Minimum wage Essays (1232 words) - Employment Compensation

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions reported that around 310,000 low paid employees will get higher wages after setting the minimum wage. It is believed that the minimum wage will bring more wealth to low income families and narrow the wealth gap. As a result, the minimum wage was set at $28 per hour as the new wage ordinance on 1st May, 2011. This law applies to the market force, including the disabled. However, it is not applicable to live-in domestic workers, work-experience interns and student interns. Despite the above fact that minimum wage has bring some benefits to the employees, we believe that people fail to see the whole picture. The implementation of minimum wage in Hong Kong has posted a threat on different companies, including companies? suffering from heavy economic pressure, the reduction of welfare and the unfairness to the old employees. Firstly, the companies may suffer from heavy economic pressure due to the rise in operating costs and decline in their profits, which lead to the slowing down of their plans of expanding business and even result of being forced to close down. The minimum wage would certainly affect some business, such as the catering industry. Take KFC as an example, KFC is one of the companies struggling with the high costs after the implementation of minimum wage. Two years ago, KFC paid its staff only HK$16 per hour. Later, the wage rate of staff was increased more than 30%, which is HK$21 per hour. As the minimum wage is set to HK$28, the percentage increase in wage rate is 33.3%. Therefore, it is difficult for KFC to run its business because of its high costs. The increase in operating costs also happened in the property management companies. From an article of the Standard, the president of the Hong Kong Association of Property Management companies, Edmond Cheng Kam-wah said that it is expected that the minimum wage will cause the increase in operating costs of local property management companies by 3-4%. If the minimum wage is set at a level which some employers can?t afford, they may have to relocate their businesses to the mainland China. This will adversely affect the economy of Hong Kong. Thus, there is a need to strike a balance between employers and employees but not minimum wage. Moreover, many other companies have been facing the increase in costs after the minimum wage law is launched. A survey, conducted in June 2011 by the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management, reported the cost adjustment in various companies. 117 companies from 17 different industries are questioned while 115 companies have responded to the interviews. Results have shown that 9% of the companies indicated more than 10% increase in overall staff costs, including salaries, bonuses, allowances and benefits, 21% of the companies indicated 2% - 9.9% increase in costs while 70% of the c ompanies indicated less than 2% increase in costs. It seems that minimum wage have posted a great impact on the various companies as staff costs have increased a lot under the minimum wage. Secondly, in order to counter the impact of minimum wage, employers may remove meal breaks and even reduce conventional welfare practices of the employees. This effect implies to different companies, such as those in the hotel industry. According to a survey done by the Catering and Hotels Industries Employees' General Union in June 2012, 246 room attendants from about 30 hotels responded to the interview. Results have shown that 70% of respondents fail to receive medical insurance while more than half of the respondents fail to receive paid annual leave. Besides, many people may think that gaining higher wage rate after the statutory minimum wage was set leads to an increase in income. This may also allow citizens to have higher living standards. However, a survey conducted by the Oxfam proves that minimum wage causes another consequence. The survey has shown that 19.6% of low-income workers reported a decline in their individual income while 27.4% of them reported a decline in fami ly income. This is caused by the fact that employers are reducing remuneration packages by cutting paid rest days and paid meal breaks. In order to cut the

Whoosh! How to Stop Deadlines Whizzing Past

Whoosh! How to Stop Deadlines Whizzing Past Whoosh! How to Stop Deadlines Whizzing Past Nobody likes a deadline. If nothing else, it has the word â€Å"dead† in it, which is rarely comforting. More pressingly, trying to work to a deadline can be very stressful. Some people, like author Douglas Adams, cope with this stress by ignoring deadlines entirely: â€Å"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.† Unfortunately, this isn’t an option for your average college student, as missing a deadline will mean losing out on marks. This could, in turn, affect your overall grade, so you need to turn in your assignments on time whenever possible. But how can you make sure you do this? We have a few suggestions†¦ 1. Start Early! This might sound obvious, but the most common mistake people make when working to deadlines is to (wrongly) assume they have more time than they really do. Next thing you know, your works due and you’re forced to rush the writing process. You can avoid this stress (and the poor quality work that usually results) simply by not leaving your paper until the last minute. On which note†¦ 2. Have a Plan To make sure you have enough time to finish your paper, you should formulate a plan before you start writing. This includes the time you’ll need to research your paper, write it up, and make any revisions required before submitting the final version. At the very least, you should try to sketch an outline of your argument so you know what you need to do for each section of your paper, as well as how your argument hangs together as a whole. This will make it much easier to overcome any problems you encounter while working. 3. Break Tasks Down into Manageable Chunks A well-written paper is rarely finished in one session, so if you’re working on a longer essay you might want to work on it in smaller chunks. This will make it seem less daunting, in addition to letting you schedule work more effectively. And as long as you start early enough (see above), even writing a paragraph or two a day should get you over the finish line in time. 4. Prioritize Your Work If you do have a deadline approaching, you need to prioritize. This simply involves knowing which tasks are most important and being willing to set other things aside until they’re done. For example, although you might have been invited to a party on Wednesday night, you should probably prioritize work if you’ve got a deadline on Thursday. Sorry to be a buzzkill about it. 5. Conquer Procrastination The final hurdle every student (and everyone else) must overcome when working to a deadline is the urge to procrastinate. Time management is a big part of this, but it’s also important to create an environment free from distractions and to allow yourself regular breaks to avoid fatigue.

The Famous American Criminal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

The Famous American Criminal - Essay Example He beheaded twelve of his victims and kept some heads at his apartment as a memento. Occasionally, he would break into people’s homes in the middle of the night and beat them to death. Bundy was initially charged in the year 1975 in the US state of Utah for kidnapping and attempted murder, which led to a long list of cases of murders in different states. Bundy managed to escape the prison twice from 1975 onwards during which, he committed more murders. He was ultimately captured in the year 1978 in Florida. In two distinct trials, Bundy was given three death sentences for the murders he had committed in Florida. Bundy expressed his views upon the art of crime in these words, â€Å"You learn what you need to kill and take care of the details. It's like changing a tire. The first time you're careful. By the thirtieth time, you can't remember where you left the lug wrench† (Bundy cited in â€Å"Ted Bundy Quotes†). Bundy attributed his madness and craziness to the st uff shown in the media. At one point, he said, â€Å"there lots of other kids playing in streets around this country today who are going to be dead tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and month, because other young people are reading the kinds of things and seeing the kinds of things that are available in the media today† (Bundy cited in â€Å"The 14 Creepiest†). Although he confessed having killed 30 women, the true number was never revealed by him (Bell). Ted Bundy was executed on 24 January 1989. He was executed on an electric chair at Florida’s Raiford Prison.

Promoting Jordan as a cultural destination being the only open air Research Paper

Promoting Jordan as a cultural destination being the only open air museum in the world - Research Paper Example I have once again proven this to myself when I visited Jordan and attended a concert for Mohammed Assaf, winner of Arab Idol, and Farah Yousef at Amman citadel on the 28th of August 2013. More than 3,000 people witnessed the dazzling, heartfelt performance of Mohammed Assaf. However, the tremendous success of the event would not be possible without the fervent support and ingenuity of the show’s organizer—the Friends of the Jordan Festivals. The Friends of the Jordan Festivals (FJF) was formed by individuals and groups that possess a deep-seated passion for culture and the arts, and are committed to the goal of making Jordan the topnotch cultural destination in the world. FJF organizes a variety of cultural events for a varied mix of entertainment audiences. Besides satisfying local tastes for culture and arts, FJF aspires to create globally renowned entertainment products. The unending commitment of FJF to the success of Jordan in tourism and cultural promotion is reve aled in its triumphant organization of major cultural events, such as the 2010 Jordan Festival, the Cirque du Soleil, Saltimbanco Show, Cirque de Glace, and the Evolution Show. And on July 2013, FJF publicized the opening of the Amman Citadel Festival for this year. The Festival showed off the finest artists of Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries. It seems that FJF thought that the festival has to be hosted with several big names, like Julio Iglesias, Marcel Khalife, and Khaled Salim, to draw the attention of audiences all over the world; but in reality Jordan is perhaps most rightfully positioned to act as a meeting point between the Middle East and the rest of the world. Isam Salfiti, Chairman of FJF, expressed their unwavering commitment to the country’s cultural tourism sector: â€Å"We look forward to helping enhance Jordan’s touristic appeal, as we believe that the Kingdom has all the makings of a world class destination†. This latest announcement of FJF has been distributed by Bidaya Corporate Communication, which is a regional public relations agency and regional event organizer. Because of its exceptional ability to satisfy the demands of its diverse clientele, Bidaya has become the favorite associate of leading local, regional, and global organizations. Bidaya Corporate Communications helps NGOs, like FJF, to stage the most successful cultural and historic events in the country. More notably, His Majesty King Abdullah II has committed to the goal of enriching Jordan’s cultural and artistic scenery. His Majesty aims to transform Jordan into a first-class economic and touristic destination. As part of His Majesty’s national tourism strategy, he commissioned Zaha Hadid Architects in 2010 to create the most exquisite design for a new performing arts center that will be built in Amman. Envisioned as a venue for performance, studying, mentoring, and rehearsing, the King Abdullah II House of Culture & Art was visuali zed to be the leading site for education, artistic and cultural performance in Jordan. It is His Majesty’s belief that through this initiative he would succeed in promoting the country’s great potential in tourism and in bringing together all its citizens in the collective experience of history, culture, and the arts. Derived from the Royal idea of a self-sufficient historical restoration organization in Jordan, His Majesty also ordered in 2010 the creation of the Jordan Heritage Revival Company (JHRC).

To My Father Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

To My Father - Essay Example To the world, my dad is a war hero. He is sick right now but I know the world prays for him. I want him to get up from the bed. My dad is a hero to me more than anybody. He picks me up when I’m down; he lifts me up when I have no hope from others. My friends, my siblings, they can leave me on my own but not my dad, he loves me too much.Had my dad lived an ordinary man’s life and not went to the gulf war; he would still be my hero. I gave him my Medal of Honor when I was a little kid and I cut my knee on the stool nail and he came to the rescue; picked me up, cleaned the wound, wiped the blood. There was something special about his touch, the moment he put his around the wound, the pain went away.I was fine even before he put the antiseptic that stung so bad, but it was alright because my dad was there. My hero means everything to me, he took care of me when I was growing up, now I try to do the same when he is growing old. He needs me more than ever, I try to live up to the standards but I know even if I sacrifice my whole life for him, I can never return the favor.Who tells their old parents, when they keep asking the same thing over and over again, each time with a gentler smile than before? No one. But he kept responding to me when I kept asking about the world, over and over again, he never frowned. Now I ask myself, can I do the same? Dad, I’m sure you can fight this illness the way you fought for the American people. You are the bravest of the brave and I salute you.

What Are The Hazards Of Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay

What Are The Hazards Of Pollution Environmental Sciences Essay Pollution refers to adverse alteration of the natural phenomena by human beings, animals or natural disasters which may affect life in one way or another negatively. Pollution is a health hazard that can cause detrimental effects to the natural environment we live in. It occurs in different forms like: Air pollution (atmospheric), land pollution, water pollution, light pollution and noise pollution Air (atmospheric) pollution This refers to a situation whereby the atmosphere surrounding us is contaminated by foreign materials of gaseous nature or particulate matter. These particles or gases may be in form of dust, excess carbon-dfioxide, excess sulphur-dioxide, and smoke among many others. All these materials can alter the natural state of atmosphere making it polluted. Dust for instance can cause diseases like asthma and tuber-closis to humans as well a affecting the transportation activities like the volcanic eruptions. A lot of dust in the air makes the rain water that could have been for domestic benefits useless. Diseases like the ones mention above caused by excess dust in the atmosphere makes increases expenses on our budgets and can lead to poverty to many countries in the world. Excess smoke in the atmosphere can cause choking and some lung problems leading to health complications. Smoke from industries has led to depletion of the ozone layer that shields ultra violet rays from reaching the earth. Ultra violet rays from the sun can cause dangerous diseases like skin cancer to human beings and also affect plants which the primary producers on earth. Gases such as carbon-dioxide and sulphur in excess will not allow the light hits the ground to be reflected back into the atmosphere. This will lead to global warming that has completely altered the way of life on earth at this century. Global warming has caused extreme weather conditions like too much rain leading to floods and also extreme temperatures which have led to desertification. Floods are dangerous to our lives and causes loss of life as it has been witnessed in so many parts of the world. Desertification on the other hand has caused hunger because of lack of rainfall to facilitate plant growth. All the se factors are the end results of excess gases in the atmosphere that brings about global warming that causes extreme weather conditions. Recently a volcanic eruption in Iceland in southern Europe caused major economic losses to so many countries in the world. The eruption paralyzed air transportation which in turn affected many businesses. Tourism activities in and out of Europe were negatively affected because many tourists could not travel. The dust particles that were ejected out of the volcano were believed to affect the planes engines and were likely to cause some mechanical problems that can make the plane to crush leading to loss of life. The particles also reduced visibility to pilots and made navigation quite cumbersome to them. Too much gases like sulphur in the atmosphere has resulted into acidic rainfall which has corroded so many buildings and also destroying plants. When rainfall (water) combines with sulphur it forms a weak acid known as sulphuric acid that accompanies rain water when it rains. The acid will attack buildings by corroding them.Alot of economic losses are realized when this occurs. Plants will not grow to maturity because of acid rain and will lead to hunger and starvation due to lack of food. Land pollution This form of pollution mainly comes as a result of human activities like, uncontrolled waste disposal and industrialization. Disposing of waste in uncontrolled manner leads to a polluted environment. Disposing raw sewage in an open area for example can cause diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery and others because it will allow flies to access the sewage and food that we eat at the same time. From an economic perspective, this is also a big blow to the sector because a lot of money will be used in trying to treat the patients. Consequently the outcome is a poor economic growth. A high increase in population is also indirectly or directly contributing to land pollution in the sense that the pressure exerted on the limited land leads to degredation.Also human activities like over grazing causes land pollution because the number of animals kept in a small space will highly degrade the same piece of land by overexploiting it. The result of these is the soil erosion and desertificatio n. Some big industries in big towns may carelessly dispose dangerous waste like mercury on the environment. The chemicals can affect people indirectly because plants growing in the same area take in the same chemicals. Research has shown that tubers like Cassavas can store these very dangerous chemicals. Other factories can also release chemicals that can cause dangerous diseases like cancer to people nearby if not controlled. Mining activities also contribute to land pollution. Some miners can dig huge holes and fail to fill them up after the activity. The same holes can be dangerous to people around the mining area. Also some minerals like Uranium are of adverse effect to the surrounding community if not carefully handled. Other human activities like cutting down of trees to create room for settlement has led to pollution through degradation. Due to ever increasing population, natural forests have been destroyed by human beings to give space to rapidly increasing population. Also uncontrolled recreational activities like tourism have led to land pollution especially in parks and reserves where wild animals call home. Tourists may throw plastic bags or polythene backs to the environment hence making the natural habitat for animals uncomfortable for them. Water pollution Water pollution is the most dangerous form of pollution. As the saying goes that water is life, then pollution of water means that the entire life on earth is threatened. Water pollution occur in a variety of forms like releasing chemicals into the water from nearby industries or polluting by machines like ships and motor-boats that use water as a means of transport. Water supports different life forms which also supports human life apart from providing us with drinking water. Some animals that live in water like fish is the main aquatic source of food to human beings. When the water is polluted by chemicals like mercury for example, human beings risk the consumption of such chemicals because the fish that we eat contains such chemicals in their bodies. Also when the industries release raw sewage to a nearby water source people in that area risk getting diseases like cholera that threatens life of most people. Noise pollution Noise pollution is the kind of pollution that affect entirely humans and other animals that are sensitive to hearing. This type of pollution cause disturbance to victims and makes them very uncomfortable. Human beings for instance may not like loud music at night during the time of sleep. Persistent loud music in the surrounding especially at night or any time that silence is paramount is considered to be noise pollution. Noisy industries or factories should be located far away from residential areas to avoid noise pollution. Also in national parks animals may not like noise made by tourists visiting such places and that is why one can sometimes see posters in the entrance to such places that noise is prohibited. Noise in an environmental hazard that can cause health problems to people. Too much noise can make people deaf because of the destruction of eardrums. Light pollution This is brought about by too much light. This type of pollution affects both humans and animals. One can be rendered blind if he or she is exposed to too much light.Ligth is very important in our life but in excess one can be rendered blind. Many of us are able to see because of light but if we do not limit the amount of light we are exposed to, we can be affected negatively in our ability to see. There are varieties of light sources like the sun, electricity mirror reflection and flash lights that help us to see. We need therefore to control the amount of light that we are exposed to in order to avoid light pollution. The most dangerous type of pollution is water pollution because water is the basis for life. Water provides life to almost every living creature on earth. Even scientific researches show that our bodies are seventy five percent water, and then if water is polluted then we risk the danger of perishing. Plants that manufacture food that we eat depend on water for their growth. This initiates a series of interdependency among life forms that ultimately ends up in humans. Work cited Cairn.J.(1997), Biological methods of assessing water quality.ASTM International. Sell.N. (1992) Pollution control.SAGE Kryza.K.(2007). Inspiring middle and secondary learners.Corwin Express. Clarence.D.(1970).The politics of pollution.Pegasus. Clarkson J.(1988).Acid rain.Duke University Press.

Humans are Responsible for Global Warming Essay -- environment, global

This essay offers a defense to the position that humans are responsible for global warming. What is Carbon Dioxide? Before attempting to answer any questions based on observations about carbon dioxide, taking a moment to identify the carbon dioxide helps to ensure a clear understanding of the element. According to Princeton University (n.d.), â€Å"carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide, is a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances†. This naturally occurring element is exists in the Earth’s atmosphere where it circulates between water, plants, soil and animals. Current Carbon Dioxide Levels Knowledge of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere helps scientists understand how the gas affects Earth, its atmosphere and any potential global warming. Carbon dioxide levels, measured in parts per million (ppm), defines a unit of measure â€Å"as a measure of small levels of pollutants in air, water, body fluids, etc. Parts per million is the mass ratio between the pollutant component and the solution† (TET, n.d.). Rising every year since 1958, the current atmospheric carbon dioxide level is 396.81 ppm according to co2now.org (2014). Scientists believe that they only have a short amount of time to get this and other greenhouse gases under control before the planet crosses the point of no return. With a level of 396.81 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, one may wonder if this level is the highest level the Earth has seen in the last 450,000 years. According to the graph found at Planet Seed’s website (2014), this is the highest levels of carbon dioxide level recorded in that time. In fact, the graph clearly shows a spike in carbon dioxide levels in the last portion of the g... ...3). Overview of greenhouse gases. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html Hilderman, R. (2011). Fossil fuel and atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. Retrieved from http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/fossil-fuel-and-atmospheric-levels-of-carbon-dioxide.aspx Marshall, C. (2013). Small-scale U.S. lab experiment removes CO2 from atmosphere at relatively low cost. http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059981902 Planet Seed. (2014). Global climate change and energy CO2 and temperature change. Retrieved from http://www.planetseed.com/relatedarticle/co2-and-temperature-change Princeton University. (n.d.). WordNet search - 3.1. Retrieved from http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=co2 The Engineering Toolbox (TET). (n.d.). PPM - parts per million. Retrieved from http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ppm-d_1039.html

Modern technology is enhancing social life

Technology is indispensable in solving modern problems, enhancing social life and ensuring a better future (Diamond 240). Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to reach among others industrial and commercial objectives of an organization or a society. It has cultural, organizational and technical aspects (Freeman and Francisco 142). Technology has become a powerful tool that is being used to improve social life and solve human problems like poverty and deceases. In addition, technology has increased the power of human beings to control and manipulate nature thereby enhancing our ability to adapt to the environment (Global Scenario Group Report 19).Despite all the benefits of technology, it has negative side effects like unemployment. It is therefore important to assess dangers and promises of a technology in order to formulate safeguards to eliminate its negative impacts or its misuse. It is also important to put limits on some technologies like biotechnology so as to harness their full potential without lowering the dignity of human beings (Freeman and Francisco 327).DiscussionThere are many areas in which technology impact positively in the society. The globalization of the internet for example, has extended and empowered the human network (Cisco Systems E25). It has changed positively the manner in which social, political, commercial and personal interactions are occurring. The internet presents a platform on which businesses can be run, emergencies can be addressed and individuals can be informed. It is being used to support education, science and government. (Global Scenario Group Report 24).Education has immense impact on a society. It trains the human mind to think and make right decisions. Through education, one acquires knowledge and information which can be used to solve problems like unemployment in a society (Cisco Systems E27). Technology enhances the processes of communication, collaboration and engagement which are fundamental bui lding blocks of education. It supports and enriches students learning experiences.It helps to deliver learning materials like interactive activities, assessments and feedbacks to a larger number of students faster and cheaper. In contrast to traditional learning methods which provide only two sources of expertise, that is, the textbook and the instructor which are limited in format and timing, online courses can contain voice, data and video which enhance understanding (Cisco Systems E30). Technology has thus removed geographical barriers to education and improved students’ learning experiences.Technology has facilitated the formation of global communities through social networks like facebook. This has fostered social interactions independent of geographical location (Global Scenario Group Report 27). The online communities enable sharing of valuable ideas and information capable of increasing productivity and opportunities in a society. For example, one can post to a forum to share health and treatment information with other members of the forum from all over the world. Though this kind of interaction is not physical, people are still able to share their social experiences and values more efficiently with people from diverse backgrounds.Technology has also helped to reduce poverty. Advancement in technology has led to new efficient sources of energy even to poor rural communities. The availability of cheap sources of energy opens up a society to investments and economic activities (Diamond 253). For example, technology has made it possible through genetic engineering to engineer crops that convert solar energy to fuels more efficiently.Governments are thus able to provide cheaper efficient sources of energy even to poor rural communities since solar energy is available virtually anywhere in the world (Freeman and Francisco 307).   Genetic engineering can also be used to create plants that produce valuable products like silicon chips for computers ef ficiently. This can result in improved income and living standards to members of a society. Technology can therefore bring about social revolution by enriching villages thereby attracting people and wealth from cities (Freeman and Francisco 331).Technology enables farms in remote places to function as part of the global economy. Through advancement in technology, agricultural outputs have improved thus ensuring food security. Technology helps farmers to avoid losses caused by natural disasters like drought. For example, a farmer can use a laptop enabled with a Global Positioning System to plant his or her crops with precision and efficiency resulting in high harvests.At harvest time, the farmer can use technology to co-ordinate harvesting with the availability of grain a transporter and storage facilities using mobile wireless technology. This can help to reduce losses caused by delays. The grain transporter can monitor the vehicle in-route to maintain the best fuel efficiency and s afe operation. In addition, through technology changes in status can be relayed to the driver of the vehicle instantly (Cisco Systems E34).   Technology has thus improved efficiency and effectiveness in the agricultural sector. It has enabled societies to have abundant healthy food.Modern technology is also widely used in the entertainment and travel industries. The internet has enabled people to share and enjoy many forms of recreation, regardless of their location. For example, one can explore different places interactively without having to visit them. Technology has also enabled the creation of new forms of entertainment, such as online games (Cisco Systems E36). Entertainment is important in a society since it reduce stress and problems caused by depression.Fears have been raised about some technologies such as nuclear weapons being used to cause massive destructions in the world (Freeman and Francisco 308). But the global community has the ability to enforce controls and lim its on technology use to ensure that technology is not misused.   A beneficial technology cannot therefore be abandoned when measures can be put in place to shape and direct its use. Moreover, governments in the form of regulatory institutions and professional bodies have the potential to regulate technologies that are susceptible to misuse to ensure that they do not impact negatively on values of the society (Freeman and Francisco 316).ConclusionTechnology is embedded in all aspects of our society and has extensive implications on culture and social activities. Technology has significantly improved health, agriculture, education, transport and communication sectors. These are critical sectors in any society as they contribute to development and improvement of living standards. Although some technologies might have side effects, measures can be put in place by governments and the international community to ensure that all technologies are used for the benefits of the society.Analy sis and evaluation1.The sources I used are qualified on the subject of technology and its social impacts. Cisco Corporation is a leading and credible technology firm. Its products are widely accepted all over the world. In the Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility Report of 2009 the organization outlined its key activities and how they contribute to the social welfare of the community. Cisco also offers certification courses that are very popular world wide.The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a good example of how technology can be used to enhance learning experience. In the program, the instructor provides a syllabus and establishes a preliminary schedule for completing the course content. The expertise of the instructor is supplemented with an interactive curriculum comprising of text, graphics, audio and animations. In addition, a tool called packet tracer is provided to build virtual representations of networks and emulate functions of various networking devices (Cisco Syste ms E31).Freeman and Francisco in their book give a lot of examples of how technology can be used to enhance social life. They also point out some side effects of modern technology and how they can be addressed. In addition, the publisher of this book, Oxford University Press is a credible publisher and the source can thus be relied on.Some social impacts of the modern technology are common in homes and workplaces. For example, the impacts of the internet on commerce are common. Majority of people have embraced electronic commerce and are buying goods and services online from the comfort of their homes. Electronic commerce has thus opened new doors of opportunities that are being exploited in the society.Diamond in his book explores the rise of civilization, discussing the evolution of agriculture and technology and their impact on the society. He gives clear examples of how technology has improved the social welfare of communities especially through improvements in agricultural prod uction. Some of the examples he gives are common and can easily be related to what is going around.The Global Scenario Group report is a credible source. Its main sponsors who include Stockholm Environment Institute, Rockefeller Foundation, the Nippon Foundation, and the United Nations Environment Programme are advocacy organizations in the fields of technology and the environment. The research explored the historical background of technology, the current situation and what the future might look like. It gives clear examples of major scientific discoveries that are driving technology and their potential impacts.If I had adequate time, I would do additional research to find more information on effective measures the international community can take to ensure that technology is not misused. I would particularly focus on tools the international community can employ to protect technology from irresponsible individuals like terrorists. This is because technology itself is not bad, but it is the human beings who in some cases use it irresponsibly. Therefore, if correct measures and controls are put in place technology can be used for the benefit of all in the society. This can eliminate fears and most of the side effects of technology.2a. Technology shapes institutions, values and day to day activities in our society. It affects identities, relationships, social structures and economic activities (Freeman and Francisco 316). Technology is thus inevitable in the modern world. The internet has enhanced our social, political, commercial and personal interactions enabling us to share information and ideas more efficiently. Technology has significantly improved the quality of education. It has enabled learning materials to reach a larger number of students efficiently and cheaply. An improvement in the quality of education enhances the social life of a community since it enables individuals to make creative decisions capable of solving social problems.Technology has faci litated the formation of online communities were members can share their diverse experiences and ideas. This has the potential of increasing productivity in a society. In addition, technology has helped to reduce poverty. It has resulted in efficient sources of energy even in rural areas thereby opening up rural areas for investments and developments. Modern technology has also improved efficiency in the agricultural sector therefore ensuring food security. Moreover, I discussed how modern technology has been used in the entertainment and travel industries to create new forms of entertainments like online games. Finally, I noted that although some technologies have side effects, governments and the international community have the potential to direct and control the use of technology for the benefit of the society.2b.Some of the evidences I used include the Cisco Networking Academy Program which is an example of how technology can be used to improve quality of education. The second evidence is of a farmer using a laptop enabled with a Global Positioning System to plant his crops with precision and efficiency. The example illustrates how technology can be used to improve agricultural production. The third evidence illustrates how genetic engineering can be used to engineer crops that convert solar energy to fuels more efficiently. The energy can then be used in the rural areas to create wealth and employment opportunities. Finally, I illustrated how technology has been used in the entertainment and travel industry to create new forms of entertainment like online games.2c.The major assumption I made is that the international community has the potential to control and direct the use of technology. This is only possible if there is peace and cooperation among all countries of the world. But this is not the case especially in the Middle East. The instability in countries like Iran and the existence of extremists have increased fears of technology being used to caus e massive destruction.3.Someone might ague that technology is a problem because we rely on it so much and that although it makes us better it also make us worse. My position is that in any human community there must be control and order. It is therefore the responsibility of governments to ensure that the society is protected from negative effects of technology.   Some people might point out the destructive effects of technology on the environment to ague against it. But if correct measures are put in place we will be able to assess the dangers and promises of any technology in order to formulate effective safeguards against its side effects.Works citedCisco Systems, Inc. Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility Report. cisco.com. Cisco Systems, Inc. 2009. Web. 2009.Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel:   The Fates of Human Societies. New York.   W.W. Norton. 1999. Web.Freeman, Chris and Francisco Louca. As Time Goes By:   From the Industrial Revolutions to the Information Re volution. England. Oxford University Press. 2001. Web.Global Scenario Group Report. Great Transition: The Promise and Lure of the Times Ahead.     gsg.org. Global Scenario Group. Web. 2002.

Racial Tensions Essays - Discrimination, Social Inequality, Politics

Racial Tensions Essays - Discrimination, Social Inequality, Politics Racial Tensions For Democracy to truly thrive there must be equal opportunity and an equal distribution of hope for all people. A myth that underpins American culture is that we live in a land where success is based on merit, and differences in wealth is due to the differences in ambition and ability. Each individual has equal opportunity obtain an educational foundation that will provide social mobility, self-improvement and self-awareness. Lastly each individual will live without the pains of discrimination and will have the freedom to pursue their dreams. If this American myth is true, do we still need legislation such as Affirmative Action? Since the birth of this country, there has also been the issue of racial discrimination. We have made progress since the days of slavery and segregation, but animosity towards a universal acceptance of all races still exist. Today in America, white males occupy most managerial positions, and corporate market institutions have a disproportionate amount of capital, power and influence on how society is run and how culture is shaped. (p25, Race Matters) After the United States Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, it became apparent that certain business traditions, such as seniority status and aptitude tests, prevented total equality in employment. In 1965 the U.S. government believed that employers were discriminating against minorities and that action must be taken to try to bring equality back into the marketplace. On September 24, 1965, President, Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order #11246 at Howard University that required federal contractors to take affirmative actio n to ensure that applicants are employed . . . without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin (Civil Rights). When Lyndon Banes Johnson signed that order, he enacted one of the most controversial pieces of legislation. Affirmative action was created in an effort to help minorities leap the discriminative barriers that are present in this country. In a statement released in 1981 by the United States Commission on Civil Rights, Jack P. Hartog, who directed the project, said: Only if discrimination were nothing more than the misguided acts of a few prejudiced individuals would affirmative action plans be reverse discrimination. Only if todays society were operating fairly toward minorities and women would measures that take race, sex, and national origin into account be preferential treatment. Only if discrimination were securely placed in a well-distant past would affirmative action be an unneeded and drastic remedy. The problem with Affirmative Action is that is has t wo serious drawbacks that I will mention, it contributes to preferential treatment and reverse discrimination. The following cases are examples of what has occurred after the legislation has been past; In 1969, five major Omaha corporations reported that the number of white managers fell 25% due to restrictions put on them when affirmative action was adopted (Nebraska Advisory Committee 27). In 1977, The Northern Natural Gas Company of Omaha, Nebraska, was forced by the government to release sixty-five white male workers to make room for minority employees. (Nebraska Advisory Committee 40). From the above examples we have created situations that have the potential to increase racial prejudices amongst the workers and families of the workers. Needless the employees were treated unfairly. Martin Luther King Jr. desired a world without discrimination, without prejudice, and without stereotypes. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.(Martin Luther King Jr.) The fundamental lesson that years of discrimination should have taught is that to give anyone preference based on skin color, sex, or religious beliefs is wrong. Needless to say preferential hiring does influence judgments based on skin color, race and sex. By no means am I trying to use the late Martin Luther King Jr.s speech against his original cause, but instead I hope to bring attention to the fact that the government has implemented a law, which can lead to negative consequences. The end result from affirmative action may actually fuel, rather than extinguish, racial hostilities through out our country. Just as the late Martin Luther King Jr. feelings towards discrimination fueled one of the greatest changes

Balancing Ecosystems Essays

Balancing Ecosystems Essays Balancing Ecosystems Essay Balancing Ecosystems Essay Essay Topic: Ecosystems I am composing to inquire the City Council of Glimmerville to fall in Sparkeville’s effects to reconstruct balance back to our aquatic ecosystem. The City Council of Sparkeville is inquiring that Glimmerville support an program ( which will be outline subsequently in this missive ) that will cover with the complete population of the Grass Carp that has invaded our H2O ways. As the City Council of Glimmerville is good cognizant our ecosystem has been unbalance for a piece due to the invasion of the grass carp fish that was introduced in our aquatic ecosystem to manage and equilibrate our the biotic ( populating ) and the abiotic ( inanimate ) parts of the ecosystem back to an equilibrium province. While the Grass Carp was intended to assist command the overpopulating growing of the aquatic workss. non merely did the Grass Carp make merely that but one time the giantism of the workss was taken attention of the fish began to clean our full lakes of all aquatic workss. one time all works life was gone they moved on to devour the H2O ways detritus entirely with carnal affair. In conformity to a study from the Environment and Energy ( E A ; E ) Committee. the Grass Carp has been linked to the addition in pollution and the decrease of O due to the eating method and behaviour and the remotion of the outstanding workss that one time dominated our H2O ways. The riddance of these workss is the direct cause for the other fish which depend on the aquatic flora as portion of the rhythm of life to disappear from our H2O ways. What I propose are a twosome of options that I strongly believe will assist free our H2O ways with the over populated grass carp and to maintain our environment good balanced. Option 1- To re-introduce the H2O manner natural fish back into the lakes and pool ; following promote a run inquiring for husbandmans to cut down the current sum of fertilisers to decelerate down the growing on aqua flora. and in conclusion keep a Grass Carp fishing tourney offering assorted signifiers of inducements for participants. one time the issue has been reduced to test off all recesss and mercantile establishments to the H2O ways. Option 2- To eliminate immense Numberss of Grass Carp with nominal cost and attempt. we should take advantage of the Grass Carp fancy to piece together each Spring in immense Numberss in relatively warm H2O ways predating to and during their regenerating period. During the extremum of Grass Carp renewing period. we can place a drawn-out Seine sacking that with travel wholly over all the intersections of the gaps of the three H2O ways to set a halt to the Grass Carp from acquiring into the H2O ways. After the rivers and watercourses are cleared of the Grass Carp . we can set up boundary markers across two of intersection opening to avoid the Grass Carp from re-entering. and maintain an oculus on ( proctor ) the bottom nutrient beings. the lucidity of the H2O and submerged aquatic works above and beneath the boundary markers. Option-3 Because the Grass Carp will non feed in countries where there is a batch of human activities. we can keep boat races or swimming competition. merely will non avoid the fish from returning one time that actives terminal. With the benefits being so great and doing no injury to any of our bing concerns. it makes good sense to fall in and back up our consequence to decide the job of the Grass Carp fish. I look frontward to hear from you shortly. that we can set away and joint consequence to deciding this job. Mention: Bonar. S. A. . Vecht. S. . Bennett. C. . Pauley. G. . A ; Thomas. G. ( 1993 ) . Capture of Grass Carp from Vegetated Lakes. Retrieved August 10. 2014. from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. apms. org/japm/vol31/v31p168. pdf Conover. G. . R. Simmonds. andM. Whalen. editors. Management and control program for bighead. black. grass. and silver carps in the United States. Asiatic Carp Working Group. Aquatic NuisanceSpeciesTask Force. Washington. D. C. 223 pp. Mississippi River Basin Panel ( MRBP ) onAquaticNuisance Species. AsianCarp Brochure. Bettendorf. Iowa. 2pp. U. S. Fish A ; Wildlife Service ( USFWS ) . Asiatic Carp– Aquatic Invasive Species ; Issues. Program Accomplishments. and Programneeds. Ft. Snelling. Minnesota. 4 pp

South Florida Incomes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

South Florida Incomes - Essay Example It is reported that the top 1% of the social strata receives as much as the bottom 57% (Income Inequality 1). Economic reforms have been targeted to mitigate income inequality by the provision of aids to the poor, better job opportunities, and higher salaries. However, amidst the ardent effort of the government to curb income inequality, their efforts remain futile as figures indicate that income inequality has worsened over time. Economists have long struggled to curb income inequality through various measures. In some cases, subsidies are given to the poor that adds up as additional income to them. Governments also pursue projects that aim to improve the livelihood of the poor like the provision of farm to market roads for farmers. Some develop the quality of education that the poor receive in order for them to qualify for higher paying job opportunities. Still others mandate a compulsory rise in salary level. Amidst the effort of economists to promote income equality among citizens, there has been some debate regarding the relationship between income equality and economic progress.

Personal & organization development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal & organization development - Essay Example mmunication skills, time management skills and team work skills with the aim of ensuring that I am able to perform my activities in a competent manner. According to my preferred career objectives as well as goals, my career mission statement is to develop analytical competencies and knowledge for a better sustainable as well as competent future career in the field of financial management. I want to build my career in the finance sector working as a financial analyst. In this regard, I preferred to join Museum of Islamic Arts (MIA), a renowned museum in Qatar as a Financial Affairs Officer. I believe that working as a Financial Affairs Officer in the organisation will facilitate me in developing my knowledge as well as competencies towards a better future career and professional life. My association with MIA will facilitate me in developing my communication skills as well as teamwork efficiencies that are essential for building my overall competency level. Considering that the job market of Qatar has been developing in a rapid pace and in a sustainable manner, working in MIA will be fruitful in developing my skills and knowledge in the financial management field so that I am capable of performing the various job activities in a competent manner. The targeted career scope in MIA will also facilitate me in making better decisions and to be innovative and creative in performing the various tasks. Working as a Financial Affair Officer in MIA will facilitate me in developing my financial analytical skills and also enhancing my interpretation skills, which are highly valued in this field of operations. In this long run, I will also be facilitated with the opportunity of developing my time management skills. Additionally, the developed skills and knowledge in relation to financial field will facilitate me in acquiring better job opportunities in the developing job market segment of Qatar. Furthermore, in the long run, I will be able to make effective decisions,