Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Essay Example

Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Essay Example Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Paper Comparison of Catholic and Hindu Religious Services Paper Their Sanctums Modern religions are separated by thousands of years of cultural diffusion and theological diversity. Each region of the planet has Its own popularized religious practices that therefore define the region and, more Importantly, the people that live there. However, what exactly separates two groups religious followers, for example, Catholics and Hindus? Is the difference the place they worship? Is the deference the way they worship? Theological beliefs do separate, however they are not usually noticeable on the outside looking in. What do us as people notice first that gives us the distinct sense that this religious assembly is nothing like that one? We see the building, the architecture, and we watch what they do. We watch how they participate. What actions they perform. What most distinctly separates two religious sectors as diverse as Catholic and Hindu are the architectures and religious practices that we see most often. Inside a Catholic Cathedral of a decent size, you may first notice that it has many sows of forward facing pews with a central isle leading to the front of the church. However, inside a Hindu temple, the worshipping Is concentrated in one central sanctum with standing room only. The walls at the temple are marble white with some colorful decorations of flowers on large marble columns. In the cathedral you may find a similarly plain color palette. Stone was originally used in most catholic cathedrals by the stone masons that built them in Europe, leading to most being stone grey, also with many columns. The only break from the blank color scheme is taint glass windows filtering light down onto the rows of pews and the banners hanging from the walls, displaying religious or seasonal pictures. Also, the largest difference you may find are the large amount of sculptures present In a Hindu Temple. This Is not so In a cathedral, or at least not to the same scale. This is because the Hindu religion, though it recognizes a single powerful entity, what most Catholics might refer to God, they also recognize that there are many deities that represent the different parts the entity. They worship each of these deities equally. Catholics have sculptures of Saints; however they only truly worship the one god, only giving thanks and praying for strength from Saints. This leads to there being fewer sculptures In a cathedral. However, you may see much art work of Saints if you travel extensively enough though a cathedral. Inside the worship service of a Cathedral, Men and women, dressed in mostly formal attire, suits and dresses, sit together in pews waiting for the Priest to begin the service. However, in a Hindu temple, men and women are separated and are reseed in what most westerners might think were dresses. Also, in a Hindu temple, It Is required Tanat tender De no snores worn Insane. Men called Brahmins lead t service, though most of the worshipping is done entirely by the individual patron. Comparatively, in a Cathedral, the patrons follow the strict direction of the Priest. Each individual in a Hindu temple is responsible for reciting their own Mantras. They may then give offerings. They then kneel or lay flat on their stomachs and pray. Then, they walk clockwise and stop at each side of the Sanctum and pray to each deity. In a Catholic Cathedral, Each patron listens to the Priest read scripture and then accepts communion. Communion, which is the practice of cleansing the body by eating of Chrisms body and blood, has been a central practice of Christian faiths since Chrisms death. They then kneel and give confession. The reason both of these religions, and most religions around the world, kneel is that it is a sign of submission; in this case submission to the will of God. The Lords Prayer is said and there is singing of a Canticle, reading of a psalm, then two scripture lessons each followed by hymn. The apostles Creed is read by the Priest and the patrons together. There is a collection of offering, not unlike that of the Hindu offerings. Each Church only survives as long as it has patrons who will practice the faith and offer their money to the cause. One last prayer and the people exit the church until next Mass. We arent accustomed to listening to and determining the differences in theology between two religious groups. When we are on the outside, all we see is where and how these people practice their faiths. When you stand a Catholic and a Hindu man next to each other you do not immediately notice their ideological separation, but rather what theyre wearing. This is not to say that religion is only skin, or clothing deep. Thousands of years have sculpted each religion to have its own unique beliefs and practices. However, when you compare them at first glance; when you see both groups worshipping what they believe in; it could appear that the only differences difference is the building and what the people are wearing when they kneel and pray.

Osmosis Definition in Chemistry and Biology

Osmosis Definition in Chemistry and Biology Two important mass transport processes in chemistry and biology are diffusion and osmosis. Osmosis Definition Osmosis is the process where solvent molecules move through a semipermeable membrane from a dilute solution into a more concentrated solution (which becomes more dilute). In most cases, the solvent is water. However, the solvent may be another liquid or even a gas. Osmosis can be made to do work. History The phenomenon of osmosis was first documents in 1748 by Jean-Antoine Nollet. The term osmosis was coined by French physician  Renà © Joachim Henri Dutrochet, who derived it from the terms endosmose and exosmose. How Osmosis Works Osmosis acts to equalize concentration on both sides of a membrane. Since the solute particles are incapable of crossing the membrane, its the water (or other solvent) that needs to move. The closer the system gets to equilibrium, the more stable it becomes, so osmosis is thermodynamically favorable. Example of Osmosis A good example of osmosis is seen when red blood cells are placed into fresh water. The cell membrane of the red blood cells is a semipermeable membrane. The concentration of ions and other solute molecules is higher inside the cell than outside it, so water moves into the cell via osmosis. This causes the cells to swell. Since the concentration cannot reach equilibrium, the amount of water that can move into the cell is moderated by the pressure of the cell membrane acting on the contents of the cell. Often, the cell takes in more water than the membrane can sustain, causing the cell to burst. A related term is osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the external pressure that would need to be applied such that there would be no net movement of solvent across a membrane.

Hierarchical Structure in a Modern Organization Essay

Hierarchical Structure in a Modern Organization - Essay Example In the modern day organizations’ context, the employees’ working within the organization need a supervision that facilitates them to have a clear vision with regard to the organizational goals as well as initiates and influences them to attain or accomplish the desired goals. It has been apparently observed that in the modern day organizational context, prompt decision making has become almost synonymous to every day transactions made within the organization, thus a clear focus that is generally present amid the top level hierarchy facilitates to right decisions and the right time without much fault. The study will also include the counter arguments with respect to the relevance of the hierarchy within the organizations. The existence of the flatten organization is quite unmanageable at times. The invisible hierarchy remains within the flatten organizations as well. If the employees are bestowed with the responsibility to take the decisions freely without any supervisio n, the power- conflict arises within the organizations. Thus, the existence of the flatten structure without any centralized control within the organization can cause both short-term and long-term hindrances within the organizational premises. The relationship between the hierarchy and the â€Å"the tyranny of invisible† and the difference between the hierarchy and the hierarchism will also be included within the study. The existence of the rhizomes structure within the organization also forms an objective of this study.... ost synonymous to every day transactions made within the organization, thus a clear focus that is generally present amid the top level hierarchy facilitates to right decisions and the right time without much fault. The study will also include the counter arguments with respect to the relevance of the hierarchy within the organizations. The existence of the flatten organization is quite unmanageable at times. The invisible hierarchy remains within the flatten organizations as well. If the employees are bestowed with the responsibility to take the decisions freely without any supervision, the power- conflict arises within the organizations. Thus, the existence of the flatten structure without any centralized control within the organization can cause both short-term and long-term hindrances within the organizational premises. The relationship between the hierarchy and the â€Å"the tyranny of invisible† and the difference between the hierarchy and the hierarchism will also be inc luded within the study. The existence of the rhizomes structure within the organization also forms an objective of this study. Thesis Statement Hierarchy is sustainably/fundamentally relevant in the modern day organization. The Sustainable/Fundamental Relevance of Hierarchy in the Modern Day Organization Modern day organizations have various structural options. The structural options range from the traditional structure towards the better innovative and flexible schemes. The hierarchies differ within the structures and the effectiveness of the different structural scenarios followed within the organization upon the compliance of the structural framework with that of the strategic objective of the company/organization (Nestle, 2011). The various structures comprise the functional structure, the team

Medication errors in hospitals Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Medication errors in hospitals - Research Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that a device or medication faults more often takes the form of erroneous use of a prescription order or the wrong operation or placing a medical device in a wrong manner. Errors also include the unintentional exchange of a mistaken product in the place of the prescribed one. Also, faults may occur for example, when confusing product name results in the wrong product being dispersed or when inattention leads to an overdose of a certain intended drug. A considerable number of injuries occur annually because of medication or device errors. In general medication mistakes are presumed to be as a result of certain problems within the whole health care system, implying that these faults are usually multiple errors that exist in almost the entire health care system, for example a doctors’ illegible written prescription pads as well as unclear or rather an unfamiliar drug labelling may also result in pharmacists misreading prescriptions and labelling and filling prescription with the wrong medication. Particularly in a hospital milieu and setting, medication safety is especially a very sensitive and delicate issue considering their composite mix of technological and human systems. Melcher, Lampert, Haschke, Drewe& Krahenbuhl, stated that medication errors occurred mostly during the administration process, he concluded that majority of the errors arise during the administration 53%, followed by prescription 17%, and preparation 14% and finally transcription 11%.... of a dependable and regular approach that permits for monitoring , reporting and examining as well as reviewing of errors in an accommodative environment, this identifies and eliminates the reasons for errors. The organization develops a system for frequent and recurrent assessment and evaluation of nurse’s medication administration processes and reassurance of continuous supervision by the head nurse. The development of a quality system which should involves policies and procedure manual to give guidance on medication administration process and enhance quality of nursing care in medication administration. Increase the effectiveness of communication among health care providers to improve and ascertain continuity of patient care. Finally revise and redesign the medication recording formats such as medication kardex, medication history sheets, and medication error reports to make uniform medical practitioners performance moreover the hospital should make available adequate suppl ies in terms of facilities and equipments essential for correct preparation and administration of medications and the provision of appropriate rooms for preparation of medication. 2. Improvements on physicians and pharmacists for quality improvements of medical areas In regards to improvements on physicians and pharmacists the following changes can be implemented; Physicians should be aware of the hospital guidelines and guiding principles in regards to drafting medication orders in the right format, readable and understandable instructions and monitor oral medication orders to augment the medication administration procedure. Physicians and doctors should be readily available all through inside the intensive care unit (ICU) upon being requested for confirmation and clarification of medication

Differences Between Pow Camps Essay Example for Free

Differences Between Pow Camps Essay These prisoners would be sent to camp where they would be forced to do different kinds of work. Depending on what country you got captured by, what would happen to you would differ. This essay will focus on three of the different kinds of camps, the Germans, the Japanese, and the Allies. In Germany, before being taken away to a camp, prisoners had to pass an interrogation. Because of the Geneva Convention prisoners only had to give their name, rank, and serial number. German camps were usually rows of barracks enclosed by a barbed fence, lined with guard towers. These towers contained guards that would shoot any escaping prisoner. POWs were given two meals a day consisting of soup and bread, though this was not enough, and most had to coop with hunger. Sometimes the Red Cross would bring items such as butter, chocolate, or condensed milk. Only some of men had to work while the others had to survive from the boredom. When weather was nice the prisoners were allowed to play a wide variety of sports and sometimes they even got to enjoy concerts put on by German bands. Out of the 140,000 Prisoners of war in Japanese camps, about one third of them died from starvation, punishment for disobedience, and disease. The POWs were treated very poorly because the Japanese did not follow the rules set in place by the Geneva Convention. The POWs were forced to work in mines, fields, shipyards and factories for twelve hours a day. If any disobedience was sensed in a prisoner, they would be beaten. The little food they were given included soy beans, seaweed, rice, and once a month, fish. Escape from Japanese camps was very rare. When somebody was caught trying to escape they would be killed in front of other prisoners. In some camps ten prisoners would be killed for every one prisoner that was caught escaping. You would be treated either poorly or nicely in allied camps, depending on whether you were captured by Soviets or by English and Americans. If sent to Russia, POWs were given little food and were forced to take aggressive classes on communist ideals. Of the 90,000 Germans captured, about only 5,000 returned from Russia, and most of them were only let out ten years after the war had ended. Prisoners in America and Britain got it much better. Never short of food, were Prisoners always well fed. Medical supplies were always available and POWs were always taken care of. Though little, Prisoners were paid for the work they did for the Allies. Thousands of them attempted to escape, but all were recaptured. There is only one known escape in North America.

The Curious Atmosphere of Macbeth :: Free Essay Writer

The Curious Atmosphere of Macbeth       The Bard of Avon created a complex atmosphere in his writing of the tragedy Macbeth. Let's give detailed consideration to this aspect of the drama in this paper.    In Fools of Time: Studies in Shakespearean Tragedy, Northrop Frye shows how the atmosphere is altered for the better at the end of the play:    This theme is at its clearest where we are most in sympathy with the nemesis. Thus at the end of Macbeth, after the proclamation "the time is free," and of promises to make reparations of Macbeth's tyranny "Which would be planted newly with the time," there will be a renewal not only of time but of the whole rhythm of nature symbolized by the word "measure," which includes both the music of the spheres and the dispensing of human justice [. . .]. (94-95)    In his book, On the Design of Shakespearean Tragedy, H. S. Wilson explains why the atmosphere is so important in Macbeth:    Macbeth is a play in which the poetic atmosphere is very important; so important, indeed, that some recent commentators give the impression that this atmosphere, as created by the imagery of the play, is its determining quality. For those who pay most attention to these powerful atmospheric suggestions, this is doubtless true. Mr. Kenneth Muir, in his introduction to the play - which does not, by the way, interpret it simply from this point of view - aptly describes the cumulative effect of the imagery: "The contrast between light and darkness is part of a general antithesis between good and evil, devils and angels, evil and grace, hell and heaven . . . and the disease images of IV, iii and in the last act clearly reflect both the evil which is a disease, and Macbeth himself who is the disease from which his country suffers."(67-68)    L.C. Knights in the essay "Macbeth" mentions equivocation, unreality and unnaturalness in the play - contributors to an atmosphere that may not be very realistic:    The equivocal nature of temptation, the commerce with phantoms consequent upon false choice, the resulting sense of unreality ("nothing is, but what is not"), which has yet such power to "smother" vital function, the unnaturalness of evil ("against the use of nature"), and the relation between disintegration in the individual ("my single state of man") and disorder in the larger social organism - all these are major themes of the play which are mirrored in the speech under consideration.

Employment Law

Introduction This report will outline key arguments surrounding contemporary debates on UK employment law, which will provide a critical analysis from those that argue there is too much legislation and those that suggest there is not enough. It is beyond the scope of this report to generalise on employment law as a whole; it will therefore focus on the right to request flexible working, such as under the Employment Act 2002 and The Work and Families Act 2006 that has been subject to various reforms, amendments and regulations. This legislation has formed a significant debate as to whether such interventions ensure that individuals achieve a work-life balance, promote efficient working practice or create an unnecessary burden on UK businesses (Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD), 2005, British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), 2010). This analysis will also look at the introduction of new employment legislation for flexible working, and discuss the impact on working practices today, with a glance toward the shape of new legislation in the future (Chartered Management Institute (CMI),2008). FindingsBackground and ContextThe last three decades have seen a trend toward increasing employment legislation. At the same time the United Kingdom (UK) still has lower levels of employment protection and more labour market flexibility than other European states (Keter, 2010). The flexible market in the UK was inherited through the general laissez-faire attitude, where industrial labour and relation laws have been less state regulated than other European countries (Biagi, 2000). Keter (2010) suggests that today’s flexible market is also the result of more recent trends, which from 1979 saw the introduction of more labour regulations in terms of statutes enacted, but with the aim of setting labour free of interference from state control and what was seen as unnecessary social partners, such as trade unions (ibid). The introduction of a New Labour administration however saw a shift toward more family friendly employment legislation. A European directive from 1997 (European Coun cil Directives 97/81/EC and 98/81/EC) provided that part-time workers be entitled to the same rights as comparable to full-time employees. The directives required European member states to implement laws, regulations and provisions to eliminate discrimination against part-time workers. The aim was to facilitate the development of part-time and other working time arrangements, that were flexible and met the needs of both employers and employees (Danzinger & Waters Boots, 2008). In order to promote citizens full participation in the labour market, the enactment of The Employment Relations Act 1999, while continuing to ensure that labour relations were free of state control, provided a floor of rights, such as increased rights for fixed and part time workers, (Biagi, 2000). Along this trajectory, the Employment Act 2002 introduced legislation providing employees with young or disabled children the right to request flexible working arrangements by their employers, that was subsequently extended in The Work and Families Act 2006 to allow the same rights for carers of adults (Davies, 2011). Lewis and Campbell (2007) suggest that New Labour’s concern with promoting a ‘work-life’ balance underpinned it’s ideological approach to welfare, that saw active citizenship for all achieved principally through labour market participation (Levitas,2005). For all to participate, legislation has provided for the extension of childcare services and ma ternity leave and the introduction of parental and paternity leave. Further, rather than reducing working hours, the Labour government promoted the right to request flexible working hours as a way for families to manage their working patterns with their caring responsibility timetables (Busby and James, 2011). Hill et al (2001) describe flexible working to include activities such as; part-time, job sharing and homeworking or any variation outside of working the traditional nine until five working day. For example, working from home, where such practices are facilitated due to advances in mobile technologies (Civicus, 2008). Lewis & Cooper (2005) argue that although in principle flexible working can take many forms, in reality, the main flexibility that UK employers offer is a reduction of working hours. From an employer’s perspective, employment legislation can also be seen as promoting the creation of work patterns and arrangements in order to maximise employment productivity, customer satisfaction and staff efficiency (Pettinger, 1998). This demand, Pettinger suggests, has come about as a result of the expansion of global markets, competition and choice, pressures on resources and increasing customer demands, together with changing patterns of consumption (ibid). Therefore, Pettinger (1998) suggests that against this backdrop, flexibility can be seen as a corporate attitude, whereby a fully flexible labour market is seen as generating a more effective workforce. Faulkener (2001) argues that while it is recognised that it is the above drivers that have influenced the development of flexible working practices, there is also another important agenda. Here, Jones and Jones (2011) identify that family friendly legislation is more representative of the ‘business case’ for flexible working legislation, which revolves around the identification of recruitment pools, particularly women, and the older population, who have yet to be fully exploited (Faulkener, 2001, Jones & Jones,2011). Arguments Against more Employment Legislation According to a British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) (2010) report on employment regulation, a survey of British businesses see an emerging consensus that the proliferation of legislation providing flexible working conditions has become increasingly problematic. The report argues that the shift from the regulation of collective bargaining to individual employment contracts, later evolving into the volume and complexity of statutory legislation today, has led to difficulties with understanding and compliance (ibid). The report specifically attacks the piecemeal legislative approach to flexible working shown by the latest introduction of laws and regulations (see Appendix 1) According to the BCC (2010), such an approach has been criticised by businesses. The problem for companies is that constant changes in the law mean that employers must incur the cost of familiarising themselves as each new law is enacted, where there is a greater risk of mistakes. As a result, businesses need to bring their knowledge up to date since the previous change in the law, such as through employment law books and guides or paying for legal advice. Consequently, the report argues, employment legislation can act like a tax, by raising costs (ibid). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (2006) argue further that even if there is a belief that the increase of employment law can improve the flexibility of the labour market, there are still questions as to whether such legislation is fit for purpose. Against a backdrop of increasing employment legislation, a National Audit Office (2009) research paper also casts doubt over whether governments are able to understand business enough to design effective legislation. The BCC (2010), representing one hundred thousand businesses, suggest that due to the volume and complexity of employment legislation, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), now need professional legal advice to settle disputes. In reality, the BCC argue, it is less expensive to settle disputes with the employee and prevent reputational damage than it is to defend a claim. The BCC therefore recommends streamlining and reducing the amount of legislation, for example, in a similar way that the anti-discrimination laws became consolidated by the Equality Act 2010 (ibid, 2010). Despite such criticisms, not all the findings in the business sector are negative. According to a Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD) Survey Report (2005), who surveyed Human Resources professionals from over six hundred companies, the majority saw employment law as making a positive contribution to their businesses. This research suggested that the main barrier to effective implementation of employment law is the perception that there is too much employment legislation (ibid). In response, the Annual Employment Law Review by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) (2012) aims to tackle perceptions that there are ‘too many’ e mployment laws, through lobbying for reform, while ensuring that reforms are not at the expense of compromising fairness for individuals. The report argues that although businesses complain about the amount of employment legislation, in reality the UK has one of the most lightly-regulated labour markets among developed countries. Only the United States and Canada have lighter overall employment regulation (OECD Indicators of Employment Protection, 2008: cit in: BIS, 2012). Arguments in favour of more Employment Legislation The UK’s ‘light touch’ employment regulations may be reflected in their flexible working legislation. The right to request flexible working does not enforce employers to comply with individual requests, only to offer the procedures for them to do so. It is therefore argued that it is individuals (particularly with dependents) and the social organisations who support them, who favour increasing employment legislation, in order to provide fairness at work that ensures a work life balance (Burnett et al, 2012). In a 2012 report by Working Families and One Plus One, Happy Homes and Productive Workplaces, from a sample of over two thousand respondents, nearly eighty percent of respondents felt that flexible working was the most beneficial working arrangement (Burnett et al, 2012). However, the report argued that in order to support flexible working, further legislation was needed in order to promote arrangements that are mutually beneficial and embedded as a culture of flexibility, rather than an approach that manages requests as an exception to the norm (ibid). Along with relationship and family support organisations, a growing number of business and HR associations support further employment legislation and reform to push forward the benefits of flexible working (CIPD, 2013). Drawing on the findings of the 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study (WERS) the CIPD suggest that employment legislation needs to increase, due in part to a lack of effective mechanisms to tackle labour relations. The report points to recent socio-economic and political changes in the UK where an increase in employment law is becoming ever more essential. For example, the facilitation of employment legislation during the 1980’s and 1990’s discouraged union membership and reduced collective bargaining powers. This is reflected in the WERS study, in 2012, which shows very low levels of employee engagement in collective bargaining, only six percent in privat e businesses, with fourteen percent of employee trade union membership in the same sector (Wanrooy et al, 2011). The near absence of collective bargaining, although removing employer constraints on freedom of action, raises concerns over employee voice, where employment legislation may be seen as an attempt to close this gap (CIPD, 2012). Danzinger and Waters Boots (2008), argue that in reality flexible working legislation does not go far enough. Unions and parent advocacy groups argue that many workers who would benefit from flexible arrangements do not ask for them out of fear of being refused, or because of a fear that asking may jeopardise their careers. Research suggests that employees will only ask for flexible work if they believe their requests will be approved. It is also argued that flexible working legislation may reinforce gender inequalities by linking flexible work and care responsibilities, reinforcing a ‘mother career track’ that pairs women with demotions of pay and position. Further, unfair dismissal claims, involving refusal of flexible working, tend to favour women, who can rely on anti-discrimination legislation, such as in Adedeji v The City of London Corporation (2007) (see Appendix 2), in order to strengthen their claims (ibid). Future Changes to Flexible Working Legislation New flexible working employment legislation to come into effect in 2014 appears to address some of the above criticisms. The government plans to extend the statutory right to request flexible working arrangements to all employees (with over twenty-six weeks service) whether they are a carer or not. This removes the present requirement that the employee must have caring responsibilities. In addition, the procedure for considering flexible working requests, which is currently very prescriptive, will be relaxed and employers will instead be required to consider requests in a ‘reasonable’ manner and within a ‘reasonable’ time frame (ACAS, 2014). Currently, it is possible for an employee to claim compensation due to the employer’s failure to comply with the procedures laid down in the Flexible Working (Procedural Requirements) Regulations 2002. In Bryan v Corporate Advertising Ltd ET/2105111/10, although the tribunal rejected Mrs Bryan’s claim that she was constructively dismissed and subjected to indirect sex discrimination, it was however held that the company had breached the procedures laid down by the 2002 Regulations. This procedural breach may no longer by relied upon under the 2014 legislation. However, successful claims may still be used under anti-discrimination legislation. In Commotion Ltd v Rutty [2006] IRLR 171 (EAT), it was upheld that the employee had been subject to constructive unfair dismissal and indirect sex discrimination, due to the employer’s failure to have any lawful reason to reject flexible working conditions. However, in Winfindale v Debenhams Retail plc (ET/2404134/10, 20 Aug 2010), it was held that there was no indirect sex discrimination where an employer showed that they took seriously a request to return from maternity leave on a part-time basis to a manager’s role. According to a Equality and Human Rights Commission report (2009), proposed changes in flexible working legislation will continue to fail to encourage workers in management positions to request flexible arrangements (EHRC, 2009). The report suggests that under current legislation, employee’s in management positions are less likely to make a request for flexible working, and when they do, they are less likely to succeed (ibid). In the government’s Consultation on Modern Workplaces Report (2012), it is argued that current legislation that prioritises certain groups reinforces the idea that flexible working is only for those in caring roles, whereas the aim of the new legislation is to promote a culture where flexible working is a legitimate ambition for all employees (HM Government, 2009). Although the legislation proposes to ‘allow’ but not ‘require’ employers to prioritise competing requests, employers will continue to have to show that all competing requests cannot always be accommodated, in their entirety, on business grounds (ibid). Drawing on the CIPD report (2005), a large majority of employers find compliance with the current legislation relatively straightforward. Of those who have had problems, the main barrier to compliance is that managers find it difficult to manage employees on different flexible working arrangements. Given that the new legislation attempts to widen the right to request flexible working to all employees, employers may face an increased challenge to accommodate competing requests. However, according to the same report, since the introduction of the current legislation, less than one-tenth of employers have faced grievance or disciplinary proceedings, or an employment tribunal claim. Further, research shows that it is large multi-national companies that benefit most from flexible working arrangements. Among those benefits are improvements in staff retention, improved morale and a reduction in costs (CIPD, 2005). These reported benefits need to be balanced against arguments that oppose mor e legislation promoting flexible working (ibid). More significantly, the statutory provision to enable greater flexibility in the workplace looks set to increase in the future. In a recent report, Management Futures – The World in 2018 (2008), the findings predict that organisations will become more virtual, the premium for talent will increase, with new aspirations and ambitions of a multi-cultural, widely dispersed workforce (Chartered Management Institute (CMI),2008). Conclusion This report has attempted to provide an insight into the contextual background surrounding employment laws in the UK today. The focus on flexible working legislation may be seen as a salient debate, given the competing claims from employers, employees and the organisations that support them (Burnett et al, 2012). At the same time, against a backdrop of socio-political and economic changes there has been an increasing legislative response to address both the rights of individual workers and a drive to improve competition, efficiency and development in the market (Pettinger, 1998). Given the predictions of further changes in the labour market, statutory provision looks set to increase in response. The debate for or against increasing legislation surrounding flexible working therefore needs to be balanced with the benefit to both businesses and the rights of individuals (CIPD, 2005). Word count: 2644 Bibliography Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) (2014) Employment Law Update. Available [online] from: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3909 [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Anderman, S.D (2000) Labour Law:Management Decisions and Workers Rights:4th Edition. 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HM Government (2012) Consultation on Modern Workplaces, Modern Workplaces – Government Response on Flexible Parental Leave. November 2012. HM Government. Available [online] from: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-modern-workplaces/ [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Honeyball, S (2008) Honeyball and Bowers Textbook on Employment Law:10th Edition. Oxford:Oxford University Press James, G (2006) The Work and Families Act 2006: Legislation to improve choice and flexibilityIndustrial Law Journal. Vol:35,issue 3 pp: 272-278 Jones, K & Jones, E (2011) Flexible Working Practices in the UK:Gender and Management Perspectives. Women in Society, Vol 2 Autumn 2011Available [online] from: http://www.newport.ac.uk/research/Journals/wis/vol2/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed on 4th January 2014] Keter, V (2010) Issues in Employment Law: Key Issues for the New Parliament 2010. House of Commons Library Research, Social Reform. Available [online] from: http//wwwParliament.uk/doc ument/key%20issues%20in%employment. [Accessed on: 4th January 2014] National Audit Office (2009) Complying with Regulation: Business Perceptions Survey 2009. Available [online] from: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0809/complying_with_regulation.aspx Painter, R & Holmes,A (2008) Cases and Materials on Employment Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press Pettinger (1998) Managing the Workforce. London: Cassell Trade Union Congress (TUC) (2008) Changing Times Newsletter No.92 13th February 2008. Trade Union Congress. Available [online] from: http://www.tuc.org.uk/welfare-and†¦issues/†¦/changing-times-newsletter-no.92 Wanrooy,B, Bweley, H, Bryson,A, Forth,J, Freeth,S, Stokes, L, Wood,S (2011) The 2011 Employment Relations Study:First Finding. London: The Workplace Employment Relations Study. Available [online] at http://www.gov.uk/13.1010.WERS-first-findings-report-third-edition [Accessed on: 4th January 2014]

Harry Potter and Culture Industry Essay

Harry Potter – this name is familiar with all the age groups in the world today and the reason behind it is well known to all of us. The Harry Potter book series written by a single mother J. K. Rowling, who wouldn’t have imagined in her wildest dreams that a story she thought of while travelling in a train, would gain so much popularity. So much so that her character and her name would become a household name across the globe! J. K. Rowling Harry Potter books came into the market in 1998. The first part called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone gained a lot of popularity with the kids and slowly with the adults too. Due to its huge success it was converted into a motion picture as well and so the first movie when on to release in the year 2001. Subsequently the other parts (books) were out in the market and the movies started releasing as well. Of course it was after the stupendous success of the initial books that J. K. Rowling was encouraged to write on the further parts. So what is it in Harry Potter that attracts so much attention? Or what is it that makes people want to read a 600-700 pages long book again and again. This isn’t just a single book we are talking about, but every book in the series is read all over again by people repeatedly. These books tell us the story of an orphan, Harry who lives with his aunt Petunia and uncle Vernon, and not to forget his huge sized cousin Dudely with a nut sized brain. He leads a miserable life until the he turns 11, when he realizes that he is actually a wizard. He is admitted to the Horgwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So follows his journey of magical experiences. Very unique but impressionable characters are introduced in the book in Rowling’s own style. The books detailing his experiences at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry have bred passion, obsession, creativity, and a new or renewed interest in reading throughout the world. JK Rowling has created an elaborate cast of characters and an environment for them to inhabit that appeals to adults and children alike. The fantasy aspect of the wizarding world expands the imagination, and transports the mind to new and exciting places; introducing magic opens new realms of possibilities within the plots. Anything could happen. Her intricate stories contain strands of the believable and unbelievable, altering the predictability that readers commonly encounter and endure in fiction. Harry Potter Movie Poster These factors contributed to the â€Å"Harry Potter Phenomena† which actually swept across the world as soon as the movie series became huge hits! Young children started identifying with Harry’s shy but brave character. The terrifying Lord Voldemort and how he is after Harry’s life, after having murdered his parents when Harry was a baby. The innocence of school life along with the mixture of magic, hit children’s minds like the Magic Bullet Theory, wherein, the information seen by audiences hits their minds like bullets and penetrates within. At the same time, the themes driving the stories resonate with classic literature, offering mature readers tales that wear like a comfortable pair of shoes, while introducing younger readers to concepts they will encounter throughout their lives. The main theme of the series is the subject of many theories, including, but not limited to: good versus evil, prejudice, love, death, sacrifice, friendship and loyalty. In actuality, all of these elements contribute to the timeless nature of the stories. As and when the books started getting really famous with a specific target audience, the first big leap that was taken to expand the entire Harry Potter concept were the movies. When the movies were made they went on to click with the younger as well as the older audiences. One part after the other, the movies became darker slowly loosing the initial happy and bright appearance. They now started seeming more â€Å"real† and â€Å"practical†. There was a feel of â€Å"there is more to Harry Potter† than what you expect. The covers of all books started having two versions, one which was bright and the other dark and mysterious so that the books would appeal to adults as well. Slowly there was Harry Potter everywhere! There was Culture Industry starting to take place because of the entire Harry Potter concept. By Culture Industry we mean that suddenly a particular thing which is extremely popular is produced in front of us in many different ways. It is â€Å"claimed† by the respective producers that their product is unique and adds more to a particular franchise. This concept focuses on media and marketing. Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno define the Culture Industry through its focus on the media and mass marketing. This industry is unique in that it does not reflect economic processes and essentially becomes homogenous; thus, variation is meaningless. The Culture Industry is characterized by three specific ideas: Monopoly, Mass Production, and Technology. So there is lesser control over production of certain products and lesser control in the market. Hence when a certain product is newly launched in the market, people rush to purchase it and explore that particular product. So what happens when the novelty of that product wears off? Simple, another product is launched in the market and promoted on its â€Å"unique† properties. But the actual catch here is that every product is almost similar to one another, but it is sold as being different from the previous one. Hence people are urged to buy them. This also gives them another product in place of the previous one. This is termed as â€Å"Pseudo Singularity† rightly meaning false singularity. This is how the culture industry also called as Mass Industry works. When Culture Industry meets something like Harry Potter, what is created is a huge successful mass industry which becomes immensely lucrative and popular. Also when the subject is like Harry, who mainly appeals to people due to his emotional appeal, his belief in friendship, love and braveness. These are the factors on which various products apart from movies like merchandise are publicized to people. There are Harry Potter theme based amusement parks, the costumes, competitions to test your HP knowledge, digital games and websites like Pottermore where you actually live Harry’s life. You are sorted into different houses just like in the book and you face different adventures like Harry. There are things taken from the book which will entertain and amuse people. Like the broom used to play the game Quidditch again an imaginary concept of a game like football but you are actually flying on broomsticks. Harry Potter wands, cards, hats, glasses and the famous scar which Harry have all became commodities and we are expected to purchase them. The main objective here is to make people feel like Harry himself. Examples of various Harry Potter Merchandise So even if J. K. Rowling has completed her set of books, producers still want to reap the profits from this subject. Hence, even after she officially completed her books, due to tremendous response and popular demand she wrote another book where people know what happens after Harry defeats Lord Voldemort and finishes his studies from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So much is the popularity of Harry Potter. Not only Harry, but other main characters like Hermoine and Ron (Harry’s best friends), Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, Sirius Black etc have gained a connect with the audiences. There is a feeling generated that â€Å"my best friend to needs to be like Ron† or â€Å"I wish I could study magic†. This feeling of longingness is usurped but the producers to contribute more to the culture industry! These feelings are then used by the people to generate more and more profits, hence trips to the castle where Harry Potter was shot are arranged. Though a particular location is not used continuously in the movies, they keep changing, but so much is the craze that people travel all the way to Scotland just to see where their Hero spent this school days. All in all a different culture itself is created and we don’t realize it. Such is the nature culture industry and it prevails n today’s world to a much greater extent. The main feeling of Love always triumphs over the evil makes Harry Potter what it is. I would like to end my putting in a famous citation in the book- It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1999, spoken by the character Albus Dumbledore This is one of the most famous quotes from the series and rightly, it is our choices that make us who we are. People chose to love Harry Potter even though the entire concept being imaginary because it has appealed to their hearts. It is this emotional factor which makes us give in to the ‘market and producers’ but in the end, they are our choices, aren’t they?

Who are the winners and losers in the arms trade Essays

Who are the winners and losers in the arms trade Essays Who are the winners and losers in the arms trade Essay Who are the winners and losers in the arms trade Essay The prolific and largely unregulated transfers of arms, particularly small arms and light weapons, has resulted in tremendous human suffering. Tens of millions of people have been killed in wars since 1945. By the end of the 1990s, a large percentage of war-victims were non-combatants and at least half of these were children. The arms trade fuels these wars, wasting life, natural resources and vast sums of money. Despite this, world military expenditure has increased sharply over the last decade; US, Japan, UK, France and China are the top 5 spenders, which equals 62% of world military spending. In particular, several countries like UK and US use military exports as a tool of foreign policy. In this essay, I will examine the profit and cost brought by the arms trade, and try to justify whether there are winners or losers in the arms trade. First of all, let us look at why there are several countries continuing to support the export of military equipment. Let us take Britain, which continues to rank as one of the worlds largest arms exporter (WMEAT, P. 470) as an example. The British government claims, support for military exports helps employment, bring budgetary savings, benefit the balance of trade and deliver other wider economic benefits. ( deso. mod. uk/policy. htm) Since 1995, three reports have begun to estimate the overall net costs to government of engaging in this kind of activity. Estimates vary mainly because of different approaches to research and development spending but they all show that exports benefit from considerable subsidies- between 228 million pounds up to a possible 990 million pounds per annum. WDM, 1995) It is obviously to see that with larger export of the military equipment, there is always a great profit coming with. Furthermore, the British government claims that defence exports help support a strong UK defence industry and contribute to the security of our friends and allies overseas; defence exports can also contribute to international stability by strengthening bilateral and collective defence relationships. ( deso. mod. uk/policy. tm) In addition, the British government believes that a strong defence industrial base is important for the United Kingdoms defence. It enables us to manufacture the equipment to meet our armed forces requirements, including the development of future systems and the regeneration of capability at times of crisis. The skills of our defence industry workers are themselves a valuable defence resource. For an average in each year of 86,000 jobs in the UK are working in defence industry. Without a large export trade, the whole size of the industry will have a dramatic decrease. deso. mod. uk/policy. htm) all above seems to be a very strong evidence of supporting arms trade despite some of the factors might be still debatable. The situation in Britain can roughly reflects the benefit brought by the arms trade in other countries. If all the policy based on the benefits to their own Defence and international security, arms trade can play a powerful role in deterring aggression and promoting stability, it would not be difficult to see the advantages of arms trade. In some extend, we have faced the fact that a number of major initiatives were approved making a significant contribution to the fight against terrorism. These included tightening controls over Man Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) and agreeing to enhance transparency of transfer of small arms and light weapons (SALW). But does all above mean that the countries which exports military equipment are the winners of arms trade, the answer is: it does not tell the whole picture. The United Kingdom enforces very strict control of defence equipment exports. Export licences are not approved if to do so would fail to comply with UKs international obligations or if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression or international aggression, or may affect regional stability in any significant way. ( deso. mod. uk/policy. htm) However, there always is hidden potential for arms exports, which is also called the invertible hand by some press. Because there is high value of profit, it is not difficult for people to guess there are people selling arms by illegal methods such as trading arms in a black market, otherwise there would be less properly armed terrorists. It can be a direct impediment to the achievement of peace and international security. Now, let us look at one of the biggest arms exporter France as an example. All wars have winners and losers. The war in Iraq is no exception. France is a big loser. France lost billions to Saddam Hussein by selling the Iraqi dictator arms on credit. France lost billions in oil contracts and business deals when the Iraqi dictator fell. France also lost a major alliance with the United States by putting up such a sham over Iraq. The lost alliance between Paris and Washington will cost France. (WWW. newsmax. com) The evidence shows that there are still some arms being exported to destinations where they are likely to be used to commit grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, owning to the fact that there is always uncertainty such as misusing of the arms imported. In practice, however, successive governments have failed to close the loopholes in arms export laws and have even failed to abide by their own guidelines. The decision-making process is weighted heavily in favour of the arms dealers and, time and time again, concerns of human rights are overridden in the interest of exports. A recent example of this was in late 2001 when BAE Systems were granted a licence to sell a i 28million military air traffic control system to the Tanzanian government despite the fact that: Tanzania has a sum total of eight military aircraft and such a system could only provide limited support for civilian air traffic control. A civilian ATC system costing a quarter of the price would have met the countrys needs. The cost of the system will add to Tanzanias debt burden and do nothing to address poverty in the country. Adding to the debt burden seems especially short-sighted given that some sections of the UK government are trying to cancel debt. The UKs export licensing criteria state that account must be taken of the compatibility of arms exports with the technical and economic capacity of the recipient country, with this information gathered from the IMF and World Bank. In this case the World Bank criticised the proposed export for the first two reasons above. (CAAT, 2002) The UK government continues to allow the export of military equipment to many countries with records of sustained human rights abuses, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Indonesia and China. Indonesias military, for example, has an appalling human rights record and continues to wield considerable power. (CAAT, 2001) The UK government argues that it has received assurances from the Indonesian army that equipment will not be used for internal repression. It chooses to believe this despite the militarys record and evidence of previous use of that, or similar, equipment. In addition, the export of arms can also make a very bad effort fuelling conflict. Many of the UKs arms customers are situated in areas of actual or potential conflict. The 2001 Annual Report 1 lists exports to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Angola, Algeria and Colombia. Where more than one country is involved, the UK is commonly willing to sell to both, or all, sides. The above report lists exports to India and Pakistan, China and Taiwan, Turkey and Greece, Israel and many of its Middle East neighbours, and Uganda, Angola and Zimbabwe during their involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo conflict. Countries with massive development needs, such as India and South Africa, are among the UKs most lucrative customers for military equipment. The governments support for arms sales encourages such countries to waste money that could be spent to meet peoples basic health and education needs. (CAAT, 2002) Any of this military equipment imported for these countries will be a risk, If any of these arms is used in the war or even local conflict, it would be doubtlessly for us to see how disastrous it can be for their people. In general, I could say that thousands of lives are suffering from these trade arms. All above shows that, the exporters of arms like France are not the final winners and many countries, which imports lots of arms are suffering. Most of the people believe that arms exports are a useful tool in foreign policy and giving us some control over other nations. Honestly, they could be in some cases, but in practice they arent. For example, the government happily granted export licences for the supply of spare parts for Hawk fighter jets to the Zimbabwe government for use in the terrible conflict over the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was in spite of opposition from human rights campaigners and some members of the cabinet, who suggested that the government might like to refuse the licences and thereby show their displeasure that Zimbabwes actions. (Brittan, 2001,p2) The tool has lost its power simply because you cannot have total control on other nations. On the other hand, people argue that if we do not sell these arms, someone else will. I have to confess the fact is true. This will need lots of co-operations and trust between nations. In conclusion, I would like to say there are no absolute winners and losers in the arms trade. In the past, the main victims of war have been soldiers and other armed combatants. However, nowadays, as the opening quote states, the majority of causalities in modern wars are innocent civilians. Anyone who is involved in arms trade, will have a risk of being accused of any tragedy happened. In general, lots of the arms deals are being processed, and all we hope to see is, more and more countries are working together, having more control on arms trade, and create a better environment for the world itself.

The Mail is Arriving Way too Late, Watchdog Reports

The Mail is Arriving Way too Late, Watchdog Reports Even by the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) own recently lowered standards, mail delivery has become unacceptably slow, according to a federal inspector general. In fact, the number of letters being delivered late has increased by 48% in the 6 months since January 1, 2015, USPS Inspector General (IG) Dave Williams noted in a Management Alert sent to the Postal Service on August 13, 2015. In his investigation, IG Williams found that, â€Å"Mail was not being processed timely throughout the country.† Why Is the Mail Slower? On January 1, 2015, the Postal Service, in yet another attempt to save money it doesn’t have, lowered its own mail delivery service standards basically allowing mail to be delivered over a longer period of time than before. For example, where 2-day delivery of First-Class mail had been required before, 3-day delivery is now the acceptable standard. Or, â€Å"slow† is the new â€Å"normal.†Ã‚   [ Postal Services Losses by Year ] The move also paved the way for the Postal Service to go ahead with the closure of some 82 mail sorting and handling facilities across the nation, an action 50 U.S. Senators had recommended against. â€Å"The impacts on customer service and employees have been considerable,† Williams wrote of the lowered delivery standards and facility closures. The IG also noted that the delays had been â€Å"compounded† by two other factors: winter storms and employee scheduling issues. â€Å"Postal Service management stated a large number of winter storms disrupted service from January through March 2015, particularly for mail requiring air transportation,† wrote the IG. â€Å"Additionally, winter storms shut down highways on the East Coast and closed a contractor’s hub in Memphis, TN, delaying mail across the country.† As a result of the reduced delivery standards and facility closures, over 5,000 postal workers were assigned new job duties and were forced to change from working night to day shifts. This required staffing realignments and training of mail processing employees on new jobs, creating an inefficient workplace, according to the IG. How Slow is the Mail Now? IG Williams’ investigation showed that letters classified and paid for as 2-day mail took at least three days to arrive from 6% to 15% of the time from January to June in 2015, a service decline of almost 7% from the same period in 2014.   Five-day mail got even slower, arriving in six days or longer from 18% to 44% of the time for 38% service decline since 2014. Overall, during the first six months of 2015, 494 million pieces of mail failed to meet delivery time standards, a late delivery rate 48% higher than in 2014, investigators concluded. [ Door to Door Postal Services Might Be a Thing of the Past ] Remember when local First-Class letters were usually delivered the next day? Well, the Postal Service eliminated that service in January 2015 in preparation for its mail-handling facility closures. For all classes of mail, the new â€Å"relaxed† delivery standards have allowed the Postal Service one extra day to deliver as much as 50% of all mail traveling outside the Zip Code in which it was mailed, according to the IG’s report. Despite the predicted, but highly unlikely demise of â€Å"snail mail,† Postal Service statistics, show that the USPS handled 63.3 billion pieces of First-Class mail in 2014. Of course, that was 34.5 billion fewer pieces of mail than the 98.1 billion letters handled in 2005. In 2014, a focus group representing a cross-section of postal customer, told Postal Officials they would be willing to accept lowered delivery standards if it meant saving the Postal Service. Be careful what you ask for. What the Inspector General Recommended While noting that mail delivery times had improved recently, IG Williams warned that the level of service is still not where it was during the same period last year. To deal with the issue, IG Williams recommended the Postal Service put its plans for a second round of mail handling facility closures and consolidations on hold until it had corrected its staffing, training and transportation problems related to the lowered delivery standards. [ Back When You Could Mail a Baby ] Postal Service officials disagreed with the IG’s recommendation to put the facility closures on hold until delivery problems are solved. In May 2015, Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan put a temporary hold on further facility closures, but did not indicate when or under what conditions they would resume.

Film study and appreciation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Film study and appreciation - Essay Example In literal terms of, cinematography is means lighting in movement. This involves all the manipulations on the film strip by the camera during the shooting phase of a film. The processes that occur in the production laboratory after shooting also contribute significantly to the cinematography of a film. The director of photography plays a leading role in determining how the film will be shot. Cinematography is critical in deciding the eventual â€Å"look† of a film and this generally contributes significantly to the realization of the goals of a film. Ocean’s Eleven is a heist film that is with an element of comedy crime. The film is a remake of the 1960 Rat Pack film. The characters of the film include con artists and a group of former prison inmates. This movie was produced in 2001 and was directed by Steven Soderbergh. It features high a high profile cast of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Andy Garcia and Julia Roberts. The plot of the film revolve s on a plan by ex convict Daniel Ocean (George Clooney) to conduct a high profile theft. The robbery is to be carried out on a high security vault that is shared by three casinos in Las Vegas. Daniel Ocean assembles a rag tag group to conduct the heist. It turns out that the real reason that motivates Daniel Ocean to coordinate the heist is to win back his wife and bankrupt the owner of the casinos who happens to have married Ocean’s wife. Camera angles are critical aspect of cinematography. The use of camera angles can play a significant role in highlighting the desired features so as to resonate well with the audience. A film can employ several camera angles such as high, low, straight-on and bird’s eye view to portray various themes (Brown 76). In the movie Ocean’s Eleven, the element of low angle is utilized to suggest power and influence. This is evident in most scenes where the main character, Daniel Ocean, is often portrayed from a low angle. This imperat ively communicates that he has power and skills to coordinate what is considerably an unprecedented heist. On the other hand, some of the con artists who make up the team are portrayed from high angles. This implies their dependence on the leadership of the main characters in order to succeed. The con artists’ skills are not of significance without the coordination of Daniel Ocean to conduct the heist. The angle of projection in the scene between Daniel Ocean and the casino owner is straight on. This shows that Daniel Ocean considers himself to be equal even not better than the man who took his lover. In some instances, camera angles are used to purely to create striking visual compositions. Scenes in the casinos are shot from bird’s eye view. This helps the audience to appreciate the features of the interior of the casinos such the playing tables and the general settings. Camera distances are also an important aspect of film cinematography. The filming scale can influ ence the perception of relationships between the various characters in a given film. Camera distances can be used to either foster intimacy with the characters of a film or divert the attention from the character to the environment (Brown 74). Hence, shot scale can be exploited to influence the narration and impression created by the various scenes in a film. In the film Ocean’s Eleven, extreme long shot is used to establish a given