The Battle of Saratoga essays

The Battle of Saratoga expositions A misguided judgment numerous individuals have about the Battle of Saratoga that it was just fight yet it really comprised of two fights. The Battle of Saratoga kept going from September 19, 1777 to October 7, 1777. At the hour of the fight the British battle thought they had their next arrangement in assault so far ahead of time that they were ensured a triumph. General Horatio Gates expected the order of the northern American powers on August 19, 1777 and was welcomed with excitement. Doors had a notoriety for being a capable executive. Entryways was from Virginia and the warriors from New England felt that they could believe him as they never had towards General Schuyler. General Schuyler was partial against on the grounds that he was from New York and spoken to the affluent, refined class in that state. New York fighters enjoyed Gates since he had removed the adversary from their state in the prior year. The fall of 1777 under General Gates order always altered the course of American history. The principal Battle at Saratoga was the clash of Freemans Farm. As General Burgoyne and his men moved toward Albany, New York in mid September they were amazed to find that the city was secured under 7,000 nationalists under General Horatio Gates control. While General Gates moved his 7,000 men to Bemis Height General Burgoyne was deficient with regards to the help of the revolutionary situation because of the loss of Indian scouts and urgently required supplies. Anyway General Burgoynes troops propelled southward in three separate sections with Generals Fraser, Hamilton and Riedsel instructing a segment each. General Burgoynes armed force just comprised of 6,000 men, he utilized forty-200 to battle and the staying number of men were to watch his pontoons and supplies also go about as save troops. The most grounded of the three sections, was the segment on the privilege instructed by General Simon Fraser with somewhere in the range of 2,000 men. General Frasers segment w... <!

the jungle Essay examples -- essays research papers

Upton Sinclair was the most well known of the American â€Å"muckraker† writers. He was conceived in Baltimore, Maryland on September 20, 1878. In spite of the fact that his family was poor, Sinclair had the option to gain cash as an essayist from an early age, and had the option to set aside enough cash to head off to college. He went to the city school of New York and moved on from that point with a B.A. degree. Not long after he went to Columbia University to graduate school. It was there that he started composing full-length books with significant social subjects. His books indicated that he was worried about the states of working individuals. During the early piece of the twentieth century organizations had next to no to limit them and regular workers associations were not so basic as they are today. The absolute greatest maltreatment of work conditions occurred in huge urban areas, for example, New York and Chicago. It was in the meatpacking region of Chicago that Sincla ir found the setting of the book that would carry him to distinction. He originally won acknowledgment by the wilderness in 1906. This book is an amazing practical investigation of social conditions in the stockyards and pressing plants of Chicago. It supported in the death of unadulterated food laws.      This epic outlines how avarice and merciless rivalry has made the transform of the century into a heartless wilderness. â€Å"Take or be Taken† was the directing standard, and everybody was somebody else’s prey. The meatpacking region of Chicago in the mid 1900’s is the place the novel happens. The primary characters in this book are a Lithuanian worker Jurgis Rudkis, a dedicated tough man out to locate the American dream, his better half, and his family who is attempting to do likewise.      After a long excursion to America the family shows up in Packingtown, where Jokusbas Szedvilas, a kindred Lithuanian migrant, acquaints them with the grimy smelling some portion of the city that will currently be their home. Jurgis is extremely anxious to find a new line of work and succeeds without any problem. The family has leased living quarters in the dirty lodging ran by Anielle Jukniene, however Jurgis and the others need to purchase a house. An alluring promotion carries them to an exploitative house specialist. They do purchase a house, however are made to sign a deed that they can’t even comprehend. They discover later it expects them to lease the house for quite a while and in the event that they miss even one installment they lose all they have in the ... ...e time. He realized he must be exceptionally realistic and explicit to get the message over. His tale was the fundamental explanation that congress was constrained into passing the Pure Meat Inspection Act in 1906.      The prudent and social issues of the book are recounted by the deplorable accounts of the people who worked, and kicked the bucket in the stockyards locale. They experienced almost all indecencies imaginable. Unfit to communicate in English they were effectively misused and exploited. The laborers of the stockyards were paid horrendously low wages that weren’t sufficiently even to prop a family up. Each individual from the family should work or they would all starve. It appears that nobody minded or even thought about this until Upton Sinclair composed â€Å"The Jungle.† For the individuals of the stockyards they were living in an incredible sadness, an existence of sorrow.      This book affected history in an incredible manner. The intensity of meat auditors incredibly improved, and Americans at long last believed in the meat that they ate. This book affected American meat and Americans dietary patterns more than it did working conditions, which were what I trust Upton Sinclair was truly attempting to change. the wilderness Essay models - papers inquire about papers Upton Sinclair was the most well known of the American â€Å"muckraker† writers. He was conceived in Baltimore, Maryland on September 20, 1878. Despite the fact that his family was poor, Sinclair had the option to acquire cash as an essayist from an early age, and had the option to set aside enough cash to attend a university. He went to the city school of New York and moved on from that point with a B.A. degree. Not long after he went to Columbia University to graduate school. It was there that he started composing full-length books with significant social topics. His books indicated that he was worried about the states of working individuals. During the early piece of the twentieth century organizations had almost no to limit them and regular workers associations were not so normal as they are today. Probably the greatest maltreatment of work conditions occurred in enormous urban communities, for example, New York and Chicago. It was in the meatpacking region of Chicago that Sinclair found the setting of the book that would carry him to notoriety. He previously won acknowledgment by the wilderness in 1906. This book is an amazing reasonable investigation of social conditions in the stockyards and pressing plants of Chicago. It supported in the death of unadulterated food laws.      This epic shows how avarice and savage rivalry has made the transform of the century into a heartless wilderness. â€Å"Take or be Taken† was the managing rule, and everybody was somebody else’s prey. The meatpacking locale of Chicago in the mid 1900’s is the place the novel happens. The primary characters in this book are a Lithuanian settler Jurgis Rudkis, a persevering resilient man out to locate the American dream, his significant other, and his family who is attempting to do likewise.      After a long excursion to America the family shows up in Packingtown, where Jokusbas Szedvilas, a kindred Lithuanian settler, acquaints them with the smudged smelling some portion of the city that will currently be their home. Jurgis is exceptionally anxious to find a new line of work and succeeds without any problem. The family has leased living quarters in the messy lodging ran by Anielle Jukniene, however Jurgis and the others need to purchase a house. An appealing notice carries them to an untrustworthy house specialist. They do purchase a house, however are made to sign a deed that they can’t even comprehend. They discover later it expects them to lease the house for quite a while and on the off chance that they miss even one installment they lose all they have in the ... ...e time. He realized he must be realistic and explicit to get the message over. His tale was the fundamental explanation that congress was compelled into passing the Pure Meat Inspection Act in 1906.      The conservative and social issues of the book are recounted by the sad accounts of the people who worked, and passed on in the stockyards area. They experienced about all wrongs imaginable. Incapable to communicate in English they were effortlessly abused and exploited. The laborers of the stockyards were paid frightfully low wages that weren’t sufficiently even to prop a family up. Each individual from the family should work or they would all starve. It appears that nobody minded or even thought about this until Upton Sinclair composed â€Å"The Jungle.† For the individuals of the stockyards they were living in an extraordinary sorrow, an existence of despondency.      This book affected history in an extraordinary manner. The intensity of meat controllers incredibly improved, and Americans at long last believed in the meat that they ate. This book affected American meat and Americans dietary patterns more than it did working conditions, which were what I trust Upton Sinclair was truly attempting to change.

10 Tips for an Effective New Employee Job Orientation

10 Tips for an Effective New Employee Job Orientation Becoming employed is considered by many as a major life event, mainly because of what it means in the grand scheme of things. It becomes a means for an individual to be able to provide for his family and sustain his lifestyle. His experiences in the workplace also end up having a large role in shaping his personality and his life; he meets new people and builds new relationships. He gets to tackle challenges and face opportunities that will test his character.But all employees have to start somewhere and, for one who is newly hired and is just entering an organization or company, he is bound to require a period of adjustment. Employers cannot expect new employees to show up on their first day of work and dive into the work right away, providing the results that they wanted and expected.No matter how employers wish hard for that to be true, new employees need some time to get used to their new environment. Therefore, they have to conduct new employee job orientations. © Shutterstock.com | Gustavo FrazaoIn this guide, you will learn 1) what employee orientation is (including its purpose), 2) the benefits associated with it, 3) whats included in such a employee orientation program, and 4) tips on how to conduct a new employee job orientation program.NEW EMPLOYEE JOB ORIENTATIONCompanies, institutions and organizations generally have their own new employee job orientation programs, created and designed specifically for their use, tailored to their respective organizational structures and cultures.However, despite differences in their approaches, methodologies and techniques in implementing their programs, the essence remains the same: it serves to introduce the employee to his new workplace, and make him properly acquainted with the organization as a whole.New employee job orientation refers to the initial process where employees are given access to basic information, programs, services and other relevant knowledge about the organization, with the i ntention of encouraging employees and providing them the tools and motivation to perform and become active and contributing members of the organization.We can break down the purpose of new employee job orientation into the following:Introduces new employees to their new work environment, where they will be spending a major chunk of their time for the foreseeable future. This pertains not only to the physical workplace, but also the organizational culture.Helps in making new employees feel welcome and comfortable in their new environment, where they can feel that they belong. Usually, new employees will feel awkward and shy, leading to discomfort and feelings of isolation.Provides new employees better understanding about their duties and responsibilities, as well as the terms and conditions of their employment.Informs new employees of the company’s policies and other relevant procedures that all members of the organization must adhere to.Creates a positive impression of the organiz ation, so that the new employee will not regret accepting the job offer and deciding to work in the company.BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE NEW EMPLOYEE JOB ORIENTATIONWhat results can you expect when new employee job orientation programs are implemented effectively? One thing is for sure, though: it will benefit both the employer (the organization) and the new employee.Improve the organization’s ability to acclimate its new employees to the organization. An organization that can manage its people well is an organization that will have greater chances of succeeding. This will also improve its reputation as an employer. By having an new employee job orientation program in place â€" and implementing it with effectiveness â€" the organization is sure to be able to maximize one of its greatest assets: its people.Increase in the company’s overall productivity and performance. A well-oriented new employee is a well-adjusted employee, who has full knowledge and understanding of the organizationa l goals, so that he will know exactly what he has to do in order to contribute in their attainment. Also, a well-oriented employee is also an excited employee, one who looks forward to getting to work and putting his skills and abilities to good use. Since he is more relaxed, he will commit fewer mistakes, further increasing productivity.Establishment of clear standards that help reduce risks of disputes and disagreements. Lack of knowledge about existing policies may often lead to disagreements and disputes in the future. Through this orientation program, employers can minimize and even eliminate those and, in the process, limit any possible liability that they may have in the event that the new employee tries to make them accountable. For example, management may use the conduct of an effective new employee orientation program as defense against a dissatisfied employee.Establishment of successful and productive working relationships. New employees that immediately feel welcome and comfortable when they enter the company are more inclined to act positively towards other people in the workplace. This will result in better and stronger relationships with other employees and with his employers as well.Increase of retention of a pool of new, skilled and capable employees, turning them into worthwhile long-term assets or investments of the organization. According to research, employee retention improves by 25%, thanks to effective new employee orientation programs.See how Trivago is introducing new joiners into their company. WHATS INCLUDED IN  NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION PROGRAMSThe conduct of new employee job orientation ranges from several days to weeks. In larger organizations, it may even extend longer than that. To better understand the value of spending time in these programs, let’s look at the information that the new employee should expect to learn during the orientation period. What should the employers focus on when conducting this type of orientation for new employees?Business fundamentals â€" This includes the history of the company, its mission statement, its vision, goals and objectives. The new employee is also made familiar with the organizational structure of the company, placing emphasis on the relationship of his job or position with that of the other positions in the organizations. Here, he will be made to understand how important his role will be in the organization.Company policies and procedures â€" Some of the policies and procedures that the employee will be informed about include dress code, restrictions on smoking and drinking, procedures on reporting and making expense claims, safety procedures and applicable emergency procedures.Benefits details â€" If the company has retirement benefits and other similar benefit packages such as health insurance and group insurance, they should also be presented to the new employee. Other concerns include sick leave days, holidays and vacation days.Job responsibilities and expect ations â€" The job description may have been thoroughly discussed with the employee during the recruitment process, there is still a need to reiterate it during the orientation, as there may have been points that were not touched on or discussed earlier. This is also where the new employee will be supplied with, and introduced to, tools and methodologies that he will utilize in the performance of his tasks.Physical tour of the workplace â€" The new employee will be treated to a tour of the facilities of the company, as well as the work areas where he will be working at. In the process, he will also be introduced to the other employees.TIPS ON HOW TO CONDUCT A NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATIONAs mentioned earlier, there are no strict rules on how new employee job orientation programs must be implemented, considering the variability among organizations. However, here are tips that we are sure will help organizations conduct these orientations effectively and successfully.Tip 1 Have an orientat ion program in place.This is probably one of the biggest blunders that a business can make: not having an orientation program for new employees, even if it is informal or unofficial. Instead of doing things “on the fly”, and providing orientations “as needed” and only “when needed”, you should still have a certain guideline to follow on how you will orient new employees.A critical component of the orientation program is the key person who will do the orientation. According to HR consultant Andrew Klein, the lead person in the orientation “needs to have some public speaking skills and enthusiasm, not someone who mumbles or doesn’t like his job”. After all, he will represent the company to the new employee, so the latter’s impression of him may very well be his impression of the entire organization.Tip 2 Gather all information to be included in the orientation.Picture this: the new employee comes in, you know you have to start the orientation, but you do not know w here to begin. Worse, you are not really familiar with the information that you are supposed to orient the new employee about.This is not going to be a problem if the company already has an established orientation program in place, with all the materials prepared. But even if that were the case, there should still be a certain degree of preparation on the part of the one who will conduct the orientation. Any hesitation on his part may give the new employee the impression that he, too, has limited knowledge about the company he works for.This is why pre-orientations are important. You should come up with an orientation plan that is customized to the new employee coming in. Obviously, you will have a different orientation plan or approach for someone who is coming in as a new engineer and for another who is hired as the company’s new janitor. The orientation plan will indicate the orientation activities and the corresponding schedule that will be followed.By gathering all the inform ation required, you will have more confidence when conducting the orientation, and you will also be able to use the time wisely. That way, you and the new employee can make the most out of the first days of orientation.Tip 3 Delegate orientation duties.Orientation duties do not necessarily have to fall on one person alone. Delegation is actually highly recommended.Usually, new employees are met by someone in the Human Resources department, who will talk to him about the company, his benefits, and other general information. Then the orientation duties will shift to someone who can provide orientation that is more work-specific. Usually, this is done by the new employee’s supervisor, or someone who belongs to the same department that the new employee will be assigned in.It is also a fact that there are some aspects of the job that the supervisor may not be aware of, especially if his job is purely ministerial. In this case, the supervisor should consider delegating job-specific orie ntation duties to other employees that are more experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to actual performance of the job.In other cases, departmental mentors are also tasked to aid in the orientation process. Their main function is to assist in answering any questions that the new employee may have during his first few weeks of working.Assigning a “buddy” to the new employee for several days is also another form of delegation. Of course, it is important that the buddy you match the new employee to is from the same department or team.Tip 4 Welcome the new employee.San Francisco State University’s Dr. John Sullivan said that the first day of the new employee at work should be a celebration â€" a welcome celebration, to be more specific. Make it like a family welcoming a new member, with warmth and ease.The welcome should not be limited to the management, or the human resource people alone. It should involve other co-workers, resulting to a larger welcoming committee. This wi ll help in putting the new employee feel at ease and become more comfortable. He will feel that he belongs to the new company, even if he hasn’t been there for more than a day.What methods can be employed to welcome the new employee? Some companies offer goodies to the new employee upon arrival, such as a company T-shirt or a company mug. Others even go so far as preparing a cake, complete with candles and flowers. Of course, nothing beats personally going up to the new employee, greeting him with a smile and extending your hand for a firm and friendly handshake while looking him in the eye and introducing yourself as his co-worker or supervisor.Maybe you could do this Gangnam Style welcome. ?? Tip 5 Ensure comfort for everyone during the orientation.This goes both ways: the new employee and the person doing the orientation should feel comfortable in the environment where the orientation will take place.Information is understood and assimilated faster when the environment is condu cive for learning. It would be quite a contradiction if you welcome the new employee in a dim office at the end of the corridor. Pay attention to the lighting and ventilation of the room where you will be talking to the new employee. Are the seats comfortable? Are there other sounds that may cause distractions?It is also basic courtesy to offer him a drink or something to eat, especially if the orientation is going on for hours. Allow the new employee to have short breaks to get some air, do his business, or just step out and gather his bearings.Tip 6 Orient new employees right away.The first five minutes of the new employee orientation are considered to be the most critical, since this is where the company will get to make its first impression to the employee. Waste those first five minutes, and the employee may start regretting accepting the job offer.Even before the new employee arrived at his new workplace, he is already wondering what awaits him, and how he will be working in a way that will contribute to the company’s goals. Thus, on the first day, the person who will perform the orientation should be prepared to talk about matters related to the new employee’s productivity.Especially in jobs that are highly technical or entail the use of technologies, there may be a need to train the new employee (or re-train, if he already has previous knowledge but need reinforcement). Therefore, you should schedule trainings right away, so he will be better equipped once he actually starts working.Tip 7 Introduce the new employee to his supervisor right away.We already mentioned  how the supervisor often delegates orientation duties. This is why it is important to let them meet right away, on the new employee’s first day at work. This is for the simple reason that they will be working closely together in the future, and the new employee will report  to the supervisor, so they have to establish a relationship early on.It will be the supervisor that will primaril y induct the new employee into his job, so even if he delegates the rest of the orientation duties to someone else later on, it is still important for him to meet with the new employee on the first day.Tip 8 Teach the new employee to speak your language.It is a given that new employees should be provided with a copy of the company handbook, or an employee handbook, if available, detailing all the information that every employee ought to know about the company. But going through the handbook from cover to cover may take some time, and you want the new employee to be able to assimilate into the organization as soon as possible.You can facilitate faster learning by providing the new employee a glossary of company acronyms, terminologies and buzzwords. You may also supply him with a printout of Frequently Asked Questions for him to peruse. In some cases, some new employees may even make an effort to take down notes. Help them out by providing printouts or handouts instead.Tip 9 Remember : new employees are human, too.This is something that some organizations often forget. During the first two hours of the first day of the employee â€" and the first day of his orientation â€" he may have been bombarded by a ton of facts, figures and information. As a result, he ends up overwhelmed after only being at the workplace for a couple of hours! At the end of the workday, he would most likely be drained and exhausted, and questioning his decision to work in that company.One way to solve that is to liven things up a bit. Do not stick to long lectures where you will drone on and on with a long list of facts. That will only bore the new employee andthat is not the most efficient way to learn new things. You can try taking a different tack. Be friendlier and livelier. Take a casual approach, where the two of you will be conversing instead of just you speaking like a professor and the new employee responding like a student.Similarly, some new employees also encountered problems w ith having to deal with inadequate tools and equipment. For example, a new employee may be given a walk-through on the process that he will work on, but the required tools and equipment are unavailable so he will be at a loss as to how he is supposed to do his work.There are other employers that put their new employees to work immediately, or after giving them a brief hour-long orientation. However, you should give your new employee some time to absorb all the new information that you just gave them. Everyone needs a period of adjustment, even a new employee, no matter how brilliant or highly qualified he is.Tip 10 Orientation is not a single step; it is a process.The orientation does not end when you think you have explained everything to the new employee. It is a continuous process, maybe lasting even months. Along the way, the employee may have some queries that you will still need to answer. You should also check in on them from time to time, ask them how they are doing and what they are feeling about their job and the company as a whole, and try to address any concerns or issues they may have.It goes without saying that you should encourage your new employee to ask questions. There is a tendency for some new employees to refrain from asking questions due to the fear of being thought of as ignorant or incompetent. By assuring them that you will always welcome questions, and that you will be available to answer them at any time, you will give them the confidence to ask and, in the process, learn more.If you think about it, employee orientation is a continuous process. Even old employees of companies are subjected to reorientation more than once in a while, primarily because companies introduce new policies and procedures all the time. Business processes also evolve and information undergo updates, so employees have to be kept up to speed. This is why orientation will still continue, long after the new employees have gone past the stage of being “new”.

Essay on The New Archaeology Movement - 913 Words

With the evolution of available technologies and methodologies, some archaeologists became frustrated with the traditional ways of archaeology; they felt that the new technologies should be used to improve archaeology and the outcomes of professionals in the field. The New Archaeology was a movement that sought to contribute to the existing anthropological knowledge of human behavior by emerging as a science and separating itself from the historical approach. New archaeology did not merely incorporate scientific technology, but it also employed various scientific methods and approaches. Lewis Binford was the most influential figure in New Archaeology; he considered that cultures were composed of â€Å"three interrelated subsystems:†¦show more content†¦Culture cannot be treated as a process because, in doing so, one would not take into account the many characteristics that distinguish cultures from each other and that would alter the outcome of each civilization. Furthermore, Binford believed that archaeology should contribute to explaining the significance of past occurrences, instead of merely reconstructing them; consequently, he promoted the use of â€Å"explicit theory† (Renfrew and Bahn 41). Archaeologists were to formulate a theory for an event that had occurred in the past and would need to provide proof in the form of sites and artifacts to prove that the event actually occurred. New Archaeology supported the notion of using theories to explain the past. This would force archaeologists to provide proof for their conclusions, instead of merely claiming that something is correct based on his authority in the field. Additionally, this approach would change archaeological procedure to a scientific one: â€Å"the appropriate procedure was now seen as formulating hypotheses, constructing models, and deducing their consequences† (Renfrew and Bahn 41). Implementing a scientific method for archaeological research would undermine some artifacts and other findings and regard them as unimportant. If archaeologists were concerned with proving a hypothesis correct, they may overlook an artifact that would not contribute to the hypothesis, but is still significant. New Archaeology promoted this idea; the ideaShow MoreRelatedThe Origins And Central Beliefs Of Islam1735 Words   |  7 Pagesto Medina, where the Medians graciously welcomed them. This major beginning of the Islamic era is called the Hijrah which roughly translated as â€Å"Flight.† In Medina, Muhammad continued to receive revelations and an ever-expanding community around the new faith. The conflict with the Quraish continued but after several violent years of battle, Mecca surrendered. Muhammad and his followers soon returned and took over the city, destroying all its pagan idols and spreading their belief in one God. 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The definition of the movement in 1938 by Robert Goldwater stated: ‘the assumption that the further one goes back – historically, psychologically or aesthetically – the simpler things become; and that because they areRead MoreThe Importance Of DPAA1250 Words   |  5 Pagesthe families and our nation. In order to achieve this, DPAA is committed to the principles of unity of effort, transparency, and maintaining scientific rigor throughout the accounting process. DPAA will keep families informed of case progress and new information as proactively and rapidly as possible. DPAA will continually improve by assessing what works and what does not, and revising the processes as needed. Analysis and Investigation Researching, recovering, identifying and ultimately returningRead MoreBiographical Paper Of Michel Foucault1272 Words   |  6 Pagespsychiatrist and wrote â€Å"Malasle mentale et personalite† which was a short book on mental illness. He supported structuralist and poststructuralist movements and also protested on behalf of homosexuals. Some of the things he studied and wrote books for was Discipline and Punishment, The History of Sexuality, Madness and Civilization, The Order of Things, The Archaeology, The Birth of The Clinic, The Birth of Biopolitics, Society Must Be Defended, Power/ Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings, SecurityRead MoreWhats the Poop on Ancient Toilets and Toilet Habits? by Jodi Magness1052 Words   |  4 PagesProfessor for Teaching Excellence in Early Judaism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Department of Religious Studies. She has written several books, including The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scro lls; Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit; Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus; and The Archaeology of the Holy Land from the Destruction of Solomon’s Temple to the Muslim Conquest. In addition to graduating from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree

The Body Under the Bed - Urban Legends

Heres an example of the scary urban legend known as The Body Under the Bed as shared by a reader: A man and woman went to Las Vegas for their honeymoon, and checked into a suite at a hotel. When they got to their room they both detected a bad odor. The husband called down to the front desk and asked to speak to the manager. He explained that the room smelled very bad and they would like another suite. The manager apologized and told the man that they were all booked because of a convention. He offered to send them to a restaurant of their choice for lunch compliments of the hotel and said he was going to send a maid up to their room to clean and to try and get rid of the odor. After a nice lunch, the couple went back to their room. When they walked in they could both still smell the same odor. Again the husband called the front desk and told the manager that the room still smelled really bad. The manager told the man that they would try and find a suite at another hotel. He called every hotel on the strip, but every hotel was sold out because of the convention. The manager told the couple that they couldnt find them a room anywhere, but they would try and clean the room again. The couple wanted to see the sights and do a little gambling anyway, so they said they would give them two hours to clean and then they would be back. When the couple had left, the manager and all of housekeeping went to the room to try and find what was making the room smell so bad. They searched the entire room and found nothing, so the maids changed the sheets, changed the towels, took down the curtains and put new ones up, cleaned the carpet and cleaned the suite again using the strongest cleaning products they had. The couple came back two hours later to find the room still had a bad odor. The husband was so angry at this point, he decided to find whatever this smell was himself. So he started tearing the entire suite apart himself. As he pulled the top mattress off the box spring he found a dead body of a woman. Analysis All it takes is one dead body under the mattress to spoil your whole honeymoon. Befitting its Sin City reputation, Las Vegas has been the setting of some horrific urban legends (see The Kidney Snatchers if you dont know what I mean). What sets The Body in the Bed apart from the rest is how frequently incidents resembling the one described above have actually happened in real life — just never, to my knowledge, in Las Vegas! The closest encounter between fact and legend Ive been able to document took place in Atlantic City (another gambling mecca, naturally) in 1999. This account comes from the Bergen Record: The body of Saul Hernandez, 64, of Manhattan was found in Room 112 of the Burgundy Motor Inn after two German tourists slept overnight in the bed despite a rancid smell that prompted them to complain to the front desk.The couple told motel officials about the smell Wednesday night but stayed in the $36-a-night room anyway. On Thursday, they complained again and were given a new room while a motel housekeeper cleaned Room 112. In July 2003, a cleaning crew discovered a dead body stuffed under the mattress in a room at the Capri Motel in Kansas City, Missouri. This report was filed by KMBC-TV News: Police said that the man appeared to have been dead for some time, but the body went unnoticed until a guest staying the room could no longer tolerate the smell. Officers were called to the Capri Motel in the 1400 block of Independence Avenue around noon Sunday after cleaning crews made the grisly discovery.KMBCs Emily Aylward reported that the man who checked into the motel room a few days ago complained to management about the odor two times over the three days. He then checked out on Sunday because he could not tolerate the smell. In March 2010, Memphis police responded to a call from a local motel where employees had noticed a foul odor in one of the rooms. According to ABC Eyewitness News: On March 15th, investigators were called back to room 222 at the Budget Inn, where the body of Sony Millbrook was found under the bed. Police say she was found inside the metal box frame that sits directly on the floor after someone reported smelling a strange odor. The box springs and mattress fit into the top of the bed frame. Room 222, according to investigators, had been rented 5 times and cleaned many times by the hotel staff since the day Millbrook was reported missing.Homicide investigators say Millbrook appears to have been murdered. Theres more than one moral to these stories, to be sure, but the most disturbing of all is that urban legends do sometimes come true.​ Further reading: Isle Mainland Traveler Shared Room with Corpse. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1 August 1996.

How Managerial Accounting Can Help Managers Free Essays

Assignment 2: Creating, Financing, and Marketing a Business Shamika Ward Professor Roderick D. Thomas Introduction to Business December 2, 2012 Identify the pros and cons of the partnership as a form of ownership. Partnership is one of most common forms of business. We will write a custom essay sample on How Managerial Accounting Can Help Managers or any similar topic only for you Order Now There are many advantages to business partnership as well as a few disadvantages. One advantage is that a partnership is easy to establish. This can be established through verbal agreement or through a contact. Another advantage is the ability to pool financial resources. The more capital a company has the faster they are able to grow their business. Partnerships lessen the burden on the individual running the business. Since more than one party is in charge responsibilities can be divided amongst each person. By dividing the task they can use their skills to the best advantage. The pass-through tax treatment is one of the most beneficial advantages of forming a partnership. With the pass-through there is no taxation to the business itself; all income, deductions, and credits, â€Å"pass through† to the individual partners and are reported on their individual tax returns. While the advantages of a partnership seem like the perfect way to start a business there are disadvantages. In a partnership you are not only responsible for the errors and misjudgments that you make but also for your partner’s. Both parties are equally responsible for the debt and obligations of the business. Like any other relationships, partnerships also have disagreements. Disagreements amongst partners can create bad turmoil and prevent the cooperation needed to keep the business focus. Disagreements can also lead to one of the partners wishing to withdraw from the partnership. This can cause insecurity about how long a business will stay operational. Lastly, a partner that extracts from a partnership is still held accountable for any debts or obligations the company had at the time of withdrawal. Discuss funding options for small businesses. The top task for any small business is trying to determine how to successfully fund their business. The most common used source is personal resources. This not only your own money but often is asking friends and family members, and credit cards. When borrowing from friends and family it is important that you disclose that it would be a financial risk they are taking by giving you the money and if your business doesn’t succeed they might not get the money back. While using credit cards might seem like a great option they are also a highly risky financing option. While credit cards provide fast and flexible money they can also cause a huge amount of debt. Interest rates and financing fees can add up fast if the money isn’t paid back quickly to credit card companies. While many people have an assumption that getting a loan from a bank is a fairly easy process they are often discover they were incorrect. Commercial loans are harder to come by due to banks and other lenders being tentative to fund a company that doesn’t have a reputation. Only 20% percent of small business owners launch with commercial loans due to a share of paper work required to fill out the loan and an extensive waiting period. If considering loans, a great source for small business would be the U. S. Small Business Administration also known as SBA. While the SBA doesn’t provide free money to start-up businesses they do somewhat guarantee loans from local commercial lenders. The SBA reduces the risk for the lender or bank, which makes the banks further willing to grant loans to small business owners. Angel investors are another source of funding. Angels are wealthy people that invest in promising start-up companies in order to make money for themselves. Angels are considered one of the oldest capitals for a start-up. Very few companies receive capital from angels but for the right small business the funds from an angel can seal the gap between the money they have gotten from friends and family and the venture capital that a small business is trying to attract. When looking to expand on a larger scale some companies turn to venture capital firms. Venture capital firms fund companies in exchange for of ownership in the company. Only a small fraction of new business receives any venture capital money. Determine and discuss how managerial accounting can help managers with product costing, incremental analysis, and budgeting. How to cite How Managerial Accounting Can Help Managers, Essay examples

The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan Essay Example

The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan Paper In the few moments preceding the landing of the ships at Omaha beach, we see the scene from a subjective Point-of-view high angle shot (POV high) which detaches us from the scene and allows us to see an establishing shot of the action. We also see the scene from a normal subjective POV shot; this includes the audience and allows us to see what is happening as if we are actually there. The only sound we hear is diegetic. The sound of the sea is one that connotes to most people calm and peace; it is cleverly used in this scene to create an instantaneous contrast between this calm and the chaos of battle about to occur. The action, in the first couple of minutes of the film is realistic. We start off with a Close up (CU) of a metal hedgehog (metal cross to stop tanks) and then go straight into seeing the landing boats as if we were a passenger in one ourselves. We can see the soldiers in the other boats crouched down trying to avoid the sea spray and some that are vomiting over the side of their boat; either through fear, or seasickness. The camera flicks to a CU of Captain Millers shaking hands. This has a great effect on the audience, because they realise the fear, and nerves that the soldiers must have been feeling before they went into battle. We zoom out of captain Millers face so that we can see the other soldiers on the boat and their individual reactions. We will write a custom essay sample on The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Opening battle scene in Saving Private Ryan specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer I noticed that there were two main responses to the nerves that the soldiers were feeling and this had a profound effect on me; one soldier was eating some sort of bread (almost as if it was his last meal) this symbolised to me that he expected either not to come home from the battle or that he would be eating something better later on when they celebrated; the second reaction was to pray to god or kiss some kind of lucky charm- this indicates that they felt that they would need divine intervention to win. As the landing craft doors open, all hell breaks loose; most soldiers do not even make it off the boats alive. We see the attackers from the defenders point of view and see the way that all of the English and American soldiers are shot down by the German machine guns. This subjective POV high angle shot, suggests at the superiority of the defenders and their fire power. We go back to seeing the scene from a subjective POV. In desperation to get away from the raining bullets, some soldiers threw themselves off the sides of their boats. The camera follows these men, and due to the absence of non-diegetic sound, the diegetic sound of the explosions and gun-fire becomes muted. This adds a sense of realism to the film, because Spielberg has gone against what we would normally expect in a war film- instead of some dramatic overlaying piece of music there is nothing. This in fact creates more drama to the film because it allows us to fully digest the sounds that you would hear if you went to war. Contributing to the sense of realism, Spielberg took an almost documentary style take on the way the first scene was filmed. By using hand-held cameras Spielberg said that he was able to film the sets much like a newsreel camera man following soldiers into war. By using this method of filming, the shock of war is revealed to the audience. As we see Miller appear out of the sea, the camera slows down, this allows us to take in the carnage that is apparent on the beach front. Part way through the invasion, captain Miller becomes confused, because of shock, and the camera slows down so much that it is like seeing the battle in slow motion, also the colour of the screen is washed out, adding to the drama making the confusion seem an almost dreamlike state, which many other soldiers would have entered as well. The first non-diegetic is introduced and a low whistle replaces all other noise. We see one soldier from Millers subjective POV and the fear that the man is feeling is portrayed through the way that he is cowering behind one of the hedgehogs and crying to himself (in a state of shock. ) We return to a medium close up (MCU) of Millers face and can see the confusion as he watches several of his men die. The non-diegetic whistling rises in pitch and stops all of a sudden as a soldier shouts at him What do we do now sir? This question reveals the uncertainty of the soldiers who were involved at the battle of Omaha beach and once again portrays a feeling of realism. Miller recovers from his confusion and orders his men to move out and clear the beach. With this small show of re-assertion, the audience is brought back to the gruesome reality that is taking place around them. As the soldiers are moving out, Miller sees one fallen on the ground and decides to try and drag him to safety. A shell is fired and kills the man who he was dragging, but also triggers the same washed out confused effect that happened before, this time however it represented shell shock. This is a realistic event that would have happened as many soldiers were temporarily deafened by the loud explosions, to add to the realism, the camera lens is sprayed by blood and mud by the explosion just like a normal soldiers eyes would be. Miller quickly stands up and makes a break to the sea wall, some people would see this as an act of desperation, because the men who have already tried to do that, have ended up being shot down but by some miracle Miller makes it. He starts to relay to the rest of his time several orders. The camera view switches between the attackers subjective POV shot and the defenders subjective POV high angle shot. This allows us to see the battle from both points of view. Seeing the carnage from the attackers point of view allows us to feel the panic and fear that the soldiers would have done, and seeing the battle from the defenders point of view, we get a sense of the ease of which the Germans massacred the English, this adds to the shocking nature of the film. Miller and his team proceed to move along the beach until they are stopped once again by enemy fire. Taking refuge behind a wall, we see (through the use of a Long Shot- LS) that on the crest of a hill there are two Germans with machine guns firing down at them. The LS shows us just how easy it was for the Germans to pick off the opposing side; they could fire from nearly fifty feet away and yet still cause devastation. Once again the shock that an attacking party would have had is portrayed through the conventional action. The use of conventional action, is seen in so many films that it becomes a natural thing yet is still effective now as it was when it was first used. For example in this particular film convention is used throughout the first seen Guns always kill outright, Screaming means you are in pain or scared, and running means that you are panicked or desperate. Each of these is used in the film to create a sense of realism. The battle is turned when a young Sniper marksman is sent into an impact crater where he has a clear shot at the two German Machine gun operators. We see a CU of the Snipers face and then immediately go to a LS of his victim. This camera workmanship, allows us to fully appreciate the skill it took to pull off such a shot. This is adding a new dimension to the film: Awe. Saving Private Ryan shows us the grime, the noise, the pain and the shock of war, leaving us with a sense of awe for those who fought to keep our country safe in both the First and the second world wars. The diegetic sound of the sniper rifle firing adds to the realism because it connotes finalism and a cleanliness to death. As the battle ends, the camera flicks to a CU of Captain Millers shaking hands. This is a repeated frame from before only this time the meaning is completely different. The shaking signifies relief that the battle is over, and also the horror of what was sacrificed to do it. The camera zooms into an Extreme Close Up (ECU) of captain Millers eye and then to all the dead bodies left behind on Omaha Beach. This is covered by both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The diegetic sound is that of the waves, which connote peace and calm (the lull after battle) and the mournful cries of seagulls. The non-diegetic sound is an emotional, moving strings instrumental piece, this can connote the regret, pain and sadness that the soldiers would have felt for their fallen comrades. The saying the sea ran red, is literally brought to life and makes a final impact of shock on the audience. In conclusion, the opening battle sequence of Saving Private Ryan was made both shocking and realistic through the iconic images displayed throughout the scene and the acts of selflessness that are portrayed through the characters actions. The first scene had an impact on me personally. This was: I strongly feel for the soldiers and their fallen comrades, because this film has shown me what they had to go through to protect my future. The jerky camera movement created a sense of realism and made me feel as if I were with the soldiers at the battle of Omaha Beach. I also feel that the absence of non-diegetic sound aloud me to take in the sounds that make up a fighting soldiers world.

UK Property Investment The WritePass Journal

UK Property Investment Executive Summary UK Property Investment , than they were in previous years. Furthermore, although there is still economic stagnation, certain industry sectors such as the services sector are now experiencing growth. The construction sector, however, is still seeing output falling and this may go some way to explaining the reason why the property industry is somewhat holding its own, showing stagnation, but not decline (Chegut, et al 2011). The commercial property industry operates in a slightly different way from the residential property investment industry. Therefore, for the purpose of this analysis, the overall property industry is looked at, with differentiations drawn between the commercial and residential property investment being made where appropriate (Pyhrr, et al 1999) Property investors, essentially, will make their money from either purchasing properties, renovating them in some way and then selling them on for a profit, or from purchasing an investment property and renting it to another on a weekly, monthly or annual return. More properties are finding themselves within the rental market and this is particularly common when it comes to commercial property, where a business may find it more advisable to rent a property so they will not have the initial capital outlay, or the risks associated with purchasing property, particularly the new start-up businesses. Businesses, in general, particularly those on the high street or smaller businesses looking to expand are nervous in the current economic climate and will therefore look towards mitigating their risks by renting property that they can release in the event that funds are not forthcoming. Approximately one half of foreclosure properties are rented, as opposed to one third of all residential pro perty, and when individuals find it hard to purchase property, the rental industry naturally booms. Trends have suggested that certain areas of prime property locations remain very much in demand, despite the economic conditions. For example, property in central London remains popular and buoyant for both residential and commercial purposes (Sing 2004). It is suggested that, overall, while the property market and, in particular, property prices have been relatively stagnant, over the years, there are still positive trends available for investors, with certain regions such as house prices in central London experiencing value growth, and rental income of commercial premises in popular areas also seeing periods of growth as organisations look towards reducing their costs by renting properties, rather than purchasing. Analysis of Industry By undertaking the PEST analysis looking at political, economic, social and technological issues in order to gain a greater understanding can be had of the ways in which the industry is operating. The PEST overview is contained in the appendix and is discussed here, in more detail, and an overview analysis is also provided. It can be seen that, despite the recent economic difficulty that has emerged, with many individuals being forced to sell property due to their inability to meet with mortgage demands, this has actually provided an opportunity for property investors (Lizieri, 2009). Many properties come to the market at below market prices and therefore make perfect targets for the investors. This also creates a broad range of individuals looking to rent properties, as they are unable to purchase. The more stringent lending conditions have therefore provided the property investment market with a growing target group of potential investors who are likely to be able to make the most of the trends in the property market, to ensure that their own investment business is buoyant (RICS. 1993). Opportunities for Graduates Drawing on the above analysis, it can be seen that there are multiple opportunities available to graduates looking to enter into property investment or, indeed, any other individual who may potentially be considering it as a real career option. Firstly, there are the opportunities available within the commercial property investment market, and in particular, looking toward facilitating the demand for the new small businesses which are emerging with government support and grants. As individuals become more likely to set up small businesses following unemployment, facilitating this by offering shared office space provides a good opportunity for new individuals entering the market. Secondly, there are opportunities within the residential property investment market, in terms of making the most of foreclosure properties by purchasing them at a low price and then selling them on, or renting them within the market (Harvey et al 2004). The real opportunities that exist for new graduates are in identifying where the growth areas are going to be both geographically and in terms of the types of properties, and then being able to claim the properties at below market prices. In order to achieve this, the individual will need to be astute and may be able to draw together a large amount of property data, in a relatively short space of time. Gap Analysis The key skills which will be vital for success within the property investment market include the ability to group together economically and to ascertain the likely ways in which prices are going to change, in this area, both geographically and in terms of the property types. This involves the ability to undertake strong economic analysis, including the use of simulation models, which will be a key skill that will enable young graduates to gain a competitive advantage, when entering the industry. Graduates also need to be able to analyse the surrounding sectors, as demand for commercial property, in particular, will reflect how other industries, are performing (Leone and Leger 2008). For example, if the retail industry is weak, then the demand for retail premises is also likely to reflect this. Using economic tools will enable a graduate, to identify potential growth areas and to ensure that they have property available, ahead of the competition. Conclusions The property investment market has generally been showing stagnation, in recent years; yet, the trends also indicate that certain areas of the property investment market are showing opportunities, with some of the negative factors driving the property market downwards, allowing property investors to benefit, such as by purchasing properties that are being sold by mortgage companies, following the failure to meet with lending requirements. Bearing this in mind, individuals looking to enter the property investment market need to have a particularly astute ability to analyse economic conditions; they will also need to understand the driving trends, rather than necessarily being merely knowledgeable in the area of property, in terms of bricks and mortar. References Acclimatise (2009) ‘Managing the unavoidable: Understanding the investment implications of adapting to climate change – UK commercial property’, Oxford: Acclimatise. Available at: www.acclimatise.uk.com/resources/reports British Property Federation (2011). IPD Annual Lease Review 2011 Chegut, A., Eichholtz, P., Kok, N. (2011). Supply, Demand, and the Value of Green Buildings. Working Paper, Maastricht Universiy, December 2011. Harvey A, Koopman S J and Shephard N (2004) State space and unobserved components models: theory and applications, Cambridge: Cambridge U P. Leone V and Leger L (2008) ‘Generating innovations in economic variables’, Applied Financial Economics Letters, 1-7. Lizieri, C. (2009) Towers of Capital: Office Markets and International Financial Services. 1st.ed.,Wiley-Blackwell, UK, pp. 344. Pyhrr, S.A., Roulac, S.E. and Born, W.L. (1999) Real Estate Cycles and Their Strategic Implications for Investors and Portfolio Managers in the Global Economy. Journal of Real Estate Research, Vol.18, No.1, pp.7–62. RICS (1993) Understanding the Property Cycle. Working Paper Two: A Literature Review. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, London, pp.47. Simpson M W, Ramchander S and Webb J R (2008) ‘The asymmetric response of equity REIT returns to inflation’, Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics,34, 513-529. Sing T F (2004) ‘Common risk factors and risk premia in direct and securitized real estate markets’, Journal of Property Research, 21, 189-207. Appendix Political The government and political situation is definitely looking towards stimulating growth within the property market and, as such, is considering ways of making it easier for developers to establish new property, both residential and commercial. In particular, there is evidence of political movements towards ensuring that the lower end of the market is revitalised to encourage first-time buyers. This will have an impact on property investors focusing on rental opportunities, as the easier it becomes to purchase, the less likely they will be to obtain rental income. There are also political efforts being made to encourage new businesses and this can be seen to be a positive option for commercial property investors, as new businesses will be more inclined to rent property and this will be more cost-effective, initially, and will allow the opportunity to grow rapidly, if they so choose. Economic The economic availability of mortgages and the reduction in the ability of individuals to borrow money, in order to purchase property, either residential or commercial will have a direct bearing on the property investment market. Property investors will have a much more willing customer base, as they have been unable to obtain sufficient finance to purchase their own property and are therefore looking towards rental property as an alternative. The more difficult economic times have resulted in many residential and commercial owners losing their premises, as a result of their inability to pay their mortgages and this also offers the opportunity for property investors who have sufficient cash reserves to purchase property at below market prices (Acclimatise 2009). Social Social changes and, more specifically, changes within the employment market also tend to encourage individuals to go into businesses and become self-employed, which ultimately provides an opportunity for the commercial property investors who are able to purchase premises that may be suitable for the new small start businesses. There is also a changing demographic trend for more single-parent families that are smaller and the increase in independent living within the older generation, thus placing a greater demand on rental premises that are smaller and will reflect the changing demographic (RICS 1993). Technological Technological drivers provide both opportunities and progress within the property investment market. Whilst this allows property investors to have a much greater access to potential customers, it also means that their customers have much greater access to the competition. Therefore, there is a need for organisations offering property investment services, such as rental property, to utilise technology in order to capture the broadest possible audience. Technology has also shifted the way which organisations are operating this has resulted in many cases of individuals working from home, or working from shared spaces, thus reducing the demand for traditional commercial premises (Simpson et al 2008).

Scare Quotes and Sneer Words

Scare Quotes and Sneer Words Scare Quotes and Sneer Words Scare Quotes and Sneer Words By Mark Nichol When a writer wishes to call attention to a dubious or specious claim or to a person of questionable honesty, two forms of shorthand are available: scare quotes and sneer words. Scare quotes are quotation marks framing a word or phrase to call attention to it and point out that the writer does not accept the word or phrase as valid or that the writer is casting aspersions. For example, one might write, â€Å"Several ‘experts’ were unable to provide a convincing explanation.† (This sentence mocks the supposed experts for their failure to demonstrate their expertise.) Another use of scare quotes is to point out someone’s disingenuous behavior, as in â€Å"She conveniently ‘forgot’ to send an invitation to her sister-in-law.† (These quotation marks indicate that the forgetfulness was feigned.) An alternate method, one that is necessary in speaking to make one’s point, is to use â€Å"quote-unquote.† In writing, of course, this is redundant to the actual use of scare quotes, but it’s used occasionally in an attempt to be droll, as in â€Å"I walked in to find him quote-unquote indisposed† to refer to someone who is clearly inebriated. The second technique, the name of which seems to have been coined by the late language maven William Safire, is to precede a word or phrase with an adjective that indicates the writer’s disdain. One of those sneer words, supposed, appears above to describe an unimpressive demonstrate of expertise. A synonym is purported, meaning â€Å"claimed†; would-be, when it modifies a title or description of a person, suggests that that person is merely an aspirant to that achievement, as in â€Å"We were unimpressed by the performance of the would-be pop star.† Terms with the same connotation include self-anointed, self-appointed, self-proclaimed, and self-styled. Various other combinations can provide judgmental commentary. For example, to say that somebody is hand-picked can neutrally indicate that the person has been chosen as another person’s successor, assistant, or confidant, but with carefully crafted context, it can also suggest that the hand-picked person is not necessarily qualified or suitable for the job. Once-powerful, meanwhile, suggests that someone has fallen in status; again, context can make clear that the term is deprecatory. Writers should take care when using scare quotes and sneer words; they are at best merely informative, possibly humorous, and at worst malicious. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Incorrect Pronunciations That You Should AvoidHow to Pronounce MobileShore It Up

Global language Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Global language - Essay Example Moreover, to further business competencies, other nationalities who are able to provide other necessary skills are needed to be employed also. As a result, different races are required to work together. However, because of language barriers, problem may arise when the employees who are from diverse cultures are not able to understand each other. Therefore, a certain level of accuracy in speaking the English language is required by modern employments from applicants. As a result, the problem on miscommunication is lessened by this requirement. As a major role player in the current global business, Koreans, Japanese and Chinese students are enrolling in American schools for them to improve their communication skills and increase their possibility for employment. Most of the students encounter difficulties when they go to American universities. Compared to them, foreign students who arrive in the country at a younger age are able to be more resilient. This is the reason why a lot of students think that they should have come to the United States earlier than they had. Some also think that they could have been more equipped if they used English more often when they were studying in their own country. In addition, they say that they would have done everything they could if only they knew that they will be having such difficulty speaking in English in a foreign land. Consequently, many students made up their minds concerning their learning. Studying may be difficult for them but they do it anyway because they now understand its value. Reading a lot of English books and other materials is another means students employ to meet their needs. Watching English movies is another. However, most students prefer watching the news because they are sure to be able to follow correct grammar and word usage compared to watching movies. In addition, making friends with native

McDonald's Corp as a Best Corporate Citizen of 2010 Research Paper

McDonald's Corp as a Best Corporate Citizen of 2010 - Research Paper Example The idea is to ascertain the strategies of the company that allowed it to earn this status and to write about its socially responsible business activities. The paper will outline how McDonald’s activities improved its sustainability in contributing towards making the world a better place. A discussion will be made of the company’s specific business values that motivate its activities relative to accountability, transparency, and employee engagement for improving sustainability.  The paper will also focus on what further innovations the company might make to continue to improve sustainability. McDonald’s Corporate Social Responsibility For the last several years, McDonald’s Corporation has been setting examples of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which primarily includes the creation of a sustainable supply chain system and engagement in community based developmental projects. CSR basically relates to a company’s behavior whereby it behaves i n a social and responsible manner and deals with other businesses that adopt the same policies. With the increase of public awareness, recent years have seen increasing demand for socially responsible businesses, which is why contemporary companies give importance to CSR while making plans for socially responsible business processes. It cannot be doubted that McDonald’s Corporation has excelled in the implementation CSR practices in most of its functions across its offices throughout the world (McDonald's, 2011). In being the world’s biggest chain of fast food restaurants, McDonald’s considers that CSR is about taking concrete action, accomplishing results and sustaining openness in communicating with consumers and other major stake holders. The company closely collaborates with its suppliers in promoting socially responsible systems within the supply chain in keeping with its supply chain policy and complying with its larger strategy based Framework for Corpora te Social Responsibility. McDonald’s has clearly stated on its CSR website that it abides by its code of conduct prescribed for suppliers, which explains how the company requires its suppliers to deal with their workers. In keeping with its supply chain strategy, McDonald’s will carry forward its policy of social accountability across all its supply chains. It has already been successful in improving conditions of farm workers in several locations who in turn promote positive environmental systems in land based agriculture supply chains, thus creating sustainability in agricultural activities. For instance, by inroducing industry leading growing standards for tomato farmers in Florida, McDonald’s made improvements in the working environment of tomato growing establishments and transformed them into sustainable businesses. Community Involvement through Community Based Projects One of the approaches to engage in CSR is by adopting community based developmental pro jects. Community driven and community based developmental projects are considered important forms of providing development support by international socially responsible organizations. Economic relationships in this regard mean the adoption of strategies involving the larger community in the main business activities of the organization. This allows communities to become effectively involved in corporate supply chain stra

Abortion and Human Rights | An Analysis

Abortion and Human Rights | An Analysis What is Abortion? The word ‘abortion’ comes from the Latin word ‘aboriri’ meaning ‘to fail to be born’. Abortion can be defined as the premature expulsion of a foetus from a womb (termination of pregnancy). In matters of ethics abortion usually refers to the intentional destruction of a foetus in the womb. Why do women have abortions? Find out that the foetus is disabled or deformed. Mother is underage and would not be able to look after the baby. The foetus is carrying a hereditary (genetic) illness. Mother got pregnant by mistake and it is used as a form of contraception. The mother will die if she continues her pregnancy. The mother is underage (16) and faces physical harm if she goes full term (as not developed well enough). The mother has been raped and become pregnant. It is used to cover up an affair. In some cultures, where sons have a higher economic value women can sometimes decide to abort if the foetus/embryo is female. Women in the workplace and career minded. The Legal Position of abortion in the UK In the UK abortion became illegal in the nineteenth century when the penalty for having an abortion was life imprisonment. Women trying to escape the unwanted pregnancy were forced to use unreliable and dangerous methods, including poisonous drugs, knitting needles, blows to the abdomen etc. If a woman had money, she was discreetly taken to a clinic for an illegal abortion. For those without money the only option was ‘back street’ clinics where untrained people performed the operation. Knitting needles were routinely used for this ‘operation’, but there was rarely pain relief. Poor hygiene and (sometimes) banned drugs were another feature of back street abortions. Many women haemorrhaged (very heavy bleeding-often life threatening) and some bled to death rather than go to hospital where their symptoms would be recognised. Many people were appalled by the number of women suffering and dying as a result of illegal (‘back street’) abortions. Due to pressure from the public, an abortion Reform Bill was introduced. This became LAW in 1967 and took effect in 1968. The Abortion Act of 1967 (Revised 1990) stated that: Abortion is legal if two doctors independently agree that one or more of four reasons for it exist: The mother’s life is at risk if the pregnancy continues. The mother’s mental or physical well-being is at risk. Scans or tests show the foetus is badly or physically disabled, or has a deformity, meaning it is unlikely to live at birth. There is risk of harm to existing children. The main time limit was lowered from 28 weeks, to 24 weeks in 1990 (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act). However, the law allows an abortion at any stage of the pregnancy if the doctors agree that continuing the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the mother or if there is a substantial risk if the child were born that it would be seriously handicapped. The biological father has no rights and cannot, in law, stop an abortion. (In 1987 an Oxford University Student lost his attempt in the courts to prevent his girlfriend aborting the child they had conceived). Most abortions in Britain are performed under the part of the Abortion Act which allows abortion if the pregnancy involves a risk to the physical or mental health of the mother. Many doctors involved in abortion argue that if a woman is determined not to have a child, to refuse her an abortion poses a possible threat to her mental health. It was the rape by British soldiers of a young girl in 1938, which justified Dr Aleck Bourne carrying out an illegal abortion in order to safeguard her mental health. At trial he was acquitted. The precedent established grounds for abortion as an exception and eventually became the basis on the 1967 Abortion Act. How are abortions performed? Vacuum Aspiration: (Suction abortion) Under general anaesthetic neck of womb (cervix) is dilated (opened) by probes. Suction then used to remove contents of uterus. Larger pieces of foetal tissue (usually the head) are crushed and pulled out with forceps. Dilation and Curettage (D C): Scraping instrument (curette) is used and contents of the womb are scraped out. Dilation and Evacuation (D E): Instead of a curette, small forceps are used to crush the contents and pull it out in bits. Prostaglandin’s (induced premature labour): This type of abortion is used in very late abortions and is rare in the UK. Hormones called prostaglandins are injected to bring on labour, which may last for 8 to 22 hours. A poison may be added to the womb to kill the foetus before delivery. RU486 pill will induce an abortion if taken in the first ten weeks of pregnancy. Why is abortion so controversial? Abortion is now commonplace and in many countries tens of millions of abortions take place every year. Although abortion is legal, its morality is still disputed. Religious organisations, such as the RC Church campaign against the availability whilst many women’s right groups campaign for greater access. The key ethical dimension in the abortion debate is whether there should be an absolutist prohibition of abortion on the basis of divine law, natural law or human rights or whether there are situations in which it should be made available. There are two central issues in relation to abortion: Whether the foetus is a person or potential person Whether the foetus has rights, and, if so, how these are to balanced against the rights of the mother. 1. When do humans become persons and become part of the moral community? The status of human life between conception and birth is central to the abortion debate. Whilst some form of life is clearly present at conception, whether that form of life should get the full protection of the law as a ‘person’ is disputed. Not all-human tissue is a person as not all living cells are persons. Living cells such as cancer cells for example are not persons. If things like bacteria or plants are considered for example, very few people would argue that they should be protected simply because they are alive. In terms of abortion, if the foetus/embryo is to be classified as a ‘person’, then abortion may be considered as the equivalent to a form of murder. Opponents of abortion argue that to kill a foetus is to murder a human person. Pope Pius IX in 1869 declared that a foetus is a human person from conception and therefore abortion is murder. This claim is supported by the fact that all necessary genetic material is present at conception and the foetus continues development from conception until born as a human being. Critics of this position argue that a fertilised egg is not a person. In ‘A defence of abortion’ (1971) Judith Jarvis Thompson accepts that there’s a continuous development but suggests that there is a point at which it is not a human being. Let’s consider when the foetus could be classed as ‘human’: Conception: In effect this is the point in which life begins and this is the argument given by opponents of abortion who say that this is the point at which a pre-embryo should be considered as a person. Others disagree with this, as the chromosomes do not develop until the third day and half of all fertilised eggs do not attach themselves to the wall of the womb, therefore cannot become babies. Physical sign: Some say that the foetus should be considered human when there is a physical sign, but what? From the 22nd day the heart beats and by day 42 the foetus is recognisably a human baby. Some argue that the foetus is human when the brain has developed activity, implying that the brain has some form of consciousness, which is crucial for making human beings what they are. Others argue that when the foetus has developed organs it should be considered human, but what organs and at what stage of development? Consciousness may be suggested as a definition of personhood as it cannot be applied to all living tissues, as it applies to sensory experiences and the ability to feel pleasure and pain etc. The only problem with this is that consciousness would include many animals and most people would argue that an animal is not a person in the same sense as humans are. The presence of rationality and our ability to develop complex language are distinctive features of ‘personhood’. Perhaps self-consciousness or self-awareness defines personhood? This includes a sense of our past and our future. However, very young babies are not self-aware in this sense, and most would argue that killing babies is killing human persons. Viability: some say that a foetus should be considered a person when ‘viable’ (can survive independently of mother). Currently a foetus is seen as ‘viable’ at 24/25 weeks. There are two objections to this: Many people have tried to ‘draw a line’ at a particular point in which a foetus is to considered viable and say that before this point a foetus is a bundle of tissue. The problem with this is that there is no easy way of drawing that line. The age at which the foetus can survive outside the womb is constantly reducing as medical technology progresses, therefore what is viable now may not be in five years. It is now possible to keep a 21-week foetus alive in an incubator and with intensive care, yet abortion is allowed at up to 24 weeks. One could say that until the main organs are formed the foetus is not a person, but which organs are essential and at what stage of the development of the organs? Many people are dependent upon medical technology to stay alive, such as dialysis. We do not consider these people not to be ‘viable’; we consider them to be persons, despite their medical conditions. Shouldn’t the same be applied to the foetus? Ensoulment: ‘Ensoulment’ means having a soul attached to something. This is a very different suggestion as to when the foetus/embryo becomes human and is based mainly on religious ideas. It is argued that the most important aspect of being human is having a soul; therefore a foetus/embryo becomes human at the point when the soul is attached. Augustine maintained that a soul was implanted at 46 days, although he condemned abortion at any stage. Aquinas maintained that the souls of girls were implanted at 90 days and boys at 40 days. In the 17th Century however, the RC Church stated that ensoulment took place at conception, therefore the fertilised egg is a human person. Birth: Before the foetus is born it is part of the mother’s body and after this it has certain independence and does not have to rely on its natural mother. Mary Anne Warren in 1991 argued that birth marks the point of true moral status. (Singers, ‘A companion to Ethics’) she sates ‘birth, rather than some earlier point, marks the beginning of true moral status’. She argues that if a foetus is to be considered a person then so should sperm. Does this mean that we need to protect the rights of sperm? She states that birth provided a clear boundary. Legislation in many countries allows abortion in exceptional circumstances up to birth but regards the deliberate killing of the baby after birth as murder. Warren’s argument is vulnerable as a foetus of 34 weeks is quite clearly viable and if aborted is likely to live outside the womb and may actually have to be left to die. Is a foetus that is capable of surviving outside the womb entitled to moral rights? The potential to become a person: It could be argued that the foetus is a potential person, as has the capability of becoming human and thus should be treated as one because of this. Many philosophers would argue against this. Potentiality does not necessarily imply that full legal status should be awarded on the basis of what it has the potential to be. A potential victory is not the same as an actual victory, having the potential to pass exams is not the same as actually passing them and a potential person is not equal to an actual person. The definition of personhood remains unresolved, as it is an agreement over the point of which a potential human being becomes a full human being. I could not find any recent statistics relating to the number of abortions at different stages in the UK and on what grounds. However, the following tables refer to abortions in England and Wales (1996) and are taken from Wilcockson’s ‘Issues of Life and Death’. Wilcockson’s source for this was ‘Office for National Monitor AB 97/4 (July 1997)’ Table 1: Abortions in England and Wales, 1996 Weeks of pregnancy Number of abortions Under 9 weeks 69,926 9-12 weeks 85,083 13-16 weeks 14,779 17-20 weeks 5,266 21-24 weeks 2,078 24 weeks and over 92 Unknown 1 Total 177,225 The above table indicates that most abortions in England and Wales take place within the first 9-12 weeks of pregnancy. Table 2: Number of abortions in England and Wales for each of the statutory grounds, 1996. A: Risk to mother’s life 138 B: To prevent grave permanent injury to mother 2,471 C: Risk to mother’s physical or mental health 171, 175 D: Risk to existing (born) children’s health 12,227 E: Substantial risk of serious disability of child 1,943 F: In emergency – to save mother’s life 3 G: In emergency – to prevent grave permanent injury to mother 0 Total (Doctors sometimes cite more than one category for reasons for abortion) 177,225 The above table indicates that most abortions are carried out under the ‘physical or mental’ health part of the act. The argument over when ‘life’ begins is ongoing and probably will be for a long time. Medical advances have made abortion easier and can also save the life of the unborn earlier. The debate is likely to continue and be hotly debate. The question you should perhaps ask yourself is when do you think life begins? When do you think a foetus/embryo can be considered a ‘person’ and therefore have rights? The table below may help you answer this question, although it must be stressed that this is only a short summary. At conception: Embryo starts growing from day one. This is when fertilization happens. The fertilized egg does not attach itself to the wall of the womb until day twelve (50% of fertilized eggs will not attach). At 1 Month (0.5 cm): Heart pumping since 18th day. The beginnings of eyes, spinal cord and nerves, lungs, stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys. At 2 Months (2.5-3.5 cm): Arms and legs become distinct and tiny fingers and toes appear. All internal organs of an adult, at various stages of development, are present. The first bone cells begin to be formed. Brain waves can be detected from about the sixth week. At 3 Months (6-8 cm): Development continues. The mother may feel the foetus kicking as it flexes its muscles. The heartbeat can be detected. The foetus now looks clearly like a human baby. At 4 Months (12-18 cm): The head has distinct human features and may have hair. The skin is pink, and the bones are closing to form joints. At 5 Months(25-30 cm): Developing rapidly and very active. At 6 Months (28-34cm): Eyes may now open. All systems are formed and are just growing in size. At 7-9 Months (36-56cm): Grows in size and fat is deposited to help survival at birth. Does the foetus have rights, and, if so, how are these balanced against the rights of the mother. If the foetus/embryo is seen as human at a certain stage it then has rights. If the foetus or embryo is regarded as a person, how then does one balance its rights against the right of the mother? A philosophy professor from Kansas, Don Marquis argued that killing in general is wrong because it deprives an individual of a future, which contains value. Most abortions, therefore, are immoral since they deprive the foetus of a future containing value. The foetus then has the right to life. Marquis argues that since it is wrong to kill rational and morally significant persons in principle it would be permissible to kill infants. Do we then allow abortion and the murder of infants because they are not rational? The feminist position began from the perspective of women’s rights. Mary Anne Warren put forward the case for granting women the ‘right’ to have an abortion arguing that the absence in the past of safe legal abortion led to undesirable consequences. (‘Back street’ abortion). Warren goes on to say that abortion must be permissible to guarantee a woman’s human rights. The World Health Organisation (WHO) backs this statement up with their statistics showing that 200 000 women are killed every year by unsafe abortions. To be forced to bear a child brings with it the hardships of possibly giving up work, therefore income, education, freedom etc. Prohibitation of abortion infringes these rights. Warren does say that killing is wrong, but to deny an abortion would deny a woman’s rights. Beverley Harrison in an article ‘Our right to choose’ argues forcefully for the rights of the mother. She maintains that since the woman carries the embryo/foetus and has to go through the pain of childbirth and has to care for and support the child then it is the woman’s decision, which should be paramount. Harrison stated that: ‘The well-being of the woman and the value of her life plan should always be recognised as of intrinsic value’ (Page 152, ‘The Puzzle of Ethics’ Vardy Grosch) A philosophy professor Judith Jarvis Thomson argued that even if we grant that foetuses have a fundamental right to life, in many cases the rights of the mother override the rights of the foetus. Accordingly abortions should be allowed in rape, life-threatening pregnancies and contraception failure. If a foetus was given equal rights then court cases would result and a mother could be forced to have an unwanted child. A court could even force a woman to go through a dangerous childbirth as her life would be considered to be of no more valuable than that of the foetus. What about Christianity? The Bible: There is not one clear message about abortion found in the Bible. In Exodus 20: 18 it is stated ‘Do not kill’ which is a quotation used by many Christians in opposition of abortion. This passage may be seen as only applying to a ‘person’ and the issue of when the embryo/foetus becomes a person crops up again. In response to this a Christian may argue that the Bible teaches that a foetus/embryo is human as it is stated ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you’ (Jeremiah 1:5) and ‘You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother’s womb†¦.. When I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there, you saw me before I was born’. (Psalm 139:13 15). This does seem to imply that someone is human before birth. We are told in Exodus 21:22-25 that if a person injures a pregnant woman, causing miscarriage, compensation must be paid. This suggests that the life of the ‘unborn’ has both significance and value. However at the same time in Exodus 21:22-25 we are also told that if the mother dies then a ‘life for life’ policy applies. This suggests that the unborn does not have the same significance and value as the mother. The birth and role of Jesus is said to have been foretold, therefore his life was mapped out before birth. In opposition to this however are passages which suggest that the foetus need not be considered human ‘a stillborn child comes without meaning, it departs in darkness’ (Ecclesiastes 6:3-4). This COULD be taken to imply that a foetus/embryo lacks humanity and we are also told that a man does not become a human being until he receives ‘breath of life’ (Genesis 2:7) Christian Tradition: Generally most churches are in favour of preserving human life but there are many different teachings on the status of the foetus. Many Christians accept abortion in order to save the life of the mother, or in the case of a severe deformity, but others argue that a person born with a deformity can still give and receive love as a human being and that the detection of such defects should not be grounds for an abortion. The RC Church maintains that it is intrinsically evil and totally condemns it. Abortion goes against Natural Law, as it is not fulfilling the purpose of life ‘to live, to reproduce’ and also goes against the word of God. (See also Ensoulment). Pope Pius IX in 1869 decreed that anyone performing or allowing an abortion was wrong. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) states that, ‘Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence a human being must be recognised as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.’ (Issues of life and death, Michael Wilcockson, page 36) The Roman Catholic Church, and indeed most Christians would argue that since man was created in God’s image and likeness, so then is the foetus/embryo. God alone is lord of life and death and humans do not have the right to take away life. The ‘sanctity of life’ argument may be given here. This is to say that life is sacred and that human life is valuable in itself. The term ‘sanctity of life’ means ‘a life set aside’ and Christians would say that God creates each life specially and uniquely. Human life is therefore intrinsically (i.e. in itself) worthwhile and we have a duty to preserve this life. There is of course in Natural Law and the Christian position the principle of double effect. Double effect is a theory used to justify the termination of a foetus/embryo if the intention of doctors is to save the life of a mother. (E.g. hysterectomy) In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilised egg attaches itself to the fallopian tube the double effect justifies the removal of the fallopian tube as if it is not removed the mother will die. In this case if the pregnancy continues the mother and foetus will die and the double effect theory justifies the removal of the fallopian tube, because the intention is to save the mothers life even though the effect of doing so leads to the death of the foetus/embryo. Even pro-life groups, such as SPUC would allow for DDE. What do ethical theories say on this matter? Virtue Ethics: Would abortion be allowed in virtue theory? Virtue Ethics concentrates on what a person is, rather than does. The aim of virtue ethics is a good life of well being (eudaimonia) It is an ethic of aspiration to be a better person and looks to those who have set a good example. Aristotle classifies the virtues and we must try to find the ‘Golden Mean’. Would abortion be classified as an ‘extreme’ of behaviour? Well as you will remember Robert Louden argued that virtue ethics is of little practical use to someone faced with a moral dilemma as virtue ethics fails to address dilemmas, which arise in applied ethics, such as abortion. He gave the example of a woman who discovers that her baby will be born with severe disabilities. He asks how are we to know what a good person would do? How are we to choose between compassion and bravery? Having an abortion could be classed as ‘cowardice’, ‘rashness’ etc. and one could say that Mother Teresa as a Christian would not have an abortion, but what about in certain circumstances? What if virtues clash? Since Virtue Ethics focuses on the person, rather than actions or consequences of actions can we really say whether an abortion would be acceptable? For Aristotle you cannot explain ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ simply in terms of rules, but rather you can show how a virtuous person can be trusted and do the right thing in a variety of situations, each of which may be unique and cannot therefore be covered by a way of a rule. Relativist/teleological ethical theories and abortion: a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Situationism (Notes from page 53, ‘Issues of Life and death’ (Wilcockson) Since the 1960s many Christian theologians have argued that Jesus’ teaching was based on giving people their own freedom to act responsibly based on the principle of generous love or ‘agape’. Joseph Fletchers influential book ‘Situation Ethics’ (1966) coined this term and set out a Christian calculus, which decides each case on its own merits. This theory is absolutist in the agape part but this is the only absolute rule. Fletcher claimed that in any given situation the ‘right’ thing to do was that which love required. Whilst this provides an alternative Christian ethic which is consistent with the Gospel representation of Jesus traditional Christian thinkers have rejected it. (E.g. Pope Pius XII-see Relativism booklet for more information). Fletcher outlined a case in 1962 where an inmate of a mental hospital raped an unmarried, schizophrenic girl. Her father’s request for an abortion was denied because the only moral and legal grounds for abortion would have been if her life were at grave risk. Fletcher finds it shocking that this kind of rigid legalism could deny compassionate treatment. The situationist answer cannot really be predicted because each case is unique but in the above case Fletcher argued that her mental health is paramount and furthermore ‘no unwanted and unintended baby should ever be born’. Fletcher however, is far from clear about why and to what extent the embryo or foetus should be included in the calculus: (Taken from p.53, ‘Issues of life and death’ (Wilcockson) They (situationists) would in all likelihood favor abortion for the sake of the patient’s physical and mental health, not only if it were needed to save her life. It is even likely they would favor abortion for the sake of the victim’s self respect or reputation or happiness or simply on the ground that no unwanted and unintended baby should ever be born. They would, one hopes, reason that it is not killing because there is no person or human life in an embryo at an early stage of pregnancy (Aristotle and St Thomas Aquinas held that opinion-see Ensoulment), or even if it were killing, it would not be murder because it is self-defense against, in this case, not one but two aggressors. First there is the rapist, who being insane was morally and legally innocent, and then there is the ‘innocent’ embryo, which is continuing the ravisher’s original aggression! Even self-defense legalism would have allowed the girl to kill her attacker, no matter that he was innocent in the forum of conscience because of his madness. The embryo is not more innocent, no less an aggressor or unwelcome invader! Is not the most loving thing possible (the right thing) in this case a responsible decision to terminate the pregnancy? (Situation Ethics (1996) p.39) Many people use the situation ethics principle to judge whether or not someone should have an abortion. Because situations differ in so many respects, then so should our response. Situation Ethics as put forward by Fletcher encouraged people to use the ‘agape’ principle – what would be the most ‘loving’ thing to do in the circumstances? For this theory the question of whether abortion is morally acceptable cannot be answered, as it would depend upon each situation and specific circumstances of a particular mother. This system allows for flexibility but the problem is, how can we be certain that our response will, in the long run, turn out to be the most loving? (Many people who have abortions regret their decision in later life.) Also if there are two ‘people’ involved, whose interest’s conflict, how should we decide whom to ‘love’? If an end result serves ‘agape’ best then it is right. b) Utilitarianism: A short summary: This theory can be summed up by the phrase, ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’. At a first glance it may seem that abortion is straightforward for a utilitarian. If the mother’s happiness would be greater is she had an abortion, then abortion would be the right course of action. However, it is more complicated than this, as other factors need to be taken into account. The foetus needs to be taken into account as if the foetus is to be considered ‘human’ then its happiness should also be taken into consideration. This does not mean that abortion becomes wrong. However, it does suggest that abortion would be ‘right’ in certain circumstances, such as if the mothers life is in danger. (May be more happiness if mother survived, rather than if both the mother and foetus died.) In addition, other family members perhaps need to be taken into consideration for the ‘greatest happiness for the greatest number’. If other family members did not want the mother to go ahead with the abortion, or indeed if the father wanted the child, then abortion here would not be the ‘greatest happiness for the greatest number’. In the case of pregnancy as a result of rape for example, the following would need to be considered alongside the ‘greatest happiness’ principle: Trauma for mother and existing family Trauma for any child of rape in learning of their violent origins. Absolutist/deontological ethical theories and abortion: Natural Law: This has already been covered in the ‘Christianity’ section of this booklet and the potential to become a person and Ensoulment should also be taken into consideration. When the Christian examines natural law it is clear that nature’s design is that women are naturally equipped to have children. It is thus, natural for intercourse to lead to conception and for women to be pregnant and bear children (Final cause of sex=procreation.) Natural Law theory would claim that abortion is wrong, as the purpose of the body is to reproduce. The RC Church has opposed abortion for a considerable amount of time based on this tradition. There is however, the principle of double effect, which could be applied here. This principle could be seen as ‘relativist’, although the theory of Natural Law is essentially an absolutist theory. The doctrine of double effect consists of fou