Differences Between Mitigation and Preparedness

Part I What are the primary differences between Mitigation and Preparedness? Research and describe three examples of each. The United States experiences a variety of natural disasters throughout the year. Because of hurricanes on the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coasts, earthquakes near the San Andreas and other fault lines, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes in the plains, and floods throughout the Midwest, the United States suffers approximately $1 billion in losses each week. From 1990-93, losses surpassed those during the previous decade, mainly due to Hurricane Andrew, the Midwest and Northwest floods, and the Northridge Earthquake.Regardless of the location of a natural disaster in the United States, a program of disaster preparedness, mitigation, management, and prevention must be followed. (McMillan, 1998) Disasters can be described as a cycle with three phases, BEFORE, DURING and AFTER.The â€Å"BEFORE† phase is that period of time before a disaster hits, includin g the time when a warning and/or alert is announced, during which preparation and mitigation activities may take place, with the objective of decreasing people’s vulnerability and reducing the negative impacts of disasters.The â€Å"DURING† phase is that period of time during which lives and livelihoods are at risk and lasts until the danger is over.The â€Å"AFTER† phase is the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, after the immediate danger has past, when people and communities put their lives, livelihoods, and homes back together. This paper will concentrate on the BEFORE phase with mitigation and preparedness in this section. According to Bullock, mitigation refers to the continued action taken to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from hazards and their effects.Mitigation activities address either the probability and consequence or both components of risk. By mitigating either of these components, the risk becomes much less of a threat to th e affected population. In the case of natural disasters, the ability of humans to limit the probability of a hazard is widely dependent on the hazard type. Hazards such as hurricanes or tornadoes are impossible to prevent while avalanches, floods, and wildfires are examples of hazards for which limiting the rate of occurrence is possible. (Bullock, 2013)A natural disaster has the potential to cause unseen physical and psychological damage, damage that could be lessened with some preparation if you’re in an area that is vulnerable to a destructive act of nature. All disasters offer their own unique challenges and have different ways to mitigate them before they happen. For example: Tsunami Mitigation:Find out if your house is in danger and know the height of your street above sea levelBe familiar with warning signs (earthquakes, ground rumbling, or rapid rise and fall of coastal waters)Ensure all family members know how to respond Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1Have disaster supplies on hand (flashlight, extra batteries, portable battery-operated radio, first aid kit, emergency food and water, nonelectric can operator, cash and credit cards, and sturdy shoesDevelop an emergency communications plan in case of separation during the earthquake Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the family contact. (Ready. ov)Tornado Mitigation:Conduct tornado drills into each seasonDesignate an area in the home as a shelterHave disaster supplies on handDevelop an emergency communications plan in case of separationKnow the difference between a tornado watch (issued when tornadoes are possible in your area) and a warning (tornadoes have been sighted by radar)Take shelter in a building with a strong foundation If shelter is not available, lie in ditch or low-lying area a safe distance away from the mobile homeLearn danger signs: An approaching cloud of debris an make the location even if a funnel is not visible, before a tornado hits, the wind may die down and the air may become still, and generally occur near the edge of a thunderstorm; you can often see clear skies following a tornado. (Ready. gov)Wildfire Mitigation:Learn and teach safe fire practices Build fires away from nearby trees or bushes, always have a way to extinguish a fire, never leave a fire unattendedObtain local building codes and weed abatement ordinances for buildings near wooded areasUse fire-resistant materials when building, renovating, or retrofitting structuresCreate a safety zone to separate home from combustible plants and vegetablesInstall electrical lines underground, if possible Prune all branches around residence to a height of 8-10 feetKeep trees adjacent to buildings free of dead or dying wood and mossRemove all dead limbs, needles, and debris from rain guttersStore combustible/flammable materials in approved safety containers and keep away from homeKeep chimney cleanAvoid open burning, especially during dry season.Install smoke detectors on ever y level of your homeMake evacuation plans from home and neighborhood and have back up plansAvoid using wooden shakes and shingles for roofing Use only thick, tempered safety glass in large windows and doorsHave a disaster supplies on handDevelop an emergency communication plan in case of separationAsk an out-of-state relative to serve as the â€Å"family contact† (ready. gov)Preparing for an emergency provides you your best chance of survival, in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Emergency preparedness should always be considered in the home and workplace for any unexpected event.Devastating acts, such as Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Katrina, and the 9/11 attacks have left concerns about the possibility of future events and their potential impact. These acts have raised out awareness of the importance of emergency preparedness. The 2004 National Response Plan defines Preparedness as â€Å"the range of deliberate, critical tasks and activities necessary to bu ild, sustain, and improve the operational capability to prevent, protect against, response to, and recover from domestic incidents.Preparedness is a continuous process involving efforts at all levels of government and between government and private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to identify threats, determine vulnerabilities, and identify resources. † (NRP 71). In simple terms, preparedness activities can be characterized as the human component of pre-disaster hazard management. Training and public education are the most common preparedness activities, and when properly applied, they have great potential to help people survive disasters.Although, preparedness activities do little to prevent a disaster from occurring, they are very effective at ensuring that people know what to do once the disaster has happened. (Bullock, 2013) While, preparedness is the steps taken to deal with an event once it occurs, mitigation is the steps taken to eliminate or reduce the risks cr eated by hazards. Previously, mitigation factors were discussed for wildfire, tornado, and tsunami. Some examples of a preparedness activity is to create an emergency communications plan, establishing meeting places, and assemble disaster supplies or a 72hour emergency preparedness kit.When creating an emergency communications plan choose an out-of-town contact your family will call or e-mail to check on each other should a disaster occur. They should live far enough away that they would not be directly affected by the same event, and of course they should know they are the contact. Also, make sure every member has all have each other’s contact information to include email, cell phone, and home/work phone. The children’s school should have this contact information as well. Another, thing to remember is to be patient as with a disaster the phone lies will get overwhelmed.Having predetermined meeting places away from your home will save time and minimize confusion should your home be affected or the area evacuated. Make arrangements to stay with a family member or friend in case of an emergency. Be sure to include your pets in these plans, since pets are not permitted in shelters and some hotels will not accept them as they are just as much a part of the family as anyone else. Have two emergency locations, each in opposite directions. You never know, until an actual emergency, which direction you will need to evacuate.If you need to leave your home having some essential supplies at your disposal will make it more comfortable for the family. Prepare an emergency preparedness kit in something easy-to-carry such as a duffel bag or small plastic trashcan. Include â€Å"special needs† items, first aid supplies (i. e. prescription medications), a change of clothing for each family member, a sleeping bag or bedroll for each, a battery powered radio or television and extra batteries, food, bottled water and tools. (NTARC, 2012) In conclusion, mitiga tion and preparedness are very important with respects of a disaster response and recover.Just think of in this manner to put everything into perspective. In order to give your family and yourself the best chances of survival during a disaster you must to have a plan in place and think of all the factors that you can do before hand to minimize the impact of a disaster. Like we do in the Navy, before we pull out to sea we have a very big checklist that we adhere to and list all the factors that can go wrong then brief a response to those factors. This will ensure everyone knows his or her responsibility. It saves lives and promotes a safety first environment.Being proactive is the key to minimizing the loss of human life, injuries, financial losses, property damage and the interruption of business activities. Methods my change between hazards and incidents, but the goals are always the same.ReferencesBullock, J. A. , Haddow, G. D. , & Coppla, D. P. (2013).Introduction to homeland sec urity. (4th ed. ).Waltham, MA: Butterworth-heinemann. Department of Homeland Security. (Nov 2004).National Response Plan, Washington D. C. , DHS Department of Homeland Security (November 9, 2012).Ready. Gov. Retrieved November 9, 2012 from http://www. ready. gov/america/index. html McMillian, C. R. (1998).Natural disasters: prepare, mitigate, manage. Retrieved from http://www. csa. com/discoveryguides/archives/ndht. php Peace Corps (Sep 2001).Disaster preparation and mitigation. Retrieved From http://files. peacecorps. gov/multimedia/pdf/library/T0124_dpm_ist. pdfNational Terror Alert Response Center (2012), Emergency preparedness. Retrieved from http://www. nationalterroralert. com/emergency_preparedness/

3 Expert Tips for the Boston University Supplement Essays

3 Expert Tips for the Boston University Supplement Essays SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re applying to Boston University this year, you’ll have to respond to at least two Boston University essay prompts. In this article, we’ll cover what the Boston University essay prompts are, how to answer them, and provide key tips for writing the best application essays possible. What Are the Boston University Essays? Boston University requires its applicants to respond to at least two Boston University essays as part of its admissions requirements. You may also have to respond to a third, additional essay, depending on what school or program you’re applying to. Boston University uses the Common Application for admission, so the Boston University essays are all submitted through the Common App’s platform. The essays are an important part of your application - they give you a chance to show the admissions committee a different side of your personality than what they see in the rest of your application. The Boston University essays also give you a chance to wow the admissions committee with your creativity and writing skills, so it’s important to put a lot of effort into your essays to make them as strong as possible. Boston University Essay Prompts and Requirements There are a number of different Boston University essay prompts, depending on what program you are applying to and whether or not you decide to apply for a scholarship. All students must answer the â€Å"Why Boston University† essay and can submit extra work as part of the â€Å"Extra Space† prompt. Applicants to the Accelerated Program in Liberal Arts and Medicine, Kilachand Honors College, and the Trustees Scholarships must also answer additional essays, each with their own word count and requirements. Let’s take a look at each of the prompts: "Why Boston University": What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? (250 words) "Extra Space" prompt: Please use this space if you have additional information, materials, or writing samples you would like us to consider. (2000 KB PDF file) For Accelerated Program in Liberal Arts and Medicine applicants: The Accelerated Programs Admission Committee is interested in learning more about you. Please write an essay on why you wish to enter the health professions, including what experiences have led you to this decision and what you hope to gain from your chosen profession. Please make sure your essay is completely distinct from the one you submitted on the Common Application. (750 words) For Kilachand Honors College applicants: Kilachand Honors College offers a challenging liberal arts education grounded in critical and creative thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving. What do you think this approach means? Reflect on what has been missing in your education to date, giving at least one concrete example to support your response. How would Kilachand’s interdisciplinary curriculum fulfill your academic, creative, intellectual, and/or professional goals? (600 words) For Trustees Scholarship applicants: Please select one of the questions below and respond with an essay explaining your perspective. (600 words) Option A: The list of works banned throughout history is long and sometimes surprising. Examples include the Bible, King Lear, The Origin of Species, Mein Kampf, Lolita, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Isaac Asimov wrote: â€Å"Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.† Do you agree? Is such censorship ever justified? If so, who or what should determine which books are read and which are forbidden? Option B: Economists describe a â€Å"moral hazard† as individuals’ tendency to take greater risks when they believe that they will not bear the full cost of their actions. Some may be less careful driving, for instance, if they know that their insurance provider will cover potential accidents, while the uninsured will drive with more caution. A recent study similarly suggests a correlation between greater access to Narcan, the drug used to reverse potentially fatal opioid overdoses, and a rise in the use of opioids. In your opinion, should the concept of moral hazard affect public policy? If so, what are the relevant factors policymakers should consider in assessing questions of public safety and individual responsibility? Option C: â€Å"The perfect search engine,† Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin has said, â€Å"would be like the mind of God.† In your opinion, will science and technology eventually allow us to know all things knowable? Are there limits to what the perfect search engine will reveal, or might it indeed become like the mind of God? For all Trustees Scholarship applicants: Please submit a short essay to the following statement: â€Å"Something that’s not on the resume.† Give us a glimpse of a passion, dream, or mental pursuit that absorbs and delights you. (300 words) Boston University Essay Prompts, Analyzed Let’s take a look at each of the Boston University essay prompts. In this section, we’ll break down what each prompt is asking, how you should answer, what kind of topics will work to answer the prompt, and what you should avoid talking about. What about being a student at Boston University most excites you? (250 words) The first Boston University Supplement Essay prompt is a classic â€Å"Why this school† essay prompt. These types of essays ask you to demonstrate to the admissions committee why this school is the one for you. Your answer should be Boston University-specific. You should do your research on Boston University to be able to name specific classes, programs, or professors that excite you. Your essay should focus on why you want to attend Boston University - not why you want to attend college in general. Don’t speak generically - Boston University knows that it has great academics and interesting classes. You need to name specific parts of the school that are attractive to you as a student. Maybe you’re interested in film and television and want to be part of BUTV10, or perhaps you want to work on a Senior Design Project in College of Engineering. Whatever your reason, make it specific to BU - something that you can’t get at any other college or university. For more information on how to answer this essay prompt, visit our article on the subject! (Coming soon) Please use this space if you have additional information, materials, or writing samples you would like us to consider. (2000 KB PDF file) The second Boston University supplement essay prompt may seem intimidating - what should you upload? You should use this essay prompt as a chance to a.) demonstrate the quality of your work and/or b.) present yourself as a well-rounded person. If, for instance, you are the first chair in your high school’s wind symphony, you might want to upload a MP3 file of your playing. Boston University will have lots of students applying who are musicians - sending in a file of yourself playing can demonstrate the quality of your musicianship. On the other hand, if you’ve been playing in a punk band with some friends for fun for five years but didn’t mention it elsewhere on your application, this essay prompt gives you the perfect opportunity to present another aspect of your personality. Whatever you choose to upload, make sure that it is high quality and well put-together. Submitting something that’s confusing or sloppy can give the admissions committee the wrong impression, so if you don’t have anything that stands out as something you’d want to submit, you could skip this question altogether. For Accelerated Program in Liberal Arts and Medicine applicants: The Accelerated Programs Admission Committee is interested in learning more about you. Please write an essay on why you wish to enter the health professions, including what experiences have led you to this decision and what you hope to gain from your chosen profession. Please make sure your essay is completely distinct from the one you submitted on the Common Application. (750 words) This prompt is only for students who are applying to the Accelerated Program in Liberal Arts and Medicine. This Boston University Supplement Essay prompt is a pretty standard example of a health professional admissions essay, but the long word count is tricky. You want to be specific and passionate, not redundant and long-winded. You can break your essay down into two main parts: why you decided to enter the health professions and what you hope to gain from doing so. When you talk about why you decided to enter the health professions, be sure to highlight any specific experiences that influenced your decision. Don’t speak in generalizations or platitudes - call out real experiences that made you decide to apply. Don’t, for instance, say that you want to change the world through medicine, unless you can back it up with a solid explanation of why. Discussing what you hope to gain from the profession is an opportunity to hammer home why Boston University is such an important part of your education. Talk about what you hope to achieve in your career and how Boston University can help you get there. For Kilachand Honors College applicants: Kilachand Honors College offers a challenging liberal arts education grounded in critical and creative thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving. What do you think this approach means? Reflect on what has been missing in your education to date, giving at least one concrete example to support your response. How would Kilachand’s interdisciplinary curriculum fulfill your academic, creative, intellectual, and/or professional goals? (600 words) Students who are applying to Boston University’s Kilachand Honors College must answer an additional 600 word prompt. This Boston University supplement essay prompt is all about academics - what interests you and how Boston University can help you fulfill your goals. The Kilachand Honors College is a living and learning community where you have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning activities, so it’s a good idea to highlight how practical application and real-world experience is important to you in this essay. The key to this prompt is to be specific. You don’t need to talk about all of your academic interests here - in fact, it’s probably better to just discuss one or two that are really important to you. Whatever interest you choose to write about, you should make sure that you highlight how you would continue to explore that interest at Boston University. For Trustees Scholarship applicants: Please select one of the questions below and respond with an essay explaining your perspective. (600 words) Option A: The list of works banned throughout history is long and sometimes surprising. Examples include the Bible, King Lear, The Origin of Species, Mein Kampf, Lolita, The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Isaac Asimov wrote: â€Å"Any book worth banning is a book worth reading.† Do you agree? Is such censorship ever justified? If so, who or what should determine which books are read and which are forbidden? Option B: Economists describe a â€Å"moral hazard† as individuals’ tendency to take greater risks when they believe that they will not bear the full cost of their actions. Some may be less careful driving, for instance, if they know that their insurance provider will cover potential accidents, while the uninsured will drive with more caution. A recent study similarly suggests a correlation between greater access to Narcan, the drug used to reverse potentially fatal opioid overdoses, and a rise in the use of opioids. In your opinion, should the concept of moral hazard affect public policy? If so, what are the relevant factors policymakers should consider in assessing questions of public safety and individual responsibility? Option C: â€Å"The perfect search engine,† Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin has said, â€Å"would be like the mind of God.† In your opinion, will science and technology eventually allow us to know all things knowable? Are there limits to what the perfect search engine will reveal, or might it indeed become like the mind of God? Please submit a short essay to the following statement: â€Å"Something that’s not on the resume.† Give us a glimpse of a passion, dream, or mental pursuit that absorbs and delights you. (300 words) Students who are applying for the Boston University Trustees Scholarships must answer not one, but two, additional essays. The first essay is 600 words and the second is 300 words. The longer Trustees Scholarship prompt asks you to pick between three questions to answer. The three options are all fairly academic, focusing on banned books, moral responsibility, and search engines. Which prompt you pick doesn’t matter nearly as much as how you answer it. Your answer should have a strong, persuasive argument with specific reasons as evidence. The final prompt gives you the opportunity to talk about non-academic interests. This essay is the place to talk about your passion for handcrafting popup cards or your delight in finishing the NY Times crossword puzzle every day. You can pick something seemingly trivial - go with whatever makes you happy! Key Tips for Writing an Amazing Boston University Supplement Essay Ready to write an amazing Boston University supplement essay? Follow these key tips to do so! #1: Use Your Own Voice The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person. You should, then, make sure that the person you’re presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don’t try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you’re not. If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Boston University wants you to be. #2: Avoid Cliches and Overused Phrases When writing your Boston University essays, try to avoid using cliches or overused quotes or phrases. These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, â€Å"Be the change you want to see in the world.† Strive for originality. Similarly, avoid using cliches, which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work. Boston University’s admissions committee will see hundreds, if not thousands, of essays that talk about how much the applicant loves Boston. Saying that you want to study in the world’s greatest college town is trite and overdone. If you are excited about going to school in Boston, make sure that you have a really specific reason that also ties to Boston University’s opportunities. #3: Check Your Work It should almost go without saying, but make sure your Boston University essays are the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Boston University application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays. Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit. It’s a good idea to have someone else read your Boston University essays, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven’t missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be. Final Thoughts Regardless of which program you're applying to at Boston University, you want to make sure that your Boston University essays are a great example of who you are as a student and a person and why Boston University should accept you. Your essay should: Be personal Be specific Be free of spelling and grammar errors Your essay should not: Be generic Be focused on Boston, not Boston University The more effort you put into your essays, thebetter chance you have of getting accepted to Boston University! What’s Next? Do you want to learn more about the Why Boston essay? We created an in-depth guide to help you ace this essay. Check it out here! Starting your essay is often the hardest part.If you're unsure where to begin, check out this guide tostarting a college essay perfectly, so you're ready to ace that introduction! A good essay is just one part of a successful Boston Universityapplication. If you want to really wow the admissions office, be sure yourgrades and test scoresare up to snuff, too! Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Accents and Other Spanish Diacritical Marks

Accents and Other Spanish Diacritical Marks A diacritical mark, or a diacritic, is used with a  letter to indicate that it has a different pronunciation or a secondary meaning. In Spanish, there are three diacritical marks, also called diacrà ­ticos in Spanish,  a tilde,  an  umlaut and an accent. Diacritical Marks in English English uses diacritical marks almost solely in words of foreign origin, and they are often omitted when written in English. Examples of English words using diacritical marks are faà §ade, which uses a cedilla; rà ©sumà ©, which uses two accent marks; naà ¯ve, which uses an umlaut, and pià ±ata, which uses a tilde. Tilde in Spanish A tilde is a curved line above an  n, it is used to distinguish n from à ±. In a technical sense, this might not be considered a diacritic, since n and à ± are separate letters of the alphabet.   The mark above the letter indicates a change in pronunciation, also called a palatal  n, which means, that the sound is made by putting the tongue to the top of the mouths palate or roof of the mouth to make the sound.   There are many examples where the tilde is used in Spanish, for examples, aà ±o, meaning year;  maà ±ana, meaning tomorrow, and Espaà ±ol, meaning the language from Spain or a Spaniard. Umlaut in Spanish An  umlaut, often called a dieresis, is placed over the u when it is pronounced after a g in the combinations gà ¼e and gà ¼i. The umlaut changes the sound gu combination into a w sound that one would hear in English. Umlauts are rarer in Spanish than the other types of diacritical marks.   Some examples of umlauts in Spanish include the word for penguin, pingà ¼ino, or  averigà ¼Ãƒ ©, which means found out about or verified. Accent Marks in Spanish Accents are used as an aid in pronunciation. Many Spanish words such as  rbol, meaning tree,  use accents to put the stress on the correct syllable. Accents are frequently used with some words such as  quà ©,  meaning what,  and  cul, meaning which,  when they are used in questions. Spanish accents  can only be written over the five vowels,  a, e,  i, o, u, and the accent is written from lower left to upper right:  , à ©, à ­, à ³, à º. Accents are also used to distinguish some sets of words that are otherwise spelled alike and pronounced alike but have different meanings or different grammatical usages, also known as Spanish homonyms. Common Spanish homonyms Accents help differentiate one homonym from another. Following is a list of common homonyms in Spanish and their meanings. Spanish Homonym Meaning de preposition: of, from d third-person singular subjunctive form of dar, to give el masculine article: the l he mas but ms more se reflexive and indirect object pronoun s I know si if s yes te object: you t: tea tu your t you

Agents of socialization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Agents of socialization - Essay Example I have been taught to respect the authority of my father and to look after my mother and the rest of my family as well. I think that the basic ideas of right and wrong, and a belief in the importance of family came to me through the social agents of my parents and grandparents. School was not such an important influence for me, at least not until I went to college. I found that what I learn through reading is more important than some of the lessons at school, and I did not fully understand how to make the best of school until I was well over 20 years old. In recent years I am discovering that a lot of things can be learned from other students, and not just the teachers. Listening to other students talk in class is a way of understanding the pressures and pleasures of different kinds of people. Politics becomes more interesting when you can link it to real life people that you know yourself, and so I have to admit that my fellow students have been important agents of socialization for me, especially because I missed out on an American childhood, and cannot always imagine how and why people hold certain views. Of course teachers are important agents of socialization too. I respect my teachers and observe how they behave in a professional way and this is impo rtant for my future, since I hope one day to be in a position of some authority in a responsible job and dealing with other people. The media are a major agent of socialization in my life and I love to use the latest gadgets and keep up with what is happening in the world. When I was young I could not imagine the possibility of being in touch with people from all over the world but now I have friends in Iran, in Europe, the Middle East and all over America through the means of social media like facebook and twitter. I do not read newspapers very much, and I do not have much time for television, but my computer is always with me, and I read about everything on my laptop. This allows me to form my own

Politica Science - society and state in contemporary russia Essay

Politica Science - society and state in contemporary russia - Essay Example A democracy can broadly be defined as a government that has been set up by the people which essentially means that all people living under that government should be entitled to have their opinion considered in everything that affects their lives. Furthermore, democracy can also be exercised directly or indirectly through which people elect their representatives. In light of this, it is absurd that two decades down the line despite the dissolution of USSR president Yeltsin failed to horn our promise to better democracy and improve the lives of Russian citizens. This just proves that Russia is still categorized as one of the authoritarian states in Europe. As much as most of the leaders have improved the country’s economic status both domestic and international policies it is believed that from the essays â€Å"not free† a lot of factors have hindered Russia’s democracy development (Motyl 2005). For the first time power within Kremlin changed through the 2000, elec tion this process not only took place but was conducted according to the constitution more than two thirds of the eligible voters participated. They appeared to be well informed of choices to make. However, up to now Russian political conditions do not meet the criteria of democracy; a political framework must be adopted to understand democracy adequately (Chomsky, et al 2003). Some political analysts such as Joseph Schumpeter describes democracy as an institutional arrangement for arriving at a political decision that help politicians in the acquisition of the power necessary for them to decide by way of their struggling to obtain votes from the citizens (Josephi 2010). Basically his definition may suggest that countries only differ in the degree to which institutional conditions are satisfied. Perhaps that is the reason why president Yeltsin ascended to power and failed to live up to his promises. Most Russians still point out that with the rioting on October 2nd the liberal regim e suppressed the angry communists. After a time period of approximately ten years since 23 Russian citizens lost their lives, the Russian government is still expounding on the myth that the crackdown was just to topple Mr. Yeltsin political opponents (Lucas 2009). This left many with the view that Mr. Yeltsin is a democratic hypocrite who never had the people’s interests at heart. All he had was his own vested interests. From that moment, descending from power without going to prison for him was inevitable; perhaps that is why he saw in an inherited presidency system as a scapegoat; perhaps that is why he ensured Mr. Vladimir Putin came to power (Marot 2012). When United Russia party chanced to win a working majority in the 2003 Russian Parliamentary elections, the Russian president Putin was seen to set out and attempt to critically undercut most of the opposition parties that were active in the country. He instigated changes in various electoral policies that allowed the go vernment to effectively manage to shut out a variety of the smaller political parties focusing mainly on those that had been perceived as being key advocates of liberal democracy. Other changes that were made caused it to become extremely difficult for parties to manage to field presidential candidates in a presidential ballot (Ethridge and Handelman 2012). Following the unexpected resignation of President Boris Yeltsin in 2000 Vladimir was assigned to

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example Recommendations for the enhancement of the reports 3. Conclusion References Appendix Executive Summary The evaluation of the perspectives of modern organizations within the global market is quite difficult. The increasing financial turbulences and social conflicts worldwide have caused delays in the stabilization of firms; moreover concerns often appear in regard to the potentials of a firm to face its competitors and achieve a stable growth. The corporate reports are used as sources for evaluating the current status of organizations but also their potential performance in the future. Particular emphasis is given on the CSR reports, which indicate the efforts of firms for addressing their social and environmental responsibilities. These reports are likely to be used for the development of communication between organizations and their stakeholders. The review of the CSR reports of three organizations operating in different industries in UK proves the value of CSR reports for the impro vement of organizational performance. It is also proved that each organization is likely to use different approaches for addressing its social and environmental obligations, as resulting by the principles and standards set by the relevant international organizations. 1. Introduction The response of organizations to their social and environmental responsibilities has been traditionally considered as a criterion for evaluating the potentials of these organizations to meet the market’s requirements. In this context, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become a vital part of organizational activities. The above fact is also highlighted in the literature published in the specific field. It should be noted, though, that theorists and researchers have used different approaches in order to explain the importance of CSR within modern organizations. In accordance with Habisch (2005) the corporate responsibility should be considered as ‘part of the political and social tradi tion’ (Habisch 2005, p.38). Moreover, Boeger et al. (2008) note that CSR reports should take into consideration the local culture and ethics. Also, Mullerat et al. (2010) notes that CSR is commonly used as ‘a tool for enhancing shareholder value’ (Mullerat 2010, p.130), a target that is characterized as of key importance for the success of organizational plans. On the other hand, Idowu et al. (2008) note that the development of credible evaluations regarding the CSR initiatives of modern organizations can be achieved only by using appropriate standards and principles, as set by relevant international organizations. From another point of view, Anderson (1989) supports that the quality and the credibility of CSR reports can be checked effectively through appropriate organizational schemes, for instance the development of a ‘social responsibilities audit’ (Anderson 1989, p.255). It should be also noted that firms are likely to set different priorities i n regard to their CSR plans, as indicated in the graphs presented in Figure 1 & Figure 2 (Appendix section). Current paper focuses on the review of the CSR reports of three firms operating in different industries within the British market: the Wates Group, a well – known construction firm, the BAM Group, a firm operating in the field of international contracting, as part of the Royal BAM Group, a European construction enterprise’ (BAM 2011, About us) and E.on, a key competitor in the power generation industry of UK. The CSR reports

Physician Assisted Suicide Essay Example for Free

Physician Assisted Suicide Essay Physician assisted suicide is one of those moral and ethical questions that are destined to remain as controversial and contested as abortion. It is often easy to make moral judgments on aspects of humanity when one is not in the situation themselves. It has to be taken into account that a number of variables are present in the argument then merely whether or not someone has the right to their own lives. It is an issue that is beyond legal parameters and extends to the philosophical. We are able to argue that life is not our own, that it is a God given purpose, until we are beset with burdening pain and suffering. One cannot argue that it is simply a religious or moral standpoint, and one cannot argue it as a legal issue either. Many physicians themselves stand for the rights of individuals to choose a dignified and unlabored death and this is where the crux lies: the fact that they see far more than the average ignoramus has the right to contribute. In this case, far more evidence weights for the legal right to choose physician assisted suicide, than it does to deny the right. Physician assisted suicide is defined as the â€Å"voluntary termination of one’s own life by the administration of a lethal substance with the direct or indirect assistance of a physician. †(Medterms, 2008). University of Washington School of Medicine offers us two examples of the moral case for suicide: Skip and Angela. Skip is 50 years of age, male and suffers from metastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer. He has had complications with the chemotherapy to the point where he is not sure it is worth having, but is also afraid not to have it (UWSM, 2008). Angela is 72 years of age and is in the final stages of congestive heart failure, having suffered to heart attacks. She is exhausted simply from living and her condition is unpredictable (UWSM, 2008). In these cases we have to take into account that there are more than one issue we are dealing with. In Skip’s case, he is destined for almost certain death while Angela may have one year or ten years ahead of her and we are never certain when she will die. In this case we have to evaluate what the quality of life will be like for each of them in the event that they do, by some miracle, live for another ten years. Granted, the outsider may argue that Angela should not give up on life especially if her time is indeterminate, but will her quality of life be such that she wishes to continue? Skip on the other hand is terminally ill, he knows he is going to die and again, the medication makes him so uncomfortable that one wonders if he wants to suffer through it. The University of Washington School of Medicine determines three types of physician assisted suicide: terminal sedation (sedation until unconsciousness and allowing them to die during this constant sedation); withholding of life-support or sustaining treatments (the patient decides not to take the treatments necessary to keep them alive) and pain medication that hastens death (doses of pain drugs that decrease respiration or speed up the dying process) (UWSM, 2008). We have discussed what physician assisted suicide is and seen possible cases where it may be augmented, but now the argument is whether or not it is legal and whether or not the law really has a right to an opinion on it. A cat is ill and even though it is beloved of the family, it is taken to the veterinarian and put ‘to sleep’. This is seen as merciful. However, if a human is suffering unbearably, they do not have the same luxury of hastening their death. The difference is, of course, that the cat did not have a choice. In the one case where a person is capable of understanding death and their condition and capable of voicing what they want, they are unable to do so. Eleven years ago, Oregon State became the first to initiate the choice to a dignified death. Last year 341 terminally ill took advantage of the option. On the 4th November Washington will decide whether they will implement their own Death with Dignity Act (Yardley, 2008). Prior to this attempt to secure the law, they had failed to implement it because voters refused to vote in favour of the movement (Yardley, 2008). The truth of the matter is that the voters were not those who were going to make use of it. Strangely enough, a democratic society should by definition allow the rights of all people, not just those who are healthy. We could describe the situation as follows: Martin Luther King fought for equal rights to all citizens of the United States and so the liberated African American came into being. Susan B Anthony and Emiline Pankhurst became women’s rights activists fighting for the rights of women to be treated as equals and today we have the liberated woman. The Battle of Little Bighorn and several others fought for the rights of Native Americans to lands and equal rights and to an extent (only an extent), they have their freedom too. Now, place in the equation, the dying man or woman: cast into the same bracket as women, African Americans and Natives. Included in this bracket is the homosexual. The comparison here is that the choice to live or die is actually more morally decent that gay marriages are in the religious sector. Despite this, more emphasis is placed on homosexual rights than the right to die with dignity. Legality or merely creating an argument where there needn’t be one? Dr David Stolinksy considers the legal wrangle to be indecent. â€Å"An ethical question must be answered by reference to ethical standards such as the Hippocratic Oath. This oath has been taken by young physicians for 2400 years. †(Stolinsky, 2006). Stolinksy voraciously attacked articles he read about the essence of physician assisted suicide, saying that what is often read about the issue is packed to exploding with references to court cases, legal procedures and rulings, but that their never an ounce of ‘ethical wisdom’ contained in them. In his view, it is an ethical issue and never has been a legal one (Stolinksy, 2006). Stolinsky does not himself defend the physician assisted suicide, but makes a crucial point in saying that the law really has no idea what they are talking about (given that they have little to do with emaciated and uncomfortable terminally ill people). Dr Jack Kevorkian is a Parkinson’s sufferer and an activist for the right to die with dignity. In his case, he knows that one day he will be in an unbearable state and hopes that the choices he can make will help others to make similar decisions (Ferguson, 2007). Dr Ferguson believes that â€Å"Working at HospiceCare, where honoring every patients end-of-life choices is a core value, I have no dispute with Governor Gardners desire to make his own decisions as life draws to an end. †(Ferguson, 2007). Indeed seeing the dying on a daily basis, her argument is to allow as many choices as possible for the patient, not deny them any. Although she believes that proper pain management can be accomplished and that patients need not die in unbearable pain, she does believe the ultimate choice should be theirs. Let us be certain here of one thing and that is the difference between normal suicidal ideation and physician assisted suicide. Suicide due to self-mutilating circumstances (drugs and self hate), or even pure depression are situations that can be reversed and treated and there is the potential for the person to live a happy, healthy and full life. Physician assisted suicide is where the light at the end of the tunnel has been blocked off and the future is not so bright. Perhaps the most controversial and least comfortable argument is that of the death sentence. Simply put, if the death penalty is considered humane, then why is not humane to allow the choice to die with dignity. Furthermore, we have to look at the ethical argument that has been applied to the death sentence: by some rather twisted logical inception, the ability to take a life has been granted to a few people who believe it is their right to decide a criminal should die. If we are to use this as a comparative argument for physician assisted suicide then we can use the following example: A man rapes and murders several women. He is tried and found guilty with the sentence of death. The argument is that he is likely, by psychological profiling, to commit further atrocities and due to the severity of his crime, deserves to die. The question is, what if he never commits another crime and completely reforms himself? In the same light, a patient given 6 months to live and chooses the suicide route. He could very well have lived another ten years but who can say that he would have? In both cases there is a shadow of doubt – a risk. Lawrence Hinman of University of San Diego puts forward the awkward question too that the death penalty follows the lex talionis principle of an ‘eye for an eye’ and by extension a ‘life for a life’. He asks why then it is not applied to torturers (Hinman, 2008: 5). Evidently the principle does not work. By logic, this makes the lex talionis not only unfair but also impractical. A cancer sufferer is not a criminal, although they are not exempt from the disease, but if it appears to be ethical to take a life-for-a-life, then surely it is even more ethical to take ones own? You have more right to your own body then the judge on the podium does. So what the argument therefore entails is that if it is both legal and ethical (doubtful) to sentence someone to death, then it should be legal and ethical to let someone choose to die if they are ill. With regards to the argument that the patient may actually live, the same could be said for the rapist who may actually be able to donate blood or stem-cells for a leukaemia patient if he is given the right to live. Neither case can be proved or disproved. Are we left at square one again? It depends very much on which side of the proverbial fence you fall. A person can only really decide if something is ethical or moral really when they have experienced it themselves. The right to physician assisted suicide should be given. It is no more or less ethical than any other moralistic standpoint. Consider the debacle that still descends on gay marriages, abortion, and even forced prostitution: are they any more morally sound then physician assisted suicide? Consider if prostitution is legalised and the countless women held under torturous circumstances under that very law? Is that any more ethical? Given that the majority of voters in the United States are those that are not in the position where they have to face their death, the intentions are a little selfish. They are concerned for their own loss, not for the suffering of those who are about to die. The loved ones are more fearful of losing those close to them then they are concerned for the dignity and suffering of those who are dying.