European Single Currency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

European Single Currency - Essay Example Prior to its launch there were ambiguities but after the launch all the issues quickly disappeared and Euro within no time became a favorite among the citizens residing in European Countries. Roughly around 320 million European citizens use the currency and find it really amazing and beneficial in more ways than one. Euro is used in almost all the European Countries but there are still exceptions like Denmark and United Kingdom who still use their own currencies, the British pound is used in United Kingdom and the DKK better known as the Danish Krone is used in Denmark. One of the biggest advantages of Euro is that it saves a lot of time and effort of the travelers who choose to travel with Europe. For instance if there is a Soccer game in Spain which a Greek citizen wants to witness, he/she can just straight away catch a flight and reach the Soccer stadium in Spain and watch the game. There is no need to covert the currency into some other currency. The same has resulted in saving a lot of time and effort of the European Citizens. This was not the case prior to the introduction of Euro. The people had to exchange money every now and then to meet their demands but after the introduction things have changed for better. Another major advantage is the clarity in prices whenever an European citizen travels to another European country it becomes very easy to compare and buy the products of his/her choice; this facility was not available to the citizens prior to the launch of the Euro. Earlier even if a Tourist wanted to buy a product desperately, he/she was made to think thrice about it because of the different currencies within Europe but these days there is transparency in prices with regard to the currencies and this has only happened because of the introduction of the Euro. Euro has brought in a lot of Economic and financial stability, a Businessman is much less prone to risk when using Euro as his/her currency. Single currency keeps the inflation rate under a good check, which is extremely important for an economy and the Euro does exactly that. It keeps interest rates and the rate of inflation under check hence it can be said that the Euro plays a pivotal role in maintaining the economic growth of the European nations. "Having a single currency and an economic and monetary union strengthens Europe's role in international fora and organizations like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development." (The Euro & You, 20 October 2008). Euro strengthens the position of all the European countries, having a single currency helps a lot in the growth of the country and in this particular case Europe on the whole. Euro is very frequently used in international trade; it has very quickly become a part and parcel of the lives of many businessmen who carry out trade at large scales. Countries also have started using Euro as the currency for International trade. "A single currency makes Europe a strong partner to trade with and facilitates access to a genuine single market for foreign companies, who will benefit from lower costs of doing business in Europe." (The Euro & You, 20 October 2008). The investors get a lot of positive things by using the Euro as their currency; they get more access to liquid financial markets and also they get a

U.S. War on Terror-Iraq Essay Example for Free

U.S. War on Terror-Iraq Essay The U. S in the aftermath of terrorist incidents on September 11 in the mainland America embarked upon an anti-terrorist campaign in the world. In a following state of the union address by the president of the U. S. , Iraq was declared to comprise the â€Å"axis of evil†. President George W. Bush affirmed that the Iraqi regime exhibited its grave aggression toward United States, and hankered after to build up â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† for more than a decade. Bush further illustrated the Iraqi government as a grave and growing danger as it might employ â€Å"weapons of mass destruction† to blackmail or attack the US. He further showed a connection between Saddam Hussein’s government and terrorist groups. Bush declared that the United States of America will not permit the worlds most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the worlds most dangerous weapons. (U. S. Executive Office. 2002) Vice President Dick Cheney re-emaphzised the threat from Iraq and stated that we now know that Saddam has resumed his efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. He also declared that many of us are convinced that Saddam will acquire nuclear weapons fairly soon†¦containment is not possible when dictators obtain weapons of mass destruction and are prepared to share them with terrorists who intend to inflict catastrophic casualties on the United States. † Earnest preparations were set in motion to launch a military invasion against Iraq. An attempt at cobbling coalition of countries on the pattern of 1990 antedating the gulf-war 1 fell miserably short of its intended objectives, as U. K alone notably contributed towards the war plan, in addition to mere token contributions from Australia. As military mien and might were accumulated around Iraq with fanfare fro the purpose of war, a resolution was presented to the united nations security council as a product of after thought on the part of the U. S. and on the promptings of the British prime minister . The underlying in tent in the resolution was the conferment of legitimacy upon the anticipated invasion of Iraq. The UN resolution 1441 passed unanimously on November 8, 2002 sanctioned U. N. inspection teams to bring about disarmament of Iraq. (U. N. Security Council, 2002) The use of military force was not envisaged by the majority of the Security Council members to affect disarmament. The US and its allies moved another resolution in the council to sanction use of military force against Iraq. However, due to the inability to secure required number of votes for its passage in the SC, the resolution was withdrawn by the Y. S. The eagerness to rationalize its war efforts against Iraq led the U. S. to project shifting rational of war from disarmament of Iraq suspected to be in possession of the weapons of mass destruction, to the regime change, through bringing about political liberation and introduction of democracy in Iraq, to some others. Finally, the real motives underlying the military invasion of Iraq could not remain without coming to surface. The issue of the justification of Iraq war, once surveyed with the advantage of retrospection, imparts invaluable lessons. The doctrine of preemption contained in a document entitled The U. S. National Security Strategy was announced in September last, the epoch making events leading to the war against Iraq are the subject matter of the ensuing discourse. An astounding paradox, the war though as a mean to purge Iraq of its presumed stock of the WMD is proclaimed part of the U. S anti-terrorism campaign in the world, however, any established definition of terrorism is not yet recognized by the U. N. the substantive ramifications of such an omission are to be realized. The Iraq situation in the aftermath of war and U. S. military occupation bears an historic significance for the Islamic civilization. The outcome in the Iraq conflict, as in such instances of military occupation gathered from history, of course, will depend upon the response the Muslims are able to forge over a period against the extraordinary challenge that has come to emerge. The chief UN weapon inspector, Dr. Blix told the UNSC in a crucial report that no WMD were discovered in Iraq by the UN team. At the same time, the report maintained that Saddam Hussein had not accounted for any banned weapons. Dr. al-Baradei reported that inspectors found no evidence that Iraq had restated its nuclear weapons program. No Iraqi cooperation was needed for the inspection work, because in nuclear verification, particularly with an intrusive verification system, the presence ore absence of a nuclear weapons program in a state could be assessed even without the full cooperation of the inspected state. The U. S foreign secretary at that time Mr. Collin Powell addressed the UN SC and sought to make a case against Iraq of ‘denial and deception’. (U. S. Department of State, 2003) The satellite pictures from Iraq of the apparent evidences for the manufacture of rockets exceeding UN permitted dimensions an ranges , and for rocket launchers exceeding the size needed for limited range missiles, were beamed at the screens in the UNSC and around the world. Artistic renderings of the mobile laboratories for producing bio and chemical weapons were presented and a claim , on the basis of information gathered from defectors , was made that there were at least eighteen such laboratories in the possession of Iraq. Mr. Powell recounted that Iraq had failed to account for Anthrax and other lethal bio and chemical weapons, which according to the UN inspectors report in the 1998, Iraq was suspected of owning. Included in the evidence among the aerial photographs of the buildings was an â€Å"organizational chart† of supposed al-Qaeda operations in Iraq, a couple of tare recordings that lent themselves to varied interpretations and a large number of undated reports by unnamed Iraqi defectors. Further, in the report, the secretary made a case that Iraq had repeatedly tried to import sophisticated parts that could be used in a gas centrifuge to produce enriched uranium. In particular, that Iraq had sought â€Å"high-specification aluminum tubes from eleven different countries†. Mr. Powell admitted the fact that â€Å"there is controversy about what these tubes are for â€Å". Iraq explained that the tubes were for missiles, and that the UN experts agreed that the tubes were consistent with Iraq’s view point and â€Å"not directly suitable† for a centrifuge. According to Mr. Powell the debate missed the point: Iraq had no business buying the tubes for any purpose, for those are banned. The early reviews of Mr. Powell’s performance were mixed. In the U. S. audience he changed so many minds that half of all Americans were than ready to go to war immediately, compared with only a third the previous month, according to the Newsweek poll . In contrast among the member states of the UN, Mr. Powell’s case for a US –led war on Baghdad as a â€Å"smoking mirrors† and nothing to do with reality, and plain wrong. He described the presentation by Mr. Powell before the UNSC as a compelling case and sound argument only for the unknowing. Some critics suggested the entertainment of skepticism concerning Mr. Powell’s report. Previous instance s of the use of disinformation by the US government to drum up support for war was cited. These included from relatively subtle measures like the doctoring of satellite photos to convince the Saudi government that Iraq was amassing troops for an invasion of Saudi Arabia in 1990, to incredibly crude ones like the continuing claims by the U. S. officials, including Mr. Bush, that â€Å"Iraq† expelled weapons inspectors in 1998. However as covered in the press at the time, the inspectors were withdrawn at the behest of the U. S. The doctrine of preemption was declared in a document, â€Å"the National Security Strategy of the United States† on September 20 during an address by the president at the WestPoint. A law was also passed ,The USA PATRIOT Act, commonly known as the Patriot Act, is an Act of Congress that United States President George W. Bush signed into law on October 26, 2001. The acronym of USA PATRIOT ACT stands for â€Å"Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. This act broadens the authority of US law enforcement agencies to a large extent for the sake of fighting terrorism on the soil of United States and abroad. The most important provisions of the Act includes that the law enforcement agencies has been made immensely powerful and they have been allowed to search telephone, e-mail accounts, medical records, financial records and many other things, restrictions and limitations have also been loosed on intelligence gathering related to other countries within the United State . the authority of the Secretary of Treasury has been increased greatly and now he can monitor and control the financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities. The â€Å"Patriot law† also enhances the discretion of law enforcement agencies and immigration authorities so that they can now detain and deport immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts with more ease and less restrictions. This act also sheds its light on the definition of terrorism and domestic terrorism is included in its domain. The significance of the ‘doctrine of preemption’ resides in the fact that it represented a remarkable departure from the historical policy of the U. S. as followed by successive American presidents. (ALCU) Although Patriot act provides surveillance agencies with great powers to search and eavesdrop to intercept and counter any terrorist activity but critics of the Act has illustrated that Patriot Act forfeited legal and constitutional shields of liberty and privacy for American citizen. For example, Susan Herman views that Patriot Act is against the spirit of cherished American ideals of freedom and democracy. She described that Patriot act lack a balance between rights of the American citizens and the President’s initiative to curb the terrorist activities. She says that Presidential powers in Patriot act are imperative for the protection of American citizen’s from future terrorists attacks but he is also responsible to â€Å"preserve, protect and defend the constitution† that safeguards the privacy and individuals rights of the people. (Herman, 2002) The policy of deterrence and containment has been pursued by the U. S to prevent wars. The knowledgeable persons view this enunciation of the recent national security policy, to be a paradoxical approach in the historical perspective, for it envisages resorting to war in order to prevent it. The justification of the doctrine is perceived by its source to reside in the logic that, â€Å"given the goals of rogue states and terrorists, the U. S. can no longer solely rely on a reactive posture †¦we cannot let our enemies strike first. As a matter of common sense and self defense, America will act against such emerging threats before they are fully formed. † The newly conceived U. S. strategy is fraught with serious consequences , due to its unilateral appropriations of the prerogative to impose its authoritative order upon other nations in the world by the U. S. it makes no pretensions of referring to any legal or moral framework that is subscribed to in the world. the sovereignty of states , guaranteed in the UN charter as sacrosanct and forming one of the fundamental principles of international relations since the Treaty of Westphalia 1648, has been exposed to a hazard unknown in the world before. The UN sanctioned inspection process was proceeding satisfactorily as acknowledged by other veto-using members of the council. However, the U. S. and its allies presented a resolution in the SC to require its authorization for the immediate use of force against Iraq to bring about disarmament. As become evident that the proposed resolutions would not come to muster the requisite number of votes in the council for its passage, and there loomed the inevitable threat of vetoes from France and Russia, the US deemed it convenient to withdraw the proposed resolution. The new doctrine, tested on the grounds of its initial application in Iraq, is a counter to international law and a subversion to the collective security system of the UN . the essential element of the collective security system of the UN is the prohibition of arbitrary use of force under all circumstances, it is the prerogative of the UNSC to determine in each instance the nature of the conflict, the threat arising from it, and the measure to be adopted against an aggressor. The doctrine of preemption is a usurpation of the UNSC’s role as an international collective peace-keeping organization. The outcome of war in Iraq-the removal of Saddam Hussain , regime change and occupation of Iraq – is by no means a validation of the doctrine. As a matter of fact , abysmal failure to establish the discovery of WMD and the US not becoming a force of liberation for the people of Iraq , who are in agitation to restore their independence from foreign occupation, such aftermath of war on Iraq provides a censure, and not the justification, for the doctrine. The international commission of jurists (ICJ), in response to the ultimatum issued by Mr. Bush warning Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq within forty eight hours, declared that invasion of Iraq would be illegal and tantamount to a war of aggression. The Geneva-based non-governmental body, comprised of sixty eminent jurists, expressed its deep dismay for the reason that,† a small number of states are poised to launch an outright illegal invasion of Iraq which amounts to a war of aggression. † The ICJ insisted that without SC authorization, no country could use force against another country except in self-defense against an armed attack. It emphasized that â€Å"there was no other plausible legal basis for the invasion of Iraq than a UNSC resolution that sanctioned it. † A critical analysis of the facts and events related to the US war on Iraq harbors a wealth of lessons, which should be the subject matter of another discourse. In the aftermath of the terrorist incident s of September 11, the US has demonstrated a gradual yet persistent shift away from internationalism. The abandonment of the Kyoto protocol –the treaty establishing the international criminal court –the repeal of Anti-Ballistic missile Treaty, non-compliance with the UN Resolution 1441, launching of the invasion of Iraq without the sanction of the UNSC, the assassination attempt at Saddam-in strict legal sense and before the formal declaration of war- and the disinclination from the involvement of the UN in the administration of post-war Iraq, are the instances of the US international conduct, among others. The rational of war against Iraq, after undergoing changes as adjustments for the purpose of plausibility, has finally emerged to be the control of rich oil reserves in Iraq, reconstruction, contracts for the US construction conglomerates, and far wider strategic aims in the middle-east. Such aims include the building of military basis in Iraq and conversion of the middle-east into a â€Å"free trade zone,† as announced by the US president. To sum up, despite controversies related to the Iraq war, what is needed for Iraq both by U.S government and Iraqi nations is, as enunciated in the national security strategy of the US as well, to provide for the common defense. It is anticipated that with vision and valor the present and historic crises the world of crescent will be cope with by overcoming implicit dangers, and harnessing opportunities. Noteworthy it is, the word crisis in an ancient oriental language is comprised of two meanings at once, the danger and opportunity.

THE ELEMENT OF SATIRE WITH RESPECT TO CHAUCER?S ?CANTERBURY TALES? :: essays research papers fc

THESIS: THE ELEMENT OF SATIRE WITH RESPECT TO CHAUCER’S â€Å"CANTERBURY TALES† It is human nature to laugh when an event goes wrong or to make a mockery of an all too serious person. But what if authors had the power to use this instinct within humans to drive a point across? In fact they do and they call this literary tool†¦satire. Many authors have used this tool as a backbone in their writings; others have only managed to throw in elements of satire here and there. However, there was one author who had mastered this literary tool, and who could use it to the extremes. He had the ability to use it as playfully and lightheartedly as if to just tease. But, in an instant, he could use it to denigrate a person and ruin all that was left of their self-dignity. His name was Geoffrey Chaucer and his weapon of choice, satire. Satire is one of the most effective ways of writing. It allows the writer to use his imagination to the fullest and be as malicious as he deems necessary, yet not cause the reader to leave in disgust (Highet 242). Satire is a form of literature that readers expect to find some form of profound ideas. However, with satire comes a variation of the truth. While satire is grounded in truth, it is a tainted form. Distorted by the writer as a way of expressing an idea (Highet 234). It is not quite certain where the origins of satire started, but most believe that it was the Romans to first coin the term satire (Highet 24). Satura, meaning dish of mixed ingredients (HTTP://WWW.GALENET.COM/SERVLET/DC). Two men that could be credited with the title of â€Å"The Grandfathers of Satire† are the Roman poets Horace and Lucilius who wrote volumes of poetry, which included their own views on world politics, social fads, and the characters of their friends (Highet 24). Now, one must ask oneself why would an author choose to write in satire? Possibly it was personal grudges (Highet 238). Or another reason may be to state an ideal. In this case, the satire is not just to belittle a particular idea, but also to send a warning as an example (Highet 243). Other reasons for a satirist include, their personal feeling of inferiority or the desire to better society (Highet 240-241). Chaucer was as straightforward as a man can get (Wagenknecht 72). He saw the world as a down to earth fellow who was regarded as â€Å"sweet† (Wagenknecht 141).

World War 1 as a Total War

In what ways can the First World War be seen as a Total War Total war is defined as the organisation of entire societies for war, using all Its economic, military and human resources to aim for complete victory. In addition there is less differentiation between combatants and civilians than In conventional warfare; civilians were affected as deliberate targets of war In their own right. It can be argued that the government of the Involved countries focused the economy on the war effort which in turn had an Impact on everyday life.The countries tried to make the maximum use out of their human and economic resources, which leaded to a entralization of power In hands of the government. The government started to control their countries In different aspects. Conscrlptlon was Introduced to control manpower better. Conscription Is defined by the compulsory enlistment In some kind of national service. In this case It was military service. In the united Kingdom, for example, it was introduced in 1916. In addition, governments started to exercise more control over industry, which leaded to nationalizing key industries like coal mining and shipping.They also had to control inflation, so that wages and prices were regulated. In order to pay for the war various countries increased taxes. Britain, for example, increased direct taxation. The governments also started to adopt tariffs on certain imported goods. The countries also borrowed money from other countries and also from their own people, what was done through ‘war loans' . ‘War loans' were credits issued by the population of a country to finance military operations and other expenditure in times of war, which the government would pay back with interests after the war ends.We can highlight that propaganda also made World War One a total war. After a big amount of time fighting some persons lose their otivation to fight a war and therefore they stop supporting their country. Propaganda was used to solve that problem by the governments. With propaganda the countries usually wanted to recruit new soldiers, motivate the population to support their country with work and money and to set on their population against the enemy. A poster made by the allies shows three anxious kids near by a shadow of a swastika and says: ‘Dont let the shadow touch them†¦ uy war bonds'. That poster was used to make the population hate Germany and to use that hate to make them support their country with money. Propaganda was an Important part of the war and Britain even created a Ministry of Information which made propaganda a key element of Its war policy. One of the points that make the First World War a total war Is the affect the war had on the life of civilians. The clvlllans were affected by military action and due to the new technology available there were many casualties.On the Eastern Front, due to the movement, clvlllans were Involved In violence, accidentally and deliberately. The Jews, for example, were attacked deliberately by the Russians. On the Western Front the civilians were able to keep away from the fighting, so that casualties were reduced to Inaccurate artillery fire. The First World War Is also the war that caused most casualties on civilians until that moment, due to military action or Oue to Tamlne, Olsease or accidents. A clvlllans oleo on Dotn sloes In total due to military action.The most shocking fact is that about 6,000,000 civilians died because of other reasons that were caused by the war and the life circumstances. As a result of the military casualties, in some countries conscription was introduced. Due to conscription a lot of men left their work and Joined the army. As a consequence a lot of pursuits weren't satisfied, like for example nutrition as a consequence of a lack to farmers. In addition both sides started to cut off supplies to their enemies. They tried to disrupt trade routes and to intercept the food and raw materials supplies.German y used submarines to create shortages which affected British civilians. As a result, the average calorie input of an adult civilian from the involved countries dropped from about 1500 in 1915 to 1000 in the winter of 1916-1917. In addition, due to the rapid growth of industry and men Joining the army and leaving their workplace, a lot of woman Joined the workforce. In spite of all to employ a woman was not the first choice of the employees. Women had to deal with isadvantages. One of them was the differentiation in wages compared with male workers.The wages of women remained low, despite their work increased. By 1917, one in four war workers was female. That shows how big the role women had in World War One was. In addition women had to deal with agreements made to let them work in ‘men's Jobs', as for example that these arrangements would Just be temporarily. By 1918 Woman formed 55% in Germany and in other countries the number of workers increased dramatically, for example i n Russia, with 20%, and in Austria-Hungary with 25%. All of the involved countries had ‘total' aims and they ere reluctant to give them up.Germany ‘s war aims were to expand their territory and to increase their economic strength to ensure security for Germany in west and in east ‘for all imaginable time'. As a consequence negotiated peace was difficult to achieve. Propaganda also made the peace difficult to achieve because it Justified the war and demonized the enemy. However, there were some tries to make peace by important persons. Some of them were the Pope Benedict XV and Lenin. They tried to develop peace without taking any personal benefits out of it. They principally called for a peace without annexations or financial demands.The affected countries, on the contrary, tried to make the maximum profit out of peace treaties. The First World War also affected the civil population of the involved countries and not only the soldiers. The on war effort focused econ omy led to changes in the life of the civilians what is basically what makes a war a ‘total war'. In the points above it is made clear that World War One was a ‘total war' because of the effect the war had on civilians and their lives, the growth of power of the government and how it was used to take advantages in war out of it and the attitude of the countries towards the implementation of their aims.

Community Health Partnerships Essay

Community: Social groups of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. A social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interest and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exist ( Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Community Health: Refers to the health status of a defined group of people, or community, and the actions and conditions that protect and improve the health of the community. Those individuals who make up a community live in a somewhat localized area under the same general regulations, norms, values, and organizations. For example, the health status of the people living in a particular town, and the actions taken to protect and improve the health of these residents would constitute community health (Green & Ottoson, 1999). ). Community Health is the meeting of collective needs by identifying problems and managing behaviors within the community itself and between the community and the larger society (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Community as Client: The concept of community as client is based on the assumption that community nursing practice is â€Å"community oriented,† seeking â€Å"healthful change for the whole community. The community is a client only when the nursing focus is on the collective of common good of the population instead of on individual health (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Community Health Partnerships: defines as voluntary collaborations of diverse community organizations, which have joined forces in order to pursue a shared interest in improving community health. Community Health Partnerships differ from traditional community organizations in their mix of public and private members and they diverge from grass roots organizations with their inclusion of multiple constituents and stakeholders. (McKenzie & Smeltzer, 1997) Lay community members have a vested interest in the success of efforts to improve the health of their community. Lay community members who are recognized as community leaders also possess credibility and skills that health professionals lack. Therefore, successful strategies for improving  community health must include community partnerships as the basic means, or key, for improvement (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). Overall impression of participating family’s community and environment is an inner suburb of New York City named Hackensack, New Jersey, a city in Bergan County, New Jersey. Located 12 miles north west of Midtown Manhattan and about seven miles from the George Washington Bridge, from a number of locations, you can see the New York City skyline. The Metropolitan campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University borders the Hackensack River. The city is known for a great diversity of neighborhoods and land uses existing in very close proximity of each other. Within its borders are a massive medical center, a trendy high-rise district about a mile long, classic suburban neighborhoods of single family homes, stately older homes on acre-plus lots, older two –family neighborhoods, large garden apartments complexes, industrial areas, the Bergan Count Jail, a tidal river, and Hackensack River County Park. Cultural Diversity and Vulnerable Populations present in the Community: The racial make-up of the city was White, African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Hispanic or Latino. My participating family consists of an African American woman C.R. 68 years young whose family lineage is African American and Dutch, shares a lovely suburban two- family home with her daughter K. R. who is 48 years young and her life partner S. M. who is thirty nine years young and a native of the British Virgin Islands. It is my understanding from the family that same sex households are most certainly part of the community as well as interracial couples. The home is very nicely decorated, well-kept and the grounds are well manicured. The fact that the younger ladies are a same sex couple makes them part of a vulnerable population. I asked â€Å"if there were any prejudice or pressure they feel from the neighborhood regarding their lifestyle†? They both responded there is no pressure or prejudice put upon them. I must mention the time I have begun to spend with them, talking and observing their behaviors with one another, I have to say,† there is more love between the two of them than some heterosexual couples have in their little finger for each other† and they are not embarrassed by their life style nor do they hide who they are. They are both beautiful people inside and out. Aspects of the Community that could affect residents’ health: The  factor in the community that could affect health is the fact that there are many industrial areas surrounding the communities. The chemicals, fumes, and gases that ar e put into the air of the community and inhaled by all potentially could be of danger to the community. The County Jail and the potential of escaped criminals pose a threat to the community; Flooding is a potential threat during hurricanes and storms. Reproductive and Sexual Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health is relevant to the community in that the goal is to maintain and improve health and well-being. LGBT individuals encompass all races and ethnicities, religions, and social classes. Eliminating health disparities and enhancing efforts to improve health are necessary to ensure that LGBT individuals can lead long healthy lives (healthy 2020), REFERENCES: Green, L.W., Ottoson, J. M. (1999). Community and Population Health, (8th ed.) Boston: WCB/McGraw-Hill McKenzie, J. F., Smeltzer, J.L. (1997). Planning, Implementing and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs: A Primer; (2nd ed.), Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Stanhope, M., Lancaster, J. (2008) (8th ed,). Population-Centered Health Care in the Community. St. Louis, MO. http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics

Lessons in investing business by Mark Skousen

Lessons in investing business by Mark Skousen Investing In One Lesson by Mark Skousen reveals the main principle of the investing business and can be called a guideline for those who want to succeed in this business.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Lessons in investing business by Mark Skousen specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The main values of this book include Skousen’s great experience in this area and the simplicity of his explanations and examples. To my mind the book under consideration can be very helpful for starters and professionals as well. Even Skousen points out the exclusive importance of education and stresses that it is very important to â€Å"take time to educate yourself, to research ways to become more proficient in your own job or business† (Skousen 15). Investing In One Lesson lists the main questions that occur to the majority of investors and gives simple and competent answers. Admittedly, investing business is one of the m ost complicated and unpredictable; that is why it is very important to know the main laws of this world. The book under consideration contains all the necessary information to understand what this business is and the ways how to escape losses and obtain profits. To my mind this book is very helpful and readable due to its proximity to life, since Skousen don’t give the theory, he provides very illustrative examples considering famous companies, such as Yahoo, or Miramar Mining, etc. The book depicts different situations companies face, the ways how companies act, and the results of their actions. I’d like to point out that Skousen repeats one statement from the very beginning through the whole book: â€Å"The business of investing is not the same as investing in a business† (Skousen 3). After reading this book I understood that this statement is really true and this knowledge helped me understand better investing business. Now I understand that main rules that are good for leading business cannot be applied to investing business. Another point that pleasantly surprised me in this book that Skousen admits that losses in this business are quite often and he doesn’t say he never lost money while operating in this business. To my mind, it is very important to remember about the possible losses, and I think that the value of investing business consultants’ portfolio cannot be their doubtful â€Å"invincibility†, but ratio of the amount of gained money to the amount of lost money.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, Investing In One Lesson describes the possible ways how to cope with inevitable difficulties in investing business. After reading this book I learned that one of the main points in making success in investing business is the necessity to limit one’s â€Å"investment choices to those that suit† one’s â€Å"natural disposition† (Skousen 143). Skousen proves that it is necessary to focus on limited number of affairs you know and can deal with. To my mind this is the clue to making success, since one only wastes his/her time and money on knowing better new markets or new business, instead of making progress in the familiar sphere. I would also like to point out that Skousen is a supporter of economic theory of Austrian school, suggesting that government intervention in business should be minimized, and economic principles should be restricted by human motivations. These views can be also traced in the book under consideration. I’d like to point out that Investing In One Lesson broaden my knowledge in investing business and made me understand that it is possible to gain success in this sphere, giving some useful hints. Skousen, M. Investing In One Lesson. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, 2007.

Permiso de residencia por matrimonio gay o de lesbianas

Permiso de residencia por matrimonio gay o de lesbianas En Estados Unidos los matrimonios gays, conformados por dos hombres o dos mujeres, tienen los mismos derechos migratorios que los conformados por un varà ³n y una mujer. Lo fundamental en este tipo de matrimonios es que sean vlidos segà ºn las leyes del lugar en el que se celebran, que no tiene que corresponder con las del lugar donde habitualmente residen los cà ³nyuges o uno de ellos.   A pesar de esta igualdad de derechos entre los  matrimonios gays y los heterosexuales, en ocasiones se producen conflictos o demoras porque se trata de un derecho relativamente reciente. Es por ello que el abogado de inmigracià ³n Frank Calabrese responde en la siguiente entrevista a dudas de gays, lesbianas, bisexuales y transexuales casados con personas de su mismo sexo, en relacià ³n al permiso de residencia (green card) y otros beneficios migratorios como visas de trabajo, peticiones de hijos, etc. Adems, se finaliza este artà ­culo con importantes consejos migratorios para los casos en los que se est buscando la green card por matrimonio. Antecedentes y situacià ³n actual sobre derechos migratorios para matrimonios gays El 26 de junio de 2013, la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos sentencià ³ que era inconstitucional la Seccià ³n 3 de la Ley de Defensa del Matrimonio (DOMA, por sus siglas en inglà ©s), que limitaba a efectos de reconocimiento federal el matrimonio al formado por un hombre y una mujer. Hasta esta decisià ³n de la Corte Suprema, DOMA prohibà ­a que el gobierno federal reconociese como vlidos los matrimonios conformados por personas del mismo sexo.   Ahora que la Seccià ³n 3 de DOMA ya no es vlida, desde el punto de vista de las leyes de inmigracià ³n, los ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos y los residentes permanentes casados con personas de su mismo sexo reciben el mismo tratamiento que los matrimonios conformados por un hombre y una mujer. Pregunta:  ¿Tenemos que vivir en un estado que reconoce legalmente el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo para solicitar un permiso de residencia de residencia? Respuesta: No. Desde el punto de vista de inmigracià ³n, el matrimonio se reconoce siempre y cuando que sea vlido en la jurisdiccià ³n en la que se celebrà ³. Si te has casado en un estado o en un paà ­s que reconoce legalmente el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo, tu matrimonio es reconocido a efectos de inmigracià ³n en los Estados Unidos. Los matrimonios pueden legalmente residir en cualquier estado de la Unià ³n Americana.  ¿Es suficiente tener una relacià ³n legalmente reconocida pero que no es matrimonio, como por ejemplo una unià ³n civil o una pareja de hecho? No en estos momentos. Si es posible, deben  casarse en una jurisdiccià ³n que permite el matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo brinda mayor seguridad y es un camino menos problemtico para solicitar la tarjeta de residencia, incluso en los casos en los que ya se est viviendo en una situacià ³n de unià ³n civil o pareja de hecho.  ¿Quà © pasa si mi pareja se encuentra fuera de los Estados Unidos y no podemos casarnos en su paà ­s de origen? Las leyes de inmigracià ³n de los Estados Unidos permiten la solicitud de una visa de prometido para parejas cuya intencià ³n es contraer matrimonio. Una vez que la visa es concedida, la persona extranjera puede entrar legalmente en Estados Unidos y la pareja debe contraer matrimonio en los 90 dà ­as siguientes en un estado que legalmente permite este tipo de matrimonio (esta visa solo aplica a ciudadanos, no a residentes) Asimismo, estas parejas pueden viajar a otro paà ­s donde el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo est legalmente reconocido y luego seguir el procedimiento consular que siguen las parejas casadas heterosexuales en el paà ­s de origen del cà ³nyuge extranjero. Conseguà ­ mi tarjeta de residencia por matrimonio con una mujer, pero desde entonces he hecho pà ºblica mi homosexualidad y ahora estoy casado con un hombre.  ¿Puedo solicitar una tarjeta de residencia para à ©l? Las personas que obtuvieron su residencia por razà ³n de un matrimonio anterior no tienen necesariamente una prohibicià ³n para solicitar a su nuevo cà ³nyuge. Sin embargo, como en todos los casos de matrimonio, esas personas tiene la obligacià ³n de demostrar que su relacià ³n es de buena fe. En estos casos un abogado experto puede ayudarte a examinar los posibles riesgos y beneficios y si hay o no un conjunto de circunstancias que pueden levantar sospechas de fraude en el oficial del USCIS que debe decidir sobre el caso. Y si tienes o no evidencia suficiente para vencer cualquier posible sospecha. Una compaà ±Ãƒ ­a americana me ha contratado para trabajar y vivir en los Estados Unidos con una visa H-1B.  ¿Puede tambià ©n vivir en EEUU mi cà ³nyuge que es de mi mismo sexo? Sà ­. Los matrimonios conformados por personas del mismo sexo estn ahora reconocidos con igualdad de derechos migratorios que los matrimonios entre un hombre y una mujer. Si cumple con todos los requisitos para ser elegible, puede acompaà ±ar a su esposo o esposa siempre y cuando se trate de una categorà ­a de visas que contempla la posibilidad de visas derivadas para los cà ³nyuges, como son las H-4 (trabajo), J-2 (intercambio) o F-2 (estudiante), etc.  ¿Quà © pasa si mi pareja est en los Estados Unidos como indocumentado? ¿Todavà ­a podemos aplicar? Esto va a depender de tu caso concreto. Si la persona extranjera entrà ³ legalmente a los Estados Unidos por una aduana donde fue inspeccionado por un oficial de inmigracià ³n pero simplemente lo que ha hecho es quedarse ms tiempo del permitido, entonces en muchos casos puede que està © autorizado/a a solicitar la tarjeta de residencia basndose en su matrimonio con un ciudadano americano. Pero si entrà ³ a los Estados Unidos simplemente cruzando la frontera sin que un oficial de inmigracià ³n le autorizase la entrada entonces en estos casos tendr que salir de EEUU y solicitar la tarjeta de residencia en un consulado en su paà ­s de origen. En todo caso, algunos pueden necesitar solicitar ciertos perdones (conocidos como waiver en inglà ©s). Las leyes migratorias pueden ser muy complicadas en estos casos y si tà º o tu pareja estn en los Estados Unidos como indocumentados o sin estatus, es muy recomendable solicitar el consejo de un abogado experto en estos temas antes de iniciar cualquier trmite.  ¿Quà © pasa si tenemos hijos? Cuando un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos aplica por una tarjeta de residencia para su esposo/a, tambià ©n puede pedir los papeles para los hijos de su cà ³nyuge por ser sus hijastros. Si el cà ³nyuge extranjero es el padre o la madre biolà ³gico de esos nià ±os, es posiblemente el mejor procedimiento a seguir, incluso en los casos en los que el ciudadano americano considera ya a esos muchachos como hijos propios. En todo caso los hijos deben ser menores de 21 aà ±os de edad, solteros y el matrimonio debe haberse celebrado antes de que los muchachos hayan cumplido los 18.  ¿Quà © pasa con la reforma migratoria? ¿Hay alguna razà ³n por la que puede recomendarse esperar? No se puede predecir lo que va a hacer el Congreso. La reforma migratoria puede ser aprobada o no en el futuro. En cualquier caso no hay modo de saber ahora cules serà ­an las protecciones para las personas del colectivo LGBT que contemplarà ­a la ley. Mientras tanto, mientras el Servicio de Naturalizacià ³n e Inmigracià ³n (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglà ©s) y los consulados continà ºan implementando las leyes de inmigracià ³n de los Estados Unidos segà ºn las directrices actuales no es necesario que se aprueben ms leyes para que las parejas del mismo sexo legalmente casadas inicien sus trmites para la solicitud de la tarjeta de residencia.  ¿Podemos presentar la solicitud nosotros mismos o necesitamos a un abogado? ¿Necesitamos a un abogado especialista en temas de inmigracià ³n o en asuntos propios del colectivo LGBT? Mientras que es cierto que mucha gente solicita por sà ­ misma y con à ©xito las tarjetas de residencia por razà ³n de matrimonio, hay que tener en cuenta que las leyes de inmigracià ³n pueden ser bastante complicadas. Adems, las solicitudes en los casos de matrimonios conformados por personas del mismo sexo es todavà ­a un rea legal nueva y que muchos oficiales de inmigracià ³n no tiene todavà ­a el suficiente conocimiento o no se sienten cà ³modos con estos asuntos. El consejo de un abogado experto puede ayudar a evitar los problemas que puedan surgir. Las respuestas anteriores sà ³lo tienen un propà ³sito informativo general y NO substituyen o constituyen consejo legal para ningà ºn caso concreto ni tampoco son la base de una relacià ³n abogado-cliente. Deberà ­as consular con un abogado de inmigracià ³n sobre las circunstancias particulares de tu caso antes de tomar ninguna decisià ³n sobre tu situacià ³n o iniciar algà ºn trmite. Consejos migratorios en caso de green card por matrimonio Tanto los ciudadanos americanos como los residentes permanentes legales pueden solicitar la green card para su cà ³nyuge por razà ³n de matrimonio. Aunque bsicamente los requisitos son los mismos en ambas situaciones es conveniente destacar importantes diferencias. En primer lugar, el tiempo de tramitacià ³n, ya que es ms rpido en el caso de las peticiones presentadas por ciudadanos. Los residentes deben esperar por cupo, segà ºn datos actualizados mensualmente en el boletà ­n de visas.   En segundo lugar, es muy recomendable prestar atencià ³n en los casos en los que el cà ³nyuge pedido està © en Estados Unidos en situacià ³n de indocumentado. La razà ³n es que en el caso de peticià ³n de residentes no pueden ajustar su estatus y en el caso de solicitud de ciudadanos sà ³lo cuando la persona pedida entrà ³ legalmente a los Estados Unidos (con la excepcià ³n de los casados con militares en aplicacià ³n del programa Parole in Place). La consecuencia de ello es que si no es posible ajustar el estatus se tendr que finalizar el proceso fuera de los Estados Unidos, lo cual har saltar el castigo de los 3 y de los 10 aà ±os. Y en tercer lugar, en algunos casos las tarjetas de residencia que se obtienen por razà ³n de matrimonio con ciudadano pueden ser, inicialmente, temporales por sà ³lo dos aà ±os. En este caso es obligatorio levantar la condicionalidad para convertir esa residencia temporal en permanente. Asimismo, es importante seà ±alar que el solicitante de la green card para su cà ³nyuge puede en cualquier momento poner fin a los trmites. Sin embargo, esto no puede utilizarse como una amenaza hacia el cà ³nyuge extranjero. Y es que en casos de abuso podrà ­a tener derecho a obtener por sà ­ mismo la green card en base al programa VAWA. Finalmente, al igual que ocurre con los matrimonios heterosexuales, los matrimonios de conveniencia con el fin de obtener la green card estn penados por la ley. Este es un artà ­culo informativo. No es asesorà ­a legal

Probability Distribution in Statistics

Probability Distribution in Statistics If you spend much time at all dealing with statistics, pretty soon you run into the phrase â€Å"probability distribution.† It is here that we really get to see how much the areas of probability and statistics overlap. Although this may sound like something technical, the phrase probability distribution is really just a way to talk about organizing a list of probabilities. A probability distribution is a function or rule that assigns probabilities to each value of a random variable. The distribution may in some cases be listed. In other cases, it is presented as a graph. Example Suppose that we roll two dice and then record the sum of the dice. Sums anywhere from two to 12 are possible. Each sum has a particular probability of occurring. We can simply list these as follows: The sum of 2 has a probability of 1/36The sum of 3 has a probability of 2/36The sum of 4 has a probability of 3/36The sum of 5 has a probability of 4/36The sum of 6 has a probability of 5/36The sum of 7 has a probability of 6/36The sum of 8 has a probability of 5/36The sum of 9 has a probability of 4/36The sum of 10 has a probability of 3/36The sum of 11 has a probability of 2/36The sum of 12 has a probability of 1/36 This list is a probability distribution for the probability experiment of rolling two dice. We can also consider the above as a probability distribution of the random variable defined by looking at the sum of the two dice. Graph A probability distribution can be graphed, and sometimes this helps to show us features of the distribution that were not apparent from just reading the list of probabilities. The random variable is plotted along the x-axis, and the corresponding probability is plotted along the y-axis. For a discrete random variable, we will have a histogram. For a continuous random variable, we will have the inside of a smooth curve. The rules of probability are still in effect, and they manifest themselves in a few ways. Since probabilities are greater than or equal to zero, the graph of a probability distribution must have y-coordinates that are nonnegative. Another feature of probabilities, namely that one is the maximum that the probability of an event can be, shows up in another way. Area Probability The graph of a probability distribution is constructed in such a way that areas represent probabilities. For a discrete probability distribution, we are really just calculating the areas of rectangles. In the graph above, the areas of the three bars corresponding to four, five and six correspond to the probability that the sum of our dice is four, five or six. The areas of all of the bars add up to a total of one. In the standard normal distribution or bell curve, we have a similar situation. The area under the curve between two z values corresponds to the probability that our variable falls between those two values. For example, the area under the bell curve for -1 z. Important Distributions There are literally infinitely many probability distributions. A list of some of the more important distributions follows: Binomial distribution – Gives the number of successes for a series of independent experiments with two outcomesChi-square distribution – For use of determining how close observed quantities fit a proposed modelF-distribution – Used in the analysis of variance (ANOVA)Normal distribution – Called the bell curve and is found throughout statistics.Student’s t distribution – For use with small sample sizes from a normal distribution

(Name of film) is valuable (or not valuable) in the study of 20th Essay

(Name of film) is valuable (or not valuable) in the study of 20th century America because (fill in reason) - Essay Example ils the only criminal case in the country that charged anyone with conspiracy in the death of the president or called into question the results of the Warren Commission. At the same time, it takes a look into the personal life of Garrison as he dealt with both internal and external pressures in bringing this case to trial. With the depth of the movie’s explorations, it is possible to deduct some of the more important socio-political movements of the time period in which it is set. Because of the way in which he goes about detailing the development of various theories as to what happened that afternoon in Texas, Stone’s interpretation makes it clear in a very public way that at the least, the Warren Commission could not have been correct in its findings when it ruled a lone gunman achieved the death of a president. Up to the release of the movie, Americans were falling asleep regarding the details behind the assassination, but with its release, they once again asked the questions that had remained unanswered since the House Select Committee on Assassination Report was released in 1979 (Renner, n.d.). This public reaction eventually led to the release in 1994 of some documents associated with the Warren Commission’s report. Oliver Stone’s JFK is valuable in the study of 20th century America because it re-examines a nation-changing event, asking the questions that had been almost forgotten and never answered. Despite his insistence that he is not trying to portray a historically factual documentary regarding the assassination, Stone utilizes several real-life players in depicting his version of events. Key among these is President Kennedy himself. By refusing to recast the president, Stone not only proves his talent as a director working with limited available footage, he provides a sense of reality into the story. When he uses the Zapruder film, Stone is able to inject a somber mood of reflection as audiences realize this is the actual event and not

Marketing 100 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Marketing 100 - Research Paper Example The Cupuacu Butter is a natural moisturizer that assists in creating lustrous, radiant as well as hydrated hairs. Blue Algae has been proven to be one of the ingredients effective in strengthening the hair shaft. In addition to this wild orchids help in adding moisture to the hairs, keeps hair healthy and shiny. The product is completely eco-friendly and has been effective and suitable for all hair types. The main benefits that the users of the product receive when buying the product is that the hydrating shampoo is rich in lather that assist in cleansing the scalp as well as the hairs. It also assist in purifying, protecting and eliminating the dirt, oil as well as the styling residue that tends to damage the hair and makes the hair look dull and dry. In addition to this the users of the product can also keep their hair color longer since the color-treated hair is re-hydrated and revitalized (David Babaii for Wildaid 2011). ... The current price of David Babaii for Wildaid Hydrating shampoo is AUD $22.95 for 400 ml while the RRP of the product has been $23.50. Therefore, the customers of the product can save 2%. It has been evident that the company quite frequently offers its products at discount rate. From the name itself it has been evident that the company strives to support the beauty of the nature since it donates ten percent of all profits to the ‘Wildaid’. Wildaid is the global wildlife conservation organization (Discount Vitamin Express 2011). The close competitors of the company are Abba, Alchemy, Art of Shaving and Head Organics. It has been apparent that most of the shampoos are formulated along with certified ‘organic ingredients’ that assist in gently cleansing the hair and the scalp. The Seven Wonders have also proved to be a close competitor for David Babaii hydrating shampoo. Matrix Biolage HydraTherapie Hydrating Shampoo is also one of the close competitors of the product. It is evident that the company uses competitive pricing strategies. Consumers can easily purchase the product online and compare the prices of these shampoos with other shampoos and make their purchase related decision. Moreover, the competitors are offering the product at the same price with the same quantity which makes it difficult to set price for the David Babaii shampoo. From this it can be revealed that the prices of the product tend to remain competitive in case of greater threat of substitute products from other brands. Therefore, in light of the stiff competition faced by the company it would be better for it to keep the prices affordable for all the classes of the society. 1.3 Current Distribution

Stress From Life Events Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stress From Life Events - Essay Example These habits are what majorly lead to some of the illnesses associated with stress for example smoking as a habit leading to lung or throat cancers. With the current stress rating levels, one would require significant social support as a way of coping with the stress. Without this, it is possible for an individual to have constantly negative thoughts about the problems they are facing or pains they are undergoing. The thoughts on the long run develop such problems as headaches and or extreme migraines. A total count reading of 451 from Rahe’s assessment would probably indicate chronic stress. From scientific studies, chronic stress results in a boost in the catecholamine and suppressor T cells levels that lead to the lowering of the immune system. With a suppressed immune system, the body system is vulnerable to opportunistic infections such as viral and bacterial attacks. With these attacks probability of getting ill is substantially high. Development of ulcers is one of the few indicators that an individual is undergoing stress. Stress alters the concentration levels of the acids in the gut leading to peptic ulcers. This is possible as stress changes the way one’s body functions. Stress that usually affects the brain has its effects felt directly in the stomach as the brain, and the stomach are linked via exchange of chemicals and messages in the brain-gut- axis. With ulcers, uptake of food is usually hampered lowering the immune system of the body got from the foods. Being an asthmatic breathing difficulties are likely to be met. However, these can easily be checked if appropriate medical guidelines are followed. Stress causes the release of histamine in the blood among other chemicals. Histamine leads to allergic symptoms and it gets worse with high levels of histamine in the bloodstream. In asthmatics, it causes broncho- constriction, making breathing impossible. An asthmatic attack is thus probable. When having stress, the body ensures sugars are

Change model Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Change model - Assignment Example This paper is aimed at discussing the change process in an organization, including Health Safety and Environment change model and its application. The change process There are various models of the change process available today. Examples of models of change include the HSE; Kotters’ eight- step change model; Kurt Lewin’s model; Meta model among others. Kotter's eight-step model is a general organization-wide change management model where management initiates change (Beckhard 1969). It starts with increasing the urgency and building a guiding team. One must have the right vision and ensure you appeal to as many people as possible. Also, one must ensure that all obstacles against that vision are removed, maintain persistence and make the change last. Kurt Lewin’s model is based on the three processes of unfreezing, change and then freezing. Lewin’s theory, though appearing as impractical, is still relevant and has been adopted by most modern change process models (Almaraz 1994). The Meta change model, on the other hand, is based on the provision of understanding of the principles of the change process that is better than the other models. It achieves this by ensuring identification of the common themes in a broader perspective, ranging from individual to organization based changes (George & Jones 2000). First, one needs to study the patterns of change, which enables him or her get the stimulus for adapting to the change. The next step involves the rationalization of the necessity for change, preparing and adjusting to change that now becomes the normalcy. The Meta change model is renowned for its coverage of a broader range of fields thus diversifies the perspectives to the change process Rationale for the change model selected. The selected change model is HSE, which is the Health Safety and Environment change model. It is used in managing safety, health and environmental impact issues. The approach applied in the HSE model includes a combination of the project management and organizational development. This is essential as it facilitates implementation of discipline and structure to the change process (Kotter 2011). The HSE change model was used over more detailed change processes for instance the Kotters' eight-steps change model because the staff at the radiology department initiated the need for change. This eliminated the need for increasing the urgency as the radiology staff already wanted a better system. In addition to this, successful transition and adaptation to the change process requires the interaction and good relations between parties involved, in this case the hospital staff and patients (Bradford & Burke 2005). HSE model is a preferable choice as it encourages the recognition of people involved in the change process and this promotes successful transition (George & Jones 2000). HSE thus promotes team work, which is paramount to change the process. Being a health-care change (IHE), the HSE chang e model was the most suitable as it is geared more for managing change in the health-care provision which is driven more by the staff and patient needs at the radiology department. The IHE implementation change is taking place only at the radiology department and given the need for change originated from radiology staff, the HSE change model was chosen as more suitable for the health-care change. Conclusion For an organizational change to occur, the

Employee Retention in the fast Food Industry Assignment

Employee Retention in the fast Food Industry - Assignment Example According to the paper, presently, variations in trade agreements, technology, global economics and any other such factors are directly affecting employer/employee relationships. For quite some time loyalty has been the basis for that relationship. Losing very talented employees may be very disadvantageous to the future success of the company. Outstanding employees of a company may leave because they are underpaid, dissatisfied or unmotivated, therefore, trying to retain them is likely to present many challenges to the organization. Such employees may demand higher wages; they may fail to comply with the directions of managers, fail to comply with practices of the organization, or not interact well with their colleagues. The organization’s desire to retain such employees may be further complicated by information asymmetry because lack of enough information may not help the organization to differentiate productive employees from unproductive ones. Workers frequently take credit for other employees’ success and deflect failures to others. Thus, employees may be punished or awarded for outcomes that they are not part of. Inadequate information regarding performance of employees may result in adverse selection, outstanding ones may leave, and abysmal ones may stay. The situation is likely to occur when exceptional workers are not rewarded and both productive and nonproductive ending up with the same or almost the same compensation package. The problem of keeping outstanding workers in the company is further complicated due to bounded rationality. This results due to information asymmetry because workers do not know the information to provide and the managers do not know what information to ask from their employees.

Change model Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Change model - Assignment Example This paper is aimed at discussing the change process in an organization, including Health Safety and Environment change model and its application. The change process There are various models of the change process available today. Examples of models of change include the HSE; Kotters’ eight- step change model; Kurt Lewin’s model; Meta model among others. Kotter's eight-step model is a general organization-wide change management model where management initiates change (Beckhard 1969). It starts with increasing the urgency and building a guiding team. One must have the right vision and ensure you appeal to as many people as possible. Also, one must ensure that all obstacles against that vision are removed, maintain persistence and make the change last. Kurt Lewin’s model is based on the three processes of unfreezing, change and then freezing. Lewin’s theory, though appearing as impractical, is still relevant and has been adopted by most modern change process models (Almaraz 1994). The Meta change model, on the other hand, is based on the provision of understanding of the principles of the change process that is better than the other models. It achieves this by ensuring identification of the common themes in a broader perspective, ranging from individual to organization based changes (George & Jones 2000). First, one needs to study the patterns of change, which enables him or her get the stimulus for adapting to the change. The next step involves the rationalization of the necessity for change, preparing and adjusting to change that now becomes the normalcy. The Meta change model is renowned for its coverage of a broader range of fields thus diversifies the perspectives to the change process Rationale for the change model selected. The selected change model is HSE, which is the Health Safety and Environment change model. It is used in managing safety, health and environmental impact issues. The approach applied in the HSE model includes a combination of the project management and organizational development. This is essential as it facilitates implementation of discipline and structure to the change process (Kotter 2011). The HSE change model was used over more detailed change processes for instance the Kotters' eight-steps change model because the staff at the radiology department initiated the need for change. This eliminated the need for increasing the urgency as the radiology staff already wanted a better system. In addition to this, successful transition and adaptation to the change process requires the interaction and good relations between parties involved, in this case the hospital staff and patients (Bradford & Burke 2005). HSE model is a preferable choice as it encourages the recognition of people involved in the change process and this promotes successful transition (George & Jones 2000). HSE thus promotes team work, which is paramount to change the process. Being a health-care change (IHE), the HSE chang e model was the most suitable as it is geared more for managing change in the health-care provision which is driven more by the staff and patient needs at the radiology department. The IHE implementation change is taking place only at the radiology department and given the need for change originated from radiology staff, the HSE change model was chosen as more suitable for the health-care change. Conclusion For an organizational change to occur, the

Homeland Security Research Products Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Homeland Security Products - Research Paper Example Understanding the radicalization process is crucial in developing effective counter-strategies. This is because potential terrorists begin and progress through radicalization processes. Successful counter strategies can only be achieved if the security structures identify the point where radicalization begins. The second report is that of the Department of Homeland Security titled Right-wing Extremism: Current economic and political climate fueling resurgence in radicalization and recruitment (U.S Department of Homeland Security, 2009). The report provides an assessment of the threat posed by homegrown extremism from right-wing groups. The report is an intelligence assessment that helps in facilitating a better understanding of the emergence of violent radicalization in the United States. The report lacks credible evidence that the right-wing terrorists are planning any acts of violence. However, it bases its argument on the speculation that the extremists may be training more recruits owing to the fear related to several emergent issues i.e. the economic downturn and the election of the first African American president. To address the research question in detail, the report has focused on discussing issues such as the prevailing political and economic environment, exploitation of the econ omic downturn, the presidential election, illegal immigration, and the legislative initial drivers among others. This report addresses the homegrown threat that terrorism activities pose in developed nations, for example, the United States. The study discusses the radicalization factor that promotes terrorism activities. The research is successful in the use of case studies to explain the formation and advancement of the intentions that lead to terrorism. Use of case studies amounts to qualitative research. The case studies provided existing data and information on terrorism for the report.  

Earned value management Essay Example for Free

Earned value management Essay What is meant by an integrative project management process and why is this so important? What are the pitfalls if such an approach is not taken? The main goal of the integrative project management process is to take a project and design it around the specific needs of a company. This process can sometimes force companies to change how they conduct business, who they advertise too and how they attract new customers. What makes the integrative project management so important to companies is success. When a company spends millions of dollars to implement a new strategy, they want to ensure things go smoothly, especially if they are changing the direction of their business. These projects can take a bit longer to complete because the project manager will have to take the time to get to know the company, and how the conduct business, but in the end a business is usually more successful if they use an integrative project management strategy. When companies don’t follow this stringy, and go with a generic project template it usually ends up wasting time, money and resources. The final project, even though it is complete won’t meet their needs and usually more money is spent on small adjustments to finalize the project. I see this at work all the time, now one ever looks at our computer system as a whole, and designs a plan around what we already have in place. This can become frustrating because we end up with three and four different networks, and none of them ever seem to work correctly. Why is the traditional project management approach less effective when project scope is not clearly understood? Provide examples to illustrate your points. Our text refers to the triple constraint of scope, schedule, and budget. It’s a triple constraint in the sense that variability on any one of the constraints affects the other two. Effective project management must maintain scope, schedule and budget in a relative equilibrium or balance. That is, scope change, either to expand or contract it, will by necessity affect schedule and budget. For example, if an organization wants to make more narrow the scope of a project that is underway, it should require fewer resources and/or less time to accomplish. On the other hand, if the organization wants to expand the scope, it will have a direct effect on resources and schedule in that it will require more resources to finish on schedule, or the schedule will have to slip to accommodate finite resources spread across more project tasks. If project scope is poorly or improperly defined at project initiation, the schedule and budget will also be less valid because of the triple constraint nature of scope, schedule, and budget. Later in the project management timeline when additional requirements may expand the scope, schedule and budget will be impacted. For example, when a former employer was planning a new downtown office building as a company headquarters, they expanded the scope of the project to include a retail shopping and restaurant area. This necessitated arrangements with the city government to expand an adjacent public parking structure and allow a below-street-level tunnel between the building and the parking structure. This scope change resulted in a six-month schedule slip and required additional resources. Wk1 summary (Monday) Typical first week; rather steep curve as the learning teams form, I get into a battle rhythm so I can meet my individual and team requirements, and I figure out what software/tools I need to get the work done. This is only my second online course, and I am reminded that one of the advantages of being a ground student in a particular cohort is that the learning teams stay more or less intact from one course to the next, and we can really hit the ground running. Online is a different dynamic. Reading load is okay so far; I have some familiarity with the material since I have been working in a project environment for some time now.

Role Of Media In Politics Media Essay

Role Of Media In Politics Media Essay Globalization has allowed us access to be more informed through the internet, radio, television and many other types of media, as we all know the role of media is to inform us about issues of the everyday life. So let me ask you a question do you trust the media you read or see and do you think informing us is their only role? Well through this essay you will learn the role of media in politics like the influence the media plays in presidential elections, For example if the media likes a presidential candidate it can help his career but it can also destroy his career. We will also see the influence they have on peoples every day decisions, lastly we will see how the different types of media have different impacts in politics, economy, education and so on. Keep reading and you will get a handful of information. According to the journalist Thomas Carlyle Media is often called the fifth branch of governments After the Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, and the federal bureaucracy, saying that no other institution has such an impact on governments as the media has. Well I think I have to agree with Thomas even though the media members are not elected by the people and its motives are often driven by profit. When we listen or hear the media we tend to believe it because we assume they have done some research and the information we are receiving is true. But media sometimes takes sides for example in the Colombian recent elections the media played a key role in influencing the public vote, since the two main channels in Colombia are owned by wealthy families that preferred Juan Manuel Santos over the other candidates I would probably have to say that is why we saw more propaganda for Santos than for Mockus or any other candidate and also favoritism from the two channels. Media also play s a crucial role in shaping a democracy, democracy being the art of how states related with each other used to be secret but now thanks to media is very public and the government doesnt have its privacy like it used to. Nevertheless, the media can also be good since it makes us aware of various social, political and economical activities happening around us. The media in Latin America has evolved and become more active over the time that is why the modern media reminds politicians about their unfulfilled promises and relations with other countries they promised during elections. For example the Colombian media, when it comes to the war with the guerrilla they cover what politicians do not want us to see because it may be too grotesque and make the population scared, maybe the politicians are right in not lettings us see such grotesque pictures but I think is also important to know what is also happening in the country you live in and most importantly in the world. Television allows us to see live the major political events in fact Television has become so important that is the major platform of communication between political figures and the citizens. Television plays an important role in political socialization, helping both children and adults to acquire knowledge about the political system and how it operates. This type of media has allowed nations economies to rise at unprecedented levels, also accelerating the urbanization trend and lastly it has also influenced the high schools and universities to pour millions of graduates every year. Television with the help of the radio has increased the number of voters for presidential elections since together they have reached less educated and less involved sections of the population. Nowadays we can say that the main role of television is to be a watchdog on government actions since they exercised the greatest influence on governments by pressuring them, in other words television is the bridge be tween the people and the government. But television also has its down sides for example the Latin American society has suffered a crisis of confidence of governmental private documents going public, Due to this Venezuelas president Hugo Chavez has entered to control what journalists are allowed to say in Venezuelas television, He is also controlling the access to the internet keeping the people from Venezuela informed in only what he thinks is good for them to know. Another type of media is the newspaper when I say newspaper I am also referring to magazines like semana. An essential function of the newspaper is to bring us news of all around the world, without newspapers we would be like a baby who knows nothing of the outside world. Newspapers keep citizens informed about the political activities of their governments, they give in detail the statements and the speeches made by presidents or other political figures at public meetings or congresses. Newspapers now a days due to their freedom of speech criticize governments on what they do wrong and advice them. They also describe the economic policies of the government for example they describe its import and export policies, its economic development, and the prices of different things to keep people aware. Newspapers gives the same information as television does, the only difference is that is more detailed and specific. Newspapers also describe the problems of unemployment, farmers struggle wit h the guerrilla. Newspapers also convey information regarding the different crimes taking place every day they inform us about the political, economic and social changes occurring everyday in different countries, They give descriptions of the revolutions in different parts of the world, they provide descriptions of changes taking place in other societies in the fields of education, agriculture and a country defense preparation for war. But not everything is news they also have a space to relax with great comics and crossword puzzles. In the recent years the Internet has not replaced the influence of newspapers, radio, or television. However the internet has an advantage over the older media types since The Internet is an interactive medium that allows citizens to send information as well as receive it in real time, something that television and newspapers dont allow. In Colombias latest election the presidential candidates were able to developed web sites to support their campaigns. They also developed groups in facebook, twitter and many other websites, by this new form of communication presidential candidates were able to reach new audiences on the World Wide Web, creating the potential for an even greater influence in society. We could say that the key word for the Internet and politics is power. The 2010 Colombian presidential campaign demonstrated the power of the Internet to raise funds for candidates by collecting contributions via the Websites, Thats why I say dont be surprise next time the presidential c andidate debates are via chat rooms. Among the main internet users are the young adults maybe this is a reason why it has become so important since we are the leaders of tomorrow. The internet serves many functions to society some of them are that is serves as virtual community, information source, employment portal for jobseekers, research center, discussion forum, and entertainment center, among others. The internet brings together buyers and sellers and facilitates the flow of information, making it a key driver of trade. It also has some benefits like doing fast business gathering new ideas but the internet is not as great as it sounds it also has some limitations like the hackers or the privacy control problems we are facing right now I guess we will just have to wait and for the solutions. The last type of media we are going to analyze is the radio since its the oldest one with the most advantages. The most important advantage that radio offers is its ability to reach specific audiences through specialized programming. Radio can be adapted for different parts of the country and can reach people at different times of the day, For example radio is the ideal media for reaching people driving. When the radio first appeared it gave great potential for improving living conditions in the rural areas in Latin America. It is the most universal mass communication medium and is presently the cheapest type of media. Radio has also some effects in society the Excessive coverage of sensitive and violent news has led to communal riots at times in the case of Colombia the sindicatos when they found out about plan Colombia they formed a riot to stop the trade agreement of Colombia with the united states since they were going to be damaged by it. The constant repetition of news especial ly the violent ones can have major impacts especially on kids and make them repeat what they see for example if kids see a shooting they might be tempted to buy a gun and shoot their friends I know its a bit exaggerated but its just an illustration of how much power the media has on society as a whole.The media also plays a role in international political affairs as well, For example when Colombias government invaded Raul Reyes Camp people were all for it they were proud of the Colombian soldiers but when the internet and television stations started showing the other countries reactions a lot of people gave their back to the Colombian government saying they dint respected their neighbors and that they were disappointed on Colombia even though Colombia had already apologize to Ecuador. Radio and the other types of media also play an important role in war, in other words war is good for the media business because despite the excessive costs of sending correspondents for coverage, usin g expensive satellite equipment and airtime, war is precisely the type of event on which the media earns most of their money. A lot of the times the information is transformed and converted to be more dramatic that is why we should work with the media to help them focus in peace agreements and not so much in yellow news. In conclusion the Medias specific role in politics and society is informing us through persuasion always trying to influence us in our decisions. That is why media should have more clearly defined restrictions as to what they can write or cannot write. The media should be obligated to tell the truth and not manufacture or elaborate stories, even if it does not sound as good. Even though most of the television news stations are owned by wealthy individuals, they should not be so biased. The media and the politicians only want us to see what a perfect world we live in, so they tend to hide the truth or work their way around it. We can also conclude that the media has positive and negative things and that is good to read, listen or see the news but most importantly what I recommend is not to believe everything they tell us because they always come with a twist so just make your own decisions based on what you believe in and not letting yourself be influenced by anything. Through this es say we also saw the different types of media and their roles and how in the future the internet is going to be the most important type of media since it allows us to send information and receive information. Finally I recommend to the media to focus a little bit more in peace coverages than on violent news even though they sell better. The End BLIBLIOGRAPHY: Aronson, JD (2005) causes and consequences of the communication and internet revolutionin: Baylis J. Smith(2005). Globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations. Oxford university press. Pg 621-643 comparing media systems: three models of media and politics (Daniel C. Hallin, Paolo Mancin pg 1-46) University of Haifa; Better-looking politicians get more media coverage.  (2010,  July). NewsRx Health Science,55.   Retrieved September 18, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID:  2080833321). Cindy T Christen,  Ã‚  Albert C Gunther.  (2003). The influence of mass media and other culprits on the projection of personal opinion.  Communication Research,  30(4),  414-431.   Retrieved September 18, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID:  373810331). The Role of the Media in the Consolidation of Democracy in Latin America, The Latin American Program of the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars,  Volume 7, Issue 2, February 2005 Lazaroiu,  G..  (2010). NEW MEDIA AND THE NATURE OF THE NEWS MARKET.  Economics, Management and Financial Markets,  5(1),  189-195.   Retrieved September 18, 2010, from Research Library. (Document ID:  2084371381). Television and Politics, Tom Brennan, Article first published online: 24 AUG 200s DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-923X.1978.tb02221.

The Federal Reserve System :: essays research papers

The Federal Reserve System was founded by Congress in 1913, it began to operate in Nov., 1914. Its setup, although somewhat altered since its establishment, particularly by the Banking Act of 1935, has remained substantially the same. Structure The Federal Reserve Act created 12 regional Federal Reserve banks, supervised by a Federal Reserve Board. Each reserve bank is the central bank for its district. The boundary lines of the districts were drawn in accordance with broad geographic patterns of business, and the banks were placed in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, and San Francisco. In addition some of the regional banks have one or more branch banks attached to them. All national banks must belong to the system, and state banks may if they meet certain requirements. Member banks hold the bulk of the deposits of all commercial banks in the country. Each member bank is required to own stock in the Federal Reserve bank of its district and must maintain legal reserves on deposit with the district reserve bank. The required reserves are proportionate to the member bank’s own deposits, the proportion varying according to the location of the member bank and the character of its deposits. Each reserve bank is managed by a board of nine directors (three appointed by the Federal Reserve Board, six by the local member banks). The Federal Reserve System’s Board of Governors designates one of the federally appointed directors as chairman and Federal Reserve agent; it is the chairman’s duty to report to the Board. The board of directors appoints the bank’s president and other officers and employees. The operations of the Federal Reserve banks, although not conducted primarily for profit, yield an income that is ordinarily sufficient to cover expenses, to pay a 6% cumulative dividend annually on the stock held by member banks, to make additions to surplus, and to provide the U.S. Treasury with over $1 billion a year in revenue. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System—the national supervisory agency—is composed of seven members appointed for 14-year terms by the President. Its offices are in Washington, D.C. The Federal Open Market Committee, created later (1923) than the system’s other divisions, comprises the seven members of the Board of Governors and five representatives of the Federal Reserve banks; it directs the purchases and sales by the reserve banks of federal government securities and other obligations in the open market.

Project Controls Essay

I have developed a proposal that would create a secure system within our organization. Below is the outline that should help prevent disaster recovery or in the case, backup our disaster recovery procedures. Duration Critical Task Sequencing The project will detail an array of critical task sequences including: * Pre-project Envisioning – Evaluation of HR database and corporate objectives, formulation of cost/benefit analysis, establishment of project scope and major milestones, securing of executive sponsorship and buy-in * Planning Structure – Project assembly, computing and testing environments, preliminary design, system array, and maintenance orientation * System deployment – Deployment of hardware and software systems, pilot test evaluations * Post-Implementation Review – Backup/restore maintenance, performance monitoring, system re-forecasting, establishment of ongoing infrastructure team Variance Baseline Achieving the desired outcome for the HR Resource Deployment will require a stringent and concentrated focus on maintaining adherence to the project timeline. Throughout this timeline, variance data will be closely observed and documented. Capturing variance data is an adamant goal for the project managers. Variance data will help to expose possible weaknesses of the planning process, and serve as priceless information for future endeavors. The means of collecting variance data will be comprised of the following: Delegation of variance targets. Prior to the project start, prime areas of variance will be decided upon for tracking. These areas will be closely monitored and documented. Targeted variances will form the baseline of the project, and will consist of measurements of quality, project milestones achieved, performance metrics,  and budget adherence. The success versus failure Planned versus actual. Variance data will be looked at according to what is planned as opposed to what the actual outcome will be. This will largely be focused on the proposed scheduling timeline and project cost expectancies. As the project advances, variance data will be tracked according to what deviates from the planned objectives. This data will be captured in real time in order to provide insight for future milestone proceedings. Estimates versus planned. This variance metric will focus on what was estimated for project details, such as schedule and cost, prior to the approved project plan. Such data will assist in greater accuracy of project planning, and will help to eliminate the guessing game. These variance metrics will be acquired through the collaboration between all stakeholders and resources. Maintaining high quality controls is a process that includes a lot of planning but when well maintains it builds the trust in the customers and eventually helps both organization businesses. As an organization maintains a high quality control one must know that there is also other aspects which is where being innovative and keeping a reasonable price adds to the equation. As many new customers are acquired a lot of the times this might be a direct result of on customer recommending another new customer. When this statement is true the new customer expects the same treatment and if not better. Therefore, one must stay innovative and open to new ideas and changes in order to fulfill the new customers’ needs. On-Going Evaluation and Status of Project There will be a definitive checklist for who will be responsible for the development and submission of projects reports. Evaluations will be performed on an as-we-go basis as to attempt to not miss anything important along the way. If there is anything that will be confidential or require a security clearance, these things will be handled by either the Project Manager or a member of management. Any projects that require the participation of stakeholders will be documented for future use and testing. All ongoing reports will also be given to all principal stakeholders along  the way. As each goal or milestone is met, it will be tested and retested for consistency to make sure what was done will stand the test of time (until the next project or upgrade). Method Used The Method that is used for determining whether the project has met its objectives is a survey. The survey can be done to figure if everything has been a success. Riordan employees will fill a survey out to give feedback on, if they are satisfied with the projects performance or not. Surveys can only provide estimates for the population, but cannot be a true measurements. You can measure surveys by the consistency of responses to questions about the project over a long amount of time period. REFERENCE Microsoft Office. Retrieved from http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/project-help/leading-practices-for-applying-variance-data-to-future-projects-HA010174487.aspx

Performance of Sdssu in the Licensure Examination for Teachers Essay

Introduction High percentage of LET passers contributes greatly to the accreditation of education programs of a certain college or university. This, aside from adding zest within the vicinity of school academe, is the reason why schools offering education courses crave for high percentage of LET passers (Philippine Journal of Education, 2005). Today, prospective teachers must clear a series of hurdles to obtain and maintain a teaching certificate – one of which is to pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (Libman, 2009). States use licensing to ensure that the only qualified teachers can be hired. This builds anxiety not only among examinees but more so far schools who turn out prospective teachers with different majors. Obviously, the National examination for teachers stirs competitive against, since it augurs possible employment, salary or appointment upgrading ranking consideration, and acceptance to the halls of DECS. In addition, implications permeate school standards and pride for garnering honors from percentage passers (Philippine Journal of Education, 2005). The performance scores in the Licensure Examinations for Teachers reflect the abilities of the teacher examinees. Thus, having low percentage of LET passers indicates low quality pre-service teacher education in the country (Ramota, 2011). Palatino, who is a young education graduate from the University of the Philippines, feared that poor performance in LET may lead to further slide of the educational standards of the educational standards of our country. If this alarming trend will not be aided, he said, the country will be seeing more classrooms with no teachers in our schools despite an oversupply of teacher education graduates who end jobless or else volunteer teachers in remote areas (Ramota, 2011). Performance of education graduates in the Licensure Examinations for Teachers predetermine not only the competence of the graduates but so as the institutions where they have acquired their diplomas. This serves as the major key in accrediting education programs. Having low percentage of LET passers may lead to changing of educational programs or worse, closing of the educational programs. Hence, the researchers conduct this study to find the relationship between the students LET performance and standard and competence of the said institution. Moreover, to develop an intervention program that would help obtain standard results in the LET. Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework This paper is anchored on Joe Wholey’s model of program evaluation (1987) and the Education Conceptual Model. Like systems and organizational theories, Wholey’s model of program evaluation describes the characteristics of faculty and students and the extent to which curricular activities and fiscal resources influence the educational process and subsequent effectiveness in goal attainment. Wholey defines a program as a set of resources and activities directed toward one or more goals. The linkage of resource expenditures, program activities, immediate outcomes, and ultimate goals directly relates to SDSSU and its program’s performance on the Licensure examination for Teachers. If SDSSU program resources are available, then qualified faculty will be recruited and retained to provide the necessary curricular instruction and learning activities. Given the appropriate faculty to develop and implement the curriculum and activities, students will be provided an opportu nity to develop the required knowledge, skills, and behaviors appropriate for entry-level practice as teacher practitioners. If the appropriate curriculum and activities are implemented, then graduates will demonstrate the desired outcomes expected at the entry level for Licensure tests. If these learning activities and outcomes occur, then progress will be made toward the SDSSU program goals and the ultimate goal of the teaching profession. The ultimate goal of College of Teacher Education programs is to provide competent teachers imbued with ethical values and ideals in a humane environment supportive to the national thrust for social transformation. Four teacher education program components with key predictor variables for each are identified. First, program resources (total program expenditures) must be adequate to ensure the achievement of the learning goals and outcomes. Second, there must be sufficient faculty (student-to-faculty ratio) with the necessary qualifications (degrees earned, teaching experience) to influence program processes and outcomes. Third, the curriculum (didactic, laboratory, and professional practice hours; comprehensive examination) must support the entry-level competencies of professional practice and the achievement of learning goals and outcomes. Fourth, in order to graduate and enter professional practice, students (mean cumulative college GPA on admission) must be evaluated on the ability to demonstrate competencies measured on the Licensure Examination for Teachers. Taking and passing the LET is the ticket to enter teaching profession which is the desire result of education students. Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) is the professional board examination given by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to determine who are to be allowed to teach and who are not (http://eduphil.org/how-to-pass-the-licensure-examination-for-teachers-let.html).LET performances in terms of passing scores are often perceived as the scale in measuring the quality of education of schools offering teacher education. According to Daniel Goldhaber (2012) University of Washington researcher, â€Å"licensure test performance is clearly not a silver bullet. Licensing tests are usually paper and pencil tests of subject matter knowledge and on occasion, pedagogical knowledge.† Multiple researches having the same findings as his, argues for a much more comprehensive system for assessing teachers to determine their preparedness to enter the classroom as sole pract itioners (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, 2012). Schematic Diagram Basis for an intervention program. Basis for an intervention program. Level of accreditation of teacher education programs. Relationship of LET performance and level of accreditation in teacher education. Level of accreditation of teacher education programs. Relationship of LET performance and level of accreditation in teacher education. SDSSU performance in terms of passing percentage in Licensure Examination for Teachers SDSSU performance in terms of passing percentage in Licensure Examination for Teachers Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of the study. The first table shows the profile of SDSSU in terms of their performance in LET. The second table shows the accredited education programs of SDSSU and their levels of accreditation. The third table shows the basis for an inspired LET performance. Statement of the Problem The researcher seeks to study the performance of SDSSU in the Licensure Examinations for Teachers. Specifically, the researcher would like to find out the following: 1. What is the performance of SDSSU in terms of passing percentage in Licensure Examination for Teachers? 2. What is the level of accreditation of teacher education programs in Surigao del Sur State University? 3. Is there a significant relationship between students LET performance and the level of accreditation of Surigao del Sur State University campuses? 4. What are the problems met in the teacher education programs to attain the better LET performance in pursuit for quality education? 5. What intervention program shall be crafted based on the findings of the study? Null Hypothesis Ho1: There is no significant relationship between the LET performance of the teacher education graduates and the level of accreditation in the teacher education programs. Significance of the study The following individuals are deemed to benefit largely on this study. School administrators. This paper would help the school administrators to become more motivated in administering better curriculum and courses that are relevant in achieving high passing percentage in LET. This would lead to the improvement of standards of the institutions. Faculty. This paper would remind them that their part as faculty is very crucial and relevant in moulding new generations of would-be-teachers. This would encourage them to always do their job honestly, sincerely, and passionately and to redesign their teaching strategies, if needed, in order for them to facilitate maximum learning effectiveness and produce highly competent and surely LET passer students. Students. This paper would help them realize their role as an important aspect in acquiring competence and standards of their institutions. Thus, would drive them to do well in their studies in order for them to bring pride and happiness to their college or universities. Community. If the individuals aforementioned would be able to realize the importance of their roles in developing a more equipped, qualified, and reliable who would benefit most. Scope and limitation This study focuses on the performance of teacher education graduates of SDSSU in the Licensure Examination for Teachers. It will be conducted at SDSSU during the second semester of school year 2012-2013. The monitoring is to be administered to the five campuses of SDSSU namely: Cantilan, Lianga, San Miguel, Tagbina, and Tandag campuses. Definition of terms The terminologies used in this study are defined operationally. Accreditation. Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented. Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies (such as PRC); hence they are sometimes known as â€Å"accredited certification bodies†. The accreditation process ensures that their certification practices are acceptable, typically meaning that they are competent to test and certify third parties, behave ethically and employ suitable quality assurance. Competence. Competence refers to the quality of being well qualified. It is the quality of having great facility and being able to perform and facilitate achievement or accomplishment. Education. Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people sustain from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts. It is the formal process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, customs and values from one generation to another, e.g. instruction in schools. Institution. An institution is any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behaviour of a set of individuals within a given human community. Institutions are identified with a social purpose, transcending individual human lives and intention by mediating the rules that govern cooperative human behaviour. The term â€Å"institution† is commonly applied to customs and behaviour patterns important to a society, as well as to particular formal organizations of government and public services. Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). Licensure Examination for Regulation Commission (PRC) to determine who should be allowed to teach schools in the Philippines. Performance. Refers to the accomplishment of a given task measured against present known standards of accuracy, completeness, cost, and speed. In a contract, performance is deemed to be the fulfilment of an obligation, in a manner that releases the performer from all liabilities under the contract. Profile. Is a brief description of the characteristics of something, where in my study, are the characteristics of Surigao Del Sur State University main campus in terms of their percentage of LET passers and the accreditation levels of the different education programs that they are offering. Student. A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In its widest use, student is used for anyone who is learning. Chapter II RELATED STUDIES AND LITERATURE Effective Teachers are what each classroom needs. But what makes a teacher effective? How can we identify effective teachers from those who are not? Are licensure examinations enough to assess the quality of teachers? Passing the licensure examination is often perceive as an indicator of qualified and effective teachers. But according to the researchers from the Southeast Centre for Teaching Quality (2003c), licensure examinations are not enough to measure the competence among teacher candidates. They concluded that in order to assess competence among teacher candidates, multiple methods should be used. This should include student work samples and the demonstration of new knowledge and skills known to reflect the core competences of highly qualified beginning teachers. This thoughts gained support from a study commissioned by the National Research Council (2001), the role of licensure tests in improving teacher quality, as cited in the study of Wilkerson and Lang (2004) concluding th at even a set of well-designed tests is inadequate to measure all of the prerequisites for a competent beginning teacher. The researcher of the National Research Council also recommended that states use multiple forms of evidence in making decisions about teacher candidates and use licensure tests only as a part of a coherent developmental system of preparation assessment, and support that reflects the many features of teacher competence. Addressing some of the issues on teacher effectiveness is through a voluntary certification process, which has been offered by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). This is a certification process where teachers who are considered to be highly effective can demonstrate, and gain recognition for, their knowledge and teaching skills. And despite a lack of evidence on its efficacy in identifying effective teachers, there has been a continuous growing participation in the NBPTS. Many policymakers in various states and school districts also view this certification as a signal of teacher quality. In fact, NBPTS certified teachers receive recognitions and financial incentives (Goldhaber and Anthony 2004). Citing evidence, Goldhaber of the University of Washington and Urban Institute so with Anthony of Urban Institute describe the result of the first large-scale study, based on a unique data set from North Carolina, assessing the relationship between certification of teachers by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and Elementary-level student achievement. Findings indicated that NBPTS is successfully identifying the more effective teachers among applicants, and that NBPTS-certified teachers, prior to becoming certified, were more effective than their non-certified counterparts at increasing student achievement (Goldhaber and Anthony 2004). In the middle of these findings, the American Educational Research Association Panel concluded, based on the available evidences they have analyzed, that licensure in the field gained by university-based teacher preparation is an indicator of effective teaching and student achievement. Before getting to taking licensure exams and applying for certifications, teachers-to-be first have to finish education courses and undergo teacher preparation. Most of those who wanted to be effective teachers prefer to study at state colleges and universities having passed the National Accreditations since it is perceive that nationally accredited state colleges and universities caters teacher education programs that are capable of moulding and producing effective teachers. Many education graduates in the provinces are not passing the LET (Ramota 2011). Palatino, as cited in Ramota (2011), opined that LET examinees performance shows the low quality of pre-service Teacher Education in the country. He stated that many Teacher Education institutions are producing half-baked graduates who add up to the bulk of the LET non- passers and unemployed or under employed Teachers. He also stated that even these schools are being turn into mere for profit diploma mills rather than as training ground for future mentors. When Colleges of Education seek National Accreditation for their teacher education programs, there are a variety of obstacles to their success. But according to Adams (2004), not all of these obstacles are a reflection of program quality since accrediting bodies at the national or state level have different and at times conflicting requirements. This could even be more damaging. Evaluation systems may be scheduled to be phased in too rapidly, without clear guidelines. It is likely that the programs they are evaluating will be forced to suffer the consequences of this management. This situation is a contributing factor in the undeserved negative perceptions of teacher education programs. Though colleges of education should be accountable for the quality of the teachers they produce, the accrediting agencies should be accountable for the clarity and straightforwardness of the process. Whether a teacher candidate will be effectively teaching or not depends on the teacher preparations he or she had. The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (2012) stressed to components that are critically important in the teacher preparation: the teacher knowledge of the subject to be taught, and the knowledge and skills on how to teach that subject. Research and common sense tell us that subject matter knowledge is necessary for effective teaching. But there is a second part of the equation: knowledge and skills on how to teach is also a must. Effective teachers understand and are able to apply strategies to help students increase achievements. They understand and apply knowledge of child and adolescent development to motivate and engage students. They are able to diagnose individual learning needs. They know how to develop a positive climate in the classroom in order to make it a stimulating learning environment. The scholars of the National Academy of Education of America also supports that content knowledge does not adequately prepared teachers for the challenges they will faced in today’s classrooms, where teachers need to be prepared for learning differences and dis abilities that are prevalent (). Moreover, and American Educational Research Association Panel of nationally recognized scholars analyzed the empirical e vidence relevant to practices and policies in pre-service teacher Education in the US. Findings specific to education programs that produce successful teachers include: (1) collaborative arrangements between university programs and local school districts—known as professional development schools (PDSs)—have a positive impact on k-12 students in measurable ways such as increase in standardized test scores; (2) planned, guided and sustained interactions with pupils within early field and student teaching settings is important; (3) seven of eight studies reviewed found positive correlations between licensure and student achievement, especially in mathematics education (). These ideas stated above only proves that the quality of schools, the instructors of the teacher education programs, so with the educations programs, plays a very critical role in the education process since they are the one who mould the aspiring educators to be globally competitive and effective teachers. Gradual learning is very important for any student, be it in any field. But there are many more things in a student’s brain that we often forget, and herein appears the difficulty. There are students who faced learning problems and it’s not even their fault. For a school student, life is loaded with studies. Though it is not possible for each one of them to cope up with their studies, they often get nervous, frustrated and ends up mugging their lesson which is very harmful. There can be factors, as many as every student in this world, that affect student achievements. According to Shahin (2012), the student’s community is affected by lots of problems such us lack of quality of education, the threat of unemployment, absence of adequate opportunities, nepotism and a host of many such factors disheartening the students. She added that the lack of proper guidance by the parents and unawareness of the student in choosing the right career lead to their doom. Similarly, Suvajit (2009) believes that all these predicaments faced by students can only be resolve if every school and college recruits a qualified students councillor to guide the students in times of their problems. He cited recession as an example since it has caused huge dearth of jobs enabling the students to avail their desired job. And so, many of these students go on for further studies but are often puzzled about which course to study and from which college. And because of the lack of proper guidance, they often take hasty decisions for which they have to repent later. While Koski and Weis (2004) called on the state to analyse its own contents standards and curriculum frameworks to develop a complete basket of educational resources, ranging from laboratory equipment and sophisticated measuring instruments to well- stocked libraries and media centres, and conditions that all children should have an opportunity to achieve the state’s standards. But there have been a proposal cited by The Journal Report: Big Issues in Education of US (2012). The proposal stated that all (US) children should meet the same academic standards, essentially proposing a nationalized system of education. This issue gathered contrasting ideas of some influential educators in US including Chester E. Finn Jr., president of the Thomas B. Fordham institute and chairman of the Hoover Institution’s Koret Task Force on K to 12 Education, who argues in favour of national standards, and Jay Greene, head of the department of education reform at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark, who makes the case against natio nal standards. According to Finn Jr., as cited in a journal community The Journal Report: Big Issues in Education of US (2012), one way to ensure that young people would develop the skills they need to compete globally is to set clear standards about what schools should teach and students should learn—and make these standards uniform across the country. He stated that the issues plaguing American education—low achievement, poor technical skills, too many dropouts, etc.—are nationwide, and so is the challenge of economic competitiveness and that these were caused by the disorderly, dysfunctional way of handling academic standards for students. Though Finn Jr. believed that an effective education system also requires quality teachers, effective administrators and other vital elements, make them the same everywhere is important. A rigorous national standard is a need for a mobile society like theirs where a fourth-grader in Portland, Maine, may find herself a fifth grader in Portland, Ore. He also added that United States of America is no longer a country where children born in rural areas spend their entire lives there. They need and are expected to be ready for jobs in other parts of the land. And they won’t have any problem in adjusting to their lesson since every school is following a national standard (The Jou rnal Report: Big Issues in Education of US, 2012). On the other hand, Greene as also cited in a journal community The Journal Report: Big Issues in Education of US (2012) contended that different youngsters need to learn different things in different ways. He stated that such uniformity would only make sense if: 1) there was a single best way for all student to learn; 2) we knew what it was; 3) we could be sure the people running this nationalized education system would adapt that correct approach; and 4) they would remain in charge far into the future. But this isn’t how things are. He believed that there is no consensus on what all student need to know and that different students can best be taught and assessed in different ways. Greene then cited Canada and Australia as examples of large and diverse country like US with significantly stronger students’ performance as measured on international test. Yet neither have national standards, tests or curricula and added Greece and Thailand as examples of lower achieving countries though they have national standards and curricula (The Journal Report: Big Issues in Education of US, 2012). Libman (2006) also cited some negative consequences of standards-based testing such as narrowing the diversities in teacher education programs, homogenizing the characteristics of the teaching force, which hinder candidates from entering teaching and causing shortages in qualified teachers. Chapter III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY * This chapter presents research methods employed in this study. It contains the research designs, sampling techniques, research environment, validation of instruments and statistical tools used. * Research Design * This study will utilize the descriptive survey method using researcher made questionnaire as a main tool in gathering the data. It will also utilize documentary analysis to verify the data gathered from the survey. Sampling Technique This paper shall utilize the universality of Teacher Education graduates during the past three school years. It will also consider the total population for the faculty and administration under the education program. For the student respondents, a 30% student shall be utilized using Stratified Random Sampling. Instrumentation This study will utilize a researcher-made instrument which will be subjected through content validation. It shall be tried out in the private tertiary education offering teacher education program. The items which are vague need revision to suit to the levels of respondents. When the validated instruments are ready, it shall be administered to the SDSSU having Teacher Education programs offering. Data Gathering Procedure A permit to conduct the study shall be secured from the university president, and shall be furnished to the campus directors and concerned respondents and the campus offering Teacher Education programs. the pursuance of this study, the researcher will use researcher-made questionnaires that would show the relativity of the data subject to this study. The questionnaire shall be administered personally by the researchers to ensure the reliability of data of this study. After administration of questionnaire, it shall be retrieved, tallied, analyzed and interpreted and ready for writing the research report.