Anorexia Nervosa Essays (676 words) - Eating Disorders,

Anorexia Nervosa What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually occurs in teenage girls, but it can also occur in boys. People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They lose a lot of weight. They are terrified of gaining weight. They believe they are fat even though they are very thin. Anorexia isn't just a problem with food or weight. It's an attempt to use food and weight to deal with emotional problems. What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia? People with anorexia starve themselves, avoid high-calorie foods and exercise constantly. People with bulimia eat huge amounts of food, but they throw up soon after eating, or take laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to keep from gaining weight. People with bulimia don't usually lose as much weight as people with anorexia. Why do people get anorexia nervosa? The reason some people get anorexia nervosa isn't known. People with anorexia may believe they would be happier and more successful if they were thin. They want everything in their lives to be perfect. People who have this disorder are usually good students. They are involved in many school and community activities. They blame themselves if they don't get perfect grades, or if other things in life are not perfect. What are the problems caused by anorexia nervosa? Girls with anorexia usually stop having menstrual periods. People with anorexia have dry skin and thinning hair on the head. They may have a growth of fine hair all over their body. They may feel cold all the time, and they may get sick often. People with anorexia are often in a bad mood. They have a hard time concentrating and are always thinking about food. It is not true that anorexics are never hungry. Actually, they are always hungry. Feeling hunger gives them a feeling of control over their lives and their bodies. It makes them feel like they are good at something--they are good at losing weight. People with severe anorexia nervosa may be at risk of death from starvation. What is the treatment for anorexia nervosa? Treatment of anorexia nervosa is difficult, because people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. Patients in the early stages of anorexia (less than six months or with just a small amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to be admitted to the hospital. But for successful treatment, patients must want to change and must have family and friends to help them. People with more serious anorexia need care in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Treatment involves more than changing the person's eating habits. Anorexics often need counseling for a year or more so they can work on changing the feelings that are causing their eating problems. These feelings may be about their weight, their family problems or their problems with self-esteem. Taking medicine that makes them feel less depressed helps some anorexic patients. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used along with counseling. How can family and friends help? The most important thing that family and friends can do to help a person with anorexia is to love them. People with anorexia feel safe, secure and comfortable with their illness. Their biggest fear is gaining weight, and gaining weight is seen as loss of control. They may deny they have a problem. People with anorexia will beg and lie to avoid eating and gaining weight, which is like giving up the illness. Family and friends should not give in to the pleading of the anorexic patient. What are some of the warning signs of anorexia? Warning signs of anorexia include the following: Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss Fear of gaining weight Refusal to eat Denial of hunger Constant exercising Greater amounts of hair on the body or the face Sensitivity to cold Absent or irregular periods Loss of scalp hair A self-perception of being fat when the person is really too thin Bibliography NA Current Events Essays

Mozart concerto essays

Mozart concerto essays Flute Concerto No 2. In D, K.314 Rondo I chose Mozarts Concerto No 2 In D, K.314 Rondo for this assignment because I truly enjoyed listening to the piece and felt a story being told. There is no significant title to the piece, so the story I found was more a reflection of my mood and my own feelings. Mozart used many dynamic orchestra performances throughout the concerto, giving it an edge and challenge. The piece is eloquently crafted and rhythmically shaped. One of the most outstanding elements of this piece is the harmony created by the flute and the orchestra when they accompany each other with seeming flawlessness. The piece began very soft and eloquently. The flute was enchanting with its wavering tones producing high and low sounds that blending rhythmically. The piece begins this way, very soft and subtle making the listener feel relaxed and calm. I though of soft pools of water with dancing butterflies nearby when the flute was downplayed to the strong and challenging orchestra which first began at .48 in the piece. The orchestra was bold and strong, combining sounds of violins, pianos, and more. The feeling then changed to that of a challenge. I began to see a larger animal, such as a menacing tiger or lion enter my vision. It was a balance between peace and triumph. The orchestra then faded out as the flute began to play a solo piece at .59 seconds into the concerto. The flute was a bit rougher, sounding louder, as though it was proving something to the orchestra. I envisioned a battle. The sounds of the orchestra and the flute were symbolic of my tiger and butterfly, eyeing each other wondering who did not belong. The butterfly began dancing closer and closer to the tiger, as the flute played louder and the sounds were much more crisp and clear. The orchestra again chimed in after a few more seconds of the flutes session. The battle between the orchestra and the flu...

Walmart Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Walmart - Research Paper Example Thus, the legacy of Wal-Mart began with this legendary entrepreneur and former military veteran Sam Moore Walton. He opened his first store in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas. Wal-Mart grew significantly in the 1970s (Murphy, 2008). The first Wal-Mart distribution and official Wal-Mart Home Office opened in Bentonville, Arkansas in 1971. Forbes magazine ranked Wal-Mart number one among competitors for the eighth year straight in 1983. Walton had invested 345% of the capital just to open the first Wal-Mart store. On April 5, 1992, Sam Walton passed away. Just before his passing President George H.W. Bush presented him with the Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at Wal-Mart headquarters, this award is the nation’s highest civilian honor (Soderquist, 2005). International success Ever since then, Wal-Mart grew to twenty four stores in Arkansas, and had already reached up to $12.6 in sales. By 1968, Wal-Mart had opened its stores outside Arkansas in Missouri, Oklahoma, Claremore and Sikes ton. To this date Wal-Mart International Operations expand a cross twenty six markets. However, it was soon known as the top most retailing outlet in the world. Wal-Mart had seen immense growth ever since it was opened. The strategies and the milestone were right on the track of perfection. The history of Wal-Mart is the perfect example to learn how to manage growth without losing sight of your values. Wal-Mart stock was offered for the first time in New York Stock Exchange in 1972 (Frank, 2006). With this infusion of capital, Wal-Mart grew to about 276 stores in 11 states within a decade. By the 1980’s, the Sam’s Club members-warehouse store was opened. Then the first Supercenter was opened in 1988, which features a complete grocery and 36 departments of general merchandise. The sales had grown immensely from $1 billion to $26 billion only in 1980. In the 21st century, there are 10, 185 Wal-Mart stores throughout the globe in 27 countries, 2.2 million associates emplo yed and more than 176 million customers a year. Internal and External analysis Walton knew that the major factor that has to be controlled is the payroll. If he wanted to continue keeping the costs down, he had to clearly look into the payrolls and the recruitment. Walton wrote in his autobiography, "No matter how you slice it in the retail business, payroll is one of the most important parts of overhead, and overhead is one of the most crucial things you have to fight to maintain your profit margin." The way Walton controlled the payrolls was to hire as less people as he could, and pay them more than he had to for that job (Robert, 2005). Because of this unique approach, Walton was always opposed by the unions and he had to fight them. He wanted to give the best life to all the Americans whether benefiting them with low priced goods or whether by employing them on a pay above average. His employees nevertheless accepted this and loves working with Walton. Even when Wal-Mart reached other countries, Walton used to travel country to country to keep in touch with his employees. He also gave his employees a stake at the company. He introduced a profit sharing plan that allowed the employees to put in a certain percentage of their wage in the stock purchase. As a truck driver stated that Walton told him 'If you'll just stay with me for twenty years, I guarantee you'll have $100,000 in profit sharing' †¦

Team Leadership Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Team Leadership - Assignment Example Harnessing these and getting them to work in tandem is the most difficult thing as it involves convincing people to forego their differences for the good of the company. Not everyone can do this, and this is the reason why companies have different positions, which mandate occupants to mobilize those under them. Those assuming these positions are referred to as team leaders, team leaders are mandated with the responsibility of mobilizing team members. They should also work towards a defined goal which may be either the company’s goal or a means to a company goal. Team leadership, on the other hand, is not about an individual it is about a process, a process which can be led by either one of the team members or can also be led from the outside. In fact, there are four potential sources of team leadership; formal internal leadership, formal external leadership, informal internal leadership and informal external leadership. This brief insight into team relations and team leadership is important in evaluating the various problems facing Global-tech Company where I happen to work. In the past few months, there have been continuous wrangles within the company teams. This is alarming as the effects of these misunderstandings will soon spill over to the company performance. This is worrying because business has been exemplary given the ensuing economic conditions. The ones active and very motivated teams have slowed down and their morale has taken a dip; differences have emerged on what is wrong and what is right in regard to culture and communication. There are also technical differences like utilization of technological equipment. Well and beyond these challenges employees have also become selfish and all these challenges have made it impossible for people to relate well.

Media Audiences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Media Audiences - Essay Example The intention of this study is technology as one of the aspects in the twenty first century that has not only changed the ideas, notion and perceptions of the human beings but also the way people live their lives. It has become one of the most significant and considerable facets of human lives. Moreover, the technological changes and the advancement in technologies in the last few years have proved to be much more in comparison to the previous hundred years. Furthermore, the exponential boost in the advancement and innovation is technology is in a continuously growing process. Therefore, no one can neglect the truth that the humans are now living and belonging to the society that has exquisitely become reliant on science and technology. In fact, according to one of the authors â€Å"Technology is one part of the complex of relationships that people form with each other and the world around them; it simply cannot be understood outside of that concept†. Due to such an immeasurab le development and progression of technology, it has gained and dominates over all pieces of human lives, weather it is business, health care, education, entertainment, travelling or personal relationships. Whilst looking at the world of business and commerce, one can figure it out that ecommerce has altered and transformed the business community and how one thinks about while doing business. From small business enterprises to giant multinational corporations, every businessperson is making the most of the technology in the today’s fast-paced world of online market. ... Therefore, mass media has become a powerful and prominent figure for the entire populace of the world (Haour, 2004). Audiences come under immense effects on a short-term, median-term and long-term basis by the technology and media due to its influential powers. The short-term effects of technology and media not only expose the people with the awareness and providing knowledge about an entity, but also modify and revise the obsolete and outmoded or inaccurate information, and increase their recall abilities about a meticulous announcement or advertisement. When the attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and opinions about social norms changes or alters within a person, that individual comes under the intermediate or median-term effect of technology and media. However, the long-term effect of technology and media relates and integrates all the impact of short-term and median-term in conjunction with focused streamlining the alleged norms and preservation of behavioral change (Napoli, 2011). The ideas about the audience dependency on technology have come under a range of studies and researches in the precious decades. The consequences of media exposure provides with the fact that the effect of media and technology on audience are diverse and wide-ranging. In addition, it has also been an understanding that audiences also leave an impact on the media with the intensity and incidence of their usage. Media and technology have come under advancements with a prime objective to promote social change in developing and under-developed nations. Therefore, with respect to this objective research studies have identified and concluded that knowledge gap and media exposure over time are the factors that affects and shapes the

Environmental Management Systems

Environmental Management Systems Will Environmental Management Systems and associates Environmental Reporting initiatives aid the concept of Sustainable Development in application? The International Organization forStandardization (ISO) is a federation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)created to elaborate and improve international standards. The ISO initiallycreated general management standards (the ISO 9000 Series) for organizationsand industries that acknowledged the value of a systematic approach tomanagement. However, as economic growth and the environment have often been inconflict with one and other (and industries today face many political, socialand economic pressures to improve their environmental performance Gale, 1996)the ISO further developed the 14000 Series, which applied the same managementsystem as the 9000 Series to companies environmental issues (The LexingtonGroup, 2005: 5). The principles behind the ISO 14000 Series apply to any organization, public or private, whose activities, products or services interact directly or indirectly with the environment (The Lexington Group, 2005). The ISO 14000 Series quickly became the environmental policy standard for companies to follow, and since its establishment in 1996 thousands of organizations have adopted the Environmental Management Systems (EMSs). EMSs are used in the public and private arenas, at all scales, from national to local government, and from large multi-national corporations to small privately owned businesses. This essay will discuss if, and towhat extent, EMSs (and specifically the Environmental Reporting subsidiary)will aid the concept of sustainable development in application. This essay isstructured as follows: first, it discusses the most important of the ISO 14000standards, the EMS; second, it considers another ISO 14000 component,Environmental Reporting; third, it analyses and considers the variables andapplication of sustainable development; fourth, it turns to a few case studiesto illustrate how EMSs work in practice; and finally, it draws some conclusionsabout how effective these standards are in aiding the concept of sustainabledevelopment. Environmental Management Systems As discussed in the Introduction,the ISO 14000 Series was developed to apply the ISOs widely recognizedmanagement systems to a companys environmental issues (The Lexington Group,2005). The EMS, or ISO standard 14001, quickly became the internationallyrecognized framework for environmental management, measurement, evaluation andauditing (GreenBiz, 2005: 1). To list a few examples, the responsibilities ofthe EMS include: creating a detailed environmental policy for an organization,examining the environmental impact of its products, activities and services,establishing environmental objectives, assisting the organization in meetingits legal and regulatory requirements, providing training to employees, andoverseeing the companys auditing procedure. The EMS meets international standards, but is tailored to specific operations, allowing companies to control the environmental impact of their activities, products, and services (GreenBiz, 2005: 1). Though an organization could, ofcourse, establish these very guidelines and parameters themselves, companiesoften find that ISO 14001 adherencehelps to meet the ever-increasingenvironmental standards and concerns of the global marketplace (GreenBiz,2005:1). Other likely benefits for a company effectively implementing an EMSare numerous and include, among others: .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  a more effective and systematic approach to managing itsinteractions with the environment (The Lexington Group, 2005); .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  improving cost-effectiveness (by saving the money and staff timenecessary to manage environmental affairs independently The Lexington Group,2005, as well as by improving efficiency and in turn reducing the costs ofenergy, materials, fine and penalties Morrow and Rondinelli, 2002:162); .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  allowing companies to convey their environmental policies moreeffectively to neighbouring communities and other stakeholders (The LexingtonGroup, 2005); .  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  and improving their image and attracting customers through theestablishment of a strong image of corporate responsibility (Morrow andRondinelli, 2002: 163). All of these benefits, of course,increase the likelihood that companies will help contribute to sustainabledevelopment. However, the cost and benefits of an EMS (and in turn, theprobability that the EMS will play a role in sustainable development) fluctuateconsiderably depending on a range of criteria. These might include: the type oforganization, its existing eco-efficiency,the organizations potential environmental impacts or risks, the extent towhich a company previously implemented aspects of environmental sustainability,and the premium placed on sustainability by the organizations stakeholders andcustomers (The Lexington Group, 2005). Whilst this section has outlined EMSs and their potential beneifts, the following section will discuss Environmental Reporting, its association and influence on EMS, and its contribution to the sustainable development of organizations. Environmental Reporting Corporate reporting is an essentialcomponent of business management. It is defined as the voluntary publicpresentation of information about an organizations non-financial performance -environmental, social and economic over a specified period, usually afinancial year (Department of Environment and Heritage, 2005: 1). These can bemade public in a variety of ways, including as a stand-alone document, on a companywebsite, or as a component of an Annual Report (Department of Environment andHeritage, 2005). An Environmental Report is a key component of the ISO 14000 Series, and an essential step to increasing transparency and, as a result, accountability in a companys environmental practices (Department of Environment and Heritage, 2005). The practice of Environmental Reporting is becoming more common because of pressure from stakeholders, as well as a general public demand for increased openness on environmental issues (Kolk, 1999). Further, some countries have now begun to impose legal obligations on firms to produce Environmental Reports (Kolk, 1999). A Corporate Environmental Report(CER) is, in essence, a means to imparting a companys environmental performance.Arguably, the most important function of the CER is to allow the organizationto evaluate its observance of the environmental policies, goals and objectivesset out in its EMS (United Nations Environment Programme, 2005). It is alsoused to: exhibit a companys EMS and corporate responsibility; demonstrate tokey stakeholders, as well as to customers, that it is complying with theirdemands; help a company track its own progress and identify internal strengthand weaknesses (United Nations Environment Programme, 2005); and evaluate itscurrent performance and set further future goals. The general societal demand for increased transparency on environmental issues, and in turn environmental reporting, is exemplified by the fact that the most complete reports are published by industries with poor or controversial public images, i.e., the chemical or timber industries (Davis-Walling and Batterman, 1997). In so long as there is objectivityand honesty, environmental reporting can be conducted either internally orexternally (Rice, 2005). Undeniably, for environmental reporting to beworthwhile, it must be credible, and there is increasing pressure from twospecific directions to verify environmental reports: first, there is asignificant move from environmental statements and intentions to quantified,comparable, verifiable, and even verified information (Kolk, 1999: 225); andsecond, the requirement of independent, third-party verification andcertification as an almost expected element of every worthwhile effort(Rice, 2005: 1). Though Environmental Reporting hasa big role to play in aiding the long-term sustainability of an organization,it is nonetheless a process plagued with problems. Research seems to indicatethat environmental reporting is typically deficient and not of a standard tosatisfy the information needs of various classes of report readers (Deegan andRankin, 1999). An independent study of the environmental reports of the Fortune50 firms found that none provided information that was sufficient forcomprehensive or comparative analyses of environmental performance(Davis-Walling and Batterman, 1997: 1432). Research suggests that one of thebiggest problems is that a company can begin its environmental reportingwhenever it wants, and that this often leads to disappointing results. Environmental Reporting, then,typically comes before the EMS, and could therefore only act as a statement ofobjectives, and not the researched and analysed report on the achievement ofenvironmental objectives under an EMS that its meant to be. To be practicaland effectual (and not simply a statement of environmental policies)environmental reporting should really be developed further along theimplementation of the ISO 14000 Series. Additionally, it should be a continuousprocess, and referred back to again and again in an attempt to consolidate theEMS and effectively analyse the companies progress. This chronology supports the ISOspecification that organizations seek continuous improvement: bycontinually reporting, as opposed to providing a one-off initial report,organizations can repeatedly evaluate and adapt their EMS. In essence, it isimportant to underline that the CER is a means to environmental improvement andgreater accountability, not an end in itself (United Nations EnvironmentProgramme, 2005: 1). Consideration of the variables and application of Sustainable Development The term Sustainable Developmentwas first used in 1987 in Our Common Future, also known as theBrundtland Report of the United Nations Commission on Environment andDevelopment (WCED). The definition offered by the Brundtland Report is stillthe most commonly used today, and describes Sustainable Development simply, andarguably vaguely, as development that meets the needs of the present withoutcompromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (WCED, 1987:43). Sustainability is often regarded as the buzz-word of development policy in the 21st Century. Indeed, as The Economist aptly stated: No one in their right mind is against sustainable development. Everyone thinks it would be terrific if there were less poverty, less pollution, less disease, less war, less corruption (2002). As an umbrella-term, its WCED definition has been instrumental in creating a consensus, but less helpful in creating and outlining a framework for its achievement. Currently, there are in the region of 70 different definitions for Sustainable Development, and each allows organizations to interpret the term in whatever way they see fit. For that reason, EMS and Environmental Reporting are especially important for giving public and private organisations alike, from a national to a local level, the standardised framework necessary not just for demonstrating their commitment to the practice of sustainability, but for making progress towards its actual achievement. As mentioned in the Introduction,economic growth and the environment are often regarded as being at odds, andthe ISO 14000 Standards are particularly important for helping organizationsand industry to reach their desired level of sustainability, and to incorporatethe environment into their general framework. Determining an EMS is anorganizations first, and most vital step in establishing what itsenvironmental aspects are, and how it is going to deal with them. That said,any organization can develop an EMS, and though it is an important startingpoint, it proves little about an organizations sustainability in and ofitself. Environmental Reporting is therefore essential not just to act as the companys own environmental audit, but to demonstrate to stakeholders and society that they are indeed conducting themselves in a sustainable manner. Moreover, achieving sustainability is a complicated and long-term (if not permanent) process; Environmental Reporting allows a company not only to evaluate its accomplishments, but also the opportunity to re-evaluate its target. The following section outlines some case studies of how organizations have used EMS and Environmental Reporting to minimize their environmental impact. Case Studies This section will present a fewcase studies to illustrate the value of EMSs and Environmental Reporting. Eachcase study has been selected to show range in the applicability of thestandards as well as to demonstrate their use in both the public and privatesectors. Solid Waste Management Division, Department of Public Works. Berkeley,California, USA. Description The Solid Waste Management Divisionis Berkeleys municipal waste collection and disposal facility. It collectsplant debris, refuse and recycling from approximately 40,000 residential andcommercial properties, as well as operating a transfer station, anoil-recycling depot, and a drop-off and buy-back recycling centre. The SolidWaste Management System decided to implement an EMS (involving about 25 percent of their 102 employees) for a variety of reasons, including: improving thefacilitys environmental performance, as well as employees participation inthis improvement; making the particular division consistent with the Citysoverall environmental principles; the EMS value as a marketing/publicrelations tool; the reduction of costs; and finally, an increased competitiveadvantage. Conclusions Through implementing an EMS, theSolid Waste Management Division was able to jointly determine whatenvironmental impacts the facility had, or might have in the future. These werethen ranked and goals set to lessen the environmental impact of the facility.These included: eliminating 98 per cent of dust particles, reducing theelectricity used by 250Kwh annually, improving the control of hazardousmaterials brought into the site by 75 per cent, adding three mailings per yearto enhance consumer participation in recycling collection, reducing waterconsumption by 25 per cent, and reducing number of pickups scheduled to reducefuel consumption and emissions. Some of the direct benefits andcontributions to Sustainable Development have been: a reduction in airpollution for the entire City of Berkeley; gaining respect and bettercooperation from the Department of Public Works, including budget changes; andconsultation by other City of Berkeley Departments and other Solid Wastepractices all over the United States. Additionally, conducting an EnvironmentalReport to determine the effects of the EMS allowed the facility not only to seethe improvements that it had already made, but to analyse them and set newtargets such as: revising the job descriptions, rerouting to reduce the numberof miles covered each day, and implementing a new dust suppression system. Beacon Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, United Kingdom. Description One aspect of the Beacon CouncilsEnvironmental Reporting System is a fully computerised monitoring andtargeting (MT) system for evaluating performance at all 600 of theirbuildings. Data from all utility providers (including electricity, gas, coal,oil, biomass, and water) are recorded in the specialist system. These are thenmonitored and benchmarked against national performance, and create the abilityto instigate corrective action to improve performance. Conclusions As reported by the Beacon Council,the MT system carries out the following functions: sets energy targets andmonitors performance; sets energy budgets and controls expenditure; validatesand verifies bills and recovers overcharges; and monitors and reduces CO2emissions. The continual reporting of the MT system has been vital in itsconstant monitoring and improving of the Beacon Councils environmentalsustainability. Gillepsie Decals, Inc. Wilsonville, Oregon, USA. Description Gillepsie Decals, Inc. is a40-employee screen-printing company in Oregon. To develop an EMS, the companytook the following steps: first, it developed its environmental policy; second,it identified the companys environmental aspects and then ranked them in orderof importance; and third, it set out environmental goals and developed programsto achieve them. Conclusions The company made a number ofimprovements and took significant steps towards achieving environmentalsustainability. Two noteworthy examples are: one, they reduced the amount ofwaste ink by developing standards for ink mixing, and a computer record ofcolours and mixes for repeat jobs; and two, they reduced their water usage by requestinginformation from other companies on their water recycling systems, bypurchasing bottled drinking water for employees (and thereby improving employeespirits); and by installing low-flush toilet models. Gillespies have stated their commitment to continuous environmental improvement, and have decided to develop other environmental aspects in the future. It is unclear whether Gillespies carried out Environmental Reporting, but it is apparent that this process would be useful for both confirming the environmental improvements already made, and determining what remains to be done to achieve the desired level of sustainability. Conclusion EMS and Environmental Reportingwill indeed aid in the concept of Sustainable Development in application. TheCase Studies in the previous section demonstrated some of the positive resultsof an organizations implementation of an EMS. All three examples illustratedhow an EMS, and Environmental Reporting, contribute to the improvedenvironmental performance of the institutions in question. The Gillespie CaseStudy was a very small-scale example of EMS that demonstrated how the systemcould work even for a small company. Furthermore, the first two case studies certainly are a demonstration of how the EMS and Environmental Reporting can contribute to more than just their institutions environmental performance. In the Berkeley example, it showed not just how an EMS can contribute to Sustainable Development for the single institution, but also how this affects the city as a whole, and can influence similar institutions nation- (or even world-) wide. The Beacon Council Case Study is a useful example of how EMS can make not just environmental sense, but financial sense as well. The first two examples also servedto illustrate what a vital component Environmental Reporting really is. Theyvalidated Rices line of reasoning that for an EMS to be effective, theEnvironmental Reporting not only has to occur, but occur continuously.Environmental Reporting needs to be pushed further down the time-line of theISO 14000 Series, and be something that occurs after the EMS has beenimplemented (so it acts not just as a statement of objectives but as an actualreport), and on a continual basis because sustainability it not a one-off andsimple achievement. The Gillespie example is therefore a useful illustration of how EMS can be effective, but without consistent re-evaluation and continuous reporting, the first set of changes are unlikely to be followed by another set. If this is the case, an organizations environmental performance will at best remain stagnant, but more likely decline, instead of continuously improving. This will certainly not aid the concept of Sustainable Development in application. EMS and Environmental Reporting arenot, however, the panacea for Sustainable Development. Critiques of thestandards that are proffered simply because they do not guarantee SustainableDevelopment are contrary, and risk throwing out the baby with the bathwater,or rejecting the essential with the inessential. EMS and EnvironmentalReporting are rather two single parts of a possible solution with an infinitenumber of components. They should be seen, and valued, as such. Works Cited Berkeley,City of (2005) Solid Waste Management Division, Department of Public WorksCase Study, available from Eco-efficiency is the primary way in which businesses can contribute to theconcept of sustainable developmentThe vision of eco-efficiency is simply toproduce more from less. Reducing waste and pollution, and using fewer energyand raw materials is obviously good for the environment. It is alsoself-evidently good for business because it cuts companies costs, excerptsfrom the Bulleting of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development(The Lexington Group, 2005: 6).

Among Society’s Youth Essay

Substance Abuse is all around us in today’s society. 60% of all illicit drug users are between the ages fifteen and twenty-four (Stats Canada). This means teens have the highest risk to fall into a path of drug use. Three common factors can cause drug abuse among teens; Social Factors, ‘the high mentality’, and the availability of a drug to teens. These factors can not only cause a high rate of substance abuse among teens, it can also increase the dependency for the drug user to continue to use for many years to come. Substance Abuse is on the rise world-wide, and Canada is not immune. Teens across Canada are faced with many social factors that provoke them to experiment with drugs. Some do drugs because they want to rebel against authority, others do it because they’re trying to fit in- but the one thing most youth use drugs for is to provide relief from unpleasant emotions and make them feel better. Sometimes being provoked by social factors, like friends, it is hard to say no to drugs; when a teen says yes, they could be contributing to the 47 000 annual deaths due to drug overdose (Health Officer’s Council of British Columbia). Another social factor is family. Some youth may come from a family that has a past with drug abuse. Children of addicts are up to nine times more likely to develop an addiction of their  own (Web4Health).Sometimes parents don’t always set the best example, and as many would have said in the 1920’s; Monkey see, Monkey do. Secondly, the Drug (High) Mentality that many users are sucked into through use of substances. I’m talking about that feeling when drugs are the main part of your life, when you feel like you’re the prisoner behind bars in your own mind, most of what you do centers around getting money to get high, getting high, thinking about getting high, talking about getting high, and everything else in your life falls by the wayside. This mentality fills the head of users and blinds them; from the negative consequences of drugs. The consequences can occur in social factors, like reduced interest in activities, being arrested, also frequent mood-swings and drug with drawl- the worst part about a drug use. Youth are easily filled with this idea they can stop whenever, that drugs are no big deal- but these drugs, whether prescription drugs, or illicit drugs, can kill you. The Drug Mentality is the dependence of the drug- the need to use, or the ‘power’ of curiosity and en lightenment that grasps many youth. Lastly, there is a high availability of illicit substances, like cocaine, marijuana, or ecstasy, as well as the prescription drugs on the market world-wide. These drugs are made available through dealers, streets, and even the doctor’s office. In a UN report on the growing growth of drug abuse, it stated, ‘Illegal drugs count for at least $400 billion of World Trade Marketing’ (James 1999). If %60 of all illicit drug users’ are between ages fifteen to twenty-four, how much money is the youth contributing to the ever growing amount of $400 billion spent on illegal substances? Although the price of abused substances can be high, there is a demand- and where there’s a demand, there is always someone willing to pay the price. Teens are faced with the availability of drugs everywhere. When a teen goes to a party, there will be drugs-maybe even suppliers, and even inside our own school, Ross Sheppard High School, drugs are carried in, used, or sold. There are numerous dealers, which provide drugs to those who use. Drug dealers may take advantage of a young user, because their brains are still pre-mature- so the decisions youth make aren’t always thought out. Klein 2In the end, the ever-growing concern for youth to involve themselves in drugs is negatively effecting the youth of society today. The Drug mentality – that drugs are cool, providing substances at a relatively affordable price, and the social factors that drive the youth of today to substances like marijuana, cocaine, or ecstasy, are all factors that contribute to drug abuse among society’s youth. Teens need to be stopped- or one user may lead to another sobers down fall.

The French Constitution

France is a republic; the institutions of governance of France are defined by theconstitution, more specifically by the current constitution, being that of the Fifth Republic. The Constitution has been modified several times since the start of the Fifth Republic, most recently in July 2008, when the French â€Å"Congress† (A Joint convention of the two chambers of Parliament) approved – by 1 vote over the 60% majority required – constitutional changes proposed by President Sarkozy.The Fifth Republic: The fifth republic was established In 1958, and was largely the ork of General de Gaulle – Its first president, and Michel Debr © his prime minister. It has been amended 1 7 times. Though the French constitution Is parliamentary, It gave relatively extensive powers to the executive (President and Ministers) compared to other western democracies. The executive branch: The head of state and head of the executive is the President, elected by universal suffrage. Since May 201 2, France's president is Franqois Hollande.Originally, a president of the Fifth Republic was elected for a 7-year term (le septennat), renewable any number of times. Since 2002 the President has been elected for a 5- year term (le quinquennat). Since the passing of the 2008 Constitutional reform, the maximum number of terms a president can serve has been limited to two. The President, who is also supreme commander of the military, determines policy with the aid of his Council of Ministers (Conseil des ministres). The residence of the President of the French Republic is the Elys ©e Palace (le palais de l'Elys ©e) in Paris.The President appoints a prime minister (currently – 2012 – Jean-Marc Ayrault) , who forms a government. The residence of the French Prime Minister is at Matignon House (l'H ¶tel Matignon) in Paris. In theory ministers are chosen by the PM; in practice unless the President and the PM are from dfferent sides of the political spectru m (a system known as la cohabitation), PM and president work together to form a government. The President must approve the appointment of government ministers.The cabinet, le Consen des ministres, meets on a weekly basis, and Is presided over by the president. Ministers determine policy and put new legislation before Parliament In the form of bills (projets de 101); wlthln the framework of existing law, hey apply policy through decrees (d ©crets). The legislative branch: The French parliament Is made up of two houses or chambers. The lower and principal house of parliament is the Assembl ©e nationale, or national assembly: the elected by universal suffrage, in general elections ( ©lections l ©gislatives) that take place every five years.Senators are elected by â€Å"grand electors†, who are mostly other local elected representatives. The electoral system for parliamentary elections involves two rounds; a candidate can be elected on the first round by obtaining an abso lute majority of votes cast. The second round is a runoff between two or more candidates, usually two.. The Judicial branch: While the Minister of Justice, le Garde des Sceaux, has powers over the running of the Justice system and public prosecutors, the Judiciary is strongly independent of the executive and legislative branches.The official handbook of French civil law is theCode Civil. Promulgation of laws: New bills (projets de lot), proposed by government, and new pivate members bills (propositions de lot) must be approved by both chambers, before becoming law. However, by virtue of Article 49. of the French constitution, a government can override parliamentary opposition and pass a law without a parilimentary vote. This does not happen frequently, and in the framework of constitutional amendments, president Sarkozy curtailed the possibility of using 49. . Laws and decrees are promulgated when the official text is published in the Official Journal of the French Republic, le Jour nal Officiel. The Constitutional Council The Constitutional Council , le Conseil constitutionnel, exists to determine the constitutionality of new legislation or decrees. It has powers to strike down a bill efore it passes into law, if it is deemed unconstitutional, or to demand the withdrawal of decrees even after promulgation.The Council is made up of nine members, appointed (three each) by the President of the Republic, the leader of the National Assembly, and the leader of the Senate, plus all surviving former heads of state. Political parties; In 2012, France is governed by the Socialist Party and allies..

20 Tips for Success in School

20 Tips for Success in School Your high school years should be filled with great experiences. Increasingly, students are finding that high school is also a time of stress and anxiety. It seems that students are feeling more pressure than ever before when it comes to performing well. There are some things you can do to make sure the high school experience is enjoyable and successful. Embrace a Healthy Life Balance Dont stress about your grades so much that you forget to have fun. This is supposed to be an exciting time in your life. On the other hand, dont let too much fun get in the way of your study time. Establish a healthy balance and dont let yourself go overboard either way. Understand What Time Management Really Means Sometimes, students assume theres some magical trick or shortcut to time management. Time management means being aware and taking action. Be aware of the things that waste time and reduce them. You dont have to stop them, just reduce them. Take action to replace time wasters with active and responsible study habits. Eliminate Those Time Wasters Find Tools that Work for You There are many time management tools and tactics, but youll find that you are more likely to stick with a few. Different people find different methods that work for them. Use a big wall calendar, use color-coded supplies, use a planner, or find your own methods of managing your time. Choose Extracurricular Activities Wisely You may feel pressured to select several extracurricular activities that might look good on a college application. This can cause you to overextend yourself and get swamped in commitments that you dont enjoy. Instead, select clubs and activities that match your passions and your personality. Appreciate the Importance of Sleep We all joke around a lot about the poor sleep habits of teens. But the reality is that you have to find a way to get enough sleep. Lack of sleep leads to poor concentration, and poor concentration leads to bad grades. Youre the one who pays the price if you dont sleep enough. Force yourself to turn off the gadgets and go to bed early enough to get a good nights sleep. Do Things for Yourself Are you the child of a helicopter parent? If so, your parent is not doing you any favors by saving you from failures. Parents who monitor every bit of a childs life, from waking them in the morning, to monitoring homework and test days, to hiring professionals to help with college preparations; those parents are setting students up for failure in college. Learn to do things for yourself and ask your parents to give you space to succeed or fail on your own. Communicate with Your Teachers You dont have to be best friends with your teacher, but you should ask questions, accept feedback, and give feedback when your teacher asks for it. Teachers appreciate it when they see that students try. Practice Active Study Methods Studies show that you learn more when you study the same material two or three ways with a time delay between study methods. Rewrite your notes, test yourself and your friends, write practice essay answers: be creative and be active when you study! Give Yourself Plenty of Time to Do Assignments There are so many reasons you should get an early start on assignments. Too many things can go wrong if you procrastinate. You could come down with a bad cold on the night before your due date, you can find that youre missing some needed research or suppliesthere are dozens of possibilities. Use Smart Test Prep Studies show that the best way to prepare for a test is to create and use practice tests. For best results, use a study group to create test questions and practice quizzing each other. Eat Well to Feel Better Nutrition makes a world of difference when it comes to brain function. If you feel groggy, tired, or sleepy because of they way you eat, your ability to retain and recall information will be impaired. Improve Reading Habits In order to remember what you read, you will need to practice active reading techniques. Stop every few pages to attempt to summarize what youve read. Mark and research any words that you cant define. Read all critical texts at least twice. Reward Yourself Be sure to find ways to reward yourself for every good result. Make time to watch a marathon of your favorite shows on the weekends, or take time to have fun with friends and let off a little steam. Make Smart College Planning Choices The goal of most high school students is to gain acceptance into a college of choice. One common mistake is to follow the pack and select colleges for the wrong reasons. Big football colleges and Ivy League schools might be great choices for you, but then again, you might be better off at a small private college or a middle-sized state college. Think about how the college you pursue really matches your personality and your goals. Write Down Your Goals Theres no magical power to writing down your goals, except that it helps you identify and prioritize the things you want to accomplish. Turn your ambitions from vague thoughts to specific goals by making a list. Dont Let Friends Bring You Down Are your friends seeking the same goals as you? Are you picking up any bad habits from your friends? You dont have to change your friends because of your ambitions, but you should be aware of the influences that might affect you. Be sure to make choices based on your own ambitions and goals. Dont make choices just to make your friends happy. Choose Your Challenges Wisely You may be tempted to take honors classes or AP courses because theyll make you look good. Be aware that taking too many challenging courses can backfire. Determine your strengths and be selective about them. Excelling in a few challenging courses is much better than performing poorly in several. Take Advantage of Tutoring If you have the opportunity to receive free help, be sure to take advantage. The extra time you take to review lessons, solve problems, and talk over the information from class lectures, will pay off in your report cards. Learn to Accept Criticism It can be disheartening to find lots of red teachers marks and comments on a paper you spent hours crafting. Take the time to read the comments carefully and consider what the teacher has to say. Its sometimes painful to read about your weaknesses and mistakes, but this is the only way to really avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over. Also notice any patterns when it comes to grammar mistakes or wrong word choices.

Service Delivery Essay Example

Service Delivery Essay Example Service Delivery Essay Service Delivery Essay Delivering service to the clients of major business entities in the society is the present trend within the business field. It could not be denied that the impact that servicing activities place on the progress of different business organizations is indeed massive. This is primarily the reason why servicing companies are widely spreading all over the world, employing a larger number of people and serving a larger scope of market. Servicing industries could be considered to be one of the most sought after industries in the society today. From communications towards the food industries, from the office service centers to legal assistance services, the business industries today are providing more and more options for the society to choose from as to what kind of service well fits their needs. This is the particular reason why business organizations today are putting a certain focus on the process by which they are able to manage their people in assisting them in giving their valuable clients the kind of rightful service that they particularly deserve. Service Delivery Systems As mentioned earlier, there are numerous industries that involve servicing practices from the major business organizations existing within the human society. However, they are only giving two particular types of services to the clients that they opt to attend to. The said types are direct service and indirect service. Direct services usually involve personal contact with the clients, which primarily involve the food servicing industries, the sales industries and office-associated servicing industries. On the other hand, indirect servicing procedure involves the client and the employee relations that are connected through certain processes or gadgets that may be involved within the process of transaction. This then includes the communication systems whereas the employees through phone calls [most likely involving call center industries] assist the clients through the connection that they gain from technological communication. This could also include manufacturing industries that are a ble to serve the community or the market through the delivery of their end products with the help of the sales industries. They are then indirectly connected with the clients that they are servicing to. Obtaining Services Clients usually receive the services that they intend to enjoy through the chain connection that the different industries have on each other. As noted earlier, manufacturing industries are able to complete their aims of servicing to the market through the help of the sales industries. Without the existence of the sales business entities, it would be less likely that the manufacturing industries are to make profit as high as they are making right now. It is consistent then that the personnel involved in the servicing industries are aware of their duties in giving the best possible performance that they could give for the sake of their clients’ overall satisfaction making it easier for them to gain the interest and trust of their clients that they would like to render service to. Effects of Policies Procedures in Service Delivery End Servicing industries follow a certain set of rules for them to standardize the quality of service that they are giving their clients. This includes their responsibility of recognizing the rights of their clients as individuals and as major assets of the organization; it also adds the integrity that they are trying to imply on their organization as they continue servicing to their clients. These responsibilities are the foundations of the standards that employees are holding onto for them to be directly effective in the performance that they are posting for their clients’ satisfaction as well as their own organization’s reputation within the market. The Clients and their Rights from the Services that They Receive Every client has the right to receive the rightful service that they particularly paid for. It is then very important for the employees to create possible ways in which they are able to prioritize the values of their clients. Keeping in mind that they are expected to put their best foot forward in assisting their clients with what they need certainly outlines the importance that the employees should put on the recognition that they are giving towards the rights that their clients have as they demand for the quality service that they certainly paid for. Through the ability of the employees to adhere to the standardized performance that has been implied on them for application in servicing to their clients, employees are expected to provide the customers with the best service that they deserve and expect from the companies that they particularly ask assistance from. nbsp; References: HM Treasury. (2007). A Guide to the Service Delivery Agreements. hm-treasury.gov.uk/Spending_Review/Spending_Review_2000/Service_Delivery_Agreements/spend_sr00_sda_whiteguide.cfm. (July 24, 2007). A learning Journal for Public Service Managers. (2007). The road to Service Delivery. Service Delivery Review, Vol 5 No 1. A learning Journal for Public Service Managers. (2007). LADUUUUMA! Service Delivery Review, Vol 5 No 1. A learning Journal for Public Service Managers. (2007). APRM, a roadmap for Africas renewal. Service Delivery Review, Vol 4 No 3. A learning Journal for Public Service Managers. (2007). Building for the future. Service Delivery Review, Vol 2 No 3.

Financial Management essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial Management - Essay Example Through the recent observations made by the organization it had been observed that Tulip Refractory is making a continuous loss for a span of consecutive five years but while the sister concern of the organization working with Cafe 88 is earning a year on year profit on a similar basis, i.e. no commercial price is to be charged from the office staff. From this study we have to analyze the reason for the loss of Tulip Refractory under the mentioned organization and how the sister concern of the main organization is earning profits working with Cafe 88(Analysis of Financial statement, n.d., and pp.1-10). Main activities of the Organization The main activities of Tulip Refractory are to provide meals, snacks and refreshment on working days to various staff of the organization. During the weekends the staffs of the Tulip Refractory are allowed to do some catering in private functions and ceremonies. Similar is the function of the Cafe 88 but we can observe a remarkable difference in the operation of both the catering services. This has put the main organization to take adequate steps based on the financial analysis thus conducted as follows. ... The main function of making an effective financial analysis of the company is to draw conclusion to arrive at a decision which will be in the best interest of the company. For achieving this purpose we employ the tool of ratio analysis under which three main aspects of a company are analyzed on the basis of its profitability, liquidity and efficiency/solvency. Liquidity Analysis The liquidity of the company means the repayable factor of a firm generally in cash form. The company which has assets which can be easily turned into cash for the purpose of meeting with the obligations of a company is called the liquidity analysis of the company. The liquidity of the firm has thus been found with the help of current ratio, quick ratio and cash ratio (Brigham, et. al., 2010, pp.93-110). Particulars (All values in pound) Tulip Refractory Cafe 88 Year 2011 2011 Current Assets 9000 16000 Current Liabilities 6000 4000 Current Ratio 1.50 4.00 Current Ratio mainly gives us an idea regarding the sh ot-term liability capacity of a firm. Higher the current ration more is its ability to repay its obligations. From the recent findings we can analyze that the repayment capacity of Tulip Refractory is much less in comparison to Cafe 88. This is because the liability of Cafe 88 is less with respect to the assets acquired by the catering firm. Particulars (All values in pound) Tulip Refractory Cafe 88 Year 2011 2011 Bank and cash 1000 14000 Debtors 5000 0 Total quick Assets 6000 14000 Current Liabilities 6000 4000 Quick Ratio 1.00 3.50 Quick ratio is known to be a much more conventional with respect to the current ratio; thus considered a better liquidity measure. Inventory in most of the companies is considered to be the most illiquid form of asset hence it

Hybrid cars effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hybrid cars effect - Essay Example Due to this consistent use of the fuel not only in cars but in factories and other production processes, the overall damaging effect of fuel was gradually increasing. (Calef and Goble) The invention of hybrid cars- cars which can run on two different sources of energy- provided one of the valid alternatives to overcome the issue of environmental damage and thus allow the society to move in a cleaner and healthier environment. The effect of hybrid cars therefore can be enormous on the environment as well as on the fuel efficiency of the cars. This will therefore invariably also allow developing sustainable businesses. It is also important to note that the hybrid cars are based on the complex technology and the overall energy resources required to manufacture such cars are relatively higher as compared to the manufacturing of traditional cars. This causal analysis paper will attempt to discuss the hybrid cars effect and how it may positively or negatively contribute towards the environ ment. Hybrid cars effect Fossil fuel includes the energy sources such as oil, coal as well as natural gas and much of dependence of America is on these traditional sources of fuel. The obvious costs of using this fuel in cars and other uses include the costs such as labor and extraction and other related costs which can be quantified. However, few of the costs are not really quantified and neither is paid by the firms or the consumers. Much of the costs are related with the environmental damage and its resulting impacts on the eco-system of the world, health of the individuals as well as the local environment which can be seriously damaged with the increasing use of the fossil fuel in different technologies such as cars.1 The use of traditional fuel by the regular cars is considered as damaging to the environment and therefore its consistent use can actually create significant costs for the society to clean the environment. (Carlsson and Johansson-Stenman). It has been suggested tha t world can save billions of dollars if it can help reduce the deaths caused due to the pollution. It has been estimated that the air pollution can shorten the life of an individual by approximately 9 months. 2This result therefore suggests that the use of traditional cars can create significant air pollution and resultantly contribute towards the health related problems. Hybrid cars can have relatively different effect on the environment and can actually reduce the damaging impact of the fuel on environment. The use of hybrid cars can also result into better fuel mileage as well as the better utilization of the alternative sources of energy which can be more efficient and effectives. Besides, hybrid cars can also affect the way cars are run because of the better environmental impact of their use. The use of hybrid cars can also result into the reduction in the use of gas during the drive especially for slow drivers. Since hybrid cars use an electric motor to support the traditional fuel supply as an alternative source of energy therefore slow drivers can actually shift to the use of electric motor during the drive and can therefore save significantly in terms of fuel and gasoline. (Demirdoven and Deutch). It is also important to understand the use of hybrid cars also provide an alternative for those consumers who are relatively more concerned about the environment. Increasingly, customers are becoming more and more concerned ab