Contrasting Differences in Family Life in USA and Mexico Essay Example for Free

Contrasting Differences in Family Life in USA and Mexico Essay The family is the basic unit of any particular society or community. It is therefore imperative that for the society to exist the family has to be there to produce members into the community. The community or national character any particular country is basically determined by the nature of the family values. An individual is shaped in the early ages by the family. In the contemporary society there are increased diversity changes in the family a characteristic of the many changes in culture, political, economic, social, and psychological and even the environment. The content definition of has not been agreed upon because of the great changes that are so accommodating. In the previous many years the family was considered as the people who are related by blood. This definition based on the kinship ties has been revoked due to the influence of many forms of families which has stripped off the family its actual definition. For instance there can husband and wife who do not have any kinship ties and they go ahead to adopt children. Another case that has changed such a definition of the family based on kinship ties is the increasing number of intermarriage within the context of race or ethnicity. This brings out a mixture of offspring and therefore it is difficult to trace the family bonds based on kinship ties. The issue of who is next to kin is no longer important in the current families. The most common aspect in the current families is the bonding based on mutual understanding. The many changes of husband and wife have been changed by the introduction of lesbianism and gay. These try to go against the grain of opposite gender type of marriage. The concept of marriage has changed from opposite gender type of marriage to a mixture of gay, lesbianism and opposite gender marriages. These are some of the dynamisms that are facing the contemporary families. This paper shall give an indebt analysis of the family, the changes in roles and functions of the families and the general effects of such changes to the contemporary families. A close reference and examples shall be drawn from the US and Mexico, the countries that border each other geographically. The contrasting differences I n family issues shall be pointed out clearly. Family life in the United States The family relationship in the United States has undergone several transformations due to the effect of globalization. Race and ethnicity are the most significant factors in shaping the variety of values, attitudes and behaviour amongst the families in the United States. There are a number of changes in families in the United States. These changes range from political, social, economic, and psychological to spiritual. The social dislocations have given rise to new ideas and values especially there is increased individualism among the members of the community. In the US there increased diversity in the organizational structures. There are many cases of divorce and separation in the United Stated which has grabbed the family the unity and love that is supposed to be enjoyed. Most the single families that are common in the US are as a result of divorce and remarriage due to greater democratization. (Hines Morrison, 2005) Cultural diversity in the US is accounting for the many different types of families that have emerged in the recent past. The United States constitutes almost all races and ethnic groups in the world. For this reason there are diverse cultural values as a resulting of this contact. The factor that there are free intermarriages between these diverse races and ethnic groups has made the US to have diverse cultural values which transcend the native culture. The immigrants who move to the United State try to maintain their native language despite the fact that they are forced to learn the official language of the United States, which is English. The immigrants from Spanish speaking countries (Hispanic) when they move to the United States they try to maintain their languages. The culture of the people is usually transmitted through language and due to the numerous languages in the United States there exists different cultures. This means that there are very many family clusters formed through the sharing of the languages. For instance most of the Hispanic immigrants have formed family clusters in the sides of Florida. The black American speaks a variety of English as they identify themselves as belonging or originating from one family. These disparities have affected the notion of the family because these people are allowed to mix freely with people from different cultures. The concept of the family in the United States is changing even the more during the advent of the green card where people from different pasts acquire citizenship. Many people from different races and ethnic groups have found their way to the US and as such most of them are allowed to move with their families. The nuclear family still remains an ideal source of the society in the United States. The United States families are characterized by the great social stratification. In the United the families are organized according to different classes. Among these classes there are great disparities in terms of economic value. The choice of families has not taken shift from mutual understanding to materials and resources. This has affected relationships from a sociological point of view. This issue of the class is a dominant phenomenon among the families in the United States as those who are rich wants to maintain the status quo. This is done through the inheritance that is passed within the nuclear families. The nuclear families in the United States are created and broken up and then reconstituted. This has led to the decline of family values which consequently affects the family patterns. This diversity in family pattern has been identified as the cause of problems such as violence, crime and drug use in the united state. The parents are usually very busy with their duties (United States, Congress, 1992). The increasing cases of divorce and separation in the United States have a negative effect on maintaining the ideal norms of the nuclear family value. The families that are exposed to values outside the parental domain are likely to deviate from norms. The human rights in the United States are considered fundamental. There is protection of the universal human right which is a recipe to the process of democratization. This the reason why the US government invest huge amount of money in education health and other basic sectors so as to enhance the promotion of the human rights among the citizens. The Family Life in Mexico Most people have preferred to live in Mexico for a variety of reasons such as social, political, economic and even good climatic reasons. Living in Mexico requires one to learn the Spanish language so as to increase effective communication. This is because the families are socialized in the Spanish language. The Mexican people are extremely warm and friendly as they are organized in smaller communities that come from the mutually intelligible families. This means that the socialization process is high since there tow much contact between the families. The family bonds are tightly held together and for this reason there is cultural uniformity. The society per se is integrated under common cultural values through the common language shared. Piped water is relatively inexpensive, but not always potable (drinkable). Decades of under-investment, combined with an attitude of impertinence towards paying water bills, has left Mexicos mains water system in poor condition. As a result, most people purchase bottled water, often in 20L containers. Bottled water is very expensive. Rents in Mexico can be higher than in equivalent-sized US towns or cities if the place is popular or fashionable, particularly places within easy reach of the US border. Mexico has a centralized economy: that is, most of the countrys economic activity revolves around. The Mexican pace of life is relatively slower than in the US Especially when the life in major cities is given consideration. The families in Mexico are closely tied as most of the families have time to attend to their families. There is a high degree of parental responsibility among the families. This transcends to greater heights of good values that the society enjoys. Mexico’s culture has a rich history in a consolidated family religion, people and tradition. The Mexican people are proud of their culture that they keep on passing from one generation to another. This is because there is little infusion of the foreign cultures. The family is the basic unit in Mexico and a cornerstone to the maintenance of the culture. The rate of socialization and interaction among these people is too high. It is a usual phenomenon to meet two or more families meeting for a common interest or for a special event. This part of the family function in Mexico, people in Mexico have free time to visit resort centers for the purpose of relaxation which is not a common phenomenon in the United States, where people are too busy. (Heymann, 2006) The Mexican People are too religious which is a big contrast with the United States where people feel that they are in control; of their own life. A large number of people are Christian and they are usually committed to going to church. When you walk in the Mexican homes it is easy for you to see the religious images. In America people stay a non-religious life thus an effect of religious intermingling that has made it difficult for the people to which religious practice to adopt. Thus they resign from subscribing to any of the religious practice. The social stratification is not prevalent in the Mexican family as it is in the United States; people are seeking for money the Mexican people strive for titles. The professionals in Mexico prefer to be addressed with the titles that they deserve. This is as a result of the traditional emphasis given to the tittles within the family domain. The economic living standards in Mexico are slightly lower than in the United State. There are many poor people in Mexico than in the United States. The impact of these high levels of poverty in Mexico has necessitated the immigration of most Mexican families to the United States in search of better jobs and pay of most illegal immigrants from Mexico have gotten their way into the United States through the Mexican borders. These immigrants have settled in cities such as Florida. Working in the United States gives them better pay. This aspect of brain drain is lowering the general development of the families in Mexico as most of the people move leaving behind other family members Basically the cost of living in Mexico is lower than that of the US particularly for agricultural produce. Other sectors such as transport and communication are also lower in Mexico than I n the United States. Other utilities as electricity are more expensive compared to the United State. Working families in the United States, observing how parents struggled to find a balance between caring for children and earning a decent income. When parents split and one of the parents went from Mexico to the United States and was no longer available to give the necessary care, families suffer. What significantly exacerbates the problem is when the borders are so tight that they prevent families from reuniting. This has been a common phenomenon when the immigrants are not given the opportunity by the America to even visit their families in back home in Mexico. (Poole M. et al, 1993) Globalization of the economy created increased pressure for workers to accept lower labor standards, accept lower wages, longer hours, fewer benefits, and less paid leave. Both Nations likewise feel pressure from economic globalization not to implement family-friendly policies, such as paid leave for illness or when a child is sick, or paid parental leave. And that leaves working families struggling to balance work and their care-giving duties. The globalization process has affected families in both Mexico and United States economy was transforming the relationship between work and care-giving in similar ways everywhere. Globalization has forcing both countries to at a very high pace as far as labor standards and social policies are concerned hence leaving working parents with less and less time to raise their children. Parents work has shifted markedly around the world and that goes for every region. The child rearing process has been left in the hands of maids who offer supportive care while the parents are away working till late hours of the day. Men in particular have been moving away from one place to another in search of better jobs especially in various industries. Globalization has made men and women to work day and night and this has made them move away from their homes to go work in various places. A good example is that of outsourcing where people work in shifts where some work during the day and others at night. Women, likewise, have moved into the paid labor force and away from the home. From the period between 1960 and 2000 the number of women in the labor force went from 26 to 38 percent in America. The percentage of women in the workplace has increased both in the United States and Mexico. This has adversely affected the family care services that were provided by the women while their men were working in various sectors. This is a result of civilization which been brought about by the factors such as education, religion, work, urbanization among others. These factors have changed the various roles that were supposed to be executed by the family so as to prepare an individual to be a responsible member of the society. (Cecil, 1992) What has happened is that the world has seen women get better job opportunities which has assisted then them raise income to cater for their families. The increased number of single parent families has made it possible for the women to struggle to get money for rearing their families. While this is was going on there is also massive urbanization occurring all across the world. Thats not necessarily a bad thing, as people who move from very poor rural areas to urban areas often get better jobs, and become less dependent on, for instance, a good rain to feed their families. (Rowntree, Lewis, Price Wyckoff, 2006). References Hines D. A. , Morrison K. (2005) Family Violence in the United States: Defining, Understanding, and Combating. Sage Publisher. Heymann J. (2006) Forgotten Families: Ending the Growing Crisis Confronting Children and Working Parents in the Global Economy. Oxford University Press Poole M. et al (1993) Family: Changing Families, Changing Times. Allen Unwin publisher. Robinson, Cecil. (1992). No short journeys: The interplay of cultures in the history and Literature of the borderlands. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. Rowntree L. , Lewis M. , Price M. and Wyckoff W. (2006). Diversity amid Globalization: World Regions, Environment, Development. United States, Congress. House America’s (1992) Families: Conditions, Trends, Hopes, and Fears: Family policy. United States, Congress, House publisher.

EU Pharmacovigilance Legislation: An Overview

EU Pharmacovigilance Legislation: An Overview Susan Murphy As defined by the WHO, Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse reactions and other medicine related problems. Adverse effects are whereby medicines affect the body in an unintended and harmful way. Following on from this, the underlying objectives of EU pharmacovigilance legislation are to: prevent harm from adverse reactions in humans arising from the use of authorised medicinal products promote the safe and effective use of medicinal products, in particular through providing timely information about the safety of medicinal products to patients, healthcare professionals and the public. Pharmacovigilance is therefore an activity contributing to the protection of both patients and public health [1]. When a new medicine obtains marketing authorization (MA), the active substance has been tested and it has been concluded that the benefits of this new medicine outweigh the risks. There is a limited amount of information available after clinical trials so the decision to give MA is effectively a trade off between making a new medicine available as early as possible and waiting until as much as possible is know about the medicine. For testing, several hundreds or thousands of carefully selected patients will have participated in clinical trials. These trials take place under controlled conditions. However, once MA has been obtained, the medicine will now be used in normal healthcare settings where there will be many patients who may differ from those used in the population study (eg age difference, may be using other drugs, have disease interactions. and also there will be longer term effects of using the new medicine). So it is imperative to identify these new or changing risks as quickly as possible to take measures to minimize the risks to patients. [2] For companys there is a legal obligation to continuously collect data and conduct pharmacovigilance regarding any possible change to the risk-benefit balance of taking such a medicine. In this regard, pharmacovigilance regulation seeks to protect the public from emerging safety issues by monitoring the product throughout its lifetime so that it is safe and effective to use. The 2012 EU Pharmacovigilance Legislation [3] New legislation regarding pharmacovigilance came into effect in July 2012. This was the biggest change to the regulation of human medicines since 1995. Based on evidence that adverse drug reactions caused approx 197,000 deaths per year in the EU, the EC began a review of the European system of safety monitoring (an independent study with extensive public consultation) This resulted in a 2010 directive and regulation, Directive 2010/84/EU Regulation (EU) No 1235/2012 which amended the existing pharmacovigilance laws 2001/83/EC and regulation (EC) No. 726/2004. This was accompanied by the implementation regulation published in June 2012 which provided operational aspects for the new legislation (no 520/2012 19th June 2012) A further amendment was carried out in Oct 2012 following a review of the withdrawal of the medicine Mediator (benfluorex) a diabetes drug with a coronary side effect, where it was felt that the risk now outweighed the limited benefit. The amendments aimed to further protect the patients health by allowing prompt notification and assessment of patient issues. The aim of the legislation was to reduce the number of Adverse Drug reactions via Collecting data on the effects of a given medicine from a wider net Rapid and robust assessment of issues Effective regulatory action to deliver safe and effective use of medicines Better patient involvement through feedback and reporting More transparency on the effects and safety of medicines concerned For MA applicants and holders the new legislation would: Makes their roles and responsibilities clear Minimize duplication of effort Free up resources by rationalizing and simplifying reporting on safety issues Clear legal framework for post authorisation modifying In short, the main aim of the legislation was to reduce the human and financial cost burden of adverse drug reactions, to strengthen patient involvement in monitoring medicines and to make the public strongly aware of the risk-benefit nature of taking medicines. New Concepts introduced in the 2012 Pharmacovigilance Legislation The concept of additional monitoring and the black symbol were introduced by the new EU laws on the safety-monitoring of medicines, (called the pharmacovigilance legislation,) which started to come into effect in 2012. Any new medicine authorised after 1 September 2013 that is subject to additional monitoring must display the black symbol in the package leaflet and the summary of product characteristics when it is placed on the EU market. Also any educational materials relating to this medicine should indicate its additional monitoring status. The legislation affects medicines authorised in the EU after 1 January 2011. Due to this, a transition period for medicines authorised between January 2011 and August 2013 was allowed whilst companies their updated packaging and gradually phased in the new leaflets. Medicines under additional monitoring [4] This is a new process to label medicines that are being monitored closely by the regulatory authorities. A solid black upside down triangle displayed on the package leaflet and information for healthcare professionals indicates that the medicine is undergoing additional monitoring. The symbol started to appear in late 2013. A medicine may be subject to additional monitoring because Not as much data is available with this medicine Less information is available on the long term impact of using this medicine Does not imply that the medicine is unsafe. This label is now always applied for: Any new API authorized after Jan 2011 Any biological medicine authorized after Jan 2011 For medicines authorised under exceptional circumstances If there are rare side effects seen during the trial or long term usage effects which warrant more information gathering. A medicine subject to such monitoring, can remain on the Medicines subject to additional monitoring list published by the EMA for up to 5 years. Why are medicines monitored after approval? Marketing approval is granted to medicines on the basis of clinical trial results. These consist of a small number of patients trialled under controlled conditions over a relatively short period of time. In real life, however a more diverse group of people will use the medicine and there may be different interactions plus the effects of longer term use. To take any rare or long term side effects which may then come to light into account, it is vital to continue to monitor the safety of all medicines whilst they are in commercial use. Information is continuously collected after a medicine is placed on the market to monitor real-life experience with the product. European regulatory authorities closely monitor this information to make sure that the benefits of medicines continue to outweigh their risks. Standardised monitoring methods are used across the EU so that information can be effectively shared by the member states regulatory authorities. This provides a wealth of knowledge for regulators to rely upon when making decisions, and enables a rapid response when required, such as providing warnings about the medicine or restricting its usage. Reporting side effects Reporting suspected side effects is an important way to gather more information on medicines on the market. Regulatory authorities look at reports of side effects alongside all the information they already have to make sure that the benefits of medicines remain greater than their risks and to take any necessary action. Patients and healthcare professionals are encouraged to report suspected side effects seen with any medicine. Under the new pharmacovigilance legislation, patients have the right to report suspected side effects directly to the national medicines regulatory authorities in their country if they wish. The onus is on the company to provide information on how to do this on their package leaflet. The black triangle makes it possible to quickly identify medicines that are subject to additional monitoring, encouraging end users to feed back any adverse effects .This allows new data to be analysed in a rapid and robust manner. [5] Update on effect of 2012 Pharmacovigilance Legislation A report published in 2014 summarised the key effects of introducing the new legislation [6]. The most notable of these were (during the reporting period 2012-2013) Adverse Drug reaction reporting has increased by > 175,000 more individual case safety reports > 9,000 more patient reports Label Changes from more that 47% of signals reported By August 2013 119 medicines were listed under additional monitoring list. Major public health reviews have been initiated on combined hormonal contraceptives, codeine-containing products and tetrazepam to name but a few. Better information is now available via the agencys website for therapeutic decision making Conclusion The aim of the Pharmacovigilance legislation is to enhance patient care and safety with regard to medicines and to support public health programs by providing balanced reliable information. Real life use of medicines only happens once professionals begin to prescribe or dispense. It is vital that the safety of all medicines is monitored throughout their lifetime. Adverse drug reactions account for 5% of all hospital admissions and are the 5th most common cause of hospital death. For EU citizens, the goal of the new pharmacovigilance legislation is to Strengthen patient involvement in the monitoring of medicines. This allows for continuous feedback on the effects of taking medicines through its lifecyle and consequently rapid and robust assessment of issues. Reduce the burden of ADRs Inform and engage citizens on the risk/benefit aspect of taking medicines. Full implementation is expected to save between 500 and 5000 lives a year with a cost saving to society of between â‚ ¬250million and â‚ ¬2.5billion per year [7]. There is concrete evidence that the new legislation is bringing about changes that will lead to improvement in public health. This is demonstrated by greater clarity on the roles and responsibilities for the parties involved in pharmacovigilance (MA applicants and holders, EMA, EU and member state regulatory authorities) and also greater transparency on medicine safety for the patient. This serves to increase the understanding and trust of both patients and healthcare workers on the safe and effective use of medicines in the EU[6]. References [1]Â  http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Other/2014/09/WC500172403.pdf [2] EMA Pharmacoviglience 2013 23/03/2013 NC50010423.pdf [3]http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/special_topics/general/general_content_000491.jspmid=WC0b01ac058058f32d [4]http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Other/2013/04/WC500142430.pdf [5]http://www.ema.europa.eu (Medicines under additional monitoring) [6]Â  http://ec.europa.eu/health/files/pharmacovigilance/2014_ema_oneyear_pharmacov_en.pdf [7]Â  http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Presentation/2013/01/WC500137839.pdf

F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

Nick Carraway’s Look at Man   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nick Carraway, the first character introduced in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, is primarily acts as the â€Å"guide and pathfinder†; he relates the story from what others have told him. He strives at all times to be objective, and his comments are balanced. His amusingly contemptuous remarks show his sense of humor, and although he is straight-laced, he does not bore the reader. Nick is introduced directly, but Gatsby remains a distant character for a good while. The establishment of Nick’s reflective, tolerant personality is essential, as are his limitations, so the reader doesn’t just dismiss him as Fitzgerald’s mouthpiece. The fact that he disapproves of Gatsby so early on helps the reader to go along with his judgments when he tells of Gatsby and unfolds the story.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first mysterious glimpse of Gatsby prepares the reader for much of what is to come. The imagery of â€Å"silhouette,† â€Å"moonlight,† and â€Å"shadow† in this passage prepares the reader for Gatsby’s shadowy, dark character. Many more of his actions appear to the reader, and Nick, as â€Å"curious.† The fact he is‘ trembling’ shows he is intense in his emotions-- and none of this is for show; Gatsby believes he is alone. His concentration on the â€Å"single green light† represents his determination to succeed, his constant drive; everything is designed so he can be with Daisy. He then vanishes; echoing the end of the book.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nick is unlike the other characters of the book; he is not one of the â€Å"careless people.† He has a conscience, he is not selfish-- he has decency, which is well demonstrated in his efforts for Gatsby’s funeral. His down-to-earth character shows how superficial Daisy and Tom are. They are ruthlessly practical, where as Gatsby is a hopeless dreamer. Nick guides the reader between these two extremes while remaining a detached observer whilst being involved in the action-- â€Å"I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nick’s aim to be truthful and objective makes the reader trust him. When Nick says Gatsby has a â€Å"rare smile with a quality of eternal reassurance in it,† the reader knows his riches or parties, but is telling it to the reader straight aren’t charming Nick. His contempt for much of what Gatsby says, but also Nick’s tolerance, is emphasized when Nick doesn’t mock him-- ‘â€Å"I lived . .

Essay --

During adolescents, there is an increased vulnerability for depression due to biological, cognitive, and socio-environmental changes. For this paper, I will be discussing Scarlet, a 16 year old Hispanic female whose parents have divorced two years ago, and because of that Scarlet has been displaying symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder and Oppositional and Defiant Disorder. This paper will review literature which supports Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as being an effective form of treatment for depression with adolescents. I will also review literature which supports Family Therapy as being an effective treatment for adolescents with parent-child relational problems. I will also discuss any issues related to culture, ethnicity, and age regarding Scarlet and her family. Client’s Presenting Problems Scarlet is a sixteen year old Hispanic female who resides in Edison with her biological mother. Scarlet is currently a junior at JP Steven’s high school. Scarlet was referred because she is displaying symptoms of depression as evidenced by isolating herself from her family and peers, irritability, excessive sleeping, a history of suicidal ideations, and a loss of interests she used to enjoy. Scarlet also displays oppositional and defiant behaviors as evidenced by constant argumentative behavior, anger outbursts, refusal to follow the rules, and cursing and screaming at her mom on a daily basis. Scarlet was hospitalized at UMDNJ for six days in January of 2013 following an incident where a truant officer picked her off of the street. Scarlet’s mother reported Scarlet was texting her â€Å"I wish I was dead.† Scarlet’s mother reported both parents divorced two years ago and Scarlet’s behavior began to decline shortly... ...e to her age and her issues could not be taken serious simply because she is a â€Å"teenager†. In conclusion, There is an increased vulnerability for depression in adolescents due to biological, cognitive, and socio-environmental changes. For this paper, I discussed Scarlet, a 16 year old Hispanic female whose parents have divorced two years ago, and because of that Scarlet has been displaying symptoms of Persistent Depressive Disorder and Oppositional and Defiant Disorder. I reviewed literature which supports Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as being an effective form of treatment for depression with adolescents. I will also reviewed literature which supports Family Therapy as being an effective treatment for adolescents with parent-child relational problems. Scarlet will most likely benefit from CBT and family therapy given the involvement of her parents in therapy.

How Far Had the Bolsheviks Created a ‘Totalitarian State’ by 1924?

A totalitarian state, is a where the central government of a state does not tolerate any parties with opposing views and exercises complete dictatorial rule over all or most aspects of life. Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks, took many measures in an attempt to create a totalitarian state, including the dissolution of Constituent Assembly, the use of decrees and the establishment of a secret police group called the Cheka. However there were also some ways in which he failed to achieve full totalitarianism.The most basic characteristics of a Totalitarian state, are lack of free speech and state control over the media. This is important to establish social control over the state. Lenin's described free speech as ‘bourgeois prejudice', and thus ensured strict control over the media and speech. Understanding the role of propaganda to strengthen his rule, he established the Pravda. The Pravda controlled what media was available to the public and who could utilize it.The Bolsheviks were in reality the only group aloud to publish propaganda, and groups such as the Mensheviks, were not aloud to publish. These rules meant that no negative material about the Bolsheviks could legally be published, and all the public would ever see, would be positive Bolshevik propaganda, increasing their support. This is a key characteristic of a Totalitarian state, and thus is evidence that the Bolsheviks had successfully created a Totalitarian state. Another common aspect of a totalitarian state, is the establishment of a secret police force.Lenin had created a terror police force called the Cheka. Shortly after the establishment of the Bolshevik government, a period knows as the ‘Red Terror' saw mass killings, torture and oppression conducted by the Cheka under orders of the Bolsheviks. This force meant that Lenin could assert his physical authority over the people and counter any opposition. To supplement the secret police, Lenin also established a system of Gulags and L abour camps, specifically aimed at the opponents of the regime. These would house and contain any ‘enemies' of the Bolshevik rule.The creation of the secret police and the establishment of the gulags and labour camps, are signs that Lenin had created a successful totalitarian state, and could assert physical control over the people. The introduction of War Communism during the Russian Civil War, is evidence of Russian moving towards a Totalitarian State. Many aspects of War communism were totalitarian in nature. For instance the creation of a Supreme Economic Council, formed to take complete control over the Russian highlights the central control over the most vital aspect of the state, that the Bolsheviks enforced.Other measures include the requisitioning of excess grain from the Peasants. Many of these policies were met with opposition, particularly among the agricultural peasants. This opposition was in turn met with brutal force, which was another example of the nature of complete state authority. War communism continued on until the end of the Civil war, by which time the Bolshevik forces had succeeded in crushing all opposition. The success of the red forces meant that Russia was a step closer in becoming a Totalitarian state, as they were now the most powerful party in Russia, with complete control over all its territory.Upon the creation of the USSR, Lenin introduced new rule that would ensure greater totalitarian control. Only communists would be able to stand for the soviets, and so this meant that the communist party had the true control over the government. Lenin had also created a ban on internal political factions, during the NEP. He called this ‘democratic centralism'. This ensured that Lenin and the Bolsheviks had strict control over all communists.Alongside the ban on other political parties, these measures are extremely totalitarian in nature, and centralised government control and authority to a high degree, ensuring Lenin and th e Bolsheviks had complete political control over the country. There were however many limits to the Bolshevik control over the country. The totalitarian control that the Government enjoyed with its ‘War communism', was lost by Lenin. The introduction of the NEP, showed Lenin was prepared for loosening economic control in favour of growth to save the economy.The abandoning of ‘War communism and the introduction of the NEP, shows the Bolsheviks losing control over the economy, and capitalist control emerging. Corruption was thus aloud to prosper, as many took advantage of the loser controls. The failures of the NEP and the corruption it introduced offers evidence of the Bolsheviks failing to create a complete totalitarian state. An important factor when considering Bolshevik totalitarian control are the events of the Kronstadt Rebellion. The naval base at Kronstadt were among Lenin's most loyal supporters, and home of the revolutionary Baltic fleet.However they had become disillusioned with Lenin's rule, and made certain demands, notably the end of the special position of the communists and the restoration of free speech. Consequently the base rebelled. The loss of authority over an entire base, and dangerously close to Petrograd, the capital, is a severe sign that the Bolsheviks did not maintain complete totalitarian control over the state. It could be argued that Lenin lost much totalitarian control, because of the weakening of his Leadership. In 1922, Lenin faced his first serious illness, that affected his leadership.An example of his weakening leadership, can be found when examining Joseph Stalin, the General Sectary. Up until Lenin's illness, Stalin had been a strong supporter of Lenin, and did not significantly oppose or cross him. Lenin highlighted his loyalty when describing as ‘that brilliant Georgian'. However when Lenin began to fall ill, Stalin began to oppose many of Lenin's policies. Accompanying this were divisions within the pa rty that grew stronger when Lenin fell ill. This highlights the loss of control that Lenin had due to his illness, and thus is evidence that he had not created a true Totalitarian state.The Bolsheviks under Lenin's leadership had indeed taken steps to create a Totalitarian state. The removal of all and any opposition from the political ‘arena', the establishment of the Cheka and Gulags all helped to strengthen the central control of government over the state. However aspects of the NEP, political divisions, and rebellions from apparently his most loyal supporters, showed how certain aspects were not completely controlled by the state, and thus that Lenin and the Bolsheviks had not created an entirely Totalitarian state.

Informative Speech on Funerals

Death, sounds scary right? But, have you ever thought in something else besides the moment itself? Have you thought about what your body is going to be done with? Oh sure, a regular funeral or a cremation may come right away to your head. But, let’s stop at regular for a moment. What is actually a regular funeral? Is it really putting your body in a coffin and burying it in a graveyard? What would you think if I tell you that you can have a Coca-cola coffin, a fish or a car coffin? What would you think if I tell you that your relatives can keep your skull as some sort of souvenir? What would you think if I tell you that you can even be buried in the sky? You would probably think I’m crazy or something, but I’m not. This is actually the way in which some people from Ghana, Austria and China carry on their funerals. For the Ga tribe, funerals are a time of mourning, but also of celebration. They believe that when their loved ones die, they move on into another life and they make sure they do so in style. They honor their dead with brightly colored coffins that celebrate the way they lived. These coffins are designed to represent an aspect of the dead person’s life, such as a car if they were a driver, a fish if their livelihood was the sea or a sewing machine for a seamstress. They might also symbolize a vice, such as a bottle of beer or a cigarette. Now, let’s travel to Europe. Hallstatt. It’s between a mountain and lake, so therefore has very limited burial space. To solve this problem they would allow for the remains of their dead to lie in the cemetery for 12 years only. When the time was up the bones would be exhumed and moved to a charnel, but the skull would be kept. It would be tastefully decorated with the name of the deceased, a cross and plants. It would then be displayed in a chapel. Although cremation has now been allowed in the village this custom still takes place. So, what about being buried in the sky? We’ll have to go all the way to the southwest of china. The Tibet. For Tibetans the most common and regular funerals are the Sky Burials, which consists of cutting a person’s body in â€Å"strategic† places (euphemism for â€Å"likely to attract wildlife†) and placing the loved one on top of a mountain or temple. Then just wait for the magic to happen! The magic being that the vultures will then pick apart the flesh until what’s left is a pile of bones, which are either mashed into a bird feed pulp. This type of funeral is considered to be environmental friendly, because it doesn’t involve any wood burning or waiting years until the body is turned into organin matter. It’s the most effective way of getting rid of human bodies. Tibetans call the practice jhator, which means giving arms to the birds. And also legs, torsos and heads as well. So, if you want to have a classy funeral with a fancy coffin that represents your lifestyle you’d like it to happen in Ghana, but if you’re looking for a strange, creepy, sadististic, and environmental caring funeral your best choices may be Hallstatt, in Austria, or the Tibet, in China. What are regular funerals for you now?

Sample Contents of Feasibility Study

Sample Executive Summary For Your Business PlanApril 5, 2011 – 11:14 am Earlier in Invest Engine Blog we have talked about  executive summary contents  and  how to write executive summary. Using all this information we shall now pass to actually writing an executive summary taking restaurant business plan as an example. Writing executive summaries is among the most important business skills. The majority of investors whom you’ll address with your project will read your executive summary first. And only then will decide whether to proceed with your start up or leave it alone.So let’s get started! 1. Executive Summary Cover Passing along a naked text is not a good idea. So do provide a cover for your executive summary. The executive summary cover page should contain: * your company logo; * the title of your project; * your contact information; * the subtitle â€Å"Executive Summary† (not to confuse this document with the full version of your business p lan). 2. The Opening Statement: Who? What? When? Where? Why? From the very first sentence it should be understood what your project is about. Showing respect to your readers’ time and attention is highly appreciated.So if you can answer the  Five W’s  in a single sentence, it is perfect. But sometimes it is better to break it down into smaller sentences. And DO avoid general phrases and adjectives like â€Å"great†, â€Å"unique†, â€Å"exclusive† as they make you look boastful right from the start. From the cover page of our  sample restaurant executive summary  the reader knows that the project is called: â€Å"BBQ-5 – barbecue restaurant in Chicago, IL†. So the opening statement of the executive summary could be: â€Å"BBQ-5 is a new barbecue restaurant in Chicago, IL founded by Mr. BBQ.This will be the fifth restaurant of â€Å"Mr. BBQ Family of Restaurants† – the barbecue chain founded in 2005 and is alread y well-known in The Great Lakes area. † 3. Brief Company ProfileYou are sure to provide some detailed information about your company background, its mission and business objectives in your business plan. But the major highlights should be put into executive summary as well. Typically you are expected to say: * When was your business founded? * What are the major industries and regions of operations? * What are your business mission and business objectives? How many people work in your firm? * What is your position in the company? In the sample executive summary we are going through it is stated that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"the  chain was founded in 2005 and is already well-known in The Great Lakes area† (the info about the year the business was founded and the region of operation is provided). And so it is continued: â€Å"The other restaurants are located two in Cleveland, OH, one in Detroit, MI and one in Milwaukee, WI. Each of the restaurants started by Mr. BBQ reached the break -even point within a year. Though Mr. BBQ and Mrs. BBQ are principle owners, it is Mr.BBQ’s  intention to offer outside ownership in â€Å"BBQ-5? restaurant on an equity, debt, or combination basis in order to facilitate the opening of BBQ-5 restaurant and further growth of the chain. † From this paragraph it is clear that the principal figures in the company are Mr. BBQ and Mrs. BBQ and their major business goal is  Ã¢â‚¬Å"further growth of the chain†. 4. Project Description Normally executive summary should always be written last. You already have a perfectly written product description in your business plan and can now copy-paste the highlights into your executive summary.It should really take minutes! In the business plan for BBQ-5 restaurant it was stated that location is a key success factor. So in the executive summary it would be perfect to start with the advantages of the location and target audience of the restaurant: â€Å"BBQ-5 will be opened in leased premises in the very heart of Chicago – the Loop district. The Loop is the center of Chicago’s cultural, commercial and financial institutions. It is also the major tourist destination. And the neighboring district – The North Side – is the most densely populated residential section of the city.It is also a popular take-away destination. So BBQ-5 will target residents of The Loop district, office workers and tourists. † Then we briefly describe restaurant’s projected capacity, its specialization and the key competitive advantages (these are also copy-pasted from the business plan): â€Å"The restaurant will specialize in traditional style barbecue meals: smoked pork, veal and fish, steaks and sandwiches. The menu will also include a variety of vegetarian meals and the widest range of sauces. The restaurant’s projected capacity is 340 seats. After that you can outline main business objectives of the project showing that you have a clear vision and know your goals. Then write a paragraph about major risks of your project but stay positive providing your solutions right away. Stress the strong sides of your company and the competencies of the team behind the project. 5. Key Business Plan Numbers By the moment you write executive summary you are supposed to know  exactly  how much funding you need. So provide the highlights in the form of investment summary table. It puts investment structure vs. nvestment purposes of your project. So anyone reading your executive summary will understand what you need money for, how much of your own capital you invest and how much is expected from other sources (direct investment, bank loans, start up grants etc. ) Also state how much revenues your project will generate (revenue projections) and of course the payback period of your project – how long will it take for your project to become cash flow positive. ple Projects  >  Sample #4| Sample #4| [The data in this form is either fictitious or has been adapted with a firm's permission. Company: Bentonville Medical Clinic   Contact Person: George Hendrichs Title: Business Manager/Administrator Telephone: (910) 273 – 8457 Fax: (910) 273 – 5419 Address: 413 Harmon Place, Greensboro, NC 27412BackgroundProvide an overview of the company, the nature and size of the primary product(s)/service(s) and operations, and a brief description of the department/function/product that is the main focus of the study. Bentonville Medical Clinic is a 12 year old medical firm specializing in the practice of obstetrics and gynecologic services.The main office, located in Greensboro, is where the primary administrative functions such as coordination, billing, insurance claims, etc. are carried out, but the firm is also comprised of two satellite offices located in Reidsville and Eden. The firm employs 1 administrator, 7 clinical personnel, 9 clerical workers, and 5 physicians, who rotate through each of the three offices on a regular basis. Gross revenues for 1991 were roughly $3. 1 million, as a result of 37,000 patient encounters. The bulk of the revenues are taken in by the Greensboro office, which accounted for 72% of all receipts.Revenues grew regularly through 1990, but have leveled off since then as a result of the efforts of the government and other agencies to control health care expenses. Some primary points of emphasis for Bentonville Medical Clinic are: (1) maintenance of high quality of patient care, through the regular and efficient assimilation of new technologies, (2) continuous improvement of business efficiencies and cost reductions, and (3) provision of a reasonable return on investment for the firm's partners. The Project To Be StudiedDescribe the situation to be studied, and if possible, identify the specific issue(s)/problem(s) to focus on.One of the basic problems with health care today is the government wishes to control health costs, yet demands the highest quality of service available. Often, the government wishes only to pay amounts for these services that barely exceed the cost a medical firm incurs in providing them. The focus of the group will be to evaluate the costs of various types of patient visits versus the payment plans instituted by the government (the RBRVS system that calculates costs for medicare, for example), and determine how these plans affect Bentonville Medical Clinic's cash flows and revenues.Outputs DesiredWhat specific results would be expected, e. g. reports, recommendations, etc. Outputs desired from this study include:(1) Determination of the amount of medicare volume that can be profitably handled;(2) Identification of the various costs involved in particular types of patient encounters (which types of visits are most/least profitable for the firm)(3) Determination of how cash flows being affected by programs such Medicare's RBRVS cost conversion factors(4) Suggestions for some possible alternative s/strategies through which Bentonville Medical Clinic can maximize revenues in the current environment.Required/Available Resources- (List special or unique data, software, personnel, etc. required, or available):Summary/Key Word Information:Estimated team size: 2-3 person team   How was project obtained? : Referred by John Adams, Alum Previous Project? : No Project Focus – Primary: Accounting/Finance Other areas: Strategy, Health Administration Keywords: Costing, and cash flow analysis Brief Abstract: Contrast patient visits with reimbursement plans to assess the equity of payments received and determine their affect on overall cash flows and revenues. | Sample #1| [The data in this form is either fictitious or has been adapted with a firm's permission. ]Company: Comfort Apparel   Contact Person: Sam Talbott Title: Marketing Manager Telephone: 336. 555. 1234 Fax: 336. 555. 1234 Fax: (336) 745-7025 Address: 1234 Comfort Blvd. , Winston-Salem, NC 27123BackgroundComfort App arel manufactures and markets high-quality, high-value apparel using screen printing and embroidery.Comfort holds exclusive contracts with several boards of education in the Southeast to provide shirts, hats and sweatshirts with school logos for state championships in all major sports. Other boards are being pursued for contracts. A significant volume of business is obtained through short-term contracts with colleges, universities and sports associations to provide logo apparel for ceremonies and sporting events.Comfort provides consumer value by offering a high-quality embroidery look at prices comparable to regular screen-printed products with quick turnaround on short notice. The Project To Be StudiedAt Comfort, ordering, scheduling, invoicing, inventory control and shipping are done manually. Management decided to switch to an electronic system because of frequent and often unanticipated surges in volume, as well as recent overall growth. Several of Comfort’s accounts hav e requested EDI systems and other electronic media, including use of the Internet, to process orders and shipping.The study group will be responsible for determining what system could capitalize on emerging technology and be most appropriate for the company and how best to implement the system. The study will look at three main operating areas: * Information systems between Comfort and our manufacturing operations * Information systems between Comfort and our customers * Information systems between Comfort and our suppliersThe team must propose whether members will focus on one, two or all of the above applications.Outputs Desired * Provide Comfort with a list of information systems that capitalize on the latest technology and that could be installed and implemented, along with pros and cons of each * Propose a schematic design and determine the costs and benefits of each alternative * Recommend the best alternative and provide a plan for implementation| Sample #3| [The data in this form is either fictitious or has been adapted with a firm's permission. ]Company: Gourmet House Software Services   Contact Person: Rachel BenedictTitle: Director of Development Telephone: (910) 277 – 2347 Fax: (910) 277 – 9547 Address: 1600 Watley Plaza, Winston-Salem, NC 27011BackgroundProvide an overview of the company, the nature and size of the primary product(s)/service(s) and operations, and a brief description of the department/function/product that is the main focus of the study. Gourmet House Software Services is a relatively small â€Å"software house† that specializes in software for restaurants and wholesale food distributors.The purpose of this type of software is to allow the user to better and more efficiently purchase and utilize their inventory and delivery systems. Gourmet House System is going into its twelfth year of business, and they estimate that they have roughly 160 users of their specialized software. The Project To Be StudiedDescri be the situation to be studied, and if possible, identify the specific issue(s)/problem(s) to focus on. The current computer system software being sold by Gourmet House is a third generation software component.They feel it is necessary to upgrade their software to a fourth generation, but want to make sure they can successfully market this new product to existing customers, as well as to other potential markets. The study group should concentrate on the following areas:(1) The various methods that could be used to market this new product to current market segments, while maintaining support and customer satisfaction for older products;(2) Identify any other feasible markets for this new product. Outputs DesiredWhat specific results would be expected, e. . reports, recommendations, etc. The outputs desired from this project would be as follows:(1) A list of options and an action plan for the introduction of the new software component(2) A risk analysis of the planned introduction, co mplete with benefits and drawbacks. (3) Financial considerations involved (ROI, etc). Summary/Key Word Information:Estimated team size: 2-3 person team   How was project obtained? : Wilson Thomas, Alum Previous Project? : No Project Focus – Primary: Marketing, Strategic PlanningOther areas: New Ventures, Business Strategy Keywords: Marketing and identifying new niches Brief Abstract: Recommend a marketing plan for a fourth generation of a software package and identify new markets the firm might enter in order to increase revenues and profits. | Sample #2| [The data in this form is either fictitious or has been adapted with a firm's permission. ]Company: Mountain Broadcasting Company Contact Person: Ms. I. M. Astarr Title: President Telephone: (910) 253-7827 Fax: (910) 253-1329 Address: 4321 Galaxy Boulevard, Mt.Airy, NC 27411Background-  Provide an overview of the company, the nature and size of the primary product(s)/service(s) and operations, and a brief description of the department/function/product that is the main focus of the study. Mountain Broadcasting Company is a locally-owned radio company which operates under the call letters of WMBC (FM) and WNCB (AM). It employs 17 people, including 6 salespeople. The Project To Be Studied-  Describe the situation to be studied, and if possible, identify the specific issue(s)/problem(s) to focus on.Mountain Broadcasting contacted the Schools of Business to conduct a survey and analyze the results to determine what factors are critical when current and prospective advertisers make the decision to use radio as an advertising medium. Mountain Broadcasting also wanted to learn how effective its salespeople were compared to the competition, be it radio stations, television stations, or magazines and newspapers. Mountain Broadcast hoped to learn what it could to ultimately leading to an improvement in the company's profitability. Outputs Desired-  What specific results would be expected, e. . reports, re commendations, etc. Outputs desired from this practicum include:(1) Which local sales staffs within the industry are perceived as most competent/least competent? (2) What affect do program formats and program contents have on advertisers' decisions to buy? (3) How do the rates charged by WMBC and WNCB compare with other stations and how are they perceived by their customers with respect to the value received? (4) What affect do promotional support, purchase incentives, and the buying procedure have on the purchasing decision? 5) Which stations are perceived as most effective for reaching specific demographic targets? (6) How do stations' production capabilities affect their advertising rates? Methodology-  Possible strategies and analytical tools to employ. The data for this study will be generated by telephone interviews of approximately 100-200 prospective advertisers. The prospects will include current radio and non-radio advertisers, current customers, and non-customers of the stations, and direct advertisers and agencies and/or media brokers. The team will be supplied by the client with the list of prospects. | * ————————————————- About Us * ————————————————- Academic Programs   * ————————————————- Admissions * ————————————————- Beyond Academics * ————————————————- Careers & Internships * ——————————————â⠂¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€- Diversity * ————————————————- Faculty & Research * ————————————————- News & Events * WFU Charlotte Center | | Home  >  Beyond Academics  >  WF Business Solutions  >  Sample Projects  >  Sample #1| Sample #1| [The data in this form is either fictitious or has been adapted with a firm's permission. ]Company: Comfort Apparel   Contact Person: Sam Talbott Title: Marketing Manager Telephone: 336. 555. 1234 Fax: 336. 555. 1234 Fax: (336) 745-7025 Address: 1234 Comfort Blvd. , Winston-Salem, NC 27123BackgroundComfort Apparel manufactures and markets high-quality, high-value apparel using screen printing and embroidery.Comfort holds exclusive contracts with several boards of education in the Southeast to provide shirts, hats and sweatshir ts with school logos for state championships in all major sports. Other boards are being pursued for contracts. A significant volume of business is obtained through short-term contracts with colleges, universities and sports associations to provide logo apparel for ceremonies and sporting events.Comfort provides consumer value by offering a high-quality embroidery look at prices comparable to regular screen-printed products with quick turnaround on short notice. The Project To Be StudiedAt Comfort, ordering, scheduling, invoicing, inventory control and shipping are done manually. Management decided to switch to an electronic system because of frequent and often unanticipated surges in volume, as well as recent overall growth. Several of Comfort’s accounts have requested EDI systems and other electronic media, including use of the Internet, to process orders and shipping.The study group will be responsible for determining what system could capitalize on emerging technology and be most appropriate for the company and how best to implement the system. The study will look at three main operating areas: * Information systems between Comfort and our manufacturing operations * Information systems between Comfort and our customers * Information systems between Comfort and our suppliersThe team must propose whether members will focus on one, two or all of the above applications.Outputs Desired * Provide Comfort with a list of information systems that capitalize on the latest technology and that could be installed and implemented, along with pros and cons of each * Propose a schematic design and determine the costs and benefits of each alternative * Recommend the best alternative and provide a plan for implementation| |