Bill of Lading

* Introduction of the Bill of Lading â€Å"Lading† is another word for cargo. Lading refers to the material goods that are transported by the carrier from one location to another on behalf of a sender and a receiver. Such transportation may be carried out by way of ground transport, by aircraft or by cargo ships. Carriers use the bill of lading associated with a given shipment to ensure that goods are delivered safely to the sender as the shipper had named. â€Å"Bill of lading† is a legal document which is using by the shipping companies and freight companies. The purpose of the bill of lading is to acknowledge that the carrier has received the goods. The bill of lading transfers the title, or legal ownership, of the goods to the carrier; therefore. If there anything happens to the goods in transit (at the en route), the carrier is responsible for paying for the damages. The bill of lading is a receipt given to the person who shipping the products. Delivery time and method of delivery are also outlined within the bill of lading. This is a standardized form which is provided by licensed carriers to be filled out by the party sending a shipment. The most prominent feature of the B/L is the list of all items contained in the shipment, with spaces for individual quantities and their condition at the time of shipment. And also the B/L must state the value of all items and include the names and signatures of both the consigner and the consignee. The ports of consigner and the port of the consignee are also very essential. There is a description about how shipping materials are packaged in the shipment. Also it was noted, total weight of items and the total cost charged by the carrier for the service. Legally, Bill of lading is representing goods of value and their ownership. It should be written as a negotiable document or non-negotiable document. In any case, the producer is shipping an order of goods to a paying recipient, so that a transaction will be completed at delivery, then the Bill of lading must be non-negotiable. But if the ownership and delivery of goods associated with a negotiable B/L may be transferred from one party to another. For this reason, negotiable B/Ls may be used in as collateral for securing a loan. The transport of goods from one destination to another bears the risk that the goods may be lost or sustain damage en route. Though professional carriers go to great lengths to ensure the safety and proper care of their cargo, loss and damage can occur. For the receiver, a shipment's B/L is a ynamic snapshot of the shipment prior to its voyage. If the receiver finds fault with the goods in terms of content, quantity or condition by virtue of any discrepancy between the shipment and the B/L's contents, she may pursue legal action against the carrier using the B/L as evidence for her case. * Functions of the Bill of Lading 2. 1. As a receipt of cargo Bills of lading often are prepared by shippers and carriers, if they prepare bills of lading, must rely principally on information suppl ied by shippers. Carriers often will have little opportunity, in the course of loading, independently to confirm all that is said by shippers as to the nature, condition and quantity of their cargoes, e. g. because cargo is concealed within packaging. Nonetheless, because the bill of lading is a receipt issued by the carrier, it is the carrier and not the shipper that will be liable to the receiver for any discrepancies between the quantity and apparent order and condition of the cargo on shipment, as acknowledged in the bill of lading, and of the cargo as delivered to the receiver. The bill of lading can be treated as conclusive evidence as between the carrier and a receiver and as at least prima facie evidence as between the carrier and the shipper, as to the number, weight or quantity and apparent order and condition of the cargo on loading. Two types of bill of ladings can be issue in within this scenario, * Clean Bill of lading – Carrier is declaring that the goods have been received in an appropriate condition, without the presence of defects. The product carrier will issue a clean bill after thoroughly inspecting the packages for any damage, missing quantities or deviations in quality. Clause Bill of Lading – This shows a shortfall or damage in the delivered goods to the consignee. Typically, if the shipped products deviate from the delivery specifications or expected quality, the receiver may declare a clause bill of lading. That means, if there any differences between the B/L and the physical shipment, it has checking by the carrier and en ter some clauses regarding that differences before he start the voyage. 2. 2. Evidence of a contract In practice, because bills of lading often are transferred, by endorsement and delivery or mere delivery, not only from shippers to consignees (i. . the persons to whom the cargo is consigned or sent and, thus, the intended receivers of the cargo) but also by shippers or consignees to banks or onward to subsequent purchasers, a bill of lading will be the only evidence of the terms of the contract for carriage of the cargo that it covers that is available to a consignee or other transferee of the bill of lading. Thus, bills of lading in the hands of consignees or other, intermediate or subsequent, transferees often have to be assumed to contain all of the terms of the contract of carriage. . 3. Document of Title to Cargo Cargo often is intended to be sold, or sold on, after it has been consigned to a carrier and the consignee thus either might not be identified when a bill of lading i s issued or might thereafter alter. The shipper or consignee of a cargo sold, or sold on, after consignment to the carrier but not immediately paid for will require some assurance that the cargo will not be delivered to the purchaser or end purchaser before the price has been paid. Conversely, if the cargo is sold or sold on and paid for immediately after consignment to the carrier, the purchaser or end purchaser will require some assurance that the cargo will be delivered to it, and not to the order of either the shipper or the original consignee. Similarly, a bank might have advanced funds for the purchase of the cargo either to the original shipper, or to the consignee, or to a subsequent purchaser and will require some assurance that the cargo cannot be disposed of before the bank is reimbursed. It is not feasible for intermediate or subsequent transferees, or transferees for limited purposes, of a cargo that is dealt with afloat each to take physical possession of that cargo for the duration of their interest. However, it is both feasible and desirable for each of those transferees to control disposition of the cargo for a period of time, or to an appropriate degree, through control of a document representing an entitlement to the cargo. Thus, by mercantile custom, both â€Å"received for shipment† and â€Å"shipped on board† bills of lading have come to be treated as documents of title to cargo. The Process of issuing the Bill of Lading The bill of lading might be prepared by the shipper and presented to the carrier for signature, in which case it must be presented to the carrier within a reasonable time after completion of loading of the material cargo and signed by the carrier within a reasonable time of its presentation. Otherwise, and increasingly often i n practice, the bill of lading will be prepared by the carrier, principally from information supplied by the shipper, in which event it should be prepared, signed and delivered to the shipper within a reasonable time after completion of loading of its cargo Types of Bill of Ladings with different Labels 4. 1. Straight B/L A bill of lading that is not transferable by either delivery or endorsement and delivery, e. g. because it is marked â€Å"not negotiable† or is not made out to â€Å"bearer†, to â€Å"order† or to â€Å"assigns†. Straight bills of lading are used, for example, for â€Å"in house† shipments between divisions of large multinationals or when it is known for certain, prior to shipment of the cargo that the intended consignee will not sell the cargo on. . 2. Switch B/L A replacement bill of lading issued at the request of a consignee seller to replace the original bill of lading issued to that seller’s supplier as shipper, so a s to show the consignee seller as shipper and its own sub-purchaser as consignee. Such bills of lading are intended to keep the identity of the supplier from the sub-purchaser and thus to prevent future direct dealings between the supplier and the sub-purchaser. 4. 3. Sea way bill It is a receipt for cargo that contains or evidences a contract for the carriage of goods by sea and which identifies the person to whom the carrier is to deliver that cargo. Sea waybill differs from a bill of lading in that it lacks transferability and in that the designated consignee thus is not required to produce the waybill in order to obtain delivery of the cargo. 4. 4. Clean bill A bill of lading that contains no positive notation of a defective condition or shortage either of the cargo covered or, where material, of its packaging. 4. 5. Claused bill A bill of lading that contains a positive notation of a defective condition or shortage either of the cargo covered or, where material, of its packaging. 4. 6. Combined Transport/Multimodal Transport/House to House bill A bill of lading that covers not only carriage of cargo on an ocean going vessel but all or other stages and/or forms of carriage, e. g. carriage of the cargo by rail, road or barge from the shipper’s premises to an ocean port of shipment, from that port to an ocean port of discharge and from that port of discharge by rail, road or barge to the consignee’s premises. What contains in the Bill of Lading A bill of lading will contain the following information as a minimum requirement (see the Business-in-a-Box sample on the left to see the real template): – Shipper's name and address – Receiver's name and address – Carrier Name – Description of the items that are being transported – Gross weight and dimensions of the shipm ent – Classification of the commodity being shipped – Nomination and identification of the party who is paying for the transportation.

Exploration of One of the Many Health Care Resources

Today†s health care system is in a constant state of fluctuation and commotion. It is sometimes difficult for the health care consumer to identify a valuable resource when they need one. The purpose of this paper is to explore one of the many health care resources that are available in the greater Philadelphia area and then visit this site to learn more about it. Philadelphia, in itself is an outstanding resource to the people of the area. In terms of healthcare resource implications this is true. There are numerous teaching hospitals, museums, clinics, and educational centers in this region. I choose to learn more about Planned Parenthood, a well-known organization in this area as well as nationally. Upon entering the clinic I knew very little about Planned Parenthood. It turned out that what I knew was only a fraction of what Planned Parenthood is really all about. According to the chairperson and president of PP, young people rely on Planned Parenthood to be truthful, confidential and non-judgmental. Women and men are grateful that it is an affordable resource, accessible to all, and respectful of all persons† decisions. Patients fell safe there because they provide safe medical care by trained professionals. Parents can feel a sense of ease because they know that their children are learning correct and valuable information concerning sex. Both donors and investors can feel confident that their gifts are an investment in the health and well being of the men, women, and children in their community. This paper will relay the information received from the site visit to Planned Parenthood in Media, Pennsylvania. It will discuss the mission, services, and financial aspects of Planned Parenthood. Mission Statement. The mission of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania (PPSP) is to protect and enhance reproductive freedom, to increase access to reproductive health care services and information, and to promote sexual health. This mission provides the foundation of PPSP†s services and programs that they offer to the approximately 43,000 men, women, and children of the Delaware Valley. Planned Parenthood was found by a registered nurse named Margaret Sanger in the early 1900†³s. Her belief and reason for founding PP was this, â€Å"†¦ he first right of a child (is) to be wanted, to be desired, to be planned for with an intensity of love†¦ † (Planned Parenthood, 1999). Sanger was tired of watching women young and old die from complications of pregnancies due to lack of education and health care and was tired of seeing unwanted pregnancies carried to term because women did not know their options. Her goal was to both educate and provide for these women the reproductive services that were necessary for what she called reproductive freedom. Benefits of Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood provides numerous programs and services to the people of Southeastern Pennsylvania. I spoke with a woman named Megan (no last name was provided). She informed me of these services and programs, and helped me to gain a better understanding of what PP really is and does. Health Services. Planned Parenthood provides their services to women as well as men- it is a resource to be utilized by all. It is a common misconception that PP is for women only. They offer reproductive health care for men, women, and teens. They supply every FDA approved method of reversible birth control. These include natural family planning methods, Norplant, Depo-Provera, Birth control Pill, IUD (intrauterine device), condoms, Diaphragm, and cervical caps. Something that they offer is emergency contraception or the â€Å"morning after pill. † It decreases the likelihood of becoming pregnant even after the conception, because it decreases the healthy nature of the uterine wall. It is only effective within seventy-two hours following conception. They also offer walk-in pregnancy testing, options counseling and referrals to abortion clinics and adoption agencies. In the Media office, there are three nurse practitioners on staff who provide complete gynecological examinations including Pap tests. There is a physician who is affiliated with their office; he comes in at least twice a month or upon appointment to review all cases. The NP†s provide breast health checks and teach breast self-examinations. Mid-life services are provided for menopausal women as well hormone replacement therapy. Testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections for men and women and confidential and anonymous HIV/AIDS testing are available as well. Planned Parenthood does perform first trimester abortions. They also offer a number of other health services such as cholesterol and blood pressure screening. Educational services. PPSP offers educational programs to pre-teens, teens, parents, and caregivers on topics of human sexuality, including health care, family planning, relationships, and HIV/Aids. There are teen peer education groups as well as Latino community workshops provided by bilingual/ bicultural educators. PPSP provides a complete resource center (bookstore and library) which provides a collection of literature on reproduction health care, sexuality, etc. Advocacy. PPSP urges political action for families/ planning and other reproductive health issues by participating in Lobby Days in Harrisburg and Washington. They are also involved in letter writing campaigns and news alerts to inform and motivate the public to become more involved in reproductive health care issues. Costs. All of the above listed services are available to all who enter the clinic at a small fee. The exception is made in the case of children who are thirteen to seventeen; their services and birth control pills are offered at no charge. In all other cases the fees for these products and services are quite low; for example, a routine gynecological examination examinations cost about thirty dollars. PP accepts most insurance plans and Medicaid, including Keystone HMO, PA Blue Cross- Blue Shield, and Personal Choice. They accept US Healthcare for surgical procedures only. Funding Revenue. From July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1007, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania brought in nearly six million dollars ($5,915,000) in revenue. This included nearly $2. 5 million from patient health and surgical services, 1. million from government grants and medical assistance. Funding Expenditures. In this same fiscal year, Planned Parenthood†s total expenses (5,936,000) were in excess of their revenue by twenty-one thousand dollars. They spent about tree million dollars for patient health services and one million on surgical procedures. Over one quarter of a million was spent towards public information and advocacy. And over half a million was spent on education and training. Other funds were spent for special events, fund raising, and administration. At the end of the fiscal report there are ten pages which list the names of those who have made contributions to Planned Parenthood. These donations range from $25,000 or more to $100. PP relies on the contributions of individuals, foundations, and corporations to support their operations and activities in Southeastern PA. All contributions made to PP are tax deductible (Annual Report). I learned a tremendous amount from visiting Planned Parenthood. All of the ideas that I entered the clinic with were quickly proven wrong and limited by the woman that I interviewed. PP is a valuable resource to all women, men, and teens that are interested in maintaining or improving their reproductive health, reproductive education, or their general health. This is a resource that does not receive the publicity or recognition that it deserves. Hopefully the public is aware of what an asset Planned Parenthood is and how much they offer- more than I did before this project. We in Southeastern Pennsylvania are lucky to have PP to turn to for educational and health care needs.

Journal on Chapter One of Al Gore’s “The Assault on Reason” Essay

In the first chapter titled Politics of Fear of Al Gore’s Book, â€Å"The Assault on Reason,† the author basically dealt with one of the most prominent human emotions— fear. According to Gore, fear is the prime enemy of reason. When a person experiences fear of something or someone, his or her reasoning ability is shut down. In addition, Gore claims that fear also clouds a person’s judgment as it drives him or her to act recklessly or irrationally without considering all options available. Furthermore, Gore also pointed out in his book that fear does not only affect a single individual, but an entire nation as well. According to him, a nation crippled by fear is unable to act towards development and progress because it does not do anything to overcome that fear. On the other hand, based on Gore’s book, when a person views fear as a form of motivation for him or her, he or she would eventually act to overcome that fear and accomplish his or her goal. Generally, I agree with most of the arguments that Gore pointed out in the first chapter of his book, particularly on the areas where he related fear to politics. I believe that Gore was right in saying that there are times when people fail to distinguish between the illusionary fears and the legitimate or real ones. When this happens, people may find it extremely difficult to think rationally and plan their next move because their judgment is clouded and they are unable to listen to reason.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, I also believe that Gore was correct when he claimed that the present administration in the United States as used the people’s fear, which spawned after the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, to manipulate various political processes and made people believe that   all Iraqi’s were the one’s responsible for the attacks. For me, I believe that it is wrong to think all Iraqis or Muslims are terrorists simply because their fellowmen may have committed heinous crimes. I believe this is the best example of the fear that has been plaguing US citizens since the 9/11 attacks. I also believe that the nation should first identify which fear is legitimate and which is not before exercising judgment.

Divorce and Reproductive Health Essay

Divorce (or the dissolution of marriage) is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties (unlike annulment, which declares the marriage null and void). Divorce laws vary considerably around the world, but in most countries it requires the sanction of a court or other authority in a legal process. The legal process of divorce may also involve issues of alimony (spousal support), child custody, child support, distribution of property, and division of debt. Where monogamy is law, divorce allows each former partner to marry another; where polygyny is legal but polyandry is not, divorce allows the woman to marry another. Between 1971 and 2011, several countries legalized divorce, the last one being Malta in 2011. The majority Catholic Philippines is the last officially secular country that does not have civil divorce for the whole population; Muslims, however, are granted divorce rights as per their religion. Vatican City, a ecclesiastical sovereign city-state, also has no procedure for divorce. â€Å"Divorcing one’s parents† is a term sometimes used to refer to emancipation of minors. Divorce in the Philippines is planning to take over Filipino values and culture. It’s all over the news, the Philippine Congress is now pushing forward the Divorce Bill right after they have put forward the Reproductive Health Bill. This is exactly what I have been worrying about. Just a couple of weeks ago, when I attended our Baptist Convention Meeting here in the Visayas, this issue was brought up. And just as what I have stated, â€Å"RH Bill can also lead to the Divorce Bill† because they have the same proponents. I know lots of Evangelical Christians are pro-RH Bill. But what they don’t know is that the proponents of RH Bill are also the proponents of Divorce Bill. And now that they almost got what they want, they are now preparing for another wave of controversial bill which will open a highway for immorality and degradation of Philippine culture and religious standards and beliefs. MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines remains the only nation in the world that does not have a law legalizing divorce. Is the country ready for such a law? Gabriela Party Rep. Luz Ilagan believes that it is time that the country moves forward and help couples who can no longer live together. Ilagan and fellow lawmaker Emmi de Jesus have filed a House bill introducing divorce in the Philippines that is now with the House committee on revision of laws. She said they are now waiting for the committee to schedule hearings to ask the sponsors and resource persons to explain the pros and cons of the proposed legislation. House Speaker Sonny Belmonte on Wednesday said the divorce bill will be among the priority measures that will be tackled when Congress opens its 3rd regular session in late July. Belmonte said he is supporting the enactment of a divorce law in the country. Ilagan, in an interview with radio dzMM Thursday, said the country is ready for a divorce law. PH only country without divorce â€Å"We are ready and we are the only country left now. Two years ago, we still had Malta,† she said. â€Å"But when Malta had a referendum last year, na kahit iyung presidente nila was reluctant to grant divorce, noong makita niya iyung results ng kanilang referendum ay pumayag. Kaya ang Philippines na lang ang natitirang bansa na walang divorce,† she said. She said Italy, where the Vatican City is located, allows divorce. The Vatican, which is technically a sovereign city-state, does not allow divorce. Current Philippine laws only allow annulment of marriage — a long, expensive, and painful legal process for estranged couples who no longer want to live together as man and wife. Not Vegas-style divorce Ilagan said the conservatives in the Philippines should not compare the proposed legislation with lax laws on divorce in other countries such as the United States. â€Å"May kaibahan, sa Amerika kaya tinatawag natin na divorce Las Vegas-style, puwedeng mag-asawa ngayon, tapos kapag hindi nila type, kahit mababaw lang ang dahilan, puwede na mag-divorce,† she said. â€Å"Sa atin naman, Pinoy style, mayroong mga kondisyon. Hindi madali na makuha rin iyung divorce. May mga kundisyon tayong inilagay sa isinusulong nating panukalang batas,† she explained. 5 grounds for divorce Ilagan’s bill proposes 5 grounds for divorce. Couples who want to avail of divorce will need to fulfill at least one of the conditions set forth in the bill, if it becomes law. According to the measure, couples who may apply for divorce include those who have been separated in fact for 5 years or those already legally separated for 2 years. â€Å"Number 3, is when the couple have the situation na nandoon iyung condition for legal separation such as marital infidelity, abandonment, one of the spouses has been convicted for more than 6 years, and domestic violence,† she said. â€Å"Ito naman ang mga basis for legal separation. Kung nandiyan iyan, puwede nang mag-file din ng divorce.† Grounds for legal separation may also apply when these same grounds have already caused the irreparable breakdown of the marriage. In addition, psychological incapacity, causing one’s failure to comply with essential marital obligations, and irreconcilable differences causing the irreparable breakdown of the marriage, will also be recognized as grounds for divorce. Ilagan said under the proposed law, it will be the courts that will determine if couples are qualified to apply for divorce. â€Å"It has to be proven in court, kasi hindi naman just because you filed for a divorce, you automatically get it,† she said. â€Å"Siyempre ang korte ang magwe-weigh.† Divorce less expensive She said the proposed divorce process will not be as financially, emotionally, and legally taxing as annulment. â€Å"Mas hindi mahal pero hindi siya murang-mura naman na this will become very, very easy that people will avail of,† she said. â€Å"Kasi, mayroon pa ring effort, mayroon pa ring proseso na susndin to reconcile.† â€Å"There will still be some expenses to be incurred dahil magha-hire ka pa rin ng lawyer pero this will not be as difficult or expensive as annulment,† she added. Ilagan cited data from the Office of the Solicitor General that says in Metro Manila alone, around 800 cases are being filed in courts for legal separation and annulment every month. â€Å"Majority of these (annulment petitioners) are women, and 92% are Catholic. Kailangan talaga, harapin na natin ang problemang ito,† she said. Support from lawmakers Even as the head of the lower House is supporting the proposal, Ilagan said the Senate is also likely to throw its weight behind a divorce bill. She cited the cases of 4 senators who either have annulled marriages or are undergoing the process. They are Senators Francis Escudero, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, and Aquilino â€Å"Koko† Pimentel III. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, during the renewal of her wedding vows last year, alsoexpressed support for divorce to be legalized in the Philippines. â€Å"I think divorce should be available to people who become homicidal at the sight of each other. That’s so much better than making each other miserable for the rest of their lives and impacting the lives of their children as well. I’ve always made known my views since I was RTC (Regional Trial Court) judge,† she said. â€Å"I am in favor of a divorce bill provided that grounds for divorce are very strict so that we will not encourage young people to rush int o marriage and then rush out by divorce,† Santiago said. â€Å"I think the Senate is more open,† Ilagan said. â€Å"They (senators) have revealed situations na they would be sympathetic to people who would like to have divorce.† â€Å"I’m sure marami din naman sa lower House na nakakaintindi. Itong bill na ito, inisip para tugunan ang pangangailangan ng atin mga kababayan,† she added. Just before the intense debate on the Reproductive Health bill, Filipinos are once more at odds with each other in considering another controversial piece of legislation: the Divorce bill. The debate on legalizing divorce took a kick-start when news of Maltese referendum favoring divorce reached the Philippines a few days ago. This has prompted progressive groups to make a bolder call for the country to follow in Malta’s steps and legalize divorce in a predominantly Catholic nation. The debate on divorce is nothing new, see here AttyatWork’s round-up of talking points on the issue from last year. Filipino Thinkers has a great digest of how the debate was settled and how the referendum unfolded in Malta. More importantly, it provides a side by side comparison of the issue between the Philippines and Malta: Aside from the happy ending, which left the Philippines the only country without divorce1, the story of Malta’s divorce referendum shares similarities with our own reproductive health (RH) debates: both countries are last bastions of Catholicism: Malta in Europe, the Philippines in Asia; both countries are predominantly Catholic: 95% in Malta, 80% in the Philippines; and both battles are primarily between progressive Catholics and conservative bishops. And in both cases, the conservative bishops use fear mongering to keep their flock in line. For a quick refresher on the differences between divorce, annulment and legal separation, Lyle R. Santos has a quick guide in layman’s terms. With Malta’s approval of divorce, the Philippines is now the lone country in the world that prohibits it. For Blue Dela Kanluran, the debate on divorce should not be framed on this fact alone: As i had stated earlier my stand is against divorce however, I will not begrudge a sovereign nation of their right to decide whats best for their country and themselves as Malta has displayed here. (See, that is an example of the separation of Church and State). Which leads me to wonder, what effects will the stigma of the only country which outlaws divorce have on the Philippines? Personally, I think this will make pro-divorce legislation in the future more difficult not only because of the meddling of the Church but with the stigma earlier stated as well (Which is not how legislation should be argued). Cocoy views the near-approval of the Reproductive Health and now the Divorce bill as a ‘reboot‘ of the Philippines, moving from a predominantly religious state in a secular o ne: If the Reproductive Health bill becomes law, and it is followed by a divorce bill? That would be one continuity reboot for the Philippines. It signals that the nation is slowly becoming secular and less under the thrall of the Vatican. As a Catholic, for me, it presents an opportunity for the Church to focus on the spiritual. I want sermons and direction that make me a better person. I don’t need the Church to tell me what is wrong with government. Filipinos everywhere already know what’s wrong with our nation. It is that time in history that we fix it. I need my church to help guide that poor maid who is always beaten up by her husband. I need a Church that guides street children away from the streets, and into education. I need this church to be relevant. Dreamwalker takes delight in the fact that this proposed laws, no matter how dividing and controversial, sparks debate among society, thus encouraging everyone to take part in the national discourse: I continue to be amazed by how Filipinos seem to be more aware of what is happening in the country and how we seek to be more informed about our laws â€⠀œ both proposed and existing. In my opinion, this can only lead to more good. Never mind that there will always b Maju brings forward a valid point in cautioning that our lawmakers should take up the divorce law with a keener eye: We should also get onto considerations on how good or bad are existing divorce laws. In many countries, notably those under the Sharia, the rights of women and men in divorce are not the same. Lastly, here’s a good discussion by a lawyer, Connie Veneracion, about annulment, legal separation under current Philippine laws and how divorce could plug the holes in the current Family Code: Later on, however, it became clear that despite the leeway allowed by the concept of psychological incapacity, there was a huge gaping hole in the law. Annulment is a very expensive legal procedure beyond the financial capacity of majority of the Filipinos. The laundrywoman living in the slums who is physically abused by the drunken jobless husband could not afford it. In addition to the expense, the process was a long and tedious one. Eventually, the divorce advocates started making noise again. As expected, the Catholic church is getting more imaginative in coming up with arguments against divorce. It is sad that most Filipinos cannot view marriage independently from its religious context. It is even more sad that most Filipinos do not consider themselves validly married unless married in church. Very sad indeed. So, will the passage of a divorce law patch the loopholes in the Family Code? It depends on what the law will allow as valid grounds for divorce and what the required procedure will be. It has happened before that a law is passed as some sort of pacifier. Congress can pass a â€Å"divorce† law which such narrow grounds and complex process that it will effectively negate the very purpose of a divorce. You know, just so it can be said that a divorce law has been passed. I doubt if that will satisfy the progressives and the divorce advocates. I’m not in favor that Divorce will be legalized in the Philippines. I believe its illegal and against the law of God. Philippines is a Christian culture country and we are the largest Christian Culture of all Asia. I don’t like Divorce at all and it has many disadvantages, of course Divorce ends your marriage that invest nothing at end, Divorce cost money and hurts children and also it changes personal relationships. Many people just don’t know the real importance of marriage even before planning of the wedding. Many of us are very religious and follow strict rules. We Filipinos believe that marriage is sacred in the eyes of God. Divorce is not the solution to the problems of many couple having their difficulties, they should put in their mind that they should save the relationship. They both promise in front of God that they will be as one in dealing life through ups and downs. We should see the other side of the situation and not be selfish. Children is the number one reason to keep the family together and bravely face all the problems. We should stand as the last standing country that did not legalized divorce and fight our dignity as a Filipino and as a person. Love of the family is the Filipino cultural identity. Family is very important and we should not give the evil an opportunity to destroy our gift of life which is our family. I Hope that many people realized the true essence of having a Family. I Will end up this with my deep and brief thought that In time of test, Family is the best. Below is a free essay on â€Å"Anti Divorce† from Anti Essays, your source for free research papers, essays, and term paper examples. 1 Divorce: a threat against the Filipino family Introduction A number of House Bills seeking to introduce divorce in the Philippines has sparked a nationwide debate. Moral, social, economic, and psychological issues pose valid considerations in resolving the debate. Various concern groups passionately argue and defend their respective viewpoints. The proponents of divorce led by groups advocating women’s rights argued that the reliefs provided by the Family Code are no longer adequate in the modern and present time. Further, these reliefs are prohibitive in nature due to the high cost of the legal procedure and its strict guidelines. They further contended that in reality, many couples especially those in the marginalized sector are stuck in unhappy and irreparable marriages because the relief that is applicable for their situation is not provided by any law in our country. While rich Filipinos can afford to have their respective marriages annulled, those who are poor are trapped in an abusive marriage for years. However, this proposition has been met with strong opposition. Being devout Christians, many Filipinos believed that â€Å"what God has put together, let no man put asunder.† They opined that divorce could lead to the breakdown of families. Divorce, they say would be detrimental in the Filipino culture which is primarily centered on a strong foundation in the family. Moreover, they contended that the said bill is unconstitutional because it is a threat against the family which the constitution pledged to protect as an inviolable institution. This paper seeks to address whether or not there is a need to legalize divorce in the Philippines as necessary relief for those marriages that has broken apart and its effects. Divorce defined Divorce, also called the dissolution of marriage is the final termination of a marital union. It cancels the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolves the bonds of matrimony between the parties. In effect,†¦

Local Color In Huck Finn Essay

Huckleberry Finn, a tale about a boy and his struggles with the society in which he lives, is written by Samuel L. Clemens. In the story, Huck manages to escape from the custody of Widow Douglas and travels down the river to a nearby island where he encounters Miss Watson’s runaway slave, Jim. Together, they float down the Mississippi River, to find a new life, where they can live freely and easily. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is perhaps the finest example of â€Å"local color†, an emphasis which is laid on the surrounding settings. Throughout the novel, Clemens accents â€Å"local color† by illustrating the natural scenery, the way of thinking, and the distinct practices and folklore encompassing the area. The novel’s plot revolves around the Mississippi River. The river breaks all the barriers of the time period, between black and white, young and old, slave and free. With their many journeys on land, they invariably return at the raft. While stopped in a near by village, Huck and Jim manage to escape the king and the duke, seeking refuge on raft. â€Å"It was the raft, and mighty glad was we to get aboard of it again†(Clemens 1309). Later on in the novel, at the Phelps Farm plantation, Tom and Huck learn that Jim is held captive in a hut just beyond Aunt Sally’s house. They devise a scheme to get him out, involving digging a tunnel, sawing off a leg of a bed which Jim was chained to, using a rope ladder, and having Jim flee from a makeshift window. The plan runs smoothly, all three exiting through the man made hole, until Tom gets caught on a piece of wood, which creates a clamorous noise. At that moment, they began their retreat in a hurry. Fifteen men, equipped with rifles and dogs, begin their hunt for the three outlaws: â€Å"Then we struck out, easy and comfortable, for the island where my raft was; and we could hear them yelling and barking at each other†Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Clemens 1442). They manage to, once again, get away seeking protection on the raft. The raft shielded both Huck and Jim from nearly every obstacle, yet slavery was still present no matter where they were. During the time this novel was set, just prior to the 1860’s, slavery prevailed all across the United States, especially in the South. Slaves were thought of as property for the white man to own, thus making them inferior. It was not until the Civil War where the slavery issue was addressed and eventually resolved. Throughout  the story, Huck and Jim travel down the Mississippi in search of freedom. Jim escapes from the possession of Miss Watson, fearing she was going to sell him down the river and thus separate him from his family. At one of their stops, at the Phelps farm, Huck hears a story from Tom’s Aunt Sally about an explosion on a boat: â€Å"It warn’t the grounding † that didn’t keep us back but a little. We blowed out a cylinder-head. Good Gracious! Anybody hurt? No’m. Killed a nigger. Well, it’s lucky; b ecause sometimes people do get hurt†(Clemens 1409). Ultimately, at the culmination of the novel, Miss Watson grants Jim his freedom, as stated in her will. Much of the population of this time based most of their practices and rituals on either the Bible or folklore. Jim, Miss Watson’s slave, had a hairball, taken from the fourth stomach of an ox. He believed this hairball was a prophecy, which truly spoke to him. In another episode, while Huck is stranded on Jackson’s Island, he hears loud explosions in the distance: â€Å"You see, they was firing cannon over the water, trying to make my carcass come to the top†(Clemens 1287). It was common knowledge of the time that when a dead body is in a river, the vibrations from the cannon ball will enable it to rise and float. Furthermore, residents believed that when quicksilver was put into loaves of bread, it would float to the dead carcass. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has numerous instances in which â€Å"local color† is present. Throughout the novel, heavy focus is laid upon the Mississippi River, and the villages close by. Common men and women used superstition and folklore to explain and solve life’s natural phenomena. Along with this is the portrayal of the brutal aspects, both physical and psychological, of slavery. At the conclusion of the novel, all hurdles are overcome, and Jim and Huck become free. Most of the population of this time was narrow-minded, being on the river, away from society, allowed Huck and Jim to overcome these bounds.

Country report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Country report - Essay Example The risks exist because of slave labor prevalent in the cocoa farms while the process of cocoa has increased manifold. Obesity and diabetic concerns may impact the confectionery market while free imports may impact the business. This report strongly recommends the UK as a location for setting up the manufacturing base because of the strong support for fare trade products. A Swiss chocolate manufacturer is evaluating several locations to set up a manufacturing base for exports to the neighboring regions. This report evaluates UK as a location to serve European and other developing regions. The main criterion for evaluation of a location has been the fair-trade principle which would enable the manufacturer to decide on the location. This evaluation would be based on an assessment of the opportunities and risks presented by the political, economic, social and legal environments. Fair-trade has been prevalent in the UK confectionery market as the three market leaders (Cadbury’s, Nestle and Mars) have committed themselves to fair-trade. However, the political stability is impacted by the slave labor in cocoa farming which will be discussed at length in the report. The economic power rests with the market leaders in the confectionery industry which needs assessment. Socially, people have become conscious of fair-trade and it is believed that they are willing to pay a premium for fair-trade products. However, the market strength is important. Legal implications have led to better guidance to nutrition which can promote fair-trade. Each of these four factors is important to decide on the location for the manufacturing unit and hence the report evaluates the opportunities and risks associated with them. Based on the findings, the recommendations would be suggested and the limitations highlighted. Fairtrade has been defined as a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. The purpose of implementing

Theme Park Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Theme Park Management - Assignment Example The maximum number of tourists are from Germany (about 50 percent), with Switzerland contributing 22 percent and France, a close second, with 18 percent. The rest 10 percent constitute visitors from other countries. Given these facts, the researcher has attempted to find out if the planning process of the theme park laid any stress on sustainable development of the local community. The research, therefore, aimed at evaluating to what extent the local residents were involved in the planning process of the park, both then and now, and the perspective of the local residents and stakeholders about their involvement, again both then and now. The researcher has used a positivistic research philosophy with a mainly deductive research approach, to establish the research objectives. Primary research (interviews, questionnaire) and secondary research (review of travel literature) were used for the project. The logic employed was that since the number of people was relatively large, a quantitative approach was employed. Though the researcher has not excluded the importance of qualitative research and in fact has included few interviews in trying to establish the aim of the project. In every research it is important to know about the research approach, how the data was collected and analysed, as the results of the research will vary accordingly. (Language Center. Writing up Research Method and Research Design.) For example, if the efficiency of the voting system in a democracy has to be determined and if a questionnaire survey is being provided to the people across the country, then it is a much better approach than randomly interviewing people. Two factors, one the huge base and the second sectional bias and prejudice will affect the results of the interviews. However, if the questionnaire has options marked as excellent, very good and good, then it gives no option to the respondent to answer in the negative. Hence, though the quantitative research method would be the best suited, it may lead to wrong conclusions, because the questions did not have exhaustive options. What is generally agreed on is that there is no 'perfect' research method. Data collection, however, is best representative when both quantitative and qualitative data is collected. So, interviews, which tell the 'inside story' is essential to understand the analysis. (Carter McNamara, Copyright 1997-2008.) In whatever which way the data is collected, analysis is best when the process starts working backward that is from the research goals. Starting this way, helps to streamline the thought, organise the data and focus on the analysis. In the Europapark project, though the aim was to determine the involvement of the local community in the initial as well as the present planning and implementation of the theme park project, the research objectives were fragmented into: Determining tourist attraction in a theme park and ways in which the local community can be involved in the project. Identifying the actual involvement of the local community in the planning process, in the design phase and in the current period. Determining the local community's perception of their involvement in the

Introduction to Criminal Law and Legal studies Essay - 1

Introduction to Criminal Law and Legal studies - Essay Example The High Court judges are obligated by rulings of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. On the other hand, inferior courts, such as the magistrates’ court and county courts, do not possess any binding power over the other courts (Robinson, 1997, p. 81). England’s and Wales’s Courts of Justice are the criminal and civil courts accountable to the justice administration in England and Wales (Fletcher, 1998, p. 71). England and Wales have a single legal system. In England and Wales, the Supreme Court holds the highest position in virtually all cases (Fletcher, 1998, p. 71). 2) The Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Communities Act 1972 have particular standing in the United Kingdom. It will be the duty of the higher courts to evaluate conformity to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), and the duty of all UK courts to make sure that trials are in agreement with its pledges (Carson, 2009, p. 24). Any circumstance in which the individual comes into contact with the state will be influenced by the Human Rights Act. The domestic law in the UK has been largely influenced by the European Convention on Human Rights (Gardner & Anderson, 2005, p. 112). This has had the consequence that the courts in the UK now bear a responsibility to interpret the statues and the common law in a manner that, where feasible, the UK law is in harmony with the European Convention on Human Rights (Gardner & Anderson, 2005, p. 112).

Indra Nooyis Vision for PepsiCo Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Indra Nooyis Vision for PepsiCo - Assignment Example Without referent power, the leader would not be trusted or respected by subordinates and followers. Without referent power, the employees would not be motivated to work towards shifting to non-carbonated drinks and would not approve Nooyi’s strategic decisions. Nooyi has built goodwill due to his successful acquisitions of profitable bottling companies. Without referent power, the stakeholders would be frustrated with lack of advertising the core sugary and fatty cola products (Cummings and Worley 176). Â  This approach is sustainable for PepsiCo if Nooyi leaves the organization to Cabinet Member in Washington, D.C. The approach would be sustainable if she establishes clear strategic goals for PepsiCo and implements succession plans that ensure future leaders are committed to the turnaround to more healthy products and environmental potential. Some types of influences that she needs in order to wield power for her to be successful in this endeavor include influence reward influence through providing fair benefits and recognizing excellent job performance. Another influence is a personal influence on shareholders by building close working relationships and trust in the turnaround strategy. A third influence would be positional influence by ensuring subordinates stick to the timelines of implementation of the strategy. She will also need expert influence by clearly demonstrating her career track record of making profitable acquisitions and change in organizations.

Successes, Failures and Politicization of Aid in Somalia 1991-2012 Dissertation

Successes, Failures and Politicization of Aid in Somalia 1991-2012 - Dissertation Example Due to the politics involved, the response to the needs of the people was very much delayed. Limited public interest in the crisis also led to issues in the distribution of aid. There has been much politicking in the UN agencies on the distribution of aid in Somalia (Hilhorst and Jansen, 2010). The UN processes were also ineffective as they were more process focused, not results focused. The strong competition with the NGOs also made things complicated. Risk adversity also became the principle of the humanitarian agencies. A contributing issue is accountability, where donors held the organizations responsible for what they did, and not carrying out sufficient crisis response measures for this issue (Warsame, 2012). The intense media scrutiny also presented problems and the aid agencies were delayed in their aid. Institutional interests were also given more importance than beneficiaries. The release of aid is still an industry; as proof small organizations which used to engage in aid are not multinational organizations with vast influence and budgets (Wiles, et.al., 2004). Through such changes, the need to protect the reputation of the company seems to take more importance. With the professionalization of the aid industry, the people manning such activities have also become professionalized. Careers have now been borne from such industry and the hiring of experienced personnel has become more important (Wiles, et.al., 2004). In some instances, lack of accountability was observed. With the gaps in the integrity of the system, the lack of soul-searching in the humanitarian community following the Somalia famine was unexpected. This may have been credited to the shortcomings in the system, alongside limited public and media interests which allowed the humanitarian community to persist with limited considerations made on their impact on Somalia (Wiles, et.al., 2004). A semblance of success in securing humanitarian aid in Somalia can be attributed to support gained f rom the civil society. However, even as civil society has a significant role to play in supporting unarmed civilians, civil society often suffers from limited support (IRIN News, 2009). In a 2009 appeal made by concerned civilian agencies seeking humanitarian aid in Somalia, their appeal amounted to $919 million, indicating increasing needs with allocations also requested for air transportation. The limits of the aid are based on the capacity and resources of the international community and there is a need to secure a partnership to fill in the gaps (IRIN News, 2009). The civil society has already paid significantly for their assistance to the poor. Access to south-central Somalia where the humanitarian needs are significant, much conflict has been seen especially with the abduction of aid workers (IRIN News, 2009). The security situation has not improved much for aid workers in the country. Two major NGOs have temporarily suspended their operations in the country and aid agencies h ave also been conflicted with the problem of piracy (IRIN News, 2009). Most times, humanitarian access has become unpredictable, and despite such issue, successful aid groups have still responded to the crisis. These agencies have understood that their responsibility to

Mergers and aquisitions in the USA banking Dissertation

Mergers and aquisitions in the USA banking - Dissertation Example For the past fifteen years or so mergers and acquisitions in the world of American banking have increased tremendously. There are a number of reasons behind this, such as increase in competition among the financial institutions, the deregulation of the banking sector and upheavals in the economy as well as the interest rates. The paper studies the impact of the consolidation of banks and its effects on the wealth of the shareholders. Though it is largely thought that consolidation is likely to have a positive effect on the wealth of the shareholders, study has found that it is not the case. Thus the thesis discusses in detail the reasons due to which the financial firms of USA are likely to undergo the process of mergers and acquisitions and its impact on the shareholders’ monetary resources. The sample spaces taken for the project are the mergers and acquisitions of the past ten years. The recent most acquisition in the American banking sector is taken into account (the acqui sition of Golden West Financial by Wachovia in 2006) is studied in great detail. The period from the 1930s to the mid 1970s has been the most stable in the history of the American banking sector (Grullon, Michaely, Swary, 1997). However, causes such as an increase in competition, the deregulation of the banking sector and upheavals in the economy as well as the interest rates of the country has resulted in numerous unprecedented problems for the bankers

Consumption and Saving Propensity Levels of Different Groups Essay

Consumption and Saving Propensity Levels of Different Groups - Essay Example This paper explicates on the theme of the saving and consumption inclinations of people with the goal of arriving at the rationale propagating two different theories, that explain such people behavior. With the aim of maximizing profits, it is imperative for businesses to understand the dynamics characterizing consumer trends. This has the effect of better positioning the respective products and services in the competitive market. The consumer decision making process entails understanding the factors affecting their purchasing decisions and the process as a whole. A prime factor affecting the spending power of consumers is the rate and extent of saving. This fashions a principal interest for economists as the dynamics associated with savings and consumption has a correlation with overall performance of the economy; both at a national and global level. Thus, the saving and consumption inclinations of people all through the course of their lifetime form an area of fundamental study. An economy will, presumably, undergo steady growth once the people decide to spend there cash; this ascertains the circulation of currency. This aids in ensuring the vigor of the economy is maintained. This is one of the rationales backing the measures instituted to instigate expenditure by citizens of a particular nation. However, in order to proficiently perform this feat, it is obligatory to understand the logic of the factor impede consumer spending. It is within this context that numerous theories were proposed to explain this fact. ... The two age groups have a large propensity to consume in relation to other age groups. The rationale in use is that the young population is borrowing against future income while the old population is using their savings. On the other hand, the middle aged population is epitomized by a greater propensity to save and consequently a lower consumption propensity. This might crop from the fact that, they are distinguished by relative higher income levels. A vast number of theories source their existence from a conceptual setup. They are formed to demonstrate the manner in which, variables of interest should behave in the real world. At times, however, facts in the real world may vary from results sourced from the conceptual framework. According to Sheldon Dazinger et al. (1982), the lifecycle hypothesis epitomizes such theories and hypothesis. Initially, the article cites the points with which it conforms. The authors concur that consumers do not hinge their consumption and savings decisi on solely on the basis of the income levels. There are some additional factors that presume a significant role in this decision making process. These additional factors are best exemplified by future expected circumstances and past experiences, which fashion the core feature in the decision. Past experiences are lessons that consumers take heed of, while future expectations are on the basis of their respective age and consequent income levels. Dazinger et al. set out to investigate if it could be proven that the young engage in saving while the old enage in dissaving activities. The studies factored in the saving tendencies of retirees and those individuals in advanced ages

Internet Strategies and Direct Marketing Research Paper

Internet Strategies and Direct Marketing - Research Paper Example The application of Internet marketing is one that requires several dimensions of reaching potential customers. When looking at the opportunities available for prospective customers, it can be seen that there are several components that make a difference in the success or failure of a specific company. One of the considerations to make is the use of direct marketing on the Internet and how it impacts a company, either positively or negatively. While websites are the main tool used for promotions, a marketing strategy should contain options for search engines as well as for direct marketing to reach to prospective clients. However, consumer attitudes, approaches to the marketing and the ability to get a positive response based on the interface of the website can all make a difference in how different consumers respond as well as how the Internet marketing strategy is able to grow or lead to negative results.

Development and creation of effective advertising Essay

Development and creation of effective advertising - Essay Example Different writes argue about the effect of sex and gender in the development and creation of effective advertising. However, this paper provides an argumentative approach that contrast sex and gender perception in developing and creating an effective advertising. Body In developing and creation of effective advertising the company focuses grabbing the audience almost immediately. Effective advertising offers the audience the chance to view the products displayed. Effective advertising focuses directly to the people regardless of sex or gender and offer them the first glance of the advertisement. This kind of approach is beyond the gender codes since it focuses on the audience using an effective means. Most of the adverts come through the televisions, prints and other advertising mediums. The best kind of advert is that grabs the customer or the prospective audience in a second. This means that the advertisement should be attractive and designed with effective fonts that attract many people. The creative concepts are the advertisement’s central idea that grabs your attention and sticks the audience memory. Creativity embraces on a vital feature of advertising that dictates the entire advertising field (Petley, 2003:30). In order to affect the advert, advertises usually take a general overview of the purpose of the advertisement as well as the people intended to be conveyed the message. The approach in which the advert will make the audience to give a second glance depends on the content and its effectiveness. Advertisers should pay different attributes in convening their messages through exploring different kinds of cultures of different societies in order to incorporate their say in the advert (Berman, 2010:107). This can be writing in a print or billboard that has impact to the psychology and perception. Goff man argues on the withdrawal of attention from social circumstances and the setting at the hand that features on emotions and tension that appears unresolved. He shows the contrast on men looking straight down the camera without blinking, challenging, and potentially aggressive. This attributes on control and consolidation as a mode of gender division in the view of events. The current advertisement focuses on all the audience regardless of gender or sex with attractive message conveyed to meet them in a collective manner. Another way of developing and creating an effective advertisement is by being clever and creative. Most of the companies depending on advertisement to reach their customers embrace on improved art in designing the advert to represent the message the company wants to convey to the people. The companies take a lot of time and even employee additional activities from external sources in order attain the best advert that outdoes the competitor. The companies even employ some respondents to report on the steps made by their competitors in order to take counter measures in response to the competitor’s plan s. Here, critical skills become essential in order to link people with the message the company wish to portray a seductive package. This means that these means that effective advertisements remains well executed. As such, the details, the image representation, the writing, the acting, the setting, and the way the product remain represented should mirror the highest production standards. Advertising often sets the customary or establishes the cutting edge for the printing, propagation, and internet design because clients demand the best production their plans can allow (Kapferer, 2008:496). Goff man

The evolution of the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, planets, and other Essay

The evolution of the Earth, the Sun, the Moon, planets, and other bodies in the universe - Essay Example The last and furthest planet is Pluto, which is a dwarf planet. After the sun, the second brightest object in the sky is the moon. It orbits around the earth once monthly. The impact theory suggests that the moon got formed out of collision between the earth and a very large object, the size of Mars or more. The moon got borne out of the ejected materials from the collision. At the center of the solar system is the sun. The sun is the largest object in the solar system. The sun makes up close to 99.8% of the solar systems mass (Merali & Skinner, 2008). The heat and light shed by the sun makes life possible on planet earth. The planets orbit the sun in paths called ellipses, which are oval shaped. A solar system references a star and all the objects that orbit around it. In our solar system, the sun is the star. The sun as the center of our solar system illuminates the light and heat that make it possible for life within any of the planets (Merali & Skinner, 2008). The planet earth is the only one proven to support life among the system. The planets Mercury and Venus are too close to the sun making them too hot and dry with little atmosphere. The outer planets are also unable to support life because they lack atmosphere, solid ground, oxygen and contain too much

Ethical Argument Choose a topic and argue the ethical side opposite of Essay

Ethical Argument Choose a topic and argue the ethical side opposite of the accepted norm - Essay Example Such could be the results of miscues especially of decisions, which are shadowed by the mists of pride and vested interests and the neglect of some ethical and moral guidelines. War had been a way of life for early civilizations. It was primarily the direct result of segmented societies where communities are tied by tribal concerns of control. The need for survival requires dominance within an area. To have a wider space means an assurance for more resources more security for living. The evolution of societies from early nomads until the present is marred by a lot of small and big wars. We have two major world wars and other big war yet to come, which doomsday seers predicted to cause an end to humanity. Therefore, whether we like it or not, war is an accepted norm. But trends in war have changed from the way it was fought in prehistoric and olden times. The rise of deep concern to human lives created awareness among the government leaders and ordinary persons alike the importance of preservation of life. War has become a form of arrogance and aggression. Wars fought today in the same cause, as thousand years ago is condemnable act. Today, war becomes a means of defense to suppress the interest of those who want to dominate a certain territory without respect for human rights. When the US led a campaign in Kuwait, it was meant to liberate a nation. When US challenge the North Koreans or other nations going into nuclear program, it was intended to warn them of the possible effects in future ambitions of arms development. Since the idea about war has shifted from barbaric acts of territorial grabbing to more of defensive acts the norm shifted to international recognition of human rights. Nations, great or small, share equal right and peoples of d ifferent races, colors, and territory show respect with one another. Many nations joined international organizations to recognize everyone's rights. The 21st century is the turning point of history and witness to the shift from the savage war of the past to humanistic concern of the present and the future. But the declaration of the war on terror after the 9/11 events caused a global war against enemies we don't know. The campaign has caused more casualties of innocent lives, arrests of innocent persons, and branding of several organizations who air grievances against their nations as terrorists. The war was indeed claimed to have been launched to secure the world against terrorists, but it has gone to a point that human rights were already compromised. But terrorism is a big issue and requires some moral judgment to qualify or consider certain acts as a form of terrorism. There are accepted definitions of terrorisms but interpretations differ. As Record stated: The definitional mire that surrounds terrorism stems in large measure from differing perspectives on the moral relationship between objectives sought and means employed. It is easy for the politically satisfied and militarily powerful to pronounce all terrorism evil regardless of circumstance, but, like it or not, those at the other end of the spectrum are bound to see things differently (8). As a result the War on Terror created confusion among the young Americans, who were taught about the morals of war and peace. The moralist consider the "attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon not acts of war but as a species of natural disaster, requiring unstinting generosity towards the

School Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

School Education - Essay Example The first article, ‘Against School’, illustrates how school is a tool that is formulated to fulfill an objective, rather than create a concept that is essential, as well as enjoyable, for students. ‘Against school’ provides the aspect of the problems that ails the school system and its effects on students. The second article is ‘Boredom is a common condition for schoolteachers’; this paper demonstrates a major problem with school education (167). The methods used to teach are tedious and can affect how individuals will learn concepts and ideologies that relate to various topics and subjects. This highlights that teacher get tired of teaching, and from time to time, they are unable to teach students in accordance to expectations. It brings the idea of taking children to school into question, because they do not normally enjoy their experience in school. Students are more likely to resent school, and hate education in general. (170) In contrast, ‘Learning to Read’ by Malcolm X provides a different perspective on education. The article describes how Malcolm X would teach himself and learn terminologies and words that he would apply on a daily basis. ‘I was so fascinated that I went on, I copied the Dictionary’s next page’. Malcolm X was pleased with the dictionary; it became his tool for learning (220). The main factor is that he was pleased with the impact of the dictionary that he made it his main learning tool. The article illustrates that learning can be an enjoyable experience when implemented under the right condition. Malcolm X proved that the nature of learning is determined by the tools and the attitude of individuals. The two articles bring into question the aspect of school education. ‘Against School’ illustrates the problems that plague the school education system, while ‘Learning to Read’ demonstrates the advantages of self-education. In general, the articles prove that the environment is a

Emigration of the Jews from the Soviet Union Essay - 2

Emigration of the Jews from the Soviet Union - Essay Example The Christian Zionists in America focuses on the covenant God had with Abraham in the Old Testament. The group had sympathy for Jews in the Soviet Union because of the suffering they went through in the hands of Nazi. The British restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine under the terms of the Mandate (Galili y Garcia & Morozov, 2006). The political situation reached a point, which it was not familiar to Arabs and Jews. The route into and out of Europe for Jews who wanted to enter Palestine was false. Three incentives lie behind the emigration of the Jews from the Soviet Union. Individuals from the Jewish societies find it hard to integrate into communities that host them. Jews are secluded in their social environment. The Jews grew to believe that they could preserve their culture and traditions through identifying the ethical values. Moral values play a significant role in the values of most societies. Moral incentives focus on the rights of individuals in the society. The Russian society fails to protect its citizens by catering for their rights. In capitalist's economies like Russia, material incentives are one of the factors for the emigration of Jews in the Soviet Union. Liberal societies provide ample environment for Jews to settle into their economic systems.

Software for Human Services Organization Essay Example for Free

Software for Human Services Organization Essay Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services is an organization that services the mental health population. This population has continued to grow, and because of the increased turnaround in clients served the company had to invest in multiple software products. Electronic Health Record or (EHR) is one of the software programs that are used by Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services. This software is designed to be shared with several different health care providers or settings. The Electronic Health Record software is an electronic collection of systematic health information about a certain population or client. Using Electronic Health Record software will be the digital backup version for a client’s paper chart. Electronic Health Record systems are client centered records that are recorded in real-time. Authorized users of this system are able to obtain this secure information instantly. Using the Electronic Health Record software client’s medical, mental, and treatment records are tracked faster. This program was designed to go further than the normal intake data that is gathered in a provider’s office and is inclusive of a larger view of a client’s care. Electronic Health Record software has tools that will allow providers to make accurate decisions pertaining to client’s mental health care. Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services use Electronic Health Record software to streamline and automate the workflow for different providers. One of the benefits of Electronic Health Record software is that Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services authorized employees has easier access to client’s medical history. This history consist of radiology images, diagnoses, treatment plans, allergies, results from a test that was taken, immunization records, medications, and laboratory results. Using this software to centralize client’s records electronically has helped the communication between other agencies flow smoothly. Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services use Electronic Health Records software to track information from  other organization, non-profit agencies, and other human services provider who may have provided services to a client. Some of these services are Medicaid approval or reimbursement, clinic management, subsidized housing, drug rehabilitation, and section eight housing. An advantage of this software is the improvement of client’s care, efficiency, safety, client-centeredness, and equity. This software allows each clinician involved in the client’s care the ability to share and obtain the client’s medical history and other pertinent information with other medical providers. Pharmacies, medical imaging facilities, schools, emergency facilities, and other clinics are a few providers that are authorized to receive client’s information from Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services in a digital format. As more and more health care providers continue to migrate to digital electronic management because of the advantages, there are some disadvantages to using Electronic Health Records software. One of the disadvantages can be the initial start-up cost may become pricey in the beginning. This consists of hardware installations, training of staff, and software upgrades. It does not matter if the facility that is converting to digital Electronic Health Records is large or small the start-up cost will be expensive. If administrative staff, nurses, and doctors are not too familiar with the way the new system is operated, these individuals will waste more time trying to figure it out. This can sometime force the administrative staff, nurses, and doctors that are uncomfortable with this software take longer to master a task, this is wasted time that could be used for other important missions or serving clients. Another downfall or disadvantage of using this software is the concerns of client ’s security. Most individuals think a disadvantage would be the security vulnerability for the client’s medical records. The ultimate concern is that hackers are still out there and may steal client’s personal information and possible compromise their identity. It does not matter how many password encryptions, security features added, and firewalls are put up, hackers can get in there. However, there are also companies that specialize in security measures for the maintenance of Electronic Health Records software. Client Track software is another software that is used at Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Service. Several of Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Service case managers, social workers, and other field professionals have  their mobile device set up so that they can have full access to enter the client’s chart and work on it without having to be at work. Client Track is optimized to be compatible with mobile Firefox, Apple iPad, iPhone, Chrome, Safari Web Brower, and iPod touch. Client Track has allowed Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services to take providing services t o a whole new level. Client Track has made it possible for employees to input important case notes in the client charts while they are continuing to work in the field. Different facilities can expedite the check in the process of a client by incorporating other mobile devices and iPads. This software will only allow designated staff to access areas pertaining to their job title. Client Track software has been an asset and benefit to Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health. The collaboration, compliance, efficiency, and outcomes have shown to be another benefit of using Client Track. Other communities, agencies and multiple programs can collaborate and transfer client’s information amongst each other securely and smoothly. Most agencies and programs have stakeholders, which they are required to report outcomes, activities, and services rendered, Client Track provide an automatic update with this information, which can be obtained by the stakeholders on an as needed basis. The efficiency of Client Track will eliminate having to use spreadsheets and give more time for staff to help the clients that are in need. Since Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services have been using Client Track software, the service to client’s outcome has increased. One of the advantages of using Client Track software is that this software is configured to meet various types of software. Homeless Management Information System or (HMIS) is a software application that is used daily by human service workers nationwide. Individual’s would think that an organization the size of Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Service will be the determining factor of the software chosen, this company has chosen the software that is a better fit, which allows them to communicate with several agencies. A possible challenge that may be encountered from the implementation process is the difficulty comparing the associated health IT products and EHRs products. Because of the newness of this software there were not a lot of competitors to compare to. References Gungor, F. (2014). OneSource DocumentManagement. Retrieved from http://www.onesourcedoc.com/blog/bid/71535/Disadvantages-of-Electronic-Medical-Records Health IT.GOV. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/faqs/what-are-advantages-electronic-health-records

Economics and Global Business Essay Example for Free

Economics and Global Business Essay A) Elasticity of demand is describes as the degree of percentage change in demand for a good or service due to variation in price. Elasticity measurements can be expressed by three types of demand; inelastic demand, unit elastic demand, or relatively elastic demand. To determine the percentage of change in demand for a product or service the price elasticity equation and coefficient are used. The coefficient Ed is defined as â€Å"the percentage change in quantity demanded of product divided by the percentage change in price of product X† (McConnell, Brue, Flynn, 2012, pg. 76) The three expressions of Ed are Elastic, Inelastic, and Unit Elasticity. Elastic demand occurs â€Å"if a specific percentage change in price results in a larger percentage change in quantity demanded† (McConnell, Brue, Flynn, 2012, pg. 77). For a product with inelastic demand Ed 1. An example of elastic demand is when there is a 2% decrease in the price of chocolate that results in a 6% increase in quantity. Ed= .06/.02 = 3 Inelastic demand occurs â€Å"if a specific percentage change in price produces a smaller percentage change in quantity demanded.†(McConnell, Brue, Flynn, 2012, pg. 77) For products with inelastic demand Ed 0 .Inferior goods are goods that yield a negative income elasticity, Ei 0. As consumer incomes increase, demand and purchases of these foods decrease. Examples of inferior goods are bus tickets, consignment clothing, and retreaded tires to list a few. D) Demand of a product will be elastic when there is a higher number of substitute available. This happens because consumers can easily swap one product for the other based on price. An example can be the purchase of soda. A consumer can go to the store to buy Pepsi but arrive and find a sale on Coke and buy Coke instead. The variety of soda a consumer can chose, makes the demand for Pepsi highly elastic. The same rule applies for inelastic demand of a product. If there is a limited number of substitute goods available the product or service is highly inelastic. An example would  be medical procedures or surgery. The alternative to surgery are very few, making medical procedures or surgery inelastic. E) The proportion of Income devoted to a good or service effects the elasticity of demand for that good or service. For goods that are of a higher proportion of income, a 15% increase in price would make the good highly elastic. But for goods that are of a lower proportion of income, a 15% increase in price would only slightly change the demand, making them lower in elasticity. An example would be a car priced at $13,000. If there is an increase by 15% the car now costs $14,950. This increase in price requires more of the consumer’s income making them highly elastic. Another example of how proportion of income devoted to a good effects elasticity of demand, is a pair shoes that cost $20.00. If there is a 15% price increase on the shoes, they now cost $23.00. The increase in the price of the shoes requires about the same proportion of income that the original price required. The lack of major proportional change to income makes the shoes elastic. F) Time is a factor that effects consumers demand elasticity of a product. â€Å"Short-run† demand for a product is often more inelastic than â€Å"long-run† demand since consumer have less time to find an alternative and normally don’t feel the effects of a price increase until â€Å"long-run.† An example would be an increase in the price of salmon. â€Å"Short-run† demand of Salmon is more inelastic since the effect if the price increase hasn’t been felt drastically by consumers. But, in the â€Å"long-run† demand for salmon will decrease making it more elastic as consumers find alternative to salmon. G) 1) Elastic demand range occurs when total revenue can be increased by decreasing price. The range for elastic demand on the graph is between $80 and $50. Total revenue increases as the price decrease. 2). Inelastic demand range occurs when total revenue can be increased by increasing price. The range for inelastic demand on the graph is between $40 and $0. Total revenue is decreasing as the price decreases. 3). Unit elastic range occurs when a  percentage change in price results in the exact same percentage change in quantity. When the price changes it does not affect total revenue on the graph. The unit elastic range for the given graph is $50-$40. References McConnell, Campbell R., Stanley L. Brue, and Sean Masaki Flynn. Elasticity. Economics: principles, problems, and policies. 19th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2012. 76-77. Print.

Implementing A Mandatory Recycling Program

Implementing A Mandatory Recycling Program In a world where global warming and going green are common terms in the English language, it can sometimes be difficult to decipher what it all means and just what the individual can do to help. Recycling is a major issue today and though there is controversy about whether it is necessary and how necessary it may be, implementing a mandatory recycling program is imperative for the environment and the people that live in it. Recycling comes with many benefits and prevents problems such as pollution and habitat destruction. Currently, our recycling programs are poor, and in order to improve them, a mandatory measure needs to be taken. Some oppose to it because they claim that it is expensive, ineffective, not as environmentally sound as other options, and does not provide the job opportunities needed. All of these oppositions are not valid or strong arguments and will be proved wrong. Recycling is necessary to the earth and its inhabitants. Recycling can be defined as reprocessing discarded solid materials into new, useful products.  [1]  It can reduce water pollution which would then protect species and reduce habitat destruction. Recycling reduces air pollution as well which would then reduce the effects or process of global warming. Further, it reduces solid waste disposal as well as energy demand which make fuel supplies last longer. Creating a program to require recycling from everyone would clearly benefit a variety of environmental processes. Individual households as well as workplaces produce five major types of materials that can be recycled. This includes paper products, glass, aluminum, steel, and some plastic. In order to understand the benefits of a mandatory program, the two ways recyclable materials can be reprocessed need to be addressed. The first way is called primary or closed loop recycling. This is where waste is recycled into new products of the same type. For example, a newspaper is recycled b ack into a new newspaper. The second way is called secondary recycling or downcycling. This is where waste materials are converted into different products. For example, a newspaper is recycled into cellulose insulation. There are two different types of wastes that can be recycled; preconsumer and postconsumer waste. Preconsumer waste is generated in a manufacturing process and recycled instead of being discarded. Postconsumer waste is generated by the consumers use of the product. Both types are equally important to be recycled. Theoretically, anything can be recycled but it comes down to two important things. These two things are important in deciding how the mandatory program will work successfully. The first question that needs to be addressed is will the item be recycled? In the process of separating the wastes collected for recycling, some of it gets mixed with other wastes and sent to landfills or incinerated. Secondly, will consumers actually purchase the recycled products an d complete the cycle to make it profitable? In aid to a mandatory program, it would help if the government required a label that indicated how much of the product contained recycled material.1  [2]   Our recycling rates are poor, and seem even worse when comparing them to the rates of other developed nations. Both Switzerland and Japan recycle about half of their municipal solid waste or MSW, while the United States only recycles about thirty percent of its MSW. With a mandatory recycling program, studies show that the US and other developed countries could recycle sixty to eighty percent of their MSW. Some believe that we do not have a problem with our waste management. If the previous percentages were not enough, then the following statistics are more than convincing. The United States wastes enough aluminum to rebuild the countrys entire airline fleet every three months; enough tires each year to encircle the planet almost three times; about 2.5 million nonreturnable plastic bottles every hour; enough office paper each year to build a wall eleven feet high across the country from New York City to San Francisco.1  [3]  Clearly, wasting what could be recycled is a big issue in America. Requiring citizens to recycle would help reduce the severity of these waste problems. Now that the different types of recycling and the magnitude of the recycling problem has been outlined, claims to why we should not implement a program can be easily, successfully, and intelligently declined. It is argued that recycling is more expensive than trash collection and disposal. However, when designed right, recycling programs are cost-competitive with trash collection and disposal.2 When comparing costs of both methods, the cost of curbside recycling is usually compared with the cost of conventional disposal alone. The fallacy here is that with recycling, the costs of collection and disposal are displaced. Instead of this comparison, the average cost of collection and disposal should be compared with the overall average cost of collection and recovery. Through this comparison, the costs are very impressive.2 Additionally, the United States spends five-hundred million dollars a year on picking up litter.1 Mandatory programs would lower this number significantly. It has been found to be true that recycling is expensive in some communities. However, it needs to be noted again that when done correctly, it is much cheaper. Recycling costs less than traditional trash collection and disposal when communities achieve high levels of recycling.2 The communities that the data is reflecting an expensive program are still recycling at very low rates and are treating recycling as an add-on to their traditional trash system rather than as a replacement for it.2 This is often the problem when critics are evaluating the costs of a program. They often treat it as an add-on cost, and [it is] therefore expensive. 2 Baltimore Maryland is a great example of how you should transition into the program. They use the same trucks to collect recyclables as they do trash, separately and at different times. By doing this, Baltimore made their upfront costs minimal and created no increase in their solid waste budget.2  [4]  The economics of the entire situation improves when recycling is not an add-on to trash disposal, but it is integrated into the process. It is falsely assumed that we can only recycle twenty-five to thirty percent of our waste. This number was considered a maximum in 1985, however today it should be considered a minimum and a much higher percentage is achievable.2 Currently the US does only recycle about thirty percent of its MSW. Because of these two statistics, those opposed to the program often think of this percentage as a cap. However, this is untrue. Although the amount of solid waste generated has leveled off individually, it has continued to increase on a national scale and there is therefore more potential waste to be recycled. Rates of what is being recycled have increased dramatically since the 1980s and early 1990s. The growth of the recycling programs is especially responsible for the increase. A dozen states are recycling about thirty percent or more of their MSW, but among those states communities are recycling up to fifty percent.2 These numbers are much higher in these communities and are continuing t o grow because of aspects of programs they have implemented. They have put into effect waste prevention strategies, convenient services such as curbside and drop-off, economic incentives, and resident participation. If all of these strategies and more were implemented on a federal level to require a recycling program, all of our statistics would improve. 2 The third argument that those against recycling programs use is that landfills and incinerators are more cost effective and environmentally sound.2 However the truth of the matter is again, when designed correctly, recycling programs are cost competitive with their competition. Further, recycling programs provide pollution prevention benefits. When recycling, the pollution normally generated from landfilling and incinerating materials is avoided, and the environmental burden of extracting virgin materials and the manufacturing process is reduced.2  [5]  Even with low landfill tipping fees, it is still the preferable option to recycle. Currently, twenty two states have less than ten years of landfill capacity left.2 Some southern states even have as low as five years. Now, why is this important to know? We need to look towards the future. The new landfills that would need to be created could cost much more than the ones that are here today.2 Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has issued that municipal landfills must install liners and leachate, the liquid that drains from the landfill, collections systems. Because of these new regulations, hundreds of landfills are closing, and fewer and larger privately owned landfills are remaining open. Fewer landfills results in increased transportation costs. As of now there might not be scarcity in land for new landfills, but new landfills are being created large distances from population centers. Long hauling and disposing municipal solid waste at distant landfills is already costing some cities on the West and East coasts between $40 and $70 per ton.2 These privately owned landfills may increase these costs. Studies show that privately owned landfills are much more expensive than publicly owned landfills by twenty percent, and publicly owned ones provide greater control over disposal activities. This all means that the existing landfills are a precious possession and recycling extends their lives.2 Although lack of land is not currently the problem for new landfills, communities do not exactly want to be dumped on. Therefore, a policy that reduces the burden on the environment and on local communities from the transportation and dumping of trash should be put into place.2 Incinerators are very expensive and recycling would be much more cost effective. Tip fees at incinerators built between 1989 and 1993 average $60 per ton.2 Incinerators built more recently have had to lower tip fees simply to compete with other disposal facilities. Montgomery County, Maryland is a great example of the how expensive the option of incinerators is. Montgomery County had to raise taxes to property owners just to cover the operating costs of its newly built incinerator after it lowered the facilitys tip fees in order to attract waste.2  [6]   Claiming that landfills and incinerators are more environmentally sound is not a valid argument. Even the best landfills contaminate groundwater from eventually leaking. As far as incinerators are concerned, thirty percent by weight of trash enteringà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦exists as ash.2 This ash is a waste that contains high levels of toxic residue. Furthermore, they emit carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and other acid gases that landfills do not. One study found that Floridas largest incinerators were burning significant amounts of recycling materials. This is due to the fact that contracts are requiring governments to bring a certain amount of waste to incinerators. These contracts are posing a major disincentive to maximize recycling or waste reduction programs.2 In summary, although landfills and incinerators may have some benefits, they are preventing us from moving forward and implementing more environmentally friendly and cost effective methods. We need to plan for the future because what is cheap and easy now will not be in the future. It is much easier to prevent a problem, then to fix the problem once it is already out of control. The next myth about recycling is that landfills are significant job generators for rural communities, and recycling programs would take these jobs away. However, the fact is that recycling creates many more jobs for rural and urban communities than landfill and incineration disposal options.2 Simply sorting the recycled materials alone would provide ten times more jobs than landfilling. The biggest pay-off though is making new products from the old products. So many aspects of the recycling process provide thousands of jobs. New recycling-based manufacturers employ even more people and at higher wages. Recycling-based paper mills and plastic product manufacturers, for instance, employ 60 times more workers than do landfills. Product reuse also sustains significantly more jobs than disposal options. Computer refurbishing repair, for example, creates 68 times more jobs than landfills.2  [7]  There are 25.5 million tons of durable goods discarded into the landfills in American each year. If just half of them each year were reclaimed through reuse, over 100,000 new jobs in the recycling industry would be created alone.2 Recycling is entirely sensible from an economic standpoint.3 There are doubts about just how willing citizens would be to adapting a new waste disposal method. As we can see from this problem, it is evident that many households do not recycle at all. It is a valid point to question, would people even go along with a mandatory program? The answer, through polls, is yes. A survey conducted with Wisconsin residents discovered that ninety-six percent responded that they believe their recycling efforts are worthwhile.3 Although some may argue the statistic would be lower across the board of the United States, a number that high is very promising. It does not seem difficult to educate people on the environment so they understand why it is necessary for a program. Regardless of the doubts some people may have, a recycling program is extremely necessary for the people, the United States, and the whole planet. The benefits of recycling should diminish any doubts. Arguments against a program have all been proven to be weak arguments and even the biggest issue of economics has been addressed. It is a much better choice financially to implement a full recycling procedure. In a world where global warming and going green are common terms in the English language, everyone should be able to say they are doing something to help. Everyone should be able to say they are recycling.

The Role Of Ward Based Advanced Nurse Practitioners Nursing Essay

The Role Of Ward Based Advanced Nurse Practitioners Nursing Essay This original research was conducted in a large teaching hospital in North West England that examined ward-based Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and aimed to clarify their roles and expectations in patient care and how they impact the clinical practice. Study participants (which consist of five ANPs, 14 ward-based nurses, and five patients) were observed and invited to participate in interviews. The roles and skills of ANPs were observed and gathered from the interviews. ANPs were described as pivotal in the management of patient care and served as an invaluable link between the medical and nursing team. They frequently translated medical information for nurses, patients and other allied healthcare professional to make sure that the plan of care was well understood and provide further explanations if necessary. ANPs were observed to be confident practitioners, good information resource and by using their technical knowledge and skills served as a role model to support the nurses and junior doctors to enable them to be more efficient in providing care. In addition, ANPs were found to be less intimidating than doctors and more approachable in resolving care issues. Meanwhile, ANPs were faced with a number of challenges and have to ove rcome skepticism from other health professionals who have different views on the ANP role expectation and scope of practice. ANPs perceived that their education had not adequately prepared them for their clinical role. ANPs have great impact in nursing practice and patient care. Although the study strives to clarify the role of the ANPs, the findings regarding the role of ANPs are not clearly defined and lack consistency that may lead to role conflict and overload. Running Head: How are acute care nurse practitioners enacting their roles in healthcare teams? A descriptive multiple-case study This multiple-case study conducted in two-university affiliated teachings hospitals in Quebec, Canada aimed to understand how cardiology acute Care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) enacted their roles in healthcare teams. Data were collected from interviews, field notes, documents and time and motion study of NP activities. The work activity pace was faster before noon due to patient care demands. Participants in one hospital believed that NP role was not an integrated role of medical and nursing components but an expanded role because they assumed more expanded nursing role components than the medical role. In addition, NPs needed to consult with physicians for patient care decision making that were within their scope of practice. They did not have that much authority in regards to decision making due to lack of structures to formalize the organizational role. There were also inconsistent messages about the role expectations to attempt to formalize the prescriptive authority of NPs which had not been approved by the medical advisory board. On the other hand, participants in the other hospital believed that NPs enacted their role more in the medical component since the medical directives and prescriptive privileges had been approved by the medical advisory board. NPs had greater autonomy in their role and prescriptive authority. It was also noted that NPs participated very little in nursing activities such as implementing nursing care plans or use of clinical care pathways. In both hospitals, the largest role component was the clinical role. The transfer of prescriptive and decision-making authority must be addressed to enable NPs to work their full scope of role to optimize patient outcomes. Clarifying role structures were expected to enable the NPs enact their role in healthcare team and prevent role confusion. Running Head: Defining NP scope of practice and associated regulations: Focus on acute care This review of literature was conducted to define the NP scope of practice (SOP) with emphasis on NPs in acute care setting. Documents were gathered from different resources including National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN), individual state board of nursing, and NP scope and standards of practice. According to Federation of State Medical Boards (2005) and NCSBN (2009), à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“SOP is a set of rules, regulations and boundaries within which a fully qualified NP may practiceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . It defines what activities a profession can undertake. Both practice acts (state regulatory board form of statutes approved by legislators) and its rules and regulations define NP SOP and require approval from legislators to become law. The Consensus Model for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Regulation was developed to resolve different issues concerning inconsistent APRN education and licensure requirement across jurisdiction and issues in certification. It helps stand ardize regulations for APRNs. Professional regulators are working together in implementing a consistent SOP for NPs in all jurisdictions. According to American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), NPs are licensed independent practitioners that provide nursing and medical services emphasizing on health promotion and disease prevention. In addition, NPs have a collaborative practice agreement with the physicians. However, regulations are different from state to state NP SOP are not clearly defined and further clarifications are needed especially as it pertains to NPs working in acute care to ensure that NPs are practicing according to their education, training and competency as evidenced by the certifications they hold. Running Head: NURSE-DIRECTED INTERVENTIONS TO REDUCE CATHETER-ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION This research focuses on the evidence-based practice guidelines conducted at the University of Colorado Hospital as a quality improvement project to initiate a nursing-driven approach to reduce the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection and improve patient outcomes. A catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infection. It is a major health concern leading to prolonged hospital stay and increased healthcare cost. Evidence-based use of indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) must be enforced to reduce the prevalence of CAUTI. In this project, an intervention design was implemented to evaluate the nurse-driven intervention incorporating evidence-based guidelines. The goal is to decrease the prevalence CAUTI by emphasizing health education on specific unit-based nursing practice. Improving the nursing care by educating the nurses regarding insertion, management and early removal of IUC to ensure the best practice and expanding this education to ancillary services (eg. rehabilitation and transport staffs) were found to positively impact the CAUTI rates. Focused unit interventions such as providing education on postoperative catheterization, use of bladder scanner to check for urinary retention to minimize IUC reinsertion, and encouraging early removal of the urinary catheter were found to decrease the catheter days and prevent infection. Providing education by infusing the best evidence into current practice are important interventions to raise awareness. Incorporating evidence-based guidelines and strategie s by focusing of nursing-driven interventions can improve patient outcomes.