Saturday, August 31, 2019

Quality Control of Car Seat

To All Valued Customers: Tchou Tchou is fully committed to serving the product needs of infants and children.   As such, we want to address a recent market development of our infant car seat model number: 0907-888-TTICS. As you may know, Tchou Tchou has issued a voluntary product recall of all infant car seat purchased in the last three months. In the wake of this development, we are offering to replace your newly purchased infant car seat with one of our earlier model at no extra cost on your part. To ensure the safety of your children, we would like to request you to either return the infant car seat at the store where you purchase the product or email us at [email  protected] and we would be glad to arrange for a pickup. We recognize the inconvenience this causes you.   However, this action reflects Tchou Tchou’s commitment to high quality standards and ensuring that our products fully meet your expectations. Please know we are working hard to provide you with the high-quality products and customer service you have come to expect from Tchou Tchou.   If you have any questions, please contact our toll free 24/7 customer service hotline at 1-800-82468. Sincerely, (Your Name) Manager, Sales and Marketing Analyst Date:   January 4, 2008 To :   Fred Lucas, Manager, Manufacturing Department From:   (Your Name), Manager, Sales and Marketing Analyst Subject:   Quality Control of Car Seat Model Number: 0907-888-TTICS English Language Training Due to the recent complaint that we have received from our client with regards to the tiny fragment of glass in the upholstery of the infant car seat, we have voluntarily recalled the products that were purchased within the past three months.   This step was undertaken to give us the opportunity to thoroughly check the quality of our recalled product. Although our overhead cost would be greatly affected we would like your department to replace the upholsteries of all the recalled infant car seats.   In addition to the quality control inspection that we have been doing prior to the release of all our products, our engineering department will also perform a thorough check on all the machineries and equipments that are being used in the production of all our products. We appreciate the suggestion made by some employees to improve the workplace in your department.   The management officers have considered their suggestion and have recently made an arrangement with a language instructor who could provide a program that would facilitate ease of communication and learning of a second language among employees in the department.   The in-house language instructor will visit your department tomorrow and will present the program to you and your staff. Please keep me posted on any development.   Thank you very much. Hi Ms. Kathy, I have recently written a letter addressed to all our customers who have purchased the infant car seat model number: 0907-888-TTICS.   I have informed them about the company’s decision to recall the product and our willingness to replace the infant car seat with one of our earlier model at no extra cost on their part.   This is in line with our commitment to provide them with the best quality products which our company has been noted for. I have also written the manufacturing department and asked them to replace all the upholsteries of the recalled infant car seat.   The engineering department will likewise conduct a thorough inspection on all the machineries and equipment in the production area to ensure that none of the fragment of glasses came from our production area.   Furthermore, the language instructor will be coordinating with Fred Lucas in line with the in-house language program that will be provided to the employees. Although the complaint of one customer is an isolated case, the company’s overhead expense will be greatly affected as a result of the product recall.   However, the reputation of Tchou Tchou and our customers’ satisfaction is our foremost concern.   This may be the first time that we have recalled a product in our six years of existence but given the time, the public will be fully aware that we have been at par with our product standard. Please be assured that I will use my skills and expertise in projecting the good image of the company and to make the public aware that this problem did not arise from our company. I will keep you posted on any development. Sincerely, (Your First Name)   

Public and Private Sector Collaborations Essay

Open research organizations and private firms work under very diverse situations and with poles a-part aims and objectives, which result in fairly different outcomes in the two types of organizations. Public researchers are mainly ambitious due to their willingness to expand knowledge and publish them in journals and magazines to help for the cause of bringing it to knowledge of the masses. On the other hand, private firms and ventures aim to achieve higher profits through commercially valid information that the firm builds up or obtain to be kept in the boundaries of the company and far away from opponents in the market or the industry. This usually results in the conflicts among the two forms of organizations and it is difficult to work in collaboration between the public and private organizations. But it has also been evident from the past that, private companies and firms which have worked in public collaborations, although not many succeeded, but those who did, have been able to achieve goals and have set trends for other organizations to work for the cause of social development and enhancement of public systems for noble cause. Current Situation (LoJack) and Strategy: LoJack Corporation markets and authorizes the LoJack System, a unique, proprietary system used entirely by law enforcement workforce to track, establish, and pick up stolen motor vehicles. The problem of vehicle theft has escalated to an epidemic level an estimated to result in an yearly loss of approximately $8 billion. The LoJack System has an established track evidence of falling damages, striking public protection, and solving grave crimes related to motor vehicle thievery, all accomplished within the realistic restrictions of overburdened law enforcement structure.   Currently, LoJack has unique system designed to assist law enforcement in locating and tracking stole vehicles. Competition is fierce if viewed with Telemetric and GPS tracking devices. However, if we look at vehicle recovery systems, LoJack is the global leader with a law enforcement network that cannot be easily duplicated.   This law enforcement network is challenging politically and requires a high degree of local political assistance.   Financially, sales are climbing, but year over year growth is declining.   The distribution system through auto retailers seems stuck to new car sales. The LoJack strategy at the present time consists of several discrete variables.   LoJack has elected to expand into new geographic areas and markets which is a logical growth strategy for the firm which has established an enviable reputation in terms of asset recovery systems.   This company has developed a new tracking unit that permits it to move into new segments such as trailers while simultaneously reducing costs for such units, therefore, establishing itself as a cost leader in the sector.  Ã‚  Ã‚   This combined with a strong differentiation of product through law enforcement networks gives LoJack a strong competitive advantage.   These are strengths that cannot be quickly or easily duplicated and because of the proprietary technical aspect of this product.   Competitors would have to try and find substitute products to compete directly with LoJack. Competitive Environment New Entrants Teletrec and other competitors were on the market prior to LoJack’s entrance and other competitors are entering the market through GPS based systems such as ‘OnStar’.   These systems are not a onetime purchase but incur monthly fees to maintain service and may require the use of a cell phone. Substitutes Just as with GPS, there is a threat of substitute products coming on-line through new technology, but this threat should be mitigated by LoJack’s network with local law enforcement agencies. Suppliers Suppliers are also a threat as the auto industry is developing its own telematics technology.   The automakers have started relying on standards to speed up the plan cycle. Their incapability to bring state-of-the-art activity, communication, routing, and other â€Å"telematics† (navigation, driver-warning, and communication systems) evidently emphasize the manufacturers’ unwillingness to relying on these standards. The automakers came into view to have understood their errors and restrictions and are participating in the development of new network standards for both critical mission and convenience or entertainment systems. LoJack must continue to market its law enforcement advantage to thwart off this threat. Buyers At this stage, buyers have relatively limited buying power due to the lack of alternative technology. However, the threat is the heavy reliance on car dealers to sell the product.   If there is no incentive to do so, then the buyer may lack the knowledge that would drive the purchase. Intensity of Rivalry Although the product is in its growing stages, and there is no clear competition, the increased activity in this sector could be conducive of a threat to achieve a large enough market share to make the implementation worthwhile. Perspective on network level strategy Both LoJack and Micro Logic embrace the embedded organizational structure.   While they both have proprietary technology, they rely on other organizations to leverage these technologies.   LoJack’s technology would not have been possible without the alliance with local law enforcement agencies, Motorola, and Micro Logic.   Micro Logic’s existence had been to partner with organizations to influence its technological resourcefulness to additionally expand the companies that it works for.   It would take an evenhandedness stand in these companies and take a long term approach. In order for Micro Logic to be successful in this venture, it would need to rely on LoJack’s distribution and marketing systems. Not only to sell its products but also to ensure its own financial stability. If LoJack is to review its long term strategy, it must understand that research and development are not at the core of its operation.   Motorola is a key component to both LoJack and Micro Logic and has been a strong partner providing vital assistance. They cannot be relied on to only provide this technology to LoJack.   They are a much larger company and will look to broaden their reach.   In the fall of 1999 Motorola was already working to become a driving force in the telematics industry and moved to position itself with the major car companies. Recommendations Short Term LoJack should look to form a free alliance with Micro Logic. This would allow for LoJack to expand into the new market of construction equipment where need exist and no clear provider exist. An alliance between these two organizations has a proven track record and a proven product that can be marketed globally. The alliance should tackle the construction equipment market. This is a market that has a strong need for a location and asset management technology there is no clear market leader and creativity and innovation in products play a vital role to become a leader. The combination of LoJack’s proven solution for tracking and the ability of Micro Logic to develop strong asset management software would allow for strong penetration in this market.   Both organizations should look to work in their core areas of expertise. LoJack recognizes how to market and allocate the products and Micro Logic should right away assume the Research &Development purpose. This will allow both companies to continue to drive down cost. LoJack presently has sufficient cash on hand to assist the need for cash with Micro Logic.   At this point, the cash infusion should be done as a low or no interest loan to Micro Logic. The partnership works well over time, Micro Logic can establish if this is their core business.   If not, they will be able to sell this product back to LoJack just as it did the first time and move in a different direction or become a secondary firm to LoJack.   Motorola is currently working on the 3rd generation LoJack and Micro Logic sho uld work directly with Motorola on this function. Medium Term Once a clear hold on the construction market is protected, then the alliance will have the opportunity to move into the trailer market. A proven track record in auto recovery and construction equipment asset management will allow strong credibility and should allow LoJack and Micro Logic to become the market leaders. During this stage both firms will need to determine the structure of the company and if they are able to grow construction equipment sales to the same rate as existing auto sales then LoJack would be in a position to either absorb Metrologic into the existing organization or turn Micro Logic into a subsidiary. Long Term Emerging markets will be critical to the long term success of LoJack.   With a strong foothold on the construction market this area would be a logical first step into emerging markets as contraction equipment would usually surpass new car sales.   Immerging markets will provide the strongest revenue growths for the company and is possible this may need to be moved into the mid-term focus depending on the success for the technology.

Friday, August 30, 2019

How advertising and commercials influence my life Essay

Advertising and commercials have, no doubt, a strong influence in my purchasing behavior. They influence the clothes I wear, the food I eat and the places to go for a night out. Adverts in the television and magazines are expressive of models wearing different designs of clothing outfits. Such outfits make the models look admirable. This brings the feeling in me that if the clothes look good, then they must make me feel good. Due to this reason, I am compelled to purchase such clothes. Most of my friends and I have our eating habits greatly influenced by advertising and commercials. With the many adverts on hamburgers, hotdogs, and pizzas among other, most of my friends are always out to the pizza inn during class breaks. Despite the many claims by opponents of frequent use of fast foods, my heart is always impressed by the deliciousness portrayed on the adverts, a factor that inevitably forces me into purchasing such foods and drinks. Where to go for a night out is mainly influenced by commercials and advertising. This is because such adverts are indicative of the type of entertainment to expect and above all the entertainers to meet. Just to be appreciated is the fact that I like to go out with a preset mind of fulfillment. This is why advertising has no doubt a crucial role to play in dictating the best place to hang out. Therefore, advertising and commercials bring invaluable influence to my purchasing and spending behavior. Such marketing practices have indeed dominated my psychology.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Case study - The Virgin- The global enterpreneur Essay

Case study - The Virgin- The global enterpreneur - Essay Example Virgin Galactic could essentially pursue investment and growth under the Directional Policy Matrix. This implies a high business strength and high industry attractiveness. The ultimate goal and objective Virgin Galactic is highly creative and innovative. Suborbital space business is yet to realize the start of its exploitation. The company has identified the underlying business opportunity, and can move swiftly to exploit the market before numerous entries are made. To do this, Virgin Galactic has to make substantial investments in the project as it continues to pursue its growth strategies. The investment and growth factor would require that Virgin Galactic rank high and strong in long-term market attractiveness and SBU strength respectively. In this respect, market size and market share are critical factors to consider. The passenger service line that Virgin Galactic is persistently pursuing is an extremely expensive investment. In order to maintain a favourable business portfolio, investment returns from the project would also be expected to be high (Shahi & Greco, 2008, p.81). As a result, the target market becomes the high and mighty. The implication here is that the market size and market share could be relatively small, but the returns could be substantially high. The Virgin SBU, Virgin Galactic, bases its operations in a business line that is substantially risky to invest in (Otto, 2010, p.58). On the same note, the costs involved, operational technicalities, and the underlying technological factors further limits the number of players in this business. Consequently, the market share only accounts for those consumers who can afford the passenger services once launched. Notably, the company and market potential strengthens the SBU’s operations now and in future. Moreover, the corporate parent enjoys a substantial financial resource base and competent management. As earlier noted, the market size in the spaceflights industry is relatively small.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Defending your case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Defending your case - Essay Example It is a form of post traumatic relationship, where the female can go to being paranoid because of the trauma she is experiencing from the pains of the relationship. Domestic violence is actually listed as a disease, albeit not an organic one. It is a disease because it causes pain and mental stress to the victim. To be called a â€Å"battered woman† a female should have two cycles of battering. There are no statistics that show the rate of the victims of Battered Women’s Syndrome. However, there are statistics that show that 50% of all the homeless women in the States are fleeing domestic violence. Statistics also show that men beat almost 4 million women every year. They are all helpless, and as part of the syndrome, they even stick with their partners even if they are abused. However, there are those who manage to kill their abusive partners as part of survival. Unfortunately, that accounts for a criminal case. Looking through history, we can see that Domestic Violence is not new. In fact, it is permitted. Women were always seen as the inferior sex and this made the men more confident in lording over women. In ancient Roman history, the husband is permitted to use force like breaking his wife’s nose to discipline her. The English principle of coverture actually commodified women: they are properties too. Lastly, and perhaps the most infamous law regarding Domestic Violence is the Rule of Thumb. It was in the Common Law of England that states that a man can beat his wife as long as the stick used is not wider than his thumb. The Battered Woman Defense is not regarded highly in courts. Why? The main argument of the judiciary system is this â€Å"the females do not get out of the abusive relationship early on†. The judiciary system is implying that these females killed the [abusive] man because they are indeed murderous people, not saving their lives as what the females say. Looking at the symptoms of

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Presentation on Propaganda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Presentation on Propaganda - Essay Example They have been and are applied to other people, groups, gangs, tribes, colleges, political parties, neighborhoods, and states, sections of the country, nations, and races." (Institute for Propaganda Analysis, 1938) DISCUSSION: Although name-calling could be interpreted as trivial, name-calling is the basis upon which many instances of [propaganda is based The premise behind the name-calling and the beliefs associated with these names is in most instances fueled by propaganda. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF PROPAGANDA IN RELATION TO TOTALITARIANISM: Propaganda can evoke varying degrees of psychological effects that depend on interpretation of the propaganda as can be seen in the example involving names that we discussed earlier in the presentation. The psychological effects of propaganda in relation to totalitarianism are complex. It is important to remember that in relation to totalitarian propaganda works most successfully when it I psychologically effects the masses. Ellul elaborates on that premise by pointing out "when propaganda is addressed to a crowd, it must touch each individual in that crowd, in that whole group. To be effective, it must give the impression of being personal, for we must never forget that the mass is composed of individuals, and is in fact nothing but assembled individuals.

Monday, August 26, 2019

The Utilization of Tuscan Columns in the Coliseum in Rome Essay

The Utilization of Tuscan Columns in the Coliseum in Rome - Essay Example Apart from the brutal sport which was always staged by the Coliseum, the huge structure was the place for culture. The Roman high society exhibited their appreciation for the plebeian entertainment, while having brought their royal tradition amongst their peers. The patrician class, on the other hand, were the avid fans of their iconic gladiators whom they placed their bets upon. Aside from becoming a melting pot of the Roman society, the Coliseum was an architectural marvel. Its colossal image in the Roman urban setting was undefeated through time. Its intricate floor plan was deemed as an innovation of the classical era, an advanced structure ahead of its time. It was frequently compared by modern engineers and architects to the stadiums and arenas of today. This was in terms of organizational planning. Since the Coliseum had the capability to house thousands of individuals, it had to be constructed with respect to the manner of entry and exit of crowds at a single moment. The Coli seum was the first to bear such technical functions. In addition, having to bear such number of audiences, the Coliseum managed to separate the classes of the Roman society as per the seating placements within the arena. More importantly, the architectural design of the structure was an undeniable marvel for during its glory days. The series of arches and wall carvings were testament to the Roman classical art. What is interesting is the series of Tuscan columns prevalent in the entirety of the Coliseum. The Doric, Ionic and the Corinthian columns could be seen from the exterior to the interior of the structure. The prevalence of Roman columns is, indeed, a very interesting notion to look at. These columns have functional and implied meanings which pertain to their structural use and the message they convey to scholars of the Roman classical art. Thus, this research would focus entirely on the mentioned aspect: the use of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns in the Roman Coliseum . This research will first tackle a brief historical background to the structure in order to fully understand the context which it outlived. It will then establish a better understanding of the Tuscan columns, namely the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, through historical analysis and interpretation. As for the conclusive part of the study, it will use the historical analysis of the Coliseum and the Tuscan columns in order to establish the relationship of both. Hence, the task of this study is to explain the use and presence of the mentioned columns in the Coliseum through a survey of historical contexts associated with the classical Roman period. For the purpose of this study, it will use a series of secondary sources and scholarly works in order to corroborate and prove the thesis of this research. A Brief Historical Narrative of the Coliseum in Rome By mere observation of the ruins which now lay at the heart of Rome, the Coliseum is deemed as one of the most treasured classical legac ies of the Roman period. The magnanimous and huge built of the structure was conclusive of its ambitious accomplishment of having been considered as the focal point of the urban Roman setting. From the origins of its name alone, the Coliseum can be derived from either the colossal traits that it had during its time or from the Colossus of Nero from which it copied its enormity, height and bulk. Even scholars of Roman history are

Sunday, August 25, 2019

SMART Goals Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

SMART Goals - Assignment Example I will attend seminars on time management by participating in the organization’s seminar talks that will help me be more time cautious and better at management, reading books and listening to tapes based on the same matter, reviewing the organization trends on the same, and making plans with the departmental head responsible for the issue starting Monday week 2 Attributes needed to achieve the goal; timeline of when you plan on doing what; explain how, when, and where you are going to meet or talk with your expert; and identify specific resources you plan on using to help you achieve your goals. My evaluation of the â€Å"Successful Goal Setting† source is that it seeks to help nurses have better time management skills as well as help nurses be good at setting goals and attaining the goals set based on the SMART analysis. I plan to attend workforce training planning programs offered by the departmental leads on increasing workforce efficiency with the help of productivity coaches and other peer-reviewed articles in the department and my manager, and visiting laid out procedures described to improve workout put starting Wednesday week 2. Attributes needed to achieve the goal; timeline of when you plan on doing what; explain how, when, and where you are going to meet or talk with your expert; and identify specific resources you plan on using to help you achieve your goals. My evaluation of the â€Å"Taking leadership Serious† source is that it seeks to ensure that the nurse is better placed to become a manager and a successful goal setter with regard to the skills achieved from successful goal setting source. McBride, Angela Barron. (March, 2011). Taking Leadership Seriously. American Journal of Nursing, 111(3), pp.11. Web. Retrieved from: http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2011/03000/Taking_Leadership_Seriously.2.aspx Davis, Anne J. (January, 1963). The Skills of COMMUNICATION. American Journal of Nursing, 63(1). Web. Retrieved from:

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Parts of Human Resources Align and Support the Organization Essay

Parts of Human Resources Align and Support the Organization - Essay Example It is also crucial that these strategies are mutually supportive and complement each other in it’s propose towards the organization. Thus efficient practices of human resource management involve efficient designing and application of HR policies in planning, recruitment, selection, compensation, performance appraisal and training and development too. The importance of these strategies also gets reflected through employee morale, motivation, as well as their efficiency and productivity in the organization. The project brings forth the present human resource conditions in a government contracting company which is primarily a manufacturing enterprise in the infrastructure and energy related sector. The organization manufactures a wide variety of components, namely, boilers, gas generators, gas and hydro turbines, transportation equipments, valves, transmitters etc. The organization incorporates a high quality human resource management culture which gets reflected through its vari ous HRM strategies and policies. ... ction, compensation and benefits, performance appraisals, job designing etc., such that they complement each other and work collectively towards the organization’s purpose and objectives. Based on the analysis the project recommends suitable solutions for the improvement of these strategies with regards to improving employee morale and participation in the organization, enhancing organizational efficiency, productivity and work life balance, and betterment of the culture and climate of the organization too. Parts of Human Resource Systems which support the organization Job Design issues Job designing is particularly done in the organization for meeting requirements of different positions in the organization. However, it is not considered an independent procedure. The importance of job designing is reflected through other human resource management aspects such employee motivation, employee attraction and retention. According to the views of Erven, a well designed job helps in a ccomplishing two important organizational goals. Firstly it helps to get the necessary job completed on time and in a competent manner. It also helps to motivate employees and provide them with challenges at the workplace (Erven, n.d., p.1). Besides serving the purpose of improving motivation and performance, job-design analysis begins by regarding a job from a wide perspective and rapidly moving towards identifying the particular activities required for doing the job. This is particularly done for the purpose of identifying any deficiencies and correcting them which has chances of affecting performance and motivation (Encarnacion, n.d.). An example of job design in the organization will help understand how it complements other HR aspects. Job design for the position of a mechanical engineer in

Friday, August 23, 2019

Should public funding be used to provide early childhood education to Essay

Should public funding be used to provide early childhood education to all children - Essay Example However, this fact notwithstanding, the following analysis will consider the extent to which governmental funding of early childhood education would be a net good or an overall net bad from educational, economic, and societal standpoints. As a function of answering such a broad question, it is the hope of this particular author that the reader will be able to draw a more well rounded answer to a question that would otherwise evoke a rather emotional response from the perspective shareholders within the process as well as the taxpayers that will ultimately be left holding the bill regardless of what particular approach is engaged. By analyzing these determinants, it is the further intention of the author that the pros and cons of such a broad and overarching funding will be made manifest and allow the reader to come away with a rather clear understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of such a system might be. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, one must integrate an understanding and appreciation for the economic constraints that universal government sponsorship of early childhood education would portend. ... As a function of understanding the means by which the United States government ultimately operates, one comes away with the understanding that the elected representatives are responsible to the shareholder citizens with regards to the legislation and proposed budget. In this way, it is easy to see how, regardless of current budgetary shortfalls, a large enough response from the electorate would force the hand of the federal government to act in a way to provide such services to the electorate. Naturally, in doing so, this would have a strong negative impact upon other vital functions of the government, to include many other forms of needed social programs; perhaps Medicaid, Medicare, and/or Social Security funding (Hart 64). As such, it is necessary for the reader/researcher to consider the fact that without exponentially raising tax rates, it will be impossible to seek to add a broad new level of government services without directly robbing from one program to help to pay for anothe r one. From the educational standpoint, the application of universal childhood education can have a massive benefit to the further development of educational standards within the lifetime of the student and can serve to provide a sound basis upon which the educators involved can seek to build. Within the current system, only some shareholders within the student body have the opportunity and/or the means to engage within childhood education. Although this should not be seen as a definitive disadvantage, the fact of the matter is that it provides an unequal footing upon which the first few grades must integrate with the students. A level of basic assumption cannot be provided with relation to what has been covered and what has not. In

Clean Fuels and Dirty Fuels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Clean Fuels and Dirty Fuels - Essay Example (US Sec 963) Emission Benefits: Clean fuels have numerous properties which make them cleaner than other dirty fuels like gasoline or adulterated diesel mixtures. Usually these fuels release fewer hydrocarbons, and the hydrocarbons emitted are less toxic and less reactive. Emissions from electricity, natural gas, or alcohol-powered vehicles can be roughly about 90% lesser than in toxics and ozone-forming hydrocarbons than emissions from vehicles using dirty fuel. (Chemical Engineering Tools and Information) Mileage Benefits: Apart from the emission benefits, the best thing that appeals the minds of the users is that the mileage difference is notable, which results in a lot of cost saving. Here, it is to be noted that there is a win-win situation. The better mileage advantage helps the companies increase their sale. Moreover, the customers get more than just cost effectiveness. European and Japanese automakers are about to invade the market with new clean-diesel models that catch much better mileage than the standard gasoline-burning model. Among the many contenders, Mercedes shall offer its SUVs -- M-Class, R-Class and GL-Class --with diesel engines. BMW aims to bring its popular turbo diesel engines to US models. And Nissan is coming with a diesel Maxima sedan. Volkswagen was an early pioneer in diesel in the US, but it will convert to new cleaner diesel technology in models starting 2008, which it dubs "Blue Motion." VW is betting its new TDI Jetta, which launches in February, will h elp stoke its US sales. (Business week May 04 2007) This makes it clear that the model is not only gaining popularity for its air benefits but also finding high acceptance with the users, which is why the major players have shifted their focus to it. The concept of clean fuels actually came up to start with its clean atmosphere benefits, but eventually in the drive vehicle manufacturers opened their eyes to its selling points too. Today, they have been able to design innovative models resulting in cost effectiveness, speed, lower maintenance etc. for the users compared to the conventional petrol and diesel run trucks/cars. It is to be noted that The 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC is the first model in America to take advantage of the clean low-sulfer diesel (Autos, MSN) Feasibility Clean fueled transport vessels are in use and widespread usage in the near future is feasible. To facilitate the changeover, technologies must be polished so that the vehicles can be made to attain optimal performance and emissions features. Users must show their acceptability to better and newer vehicles and fuels, and industry as well as government must cooperate to ensure their availability. It would take a concerted endeavor by all segment s of the society, but a shift to clean fuels can be the most feasible way for cities to have clean air and for users to have a better performance along with cost cutting. Dirty Fuels Meaning Fuel that is contaminated with water, particles, etc., generally causing an engine to

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Globalisation Book Review Essay Example for Free

Globalisation Book Review Essay The world economy is becoming more global in its format. People may not be able to realize the correct depth of this globalization trend and the complexities it creates for the state. International businesses have a huge impact on our daily lives. Right from morning till night we are in the habit of using variety of goods and services made by different countries of the world. The globalization trend started after World War II. U. S. economy became the strongest economy at that time and U. S made their dominance worldwide in almost all major industries. Businesses were forced to build new plants and other facilities, and citizens turned to their work as a source of economic security. Gradually the economy developed and each country developed a competitive advantage in those circumstances. With the passing of time those advantages are being exploited to their maximum. ENVIRONMENT OF GLOBALISATION Environment refers to the totality of all the factors which are external to and beyond the control of individual global business enterprises. Environment furnishes the macro-context, the business firm is the micro-unit. The environmental factors are essentially the givens within which firms and their managements must operate. The value system of society, the rules and regulations laid down by the Government, the monetary policies of the central bank, the institutional set-up of the country, the ideological beliefs of the leaders, the attitude towards foreign capital and enterprise, etc. , all constitute the environment system within which a global firms operate. These environmental factors are many in numbers and various in form. Some of these factors are totally static, some are relatively static and some are very dynamic — they are changing every now and then. Some of these factors can be conceptualized and quantified, while others can be only referred to in qualitative terms. The environmental factors generally vary from country to country. The environment that is typical of Germany may not be found in other countries like the USA, the UK, and Japan. There may be some factors in common, but the order and intensity of the environmental factors do differ between nations. The magnitude and direction of environmental factors differ over regions within a country, and over localities within a region. The environment differs not only over space but also over time from country to country. We can talk of temporal patterns of environment, i. e. , past, present and future environment. Sometimes the environment may be classified into market environment and non-market environment depending upon whether a global firm’s environment is influenced by market forces like demand, supply, number of other firms and the resulting price competition, or non-price competition, etc. , or by non-market forces like Government laws, social traditions, etc. Further, we may classify the environment into economic and non-economic. Non-economic environment refers to social, political, legal, educational and cultural factors that affect state functioning. Economic environment, on the other hand, is given shape and form by factors like the fiscal policy, the monetary policy, the industrial policy resolutions, physical limits on output, the price and income trends, the nature of the economic system at work, the tempo of economic development, the national economic plan, etc. The non-economic environment has economic implications just as the economic environment may have non-economic implications. Since the environment is the sum total of the history, geography, culture, sociology, politics and economics of a nation, the interaction between economic and non-economic forces is bound to take place affecting the society functioning. ECONOMIC FINANCIAL FACTORS Analysis of the business environment in any economy, we may examine the basic propositions as: 1. Business is an economic activity. 2. A business firm is an economic unit. 3. Business decision-making is an economic process. These propositions may be examined separately or jointly to justify the study of the economic environment of global business. Business is an economic activity An economic activity involves the task of adjusting the resources to the targets, or the targets to the resources. An economic activity may assume different forms such as consumption, production, distribution, and exchange. The nature of business differs, depending upon the form of economic activity being undertaken and organized. The manufacturer is primarily concerned with production; the stock exchange business is mainly concerned with the buying and selling of shares and debentures; the business of Government is to run the administration. The Government may also own, control and manage enterprises. These examples can be easily multiplied. The point is that each business has a target to achieve, and for this purpose each business has some resources at its disposal. Sometimes the target has to be matched with the given resources, and sometimes the resources have to be matched with the given target. Either way, the task of business is to optimize the outcome of economic activities. A business enterprise is an economic unit A business firm is essentially a transformation unit. It transforms inputs into outputs of goods or services, or a combination of both. The nature of input requirements and the type of output flows are determined by the size, structure, location and efficiency of the business firm under consideration. Business firms may be of different sizes and forms. They may undertake different types of activities such as mining, manufacture, farming, trading, transport, banking, etc. The motivational objective underlying all these activities is the same viz. , profit maximization in the long run. Profit is essentially a surplus value — the value of outputs in excess of the values of inputs or the surplus of revenue over the cost. A business firm undertakes the transformational process to generate this surplus value. The firm can grow further if the surplus value is productively invested. The firm, therefore, carefully plans the optimum allocation of resources (i. e. , men, money, materials, machines, time, energy, etc. ) to get optimum production. The entire process of creating, mobilization and utilization of the surplus constitutes the economic activity of the business firm, Business decision-making is an economic process Decision-making involves making a choice from a set of alternative courses of action. Choice is at the root of all economic activity. The question of choice and evaluation arises because of the relative scarcity of resources. If the resources had not been scarce, an unlimited amount of ends could have been met. But the situation of resource constraint is very real. A business firm thinks seriously about the optimum allocation of resources because resources are limited in supply and most resources have alternative uses. The firm, therefore, intends to get the best out of given resources or to minimize the use of resources for achieving a specific target. In other words, when input is the constraining factor, the firm’s decision variable is the output. And when output is the constraining factor, the firm’s decision variable is the input. Whatever may be the decision variable, procurement or production, distribution or sale, input or output, decision-making is invariably the process of selecting the best available alternative. That is what makes it an economic pursuit. Since business is an economic activity, a business firm an economic unit, and business decision-making an economic process, it is the economics environment of business which is the primary consideration in evaluating the business policies, business strategies and business tactics of a corporate entity in any global economy.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

The Importance Of Health Communication

The Importance Of Health Communication The healthcare systems around the world are making full use of the communication methods to improve quality of healthcare services provided and peoples life. They are utilizing the newly developed information and communication technologies to bring required socio-economic changes in the areas as diverse as health and education system. In this modern era the consequence of media and communication is vastly increasing. According to Mann and Colven, A picture is worth more than a thousand words, it can justify the need of new technologies. This thesis paper tries to figure out the importance of health communication and telemedicine technology for the integral growth of healthcare management in the rural and remote area of India. In some of the rural areas of India the telemedicine technology is implemented successfully and the people in that area are receiving better healthcare services than before. This technology is quite new in the country like India and lot of work has to be done in future to increase the use of this newly developed technology to deliver quality of healthcare service and thus to improve the health status rural and remote population. India is having a huge population and most of the people live in rural areas. Majority of them dont have proper access to education and healthcare services. So there is need of good health communication to improve delivery of healthcare services. By this, necessary knowledge can be imparted to the people that will help them to improve their own health status all the time. Telemedicine might be useful in these areas as it helps to have a successful communication in between the healthcare professionals and patients who are present at different places. This paper points out the actual necessity of telemedicine technology which is one of the tools of having health communication and the opinion of the healthcare professionals as well as the patients regarding its importance. In this interpretive study based thesis, fourteen interviews of healthcare professionals and a survey of twenty patients by using a questionnaire have been conducted to illustrate the importance of health communication (mainly health education) and telemedicine. Introduction In this rapidly developing world, the parameters of health care are also being broadened and the focus is shifted to promotion of wellness prevention of diseases in community as well as home based care rather than only hospital based care. This shift can be facilitated by implementing telemedicine technology which is a method of health care carried out at a distance at even real time (Jones, 1997). Health is a concern of everyone for everyone. Healthy people 2010 define health communication as the art and technique of informing, influencing and motivating individual, institutional and public audiences about important health issues. The terms health communication health education are used synonymously most of the times. In this era the importance of health education is realized increasingly because of which today health education became speciality in itself. The healthcare systems seem to be inefficient without proper health education programmes even though lot of planning is done in implementation of healthcare services. It shows that health communication is not only mere exchange of health information but also much more than that. Health communication is means of facilitating the interaction between healthcare professionals and patients or in between the two or more healthcare professionals irrespective of working together in same or different organizations situated at distance places. Most of the organizations mainly focus on adopting advanced technologies used for diagnostic and surgical procedures to meet expectations of the patients and to improve organizations capacity. But they often forget the importance of communicating with the people in rural and remote areas to provide health education and create health awareness in them which in turn can prevent number of diseases. Telemedicine will help the healthcare professionals working at district and regional hospitals or multispecialty private hospitals to communicate with the people in rural areas who dont have proper access to healthcare services. It will help these professionals to know the problems of rural and remote population. Telemedicine is a broad concept. Here the delivery of health services depends upon application of telecommunication. Sharing or transfer of knowledge in terms of distance education and remote consulting diagnosis within different medical fields can be included in the concept of telemedicine. AIM (1990) defines telemedicine as the investigation, monitoring, management and education of the patients as well as staff which allows ready access to expert advice and patient information irrespective of location of patient or relevant information. Public and private health sectors have to do much by making use of effective telemedicine technology. It can definitely contribute a lot to health sectors by making utilization of available resources more effectively in various telemedical services (Nymo, 1993). An upcoming challenge mainly for the public health services will be to meet the demand of tremendously increasing population especially in the developing countries with the use of available resources (funds, healthcare professionals technology). It is not possible to replace the physician or other healthcare professionals involved in a patient relation by using this technology. But the thing is that it can facilitate in delivering integrated health care service to the patients. Thus telemedicine can play a vital role by providing economical benefits to the healthcare system of respective country. Telemedicine technology can act as a lifeline for most of the people who come under poor economical background mainly from developing country like India where there is inequality in delivery of healthcare services. More than 70% of the population live in rural area. On the other hand these people dont receive quality of healthcare services due to insufficient number of healthcare professionals especially in public healthcare centres and lack of infrastructure. Because of lack of facilities in these areas makes it more difficult to retain speciality healthcare professionals in rural and remote areas. Thats why most of the specialists are situated in district and capital places. The rural people have to spend more time and money as well to get consultation from specialists. Telemedicine will help to reduce the unnecessary wastage of cost and time by bridging rural health centres with the district and multispecialty hospitals situated in big cities (Kuppuswamy Pandian, 2008). All researchers dealing with information technology and healthcare have said that information technologies play a vital role in making a healthcare system more successful. Nowadays in early stage of onset of disease, people in rural and remote area where there is unavailability of specialists in healthcare need not to visit directly to the specialists in cities to get consulted from them. Development of advanced communication technologies like telemedicine will make it possible for these people to get treatment at initial stage without travelling to cities which will reduce further complications related to respective diseases. But development and implementation of any IT system in healthcare is not an easy task. As Collen (1995) have stated, developing a comprehensive medical information system is a more complex task than putting a man on the moon had been. Many organizations have faced problematic situations while implementing telemedicine or any other e-Health systems because of different reasons. Before implementing any change within the organizational set up it is very important to know the views of stakeholders who are going to involved in the process. It needs good planning and management to make the change successful. According to Collins (2000), it is necessary to understand views, experiences and purposes of the providers as well as users of healthcare services to address the issues and resolve the problems before full implementation of telemedicine. Identifying, understanding and describing the key aspects of effective health communication and information system (Telemedicine) as well as making the use of findings as a basis for the success of healthcare management in both private and public sector are the main aims of this research study. In this thesis paper I will discuss the importance of health communication (especially providing needed health education to the under and uneducated people in remote and rural area of India) and use of telemedicine to deliver better healthcare services to the rural population. I will try to understand the thoughts of healthcare professionals and patients regarding this topic. The main purpose behind this is to make further development for the integral growth of healthcare management in rural and remote areas of India. This research is aimed to find out the answers relevant to the following research questions: What do we know about effective health communication and telemedicine? How will it be possible to communicate with the people in rural areas? What are the opinions of healthcare professionals and patients regarding importance of health education and use of telemedicine system? In what ways might telemedicine influence information seeking, communicating and creating health awareness in a rural community of India? According to the above research questions, this thesis will firstly try to discuss the important notions of health communication and telemedicine and secondly interpretation of the findings of interviews of healthcare professionals and feedback of the patients from questionnaire. The overall aim of this research is to know the importance of health communication and telemedicine through qualitative research and make use of that knowledge for the further growth of healthcare management in rural community of India. Objectives of this research study are- To study the role of health communication and telemedicine in rural health care. To know various methods those are used by healthcare professionals to provide health education to the people of rural area. To understand how health communication and telemedicine can play a vital role in changing behaviour of rural population. Review of Literature Health communication: Health communication addresses, how individual and community decisions about knowledge of health and practices are informed and influenced through communication. As stated by Rai (1999), communication is the means through which we practice and influence to bring changes in the views and attitudes of others, motivate them and maintain a healthy relation with them. In other words it is the cycle of exchanging emotions, ideas and opinions in the form of information in between sender and receiver. Health communication links the regions of health and communication and considered as an important component of efforts in improving public and personal health status (Jackson Duffy, 1998). There is specific purpose behind doing any act. Communication is done to make someone think in a particular way, to do something or take action. There are different functions of communication as stated by Andal (1998). Instrumental Function To achieve something. Information Function To find out or explain something. Social Contact Function To make enjoyable environment. Control Function To get someone to behave in a particular way. Expression Function To express the feelings or present oneself in a particular way. Role Related Function Situation requires it. Educational Function To transmit knowledge. Stimulation Function To bring interest. Entertainment Function To provide leisure activity. Cultural Promotion Function To reinforce cultural rites. Effective communication: The main purpose of having communication is the exchange or transfer of information in the form of thoughts and ideas (Ramchandran Dharmalingam, 2001). It is the most important aspect of educational process which aims at change in behaviour or attitude and improves level of knowledge. We can say communication was effective only if the message is correctly interpreted by the receiver and utilized it for improvement of the knowledge. Thus effective communication means not only reaching of information but also enabling the receiver to have change in information or improvement in knowledge. Health communication includes understanding and use of communication strategies to enhance community and individual decisions to improve the current health status. It binds the domains of health and communication to improve the health of the population. Health communication can contribute largely in prevention and promotion of diseases, to improve health provider-patient relations, in movement of public and individual health risk information, formulation of public health messages, in providing education o the population about how to find access to the public healthcare delivery system and total development of telemetric applications as well as attachment of individuals to clinical recommendations (Feng H, 2006). Health communication is the use of communication techniques and technologies to positively influence organizations, individuals and population for the purpose of promoting conditions conducive to human and environmental health. It may include various activities such as physician-patient interactions, self help groups, classes, mailings, mass media events and campaigns (US department of health and human services, 2000). Health communication is the dissemination and interpretation of health related messages (Donohew Ray 1990, Steinberg 2007). Health communication is a hybrid field that derives from communication studies, marketing, journalism and public relations and also overlaps with health education and health promotion (Cline, 2003). As stated by WHO (1946), Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Health encircles the essence of health education by making communities as well as individuals as equal partners in the process of assuring freedom from illness or diseases and achieving the highest level of physical, social and mental health (Gupta Mahajan, 1991). In determining the Physical well being of the individuals, the factors such as where they work, with whom they interact and what kind of work they do should be considered to improve health. A series of operational tasks have to be completed in the process of development of any health communication. At the basic level, these tasks may contain choosing credible sources, selecting a strategy of message and deciding the ideal channels or settings through which the communication is to be delivered (Kreuter Wray, 2003). Each single activity of these provides an opportunity to improve the application of communication to its intended audience. Communication may contain planned or unplanned content which has the ability to convey positive, negative or neutral health messages to the community. Usually specific strategies are followed behind planned messages for its formulation and placement. These are intended to change behaviour, beliefs and attitudes of the people. Thus health communication is an important part of healthcare which is aimed at promoting healthy behaviour. Health education is a type of medium which is used to make people aware of healthy behaviour patterns and its importance. But the success of health communication or health education programs depends upon the interest of the people. It is very important that they should involve actively in it. We cant enforce people to change; we can motivate them to adopt healthy life. It is a notoriously complex and problematic task to change ones health related behaviour (Lawrence, 1999). It is demonstrated through research that clients attachment to their own health status is the important factor in their adoption to a behavioural health change (Callaghan, 1999). Health communication may take place between health care providers and patients or health care providers and people in the community. It may take place directly or indirectly at even real time. Development of information systems is really important to make health communication successful at broader level. People in rural and remote areas dont receive proper healthcare services due to many problems. So it is very important to communicate with them to know the problems they are facing and make the necessary planning and implementation to resolve those. By means of communication technologies like telemedicine it will be possible to have communication between the healthcare professionals at speciality hospitals situated in cities and people of rural and remote areas. This will help to solve many health problems of rural population. Other than this it will make possible for healthcare professionals at public primary health centres or even who doing private practice in rural areas to have communication with specialists in multispecialty hospitals. It will help these professionals in making the decisions, diagnosis and treatment. It will also help these professionals to update their own knowledge. Various channels used for having health communication are as below, Press Health related articles in newspaper are important channels to distribute information. Health magazine If information is presented well in the magazines then these can become valuable mean of communication. Posters These are made colourful to attract the attention of the people and convey the health messages to them. This is the easiest and cheapest way of disseminating information to the people. These are widely used by the healthcare professionals at hospital and community to provide health information to a small group of people. Films These are expensive and difficult to acquire. On the other hand are suitable to audience. Can convey intended health message to a large number of people in less time. Radio An important channel of providing health education. But health talks should not be too long. Television It is quite expensive at the beginning of establishment but after that it becomes the most effective channel as message can be delivered to huge number of people within short time. Health museums Can be effective. Health exhibition If it is well targeted and arranged properly then can attract and arouse large number of people. Telemedicine Difficult to implement but can reach to remote and rural population easily. Internet Easy and cheap way of communication. But less effective in a country with low literacy rate. (Babu S 2004. Review in community medicine; pg 181) Health Education: Health education programs related to behavioural change are considered as a mainstay of healthcare activity. The effect of these programs depends up on the nature of their intention and the way they are delivered (Whitehead Russel, 2004). Health education is a social science that draws from the medical, biological, physical, environmental and psychological sciences to prevent the onset of diseases and promote health through education driven behaviour changing activities. In other words, health education is the development of an individual or group or community health knowledge, skills and behaviour with the help of systemic strategies. Throughout this century health education has been an important element of action in prevention of diseases and promotion of health. Health campaigns to prevent communicable diseases, to promote maternal and child health, to promote immunization, to educate about family planning methods as well as its importance and other preventive health services have long history. Health education directed towards these goals in most of the developing countries remains an essential weapon in prevention of diseases and promotion of health (Nutbeam D, 2000). The main objective behind providing health education is to positively influence health related behaviour of the community and individuals. It also helps to influence living and working conditions that enhance their health. Health education is the process which includes activities like providing information, motivating and helping people to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles, advocates environmental variations that are required to facilitate this goal and conduct research and professional training (Baride Kulkarni, 1998). Health education is related to changes in feelings, knowledge and behaviour of people. It focuses on developing healthy lifestyles and believed to attend the best possible state of well being (Dharmalingam Ramchandram, 2001). It is the process carried through the active involvement of people targeted at initiation of healthy behaviour and knowing the peoples prejudices and practices that are determent to health for achieving the goal of health. A series of stages and people efforts by themselves are involved in the process of health education. Health education is an activity which may be required for each individual at any time. It is a continuous ongoing process of learning from others. Anyone who knows that what is necessary for the maintenance of good health can provide health education to the others by using proper communication channel and ideas. As health education has to do with health, it is very important to have wide and correct knowledge regarding health and diseases for disseminating or transmitting ideas for the purpose of developing necessary behaviour and attitude. In the process of health education theories and principles of education and learning are applied. Thats why a person who is trained properly for delivering healthcare is better fit to provide health education to the community. It doesnt mean that any person who is from non medical background cannot play a role of health educator but only indicates the importance of possession of correct and complete knowledge related to health, diseases and their application. As the main motto of health education is to change behaviour of the people, health educator must learn and cultivate skills to communicate, educate, involve and motivate them. Health educator should be known to theories of community organization as well as knowledge and principles of social psychology. Different planning models are used for the development of health education interventions. Public health models used in social medicine and epidemiology are slightly different from public health models used in health education. As stated by Kok and et al (1997), interventions of behaviour focused health promotion and health education are usually based on planning models of following type, Health problem Behaviour that is determinant of the problem Psychosocial and environmental determinants of behaviour Development and implementation of the intervention Evaluation Not only epidemiologic analysis but also a behavioural science approach to intervention implementation and psycho-social analysis is needed in this type of planning model. If behaviour is an important factor behind existence of health problem then it is necessary to analyze the determinants of the behaviour. These determinants may be environmental or psycho-social (emotional resistance, risk perception, perceived norms, knowledge etc.). Most of the times the focus is given only on individual behaviour but its important to target social as well as physical environment for health education interventions. Approaches to health education:- According to Tones (1986), there are three approaches to health education as follow, Traditional approach It focuses on individual. Its goal is to convince the individual to adopt needed lifestyle to prevent onset of diseases and hence reduce morbidity and mortality in the population. The reason behind this is; in the Western industrialized society the curative medicine cannot deal effectively with the contemporary burden of disease. And not only high technology is ineffective but also it is iatrogenic and expensive. Health education have major role in secondary as well as tertiary prevention apart from its potential for primary prevention. Another advantage of it is that it offers financial savings to the government by reducing the demands on health service. Philosophical approach According to this approach health education is concerned with freedom of choice and rationality. It states that only provision of information regarding health issues is not sufficient to bring behavioural change. To facilitate decision making is considered as the primary goal of health education irrespective of the nature of decision which might be made ultimately. The principle of voluntarism has been adopted by the Society of Public Health Educators of America in its code of ethics. Thus it can be argued that this model of health education has Official approval. Writers such as Green (1980) have consistently supported fostering informed health choices and protecting free will. This approach has its critics regarding the nature of genuine free choice. It is clear in many ways that freedom of choice can be limited. It is less apparent fact that an individuals capacity for making rational and voluntaristic choices can be reduced by particular kinds of socialization especially which occurs in the context of the culture of poverty. On the other hand, individuals have greater degree of genuine choice whose socialization has provided them with self empowering skills and experiences. In many instances freedom of choice is cut short manifestly by adverse social circumstances. It is therefore will be ineffective and unethical to educate people in such circumstances. Radical approach Nutbeam,d Health literacy as a public health goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st century , Health Promotion International, Vol. 15, No. 3, 259-267, September 2000 Steinberg, S (2007). An introduction to communication studies, Juta and co. Publication, Cape town. Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Iberian Landscape In Jamon Jamon Film Studies Essay

Iberian Landscape In Jamon Jamon Film Studies Essay Explain how Bigas Lunas use of the Iberian landscape in Jamà ³n, jamà ³n contributes to our perception of the films themes. Arguably one of the main concerns of the early 1990s cinematic work of Spanish-Catalan director Bigas Luna is that of place or space (Smith, 2000, 89), and it is within this context that the following discussion of Jamà ³n, jamà ³n (1992), the first film belonging to his Iberian Trilogy, will be placed. If location is key in setting up expectation with regard to theme in Spanish cinema (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 36), the way in which Bigas Luna utilizes the rural locale of Los Monegros is therefore central to the audiences ability to engage with the thematic discourse. In relation to Jamà ³n, jamà ³n, Deleyto (1999, 270) emphasizes the complex use of filmic and real space as the main device with which the principal themes of gender roles and national identity are communicated, themes which form part of what Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez (2005, 189) argues is an overall strategy to scrutinize Spanish stereotypes, or Spanishness (ibid., 189), from the viewpoint of both an outsider and insider. Consequently, by focusing specifically on the two aforementioned themes, the analysis in-hand will examine the Iberian landscape in terms of its allegorical function, whereby it continually negotiates the binary oppositions of femininity and masculinity, nature and manufacture, as well as geography and culture. Ultimately, as the concept of theme corresponds to the focus which unifies the central concerns of a film (Boggs, 1996, 10), I aim to show that it is this dynamic and ubiquitous integration of setting which, by aiding audience perception of the themes of gender and national identity, facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the filmic work as a whole. Hochbergs (2007, 57) analysis of perception indicates that as film constitutes a communicative process, initiating an early connection with the audience is key to cinematic understanding; a type of engagement which is immediately evident in Jamà ³n, jamà ³n. In the opening sequence, the camera pans down from behind the silhouette of a bull hoarding to reveal a sparse panorama of Los Monegros, however as its bareness gives limited indication as to the location other than that of rural Spain, the setting is instantly set up as a symbolic mar de tierra, donde la aridez hace que todos los elementos destaquen (Alegre, 1991, 10. Consequently, the geographical landscape functions as an allegorical space against which stereotypes can be constructed, in turn alluding to the thematic treatment of characters, rather than as individuals, as symbols of certain kinds of Spanishness (Deleyto, 1999, 270). In highlighting its starkness as the means by which the audience is steered towards acknowledging the representative function of the characters, the geographical setting is performing an active role in the thematic narrative and can be viewed as a protagonist itself. A traditional reading of the earth as a signifier of fertility and motherhood, whilst rendering this seventh character inherently feminine (Deleyto, 1999, 273), is juxtaposed with the historical as well as visually apparent reality of Los Monegros as a terreno [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] de secano (Madoz, 1850, 193). As a result, the landscape evokes an opposition between nurture and destruction which is subsequently mirrored in Carmen and Conchita; the former, an embodiment of mother-earth who uses her sexuality to provide for her daughters whilst the latter is a signifier of the arid land, given her excessive displays of voracious motherhood (Deleyto, 1999, 285). As Hochberg (2007, 26) states that symbolisation makes possible pe rception at a distance, the allegorical use of the natural surroundings can be understood as a way of drawing audience attention to the problematic representations of motherhood and femininity that thread throughout the film. The imagery connected with Silvia further demonstrates how the landscape is used to communicate a thematic narrative on gender roles. In her first joint appearance with Josà © Luis, the visual association between the hills and Silvias curvaceous breasts (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez, 2005, 193) reinforces the link between the land and femininity, with the backdrop of the naked feminine surroundings figuratively mirroring Silvias nude upper body and thus affirming female spatial dominance in the scene. Equally, Silvia occupies a more central and superior physical position in the frame, as Josà © Luis is seen crouching down in order to taste her breasts. As Monaco (2009, 160) argues that the power of film lies in its capacity to state rather than suggest, the use of the Iberian locale to emphasise femininity can be understood as a direct attempt by Bigas Luna to thematically undermine dominant machismo in Spain, and in doing so is calling for the audience to rethink the overall relevance of Spa nish stereotypes. By describing his Iberia as a space in which [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] locality is lived with uniquely sensual vividness (Smith, 2000, 107), Bigas Luna acknowledges a sexualised interpretation of the filmic setting. Hence, with sex central to the macho ibà ©rico stereotype (Holder, 1998, 35), the landscapes relation to male virility must be examined, specifically the films thematic portrayal of a stereotypical, almost grotesque version of Spanish masculinity (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 168). Given that our analysis considers the question of spectator perception, it can be proposed that it is precisely by Bigas Luna using the landscape to play with audience expectation that our focus is drawn to the thematic relevance of exaggerated displays of male sexuality. The shots of the Osborne bull hoarding, in both the opening sequence and the scene where Josà © Luis forces himself on Silvia, present a unique perspective from which to view Aragons paisaje desolado (Santabria, 2007, 16); expressly, via the rear outline of the bulls genitals. Whereas from the roadside the observer could straightforwardly identify the image and, in the case of a Spanish audience, its meaning as a famous brandy advert (Vilarà ³s, 1998, 235), viewing the bull hoarding from behind renders its significance difficult to decipher. Furthermore, the cameras focus on the bulls paquete, whilst rendering the perspective oversexed, also shows it to be fractured and so, as it sways unsteadily before the inherently feminine landscape, the shot captures a symbolic destabilization of stereotypical Spanish machismo. Consequently the manipulation of point of view in relation to the landscape (Deleyto, 1999, 273) is a way of asking the audience to take similarly critical view of Jamà ³n, jamà ³ns representation of excessive masculinity. Paradoxically, the relationship between men and the rural landscape contributes to the thematic commentary on gender roles and stereotypes, in turn highlighting the binary complexities associated with Bigas Lunas use of setting. In Raà ºls opening sequence, the use of a travelling shot across the dry land followed by an extreme long shot stresses the framing of him in these arid surroundings, with the distance blurring the boundaries between land and men (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 21). Given that Monacos (2009, 197) treatment of the diachronic shot indicates that unlike close-ups which deprive us of setting, long shots serve to emphasise context over drama and dialectic over personality, Jamà ³n, jamà ³ns thematic concern for stereotypes over individuals is thus resonated in Bigas Lunas negotiation of the geographic space. Furthermore, as the role of cinematography, and in particular camera movement, is key to how we perceive film by revealing the ideas and images that characters represent (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 46), Raà ºls engagement in a mock bullfight, a stereotypically Spanish and male activity (Jordan Morgan, 1994, 59), illustrates how the use of cinematographic conventions that incorporate the dynamics of setting serve, in effect, to define Raà ºl as the quintessential macho incarnate. Nevertheless, it can be argued that any masculine association of the landscape is merely established in order for it to be interrupted by femininity, as the opening sequence then cuts to Conchitas underwear factory where a female employee, Silvia, runs a sewing machine across a pair of mens briefs, then to another eating a ham sandwich. Given that psychologically the cut is the truer approximation of our natural perception (Monaco, 2009, 172), Bigas Lunas use of it here thus encourages the audience to make an instinctive association between both the preceding and subsequent image; the dramatic interruption by these feminine images figuratively implying male castration and the undermining of the machismo image which precedes it and thus reverting back to a reading of the landscape as inextricably feminine. The encounter in the cinematic space of femininity and masculinity reveals a further allegorical use of the rural landscape as a vehicle for thematic communication. The way in which both the huge bull hoardings and the Sansà ³n advertisement image of Raà ºls crotch penetrate the feminine soil as well as Raà ºls use of this poster to demonstrate his worthiness to Silvia, suggest a bold masculine invasion of the feminine panoramic. Yet, no matter how imposing these symbols of masculinity initially seem against the female landscape, they will never match the vast physical scale of Los Monegros given the immenses à ©tendues de terrain quon y trouve (Berthier, 2001, 30). Subsequently, the central position which appears to be given to the male is shown to be no more than an illusion (DLugo, 1995, 71), as it can be suggested that it is the female terrain which in fact enables these emblems of masculinity to be erect in the first place and therefore holds the power to castrate. Rob Stone (2002, 195) proposes that by flailing so dramatically at machismo Jamà ³n, jamà ³n destroys audience identification with the characters, nevertheless it is this exaggeration, maintained via Bigas Lunas allegorical use of the landscape, which contributes to the films thematic treatment of national identity. In the night-time bullfighting scene Rauls genitals are obscured by the darkness of the physical environment, with the sole light emanating from the moonlight of Mother Nature. Yet, instead of her glow framing the naked male body it delicately highlights the bulls horns and so this gentle treatment of the bull, a phallic emblem and symbolic representation of masculinity in Spain (Jordan Morgan, 1994, 59), combined with a refusal to reveal Raà ºls paquete, weakens the Spanish stereotype of potent machismo. Given the existence of a stereotypical notion of national identity in which male virility in particular is central (Morgan-Tamosunas Jordan, 1994, 60), the landscap es role here in challenging the validity of masculine phallic dominance can be understood as a way of highlighting the issue of problematic national identity in post-transition Spain. The juxtaposition of the rural landscape with the manufactured setting, a space of non-Spanish, globalizing [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] capitalism (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 21), further evokes the ambivalence of national identity; an opposition which is reflected in the male protagonists association with setting. Whilst Raà ºls establishing shot sustains his visual association with the natural surroundings, Josà © Luis is situated within the artificial setting of his family home, a space highly reliant on external symbols of purchasing power (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez, 2005, 192). Consequently, the initial relationship the males hold with their environment renders them personifications of the tensions between the old (Raul) and the new (Josà © Luis) in postmodern Spain (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 20). Subsequently, the clash between the manufactured and natural setting in the filmic space reinforces the discord of national identity, including frequent shots of lorries as symbols of consumerism crossing Aragà ³ns barren terrain and the underwear factory drawing Raà ºl away from his traditional ham warehouse, a space which is a showcase of hyper-Spanish and hyper-masculine associations (Jordan Allinson, 2005, 167). In addition, the use of Raà ºl body as a vehicle for commercial consumption via the underwear advertisements which litter the rural panoramic, helps undercut his strength as the physical embodiment of the prototypical macho ibà ©rico (Morgan-Tamosunas Jordan, 1998, 78) and therefore the waning relevance of this image in 1992 Spain. The binary opposition between manufacture and nature can be interpreted as a way of highlighting the national [Spanish] struggle between traditional and contemporary definitions of economic culture and identity (DLugo, 1995, 69). The infiltration of modernity is not simply presented as oppressive, as both Raà ºl and Silvia actively want to occupy the commercial space, with Raà ºl aspiring to own a Mercedes and Silvia desiring a shoe cupboard, both in parallel with Conchita as a representation of consumerism. As such, rural Aragon as an allegory of traditional Spain, is shown to be a place where the only possible escape is via materialistic transactions, reflecting late twentieth century capitalism (Holder, 1998, 33). The characters participation in both the manufactured and natural space thus alludes to a definition of national identity which is no longer based on static traditions, but one that is changing through globalisation, as the postmodernist deconstruction of identity [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] means recognition of the fact that Spanishness is a shifting concept, encompassing plurality and contradiction (Labanyi, 1995, 397). The final perspective from which the Iberian landscape will be examined is revealed by Freixas (1992, 36) interpretation of its resonance not only in geographical but also cultural terms. Consequently, the barren space of Aragon can be seen as a canvas on which cultural references are painted in order to reinforce the themes of gender roles and national identity. The binary conflict of the physical landscape, as both manufactured and natural, nurturing yet destructive, is characteristic of Dalis painting Naturaleza Muerta, Viva. Likewise, the positioning of the factory, cars and coke can as symbolic dashes of globalisation against the natural space brings to mind the paintings primary interpretation of an erasure of boundaries (DLugo, 1995, 72), thus echoing the theme of problematic Spanish national identity in relation to globalised post-modern context. Bigas Lunas omnipresent allegorical use of the bull and the pig, two animals closely related to Spanish gastronomy and culture (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez, 2005, 193), equally reinforces a cultural reading of the landscape. The Osborne bull itself, by historically transcending its original commercial connotations, became an integral part of Spains cultural landscape (Fouz-Hernà ¡ndez Martà ­nez-Expà ³sito, 2007, 22). Likewise, the geographical setting and the cultural significance of the pig are fused in the final sequence in a reworking of Goyas Duelo a garrotazos; la rà ©fà ©rence au peintre aragonais [Goya] dont le tournage sest prà ©cisà ©ment effectuà © dans la rà ©gion natale de ce dernier [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] signalant une filiation artistique (Berthier, 2001, 60). Consequently, Bigas Lunas parodic choice of a fight with hams instead of cudgels renders el famoso jamà ³n [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] a ser arma no del macho excelente y excesivo, sino de su opuesto (Vilarà ³s, 1998, 235). F urthermore, the aftermath of the duel sees the women return as a central focus to simultaneously bring together the thematic discourse in a parting pieta; the shot panning out to reveal the vastness of Los Monegros, its aridness evoking the power of mother earth which has drained the life from the men which stand before it and thus undercutting the myth of Spanish machismo in a culturally prestigious environment (Deleyto, 1999, 281). Monaco (2009, 172) affirms that we are seldom interested in the intervening filmic space, yet the cinematographic pan draws our attention to just that, therefore its use in the final sequence can be seen as a way of emphasising the resonance of both the geographic setting and its cultural implications. In conclusion, as film corresponds to a one-way system of communication which is composed with the intention of relaying a desired message (Monaco, 2009, 162), the discursive use of setting to reflect the dualities of gender and national identity constitutes a conscious attempt by Bigas Luna to thematically engage with the audience. By rendering femininity dominant and so subverting Spanish machismo, the Iberian landscape acts as the platform on which a critique of Spanish stereotypes is constructed. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of the natural versus the manufactured setting acts as a means of connecting with a Spanish audience through self-referential reflections on the process through which their identity has been reshaped by multinational capitalism (DLugo, 1995, 69). Hochberg (2007, 26) argues that our perception of a films themes comes not only from what we see but from what we do not see, therefore it is both the recurrent visual presence of the geographic landscape alongside its symbolic and cultural associations which renders it an effective device in aiding our understanding of the thematic discourse of a film which contempla irà ³nicamente los ritos de una cultura que [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] està ¡ intentando desojarse de lo negativo del pasado pero tratando de no sustituir lo bueno tradicional por lo malo moderno (Evans, 2004, 41).

Monday, August 19, 2019

In Cases Of Juvenile Arrest, Rehabilitation, Not Punishment Should Be :: essays research papers

Why would our government try to hurt kids? Well, kids are being hurt right now. You see, in America punishment, rather than rehabilitation is being emphasized for juveniles who commit crimes. This way of thinking must stop with the addition of rehabilitation and prevention programs for juvenile offenders.States vary in their legal definition of a juvenile. In Illinois, for example, a juvenile is defined as any person below the age of 17. Using each states legal definition, the FBI reported that 62% of juveniles arrested in 1992 were referred to juvenile courts, 5% to a criminal or adult court, 2% to a welfare agency, and 1% to another police agency. The kids sent to adult prisons were eight times as likely to commit suicide. It has also been evident that those kids incarcerated with adults are also more likely to become repeat offenders. Legislation pending in congress now is debating several issues. Among them are weather to have children as young as 13 be prosecuted and sentenced as adults for certain crimes, give prosecutors the discretion to transfer a juvenile to an adult court in certain crimes, and allow juveniles to have incidental contact and in some cases be housed with adults.I take an opposing point of view with that of congress. If a 13 year old is imprisoned, how can he become a functional member of society upon his release? How will he create a positive lifestyle for himself? The real question is: How can he turn in any direction other than that of crime? He simple will not be able to. If a child is sent to a prison to stay in a cell for hours at a time, the only life he will know is the life he came from, not the life that could be his. Also, a prosecutor shouldn't have the privilege to decide what court a kid is placed in. A prosecutor has a built in bias; the decision should be left to a judge who would look in the best interest of the convicted person. The statistics prove that housing children with adults can only have a disastrous outcome for the juvenile. The goal of juvenile detention should be to rehabilitate and develop the individual. Appropriate educational skills need to be taught. Children need to be put in touch with their feeling through counseling. Juvenile offenders need to be exposed to role models from within their community and without.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

War and Deception - President George Bush and President Lyndon Johnson

The responsibilities of a presidential administration to the United States should be easily defined, but in many instances have come to be uncertain. There are two wars over the last century that have compromised the American reputation, as well as the integrity of our people. On these two occasions the intentions of our president have been something different than publicized to the country. The United States as a whole was deceived by two particular leaders and their administration. Through propaganda, selective speech, and exaggerated evidence, Presidents Lyndon Johnson and George W. Bush manipulated the support of the nation for their bold military actions and personal agendas. In August of 1964 there was an alleged attack by North Vietnamese torpedo boats against the United States navy while they were stationed in the Tonkin Gulf reporting intelligence information to South Vietnam. This attack was said to have occurred with no provocation from the United States. President Lyndon Johnson and his advisers decided upon immediate retaliation with air attacks. Johnson went further in asking Congress to pass a resolution that would authorize further military action. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed by Congress on August seventh. This has been described by historians as a â€Å"blank check† for the Johnson and Nixon administrations (Nelson, 452). It gave the president great authority over decisions made about the war in Vietnam. Both Johnson and Nixon cited the Tonkin Gulf Resolution many times during their terms to justify further military action in Southeast Asia. In 1968, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee performed investigations that revealed that Johnson had been deceptive in gaining the support of Congress. Records and testimonies showed that the U.S. ship attacked that August day in 1964 was actually in North Vietnamese territory gathering sensitive information. It was also revealed that the administration was aware that an attack was possible while in these waters (Nelson, 452). There were also further revelations of the deception of President Johnson. In 1995, Vo Nguyen Giap, a retired Vietnamese general met with former Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara. In this meeting, Giap repeatedly denied that the Tonkin Gulf attack had ever happened. Also, in 2001, a taped conversation between Lyndon Johnson and McNamara exposed Johnson’s o... ...nd lose respect for the United States. These actions have caused us to look like power hungry, arrogant intruders around the world. The deception of the government needs to be terminated. The foreign policy and actions of the United States needs to be made public. Citizens need to be made aware of the government’s intentions, so as to create a wider support group or to give us the right to protest and stop actions they do not agree with. Work Cited Bunch, William. â€Å"Invading Iraq not a new idea for Bush clique.† Philly Daily News. 27 January 2003. Davidson, Kenneth. â€Å"The Real Reasons America is Invading Iraq.† The Age. 20 March 2003. Ellsburg, Daniel. Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers. New York: Viking Penguin, 2002. Martin, Patrick. â€Å"What happened to Iraq’s ‘weapons of mass destruction’?† International Committee of the Fourth International. 22 April 2003. Nelson, Michael. The Presidency A to Z. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1998. Scheer, Christopher. â€Å"Ten Appalling Lies We Were Told About Iraq.† Alternet. 27 June 2003. â€Å"Weapons of Mass Destruction: Who Said What When.† Counter Punch. 29 May 2003.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Counselling Theory Essay

Critically evaluate the practical use of person-Centred theory and its limitations as suggested by its critics. How does Person-Centred theory and practice differ from two other models and what ways if any is it similar? Carl Roger’s, the founder of the Person Centered theory came to his vision through his own life journey and relationship with clients as a psychologist. He believed in the potential being realised in all of us under the right core conditions (congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy) culminating in the actualising tendency: Rogers advocated that there is a tendency within all humans, animals and plants, to move toward completion or fulfilment of potentials, i.e., wholeness. Individuals must develop the concept of self and the awareness of their experiences becoming the person’s self perception and the perception of the organismic self (the true-self). (htt//webspace.ship/edu/cgboer/rogers.htm accessed 28/2/2008) Argument that this is not an argument that can sustain itself†¦.the potato and we are not potato. Roger’s was of the oponion that when there are incongruences between the ideal self and the self concept the more an individual will be fragmented and dysfunctional. Most of our conditions of worth have been set in place by the conditions and experiences of our upbringing and predominantly by parents or initial carers. Positive self regard is important and brought about by positive regard, a need for love and contact with another person where conditions of worth do not determine a persons self-esteem. If you do this then I will love you, hence you can only be successful if you fulfil other peoples expectations .The importance of self positive regard means you are freed from others peoples goals and expectations of you. Therefore you are more likely to fulfil your own expectations and become the whole person, a person you wish to be, an existence that should be harmonious and balanced and actualise the organismic self. ‘The counsellor should relate, not as a scientist to an object of study, not as physician expecting to diagnose and cure but as a person to a person.’ The counsellor must feel the client to be a person of unconditional self worth which means the client is valued whatever his feelings, behaviour and condition. When the counsellor is genuine and congruent and not attempting to hide behind a curtain of himself, touching  with experiences that are understood in his organismic self , and this will enable the counsellor to fully enter into this relationship regardless of where it may lead. ( Rodgers p.185 2004) As the client becomes aware that he/she is accepted unconditionally the process begins and this exploration is possible because the client becomes less threatened at damaging the old structured self he/she had previously been protecting. The client may start to experience emotions more fully which creates a congruence in himself that he is these feelings in all their intensity. Hence, he discovers himself more freely and this constructive change will be reflected in the clients newly experiencing self. Critiques of Rogers’s person-centred therapy begin with his basic conception of human nature as tending toward the good and the healthy. Some critics of Rogers’s theories have difficulty with the concept that therapists can, or should, establish a relationship of unconditional positive regard in the case of dangerously violent persons. There is doubt how parents might put into practice some of these ideas when bringing up children whose behaviour can be difficult and not show any outward appearance of disapproval. http://www.enotes.com/carl-rogers-criticism/rogers-carl accessed on 5/3/2012) The â€Å"organismic valuing process,† sometimes described as an internal monitor of a person’s experiences in life that, under favourable circumstances, allows the development of healthy men or women possessing optimum self-esteem and an accurate sense of who they â€Å"really are† as well as who they would ideally like to become. The obstacle to this development, according to Rogers, are conditions are those generally inflicted early in childhood in which the individual is denied â€Å"unconditional positive regard† and is thereby influenced by either positive or negative â€Å"conditions of worth† which instils values and behaviours that are at odds with a person’s organismic valuing process. The result of exposure to these conditions of worth is the development of individuals who look to the approval of others for their sense of identity rather than finding it within themselves. Consequently serious conflicts arise within the personality between its natural organismic valuing process and its perception of conditions of worth that are alien to it. Such conflicts are the source of the vast array of neurotic symptoms and disorders that have been catalogued since the  inception of psychology as a professional discipline. In order to cure his patients, whom he called â€Å"clients† so as to relate to them in a more equitable manner than did doctors or traditional psychoanalysts, Rogers provided them with the unconditional positive regard they were denied previously by practicing â€Å"nondirective† techniques of therapy that avoided communicating to the client the judgmental or interpretive conditions to which they had already been subjected in life and which were only perpetuated in other therapeutic methods, especially psychoanalysis. A technique of nondirective therapy is â€Å"reflection,† , the therapist literally restating, or reflecting back, what the clients have said so that they themselves may become pro-active and insightful in their own rehabilitation, discovering who they are and the type of person they would have become without the conditioning from others. There is the argument here too that it is an impossibility that we can evolve without any sort of conditioning a point critics love to get their teeth into, especially in our modern society. In On Becoming a Person Rogers explains it as this â€Å"Unless I had a need to demonstrate my own cleverness and learning, I would do better to rely upon the client for the direction of movement.† Roger’s felt that this empowerment by the client gave them the opportunity to attain the highest goal of â€Å"getting in touch with themselves. As Freud himself recognised, it is when the client comes to a realisation (interpretation) themselves that they most embrace it. The therapist can help the client to find the insight, but he cannot â€Å"give† it to him. This points to the valuable nature of the clients own discovery being of paramount importance in the healing process and not being ‘told’. ( A real high five here for person-centred!) However there are criticisms to Rogers technique of non-directivity. Most of these critiques have pre-conceived views that it is impossible for anyone to operate from this perspective and some dismiss the fundamental assumptions of the approach (actualising tendency, self-authority and self-directivity of the client).Lietaer’s (1998) work illustrates this, as he puts the client-centred therapist in the role of expert of ‘the process which is part based on Gendlin’s experiencing theory, seeing the therapist as expert. Cain (1986)although a promoter of the person centred theory takes the position which is identified as ‘instrumental non-directivity, in which  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœnon-directivity is important as long as it is useful intending the intervention only as a suggestion. Again this is taken up by another ( Khan (1999)who suggests ‘ the therapists authority is endorsed with the rationalization that the client is allowed to agree or disagree, ignore or confir m the therapists input’. This theory is alien to Rogers since the locus of control is switched to the therapist as intervention is defined as doing something to interfere in order to hinder or alter actions or behaviour. Maria Bowen a close friend and colleague of Roger’s suggested that non-directivity is a myth. In Roger’s interview with ‘JILL’ she considers a number of Rogers responses as interpretive and directive. She also concludes that Rogers seemed to avoid the ‘dark’ side and evaluated 25 of Roger’s therapy interviews to assess the idea that he operated on a positive bias based upon the question, ‘Did Carl Rogers positive of human nature bias his psychotherapy’. Interestingly enough, the findings showed that Rogers tended to veer more towards responding to the negative than to the positive client statements. Non-directivity does not necessarily lie in the particular responses which come from the person of the therapist. At this point I will look at a more directive module of therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy known as CBT. It originated from Sigmund Freud’s pioneering therapeutic approach to individuals who had suffered childhood sexual abuse in 1895, which involved retelling the traumatic event in order to release repressed emotions. This type of therapy involves cognitive and behavioural techniques whereby clients are encouraged and taught ways to change their thought patterns and expectations and relaxation techniques are used. It is often used for phobias, obsessions, eating disorders, stress related ailments and major depression(sometimes in conjunction with drug treatment).There are various techniques that focus on problem solving, such as homework, diary cards and behavioural analysis. Some patients do not respond well to change and feel their suffering and apparent loss of control over their lives were not understood which has more recently led to the introduction of dialectical b ehavioural therapy. This is described as an acceptance strategy that acknowledges clients behaviour (e.g. .drinking , drug use, self-harm )was the only way the person could deal with certain emotions. Cognitive therapy uses the power of the mind in influencing behaviour. The basis of the theory proposes that previous experience can  damage self image and this can affect attitude emotions and ability to deal with certain issues and life situations. The therapist helps the client to identify, question and change poor mental images of themselves that may help to resolve current negative responses and behaviour, resulting in more positive attitudes and optimistic life view. Person centred therapy also acknowledges that previous life experiences alter self images resulting in negative responses but allows the client to identify, question these and challenge their particular negative responses and behaviour. This comes back to the premise of non-directivity which ultimately is empowering for the client. CBT states that PCT will not be able to access certain suppressed emotion due to the tremendous trauma the brain has endured in the first place.and not be sufficient getting the patient past denial, getting the patient to discover suppressed emotion, and a therapist must be strong, they must push the patient, they must get them agitated in order to provoke the raw emotion that certain trauma locks away. A PCT environment does not achieve any of these things, and only draws the conclusion of lengthening the CBT treatment itself beyond what should be needed. CBT is an assertive therapy, and must be delivered especially in relation to trauma PTSD. CBT is often performed from 10 – 12 sessions, though can go for up-to 12 months if the trauma is of a more complex nature. Beyond this time limit it is presumed something is wrong; either the patient isn’t working hard enough, or the therapist isn’t delivering and pushing the patient to work hard enough. The real pluses for CBT, is that a majority of the structure can be delivered in a group environment, hence limiting the one-on-one patient / therapist time and achieving greater through put of patients, without disregard for end results. [7] CBT can also be used effectively by changing the delivery to suit children of any age, without losing effective purpose or outcomes. [8] CBT can be delivered online, through Internet Therapy known as Interapy, using a mixture of online tasks and electronic interaction with the therapist. These clear advantages are making it far more popular as the tool of choice with trauma specialists in relation to PTSD.(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). A study using neuro-imaging in anxiety disorders concluded that CBT physically affects the brain, specifically in the areas of empathy and forgiveness. Neuro-imaging also identified that CBT in combination with prescribed drugs that the two integrated to work collectively together in order to help open specific pathways within the brain helping regulate the dysfunctional neural circuits involved with the regulation of negative emotions and fear extinction. This again may only be temporary and there are no many medications that are being tested (but not always sufficiently) and prescribed that it will take quite a few years before we know the full impact of these substances on the mind body and spirit of the recipients. To use an analog from an article on various modules of counselling he suggests the human heart-mind could be compared to a concrete yard. The concrete represents the barrier, the defence mechanisms, between the conscious and the unconscious The weeds that grow through the cracks are the difficult thoughts. CBT tries to pull up the weeds as soon as they appear. But the cracks remain and so does the soil beneath, so the weeds keep coming through, naturally. Under pressure more cracks will appear and more weeds – just as for a person under pressure will see their negative thoughts multiply and grow . to block the weeds (and avoid harmful chemical spray: anti-depressants and tranquilisers) you need to tackle the problem at source: where the weeds are coming from, what is going on beneath the concrete. At the deeper levels of the self there are unconscious dynamics that need insight to be resolved .Hence why short term and pharmacology are not necessarily effective in the long term. In contrast to the CBT approach, it is through a basically person-centred approach, already outlined, that the person can be lead in this kind of deep, insight-based work.. No study exists to measure what clinicians claim and know from experience, due to the time based requirements involved on follow-up assessment five, or ten years later. There are then so many factors within such a time frame that would be insufficient to prove one method over the other clinically, ie. re-exposure to stressors, lifestyle changes, etc. Unfortunately due to these life restrictions, studies are typically only demonstrated for short-term gain vs. clinical experience where patients are monitored over years via feedback. | In the summary of the 2008  meta-analysis by Robert Elliot and Elizabeth Freire (Person-Centred/Experiential Therapies Are Highly Effective) looked at 78 studies where PCE therapies were compared to CBT, including 63 RCT’s (Randomised Clinical Trials). Apparently when all the PCE therapies were analysed they seemed to be slightly less effective than CBT . However when meta-analysis statistically controlled for the theoretical orientation of the researcher, otherwise known as researcher allegiance, the effects disappeared as the research was found to be bias which can be quite common in treatment research. After this other studies were done and to see if the superiority would decrease in relation to other supportive therapies and PCE therapies. It was found that pure PCT was statically equivalent in effectiveness to CBT, even without doing any control for researcher allegiance. They concluded that important PCE therapists do their own outcome research and ‘not trust watered down versions of what we do’as Roger’s said ‘the facts are friendly’ which is the legitimate version of Person-Centred Therapy. Transpersonal psychology was one of the first self- declared transpersonal academic disciplines to develop in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. It was building upon earlier studies into psychology of religion and mysticism by William James amongst others and from psychodynamic theorists (Jung and Assagioli) and humanistic psychology (Maslov). It focussed on the exploration of the higher reaches of human nature and experiences often influencing by Eastern religions, philosophies and practices. Transpersonal means ‘beyond’ or ‘through’ the personal, whereby our normal self is transcended resulting in a sense of connection to a larger, more meaningful reality.Transpersonal counselling is varied but are often based on Jungian, Person-Centred, Psychosynthesis, Buddhist, Holotropic principles, to name a few. Important focus’s in transpersonal counselling would be the some of the following: Is there life after death? How can I achieve greater happiness and fulfilment? What is enlightenment? How can I be more creative? Science is also now making headway to show that everything is interconnected in a beneficial mixture of experience.(e.g. Quantum psychiatry, physics and biology: a foetus still carries a cellular record of the agonizing experience and an enormous amount of pent up emotions and physi cal energies.) Transpersonal counsellors may used various methods and could appear directive or non directive and may  also practice meditation or guided fantasies and other creative pursuits. The processes are varied too ( from spiritiual healing and emergence to kundalini awakenings and mediumship.) For example spiritual emergence may be triggered by trauma, stress, illness, life changing events, immature spiritual practice or drugs. Spiritual emergence is considered to be an spiritual opportunity and transformation but can be very overwhelming and often indistinguishable from psychosis. This is why the understanding of a particular approach is essential because a person with these symptoms could be embraced by the therapist that believes it is a part of spiritual growth and by another therapist possibly put on medication and branded a pschizophrenic. it seems like the essence of transpersonal therapy is the valuing of the wholeness of being and self-realization on all levels and all the experi ences that a person has are valuable. Sensitivity to individuals beliefs and practices and major frames of reference are dismissed. Hence why Rogers and the transpersonal are similar in their embracing of the persons frame of reference. Another consideration may be atheist may object to seeing a transpersonal therapist and a religious or spiritual person may feel the need to be seen by therapist with similar spiritual beliefs. When religious belief systems can often be such major identity issues for clients it is important not to be dismissive as some therapeutic disciplines can be. Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Ramakrishna were diagnosed more recently as schizophrenic psychotics, hysterics or epileptics .and the famous psychoanalyst Franz Alexander described Buddhist meditation as ‘artificial catatonia’, which I personally find quite offensive! .Transpersonal combines the awakening of personal awareness and intuition (non-rational knowing)with the body’s ability to heal itself through compassionate self support. Some transpersonal experiences are ‘deep connection and love with other people, a sense of sacredness, euphoria, memories of previous life/lives , creative inspirations, out of body and death/birth experiences. I think that Person centred approach is also geered for creating a journey for personal awareness and intuition with the congruent nature of the discipline and the conditions that are at the core of Roger’s goal of the harmonious self.Techniques may be taught and supported explicitly in the therapy session and, at times shifts in consciousness may be cultivated to allow the individual to develop immediate  insight and inspiration that may not be available through more conventional means. This may provide clients with a skill they can practice on their own. Rogers speaks of something similar as he feels ‘‘all in one piece’ as he ‘settles into’ a holistic mode of perception. Losing awareness of his surroundings and even the sense of time, he demonstrates that he is experiencing , by definition, an altered state of consciousness’ ( Ludwig 1967) He states himself ‘he was able to be more aware , not less, aware than at other times. He states that he ‘never felt as whole or as much a person’ than he did in his therapeutic interviews. In 1961 he commented that ‘when there is this complete unity, singleness, fullness of experiencing in the relationship, then it acquires the ‘out –of-this-world’ quality which therapists have remarked upon, a sort of trance like feeling in the relationship from which both the client and he emerge at the end of the hour, as if from a deep well or tunnel. He spoke of his inner spirit reaching out and touching the inner spirit of the other and the relationship transcending itself, becoming part of something larger where he found profound growth, healing and energy were present.(Rogers p.202) Transpersonal experiences of psychological death, rebirth and oneness, with other people, with nature and the entire universe and the cosmic consciousness can reduce the level of aggression, increase compassion and tolerance and ultimately lead to high ecological awareness, an optimal strategy to lead a fulfilling life and a productive contribution to the collective well-being. This sounds very much like the fully-functioning person Rogers speaks of, the creative and free being that becomes that potential in its fullness in the cosmic picture.Rogers had a definite relationship with transpersonal ideologies although he did not become a transpersonal psychologist he seemed congenial to it, especially in his role in the humanistic psychology, his visits to mediums and attempts to explain his own mediumistic experiences in psychotherapy in the new age language. He was curious and experimental with the transpersonal but he remained a client centred psychotherapist.   CONCLUSION FOR THEORY ESSAY Moreover, Rogers’s work continues to serve as a foundation for the counseling profession (Capuzzi & Gross, 2001; Gibson & Mitchell, 1999; Gladding, 2000; Nugent, 2000). It also plays a major part in the practice of  the vast number of counselors, clinical psychologists, and psychotherapists who describe their practice as â€Å"eclectic† or â€Å"integrative,† including the client-centered approach as a major component in their repertoire (Aspy, Aspy, Russel, & Wedel, 2000; Bergin & Garfield, 1994; Sharf, 2000). But Rogers’s influence extends beyond the field of psychology, just as the career of the man did during his lifetime. While some of Rogers’s critics felt that his theory was superficial (DeMott 1979), overly optimistic, and underestimated the capacity for human evil (May, 1982), the simplicity of his message and his unyielding belief in the strength and power of human potential is carried on in humanistic and transpersonal fields today (Sha rf, 2000; Cowley, 1993). At best, Rogers’s detractors claim, his ideas may be applied only among a limited range of clients, specifically those suffering from the milder forms of neurosis, acknowledging that while person-centred therapy may prove no more effective than any other method, it has yet to demonstrate that it is harmful in any way. Despite such criticisms, Rogers’s theory of personality and his therapeutic methodology continue to gain adherents and have become among the most widely influential trends in the history of psychology.(http://www.enotes.com/carl-rogers-criticism/rogers-carl accessed on 5/3/2012) And Finally, ‘This new world will be more human and humane. It will explore and develop the richness and capacities of the human mind and spirit. It will produce individuals who are more integrated and whole. It will be a world that prizes the individual person—the greatest of our resources.’ (Rogers, 1980, p. 356)