Exxon Mobil

Exxon Mobil: Stakeholders Theory What should be the role adopted by the Government to discourage profiteering by large organizations? ExxonMobil is an American oil and gas corporation and a direct descendant of John D. Rockerfeller’s Standard Oil Company. The mereger of Exxon and Mobil on Novermber 30, 1999 led to the formation of ExxonMobil which is the worlds largest company by revenue. ExxonMobil operate facilities or market products in most of the world’s countries and explore for oil and natural gas on six continents. The case: ExxonMobil has drawn criticism from the environmental lobby for funding organizations critical of the Kyoto Protocol and skeptical of the scientific opinion that global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. According to The Guardian, ExxonMobil has funded, among other groups skeptical of global warming, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, George C. Marshall Institute, Heartland Institute, Congress on Racial Equality, TechCentralStation. com, and International Policy Network. ExxonMobil's support for these organizations has drawn criticism from the Royal Society, the academy of sciences of the United Kingdom. The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report in 2007 accusing ExxonMobil of spending $16 million, between 1998 and 2005, towards 43 advocacy organizations which dispute the impact of global warming. The report argued that ExxonMobil used disinformation tactics similar to those used by the tobacco industry in its denials of the link between lung cancer and smoking, saying that the company used â€Å"many of the same organizations and personnel to cloud the scientific understanding of climate change and delay action on the issue. ExxonMobil has been reported as having plans to invest up to US$100m over a ten year period in Stanford University's Global Climate and Energy Project. In August 2006, the Wall Street Journal revealed that a YouTube video lampooning Al Gore, titled Al Gore's Penguin Army, appeared to be astroturfing by DCI Group, a Washington PR firm with ties to ExxonMobil. The recent scenario: In January 2007, the company appeared to change its position, when vice pr esident for public affairs Kenneth Cohen said â€Å"we know enough now—or, society knows enough now—that the risk is serious and action should be taken. Cohen stated that, as of 2006, ExxonMobil had ceased funding of the Competitive Enterprise Institute and â€Å"‘five or six' similar groups†. While the company did not publicly state which the other similar groups were, a May 2007 report by Greenpeace does list the five groups it stopped funding as well as a list of 41 other climate skeptic groups which are still receiving ExxonMobil funds. On February 13, 2007, ExxonMobil CEO Rex W. Tillerson acknowledged that the planet was warming while carbon dioxide levels were increasing, but in the same speech gave an unqualified defense of the oil industry and predicted that hydrocarbons would dominate the world’s transportation as energy demand grows by an expected 40 percent by 2030. Tillerson stated that there is no significant alternative to oil in coming decades, and that ExxonMobil would continue to make petroleum and natural gas its primary products. A survey carried out by the UK's Royal Society found that in 2005 ExxonMobil distributed $2. m to 39 groups that the society said â€Å"misrepresented the science of climate change by outright denial of the evidence†. On July 1, 2009, the Guardian newspaper revealed that ExxonMobil has continued to fund organizations including the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) along with the Heritage Foundation, despite a public pledge to cut support of lobby groups who deny climate change. ExxonMobil's envir onmental record has been a target of critics from outside organizations such as Greenpeace as well as some institutional investors who disagree with its stance on global warming. The Political Economy Research Institute ranks ExxonMobil sixth among corporations emitting airborne pollutants in the United States. The ranking is based on the quantity (15. 5 million pounds in 2005) and toxicity of the emissions. In 2005, ExxonMobil had committed less than 1% of their profits towards researching alternative energy, less than other leading oil companies. Stakeholder: Stakeholders are entities who are directly or indirectly associated with any organisation. Any decision made by the organisation , good or bad is bound to have some effect on all of these. Stakeholders are either internal to the organisation or they may be external to the organisation. Internal stakeholders are employees, trade unions, customers , suppliers, competitors. External stakeholders are shareholders , government authorities, regulators, NGOs, pressure grps etc . ExxonMobil Statements: Environment It is our long-standing policy to conduct business in a manner that considers both the environmental and economic needs of the communities in which we operate. We seek to drive incidents with environmental impact to zero, and to operate in a manner that is not harmful to the environment. Health ExxonMobil supports programs targeted to worldwide health issues because we believe that good health is a springboard to opportunity, achievement and development. Health support falls into several categories, the fight against global health pandemics, support for medical centers/hospitals, health education and health-care delivery, health and the environment, and health-related research. Safety We are  committed to conducting our business in a manner that protects the safety and health of our employees, contractors, customers, and the public. We strive for an incident-free workplace and have set a global safety and health goal of zero injuries and illnesses. We believe that our commitment to safe, secure, and incident-free operations will contribute to improved operations reliability, lower costs, and higher productivity. Our worldwide spending includes contributions to nonprofit organizations as well as funds invested in social projects through various joint-venture arrangements, production-sharing agreements, projects operated by others, and contractual social bonus arrangements. In 2007, Exxon Mobil Corporation, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided a combined $173. 8 million in cash, goods, and services worldwide. (excerpts from the official website of the ExxonMobil Corporation: www. exxonmobil. com ) Hence we observe that what the company say and what they practice in real life are two different things altogether. But recently,it has been a contributor to environmental causes as the company donated $6. 6 million to environmental and social groups in 2007. Stakeholders of ExxonMobil: [pic] Customers: The environment at large suffered due to ExxonMobil’s unethical methods. The company was openly disdainful of the theory that fossil fuels were a major contributor to global warming. The company states that, â€Å"It is our long-standing policy to conduct business in a manner that considers both the environmental and economic needs of the communities in which we operate. We seek to drive incidents with environmental impact to zero, and to operate in a manner that is not harmful to the environment. † But we can conclude that the company isn’t practicing what it says. The company used same methods employed by tobacco companies and hence like the former harmed the environment and the community at large in order to earn maximum profit. Shareholders: The shareholders are the owners of the company and thus have to bare the brunt as well. The shareholders were pressurizing the company to invest more in alternative fuels but the company rejected the idea and hence the shareholders had to face the criticism that the company faced as well due to the company’s use of unethical practices in order to maximize its profit. Special interest groups: The groups which partenered with ExxonMobil (43 gropus) received a lot of criticism from various other groups for misrepresenting their work and aiding in the ruining of the environment by publishing articles that questioned global warming theories. For eg: Sallie Baliunas, an astrophysicist based at Stanford University Hoover Institution (it received 300. 000 USD from the company since 1998) stated in her study that temperatures haven’t changed since significantly over the past millennia and this article was rebutted by no less than 13 other scientists. They said such institutions or people mis-represent or cherry-pick the facts in an attempt to mislead the media an the people. Thus the integrity of such organizations is questioned in the future and the media and people become wary of other studies by other organizations due to a handful of these institutions which aide in misleading the society at large. Competitors: The competitors of ExxonMobil such as Shell and BP followed the Koyoto protocol and dropped out of Global Climate Coalition, an industry group which questioned the Global warming theory. The company faced further criticism cause of its unethical practices and ignorance over such environmental issues and this aided the competitors which received positive reviews from the media in 1998. The role Government can play: The small but effective amount of money invested by the company allowed to fuel doubt over global warming to delay Government action just as Big Tobacco did for over 40 years. Some of the people from the tobacco industries are said to have helped the oil giant in its unethical practices. The government should be more alert and form rules and regulations against such malpractices. Lawmakers who support reduction and limitation of green house gases emissions should be given more authority and stern action should be taken against companies such as ExxonMobil for spreading false information and hence playing havoc with the environment. ExxonMobil has been criticized by major environmental advocacy groups. In 2003, Greenpeace listed Exxon as #1 Climate Criminal. Exxon's alleged crimes include the sabotage of efforts to deal with climate change, the fraudulent manipulation of peer reviewed scientific studies and organizations, misleading and outright lying to the population of the USA, its government officials and the global community in general. The company donated a large sum of money towards environmental issues in 2007 but it will take more than that to uplift the image of the company in the eyes of the environmentalists and the population. The company is still ranks #1 in the world in net income which shows that the government keep a check on such companies or the extent of the malpractices might escalate in the future. bibliography: wikipedia exxon mobil

The Lost Duke of Wyndham Chapter Eighteen

Three minutes,† Jack said, the moment he pulled the door shut. Because truly, he did not think he could last any longer than that. Not when she was dressed in her nightgown. It was an ugly thing, really, all rough and buttoned from chin to toe, but still, it was a nightgown. And she was Grace. â€Å"You will never believe what has happened,† she said. â€Å"Normally an excellent opening,† he acknowledged, â€Å"but after everything that has happened in the last two weeks, I find myself willing to believe almost anything.† He smiled and shrugged. Two pints of fine Irish ale had made him mellow. But then she told him the most amazing story. Thomas had given her a cottage and an income. Grace was now an independent woman. She was free of the dowager. Jack lit the lamp in his room, listening to her excitement. He felt a prickle of jealousy, though not because he did not think she should be receiving gifts from another man – the truth was, she'd more than earned anything the duke chose to portion off to her. Five years with the dowager – Good God, she ought to be given a title in her own right as penance for such as that. No one had done more for England. No, his jealousy was a far more basic stripe. He heard the joy in her voice, and once he'd banished the dark of the room, he saw the joy in her eyes. And quite simply, it just felt wrong that someone else had given her that. He wanted to do it. He wanted to light her eyes with exhilaration. He wanted to be the origin of her smile. â€Å"I will still have to go with you to County Cavan,† Grace was saying. â€Å"I can't stay here by myself, and I wouldn't want Amelia to be alone. This is all terribly difficult for her, you know.† She looked up at him, so he nodded in response. Truthfully, he hadn't been thinking very much of Amelia, selfish as that was. â€Å"I'm sure it will be awkward with the dowager,† Grace continued. â€Å"She was furious.† â€Å"I can imagine,† Jack murmured. â€Å"Oh, no.† Her eyes grew very wide. â€Å"This was extraordinary, even for her.† He pondered that. â€Å"I am not certain if I am sorry or relieved that I missed it.† â€Å"It was probably for the best that you were not present,† Grace replied, grimacing. â€Å"She was rather unkind.† He was about to say that it was difficult to imagine her any other way, but Grace suddenly brightened and said, â€Å"But do you know, I don't care!† She giggled then, the heady sound of someone who can't quite believe her good fortune. He smiled for her. It was infectious, her happiness. He did not intend that she should ever live apart from him, and he rather suspected that Thomas had not given her the cottage with the intention that she live there as Mrs. Jack Audley, but he understood her delight. For the first time in years, Grace had something of her own. â€Å"I'm sorry,† she said, but she could not quite hide her smile. â€Å"I should not be here. I didn't mean to wait up for you, but I was just so excited, and I wanted to tell you, because I knew you'd understand.† And as she stood there, her eyes shining up at him, his demons slipped away, one by one, until he was just a man, standing before the woman he loved. In this room, in this minute, it didn't matter that he was back in Ireland, that there were so many bloody reasons he should be running for the door and finding passage on the next ship to anywhere. In this room, in this minute, she was his everything. â€Å"Grace,† he said, and his hand rose to touch her cheek. She curled into it, and in that moment he knew he was lost. Whatever strength he'd thought he possessed, whatever will to do the right thing – It was gone. â€Å"Kiss me,† he whispered. Her eyes widened. â€Å"Kiss me.† She wanted to. He could see it in her eyes, feel it in the air around them. He leaned down, closer†¦but not enough so their lips touched. â€Å"Kiss me,† he said, one last time. She rose on her toes. She moved nothing else – her hands did not come up to caress him, she did not lean in, allowing her body to rest against his. She just rose on her toes until her lips brushed his. And then she backed away. â€Å"Jack?† she whispered. â€Å"I – † He almost said it. The words were right there, on his lips. I love you. But somehow he knew – he had no idea how, just that he did – if he said it then, if he gave voice to what he was certain she knew in her heart, it would scare her away. â€Å"Stay with me,† he whispered. He was through being noble. The current Duke of Wyndham could spend his life doing nothing but the right thing, but he could not be so unselfish. He kissed her hand. â€Å"I shouldn't,† she whispered. He kissed her other hand. â€Å"Oh, Jack.† He raised them both to his lips, holding them to his face, inhaling her scent. She looked at the door. â€Å"Stay with me,† he said again. And then he touched her chin, tipped her face gently up, and laid one soft kiss on her lips. â€Å"Stay.† He watched her face, saw the conflicted shadows in her eyes. Her lips trembled, and she turned away from him before she spoke. â€Å"If I – † Her voice was a whisper, shaky and unsure. â€Å"If I stay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He touched her chin but did not guide her back to face him. He waited until she was ready, until she turned on her own. â€Å"If I stay†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She swallowed, and shut her eyes for a moment, as if summoning courage. â€Å"Can you†¦Is there a way you can make sure there is no baby?† For a moment he could not speak. Then he nodded, because yes, he could make sure there was no baby. He had spent his adult life making sure there would be no babies. But that had been with women he did not love, women he did not intend to adore and worship for the rest of their lives. This was Grace, and the idea of making a baby with her suddenly burned within him like a shining, magical dream. He could see them as a family, laughing, teasing. His own childhood had been like that – loud and boisterous, racing across fields with his cousins, fishing in streams and never catching a thing. Meals were never formal affairs; the icy gatherings at Belgrave had been as foreign to him as a Chinese banquet. He wanted all of that, and he wanted it with Grace. Only he hadn't realized just how much until this very moment. â€Å"Grace,† he said, holding her hands tightly. â€Å"It does not matter. I will marry you. I want to marry you.† She shook her head, the motion fast and jerky, almost frenzied. â€Å"No,† she said. â€Å"You can't. Not if you are the duke.† â€Å"I will.† And then, damn it all, he said it anyway. Some things were too big, too true, to keep inside. â€Å"I love you. I love you. I have never said that to another woman, and I never will. I love you, Grace Eversleigh, and I want to marry you.† She shut her eyes, looking almost pained. â€Å"Jack, you can't – â€Å" â€Å"I can. I do. I will.† â€Å"Jack – â€Å" â€Å"I am so tired of everyone telling me what I cannot do,† he burst out, letting go of her hands to stalk across the room. â€Å"Do you understand that I don't care? I don't care about the bloody dukedom and I certainly don't care about the dowager. I care about you, Grace. You.† â€Å"Jack,† she said again, â€Å"if you are the duke, you will be expected to marry a woman of high birth.† He swore under his breath. â€Å"You speak of yourself as if you were some dockside whore.† â€Å"No,† she said, trying to be patient, â€Å"I do not. I know exactly what I am. I am an impoverished young lady of impeccable but undistinguished birth. My father was a country gentleman, my mother the daughter of a country gentleman. We have no connections to the aristocracy. My mother was the second cousin to a baronet, but that is all.† He stared at her as if he hadn't heard a word she'd said. Or as if he'd heard but hadn't listened. No, Grace thought miserably. He'd listened but he hadn't heard. And sure enough, the first words from his mouth were: â€Å"I don't care.† â€Å"But everyone else does,† she persisted. â€Å"And if you are the duke, there will be enough of an uproar as it is. The scandal will be amazing.† â€Å"I don't care.† â€Å"But you should.† She stopped, forcing herself to take a breath before she continued. She wanted to grab her head and press her fingers into her scalp. She wanted to make fists until her fingernails bit into her skin. Anything – anything that would eat away at this awful frustration that was pulling her inside out. Why wasn't he listening? Why couldn't he hear that – â€Å"Grace – † he began. â€Å"No!† She cut him off, perhaps more loudly than she ought, but it had to be said: â€Å"You will need to tread carefully if you wish to be accepted into society. Your wife does not have to be Amelia, but it must be someone like her. With a similar background. Otherwise – â€Å" â€Å"Are you listening to me?† he cut in. He grasped her shoulders, holding her in place until she looked up at him, directly into his eyes. â€Å"I don't care about ‘otherwise.' I don't need for society to accept me. All I need is you, whether I live in a castle, a hovel, or anything in between.† â€Å"Jack†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she began. He was being naive. She loved him for it, nearly wept with joy that he adored her enough to think he could so thoroughly flout convention. But he didn't know. He had not lived at Belgrave for five years. He had not traveled to London with the dowager and seen firsthand what it meant to be a member of such a family. She had. She had watched, and she had observed, and she knew exactly what was expected of the Duke of Wyndham. His duchess could not be a nobody from the neighborhood. Not if he expected anyone to take him seriously. â€Å"Jack,† she said again, trying to find the right words. â€Å"I wish – â€Å" â€Å"Do you love me?† he cut in. She froze. He was staring at her with an intensity that left her breathless, immobile. â€Å"Do you love me?† â€Å"It doesn't – â€Å" â€Å"Do†¦you†¦love me?† She closed her eyes. She didn't want to say it. If she did, she would be lost. She would never be able to resist him – his words, his lips. If she gave him this, she would lose her last defense. â€Å"Grace,† he said, cradling her face in his hands. He leaned down and kissed her – once, with aching tenderness. â€Å"Do you love me?† â€Å"Yes,† she whispered. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Then that is all that matters.† She opened her lips to try one last time to talk sense into him, but he was already kissing her, his mouth hot and passionate on her own. â€Å"I love you,† he said, kissing her cheeks, her brows, her ears. â€Å"I love you.† â€Å"Jack,† she whispered, but her body had already begun to hum with desire. She wanted him. She wanted this. She did not know what tomorrow would bring, but at this moment she was willing to pretend that she did not care. As long as – â€Å"Promise me,† she said urgently, grasping his face firmly in her hands. â€Å"Please. Promise me that there will be no baby.† His eyes shuttered and flared, but finally he said, â€Å"I promise you I will try.† â€Å"You will try?† she echoed. Surely he would not lie about this. He would not ignore her plea and later pretend that he'd â€Å"tried.† â€Å"I will do what I know how to do. It is not completely foolproof.† She loosened her grip and showed her acquiescence by allowing her fingers to trail along his cheeks. â€Å"Thank you,† she whispered, leaning up for a kiss. â€Å"But I promise you this,† he said, sweeping her into his arms, â€Å"you will have our baby. I will marry you. No matter who I am, or what my name is, I will marry you.† But she no longer had the will to argue with him. Not now, not when he was carrying her to his bed. He laid her down atop the covers and stepped back, quickly undoing the top buttons of his shirt so he could pull it over his head. And then he was back, half beside her, half atop her, kissing her as if his life depended upon it. â€Å"My God,† he almost grunted, â€Å"this thing is ugly,† and Grace could not help but giggle as his fingers attempted to do their magic on her buttons. He let out a frustrated growl when they did not comply, and he actually grasped the two sides of her nightgown, clearly intending to wrench it apart and let the buttons fly where they might. â€Å"No, Jack, you can't!† She was laughing as she said it; she didn't know why it was so funny – surely de-flowerings were meant to be serious, life-altering affairs. But there was so much joy bubbling within her. It was difficult to keep it contained. Especially when he was trying so hard to complete such a simple task and failing so miserably. â€Å"Are you sure?† His face was almost comical in its frustration. â€Å"Because I am fairly certain that I do a service to all mankind by destroying this.† She tried not to laugh. â€Å"It's my only nightgown.† This, he appeared to find interesting. â€Å"Are you saying that if I tear it off, you will have to sleep naked for the duration of our journey?† She quickly moved his hand from her bodice. â€Å"Don't,† she warned him. â€Å"But it's so tempting.† â€Å"Jack†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He sat back on his heels, gazing down at her with a mixture of hunger and amusement that made her shiver. â€Å"Very well,† he said, â€Å"you do it.† She had been intending to do just that, but now, with him watching her so intently, his eyes heavy-lidded with desire, she felt almost frozen in place. How could she be so brazen as to strip before him? To peel her clothing from her body – to do it herself. There was a difference, she realized, in taking off her own clothing and allowing herself to be seduced. Slowly, fingers trembling, she reached for the top button of her nightgown. She couldn't see it; it was far too high, almost to her chin. But her fingers knew the motions, knew the buttons, and almost without thinking, she slipped one free. Jack sucked in his breath. â€Å"Another.† She obeyed. â€Å"Another.† And again. And again, until she reached the one that lay between her breasts. He reached down then, his large hands slowly spreading the two sides of her gown open. It did not reveal her to him; she'd not unbuttoned enough for that. But she felt the cool air on her skin, felt the soft tickle of his breath as he leaned down to place one kiss on the flat plane of her chest. â€Å"You are beautiful,† he whispered. And when his fingers moved this time to the buttons on her nightgown, he mastered them with no difficulty at all. He took her hand and gave it a gentle tug, indicating for her to sit up. She did, closing her eyes as the nightgown fell away. With her vision dark, she felt more keenly, and the fabric – nothing but a plain, serviceable cotton – raised shivers of sensation as it slid along her skin. Or maybe it was just that she knew he was looking at her. Was this what it had felt like for that woman? The one in the painting? She must have been a woman of some experience by the time she'd posed for Monsieur Boucher, but surely there had to be a first time for her, as well. Had she, too, closed her eyes so she could feel a man's gaze upon her body? She felt Jack's hand touching her face, the tips of his fingers softly trailing along the line of her neck to the hollow of her shoulder. He paused there, but only for a moment, and Grace sucked in her breath, waiting for the intimacy that awaited her. â€Å"Why are your eyes closed?† he murmured. â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"Are you afraid?† â€Å"No.† She waited. She gasped. She even jumped, just a little, when his fingers slid along the outer curve of her breast. She felt herself arching. It was strange. She'd never thought about this, never even wondered what it might be like to have a man's hands stroking her in this way, but now that the moment was upon her, she knew exactly what she wanted him to do. She wanted to feel him cupping her, holding her entirely in his palm. She wanted to feel his hand brushing against her nipples. She wanted him to touch her†¦dear God, she wanted him to touch her so badly, and it was spreading. It had moved from her breasts to her belly, to the hidden spot between her legs. She felt hot, and tingly, and searingly hungry. Hungry†¦ there. It was without a doubt the strangest and most compelling sensation. She could not ignore it. She didn't want to ignore it. She wanted to feed it, indulge it, let him teach her how to quench it. â€Å"Jack,† she moaned, and his hands moved until he was cradling both of her breasts. And then he kissed her. Her eyes flew open. His mouth was on her now, on the very tip, and she actually clasped one of her hands to her mouth, lest she scream with the pleasure of it. She hadn't imagined†¦She'd thought she'd known what she wanted, but this†¦ She hadn't known. She clutched at his head, using him for support. It was torture, and it was bliss, and she was barely able to breathe by the time he dragged his mouth back up to hers. â€Å"Grace†¦Grace†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he murmured, over and over, his voice sliding into her skin. It felt as if he was kissing her everywhere, and maybe he was – one moment it was her mouth, and next her ear, and then her neck. And his hands – they were wicked. And relentless. He never stopped moving, never stopped touching her. His hands were on her shoulders, and then her hips, and then one of them started sliding down her leg, tugging at her nightgown until it slipped off her entirely. She should have been embarrassed. She should have felt awkward. But she didn't. Not with him. Not when he was gazing down at her with such love and devotion. He loved her. He'd said he did, and she believed him, but now she felt it. The heat, the warmth. It shone from his eyes. And she understood now how a woman might find herself ruined. How could anyone resist this? How could she resist him? He stood then, breathing hard, working at the fastenings of his breeches with frantic fingers. His chest was already bare, and all she could think was – He's beautiful. How could a man be so beautiful? He'd not led a life of leisure; this, she could see. His body was lean and firm, his skin marred here and there with scars and calluses. â€Å"Were you shot?† she asked, her eyes falling on a puckered scar on his upper arm. He looked down, even as he pushed off his breeches. â€Å"A French sniper,† he confirmed. He smiled, rather lopsidedly. â€Å"I am fortunate he was not better at his craft.† It should not have been so amusing. But the statement was so†¦ him. So matter of fact, so understated and dry. She smiled in return. â€Å"I almost died, too.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Fever.† He winced. â€Å"I hate fevers.† She nodded, pinching the corners of her lips to keep from smiling. â€Å"I should hate to be shot.† He looked back at her, his eyes alight with humor. â€Å"I don't recommend it.† And then she did laugh, because it was all so ludicrous. He was standing there naked, for heaven's sake, clearly aroused, and they were discussing the relative unpleasantness of gunshot wounds and fevers. He crawled onto the bed, looming over her with a predatory expression. â€Å"Grace?† he murmured. She looked up at him and nearly melted. â€Å"Yes?† He smiled wolfishly. â€Å"I'm all better now.† And with that, there were no more words. When he kissed her this time, it was with an intensity and fervor that she knew would carry them through to completion. She felt it, too – this desire, this relentless need – and when he nudged his leg between hers, she opened to him immediately, without reservation, without fear. How long he kissed her, she couldn't possibly have known. It seemed like nothing. It seemed like forever. It felt like she had been born for this moment, with this man. As if somehow, on the day of her birth, this had all been preordained – on October the twenty-eighth, the year of our Lord 1819, she would be in Room 14 of the Queen's Arms Inn, and she would give herself to this man, John Augustus Cavendish-Audley. Nothing else could possibly have happened. This was how it was meant to be. She kissed him back with equal abandon, clutching at his shoulders, his arms, anywhere she could gain purchase. And then, just when she thought she could handle no more, his hand slipped between her legs. His touch was gentle, but still, she thought she might scream from the shock and wonder of it. â€Å"Jack,† she gasped, not because she wanted him to stop, but because there was no way she could remain silent amidst the onslaught of sensation brought forth by that simple touch. He tickled and teased, and she panted and writhed. And then she realized that he was no longer just touching her, he was inside of her, his fingers exploring her in a manner so intimate it left her breathless. She could feel herself clench around him, her muscles begging for more. She didn't know what to do, didn't know anything except that she wanted him. She wanted him, and something only he could give her. He shifted position, and his fingers moved away. His body lifted off hers, and when Grace looked up at him, he seemed to be straining against some irresistible force. He was holding himself above her, supporting himself on his forearms. Her tongue moved, preparing to say his name, but just then she felt him at her entrance, pressing gently forward. Their eyes met. â€Å"Shhh,† he murmured. â€Å"Just wait†¦I promise†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I'm not scared,† she whispered. His mouth moved into a lopsided smile. â€Å"I am.† She wanted to ask what he meant and why he was smiling, but he began to move forward, opening her, stretching her, and it was the strangest, most amazing thing, but he was inside of her. That one person could enter another seemed the most spectacular thing. They were joined. She could not think of any other way to describe it. â€Å"Am I hurting you?† he whispered. She shook her head. â€Å"I like it,† she whispered back. He groaned at that, and thrust forward, the sudden motion sending a wave of sensation and pressure through her. She gasped his name and grabbed his shoulders, and then she found herself in an ancient rhythm, moving with him, as one. Moving, and pulsing, and straining, and then – She shattered. She arched, she moaned, she nearly screamed. And when she finally came down and found the strength to breathe, she could not imagine how she could possibly still be alive. Surely a body could not feel that way and live to repeat it. Then, abruptly, he pulled out of her and turned away, grunting and groaning his own satisfaction. She touched his shoulder, feeling the spasms of his body. And when he cried out, she did not just hear it. She felt it, through his skin, through her body. To her heart. For a few moments he did not move, just lay there, his breathing slowly returning to normal. But then he rolled back over and gathered her into his arms. He whispered her name and kissed the top of her head. And then he did it again. And again. And when she finally fell asleep, that was what she heard in her dreams. Jack's voice. Soft, whispering her name. Jack knew the exact moment she fell asleep. He was not sure what it was – her breathing had already softened to a slow, even sigh, and her body had long since stilled. But when she fell asleep, he knew. He kissed her one last time, on her temple. And as he looked down at her peaceful face, he whispered, â€Å"I will marry you, Grace Eversleigh.† It did not matter who he was. He would not let her go.

Servant leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Servant leadership - Essay Example He left the journal publishing business and eloped to New York and from this city he moved on to Philadelphia city where he arrived in October in the year 1723. He was able to secure a job as a printer the work that he did for a very short period of time before he was carried away by the promises of Governor Keith to go to London (Franklin, 2001). The promises of Governor Keith did not materialize and he had to work as a compositor in London city until he was rescued by Denman who was a merchant and he was able to come back to Philadelphia. Back in Philadelphia, Denman was able to secure for him a job in some of his businesses until his sudden demise upon which Benjamin had to make a come back to his earlier business of printing journals (Franklin, 2001). He was able to set up The Pennsylvania Gazette and through this journal he was able to write numerous essays which he later used for agitating reforms in the local politics, Benjamin died at the age of 84 in the year 1790. Accomplis hments Benjamin was able to successfully issue an article by the name â€Å"Poor Richard’s Almanac† through which he managed to utter pithy messages and wise sayings and from these utterances and sayings he built his reputation (Franklin, 1959). Some of the pithy utterances and wise sayings were borrowed while others were composed and this publication was established in the year 1732. In the year 1758, Benjamin was able to momentarily stop publications of the Almanac articles and instead he converted most of these publications into â€Å"Father Abraham’s Sermon† which later emerged as a famous literature during the era of the Colonial America (Franklin, 1959). Major successes Through his involvement with the public affairs, Benjamin was able to set up an Academy which was later repossessed and upgraded into Pennsylvania University. He was also able to establish American Philosophical Society and the purpose of establishment of this society was to enable m en who were considered as scientific to be able to share with one another their various discoveries (Franklin, 2001). He was active in politics and was able to secure a seat and later introduced postal system reforms in the home politics. Major failures Benjamin was stained with nepotism since he used his position in politics to advance most of his relatives. He was also able to lose his Assembly seat and in the year 1764 he was sent to England on a mission as the colony agent and during service as an agent he was able to oppose the establishment of the Stamp act, but he lost his petition on the basis of securing a favor for his friend in one of the stamp offices back in the USA as an agent. Leadership approach of Benjamin Franklin In his leadership approach Benjamin is considered as a social innovator and this is evident during the year 1727 and 1757 in which he was able to champion seven leading social innovations and these innovations later changed the nature of the two cities na mely Pennsylvania and Philadelphia (Mumford, 2002). Between the era of 1727 and 1757, Benjamin’s social innovations are most evident and some of the areas of innovations include development of the Pennsylvania Stove, gas lamps, and improvement of the various gutters in the streets and the general society welfare (Mumford, 2002). In the year 1727, Benjamin was able to establish Junto club and through this club he was able to pass his intellectual and monetary

Legal aspects of sounseling Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Legal aspects of sounseling - Research Paper Example oks and principles of academic knowledge which are not adequate resources in assessing the developmental level at which their fellow colleagues operate (Bentler, 2008). Counseling is a dynamic process that generally deals with the wellness, career and personal growth of individuals in diverse and multicultural settings. In the end, the counseling program should empower the mental health and the overall wellness of the individual. State and national legislation is an essential part of information that they need to have, as it is primary to their daily operation. They are therefore legally responsible for civil and criminal offences if found to be in violation of client’s rights and or societal rules. Following ethical standards of professional organization that the counselor is affiliated to, and obtaining malpractice insurance will protect the counselors legally and give them a base to vindicate what they do (Tabutt, 2007). â€Å"The law can serve as an essential tool for great effectiveness, accountability and also provides support for local capacity building.† ( Poulisson, 2006) Sound policies that reflect legal requirements and considerations need enforcement by the counselors to act as preventative measures and as responsive measures too. A counselor to client relationship is a delicate relationship and therefore the counselor must provide a safe environment hence negligence accrues from a breach of this safety. The importance of the legal aspects of counseling is that the counselors have the guidelines to know how they should react in different situations and where feedback on handling difficult situations needs reiteration. In many situations, the need for ethics information has the highest ranking. There should be substantive due process where actions ought to have a relation to the institution’s interests in protecting and helping the client. In some cases, situations presented might not respect the substantive due process and hence has no

Final Project Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Final Project - Term Paper Example Time management is the other key aspect for managing a project, which is where time estimates are given for various aspects of the project, and the project manager must continually monitor the time estimates to determine if they are accurate, liberal or conservative. Cost management is similar to time management, and this is where the costs are maximally reduced, so that profit is maximized. Quality management is the next knowledge area, and the way to measure quality is smart, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. Communications management is where the stakeholders are apprised about the project with status updates, minutes of meetings, reports on deliverables, etc. Human resource management means that different team members are brought in, according to their expertise, during different specific moments in the schedule. Risk management is the increasing of the impact and probability of positive risks and decreasing negative risks. Procurement management is the process of det ermining what to procure and when, and this is where bids are solicited and sellers are determined . And integration management ensures that various elements of the projects are properly coordinated. This might involve making trade-offs among competing objectives and alternatives (PMI, 2013). These processes and knowledge areas will be applied to the situation at hand, which is a project where a data center will be moved for the customer who is Fiction Corp. Incorporating PMBOK Into the Final Project Initiating the Plan The first part of the plan initiation would be assembling a team that has the expertise that is necessary for this project. Since this project would entail a large amount of technical expertise, the team should consist of IT professionals which specialize in the different areas which are demanded in this project, as well as network managers and security professionals. Also, because the network is to be upgraded, the personnel to accomplish this also must be selected. Also, what must be determined is the implementers who need to be involved with the requirements and the design of the project (PMI, 2013). Then, going through the processes, the next step would be planning the project – the key objectives here would be time constraints and budget constraints, and the objectives would be to move the data center with a minimum of disruptions, upgrade the network and security of the data center. Because it is imperative that there be as few disruptions as possible, it is also imperative that all of these implementations occur in a timely manner. Therefore, when the next process occurs, which is executing the process, and people are coordinated and resources are also coordinated, the people who are coordinated must be informed of the main objectives of time and budget constraints, along with being informed about the details of the project. The resources which are amassed also must deal with these aspects of the project. These are all the three p rocess which go into the initial stages, because the other two projects – controlling process and closing process –

Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 39

Essay Example After the data collection, average method has been used to derive monthly averages of currency exchange rates. The analysis starts from correlation test to understand the nature of relationship. After that graphical interpretations have been developed to analyse the trends in data. Finally, criticism on data has been presented with a few recommendations to improve the method of data collection. Moreover, primary data collection sheets have been also presented to improve the quality of data. Correlation analysis has been done to analyse the nature of relationship between exports and imports and exchange rates of the countries. For example, how the collected eleven months data of Chinese Yuan is correlated with Chinese exports and imports. The correlation of Yuan with Chinese exports gives 0.59, which means that a positive correlation exists between Chinese exports and Yuan (Table IV – Appendix). In other words, with increase in the value of Chinese Yuan against Dollar, the exports of China to the United States will increase. Although the data has been collected from very reliable resource still, the derived values of correlation are giving very different results. According to economic concepts, the devaluation of currency is positively related to the exports and negatively related to imports of an economy. The reason is that devaluation of currency makes the products of the country cheaper in the international market and the demand of exports in international mar ket increases. Although the prices of the products decline however, the increased volume of exports enhances the exports value of the country. On the other hand, when goods become cheaper because of devaluation of currency, people need more money to buy the imported products therefore, the imports of the country from other states decline. Because of this relation between trade balance and currency exchange,

Recruitment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Recruitment - Assignment Example 38). These stages give recruitment the outlook of the tool that finds the right person for the right job that goes beyond an activity for the human resource team to involve line managers as well. This paper will discuss recruitment in terms of the different ways and methods it is conducted, the wrong and right ways is usually done, and what the individuals conducting it should act. Recruitment methods that are available to organizations can be categorized broadly into two: internal and external recruitment, which can then be broken down into smaller methods (Alrichs 2000, p. 14). Internal recruitment aims at personnel already on the recruiting organization’s payroll and is a significant source of recruitment as it offers opportunities for the utilization and growth of the current human resource. The organization’s management may approach internal recruitment from the aspect of either promotions or transfers. Promotions involve upgrading existing employees by upward shif ts in responsibilities, status, facilities and remuneration (Maloney 2008, p. 114). On the other hand, transfers provide an alternative procedure to promotions, whereby employees are moved from their present work locations to new ones, and not necessarily on upward or downward shifts in their positions. Rather, transfers are simply an interchange of responsibilities, duties, departments or geographical locations. Transfers are the best way to generate qualified personnel from departments that are either over-staffed or redundant. Under the internal recruitment, two methods are available, which are employee referrals and job postings. Employee referrals do not recruit internal employees, but all potential candidates are nominations by current employees, mostly supervisors. The effectiveness of employee referrals is seen in how organizations can capture critically skilled employees known to their general workers. Job postings are open and equal-opportunity invitations to employees in an organization to submit applications for arising vacancies. The announcements are made via lists and bulletins accessible by all employees. Generally, internal recruitment methods are characterized by the advantage of being quicker and cheaper than most external methods. Internal recruitment also targets personnel the management already knows and can quickly evaluate their capabilities from their performances even without looking at their portfolios. Further, such targeted candidates are already familiar with the operations of the organization and are suitable for filling higher vacancies in the organizational hierarchy because they can psychologically motivate former peers to perform better. However, internal recruitment, with the exception of employee referrals, limits the chances of bringing in new talent because of its nature of restricting the number of applicants. This shuts out the introduction of external business ideas and may draw bitterness from candidates dropped by th e selection process (Herman & Joyce 2001, p. 186). Ultimately, internal recruitment will create another vacancy that will need to be filled. Some of the

In what ways do social factors shape our identities Essay

In what ways do social factors shape our identities - Essay Example Each one of us is known for our own qualities we have. In shaping our identity society plays a major role. This paper discusses some of the social factors that influence or shape our identities. There are several questions that rise in our minds. How are we put together physically How were we formed How do we relate biologically to other life forms and to our ancestors How are we as individuals like or unlike other humans What are the factors that influence us while developing our personality What would be our state of well being if we are not linked to a society Much of the scientific and social groups attempt focuses on such questions. Though every human have the same basic structure in terms of internal organs, we are different in terms of size and shape, skin color, body proportions, body hair, facial features, muscle strength, handedness, and so on. Similarly we are different in our personalities. Moreover, cultural differences between groups of people seem to be, their complex languages, technologies, spirituality, education and arts distinguish each individual. If we take the case of a child born in a family, the first and foremost social factor that will influence the child is its immediate family then comes the friends and relatives.

The Influence of Computers, Interactive Games, and the Internet on a Essay

The Influence of Computers, Interactive Games, and the Internet on a Childs Multicultural Worldview - Essay Example 332). According to the author of the above article, parents ought to allow children make their own discoveries about other cultures as opposed to trying to make them understand. In a society where multi-culture exists, children have an opportunity to help reduce cases of stereotyping if only parents let them hobnob with other children. However, many times, parents tend to teach children about other cultures and in the process extend the discrimination to them. Teachers play a significant role in ensuring the maximum benefits of these games (Shaw and Linebarger, p.334). While there is a debate as to whether computers affect children negatively, Shaw and Linebarger claimed that there are some applications specifically developed for learning purposes. For instance, edutainment is an application created solely for learning purposes. Console and Apple games are others, which fit, in a similar category. In order for these games to be effective in the learning process, Shaw and Linebarger suggested that â€Å"games used in schools should present authentic challenges, allow exploration of alternative possibilities and consequences, imbue cultural appropriateness, and provide meaning and opportunities for reflection† (p.336). Notwithstanding this suggestion, the challenge has been on how to allow the children use the gadgets on their own. Shaw and Linebarger stated that for these gadgets to be useful, it is imperative for the children to be allowed to explore various cultures without having to worry about reprisal (p.337). The importance of this option is that it allows the children fully understand other cultures. Moreover, their own perceptions towards other cultures are normally challenged thus helping in cultural prejudices. However, in the midst of all these benefits of the games and other computer application lies the danger of children identifying themselves with the cultures in the games. Interestingly, children tend to identify themselves with these

Risk Training - the Neglected Part of Project Management Essay

Risk Training - the Neglected Part of Project Management - Essay Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that individual level of risk tolerance may be exhibited in almost every aspect of one’s investment. This is because both employers and individuals tend to have different perceptions on risk tolerance. For example, you may view investing $25,000 in the stock market as wise decision depending on your level risk tolerance, while another investor may shun this investment decision because his or her level of risk tolerance may be substantially low as compared to mine. Connectively, if $25,000 represents a considerable fraction of your persons’ income, you may encounter a high-risk factor. On the contrary, if $25,000 constitutes only 10% of the total income, the risk factor will be negligible. Many investors’ view stock market as a risky venture due to volatility and fluctuation of the stock prices as well as the economic conditions. Therefore, such volatility in stock prices may make both individuals vary interims of their levels of risk tolerance. Usually, individuals tend to underestimate or overestimate the severity of inherent risk that may consequently expose them to intolerable risk levels. Therefore, it is vital for individuals to understand inherent risk is an intangible factor and hence apply an appropriate technique to determine their levels of risk tolerance. For instance, questionnaires may be developed to help individuals determine their levels of risk tolerance.There are several factors that influence the levels of risk tolerance some of those factors include; personal health, age and the likelihood of recovering from financial distresses.

Drug Abuse Essay Example for Free

Drug Abuse Essay DRUG ADDICTION Drug addiction is a problem that has been increasing immensely among our society today. Drug addictions can only hinder or restrain us from accomplishing goals or dreams in life. People sometimes feel they are too bright, too powerful, too much in control to become addictive. Addiction can trap anyone. It can lead to harming ones body, causing problems in family structure, and contribute to the delinquency in society. The sooner people seek help for drug addiction problems, the more chances they have of gaining control of their life once again. However, abstinence is the safest way to  live a longer and healthier life. We are greatly influenced by the people around us. Today one of the number one reasons of teenage drug usage is peer pressure. Peer pressure represents social influences that affect us. It can have a positive or a negative effect, depending on what path one follows. There is direct and indirect pressure that might influence a person’s decision in using drugs. Direct pressure might be when a person is offered to try drugs. Indirect pressure might be when a person is around people using drugs and sees that there is nothing wrong with using drugs. Adolescents who use drugs seek out peers who also use and, in turn, are influenced by those peers (Berndt, 1992). A person might also try drugs just to fit in a social group, even if the person had no intentions of using drugs. Adolescents can try out different roles and observe the reactions of their friends to their behavior and their appearance (Berndt, 1992). One might do it just to be considered â€Å"cool† by the group. There are also other reasons why people might turn to using drugs. Emotional distress, such as personal or family problems, having low self-esteem, like loosing a close one, loosing a job, or having no friends, and environmental stress are all possible factors to causing one to use drugs.

People in Organisations Essay Example for Free

People in Organisations Essay Introduction The purpose of this paper is to define the concept of Organisational Behaviour and identify the most important areas of the topic which considerably impact on organisational efficiency and effectiveness. Nowadays, due to the rapidly changing business environment, perceiving organisational behaviour is recognised as one of the most significant aspects of all business operations (Robbins and Judge, 2010). According to Financial Times Mastering Management (1997) â€Å"Organisational behaviour is one of the most complex and perhaps least understood academic elements of modern general management, but since it concerns the behaviour of people within organisations it is also the most central its concern with individual and group patterns of behaviour makes it an essential element in dealing with the complex behavioural issues thrown up in the modern business world. † This paper focuses on two areas of organisational behaviour that are considered crucial in achieving organisational effectiveness and efficiency, these are: organisational structure and management. Organisational structure and management play a crucial and direct role in organisational behaviour. The study of organisations, their structure and identification of key trends in management and organisational behaviour are crucial in achieving organisational goals and objectives (Mullins, 2010). Definition of Organisational Behaviour According to Robbins and Judge (2010), â€Å"Organisational behaviour is a field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structure have on behaviour within organisations, for the purposes of applying such knowledge towards improving organisation’s effectiveness.† Griffin (2011) defined Organisational Behaviour as â€Å"the study of organisational behaviour in organisational setting, the interface between human behaviour and the organisational context and the organisational itself†. In other words, Organisational Behaviour is â€Å"the study and application of knowledge about how people, as individuals and groups act within an organisation. It strives to identify ways in which people can act more effectively† (Ahmad et al,  2008). The concept of Organisational Behaviour has been defined by many authors in various literature, Mullins (2008) summarised that â€Å"common definitions of organisational behaviour are generally along the lines of the study and understanding of individual and group behaviour, and patterns of structure in order to help improve organisational performance and effectiveness†. Cole (1995) suggested that â€Å"The structures developed for work organisation, their nature, and the reasons why they are, or should be, adopted to increase their effectiveness have a considerable bearing on the subject of organisational behaviour†. The key elements of an organisational structure are work specialisation, departmentalisation, chain of command, span of control, centralisation and formalisation (Mullins, 2002). The significance of organisational structure is primarily critical for communication within an organisation and allows the distribution of authority. According to Robbins and Coulter (2007), â€Å"organisational structure is a formal framework by which job tasks are divided, grouped and coordinated†. The concept is contributed to organisational culture, management style, leadership approach and it is strongly influenced by environment, therefore provides a fundamental framework to organisational efficiency and effectiveness (Daft and Armstrong, 20 09). Mullins (2005) states that â€Å"Structure is the pattern of relationships among positions in the organisation and among members of the organisation. Structure makes possible the application of the process of management and creates the framework of order and command through which the activities of the organisation can be planned, organised, directed and controlled†. On the other hand, according to Drucker (1989), design of organisation structure is strongly contributed to organisational performance and poor organisation structure makes effective performance difficult to achieve. According to Rosenfeld and Wilson (1999), organisational effectiveness and efficiency will strongly depend on right identification of key elements of structure. This involves the process of delegation of authority in decision making which primarily refers to the centralisation or decentralisation (Cloke and Goldsmith, 2002). Mullins (2005) identified the chain of command  concept which relates to the importance of a clear line of authority and responsibility within an organisation. The framework is contributed to identification of subordinate relationships in a line down from the top of the organisation, therefore is crucial for effective operation of organisation. The combination of span of control and chain of command establish whether the organisational structure is flat or tall. Graicunas (1937) argue that due to the need for improved efficiency and competitiveness, organisations move towards flat organisation structures. The author claims that flatter structures contribute to organisational cost savings on managerial level, improved communications and resulted in a fewer levels between top management and the bottom of hierarchy. Organisational behaviour is concerned with people in organisations, and management relates to achieve organisational objectives, and since the success of organisation relies on human input, organisational behaviour is a fundamental segment of management (Mullins, 2002). According to Koontz and Weihrich (1990) â€Å"Management is the process of designing and maintaining an environment in which individuals, working together in groups, efficiently accomplish selected aims†. In general, ‘Management is the process of achieving organisational goals through people. The principal part of the study of organisation and management is development of management thinking and evaluate management theory (Ivancevich et al, 1994). Effectiveness and efficiency of organisation is strongly contributed to management, therefore understanding of fundamental concepts of management models and principles is necessary (Lawrence and Lorsch, 1967). Major trends in the development of organisational behaviour and management theory, based on four core approaches: classical (scientific management and bureaucracy), human relations, systems and contingency (Cole, 1995). According to Berrien (1968) â€Å"An organization is an integrated system of interdependent structures and functions†. Peter Senge (1990) introduced systems approach to management which was to challenge the scientific theory. Although the scientific theory based on the hypothesis that an organisation was a closed system, systems concept is viewed as an open system which  emphasise the total environment of the organisation (Lutans, 2011). In contrast, contingency model suggests that none of the classical management theories is the most effective in all situations (Burns and Stalker,1961).

Overview of Disease Diagnoses Processes

Overview of Disease Diagnoses Processes Alejandra Medinilla TASK 1 The aim of this work is to cover the whole process of disease diagnoses. In medicine, exist different ways to classify diseases as well as different test and procedures to diagnose them. The world health organization (WHO) plays a very important role here; since they created normalized classifications of diseases and disabilities, with specific codes to describe each of them with the purpose of simplify and standardize the process of diagnose 1.2. We are going to review the two most important models of health, used in medicine to explain illness. They help to predict and identify risks and consequences, make decisions and reduce the possibility of occurrence of an illness. Diseases can be classified in different ways, depending on the criteria taken into account; duration, distribution, pathology and aetiology are some examples. They are important in the compilation of statistics on causes of illness (morbidity) and causes of death (mortality). The most used classifications divided illnesses depending on the organs affected, nature and causes of the disease, risk of contagious and communicable and the occurrence and frequency of it. According to the British encyclopedia these classifications are: 1) topographic, (2) anatomic (3) physiological, (4) pathological (5) etiologic (6) juristic, (7) epidemiological and (8) statistical. (Stanley L. Robbins, Jonathan H. Robbins, Dante G. Scarpelli. 2013. Classifications of diseases [online]. Available at: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/275628/human-disease/63272/Classifications-of-diseases) The WHO has a very important role in classifying disease. They develop the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), with the ICD and ICF as core classifications. They are call the Normalized Classifications and are based on professional and scientific criteria. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a classification that uses different codes to differentiate symptoms, signs and illnesses. This classification allowed a global standardization making easier the diagnostic process. Each illness is classifying trough a code of 5 characters. The last version is the 10th, ICD-10, created in 1992. The 11th revision is running until 2015. The other classification created by the WHO is the ICF, which complements the ICD. This classification has two parts. One refers to functionality and disability and the other to conceptual factors. Both classify of the different states of illness/health within a standardize framework, with specific codes. On the other hand, more generally speaking, in 1997 was created the â€Å"triangle of health†. It classifies health, into social, mental or physical making emphasis on the importance of the three states together. We can define as Physical Health, to the body health; it refers to optimal weigh, vision, a healthy skin, and bones, tissues and organs, a good dental condition and a good neuro-muscular coordination. A person with physical health must able to do all his routine workwithout any difficulty. To evaluate the physical health of a person we can focus in different areas like life style (drug abuse, alcohol and tabaco habits, regular exercise, medical checkups), human biology (genetic and body chemistry), environment (the air we breathe and where we live) and medical services ( to prevent, detect and treat diseases). Mental Health – refers to the state of mind. It is the capability that a person has to manage stress and tension of daily life and keep a good attitude. Personal relationships with family and friends are a key aspect when trying to evaluate a person’s mental health. Mental health is essential requirement to make judgments, to possess discretion and to face and overcome the problems. The World Health Organization describes Mental Health as the â€Å"state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. (WHO. December 2013. Mental health: a state of well-being [online]. Available at: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/) And last, Social Health – which is the ability to function in society. It is in the ability to build positive and constructive relationships with peers. The social network of a person is a crucial indicator. Having no friends could lead to depression being more prone to manifest physical problems. In contrast, a person with strong relationships will feel more supported and accompanied. As a resume, a person could have a very good physical health, making exercises every day, eating healthy food and doing regular checkups with the doctor, but, if the person moves away from friends and social events to maintain this condition, this means luck of social health and could lead him to mental health problems in the future. In the process of diagnoses and establishing health and disease it is important to have knowledge and understanding of the Health research methods. Health research has been defined as â€Å"the process for obtaining systematic knowledge and technology which can be used for the improvement of the health of individual groups.† (Davies 1991, cited in A. Bowling 2002, p.3) Health research methods are used to obtain the necessary information to develop new tools and procedures that help to protect people from diseases or recover from them. Classifications of research methods are based on different criteria. Dankhe classification (1989) proposed 4 types of research studies: exploratory, descriptive, correlational and explanatory. In general depending on the role of the researcher we can have observational or experimental methods; according to the time when the data is collected or measured, prospective or retrospective; according to the number of occasions on which the variable is measured in the study, transversal or longitudinal and according to the number of variables under study, descriptive or analytic. Experimental studies are prospective studies; they evaluate the effect of one or more interventions. Frequently used in the assessment of therapeutic drugs and therapeutic interventions, being really careful with the ethic limits. They can be applied to the investigation of preventive measures of the disease, seeking to reduce individual risk. An example is the study that evaluates the effectiveness of a vaccine. On the other hand observational studies are those in which the patient is not assigned to an specific treatment or intervention, the evaluation is carried out according to a standard clinical practice, being therefore the researcher an observer of what is happening or has happened. Research involves a combination between the different types of research. Research methods are used in conjunction. As the WHO suggest â€Å"another way of classifying health research†¦ is to describe it under three operational interlinked categories of biomedical, health services and behavioral research, the so-called health research triangle† (WHO. 2001. Health research methodology. Chapter 1, p. 3) Multi-dimensional approaches are available for evaluating outcomes research. In evaluating research outcomes it is important to measure effectiveness, acceptability and humanity, equity and accessibility and efficiency. The evaluation of the data is made using the scientific method, and the collection of research data. Evaluation can be divided into two types: formative and summative. Formative evaluation is carried out during the investigation process. It aims to improve the methodology concentrating on the strengths and weaknesses. On the other hand, Summative evaluation takes place at the end of the process. It determines achievement and other outcomes, to evaluate the continuity or not of the process or program. There are different ways to disseminate the results of a research. As a general rule it is better to plan at the beginning of the research which is going to be the dissemination strategies. It should be consider the goals and objectives of the dissemination, as well as the impact, the Audience, the Medium to best reach each the audience and the execution process. Ones we have the results of an investigation we need to concentrate in how they are going to be disclosed. The options are diverse, depending on the public we want to focus on. The most common and generally used is the publication of texts, could as scientific papers, in specialize magazines, newspapers or posters, leaflets and advertising for a more general public. In the field of health exist different Principles of Health modeling. Models are a simplification of reality. They help to predict, identify risks and consequences, make decisions and reduce the burden of illness. We can mention 2 important models, the Biomedical and the Biopsychosocial models. Both are theories that explain illness from different perspectives. The biomedical model assumes that disease is a deviation from normal biological functioning and biological mechanisms are sufficient to explain disease, excluding psychological and social processes. It is a reductionist and single-factor model; it reduces illness to low-level processes, such as disordered cells and chemical imbalances, and explains illness in terms of a biological malfunction. We can say that the Body was treated as a machine; Physical disease is measured by the absence of health. It is the one used to develop the classification of diseases. On the other hand, the Holistic or biopsychosocial model includes biological, psychological, and social factors as important determinants of health and illness. It maintains that health and illness are caused by multiple factors and produce multiple effects. So it is a multicausal model. Mind and body cannot be distinguished in matters of health and illness because both influence the state of health. The perception of wellbeing is influence by different factors. There are psychological and social factors that influence the development of illness, and these are ignored by the biomedical model since it take into account just the physical aspects of the problem. TASK 2 It is important to mention the difference between Diseases and Illnesses. A disease is a pathological condition of the body in response to disruption of homeostasis. It is a result of pathogens, trauma, physical and chemical agents, genetics (inheritance), metabolic or nutritional disorders, while an Illness is the condition of a person experiencing disease. In order to establish people’s health we need to follow different procedures and make various tests to be able to give diagnoses. Before we can proceed with a specific test or group of tests we need to look the Signs and symptoms the patient presents. Signs can be define as any indication of a medical condition that can be objectively observed and normally they have no meaning to the patient or they not even notice them. Signs can be detected during a physical examination. Elevated blood pressure is an example. 2.2 Symptoms on the other hand are recognized, experienced and referred by the patients. The patient feels something anomalous in his body. Examples of symptoms can be, feeling tired, low mood and energy, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness. Symptoms become key elements when any health professional want to make a diagnosis to a patient and give him treatment. As examples to clarify we can mention three examples. In the case of a headache, the patient is the only one capable to notice it so, it is a symptom; if we talk about blood pressure, this could only be a signs, since it needs to be measured by a doctor in a laboratory; and the one that could be both, a sign and a symptom is a rush. Ones we have observe and checked the signs and symptoms we are able to proceed with the correspondent diagnostic process. The diagnostic process includes all types of measurements and tests that are used to evaluate a patients condition, such as physiological measurements, laboratory tests and pathology tests, imaging tests and endoscopies. 2.1 Each form of diagnosis involves specific procedures and tests that we can summarize as: Laboratory tests: blood test, urine, and/or other body fluids. They are used to evaluate what is going on in the body and also in specific cases like cancer treatment, to evaluate the side effects like anaemia and neutropenia (low white blood cell count), which can increase the risk of infection. 2.1 Endoscopic tests: is a procedure performed with an endoscope (a flexible and very thin tube with a camera) to examine the inside of the body. The endoscope model varies depending on the part of the body that is going to be examined. Biopsy: is the removal of tissue, a very small amount to be examined under a microscope. There are different types of biopsies: Fine needle aspiration biopsy, Core needle biopsy, Vacuum-assisted biopsy, Image-guided biopsy and surgical biopsy. 2.1 Imaging tests: X-ray, bone scan, CT or CAT scan, Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, MRI and Ultrasound. 2.1 In practice, Multiple Tests are used. Choices depend on cost, invasiveness, volume of test, presence and capability of lab infrastructure, urgency, etc. As an example, to diagnose cancer the most common types of tests used are biopsy, imaging tests, endoscopic tests and laboratory tests. It is important to know that a disease could be developed in a normal or an abnormal way. That is the field of etiology, which in medicine refers to the factors coming together to cause a disease. As mention previously, a disease can have a normal or an abnormal aetiology. To clarify this concept we can observe the development of Diabetes. In general it could be describe as a chronic disease that occurs when the body loses the ability to produce enough insulin or use it effectively. We can divide this disease in 2 main groups. The first one includes the types of diabetes with normal aetiology and the second one with abnormal aetiology. In the 1st group (normal aetiology), the common forms of diabetes are Type 1 diabetes (T1D, known as insulin-dependent diabetes or IDDM) and Type 2 diabetes. In Type 1, the pancreatic cells produce little or no insulin. Its causes are not precisely known but are believed to be an autoimmune reaction. It can occur at any age, but usually occurs before the age of 30. Type 2 diabetes (T2D), known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) usually develops slowly over time. Most people with this disease are overweight at the time of diagnosis. The increment of body fat makes it difficult for the body to use insulin the right way. It can also occur in thin people and are more common in the elderly. It is the most common form of diabetes. 2.3 The 2nd group involves the types of diabetes with abnormal aetiology. In general these types present a gene mutation and some grade of inheritance. We can mention MODY (Maturity onset diabetes of the young) and GDM (Gestational diabetes). (MODY) is a rare form of diabetes that runs strongly in families. It is caused by an inherited genetic defect, an autosomal inheritance (3 generations of the same family affected) of the insulin-producing cells. After the Type 1 diabetes it is the most frequency type within infants. GDM is first developed during pregnancy, usually appears in mid-pregnancy. The body cannot produce or use enough insulin. It is of very high risk for the pregnancy, so it needs to be controlled. Gestational diabetes can be controlled with a healthy diet and regular exercise, but sometimes the mother will also need insulin. Normally it disappears after delivery, but the mother has more risks of developing diabetes type 2 in the future. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bowling, Ann. Research methods in health: investigating health and health services– 2nd ed. Open University Press, Buckingham †¢ Philadelphia. David Blane, Mel Bartley, George Davey Smith ; Disease aetiology and materialist explanations of socioeconomic mortality differentials; Inequities in health European Journal of Public Health. 1997; 7: 3S5-391 D. A. Collier and J. L. Treasure, The aetiology of eating disorders. British Journal of Psychiatry (2004), 185, 363-365 Donald M. Steinwachs, Ronda G. Hughes, Chapter 8. Health Services Research: Scope and Significance. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses: Vol. 1 Institute of Alcohol Studies (2007) Alcohol and Mental Health. L Rychetnik, M Frommer, P Hawe, A Shiell, Criteria for evaluating evidence on public health interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health 2002; 56:119–127 Ross and Wilson (2006), Anatomy and Physiology in health and illness, 10th edition Elsevier. R Bonita, R Beaglehole, T Kjellstrà ¶m, Basic epidemiology, WHO, 2nd edition. Saffrey and Stewart (eds) (2001) Maintaining The Whole: Human Biology and Health Book 3, The Open University, Chapter 7. The World health organization (2001) Mental health : new understanding, new hope. Tortora (2003) Introduction to the Human Body: The essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, 4th Edition, Wiley Sons. Hawkes, C. (2002) Globalization, Diets and Noncommunicable Diseases, World Health Organization. WHO, Health Research Methodology: A guide for training in research methods. Second Edition. WHO, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila, 2001. World Health Organization, 2001. ICF International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. WHO, Geneve. WHO (1993) The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Diagnostic Criteria for research. WHO, Geneva. World Health Organization (2002) Globalization, Diets and Noncommunicable Diseases.

Sexual Education for Children Essay -- Sex Ed Education Essays

Sexual Education for Children Sex education materials for children more often serve to confuse than to inform. These materials generally present females as passive and males as active. The books describe heterosexual norms while ignoring the existence of homosexuality and bisexuality. Many books describe sexual intercourse as existing for the purpose of procreation only. Pictures and descriptions of this sex act more often mystify than inform. Finally, these materials target young children and assume that these children are incapable of understanding most elements of sex. Children can often understand far more than they are given credit for. Most materials offer descriptions of sexual intercourse as an act devoid of passion involving an active male partner and a passive female partner. Across publication dates, sexual education materials portray women as passive and men as active. Dr. Block’s Do-It-Yourself Human Sexuality Book portrays the girl as passive when she says â€Å"He’ll never leave me now† after she and the boy have sex (18). She has no active control over her life—rather, she waits to see whether or not the boy will stay or leave (Block, 18). In So That’s How I Was Born, the father explains that the â€Å"daddy puts his penis inside the†¦ vagina† (Brooks, 28). Thus, the man is the active partner while the woman is passive. Brooks further emphasizes that the woman’s passive role exists in all areas of life when, at the end of Brooks’ story, the boy’s mother satisfies stereotypes of docile women by speaking â€Å"softly† (28). Many of these authors further perpetuate stereotypical gender roles in their stories. In his book, Brooks shows the mother wearing an apron (25). In her book Mommy, Where Do Babies Come F... ..., far more conservative than those of some of the other, earlier works. The earliest works appear to be the most progressive. Is society adopting an increasingly restrictive and negative view of pre-marital sex, or is this merely a coincidence? Aside from these observations, it is difficult to make generalizations about the works according to dates of publication because there do not seem to be any other strong chronological trends. Sex education does not appear to be growing more comprehensive with time. Sex education books continue to omit crucial information. They confuse children, (and sometimes even teens,) with cryptic descriptions and diagrams. Feminine and masculine stereotypes, while not acknowledged in any constructive way, are strongly perpetuated. Sex education materials, such as those cited above, fail to provide comprehensive sex education.

White Fang :: essays research papers

Two outdoorsmen are out in the wild of the north. They are on a mission to deliver the body and coffin of a famous person. Their dogs disappear as they are entised by a she-wolf and eaten by the rest of the pack. They only have three rounds of ammunition left and Bill, one of the men, uses them to try to save one of their dogs that is being attacked; he misses and is eaten by the pack with the dog. Only Henry and two dogs are left; he makes a fire with leaves and scattered branches, trying to drive away the wolves. They draw in close and he is almost eaten, saved only by a company of men who were traveling nearby. The wolves are in the midst of a starvation. They continue on running and hunting, lead by several wolves alongside the she-wolf, and when they finally find food the pack starts to split up. The she-wolf mates with one of the wolves and has a litter of pups inside an abandoned cave. Only one survives after several more famines and harsh weather, and he grows strong and is a feisty pup. The puppy learns the basics of hunting and survival. They come to an Indian village where the she-wolf's (who is actually half-wolf, half-dog) master is. He catches her again and White Fang, her pup, stays nearby. Soon, she is sold to another Indian, while White Fang stays with Gray Beaver, her master. White fang whines and cries but it does'nt help. The other dogs of the village terrorize White Fang, especially one named Lip-lip, who for now is bigger and stronger. White Fang becomes more and more vicious, more like a wolf than a dog, encouraged by his master who beats him. One day he meets is mother and is turned to a light-hearted pup but, his mother does'nt even notice him. He kills other dogs that used to terroize him. Gray Beaver goes to Fort Yukon to trade and discovers whiskey, which he calls sweet water. White Fang is passed into the hands of Beauty Smith, a monster of a man who got Grey Beaver drunk and tricked him into selling Whit Fang. Beaty Smith put White Fang ino dogfighting and he fights other dogs until he meets his match in a bulldog from the east and is saved only by a man named Scott. White Fang :: essays research papers Two outdoorsmen are out in the wild of the north. They are on a mission to deliver the body and coffin of a famous person. Their dogs disappear as they are entised by a she-wolf and eaten by the rest of the pack. They only have three rounds of ammunition left and Bill, one of the men, uses them to try to save one of their dogs that is being attacked; he misses and is eaten by the pack with the dog. Only Henry and two dogs are left; he makes a fire with leaves and scattered branches, trying to drive away the wolves. They draw in close and he is almost eaten, saved only by a company of men who were traveling nearby. The wolves are in the midst of a starvation. They continue on running and hunting, lead by several wolves alongside the she-wolf, and when they finally find food the pack starts to split up. The she-wolf mates with one of the wolves and has a litter of pups inside an abandoned cave. Only one survives after several more famines and harsh weather, and he grows strong and is a feisty pup. The puppy learns the basics of hunting and survival. They come to an Indian village where the she-wolf's (who is actually half-wolf, half-dog) master is. He catches her again and White Fang, her pup, stays nearby. Soon, she is sold to another Indian, while White Fang stays with Gray Beaver, her master. White fang whines and cries but it does'nt help. The other dogs of the village terrorize White Fang, especially one named Lip-lip, who for now is bigger and stronger. White Fang becomes more and more vicious, more like a wolf than a dog, encouraged by his master who beats him. One day he meets is mother and is turned to a light-hearted pup but, his mother does'nt even notice him. He kills other dogs that used to terroize him. Gray Beaver goes to Fort Yukon to trade and discovers whiskey, which he calls sweet water. White Fang is passed into the hands of Beauty Smith, a monster of a man who got Grey Beaver drunk and tricked him into selling Whit Fang. Beaty Smith put White Fang ino dogfighting and he fights other dogs until he meets his match in a bulldog from the east and is saved only by a man named Scott.