycle. John Lewis Direct is a compelling example of a traditional retailer making a success of its online strategy. Millions of customers visit the award-winning John Lewis web site each month and the site has grown consistently at above market rates since its inception in 2001.Ãâà In 2008 online sales were up by 24% to à £327m. New Look: The famous and one of the favorite store of ladies for fashion clothing New Look has also understood and adopted the online marketing strategy by putting sponsored links on top search engines, using social websites for close contact with customers and launched their website in 2007. Since the eCommerce launch in December 2007, New Look website has continued to exceed expectations with nearly one million average weekly visitors in March 2009. This is a threefold increase on the same time last year, with average order value continuing to grow. The new web platform is giving customers increased access to the full product range and provides multi-channel capability, enabling customers to order in store for delivery at home. In March 2009 New Look acquired the www.newlook.com domain name and is appraising the potential to utilise this with a mainland European transactional website. This will provide marketing synergies with their international store roll-out to strengthen the brand and offer to customers. Debenhams: Debenhams is also promoting its website through search engine optimization, different blogs and social websites. Most popular websites are D Blog, Face Book, Twitter, Flicker and You Tube. Store is also encouraging Debenhams website visitors to visit these social websites and leave feedback. The Marketing Innovation Group (MIG) launched Debenhams Megaday iBrochure, in 2009, in conjunction with their September New Season Spectacular Sale. This tactical iBrochure mirrored the paper brochure that was available in store and was used to drive online sales and raise awareness. Marks and Spencer: MS has pioneered online video with MS TV (marksandspencer.com/tv), a great example of v-commerce in practice, and proof positive that compelling online video increases sales. Marks and Spencer is known for its innovative online approach, the retailer was keen to find ways of growing its online business while retaining the customers already visiting the site. In addition to enhancing the experience, the channel had to ultimately drive sales. MS TV is a collection of over 500 films divided into 12 channels. Each channel focuses on a particular company theme or business vertical, be it womenswear, menswear, or home. To maintain brand consistency, the channels are managed by a central commissioning team consisting of staff from both MS and Adjust Your Set. This team also plans future content and measures the consumer response. Engagement levels are constantly measured and regular refinements are made in order to improve the quality of the editorial and the rates of conversion. If viewers drop off before the end of video or certain links are not being clicked, then further changes are made. Keeping in view the above information Zara has a very big market to capture and this is the best time to develop and implement the new marketing strategy to enhance the market share in near future. 2.4- Product Offerings Zara offers an exclusive coordinated collection of stylish clothes, shoes and accessories for women. Collections for men, children and the home quickly followed. Zaras clothes are styled by the in-house design team to offer consistency of style, quality and value for money with a contemporary fashion edge. 2.5- Distribution Zara has a very strong network of retail stores in the UK, Europe, America, Asia, and Africa for the distribution of its products all over the World. Other than retail stores we have also introduced a fully functional website with our latest products, designs and offerings. The online store is also contributing successfully for the distribution of the products to the customers. 3.0 Marketing Strategy 3.1- Objectives Challenging but achievable objective has been set for next three years. Because of the overall condition of the economy which is not that good, result in the first year can be a bit slow. First-year Objective: In the first year we will maximize the awareness about the brand and availability of the product. We have already launched a page on facebook.com and more than 3,676,000 people like that page from all over the World. Website will be promoted through other major social networking websites, blogs, emails and in-store advertisement. Search engine optimization and data updating process will be performed more efficiently to keep the website at the top in search results on different search engines. Secure online selling will also be introduced in first year which will help to improve the growth rate. The growth rate will be increased from 6% of 2009 to 10% at the end of first year. Second-year Objective: In the second year we shall be doing well and will be on the first page of most popular search engines. In the second year more focus will be on introduction of innovative technology, make over and use of latest web technology to attract the visitors. The estimated growth rate in second year is expected to rise by 7% due to opening in new markets of Australia and Africa. Online selling will be offered to Australian customers in this year. Third-year Objective: Third year, 2012 2013, will be a year of revival for world economy, hopefully and we shall capture the market by 25%. For Europe aggressive marketing strategy will be adopted to get maximum market share. Online selling will be launched in major Asian countries to facilitate our valuable customers and to maximize market share. 3.2- Target Markets Target market of Zara is middle to high class men; woman and children who like to update themselves with latest fashion and style and want higher quality clothing on reasonable prices. With the help of online marketing it will be easier for Zara to convey information about new designs and fashion to its target markets in different parts of the World within no time because Zaras target market consists of the people who use internet frequently and update themselves with latest fashion. Zaras women collection is divided into three categories: Zara Women, Zara Basic and the sporty Trafaluc representing market segments for women who look for a more formal style, younger women for a more informal style and younger women and teenagers while menswear included Mens Line at Zara, Zara Basics, its club-wear brand 100Zara and Zara Sport. In this sense the general public from all age groups can be seen as potential customers targeted by specific sub-brands of Zara. A second important variable in defining segmentation is based on psychographic characteristics such as lifestyle, as one of the most famous and successful European brands Zara in its existing market targeted people who were especially interested in European styles at affordable price levels. 3.3- Positioning Zara is a high fashion concept offering apparel, footwear and accessories for women, men and children, from newborns to adults aged 45. Zara stores offer a unique blend of fashion, quality and price offered in attractive stores in prime locations on premier commercial streets and in main shopping centres. The in-house design and production capabilities enable us to offer fresh designs at out Zara stores twice a week throughout the year. 3.4- Marketing Mix 3.4.1- Product Zara has a tradition to launch its products in a short time of two weeks and full change in clothing item every month. The product is of very high quality and we will give a full guarantee of color, stitching, stuff, cloth quality and material used to our valuable customers. No metals shall be used for the product packing and recycled material will be used for packing of our products. 3.4.2- Pricing Zara maintained its long standing practice of providing customers with certainty over pricing. Zara has adopted a competitive pricing strategy to gain and retain customers. Competitive pricing is the most suitable for Zara because of its presence globally. This pricing strategy helps Zara to attract more customers on the high street fashion stores. 3.4.3- Distribution Zara has a very strong distribution setup which is very helpful to make available the product all over the retail chain. In my point of view Zara should start its production locally instead of producing in Spain and then deliver the products to stores all over the World because this change in strategy will help to reduce the cost of production. We do not need to bring raw material from other countries to Spain first and send finished items back to the same countries. By setting up local production houses we can also build good relationship with our suppliers, local community by offering jobs to local people, and our customers. 3.4.4- Marketing Communications Promotional activity at high street will continue aggressively and with in-store display, through online marketing and our website. For online marketing communication the first step is to update the website and its contents at the back of website like key words, key phrases and mata tags so that the search engines can find our website quickly and easily whenever anyone search for items we are dealing with. An interactive website is most appropriate idea in the current marketing situation. With the help of cookies we will gather lots of data about our customers and their preferences. Email marketing will also help us to generate more profit by attracting more customers to our website. As it is discussed earlier different social website pages like facebook, twitter, youtube, and flicker etc. are the main source of communication with customers these days. We will also communicate with our existing and potential customers by setting up different blogs and through our own website. Paid advertisements on most popular search engines like google, bing, yahoo, aol etc. is another option so that we can come at the top of search results in very short time. 3.5- Marketing Research Through different marketing research techniques like web analysis and online feed back from our valuable customers we will keep upgrading our product and system and will analyze and evaluate our existing strategy. Web analytical tools will also be helpful to get information about website visitors and their style of search and required products. Customers complaints and record of customer services department is also very helpful to improve the product and product delivery system. 4.0 Financial Matters In the first year by keeping the objective of 10% growth rate in view the projected sale for Zara in the first year is à ¢Ã¢â¬Å¡Ã ¬11,750 million. Currently Zaras share in total group sale is 63.8% (2009). The total sale of the group in 2009 was à ¢Ã¢â¬Å¡Ã ¬11,084 Million. Results for the Year Ended January 2009: * Group revenues (in thousands of Euros): 11,083,514 * Group operating profit EBITDA (in thousands of Euros): 2,374,189 * Earnings per share (in Euro cents): 211.4 15 million is estimated expense for first year marketing including salaries of marketing staff. For online marketing, most of the work, like making profiles on different social websites, tagging, adding key words and meta tags on the back of website, can be done through qualified staff of the company who will be responsible for the updating and maintenance of the website. So, for that there is no need to pay extra money to any third party. To advertise through search engines we will pay a nominal amount per year to major search engines and they will promote our website. Pay per click is another option which is also offered by most of the websites where we advertise. 5.0 Controls 5.1- Implementation Zara as a market leader in fashion wear always focus on product quality and customer services. Our more than 92,000 staff members are always ready to improve the system and implement new strategies. With the help of internal and external controls the top management will be in a better position to evaluate the performance and upgrade the system accordingly. We are always in a process to improve our products and services and we are always open to hear from our customers. Zara already continues to improve customer service and with the introduction of new service of online shopping we are facilitating our customers to buy anytime with their convenience. 5.2- Marketing organization International Marketing Director GM Marketing for Rest of the Countries GM Marketing Europe UK Sr. Manager Marketing Manager Advertising Advertising Analyst Manager Promotion Promotion Analyst Manager Sales Market Research Analyst Manager Advertising Advertising Analyst Manager Promotion Promotion Analyst Manager Sales
Friday, October 25, 2019
The Tea Party Movement Essay -- Political Movement, American Social Is
The tea party has been a hot topic in the United States ever since the movement began in 2008, yet many people do not understand what exactly it is. Contrary to what some people may think, the tea party is not a true political party. It can broadly be defined as a gathering of libertarians, conservatives, and other people who want to change Washington. The common ideals of the tea party movement are cutting government spending, limiting taxes, and stopping excessive federal regulations. The most important thing one needs to know about the movement though, is that there is not a single tea party- the movement consists of hundreds of different autonomous groups, each widely varying in priorities and size. The tea party movement began as the result of conservative discontent after the presidential election in 2008. Before President Barack Obama took office, many conservatives went on online chat boards and expressed anger over the banks being bailed out and billions of their tax money being spent on government programs. As a form of protest, one individual suggested that everyone mail tea bags to their elected representative in Congress. The concept behind this idea was that what was happening to America at the time was like what had occurred in America during the colonial era. Revolutionaries had organized the Boston Tea Party because of the British policy of ââ¬Å"taxation without representationâ⬠, and many conservatives felt as if this phrase described what the government was doing again. This was the birth of the tea party movement, and it has only greatly expanded since then. (Ed Pikington; Oct 5, 2010) Since the tea party movement is such a diverse mixture of groups, there is a large spectrum of ideals within it. Regardl... ..., P. (2010, July 14). Nasty 'Tea Party'-NAACP Racism Feud: Who's Right? Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from SIRS Researcher. Knickerbocker, B. (2010, September 15). What is the 'Tea Party' and How is it Shaking Up American Politics? Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from SIRS Researcher. Knickerbocker, B. (2010, September 12). Will the 'Tea Party' Take Over Congress. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from SIRS Researcher. Pikington, E. (2010, October 5). How the Tea Party Movement Began. In The Guardian. Retrieved September 12, 2011, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/05/us-midterm-elections-2010-tea-party-movement Sege, A. (2011, August 8). Third-Party Challenge in 2012? Not Likely, Experts Say. McClatchy-Tribune News Service. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from SIRS Researcher.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Immigrant Children and U.S Education Essay
Aware of the free education provided by the United States government to any school age children, immigrants both legal and illegal continue to be attracted to the United States, migrating in an attempt to provide better opportunities for their families and themselves. As the number of illegal immigrants living in the United states continues to rise and the percentage of illegal immigrant households which consist of children also continues to rise, it is important for the American government to examine the effect that these illegal children are having on the United States public education system. How educators and policymakers address the increasing diversification of the population will ultimately determine the stability of communities in the future.In order to produce a more effective public education system for students as a whole, it is important for the government examine the effects of the influx of immigrant students and learn to address the issues in a more productive way.Americans must ask themselves and answer the question, ââ¬Å"How should the government better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system?â⬠In 1982, the supreme court case Plyler v. Doe, ruled ââ¬Å"that public schools were prohibited from denying immigrant students access to a public education. The Court stated that undocumented children have the same right to a free public education as U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Undocumented immigrant students are obligated, as are all other students, to attend school until they reach the age mandated by state law (Olivas).â⬠As an american citizen, it is crucial for our society to realize the effects of allowing illegal immigrants the right to free public education because the effects affect us as individuals and future generations in the american society. It is important for us to see if the benefits of allowing immigrants free education outweighs the strain it puts on our public education system. Researching and answering the question ââ¬Å"How should the government better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system?â⬠, will help americans realize what laws and policies need to be edited, reformed, or added, to greater benefit our society. Answering this question will show us if we need more laws promoting and protecting immigrants rights which would bring in more immigrants or if we should create laws restricting the rights of immigrant children. As immigration continues to increase, and the children of immigrants fill more of the schools, educators will have to recognize and address the social, cultural, political, psychological, and economic complexity that is immigrant education in the twenty-first century. ââ¬Å"Despite several decades of reform, public education in the United States is criticized by some as not teaching all children effectivelyâ⬠(Koehler). Due to poor test results and low graduation rates, many taxpayers criticize public schools and want to see better results. Among many of the issues creating discontent with the public educational system, inequality of opportunity ranks high among citizens. Despite the historical promise of quality education for all children regardless of race, ethnicity, or income, many americans feel that many children do not have equal opportunities to learn and are not likely to attend a quality school. ââ¬Å"Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reports that 63 percent of fourth graders perform at only basic, or below basic, levels in reading. Sixty-nine percent perform at these levels in mathematics. African-American, Hispanic, and Native American fourth graders perform consistently lower than their white coun terpartsâ⬠(Koehler). These statistics show that over half of the students in the American educational system fail to learn high thinking skills. ââ¬Å"And once again, this ââ¬Å"bottom halfâ⬠comprises primarily the poor and ethnic minoritiesâ⬠(Koehler). Majority of immigrants live in poverty.â⬠The poverty rate for immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) is two-thirds higher than that of natives and their children, immigrants and their minor children now account for almost one in four persons living in povertyâ⬠(Camarota). The high percentage of immigrants that live in poverty causes majority of their children to attend an underachieving school adding to struggles they already face as an immigrant and effecting their educational success.ââ¬Å"The percentage of immigrants without a high school diploma is 30 percent, more than 3.5 times the rate for natives.â⬠(Camarota). with out proper management of immigrant children in the school system, these underachieving school s will take the blunt force of the student population increase and due to lack of resources and funding the schools have, the schools will continue to strip the students of their equality to opportunity. As the immigration population continues to increase ââ¬Å"immigration has become the determinate factor in population growth. The arrival of 1.5 million immigrants each year, coupled with 750,000 births to immigrant women annually, means that immigration policy is adding over two million people to the U.S. population each year, accounting for at least two-thirds of U.S. population growthâ⬠(Camarota), it is important that the government learn how better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system to ensure equality of opportunity to american and immigrant students. As taxpayers, citizens should especially be concerned with the amount of their money that is used to educate immigrants. In January 2011, it was estimated that 11.5 million unauthorized immigrants are currently living in the United States. Of these it is estimated that 1.5 million children attend a public school costing the government an estimated six thousand dollars a year per student. In addition to the six thousands per student the government also pays about $1.5 billion annually to pay the bi-lingual teachers which are necessary to teach and attempt to provide an equal opportunity to immigrant children. All together, the total cost of educating the children of illegal immigrants is around $52,000,000,000. Educating the children of illegal immigrants is by far the single largest cost to American taxpayers. Even though americans are paying large sums of money to educate children of illegal immigrants, ââ¬Å"foreign-born students ages 16-24 had a drop out rate of 29% while students ages 16-24 of foreign born parents had a high school drop out rate of 38.7%â⬠(Illegal immigration statistics). This drop out percentage shows that despite the large amounts of money being spent, the government needs to find a way to better manage the influx of undocumented immigrant children in the public education system. Due to the large number and rising percentage of immigrants in our school system, the immigrants educational success will influence our nations future success. Works Cited Camarota, Steven. ââ¬Å"Immigrants in the United States: A Snapshot of Americaââ¬â¢s Foreign-Born.â⬠Center for Immigration Studies. Nov. 2002. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. . Website TagsEditDelete Hernandez, Donald J. Demographic Change and the Life of Immigrant Families. Publication. New York: Foundation for Child Development, 2004. Future of Children. Web. . Report TagsEditDelete ââ¬Å"Illegal Immigration Statistics.â⬠Illegal Immigration Statistics. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. . Website TagsEditDelete ââ¬Å"Immigration Statistics.â⬠DHS. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. . Website TagsEditDelete Koehler, Paul, and Joy W. Lewis. ââ¬Å"Criticism of Public Education.â⬠Encyclopedia of Education. 2nd ed. Vol. 5. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1948-952. Print. Encyclopedia Article TagsEditDelete Olivas, Michael A. No Undocumented Child Left Behind: Plyler v. Doe and the Education of Undocumented Schoolchildren. New York: New York UP, 2012. Print. Book TagsEditDelete Schoorman, Diyls. ââ¬Å"Immigrant Education: Contemporary Issues.â⬠Encyclopedia of the Social and Cultural Foundations of Education. Vol. 2. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2009. 433-35. Print.
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
An Arguement Against Peter Singer’s Famine, Aflunity, and Influence
In his paper ââ¬Å"Famine, Affluence, and Moralityâ⬠Peter Singer argues that a lack of benevolence from affluent countries to people suffering from poverty in other countries is unjustified and is comparable to doing nothing if one sees a baby drowning in water a few feet away. In the following paper I will discuss how residing in an affluent country does not put individuals under obligation to donate, and the efforts that are already made by individuals and governments in affluent countries are sufficient enough to be considered benevolent.I will present the following arguments to provide reasoning for this. First I will explain how singers drowning baby analogy fails to make a proper comparison to donating. Second, I will show how the assumed responsibility that affluent country should give to the needy is flawed. Third will discuss how donating may actually be counterproductive in the long term. Lastly I will give a comparison towards donating to poverty is no better or mor e beneficial to donating to crime prevention.The main concern addressed in this essay is the analogy Singer makes when he compares the ease of saving a drowning baby to the ease of making a donation to a country in poverty (Singer, par. 6). Singerââ¬â¢s analogy is only correct on the basis that the baby and people living in poverty are both in circumstances out of their control. The difference though, is that the baby he describes is moments away from death, while people living in poverty are mostly not on the brink of death. I believe the vast majority of people would save the baby, yet only a small percentage of people will take the time to donate.Furthermore, I rule out Singerââ¬â¢s argument for proximity (par. 8). Walking around a city like Toronto, one may walk right past homeless people in very dire circumstances, and many people still do not bother to give any assistance. Thus, since being in a very close proximity will usually not yield a donation, in most likelihood, witnessing someone very close to death is probably the best way to evoke enough emotion for an individual to make a donation. Another flaw in Singers paper is that he makes the argument in his thesis that affluent countries should be responsible for countries that are in poverty (par. 3).By being in a ââ¬Å"global villageâ⬠as singer puts it, then a logical thing to do is donate to country that has the most poverty. Looked at another way we already donate through the government. Foreign aid comes from our tax dollars. So, in essence we are donating, but the government takes care of all the work. I call this the apathetic donor. In contrast though, Canada is considered a very affluent country yet still has small but significant part of its population below the poverty line. An argument could easily be made that a priority should be placed towards the homeless and people living below the poverty line within Canada first.Once dealt with properly, giving the remains out to the res t of the needy world will follow. If Canada cannot take care of the suffering within its own borders, then its priorities should be reviewed. Lastly, if I was forced into a situation to give to a Canadian living in poverty or someone in a foreign country I would place a priority on someone within Canada. A consequence of giving to countries in poverty may actually cause more poverty. Singer claims that the morally right thing to do is to avoid suffering (par. 6).Yet, by donating to a country in need of food that has a significantly fast population growth rate will lead to future famine. The world simply cannot sustain continued population growth. For example Pakistan has a significant part of its population living in poverty and has a high birth rate. At the same time Pakistan has a space program in place. As a result it appears that Pakistan finds space technology is more important than feeding its poor. Additionally, many nations in Africa have been getting foreign aid for decades yet most of these countries remain poor.If donations must be made, the most good that can come from it would be to see my money go towards helping a government get itself prioritized, and certain that the money goes to where it is intended, not the corrupt politicians or leaders that have no care for the suffering. A fair extension of Singerââ¬â¢s argument would be to donate money to stopping violent crime or terrorism around the world. Crime results in the death of good and innocent people just like famine. Also, many people are born into crime countries or situations out of their control much like poverty.Dealing with organized crime in a poor country would certainly save lives, just as dealing with poverty. Also, an individual would be more motivated to take action to donate through fear than sympathy. As noted previously, seeing my money go towards a controllable situation such as crime within my own country of Canada would be a more worthwhile and pragmatic investment. Dona ting to crime prevention in Canada would naturally have a much more beneficial effect for me than giving my money to a foreign nation.Essentially various forms of any crime left unabated in Canada are more likely to spread out affect me at home than a person in poverty in a foreign country. In conclusion, I believe the reasons given refuting Peter Singerââ¬â¢s paper show that donating to people in poverty, and the need to change our moral conceptual scheme is unnecessary in our affluent society. His attempt to evoke an emotional and sympathetic response in the reader by describing the mental image of a drowning baby only hurts his attempt to convince a rational person to donate.Also, if I do choose to donate, does this make me less charitable to donate to someone within my own country, while there may someone needier in another country? Is donating at all even justifiable? especially when some countries only seem to be getting worse off with runaway birthrates, and with corrupt l eaders not doing whatââ¬â¢s best for their nation. If I was forced into a situation to choose between putting aside money for myself, my familyââ¬â¢s future, or giving it to someone whom Iââ¬â¢ve never met in a situation less desirable than mine, the choice is easy and clear.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Kelsey Long English Voices of Modernism Unit Test Essay Questions 04-1
Kelsey Long English Voices of Modernism Unit Test Essay Questions 04-1 Voices of Modernism Unit Test Essay Questions: 36. The mood, or feeling stimulated in the reader, is sadness. First, the detail that the wife was "very young" brings a sense of sadness for a li fe cut short by illness. Next, the fact that the major did not marry his bride until he was "invalided " , evokes a feeling of sadness for the young bride. The bride waited for the man she loved to come home from the war only to have him return an invalid. This detail brings a feeling of loneliness to the reader. Last, the unexpecte d death of the bride stirs up sadness in the reader because the bride was expected to live, but died quickly, and a feeling of loneliness for the major. The combination of events , the timing of the details , and t he diction, all contribute to mood s of sadness and loneliness for this excerpt . 37. I learned much about American life from the 1920s to the 1040s. I plan to join the Navy when I graduate from college, and I was very interested in the details of World War I of " In Another Country" by Hemingway. The devastating injuries made the horrors of World War I much more real for me. The injuries suffered were disfiguring and disabling. The soldiers lived with death and became detached from it but counted on comradery to see them through. War was a part of life for Americans. The atmosphere depicted by Steinbeck in "The Chrysanthemums" is one of hard work and isolation in the valleys of California. Here people worked hard to survive. Men and women had very different roles. Women had feelings of conflict at tines but accepted their positions. In "The Black Ball", I learned more about the struggles of African Americans before the Civil Rights movement. The story brought the struggles into the lives, homes, and work places of African Amer icans. The father in t he story is focused on making a better life for his son. The father plays the "race game" to eventually lead to a better life. Many African Americans had to play the "race game" during this time period. The stories were very enlightening for me regarding America in the period from 1920 to 1940.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Australia2 essays
Australia2 essays Australia has changed hands a lot throughout its history. From being inhabited by the aborigines, which had been there for around forty thousand years, until the British claimed it. However the British were not the first to come across this continent, they were just the first countries to see it as useful. The Dutch were seeking new land and trade in the East Indies, and found that sailing along the coasts of Africa and India too much longer than if the went due east and the cut up. However, the Dutch Vessel, Duyfken, first sighted the coast of modern day Australia in 1606 when it did not turn north in time. In 1642-43 Able Tasman was looking for new land south of Batavia, and shifted course to avoid bad weather. In doing so, he ran into the stormy west coast of Tasmania which he named VanDiemens Land. He also sailed eastward after that and discovered New Zealand. All of these discoveries revealed only desolate deserts and hostile natives. It wasnt until 1770 when James Cook discovered the long avoided east coast that it was seen as a possible resource. The British soon lost their American colony, where they had sent some of their prisoners, and now began to consider Botany Bay, Cooks first landfall, as the next penal colony (Brander, 18). The First Fleet left sail from Portsmouth, England in May 1787 heading for Australia under the command of Authur Phillip (http...ozramp). Phillip and his crew landed on January 26, 1788, which is now celebrated as Australia Day (Australia). There were prisoners that were also aboard the ship that landed in Australia. Huddled in the bowels of the ships were 772 terrified convicts- 568 men, 191 women, and 13 children (Brander, 15). Many of the crimes that they were charged with crimes that would be thought of as trivial by todays standards (Australia). They landed in Botany Bay, and approximately forty people had perished during the jo...
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Assignment Lab Worksheet Heart Jessica Velez
Heart, Pulmonary and Coronary Circulations Student Name: Jessica Bevel Directions: Go to Real Anatomy and select Cardiovascular. Use the dissection man to f mind the appropriate images to use as references. You can use your mouse to roll over the images and click on the highlighted structures. You can use the Related Images section to find additional images. If you need help navigating Real Anatomy, click on Take a Tour or click the question mark for the Help menu. 1 . Identify the highlighted membrane layer. Pericardium 2.Identify the highlighted membrane layer. Parietal pericardium 3. Identify the highlighted membrane layer. Visceral pericardium 4. Identify the cavity in which the highlighted organ is located. Thoracic cavity 5. Identify the depicted tissue below. Myocardium 6. Identify the layer that is composed of the depicted tissue. Striated cardiac muscle 7. Identify the layer that lines the depicted structure. Undecorated 8. Identify the highlighted chamber. Right Auricle 9. Identify the three vessels that carry blood to the highlighted chamber. Superior even cave, inferior even cave, coronary sinus 0.Identify the highlighted valve. Tricuspids Valve 11. Identify the highlighted chamber. Right Ventricle 12. Identify the highlighted vessel below. Pulmonary trunk 13. Identify the highlighted valve. Pulmonary valve 14. Identify the highlighted organ. Left lung 15. Identify the highlighted vessels. Pulmonary vein 16. Identify the highlighted chamber. Left auricle 17. Identify the highlighted valve. Material valve 18. Identify the highlighted chamber. Left ventricle 19. Identify the highlighted vessel. Aorta 20. Identify the highlighted valve.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Strong marketing plans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Strong marketing plans - Essay Example Most of the successful companies owe their success to the strong marketing plans and marketing programs that they incorporate into their businesses. Here five companies have been chosen to study the possible improvements in their marketing programs. The aim of this paper is to identify at least two possible ideas that can be used by the company as a means to improve their marketing and their overall position in the markets. The suggestions made here are based on the promotional mix of the company as well as with a detailed view on the view point of the customers as well as the marketing managers. Rollerblade: Rollerblades is a well known company that deals with a wide range of roller-skates to meet the needs of all kinds of customers. The company has a website which has been developed with complete details of the retailers and the product range. One of the major areas that the company currently lacks is the use of an ecommerce website (Evans, Oââ¬â¢Maley, & Patterson, 2004). Rolle r skates have a strong product line and this can be used to the advantage of the company. One of the first areas that the company can develop is an ecommerce website which provides the customers with an option to buy the products online. Secondly, it is important that the company invests in tools for better customer relationship management as this will help the company use the visits to the website as possible leads for revenue generating activities (Evans, Foxall, & Jamal, 2009). Using customer relationship management will prove to very beneficial for the company. As explained by McCabe & Wolfe (2000), ââ¬Å"Making the Customer king is one way of improving sales. But a better one is making the right customer king. This discipline is called customer relationship managementâ⬠(McCabe & Wolfe, 2000). Hence implementing the customer relationship management will help in identifying the potential customers and will also help in improved targeting as well (Evans, Oââ¬â¢Maley, & P atterson, 2004). Specialized Bicycle Components: Specialized Bicycle Components is a company which deals with bicycle components and provides the customers with a wide range of bike accessories for specialized bicycle riders. The company presently caters to a wide range of customers across America, however clearly lacks a strong corporate strategy and strong marketing (Specialized Bicycle, 2011). Although the company has been able to develop a website, the website is not easy navigation and lacks the customer focus and user friendliness. The first suggestion to the company will be to focus on improving the website and making it more user friendly by improving the overall navigation style of the website and by ensuring that the website is search engine optimized (Specialized Bicycle, 2011). This will ensure that the companyââ¬â¢s website is easily findable by the search engine which in turn makes it simpler for the customers as well. Secondly the company can focus on developing st ronger marketing and promotion strategies that the company can use to improve the overall position (Jobber, 2009). This can include more advertising in games and other events or also including advertisements on television and the local radio. This will help the company improve the brand awareness and will also assist in improved overall performance of the company as well. Specialized Bicycleà has a strong marketing mix and the company has a strong product line as well. The only area that the company is presently lacking in is the promotional activities (Kotler & Keller, 2008). Hence if there is a higher importance given to their area the company can improve the overall performance and also increase the overall revenues as well. BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft (BMW) is a world class car manufacturer which is known for the premium cars.
The Food Sector of Saudi Arabia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words
The Food Sector of Saudi Arabia - Research Paper Example There is also scope for seeing a wider and diverse range of products apart from the available food products. With average annual sales of 3.5 billion dollars, this sector offers a lot of insights as well as opportunities for strategic marketing. The growth of the food industry in Arab can be seen from the fact that more and more international food organizations are launching their products and services in Saudi Arabia. This can be attributed to the changing food habits of the overall population, increasing demand for diversity in food, etc. The island of oil has seen a gradual shift in the food habits of Arab populations. With the rise in economy and increasing percentage of younger populations, the overall choice and taste for food has changed. More and more population is now opting for outside food outlets, such as restaurants and hotels. As women entrepreneurs and workers are increasing in numbers, home cooked food is being replaced by ordered food. The overall preference of Arab population is shifting towards eating out. This can be seen from the increasing marketing strategies adopted by Arab restaurants. The overall food and drinks purchased by restaurants in Saudi Arabia have seen a 12 percent year on year increase. As more and more people are opting out, the restaurants are also increasing their overall range of food products. Restaurants and hotels in Saudi Arabia have also categorized their food and beverages department according to the target population. Different menus and cuisines are prepared and served for locals as well as tourists in the restaurants. Thus, it can be said that food industry has become a burgeoning sector in Saudi Arabia, provided it is supported by proper marketing and branding activities. However, it is also important to highlight the negative effects of such a change in food preferences. Though outside food is becoming popular as a result of factor such as time saved, convenience, variety etc, it is also true that the overall quality of food is getting compromised. As a result, health concerns among general population are on the rise. Recent government reports have suggested that there has been a rise in obesity and diabetes, basically arising from irregular and unhealthy eating habits. Researchers have also shown that average percentage of obese children have increased in the past five years. Now all of the above facts pose a serious threat on the general health of the Arab population. Thus, it has been important for the government as well as the organizations to educate society in terms of healthy food and healthy lifestyle. Like other organizations in the food sector in Arab, Arzaq also faces few challenges and concerns in terms of marketing its food products. It can be seen that Saudi Arabia has become a hub for international food. Thus, in order to expand its customer base and gain market share as well as brand recognition, Arzaq will have to opt for strategic marketing activities.Ã Ã
Internalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Internalism - Essay Example These factors can be fundamentally motivating. Internalists from the motivational background have a belief that there exists an internal connection that is necessary to be put into consideration between an individualââ¬â¢s conviction that something has to be done and the motivation as well to the intended purpose which can be labeled as X (Fischer&Mark 252). This philosophical concept when looked at in an ethical manner, then an individual should have committed to their desires or the goals that they would like to achieve. When taking an example that Peter, a young boy would like to be involved in drug use as used by fellow students in class, Peter has the internal reason to take the drugs as he wants to feel what the rest of the students usually feels when they are taking such like drugs. For an internalââ¬â¢s, Peter has all the reasons as to why he would like to be involved in drug taking but in an ethical perspective view of the internalist, Peter knows that it is wrong to commit such like crimes and he ought not to be involved in taking drugs like the rest of the students indulging in such(Schaubroeck 26). In the contemporary epistemology, internalism based on justification entails that there should be a justification for any action that is undertaken by any individualââ¬â¢s mind. A belief should highly be connected to the subjectââ¬â¢s consciousness. Internalism can be distinguished in two sections. These include internalism based on knowledge and internalism that is based on justification and this should be distinguished well. Based on the judgment on justification, this is the most widely accepted form of internalism and is based on the conscious mind of an individual. Based on knowledge, conditions are distinguishable when established on beliefs and the knowledge that is upheld on a particular state of mind of an individual (Hawthorne 215). It is thus important to note that, internalism is can
Thursday, October 17, 2019
U03d2 Process Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
U03d2 Process Analysis - Essay Example s a very organized and effective manner of testing how the processes are completed and the step by step process involved in completion of the processes. There are a few steps that are constant for almost all businesses while performing a process analysis. These include the definition and objective of the study, followed by a detailed documentation of the performance measures used within an organization and a thorough assessment and performance evaluation of the processes. Also the main step that is included is the development of the recommendations for the company and how the company can improve the overall processes in a more effective and efficient manner (Walker & Carayon, 2009). There are a number of companies and organizations that use this on a regular basis to help ensure that the processes are value adding rather than in any manner useless for the overall effectiveness of the company. Also the main intension of the process analysis is to use the best and most effective method while also concentrating on the possible errors and mistakes. There are also a number of tools that are present that can be applied to the health care management to ensure that all the processes are clear and well developed. Considering the various tools and based on the needs of the health care industry, it is clear that one of the tools that will help with the overall objective of the organization is mistake proofing and the Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA). This can be applied to the industry and the organization and processes can be improved to help eliminate the mistakes and errors in the overall operations. A health care sector requires extra care and effort to ensure that the mistakes are nil as the serious nature of the service. Hence implementing the Failure mode and effects analysis model as well as the mistake proofing will help ensure a safer and more effective place for the customers and the general public as well (Jeston & Nelis, 2008). The use of these
Tight Binding method for carbon nanotubes Essay
Tight Binding method for carbon nanotubes - Essay Example Carbon nanotubes are long, thin cylinders of carbon and have a very broad range of electronic, thermal, and structural properties that change depending on the different kinds of nanotube. The chiral vector of the nanotube, B'= nR1 + mR2 where R1 and R2 are unit vectors in the two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, and n and m are integers. Another important parameter is the chiral angle, which is the angle between Band R1. Diameter D = a3 (n2 + nm + m2)/ p ,Where, ac is the distance between neighboring carbon atoms in the flat sheet. The different values of n and m lead to different types of nanotube. They are armchair, zigzag and chiral nanotubes. Armchair nanotubes are formed when n = m and the chiral angle is 30. Zigzag nanotubes are formed when either n =0 or m==0 and the chiral angle is 0. Other nanotubes, with chiral angles between 0 and 30, are known as chiral nanotubes. The properties of nanotubes are determined by their diameter and chiral angle, both of which depend on n and m. The electronic characteristics of the nanotubes have been done by numerical band structure, the structure of the chemical bonds. is given by the local spatial structure of the orbital. The electronic structure of the nanotube fragments are calculated by SCF-MO-LCAOVmethods. In this method, only valence electrons are taken into account and the three- and four-center integrals are omitted and the repulsion of lone electron pairs can be explained. The SCF convergence criterion was 10-8for total-energy changes and 10-5 for charge-density changes between two subsequent cycles. Band structure calculations of [n, 0] (n = 6, 7, 8, 9)tubes were performed using the tight-binding Hamiltonian, with a universal set of first and second nearest-neighbor hopping integrals that reproduce various carbon structures, including graphite. The 2s, 2px, 2py, 2pz, and s* orbital of each carbon atom are used as the basis set for expressing the tight binding model. The Hamiltonian matrix elements and related parameters are obtained by adjusting the model to fit photoemission band-structure data. The (6, 0) carbon tube seems to have the lowest diameter and are thermodynamically unstable. The bonds at the ends of the nanotube fragments get saturated by hydrogen atoms. The structural unit of the tube is the distorted carbon hexagon. All c-c bonds were assumed to be of the same length: 1.4 . Page 3 The distance between third-neighbor carbon atoms along the tube circumference is 2.39 . The point group symmetry of the (6, 0) nanotube fragment is determined by the number N of carbon hexagons along the tube axis. There is a difference between heat of formation of the nanotube fragments, caused by the boundary atoms affect, strongly at the central part of the nanotube fragment. In the above Figure, the dispersion curves of the (n, 0) tubes with n = 6... 11 are shown. This tube family splits into three groups. The (3n, 0) tubes have vanishing energy gaps. The gap increases in (3n + 1, 0) and in (3n + 2, 0) tubes. Consequently, (6, 0) and (9, 0) tubes will likely show metallic conductivity, similar to graph. In graphite, orbital are represented in carbon nanotubes, the radial orbital are analogous to the lone orbital of graphite .This changes the character of the frontier orbital
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
How the Trans Alaska Pipeline Affected the Lives of the Alaskan Essay
How the Trans Alaska Pipeline Affected the Lives of the Alaskan Nativesand the company itself - Essay Example The single 48-inch (1.22 m) diameter pipeline was built between March 27, 1975 and May 31, 1977 at a cost of around US$8 billion. Five different contractors employing 21,000 people at the peak of work constructed the pipe in six sections; 31 were killed in accidents during construction (Trans Alaska Pipeline). during the course of the project (qtd. from Cowans). The obstacles faced and overcome in building the trans-Alaska pipeline are simply astounding. The harsh temperatures, rough terrain, lack of Arctic pipeline building knowledge at this time and the environmental concerns of a pipeline had to all be considered in making this project a success. In 1994, the American Society of Civil Engineers named the Alaska pipeline one of the "Seven Wonders of the United States". Their list includes the Panama Canal, Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam, the Kennedy Space Center, the Interstate Highway System, and the World Trade Center (qtd. from Cowans). Along the pipeline, there are eleven pump stations, each with four pumps. Diesel or natural gas generators power each electric pump. Twelve pump stations were planned but Pump Station 11 was never built, though the southward numbering system for the pump stations retains a place for this nonexistent station. Usually only around seven stations are active at one time, and plans to replace the existing pumps with newer high-efficiency pumps may reduce the number of active stations even further (qtd. from Trans Alaska Pipeline). In areas where thaw-sensitive permafrost exists but the line must be buried, such as highway crossings or avalanche-prone areas, the pipe is encased in an insulated, refrigerated ditch. Nearby refrigeration, plants pump cold brine through 6-inch (15 cm) pipes, which absorb heat and keep the soil cooled. Other areas of burial are either conventional covered ditches or unrefrigerated but insulated ditches, depending on the sensitivity of the surrounding soil (qtd. from Trans Alaska Pipeline). The pipeline was completed on June 20, 1977 and the first oil was pumped into the pipeline. On July 8, 1977, a huge explosion destroyed Pump Station Eight. The explosion killed one worker and injured five more. Human error was attributed to the cause of the explosion. On July 19, 1977, a loader damaged a valve just south of Prudhoe Bay. Approximately 2,000 barrels of oil spilled onto the ground before the leak was stopped and repaired. On the next day, the first attempt of sabotage occurred. A section of insulation from the pipeline was torn off and supporting pipe brackets were torn from the line just north of Fairbanks. The pipeline itself was not injured and the oil continued to flow south towards Valdez. Several people were later arrested and convicted for malicious destruction of property (qtd.
Tight Binding method for carbon nanotubes Essay
Tight Binding method for carbon nanotubes - Essay Example Carbon nanotubes are long, thin cylinders of carbon and have a very broad range of electronic, thermal, and structural properties that change depending on the different kinds of nanotube. The chiral vector of the nanotube, B'= nR1 + mR2 where R1 and R2 are unit vectors in the two-dimensional hexagonal lattice, and n and m are integers. Another important parameter is the chiral angle, which is the angle between Band R1. Diameter D = a3 (n2 + nm + m2)/ p ,Where, ac is the distance between neighboring carbon atoms in the flat sheet. The different values of n and m lead to different types of nanotube. They are armchair, zigzag and chiral nanotubes. Armchair nanotubes are formed when n = m and the chiral angle is 30. Zigzag nanotubes are formed when either n =0 or m==0 and the chiral angle is 0. Other nanotubes, with chiral angles between 0 and 30, are known as chiral nanotubes. The properties of nanotubes are determined by their diameter and chiral angle, both of which depend on n and m. The electronic characteristics of the nanotubes have been done by numerical band structure, the structure of the chemical bonds. is given by the local spatial structure of the orbital. The electronic structure of the nanotube fragments are calculated by SCF-MO-LCAOVmethods. In this method, only valence electrons are taken into account and the three- and four-center integrals are omitted and the repulsion of lone electron pairs can be explained. The SCF convergence criterion was 10-8for total-energy changes and 10-5 for charge-density changes between two subsequent cycles. Band structure calculations of [n, 0] (n = 6, 7, 8, 9)tubes were performed using the tight-binding Hamiltonian, with a universal set of first and second nearest-neighbor hopping integrals that reproduce various carbon structures, including graphite. The 2s, 2px, 2py, 2pz, and s* orbital of each carbon atom are used as the basis set for expressing the tight binding model. The Hamiltonian matrix elements and related parameters are obtained by adjusting the model to fit photoemission band-structure data. The (6, 0) carbon tube seems to have the lowest diameter and are thermodynamically unstable. The bonds at the ends of the nanotube fragments get saturated by hydrogen atoms. The structural unit of the tube is the distorted carbon hexagon. All c-c bonds were assumed to be of the same length: 1.4 . Page 3 The distance between third-neighbor carbon atoms along the tube circumference is 2.39 . The point group symmetry of the (6, 0) nanotube fragment is determined by the number N of carbon hexagons along the tube axis. There is a difference between heat of formation of the nanotube fragments, caused by the boundary atoms affect, strongly at the central part of the nanotube fragment. In the above Figure, the dispersion curves of the (n, 0) tubes with n = 6... 11 are shown. This tube family splits into three groups. The (3n, 0) tubes have vanishing energy gaps. The gap increases in (3n + 1, 0) and in (3n + 2, 0) tubes. Consequently, (6, 0) and (9, 0) tubes will likely show metallic conductivity, similar to graph. In graphite, orbital are represented in carbon nanotubes, the radial orbital are analogous to the lone orbital of graphite .This changes the character of the frontier orbital
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Swot Analysis Example Essay Example for Free
Swot Analysis Example Essay The S.W.O.T Analysis outlines the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that I face at the moment. Hopefully at the end of the year I will be able to look back on these and think of how I have improved. My strengths all seem to come from learning through my Diploma level of Btec Graphic Design. Studying Fine Art and Graphics has allowed me to generate and develop ideas through sketchbooks. In these subjects I have used photography and photoshop to an beginner/intermediate standard, I also invested in a 13 MacBook Pro by Apple which I love. It helps me generate art pieces that has received a lot of compliments. In Graphics, I have had to reflect on ideas so that I could meet the mark scheme. I think my passion for learning comes from my attitude in high School, I was brought up in a positive environment with lots of encouragement that helped me a lot with school. I may not have had the best grades, but I have always had an enthusiasm to learn and especially for art. When I come up with an idea I dont really see any ways of improving them. This needs to change during the year, I need to learn to develop properly otherwise my ideas are not going to be fully realized. In the next 3 years I am going to have a lot of opportunities, mostly set by the university and others I have to set up myself. Live projects are going to give me a good idea about how to deal with clients and what their feedback is going to be like. Student life is going to help me socially, might make me a bit more confident in myself and help me over come my shyness and the fear of speaking in front of crowds which will then help my work. I feel that maybe, if I let these threats get out of control, it will affect my performance when working. The idea is to recognise these threats or fears and control them in order to produce my best work.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Health Promotion: Post Natal Depression
Health Promotion: Post Natal Depression The issues of health and health promotion initiatives have gained much significance in the recent past. Stephens (2008:5) comments that from a social perspective health are understood as much more than a matter for individual experience and responsibility; health behaviour is seen in terms of relationship with others and health is structured by society. World HealthOrganisation(WHO) constitution of 1948, defines health as a state of complete, physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It also adds that health has been considered less as an abstract state and more as a means to an end which can be expressed in functional terms as a resource which permits people to lead an individually, socially and economically productive life, with respect to health promotion. (WHO, Geneva, 1986). WHO recognizes the spiritual dimension of health and regards health as a fundamental human right and states that the basic resources for health should be acc essible for all people. According to WHO, health promotion represents a comprehensive social and political process, which not only embraces actions aimed at strengthening the skills and capabilities of individuals, but also acts toward changing social, environmental and economic conditions so as to alleviate their impact on public and individual health. Its also the process of enabling people to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health (WHO official website) The concept of social determinants of health needs to be considered while discussing health and health promotion initiatives. According to a study conducted by Bambra et.al(2008), the wider social determinants of health were listed out as water and sanitation, agriculture and food, health and social care services, unemployment and welfare, working conditions, housing and community, education and transport. The term health promotion has variously been used to refer to a social movement, an ideology, a discipline, a strategy, a profession, and a strategy or field of practice delineated by commitment to key values(Keith and Tones, 2010).According to ODonnell (2009), health promotion is the art and science of discovering the synergies between their core passions and optimal health enhancing their motivation to strive for optimal health and supporting them in changing their life style to move toward a state of optimal health, which is a dynamic balance of emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual health. Tones and Tilford (2009) is of the opinion that health promotion as a quasi-political movement and professional activity can be described as militant wing of public health. At a general level health promotion has come to represent a unifying concept for those who recognize the need for change in the ways and conditions of living to promote health (Fleming and Parker, 2006). Post natal depression Postnatal depression is one of the most discussed topics in health today. This assignment discusses postnatal depression in detail, considering the significance it has and the risks associated with Postnatal depression, among the women in the United Kingdom. There has been a growing international recognition of postnatal depression as a major public health concern (Oates et.al, 2004). The government policy (Department of Health, 2004) recognises that the mental disorders during pregnancy and the post natal period can have serious consequences for individual women, their partners, babies and other children. Perinatal psychiatric disorder is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the UK (Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths, 2001).NICE (2007) observes that the mental disorders which occur during pregnancy and the postnatal period can seriously affect the health and wellbeing of a mother and her baby, as well as for her p artner and other family members. This condition is a form of maternal morbidity that affects about one in eight women from diverse cultures and is a leading cause of maternal mortality(Dennis, 2009).Dennis(2009) also comments that postnatal depression can also have serious consequences for the health and well being of the family as the infants and children are particularly vulnerable to it impaired maternal-infant interactions can have an impact on the cognitive, social ,emotional and behavioural development of the children. According to the latest reports it is estimated that approximately 75000 women within the United Kingdom are affected by postnatal depression (Hanley and Hanley, 2009).Craig (2008) comments that postnatal depression has been various defined as non-psychotic depression occurring during the first six months, the first four weeks and the first three months post partum; but recently three months postpartum was suggested in the United Kingdom. There have been many views by various authors about postnatal depression. Wheatley (2006) comments that postnatal depression affects between 10 and 20 percent of women who have had babies, and it causes distress at a time when there is every reason for happiness. Wheatley (2006) adds that the symptoms vary from person to person as for some symptoms can be mild and for other women, it can lead to serious consequences including bouts of depression. However, the case of postnatal depression which is serious enough to warrant treatment percentage is bet ween 7% and 35%. Dalton and Holton (2001) defines that postnatal depression is one of the symptoms of a serious mental condition known as postnatal illness. They opine that postnatal illness covers a range of afflictions which range from sadness to infanticide which start after child birth. The disorders associated with postnatal illness are blues, postnatal depression, puerperal psychosis and infanticide or homicide. Dalton and Holton (2001, p.3) defines postnatal depression as the first occurrence of psychiatric symptoms severe enough to require medical help occurring after childbirth and before the return of menstruation. They add that it does not include the blues, and excludes the condition of those who have previously sought psychiatric help because of other psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, manic depression, depression or drug abuse. Feeney (2001) is of the view that although the symptom of postnatal depression is dysphoric (depressed) mood, this state is also acco mpanied by other symptoms like extreme fatigue, strong feelings of guilt, disturbance of sleep and loss of appetite. Hanzak (2005) attributes the occurrence of postnatal depression to three factors; biological, psychological and social causes. She lists out some of the possible reasons for postnatal depression as history of disturbed early life, loss of own mother, current marital or family conflicts, infertility and investigations for four or more years , loss of a previous pregnancy, adoption or fostering, high medical anxieties over the pregnancy, admission to hospital for longer than one week over the last three months of pregnancy ,major upheavals or stress over the last three months, emergency Caesarean section, neonatal illnesses, hormonal changes and personal or family history of depression Walsh (2009) comments that the occurrence of postnatal depression is linked with birth experience. Parker (2009) had earlier opined that if the birth was traumatic, there are high chances for postnatal depression. Epidemiological factors of poverty, social class and low income influence the chances of postnatal depression (Gale and Harlow, 2003). Walsh (2009) puts forward a view that postnatal depression can affect fathers and children and hence its important to maintain communication and interaction between family members. Cox and Holden (2001) are of the opinion that the consequences of maternal depression are costly not only on a personal level, but also in terms of money and personnel level as well. They put forward an interesting point that when there is contact between professionals and mothers is high detection of postnatal depression is very low and that the failure to diagnose depression may be attributed to short appointments, a physical orientation of care and an emphasis on the babys rather than the mothers well being. Most cases of postnatal depression can be dealt with at primary care level with monitoring by the family doctor and interventions by primary care staff (Cox and Holden, 2001). Health promotion models and approaches Dahlgren and Whitehead (1991) had proposed that the factors which influence health are multidimensional and suggests a model which illustrates the wider determinants of health. The main factors according to them are general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions, living and working conditions, social and community influences, individual lifestyle factors, age, sex and hereditary factors. The model depicts individuals as central characters, who are influenced by various other determinants, which play a major role in influencing their health factors. Source: Dahlgren and Whitehead (1991) Another model which is widely discussed with relation to health promotion is the stages of change model. Bunton et.al(2000) proposes that the transtheoretical or stages of change model has greatly influenced health promotion practices in the United States of America, Australia and the United Kingdom since the late 1980s.The stages of change model was focused on encouraging change for people with addictive behaviour. People go through several stages when trying to change behaviour (Naidoo and Wills, 2000). Fertman (2010) asserts that behaviour change occurs in stages and that a person moving through these stages in a very specific sequence constitutes the change. According to this model, there are five stages of change, which are listed as pre contemplation, contemplation, preparing for change, making the change and maintenance. The health belief important model is a well known theoretical model, which emphasises the role of beliefs in decision making. This model which was proposed by Rosenstock(1966) and modified by Brecker(1974) proposes that whether or not people change their behaviour will be influenced by an evaluation of its feasibilities and the comparisons of its benefits weighted against the costs. Evans et.al (2005) comments that the major three health promotion approaches are the behaviour change approach, the self-empowerment approach and the collective action or community development approach. They add that these approaches have different goals and adopt different ways to achieve their goals and propose different criteria for their evaluation, though they have a common aim to promote good health and to prevent the effects of ill health. Each of these approaches has a unique understanding of the origins of health and health behaviour and subsequently of their objectives in health promotion and these three approaches are mutually complimentary. (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, 2004). NICE (2007) defines behaviour change as the product of individual or collective human actions, seen within and influenced by their structural, social and economic context. Resnicow and Waughan (2006) comment that the study of health behaviour change has historically been rooted in a cognitive-rational paradigm. The models such as social cognitive theory, the health belief model, the transtheoretical model have viewed behavioral change as an interaction of factors such as knowledge, attitude, belief etc (Rimer and Lewis, 2002; Baranowski et.al, 2003).It has been suggested by the evidences that behavior change occurs in stages or steps and that movement through these stages is cyclical involving a pattern of adoption, maintenance, relapse and readoption over time. It has been suggested by the evidences that behavior change occurs in stages or steps and that movement through these stages is cyclical involving a pattern of adoption, maintenance, relapse and re adoption over time(Di paitro and Hughes, 2003).. According to NICE (2007) the attempts to promote or support behaviour change take a number of forms, which are activities which can be delivered at a number of levels, ranging from local, one to one interactions with individuals to national campaigns. NICE(2007) divides interventions into four main categories as policy-such as legislation ,education or communication-such as one to one advice, group teaching or media campaigns, technologies-such as the use of seat belts, breathalyses , resources-such as leisure centre entry, free condoms or free nicotine replacement therapy. According to the Victorian Health foundation (2004) the behavioural approach focuses on implementing interventions to change or remove behavioural health risk factors. Interventions from this perspective are targeted at a particular behavioural risk factor associated with a particular negative health outcome, and they target a population performing the behavioural risk factor and endeavour to promote health through various strategies. However, Craig et.al (2008) adds that behaviour change interventions are generally complex to design, deliver and evaluate.Michie (2008) states that more investment in developing the scientific methods for behavioural change studies is essential. Behavioural science is relevant to all phases of the process of implementing evidence-based health care; development of evidence through the primary studies, synthesizing the findings in systematic reviews, translation of evidence into guidelines and practice recommendations and implementing these recommendatio ns in practice(Michie,2008). Dunn et.al (2006) proposes that Item Response modeling (IRM) can be used to improve the psychometric methods in health education and health behaviour research and practice. They add that IRM is already being adopted to improve and revise quality of life questionnaires. However Masse et.al (2006) comments that a number of issues seem to stunt the application of IRM methods, as they list out the following issues (i) Lack of IRM applications in the context of health education and health behavior research; (ii) lack of awareness as to what IRM can do beyond assessing the psychometric properties of a scale; (iii) lack of trained psychometricians trained in our field. It is to be noted that the behaviour change approach came under criticism from various quarters. The major criticisms pointed out by Marks et.al(2005) were the inabilities to target the major socio-economic causes of ill health, possible incompatibilities of the top-down recommendations with community norms, values and practices, the assumption of a direct link between knowledge attitudes and behaviour and the assumption of homogeneity among the receivers of health promotion messages. Post natal depression-Current significance and ethical considerations Post natal depression is a matter of serious concern in the current age, as many women are being affected by it. Almond (2010) comment that post natal depression can be deemed a public health problem as the effects of it are known to go beyond the mother and it also affects the partner and the child. He adds that it can lead to infanticide as well as maternal death by suicide and according to evidences, all countries are faced with the challenge of postnatal depression, and the most affected countries are the low and middle income countries. The NICE guidelines for the clinical management of antenatal and postnatal mental health (2007) have observed the risks associated with postnatal depression. Ramchandani (2005) concurs to it and observes that the postnatal depression in fathers can have long-term consequences for the development of their child, on behavioural and emotional aspects. A study entitled The children of the 90s by Bristol University in 2008, had found that post natal d epression in fathers can have long lasting psychological effects on their children. A notable observation in this study was that the boys born to depressed fathers are twice as likely as other boys to have chances of developing behavioural problems by the age of three and a half. It is essential to look into the long term consequences posed by the problem. Ramchandani (2008) points out that the conduct problems at the age of three to four years are strongly predictive of serious conduct problems in the future, increased criminality and significantly increased societal costs. The quotes by Ramchandani points out the threats posed by the depression among the fathers of new born babies. The impact of postnatal depression can be highly detrimental to a society, as proved by the recent unfortunate happening of a depressed teacher killing her baby in Exeter, as a result of the depression. Policy drivers There have been lots of developments over the last few years in policy on the mental health and womens services (NICE, 2007). NSF for Child Health and Maternity was published in 2004 and is a 10 year programme that is aimed at the long term and sustained improvement in childrens health. Setting standards for health and social services for children, young people and pregnant women, the NSF aims to ensure fair, high quality and integrated health and social care from pregnancy to adulthood (NHS, 2007). NICE(2007) lists out the four main strands of policy relevant to antenatal and postnatal mental health as National service frameworks(NSFs), (particularly the mental health NSF,NSF for children young people and maternity services),policy to ensure equal access to responsive mental health services( especially services that meet needs of women, people from minority ethnic groups), public health policy and policy on commissioning and delivering health care and social care services in the com munity and the policy concerned with strategies for improving mental health services. The screening for postnatal depression is highly talked about in the field of psychology and medicine today. Currie and Radematcher (2004) argues that pediatric providers are aware of the prevalence of postnatal depression and its effect on new born babies. However, there have been arguments for and against screening for postnatal depression and hence the practitioners should consider them carefully (Coyne et.al, 2000). The view proposed by Chauldron et.al (2007) is that from the legal and ethical standpoints and the perspective of feasibility, the benefits of screening outweigh the risks. However, they add that, the implementation must be seen as an iterative process, and implementing the screening for post natal depression in a systematic and comprehensive approach is critical to the ultimate well-being of children and families.Basten (2009) proposes that more studies in the field of psychotherapeutic research and psychological areas are required. This is in conformance with the ob servation by De Tychey ,Briancon et.al, 2008) that the diagnostic techniques need to be improved for both caregivers and sufferers through education and the communication should be promoted, focusing on the fostering of parenting skills as a preventive measure against Post Natal Depression.(de Tychey, Brianà §on et al. 2008). One of the recent studies by Norman et.al (2010) has found out that exercise can help women in combating postnatal depression and that the specialised routines could help new mothers decrease the chances of depression by upto 50 percent. Partnership working Partnership working is a very important term in the current health and social care system in the United Kingdom. Partnership working can be defined as a system where two or more disciples work collaboratively to deliver optimal care to an individual (NHS, 2007). In the context of post natal depression partnership working refers to working in partnership with the team involved in the mother and the newborn baby, which includes pediatricians and obstetricians(Byrom et.al,2009) .Douglas(2008) points out that partnership working is recognised as the most effective way of improving social care services. Department of Health (2006) had stressed that the action to improve health and care services will be underpinned through working in partnerships between individuals, communities, business, voluntary organizations, public services and government.Butt(2008) argues that partnerships have international appeal as a means to integrate health and social services in response to the realisation tha t both sectors serve populations whose complex needs cannot be met adequately through segmented approaches. Partnership working with women having mental health problems can be a challenging task (Department of health, 2008). According to NICE (2007) the impact of partnership working is a function of a number of features of joint working and it is possible to categorise partnerships along a number of descriptive variables such as membership, structures, leadership, agendas and organisational cultures. Previous studies have shown that the working of people involved in the care of women with post natal depression, a trusting partnership can be developed between carers, patients and professionals, which will be beneficial to all. Feeney et.al (2001) had proposed that working in partnerships with families is an essential component of effective programming in the early developmental stages of children. Hence partnership working holds a very important role in the post natal period as, it would be able to relieve the emotional stress which many women go through. It was observed by NICE (2007) that developing trust and accommodating relationships within facilitating partnerships is imperative to the attainment of partnership goals, and issues of process are highly important building blocks to success.Sorin (2002) comments that there are many reasons to establish partnerships and asserts that the family is the most significant influence on the mothers post natal health as well as the childs development and well being. Sorin( 2002) adds that partnerships that develop to address fear and other emotions can work towards understanding appropriate expression of these emotions, which include learning words to describe the emotion using forms like music ,talking to others . A report on safety in maternity services published by Kings fund (2008) emphasises the significance of team work and collaboration in ensuring the safety of mothers and babies and points out that effective team work can increase safety, whereas poor teamwork can be detrimental to the safety. The report proposes several solutions to resolve the difficulties in team work. The main suggestions include ensuring clarity about the objectives of the team and roles and that there is effective leadership among the group and clarity in procedures for communication is present (Byrom et.al, 2009). It is important to look into the barriers which affect the concept of partnership working. Lester et.al(2008) comments that there are barriers to closer working in partnerships, which include cultural differences, the time factor which is required to create and maintain relationships and recognition of the advantages of remaining a small and autonomous organisation. Conclusion This essay has critically analysed the effect of the behavioural change approach intervention of postnatal depression to address the needs of women who are more at risk in the United Kingdom. Various factors which lead to postnatal depression have been explained in the essay. It can be concluded that postnatal depression is to be seriously taken care of, and that the impact of postnatal depression can have serious consequences for society. The various health promotion models have portrayed the linkages between beliefs and behavioral changes. The essay has pointed out the importance of partnership working in improving the conditions of mothers and newborn babies. Effective working in partnerships can go a long way in alleviating the concerns of the mothers and improving the mental health of the new born babies, as they play a very important role in framing the future characteristics of the new born babies. A recent study by the University of Leicester has found out that women are less likely to become depressed in the year after childbirth if they have an NHS health visitor who has undergone additional mental health training. These findings point out the fact that postnatal depression can be effectively tackled with external help. The studies about postnatal depression and the concept of partnership working have been very effective in improving the health care system in the United Kingdom and hence serve as an interesting topic for future researches in the field.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
Science vs. Religion Essay -- Religious Science Creationism Essays
Science vs. Religion Since the dawn of man, humans have striven to explain the many mysteries of the universe, and to justify our existence in it. Throughout this journey of self-understanding, numerous standpoints on human existence have evolved and merged into a complex, abstract manifestation called religion. However, as the human race has grown and advanced itself, many ideas expressed by religion seem less and less plausible. Advances in science and technology have yielded a new breed of human thought that has disturbed and shaken the foundations of religious ideology. Our new, scientifically grounded understanding of the universe has unfolded a plethora of answers to age-old questions, which are antithetical to the explanations offered by religion. As strong scientific evidence has surfaced which is contrary to the prevailing religious view, open-minded believers have adapted their beliefs accordingly, but many fundamentalists refuse to accept scientific evidence. This is the root of the dilem ma between science and religion. Many philosophers and theists have offered their views concerning the ongoing battle between science and religion. Reconciliation between science and religion is impossible, because the claims made by religion and the evidence provided by science are so extraordinarily different. The advance of science has caused many theists to compromise traditional religious beliefs in order to facilitate scientific evidence, thus proving that scientific explanations of the universe are more plausible than the rationales offered by religion. An excellent example of this can be seen in the question of the age of the planet Earth. According to religious theology, the Earth is less than ten thousand years old. However, there is an overwhelming amount of scientific evidence that proves the Earth to be many billions of years old. Many religious thinkers have responded to this evidence, by claiming that the methods used to ascertain the Earth's age are inaccurate. They argue that radioactive dating; a widely accepted method of determining the age of rocks, is inaccurate because there is no available rock sample of a known age, which the method can be calibrated to. However, this argument is obsolete, because the only calibration required to find the age of a rock is the measurement of decay rates, which can be found in the laboratory in... ...ith. Many theists point out that certain aspects of nature are also invisible, such as gravitational fields and magnetic fields (Foster 60). However, a parallel cannot be drawn between the invisibility of these natural phenomenons and the invisibility of god, because these aspects of nature can be measured. God, on the other hand, cannot be proven to exist through empirical evidence. If scientific evidence exists that refutes the teachings of the bible, then why do people believe in religion? Religion gives humanity a sense of security, a sense of individual purpose, and most importantly, brings people together. Arguably the most important aspects of any valid religion is its belief in a code of conduct, a set of moral teachings that define how people should behave towards others. Religion is one of the major ways one generation passes on its values and morals to each succeeding generation. Religion has also been viewed as a way to control the masses. According to Karl Marx, "Religion is the opium of the people" (Microsoft Bookshelf CD-ROM 1998). Despite the scientific arguments that challenge the teachings of religion, religion will always remain an institution in our society.
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