Thursday, October 31, 2019

Reflectionson culture diversity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflectionson culture diversity - Essay Example This exposure to direct, first hand experience is the only way I have learned about cultural diversity, as there is limited education and training from school or healthcare institutions available. 2). Reflections: Cultural Aspects of Epidemiology( This subscale concerns practitioners’ knowledge of cultural, environmental and related etiologic factors that contribute to disease. It probes health disparity and risk and protective factors for underserved groups and communities. Part of the admission assessment in the questionnaire given to our patients that include etiologic factors that contributed to their disease as well as different indicators on well being. I learned that there is such a big difference between cultures. For example, majority of health concerns such as back pain, Cancer, Alzheimers’ disease, are from the Caucasian group which implies that their environment and lifestyles have something to do with it. Being aware of the factors that contribute to their disease is as important as knowing their cultural background. However, sensitivity and privacy should be considered when it comes to interviewing a patient during the admission process. Health care providers must be knowledgeable in asking the right questions without being offensive or else they might overlook related factors or symptoms of the prevailing condition making diagnosis and treatment more difficult. 3) Reflections: Clinical Decision-Making.( This subscale concerns practitioner’s knowledge of culturally-defined health beliefs and practices, and the ability to integrate this knowledge in approaches to health care delivery.It addresses intake, assessment,/diagnosis,treatment/discharge planning and use of community-based resources. Many factors affect clinical decision-making. Some cultures make decisions for treatment of the patient as a group consensus.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Superannuation Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Superannuation Australia - Essay Example One of the key features that MySuper offers is easily comparable fees structure that has a list of allowable forms of fees (Patrick, 2004). In addition, the fees that a member of MySuper is charged are limited. Some of the major fees that are involved include administration fee, investment fee, and other types of fees including exit fees, investment switching and contribution splitting. MySuper products offers total & permanent disability (TPD) insurance that is of standard and default in nature. This implies that the members will have the opportunity to decrease or increase their insurance cover without leaving the MySuper product. Upon joining, members of MySuper product will automatically receive a prescribed level of insurance (Mansell and Wehn, 1998). Similarly, individuals who decide to opt out of the insurance cover will no longer pay the insurance premium. In its effort to attain an economic growth that is based on extensive investment, the Australian government introduced a lifecycle investment option as a default to MySuper product. One of the major aspects of the lifecycle investment option is that it allows the trustees to move members into another investment mix in an automatic manner. Some of the factors that are considered during moving of members include age, time, gender and retirement among others (Bill, 2013). Through the Trustee Tailored Superannuation, new inventive lifecycle methods have now been introduced thus ensuring that member’s income is properly invested. Another notable feature that is found in the MySuper product is disclosure. This implies that the extent of trustee disclosure depending with the fees, investment allocation as well as investment performance will be higher. As a result, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) will be in a position to compare data that is related to long-term net return thus

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Example Answers for Marketing Management Exam Paper

Example Answers for Marketing Management Exam Paper 5. Identify and describe some problems and challenges to marketing managers in relation to change and innovation. Critically discuss the links between strategic marketing management and the change environment with particular reference to Levitts (1960) seminal article Marketing Myopia. In the marketing context, change brought about by economic recession, disruptive technologies usage and privation can all affect the stability of market environment (Sirmon, Hitt and Ireland, 2007). Global economy is accelerating at a fast rate giving way to competitive risks and opportunities. Therefore, effective strategic planning is incumbent that could help marketers to survive and improve their company performance in turbulent environments (Ireland and Hitt, 2005). Change environment and strategic marketing management: Strategic management involves the role played by managers to align business organization with changing environment. Mostly business organizations are being regulated on narrow vision, therefore in order to bring about change and innovation, the corporate vision of organization must be reexamined to define markets in a broader context. This was the crux of Levitts article marketing myopia, i.e. marketers focus on the products instead of customer. According to him the environmental change is not a major contributor in the problems faced by industries rather it is the constricted stance of their marketing managers or decision makers. It is basically the failure linked with the top managements inability to cope with the business beyond the narrow confines of conventional production procedures. False myths like prediction of an avid market share due to increase in population, absence of substitutes and total reliance on mass production lead to marketing myopia. Approach of the marketers should be customer centric rather than product centric as Levitt has rightfully given the example of Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motors who adopted the strategy to lessen cost price of cars to attract more customers. Technology cannot always guarantee successful market outcomes therefore sometimes firms have to give away their personal profits to gain long term market survival. The strategic marketing management and its interaction with the firms environment play a vital moderating role. As both components are regarded dynamic, it is less frequent that the firms succumb to the tendencies of marketing myopia. Contrary to that if the marketing environment is static, myopic stance is inevitable and the firm will have to suffer the consequences. For avoiding myopia, a firm will have to adjust with the changing market demands (Lichtenthal, and Iyer, 2003). Presentation1JJ.bmp Table: Typology of firm-environment links To deal with the change environment, firms can develop new strategies with the aid of Mckinsey 7S Model that have the tendency to foresee hard factors (e.g. systems, structure) and soft factors (like culture, education level of employees, shared values etc). The method is also helpful for merger and acquisition (Egner, 2009). mckinsey-7s-model-software_business___productivity_barcode_software-31759-screenshot.gif Hard Elements Soft Elements Strategy Structure Systems Shared Values Skills Style Staff 2. What are competencies and capabilities? Argue the importance of a marketing manager assessing business competencies and capabilities in the fulfillment of corporate and marketing objectives. Use examples of competences and capabilities to illustrate your answer. Competencies and capabilities: These concepts of strategic management refer to the ability of a business organization to provide the services being promised to potential clients. Both are interrelated but differ in their applicability in the marketing context. Competencies might be regarded as the skills possessed by a firm on which the marketing manager or retailer can make strategic decisions. These can be brought about by providing high level customer service or skills like utilization of modern technology by the marketing company. An example of competencies could be the CRM initiatives of the real estate firm, Barratt Developments PLC. Capabilities are reflected through the business organizations actual behavior encompassing the ability of the firm to expand its resource base in order to attain competitive advantage in the market. They can be judged on the basis of firms values, resources and processes (e.g. communication and decision making pattern). Importance of marketing manager: Every business organization possesses some core competencies that are required to be critically evaluated for proper market functioning in coming years. Therefore, managers of a business organization should start developing and planning strategies to achieve these competencies beforehand. For example with the wide scale implementation of the e-tailing concept, maintaining and designing of a website could be the competence that is deemed crucial for success among competitors (Sullivan and Adcock, 2002, p. 323). Skills can be bought in the retail sector yet the onset of developing skills is regarded a better option. Resources and skills for example the retail staff human resources should be honed into the capability for providing a service at a specific marketing level. According to Kotler (1997) for delivering satisfaction to the clients, a good marketing manager should be able to determine the needs for customer satisfaction and express them through organizations capabilities. By strategically investing in resources, development of capability and competencies should be planned by the marketing managers in relation to the marketing objectives set forth by the firm based on the knowledge of current business environment and strategies that are possible to execute. Although development of competencies and capabilities are sometimes difficult to control, managers must predict the future requirements by taking into account current needs (Sullivan and Adcock, 2002, p. 323).

Friday, October 25, 2019

Convention vs. Self- Righteousness in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essa

Jane Eyre   - Jane's Struggle: Convention vs. Self- Righteousness   Ã‚  Ã‚   In Charlotte Bronteà ­s novel Jane Eyre, the protagonist continually shows a struggle in deciding whether to live her life self-righteously, or whether to conform to societyà ­s demands and expectations. The imagery and biblical symbolism employed by the orchard scene of Chapter 8 show this struggle; for Jane must decide whether to conform to society and reject Mr. Rochester's declaration of love, or to be true to herself and marry him. Throughout this scene, as in most of the novel, Jane is portrayed as a headstrong and self-principled individual. This quality carries her through this decision, as well as her other struggles; such as in leaving Mr. Rochester; deciding not to marry St. John; and coming back to Mr. Rochester in the end. It is when Jane realizes that happiness is not a sin that she begins to embrace her own nature. Therefore, because Jane is true to herself in making these decisions, she is portrayed not as an immoral person, but as a self- righteous one. She lives for herself, not for religious prescriptions.    Throughout the novel, Jane's nature as a headstrong individual makes people question her morality. This is because she doesn't comply to norms of Victorian society, where women are subjugated to men. For instance, when Mr. Brockelhurst goes to Gateshead to see Jane, her up front manner seems to corroborate Mrs. Reed's allegations that she is a naughty child (Bronte 41). This is because most girls in Victorian society, such as Georgiana, are raised as placid and reserved individuals. Similarly, in the orchard scene, this headstrong quality of Jane allows her to speak equally and truthfully to Mr. Rochester, an... ...om, Margaret. Charlotte Bronte. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1977. Brontà «, Charlotte.   Jane Eyre.   New York, Penguin Books, 1997. Eagleton, Terry. " Jane Eyre: A Negative Heroine." Modern Critical Interpretations: Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987: 29-46. "Jane Eyre." Nineteenth-Century Literary Criticism. Vol. 3. Ed. Laurie Lanzen Harris. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1982: 42-3. McFadden-Gerber, Margaret. "Critical Evaluation." Masterplots. Rev. 2nd edition. Vol. 6. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1996: 3290-4. Mitchell, Sally. "Jane Eyre." Critical Survey of Long Fiction. Vol. 3. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Englewood Cliffs: Salem Press, 1983: 297-302. Oates, Joyce Carol. Introduction. Jane Eyre. By Charlotte Bronte. New York: Bantam Books, 1987: 5-14.   

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Derivative Markets Essay

Last dozen of years are characterized by rash growth of volumes of national and international markets of derivative finance instruments or derivative markets. By opinion of experts, appearance and development of derivative markets is the most important event of economic life within last twenty five years. In the very name of these instruments – â€Å"derives† lays the fact that they appeared and started to develop on basis of floaters and futures almost for all types of exchange products (starting with oil and gas and ending with soy beans and orange juice), and also for exchange index, percent rates, rate of exchange, etc. Presently new types of derivates appeared: on the basis of sea freight rates (London), cost of microprocessors, permissions for environment pollution (USA), etc. To the first generation of derivates specialists relate futures and stock option plans, which are used at organized markets (exchanges) in form of standardized contracts, and also popular at non-exchange market (market OTC – over-the-counter) (William Falloon pp. 26-28) currency swaps, stock option plans and inter-bank agreements regarding forward rate agreement. From the very beginning the main functions of derivates was to provide distribution of risks among participants of business deal, connected with change of stuff price, rates of exchange, percent rates, stock rates, exchange indexes, etc. Nowadays operations with derivates are still the main way of insurance from different risks and risk management. The first signs at derivative markets became successful issue of currency futures in 1972 at Chicago Mercantile Exchange; the second issue of percentage futures followed in 1975 at Chicago Board of Trade. In the first half of 1980-s rapid growth (Remolona, Eli, M., pp. 28-43) of operations with derivates, followed with appearance of more and more new types of derivates. In 1980 appeared New York Futures Exchange; in 1982 – London international Financial Futures and Options; in 1986 – MATIF – Marche a terme international de France in Paris; in 1988 – Swiss Options and Financial Futures Exchanges, etc. At these and other organized (exchange) markets trade is fulfilled by standard (typical) contracts, which are sold or at exchange auctions (MATIF in France), or with help of automatized information systems (for example, Globex). Final calculations for all deals are made by computational (compensational) palates (George Benston and Shehzad Mian pp. 217-246) The first â€Å"legal† operation of currency swap (exchange of dollar to Swiss francs) was made in August 1981 between American company IBM and International Bank of Reconstruction and Development. Market of percentage swaps appeared in the United States by initiative of company â€Å"Sallie Mae†. The major part of swap operations was executed by leading international banks, which in the beginning were present as mediators between participants of currency swaps. In succeeding years banks became to work as active participants of derivative deals, acting at their own cost and in their own interests.   When in the first half of 1980-s derivative market was developing mainly in the United States, in the second half derivative market started to develop quickly in Europe and Japan. Volume of world market of swap operations increased from 200 milliard dollars in 1985 to 2900 milliard dollars in 1990. Such quick growth was stipulated with legal standardization of contracts, development of information systems and means of communications. According to data of questionnaire which was executed by International Swaps and Derivatives Associations, volume of world derivative market for the beginning of 1993 was 5.4 trillion dollars, including percentage swaps – 3.9 trillion dollars, currency swaps – 860 milliard dollars, cap and floor operations – 577 milliard dollars. By approximate estimation of magazine â€Å"Swap Monitor†, volume of derivative markets was much higher – 7 trillion dollars (at the same date of 1993). In the United States only 6 banks control 90% of derivative markets. In France 80 banks act at the market of currency contracts; at option market – 24 banks. Volume of operations with derivates at exchange and non-exchange markets, which make French credit institutions and which are shown at their balance, in 2.2 times exceeds amount of their balances. By information of International Calculations Bank, already in 1991 volume of OTC market was 4500 milliard dollars. From that time its volume significantly increased. Quick growth of derivative market volume in the beginning of 1990-s is connected with increasing of instability and uncertainty at world financial markets, also influenced by such events as was at Persian Gulf, collapse of USSR, crisis of European system of currency, etc. besides, progress in the field of informational technology, which allowed to process big volumes of information almost immediately and great funds, involved in financial turnover, give grounds to speak about existence of real industry of derivates. As we already spoke about, quick growth of derivative market was accompanied by appearance of new and new their types and kinds; this process developed and continues to develop in legal and non-official market. Financial instruments, which represent different combinations of derivates of the first generation, quickly were added to the first derivate generation (for example, combination of percentage options â€Å"cap/floor†, swaptions – combination of swap and option. In the beginning of 1990-s appeared such exotic instruments as swaps for non-typical indexes, annulated swaps, options for options, etc. One of novelties for Parisian exchange was issue of bons d’option, which gives right to the buyer for purchase of actions or debentures by fixed price. During the last four years number of diversities of such warranties increased from 15 to 500, they are in easy access to any investor, even those who doesn’t have big amount of money. Appearance of new types and kinds of derivates is stipulated not only by increasing demands of clients in more perfect means of insurance from risks (Ludger Hentschel and Clifford Smith Jr., pp. 101-126), but also by constant perfection of informational technology and equipment, mechanisms of price formation and models of risk management. At the same time legal standards of regulating operations with derivates were developed and perfected; new forms of standard contracts appeared. Operations with derivates started to be used more frequently not only for insurance from risks and risk management, but for aims of speculation, i.e. receiving profit from them. By opinion of experts, nowadays the following subjects take place at the derivative markets: Industrial companies, which can use operations with derivates to reach such aims as: – Decreasing of indebtedness burden at the expense of getting necessary financial means by possible cheap price; – Increasing of flexibility in management of financial holdings, not limited by usage of debentures or short-term commercial documents; – Perfection of management cash balance and regulation of financial flow, connected with cash inflow and cash spending; – Fast receiving of necessary funds by relatively low prices in case unexpected needs in financing take place; – Perfection and dynamics of process management by liquid assets of enterprise. Although enterprises, which use all enumerated possibilities of operations with derivates, are quite rare, from now on these operations cannot be ignored by those enterprises, who intend to lead dynamic strategy of management by thief financial resources. Different investment funds, which control investment portfolio, use operations with derivates as flexible means of funds management. Special companies or funds (so-called stockjobbers), which make derivative operations to receive profit, because those operations allow even with small expenses to get big profit, indeed, in condition of favorable circumstances for such stockjobber. In such a way American fund â€Å"Quantum Fund†, which belongs to famous financier George Sores, and which is specialized on currency deals, including derivates as well, since 1969 every year increased its income for 35%; today it exceeds 4 milliard dollars. Totally in the United States there are more than 3 thousand of such funds, which manage approximately by 25 milliard dollars, which are used only for speculative operations. There are 23 similar funds, which are legally registered in France. Individual stockbrokers, which make operations with derivates at their own expense. Activity of those subjects, which in the USA are called â€Å"local† and in France â€Å"negociateurs independants de parquet†, assists in increasing of liquidity financial market. Special companies-organizers of the market, including compensational palates, which control execution of contracts and execute calculations, receiving definite commissions. In such a way in France company MATIF received for each operation of purchase or sale of pressing contract 6.25 francs, what allowed to increase own funds to 800 million francs. In 1993 MATIF worked up 72 million of contracts, whereas at Chicago Mercantile Exchange were sold 179 million of contracts. Banks, working in legal and non-official market, receive the biggest income from derivative operations. Supervision instances controlling bank activities (for example, there is Bank Commission in France) are anxious because of uncontrolled growth of bank derivative operations. Operations with different kinds of options, especially related to such indexes, which change quickly, as shares indexes, prices for non-ferrous metals, raw materials, etc. give the biggest concern. Supervision instances don’t limit usage of derivative operations in order to insure credit and market risks (Sanjiv Ranjan Das pp. 7-23), but at the same time they establish rule of paying capacity, in accordance with which amount of own derivate funds of certain credit enterprise should cover credit (risk of unredeemed credit) and market risks. Other aspects of regulation non-organized markets are not developed enough. In all leading Western countries development of those measures is behind the tempo of growth of OTC market capacity, where calculation (compensational) palates are absent and business deals have long-term character. For organized derivative markets the main problems still are guaranteeing security and control. Compensational palates watch timeliness of final calculations and amount of deposits of their members, which operate at derivative market. These deposits guarantee that they will fulfill their obligations: in case amount of deposit is lower than definite level, it should be filled up immediately. In such a way, at MATIF’s accounts are 20 milliard francs, paid-in by its members as guarantee of calculations. Financiers work to standardize contracts for derivative deals in the international level. In such a way, created in 1985 International Swap and Derivatives Association worked out frame contract for derivative operations, consisting of two parts: in the first part there are obligatory common statements (ways of calculations and their regulation, declarations of the parties, procedures of canceling the contract, etc), and in the second part there are statements, which can be changed by wish of the parties. In June 1993 report of 30 leading specialists for financial operations was published, where they formulated recommendations to banks and other enterprises, which lead operations with derivates or are their final users. By opinion of experts, these enterprises should give acces to that market only for professionals. Many experts point at explosive character of derivative market, because there can appear chain reaction of bankruptcy (domino effect). Non-exchange market is more dangerous in this respect, where the business deals are often concluded â€Å"for the word of honor†. Unexpected collapse of one of the banks can cause chain reaction of bankruptcies of other banks. By words of A. Taylor, president of Royal Bank of Canada, derivates represent bomb of delayed-action, which, once exploded, can completely ruin world financial system. Although derivative deals have a lot of risk and can provoke the crisis, you cannot live without them in the modern financial markets, because they assist in increasing of liquidity and effectiveness of financial markets, decreasing of cost for market transactions (deals). As was written in French magazine â€Å"Expansion†, future experts, probably, will examine derivates as financial novelty, which saved world economical growth from paralysis. Works Cited: George Benston and Shehzad Mian, 1995 â€Å"Financial Reporting of Derivatives: An Analysis of the Issues, Evaluation of Proposals, and a Suggested Solution,† Journal of Financial Engineering, September, pp. 217-246. Sanjiv Ranjan Das, 1995 â€Å"Credit Risk Derivatives,† Journal of Derivatives, Spring, pp. 7-23. William Falloon, 1992 â€Å"How Appetites are Growing for OTC Equity Derivatives,† Futures Magazine, January, pp. 26-28. Ludger Hentschel and Clifford Smith Jr., 1995 â€Å"Controlling Risks in Derivatives Markets,† Journal of Financial Engineering, June, pp. 101-126 Remolona, Eli, M., 1992-3 â€Å"The Recent Growth of Financial Derivative Markets,† Federal Reserve Bank of New York Quarterly Review, Winter, pp. 28-43.   

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

International Political Economy Essay

International monetary fund (IMF) is an international organization composed currently with around 184 member countries representing almost all the nations in the world with an exception of a few. After the failure of Breton woods it came as a substitute of a regulatory monetary authority. The organization oversees the global financial system by implementing macroeconomics policy and financial policies aimed at stabilizing the economy’s the member nations. The organization was formed with an objective of stabilizing international monetary rates and enhancing economic development among the member states. Similarly International Monetary Fund offers leveraged loans to developing countries to stimulate their economic growth and development. At an extent IMF helps in promoting expansion, and balanced growth of international trade through co-operation with other bodies like World Trade Organization and World Bank. The organization also helps in developing a multilateral system for payment of current transactions. Despite the positive attributes from the organization it has come under severe attack from many experts and organization because of some of their inefficiency of their policies and their ineffectiveness to the targeted programs. Some of the policies used by the organization in trying to address the economic imbalances in developing nations have been ineffective as they have caused adverse effects to the member countries especially third world countries. In certain extent the organization has been used as a tool by the developed nations to propagate political interests of their â€Å"masters† through giving out conditional loans to poor nations and proposing for poor policy changes. The paper analyzes the roles of IMF and its policies and the effectiveness of those policies. Although other policies have used by the organization had positive results others technically contributed to economic underdevelopment in most poor nations. Roles of International Monetary Fund International monetary fund plays various significant roles in the global economy; – International monetary fund was established to help member countries improve their economies by providing guidance and monitoring economic development in those nations. IMF is also engaged in ensuring there are sound financial policies formulated and implemented by the member states. Through extensive research and analysis the organization comes along with proposition which help in developing effective financial policies in tandem with country’s existing policies. Sound financial policies proposed by the organization are meant to strengthen the financial system of the global markets and member countries. â€Å"An effective financial system promotes economic growth and reduction of poverty by mobilizing savings and allocating them to productive uses† (World Bank, 2004, p. 72). – International monetary fund provides three types of surveillance to member countries. That is bilateral surveillance, regional surveillance, and multilateral surveillance. Bilateral surveillance mostly involves discussions between international monetary fund, and the member country (Axel 2006, p 769-788). To begin the discussions in bilateral surveillance, IMF technocrats usually visit the member nation to collect information, and hold discussions with government officials in that country so as to gather enough information about the area. Apart from government officials, IMF experts also hold discussions with other members in the country such as labor unions and officials from the private sector and civil society. This is to gain more knowledge on the economic status of the country, and assess opportunities and potential threats. After the mission, the IMF staff holds meeting with the authorities to inform them on the findings obtained, risks and outlook. Bilateral surveillance helps identify risks to financial stability and international monetary fund in the member country. IMF uses bilateral surveillance to provide advice to member countries on the need to adjust certain policies. Bilateral surveillance helps IMF complement multilateral surveillance. Multilateral surveillance is important as it helps IMF strengthening its surveillance efforts. It helps IMF detect systemic risks and increase awareness of the risks in member countries. It also helps identify interdependencies in the international economy. Multilateral surveillance helps IMF identify developments in the global economy. It also helps the organization evaluate financial markets, and the outlook. Moreover, multilateral surveillance helps IMF identify changes to policy, and also effects caused by policies on member countries. IMF is working hard to enhance global discussions of economic connections among countries. This is to improve international trade among the countries (Axel 2006, p 769-788). IMF provides regional surveillance to member countries. Regional surveillance helps IMF monitor regional developments, and policies used by supra national authorities. Regional surveillance helps complement bilateral surveillance as it provides information from more than one country. Regional surveillance is important for members of currency unions. This is because policies in important areas of IMF are determined at regional level. In regional monitoring, discussions with country officials are carried out, and the report is represented separately. Formal procedures are used to conduct surveillance and evaluation over the monetary, and exchange rate policies of European nations. International monetary fund has strengthened its policies on monitoring measures so as to help eliminate concerns like vulnerability to balance of payment. These measures help in eliminating external sustainability and currency crisis in many countries and these are some of concerns that have affected many countries. IMF has developed several initiatives to help improve the effectiveness of bilateral trade. For example, the organization has established external vulnerability assessment. It has also developed initiatives to strengthen surveillance in the financial sector. The initiatives used to provide surveillance in the financial sector include a financial sector assessment program, and prevention of wastage of money. Other measures include prevention of terrorism financing, and assessment of offshore financial centre. IMF has also adopted other initiatives to help in improving its efforts. The organization has improved data provision to IMF, and also analyzing surveillance systems in member countries (Axel 2006, p 769-788). IMF helps in ensuring monetary policy in member countries are utilized effectively so as to prevent inflation (Axel 2006, p 769-788). International Monetary fund intervenes in trying to stabilize the exchange rate among member states. After the collapse of the Breton woods the main aim was to regulate the exchange rate of nations in order to avoid financial and economic imbalances IMF in this instance developed policies meant to help stabilize the exchange rate between countries. Mostly the organization favors a floating exchange rate and constant evaluates monitors and give recommendation on the appropriate exchange rate policies. At the same time IMF tries to develop monetary and exchange rate policy proposals in line with the individual countries policies. Exchange rate is critical in determination of a country’s monetary and trade policies. Monetary policy is used by monetary authorities to determine and regulate the circulation of money in the economy thus directly influencing the financial and economic measures to be taken. Determination of interest rates comes from the monetary policies decision taken. Adjustment of the interest rates either by lowering or increasing influence the pattern of the economic growth. Lower interest rates tend to stimulate economic growth and development. In this case monetary policy helps in enhancing economic growth, and stability in a country. IMF gives advices to countries on how to use monetary policy appropriately. Monetary policy is also used to prevent inflation in a country by raising interest rates. Monetary policy is important to member countries as it helps in improving economic status of the countries, and also enhancing development in the country. Countries with pegged exchange rates tend to unfairly compete with others in trade. Another role of International Monetary Fund is provision of loans to member countries. The organization provides loans to member countries experiencing balance of payment problems and economic difficulties. The loans provided by IMF are important to member countries as they help countries improve their international reserves, and pay for import (Axel 2006, p 769-788). The fund also helps countries stabilize currencies, and improve economic situations in the country so as to enhance economic growth in the country by adjusting policies to correct underlying problems. Funds provided by IMF help member countries improve national policies in the countries so as to eliminate problems. This is through restructuring of existing policies or creating new policies. IMF does not provide loans for specific projects in member countries. Member countries are encouraged to borrow from IMF if they have no enough funds to finance projects so as to meet their international payments. That is if the country cannot find enough financing to meet its net international payments and maintaining international buffer. IMF provides loans to member countries having financial problems so as to correct policies in the country, and carry out reforms. Countries are encouraged to use funds from IMF to adjust economic policies in the country so as to overcome economic crisis. This is important as it helps countries correct their financial balance, and improve conditions in the country. The funds enable countries to continue paying for imports, improve their international reserves and stabilize currencies. A member country has to follow the right lending process provided by IMF so as to get loans. IMF loans are provided under an agreement between the country, and IMF. The country provides enough reasons as to why it needs the money, and then economic program is established after the agreement. The program is established by country and IMF and presented to the right people. After the arrangement is approved then, IMF releases the funds in installments as the country continues to implement the program (Axel 2006, p 769-788). International monetary fund has established facilities that are customized to address specific situations of its member countries. Developing countries use different facilities from developed countries to access IMF loans. Low income countries use extended credit facility, and other facilities to borrow loans from IMF. These facilities allow countries to borrow on concession terms. Countries can access non- concessional loans via stand by arrangements, and other facilities that offer such loans. The organization provides emergency assistance to member countries to help them recover from natural disasters and conflicts (Axel 2006, p 769-788). Effectiveness of IMF Policies IMF uses various policies to help member countries improve their situations in the country, enhance economic growth, and financial stability. The policies include structural adjustment policies, financial crisis policies, and poverty reduction policies. Most people have criticized IMF policies for their ineffectiveness. This is because the policies implemented by International monetary organization have worsened economic conditions in member countries rather than improving the prevailing situations. The main role of IMF is to improve economic and financial stability in member countries using the policies named above. So far the IMF policies have not helped eliminate economic crisis in many countries and instead it has been contrary to expectations. The policies have affected developing countries more than developed countries as these countries depend on funds and advice from IMF to improve their economic status. (Robert and Jong-Wha 2002, p 1245-1269). Structural adjustment Policy is a shift of policies implemented by member nation’s mostly poor nations towards those guided and advised by IMF for purposes of qualifying to get financial and economic assistance. Structural adjustment policies have been criticized by scholars and experts as they have been seen as instruments of accelerating poverty and underdevelopment. Political shifts and governance reforms are always expected from the member nations expecting to benefit from the IMF. Most often the policies are in line with the system of governance of the developed nations (custodians of the IMF) which are deemed to be effective and efficient. Free trade and market liberalization is always encouraged by the IMF. Structural policies force countries to slash government spending and encourage privatization which also open up countries to exploitation by foreign investors. Structural adjustment policies have increased the level of poverty in many countries by causing many workers to loose jobs and reduction in income for workers due to free markets as most enterprises are sold to foreign investors who implement â€Å"effective† measures. The policies have given debt payment and economic development priority compared to education and health services. IMF has encouraged developing countries to lower living conditions of their citizens. This has affected provision of services in developing countries much. The policies have lead to shortage of the work force in developing countries as most companies, and health centers cannot afford to hire enough personnel (Ngaire 2002, p 83-100). IMF lending policies are condemned because of the conditionality associated with the policy. IMF forces member countries to adjust economic policies so as to overcome problems that led the countries to borrow funds from IMF. The international monetary lending policies are used to provide loans to member countries. The funds help member countries improve their economic status. International monetary lending policies do not serve member countries well. The policies are not flexible, and countries do not get enough money. The conditionality help IMF know if the country is able to repay the loan given. Developing countries do not get enough loans to finance projects in the country. Shortage of funds in developing countries hinders economic growth and increases poverty. The policy force developing countries cut their spending so as to have enough funds for development projects. The policies are not flexible enough to help developing countries get enough funds. In addition, the funds provided by international monetary fund are not enough to help countries eliminate problems. This prevents control of disasters and crisis in the country (Bird and Rowlands 2002, p 173-186). Conclusion The roles of IMF are very significant and critical in ensuring the stability and economic development of not only the member nations but the entire world in general. However Economic policies implemented by International monetary are not effective as they cause stifle economic growth. The economic policies are made to help developing countries improve economic growth, but they encourage economic stagnation. This is because developing countries cut spending in other sectors to get enough funds. Member countries have to cut spending on health sector, the education sector so as to get funds to adjust economic policies in the country. IMF encourages member countries to follow conditions established be fore accessing loans. The member countries are required to adjust policies in the country to overcome problems that have caused economic crisis in the country. This forces countries to concentrate on adjusting economic policies, but not development projects in those countries. This affects provision of crucial services in health care sectors and education. They also lead to lack of employment in developing countries. This leads to poor economic growth in developing countries (Axel 2004, p 445-464).

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Summarize and Analyze the Draft of Thai Class Action Essay Example

Summarize and Analyze the Draft of Thai Class Action Essay Example Summarize and Analyze the Draft of Thai Class Action Essay Summarize and Analyze the Draft of Thai Class Action Essay The proposed final draft of class action of late Justice Somboon Boonpinon’s object is to solve the problem of mass tort or mass injured person. This draft was made from the model rule 23 of the united stated about class action. This class action has to be separate from the normal civil procedure as it has its special characteristic which differs from the normal procedure. The most important and significant feature of class action is draft of section 222/35 said â€Å"the decision will bind all member of the class† regardless whether they have involved in the litigation or not. This is overrule the principle of section 145 of Civil Procedure code; within paragraph 2 said â€Å".. the decision shall not bind third person.. † Moreover, this draft section 222/35 grants the power to the counsel to enforce the decision on behalf of the plaintiff and the member of the class. The member of the class only has the right to request his share but not to enforce individually. In present procedure, the counsel of the plaintiff will have the authority to do so only his client grants him the power. From the most different feature, I will now summarize the rest of the different feature of the class action draft. The injured person who will be regard as one member of the class are the person who has the same right arisen from the same fact and same principle of law even they have got different type of injury. (Section 222/1) Still, the court can order to sub-class by different type of injury (Section 222/24) The cases that have been out in the draft to be eligible for class action are the (mass) tort, contract and the dispute arisen from other laws such as environmental law, consumer law labor, security and exchange etc. Section 222/5) The plaintiff may file the request to process the case as the class action case with his statement of claim, in order to do so he must state his reason. (Section 222/6) The court fees in the common issue will be request only from the plaintiff who first brought the suit to court. (Section 222/7 paragraph 2). This is economical for all injured person. In order to grant the class action proceedings, the court must concern both parties’ presentation and the benefit for all parties. And the class action proceedings would be granted only if the court found the reasonable fact to believe that; There’s common issue, both fact and law, between the member of the class. The members of the class are numerous that the normal procedure cannot work effectively or it would be to complicate and inconvenience. It would bring fairness and efficiency than bringing the suit in normal procedure. The counsel of the plaintiff has potential enough to guard benefit for all members. He must have time, resources, devotion/fairness and knowledge. In this point, the draft did not concern who is the first counsel filing the statement of claim, in other words, in deciding who will be the counsel of the plaintiff did not concern the time of filing the statement. (section222/10) This is different from United States (US) practice because US grants the right to submit the request for class action proceedings before filing the statement of claim but our draft was drawn differently as our drafter thought it should be better if we know the whole picture of the case before deciding what type of the case is. And because the class action case cause a lot of effect to the defendant therefore the draft has given the right for the defendant to file the objection of such order even if he has not yet become the party of the request (the request is a matter between the judge and the plaintiff). In this essence the defendant has the right to file the counter claim against the plaintiff as well. In addition, the court remains its right to cancel class action order if he found it is not giving any effectiveness than doing the case individually. (Section 222/9) The plaintiff must pay the fees within the time limit otherwise, the court will deemed that he voluntary dismiss the case and will strike the case out of the list. (Section 222/11) The court than must give his most reasonable notice under that circumstance for instance newspapers and must give the time limit for the member to opt-out of the class list. (Section 222/12) The people who opt-out of the class will not be bind by the decision of the court. After the time limit the member can opt-out from the class list only by the approval of the court. Section 222/13) This is significantly different from the Civil Procedure code section 145. However, the people who opt-out of the class list reserve always his right to bring the suit to court. The hearing can be replaced by the affidavit testimony of the witness sign by the person who testify including opinion of the expert witnesses. (Section 222/20 paragraph 2 and 222/23). This helps the problem of time consuming. In my opinion, the affi davit of the witness should have some restriction. For example, it would be valid in condition that the affidavit contents of the witness original/own words. Because the counsel of the plaintiff has to devote himself, both time and resources of his own, he must have some reward from doing such great benefit to the society. If not, then there may not be an incentive for the lawyer to accept to be the counsel of the plaintiff. The court will have the power to determine the amount of award for the counsel with regard to his effort, resources and knowledge he put in the work. In this light, the counsel shall submit the court of the statement of expenses. However, the ceiling of the award is 30 percent from the amount of damages given by the court. Section 222/37) In enforcing the damages, the court must determine the enforcing rule and condition in his decision. If there is a claim for stay of execution, the court of first instance will have the final word of such order. (Section 222/38) This is, I think, because the court of first instance is the most related to all the fact in the case. In common law system, the appeal court is likely to li mit their power in reverse the fact of the court of first instance. He shall reverse only there’s an abuse of discretion of the court of first instance. Because the class action case concerns a lot of injured person and mostly they would love to be compensating as quick as possible that’s why we should have the leap frog procedure. The draft of section 222/45 then, give right to appeal directly to the Supreme Court in order to save time and get the injured persons compensate as expenditure as it can be. In apply the class action procedure into our system; the judge must concern always his newly active position. Hence, there are some active roles of the judge put into the draft for instance Section 222/20 paragraph 1. In addition, in awarding damages for the class, the judge must indicate the specific amount of money that would be paid to the plaintiff. (Section 222/36(3)) Still, the problem may arise where the class member did not active their right by not requesting for their damages. The court should have the right to order what to do with the rest amount of damages; may put into society fund etc but in my opinion, the court should primary send the notice or the form for injured person (class member) to fill in. In this way, if such person did not fill in, then we would know that he has waived his right in the damages. In requesting damages of the class member, the draft has granted the right for other members of the class to file an objection. (Section 222/40). This I find it useful to get rid of the people who did not has any interest in the sum but still filing for the objection. However, I think we have to concern about the time and the complication as well. Therefore, we should put the qualification of the person who will be eligible in filing the objection to the court into the draft. Nevertheless, in granting the award, the court should put the priority to the court fees before the award for the counsel of the plaintiff. I’m in the opinion that this draft of class action will succeed its rational of the draft as it can help effectiveness in access the civil injured persons to justice because it can protect mass injured person in a single action, it is less time consuming. It will help those who cannot afford themselves in litigation or those minor who can’t bring the suit on their own. It also helps in case where the damages are little but vast of injured person. Each person damages may exceed the litigation fees but if combine all damages together, it may be worth. As in common issue, only one amount of fees is required so injured person will be compensate and the economic purpose is accomplished. In this regard, when people can file all cases in one action, it tends to reduce the repetition of claim. Nowadays there are more people in the society. And they love/oblige to stay or doing the same thing. That’s why we see more frequently that one action can cause mass injury. As from the rational above, it is time for Thailand to import the class action.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Why did the USA become increasingly essays

Why did the USA become increasingly essays The main reason behind Americas involvement in Vietnam was its fear of communism spreading. It believed that something called the Domino Theory would take place in Vietnam spreading communism into Eastern Europe. They believed this because they had seen it happen. The Soviet Union had become communist during the First World War and had spread it to China. The Americans had just been fighting a war in Korea trying to combat communist rule and now the communists in Vietnam had just defeated the French army. America believed that if it was not stopped then communism would keep spreading. In 1954 a group called Vietminh lead by Ho Chi Minh defeated the French Army, which was occupying Vietnam at the time, Ho Chi Minh was a communist and although most people who supported it did so because it was opposing French rule not because it was communist American still believed that the Vietminh would bring communism to Vietnam and therefore had to be stopped. This lead to America first becoming involved in Vietnam because with the French defeated the future of Vietnam was uncertain so there was a peace conference in Geneva. At the Geneva Conference it was decided that Vietnam would be split in two up to the 17th parallel and elections would be held two years later and the country would be reunited again. America wasnt happy with this agreement and started supporting South Vietnams Government lead by a man called Ngo Dinh Diem. America got involved with the Diem Government because it believed that if they kept South Vietnam strong and anti communist then that would stop the domino theory from occurring. Unfortunately this didnt work. Diem was a vicious and cruel dictator who could never win over the support of the people like the communist had done in the North Vietnams countryside. When he first came into power he put an end to the Vietminh and any members still in South Vietnam. He automatically assumed th...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The One-Page Resume Dont Model Your Resume After Elon Musks

The One-Page Resume Dont Model Your Resume After Elon Musks Last April, a resume writing company called Novorà ©sumà © created Elon Musk’s one-page resume, claiming that this resume proves no one needs a resume longer than one page. The resume spread virally. But does it prove what it claims to prove? I’m not reproducing the Elon Musk one-page resume here since I dont want to violate copyright, so I invite you to view it as you read the following comments. You can take a look at this much-viewed resume here. My take: This one-pager is nice for Elon Musk, the creator of Tesla and one of the biggest names in entrepreneurial history. I mean, Elon Musk could put his name sloppily on a page and get hired. Who cares what his resume says? But most people need more than one page to display their accomplishments. I assert that while there are some good things about this resume, there are more problems than attributes. And there are a lot of lessons you can take from Elon Musk’s one-page resume on what NOT to do. Here’s my critique: Elon’s Summary only works if you already know who he is. Otherwise you’d think the guy is idealistic at best, crazy at worst. Here’s how it reads: â€Å"Aiming to reduce global warming through sustainable energy production and consumption, and reducing the â€Å"risk of human extinction† by â€Å"making life multi-planetary† and setting up a human colony on Mars. Brilliant? Or delusional? What about stating Elon’s actual accomplishments, like starting up multi-billion-dollar companies, setting the standard in electric cars, and disrupting more technologies than anyone else on the planet? That’s what I want to hear about. The Work Experience descriptions only make an impact if you already know who Elon Musk is and what his companies do. For example, â€Å"Currently oversee the company’s product strategy – including the design, engineering and manufacturing of more and more affordable electric vehicles for mainstream consumers.† That’s fine, but really it’s a job description, not an accomplishment. It doesnt tell us what dollar value he generated for the company in this position. If someone without Elon Musk’s name recognition wanted to get hired, they would need to list a lot more specific accomplishments on their resume. The broad descriptions on Elon Musk’s one-page resume would not cut it. The award listed in Tesla is ancient. There’s an impressive line in the Tesla section about receiving the Global Green 2006 product design award†¦ but that was ten years ago! You’d almost think the guy hasn’t accomplished anything since then. There are â€Å"orphans† in the paragraphs. â€Å"Orphans† are one-word lines on the last line of a paragraph. They make the resume look elementary and sloppy. Lines that should be bullets are not bulleted and are instead stacked on top of each other with no space in between, making them difficult to read. This space-saving tactic is not recommended. Writing actual bullets takes up more space, sure, but it’s worth it for readability. There are no dollar numbers in the resume anywhere. Lines like â€Å"†¦conducted a successful viral marketing campaign, which led to a rapid increase in the number of customers† lack concrete information on what that increase was. The absence of quantifiable achievements might be okay for Elon Musk, but not for you (unless the numbers are confidential). Writing a true list of accomplishments, I can’t state enough times, is a lot more important than keeping your resume to one page. Elon’s Skills Competencies section is not consistent. Items in the list on â€Å"Skills Competencies† include â€Å"Thinking through principles first,† â€Å"Goal oriented,† and â€Å"Time Management.† The first is a participial phrase, the second is an adjective, and the third is a noun. This kind of inconsistency scrambles a reader’s brain. The Skills Competencies section, formatted in graphic style, will not be understood by a computer or ATS (Applicant Tracking Software) system. If you read my article about ATS-Compatible resumes last week, you know that a chart or graph will not cut it if you are applying to jobs on line. If Elon wants to have this information parsed, he needs to write regular sentences or phrases about these skills. Furthermore, if you want your skills to matter, you need to do more than put them in a list of skills. You must put your skills in the Work Experience section, under positions with dates of employment, to have the years of the skills counted toward your qualifications. Integrating your skills into your Experience section might take up more space, and it’s worth it. The whole resume needs to be reformatted for ATS systems. See my article on ATS-Compatible Resumes. Once reformatted, you guessed it: It will be longer. Elon’s alma matter is listed as â€Å"Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences.†Ã‚  How are we to know if this is the University of Pennsylvania or Penn State without looking it up on line? It’s not worth getting sloppy for the sake of saving space. I recommend always writing out the full name of your educational institutions. There are some people who should have a one-page resume. If you’re applying for Board positions, for instance, a document like Elon Musk’s one-page resume can be effective. Boards don’t care as much about your numbers, and prefer to see a bigger picture of your skills and scope of leadership. A one-page resume is also appropriate for many new graduates and people who have just a few years of experience. If you’re applying to Google, the rule of thumb is one page per 10 years of experience. But I’ve seen new graduates get very desirable jobs using a two-page resume if they have the experience to justify a longer document. Overall, it’s more important to state your accomplishments clearly and specifically, format your resume wisely, write out anything you’ve represented in a chart or graph, and include your keywords in your Experience section, than to attempt to cram all your experience onto one page. How long is your resume? What’s your experience with a one-page or two-page resume? And what do you think of Elon Musk’s one-page resume? Please share your comments!

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Legal Aspects of Health Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Legal Aspects of Health Care - Essay Example This essay will discuss three states stand on Euthanasia: Texas, Oklahoma and Washington. Texas was did not agree to euthanasia or PAS until 1999. Under the Texas Futile Act, certain patients are allowed the assistance of their hospitals or physicians to withdraw life support (Health and Safety Code). For instance, mechanical respiration can be stopped for those patients whose illness is terminal enough for this measure to be considered futile and unnecessary. This act allows the family the chance to review the hospital's decision when previously a court injunction could be used by the hospital to withdraw treatment without any notice. Also, no decision in this act is based on the monetary capacity of the patient thus the act creates no rift between classes: providing equal rights to all. Oklahoma is similar in its opinion of euthanasia and PSA. The state has a law which specifically prohibits assisted suicide. If a person commits an assisted suicide, he or she can be charged with a criminal act. Thus the state refuses to condone or authorize any means of assisted suicide. In the same way euthanasia is prohibited in Oklahoma under the general homicide laws.

Friday, October 18, 2019

The Advantages of Studying Abroad Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Advantages of Studying Abroad - Essay Example For those who are faced with alternative courses of action as to the selection of the educational institution they prefer – whether in their own country or abroad – diverse factors need to be considered before making the appropriate decision. In this regard, this essay aims to proffer the intricacies of studying abroad. It would initially delve into determining the factors that need to be considered when analyzing the option to study in a foreign land. Further, it would closely examine the advantages, as well as disadvantages, of being given the privilege to study in a foreign country. First and foremost, a critical consideration before one can simply enumerate the factors that need to be taken account when deciding to study abroad is the level of one’s preponderance to the decision. According to the study conducted by Naffziger, Bott & Mueller (2008, 44), there are two dependent variables that influence clearly stated factors which influence student decisions to study abroad: â€Å"INTEREST in studying abroad and OPENNESS to studying abroad.† These two variables greatly affect the students’ decision subject to the following factors: (1) curricular or career issues with study abroad programs; (2) fear of travel and of the unknown; (3) financial considerations; (4) incompatibilities; (5) previous travel experience and exposure to study abroad programs; and (6) social obligations and concerns. (Naffziger, et.al. 2008, 44) The variables are significant because they affect behavioral traits which ultimately lead them either to decide or not to undergo a study abroad program. Those who are genuinely interested and open for opportunities to study abroad are least likely to consider barriers: fear of the unknown, language and communication, ethnic and cultural diversity.  Ã‚  

OLS final exam Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

OLS final exam - Term Paper Example In addition, these labor management relations of today are quite different from the ones used 50 years ago. Besides, there are also some important legislative issues and laws that govern these labor relations in the U.S (Lewin, Keefe & Kochan, 2012). Therefore, this paper will discuss and analyze some of the labor relations in the U.S in contemporary society as compared to those that were administered in 50 years ago (Kuang & Moser, 2011). Again, the paper will address some of the legislative issues and laws that govern labor relations in the U.S. Furthermore, the paper will discuss the causes of declining union membership in U.S and the reasons that have led to decline in union membership (Flanagan, 2005). Lastly, the paper will address contract negotiation process and give important facts about contract negotiation process (Summary of the Major Laws of the Department of Labor, 2012). Labor Relations To begin with, a comparison research about the current labor relations and the past labor relation show that, current labor relations are more organized and more beneficial to most people in the U.S. This is because today there are many provisions in the law and legislative structure on issues dealing with labor relations such as Wages and Hours labor management laws that provide standard limits for wages given to the employees and the set of standard limits of hours that an employee should work. In the past 50 years, these laws were not there; hence, the current labor relations are far much better than they used to be 50 years ago. In addition, there are labor relations laws such as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act that provides and advocates for retirement benefits to employees such as health care provisions. Besides, today, there are various procedures, policies, and provisions in the laws, that energize labor management in the country. Therefore, it is clear that labor management and relations are far much better today than 50 years ago (Max, 2013). Legislative issues and laws in United States Various legislative issues and laws in the U.S govern labor relation, and are applicable to all workers, employees, businesses, and even contractors. First, one important law is about wages and hours that outline the standard limits for wages and hours of working, which apply to both private and public employment relations. This law requires that employers should cover employees’ pay for those who work overtime and normal hours, and for overtime work, the payment should be one and a half of the normal regular rates of payment. Again, the law states that in the non-agricultural jobs, children under the age of 16 can only work on the less dangerous jobs while children can only work or are employed during school holidays, as the law does not allow school-going children under the age of 16 to be employed when they are supposed to be in school. In addition, the law provides standard conditions and procedures under which immigrants in t he U.S can work, and states that they can only work under some immigrant and nonimmigrant visa policies and programs (Summary of the Major Laws of the Department of Labor, 2012). Secondly, the Occupational Safety and Health Act provides work place and health regulations in the workplace by stating that employees in both private and

Non-Malignanat Palliative Care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Non-Malignanat Palliative Care - Assignment Example Introduction Certain incurable conditions like advanced malignancy and end-stage organ diseases are a challenge to health professionals like nurses for several reasons. Besides instituting treatments to manage their symptoms like pain, the nurses also need to take care of other aspects like emotional support, spiritual care and psychosocial interventions (Arolker and Johson, 2007). Patients who are in terminal stages of life need to be managed in a holistic manner keeping in mind the emotional distress they are going through. Such a care is known as palliative care. Extension of palliative care services to all patients, including those suffering from non-malignant conditions is a much discussed topic in many countries all over the world. Infact, there is a lot of pressure among health service circles for the provision of palliative care to patients based on their need rather than diagnosis. However, at the same time, there is paucity of practical skills and information as to how supp ort must be provided to patients with non-malignant diseases (Cochrane et al, 2008). In this essay, a critical analysis of provision of palliative care services by those specialists providing palliative care for cancer patients will be done. 2. Overview of the needs of people with non-malignant conditions for palliative care According to the World Health Organization (2009), palliative care is â€Å"an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual." Historically, palliative care services by specialists were provided to only cancer patients (Addington-Hall et al, 1998). But, actually, even non-malignant patients in terminally ill stages require palliative care services and pressure to service these patients is mou nting enormously (Cochrane et al, 2008). According to Addington-Hall (1995), palliative care must be provided to patients based on the need rather than on the diagnosis. This means that even non-malignant patients who quantify for palliative services will need palliative care services. Palliative services for those with non-malignant conditions are sparse when compared with those with malignant conditions (Cochrane et al, 2008). Several needs assessments have proven that those with certain non-malignant conditions in the the long term develop some physical symptoms which burden the patients and their family members along with certain psychosocial needs that are unmet. Some such conditions include certain chronic neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, end-stage renal disease, chronic respiratory problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart problems like dilated cardiomyopathy (Cochrane et al, 2008). The end-stage of life, when the patient and his/he r family members know about the proximity to death, evokes certain feelings and emotions like rage, denial, bargaining, envy, depression and acceptance (Aranda, 2008). According to DOH (2008), "the challenge for the NHS and social care services now, is to extend this quality of care from the minority of patients (mainly those with cancer) who currently come into contact with hospices and specialist palliative care s

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Laughter & Nutrition ( Creating Healing Environments) Assignment

Laughter & Nutrition ( Creating Healing Environments) - Assignment Example This video was relevant because it presented a soothing and comical approach to handling troubles of a person. It showed that the things that the individuals not in the video thought were so sad or wrong could not be so bad. They eventually found relief after thinking that they had been experiencing a horrible time. It shows that everything doesn’t have to be so gloomy even in places where gloom is prevalent. The context of the funny video resonated with the stressful experiences of the individuals I was helping to deal with stress. Eventually, they could identify with it and laugh and things unfolded. The video presented an example of coping humor. It has therapeutic capabilities of making people release their tensions and face situations more bravely and relaxed (Dossey and Keegan, 2012). The grass-fed beef is a food that is rich in antioxidants, Vitamins C, E and beta carotene. This is a better alternative from grain-fed beef because it is lower in fat and richer in Omega-3. Dossey and Keegan (2012) assert that foods rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins reduce the stress responses. Grass-fed beef contains these components and thus appropriate for consumption in the case. It can be prepared by frying. Preparation and cooking involves making small cuts of the beef, heating a pan containing a small amount of oil, seasoning with ingredients such as garlic and finally heating until the beef pieces are brown and cooked. The use of humor to relieve the embarrassment and tension that the recovery nurse faced shows the significant potential of handling of dealing with panic and confusion. The nurse finally recovered and did everything as required. This shows that a stressed person can cope well when he receives relief from his/her troubles. Pressure and increased demands to act in a certain way without errors can cause a person to fail. When this pressure is eliminates, as in the case of using a spoof of Justin Timberlakes

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Taxation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Taxation - Assignment Example Whether someone is employed or self employed depends upon the terms and conditions of relevant engagement. The tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) rules do, however have special rules that apply to certain special categories of workers in certain circumstances. If you work for someone else it is important to know whether you are working for that person in employed capacity or in a self- employed capacity as an independent contractor.† (HMRC)ii Self employed taxpayers have the advantage of claiming wide range of expenses against the receipts of self employment services. â€Å"The decision to become self employed can also be affected by tax system.†(David G Blanch flower and Chris Shad forth)iii There is also an advantage of payment of income tax by instalments as against taxes being withheld by the employer under the PAYE scheme. It becomes extremely difficult in many cases to distinguish between self employment status and employee status of a tax payer. Whene ver any taxpayer is working on part time basis with more than one entity it is always the desire of HMRC to consider the tax payer under the employee status. This is because of easy and quick collection of taxes and NI under PAYE scheme on an income where only limited range of expenses can be claimed and thus providing higher amount of taxes. In fact these are the nature of activities of the taxpayer that decide the status of the tax payer. If there exists a contract of services then it is easy to consider taxpayer as an employee of the entity with whom the contract has been executed to render the services. But when such contracts exist for more than one entity the taxpayer would be treated as self employed rendering services to a number of entities. What will happen when there is no such contract? Under such conditions the issue is decided on basis of certain criteria. The main criteria are control over the performance of activities, fixidity of payment of remuneration even when th e entity is not earning, ownership of equipments used by the taxpayer during the performance of the duties, and exclusivity of providing services to one entity among other considerations. In our case Sam is now providing services exclusively to West London Company, and that is why HMRC wants tax him under the status of an employee and not under the status of as a self employed person. When you are not your own master and control of your activities and the performance is guided by the person providing you the remuneration, the status of the taxpayer is treated as an employee of the person providing him/ her the remuneration. â€Å"You are responsible for your own taxes and NI contributions† (Directgov)iv In the case of Sam his activities are now completely controlled by West London Company. Company is providing a fixed monthly remuneration of ?7500 even though he is operating from home. At the same time company is also providing him access to a desk, telephone, computer, and a lso stationery in the office. No reimbursement of expenses is allowed under the arrangement as the remuneration is fixed at ?7500 per month. There is exclusivity as Sam is also not providing services to any other entity or client. It should be noted that employment income is taxed on the basis of receipt of remuneration and not on accrual or earned basis which is applied when the taxpayer’

Laughter & Nutrition ( Creating Healing Environments) Assignment

Laughter & Nutrition ( Creating Healing Environments) - Assignment Example This video was relevant because it presented a soothing and comical approach to handling troubles of a person. It showed that the things that the individuals not in the video thought were so sad or wrong could not be so bad. They eventually found relief after thinking that they had been experiencing a horrible time. It shows that everything doesn’t have to be so gloomy even in places where gloom is prevalent. The context of the funny video resonated with the stressful experiences of the individuals I was helping to deal with stress. Eventually, they could identify with it and laugh and things unfolded. The video presented an example of coping humor. It has therapeutic capabilities of making people release their tensions and face situations more bravely and relaxed (Dossey and Keegan, 2012). The grass-fed beef is a food that is rich in antioxidants, Vitamins C, E and beta carotene. This is a better alternative from grain-fed beef because it is lower in fat and richer in Omega-3. Dossey and Keegan (2012) assert that foods rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins reduce the stress responses. Grass-fed beef contains these components and thus appropriate for consumption in the case. It can be prepared by frying. Preparation and cooking involves making small cuts of the beef, heating a pan containing a small amount of oil, seasoning with ingredients such as garlic and finally heating until the beef pieces are brown and cooked. The use of humor to relieve the embarrassment and tension that the recovery nurse faced shows the significant potential of handling of dealing with panic and confusion. The nurse finally recovered and did everything as required. This shows that a stressed person can cope well when he receives relief from his/her troubles. Pressure and increased demands to act in a certain way without errors can cause a person to fail. When this pressure is eliminates, as in the case of using a spoof of Justin Timberlakes

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Sapporo beer Essay Example for Free

Sapporo beer Essay Japan’s Sapporo Holdings said on Thursday it would enter the Vietnamese market by taking a 65 percent stake in a beer joint venture with Vietnam National Tobacco Corp to tap its fast-growing market. It marks the first major overseas expansion in three years by Sapporo, the smallest of Japan’s four major brewers, as bigger rivals Kirin and Suntory have been aggressively snapping up overseas businesses to grow beyond a shrinking domestic market. â€Å"Vietnam is Asia’s third-largest beer market after China and Japan and this is a fast-growing market,† said Tatsuya Komatsu, a Sapporo spokesman. The company will acquire a 50 percent stake in the venture from Danish brewer Carlsberg and 15 percent from Vietnam National Tobacco for a total of $25. 4 million. The joint venture will build a beer factory in Vietnam and is scheduled to startselling Sapporo brand beer in early 2012, it said in a statement. The venture aims for sales in 2019 of 150,000 kilolitres or $128 million. Sapporo said it will actively seek further acquisition opportunities to enlarge itsoverseas business, which now accounts for less than 10 percent of its revenues. Sapporo, the maker of Yebisu brand beer, acquired Canadian brewer Sleeman in 2006 for 30 billion yen ($340 million), but has been overshadowed by Kirin and Suntory in overseas expansion. Kirin has spent $1. 5 billion in the past two years to buy Australia’s National Foods and Dairy Farmers and $2. 8 billion to take full ownership of Australia’s No. 2 beer maker Lion Nathan. It also acquired a 49 percent stake in the Philippines’ San Miguel Brewery for $1. 4 billion. Asahi Breweries, locked in a fierce battle with Kirin for No. 1 slot in Japan’s beer market, said recently it could spend up to 400 billion yen ($4. 6 billion) on acquisitions over the next few years, with an eye on Asian markets. The Japanese brewers have been scrambling to diversify their products and geographic reach to reduce their reliance on the domestic beer market, which has lost 15 percent in volume in the past decade as the economy sputters and the population shrinks. HA NOI — The Japanese beer maker Sapporo Holdings plans to enter the domestic market from early 2012 through the purchase of a majority stake in Kronenbourg Viet Nam Ltd. Sapporo Holdings said it would buy a 65 per cent stake for about US$23 million in Kronenbourg Viet Nam, which is equally owned by Carlsberg Brewery A/S and the Viet Nam National Tobacco Corp (Vinataba). After the deal closes, which is due in January next year, a joint venture betweenSapporo Holdings and Vinataba will be set up with the latter holding 35 per cent of the joint venture’s stake. At that time, Kronenbourg Viet Nam will change its name into Sapporo Viet Nam Ltd. Sapporo said the joint venture would begin construction on a new plant on the outskirts of HCM City. The plant is scheduled to begin operations from 2012. Sapporo expects to earn a turnover of roughly $115 million within a decade from the Vietnamese market, with a predicted annual growth rate of more than 10 per cent for years to come. The joint venture has targeted a market share of roughly 3 per cent in Viet Nam by 2019. Sapporo also has plans to export beer produced in Japan to Viet Nam. The Japanese beer maker decided to expand its business in other Asian countries in a move to offset declining beer sales in Japan due to a shrinking population and a gloomy economic outlook. — VNS In 2010 , Sapporo has arrived in Vietnam and established Sapporo Vietnam Co. ( a joint venture between Tobacco Corporation Vietnam ( VINATABA ) and JSC Sapporo Holdings Ltd. for a total contribution from Japan 71 % ) . 11/ 2011, the Sapporo Factory in Long An Vietnam was officially put into operation . The plant has production capacity of 40 million liters / year , but to meet the goal of becoming a major production base for Southeast Asian beer market capacity will be increased gradually over the period 2015 to reach 100 million liters / year and in 2019 will reach 150 million liters / year . 4/2012 , Sapporo official launch sales activities . Sapporo time in more than 4,000 retail stores , restaurants , hotels, mainly in Vietnam . Sapporo has now launched 4 product lines premium beer : Sapporo Premium Beer Bottle 330 ml , 330 ml cans of beer Sapporo Premium , Sapporo Premium Beer 650 ml silver cans and beer Sapporo Premium 20L . In particular , products Can Silver ( silver cans ) is a typical representative of elegance and luxury of Sapporo Premium Beer . This product has a higher alcohol content than other types a bit , with a large capacity and a unique design that Sapporo beer can only be Sapporo is the only beer company in the world combined study of barley and hops to produce a formula to create the most perfect beer . Based on these studies , the Sapporo today have developed a new barley varieties better and Vietnam Sapporo Factory is also used . When the Vietnam market , to be able to produce beers with similar quality beers produced in Japan and in accordance with consumer tastes here , Sapporo choose the most appropriate type of yeast in 1000 different yeast species from the research Center of Sapporo in Japan . After Japan and Canada , Vietnam is the place where Sapporo beer factory and expect this will become the manufacturing center of the Southeast Asian market . Because Vietnam is the third largest beer market in Asia , the turnover of 3 billion liters of beer in 2020 and expected to double . Sapporo Vietnam not only passionate creative challenges overcome and the framework of the usual practice , but also to share the moments of happiness and joy winning hand. Thats why Sapporo Premium market presence in Vietnam as a premium beer brand .

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Negative Impacts Of Cruise Tourism Tourism Essay

The Negative Impacts Of Cruise Tourism Tourism Essay 1. Introduction Nowadays, cruise tourism plays an important role in the tourism industry. Cruise ships become newer, larger and more comfortable so that nearly every need of the customers can be satisfied on the high seas. Capabilities like theaters, cinemas, fitness clubs, discotheques, casinos, tennis courts and many others are common on most modern cruise ships. Moreover, that most of the named activities are already included in the price. Thereby the ships beat about all the seven oceans to the most beautiful places on earth like for instance the Caribbean. But all these glorious sounding features involve several negative environmental problems. Cruise ships contaminate the seas with tons of waste and sewage which causes decreases of biodiversity, coral reefs and of course the water quality. Mass tourism harms and destroys ecological systems like beaches and reefs. This examination is about the impacts of cruise tourism to the environment and contingencies how to make cruise tourism more sustain able. 2. Utilization of resources Cruise tourism requires an abundance of resources and produces quantities of waste. A typical Caribbean cruise ship produces about 50tons of waste, 7.5 million liter potable water, 800.000 liter wastewater and 130.000 liter oleiferous water. Approximately 75% of all produced wastewater are caused by cruise ships. Between 1993 and 1998 over 100 cases of marine pollutions were investigated in the Caribbean. The estimate number of unknown cases might exceed this number many times over because the disposal of wastewater takes place in aquatic environments where environmental pollution is permitted on payment of a fee. Furthermore the cruise industry requires a convenient super- and infrastructure at their destinations which often overwhelms the financial capability of the regions and causes a dependency to the cruise tourism. 3. General information about the impact of the cruise tourism industry The entire tourism industry has positive as well as negative impacts on the economy, the culture and the environment. Thereby the cruise industry is no exception. Being an in Niche market the cruise industrys impact is higher-than average. By establishing more than 450,000 employments with salaries of 15 billion US-Dollars in the whole and a turnover of some billion dollars above all the cruise industry in the USA has a great impact on the economy. Furthermore a big impact on the governments revenues and expenditures is notable. The revenues of local governments consist like following: Taxes paid on turnovers by cruise passenger, the crew and the cruise line Temporarily taxes on accommodations that are paid by passengers Revenues in fees paid by passengers as well as by the cruise line, including fees for calling at a port, cleaning and other expenditures on a harbor Fees for recycling and the use of water Fees for passengers, including admission charge and payments for medical provision Tax payment of companies which distribute products and services to cruise lines passengers taxes paid by enterprises Operational costs on- site Secondary or indirect tax revenues like payment of property tax by employees of the cruise lines and their families 4. Possibilities to create sustainable cruise tourism The Cruise tourism encompasses different segments and sub segments. Aspects of sustainability in the sense of ecological sustainability play in most of the sub-segments of cruise tourism a more or less important role. All indications are that the cruise industry, in its own interest, tries to eliminate these negative impacts as fast as possible. Potential Reasons, as the fact that one of the most important subareas of cruise industry, the Caribbean, cannot comply the conception of sustainable tourism in the sense of the definition of sustainability mentioned in the Bruntland Report, have to be searched on the academic and socio-cultural level. To find concrete evidence on these levels seems to be difficult. Although the cruise tourism initiate doubtless economical impulses on the destinations, the essentially effects on the long term local development remain to be unrealized. The relation between costs and benefits on the environmental level as well as on the socio- cultural level seems to be unbalanced what a disadvantage of the destinations is. A quantification of this context owes. With the undersigning of a pioneering nature protection agreement on January 15th 2008, re-experienced the 12-month collaboration of Conservation International, the tourism agency of Cozumel, and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association its climax. Cruise industry representatives from the government, private enterprise association and cruise ship association were part of this contract. With the undersigning of this arrangement the contractual partners originated a significant nature conservancy initiative which should help to protect the vulnerable biodiversity of the most popular cruise destination on earth Cozumel, Mexico. In the year 2006 the island employed about 1000 workers for cruise ships, which brought an estimate number of 2.6 million cruise passengers to Cozumel. During peak times up to nine cruise ships with over 10.000 tourists reach the islands harbor daily. The rapid growing of the cruise tourism industry led to a heavy burden for the environment. The agreement composes the fundament for sustainable cruise tourism which will be achieved with the following projects: The creation of more awareness for environmental problems among the cruise tourists, tour operators and within the local community Improvement of the infrastructure of the island (especially the transportation- and waste-management) Increased security for the coral reef Indemnity of the strict observance of current laws These projects were developed during a range of workshops by groups of different stakeholders. Hereby over 80 leading representatives of the cruise tourism were brought together in order to pinpoint important environmental aspects and to achieve a common accomplishment for these projects. This common planning process is worldwide the first of its kind in the cruise tourism. Therefore Cozumel is the only cruise ship destination which helps to prevent its nature and biodiversity. Leading representatives of the cruise tourism established the so-called Stewardship Working Group which is supposed to implement objectives mentioned in the environment protection agreement. Following objectives are on the agenda: Every cruise ship passenger will see a 30 second information-movie in which he will appealed to handle sustainable in order to protect the nature In a photo exhibition, nearby the landing stage, the passengers will see the unspoilt districts of the island All tour-boats on the island have their own recycling system In the next step the representatives will evolve awareness campaigns which involve not only the cruise tourists but also the tour operator and hosts. Approximately over 500.000 cruise tourists will be involved in such campaigns. 5. Particular sensitive sea area The cruise industry will be confronted with several challenges related to environmental issues in the future. These challenges relate to the activities in the oceans, especially in and around important nature protection areas. The international Maritime Organization (IMO) recognized that issue and initiated counteractions, the so called Particular Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA). At present there exist 11 PSSAs. The effective guidelines of these areas commit all the governments of the IMO member- states to ensure that cruise lines which drive under their flag have to keep the methods of protection. The following 11 PSSAs were arranged: The Great Barrier Reef, Australia (1990) The Sabana-Camagà ¼ey Archipelago, Cuba (1996) The Malpelo Island, Colombia (2002) The Sea around the Florida Keys (2002) The Wadden Sea, Denmark, Norway, Germanys (2002) The Paracas National Reserve, Peru (2003) The western European Waters (2004) Enlargement of the existing PSSA of the Great Barrier Reef including the Torres Strait Islands (2005) The Canary Islands, Spain (2005) The Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuador (2005) The Baltic Sea, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden (2005) The MARPOL Convention arranges three complementary methods for the contamination management: Reduction of waste products, Recycling and disposal of waste. With the agreement of the MARPOL Convention a cruise ship can convert its waste and dispose it on its own as well as leave the waste on a harbor for disposal either by store it, burn it or recycle it. 6. Studies and scientific literature In the more recent past only a small number of studies concerning the environmental impact of the cruise industry existed. For a considerable time a wide range of articles, reports, books, campaigns and websites occurred. The most informative subscription are scientific works (Cruise Ship Tourism, 2006, CABI), which interpret the concrete impacts of the cruise industry to the environment. The most considered researches were published by Ross Dowling and Ross Klein (Cruise Ship Blues The Underside of the Cruise Industry, 2002, and Cruise Ship Squeeze The New Pirates of the Seven Seas, 2005, New Society Publishers). Furthermore, Klein also operates to websites (www.cruisejunkie.com and www.cruiseresearch.org) where the visitor can find a varies number of resources like detailed lists of diseases, cancellations, suicides, passengers who fell overboard, powertrain problems, environmental incidents, health issues and many more. Between 2002 and 2006 over one thousand facts were collected. 7. Conclusion Although the cruise tourism has a huge negative impact on the environment there are still no homogenous regulations or laws to protect the ecological system. Even if some regions established such laws, regulations and awareness campaigns there are still huge areas of freedom to act in an environmentally harmful way. Due to the magnitude of the seas the direct environmental impacts are not clearly recognizable in a short time but they cause long-term damages. The new cruise ships which are bigger than ever before and the increasing demand in this tourism branch wont help to come to grips with this problem. In terms of achieving sustainable tourism it is, therefore, a sub-sector within which socio-economic, cultural and environmental considerations need to be continually analyzed, addressed and monitored. However, decision-makers in cruise tourism destinations, particularly those outside North America, need to work closely with operators to facilitate both integrated waste management and intergenerational and intra-societal equity rather than merely accept the prospect of short-term economic gain.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Jane Eyre vs House of Mirth Lily Essays -- essays papers

Jane Eyre vs House of Mirth Lily The novels, Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, and House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton, contain many similarities and differences of which I will discuss in this essay. The focus will be on the main characters of each book, Jane Eyre, and Lily Bart and will include important points and ideas demonstrated in these novels. To begin, Jane, from Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre, was an orphan who was raised by an upper-class family who resented her and did not want her, therefore torturing, abusing, and treating her as someone at a status even lower than the servants. As a child, she knows that her status is awkward and even later on, as a grown woman, she is considered a second class citizen simply because of her sex. Further into the novel, once she has become the governess at Thornfield, the social status put upon her is inferior to Rochester and others of high class. She is forced into this social standing despite the fact that she is expected to display the manners and education of an upper-class woman. In comparison, Lily, of Wharton’s novel, House of Mirth, was raised in a very prestigious, well-to-do family and grows up to be one of New York’s most eligible socialites. As an irresponsible, uncontrollable gambler, Lily tends not to worry, nor give her bad habit a second thought because she is under the impression that her â€Å"out of reach† way of life and her elite circle of friends will be her protection from the consequences that her actions may bring. However, the novel takes a turn and Lily’s compulsive gambling is discovered, resulting in being cut off financially by her family and being cast out by her peers. For the first time in her life, now poor and alone, she must... ...from one another and as a result, grew up with different values and senses for what was truly important in life and what was truly necessary to survive. Jane emerged from a strict, abusive upbringing, into a well-rounded, strong-minded, responsible, and dedicated adult who triumphed in the end. Lily suffered a fate that she almost seemed destined for. Lily shares her name with a common flower. This fact may contain an aspect of symbolism in that like a dying flower, Lily’s character gradually begins to â€Å"wilt† as the novel goes on. Even her last name, Bart, shows symbolism in that it contains the word â€Å"art† which may imply something about the materialistic world that she tries to be a part of. Interestingly, and perhaps most symbolic, is the fact that the lily is the â€Å"flower of death†, an outcome that her whirlwind, uptight, unrealistic life inevitably led her to.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

The Glass Menagerie - Amanda Wingfield Essay -- English Literature

The Glass Menagerie - Amanda Wingfield If there is a signature character type that marks Tennessee -Williams’s dramatic work, it is undeniably that of the faded Southern belle. Amanda is a clear representative of this type. In general, a Tennessee Williams faded belle is from a prominent Southern family, has received a traditional upbringing, and has suffered a reversal of economic and social fortune at some point in her life. Like Amanda, these women all have a hard time coming to terms with their new status in society—and indeed, with modern society in general, which disregards the social distinctions that they were taught to value. Their relationships with men and their families are turbulent, and they staunchly defend the values of their past. As with Amanda, their maintenance of genteel manners in very ungenteel surroundings can appear tragic, comic, or downright grotesque. Amanda is the play’s most extroverted and theatrical character, and one of modern American drama’s most coveted female roles (the acclaimed stage actress Laurette Taylor came out of semi-retirement to play the role in the original production, and a number of legendary actresses, including Jessica Tandy, have since taken on the role). Amanda’s constant nagging of Tom and her refusal to see Laura for who she really is are certainly reprehensible, but Amanda also reveals a willingness to sacrifice for her loved ones that is in many ways unparalleled in the play. She subjects herself to the humiliating drudgery of subscription sales in order to enhance Laura’s marriage prospects, without ever uttering so much as a word of complaint. The safest conclusion to draw is that Amanda is not evil but is deeply flawed. In fact, her flaws a... ...r we will see that she is afraid of what will happen to a young girl of Laura’s position who is not married. Thus, Amanda’s emotions are mixed at present but will become clearer as the play progresses. Note how Amanda plays the revelation scene for all its theatrical effect. This is also a part of her character and prepares us for her giddy actions when the gentleman caller comes. One of Amanda’s admirable qualities is her determination. Once she has set her mind to a task, she goes about it with a determination that neither of her children possesses. It would be impossible to imagine either Tom or Laura dedicating themselves to a task with such complete zeal as does Amanda. It is, however, this dedication which makes her appear hateful to her children. It is as though both, especially Tom, were still youths whose every action had to be supervised.