Christmas past Essay

Ebenezer Scrooge is a tightfisted miser who has only one purpose in life, to extort as much money and profit he can from anything and everything. As with all things, too much of one thing is bad for you; Scrooge’s miserly ways are catching up with him. His cheap ways have not brought him any friends, quite the contrary; they have brought him derision and scorn. He was thought of as â€Å"a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone! † A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, selfish, covetous old sinner! As we can see, he wasn’t a very pleasant person, but that is to be expected of people who work around money all their lives. Money became more than a possession to Scrooge, all his coins were his little children. He kept them safe in their strongboxes. To give away but one petty coin, would have been asking Scrooge to give away part of his soul. He was greedy and crooked to the bone. He was a cold heartless man â€Å"No warmth could warm†¦ No wind that blew was bitter than he. † Scrooge hated the idea that on Christmas day his workers were allowed the day off and Scrooge still had to pay their wages. â€Å"A poor excuse for picking a mans pocket every twenty-fifth of December. † Scrooge dislikes people who try and raise money to help the poor, when the charity workers tell Scrooge some poor people would rather die than work in a workhouse Scrooge replies. â€Å"If they would rather die†¦ They had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. † This quote shows that Scrooge doesn’t care about other people apart from himself. He doesn’t care that other people are worse off than he is and he doesn’t care if they die. â€Å"If I could work my will†¦ Every idiot who goes about with merry Christmas should be boiled with his own pudding. † This is a quote from Scrooge before the ghosts visit him. It shows that Scrooge doesn’t like Christmas and doesn’t like other people enjoying themselves at Christmas. Scrooge wasn’t just miserable and bad tempered at Christmas; he was like that all year round. These famous lines were uttered by Scrooge on Christmas Eve, 7 years to the day, of his old partner, Jacob Marley’s death. Then as Scrooge was about to enter his marvelously slum-like mansion, he looked at his doorknocker, and nearly fainted dead away with fright. â€Å"Scrooge†¦ saw in the knocker†¦ not a knocker, but Marley’s face. † Bad omens breed ill times to come, and this was most definitely a bad omen. â€Å"As Scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again. † Scrooge just thought it was the dark playing with his mind. â€Å"Darkness was cheap and Scrooge liked it. † When Scrooge sat down by the small fire the cellar floor blew open with a booming sound, still Scrooge wouldn’t believe anything strange was happening. â€Å"Its still humbug†¦ I wont believe it. † When the ghost of Marley appears before Scrooge he still doesn’t accept what he’s seeing. The ghost asks Scrooge â€Å"Why do you doubt your senses? † Scrooge replies, â€Å"Because a little thing effects them†¦ there’s more of gravy than of grave about you. † Marleys ghost explains to Scrooge that he is forced to travel around the world; he sees people suffering and cant do anything to help them. Marley’s ghost explains to Scrooge that he is forced to do this in death because of the way he was in life. Marley tells Scrooge that his punishment after life will be even greater because Scrooge was just as bad as Marley and has had an extra seven years of life to do bad things. Marley told Scrooge that unless he changes his ways he will be punished. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him. â€Å"Expect the first tomorrow when the bell tolls one. † The ghost of Christmas past was a strange figure. Its hair hung about its neck and was white as if with age. Its arms were very long and muscular. It had a lustrous belt around its waist and was holding a branch of fresh green holy in its hand. â€Å"You are one of those who’s passion made this cap, and force me through whole trains of years. † The ghost said to Scrooge. Meaning because of people like Scrooge the ghost has to visit them. The ghost of Christmas past took Scrooge to the place where he grew up. They saw travelers; Scrooge knew and named every one of them. â€Å"Why did his cold eye glisten†¦ Why did his heart leap as they went past. † The ghost then took Scrooge to his old school; he was the only child left there. All the other children had gone back home to their families for Christmas. The ghost then took Scrooge to a house were a young Scrooge was reading a book by a weak fire. Some actors visited young Scrooge and performed a play for him. Scrooge remembered how lonely he was and how happy the actors made him feel. â€Å"There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night.

Executive Summary Essay

Posted by Petra at 1:43 PM No comments: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 9. Pricing Price is the amount of money a buyer has to sacrifice in order to get what he/she wants. Pampers’ tends to make their products available to wide range of customers, so their price must also be affordable, reasonable and relatively low. I’ve already mentioned that Pampers’ makes constant improvements of the products, but also ofthe production process with new technology. That makes possible lowering of the price with noback step in the product’s quality. P&G generally uses the strategy of price reductions on recognized brands, cost control throught the organization, and introduction of economy-priced products worldvide. Pampers’ often uses price promotion mix by giving coupons and temporary discounts togenerate higher sales. Price promotion mix is generally used to reinforce the basic price mixwhich includes fixed prices and terms of payment, whereas price promotion mix representsadditional reductions in order to tempt customer to buy. For example, Pampers’ coupons are given in some stores on the register when a customer buyscompetitors’ products†¦ This is a way in encouraging potential customers to join the crew and discouraging them in buying competitors products! Pampers’ also uses non monetary promotions in order to avoid contractions in customers’ qualityperception and to enhance brand loyalty. Pampers’ must be careful with its pricing decisions because the demand for diapers isrelatively elastic nowadays. That means that sudden change of prices can decrease the demand in the extent that higher profits wouldn’t be able of covering that. The biggest cause of this sensitive situation is the presence of competition with similar, slightly differentiated products.

Allocating Scarce Resources and Alternative Medicine Essay

1. Sympathy Rule: Impartiality rule: â€Å"health care professionals should usually be impartial in helping patients† (p. 189) But the rules used must be appropriate for people with ordinary human sympathies and feelings, example, biases toward friends or relatives. So the rules should allow for some bias – It was okay for Alice to send her aunt in first. Argument for the sympathy rule * The sympathy rule would not permit HC providers to help their relatives/friends in any way they like. It would permit them to give priority to their relatives only in very extreme, life and death situations. * From society’s point of view this rule is okay b/c society values both impartiality and close ties between relatives and friends. The sympathy rule is a kind of compromise between the two. Objection to the sympathy rule * We know from experience that people will already be biased toward their relatives and friends, and will have a tendency to give them priority where possible. * So, to counteract this innate bias, there must be a very strict rule against nepotism. However difficult it may be to be completely impartial as between your mother and a perfect stranger, this is what morality requires of HC professionals. 2. Innocents First Rule: Was Alice justified in sending her innocent aunt in before Terrance who caused the accident by his negligence? â€Å"Patient A, who is innocent and who cannot wait for care, ought to be given priority over patient B, who is known to be at fault for the injury and who also cannot wait, other things equal.† (p. 206) Third Party Interests 1) Childless person vs. parent of young child (dependents case) 2) Drunk vs. doctor (the public good case) 3) Person with highly infectious disease vs. person without infectious disease (the innocent threat case) 3. Public Interest Rule â€Å"Where the public interest is great enough, a patient may be given priority over those who came earlier.† (p. 208) Example, treat the Pope or the Prime Minister before the ordinary person. Discussions: 1. My answer to your question is this: No, it is not ethical to use non medical â€Å"social worth† factors to favor one patient over another. The use of such a criteria to choose between candidates for scarce medical resources can be critiqued both from Kantian and Utilitarian perspectives. I believe the most basic and powerful objection to â€Å"social worth† is that such a criteria reduces patients to their potential for maximizing social benefit. Kantian ethics argue that people should never be treated merely as a means to an end. By selecting between patients based solely on their potential contribution to society, they are being reduced to merely a means of achieving the most possible social good. They are not regarded as people with basic intrinsic value that goes beyond their ability to contribute to society. Any patient that does not have the ability to contribute much to society, because they are elderly, mental, or physically handicapped, automatically is unfairly at a disadvantage. On the face of it, Utilitarianism would seem to favor the use of such a criteria. Choosing people to save based on their potential future contribution would seem to produce the most net benefit. However, the physican/patient relationship would suffer greatly if patients felt that their physicians were continually looking past their personal welfare to the potential for social benefit. Distrust and suspicion would result if patients perceive that physicians were making treatment decisions based on their potential social value. Thus, over a longer period of time, the eventual erosion of the physician/patient relationship could result in less net benefit for society, a result not favored by Utilitarianism. Additionally, there are a host of other practical difficulties with appalling a â€Å"social worth† criteria. Use of such a criteria would require some type of ranking of respective social worth. How does a professional athlete rank against a priest, or an insurance salesman, or a physician. How much should patients’ personal life be involved in selection decisions? Given the pluralism of our society, development of such a list is nearly impossible. And even assuming that such a list could be compiled, whose ideas of social value should we use to make the list? Inevitably, personal bias would influence the ranking of â€Å"social worth†. Ultimatley, the use of medical factors, such as need, amount of resources required, and potential for success, should be used for patient selection, not non mendical â€Å"social worth† criteria. 2. As a physician for 30 years, practicing medicine from a perspective of â€Å"hearing the story† of the person, trying to ascertain the depth of their understanding, what motivates them to live, go on, do the unfinished, resolve those difficult relationships, be productive, make a difference, I find that those patients who have had transplants as adults have risen above the flat line of their lives and choose to see life as something to be lived and not something to be chased. â€Å"Social worth† has the unfortunate connotation of value, of something to be contributed, something that inherently gives a sense of future. We the elders decide who and again unfortunately are imperfect yet our decisions are irreversible. Committees are convenient because the decisions take on a vote situation based on the facts of the particular case. Sometimes I think that we do too much cerebrating and not enough feeling and deciding from the heart. The heart knows, where the brain has too much debris and stereotype to render fair decisions in who gets what organ. The system is flawed because we try to make sense out of something that exceeds our understanding and we forget what our hearts are telling us.

John Locke vs. Jean-Jacques Rousseau Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

John Locke vs. Jean-Jacques Rousseau - Essay Example The differences of these two great political thinkers stems on how they assessed the evolution of society. Locke’s perspective begins with man’s natural state of being free but this freedom does not mean imposing itself over another (Chapter V). Eventually, people form society and to best protect them and their property, they have to submit to a government that will enforce a certain standard of behavior that will benefit everybody. For Locke government is good for everybody. Rousseau differed from Locke as he likened the natural state of man to that of a beast and differs only with his perfectibility or capacity to improve himself. Rousseau theory of man’s formation of society is unhealthy because it induces the people to have a new need that will make them compare to others eventually leading to a dominance of certain people over another. To avoid conflict, the prevailing class proposed to have some sort of body politic. Those who are powerless accept this beli eving that this will provide them freedom and safety when in fact will only make inequality more permanent by the establishment of laws. In a way, Rousseau can be said to be a precursor of Karl Marx’s socialist idea of class conflict that is precipitated by inequality in society. Locke on the other hand is the precursor of the modern idea of democracy because his theory of government in his Second Treatise of the Government   that puts forth the sovereignty of the people who chose to establish it to serve them is the same concept that we have now about democracy. His other ideas about government that it derives its sovereignty from the people that government by itself has no sovereignty and the people has the right to abolish it if it no longer serves its purpose and replace it with one that serves its purpose is the same idea that we have about democracy. Just like Rousseau, Locke also anticipated that the acquisition of property will lead into conflict. They only differ i n perspective as Locke thought that the establishment of body politic would best protect them by enforcing laws for certain standard of behavior while Rousseau thought that it will make inequality more permanent. If their treatises will be translated into platform of government, Locke would likely be more appropriate to America’s neo-liberal political orientation that man is basically free and only agreed to establish a strong government for everybody’s good. This is consistent with American’s value system and being such, it is very likely that Locke will win if he will run against Rousseau in America. With regard to policy direction, Locke is likely to oppose Obama’s Health Care Program as it infringes on the property of other who have to subsidize those who cannot afford it. Locke’s puts a primacy on private property and the idea of subsidizing others might not sit well with him. Locke would also likely to strengthen business by introducing laws that would protect it and its property. Rousseau treatise on the other hand would be incompatible with America’s value system but he would make an interesting case. As he is oppose to inequality, Rousseau will likely introduce government programs that will bridge his perceive inequality in American

Teenage Suicide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Teenage Suicide - Essay Example Suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth and adolescents ages 15-24 years old, indicating that all youth are at great risk for suicide (American Association of Suicidology 1). Suicide is now the fourth leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10-14 (Crosby 2). Suicide can affect all youth regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status; however, there have been rapid increases within specific ethnic groups. In order to address this issue among our high school age students, it is important to analyze who is at greatest risk, to identify risk factors, and to identify potential protective factors. Additionally, suicide prevention and early intervention programs implemented in schools should be assessed regarding their effectiveness. What is not effective should be modified accordingly. Ethnic Differences European American, African American, Hispanic, and Native American youth are all affected by suicide. Suicide among our youth is most prevalent for white males (Crosby, 5). According to the Centers for Disease Control, 73% of all suicides involving adults are white males. However, in the last two decades, among African American male youth ages 10-14, suicide rates have tripled and for ages 15-19 the suicide rate has doubled (Capuzzi 38). Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control has- identified that the Hispanic youth suicide rate is increasing. Furthermore, their rates of suicide ideation and attempts are increasing at staggering numbers (O'Donnell et al., 39-40). Native American youth also have history of a high rate of suicide attempts (Capuzzi, 38). Although the European American population has always represented the highest proportion of suicides among all ethnic groups, it is important to view all of our youth, regardless of ethnicity, as at-risk, considering the recent changes in suicide statistics in the last decade. Different factors contribute to the reasons for suicide attempts for each ethnic group. This needs to be conside red when creating an effective youth suicide prevention and early intervention program. Currently, European American youth are the primary recipients of crisis intervention dealing with suicide in contrast with their Hispanic peers who are least likely to receive interventions (Kataoka, Stein, Leiberman, & Wong, 1444). This may be influencing the increases in suicide attempts and completions among this demographic group. Risk Factors for Suicide There has not been a specific profile created to early identify all youth at risk for suicide ideation or suicide attempts. The literature does suggest, however, that there are some common identifying characteristics to consider, although alone they are not indicators. Some common characteristics of youth may warrant the attention of adults to better evaluate these students for suicide ideation. Since suicide is the third leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States, it is key to train the community to identify those at risk. Stressors youth are dealing with may be the trigger for suicide attempts, which are often impulsive responses by youth to escape their problems (Crosby 2). The impulsivity of the act further indicates the need for early intervention among youth dealing with dramatic or life-impacting circumstances. Research has noted some behaviors that may be exhibited by a youth who has suicide ideation. These behaviors include, but are not limited to, the lack of concern for personal welfare, social changes, decline in school performance, including attendance patterns, change in eating and sleeping habits, a new preoccupation with violence and death, increased sexually promiscuity, and other risky behaviors, including substance use (Capuzzi, 40; Guo & Harstall, 11-15). Not all

What legal protection is given to archaeological sites in Britain To Essay

What legal protection is given to archaeological sites in Britain To what extent are these measures effective in safeguarding their future - Essay Example ise in order to preserve the heritage of the country because it understands that it is the only evidence of the pre-historic periods that existed and ensures that the legislation to meet these needs are properly carried out. The Ancient Monument Protections Act of 1882 was first imposed by the British parliament as a protective measure for all archaeological sites in Britain. The sites include ancient buildings, monuments, caves etc. The Protection for Military Remains Act of 1986 takes care of vehicles, vessels and other aircraft. The Archaeological Heritage Management also known as the Archaeological Resource Management is instrumental in conserving and managing the ancient archaeological sites of Britain. Their chief focus relates to the preservation, age and the use of the different archaeological resources available to us. In lieu of modern planning and development that poses a threat to the archaeological sites, the Archaeological Source Management Department devise ways and means of mitigating the adverse impact it could have on archaeological sites. In assessing the physical condition of any archaeological site, modern methodology and techniques are used to analyze, monitor and document the exte nt of deterioration and try to find the best means to preserve or conserve these ancient sites. In this essay we will attempt to look at the legislation that governs the conservation of archaeological sites and monuments so that we gain a better understanding of how important such laws are to the cause of preserving them. In Scotland alone, there are about 70,000 monuments and sites that are presently preserved under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The Secretary of State for Scotland plays a major role in the planning system. The local authorities are also responsible for the preservation and safeguarding of such archaeological sites and contribute towards the economy by helping with landscaping and other amenities for development of

Should children under the age 14 be allowed to make treatment Research Paper - 1

Should children under the age 14 be allowed to make treatment decisions - Research Paper Example However, recently, such presumptions continue to receive criticism from policymakers and other activists, thereby raising the question of the justification of children’s decisions regarding their health. There have been several conflicts between the caregivers and the teens below 14 years regarding their welfare, and some children’s arguments seem justifiable over those of their parents (Cherry, 2013). As such, there is a critical need to address the issue, and give such kids a bigger voice in making decisions regarding their health. Besides, since such children have the direct impacts of their health conditions, they may suggest treatment modes that may improve their conditions (Cherry, 2013). However, the assistance of a physician is critical, and it should be at the best interest of the patient (minor) (Cherry, 2013). The key advantage of such a decision is that it will aid in the recovery of the child, particularly in emergencies where the caregiver may be unavailable. However, this ought to be within the allowed legal standards. Besides, children with long-term disorders are perceived to be more acquainted with their conditions, and hence they may make wise decisions regarding their health. This is evident in cases where parents advocate for a misinformed treatment prescription that only leads to the deterioration of such children’s conditions. Such cases have been evident in numerous US states, thereby highlighting the need for child involvement in cases regarding their health. However, owing to the legal obligations of parents to make such decisions, the challenges still loom (Cherry, 2013). Besides, negative consequences resulting from a physician allowing such children to make decisions concerning their health may compel the physicians to undergo unjustified legal proceedings, thereby jeopardizing their careers. Although children may be under the care of the parents and guardians, the children’s consent to treatment may

To what extend the bretton woods institutions have functioned to make Essay

To what extend the bretton woods institutions have functioned to make the world economy less prosperous and less stable - Essay Example Global financial institutions were put up such as the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The ideas behind Bretton Woods were open and free markets to prevent trade blocs. Before World War II, countries competed against each other in an unhealthy manner in economic nationalism. Trade discrimination resulted in few countries getting rich while countries that did not belong to blocs were left out of the bandwagon. This paper will discuss how institutions of the Bretton Woods Conference, namely the World Bank (WB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the successor to the GATT which is the World Trade Organization failed their mandates of improving the international economic order. The present economic order is based on a biased system in which strong nations imposed their preferences on other countries. The number of trade disputes pending at various arbitration bodies a re ominously increasing. These arbitration courts are perceived as favouring stronger nations in interpreting WTO rules although all members are bound to abide by the rules. The noble idea that free trade and open markets will raise the living standards of everybody, in the concept of â€Å"a rising tide raises all boats,† did not happen. Richer nations deal with weaker neighbouring countries by bilateral trade agreements (BTA) and free trade agreements (FTA) like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA). These agreements practice discrimination by the grant of most-favoured nation status (MFN) to countries in exchange for political or diplomatic considerations. These agreements violate the non-discrimination rule in the WTO charter. Discussion The great Industrial Revolution took place in imperial England 200 years ago. Foremost among these inventions was the steam engine. This propell ed many industries such as coal mining and the iron ore and steel industries. A number of factors made England the right environment for which the Industrial Revolution took place. It has a primitive form of capitalism (in lieu of the existing feudal system in much of Europe back then), a melting pot of the greatest minds at that time which discussed novel ideas, the rise of the manufacturing and textile industries and efficient ways of raising relatively-cheap capital at that time (at 5% only versus 20%-30% in Europe). England was the right fertile ground for capitalism. Karl Marx himself believed England favoured the growth of capitalism because it had all the ingredients. Its novelty as an economic system was attractive to many sectors because England had an excess population which needed to be re-deployed from farms. Capitalism provided the saving grace for the government because people can be employed in factories in large urban areas by capitalists. The old feudal system gave way to new ways in the creation of wealth through manufacturing and exports. Capitalism became entrenched with the right combination of political and social changes (Hindess & Hirst, 1975:288). The Industrial Revolution and capitalism are being discussed here to give the reader an overview of today’s global order which is based on the economic system of capitalism. Before

House Parties with Under Age Drinking Research Paper

House Parties with Under Age Drinking - Research Paper Example Decreasing the prevalence of this would involve tightening current laws and policies as well as increasing monitoring, so that it is known more often when underage youth are being provided with alcohol. Introduction One important issue affecting the youth of today is drinking behavior, in particular underage drinking behavior. Currently the legal age for drinking in the United States is 21 years of age. However, there are a wide range of contexts in which individuals below the drinking age obtain alcohol, often through adults or individuals that are above the legal drinking age. There is a large amount of concern that the amount of underage youths that are drinking, and the amount of alcohol that they are consuming. On average young people appear to be drinking alcohol more frequently and are drinking more each time they do drink . One circumstance that this occurs in are house parties. The term house party covers a large range of situations, but can generally be considered a social gathering that occurs at someone’s place of residence. This can range from a couple of friends, through to more than 100 people. Often house parties are held by and for young adults, with college and high school students attending. The Prevalence of Underage Drinking Underage drinking is extremely prevalent even by the time that children reach the senior years of high school. Around 30% of seniors at high school report heavy drinking at least once per month, and 40% of full-time college students aged between 18 and 22 report heavy drinking. These statistics are alarming, as almost all of those children and young adults are below the minimum age for drinking. In addition, there are many harmful consequences of drinking and these are often amplified in younger drinkers, in part due to lower tolerances of alcohol and also less life experience . In 1984 an act was passed that encouraged each state to set their minimum drinking age to 21. By 1988, the minimum drinking age for all states was 21 . Alcohol is a significant factor in the deaths and unintentional injuries for many youth aged 15- to 20-, with the rate of drunk drivers under 21 twice that of adult drivers. As well as injury, there are many other costs of underage drinking, including problems at school, pregnancies and sexual diseases as a consequence of unsafe sexual practices and severe alcohol addiction . Why is Underage Drinking so Prevalent? Alcohol is widely available and easily obtainable for adults over the age of 21 through a number of different types of locations, including many that allow off premises consumption. There are little limitations in the quantity of alcohol that an adult can by, and no way of knowing what an adult intends to do with the alcohol that they buy. Despite the age restriction, alcohol is easy to obtain for those underage. Between 30 and 70 percent of outlets may sell to underage buyers, depending on the particular outlet and the location. Another common source of al cohol for underage drinkers is at parties where alcohol has been provided and the youths at the party have been left unsupervised . Drinking of alcohol is heavily advertised as beneficial, a method of socialization and of relaxing, and these advertisements affect youth as much or more than they do their target audience. In addition to this the enforcement of the minimum

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior Essay Example for Free

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior Essay In the article, â€Å"Why Chinese mothers are Superior, Chua describes her efforts to give her children what she describes as a traditional, strict â€Å"Chinese† upbringing. ] This piece was controversial. Many readers missed the supposed irony and self-deprecating humor in the title and the piece itself and instead believed that Chua was advocating the â€Å"superiority† of a particular, very strict, ethnically defined approach to parenting. In fact Chua has stated that the book was not a how-to manual but a self-mocking memoir. In any case, Chua defines â€Å"Chinese mother† loosely to include parents of other ethnicities who practice traditional, strict child-rearing, while also acknowledging that â€Å"Western parents come in all varieties,† and not all ethnically Chinese parents practice strict child-rearing. Chua also reported that in one study of 48 Chinese immigrant mothers, the vast majority said that they believe their children can be the best students, that academic achievement reflects successful parenting, and that if children did not excel at school then there was a problem and parents were not doing their job. Chua contrasts them with the view she labels â€Å"Western† – that a child’s self-esteem is paramount Amy makes it clear that the Asian kids are not born smart (For the most part, at least) It is hard work and training from the parents that shapes the children into these wonder kids. To prove her point she lists up a number of things that her daughter were never allowed to do, such as: * Have a play date * Watch television or play computer games * Attend a school play * Complain about not in a school play And so on.. Prohibitions that seems totally unreasonable for us â€Å"westerns†, as she loosely has named us. Throughout the text she covers several perspectives on parenting, which of a few I surprisingly agree on. Most of her viewpoints I deeply disagree with though and is far from my idea about proper parenting. Each time she lists up one of her perspectives, she compares the Chinese perspective with the Western perspective. She does this in a very subjective manner I think. She is very clever rhetorically. At some parts of the text, I actually caught my self being very close to getting dragged towards her side. I found it quite amusing to feel the power of pathos, but at the same time a bit daunting. According to Amy, the main difference between Chinese parents and Western parents is the way they see their children. Western parents believe that respecting their children’s choices, their individuality and always encouraging them to pursue their true passions is the way. In contrast, Chinese parents believe that preparing their children for the future, and..

Prevention of pressure ulcers: nurses’ sole responsibility

Prevention of pressure ulcers: nurses’ sole responsibility Pressure ulcer is a major health problem. According to previous 10 years nationwide studies, 10% to 15% of the general population suffers from chronic pressure ulcers. In addition, Reddy, Gill and Rochon (cited in Walton-Geer, 2009) approximated 60,000 patients every year will die from hospital acquired pressure ulcers and the treatment of these wounds costs approximately $11 billion per year. These findings are significant in some areas such as patients in intensive care units, critical care units and nursing home residents. These situations cost patient in terms of suffering, impaired quality of life, reduced independence and even increased morbidity and mortality. The patients delay in hospital discharge and decrease the efficiency and efficacy of health services. The health industry is also concerned about lack of sources, work force hours to manage the problem. Various industries and government agencies are disconcerted to either treat these ulcers in early intervention or encou rage prevention (Lippincott Williams Wilkins, 2007). However, a good quality care is important in preventing these sores and nurses come at front to provide this care. In identifying the nurses attitude towards care and perception of barriers in that case may solve this situation. Search strategy The literature search was conducted by using the databases- Cinahl, Pro Quest, Pub med and Waiariki library catalogues. These databases identified the published studies, nursing journals and conference proceedings. The search engine used the terms for search were pressure ulcers and nursing, nurse and bedsores, nurse and hospital, pressure ulcer and patient, and nursing management and decubitus ulcers to search out the articles. The articles only written in English were retrieved for review. This literature review is based on the prevention strategies. Prevention and management of pressure ulcer is of major concern in health care system. Most of the studies revealed the appropriate knowledge of nurses for prevention. The gaps could be in the lack of performance in their practice. The hospital routines for early assessment and culture may be responsible for nurses to practice efficiently. Despite of increasing expenditure neither incidence nor prevalence is reducing. The attitude and supervision towards care of patient are significant review in whole populations generally. The search was wide to find the reliable material and needed to exclude some for relevance. The search boundaries were elaborated for nursing practice and attitude. The access to literature was sometimes limited to abstract only. Eighteen published articles were reviewed for possible inclusions in the final review. Among those ten articles were taken from previous conducted researches, three were the literature reviews and two relevant articles were based on life story of patients. One textbook and two non-research articles were kept for background information. The first line of defense in preventing the pressure ulcer development is the nurse practitioners behavior towards patient, nursing care by using various devices, patients status for devolving risk factors and hospital polices for further improvements. All ages were viewed as inclusion criteria with high-risk abilities. Four articles were more than ten years old and excluded to gather current knowledge for practice. One study was excluded because of emphasize was put on various positions of the patient that are inefficient for critical care units to take efforts in rising out of bed and were not valid. Two researches based studies were included to asse ss nurses knowledge in prevention and treatment strategies that were mainly researched for assessing the nurses knowledge about pressure ulcers and impact on practical decision-making skills and utilizations of various devices. The research literatures on pressure ulcer development filled the education and reliability assessment of nurses. One group of researchers created the longitudinal examination of hospital registered staffing to improve the quality of care and revealed the limited support for quality with number of registered nurses. These variations in favor of care presents a cross comparison of results, at best. Another research study revealed the influence of handling technique, and patients weight and disability that causes serious back injuries to nurses. One research supported computers for prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers at LCD hospital was included because the system reminds documentation to nurses. One life story article included tells about the negligenc e in care that leads towards the death of a woman, because of bone deep bedsores that remained untreated in last six months of her life. The selection criteria in three researches have been taken for use of preventive devices that underline the risk of pressure ulcers early assessment at time of admission. The potential inclusion admits a risk assessment tool, Braden scale in predicting pressure sore risk in hospitalized patients. However, two included studies exposed issues regarding the lack of clinical trials for effectiveness and the quality improvement implementations in nursing homes that associated with organizational culture. As the review included all ages, hospitalized and outside patients, one study assures about the sitting behavior of people lead towards building the risk of pressure ulcers. Nurses knowledge and attitude In 2004, Moore agreed the development of pressure ulcer is linked to nurses attitude, education and competence. Education increases awareness of the problem and gives a pathway for developing and maintaining competency. Thus, the successful prevention is dependent on staff knowledge, skill and attitude. This argument was underlined the content and quality of education, a major concern in decision-making. Hulland (cited in Moore, 2004) was able to identify nurses action, beliefs and opinion on pressure ulcer prevention and treatment. Anthony (cited in Moore, 2004) also agreed, however, nurses have good knowledge for prevention, still usage is inappropriate in practice. Maylor and Torrance (cited in Moore, 2004) supported the value of the attitude of nurses for preventive practices of pressure ulcers in clinical practice. Ousey (2010) accented the need of evidence-based education for whole staff involved in care of pressure ulcers. Another study by Wiechula in 1997 described the focus of quality improvement ought to on the appropriate education program that contains the instructions and guidelines of current and evidence based practice. The education program should include the etiology and risk factors along with risk assessment tools and application in demonstrating the positioning for prevention of pressure ulcers. In this study, the stress was also put on the accurate documentation and monitoring. Another cross-sectional study by a group of researchers explored the comparison between the knowledge among past time and present time nurses. The sample was large (n=522 nurses in 2003 compared with n=351 nurses in 1991), with written questionnaire method. The authors identified the knowledge of nurses in 2003 is better and nurses know the usefulness of preventive measures. However, the raised issue was again the knowledge did not come in practice in the organizations that monitored pressure ulcers (Hulsenboom, Bours Halfens, 2007). Comparing the views of all autho rs, one group of researchers conducted a one-time survey. Fifteen nurses were subjected to check the use of system increase their knowledge and skills. The study resulted in no effective knowledge about pressure ulcers and decision-making skills in practice (Zielstorff et al, 1997). Among various researches, one study by Smith and Waugh in 2009 uncovered the nurses knowledge of pressure ulcer prevention and treatment along with the perception of barrier in providing effective care. After using the Pieper Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test among 96 nurses, the study revealed the nurses knowledge was higher significantly but the barrier such as the weight of patient, patients refusal, unavailability of equipments, not having enough time and staff was significantly considerable. Nevertheless, Mark, Harless, McCue and Xu in 2004 found limited support for enduring the belief that improvement in registered nurse staffing improves the quality of care. In addition, Skotte and Fallentin in 2008 s upports the barrier by assessing the low back load on health care workers while using preventive techniques such as repositioning and use of friction reducing devices that is higher than patients weight and disability. Pulkkinen (2009) explores this argument in an article about a health care workers second-degree criminal mistreatment. The evidence shows that the treatment for bedsores was not provided to Harrison and ultimately because of gangrene infection of bone deep ulcers, he died. Use of appliances in practice In 1997, Wiechula described the assessment of risk is important to consider causative and contributing factors that can eliminate the negative effects. This skin care assessment of patient should be at the time of admission, after change in condition and for long-term patients at regular intervals. Specifically, to relieve pressure, attempt should be put on positioning and turning frequently. The major concern was preventing contact on between prone areas and support surface by using devices such as pillows and foams and use of alternating pressure mattress for high-risk patients. Ousey (2010) explored the early detection and effective documentation of pressure ulcers is a key component of quality care if the nurses can identify risk development behavior appropriately. The study assures manual repositioning and pressure relieving support surfaces are important in preventive measures. The early detection includes the assessment within six hours of admission in hospital and in communit y settings; it should be at first visit of practice nurse. However, Wiechula in 1997 outlined, turning of patient every 2 hours is a reliable and cheap method of prevention. Schoonhoven (cited in Ousey, 2010) disputed the effectiveness of preventive measures in some patients. Based on this notion, Ousey agreed the pressure ulcer tool will be helpful for high-risk individuals if practice with professional jugdement. Stotts and Gunningberg in 2007 supported one evidence-based article for use of Braden scale, a good assessment tool. Considering the reliability and validity, Braden scale is affective to practice with the difference in patients culture. In the matter of devices in care of pressure ulcers, the Australian Medical sheepskin is a new pressure-relieving device is effective in relieving pressure with moisture absorbing capacities (Mistiaen et al, 2008). Gardner, Frantz, Bergquist and Shin (2005) explored another perspective study for measuring the wound healing is pressure ulc er scale for healing. When the workers apply this evidence-based tool at weekly intervals, it provides accuracy in differentiating healing of pressure ulcer from non-healing in tracking changes in pressure ulcer status. This study outlined the use of PUSH score can achieve changes during extended follow-ups during the time when pressure ulcers take more than 3 months to heal. As explained by Wiechula in 1997, massage on bony prominences ought to avoid and the ring shaped devices are ineffectiveness in practice. Ousey (2010) agreed the view of not rubbing the skin vigorously to prevent the damage of superficial and deep tissues. Interestingly, one cross-sectional study unveiled the use of these preventive devices and documentation is suboptimal even for high-risk patients. In practice, the documentation and preventive devices are important for all patients who are at risk and having pressure ulcers to note the status of patients. A research nurse to ascertain the use of pressure ulce r devices examined the patients. After examination, 68% patients were documented for pressure ulcers. Among those 15% of patients had preventive devices and 51% receive those were at high-risk. In multiple analyses, the type and stage of pressure ulcer were not associated with high-risk patient but the use of preventive devices (Rich, Shardell, Margolis Baumgarten, 2010). Similarly, Moore (2004) identified the use of pressure relieving devices are not as much helpful in reducing the prevalence of pressure ulcers without nurses positive attitude. Hospital policy The cost of treatment of pressure ulcers can be enormous and significantly run out the health system resources. According to Posnett Franks (cited in Ousey, 2010) the estimated cost for the treatment of pressure ulcer is between 1.8 billion pounds to 2.6 billion pounds annually. In 2009, Walton-Geer gave views on for the improvement in patient care the interventions should be initiated on evidence-based practice. Patients status AHCPR (cited in Wiechula, 1997) recommended the important link of malnutrition with the development of pressure ulcers. Wiechula (1997) indicated, on admission nutritional assessment should also be monitored such as weight changes, loss of appetite and decreased dietary intake. Patients with poor hygiene and skin moisture degrade the integrity of skin that further helps in developing sores. One literature review supported the components of Braden scale such as nutrition, sensory perception, evidence of moisture, activity level and mobility status are the most important predictive of developing risk of pressure ulcers. It is apparent in the study that the risk increases with the susceptibility of tissue tolerance and poor peripheral circulation that relates with poor nutritional status (Schultz, 2005). Ousey in 2010 outlined some intrinsic and extrinsic factors responsible for pressure ulcer development. Intrinsic factors included patients age, mobility, incontinence, medication, anem ia, thin skin, nutritional status and disease condition. The considered extrinsic factors were friction, moisture, poor handling and changing position. The stress was also put on initial assessment of all patients to improve nutritional intakes. Williams et al (cited in Ousey, 2010) considered poor nutrition and decreased tissue perfusion, the main cause of pressure ulcer development. Bain and Ferguson-Pell in 2002 considered the knowledge of sitting behavior of patients outside the hospital especially for wheel chair users who sit continuously for long time. The study tested the use of remote monitoring pressure distributing logger that keeps the record of sitting behavior after testing its feasibility. Phytochemical Method Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis Phytochemical Method Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis Phytochemical Method Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Characterization The study of green synthesis of nanomaterials offers a valuable contribution to biomedicine at nanobiotechnology. This study focuses on the green synthesis of nanosilver from O. sanctum leaf extract and loading the nanosilver onto cotton fabrics and assessing their physical and biological properties. In this study, O. sanctum leaf extract was used as reducing agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. When the silver nitrate solution was mixed with leaf extract, the color changes occur immediately in silver nitrate solution. Initially, the leaf extract was green, which turned yellowish brown on adding the silver nitrate solution. The color changes indirectly indicate the formation of silver nanoparticles. The color change was noted by virtual observation of O. sanctum leaf extract incubated with an aqueous solution of AgNO3. It started to change color from watery to yellowish brown at 4 h and dark pink at 24 h after incubation (Figure 1). It is due to the reduction of silver ions; this exhibits the formation of silver nanoparticles (Table 1). The color of the extract changed to intense brown along with threads after 24 h of incubation, and there was no significant change afterward. S.No. Time interval Colour change 1 0 min Dark green 2 10 min Pale green 3 30 min Reddish green 4 1hr Red 5 2 hrs Red 6 4 hrs Reddish brown 7 8 hrs Reddish brown 8 16 hrs Brown Threads 9 24 hrs Brown Threads Table 5. 1. Effect of leaf extract of O.sanctum on colour changes in silver nitrate solution at different time interval Biosynthesis of nanoparticles by time-dependent absorption spectrum The continuous formation of silver nanoparticles was investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy, which has proven to be a useful spectroscopic method. The presence of silver nanoparticles was confirmed at a range of 200–600 nm. In UV-Vis spectra, silver nanoparticles can be shown by a SPR peak at around 400 nm, but a small shift (blueshift or redshift) in the wavelength of the peak could be related to obtaining —silver nanoparticles in different shapes, sizes, or solvent dependences. After 24 h of incubation, a typical peak of ÃŽ »max at 421 nm was obtained due to the SPR of silver nanoparticles (Figure5. 2). After the reaction time on adding of leaf extract reached 4 h, obtained silver nanoparticles showed a UV-Vis absorption peak, a characteristic SPR band for silver nanoparticles, centered at 400 nm (Figure 5.2). Figure 2, the intensity of the SPR peak increased with the increase in the reaction time, which indicated the continued reduction of the silver nitrate ions, whereas the increase of the absorbance value with the reaction time indicated the increase in concentration of silver nanoparticles. When the reaction time reached 12 h, the absorbance was increased and ÃŽ »max value was slightly blueshifted to 435 nm. At reaction time of 24 h, the absorbance value was also increased and blueshifted to 435 and 421 nm, respectively. At the end of the reaction (24 h), the absorbance value was considerably increased and there was no significant change in ÃŽ »max value (421 nm), compared with that at 12-h reaction time. FTIR spectroscopy analysis of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles FTIR measurements of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticle samples were carried out to identify the possible interactions between silver and bioactive molecules, which may be responsible for synthesis and stabilization (capping material) of silver nanoparticles. These were also to identify the possible biomolecules responsible for capping and efficient stabilization of the metal nanoparticles synthesized by leaf extract. Figure 5.3 shows the FTIR spectra of aqueous silver nanoparticles prepared from O. sanctum leaf extract. The presence of the signature peaks of amino acids supports the presence of proteins in cell-free filtrate as observed in spectral analysis. The silver nanoparticle sample shows peaks at 3313.48, 3193, 2976.90, 2883, 1670, 1452, 1338, 1196.78, and 1112.75 cm−1 (Figure 5.3). The peaks corresponding to protein and silver nanoparticles were found commonly present in the nanoparticles synthesized by leaf extract. X-ray diffraction analysis The crystalline nature of silver nanoparticles was studied with the aid of XRD as shown in Figure 5.4. The dry powders of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were used for XRD analysis. The diffracted intensities were recorded from 20à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ° to 80à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ° at 2à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ± angles. Many strong Bragg diffracted peaks observed at 27.82, 32.25, 46.22, and 76.63 corresponding to 126, 199, 131, and 24 height of the face-centered cubic pattern of silver were obtained. The average grain size of the silver nanoparticles formed in the bio-reduction process was determined using Scherrer formula and it suggested that the synthesized silver nanoparticles were crystalline. The size of the silver nanoparticles was found to be 26 nm, and it was determined using the width of the (126) Bragg’s reflection. In addition, yet some unassigned peaks were also observed suggesting the crystallization of biophase occurs on the surface of silver nanoparticles. Fluorescence spectral analysis Fluorescence spectroscopy is a type of electromagnetic spectroscopy which analyzes fluorescence from a sample. Figure 5.5 shows fluorescence emission spectrum from silver nanoparticles, dispersed in double distilled water. Fluorescence spectral analysis of silver nanoparticles used in the experiment was carried out to confirm the fluorescence emitted from the nanoparticles. A strong maximum at 431 nm wavelength and a quantum yield was 666.450 mV appeared in the fluorescence emission spectrum of O. sanctum leaf extract mediated silver nanoparticles. Potentiometry analysis of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles The biosynthesized silver nanostructure was shown and confirmed by the characteristic peaks observed in zeta potential, which will help to measure the diameter of nanoparticles with corresponding average zeta potential values, and also used for suggesting higher stability of silver nanoparticles. The reduction of silver ions to form nanoparticles was also monitored using a potentiometer. The large negative potential value could be due to the capping of polyphenolic constituents present in the extract. Figure 5.6 shows the results of time-dependent zeta potential analysis from 0 to 24 h of incubation period. A pointed reduction in the potential could be observed on 4 h of interaction, further indicating the formation of nanoparticles at this stage. The potential decrease from an initial value of 0.436 V for silver ions to 0.153 V at the end of 11 h (Figure5.6) was observed, after which the decrease in potential was gradual, decreasing up to 0.048 V at the end of 24 h. Zeta potential analysis of synthesized silver nanoparticles The zeta potential analysis was used to measure the electrophoretic mobility of the silver nanoparticles. The complex zeta potential is a parameter that is used to learn the surface charges and stability of nanoparticles. The zeta potential charges significantly affect the particle distribution and agglomeration of nanoparticles. The high zeta potential value indicates a high electric charge on the surface of the nanoparticles. It describes strong repellent forces among the particles, which prevent aggregation and lead to stabilization of the nanoparticles in the medium. The zeta potential of the nanoparticles formulated was only measured in systems that did not sediment after overnight equilibration. The alteration in zeta potential with a moment in time is shown in Figure 5.7. It can be observed that there was charge stabilization from 11 to 16 h, with the charge stabilized at around −57 mV. The zeta potential was −62 mV for the 14 h interacted samples, which further decreased to −35 mV for the 24 h interacted samples. SEM analysis of silver nanoparticles The morphology of silver nanoparticle was observed using a SEM instrument. The shape and size of silver nanoparticles were analyzed after 24 h of incubation using SEM as shown in Figure 5.8. In general, the nanoparticles were spherical with varying size ranged from 7 to 28 nm. Most of the nanoparticles were combined, with only a few of them scattered, as observed under SEM. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were mostly spherical. These were used to characterize the morphology, size, and distribution in aqueous suspension and were prepared by dropping the suspension onto a clean glass plate and allowing water to completely evaporate. It was evident that the ends of silver nanoparticles are brighter than the middle, suggesting the particles are encapsulated by biomolecules such as proteins in the Basil leaf extract (Figure 5.8). EDS analysis of silver nanoparticles The EDS spectrum (Figure 5.9) clearly identified the elemental composition of the synthesized nanoparticles, which suggests the presence of silver as the ingredient element. The vertical axis shows the counts of the X-ray and the horizontal axis shows energy in keV. The strong signals of silver correspond to the peaks in the graph confirming presence of silver. Biosynthesized silver nanoparticles typically show an optical absorption peak at 3.2 keV due to SPR. However, other elemental signals along with silver nanoparticles were also recorded, which were not observed for the biosynthesis of many other nanoparticles. TEM was used to visualize the size and shape of silver nanoparticles. Figure 5.10 shows the typical TEM micrograph of the synthesized silver nanoparticles. It is observed that most of the silver nanoparticles were spherical. A few agglomerated silver nanoparticles were also observed in some places, thereby indicating possible sedimentation at a later time. It is evident that there is variation in particle sizes, and the average size was estimated to be 26 nm and the particle size ranged from 8 to 45 nm. The natural products, namely glycosides, flavanones, and reducing sugars, are the main constituents of the O. sanctum leaf extract

Economic Growth and the Environment

Economic Growth and the Environment Will the world be able to sustain economic growth indefinitely without running into resource constraints or despoiling the environment beyond repair? What is the relationship between a steady increase in incomes and environmental quality? Are there trade-offs between the goals of achieving high and sustainable rates of economic growth and attaining high standards of environmental quality. For some social and physical scientists, growing economic activity (production and consumption) requires larger inputs of energy and material, and generates larger quantities of waste byproducts. Increased extraction of natural resources, accumulation of waste, and concentration of pollutants would overwhelm the carrying capacity of the biosphere and result in the degradation of environmental quality and a decline in human welfare, despite rising incomes. Furthermore, it is argued that degradation of the resource base would eventually put economic activity itself at risk. To save the environment and even economic activity from itself, economic growth must cease and the world must make a transition to a steady-state economy. At the other extreme, are those who argue that the fastest road to environmental improvement is along the path of economic growth: with higher incomes comes increased demand for goods and services that are less material-intensive, as well as demand for improved environmental quality that leads to the adoption of environmental protection measures. The strong correlation between incomes, and the extent to which environmental protection measures are adopted, demonstrates that in the longer run, the surest way to improve your environment is to become rich, Some went as far as claiming that environmental regulation, by reducing economic growth, may actually reduce environmental quality. As agriculture and resource extraction intensify and industrialization takes off, both resource depletion and waste generation accelerate. At higher levels of development, structural change towards information-based industries and services, more efficient technologies, and increased demand for environmental quality result in leveling-off and a steady decline of environmental degradation (Panayotou 1993), as seen in the Figure 1 below: The issue of whether environmental degradation (a) increases monotonically, (b) decreases monotonically, or (c) first increases and then declines along a country’s development path, has critical implications for policy. A monotonic increase of environmental degradation with economic growth calls for strict environmental regulations and even limits on economic growth to ensure a sustainable scale of economic activity within the ecological life-support system (Arrow et al. 1995) A monotonic decrease of environmental degradation along a country’s development path suggests that policies that accelerate economic growth lead also to rapid environmental improvements and no explicit environmental policies are needed; indeed, they may be counterproductive if they slow down economic growth and thereby delay environmental improvement. Finally, if the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis is supported by evidence, development policies have the potential of being environmentally benign over the long run, (at high incomes), but they are also capable of significant environmental damage in the short-to-medium run (at low-to-medium-level incomes). In this case, several issues arise: (1) at what level of per capita income is the turning point? (2) How much damage would have taken place, and how can they be avoided? (3) Would any ecological thresholds be violated and irreversible damages take place before environmental degradation turns down, and how can they be avoided? (4) Is environmental improvement at higher income levels automatic, or does it require conscious institutional and policy reforms? and (5) how to accelerate the development process so that developing economies and economies in transition can experience the same improved economic and environmental conditions enjoyed by developed market economies? Policy Response In the OECD countries we observe a strong decoupling of emissions of local air pollutants from economic growth. OECD countries have achieved a strong decoupling between energy use and economic growth over the past 20 years, with the economy growing by 17% between 1980 and 1998 and energy use falling by the about the same percentage. Water and resource use continued to grow but at a rate slower than GDP growth reflecting a weak decoupling of the two. Thus decoupling of emissions in OECD and generally the developed ECE countries has been accomplished through a combination of technological change and a strong environmental policy. The latter consisting of â€Å"greening† of fiscal policy, removing subsidies to environmentally harmful activities and the use of economic instruments to internalise environmental cost. A number of EU policy initiatives, such as the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines 2001, among others have promoted a gradual but steady and credible change in the level and structure of the tax rates until external costs are fully reflected in prices, to cope with most of the fundamental structural problem in all developed countries, the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. In the energy markets these guidelines aim to uses taxes and other market-based instruments to rebalance prices in favour of reusable energy sources and technologies. Other EU initiatives in this direction are the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP), the directive establishing an EU framework for emissions trading, and the Integrated Product Policy (IPP) all of which aim at realigning price relations and stimulating investments in new technologies that promote sustainable development. Member states are encouraged to improve market functioning by addressing market failures such as externalities through â€Å"increased use of market-based systems in pursuit of environmental objectives as they provide flexibility to industry to reduce pollution in a cost effective way, as well as encourage technological innovations†. Economic instruments such as gradual but steady and credible change in the level and structure of tax rates until external costs are fully reflected in prices are promoted as the most efficient means of decoupling economic growth from pollution, as they alter price relations and thereby also drive changes in technology and consumer behaviour (preference) that lie behind the growth-environment relationship. As exemplified by the energy and transport sectors, the EU decoupling policy consists of demand management through full-cost pricing and development of more environmentally friendly alternatives by promoting technological innovations. Since 1990 all economies in transition have made efforts to restructure their energy and transport sectors along market principles and to raise energy prices closer to economic and international levels. However because of the political sensitivity of energy pricing and the lagging reforms in many transition economies a gap of 20-85% continues to persist between energy prices in economies in transition. For example electricity prices for households in Eastern Europe are only 50 percent of those of the European Union; for industrial consumers, electricity prices are closer to their economic and international levels being 20% lower than those of the EU. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has repeatedly called upon its members to raise the prices of various energy sources to their full economic costs and adapt economic instruments to internalise the costs to human health and the environment associated with energy production and consumption. The aim is to decouple emissions from energy use and energy use from economic growth. Despite significant progress towards sustainable development developed countries are still experiencing unsustainable consumption patterns as evidenced by the continued growth of municipal waste and CO ² emissions. As transition economies begin to recover and grow again their emissions and resource use are also growing though less than proportionately. Their GDP energy-intensity, though declining, continues to be several times that of the developed countries while their consumption patterns are tracing the same path as that of their developed counterparts. Further decoupling of growth and environment and progress towards sustainable development calls for action on many fronts by both groups of countries as well as cooperation between them especially in technology transfer: Use of an effective mix of economic instruments such as taxes, charges and tradable permits to correct market and policy failures and to internalise environmental and social costs and induce changes in the composition of consumption and production. Improvement in resource use efficiency and â€Å"dematerialization† of the economy Change in the content of economies growth and this involves adjustments costs which tend to be greater the faster is the rate of change in relative prices; in particular those who lose need to be compensated by those who benefit Introduction of specific policies to preserve the living standards of those directly affected by the required adjustment and to avoid unemployment and social disruption; issues of inequality and social exclusion must be addressed.

Essay of Comparison between The Tiger and The Lamb, poems by William Bl

Essay of Comparison between The Tiger and The Lamb, poems by William Blake "The Tiger" and "The Lamb" were poems by William Blake, a poet who lived in the 18th century. In this essay I am going to compare the two poems and examine links between them relating to rhymes, patterns and words used. Blake's background relates on the poems he wrote, and many of his works reflected his early home life. Blake in his childhood was an outcast, a loner, and didn't have many friends. His family believed very strongly in God and were extremely pious Christians but did not agree with the teachings of the church, so young William Blake often was made to think about God and his teachings during his studies. Because his parents were rebels against the Church of England, and most schools were affiliated with the Church in those days, Blake was made to find education somewhere else. He was educated from home by his parents, a practise not done much nowadays. Blake found he had a lot of free time to think about his many ideas, his poetry, life and the like, and also found that he had a very strong imagination. In his poems, many biblical and religious undertones are found as he often wove double meanings into his works. By the time he was an adult his active imagination allowed him to create vivid poetry and paintings, like the paintings that have recently been displayed at the National Gallery. Blake's most famous books of poems are entitled "Songs of Experience" and "Songs of Innocence", and the two most famous poems from these two books are the ones I am comparing in this essay. Poems from the "Songs of Experience" are all about the type of God who brought all the evil and suffering into the world, the vengeful God w... ... Industrial Revolution troubles) and would not have the time or money to take a trip into the countryside. So it too is like a dream, and a fantasy, and it is also a sign of hope and peace, because in those days the industrial revolution was taking place and fields and open space would be disappearing. In its place would be smoggy factories, slum towns and waste tips. This imagery by Blake I find is very effective in also making us remember the conditions most people (but not Blake) had to live in back in those days. "The Lamb" is obviously a poem of questions - the main difference form "The Tiger" being that "The Lamb" provides the answers for the reader and the metaphorical lamb in the second verse, whilst the latter's questions remain unanswered. I personally feel that the poem is asking one main question that is "Did he who made the Lamb make thee?"

The Women Of Jane Austen :: Jane Austen Females Essays

The Women of Jane Austen Jane Austen has attracted a great deal of critical attention in recent years. Many have spoken out about the strengths and weaknesses of her characters, particularly her heroines. Austen has been cast as both a friend and foe to the rights of women. According to Morrison, 'most feminist studies have represented Austen as a conscious or unconscious subversive voicing a woman's frustration at the rigid and sexist social order which enforces subservience and dependence'; (337). Others feel that her marriage plots are representative of her allegiance to the social quid pro quo of her time: 'Marriage, almost inevitably the narrative event that constitutes a happy ending, represents in their view a submission to a masculine narrative imperative that has traditionally allotted women love and men the world'; (Newman 693).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In reality, Austen cannot accurately be evaluated as an author (or feminist subversive) without first examining the eighteenth century English society in which she lived and placed her heroines. Watt says that Austen's characters cannot be seen 'clearly until we make allowances for the social order in which they were rooted'; (41). Austen lived in a society where women were expected to be 'accomplished,'; as Darcy states in Pride and Prejudice, but not well educated ('Notes';). Women of the late eighteenth-century could not attend educational institutions like Oxford or Cambridge. It was not considered necessary for a woman to have knowledge of either Greek or Latin. If a woman received training, it was usually religious or domestically practical. The expected accomplishments of a woman at the time included the ability to draw, singing, speaking modern languages (such as Italian or French), and playing a musical instrument, usually the piano. These accomplishments were required to attract the right (rich) kind of husband. A woman's financial status was very important, and yet there was little she could do to improve it. Women of some social standing could not just go out and get a job. The only opportunities for support outside one's family was work as a governess, or live-in teacher. Money for a woman usually only came through marriage or the death of her father, and then only if she had no brothers or other male relatives. Marriage, then, was looked upon by both men and women as a necessity for security, regardless of a lack of attraction or love. Long-range financial stability had to be procured at an early age.