How does the power of the media affect Chance, and how does his Essay

How does the power of the media affect Chance, and how does his consumption of media affect itself - Essay Example Chance is a total product of this broadcasting style, and as such is the darling of the televised world as it feeds on the incestual nature of the meaningless clich. The constant and total exposure to television had left Chance existing in a world that in fact did not exist. Chance can turn the world on and off as he wishes. We see in his thoughts the ethereal quality of his world when he muses, "As long as one didn't look at people, they did not exist. They began to exist, as on TV, when one turned ones eyes on them." (14). The world, like television, did not exist if it wasn't being watched. Chance did not exist, except when viewed by the few servants of the house and then only in brief encounters. The death of the Old Man would change all that. He would now go out into the public and be viewed and in doing so would be brought into existence. His persona would be the barren mind of inane comments and meaningless chatter. Television, like the people it has molded, would be anxious to attach deep meaning to the most baseless comments. The self-promoting arrogance of television purports to know what should be important and feeds the public a steady diet of sound bites. Viewers, wishing to not be seen as uninformed and uneducated are quick to attach meaning to almost anything. Chance's repetition of other people's words is enough to make him seem interested and interesting. Chance is the ambiguity that television needs to satisfy a diverse audience fed on hyperbole. As EE thought of Chance, she noted, "From the beginning, she noticed the meticulous care he took to insure that nothing he said to her or to anyone else was definite enough to reveal what he thought of her or of anyone or, indeed, of anything" (75). Chance, like television could be nothing at all and in doing so would seem to be all things to all people. This is where television excels and this is what Chance brings to the world and the notoriety that it brings with it. The mystery that lies behind the elusive and vacant mind of Chance has made him all the more interesting. Like the television he knows, his remarks, or lack of them, are viewed with an air of inquisitiveness. The sense that he was an important man makes his comments seem worthy, and tycoons, politicians, and viewers are eager to attach meaning in an attempt to elevate their own self worth. The mystery of this elusiveness is shown by EE's interest in Chance as she remarks, "Do you know that you're very brainy, very cerebral, really Chauncey, that you want to conquer the woman from within her own self,[...]" (79). Chance, like television, is all things to all people by being absolutely nothing at all. It is this sense of mystery that lulls the crowd into a seductive state of desire as viewers are treated to experts and pundits. We are told that the information is credible, yet we make of it what we will, each for our own purpose. Television feeds on this phenomena just as it celebrates Chance's meaningless musings as deep-seated wisdom of a financial guru. Speaking about the only subject he knows, gardening, television is able to attach a misplaced meaning to his words. Chance tells the host, "It's a good garden and a healthy one; its trees are healthy and so are its shrubs and flowers, as long as they are

Single Unemployed Mothers (Demographic Paper) Essay Example for Free

Single Unemployed Mothers (Demographic Paper) Essay A mother is a tough job at hand, but thinks for a second about a mother who is unemployed as well as a mother with an absent parent; the issue is many within one. The state of Michigan is experiencing an all-time high increase of unemployed people, suffering in poverty. The question at hand is how the demographic issue is affecting the society, relatively the health care market. Identify target population The demographics of the topic; single unemployed mothers within our nation as of 2008 were 84. 5 million and 9.9million were single moms with no help from the absent parent, according to the 2008 Census Bureau. However a single unemployed mother in Michigan has been, and is currently a huge growing issue. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the highest unemployed mothers are the minority, African Americans women, and Hispanic women. The report stated which single unemployed African American mothers increase within June till July from 11.8 percent to 12.9 percent; whereas the statistics for single unemployed Hispanics were 11 percent to 12.1 percent. The following statistics is based within the demographic population of the state of Michigan. However when you break the statistics down to a city, the numbers seems closer to reality. In saying you’re able to comprehend the issue at hand a bit more Maternal and Infant Well-Being Michigan. (2011, July 8). Gathered Information about the Population Statistics on single unemployed mothers within in the city of Grand Rapids Michigan reports, from the Institute for Research on Poverty states that the increase of poverty is rising extremely high in Grand Rapids. The League of Human Services states that 40% of births in Grand Rapids are to unwed mothers researched in 2010. However the percentage has increased from 2010 to 2012 by 20 percent. This goes into explaining the demographics further, in which reports out of every 3 births, 2 of which are to an unwed moms aging in her early 20’s Mothers by the Numbers. (2012, September 17). Demographics effects the HealthCare market According to the Kids Count of Michigan, unmarried woman are more likely to give birth into poverty, born in poverty may lead to health problems as well as educational problems. Living within poverty affects the person enduring the process as well as others. Being poor and less unfortunate affects the healthcare economy, by increasing the dollar amount for healthcare coverage. Not only does it increase the dollar amount for covering services/ treatments for those that are not able to afford, but it also puts a demand on the services, the physicians, and providers. The increase of Medicaid is looking as if we may enter a debt that no one is ready for. The demand for healthcare is vital, the government is doing the best to their ability, and however it is making younger people with a job work harder. As a result of them working harder, the taxes they pay into is going to those that are less fortunate. In my opinion to this topic, I’m fearful that the government is paying close a ttention to our debt and healthcare needs, and am totally excluding the attention our education needs. Overall the general effect of single unemployed mothers have on the healthcare market is that, because of the current demographics of the population the healthcare market has to work harder to stay out of debt. Changes in the population may help the healthcare market In 2009 Obama stated that he wanted to set up a plan to target the Department of Education to increase the financial aid packages for unemployed people so that they can get ahead, while still unemployed. The plan was to increase the pell-grant, so that the people that qualify can have extra funds to care for other things such as medical and housing expenses. The pell-grant was to increase from $500 to $5,350 as of May 2009. It three years later and Obama kept his word, however it has not drastically made a difference in Michigan. Michigan has made changes far as programs reaching out to help single unemployed mothers, such as Michigan Works/educational programs, food assistance programs, housing assistance, and also funding to cover child care expenses. Michigan Works is an education program that provides educational job trainings, skill building, it is an overall resource center. The food assistant program provided by the Human Services grant, is a program in which provides an additional funds to those that qualify for more food funding for their child within the school year, as well as the summer. Housing assistant is a program that provides housing expense vouchers, to cover the funding of rent to those that qualify. However this particular program is tedious, the waiting list to receive such a voucher is extremely high, the wait on some list are years behind. So in saying the changes that have been made are not helping the healthcare market by much. Identify HealthCare Related Changes Some changes that have been identified within Grand Rapids due to the issue of single unemployed mothers are longer lines in the emergency rooms, the increase amount of citizens on Medicaid, the increase amount of discrimination from providers because of Medicaid, and lastly the cost of them both. The increase of emergency room visits is due to the fact that so many people lack healthcare coverage, in a result of the E.R visit is due to having no family physician. The second healthcare related change that has been identified is, the increasing amount of citizens applying for Medicaid. The demand of Medicaid is so high, that the government is screening everyone to figure out who needs the assistant the most. Can you imagine someone getting declined for coverage, due to the fact that the government may assume that he or she can afford to pay other healthcare insurance rather than governmental assistance? What if this person is overlooked and their assistance went to an illegal immigrant, but in actuality they really needed the help, but were overlooked! Providers are now discriminating against those that have Medicaid. Providers are screening the intake of those that have governmental funding due to the fact that the expenses the government is willing to pay, is far from the rate they charge. So in saying when they accept a patient who has Medicaid they are losing money Michigan State Medical Society Legislative Meeting (2013, February 13). A Chronic Disease Wellness Program Conducting a chronic disease wellness program may affect the demographic cost, in a positive way. Most wellness programs are free of charge, so it would not hurt for a single unemployed mom to attend a program of such. The program of educating mothers of such a thing may bring the healthcare cost down. Practicing good eating and exercising habits may bring the emergency visits down, in which will bring the demand of services down. Not only is this programming an incentive for the economy, but it is also a networking incentive for employment. When people gather together you may not know who is among you that can help the next person. Marketing Needs Dealing with such a demographic as this, marketing to this type of population tells us that it would have to be creative. Marketing by telephone or the internet may be tricking, due to the fact that the population is a single unemployed parent. Having a telephone and or the internet is not at the top of the priority list, so in saying many may not posse these things. So advertising and marketing should be by mail, on the news, and visual billboards. Addressing Challenges to the population The society could continue to express the issues about single unemployed mothers. Not only to continue to get the word out about the struggle their enduring but stressing the fact that employment is needed in this area of Grand Rapids Michigan. In conclusion, it is noble to help those in need. Being a mother is a tough job at hand, but think for a second about a mother that is unemployed as well as a mother with an absent parent; the issue is many within one. The state of Michigan is experiencing an all-time high increase of unemployed people, suffering in poverty. The question at hand is how the demographic issue is affecting the society, relatively the healthcare market. The moral of the reading is how can you play a part or how can u be a servant of God and help those who are less fortunate than you? Reference Page Unemployment hits single mothers, minority women hardest. (2010, August 24). Retrieved from MLIVE Grand Rapids Press website: http://www.mlive.com/news/grandrapids/index.ssf/2010/08/unemployment_hits_single_mothe.html Michigan State Medical Society Legislative Meeting. (2013, February 13). Retrieved from Kent County Medical Society Allience website: http://www.kcmsalliance.org/legislative.html Mothers by the Numbers. (2012, September 17). Retrieved from Info Please website: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/momcensus1.html Maternal and Infant Well-Being Michigan. (2011, July 8). Retrieved from Institute of Research Poverty website: http://www.irp.wisc.edu/dispatch/2011/07/08/maternal-and-infant-well-being-michigan

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).

Is the Operation of Auditing Necessary? Essay examples -- Business Eth

[IS THE OPERATION OF AUDITS NECESSARY?] [We need to understand that audit is about achieving customer satisfaction in order to gain repeat business and overall increase company revenue.] What is business ethics? The ethics of a particular business can be diverse. Business ethics is the behavior that a business devotes to in its daily dealings with the world. Auditing is the analysis and inspection of the financial accounts/records whether or not a company has a qualified accountant and procedures of a firm or organization. This is necessary to gain a fair information on the company’s financial statements. With its auditing, potential investors and creditors can look at the financial statements to decide whether to invest in a business or not. Moreover, auditing is important as it also protects the public from scams and corrupt business procedures. So, is an audit process required? Yes, I believe it is an essential part for every business’s ethics, which is literally in order to do the right thing and guide how they should behave regarded as moral values. Many businesses have gotten a bad reputation by behaving unethically in order to survive in this competitive age. Some people may argue that most businesses are just interested in making money, which could be viewed as capitalism. It is not wrong to earn money in itself. This is the reason and the manner all companies exist. And, some companies actually are not aware of the importance of its auditing. They just think that it’s a waste of money and time. This aspect is the major drawback in these companies as customer doesn’t depend on these companies for long and their business is affected in long terms. They need to understand that an audit is about achieving customer sat... ...ing-reference/internal-auditing Kana Inagaki, Japan Prosecutors Charge Olympus, Executives. Wall Street Journal, March 7, 2012 Paine, L. S.: 1994, Managing for Organizational Integrity. Harvard Business Review (March-April), 106–117. W. Dunfee and Patricia Werhane., Report on Business Ethics Thomas in North America What Is The Importance Of Audit, And Its Advantages & Disadvantages?, http://www.blurtit.com/q678572.html Singh, Preeti. "Auditing Scam in Jagan Reddy's Firm, Nov.-Dec. 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. . (16). Time (2002) The End of Arthur Andersen? Retrieved April 19, 2003 from the World Wide Web: http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,216386,00.html "The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002." The Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002. Web. 01 Apr. 2012. .

Brave New World Speech

In 1932, a prophetic young novelist warned with cautioning irony, of a genetically engineered dystopian society. He warned of a world where man had conquered nature, where individualism had fallen to conformity and where political power had achieved total social control. He warned of an age where God, poetry, passion and most of all freedom had disappeared from right under humanity's nose. And finally, he warned of a time when civilization had seemingly turned into robotic life forms, lacking any clear understanding of morals or ethics – it had become essentially soulless. Read this  Respiratory Activity In this make-believe universe, mankind had succeeded in eliminating disease, aggression, war and suffering. This Brave New World had achieved community, identity, stability and a near universal contentment only to be inhabited by creatures of human shape but stunted humanity. Esteemed colleagues of the scientific world, I am here to inform you that this once distant future has now arrived right at our very doorstep. The question I propose is: What do we do about it? The Pill. Invitro Fertilisation. Bottled embryos. Surrogate wombs. Organ harvesting. Brain implants. Ritalin for the young, Viagra for the old and Prozac for everyone in between. But, out of all these scientific innovations, I proclaim that genetic engineering poses the greatest threat to our way of life. Genetic engineering is what I see as an unbridled journey down an incredibly slippery slope. I warn you today, that human procreation is steadily being replaced by the idea of ‘manufacturing' our progeny. Unless this concept is reversed, mankind's movement toward Aldous Huxley's Hatcheries and Michael Bay's Island must surely prove irrevocable. Given the intricacies of the human mind, we doubtless possess the potential for reproducing, someday, to the exact specifications, a human person. But should we? Should we really take the first step? Should we really abandon the old-fashioned genetic roulette of sexual reproduction and replace the variegated human race with identical replicas of carefully chosen, ideal human genotypes? So far the scientific world has said no. Moreover, we have witnessed an enthralling revolution in history, in which the rapid advancement of technology has allowed us to push back the constraints of human existence. I am of course, talking about the birth of Dolly the sheep. Now Dolly is no ordinary sheep. Yes, she may look like one and act no different to her fellows in the flock, but Dolly was cloned – cloned only nine short years ago. They said for centuries that it could never be done; that it was just not possible, and tampering with DNA would only lead to expected failure. But we did it barely seven decades after the publication of Huxley's frightening foresight. After Dolly's conception, the whole world was thrown into a raging whirlpool of fear and anxiety, enquiring just how long it would be before humans were subjected to the same fate. For now, ethicists have taken the reigns in this debate and have stood firm against any form of human genetic engineering support. But the colossal wheel of science is forever turning and this breakthrough scientific sensation has reminded us that it cannot simply be stopped. Thus, the importance of ethical boundaries must be continually stressed and highlighted. As a man of science, I am not here to dissuade you from pursuing scientific grandeur. I am only here to alert you of the abhorrent effects that will no doubt present themselves to humanity should the unrestrained research of cloning continue. Now, what is at issue is nothing less than whether procreation is going to remain human, whether children are going to be made rather than begotten, and whether it is the right choice, humanly speaking, to say yes to the road which leads, at best, to the dehumanized rationality of Brave New World. What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is not business as usual, to be fretted about for a while and then given our seal of approval; not the least because it appears to be different. Instead, the future of humanity may hang in the balance. I am talking to you about a decision whose consequences will undoubtedly affect your children and your children's children. The debate regarding genetic engineering is much more than just an argument about one more step in assisted reproduction. This is in actuality one of those critical moments where the human race gets a chance to think about the bigger picture – the much bigger picture. I'm not just speaking of genetics and what is the meaning of mother and father or kinship, but also the whole relationship between science and society and our future attitude towards technology. Cloning provides an occasion as well as the urgent necessity of deciding whether we shall be slaves of an unregulated process and ultimately its artefacts or whether we shall remain free individuals to guide our techniques towards the enhancement of human dignity. After all it was Huxley himself who quoted: ‘Every discovery in science is potentially subversive; even science must sometimes be treated as a possible enemy'. You may disregard this speech as nothing more than mere scare-tactics, but am I really that foolish to question a world built on the foundations of totalitarianism and complete control. Ladies and gentlemen, have you forgotten the rise and fall of Communism, the movements of both Nazism and Stalinism as well the ‘one-child policy' enforced by the Chinese government? In this age of entertainment, when philosophical and theological questions are pushed aside as too difficult or too deep, cloning brings us face to face with our perception of what it means to be human and makes us confront both the privileges and limitations of life itself. We live in a consumerist society where the relentless pursuit of youth has already enslaved the minds of the Western world. We want to live longer, be happier, appear more ‘beautiful' and own as much materialistic ‘junk' as we possibly can. The idea of ‘ageing gracefully' is thrown out the window and replaced by the new and improved concept of cosmetic surgery and designer babies. Truly, we do seem to have accepted the Brave New World belief that â€Å"ending is better than mending†. What we have is never enough. We say that globalisation within the last fifty years has become the pinnacle agent of socialisation, but at what cost to our future? It looks as though the Big-Brother style binding of the mass media has only aided in making us feel lonelier and more dissatisfied with our very existence. This dog-eat-dog world has wrongly underpinned the notion that each man is in control of his own universe. As people of science, it is essential we realise who has the authority to control who. A most memorable Huxley quote is: â€Å"The greater a man's talent, the greater is his power to lead astray†. I strongly urge you to look at these past examples of repression and tyranny as valuable lessons on what eventuates when substantial power is given to only a select few. Finally it must be said, that at the end of the day, I find cloning morally and aesthetically completely unacceptable. Perhaps at the heart of my repugnance is a curious paradox, asking why it is that although it would be fun to have a Beethoven, Marilyn Monroe or Einstein living on my block, the idea of having hundreds or thousands of their replicas in town is an absolute nightmare? The reason, I propose, is the generally shared belief in the uniqueness of our human soul. Even though the soul is incorporeal and in truth has little relevance to the laboratory, its value to the majority of humankind, is still of utmost importance. By perfecting the technique of genetic engineering you are unfairly playing the role of God. Who are you to decide which genetic sins are capital offences against the Holy Ghost of Health? And yet, those in favour of cloning claim that it is nothing more than an extension of what breeders of plants and animals had been doing for thousands of years and, indeed, what nature itself did through evolution. They argue that to oppose human genetic engineering, is to betray the western dream of the City of God. All utopian visionaries, from Thomas More to Karl Marx, think of their perfect societies as being populated not by men but by angels that embody all of the best and none of the worst human attributes – comparable to that of an Alpha Plus. So I shall leave you to think of this: Today we are quick to notice dangers to life, risks of discrimination or exploitation of the poor and the interferences with anyone's pursuit of pleasure, but we are obliviously ignorant to recognize threats to our own human dignity and to ways in which the very sanctity of life is placed in danger. The future possibilities in the world of science are incredible; however the need for caution in the field of genetic engineering research is essential if we want to continue owning personal freedom. It was established by Aldous Huxley that â€Å"it is only by means of the sciences of life, that the quality of life can be radically changed†. Even though our Prozac is not yet the Brave New World's ‘soma', our dividing of human embryos is not exactly ‘Bokanovskification' and our MTV is not quite the ‘feelies', the similarity between Huxley's fictional world and ours is disquieting, especially since I believe that our technology has not yet reached its bio-technological peak. Just remember, the admirable actions that men perform can be made complete only by the actions they refuse to pursue.

Samsung and apple market Essays

Samsung and apple market Essays Samsung and apple market Essay Samsung and apple market Essay Buyer behavior with the net profit of 7. 8 trillion won in the April to June quarter, after the launched of flagship galaxy so smartened, Samsung becomes the worlds largest smartened maker, as the most profitable mobile phone company. According to DC, global smartened shipments totaled 237. 9 million units during second quarter of 2012 and 2013, Samsung has overtaken apple in its market share of( Samsung, 32. 2% and apple, 16. % ) in the year of 2012 and in the year of 2013 (Samsung, 30. 4% and apple, 13. 1% ). Reported from international business times, Samsung so appears to be faring well in ales, from the released of so to international markets in late April, they have sold 10 millions in less than 1 month and able to sold more than 20 millions handsets in the second month. It is 1. 7 times faster selling rates than previous so. Life companion, live in a world of infinite possibilities. With more features and benefits, SO differentiate itself with their new MAILED screen technology and various features like high offence video coding, battery support wireless charging through IQ standard, LET advanced network, and a 13-megalith auto-focus camera that features a seaside illuminated sensor, LED flash, and IPPP video recording, also with the support of their quad-core and ACTA-core variant hardware provide a greater graphic processing unit, and software like touching and S voice, which enable user to control the phone with floating touch or hand gestures without touching the phone. With these Samsung able to dominate and position itself as the number one smartened in android market. In the product life cycle, Initially losses may incur, as the electronic giant, Samsung able to minimize it losses in it first stage of product life cycle when establishing their new product. Followed by the growth stage, Samsung nailed the branding, marketing, and consistency battle to improve in galaxy SO. Huge amount of investment pooled in RD to expect a differentiate and innovative product after so, as well as distribution channel and branding. Being the dominator in android market, Samsung profit start to flow. Due to fierce competition from competitors, sales may eventually start to decline, innovating new products are needed in order to compete in the market. Thus beginning of the maturity stage of the products. The decline stage is where most of the product class usually dies due o low growth rate in sales. Apples phone, being the direct competitor of Samsung so, according to DC, apple is declining in their market share throughout the second quarter of 2013 and market sales has been declining as well since the released of galaxy so. However, apple still remain second in place in global smartened market share and global smartened shipments. Although phone has been overtaken by Samsung, but apples phone market position still remains rock-solid in US market. Even when Samsung released it high-profile flagship device, apple still accounted for 40. Of American smartened market in July 2013. And apple market share still leads with a 39. 9% in higher than what apple able to achieve in the same period, and also its was able to increase its market share in US from 21 . 7% to 23. 7% in the second quarter. In order to help gain market share and unit growth Apple is expected to introduce a lower- cost phone, which will make phone more affordable for more people. Apple also facing the threat of bein g the global computing market niche player if the market share still remain low or unable to get more distribution for the phone.