Japan and Earthquake/Tsunami Mitigation Essay Example

Japan and Earthquake/Tsunami Mitigation Paper Mitigation efforts are the most genealogical of anywhere in the world, and ensuring people are prepared for such events has been an important task since the last devastating earthquake in 1995 in the city of Kobo. These efforts include building codes, early warning systems, coastline defenses and various others. Even after a year, Japan is still reeling from this event, and one wonders If they will ever bounce back from such a blow to their landscape, their people, and their economy. The questions to be asked then are why did so many people perish In this disaster (even with the most advanced warning yester), and what can Japan do to revivalist itself with regards to physical, cultural, and economical adaptations? Japans Earthquake History The people of Japan have been recording their earthquakes since the dawn of imperialism at least 1600 years ago (Presses, 2011) and have since had various explanations for these rumblings. According to Japanese folklore, the earthquakes were caused by an enormous catfish named Amaze who was buried in the ground and subsequently would cause the quakes with the shaking of his tail (Presses, 2011). Even with the modern era, naturalists would write off earthquakes as being enmeshment for greedy people by the gods. Only until recently have investigating the real cause of these earthquakes come to fruition. Japan Lies within the Ring of Fire, an area In the Pacific Ocean subject to much cells actively, and Is situated where 4 of these great lithospheres plates (the Pacific, the Philippine, the Eurasian and the North American plate) collide and scrape past each other. Most of the earthquakes occur along Japans northern expansive coastline, and more often than not are followed by tsunamis of varying height. These earthquakes can occur in two different laces: within a plate or between plate boundaries, or inland in shallow crystal areas (Chichi and Sago 2007). We will write a custom essay sample on Japan and Earthquake/Tsunami Mitigation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Japan and Earthquake/Tsunami Mitigation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Japan and Earthquake/Tsunami Mitigation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The latter of the two can cause more building damage, but with the earthquake being inland, they dont usually cause a tsunami. The March 1 lath Earthquake was the 3rd Great (7. 0 or higher on the Richter scale) earthquake of the 20th century: the first was the Kant earthquake (Stanley and Irving 2001) In 1923 which killed over 130,000 people (slated as the deadliest quake in Japans history), and the second was the 1995 Kobo earthquake which took the lives of over 5,000 people (2002). Amalgamation Techniques Pre-March 1 lath Japan has certainly always been the most prepared country with regards to earthquakes, especially vials-a-vials Its past quake events . Some areas are more protected than others, mostly in the northern coastal areas of the country. Before the March 1 lath earthquake, Japan set up a Wide Area Support System that would, in the event of an earthquake, immediately dispatch emergency response teams and other important rescue teams (EERIE 2011). Also, Japan has the only Earthquake warning system in the world, using state of the art technology to warn individuals of earthquakes before they happen and prior to the March 1 lath earthquake the system had never been used before MOM 2012). This system would allow for people to mitigate themselves by quickly ducking or removing themselves from potentially harmful situations MOM 2012). The way the system works is that it sends out alerts via social media, I. E. Allophones, television, radio, and internet sites, which in turn automatically shut off any energy and industrial sites and halts transportation services such as buses and subways (Knight 2011).  Also in the event of an earthquake, special buoys are set up out in the ocean that can detect the presence of an abnormally sized wave passing by, ultimately forecasting a tsunami (Knight 2011). There are also mitigation techniques that can reduce the damage done to areas with lots of infrastructure. New buildings are being constructed with strict earthquake safety codes, and some of the older buildings are being retrofitted with some of these techniques. Structures have deeper foundations with some bases being able to move semi-independently from the rest of the structure in order to reduce resistance in he event of an earthquake (Empiric 2011). Shock absorbers are also being installed so as to allow the building to sway back and forth with the earthquake waves rather than resist and fail to hold up (Empiric 2011). All of these techniques are probably what saved many of the buildings inland that felt the shakes from the March 1 lath earthquake. This does not account for why then so many people still died. What Went Wrong? The problem for the people of the Took region in Japan that day, March 1 lath, may not have been the soaring 9. 0 magnitude of the earthquake, but rather the inability to properly forecast the height of the impending tsunami. It has been determined in fact that the cause of most of the 20,000+ deaths that day (around 90%) was actually drowning (EERIE 2011). The tsunami caused much more damage than the earthquake did, suggesting that indeed Japans earthquake mitigation efforts are in fact top of the line. What is lacking however is how Japan mitigates itself against tsunami waves, especially ones of this scale. The system that was in order before March 1 lath would try to estimate the exact size of the wave in the event on an earthquake. After a magnitude 8. Or higher earthquake struck, it was hard for the system to determine the size of the wave, and it would often drastically underestimate (Crankily 2011). The system would determine a size from the initial waves of the earthquake, but ones of 8. 0 or higher can often last longer as well (Crankily 2011). Because of this, they can often increase in magnitude as time goes on. The initial earthquake waves suggested that the tsunami would only be 3 meters high, but a minute later the earthquake had reached a 9. 0 magnitude and the actual size was an astonishing 10 meters (Crankily 2011). This was only discovered 20 minutes after the initial showplace, and by then it was almost too late. The evacuating process of the affected coastal cities was slow as most people were maltreatment Tanat ten wave would a De smaller (Crankily 2 ) IT ten Minimal readings had been correct, coastal areas would have had 20-40 minutes to evacuate to high ground, rather than be less concerned with this because of misinformation. Many lives could potentially have been saved, so it is a great disappointment that a mistake like this was made that day. Revitalization a Nation: Mitigation Post March lath There is no doubt that Japans morale was seriously battered after the magnitude 9. 0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Whole cities had been destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of people had been left homeless. But what measures could be taken to revivalist the country and allow for its residents to heal and not have to live in fear of history repeating itself? The question now was whether or not Japan could use this disaster as a way of making sure something of this magnitude of disaster could never reoccur. Post March 1 lath, the government has been planning ND researching different ways to provide significant warning of earthquakes and their tsunamis, and new technologies are in the process of being developed. Japan has come up with ways of using outer space and the sea floor as new areas of mitigation. The government is in talks of laying out seismograph-connected cables near plate boundaries in order to detect possible increases in seismic energy (or increased pressure in subsection zones)(2012). Along with this, they would set up devices for observation purposes near the troublesome trench so as to keep a constant eye on the area for sudden movements (2012). These techniques will counter the problem associated with the Japan Meteorological Agency with accurately measuring an earthquake higher than an 8. On the Richter scale. Along with the sea floor devices, satellites in space will also be put to good use in the event of an earthquake. The satellites will take pictures of impending tsunamis and determine their size with the birds-eye-view they will have associated with being in space (2012). To make sure communication with satellites isnt disturbed in the event of an earthquake, extra-large dishes will be employed that can converse with these titillates via cellophane networks (2012). In the event of an emergency, this will be a lot more reliable. Experts have also suggested that more building mitigation must be installed on tsunami affected coastlines. Higher sea walls might mean better protection from a tsunami, and flood gates in areas with ports could possibly reduce the chance of important waterways being destroyed (Dangler 2011). All of these mitigation efforts are however extremely expensive, and some people are wondering if it would even be of Japans best interest to bother now as catastrophic events such s the one on March 1 lath are tremendously rare. Could it be beneficial for Japan to mitigate now rather than waiting? I believe yes. Although costly now, mitigation efforts will make sure that the economic woes this disaster brought on Japan wont happen again. In the long-run, it will be beneficial. Some more natural mitigation techniques can be instated as well. There are ways to make sure tsunami waves may subside before hitting densely populated areas. Developing artificial coral reefs on tsunami affected coasts have been known to slow down waves by acting as a natural barrier. These would also help to install a refection coastal habitat for ocean creatures, and possibly revivalist any damage done to the disaster affected fishing industries. This type of mitigation is especially important in areas where communities are reclaiming land from the ocean (Stood ) Also Important Is to plant sense vegetation along coastlines sun as mangroves or sturdy trees that could also act as a barrier against tsunamis. These can also provide animals with sufficient habitats and rejuvenate ecosystems that may have been damaged along the devastated coastal areas. Individuals can help themselves as well by educating themselves on earthquakes ND tsunamis, and by making sure they know a route that they can take to higher ground in the event of such a thing. In more ideal situation, individuals could also relocate themselves more inland so as to avoid high impact areas. This isnt as easy to do however, so making an escape route plan is the best option. In some communities, people have regular evacuation drills that are organized and helpful in the event of a tsunami (EERIE 2011). In the areas that have these drills, most people were able to escape before the tsunami hit on March 1 lath (EERIE 2011). The hopes of al these ideas for continuing the safety of the affected regions is that people will accept them and realize that they can help in ensuring their own safety and those around them, but also to give them a base support of mitigation so that they dont have to do it all on their own. The Quest for a Nuclear Phase Out This would not be a paper on the events of March 1 lath if it were not to mention the subsequent nuclear disaster that occurred as a result of the tsunami. As of right now, the 4 of the reactors at the Fuchsia nuclear plant are in stage 7 meltdown the highest a meltdown can be (Strickland 2011). After the initial earthquake, the plant automatically shut down, and emergency generators began running in order to maintain the cooling of the reactors. However, after the tsunami flooded the generator rooms, they ceased to work, and the reactors began to overheat (Strickland 2011). Subsequent to this, there have been several hydrogen explosions and related deaths. Future deaths due to overexposure to radiation have been calculated to be very high, even though a 20 km radius around the plant was evacuated (Strickland 2011). This meltdown was the largest nuclear disaster to happen since the Coherency assister in 1986, even though it was only about 1/10th the size of Coherency. Overnight, Japans opinion on their dependency on nuclear energy was changed. Why would a country so prone to devastating earthquakes rely so heavily on fragile nuclear power plants? And why hasnt Japan harnessed its abundant geothermal energy? Nuclear power makes up 19% of Japans electricity producers, and geothermal is less than 1%. First, the negatives of this safer energy must be laid out so as to see why it might not immediately be accessible. For one thing, the cost of building geothermal power plants is very high, as large areas are needed. The initial drilling into the earth is also very expensive. Geothermal power can also be a little unreliable, as forces within the earth sometimes take breaks and may not go back online for years in some cases. Considering all of these, I believe that the advantages heavily outweigh the disadvantages, especially for a country such as Japan. Geothermal plants, though expensive at first, can quickly pay themselves off with the amount of electricity that can be produced. The energy that comes out of it is much cleaner, and there are no devastating effects that this energy can have on the surrounding environment (not like nuclear). If Japan instated more geothermal plants Walt capacities AT 2 u megawatts can (Mamma Ana Slumlord 2 megawatts of energy could be produced from it alone (Toothily 2011). Considering their location on the ring of fire, Japan could easily build plants in many areas and harness the forces that are so often devastating to them as a nation. The geothermal plants that already do exist in the country were able to remain online even during the earthquake that stalled so many nuclear plants. More than 80% of Japans population has gone anti-nuclear, and are rallying in support of shutting down all nuclear plants, ND phasing it out completely. With this amount of support, the Japanese government is seriously considering this idea, and will hopefully make the switch within the next few decades. Here in Vancouver: The Wait Continues Being in Vancouver, another city in the Ring of Fire, one must consider that something as devastating as the March 1 lath earthquake could happen right here as well. Immediately after the events of that day, Vancouver went into evaluating its own situation and what mitigation could be done her to ensure that a disaster like that wont have the same effects as it did on the Japanese. Earthquake preparedness journals were abundant afterwards, with advice on what to do in the event of a large earthquake, and what items you may need to ensure that you can stay safe during and after the event. March 1 lath also made people worry if the seismic upgrades given to some of the older structures in Vancouver would be able to withstand an earthquake with a magnitude like the one in Japan. Like Japan, Vancouver could be subject to either an offshore super quake or a shallower more devastating inland quake. Are we prepared for such an occurrence? Also prevalent in the Lower Mainland are infrastructure built on sandy deltas that could liquefy in minutes in the event of an earthquake. I dont believe that our mitigation efforts are at all on par with Japan, and we would likely suffer greatly in the event of a super quake, let alone from a tsunami that could devastate Vancouver Island. We need to prepare more heavily for such an event, and ready ourselves individually so that we are not taken by surprise if and when this occurs. Japans Future Japan has in its past displayed many innovative and technologically forward efforts in the field of earthquake mitigation. This is why the potentially devastating 9. 0 earthquake on March 1 lath managed to cause much less damage than it could have without the proper mitigation already in place. What Japan had not accounted for was a 10 meter tsunami that would stand to bring down the celebration of successful earthquake mitigation with a giant wall of water. The country had not secured itself against such an event, and this is why so many thousands of people perished that day. To say that there is a silver lining in all of this seems insensitive, but true. As a result of the tsunami, the government is taking all steps necessary to cake sure that what happened on March 1 lath will be the last time devastation and loss of life is a subsequent result of a tsunami. Of course, there is no way to prevent tsunamis from happening in the first place, but there are things that can done to make sure it doesnt affect people in the same way that it did. I believe in this way that the future of Japan looks bright, and that a country this strong and supportive of its people can only move forward from here. Reference List: Presses, D 2011 Holsters earthquakes In Japan.

How to Make Rock Salt

How to Make Rock Salt Rock salt is a natural, unrefined salt consisting of large crystals with mineral impurities. Sometimes the impurities color the salt. For example, natural salt occurs in white, pink, red, and black. The grain size, color, and flavor make rock salt popular for recipes, bath products, and crafts, but it can be expensive! You can make your own rock salt substitute from regular table salt. Rock Salt Materials Salt (NaCl) - You can use iodized salt, uniodized salt, or sea salt.WaterFood coloring (optional) Grow Rock Salt Crystals Heat the water to a rolling boil. Very hot tap water is not hot enough because salt solubility depends on temperature.Stir in salt until no more will dissolve.If desired, add a couple of drops of food coloring. Two drops of red and one of yellow will give you rock salt that resembles pink Himalayan rock salt.Pour the solution into a clean container. For the cleanest crystals, avoid getting undissolved salt into this new container. On the other hand, for the quickest results, leave the undissolved salt to help start crystal growth.Let the salt crystals grow. As the water evaporates, the liquid becomes more concentrated and the crystals will grow more quickly. When you are satisfied with the amount you have (or the crystals stop growing), pour off the remaining liquid and let the salt dry. You can break it into pieces and store it in a sealed bag or jar.

A Study of Change Management in Coca Cola

A Study of Change Management in Coca Cola Introduction According to a Greek philosopher Heraclitus â€Å"there is nothing permanent than change†. He believed that change is the core of universe. This quote describes the importance of managing change in human as well as organizational life. A structured approach to transfer organization, its people and processes from current state to a desired future state is called change management. This process gives employees the ability to accept changes in the existing environment of the business. Change can be of different type for example, change in technology, operations or strategies etc. company needs to implement individual strategies to cope with each type of change. Organizations need to change and adopt dynamic survival strategies to stay alive in uncertain political, social and economic environment (Hiatt and Creasy, 2003). All environmental factors present in the nature experience change on continuous basis. Human nature resists change, so managing that resistance req uires well planned change management strategies. This report is aimed at describing the importance of change management for organization its motives and objectives, change management processes, how company can involve all the stakeholders for successful implantation of change management and the strategies that an organization can adopt to implement the successful change. Reasons for adopting change Organizations need change for the following reasons: To respond to the rapidly changing environment To improve the overall performance of the company To rapidly respond to the customers’ demands To improve the effectiveness and efficiency To increase the employee performance To create the best practices inside the organization and setting standards for the industry To improve profitability and return on overall investment Change management is needed for organizational survival. So the company should adopt to change management techniques in order to maintain its worth in the industr y. Importance of change management In a study 327 project managers had responded to the question that â€Å"if you had a chance to do it again, what would you do differently?† Most of them responded that we will implement an effective change management program planned way before starting the project. This study highlights the importance of change management in an organizational perspective. Change management moderates the risks that can cause failure (Jeff and Creasey, 2003). The change management process Change management is being studied by the philosophers, researchers and business experts for many years. A number of change management theories, approaches and philosophies are developed by psychologists and management professionals to implement successful change in the organization (Paton and MacCalman, 2008). There are three phases of change management i.e. preparing for change, managing change and reinforcing change. Preparation for change phase includes assessment of cha nge capabilities and capacity and developing a strategy that fit to those capabilities. Second phase i.e. â€Å"managing change† phase includes processes like planning and implementation of strategies made in the first phase. Last phase which is the reinforcement of change includes the processes like collection and analyzing of feedback data, finding out gaps and coping with determined degree of resistance from inside and outside the organization and taking corrective actions to successfully conclude the change management process (change management learning center, 1996-2011).

My Experience of Buddhist Mindful Meditation Essay - 1

My Experience of Buddhist Mindful Meditation - Essay Example The frustration doesn’t always happen sometimes falling asleep will occur through the exhaustion of thinking about the issue. Meditation is not an art to me it is a task. Meditation is not a way of life for me it’s an emergency. Meditation is a cry for help. Meditation is a deep stare into a blissful world of taking me away. Meditation is so many things that take up a lot of time but accomplish nothing. Meditation is a way of making me feel as though I’m still trying in a lost cause. Meditation is recommended by so many using the words ‘just take some time to think about it’. Meditation has been around for years yet only a few groups use it as a way of life. ‘A way of life’ is a strong statement. To speak of one’s way of life is to speak of the rules or guidelines one has set to live by. In the instance of the Buddhist, meditation is a strong guide in life. Buddhist meditation is a way of directing one’s thoughts to be at peace with oneself and others. Buddhist meditation can be described as the art, the very essence of a Buddhist’s life. Thinking as a Buddhist, adopting their concept of life, using meditation put me in a totally different frame of mind. I had to change my view of meditation from last resort to first resort. Meditation changed for this exercise from an insignificant part of life to life’s guiding light. In order for something to guide my life and for me to follow, there must be consistency, reliability and a proven success rate. Engaging in the materials provided to me as well as extra research, Buddhist mindful meditation has been consistent, reliable and successful in the life o f a devout Buddhist. My approach to this exercise then became more of an interest than a task.

Sainsbury (in branch level) Organisational diagonis and problem Essay

Sainsbury (in branch level) Organisational diagonis and problem analysis - Essay Example The firms of the specific industry have all significant potentials – as also weaknesses. Sainsbury’s is one of the key competitors of the particular sector. The firm has not severely affected by the recession, at least up to now. However, it seems that the inability of its leaders to respond to the needs of the market, as increased under the pressure of the global financial crisis, has caused turbulences in the internal organizational performance. Moreover, instability has been also developed in regard to the firm’s financial performance, a phenomenon made clearer from June 2010 onwards. The changes suggested in regard to the firm’s leadership should be more effectively promoted trying to avoid delays in the restructuring of the organization aiming to minimize the risk of potential damages. It seems that through an effective plan of action the firm will be able to stabilize its performance in the British market and seek for further growth. 1. Introduction Under the influence of globalisation, firms in all industries have to continuously update their practices in order to secure their position either locally or internationally. In certain sectors, competition is extremely high, especially when firms of similar characteristics are involved. The UK supermarket industry is an indicative example. When trying to develop their organizational plans, the firms that operate in the particular industry have to face a series of challenges and barriers. Current paper focuses on the review of Sainsbury’s organizational structure and practices. Efforts are made so that the firm’s organizational problems are diagnosed; among them, one is chosen and is further analysed and evaluated. Also, recommendations are made so that the specific problem to be eliminated or, if the above target is not feasible, just to be effectively controlled. In this context, a series of change intervention methods are presented and appropriately justified, aimin g to support the improvement of the organizational performance, as expected to result from the limitation or the elimination of the firm’s key organizational problem. 2. Description of research method 2.1 Documentary Evidence The research over the organizational structure and performance of Sainsbury’s is based on appropriate documentary evidence, which includes material of the following kind: books published in the academic literature, articles published by organizations focusing on financial evaluation (e.g. Bloomberg), articles of newspapers and non-governmental organizations and reports published by the organization under evaluation. The material described above is appropriately categorized – in terms of its relevance with the issues under discussion and is used in order to support the arguments developed in the paper. Most important, through these documents, the potential failures of the organization are identified (along with its strengths) in the context of the needs of this study. 2.2 Limitations of the research method chosen The documents employed in this study, as describe above, refer to different time periods, so that the performance of the organization under different market conditions to be identified. However, the specific

Shakespeares Merchant of Venice Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares Merchant of Venice Essay The persecution of specific races has always been existent, and throughout history, the Jewish religion has suffered most from it. They were convicted of heresy, and often killed because of their beliefs. Such is the kind of racial discrimination toward Shylock, the Jewish character in The Merchant of Venice. Some believe that the character as a greedy, coldhearted villain, which is not the case. In Shakespeares play, The Merchant of Venice, Shylock was a victim of years struggle against discrimination toward his religion. One of the most persistent charges against Shylock was that he was cruel and bloodthirsty. Antonio says in act 4 scene 1 that it is impossible to soften his Jewish heart. Bassanio constantly calls him a cur and insults him; how can he call Shylock coldhearted when he and many other characters constantly jeer at Shylock. This also added reason for Shylocks revenge. He wasnt a bloodthirsty miscreant, but a Jew fighting for revenge against years of being spet upon, being treated like a dog, being a victim to Christianity. In his I am a Jew speech, he gives these precise reasoning, saying to bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge (Act 3, Scene 1). He doesnt seek revenge personally against Antonio, but against the Christians that have jeered at him and his religion for so long. He explains how since he is a human like any other Christian, he may seek revenge like any other Christian has. The constant repetition in his speech is the word: revenge. Shylock is accused of being bloodthirsty and barbarous, when his quest for revenge differed none from the vengeance any other human would seek and deserve. Another reason Shylock was criticized was for not showing mercy toward Antonio. In no way was Shylock impelled to let Antonio off easily. On the contrary, the agreement had been made very straightforwardly. Shylock says in act 4, scene 1, Wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? Shylock uses a metaphor to describe the discriminatory acts against him as a serpents sting. He had been stung before by this, and now, when he has a chance for revenge to slay the serpent, he would not back down and let the serpent sting once more. But unfortunately, the serpent evaded his sword on a technicality, and in fact did sting once more. Portia accuses Shylock of  seeking the life of a citizen as an alien, and tells Shylock Downand beg mercy of the Duke (Act 4, scene 1). Through only a mere technicality did Antonio escape death, and now Portia taunts Shylock and makes him beg forgiveness? The merciless evil is more evident in the heart of the Christian characters than in Shylock. Shakespeare then tries to compare the Jew with the other characters by having Antonio forgive Shylock. This is how Shakespeare tries to cleanse the image of Christianity, but in sooth, Antonio won the case by a mere technicality, and ridicules Shylock by forgiving him. Shylock was also portrayed by some to be remarkably greedy and stingy . Antonio and Bassanio are shocked at the fact of paying interest which Shylock demands. This creates the illusion that Jews began charging interest before Christians did. This, of course, it outright false. Interest was not started by one faith, but by several intelligent people, whether Jewish or not. Nowhere is it recorded, but most likely, Christians themselves were the first to incorporate this charge. And if Shylock were truly that greedy, would he not have accepted the bribe from Bassanio of three times the debt? Bassanio was foolish to believe that Shylock would be tempted with mere money over a life-long revenge that was about to take place. Not only foolish, but very discriminatory to think Shylock was greedy because he was Jewish, and he could just buy Antonios life back from the peril it had encountered. Shakespeares play, The Merchant of Venice, portrayed the image of Jews to be greedy, merciless, and coldhearted. Shylock is thought by many to have been a villainous creep because of this, when in fact he was a victim of racism. This and many other discriminatory works truly ruined the image of Jewish people and created a stereotype. This stereotype is the cause of hatred toward the faith. In the holocaust, Jews were killed for the mere fact that they were Jewish. The Nazis measured peoples noses because it was assumed that Jews had long noses, and if they didnt pass, they were sent to camps and/or executed. This stereotype is now inevitable. Too much hatred has developed, because of these horribly discriminatory pieces of work, to change the life-long struggle for the Jewish people.

Free Awakening Essays: The Creole Men of The Awakening :: Chopin Awakening Essays

Creole men of The Awakening    Thesis: In Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening the characters of the Creole men are diverse and different as the character Edna. Most of Kate Chopin’s stories center around a Woman unsatisfied with her position in life, while living in a man dominated society. The three main characters are typical men of that era. Chopin shows the diversity in each of those three characters. Roberts awakening, and the struggle to do what is the right thing. Alcee and how he is carefree and not concerned with society’s expectations of him, and so has a reputation. Mr. Pontiller, a business man first and foremost, with little left for wife and family. Robert did the right and noble thing by leaving to go to Mexico so as to not have to see the object of his forbidden love. Alcee see’s Edna as another one of his conquest, and does not give up, pursuing her at all cost. Alcee has not concern of what society thinks of him so he is able to do as he pleases. Mr. Pontieller, while h e believes himself to be a kind husband, is a typical businessman of the era. He wants his wife to obey him. He wants the perfect Creole wife, one who can help him excel in the business world he loves so much. In exploring these three men in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, there are certain aspects of each, while different, the same. All live in the 1800’s were morale reputation was considered to be the utmost importance to the Sommerer ii businessman, yet, Alcee seems unconcerned with any morale or business responsibility. In exploring the character of Robert who seems to be at a crossroad in his life. Search for his fortune, find a wife, prosper and be respectable, or, do the unthinkable and follow his heart. Sommerer iii Creole Men In The Awakening: Mr. Pontellier is the typical Creole husband and businessman. â€Å"Leonce is convinced that fulfilling monetary needs excuses the paucity of time he spends with the children, never presuming that some needs cannot be mone tarily satisfied: {â€Å"He has his hands full with his brokerage business †¦making a living for his family on the street†(885)} Even to himself, Leonce’s thought smack of the self-pity of the empowered. Perhaps because he is aware of his own neglect, Leonce projects his guilt onto Edna, expecting flawless mammal performance on her part to remedy his domestic absence.

Case Study Analysis: Oakbrook Medical Systems

In this case study, a division manager faces several potential human resource issues and communication challenges. To provide background, â€Å"Oak Brook Medical Systems† developed their â€Å"Hospital Supply Division† in response to â€Å"changes in the healthcare marketplace† and staffed the unit with highly qualified committed personnel. The company values teamwork, shares an â€Å"entrepreneurial† spirit, and the group of committed â€Å"self-starters† provides customers with quality products and service.The division’s highly qualified strategic director has been with the company for 12 years, serving in her current position for 18 months, and has been credited for developing a strategy that added â€Å"$40 million† to the business unit. Increasing the number of qualified and committed women into management could also carry â€Å"positive implications† for the company because â€Å"shifting demographics† call for new perspectives to meet changing customer expectations to sustain market growth and to outperform competitors.The strategy director hopes that her efforts will be recognized and rewarded with career advancement. † Division revenues currently reflect exceptional annual growth at â€Å"nearly 35 percent,† but there are indications that communication and morale need to be improved within the unit. Workers in the division who largely seem to be motivated to meet corporate goals also share resentment towards their team leader.Anecdotal reports both from management and competent people under her supervision indicate that the director’s â€Å"results-oriented† communication style has generated allegations of curtness and condescension from co-workers (O’Rourke, 2010, pp. 290, 291). There seems to be a disconnect between perceptions of productivity, fairness and effective communication, and this case study identifies both short-term concerns and latent interna l threats to long-term profitability.Senior management largely acknowledges favorable market conditions and collaborative workers for producing impressive Hospital Supply Division growth rather than singling out the division’s strategy director for exemplary leadership. Although considered a â€Å"valuable asset,† the strategy director’s communication problems with colleagues and subordinates have stirred â€Å"greater concern during discussions of her future in the division. † The strategy director, on the other hand, justifies her communication approach by considering frankness to be an integral part of â€Å"getting the job done. Despite her business unit’s success, the strategy director has indicated that she feels overlooked and frustrated by management, possibly because of racial or gender discrimination. The unit lacks substantive â€Å"representation of women and people of color in its management ranks† (O’Rourke, 2010, pp. 2 90, 291). Gender and racial sensitivities carry serious implications for managers concerned with short-term profits and long-term viability.Cultural sensitivity is critical to a manager’s success (O’Rourke, 2010). So far, senior management has not brought concerns about discontent in the division to the director’s attention. Senior managers need to address the concerns of the director’s colleagues and subordinates regarding her objectionable communication style, as well as the strategy director’s concerns about possible racial and gender discrimination to make appropriate long-term strategic choices for the division and company.O’Rourke (2010) also identifies skills essential for cross-cultural communication, including â€Å"a capacity to accept the relativity of [one’s] knowledge and perceptions,† a â€Å"capacity to be nonjudgmental,† and â€Å"a tolerance for ambiguity† (p. 288). The sensitive nature of personn el issues requires thoughtful action and the intercultural dimension in the case study highlights the need for careful message planning and delivery.Senior management needs to convey a clear message of non-discrimination to both the strategy director and everyone else in the business unit without sending signals that authoritarian management will be rewarded. O’Rourke (2010) suggests that effective managers deliver purposeful messages in ways that fulfill an organization’s mission. Managers who avoid dealing with or ignore personnel concerns about discrimination can foment misunderstanding and create conditions ripe for otherwise unwarranted charges.A senior manager would be in the best position to communicate the division’s strategic vision while addressing the strategy director’s shortcomings and the unit’s morale in a positive way. Newly assigned to the Hospital Supply Division, the senior manager also has a unique opportunity to become a mentor to strategy director by listening to her concerns about fairness and helping her to make adjustments to her communication approach that will improve her standing with colleagues, subordinates, as well as senior management.Most of the face-to-face communication between the senior manager and strategy director will involve nonverbal cues that will influence long-term morale for co-workers, too. Segal (2009) indicates that critical nonverbal cues often determine whether or not a communication partner is listening, understanding the message, or cares. Some of the â€Å"most important nonverbal cues† include tone of voice, gaze, body position, and concentration that become significant in conversations and determine â€Å"the way we talk, listen, look, move, and react. She also points out that building â€Å"stress management† and â€Å"emotional awareness† skills improve nonverbal communication and demonstrate â€Å"emotional intelligence† (para. 10, 14). It cannot be overstated that the senior manager will need to be an exemplary communicator with empathy for team members because mistrust and misunderstanding lie at the center of the current problems in the division. Ongoing discontent could undermine sustainability and declining morale could drive away otherwise effective workers if the situation is mishandled.However, morale should quickly improve in the division with actions that reinforce the company’s commitment to attracting and sustaining quality personnel while providing a clear path for the strategy director to meet her career goals. Colleagues and subordinates will be more inclined to respect the strategy director if they witness her transformation to embrace a more collaborative communication style. In addition, management will need to be more prepared to acknowledge the strategy director’s role in the team’s continued success. With appropriate action, Oak Brook Medical System’s Hospital Supply D ivision will be in a strong position to retain quality personnel who can provide customers solid care.ReferencesO’Rourke, J. (2010). Management Communications: A Case-Analysis Approach (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Segal, J. (2009). EQ tool 3: The pulley: Improving nonverbal communication. Retrieved from Blog posted to EQ: Emotional Intelligence Central, archived at: http://www. emotionalintelligencecentral. org/eq/nonverbal_communication. html

Hardy’s “The Man He Killed” Essay

Because war is a mysterious entity, Thomas Hardy wrote â€Å"The Man He Killed† to emphasize the occasional inadequate reason for conflict, and the range of emotions someone may feel after engaging in conflict that an individual might feel unnecessary, and after taking a persons life simply because he was my â€Å"foe†, especially in the Boers Wars in which the British colonized South Africa, in which this poem is set. Hardy is able to convey the feeling of apprehension and shame however not renouncing his allegiance to the crown by using figurative language, and literary elements such as repetition, symbolism, and wordplay. Throughout the poem the narrator is speaking of war, although there is a lack of chaos and violence. He refers to war as â€Å"quaint and curious†(line 17). That changes the idea of war for the reader, and lures the reader to feel a lack of necessity for the battle, which is what the narrator feels. â€Å"And staring face to face, I shot him as he at me, and killed him in his place.† (lines 6-8) There is a recognizable absence of emotion here, as one might feel traumatized or regretful after taking a life, and we know war is not â€Å"quaint and curious† (line 17). War is meant to be bloody, and chaotic, which in most literature, it is. In â€Å"The Man He Killed† the altercation seems more like an execution or murder than a battle, causing the reader to question whether it was justified or not. Furthermore, repetition is used throughout the poem also and causes the reader to doubt the mans true feelings about war, and what he had done, â€Å"I shot him dead because – Because he was my foe, just so: my foe of course he was; That’s clear enough; although† (lines 9-12). The author chose to repeat the words because, and foe to let the reader know that he had to assure his own self of why he had just killed a man. â€Å"Because – Because he was my foe† (lines 9-10), the dash between the repeated because represents a pause, airing doubt on why exactly he killed the man. He also states â€Å"that’s clear enough† (12) which is ironic because it simply isn’t true. He doesn’t understand why he shot the man; he is wondering why he just took his life beyond him being his foe. It can also be argued that in the narrators  series of events, these men are interchangeable, â€Å"He though he’d list perhaps, / Off-hand- like—just as I— / Was out of work—had sold his traps— / No other reason why.† (lines 13-16) It seems as though, out of desperation and lack of monetary funds to support themselves, they both enlisted in order to survive and to support their families. The author gives few details about himself, or the man he killed, but the reader can derive from what he does say that these men are very similar, even though they are enemies, which is just what their countries told them, in reality, and in Gods eyes, they are just two men on Planet Earth. Hardy uses several literary elements to convey his ideas. He constructs the poem to emphasize the points he is trying to make. The uses of dashes are the driving force of feeling for the reader, and expose the insecurities the narrator has about what is happening. It is first recognized when in the ninth line while repeating the word because, it seems as if he is hesitating, unsure of what to say, or if he even believes in what he is saying. Furthermore in the following stanza, he uses several dashes to interrupt himself while he creates a scenario for the man he had just taken life away from â€Å"Off-hand-like—just as I—â€Å"(14). Again, emphasizing the similarity between the me n. This happens over in the next line, which brings a sense of realism to the story. The narrator is speaking to the reader, trying to justify what had happened, he doesn’t know these things about the man he had just killed, but he may be feeling guilt about what he had just done. â€Å"Was out of work—had sold his traps— / no other reason why† (lines 15-16). He may be hunting for the purpose as to why he shot the man but cannot find a reason. In the final stanza, the narrator adopts his emotionless, lack of sensitivity character and states how â€Å"quaint and curious war is!†(line 17). and it seems as though he has moved on from the fiasco, but not without some deep thought about they mans life he had taken away. The poem begins and ends in a bar, where friendships are made or sometimes broken. Unfortunately, this friendship was broken before it had a chance to begin, and the narrator is forced to only imagine if they had â€Å"wet right many a nipp erkin† (line 4) which is to share a drink together. Hardy in â€Å"The Man He Killed† does a wonderful job exposing the insecurities of the man, without even stating them by using figurative language and literary elements. The repetition deduces hesitation, while other elements such as wordplay, and the use of dashes represents deep thought, and possibly regret  lets the reader infer how the man is really feeling which is different from the words on the page. Taking a life whether in war, by accident, or on purpose is bound to have effects on you for the rest of your life. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and other factors can change how someone acts and feels, especially after war. The narrator is having a hard to coming to reality, and continually attempts to justify his actions. He infers a question of why he must kill this man, or if in another situation they could sit down at a bar together and have a good time. This thought obviously troubles the man. Hardy, Thomas. â€Å"The Man He Killed.† Perrine’s Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry. By Greg Johnson, Thomas R. Arp, and Laurence Perrine. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013. 683. Print.

Getting ahead planning your retirement in your 20s

Getting ahead planning your retirement in your 20s Have you ever heard the old saying that it’s never too early to start planning for the future? If so, you may have decided to ignore it, or just worry about it later- after all, when you’re young you feel as if you have an endless amount of time to plan your life and that your time is better spent having fun and living for the moment. But the truth is, the future is coming faster than you might realize. When it comes to retirement planning, the phrase â€Å"never too early to start planning† can be the best advice you’ll ever get. Sure, there are a lot of reasons why it’s especially tricky to start planning for such a far-off notion like retirement. The truth is, you’re likely just getting started in your professional journey, and you may have little to no idea where your climb up the career ladder will take you. Also, if you’re like most of us, the money you’re earning when you’re new to the work world doesn’t exa ctly leave you with a ton of options for saving and investing for the future. On top of all this, it is much more fun to be carefree and live for the moment when you’re young, and many of us make a deal with ourselves to start taking money matters seriously when we reach a significant (and distant) milestone in our lives (age 30? 40? 70?).That said, you really don’t have to completely overhaul your life or give up on fun in order to start planning for retirement but the more prepared you are for this inevitable end to your career journey the more confident and relaxed you’ll be about money matters at every phase of your life until then. Taking baby steps toward greater financial responsibility while you’re in your 20s will bring you that much closer to whatever your retirement goals turn out to be- and help you avoid (or at least minimize) the amount of fear, worry, and anxiety you feel when you’re focused on your financial health and future. And t rust us, if those days aren’t here yet, they’re right around the corner.If you’re ready to take the next step and get serious about your retirement planning, then consider the following strategies to move you in the right direction.4 steps to planning for retirement now1. Develop a saving mindset.Sure, when you’re in your 20s it’s hard to take savings seriously. Most likely, your main focus is on getting your bills paid and being able to afford the basics, and that makes total sense. However, even saving just a little bit can go a long way.Let’s take a look at a small example- suppose you enjoy a mid-afternoon latte each workday. The average price of a latte is around $2.50. Now, instead of buying the latte, imagine taking that money and dropping it into a savings account- in 5 years, you’ll have saved $3,250 just by making this one small life change. Are there other small savings changes you can make to help you build your nest egg? Probably, and the more money you’re able to divert to savings the better off you’ll be- both for short-term needs and for long-term health as you creep closer to retirement. But perhaps more importantly, just getting into a savings mindset early on in life will set you up for being a more financially responsible adult as you get older- and your ability and desire to save and spend wisely will set you up for a great financial future.2. Take advantage of work resourcesMost of us aren’t thrilled to have to work, but one of the good things about having to hold down a job is that it can often come with some useful employee benefits- which may include a retirement benefits plan. These days, more and more companies are offering a 401(k) plan to help employees save and prepare for retirement, which often provide some incredible perks like employer fund matching (which is as close to free money as most of us will ever get).Taking advantage of investing in a 401(k) is so universally recognized as beneficial (and often essential) that many companies automatically enroll employees in plans to help them start saving their money wisely. If your company offers this benefit, there is absolutely no good reason not to take advantage of it- even if it’s just a small percentage of your paycheck. Don’t worry if you don’t plan on staying at your current job forever- you get to take your money with you.3. Explore other investment optionsIn addition to the retirement benefits that your employer may offer, consider exploring other investment options available to you: IRAs, mutual funds, CDs, and the stock market. Sure, it’s a little scary to jump into the world of investing as a newbie, but there are a wealth of resources available to you, including online tools, wise and trusted friends and family members, and investment professionals tied to your bank (assuming you have a savings or checking account- and if you don’t, consider opening one). Do some research and start small. You’ll be amazed by how well a few wise investment decisions early on in life can set you up for a comfortable retirement.4. Decrease debtDebt is not your friend. Even though it’s often an unavoidable part of adulthood, be sure to make every effort to decrease your debt burden as you move closer and closer to retirement age. The truth is, some forms of debt- like a home mortgage- are indicative of financial stability and solvency. But other forms (like credit card debt) are best left avoided or eradicated as quickly as possible. If you have a credit card (or multiple cards), avoid using them unless it’s an unavoidable emergency, and pay off what you owe as quickly as possible. Nothing creates a financial headache and panic attack faster than an unwieldy amount of unhealthy debt- so be sure to avoid drowning here.

Current Events-Native American Communites Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Current Events-Native American Communites - Essay Example This essay analyzes this auction as part of the enduring fights against modern forms of colonization. Evidently, Native Americans continue to be bullied in and displaced from their original lands, as some people use the law to violate existing treaties and rulings that give property rights to the former. History repeats itself, as the Lakotas fight for what is theirs because they are under siege from the same forces that ejected them from their lands more than five hundred years ago. In Chapter 2 â€Å"The Invasions of America† of the book First Peoples: A Documentary Survey of American Indian History, Calloway (2012) described the centuries of land grabbing and extermination that Native Americans endured, since Columbus first stepped on the New World. The European settlers created laws and waged wars that aimed to take away the lands from the natives. Up to now, the same strategy persists. The descendants of these settlers continue the practice of using the law to dispossess the natives of their lands. Black Hills is a sacred site that the United States government and its Supreme Court recognize as the property of the Lakota people. The Reynolds family, however, â€Å"owns† it too, and so they can do as they please with it. At present, the Lakota tribes are accumulati ng funds to buy at least Pe’ Sla, which is quite saddening, because they are raising so much money to buy land that belongs to them. Hence, even in the twenty-first century, the natives continue to battle the settlers, who want to take fundamental signifiers of their culture- their sacred ancestral lands. The century has turned but the fight against colonization continues. This time, no blades, cannons, and guns are used, and instead, property rights laws are used. The victims have the same faces, the faces of the native tribes of America. Black Hills is a sacred site. More than that, it belongs to the Lakota. They do not even use it to make money. They need it to

Critical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Critical Thinking - Essay Example verall there are various arguments placed suggesting the use of various important methods of rhetoric and language however the use of language is not appropriate at some place as Williams sometimes provide unilateral treatment to the issues. The first paragraph of the easy is very confusing in nature as Williams has tried to make a connection between the inefficiencies in governance with the money of the Tax payers. Further there is also a contrast in the argument when he mentions the secrecy provision which do not seem to be in continuation with the earlier sentences in the paragraph. The use of the word Political neglect in the subsequent paragraph points towards a general climate in the country where political rights of the individuals are completely neglected. This is unfair in the sense that it provides a very extremist view against the performance of the past Australian governments and almost unilaterally declares past Australian Governments as failure. The next stage of the paper is contrasting with the arguments made in the later part of the article. Williams do not seem to support its claims made in earlier part of the essay with that of being made in the later part. Williams use the word â€Å"rare opportunity to tackle them head on† suggests Author’s complete ignorance of the historical evolution of Australia. This also suggests that Williams is trying to stamp his conclusion in the article in earlier part of the paper. Being a scholar of high repute therefore does not necessarily means that the Williams is an authority in making conclusions based on pure use of guess work. In the next stage of his article Williams use the word â€Å"Stark Choice† which in itself an indication of the totality of his argument and suggest the use of language in the most of the part of the article as concluding in nature. Similarly in the following paragraph Williams make a contrasting argument that local government should remain in Australia. This is again a deviation