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.