Christianity and Islam: Beyond the Looking Glass Essay

Christianity and Islam are two of the world’s major religions that are often perceived as largely distinct in doctrines and practices. These two, are being regarded to have contradictory principles. But is the disparity of their beliefs truly that big? To have a deeper understanding of both religions, it would be best to consider their followers in the picture. Sad to say, some people equate the Muslims with terrorists. I have personally talked to friends who are afraid to ride a plane with Muslim co-passengers in it. Are these purely misconceptions because we have already established certain schema against the Muslims? Or are there truths in it on which such beliefs originated? If we are to read Suras 2:190-193, 2:216, 4:76, 5:32-36, 7:96-99, 8:12-14, 8:59, 8:65, 9:5, 9:14, 9:23-29, 9:38-41, 9:123, 47:4, 47:35, 61:4 and 66:9, many passages in the Quran exhort Muslims to kill infidels (non-Muslims), wherever they find them (Faithfacts, 2004). Some Arabic terms are only even softened sometimes by English translators who use â€Å"fight† instead of â€Å"kill†. In fact, Osama bin Laden was quoted as saying â€Å"I was ordered to fight the people until they say there is no god but Allah, and his prophet is Muhammad† in the famous videotape discovered in Afghanistan in the late 2001 (cited in â€Å"Fundamentalism, 2004). These words echo the language in the Quran itself and such calls to violence are not merely distortions of the Quran by extreme radicals who try to twist it for their violent ends because violence is an integral part of Islam. Even Muhammad himself laid the foundation for violence as seen in his deeds and commands, which are traceable in the hadiths. Furthermore, 11 percent of the pages of the Bukhari Hadiths mention the Holy War (jihad), which is a means to use violence in order to spread faith. However, it must be realized as well that violence is not unique to Islam for even the Bible has its share of violence, particularly in the Old Testament. In fact God instructs the Israelites coming out of Egypt to take over the land Christianity and Islam 2 of Canaan and kill all the inhabitants. There is a difference though between this and the Quranic violence because the Bible makes it clear that the Canaanite society deserved it as it was completely polluted by their wretchedly evil practices, including the horrible practice of child sacrifice as found in Deuteronomy 9:1-6, 12:29-31, 18:9-14, 1 Kings 14:24, Chronicles 33: 1-9, Ezra 9:11 (Faithfacts, 2004). Cases like these are particularly limited for a particular purpose established by God unlike the Quran, where we encounter general commands to kill and destroy the enemies of Islam that are applicable for all times, places and groups. Even then the fact remains that none of these religions are spared from committing violence, which proves that their disparity is not that big at all (cited in â€Å"Fundamentalism†, 2004). Another thing to consider is the difference in the practices and teachings of the subject religions’ prophets – Jesus of Christianity and Muhammad of Islam. If the latter has led at least 27 bloody invasions, assassinated many of his opponents during his lifetime and executed hundreds of captured men in his battle against the Quraiza Jews, Jesus’ teachings have remained consistent in maintaining its tone of peace, service, love and humility as found in the biblical passages that could be cited in Mathew 5:1-12, 5:43-44, 9:36, 19:30, 26:50-52, Mark 9:35, Luke 6:27-36, 9:54-55, 10:30-37, 22: 49-51, 23:32-34, John 10:7-18, 13:1-17, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 2:6-8, 1 Thessalonian 5:15, and 1 Peter 3:8-9 (The New Testament, 2008). There is nothing like the Christian concept of â€Å"love your enemies† or â€Å"turn your other cheek† (Luke 6:27-37) that can be found in Islam. While Christianity teaches its believers to love their neighbors as themselves (Matthew 19:19), the Quran instructs its followers not to even take Christians or Jews as friends (Suras 3:118, 5:51, 60:1-3). Jesus was even aware of this when he warned, â€Å"the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God† as cited in John 16:2-4 (The New Testament, 2008). Another notable point is the difference in both religions’ concept of charity. their followers to give alms to the poor but unlike the biblical concept where charity is not limited to any group (cited in â€Å"Luke† 10:30-37), the Muslims are taught to give alms to the Muslim poor only (cited in â€Å"Islam†, 2008). The two religions also have differences in their concept of justice and forgiveness. In the teachings of the New Testament as cited in Matthew 6:12, 14-15, the act of forgiveness is being given exceptional emphasis, â€Å"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses†. In the teachings of Islam as cited in Sura 5:38 â€Å"As for the man who steals and the woman who steals, cut of their hands as a punishment for what they have earned, an exemplary punishment from Allah; and Allah is Mighty, Wise†. Muslims do this even to their children if they steal out of hunger. They would not show compassion and feed the child but would instead sever their hands and wrists to drive home the lessons of Allah. Likewise, in the Old Testament as cited in Leviticus 19:11, â€Å"Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie to one another. If we analyze the above teachings, it is evident that both religions consider stealing as evil however, the Christians are more compassionate and subtle in dealing with it since the teachings of Jesus’ wants his followers to be forgiving. Another interesting difference is on how the two religions treat women and marriage. In Islam, a man can have up to four wives at the same time (Sura 4:3) and has the right to beat his disobedient wife until she obeys (Sura 4:34, Bukhari 8:68). Even Muhammad himself had thirteen wives, two concubines, and four women of uncertain relationships. (cited in â€Å"Fundamentalism†, 2004). In the teachings of Christianity, Jesus insisted on the sanctity of marriage (Mark 10:5-12), thus, in the Christian’s current practice, a couple has to undergo the process of divorce before they are allowed to remarry legally. Christianity also condones the abuse of women. The Christian teachings consider the fairness of men and women Christianity and Islam 4 (Matthew 5:32, 1 Corinthians 11:11-12, Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 5:25-33) unlike that of Islam, which does not give the wife the right to divorce her husband (Sura 2: 228). Islam even teaches that majority of the people in hell are women (Bukhari 1:28, 1:301, and 2:161). Christianity and Islam also differ in the way they consider the nature of God. While the former teaches that God is a Trinity – one God revealed in three persons or manifestations, Islam denies vehemently the doctrine and even considers it as blasphemy (Suras 4:171, 5:17, 5:72-75). However, it is interesting to note that Islam has a high regard of Jesus. What it denies is his divinity, and that he is the Son of God (Suras 9:30, 10:68, 19:35, 43:81-83). Another difference is that the God of the Bible is holy – perfect in all respects: moral, just, faithful, loving, all-knowing etc. (Hebrews 7:26), while the God of Quran does not always come as holy. He changes his mind, promises and does not offer assurance of salvation (Suras 4:116, 5:18, 9:15). In other words, he is arbitrary (cited in â€Å"Faitfacts†, 2004). Both religions also vary in their concept of salvation and heaven. Christianity teaches us that man cannot earn salvation. We need a savior to save us from sin thus, he sent Jesus, his only begotten son. As it says in the Bible â€Å"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. † (Isaiah 64: 5-7) â€Å"But God demonstrated his love for us in this: while we were still sinners,Christ died for us. † (Romans 5:8). This belief is totally denied by Islam, even Jesus’ crucifixion (Sura 4:157). On the concept of heaven, the Muslim considers the paradise as a carnal and sensual place, where gorgeous palaces are found and wine are abundant. Christians, on the other hand see it as a place of bliss, where pain, and tears will be gone and men, women, and children will be treated equally. In the previous discussions, we have already noted several differences on the two religions, which in some instances also meet each other. However, we must also note that they are not just different. If we are to take a look at the beliefs of Christians and Muslims, we can see Christianity and Islam 5 that they have some commonalities. Both religions agree in some aspects: that there is one God who created the universe and is sovereign in the lives of men; God is the source of justice and morality; that his ultimate justice is dispensed via life after death in heaven and hell, and that things like pornography and unchaste living are pollutants to the society (cited in â€Å"faithfacts†, 2008). In other words, both religions believed in a supreme being, whether God or Allah. There is also an agreement that he is the creator of all things. Their teachings both acknowledge that there is good and evil, where the former is rewarded and the latter is punished. The forms of reward though, and punishment vary in both religions. Both also emphasizes that following the teachings would let the person experience heaven when he dies. It is clear that Christianity and Islam are not that different at all, neither is Islam an evil belief. The latter may have emphasized the role of violence in its teachings, but it still depends on how such is being interpreted and carried out. They might differ in many ways: nature of God; concept of justice; forgiveness and more, but we still could not discount the fact that both are religions with followers that are humans, Christians and Muslims, no matter what doctrines they follow, also need respect. They may not necessarily agree with each other but there is still a point of agreement as exemplified by their similarities. The issue is therefore, not a question of which belief is right a wrong, nor is it about superiority or inferiority. What matters most is that we are guided by our beliefs and in doing this, we do not do actions that would harm the other. References Daniel, Abu Yusuf. , Isma’il Kaka, Abu Maryam. , & Squires Robert, Abu Iman. (n. d). Misconceptions about Islam. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from http://www.geocities.com/window2islam/miscon.html

Volunteering and Community Involvement

Volunteering is a fulfilling experience. Many people do not take the opportunity to pursue volunteer pursuits for a variety of reasons. In fact, for most people, it is a time-consuming endeavor. Personally, I began my volunteer experience while I was a high school student as a reading tutor for elementary students. Ever since that first volunteering experience, I pursued any volunteer opportunity available to me – from helping Somalian students with homework to being a Big Brother to a fourth grade student.So why should we volunteer? Why should we involve ourselves in an experience that does not have any financial value, is time-consuming and the motives are generally negative and wrong? The answer is clear: We should volunteer to support the general welfare of our communities and world. First, we should volunteer so we can garner the benefits through community involvement. Volunteering is not just a fulfilling experience – it is a chance for an individual to be a part of their community.Community involvement is a great way to build a resume and volunteer positions can be a great form of on-the-job training. Many skills can be obtained through the wide variety of volunteer opportunities available. Another positive to volunteering is the chance to learn about the diverse communities in our society. Tolerance is bred through understanding. When we understand the different cultures in the communities around us, then we are able to accept the differences between us.Also, a volunteer can bring their personal skills and enthusiasm to community sites, which in turn will positively impact other lives, as well as their own. However, some communities do not offer the unique diversity setting as a volunteering option; therefore a person must look to other positive qualities to volunteering. Another positive of volunteer work is the enhancement of education and development of a career network. One of the best ways to learn is through experience; as a result, volunteering is a great way to enhance skills.There is no better way to gain knowledge than to work at an organization hand-picked to fit personal needs and interests. Many educational experiences cannot be taught in a classroom. Additionally, a career network can be established through volunteering. Networking is an incredibly important part of searching for jobs and building careers. Community involvement is one of the best ways to make connections and foster relationships that do just that. Not only will a network be formed, many people who volunteer at an organization are offered permanent positions.If the volunteer is a student who recently graduated from college, this is an excellent way to start a career. However, if the lack of pay is a drawback; consider one more thing – variety. The variety of volunteer opportunities is endless. Volunteering can range from reading to non-English speaking children to building houses for the poor and disenfranchised. Natural disasters create many volunteer experiences in which an individual can travel to remote locations in order to clean up after a disaster, meanwhile creating relationships with a variety of people.Long-lasting friendships are created through volunteering because each person values their rewarding work. Volunteers are surrounded with like-minded people and see the positive change they are making on their society and world. Although volunteering is not a paid position; it is evident that many life skills are gained from volunteering which wealth cannot provide. Yes, work without pay can be a hard thing to do. However, the experiences gained from volunteering should off-set that disadvantage.From community involvement to development of a career network, it is clear that volunteering is a fulfilling experience. Creating long-lasting friendships, traveling to remote locations and seeing the fruits of your labor are additional reasons why volunteering is something to consider. The volunteer opportun ites are endless as long as the personal motives are positive and good. As Mahatma Gandhi said: â€Å"Be the change you want to see in the world† – be that change.

Exemption of military from environmental conservation Research Paper

Exemption of military from environmental conservation - Research Paper Example This is done by proper legislation through acts of parliament, formation of organizations that ensure protection of endangered species and supporting world organizations whose mandate is to protect the environment. In the process of environmental conservation, an important question about the military involvement is environmental conservation normally surface. Scholars like Benedict Cohen and Jamie Clark have been able to argue out ideas on the military involvement in environmental conservation. Indeed, the issue of environmental conservation should be taken with the seriousness it deserves hence no person or personality should be exempted in the efforts of environmental conservation. Background information Environment is the conditions or the surroundings through which a human being, plant or animal operates. It involves the air, the waters, the soil, forests, etc. The environment is beneficial because it is a habitat to living things, source of food for animals, source of medicine and provides beautiful scenery during man’s relaxation. Over the past century, the military activities have been strongly linked to being insensitive to the conservation of the environment. Research through books, journals, newspaper articles and other forms of media has shown that the environmental pollution and degradation is due to the some of the military activities. The military may affect the environment unwillingly such as during combat or even during the training and testing sessions. In the training sessions and even live combat, the military use weapons, which release harmful chemicals to the environment (Bowden, 2004). These chemicals pollute the environment hence leads to death of biodiver sity. In addition, the contaminated air may lead to increase in temperatures hence tropical diseases like malaria become widespread. Moreover, it has been proven that the radiation caused due to nuclear weaponry causes faster multiplication of body cells hence development of cancer. Thus the effect caused by military activities are more severe that leave the question should the military be exempt from environmental conservation. Method To address the issue, I will conduct a review of related research from the books, journals, newspaper articles and other forms of media. The review will give information on various scholarly materials that have researched on the issue. The findings will be summarized to give the results that on whether military should be exempt from environmental regulations. Literature review Land degradation is the deterioration of top soil in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by one or more combinations of human-induced methods. The explosi ves used during testing or live combats affect the nature of the land by creating large dents in the ground (Schwartz, 2006). These dents accumulate water hence the land becomes unsuitable for agriculture. In addition, the heat generated by the explosives kills the microorganisms, which are responsible for the fertility and aeration of the soil. These lands are left bear hence no agricultural activities can take place. According to Schwarts (2006), military activities during either war or practice may result into leaving some dangerous substances in the environment. These substances may include radiations, unexploded ammunitions, burning oil wells etc. These environments are risky for

Equity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Equity - Essay Example Executive Summary: Owens & Minor Inc. Ticker: OMI Recommendation: Hold Price: $29.78 on 31.03.2010 Price target one year: $34.95 Highlights: A fortune 500 company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Wide distribution network throughout the United States. The provider of the broadest selection of branded products. Unique, superior products are offered through non competitive partnerships with leading manufacturers of health care products through cost effective product line labeled Medichoice, OM direct etc. Supplier assortment, community participation and sustainability are the guiding principles of the firm. Hospitals and Ambulatory surgery centers are the principal customers of the firm. Financial Summary: Market capitalization of $ 2.04 billion in 31.3.2010. The first quarter of 2010 saw an increase in the net income of the firm by 98% as compared to the previous year. Operating earnings in the firm increased by 23.3% as compared to the first quarter in the previous year 2009. Cas h and cash equivalents as on 31.03.2010 was $ 146.4 million. A review of the firm’s earning growth rate indicates an average earning growth of 5.4% over the past ten years. Dividend yield of the stock of the firm as on 31.03.2010 was 2.1%. Qualitative analysis: Company profile and industry overview: Owens & Minor makes sure hospitals are organized for main surgeries. â€Å"Its services include logistics, supplier management; analytics inventory management, outsourced resource management, clinical supply management, and business process consulting† (Owens & Minor Inc (OMI: New York) Par. 1). A primary dispenser of surgical and medical supplies, the industry takes about 200,000 products from 1,200 producers. Products distributed by Owens & Minor contain surgical dressings, intravenous and endoscope products, syringes, needles, sterile procedure trays, gowns, sutures and gloves. Owens & Minor consumers are chiefly health systems and hospitals and the purchasing associatio ns that serve them. It distributes products to about 4,400 health care contributors from above 50 distribution places from corner to corner the US. SWOT analysis: Strength: Owens & Minor offers a range of information investigation tools and consulting services and outsourced resource management. Weakness: In the recent times, their overall profits are down. Opportunities: The opportunities open to the Owens & Minor are measured in terms of its future development prospects. Threats: The company needs to evaluate prospective partners, vendors and suppliers. Porters 5 Competitive Forces: Porters 5 competitive forces consist of supplier power, threat of new entrants, and threat of substitutes, degree of revelry and buyer power of Owens & Minor. The healthcare supply chain expertise, joined with a continued responsibility to investing in information technologies and to bring a bounty of benefits to health provider customers and supplier partners alike. Threat of new entrants is a probabi lity of reaction from existing competitors and barriers to entry of the Owens & Minor. It consists of economies of scale, product differentiation, capital requirements and governmental and legal barriers of the Owens & Minor. Major Owners: Table 1 shows the major owners of Owens & Minor. Financial Statements Analysis: Ratio Analysis: I. Short term solvency or liquidity ratios a) Current ratio: Current ratio is defined as ratio of current assets to current liabilities. It is computed as follows. Current

Fund Transfer Pricing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fund Transfer Pricing - Essay Example A method used to measure the performance and profitability of banks, therefore, should put into consideration the deposits and loans by banks thus considering the net interest. FTP is a management control technique that is used to calculate the true NIL component of profitability of business units, products, portfolios, and customers (Suresh 2010). It is used to calculate the cost of funding assets and credit for funds provided inform of deposits. This is mainly the net interest which is used in the income statement and balance sheet that consists of loans generated on the asset side and funds purchased from transfer funds pool on the liability side. Fund transfer pricing is a method that banks use to internally measure, allocate and assign profit contribution value to funds collected from customer deposit, given out as loans to customers (Singh & Dutta 2013). Therefore, FTP is a component in measuring the profitability of banks since the net interest margins arrived at, as a result, is what contributes to the determination of performance and profitability of banks. FTP reflects perspective market prices, including maturities and repricing characteristics of corresponding assets and liabilities (Greuning & Brajovic 2003). It, therefore, helps the banks to determine the value of their assets in the capital markets and this further helps the banks in their investment decisions that are meant to increase their lending capacity. In addition, FTP places cost of use of capital inherent in the extension of credit to an obligor (Gross, 2006). In this way, it determines the profitability of customers, which helps the banks in making lending decisions. FTP helps to calculate the cost of the portfolio, which helps the bank in making loans and lending decisions (Saita 2007). FTP determines a banking portfolio and transfer prices that apply to loans and deposit collection (Blessis 2014). Determination of portfolio helps banks to determine how much they can lend.

Examine the shifting values of civil liberties in the new millennium Research Paper

Examine the shifting values of civil liberties in the new millennium that has seen greater public tolerance of government surveillance and record-keeping - Research Paper Example There have been several events that have triggered the re-evaluation of the way civil privacy protection is balanced with police surveillance. During the period that has passed after the terrorist attack of 9/11, there have been diverse changes being implemented in the technological advances; federal law and the interpretation of privacy safeguards by the courts have created an expansion in the ways through which the police may facilitate surveillance of different civil activities or in the ways through which they can frisk citizens in public places for any particular reason. The rationale of this article is to scrutinize the different factors that may promote the escalation of police surveillance with regards to the type of effects that police surveillance has on civil life and privacy rights while also drawing conclusions on newspaper reports on the situations whereby issues have been raised in regards to stop-and-frisk policy. (http://www.surveillance-and-society.org/articles4 (3) /escalating.pdf‎) The way people view privacy and surveillance have been dramatically altered over the years and the change has been more evident in the balance between individual privacy rights and police surveillance authority. A significant section of the American public attributes the change to the 9/11 event to have catalyzed the search authority that has been related to the police surveillance. Surveillance has been modified and made quite inclusive of elements that were not previously connected to threat warnings, and with the advances made in the technology platform, a thin line has to be drawn as to what is acceptable by law and what should be considered as interference with the rights of an individual. Any form of threat to the safety of the American public has been defined in the constitution with the recommendations on the specific ways through which these issues of threat to national security have to be handled

Why do Economies Grow Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why do Economies Grow - Essay Example Here, the capital essentially includes all production tools. More work was done by other researchers after Solow to expand his mathematical model, as a result of which, certain other factors were also found to be the driving factors of a nation’s economy. Such factors include but are not limited to human capital and land. The validity of information generated by Solow can be estimated from the fact that he was awarded â€Å"the 1987 Nobel Prize in economics† (Hardesty, 2011). Technology plays an important role in boosting the economy of a country. The following chart shows how the listed countries’ economy grew from 1973 till 2007: Economic growth in different countries from 1973 to 2007 (Kenworthy, 2011). It can be seen in the chart above that certain countries showed a greater growth of economy as compared to others in the mentioned duration. â€Å"One reason is â€Å"catch-up†: partly because they could borrow technology from the leaders, countries tha t began with a lower per capita GDP tended to grow more rapidly† (Kenworthy, 2011). Sustainability of economic growth depends on several factors like the property market, mortgage trends and interest rates etc.

Challenges and security issues Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Challenges and security issues - Research Paper Example Therefore, the organization failed to follow the standards laid down in testing the product before releasing it to the market. That led to the soft ware problem. Laudon (2011) says that in regard to technology, MacAfee’s system failed to detect possible dangers the product was posing to consumers using the windows XP and Service Pack 3, which was widely used in desktop PC configuration. In this case, technological factors played a significant role in MacAfee’s soft ware problem. Question 2 MacAfee lost a significant number of its customers as a result of the software problem. Actually, the company lost loyalty of its key clients after their computers crushed as a result of antivirus updates. According to Laudon (2011), the company lost most of its customers as a result of management’s sluggish response to the crisis, and the company’s initial effort to ignore the issue’s impact to the consumers. MacAfee’s reputation in the corporate business environment was dented as a result of its misleading reaction to the technical hitches on its systems. On the other hand, consumers’ businesses were affected as a result of their computers being crippled. According to Laudon (2011), this slowed down the normal operation of consumers’ businesses; hence leading to loses and idle time in labor. ... This was contrary to the fact that a significant number of clients were affected. Question 4 MacAfee’s management should come up with a set of standards meant to ensure adherence to testing procedures. This will facilitate efforts meant to determining a product’s quality before being released into the market. According to Laudon (2011), this will help to curb any deterrent effect a product may have on consumers. Chapter 8: How Secure is the Cloud Question 1 With respect to the security problem of tracking unauthorized activity, this can be controlled using a cloud vendor. According to Laudon (2011), this is a public company whose mandatory requirement by law is to disclose how it manages information. On the other hand, the problem can be controlled by use of cloud vendor that allow subscribers to choose where their cloud computing work takes place. Question 2 People who contribute to security problems in the cloud include those who hack into data bases and try to access companies’ information. They do this despite the fact that information stored within the subject databases is unauthorized to them. According to Laudon (2011), these people pose a security threat to companies’ information as they subject them to unauthorized alterations. In addition, organizations contribute to unauthorized access as they fail to pay attention to their security practices. Laudon (2011) agrees that they fail to secure their infrastructure. Lastly, the high cost of technology contributes to security problems. That is because of the dynamics and high costs associated with advanced technology. Most firms cannot afford secure systems for them to store and back

A movie review of the film The Insider Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A movie review of the film The Insider - Essay Example The film revolves around two people: Wigand, who was recently fired from a tobacco corporation, and Bergman, a veteran reporter in search of a story. The bombshell that Wigand holds in his possession is the information that Chief Executive Officers of tobacco corporations – The Big Seven – had known all along that tobacco was addictive but had concealed this information from the public. From there, the story unfolded masterfully – telling in gripping fashion how the influences of money and the legal system bore down on Wigand and Bergman, all in order to suppress the truth. Wigand was even the subject of extreme character assassination and despite his attempts to live a quiet life as a professor, was always followed by the story he chose to tell. He became the subject of death threats, the FBI was on his trail, his personal life was in disarray. In the meantime, a bigger context was unfolding. There was a lawsuit poised to be filed against the Big Seven in order to recover what the State paid in medical expenses to treat tobacco-related illnesses. Two legal concepts then emerged from the movie. The first one is the concept of tortuous interference – which basically means that if two parties have an agreement, and a third party induces a party privy to and bound by that agreement to break that agreement, that third party may be made liable for damages. That legal concept is used in connect to the confidential agreement, which is the second legal concept featured in this movie. In the film, Wigand was bound by an iron-clad confidentiality agreement that he was made to sign with his former company. The movie then forces its viewers to reflect: are there limits to a confidentiality agreement? What happens when a confidentiality agreement comes into conflict with public welfare, public health, or even simply the right of the public to know? It is important to situate the movie against the larger social backdrop on which it operates. The m ovie came out in the late 1990’s – a period in history when tobacco politics had reached a crucial juncture. It was at this period that the impunity of the tobacco firms to lawsuit had ended and for the first time, they were being held liable for the addictive consequences of cigarettes. How dangerous really is tobacco? As early as 1964, the U.S. Surgeon General had come out with a landmark report that spoke of the dangers of smoking on one’s health and issued a categorical statement against its use and its spread. In an article, it was stated that: Each year three million people around the world die from tobacco-related illnesses. In the US, tobacco kills more than 400,000 people each year, and medical care for tobacco-related illnesses costs $50 billion annually. The World Health Organization projects that the yearly death toll from tobacco will rise to 10 million by the 2020swith seven million of those deaths striking economically poor countries. Of the one m illion US teens hooked each year on cigarettes, one-third or more will eventually die from tobacco-related illnesses. If current trends continue, over 200 million of today's children and teenagers around the world will lose their lives to this addictive product. (InFact: 1997) Despite these findings, the tobacco corporations have won every single legal battle against attempts to hold them accountable for putting public health in jeopardy. It is said that Philip Morris and other tobacco corporati

System Integrity and Validation Essay Example for Free

System Integrity and Validation Essay Computer assisted auditing tools and techniques CAATs is highly recommend for Kudler finer Foods. The ability to share information with clients and auditor’s is one of the selling points. The main selling point of using CAATs is that every avenue of Kudler’s accounting information system will be reviewed and will ensure Kudler Finer Foods that their system integrity is intacted as well as the validation of the system. In the brief to follow will explain why using computer technology and CAATs makes the best business sense. System Integrity and Validation Kudler Finer Foods has come to the accounting firm in search of recommendations regarding the companies, computer information system, automated process of their accounting information system, data table analysis, internal control and risk evaluation, and an audit proposal. Kudler’s recent visit was warranted by concerns of the company’s system integrity and validation. Kudler Finer Foods has an excellent rapport with the accounting firm. The accounting firm will inform Kudler on the selected auditing techniques the accounting firm will use to validate data, and their system integrity. The firm will provide an explanation of the functions of the audit productivity software, followed by an explanation of the uses in the systems design. Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques used to Validate Data and System Integrity In today’s auditing world, companies use accounting information systems to manage the companies business electronically. In the past, before computers aided in the organization of business documents, audits were conducted on paper. Audits are performed using Computer Assisted Audit Tools and Techniques (CAATTs) or Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATs). Computer assisted audit tools and techniques (CAATTs) is defined as the software used to enhance the auditor’s productivity and used to extract data and analysis. The second T in CAATTs refers to the techniques used to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the audit. The other form of computer assisted audit tools and techniques is CAAT, which has one t. Because this computer assisted audit has one t, the single t represents techniques. CAATs by definition, has the same meaning as CAATTs with the exception of enhanced auditor’s productivity and extracting data and analysis (Hunton, Bryant, Bagranoff, 2004, p. 78). Using CAATs for information technology audits consists of the auditor’s following 10- steps. Each of the steps will cover a wide area of objectives, processes, and identify different task that need to be performed. The 10- steps to using CAATs will be cover in the PowerPoint presentation. Validating data will be accomplished by running a series o f test data to ensure the system is updating and running properly. The test data is made up by the auditor to establish that the results received are the results the auditor is looking for. This particular type of test will be conducted throughout each of the systems to confirm the each system is working. The integrity of the system will also be tested in a similar style. Testing the integrity of the system occurs in step seven of the 10 step process. Function of Audit Productivity Software Audit Productivity Software aids in the individual auditor’s productivity. Audit productivity software is constructed of five different programs. The five programs start in this sequence, electronic working papers, groupware, ngagement management, reference libraries, and the program document management. Each of these programs enables the auditor’s to complete his or her personal productivity. Electronic working papers were once done manually and can be automated enabling the efficiency of the auditor’s. E-work papers enable the auditor’s to share client’s information and make changes electronically. After the auditor’s have made the appropri ate corrections GAAP compliant financial statement can be generated automatically (Hunton, Bryant, Bagranoff, 2004, p. 179). Groupware allows the clients and other auditor’s to share the information found using a couple of different programs. These programs are common groupware programs the auditor’s and their client’s use such as Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, and Microsoft Exchange. The other remaining software’s are Time and Billing, Reference Libraries, and Document Management. The remaining software’s are very important. Time and Billing affect the cash flow because business conducted may be conducted in different time zones and need to be billed correctly to receive payment on time. Reference Libraries are as they sound, company reference libraries store the company’s information is relevant to auditor’s to complete the audit throughout the companies different items. Document management allows the company to save hard copy document to files in the computer that can be viewed easily by auditor’s using the Internet. Audit productivity Software use in the Systems Design Kudler Finer Foods has a strong accounting information system in place serving three different locations. The industry specific accounting information system used by Kudler Fine Foods would benefit from the use of audit productivity software. The reason the audit productivity software would work with Kudler’s system design is because the information can be easily viewed by their auditor’s and clients using the Internet, reducing the travel time the auditors would waste traveling to each of the three location’s. Conclusion Kudler Finer Foods needs to ensure their accounting information system maintains system integrity and validation.

Comparison Of Mivan Formwork System With Conventional System Construction Essay

Comparison Of Mivan Formwork System With Conventional System Construction Essay In recent times due to globalization, the construction industry has started focusing on new innovative ways of working. The construction industry has started adopting new technologies and approaches in order to increase the overall efficiency of the project. This report is about the modern methods of construction and smart materials that can be used to improve the overall construction process. The first half of the report is on the aluminium formwork systems (Mivan System) which is used for mass housing construction. This system of aluminium forms is fast, durable, cost effective and also produces quality work which requires minimum maintenance. The second half of the report is on green roofs a smart material which is a replacement for traditional roofs. Today in this modernized world where global warming is the major concern for all countries, green roofs can be one of the innovative ways to reduce the energy consumption which ultimately helps in reducing the CO2 emissions. 1. Introduction The construction industry is one of the biggest industries in the whole world. The contribution of this industry towards the global GDP is enormous. In recent years due to globalization and advancement in technologies there has been a tremendous development in the construction industry. However despite of the boom in construction activities the scenario on the housing front remains far from satisfactory. In the countries like India and China the situation on the housing front is even worst. Due to ever increasing population in these countries there is an overgrowing demand for housing. Now keeping in view the gigantic task of providing affordable shelter to masses, adoption of modern and cost effective technology assumes greater significance. The modern methods of construction are broad range of processes and products that aims to improve business efficiency, quality, customer satisfaction, environmental performance, sustainability and the predictability of delivery timescales (Baker 33 Cross industry Group, 2006). Today there is a growing realization that the speed of construction needs to be given greater importance especially for large housing projects. For undertaking mass housing works, it is necessary to have innovative technologies which are capable of fast rate construction and are able to deliver good quality and durable structure in cost effective manner (Anon, 2010). Several systems are adopted all over the world but Mivan system has proved to be reasonably economical and capable of fast rate construction of mass housing. In this system walls and slabs are cast simultaneously at site by use of specially designed, easy to handle light weight aluminium forms (Anon, 2010). The system is far more faster than the traditional beam and column construction. However as per Sir John Egan report Rethinking Construction (1998), the commitment from major clients, from the construction industry itself and from the government is the only way forward to create and sustain the environment that is needed for significant improvement in performance, efficiency and quality of the construction. The construction projects are getting more complex in nature due to growing human endeavour and the construction industry need to respond to the unique challenges presented in front in terms of time cost and quality. Also the industry will need to respond to the major issues such as global warming and health and safety of the workers. We as a member of the construction industry will need to overcome these issues by using modern methods of construction (like Mivan System) and smart materials (like green roofs) for carrying out projects. The main objective of this report is to explore modern methods of construction and smart materials and also to evaluate their impact on the construction process in terms of time, cost and quality. In the first half of the report, the use of Mivan formwork system during the construction process is discussed while in the second half idea of using green roofs is discussed. 2. Mivan formwork System: (Aluminium formwork system) Mivan is basically an aluminium formwork system developed by the Mivan Company Ltd from Malaysia in the year 1990. The technology has been used extensively in other countries such as Europe, Gulf Countries, Asia and all other parts of the world. MIVAN technology is suitable for constructing large number of houses within short time using room size forms. In this system of formwork construction, cast in situ concrete wall and floor slabs are casted monolithically in one continuous pour. Large room sized forms for walls and floors slabs are erected at site as shown in the figure1 below. These forms are strong, easy to handle and are fabricated with accuracy. They can be used repetitively around 250 times. The frames for windows and door as well as ducts for services are placed in the form before concreting as shown in the figure 1. Staircase flights, faà §ade panels, chajjas and jails etc. and other pre-fabricated items are also integrated into the structure as shown in figure 1 and 2. This proves to be a major advantage as compared to other modern construction techniques. Figure 1: A set of Mivan formwork Figure 2: Staircase flight formwork 2.1 Comparison of Mivan formwork system with Conventional Construction The table below shows the relative comparison between the Mivan form work system and the conventional system. The comparison is made on the factors such as speed of construction, quality of construction, aesthetics, external finishes and maintenance. Factors Conventional Construction Mivan formwork system Speed of construction The speed of construction is much slower due to step by step completion of different stages of the activities such as erection of formwork, concreting and deshuttering and thereafter plastering and other finishing activities. In this system the wall and the floors are casted simultaneously in one continuous operation and also the finishing work can be started immediately, so the speed of the construction is much faster. Quality Due to conventional method of construction normal quality is obtained Superior quality is obtained due to in-situ casting of whole structure and transverse walls done in continuous operation Aesthetics In the case of conventional construction the partition walls are made up of bricks due to which the column and the beam show unsightly projections in room interiors. In case of Mivan system the partition wall and the ceiling elements are casted together due to which the interiors have neat and clean lines without unsightly projections in various corners. The wall and the ceilings also have a smooth even surface. External finishes All the external walls are made up of bricks, so it requires manual cement plastering which needs to be repainted frequently. All the external walls are made up of concrete and do not require manual cement plastering and also have smooth finishing, so this will need no frequent repainting. Maintenance The maintenance cost is too high as it requires frequent repairs of plasters of wall and ceilings, painting of outer and inner walls due to leakages. The maintenance cost is negligible as the walls and ceiling are made up of high quality concrete which do not require frequent repairs. Table 1: Comparison of Mivan Formwork System with Conventional construction 2.2 Benefits of Mivan formwork System According to Mivan (Thailand) Limited the following are the main benefits of using Mivan formwork system. 2.2.1 Speed of construction: The structure is completed much faster than the traditional formwork as a large amount of work can be completed in each daily work routine. There is no need for brick laying and plastering as all walls can be formed at the same time. Finishing work such as window fixing, wall tiling and plumbing work can be installed immediately once the concrete is casted. 2.2.2 Building strength and durability: The walls and the floor slabs are casted simultaneously so there are no weak joints. The walls are made of reinforced concrete which provides much greater stability than columns with brick walls. The wall surfaces are made of concrete which do not crack like plaster and maintains a smooth surface for much longer time. 2.2.3 Quality of finishing building: The formworks are manufactured precisely which allows the concrete to be cast to exact dimensions as designed. Services like water supply some waste pipes and electrical conduits, can be cast into the concrete where it is protected and not visible. 2.2.4 Financing cost: Fast project completion saves financing charges as the buildings can be transferred to the owners much earlier than traditional methods. 2.2.5 Efficiency and cost saving: There is no requirement of labours for building brick walls and plastering as major part of the structure is cast in concrete by small group of workers. The project can be completed in shorter time due to fast production methods which save onsite running, operating and financing cost. The formwork panels are light in weight and can be lifted manually, so there is no need of spending money for heavy cranes for lifting. Less skilled labours are required on the site as all the finishing items are prefabricated. 2.2.6 Environmental benefits: The formworks are made up of aluminium which can be reused and also can be recycled to make other products. 2.3 Case study The following is a case study which justify that incorporating Mivan formwork system in the construction project is very beneficial to the project. 2.3.1 Infinity tower- Dubai As per MFE formwork technology (2008), the Infinity Tower in Dubai is a 73 storey residential tower with a dynamic twisting shape as shown in the figure 3 below. The tower is more than 300 meter in height and has been designed by Skidmore Owings Merrill who also designed the worlds tallest tower, Burj Khalifa which is 828 meters in height. The contract was awarded to Arabtec Construction. The structural system for the tower is high strength with a reinforced concrete column superstructure that rotates with the twisting shape. In addition, each floor will accommodate a 1.08-degree twist to achieve the full 90-degree spiral. Figure 3: Infinity Tower (Source: MFE formwork technology) The tower was constructed by using a light weight aluminium formwork system. A special twisting aluminium panels were made to obtain the precise design. The tower was constructed at a speed of 8 floors per month when the site was in full flow, maintaining zero tolerance with regard to site safety. Now by referring to this case study, it is clear that the use of Mivan formwork system not only improves the quality and speed of construction but also maintains site safety. 2.4 Limitations of Mivan formwork System The following are the limitations of using Mivan formwork System Modifications are not possible as all members are cast in RCC. Concealed services become difficult due to small thickness of the components. The aluminium formworks are far more expensive than the conventional formwork. Heat of hydration is high due to shear walls. The finishing lines can be seen on concrete surfaces due to small sizes. It requires uniform planning as well as uniform elevations to be cost effective. The shrinkage cracks are likely to appear due to box type construction. The formwork can be cost effective only if it is used in symmetrical type of structure. 3. Green Roofs Green roof refers to a system of roofing that uses plant life for roof covering instead of traditional covering materials (Green Roofs Today, 2010). Department of Trade and Industry (2004) defines the smart material as a material that senses its environment and responds. Green roofs provides constant temperature throughout the year due to high degree of insulation they provide, hence they can be termed as smart materials. Green roofing has become increasingly popular in the cities as it creates additional green spaces that bring some nature in concrete and steel jungle (Green Roofs Today, 2010). Green roofs are visually appealing and create an attractive contrast to concrete and steel as show in the figure 4-5 below. Figure-4 (Green Roofs) Figure-5 (Green Roofs) There are several components of green roofs which besides plants include a growing medium, a filter cloth, drainage, insulation and a waterproof membrane (Green Roofs Today, 2010). These components are shown in the figure 6. The construction of rooftops and the selection of plants for roof covering depend on the factors such as size of the building and type of roof. Now for construction of green roof both flat and slopped roofs are suitable but for construction of large park like roof system only larger buildings are appropriate as accommodation of large plants and trees are too heavy for medium sized buildings. Figure 6: Components of Green Roofs (Source: Green Roofs Today, 2010) Green roofs are mainly of three types; Intensive, Semi-Intensive and Extensive roofs, depending upon the selection of plants (Green Roofs Today, 2010). Intensive green roofs are those that accommodate large plants, trees, full lawns etc. This type of green roofing requires a significant depth of soil and also requires heavy maintenance. Semi Intensive green roofs are those that accommodate moderate size of plants and require less maintenance. Extensive green roofs is the most convenient of all types of green roof systems and involves roof covering with a thin layer of growing medium and vegetation that requires minimal care and maintenance (Green Roofs Today, 2010). The factors which are taken into consideration while designing green roofs are orientation of roofs, preferred planting, level of maintenance and performance expected from the plant layer (Green roofs, 2006). As the intensive roofs consist of deep layer of growing medium, it needs special consideration at the time of designing as they require specific support from the building. Conversely, extensive green roofs require negligible structural support from the building, hence no special consideration is given at the time of designing them (The green roof centre, 2010). 3.1 Benefits of Green Roofs System The following are the benefits of Green Roof systems; Plants reduce the air pollution by absorbing harmful gases including carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Green roof system therefore reduces the air pollution and makes the air cleaner and healthier especially in urban areas where quality of air is a major problem. Plants tend to absorb the heat from the air and release it into the air when the temperature drops. Green roof system therefore helps in lowering the temperature of the urban areas. It also helps the building owners to reduce their cost for heating for heating and cooling which is good for the environment too because most cooling and heating systems are powered by energy that is obtained from non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels. Plants that cover the roofs can absorb up to 75% of the rain water. Therefore the green roofs system significantly reduces the amount of water that runs in to the sewage system. The plants also filter many pollutants in rainwater including heavy metals. The rainwater that is absorbed by the green roofs is then released into the air via condensation (Green Roofs Today, 2010). Green roofs system offer a natural habitat to many local animal life including insects and birds that were virtually driven out from urban centres. Green roofs systems are extremely durable and can last up to 50 years. It also does not virtually require any repair like many other roofing systems. Green roofs combined with other green technology such as solar thermal collectors and solar photovoltaic panels can further reduce the costs for heating and cooling as well as help combat the global warming (Green Roofs Today, 2010). The figure below from the (Green Roofs Today, 2010) shows the main benefits of green roofs system. 3.2 Limitation of Green Roofs System The following are some of the limitations in installing the green roofs system; Higher capital cost Lack of awareness and knowledge No insurance cover is provided for green roofs Difficulty in maintaining and accessing roofs. 4. Recommendation Due to globalization and competition there is a tremendous pressure on the construction industry regarding the time, quality and cost of the work. With the implementation of the modern construction methods such as Mivan Formwork System and smart materials like Green Roofs the issues related to the time, cost and quality can be overcome. Although the initial cost of implementing such methods and smart materials are quite high the total amount saved at the end of the project life cycle is substantially more than the increase in the initial cost. The construction firms all over the world have been slow to adopt new innovation and changes. It is the need of time to analyse the depth of problems and find effective solution. Mivan system serves as an efficient tool to solve the problems of mass housing fronts all over the world. The system has a great potential to provide high quality construction at unbelievable speed and at reasonable cost which was justified in the report with the help of a case study. Hence it is recommended to use Mivan formwork system over the traditional formwork system Amid fears of global warming, deforestation, melting of ice on both the poles, increase in average temperature in next few decades, green roofs can be looked up to as a potential solution which can help in optimising use of rain water, conserving energy, improving aesthetical view of buildings and improving living conditions inside the building. Hence implementation of green roof is recommended as it will save large amount of resources. 5. Conclusion It can be concluded that the modern methods of construction such as Mivan formwork system are the key to meeting the demand for efficient, sustainable housing. Also the quality and speed must be given due consideration with regards to economy. Mivan formwork system not only helps in improving the quality and efficiency of the work but also has helped in maintaining the site safety. Anything that is good for the environment is good for humankind as well, so the investment in the green roofs is considered to be the best way in reducing the negative impact of humans on the environment. Green roofs not only reduce the adverse impact on the environment but also help the people in reducing their bill for heating and cooling.

The Interrelationship among Self, Others, and Environment Essay

Why do human beings behave the way they do? How do individuals form relationships with others? What components of an individual’s physiological makeup and the surrounding atmosphere affect the formation of judgments about themselves, others’, and every day events? Does one’s membership within a particular group affect his or her thoughts, emotions, and actions towards others? Is aggression the product of biology or environment? Questions such as this form the foundation of social psychology, a field with the primary focus being the systematic study of human cognition, emotion, and actions. Social psychologists seek to understand the way human beings develop thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as, the effect our environment, mainly our interactions with others, has on the formation of these very things. We can divide social psychology into three main categories: self, others, and environment. Each category consists of several additional topics all relating to the broad category under which the subject matter falls. The first category is the self and the primary focus is the exploration of the way individuals form impressions of themselves. Topics relating to the concept of self include self-schemas, self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-awareness, and the acting self. The second category builds upon the foundation of the self and examines the methods individuals use to form impressions of others. Subjects relating to the way human beings think, perceive, and relate to others include attributions, attitudes, behavior, judgments, as well as, prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination. The third category relates to the environment, particularly the relationship to and influence of others on an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and b... ...es with taking into account the role of culture. Culture typically reflects the social norms and customs of the geographic location in which an individual resides; consequently, one’s culture has a profound influence on our conception of self. Human beings conception of self evolves throughout our life and culture provides a high degree of influence on the way we perceive others and ourselves. Independent cultures view the individual as a unique entity whose qualities develop apart from the social environment, while interdependent cultures view individuals as the collective product of his or her social connections and environment. Works Cited Feenstra, J. (2011). Introduction to social psychology. San Diego, California , United State: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. . Retrieved April 19, 2012, from https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUPSY301.11.1/sections/fm

ABC, Inc. Case Study Analysis Essay -- Business management Essays

  ABC, Inc. Case Study Analysis †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction A number of problems were made during the recent hiring process. This case Study is an attempt to identify and recommend ways to improve this process. From the information that has been obtained, I believe that a lack of employee experience and a lack of prior planning and follow up resulted in a failure to accomplish all the tasks necessary to hire the new employees in a timely fashion. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Background Carol Robins, a new campus recruiter for ABC, Inc., in early April he was able to hire 15 new trainees who were destined to work for Monica Carrolls, the operations supervisor. From the interviews that were conducted, it appears that Carl was unable to accomplish all of the tasks necessary so that the new hires could begin work. These tasks included documentation, drug testing, material preparation for the orientation, and facility scheduling. Monica Carrolls did contact Carl on May 15 concerning his process with the hiring process. Other employees had failed to keep the paper copy of the master orientation manual current so that it can be quickly copied. Another factor appears the rapid expansion of the company. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alternatives With more than one problem a major focus on a number of different Solutions, such as, Prior planning by Carl could have eliminated some of the issues; however, Carl’s in experience would probably still have result...

Essay --

The Effects of Revenue Management in the Hospitality Industry Up until recent years Revenue Management was something that has never been heard of. Now days, it is something that hotel managers cannot go without. They spend numerous amounts of time checking their computers for the nightly rates of the hotel. But what exactly is Revenue Management? â€Å"Revenue Management (RM) is a scientific technique that combines Operations Research, Statistics and Customer Relationship Management and categorizes customers into price bands, based on various services† (Revenue Management, 2010). In other words someone might reserve a room that is at a going rate of $245 per night while their cousin who reserved a room at the same hotel months in advance only has to pay $105 per night. Now you may ask yourself how hotels can get away with doing this? But what it all boils down to is that someone who reserves a room last minute will end up paying the higher amount because his or her demand for the room is higher. This technique of raising or lowering prices based on the demand of the guest is something that airlines have been using for some time now. The first two airlines to use Revenue Management in 1985 were United and American Airlines. They used a series of algorithms to determine the best price to sell their seats (Desiraju & Shugan, 2000). The reason Revenue Management came about in the airline industry had to do with the airplanes only having a select amount of seats. Trying to sell all of the seats at the same price is very difficult to do especially when the airlines needed to at least be able to cover fixed operating expenses. A lot of times the planes would be left with empty seats, which, doesn’t help the airlines make any money. So by a... ...hould not be. Alan Campbell who has been working in the hotel industry for over thirty years believes that there should be more that goes into Revenue Management than just what the computer tells us. Campbell states, â€Å"Revenue managers need to have a feel for the system, not how it works, but what it does, and how it does it.† In other words a Revenue Manager must know all of the events happening in the area as well as all of the other venues in the area. They must have an instinct for knowing if the numbers are right and will bring the hotel the best property rates. Campbell’s views and ideas are something that is spreading within the Hospitality Industry, because when you are aware of the â€Å"human factor† as he calls it, properties are able to increase their Revenue per available room (Revpar), and occupancy percentages, above what the software will predict.

Ida’s Impairment

1) (1) The U. S. GAAP section 360-10-35-21 states â€Å"A long-lived asset (asset group) shall be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable†. An example of an event like this is a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset. As stated in the case, one of Ida’s competitors sold its extremely comparable commercial building for an amount significantly less than its asking price.Since these assets are very similar in comparison, this significantly less price for the competitor’s building is an example of a decrease in the market price of Ida’s commercial building. Therefore under the U. S. GAAP, Ida needs to test the U. S. commercial building for recoverability. (2) Under IAS 36. 12, there are certain external factors that lead you to want to test for recovery such as a decline in market value. The sale of the building across the street is an example of one of those external factors.IAS 36. 6 explains impairment and how to record impairment. Under IFRSs IAS 36. 66, the recoverable amount of cash-generating units (CGUs) should be determined for the individual asset. Therefore, a recoverability test must be done. 2) As of U. S. GAAP 360-10-35-17, when reporting to its U. S. based lender as of December 31, 2010, Ida should record $600 for impairment on the U. S. commercial building. Under GAAP, one must compare the fair value to the carrying amount.Since the fair market value is $3,900 and the carrying amount is $4,500, impairment is calculated as the difference $600. *All dollars in thousands (U. S. GAAP 360-10-35-17) 3) Under IAS 36. 6, when reporting to its parent as of December 31, 2010, Ida should record $500 for impairment on the U. S. commercial building. The recoverable amount for the commercial building is $4,000. The carrying amount is $4,500. Since the carrying amount is greater than the recoverable, the impairment is the diffe rence. *All dollars in thousands (IAS 36. 6)

Spss Regression

Simple Linear Regression in SPSS 1. STAT 314 Ten Corvettes between 1 and 6 years old were randomly selected from last year’s sales records in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The following data were obtained, where x denotes age, in years, and y denotes sales price, in hundreds of dollars. x y a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. 6 125 6 115 6 130 4 160 2 219 5 150 4 190 5 163 1 260 2 260 Graph the data in a scatterplot to determine if there is a possible linear relationship. Compute and interpret the linear correlation coefficient, r. Determine the regression equation for the data.Graph the regression equation and the data points. Identify outliers and potential influential observations. Compute and interpret the coefficient of determination, r2. Obtain the residuals and create a residual plot. Decide whether it is reasonable to consider that the assumptions for regression analysis are met by the variables in questions. At the 5% significance level, do the data provide sufficient evidence to conclude that the slope of the population regression line is not 0 and, hence, that age is useful as a predictor of sales price for Corvettes? Obtain and interpret a 95% confidence interval for the slope, ? of the population regression line that relates age to sales price for Corvettes. Obtain a point estimate for the mean sales price of all 4-year-old Corvettes. Determine a 95% confidence interval for the mean sales price of all 4-year-old Corvettes. Find the predicted sales price of Jack Smith’s 4-year-old Corvette. Determine a 95% prediction interval for the sales price of Jack Smith’s 4-year-old Corvette. Note that the following steps are not required for all analyses†¦only perform the necessary steps to complete your problem. Use the above steps as a guide to the correct SPSS steps. 1.Enter the age values into one variable and the corresponding sales price values into another variable (see figure, below). 2. Select Graphs ? Legacy Dialogs ? Scatte r/Dot†¦ (select Simple then click the Define button) with the Y Axis variable (Price) and the X Axis variable (Age) entered (see figures, below). Click â€Å"Titles†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to enter a descriptive title for your graph, and click â€Å"Continue†. Click â€Å"OK†. Your output should look similar to the figure below. a. Graph the data in a scatterplot to determine if there is a possible linear relationship. The points seem to follow a somewhat linear pattern with a negative slope. . Select Analyze ? Correlate ? Bivariate†¦ (see figure, below). 4. Select â€Å"Age† and â€Å"Price† as the variables, select â€Å"Pearson† as the correlation coefficient, and click â€Å" â€Å"OK† (see the left figure, below). b. Compute and interpret the linear correlation coefficient, r. The correlation coefficient is –0. 9679 (see the right figure, above). This value of r suggests a strong negative linear correlation since the value is n egative and close to –1. Since the above value of r suggests a strong negative linear correlation, the data points should be clustered closely about a negatively sloping regression line.This is consistent with the graph obtained above. Therefore, since we see a strong negative linear relationship between Age and Price, linear regression analysis can continue. 5. Since we eventually want to predict the price of 4-year-old Corvettes (parts j–m), enter the number â€Å"4† in the â€Å"Age† variable column of the data window after the last row. Enter a â€Å". † for the corresponding â€Å"Price† variable value (this lets SPSS know that we want a prediction for this value and not to include the value in any other computations) (see left figure, below). . Select Analyze ? Regression ? Linear†¦ (see right figure, above). 7. Select â€Å"Price† as the dependent variable and â€Å"Age† as the independent variable (see upperleft fi gure, below). Click â€Å"Statistics†, select â€Å"Estimates† and â€Å"Confidence Intervals† for the regression coefficients, select â€Å"Model fit† to obtain r2, and click â€Å"Continue† (see upper-right figure, below). Click â€Å"Plots†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , select â€Å"Normal Probability Plot† of the residuals, and click â€Å"Continue† (see lower-left figure, below).Click â€Å"Save†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , select â€Å"Unstandardized† predicted values, select â€Å"Unstandardized† and â€Å"Studentized† residuals, select â€Å"Mean† (to obtain a confidence interval†¦output in the Data Window) and â€Å"Individual† (to obtain a prediction interval†¦output in the Data Window) at the 95% level (or whatever level the problem requires), and click â€Å"Continue† (see lower-right figure, below). Click â€Å"OK†. The output from this procedure is extensive and will be shown in parts in th e following answers. c. Determine the regression equation for the data. From above, the regression equation is: Price = 29160. 1942 – (2790. 2913)(Age). 8.From within the output window, double-click on the scatterplot to enter Chart Editor mode. From the â€Å"Elements† menu, select â€Å"Fit Line at Total†. Click the close box. Now your scatterplot displays the linear regression line computed above. Graph the regression equation and the data points. d. e. Identify outliers and potential influential observations. There do not appear to be any points that lie far from the cluster of data points or far from the regression line; thus there are no possible outliers or influential observations. f. Compute and interpret the coefficient of determination, r2. The coefficient of determination is 0. 368; therefore, about 93. 68% of the variation in the price data is explained by age. The regression equation appears to be very useful for making predictions since the value of r 2 is close to 1. 9. The residuals and standardized values (as well as the predicted values, the confidence interval endpoints, and the prediction interval endpoints) can be found in the data window. 10. To create a residual plot, select Graphs ? Legacy Dialogs ? Scatter/Dot†¦ (Simple) with the residuals (RES_1) as the Y Axis variable and Age as the X Axis variable. Click â€Å"Titles†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to enter â€Å"Residual Plot† as the title for your graph, and click â€Å"Continue†.Click â€Å"OK†. Double-click the resulting graph in the output window, select â€Å"Options† ? â€Å"Y Axis Reference Line†, select the â€Å"Reference Line† tab in the properties window, add position of line â€Å"0†, and click â€Å"Apply†. Click the close box to exit the chart editor (see left plot, below). 11. To create a studentized residual plot (what the textbook calls a standardized residual plot), select Graphs ? Legacy Dialogs ? Scatter/Dot†¦ (Simple) with the studentized residuals (SRES_1) as the Y Axis variable and Age as the X Axis variable. Click â€Å"Titles†¦Ã¢â‚¬  to enter â€Å"Studentized Residual Plot† as the title for your graph, and click â€Å"Continue†.Click â€Å"OK†. Double-click the resulting graph in the output window, select â€Å"Options† ? â€Å"Y Axis Reference Line†, select the â€Å"Reference Line† tab in the properties window, add position of line â€Å"0†, and click â€Å"Apply†. If 2 and/or -2 are in the range covered by the y-axis, repeat the last steps to add a reference line at â€Å"2† and â€Å"-2† (see right plot, above); any points that are not between these lines are considered potential outliers. If 3 and/or -3 are in the range covered by the y-axis, repeat the last steps to add a reference line at â€Å"3† and â€Å"-3†; any points that are beyond these lines are considered ou tliers. 2. To assess the normality of the residuals, consult the P-P Plot from the regression output. g. Obtain the residuals and create a residual plot. Decide whether it is reasonable to consider that the assumptions for regression analysis are met by the variables in questions. The residual plot shows a random scatter of the points (independence) with a constant spread (constant variance). The studentized residual plot shows a random scatter of the points (independence) with a constant spread (constant variance) with no values beyond the  ±2 standard deviation reference lines (no outliers).The normal probability plot of the residuals shows the points close to a diagonal line; therefore, the residuals appear to be approximately normally distributed. Thus, the assumptions for regression analysis appear to be met. h. At the 10% significance level, do the data provide sufficient evidence to conclude that the slope of the population regression line is not 0 and, hence, that age is u seful as a predictor of sales price for Corvettes? Step 1: Hypotheses H 0 : ! = 0 (Age is not a useful predictor of price. ) H a : ! † 0 (Age is a useful predictor of price. ) Step 2: Step 3: Step 4: Significance Level ! 0. 05 Critical Value(s) and Rejection Region(s) Reject the null hypothesis if p-value ? 0. 05. Test Statistic (choose either the T-test method or the F-test method†¦not both) T = –10. 8873, and p-value = 0. 00000448 Step 5: Step 6: F = 118. 5330, and p-value = 0. 00000448 Conclusion Since p-value = 0. 00000448 ? 0. 05, we shall reject the null hypothesis. State conclusion in words At the ! = 0. 05 level of significance, there exists enough evidence to conclude that the slope of the population regression line is not zero and, hence, that age is useful as a predictor of price for Corvettes. . Obtain and interpret a 95% confidence interval for the slope, ? , of the population regression line that relates age to sales price for Corvettes. We are 95% co nfident that the slope of the true regression line is somewhere between –3381. 2946 and –2199. 2880. In other words, we are 95% confident that for every year older Corvettes get, their average price decreases somewhere between $3,381. 2946 and $2,199. 2880. j. Obtain a point estimate for the mean sales price of all 4-year-old Corvettes. The point estimate (PRE_1) is 17999. 0291 dollars ($17,999. 0291). k.Determine a 95% confidence interval for the mean sales price of all 4-year-old Corvettes. We are 95% confident that the mean sales price of all four-year-old Corvettes is somewhere between $16,958. 4604 (LMCI_1) and $19,039. 5978 (UMCI_1). l. Find the predicted sales price of Jack Smith’s selected 4-year-old Corvette. The predicted sales price is 17999. 0291 dollars ($17,999. 0291). m. Determine a 95% prediction interval for the sales price of Jack Smith’s 4-year-old Corvette. We are 95% certain that the individual sales price of Jack Smith? s Corvette wi ll be somewhere between $14,552. 9173 (LICI_1) and $21,445. 1410 (UICI_1).

William Wordsworth’s poem Upon Westminster Bridge is a sonnet

William Wordsworth's poem Upon Westminster Bridge is a sonnet, it creates a pleasurable passage that is easily read and understood while still accessing a great deal of emotion and image form. It gives different readers, many different interpretations of what the poem is about, the images and emotions felt, yet still maintaining the secret of what Wordsworth himself would have had in mind about the meaning of the poem. Upon Westminster Bridge creates for the reader that sense of awe that was felt by William Wordsworth whilst gazing upon the view of London and this awe can also be felt by the readers themselves. This sense of awe can be seen from the very beginning of the passage, â€Å"Earth has not anything to show more fair:† just the language used is like a spell cast upon the reader giving off a sense of calmness and tranquillity. This feeling in the language is reflected in the atmosphere of the time in which the poem is set, early morning, just as the sun is starting to show above the horizon. Where the citizens of London are still in bed, the busy city still asleep and motionless. The impression of religious symbology can also be felt in this poem. â€Å"Dull would he be the soul who could pass by†¦Ã¢â‚¬  the word â€Å"soul† in this line gives the reader the impression of a reverential tone. Soul is a word that is used mostly in a religious context and having it in the poem lets off the feeling of the peace, and heavenliness. â€Å"Dear God! the very houses seem asleep†¦Ã¢â‚¬  this can be taken as an emphasis on the reverential tone of the poem. â€Å"Dear God!† this reference to God fits in and confirms the â€Å"soul† and heightens the religious atmosphere. The first stanza in this poem is like an opening to the rest, an appetiser. â€Å"A sight so touching in its majesty:† The use of sight, so, its, majesty, is to put emphases on the soft sound of the â€Å"s†. This softness is linked to â€Å"touching†. This magnificent view is only softly touching him, the poet, with all this to take in he hasn't yet absorbed the full beauty. This can be seen as one of the most important and meaningful lines in this passage, it uses stillness and serenity, creating the mood, and linking the setting to the poet's feelings at the time. William Wordsworth uses similes in this poem to connect a lifeless thing like the city of London, to humanity, and the natural world to create a unity of all three. â€Å"This City now doth like a garment wear The beauty of the morning†, humans wear clothing, gowns to make us look more beautiful. What this line is saying is that the city wears the morning like a beautiful gown, and the morning is making the city look more splendid, giving it the connection to humans and making it come to life. The use of words with short syllables can make the reader feel informed. It helps capture a huge amount of detail in very little words. â€Å"†¦Ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples lie open unto the fields, and to the sky†¦Ã¢â‚¬  looking at this the reader would start slow and read faster and faster as the list progresses, this is the influence of short syllable words. This paints a mental image in the reader's head as if watching a movie, an elaborate scene with beautiful scenery, and the camera pans across slowly at a constant rate capturing every flower, every tree, hill and a small bee flying across the screen. â€Å"†¦Open unto the fields, and to the sky.† â€Å"In his first splendour valley, rock or hill† and amongst all this artificial beauty of towers and ship the beauty of nature still manages to show through and enhance the whole image. The last stanza raps up the whole of the poem; it recreates the mood of awe and also puts in a little shock. â€Å"Dear God! the very houses seem asleep†; this time the â€Å"Dear God!† is used in a different way. It serves the purpose of heightening the religious feeling, but also heightens the awe and pushes it into shock. It is used almost in a blasphemous way; using God's name in vain. William Wordsworth's appreciation of beauty is revealed not only in the images and similes he chose to use, but also in the gracefully modulated sentences. The rhyming of the last word in the first and last stanza reinforces the reverence Wordsworth felt all his life to the God he understood to be in all nature. Wordsworth's personality and poetry were deeply influenced by his love of nature, romanticising what he saw in the natural world.

Book Review †English as an International Language Essay

The blurb of this contribution to the scientific research of English states that this language does not only matter in the context of linguistics but also in other subcategories of science like â€Å"sociocultural, political and pedagogical† fields. The reason is seen in the matter of English being a lingua franca that is used in all areas of these studies and therefore the book’s goal is to take a closer look into the complexity of the international usage of English. The book is kept in a light tone of brown on the outside. On the cover there is a picture of a globe published in Digital Shock in 1997, obviously underlining the focus on inter-nationality. Title and Editor are kept in white. The book spine gives a short introduction about the focus and provides the reader with some quotes of well-known scholars like Janina Brutt-Griffler and Ryuko Kubota. At the beginning of the book, the lists of acknowledgments, contributors and abbreviations are located, followed by an overview by the editor Farzard Sharifian. The work is split into four parts namely: 1. Native/ Non native Divide: Politics, Policies and Practices; 2. EIL, Attitudes and Identity(ies); 3. EIL, Teacher Education and Language Testing: Gaps and Challenges; 4. The Scope of EIL: Widening, Tightening and Emerging Themes. All of the parts contain 3 essays, except the fourth chapter that provides five different endings. In order to give a brought overview, I will summarize each essay in short and name the convincing and the missing points. The introduction states that the focus of this book is â€Å"on communication rather than on the speakers’ nationality† (p. 5). The reason for this focus lies within the critique that English language teachers express while looking at the results of such a research. This reveals a unilateral measure, excluding the scientific field of English language teaching and underlining the focus on more political issues. However, it already gives a certain sense to the difference between English as an international language (EIL) and English as it is taught in school. This overview deepens on the following pages dealing with the difference of â€Å"politics, policies and practices† (p. 6) and the more precise definition of EIL. By looking closer on attitudes and identities, the author takes position in recent debates and controversies e. g. based on the â€Å"NS-NNS accent†. Even though he declares an assumption stating that â€Å"English native speakers have no difficulty understanding each other† (p. 8) to be wrong, he at the same time provides the readers with the pro and contra arguments in such a debate. Due to the fact of his entry being more or less an introduction, Sharifian succeeds in not going to far into detail but giving hints of what will be dealt with in the following. The starting chapter is mainly concerned with the politics influencing English as an international language. The first essay is contributed by Adrian Holliday, professor for linguistics at the Canterbury Christ Church University in the UK. He argues that English as a lingua franca cannot be dealt with on sociolinguistic grounds alone but must be seen as phenomenon of changing ownership. With this statement he does not question the lingua franca movement but rather points out possible problems resolving from this point of view (p. 21). After providing the reader with background knowledge of the movement establishes a distinction of native and non-native speakers based on the question whether or not this is a distinction to be made on linguistic or political foundation. In the end he comes to the conclusion that due to their distance to the language, non-native speakers are more critical about English as a lingua franca. With the combination of political and linguistic approaches, Holliday provides the reader with a real sense connection of the two fields and therefore this entry is an appropriate contribution to the subject of the book. The next essay is written by Sadia Ali, anthropological linguist from Zayet University. Her focus lies within the field of EIL in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) (p. 34). In order to do so she reflects upon the experience of English teachers within this council. This is a major contrast o the focus that Sharifian declared in the beginning of the work. However, by finding out that the employed people in this field are usually native speakers, Ali continues by analyzing their experiences within the alien culture (pp. 40-42). Through the research on the students perceptions, she also enlightens the flip side of the issue and comes to the conclusion that even though the qualification of a teacher does not depend on his/her being a native speaker, hiring processes are still unfair and not adjusted to the actual needs. Additionally, she proposes to give up older convictions of regarding correct English as an attribute of native speaker (pp. 51-52). Marko Modiano from the University of Stockholm takes the same line with the slight adjustment of rather concentrating on European language teaching which in his opinion failed. By providing the reader with tables that reveal the multilingualism in Europe and its state, he claims that the policy of staying with this system causes the failure of English language teaching (pp. 70-76). Even though the arguments seem convincing, Modiano totally neglects the opposite view of English being just used in order to simplify international economical or cultural processes. The second part of the book deals with the characteristics of EIL in particular. The first contribution by David Li, Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong, aims to research the views of non- native speakers towards intelligibility and identity. In short the discussion whether native speaker based pedagogical models are useful or if pluricentricity should be the norm. Based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative data using a semi-structured questionnaire he comes to the conclusion that teachers should raise the awareness of their students for other varieties of English rather than sticking to a native-speaker based model in order to â€Å"encourage the learners’ confidences in their own English varieties† (p. 110). The sixth chapter is published by Enric Llurda is a Professor Applied Linguistics at the University of Lleida, Spain. His scrutiny is located within the fields of native models among second language users and teachers and their pervasiveness. He establishes a connection between non-native English speakers and the phenomenon of the Stockholm Syndrom (p. 119). He claims that non-native speaking English teachers are accepting proposals and formulation â€Å"that relegate to mere spectators and at times executioners of native speaker norms† (p. 119). After establishing a connection between these teacher and EIL, he further describes the attitudes between the two and comes to the conclusion that there is a â€Å"need to overcome non-native English speaking teachers and their subordination to native speakers models† (p. 28). Additionally, he provides possible solutions e. g. to gibe teachers more opportunities to develop their language skills. (pp. 130-131). EIL migrant teacher identities is the field of investigation of Bojana Petric, a lecturer at the Department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex. Taking into consideration the mobility of English language educators, she wants to give an overv iew into the role of a migrant teacher within his/hers classroom. Her results are based on interviews with four English teachers in Hungary. These interviews brought her to the conclusion that various factors have an influence on the teachers’ constructions of identities. However by admitting that e. g. gender, race or class have also impact to a certain extend she reveals that the research on this field is just one out of many to tackle the issue of migrant teachers (pp. 148-149). The third part of the entire book already gives an impression of more future oriented essays, aiming to improve backward conditions. The first essay subscribe to that and is written by Vaidehi Ramanathan, a Professor for Socio/Applied linguistics at the university of California, and Brian Morgan from the the York University in Toronto. From a more critical point of view the two argue that globalization makes the problem of classes and their inequality more complex than before and has therefore also an influence on teaching English to speakers of other Languages (TESOL). The interesting thing about this article is the structure of it. Both authors engage in some kind of dialogue and thus the arguments add up and reflect upon each other. Be that as it may they come to the conclusion that that globalization results in significant challenges for â€Å"new scholars and practitioners in TESOL† (p. 166-167) which at the same time help lead to new possibilites in ways of approach. While all preceding chapters deal with whole parts of the globe e. g. the Eastern bloc, chapter 9 focuses on preparation programs in Japan for English teachers. Aya Matsuda, Assistant Professor at Arizona State University, takes a stand in the debate about the Japanese action plan â€Å"to ‘cultivate Japanese with English abilities. (p. 169) and in how far World English and EIL are incorporated into such a program. In order to do so, she used a questionnaire for Universities having an accredited teacher preparation program to collect the information needed. After the evaluation she draws to a close that the current preparation programs are â€Å"attempting to increase their students’ awareness of the sociolinguistic complexi ty† (p. 87). However, it will take more time to further improve these programs and to make them a good instrument to change the teaching methods and hence our society. The test that almost every student of English has encountered during his studies is the TOEFL. For this reason, Sarah Zafar Khan, director of the Effat English Academy at Effat College in Saudi Arabia, puts tests like this in comparison to the notion of English as an international language. She basically questions the dominance of standard American variety of English and the parts of the TOEFL test. In short is there a hegemony or not. To provide a practical example she integrates a case study from Saudi Arabia (pp. 195-197). Through her research, she sums up that students are able to use English for communicative reasons, still, they are not explicitly acquainted to the standardized American English occurring in the TOEFL. Thus she demands a change in the system of English testing for non-native speakers (p. 204). In the fourth part of the book, Paul Roberts and Suresh Canagarajah (the first is a publisher of ELT books and worked as an English teacher in 8 countries, the other Professor for Language Learning at Pennsylvania State University) open up with a glance spoken English in an international encounter. In order to do so, they concentrate on a conversation between five non-native speaking persons, all of them with a different nationality. Through this procedure they find out that â€Å"ELF 2 speakers have the capacity to negotiate English when the context demands it. † (p. 224). Due to the fact that capacities like this have been left out of linguistic literature so far, the assumption may come up that this is just possible because of the special circumstances both authors created. Be that as it may, it reveals that the strategies of communication are based on the circumstances and not on capability of the speakers themselves. The twelfth chapter is written by Sandra Lee McKay, Professor for English at the University of San Francisco. She concentrates on the pragmatics and EIL pedagogy. The author desires more attention to the teaching of pragmatics in English as an EIL. Mainly paying attention to L2/L2 interactions, the foundation for her argument is built upon the hybridity of modern interactions in English (pp. 127-128). The outcome of her research is that non-native speakers of English are more likely to use constructions or words of their L1 systems. In cases such as this, she proposes the working out of a specific communicative strategy to clarify certain concepts of English (p. 251). The final chapter fourteenth chapter with scholarships and the role of English connected to it. Andy Kirkpatrick, Head of the English Department at the Hong Kong Institute for Education, considers â€Å"the implications of the rise of English as the international language of scholarship for the dissemination of indigenous knowledge. †(p. 255). The main source of his investigation is Chinese medicine and its international transition. With this he proves that a cultural property such as traditional medical procedures, are widely spread across the globe through the help of English language. Still he thinks that this is not a thread to the Chinese tradition because the medical procedures still vary even if they claim to be Chinese. In brief the change in Chinese medicine would have sooner or later anyway (pp. 266-268). The final chapter is contributed by Eric Anchimbe, assistant Professor of English Linguistics at the University of Bayreuth. He analyzes the differences of local and international standards. Therfore he concentrates on Indigenized Varieties of English that have spread in the recent decades and are also referred to as New Englishes. In the following he underlines the differences e. g. to non-native Englishes (pp275-277). Anchimbe proves that the variation of English is not only based on misconception but â€Å"asymmetrical power relations as well as social constructs sustained through colonially-inherited discourses† (p. 84). Also, to him it is inevitable that the language of English changes like everything in the progress of globalization. All in all the contributions to the book are more than satisfactory concerning the actual goal announced by Sharifian in the introduction. However, it is sometimes hard for the reader to draw the connection between goal and entry of the book. The single texts are easy to approach and combine statistical research with comprehensible conclusions. Another point that is well done, is the fact that all texts are written from different authors from different parts of the world. This is of course necessary for a book that researches international facts in English, still the range of countries taken into consideration is remarkable. One point that does not succeed is the division into different chapters and parts. First of all it really confusing regarding the fact that there are so many texts. Also the division does not make sense because many texts have similar approaches and goals and are still not part of the same chapter. In comparison to other linguisitic books of research the topic is rather detailed. Therefore some entries appear to repeat many facts from each other. Still, by taking a closer look to the chapters, it becomes clear that every author uses the points for different ways of arguing in favor or against his topic. I think this book would make a great contribution to every language class. It shows that English is not only substantial in English speaking countries, but all over the world due to economy and culture and the influences of globalization.

Critical evaluation of abortion as a social problem in the society Research Paper

Critical evaluation of abortion as a social problem in the society - Research Paper Example In such an occurrence, it becomes extremely necessary to conduct therapeutic abortion, which is prescribed by a health professional so as to save the mother. On the other hand, abortion can be induced willingly by a healthy mother so as to relieve herself from the responsibility of bearing and rearing the child, in which case it is referred to as elective abortion (Baumgardner, 2008). This paper is a critical evaluation of abortion as a social problem in the society, providing viable solutions to the menace. Abortion Abortion as discussed herein is a social problem, which has continued to remain a contentious topic of discussion internationally. This is due to the fact that different societies around the world engage in this debate from two perspectives. There are those who support it and those who feel that it should be illegalized on the basis of ethical and moral perspectives. However, several countries around the world such as the US, UK and some parts of Australia among others, have gone to the extent of legalizing abortion by enshrining it in their constitutions, while some such as Vatican city, El Salvador, Nicaragua, brazil, Mexico among others have made it illegal to have abortion irrespective of the prevailing circumstances (Beckwith, 2006). In general, at least 54 countries around the world permit abortion although some apply restrictions to avoid carelessness and irresponsibility. However, it is ironical to note that the rate of abortion in places where it is illegal matches that of places where it has been legalized (Beckwith, 2006). This is to imply that despite the efforts by these authorities to curb the menace, willing patients can acquire the services of clinics, which operate without their knowledge. According to research, approximately 45 million abortions are conducted on yearly basis. However, 50% of these are done under illegal and unsafe conditions contributing to a significantly high number of deaths, approximately 75000, and more than 3 million disabilities per year (Rosenbaun, 2005). This is a worrying trend based on the fact that, if the mortality rate emanating from abortion remains constant for 10 years, it means that more than 750000 persons would lose their lives while more than 30 million others would become disabled. Therefore, it is important to face the facts as they are and find viable solutions to this problem. The church for example has continued to uphold its moral standing, claiming that life begins at conception and therefore, harming a fetus is equivalent to murder (Beckwith, 2006). On the other hand, it remains adamant on the need to use natural methods of birth control. This may be the reason why abortion is illegal in places such as Vatican City, where the Catholic Church is most influential. However, they fail to realize that this only puts the citizens at a higher risk of performing unsafe abortions based on the fact that cartels operating illegal clinics will always establish themselves wit hout the knowledge of the authorities. Statistics indicate that at least 40% of women around the world can have access to these services, which are acquired in at most secrecy and discretion (Heary, 2009). The result is that the authorities will not have the capacity to protect these women since there is no way they can check on the qualifications of the personnel in this business as well as supervise the conditions through which abortion in these facilities is carried out. In order to find a better solution to the problem, it is important to highlight the various reasons why a woman may opt to have an abortion. To begin with, immorality in the society has continued to grow, with cases of rape, prostitution, adultery, incest and