Case Study - A Question of Contamination Assignment

Case Study - A Question of Contamination - Assignment Example re to this, if he is a person that values integrity, he should ensure that the selfish preferences of the prominent individuals should not surpass the well-being of the society. He should be accountable to the public by solving the conflict, because keeping silent would mean the government is unresponsive to its people. Additionally, being a public representative requires him to be accountable to the community in terms of what he knows and says (Box, 2013, pp.111-112). Blowing the whistle in this case would mean advocating for the public good, hence not being part of the corrupt individuals. This can be done by holding those involved in the deal responsible for the loss suffered by the community. Since the issue is a public affair, and it affects the whole community, it would be morally wrong to conceal the issue. Continued use of the chemical leads to the loss of economic resources that could be used to improve the economic position of the entire nation, and rapid steps need to be taken to save the nation. According to Lee, Neeley, and Stewart (2011) Erickson should formulate a plan of ending the crisis caused by the dangerous fertilizer. This would include reporting the incident to the respective regulatory body for the product to be banned from the market. He should also formulate a response plan to the public that should help them learn the importance of discontinuing the product in their farms. These strategies would curb further loss of animals, leading to the betterment of society. On the evidence, he now has of the possible environmental dangers of the fertilizer, should he inform the public? If so, should he leak the information to the press or identify himself as the source? What would be the likely consequences of each action? Informing the public about the danger of the fertilizer would help the community to save their herds. They would stop using the fertilizers, thus promoting their interest, and that of the nation, as great savings on survival of

Bar Coding in Administering Medication Case Study

Bar Coding in Administering Medication - Case Study Example Such a situation arises when all the intended information about the patient and the medication is not communicated to the doctors, nurses and other support staff with all clarity. Bar coding provides a reliable solution to such errors. With the help of bar code; Speed of identifying the patient, illness, prescription, past history, complications encountered etc. increases manifold. Instead of going through the lengthy papers, a bar code helps in comprehensively identifying the patient, thus helping in saving the precious time and the life of the patient. Label design, barcode and printing software: The label can be designed with information regarding the medication being given to the patient, his medical history, his identification, lab specimen collection, verification of blood products prior to transfusion, electronic charge capture of supplies at the point of use, automated medicine dispensing system, information about doctors' and other support staff etc. Pharmacy Management Software & Pharmacy Management Technology Providers: Such comprehensive systems are provided by QS/1, PanaceaRX, AmerisourceBergen Technology Group, Retail Management Solutions, Speed Script, SRS Systems, RXLink, RS Software, AdvanceNet Health Solutions, Etreby Computer Company, Inc., Per-Se Technologies (formerly NDCHealth), PharmTrak, OPUS-ISM, McKesson Pharmacy Systems, HBS Pharmacy Services, Soft Writers, Inc., THOT Corporation, CarePoint, Inc., HCC Pharmacy Solutions, JASCORP etc. Hardware Requirements: To handle the bar coding effectively in health care sector, all the above mentioned software require adequate hardware support. For the implementation of eMAR services we need; A dependable computer/s with good amount of hard disk space, DD RAM and a latest processor fitted with the bar code reading software and other peripherals. An LCD monitor works well with such systems as it occupies lesser space and the screen in more readable. Bar Code Scanner/ imager ID Bar code printer. This printer has to be a

Disputes between the European Union and the Rest of the world Essay Example for Free

Disputes between the European Union and the Rest of the world Essay Disputes between the European Union and the Rest of the world Introduction                   The sheer size of the EU sheer markets as well as its vast experience of more than forty years in negotiating international trade agreements has made it become the most powerful trading bloc in the world. Moreover, it has become a formidable power through trade, hence creating more problems with the rest of the world. The EU has increasingly used its market access as a bargaining chip to obtain changes within the domestic arena of its trading partners, starting with labor standards to development policies, and internationally, ranging from global governance to foreign policy. Therefore, this paper mainly analyses EU’s power in trade a factor that has made it create tension with the rest of the world. The analysis includes major dilemmas that are associated with how it exercises its trade power and point out why these strategies create tension with other international states. The argument also includes the need for the EU to refine it initial strategies of accommodation for it to successfully transform its structural power to be more effective and hence have a more legitimate influence.                   Among the first goals of the EU as a trade power is using its power to secure concessions from others on market access. This makes it function as an economic globalization determinant or shaper. Basically, the EU is using its trade power to achieve non-trade objectives that range from the export-specific rules flanking market integration such as social, environment and safety standards to a more political or strategic linkage (Haughton, 2007).The rest of the world is therefore left to wonder if such use of trade power ultimately matters in geopolitical terms. Power in trade                   When we compare the EU and the US, there is no significant difference in the way the two exercise their power in trade at the bilateral levels mostly through agreements that they often have over their access to the market for their goods, capital and services in other regions. Agreements with EU have usually been involved more on reciprocal concessions over tariffs, quotas, and technical barriers to trade. However, concessions can sometimes be asymmetrical, either due to the fact that the EU could be making steeper cuts, or due to the fact that the value of the EU cuts could be greater following the size of the market. Failure to withstand such asymmetries means that the EU, similar to the US, uses preferential bilateral agreements to pry open the available markets that are found in the South as an exchange for accessing its own markets. Regionally, EU power has taken the form of less specific reciprocal concessions. As more nations across the world join regional trading blocs, the aim of the EU is to realize economies of scale through bloc-to-bloc deals. Such first bi-regional trade agreement is still being negotiated since 2000 mainly involving the EU and Mercosur, which is a customs union between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay created in 1991. It is to be followed by ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations) as new economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with, among others, the Caribbean countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council. It cannot be denied that in Latin America especially, have taken such moves partly in consideration to reaction by USA’s own drive towards regionalism.                   EU’s involvement in multilateral bargaining at the global level has been shaped by its relationship to the US. These two great trade powers have for so long been engaged in what is seen by the rest of the world as a battle of the titans, as each side has been trying to ensure that each of them has a continued access balance towards the market through trade and regulatory deals, if not, to resort to dispute settlement (Grabbe, 2006). As that continues, they have also tried using their trade power to exert their rule of ‘western hegemony’ over the developing world, especially towards the so-called ‘new issues’ that pertain to services as well as intellectual property that were initially introduced during the Uruguay Round. Of late little co-operation has existed between the EU–US regulatory and these two powers have kind of began pursuing sharply diverging tactics, that came up with opposing alliances during the Hong Kong meeting of the Doha Round in December 2005. Power through trade                   The EU tends to be more attached to not only multilateral forms of trade relations but also to the premises of embedded liberalism. Contrary to the US case; the EU’s use of trade in order to achieve non-trade objectives has some pride as a potential instrument of Europe’s geopolitical power. Whilst little doubt exists in regards to the EU being considered as one of the top players in world trade, there has been a lot of keen interest while assessing EU’s identity as a ‘power’ in general. They have however put across various qualifiers in characterizing a mode of influence that can enable them to manipulate others and make them perform according to the interest of the EU.                   Existence of the shift from a post-war to a post-Cold War paradigm of economic hegemony does not seem to be towards only increasing interventionism inside the affairs of trading partners, that even other nations apart from EU promotes. It has also taken other forms absent in the subservience of trade to security imperatives, the power to be yielded from asymmetries in such interdependence, and the ends of increased interdependence, as scrutinized under a mode demanding criteria of legitimacy. Even as the US tries to promote some specific features of an open trading system that tend to serve its domestic interests, the EU instead has been increasingly engaged in a more clever game where values, interests, and model are blurred. It does not just try to promote openness, but are more concern with openness ‘the EU way’. Considering the fact that the EU itself is a system of market liberalization, external efforts that it encourages are regarding replication more than domination                   Most groupings that have come up in the last decade seem to have done so majorly to increase their bargaining power within the trade negotiations against the EU and the US. They forget that having a closer relation to other regions around the world tend to be a means of enhancing the normative power of the EU and a reflection of this power. This is because such EU outstanding context and unique character as an integrative policy among other states is shown to be important. It is not US as a federal state which is relevant to integration among countries, but the EU as a federal union. Therefore, it seems the EU’s support for regional organizations like the Pacific Islands Forum and the African Union is linked to a particular expectation of contribution not only to the economic integration but also to the prevention, management and resolution of inter-state conflicts.                   However, while the EU has considered itself to be the judge of what is right or wrong as a trade power, there is some evidence showing that as a union it is indeed a conflicted trade power. This is a fact since within its different guiding principles; there are various policies which directly contradict each other (Teorell, 2010). Regionalism vs. Multilateralism                   A lot of debate has been going on, whether regional trade agreements have been indeed building blocks or they are just stumbling blocks for multilateralism. The claim by the EU has always been that they are indeed building blocks. This was demonstrated when it defended the relevance of its own approach to the Uruguay Round agenda; as both the EU as well as the GATT at the same time tried to explore the fresh basis of trade in services, of course, with diverse ambitions as to the extent of liberalization. While it was a key player in the launching of the Doha Round, it is also becoming an active promoter of regionalism.                   The question then left to ask is whether these two factions are compatible. Following the sudden jump in terms of free trade agreements to more than 300 like in 2001, the shocking thing is that the WTO has not been able to reach agreement even on a single case report towards any regional agreement in spite of them vowing to participate in the role of regional trade committees. This is in contrast to the Appellate Body which has taken on the issue, for example, they suggested on the need to apply some kind of ‘necessity test’, towards a recent ground-breaking case, where by Turkey and EU were condemned after they increased unnecessary barriers to Indian textiles when Turkey decided to enter its customs union with Europe. Following the move the EU is still drawing lessons. Of course, such judgment may act as an inspiration to the EU policy-makers in their endeavor devise strategies of accommodation trying to tame the trade-diverting effects on regionalism. As an alternative, on the region-to-region front, there could be a possible insertion of clauses that link the implementation of market access deals with progress on the multilateral front, just like it was done with ASEAN. EU’s regionalism can also come under conflict with bilateral agendas of their own partners. Trials by the EU’s strategy of encouraging regional co-operation in the Balkans have come into conflict following its use of trade linkages for domestic change.                   Also, as was realized in the Euro-Med context when the EU sought to draw lessons from past relations with the Mediterranean after its multi-lateralized its relations and encouraged trade among the southern partners by changing its rules of origins and allowance of accumulation, for example, aggregation between the value added to the southern nations. However, following lack of consensus between these economies, such approach has not yet been judged to bear fruit, (Knodt Jà ¼nemann, 2007). There could be a need for more drastic incentives. Continued systematic promotion of regionalism could be of harm indeed to the EU’s proclaimed development goals. Like, when some analysts argue that being engaged in urging of rapid regional integration in Francophone West Africa was seen as a great contributing factor towards the subsequent instability in the region. The EU sought free movement of goods in this case, but not people, but failing to provide a red istributive wealth mechanism that was to deal with adjustment costs and at the same time undermined government social programs.                   Moreover, most of the deals negotiated throughout the 1990s under the watch of the New Transatlantic Agenda between the EU and the US tended to be vulnerable to similar criticism. In a way they have had a trial to the feasibility of exporting the approach by the EU of market integration through regulatory mutual recognition by the US. However, still it is important for the EU and the US to design such agreements as well as their supporting mechanisms better and make them be open to those who are new who might take the approach of respecting the standards adopted trans-atlantically. Non-discrimination vs. Bilateral preferential relations                   What can be seen as a major variant on the multilateralism –regionalism dilemmas tend to be increasing tension between the vowed commitment of the EU to international trade law, more specifically the highly favored-nation (MFN) principle, as well as the desire of the EU to be able to maintain preferential trading relations with specific countries. The agreement by the EU to the concept of ‘trade distorting’ regimes that stems from some of its members colonial pasts, exceeding the entire preferential market access granted to ACP countries, may of course sound as an objective even more commendable as compared to the MFN pursuit of global justice. However, it is important for EU to be clear on the price it has to pay for this moral luxury. Therefore, establishing such tension between international law and special relations tend to be acting geopolitically pitting two sets of developing countries against one another.                   Likewise, the 2001 Everything But Arms initiative (EBA) involvement in granting duty and quota-free access to the entire exports but not where arms and munitions are involved from the least countries that are less developed has faced criticism for excluding the key crops such as sugar, rice and bananas until 2009, as well as for leading in discriminatory practices among developing countries. Vulnerable and small economies that have been included tend to be bound to displace the exports of the same but some countries were excluded. Some States like the Caribbean or the Bangladesh members of the ACP group got a chance to benefit from this preferential trading arrangement with the EU. The WTO has many times condemned such policies. However, most of the member states, like UK, France, or Portugal who are former colonial powers, would not be keen on abandoning a system that is designed to eradicate poverty for the poorest farmers around the world who have bec ome dependent on inflated EU prices. In this instance, the EU has chosen a classic strategy of accommodation: progressive graduation as well as the negotiation of transition systems. Based on the multilateral constraint, EU’s only remaining power tend to lie with determining the speed of transfer of adjustment costs with its trading partners and its import intermediaries.                   This kind of negative power is doomed to unpopularity. Therefore, by EU presenting a new deal like in 2005 of cutting guaranteed sugar prices by 36 per cent over four years, it was predictably criticized on all sides, attacked based on the fact that it was reforming the detriment of poor sugar exporting countries and it was failing to move much further. Somehow, the EU seems to have taken firm grounds stand, ironically, even playing around with the non-discriminatory obligations that are contained within the GSP, at least as under the rule of the WTO 2004 appellate body ruling on EU vs. India. In this case, India was challenging the EU’s modified GSP which tend to provide an additional margin of preference on the part of recipients with drugs enforcement policies where the Commission was involved in inventing the entire list of beneficiaries of the programme without considering any objective criteria. Seen as a brilliant compromise given to the EU given by the AB, the benefit of the doubt based on the fact that indeed the right to modify preferential treatment was not subject to a simplistic constraint of identical treatment among beneficiaries, (Tocci, N., 2007). The AB argued that different developing countries were not situated on the same way when it comes to their different needs and hence could possibly be subject to ‘performance requirements’ as long as the approach were objective, transparent, as well as non-discriminatory in the broad sense. What question perhaps remains to be tested is what are acceptable conditionalities more generally? In a sense, it was important for the EU to develop a more universal approach as to where to draw the line. Western Hegemony Vs. Mediating Power                   An area which has also brought tension is in the EU’s alliance strategy as well as the light it portrays on what kind of actor it really wants to become. As a matter of fact, is it possible for the EU to play the part of the nervous protectionist North (agriculture), the rich liberal North (services), as well as the mediator between the South and the North? Taking the ‘rich North,’ is it necessary for it to generally to always take the US side for it to protect their shared commercial interests? Or it should go for emphasizing its vocation as a mediating power on the global scene, especially between the developing world and the US but at the same time, increasingly, between different interests in the developing world itself? Just as was recently demonstrated by controversies in the Doha Round, not only do multilateral trade negotiations are asking how much liberalization, but they are also asking what kind of liberalization as well as for whose benefit The Uruguay Round basically represent the culmination of an assertive US–EU alliance bent towards a commercially driven line in addition to a grand bargain between their reluctant acceptance of (partial) opening on some tropical/agricultural products and a (delayed) opening on textile, as an exchange for introducing fresh issues within the newly created WTO. In particular, intellectual property issues have exposed the EU to a lot of criticism that comes from the developing world due to the fact it sided with the interest of US multinationals.                   This tension between the North – including the EU – and the developing world started way back. However, a lot of attempt has been made by the EU to establish a reputation as a champion of development including through its 2001 role, when it launched the ‘Doha development agenda. Some other promoted path-breaking declaration on trade and public health has been going on. Like it has opened the way for legalizing broad exemptions from intellectual property constraints during any imports on generic drugs to treat diseases such as AIDS. There are also other initiatives, for example the databank which was set up by the Commission’s Directorate General for Trade in order to assist developing countries in their market access strategies, and have enabled the EU begin to change the image it has in the WTO.                   Following what recently came up in the Doha Round is an indication again to the lack of commitment that the EU has in seeking to marry its natural alliance in most of the domains (not all) with the US and its development advocacy. For example, when a World Bank Study questioned the EU’s ‘demonstration strategy’ through EBA stating that once requirements such as standards as well as rules of origin were taken into account, it was realized that the US was actually more open to LDC exports as compared to the EU. On the other hand, there is failure by the EU to promote multilateral solutions that is capable of addressing perhaps the single most important factor that links trade and poverty such as the massive volatility as well as decline in the price of primary commodities. As a result if the EU is indeed committed to uphold an image as a ‘mediating power’ within the global political economy, it will have no option but to ac tively promote changes in the WTO which the US is likely to actively resist, (Marshall, M., Jaggers, K.,2010). However, a lot of failure has been manifested by the EU in exploiting a potentially promising strategy of accommodation like putting transatlantic economic as well as regulatory co operation at the service of multilateralism. Internal vs. external objectives                   Somehow, the manner in which the EU is exercising power through trade should be held up to special standards. Claiming consistency between its internal and external actions tend to be at the heart of its legitimate exercise of power. The EU has indeed faced difficulties in an attempt to lead by example in the area of trade. Like, in case where the single market has been premised based on the assumption that free movement of people is a key dimension of market integration, as a matter of fact, what will this one mean for the position taken by the EU on the freedom of movement of people in order to deliver services? In order for EU to be consistent, it will need to invest political capital and more creativity in ‘globalization with human faces’ as well as the manner in which there could be encouragement of back-and-forth movement of people as an alternative to permanent migration.                   The existing tension between the internal and external is well evidenced over agriculture, and came up in the Doha Round. A lot of questions have been raised over the conflicted position taken by the EU regarding agricultural tariffs and subsidies in its commitment to putting multilateralism at the service of development. As a matter of fact, there is no need for denying European citizens their landscape, food security, and way of life. However, it is important to tell them the much it costs, like the number of people who are now living under $1 a day. Also the question can be whether region-to-region agreements tend to be more about promoting regional integration outside the EU ‘per se’ but not taking the form of a worldwide strategy pushing for convergence with European standards as well as mutual opening of markets, thereby supporting EU incumbents. Time and again representatives of Mercosur have stated that they are aiming to follow the EU’s example, which according to them has made Europe ‘less dependent on the outside world, (the EU has stressed market opening). What is interesting is that the current political leadership in Mercosur, particularly President Lula in Brazil, have kind of supported the EU project over the US-led Free Trade of the Americas Agreement, indicating that the EU’s leverage through trade does not show some indications of legitimacy as compared to that of that of the US, (Stephanie Hanson, and Brianna Lee, 2012).                   Moreover, it seems that EU assumes that the liberal recipe of ‘peace through commerce’ which has indeed seems to have worked so well with them applies uniformly anywhere else. Generally, trade is capable of fueling conflict especially when carried out within a context of corrupt governance, deep social inequalities, and unfair rules, as well as without enough attention being paid to its destructive byproducts like export dependence, adjustment costs, price volatility or illegal trafficking. For EU to bring its external action to be in line with its internal philosophy, it needs to establish trade policies that are also sensitive to these potential conflicts. The current certifications efforts for diamonds or timber constitute tend to be a promising starting point. Equal Partnership vs. Conditional Opening                   There is a fundamental contradiction that exists as well within the very idea of ‘normative’ or ‘soft’ power. The language the EU is speaking is of shared norms which are developed through consensus and co-operation. But on the other hand, trade power tends to be the use of ‘carrots and sticks’ in enforcing such norms on trading partners. We are not even surprised that the incorporation of non-trade conditions in trade deals faces great resistance from developing countries, as they just see this to be a blunt coercion. A growing debate is now going on regarding the effectiveness of conditionality, which is now kind of spilling over from the field of aid to that of trade. Regardless of any instrumental argument, what is still being asked is whether a post-colonial power is not suppose to rely on voluntary change as well as the provision of public goods like its markets in bolstering the likelihood of such change. Do we miss to see a contradiction as the EU tries to export norms of its making, which is predicated based on voluntary co-operation between states using its quasi-coercive leverage through trade? Some of the policies such as the EBA undoubtedly tend to lie at the other end of the spectrum; unconditional opening to be a tool for development; having trust that new export opportunities in themselves is likely to encourage desired changes in the beneficiaries. Nevertheless, is it true that this policy is genuinely taking the interests of developing countries to heart, or it is just a public relations coup on the part of the EU? This is a signal to the rest of the world that the EU was eventually acting upon its pro-developing world rhetoric, the EU managed to find their way out in Hong Kong in generalizing the principle under WTO. So far giving way duty/quota-free access to 97 per cent of the products that originates in least developed countries is not welcomed by majority. Trade Liberalization vs. Domestic Preferences                   There is great tension for the EU as a trade power based on the embedded liberalism compromise. The conflict is in the manner of combining a trade liberalization credo with a primary concern for the social effects of market integration. Often, the EU has been facing social demands for protection that somehow may be going beyond the spirit of embedded liberalism. In response to such demands, the Commission’s trade policy-makers under the leadership of Pascal Lamy have developed a fresh conceptual apparatus based on the fact of collective preferences setting up institutions that are capable of forging collective preferences. The end result is diversification of social choices over health care, inter alia food safety, precaution in the field of biotechnology or welfare rights, cultural diversity, public provision of education and health care. However, it is argued that if these concerns justify protection then the EU has the obligation of providing c ompensation to its trading partners. Conclusion                   Indeed, it seems like EU exploits its formidable trade power for pursuing non-trade objectives through conditionality or through fostering regional trade blocs in its own image. This highlights the way the divergences between member states objectives makes it hard for the EU to signal its resolve to the outside world more clearly. Nonetheless, such divergences are themselves a byproduct or an expression of existing tensions between various alternative priorities or even norms that must simultaneously be committed to by the EU machinery, such as nondiscrimination and bilateral preferential relations, regionalism and multilateralism, western hegemony and mediating power, trade liberalization and domestic preferences, internal and external objectives, equal partnership and conditional opening. Due to the fact that legitimacy tends to be the main currency for an aspiring normative power, it will be difficult for the EU to effectively become a power through t rade without addressing what majority of the world considers being unsustainable contradictions. References Haughton, T. (2007). When does the EU make a difference? Conditionality and the accession process in Central and Eastern Europe. Political Studies Review, 5(2), 233–246. Knodt, M., Jà ¼nemann, A. (2007). Introduction: Conceptionalizing the EU’s promotion of democracy. In A. Jà ¼nemann M. Knodt (Eds.), Externe Demokratiefà ¶rderung durch die Europà ¤ische Union-European external democracy promotion (pp. 9–32). Baden-Baden: Nomos. Marshall, M., Jaggers, K. (2010). Polity IV project: Political regime characteristics and transitions, 1800–2009. Fairfax: Center for Systemic Peace, George Mason University. Stephanie Hanson, and Brianna Lee (2012) Mercosur: South Americas Fractious Trade Bloc. Retrieved 3rd 10, 2014. http://www.cfr.org/trade/mercosur-south-americas-fractious-trade-bloc/p12762 Teorell, J. (2010). Determinants of democratization: Explaining regime change in the world. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Tocci, N. (2007). The EU and conflict resolution. Promoting peace in the backyard. London: Routledge. Source document

The role and effect of culture jamming

The role and effect of culture jamming Culture jamming can be defined as activities to resist consumerism, globalisation, and corporate advertising, which based idea of liberation, in order to affect and change advertising saturation society for better (Sandlin Milam, 2008; Barber, 2007). The development of mass medias technology, especially internet technology, supports different pathways for culture jammers to extend their opinions, such as Adbusters magazines, Anti-Pearlman Permanent Poster League on Facebook, and Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping (Sandlin Milam, 2008; Nomai, 2008). Culture jammers provide another way to understand the world and critical analyse the modern commercial culture. First of all, consumers could have chance consider the other side of advertisements via culture jamming movements. Products providers claim the best aspects of their products, sometimes consumers are encouraged to purchase the products which may harm for their healthy and not very environment friendly, such as alcohol, cigarettes, and some eco-cleaning products (Hickman, 2010). Therefore, culture jammers insert their ideas in existed advertisements to show the other side of truth. For example, as picture 1 shows, culture jammers try to warn people stop drinking and keep health with changing Absolut Vodka advertisement. Picture 1 Secondly, culture jammers against consumerism to protect human well being, based on the idea of liberation (Sandlin Milam, 2008). According to Rumbo (2002), in 1996, American people were exposed to 3600 advertisements per day, culture jammers believe these advertisements will change consumers daily life and beliefs (Behr, 2010). Kasser and kanner (2005) argued that advertisements encouraged people more materialistic because they want to compare with images of wealthy people. Results from this, culture jammers appeal anti-consumerism campaign to opposite advertisements and logo of brands (Rumbo, 2002). Picture 2 shows that culture jammers resist corporate advertising and screaming for more personal space. A video from Youtube showed similar argument of culture jammers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJTCWtcAewsfeature=player_embedded). Picture 2 (Picture from internet) Furthermore, as results of some mainstream commercial advertisements have negative moral effects on citizens, culture jammers try to persuade people to be better. Take an instance, advertisements of violence against women have influences on high rape criminal rate in US (Capella et al, 2010). Culture jammers reject these legal but effective advertisements, for example, there is a video on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp6gjxCRuxs) to appeal people. Another problem is advertisements contains violent criminal relate to peoples attitude because violence pictures can be captured and memorised easily (Scharrer, 2004; Soderlund Dahlen, 2010). Under this situation, culture jamming activities have positive affects. However, ethical consideration in culture jamming activities should be reviewed as well. For example, putting leaf posters on public facilities is hard to clean and make city dirty, as Picture 3 shows. At same time, culture jammers applied similar advertising method as other mainstream advertising, for instance, there is a video on Youtube for culture jamming Facebook (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR5gEy3HkzE), and however, the facts which were stated were not persuasive but seem like in purpose. Picture 3 (The picture was taken on 24/02/2010, in Liverpool) To sum up, activities of culture jamming have positive effects on re-building commercial life and explore a different way to understand the hidden meaning of advertisements. On the other hand, the formations of culture jamming could be considered because of negative aspects. Leaf posters and illegally advertisements which posted by culture jammers would give bad impressions on these good activities. 2. Does our fascination with celebrity add value to our lives? Celebrity is a social phenomenon today. Celebrity could be described as people who are well known by others, much talked about, and notoriety (Pendfold-Mounce, 2009). According to Rojek (2001), celebrities can be classified by status, including ascribed (blood relationship), achieved (talented people and hard workers), and attributed (who are created instantly) celebrities. Modern mass media support the development of celebrity industry, numbers of celebrities are created and the amount of obsessions increased dramatically (Pendfold-Mounce, 2009; Cashmore, 2006). Particularly attributed celebrities are benefited from mass media, such as celetoids who become famous by public scandals, celeactors which are fictional roles originally (Rojek, 2001). The effects and values of celebrities in our life should be critical analysed, because this depends on personality of celebrities and the way of advertising by medias. Michael Jackson will be used as an example in this essay. Negative effects of celebrity, especially attributed celebrities, are concerned for decades, and it is still a problem of society which should be solved. This means there are harmful impacts if celebrities perform as bad example in their products or daily gossips. Penfold-Mounce (2009) embodied celebrities relate to criminal and ethical challenges today. Celebrities who have criminal records or moral considerations, for example, Michael Jackson was accused of sexual abuse in 1993, will have bad affect on attitudes of people, especially teenagers (Daily Mail, 2009). Additionally, celebrity culture also influences the career choice of students and their academic achievements. For instance, over 30% of pupils claimed want to become famous as who they adored (BBC News (a), 2008). Meanwhile, adults cannot avoid the effects of celebrities as well. Take an instance, some marketers try to infantilize adults via celebrity advertisements and other visual products (Barber, 2007; Boon Lomore, 2 006). Under this situation, celebrity is useless for add value on our lives but only make troubles. On the other hand, celebrities could impact people positively if they perform well and mass media advertise good aspects. Furedi (2010) stated that celebrities gossips may represent peoples daily lives and give them psychological comforts. At same time, celebrities promote healthy lifestyle and attitude to people. For example, Michael Jacksons Beat it is very exciting and encourage people to face difficulties. Because of the appeal of celebrities, they contribute a lot in charities and other aspects of society, such as Michael Jackson were awarded result from his contributions in Afrcia (BBC News (b), 2009). Indeed, celebrities procedure of achievements like Michael Jackson could encourage people fighting for dreams (Cashmore, 2006; Furedi, 2010). In addition, the creation and commodification of celebrities TV shows (e.g. X-Factors) encourage ordinary people to achieve their dreams. Especially the players in these shows could share their ideas to public and make it as recognitions (F uredi, 2010). Additionally, this may close the distance between celebrities and ordinary people (Cashmore, 2006). Picture 4 (Picture from internet) Overall, celebrities and celebrity culture have effects in our daily lives. It is hard to say which side is more, just like the case of Michael Jackson. However, the problems which are made by celebrities or celebrity culture could be solved if mass media and celebrity industry select more disciplined players. Meanwhile, journalists and media companies disclose more positive news but not only gossips, the celebrity culture is worth for our well being. 3. Marketers who target children are no better than paedophiles. All marketing to kids should be banned. Purchasing power of children is not only affect on children but also their families. Children market was worth $24 billion and encouraged another $500 billion in family consumption indirectly years ago (Moore, 2004). Therefore, marketers target to children and wish to make more profit. However, debates on ethical considerations about advertising to children via mass media are argued for a long time, because there are negative effects in these advertisements. At same time, result from some positive implications of marketing to children, advertising to kids could not be denied at all. Advertisement for children has negative effects on lifestyle and attitude of children, especially food habits and materialism. First of all, large proportion of TV advertisements targeted children is food and drinks, particularly sweets and convenience food which are less healthy (Gunter et al, 2005; McGinnis et al, 2006). Otherwise, some advertisements contain violence or contents are not suit for children (Truman, 2004). This implicates lifestyle of people for long and may influence on social problem today. For example, approximately 16% of children and adolescence in US have problem on obesity (McGinnis et al, 2006). Additionally, advertisements carry marketers bias which may affect attitudes of children. Indeed, children have less ability of judgement when they receive the information which is included in advertisements (Hofferth, 2010; Pettersson Fjellstrom, 2006). Under this situation, children may fall in materialism and consumerism (Barber, 2007). Take an instance, advertisements for Christmas may encourage children to ask more gifts from parents (Gunter et al, 2005). In addition, children would like to ask for payments if their parents want help from them (BBC News(c), 2011). Due to the negative effects of advertising to children, some countries limit this kind of commercial activities, such as Australia has time limitation for childrens advertisements, Sweden bans all advertisements which aimed at children below 12 years old, and UK has detailed regulations for advertisements as well (Gunter et al, 2005). Control the contents of advertisements for children via National law are important, because media companies do not want to take risks to post unethical advertisements. Beyond national codes, education of acknowledging advertisements from parents and school are as equal important in this field. Result from children become more important in family consumption life, consumer education for children is essential for avoiding deceives from marketers (Pettersson Fjellstrom, 2006). Children may not know the meaning of advertisements, therefore, how they understand the advertisements are rely on explanations of their parents (Gunter et al, 2005). Another path for pupils understanding advertisements is school education (Gunter et al, 2005). For instance, it is legal to advertising to children in schools in England (Clark, 2004), and this is chance for teaching students how to judge advertisements. On the other hand, advertising to children appropriately may have positive influences. Similarly as mentioned above, advertisements could be inserted the information which is good for children, such as help children to recognise and memorise some culture issues, for example, the meaning of Christmas festival (Gunter et al, 2005). Meanwhile, advertisements are supposed to send healthy lifestyle and attitudes to children and that will have positive implications if there are enough detailed codes for the media companies (Hofferth, 2010). Some companies did advertisement which contains contents good for children, for example, PG Kids Winter Olympics commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGgwfjA0V14). Overall, commercial advertisements have negative influences on children because marketers want to sell more products. However, the power of advertisement should be admitted and use it for the better. National laws are effective on this subject and detailed codes will let companies create better advertisement good for commercial and children. 4. We would all be better off without supermarkets. In the UK, five biggest supermarket chains such as Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda take over 80% of grocery market share (NewStatesman, 2003). In the meantime, less and less corner shops can survive when supermarkets closed in. Approximate 100,000 corner shops were closed since 1940s (NewStatesman, 2003). Supermarkets look like double-edged sword, provide conveniences to consumers but also damage society, particularly they change the concept and behaviour of shopping. Indeed, supermarket is the future because it can use sources more effectively. Supermarket chains have advantages to compete with small independent shops and provide convenience to customers. First of all, supermarket is more effective and provides one-stop service for customers. For example, people can find everything they need in one big supermarket (Taylor, 2011). Secondly, cheaper and quality products are provided by supermarket chains, especially supermarket named products (Simms, 2007). Moreover, supermarkets can create employee occupations for local people. Tesco claimed 140 jobs are created in each new store (Monbiot, 2009). However, comparing with benefits which are brought by supermarkets, more damages are created to consumers and society at same time. Firstly, damages will be discussed from stand point of consumers. Shoppers are dissatisfied with supermarkets. According to Simms (2007), around 50% of people feel unhappy when they are shopping in Tesco because of bored, stress and other unpleasant reasons. In addition, the price of products is not as cheap as supermarkets claimed. For instance, bread, eggs, and milk are more expensive than local independent shops (Taylor, 2011). Food price is higher than rate of inflation recently and supermarket is considered as a sector which push price going up (Wearden, 2011). Meanwhile, it is trap to shopping in supermarkets because people try to full fill their trolleys, which means spend more money (Taylor, 2011). On the other hand, less variety of food can be found in supermarkets (Eastbourne Herald, 2011) Supermarket chains dominate market which has negative effects on interests of suppliers, communities and local authorities as well. Supermarkets squeeze suppliers because they have market and suppliers have to dependent on them, particularly farmers (Arnold, 2004; Gray, 2003; Timpson, 2011). Figure 1 shows the supermarkets and mid-chains grind farmers. Indeed, it is untrue that a new supermarket store could provide 140 jobs but at least over 270 unemployed will happen (Monbiot, 2009). Some people who loss jobs were corner shop owners, and they created 5 times job opportunities than supermarkets originally (Monbiot, 2009; Simms, 2007). Due to corner shop owners are almost local people, the shop could be the connection for community, and residents have chance to have conversation usually (Simms, 2007; NewStatesman, 2003). Figure 1 (Arnold, 2004) Simms argued that big supermarket chains like Tesco may kidnap local authorities to ask what they want (2007). Over 90% of the population choose to go to supermarkets as first option when they want to shopping (Arnold, 2004). This means supermarkets have been vital role in our daily life and government should follow them. Another advantage of supermarket chains is they can keep on appealing local authorities base on their tremendous financial power, for example, the turnover of Tesco in 2008 is 47 billion (Simms, 2007). Supermarket chains provide conveniences to people before they become profit earning machine. People can enjoy shopping and have chance to get cheaper but good quality products. However, supermarkets tie up the whole society and transform the traditional shopping habit of all consumers, even authorities cannot beat them. Supermarket is good for using resources more effectively, but appropriate control is necessary. 5. Is that acceptable to buy fake brands? Counterfeiting of named brands is an international commercial problem today. Piracy is illegal and unethical, however, people still buying. There are two types of consumers perspective on counterfeits purchasing behaviourdeceptive and non-deceptive (Wilcox et al, 2009; Nia Zaichkowsky, 2000). Deceptive counterfeiting damages consumers benefits because it exists among genuine products and hard to be distinguished. Non-deceptive counterfeiting is fully recognised by consumers but they wish to purchase (Wilcox et al, 2009). No matter what kind of reason, it is not acceptable to buy counterfeit brands. Some people argued that counterfeits helped genuine brands promoting to customers. Counterfeits may increase awareness of named brands and bring additional orders for genuine manufactories (Staake et al, 2009). McCartney stated that people buy counterfeits when they young and ignorant, but genuine products are their pursuit when they become elder (2005). Indeed, customers may think counterfeits are inferior and cannot be compared with original products on quality. Therefore, fake products cannot devalue the genuine brands, manufactories and marketers concentrate on creating strong positive images and good quality products will bring success (Nia Zaichkowsky, 2000). The counterfeits may have positive effects as stated above, but this is not the reason to buy fake products. Meanwhile, it is impossible to ban all counterfeits because of high profit and consumers desire of luxury brand which encourage counterfeiters to take risks (Wilcox et al, 2009). Counterfeiters can obtain high profit because there is no expensive design and advertising cost, and raw material cost is low because of quality (Juggessur Cohen, 2009). Consumers will to buy fake named fashion products because of psychological reason. Counterfeits such as clothes, bags and shoes seem harmless and cheaper, especially some counterfeiters could provide the products which similar as genuine, this may be why people could accept fake products (Cathcart, 2007). However, fake brand products disrupt normal commercial life and bring social problems. Companies like Burberry claimed loss every year because of counterfeits, for example, US counterfeit market was worth $155 million in 2006 (Hilton et al, 2004). Furthermore, counterfeiters are also invading in low-end markets and bring negative effects. Take an instance, Kiwi label in Africa lose 20% sales overall because of counterfeit products, as a result, some plants have to be closed and people lose their jobs (Businessweek, 2008). Purchasing fake products would decrease the income of named companies and increase unemployment rate, this is bad for development of economy and security of society. Therefore, stop buying counterfeits and learning knowledge about anti-counterfeit is necessary. Moreover, purchasing fake products is not respect on creation. Branded companies invest huge capital to develop new products for consumers. This is the cost which should be collected back on selling. However, it is not sustainable development if people do not buy genuine products but counterfeits (Staake et al, 2009). For example, Microsoft lost $2 billion in China in 2007 because of counterfeiting (Microsoft, 2007). It is a disaster if China is main market of Microsoft because that means the company cannot obtain money back on time to develop new product. To sum up, fake brands might have some positive effects which are proved. However, negative influences are main part of discussion. People buy counterfeits will bring legal and moral considerations, and affect on normal business life. Indeed, unemployment and slower creating may attribute to this behaviour.

The Black Panther Party Essay -- essays research papers fc

"There is nothing more dangerous than a large segment of people in society that feel that they have no place or stake in it, who feel they have nothing to lose. People who have stake in the society perpetuate that society, when they don't have it, they unconsciously want to destroy it." Unknown As a culture, we are told how to act, think, and speak among other things. We are taught to do what is considered "right" and if we choose not to, we are punished, ridiculed, and considered a menace to society. We are considered thuggish and belittled and put down for living in an alternative way. Don't get me wrong, there is some good in having a controlled society because it brings some order and stability within our society. However, the questions at hand are, could there be a way for those who do realize that we're being controlled to free themselves from the power and control that causes them to become oppressed? Could it be that we are bound and constrained and unable to have some type of agency in order to be free? If we can free ourselves, what type of agency is used? These questions are the basis for my paper. I plan to present examples of control and oppression through the film Panther that shows the struggle of the Black Panther Party of Self-Defense. The film takes place in the 1960's and it shows the struggles that the members had to go through in order to form some type of agency to free themselves from the control and oppression that the government had over their lives and their community. Huey Newton and Bobby Seale were two African-American men growing up in the ghetto of California where they saw and experienced racism and police brutality. There voices weren't heard when it came to their communities and it took three young children to die by car crashes, and a peaceful candlelight vigil that turned into a fight between a neighborhood and the police (In which the police covered up their badges so that no one could report them to the police department) for them to want to make... ...oes have a place in society because without it, there would be no stability within our society and everything would be chaotic and confusing. However, for those who don't want to be controlled, and do have a form of agency which they feel will free them really don't seem to be free anyway. It seems to me that no matter what you do, say, or learn you are always controlled. I thought that the fact that the Panther Party becoming knowledgeable would have worked very well but soon some laws were changed such as the one concerning being able to carry firearms as long as they were in clear view. After all they went through they still weren't free. Many of the Panthers were either killed while fighting for the cause or are now political prisoners. So, from my observation, the only agency available to free oneself from oppression is, to become knowledgeable and that only works to a certain extent. I guess there is no plain yes or no answer to my question about whether we can free ourselves from oppression. It's as if you think you've won when you really haven't. Works Cited Panther. Dir. Mario Van Peebles. Polygram Video. 1995.

Compaing Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and Arks and Genetic Bottlenec

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Since the dawn of time, science has been in the minds of men. In the story, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, Victor deals with the creation of life as opposed to   "Arks and Genetic Bottlenecks" by Harold J. Morowitz which denies the scientific validation of Noah's Ark.   Science, in most cases, has interfered with human lives, especially in religion in the aspect of   human cloning. In reality, it is not just a question of science, it is a matter of science versus religion. How far will science go to allow human cloning which is a test of people's religious beliefs?   Both Frankenstein and "Arks and Genetic Bottlenecks" provide readers with some similar and some different answers.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   First, Frankenstein, and "Arks and Genetic Bottlenecks," deal with a similar issue that today people know as cloning. In   Frankenstein film, Victor creates life out of dead bodies by   reactivating the dead cells with chemicals and electricity, despite his professor's warning that "creation of life is only in God's hands." In "Arks and Genetic Bottlenecks," Morowitz also discusses genes and how all different organisms do not have the same assortment of genes with exception of identical twins (760), and that genetic diversity is essential for the survival of all species. Though, today, cloning is a big issue which people are afraid of, Mary Shelley, in her time, had an idea that scientists might attempt something similar to cloning which instilled fear in the hearts of men, and made her write Frankenstein.   A similar fear is generated by Dolly, the Sheep cloned in Scotland in 1997. According to the film, Human Cloning, this has made religious activists protest against cloning in fear that science would destroy mank... ...man.   The question still remains: Are scientists going to "learn . . .   how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge . . ." (Shelley 154), or are they still obsessed with proving Harold J. Morowitz   right?    Works Cited Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. A play by Nick DiMartino, Direct. Moses Goldberg. Narr. Professor McNamar. Global Stage Production. WLIW21 Presentation. Class Movie.   HSS 100-002. Fall Semester, March 22, 2002. Human Cloning: Investigative Reports.   Pres. Bill Kurtis. A & E Special Presentation February 4, 2002. Morowitz Harold J. "Arks and Genetic Bottlenecks." Fields of Reading Motives for Writing. Sixth ed.  Ã‚   Ed. Nancy R Comley et al. New York: Bedford, 2001. Shelley, Mary. "From Frankenstein." The Example of Science. Ed. Robert E. Lynch and Thomas B. Swanzey. Boston: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2000. (152-156)

Irish Urban Land Development Essay

Currently, Ireland is classified as a First World Economy and it has experienced exceptional economic development at an average rate of eight per cent per year between 1994 and 2001, with a humble growth rate of four per cent per year as from 2001 to date (Stewart 2005). With this rate of growth, Ireland has become more urbanized with increased population, changing agricultural practices, and reformation of local authorities to hold increased public participation and boost lucidity. In addition, there has been a change in the household development, an escalating number and forms of homes with a changing tenure system accompanied by population changes. These elements together with the exceptional economic development and low interest rates have changed the economic, environmental and social outlook of Ireland. The changes have presented numerous challenges such as traffic clogging, environmental squalor, urban sprawl, and lack of affordable housing. This has led to a broken nexus between economic development and human welfare (Drudy 1982). Ireland has had several mechanisms aimed at effecting efficient land use planning within the urban environment towards achieving sustainable development. These mechanisms include an abundance of policies and strategies. These policies and strategies include sustainable development, a strategy for Ireland 1997, National spatial strategy for Ireland 2002, and National development plan 2002-2006 among others. However, even with these initiatives, numerous challenges still persist for urban and regional policy-making in the search of an effective and efficient sustainable development (Stewart 2005). It can be debated that some political, social, and economic elements do repel policy impact from policies intentions considering the extent to which current challenges continue to exist (EU Commission 2001). Much of research related to urbanization of population is colored with powerful anti-urbanism and a desire after the values and simple life styles of traditional upcountry areas. In Ireland some research on urbanization too stresses the goodness of upcountry and the cons of urban trends. These biases are more apparent in the research and policies related to urban land and urban advancement onto agricultural land (Drudy 1982). In fact, the preservation and defense of agricultural land and rural facilities has been the force behind the ratification of physical planning laws (Bengston et al 2004). During the late 17th and 18th centuries the existing urban model was increased by establishment of great number of new towns and villages together with re-development and extension of the existing settlements. It is argued that most of the Irish town begun as a village and outgrew into modest origins by the end of 18th century. These growths were as a result of network of roads and new canal system linking the rural and the major towns and this served as a reinforcement of the dominance of Dublin which was by then the best peopled town (Drudy 1982). The escalating growth of Irish urban regions particularly Dublin presented severe land, energy and social impacts. Growth was limited to a ring of suburban prompting rapid population increase with extreme demand for school, shopping centre, transport systems and local employment. This demand called for more land thus increasing pressures on agricultural land for urban development. Irish dedication to sustainable development can be measured by looking at its housing and land-use policies. The development of one off housing in the rural areas is the significant sign of urban sprawl. In a nation marked with a growing ratio of low density space, the prevalence of one off housing suggestion is a wholesome system failure (Bengston et al 2004). Irish land use is mostly governed by local government development plans but implementation of policies are not uniform. Viewing the one-off housing policy under the economies of scale, the houses are more expensive in service provision but a lot of burden to the developer, house purchaser and even Irish community at large. This is echoed by EPA which state that single housing homes in the upcountry leads to greater car usage therefore increasing energy demands and greater usage of small waste water treatment facilities which have the tendency to pollute underground water (Bengston et al 2004). The opposition of one off housing focuses on the economic burdens for its occupants and on the exchequer. However, when placed on a national framework, there are unquestionably broader economic challenges at stake. For example the impact of sustained site sales on Irish agricultural commodities. The sale of some areas has benign effects on agricultural activities. The fact is that site sale shackle Ireland farming over medium and long-term. Smart Growth an Option for Ireland Smart growth model was born in US in the 90s and this concept entails identifying a common platform where developers, the public and public officials together with environmentalists among other stakeholders finds acceptable means of accommodating growth. The smart growth approach emphasizes on integrating economic, social, and environmental elements of planning and development. It is not an anti-development approach as many may argue but equivalent of the bigger picture of sustainable development as defined by Bruntland as development that provides the requirements of the current generation without jeopardizing the capacity of the same resources to provide the needs of the future generations (Bruntland 1987). The concept imply to offer an answers towards managing growth through public policies instruments for example regulatory instruments and fiscal policies such as incentives and disincentives aiming at accommodating growth in ways that are economically feasible, environmentally friendly and enhancing quality of life. Some of the concerns that the approach targets to address is traffic congestion, urban sprawl, overcrowding and pollution (Stewart 2005). Conclusion The global essential towards achievement of sustainable growth implies that it is important to seek means to accommodate development in ways that is economically feasible, environmentally friendly, and socially responsible. One of the major critics of traditional urban planning is that the concept, method and technique engaged lean towards re-enforcing the present. This makes it challenging for town and city to reflect, plan and establish future alternative ideas suiting to all stakeholders’ true requirements. There is a dire necessity of replacing the conventional short term quick fix model to long term integrating and holistic model in the planning and development strategies. There is need for collaboration on finding solutions and powerful political leadership for Ireland to progress from rhetoric to reality in delivering it land use policies that will lead to positive, efficient and sustainable communities. Smart growth is not a solution to development concerns but an alternative approach to the present development model and a feasible way of mitigating current and probable future social economic and environmental concerns (Stewart 2005).