Human Resources JDT2 Essay Example for Free

Human Resources JDT2 Essay Summary: Based on recent quality testing on the toys manufactured for elementary school aged children, it has been noted that the metal whistles contain an amount of lead that is over the United States legally acceptable limit for children age 7 and under. A large shipment is packaged and scheduled to depart at the end of the week. The whistles were manufactured under our company name and at our own warehouse facility. Decision Alternatives: Alternate Process In creating the following possible decision scenarios, the well-being of this company is a massive concern to everyone when a situation such as this arises. The outcome from any decisions made not only effect the consumer of the product, but also the Toy Company, it’s employees, stakeholders, and future customers based on the reputation of the company. In order to determine the best decision, without favoritism, a decision model (7 step decision making process) has been used to guide each deciding deliberation. Therefore, understand that all possible alternatives have been researched and only the best three possible solutions have been included for review. Decision Alternatives: Alternate Advantages and Disadvantages Explain Decision Model or Process Used for Each Advantages Disadvantages Financial considerations Legal considerations Ethical considerations Contact the South American Ministry of Education 7 step decision model, shown above. Allow product receiver to make decision Contamination of company reputation. 50/50 chance of increased reproduction cost. Release of legal obligations once South American Ministry accepts product. The possible subjection of harm to innocent children is simply unethical. Reproduce Contaminated Toy 7 step decision model, shown above. Maintain higher level of satisfaction. Increased costs of reproduction, product delivery late. Approximate cost of $100,000 will be incurred. Maintained federal requirements even outside of geographical requirements. Providing safe products to all children. Ship Product As Is 7 step decision model, shown above. Lowered costs. Potential harm to innocent children Possible litigation cost if families choose to enact a class action. Possible litigation and class action suit The subjection of harm to innocent children is simply unethical. Decision Alternatives: Alternate Considerations 1. Contact the South American Ministry of Education This decision will allow for the receiver of the product to determine for themselves if in fact the shipment is not acceptable and needs replaced. Each government has developed their own criteria of quality control aspects, and should be respected in their own research and limitations of product quality. Within this decision the possibility of the cost of reproduction has a weighing chance of a 50/50 percentage based on the request of the South American Ministry of Education. Also, the informing of and accepting of the product as is will place no further legal obligations on the toy company. 2. Reproduce Contaminated Toy Within the borders of the United States of America, this is the only  acceptable decision to be made. The lead amounts found are above the legal limits and should by all considerations be destroyed and reproduced under the proper legal lead limit guidelines produced by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The cost of this reproduction will fall solely on the shoulders of the company. The approximate cost to be incurred is $100,000. Also, in the making of this decision the Toy Company will be required to contact and inform the consumer of the production issue and the steps being taken to remedy the issue. The consumer may in turn be upset at the delay and remove their business from our company or may find our honesty in the situation to be respectable and assist in promoting our company due to highly ethical character display. 3. Ship Product As Is The guidelines for lead contamination are much more detailed within the United States than that of most regions. The product could easily be shipped and arrive on time for the opening of school in the South American region expected to receive the whistles. The product information would be included in the packaging, leaving the decision for a return of the product to be determined on the chance someone will notice the lead limits information. This choice could possibly rid the company of any further expenses. However, this leaves to chance the harming of many children, the legal allegations that can be brought up by the South American Ministry of Education, and the extreme tarnish of the company’s reputation within the United States and as a worldwide supplier of children’s products. During the narrowing of possible decisions to be established, a system of steps was utilized to enable a criterion for selecting the best possible outcomes. Each of the previous actions stated posse a decision between respect, ethical behavior, or financial consideration. As a whole each of these three actions must be carefully considered as a possible benefit to the company, as well as a possible strike against the reputation that has been so carefully created through producing top quality products for children all over the world. Alternative Recommendation: Recommendation Justification Of the three best available choices the superior choice would be the Reproduction of the Product. The reasoning in this decision is: Legal Aspect: Although as a company legal retaliation could be avoided if the  consumer accepted the product as is after being fully informed, the families of the children involved will still have the legal right to produce a class action claiming Product Liability on the part of the company for allowing the acceptance of the product by the South American Ministry of Education. Under Product Liability when individuals are harmed by an unsafe product, they may have a Cause of Action against the persons who designed, manufactured, sold, or furnished that product. Wests Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008) Financial Aspect: The reproducing of the product will initially cost the company approximately $100,000. This by all considerations is a financial blow to any company; however, if you consider the alternative cost of ongoing litigation and a class action pay-out, $100,000 seems rather insufficient. Also consider the possible benefit from this loss of monies; not only will the children involved not be affected negatively by a product produce in the land of the free, but the word will quickly spread about the companies quick action plan to resolve an issue for the safety of their consumer, before being forced to do so by the courts. In addition to the consideration of time, effort, and the expense of recovery, an effective plan to recover from the loss incurred on the reproduction of the product there are a few majors concerns that will be on the front line of significance; Brand Protection: The importance of brand protection is only outweighed by the health and safety concerns of the consumer. Cost recovery is a secondary concern. (Belcastro Alfonso, 2011) Supplier relationships. Supplier issues that may make cost recovery difficult include difficulties in tracking supplier contracts or supplier insurance documentation and preservation of supplier business relationships. (Belcastro Alfonso, 2011) Ethical Aspect: For a moment let us look at this situation from the consumer’s side. Would we as parents want the toy company we trust to first consider our children before their personal gain? I would assume anyone would agree that a child should never be subjected to the cruelty of mass production oversight in the products that will be utilized to teach them, care for them, feed them, or protect them. As a company the media would portray any action less than replacement of the product as a grotesque  display of unethical and malice behavior. All businesses, small and large, have an ethical obligation to their consumers, first of all to provide the product purchased and then to not harm anyone-including the consumer. (Gray, 2011) Product safety is an ethical obligation to the extent that companies have a duty to provide consumers with whatever it is they pay for and products are assumed to be safe for ordinary use. (Gray, 2011) Alternative Recommendation: Recommendation Ana lysis Overall, the purpose behind any decision that focuses on an issue that requires action on the part of the company is the ethical obligation the company has, not only to the consumer of the product but also to the employee that we depend on to produce the product, the children for which the product is purchased, and the Board of decision makers for the company and the general public that will recommend our product or company to others based on previous experiences. By providing a less than optimal product, we as a company, say that it is acceptable to lessen our value when the product is for children outside of the United States; this is not an acceptable way of thinking, nor an acceptable reputation of the company and its stakeholders. Moving forward on the remanufacturing of the whistle-even though it is a costly choice-will show for the value the company holds in their customers and the general population of consumers. Displaying a behavior of ethical decision practices will develop a stronger relationship between consumer and producer. This behavior can also produce a chain reaction of ethical revisions in other company actions. In current business the dollar comes before the consumer-making a move to be above the competition will place the company above others in their guarantee to produce only the best. Alternative Recommendation: Social Responsibility The remanufacturing of the product will display this company as being of the utmost ethical level in protecting its consumers even though the consumer is not on the American soil. Placing consideration in the safety and well-being of children of all aspects of geographical location, financial status, and nationality shows American and foreign manufacturing companies that the dollars involved do not come before that of the safety of the people that depend on our moral stature as a producer of children’s toys.  By maintaining the same standards internationally as we would within the American borders, with our products we can inevitably lessen the boundaries between product and consumer all over the world. The ground floor for a decision has been laid for all involved in the determination of an appropriate action in this case. Based on the information provided here, it is desired that a decision based on the good of all mankind-both producer and consumer will be in consideratio n in the deciding of the steps to follow. The American people base much of their perception of a company on its viewpoint to the greater good to humanity; this should what is seen in the products we supply. References: Belcastro, Denny and Alfonso, Bert, October 2011, Capturing Recall Costs Measuring and Recovering the Losses Retrieved on December 27, 2013, http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Capturing_Recall_Costs/$FILE/Capturing_recall_costs.pdf. Gray, JW, May 16, 2011, Moral Issues Related to Consumers, retrieved from: http://ethicalrealism.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/moral-issues-related-to-consumers/ Product Liability. (n.d.) Wests Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008). Retrieved December 27 2013 from http://legal- dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Product+Liability

Strategies for Reform in Kenya: Development of Equality

Strategies for Reform in Kenya: Development of Equality STUDENT: CHRIS MUGO NDIRANGU REG.NO: 1021356 Question Reform agenda in Kenya, committees, parties involved and previous practices INTRODUCTION Reforms are about bringing positive change in any country or administration. It’s about becoming better through the removal of false and error or by correcting malpractice, especially of a moral and social kind. Reforms are about enhancing value and qualities. In Kenya various reforms have been initiated particularly with the adoption of a new constitution in 2010. Various committees and parties have been involved in the reform agenda. The following then are some of the reforms initiated in Kenya. Measures to Curb Corruption According to Transparency International corruption index of 2013 Kenya ranked number 136 out of 177 in the world. This indicates the high level of corruption in the country. Indeed corruption is endemic to Kenya. It has contributed to wastage and misuse of national resources. Thus the new constitution has a number of provisions to allow for stronger checks and balances to curb corruption. Generally the constitution ensures the supremacy of parliament where parliament scrutinizes the executive to ensure it does not abuse its mandate and also scrutinizing state finances. This ensures no wastage or loss of funds occurs through corruption. Other than parliament the constitution provides for a commission that will work to curb corruption in government. The establishment of this commission is key in Kenya’s reform agenda. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has since been established and given the following functions under the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act, 2011. Some of the functions include: Ensure compliance with, and enforcement of, the provisions of the Constitution in relation to ethics, integrity and anti-corruption Develop and promote standards and best practices in ethics, integrity and anti-corruption Receive complaints on allegations of breach of the ethical principles or code of conduct by a public officer Investigate and prosecute any acts of corruption Recommend appropriate action to be taken against public officers alleged to have engaged in unethical conduct Develop a comprehensive national strategy to combat corruption and economic crime Promote ethics and ethical conduct among public officers, the private sector and the public in general. Decentralization of Government This arguably is the biggest reform initiated by the constitution. This is the ceding of power and autonomy by national governments to the counties. The constitution devolves power closer to the people at the grassroots. This diffuses political power and avoids on group or ethnic community from dominating the country by winning national elections throughout. Thus preventing political violence as witnessed in the 2007/2008. The constitutions allows for the following: Establishment of counties that replace the previous administrative units of provinces and districts. Creation of 47 counties where each county has an executive committee led by a governor and a deputy governor elected for a maximum of two terms Creation of county assemblies composed of elected members. Devolution of health services, infrastructure among other functions from the national government to the county government. The county governments are also empowered to impose levies and permit fees to support its development needs. The reform agenda of devolution or decentralization of the Government is intended to achieve the following political, social and economic goals by: Enhancing the principles of democracy Bringing power closer to the people and increase public participation in policy-making Enable greater responsiveness to the needs and opportunities for people at the grassroots level Establish new hubs of economic growth away from the capital city Promote equitable development across the country In ensuring smooth transition of national government functions to county government a County Transitional Authority has been formed under the Transition to Devolved Government Act, 2011. The main function of the authority shall be to facilitate a coordinated transition to county governments. Other functions include: Facilitate comprehensive and effective transfer as provided for under the constitution Oversee transfer of assets, liabilities and staff of national governments and local authorities to county governments Carry out an audit of the existing assets and infrastructure of the national government and local authorities with respect to devolved functions Develop and implement training programmes for county government staff Resolve disputes over transition issues between the nation and land county governments Women rights and marginalised groups This is one of the major issues in Kenya’s reform agenda over the past decade. Women rights groups and marginalised groups have pushed for reforms that would allow for greater participation and recognition in the running of affairs in the country. This is especially in government political sphere. The major reforms regarding women are entrenched in the new constitution. According to (Mugambi, 2010) the purpose of these constitutional gains on the side of women are to preserve their dignity and to promote social justice. The constitution ; ensures that women are able to pass on citizenship to their children regardless of whether they are married to Kenyans or not, eliminates gender discrimination in relation to land and property. The greatest provision in relation to women and of major significance is that the constitution provides that a one third requirement for either gender in elective bodies. This translates to women occupying at least 1/3 in elective institutions. This rule has a major shortcoming as citizens cannot be forced to elect women in order to achieve the gender threshold. The constitution also provides for the election of women representatives for each county who shall sit in parliament. Marginalised groups have also benefitted from the reforms being initiated in government. These marginalised groups include youth, marginalised communities and the disabled. The constitution provides that for the nomination of members of this group into parliament and county assemblies. The youth have also benefitted from the creation of funds that will enable them to set up businesses and earn income. An example of this is the creation of the Uwezo fund. The government has also formulated a policy of awarding contracts and tenders to youth groups and women. The policy states that 30% of the contracts and tenders shall be awarded to women and the youth. Performance Contracting The Kenyan government has been characterized with long bureaucratic procedures, inefficiency, lack of accountability which translates to high levels of corruption and wastage of resources. This results into poor economic performance. The government has however been adopting measures to change the common bad practices. This government hopes will change the perception and attitude towards government in service delivery. The government has thus initiated reforms in the public sector to gain public confidence both locally and internationally. Key to this reforms is performance contracting. Performance contracting is a mechanism under the public sector reforms that aims at improving performance of the Public sector through setting clear objectives. It involves setting simple, measurable, accurate, realistic and time-bound targets. Specifying agent performance in terms of results and assigning accountability for those results, increasing transparency and accountability in public institutions, establishing clear reporting, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of the projects. Performance contracting is done on a quarterly basis. At the end of every quarter, government institutions submit their quarterly reports and finally annual report to relevant agency. Feedbacks then are sent to the government institutions for improvements. The first procedure in performance contracting process is target formulation. The government institution sets targets based on the following indicators; financial, service delivery, non-financial, operational and dynamics. A work-plan/ implementation schedule based on its departmental plans is formulated. The plan indicates with activities hoped to be accomplished in the contract year. The second procedure is Negotiations. The targets set are negotiated on the basis of available resources, time frame and relevancy to existing policy documents. The third is vetting. The targets in this stage are looked at again. The fourth stage is signing. The contract is signed by the relevant heads of the institution and the monitoring agency. This shows commitment by both parties towards the attainment of the set targets. The fifth stage is implementation. The government institutions implement their agreed contracts and work towards achieving the set targets within the specified time frame. The si xth and final stage is reporting. The reporting is done on a quarterly basis which culminates in an annual report to the relevant reporting authorities. Performance contracting is important because of the following reasons; Helps in fast tracking existing plans in a government institution and a countries strategic plan example Kenya’s vision 2030 Proper coordination of projects is achieved through the development of intense monitoring and evaluation system so as to achieve the set target Setting of higher targets in every contract period leads to improvement in efficiency. Public servants have the opportunity to be recognised thus motivates them to perform Performance contracting has led to the emergence of a competitive Public Service which enhances their growth and development. REFERENCES Mugambi, M. (2010, March 28). Constitutional Gains for Kenyan Women. Retrieved March 20, 2014, from Academia.edu: www.academia.edu Constitution of Kenya.2010 Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act, 2011. Transition to Devolved Government Act, 2011.

Water Pollution In Trinidad And Tobago Environmental Sciences Essay

Water Pollution In Trinidad And Tobago Environmental Sciences Essay Water covers two thirds (2/3) of earths surface with over ninety seven percent (97%) in oceans and just three percent (3%) is freshwater from streams, lakes, aquifers and ground water, with most of it trapped in ice caps and glaciers. Less than one percent (1%) of all freshwater is readily accessible for human use. Water makes up sixty percent (60%) of our body, seventy percent (70%) of our brain and eighty percent (80%) of our blood. A human being can go almost a month without food, but you cannot survive more than one week without water. Water pollution can be defined as any chemical or physical change in water that is detrimental to living organism. There are two main sources of water pollution, point sources and non-point sources from which pollutants enter the environment (water bodies). Point sources are from a specific location e.g. drainpipes. They are more easily controlled because the nature of the pollutant and quantity can be easily determined. Unlike non-point source that are much harder to locate and control, it is associated with run-off from land, and has no specific discharge point. DISCUSSION In Trinidad and Tobago water is mostly used for domestic, agriculture and industrial purposes and our main sources of pollution are associated with them. Domestic raw sewage and solid waste (garbage), Agriculture run of from fields and crops containing fertilizers and pesticides. Industries water treatment, solid waste, lubricating oils, chemicals and Oil spills. There is a number of existing legislation for dealing with water pollution in Trinidad and Tobago below is a list of a few: Section 29(1)(j) of the Petroleum Act (chap.61:02) provides for the making of regulations to prevent water pollution and for compensation. Regulation 3 of the petroleum (pollution Compensation) Regulations made pursuant to Section 29 (1)(j) of the petroleum Act, outlines the offences of oil pollution. Regulation 42(2)(c) of the Petroleum Regulations, requires a license to take precaution to avoid pollution of tidal rivers. Regulation 11 of Part II of the Petroleum (Testing, Storage, etc.) Regulations, prohibits the escape of crude petroleum, petroleum or dangerous petroleum stored under the regulation into an inlet or drain communicating with a public drain or storage. Regulation 20(4) of the Drilling Regulations made pursuant to the Mines, Borings and quarries Plugging of wells that could pollute water. Second Schedule, Part IV , paragraph 8 of the Town and country Planning Act (chap 81:01) (rev. 1980) provides that development plans can make provisions for prohibiting of pollution of rivers etc. Litter Act (chap. 30:52) as amended by the Litter (Amendment) Act (1981), Section 3(1) states that littering occurs when a person without reasonable excuse deposits any litter in a public place other than an authorized collection point or receptacle i.e. public place which is everywhere that the public has access to including any water body. Section 2(1) of the Litter Act, premises includes natural watercourses and drains. Section 18 (1) of the Waterworks and Water conversation Act (chap. 54:44) prohibits pollution of waters. Public Health Ordinance Sections 36(1), 37, 55-60, 68,70 and 80- Sets our regime for dealing with water pollution. Municipal Corporation Act (no. 21 of 1990) section 232(e) construction and maintenance of all drains and watercourses except main water-courses and highway water courses falls under the Municipal Corporation. Section 145 prohibits impeding of water courses. Section 42 of the Water and Sewerage Authority Act (chap. 54:40) states that WASA is responsible for maintain and developing the waterworks; for administering the supply of water; promoting the conservation and proper use of water resources. Section 51(1) provisions for the making of regulations for protecting water resources from pollution. Prevention of Water Pollution (Quare River and Valencia) Bye Laws Section 53(1) sates any person who allows to be polluted any spring, well or adit, the water from which is used or likely to be used for human consumption, or domestic purposes, or for manufacturing food or drink for human consumption can be held liable. Standards Act No. 18 of 1997, Section 15(1) gives power to make environmental standards. Environmental Management Act . Section 52- Management of Water Pollution (1) The Authority shall, as soon as practicable after the commencement of this Act, investigate the environment generally and such premises and vehicles as it thinks necessary for the purposes of- (a) ascertaining the extent of water pollution and significant sources of water pollutants; and (b) characterising or describing that pollution 2) The Authority shall cause a register of water pollutants to be maintained as prescribed by rule, which shall contain data identifying the quantity, conditions or concentrations relevant to the identification of each pollutants. (3) The Authority shall develop and implement a programme for the management of such pollution which shall include the registration and further characterisation of significant sources of any ongoing or intermittent releases of water pollutants into the environment. Section 53 Water pollution Permits (1) The Authority may require and grant permits to authorise any process releasing water pollutants subject to such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. (2) The terms and conditions of a permit may relate to the design, construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring of the facilities and processes releasing water pollutants. (3) A person shall apply to the Authority for the grant of a water pollution permit in accordance with the form as determined by the Authority. Section 54 Prohibiting Water Pollution No person shall release or cause to be released any water pollutant into the environment which is in violation of any applicable standards, conditions or permit requirements under this Act. Water Pollution Rules 2001. Section 4(5) Unless otherwise authorized under sub-rules (1), (2) and (3), no person shall allow the release of a water pollutant from a registrable-facility. Section 4 (6) Sub-rules (1) and (2) do not apply to- (a) operational releases from motor vehicles; (b) releases from households except where such households contain industrial or commercial facilities; or (c) releases authorized by a competent governmental entity into sewerage facilities owned or operated by such competent governmental entity. Section 5. Prohibition against release of water pollutants. (1) A person shall not release a water pollutant into any water approved by a competent governmental entity for human consumption without treatment or where treatment has been limited solely to disinfection. (2) A person shall not release a water pollutant into groundwater where- (a) the groundwater is vulnerable to contamination because of the hydrological characteristics of the area under which the groundwater occurs; (b) no alternative source of drinking water is available to substantial current or future populations; (c) the aquifer provides the base flow for a sensitive ecological system; (d) the release of a water pollutant may destroy a unique habitat; or (e) the groundwater is a current or potential source of drinking water or has some other beneficial use. CONCLUSION The water pollution rules 2001 was laid in the House of Representatives on 20 September 2001 and later in the Senate on 29 September 2001 but did not go through the entire negative resolution process so the EMA has not treated the rules as law. Monitoring of water quality in Trinidad and Tobago has been given low priority and there is no coordination between agencies. Problems associated with enforcement of legislation are as follows: Insufficient resources financial resources for facilities, man power, laboratory equipment and research, Number of enforcement agencies in Trinidad and Tobago is great; this creates problems with overlapping of jurisdiction and lack of co-operation between agencies. Lax attitude and corruption little or no enforcement actions initiated under the various pieces of legislation and allegations of corruption with non-enforcement of relevant laws even though there has been no proof of misconduct the initial allegations are a matter of concern. Lack of punitive sanctions the penalties for breaking the law are so low that it appears to be more cost-effective to break the law and pay the fine than to stop from breaking the law. Limited public education programs -minimal or no public awareness of the harmful effects of human behavior on the environment. Trinidad and Tobago must reduce the volume of pollutants entering its water bodies, more enforcement of existing legislation and public awareness on the importance of conservation. We all need water to survive so why pollute our most basic need. Word Count: 1379 words

Experiencing Four Major World Religions First Hand Essay -- Islam, B

The nine-sided building and the surrounding gardens give the impression of the world view of the Baha’i faith. A component of the Baha’i world view is that all religions come from a common source. The site conveyed that unity among all religions and people is an additional view of the Baha’i. The arrangement of the house of worship, and the gardens conveyed the idea of unity. The nine sides of the house of worship, and the surrounding gardens represent that all people no matter their religion, race, or gender are welcome at this site to practice their religion. Furthermore, it also gave the impression of the view of all religions having a common source, God. Specifically, the house of worship could represent God, and the nine sides, may represent the nine major world religions, or the idea that all people are united through God. In addition, the house of worship contains symbols on the pillars of the structure. These symbols are of the nine major world religions, for example; symbols include the Christian cross, Judaism Star of David, and the nine-pointed star, which is the symbol of the Baha’i faith. These symbols on the pillars represent unity among all religions, and the idea that all the religions come from a common source, God. Information provided in the handout, video, and by the representative was quite similar to the impression given by the site itself. The representative of the Baha’i faith specifically talked about how all religions have a common source. The video, handout, and the representative explained that God revealed himself in different manifestations in different time periods. God gave the teachings for a certain time period, and then when a new time period came God revealed himself as a different manifestat... ...gion. One thing that I did not know about was the artifact with a staircase and raised platform. According to Gardner’s Art through the Ages Non-Western Perspective by Fred Kleiner, this structure is called a minbar, and it serves as a pulpit for the imam to stand on, and this is where he would speak. An imam is the leader of prayer according to Living Religions by Mary Pat Fisher. Having the opportunity to visit four different religious sights resulted in gaining new insight. However, some of the information presented was similar to my previous understandings of the religions. It was interesting to hear followers of the different religions speak about their beliefs. Overall, visiting the Buddhist temple, Sikh Religious Society, Turkish Society of Chicago, and The Baha’i House of Worship made me reconsider my previous thoughts about each of the religions.

Social Networking: Beneficial or Harmful? :: Social Networking Essays

With the advancement in technology in a short matter of time it has impacted the world in many ways such as how the world communicates and our life styles. One of the many revolutionary inventions or evolutions is called social networking sites (SNS). Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and many more, are where people gather in the internet, create a personalized profile about themselves, and interact with people around the world. With the lack of parental supervision between the ages of fourteen to seventeen, which makes one of largest demographics using social networking sites, these teens could be subjected to mature elements. Young teens between the ages of fourteen to seventeen should not be allowed to have a profile on social networking sites because they do not have the capability to make proper logical decisions. With the level of exposure that teens are facing today by joining the social networking trend, they often forget the dangers of social networking such as stalkers and pedophiles, who may use the sites as a major tool of the trade. Said dangers can befriend naà ¯ve teens and lure them into dangerous situations. For example, Raymond Wang had a friend being stalked by an unknown person through one of the social networking sites. This stalker acquired private information about her via Facebook, and it got to the point where the stalker was sending her threatening or perverted letters to her actual mailbox detailing what he would do to her. â€Å"This has really affected her a lot because now she’s scared other stalkers might do the same and she doesn't want that to happen or have anything happen to her.† (Wang 19) Even though users are given the option to make one’s profile private, there is still the looming threat that stalkers are able to gather enough informati on about the person’s whereabouts. Another similar incident happened to Regina Chau, a member of a social networking site catered to the raver lifestyle, Plurlife. When she first joined with her offline friends she liked everything about the SNS, but â€Å"[where] most of the people you accept to your friends list would probably be strangers.† (Chau 18) she had befriended a person she did not know offline and one these â€Å"friends† got a little too friendly with her; â€Å"he would keep asking over and over if I wanted to meet up with him at the next event. I found this a little creepy and did not message him back after that. Social Networking: Beneficial or Harmful? :: Social Networking Essays With the advancement in technology in a short matter of time it has impacted the world in many ways such as how the world communicates and our life styles. One of the many revolutionary inventions or evolutions is called social networking sites (SNS). Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and many more, are where people gather in the internet, create a personalized profile about themselves, and interact with people around the world. With the lack of parental supervision between the ages of fourteen to seventeen, which makes one of largest demographics using social networking sites, these teens could be subjected to mature elements. Young teens between the ages of fourteen to seventeen should not be allowed to have a profile on social networking sites because they do not have the capability to make proper logical decisions. With the level of exposure that teens are facing today by joining the social networking trend, they often forget the dangers of social networking such as stalkers and pedophiles, who may use the sites as a major tool of the trade. Said dangers can befriend naà ¯ve teens and lure them into dangerous situations. For example, Raymond Wang had a friend being stalked by an unknown person through one of the social networking sites. This stalker acquired private information about her via Facebook, and it got to the point where the stalker was sending her threatening or perverted letters to her actual mailbox detailing what he would do to her. â€Å"This has really affected her a lot because now she’s scared other stalkers might do the same and she doesn't want that to happen or have anything happen to her.† (Wang 19) Even though users are given the option to make one’s profile private, there is still the looming threat that stalkers are able to gather enough informati on about the person’s whereabouts. Another similar incident happened to Regina Chau, a member of a social networking site catered to the raver lifestyle, Plurlife. When she first joined with her offline friends she liked everything about the SNS, but â€Å"[where] most of the people you accept to your friends list would probably be strangers.† (Chau 18) she had befriended a person she did not know offline and one these â€Å"friends† got a little too friendly with her; â€Å"he would keep asking over and over if I wanted to meet up with him at the next event. I found this a little creepy and did not message him back after that.

Marine Corps

I want to be a Marine Corps Officer to serve my country. It is in my blood That is my first priority and will always be my first priority. Yes, it is great that an NROTC scholarship would pay for my tuition and fees and so on. However, one cannot put a price on the pride and dignity of being an officer in the Marine Corps. No one in the world has greater talent, leadership, and determination to take the initiative, than a Marine Officer. Through Varsity sports, DECA, and over sixty community service hours, I’ve learned how to lead a team, work with others to accomplish a mission, and that being a leader is hard work. However, there is no doubt that I am ready and willing to take on the challenge of being a leader. A leader of men who are the proudest and most feared warriors in this world, a leader of Marines. I live for challenges like these and I am mentally, physically, and morally capable of achieving this dream of mine. This career I strive for is something I’ve wanted to do since the first day I spoke with a Marine Corps recruiter. Marines have something about them that seperate themselves from the other military branches. That â€Å"something† is what I am looking for and is what I need. I believe the Marine Corps can make me into something greater than myself, something that demands greatness. The only thing I am missing is the oppurtunity. Give me the oppurtunity to prove to you and our country that I am a leader and that I have what it takes to become one of the few who can lead Marines.

Barbara Baynton †Squeaker’s Mate Essay

The marginalisation of the female protagonist begins with the title of the story and stays true until the end. For the majority of the story she is referred to as â€Å"Squeaker’s Mate†, â€Å"she†, â€Å"her†, and â€Å"his mate†. When she becomes gravely injured the men of the small outback Australian settlement caution Squeaker against informing her the injury is permanent, because it might to damage to her feminine sensibilities. A page later and Squeaker says to his prostrate partner when she says she will be up soon to help around the home again: †Yer won’t. Yer back’s broke,’ said Squeaker laconically. That’s wot’s wrong er yer; injoory t’ th’ spine. Doctor says that means back’s broke, and yer won’t never walk no more. No good not t’ tell yer, cos I can’t be doin’ everything’. † The Australian brush, always harsh, was particularly dangerous during the late nineteenth century, when Barbara Baynton’s story, Squeaker’s Mate, is set, and doubly or triply so for the women. It was a hard life, and if you survived the first few years, you were aged before your time. Squeaker’s days are filled with building his home and staking his claim on the land, and his nights are a swill of brandy and cheap(er) liquor from the store. His mate – who provided themoney to set up the property – is a burden except when she is working, and when she works, she works hard. The accident, which leaves her crippled, is a tough economic blow. Squeaker compensates by hiring a woman to assist around the place, which is short-hand, for those times as well as (too often) our own, for securing a new â€Å"mate†. At first, this new woman – who remains, it is important to note, unnamed throughout the text – is a help, but she soon becomes a rival. Too soon for the original mate’s liking, who doesn’t care much for the new girl: She was not much to look at. Her red hair hung in an uncurled bang over her forehead, the lower part of her face had robbed the upper, and her figure evinced imminent motherhood, though it is doubtful if the barren woman, noting this, knew by by calculation the paternity was not Squeaker’s. She was not learned in these matters, though she understood all about a ewe and a lamb. Squeaker is an unpleasant fellow, clearly unintelligent, clearly imperceptive to his mate’s needs. He is the prototypical stoic male, calm and selfish in the face of another’s adversity. In a noteworthy paragraph immediately following his mate’s crippling, upon asking for her pipe to calm her nerves, Squeaker retrieves, fills, lights and puffs on his own pipe before attending to her, all while she lies bleeding and paralysed on the ground. Moments later, he is annoyed when she refrains from moving her (again, paralysed) arm from the fire when her sleeve catches alight. Squeaker’s mate’s name is Mary, which is itself a reductive name as it carries little individuality, and there’s no last name attached to it. Mary is like John or Bob, it’s a featureless name, imprecise in its characterisation. Externally, she remains indistinct, with neither her hair colour, her body shape, her fashion sense, her physical mannerisms, ever described. She is quite simply Squeaker’s mate, and deserves no more or less than that. Or does she? In the world Baynton is describing, this is exactly how she would have been perceived. Many woman during that period in that area were considered to be factories for producing babies, and on top of that they were machines for cleaning and cooking. They were not an equal companion, and there was little expectation that a man or a woman had much to share with one another. It was not uncommon, as an example, for the man to leave for days and even weeks at a time, herding sheep and chasing down livestock, or following the weather in search of jobs on other farms both near and far. A healthy woman could take this opportunity to become quite entrepreneurial with the family home, haggling over prices and selling the farm’s commodities at a good price. But a crippled mate was a serious liability, virtually useless, and it is not surprising when Squeaker neglects to call the doctor until his hand is forced. While the outer life of a woman in the brush was not much, their inner lives could be very great indeed. The journals of Fanny and Bessie Bussell, to take one of many examples, were an account of their lives during mid nineteenth century Western Australia, and reveal these women as funny, creative, clever, playful, anxious, forthright, honest and open. Their journals were for them conversations with family back home, a way to connect with people they love. For us, they are historical artefacts and useful for their account of rural life during that period, but they are something more, too – they are living documents, pulsing with freshness and energy, marvelling at the wonder of the strange new land to which they had arrived. Squeaker’s mate – Mary – may not have written any letters, but her thoughts as described by Baynton show her to be resourceful and tough, and astonishingly perceptive in regards to the emotions and motives of others. She is a strong woman, undaunted by her injury though naturally affected by it, and she is aware that her fate is grim should the new mate be accepted wholly by Squeaker. Mary does what she can to turn the situation to her advantage, with surprising, violent and elemental results. Squeaker’s Mate comes from, I will freely admit, a literary lineage of which I am not particularly fond. The dusty, dry, poverty-striken, dialect speaking, naturalistic nineteenth and early twentieth century literature is an anathema to my tastes, and is, for the most part, terribly unreadable today. Far from just being unfashionable many of these stories are impenetrable, relying too heavily on the expectation that the reader will fully grasp the physical realities of the story and relying on local colour and descriptions of animals and dirt to carry the story along. Squeaker’s Mate rises above the muck thanks to its incisive examination of the gender issues surrounding this tumultuous period of Australian history, when men were forging new paths into the nation, discovering resources and establishing cities and towns and women, equally responsible, equally culpable, equally capable, and equally proficient, were dragged thanklessly behind, forgotten too often, their stories lost, lives vanished.