The Relationship Between Corporations and the Environment

The relationship between corporations and the environment is a tumultuous one. Corporations have abused and violated the environment for generations. These actions have now become unacceptable in our present society. There is growing concern for our natural resources; the world's forests, waterways, and air are noticeably tainted. In the last twenty years, the U. S. has become more vigilant in recognizing and passing acts to attempt to regulate and purify our environment. Between 1938 and 1986, twelve acts regarding business and the environment have been passed. The Food and Drug Administration established the first act in 1938. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was passed to regulate food and drug additives. The Delaney Clause in 1958 added the prohibition of the sale of foods containing human or animal carcinogens to the original act. The Wilderness Act of 1964 outlawed the development of wilderness areas and gave new procedures for the appointment of new protected areas. In 1969, the National Environment Policy Act created a nation wide environmental policy and the Council on Environmental Quality. A year later, the first legislation passed for the Clean Air Act. It was relegislated in 1977 and again in 1990. This act established the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control the enforcement of air quality standards. In 1972, both the Federal Insecticide and Rodenticide Act and the Clean Water Act were passed. They were relegislated in 1988; and 1977, 1981, and 1987 respectively. FIFRA requires the registration of every pesticide, certification and preconsumer testing. The Clean Water Act established standards for wastewater treatment, sludge management, and set discharge limitation and water quality standards. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects animals that are threatened or endangered. Relegislated in 1984, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 standardized the manufacturing, transportation, storage, treatment and dumping of solid and hazardous waste. Also passed in 1976 was the Toxic Substances Control Act, which delegates the EPA control over the assessment of risks involved in chemicals and recordkeeping. 1980 saw the passing of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Recovery Act, which brought liability upon the owners, transporters and sources of hazardous waste, and established the Superfund to help with cleanup costs. The Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act requires companies to publicly disclose all chemical and toxic hazards in their operations. 1 These acts have often left companies feeling as though their hands were tied. The Clean Air Act by 1989 managed to reduce air pollution to two thirds of the 1970's level. The Act achieves this through the use of permits to regulate the construction and production of major sources of pollution. The act specifies that a major source is one that emits 100 tons or more per year. This means that a factory can be built that emits 90 tons of pollution per year with out a permit. A permit is also necessary if you want to increase an existing factory that emits 100 tons by 25 tons. This act has its shortcomings. For example, a university wants to expand its heating plant. The administration has two options either modify the existing plant or build a new plant. The university's heating plant emits 100 tons of pollution, this means that they will need a permit. The modification would normally be more cost effective because it is a smaller job and would not take as much time to accomplish. The practicality of the situation would force the building of a new heating plant that is to be smaller than 100 tons of pollution. The reason for this is the delay, cost and uncertainty of the permitting process, which would drive the over all cost up. It is probable that the modification of the single plant would ultimately produce less pollution that the two separate plants. 2 The SARA, or Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act passed by the government as an addendum to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Recovery Act specifies that companies make public details of their storage and handling techniques. All firms manufacturing 300 specific chemicals must abide by this. Firms with ten or more full time workers must painstakingly report must report all chemicals released routinely. The quantity of the specific chemicals released into water, soil, and air, along with a listing of waste treatment efficiency must be made available to the surrounding community. It is difficult for companies to cite specific waste treatment facilities, for not many true ones exist. The public demands total removal of hazardous wastes and at the same time that the goods be produced with the same efficiency and quality. 3 The Clean Water Act is a system of minimum national standards for the discharge of toxins and hazardous waste into the environment. The rules given call for complicated technical decisions to be made by businesses. The fact that a company must comply with all new standards within a year causes for much loss and payment of fines. These acts do have negative effects upon businesses. However, corporations are finding advantages to environmentally sound procedures. Not only are environmentally friendly policies popular with consumers, but they can also save businesses a great deal of money. As the acts and their socially conscious agenda become more assimilated into the business world, business is working to gain advantage and minimize disadvantages. Many case studies support this idea. Corporations have discovered that they can often use environmental friendly programs and products to produce more profits. An excellent example of this is Ben and Jerry's ice cream company. The company began by making all natural ice cream on a very small scale in Burlington, Vermont in 1978. Natural food held great appeal in Vermont, even before it held nation-wide popularity. Soon, their product became extremely popular. Ben and Jerry's all natural products provided the first benefits of environmental-friendly policies for the company. Later, when two large manufacturing facilities were built in Waterbury and St. Albans Vermont, they decided to treat the waste created form their processing with a prototype solar aquatic treatment system. Like a wetland, the system combines solar energy with plants, algae and microbes to break down wastewater. Three â€Å"green teams† strive to ensure compliance with their priorities of managing their waste, conserving energy, practicing sustainability, finding renewable energy sources and forming environmentally positive community programs. Besides these positive actions, which attract many customers, other environmentally correct actions save Ben and Jerry's money. Instead of sending massive amounts of waste to the landfill, the company implemented procedures that minimize waste and reduce cost simultaneously. Cardboard waste is baled and sold or recycled, which saves the company $17,400 annually. Office employees must follow a recycling program to save energy, cost and trees. $235,000 a year is saved in recycling or reusing plastic buckets. As much as $250,000 a year will be saved from new energy saving devices incorporated by the company. There are environmentally positive aspects in every part of the company which prove Ben and Jerry's to be unhypocritical, for the environmentally friendly image they sell their products. Since their total sales were $97 million in 1991, it seems that this philosophy works and brings about a large customer base. 4 Other companies have found profit through environmentally safe Merck & Co. , a worldwide health product corporation for animals and humans, and specialty chemicals balances profit and responsibility even in the face of SARA. To maintain an inner accordance, Merck runs its operations with the same regard for health and well being that its products have. Merck has declared, â€Å"†¦ our commitment is to conduct our business worldwide in a manner that will protect the environment as well as the health and safety of our employees and the public. â€Å"5 Merck made formal its environmental commitment in 1990. In 1990, the company published a statement giving its environmental policies and goals. The progress toward these objectives was charted through periodic reports in a set five-year period. The objectives set by Merck were specific. The minimization of chemicals released into the atmosphere, in turn harming people, animals, the ozone layer, and causing acid rain and the greenhouse effect was one goal. Research to find new ways to minimize waste and conserve resources was a priority. Reduction of waste generation and self-sufficient waste treatment and disposal were another goal. Energy and resource conservation practices were to be utilized in its research, manufacturing and office facilities. Lastly, resource conservation was to be promoted through innovative product design and recyclable materials. 6 Merck, like all chemical producers, was directly confronted with SARA. Though the company is not forced to reduce emissions, its operation procedures go far above SARA suggestions and Clean Air Act regulations. Voluntarily, the company made a commitment to the EPA to follow these higher standards. Merck specifically vowed to reduce carcinogen air emissions by 90% at the end of 1991. Also, these air emissions were to be eradicated by 1993. Finally, Merck would reduce releases of corporate chemicals by around 90% of all direct releases and material transfers for off site disposal by the end of 1995. Merck had reduced all its worldwide releases of toxic chemicals by 50% from 1987 figures by the end of 1992. 7 The goals focusing on toxic waste processing and reductions were to be achieved through a strategic plan at division and plant levels. Divisions, plants and salaried employees directly or indirectly involved with manufacturing were to implement personal goals to help Merck achieve their overall goals. The eight plants under Merck's manufacturing division, along with the two manufacturing vice-presidents, were each accountable for the reduction and better management of waste in the plants. A central environmental resource staff coordinated and supported the effort. SOurce reduction was the biggest priority, followed by recovery/recycling/reuse, and waste management. Most of Merck's waste is non toxic. The toxic minority consists of primarily ethyl alcohol, acetone and methyl alcohol, used in manufacturing processes. The waste stream is boiled, the purified vapors condensed, and the liquid recollected. 90% is recovered for reuse. The remaining 10% is toxic waste. 8 Packaging components have experienced reduction in the interest of landfill space and resource conservation. Cotton wadding in drug bottles has been eliminated in the US. In Europe, there has been a 10% reduction in aluminum and foil waste. A conversion in Europe to standard blister packaging and high volume carton printing reduces waste and saves money. 9 New and more efficient equipment helps to reduce Merck's waste management problems. By standardizing and improving production, Merck is less likely to encounter problems with the FDA for making drug production changes. Approval for production changes is extremely time and cost consuming. Yield and product quality standards are on the same level as environmental standards. Merck, â€Å"takes responsibility for the total life cycle of materials we use and products we manufacture. â€Å"10 Merck keeps lines of communication open with the public concerning its environmental policies. By working with the Chemical Manufacturers Association's Responsible Care Program, Merck provides information to the public through a 1-800 number. The number is linked directly to Merck, where questions regarding Merck plants are answered. Emergency response systems are in place at factories, and for Merck transports. Literature regarding operations and safety procedures are distributed by Merck to keep the public informed. 11 Merck's environmental commitment extends to its corporate headquarters. Environmental preservation of woodland and wetlands upon the site was the priority. The 900,000 square foot hexagon-shaped building and the 700,000 square foot underground parking garage made a minimal effect upon the land. Awards and recognition were in order for this achievement. Kevin Roche, an architect known for designs that blend into the environment, was chosen for the project. The hexagon building surrounds five acres of forest, roads go over the land, and trees were moved rather than destroyed. They were nurtured in a nursery for as long as three years and then returned to the landscape. Energy saving features were utilized in the main building. All paper waste, the principal waste product, is recycled. 2. 8 tons of waste are produced per day, of which 8 tons are recyclable. 12 Merck has made an agreement with the Costa Rican Instituto Nacional de Biodivarsidad (INBio) to grant a million dollars to catalog the immensely diverse life found in Costa Rico. In exchange, Merck is granted the rights to any new medicines found. If a new medicine is found, the royalties will surpass the cost of the failure of the project. The diversity of Costa Rico is thought by scientists to contain more biodiversity then any other planet on earth. Many unknown animals and plants exist in Costa Rico and have yet to be discovered. Merck is training local people to take samples and perform extractions. INBio will analyze the samples. Merck will evaluate samples for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. This mutual beneficent relationship will aid both the environment and Merck. 13 By improving their product, cutting their costs, and improving their public image, Merck has made a profit from environmental friendliness. The envirometal centered policy has opened up new markets and gained a competitive advantage. This compliance is expensive, but seems well worth the expenditure for the return. The EPA also has developed incentives in recent years for environmental policy compliance. The Green Lights program gives companies EPA support to drive down lighting usage, which accounts for over 20% of overall electrical costs. Software, financing information, lighting product consumer reporting is provided free of charge. Public recognition is given through public service ads, news articles, marketing materials, broadcast specials and videotapes. Computer manufacturers who install automatic â€Å"power down† on their computers join the Energy Star program endorsed by the EPA. Consumers and businesses look specifically for this symbol in many cases, causing a gain for the computer manufacturer. Variable Speed Drives for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems save 40% or more efficiency. The EPA has formed a special group buy to make them more affordable. Payback is within three years. Plans are on the board to endorse other â€Å"green† technologies this way. Refrigerators that are produced and function 30-50% more energy efficient then 1993 standards will receive a rebate. These are just a few incentives the EPA is providing. 14 Government and business have often debated over policies and laws. In the case of laws governing business practices and their effects on the environment, this holds true. The balance between being environmentally safe and still producing the quality and quantities needed is delicate. However, today's market makes environmental friendliness sellable, and the procedures involved often save businesses a considerable amount of money. Ben and Jerry's have utilized the market for environmentally aware products and combined it with their company philosophy. Merck has utilized the same business strategy and found ways to surpass SARA and other environmental acts. These businesses prove that being environmentally responsible is not only morally correct, but also profitable.

The Rise and Decline of the Socialist party in America

The Rise and Decline of the Socialist Party in the United States Throughout American history, there have been an array of factions vying for votes in our democratic system of government. These organizations consist of leaders who believe in an idea and have developed ways to achieve that idea. Success of a political organization, or party, is based on how well leaders can convince people to follow them and Join their ranks. Socialism as a political idea is based on cooperative ownership and redistribution of goods, services, and production. The Socialist Party of America was one faction whose roots are based in socialism.Created in 1901, the SPA was formed by the combination of the Social Democratic Party of America, a short lived movement, and the Social Labor Party, a working man's party. This combination attracted new members, as well as members from the progressive and populist parties, which made up the majority of the SPA. The rise of the Socialist Party of America was fueled b y the working mans desire for a utopian society. Campaign promises for public ownership of utilities, better sanitation, and a social security program, at local levels, led to the party's highpoint in 1912.These small successes were short lived. The American citizens sense of individualism and pride as well as a lack in acquiring news members and support set the wheels of failure in motion. The party's staunch opposition to involvement in World War I and the expulsion of its members led to The Socialist Party's final moment. Faction polarization within the party crippled a once unified front, and finally President Roosevelt's â€Å"New Deal† legislation effectively silenced the American Socialist party. The lineage of the Socialist Party of America (SPA) can be traced back to the early 1850s.The United States was a bustling nation full of opportunity. Endless new eginnings and freedoms appealed to European citizens who were looking for a better life. Seeking a better life, a boom in 1850 brought 1,713,000 immigrants through Ellis island, bringing along with them their philosophical ideas of socialisml . The failed German revolution of 1848 procured the emigration of Germans to America. Some of these immigrants were the intellectual leaders of the failed revolution, but most were impoverished Germans that lost confidence in their government to provide for them the basic necessities of life.Along with Germans, Italians, Finns, Jews, Hungarians, Ukrainians, Bohemians and Russians came to America toting their socialist values2. Finns were particularly strong in their socialists ideas. Settling in the Midwest, former Finnish citizens imported a revolutionary perspective of socialism to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan3. Into the 19th century, German immigrants settling in Midwestern cities such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dayton, Ohio, and St. Louis, Missouri put fourth major inputs and provided body to the growth of socialism in the United States.Immigrants to the United States were not the only ones seeking change. The philosophy ot socialism in the states was viewed witn no interest by American itizens. This has to do with the character of American culture and our views. American culture has maintained a faith in individualism, economic advancement, and equal opportunity in the marketplace4. In short, Americans put their faith in capitalism. But capitalism does not always deal everyone a fair hand and there are inconsistencies in the market. This led to formation of radical, third party socialist based movements in America's traditional two party political spectrum.These third parties were viewed as radical because during the 1850's to the 1930's there was an expression of deep distrust towards the expansion and ntervention of states by citizens concerning their private affairs5. Alternatives to socialism were made. The Progressive party's programs of modest state intervention through federal legislative mandate to preserve individua l rights, entrepreneurial values, and the fundamental capitalist structure, appealed to many Americans as a moderate alternative to socialism6. The Populist party was one other third party movement the dabbled in socialist ideas.Running on a platform of government intervention to offset economic troubles and preventing poverty in farming and orking class families ultimately led to the majority of the party consisting of farming and working class families. Many Populists would leave to become socialists7. Out of these movements, a man named Eugene V. Debs would step forward to ignite and unite what would ultimately be known as the Socialist Party of America. Eugene â€Å"Gene† Victor Debs Was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 5th, 1855 and died October 20th, 1926 in Elmhurst, Illinois at the age of 70 years old.Debs was one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), a founding member of the American Railway Union and a democrat in the Indiana General Assembly. Eugene Debs would leave behind a legacy as being the most well known Socialist in the United States8. In 1894, the American railroad car manufacturer Pullman Company reduced hours and wages but not rents on housing for their workers. This resulted in a strike by the employees who then had Joined Debs's American Railway Union.The strike was broken up by President Grover Cleveland and Debs was imprisoned for failing to oppose the strike as leader of the ARU9. In prison Debs passed time by reading work written by Karl Marx. Released in 1895, Debs had become a socialist who believed apitalism should be replaced by a new cooperative system. Debs was for advocated radical reform, but was opposed to the revolutionary violence supported by some well known left-wing political movements10. In 1897 Debs Joined Victor Berger to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP).The SDP was a short lived socialist movement that ran Eugene Debs as a candidate in the 1900 presidential electi on. After receiving only . 6% of the votes, the Social Democratic party combined with the even smaller faction, the Socialist Labor Party of Americal 1 creating the Socialist Party of America SPA) in 1901. The newly created SPA attracted members with various ties to socialism. Between the years ot 1 1 to 1912, the party grew trom 1 members to under 1 The demographic locations of theses voters ranged from the East coast to the West coast with the majority of party members being in Midwestern states.The SPA drew support from Progressives, Populist farmers across the heartland, unions and unionists with the most voting 2 strength coming from immigrants. 13 The socialist Journal Appeal to Reason14, a mixture of articles and extracts from radical socialism based authors such as Karl Marks and Tom Paine, was selling 500,000 copies a week. Thus giving a way to advertise their ideas and party platform. The strength of the SPA was determined by the people who used a vote to cast their voice. Local level victories dotted the map from East to West.New York state and New Jersey were two states that had consistent SPA voters due to immigrants. The Midwest proved to be where the highest concentration of SPA members resided. Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin were the strong holds made up of German immigrants and Populist farmers. SPA members running as candidates tried to appeal to the working man. Public ownership of utilities, better city sanitation services for the poor, better labor standards and a social security program elected 70 mayors into officel 5. SPA victories at the federal level were small.Eugene Debs ran as a presidential candidate in every election between 1900 and 1912, and once in 1920. 1900's election was dismal. Debs received only . 6% of the popular vote. In 1904 Debs Ran again and received an increase in votes, 402,810 3% of the popular vote. Voter turnout in the 1908 election was slightly higher, 420,793 votes for Debs. The election of 1912 showe d the Socialist Party of Americas highpoint. There was 117,984 members of the SPA, and Eugene Debs got a total of 901 ,551 votes, 6% of the popular vote. This was the most impressive showing of any presidential candidate in any United States election. 6 At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the SPA took a staunch opposition against the war. They were opposed to all international wars but not opposed to class warfare. This opposition to the war caused membership to decline and started conflict within the party itself. In 1919, The left Wing Section of the Socialist party emerged as a faction inside the Socialist Party of America. During an election to elect new board members of the SPA, it was seen that the Left Wing Section of the Socialist party was going to gain the majority of seats.Those not in the faction decided against this and said that votes were cast in fraudulent manners. These votes were not tallied and the whole election was rejected. On the 24th of May, 1919 the lead ership expelled 20,000 members who supported the Soviet government. The process continued and by the beginning of July two-thirds of the party had been suspended or expelled. These expelled members would soon Join together to for the Communist Party of America. The growth of radicals worried President Cleveland and his administration. America soon entered into the Red Scare.On 7th November, 1919, the second anniversary of the Russian Revolution, over 10,000 suspected communists and anarchists were arrested in what became known as the Palmer Raids. No evidence a revolution was tound but many radicals were still kept in Jaill As a result ot these raids people were afraid to Join leftist radical parties out of fear of being called a communist, which could result in the deportation to Russia. 3 On October 20th 1926, Eugene Debs died and Norman Thomas replaced him as he leader of the Socialist Party of America.Thomas ran as a presidential candidate in the election preceding his rise to l eadership, but the SPA was weak. Thomas did not get as many votes as Debs due to socialist ideas creeping into President Franklin Roosevelt's (FDR) agenda. In response to the great depression, FDR created his â€Å"New Deal† to ease burdens on families trying to cope. The 1st new deal, FDR's First 100 days, created programs like the civilian conservation corps, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Agricultural Adjustment bureau. These programs dabbled in socialist ideals .The Agricultural Adjustment bureau in particular appealed to Populist-SPA farmers because it was a form of entitlements that helped a struggling farmer. Roosevelt's 2nd New Deal appealed most to SPA members. It called for a Social Security act, the creation ofa labor board and a Fair Labor Standard act. These policies answered what the Socialist Party of America had been trying to push. As a result Norman Thomas urged his supporters to vote Democrat and the Socialist Party of America was turned into no mor e then a doctrinal sect. The immigration boom in the late 1800s brought Socialism to the United States.The formation of the Populist and Progressive parties as alternatives to socialism started a movement of Socialist political parties. After converting his views to socialism, Eugene Debs united these small factions into the Socialist Party of America. The party achieved victories among local politics in the states, Midwestern states being a reliable stronghold. After presidential runs by Eugene Debs from 1900 to 1912, the SPA's highpoint came in 1912 with 117,984 members. Internal breakdown caused party members to turn on each other which resulted in member suspension.

Fresias Deconstruction of American History Essay

Fresias Deconstruction of American History - Essay Example Fresia's thesis examines the criterion of democracy through the nodes of different 'centres', in his case historical personalities, who produce an ideological discourse. He discovers the manner in which it affects the society and how its "spontaneous" thought processes are absorbed in the cultural set-up of a nation. What is most important to notice in his assumptions is the manner in which he cites historical back-ups to his arguments. He starts off by claiming that the Framers of the American constitution were a conglomeration of people who wanted to create a situation of power for themselves. By citing various quotes, such as Benjamin Rush, who considered the plebs as "scums", Fresia makes it clear that the original motif of these people were to create a situation where by they could carry on the legacy of dominance and pass it off by qualifying it as democracy. In doing so, he points the bloody manner in which the so-called 'sacred' American constitution came to be chartered: "Perhaps even more shocking than the personal opinions of the Framers, is the process by which the Constitution was ratified secrecy, deceit and even violence played key roles in the Constitution's passage. These unsavoury tactics were used by the Framers and their allies because the majority of the people were against the ratification of the Constitution." Fresia connects the historical facts with the contemporary American policy of elite decision-making. He points out that whenever, the interests of elites and the public interest coincide, and even if it does not, the elites tend to call the rosters. Fresia blames the policy of "unchecked corporate power" for this and goes on to elucidate the hypocrisy of these corporate-government elites, who in the name of national interest, formulates laws violating accepted standards of decency. He also explains that these covert and anti-democratic measures are not new developments but have been the method of guaranteeing class rule "ever since the Framers decided that they needed the present political system to protect their power and privilege". Fresia's deconstruction of American history follows Bordieu's pattern of the 'habitus' and describes how the discourse of Americanisation has been aided by the structuring of thought-processes, social engineering and archetypal pattern of understanding in a particular way (like the Christian concept of good and evil). The Descartian sense of logic which are propagated by these power mongers make them institutionalised instruments of Repressive State Apparatus: agents of repression, like the Police, that teach by force and violence, in order to maintain the necessary consensus. Fresia says: "As citizens we are supposed to be like the nation's school children who are given no choice but to stand by their desks and mindlessly recite a pledge of allegiance to a flag, a pledge that was introduced into schools at the turn of the century to counter the influence of ideas that immigrant school children had received from their parents and from distant lands." He goes on to quote Benjamin Rush's famous lines: "I consider it possible to convert men into republican machines. This must be done, if we expect them to perform their parts properly, in the great machine of the government of the state.": and deduce that the motif of

Recycled Blackberry Phones Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Recycled Blackberry Phones - Assignment Example This project has been taken into concern for the purpose of designing an appropriate project management plan for recycled Blackberry phones. For making this project successful, various strategies that have been adopted by the company in the past will be deeply analyzed upon. As a project manager, future plans of actions will be decided based on the past strategies adopted and executed by the company. Also, the potential shareholders who can provide variable amount of contribution in the recycling process will also be identified. As a project manager, it will be one of the primary duties to create a well diversified SMART project scope which can be effectively utilized in the overall recycling process of Blackberry phones. The project will also include a well diversified plan concerning the sequence of activities in a step-by-step process that will be implemented in a timely and orderly manner. In addition, written documents concerning the exact amount of resources that will be requir ed for the execution of the project will be maintained. Moreover, another plan concerning HR will be developed along with the broad criterion that will be adopted for identification the success or the failure of the project (BlackBerry, 2013; Cleland & Ireland, 2006; Verizon Wireless, 2013). Stakeholders These entities may include the employees of Blackberry, suppliers and distributors of raw materials along with finished goods. In addition, certain other stakeholders like the creditors of the company along with the customers whose role are considered to be important in determining the overall profitability of an organization would be taken into concern. ... Stakeholders The stakeholders in this recycling process will include different entities that will directly or indirectly get affected by the project especially in an affirmative manner. These entities may include the employees of Blackberry, suppliers and distributors of raw materials along with finished goods. In addition, certain other stakeholders like the creditors of the company along with the customers whose role are considered to be important in determining the overall profitability of an organization would be taken into concern. Being the project manager, it is quite needed to ensure that various outsourced agencies which can deliver effectual ideas pertaining to the launch of new applications and programs in Blackberry phones are also needed to be included in the list of the potential stakeholders. Specially mentioning, the above identified stakeholders would play an imperative part in developing the overall project management planning procedure and most importantly enhancin g the decision-making procedure by a considerable level. It is expected that the roles which play by the recognized stakeholders would eventually standardize the ongoing viability of the project by a greater extent (Groman, 2007). Project Management Plan This portion of the project management plan would hold the top most priority in successful completion of the project concerning recycled Blackberry phones (Hossenlopp, 2010). In order to execute the plan in an orderly and appropriate manner, a few of the most fitting actions will be undertaken that would provide greater aid in quick start of the project (Hossenlopp, 2010). These actions have been elaborated hereunder. Collecting and arranging all reports relating to the availability

How has UK joining the European Union impacted the doctrine of Essay - 1

How has UK joining the European Union impacted the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty - Essay Example essure because of some statutory reforms passed by former regimes affiliated to the Labour party in early 1970s and consequently at the end of the 20th century. Tracking back to the 70s era, the British government enacted laws that saw it join the European Communities (Gifford 2009). Their entry into the European Union brought about some fundamental effects in the UKs parliamentary sovereignty. The principle of UKs Parliamentary sovereignty is derived from historical events that took place in late 1600s. Scholar’s trackback parliamentary sovereignty to the Glorious Revolution that took place in the year 1688. It is regarded by certain individuals as being a significant occasion in the lengthy growth of the separate powers and privileges of the UK Parliament, creating the dominance of laws over prerequisite powers. The UKs Parliament statutory power comprises not only the ability to amend the laws, but also the fact that no other institution within the constitution should have the power of doing so, other than the parliament. By Parliaments sovereignty, it is predestined that there are no statutory restrictions on jurisdictive powers and influences of the UK parliament (McGarry 2012). The Queen gives the bills that are approved by both houses namely: - the House of Commons and the House of Lords the Royal Assent to transform them to become Acts of "the UK" Parliament . Parliamentary Sovereignty additionally includes the notion that the UK courts are compelled to empower laws that are ratified by the UK parliament and to not question the decisions of the parliament exemplified in the statute. According to Albert Venn Dicey, the parliament has a right to unmake or make any rule and there is no other individual or institution recognized under the UK law, who has the mandate to supersede or set aside parliaments legislation. This declaration by Dicey demonstrates the typical explanation of the principle of Parliamentary dominance. It is, however, said that this

Cognitive Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Cognitive Psychology - Essay Example The crux of this interpretation of science, particularly the development of hypotheses about and models of hypothetical generative mechanisms of cognition is that, although unobserved by investigators, such mechanisms are necessary for the production of the observed phenomena (Fodor & Pylyshyn, 1988, 3-71). To find out the logical basis of these hypotheses about unobserved generative mechanisms, scientists have taken the help of the physical sciences. In physical sciences, the hypotheses are not the result of blind guesswork or the unfettered imagination. They are created by the invention of models or hypothetical representations of what such mechanisms may plausibly be in reality. The invention of adequate and plausible models is constrained by the requirement that the nature of what is proposed should conform to the basic type hierarchy that expresses the beliefs people have about the nature of the world. Hypotheses about cognition can be evaluated only by testing their predictions regarding the effects of various environmental manipulations on behaviour (McCloskey, 1991, 387-395). These theoretical entities are said to provide a functional characterization of the central nervous system. This is built on the assumption that the same cognitive process could be implemented or instantiat ed in a variety of different neuroanatomical structures or neurophysiological processes. In other words, this characterization of cognition is materialist, but it does not assume a simple one-to-one mapping between cognitive and neural states and processes. Thus the definition of the cognitive processes can further be modified into a process... There is a startling similarity with present day computational models where this has been a natural mode of computation for widely interconnected computer networks of active elements. The generalization of these ideas to the connectionist view of the brain and behavior is that all important encodings in the brain are represented in terms of relative strengths in the synaptic connections. Connectionism can explain this by assuming that individual neurons do not transmit a large amount of symbolic or representative information, instead, they compete by being appropriately connected to a large number of similar units, and the prevalent and conventional computer model fails to incorporate this in the present understanding of cognitive psychology. Conclusion: However, this realization is important in that connectionist theories of cognitive psychology may with adequate research come out with a newer, modified, and more sophisticated model that explains all or the computer scientist may cr eate a developed computer that can have a cognitive psychology of its own. There are, however, certain troubling questions that need to be answered before one venture into this area. Human cognition involves the management of meaningful signs according to standards of correctness. In developing a computer model according to connectionist theory, there is the probability that one might lose the two main features of human cognition, intentionality, the meaningfulness of signs, and normativity, conformity to standards.

Overview and Objectives of the Network Technology Term Paper

Overview and Objectives of the Network Technology - Term Paper Example The researcher of this term paper presents a study of networks, that is a key part of the training that professionals using IT infrastructure need. This paper relates to the proposed adoption of a new low cost internet based network to help my organization save on network administration costs. There are many internet applications available to organizations that can help build reliable networks. However, there is need for careful analysis of the benefits and the costs of adopting such systems. The major IT applications at the researcher's organization include logging in of patient details, keeping track of the treatment process and recording of prescriptions. In addition, the organization generates and stores data relating to availability of drugs and vendor information. IT also provides support for the billing and accounts department, and is the means through which the other management functions take place. For instance, the management communicates to all members of staff via email g enerated and distributed through the existing network. All these services run from a variety of platforms, some of which are quite expensive to maintain. The proposed low cost network, that is described in this essay and has a very simple design, that may help to reduce the costs the organization incurs in software development and maintenance. Laudon and Laudon point out that â€Å"many business applications are now delivered online as an internet service, rather than as boxed software or custom systems†.

Community Nursing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Community Nursing - Essay Example On the other hand, community health nursing is majorly inclined into three categories. These are referred to as tools of community nursing health practice which include community organizing, epidemiology and health education.Epidiomology deals with the determinants and distribution of injuries and decisions in human population. Community health nursing majorly study populations on the basis on age group with main reference to health problems related to each group. Some of the groups are infants, mothers (below twelve months, children with ages one to fourteen, young adults and many others. Health issue depending on age bracket may include; maternal health which encompasses prenatal care, family planning and abortion (McEwen & Willis, 2007). There are a number of partnerships involved in both public health nursing and community health nursing. They include government health agencies, quasi-governmental organizations dealing with health and lastly nongovernmental health agencies. For instance, Centre for Disease Control (CDC) partnering with Kenyan government in Africa to tackle HIV scourage.Government may fund transportation as CDC funds antroritoviral drugs distribution among the poor populations to curb faster death rates among HIV patients. Summarily, Watson’s theory of transpersonal care consists of the aspects of kindness, love and equanimity in relation to intentional caring. It advocates for being present authentically and cultivation f transpersonal self which surpasses the ego self. Both community health nursing tools and public health objectives and intentions ultimately compliment Watson’s theory since the aspect of care and self giving is a prerequisite of the two

Human resources contributes at SYSCO Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Human resources contributes at SYSCO - Case Study Example For a company to run its operations in a given setting it requires to comply with some rules and procedures set by the existing government authority. These regulations require professional persons to administer it. For SYSCO to receive the Optimas award for general HR excellence from workforce magazine shows that the company have complied with most of the existing regulations and that it is being administered well. Reducing workers compensation calls for strong health and safety regulations and adherence to the same. SYSCO HR team must have dealt seriously with previous injuries and accidents that had occurred in the company. They must have identified the root causes of the injuries and accidents to forge ahead in reducing the same. In addition, HR efforts have seen a reduction in employee’s turnover especially to the team that works at night. Employees and operating managers input in the survey data has helped in making decisions that retain employees. For instance, employees who work at night can receive extra pay for working at night, receive special treatments like supper, or change shifts every week with those who work during the day. Customer satisfaction is another area that SYSCO HR has worked hard to see grow. They have done this through selecting employees with customer oriented skills and trained them on how to value customers as the biggest assets of the company. Getting fee dback form customers might be another means SYSCO HR have used to capture advanced customer needs in their

A Re-managed Heart in Retail Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A Re-managed Heart in Retail Change - Essay Example There are several internal and external factors like the cultural change, technological changes, social behavior and economical changes often influence in the change of organization behavior. Influence of external environment on the organizational behavior of food retailers like Stox Stores In this report we can see the food retailers like Stox Stores needs to change their business practices and organization behavior due to the change in technological development and also because of the social changes that occurs externally from time to time. The use of technology helps the competitors’ to providing better productivity and at a low cost. New products are developed at a shorter time and also at low cost which in turn increase demand for the product. To compete in this situation the organizational changes are required in the field of technology to meet the demand of the customers. The changes in the pattern of consumer behavior also lead to changes in technology for the food ret ailers. Various online stores with the facility of home delivery attracts customer in this busy world (Bakan et. al, n.d. p.8). Another important factor affecting the organizational behaviors’ is the social factor. The behaviors of the customer are changing with time with the change in their lifestyle. Companies need to be more customers centric these days to meet the demand of the customers. Society is more concerned today with the type of services they get from the company. The retail chains are required to manage their operations thinking about the demands of the market. Better service from the company, increase customer loyalty, reputation of the company which in turn increases the market share of the company. The customer centric approach is the modern trend in business process. The services provided by the company should satisfy the needs in respect of customer care, pricing and also the availability. In food retailer industry the management should be smooth so that the customers don’t face any problem while buying and check out process. Cutting queuing time as well as handling the shelf is the major aspects companies should look upon very carefully with proper management and staffing (Lamp, Hair & McDaniel, 2011, p. 105). Relationship between organizational culture and organizational development can influence the way change is managed Organization development is about knowing a system and the people associated with it and then to plan for the development and changes of the organization for growth and better relationship. Organization development practitioners improve the effectiveness of the organization by applying their knowledge on different disciplines (Human Dimension, n.d.). On the other hand the organizational culture is about the personality of the company. It comprises of the firm’s values, norms and assumption of the members and their behaviors’. It’s very difficult to isolate what is culture in an organizati on but every employee knows what is right and wrong for the organizational culture in practice. It can be taken as systems of practices which are carried out in

Why I Do What I Do Essay Essay Example for Free

Why I Do What I Do Essay Essay Never forget why you do what you do and who you do it for, and make sure everything you do honors that. What I’ve seen happen often times (especially in†¦ yup, you guessed it: the education reform movement), is that intentions start out good but the sword starts to swing the other way when money, power, and statistics are valued over the lives and humanity of students. â€Å"Kids first† and â€Å"For the kids† becomes merely rhetoric, as people jump to enact radically dangerous and untested policies that do anything but put kids first. It’s even scarier when these policies are put in place by people with power and money, because then they are blinded by their power and money and fail to see all the intricate parts of the matter. This scares me, because I believe my intentions are good, and the last thing I want to happen is for what I fight for to put students at a greater disadvantage. But I know that won’t happen, as long as I make sure that everything I do for my students stems from why I do what I do. I need my vision to be clear and for that vision, story, and root of my passion to drive me. I need to stay humble and true to my roots. So why do I fight for educational justice? Well for starters, I want to be a teacher. Every time I play that â€Å"nine lives† game at conferences where in each life you can choose any career you want, high school civics and social studies teacher is written in #1-9. But why do I want to be a teacher? Is it so I can watch people’s face fill with disappointment and bewilderment when I tell them my life’s ambition? Is it so I can work 2 other jobs to pay for my first job? Is it so I can have my impact measured by my students’ test scores? Is it so I can get weekends and summers off? The answer is simple: I want to devote my life’s work to inspiring and fostering young, bright, creative, and passionate hearts and minds. The thought of crafting creative and engaging lesson plans, bringing them to life in my classroom, sharing my stories and wisdom with young minds, taking my students to places they’ve never been (both intellectually and literally on field trips and such), and watching the m grow into conscientious, open-minded, kind-hearted, passionate people excites me like no other. I’ve gotten a taste of it through working with children of all ages during my high school and early college careers, and I really cannot wait until I am finally fully trained and prepared to teach my own classroom. But why become active in educational policy and activism? Well the answer to that connects to what I want to teach and how I was taught. Let’s start with the latter. I am very lucky to have gotten the education that I got. It completely changed my life. As I’ve mentioned before in my other posts, I didn’t realize what learning was until I was exposed to a full, well-rounded curriculum that included the arts, humanities, and social justice education. Before, I depended on my high test scores to know that I was learning. Today, I know that no test score could ever reveal how much I had truly grown and learned through my education. For the first time, I was experiencing what I was learning, rather than passively regurgitating information that I barely internalized (something I’m really excellent at doing†¦ I could be a professional test taker and that’s something to be ashamed of). I was finally opening my eyes to the intricacies and complexities of our global society and the field of education, and fina lly understanding concepts like solidarity, inequality, privilege, human rights, justice, and my role in all of these things. Social studies and civics woke my mind and heart and sparked such an immense passion in me that in my spare time, I found myself delving into the issues I studied more and more, as well as becoming more involved in my local community through organizing work and volunteerism. During this time in my life was when I found my passion in education, partly because realized the magic of education through my own transformational experience, and partly because I decided to write my sophomore year research paper on standardized testing and it shattered my long-held (arrogant) faith in tests as well as everything I thought I knew about education. As time went on, I slowly developed my biggest belief: that EVERY student should receive a free, quality, democratic, and well-rounded public education, unhindered by huge class sizes, dilapidated infrastructure, terrible working/learning conditions, inadequate funding, child poverty, high stakes testing, or other broken reform policies. I believe that this is a fundamental human right and true justice. This is why I am fighting for educational justice now. My education helped me find my voice and understand the importance of standing up for justice and equality for my brothers and sisters. When I look at the current attac ks on public education, especially by a group of people I used to trust to improve education, I get this intense emotional reaction that  mirrors the kind I would get in high school every time I read about or discussed a social injustice. My insides burn, my heart races, and every inch in my body longs to get up and do something because what is happening to students, teachers, and schools today is not reform; it’s destruction. I cannot possibly stand by while countless students are literally robbed of true education by neoliberals under the guise of â€Å"innovation†, â€Å"high expectations†, and â€Å"accountability.† I cannot possibly stand by while I hear my students’ stories of feeling unheard and powerless in what should be THEIR fight for THEIR education. I cannot possibly stand by while students continue to be silenced and invisible, their humanity reduced to digits and their futures determined by people who ignorantly implement harmful policies without considering student voice. I cannot possibly stand by while people who don’t want to devote a day of their life to educating a child use their money and power to manipulate and profit from a system they destroyed in the first place (Why is there a billionaire boys club? Oh right, because poverty and economic inequity exist and are silently hurting public education). I realize that I could not care about any of this, live a very easy life, float through grad school, get my teaching credential, and just be a teacher in a high school somewhere. I’m sure the reformies would love that. But I refuse to do that. And that has as much to do with how I was taught as it does with what I want to teach. I want to teach the things that made me a more open-minded, empowered, and justice-seeking person. I want to be a high school teacher of social justice and civic engagement. I believe that true education can and should awaken the mind and heart by fostering critical thinking (mind) and a commitment to social justice (heart). Yes, learning about all the terrible injustice and oppression that has marginalized groups of people throughout history is naturally discouraging, but I feel that there is also such beauty in looking at how the marginalized have historically risen up against their oppressors and fought for the justice and freedom from oppression. W hen students engage with learning material that relates to them and their cultural histories, they are more empowered to think and learn for themselves and take action. This kind of social justice education brings not only knowledge and enlightenment, but also hope for students. Hope that they too can not only live in a better world someday, but also be the reason for that better, more just and equal world. This is what I hope to bring to students. Hope. Light. A true sense of wonder for the world and love for those living in it. Motivation to learn and turn learning into positive action. A sense of empowerment. But how can I possibly begin to teach social justice in a system with so much injustice? I fight for educational justice because I believe that I myself have the power to contribute what I can now so that by the time my future students reach my classroom, the education system will be a more just place. I believe that empowered students like myself can and will stand up for what they believe is right and demand educational rights for all. I believe that education is liberation from oppression. I know I’m going to get a lot of opposition for fighting for what I believe in. Social justice education is equally liberating and threatening to authorities that pray for compliance. But I will not comply under policies and rules that put students at a disadvantage. I will not compl y with people who wish divergent perspectives and beliefs be silenced. I will not comply until there is justice. Instead, I will continue to hope. Hope that I can not only teach in a better education system one day, but also be the reason for that better, more just and equal system. Hope to live my lessons now and one day have my lessons come alive.

Benefits of Telemedicine

Benefits of Telemedicine Introduction Long waiting time and extensive travelling costs have been some of the most significant problems faced by the public health around the world. These long wait lists and travel costs are not only a hurdle to the patient but also to the economy, resulting in considerable productivity loss. These issues have been addressed in a number of researches, recommending various strategies and policies (British Columbia Medical Association, 2006; Adamu Oche, 2013). However, technology can play a vital role in eliminating travel costs and waiting time by implementing telemedicine. Telemedicine can be defined as â€Å"The delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities† (WHO, 2010, p.9). It is especially beneficial for people residing in under-developed, less economically developed or remote and rural areas of developed countries that lack basic or specialist healthcare. It is an effective means of reducing travel costs as well as consultation wait time (Ontario Telemedicine Network, 2012). Background Telemedicine is a relatively new field and has the potential to address various barriers in administration of quality healthcare and enable equitable access to health. However, cost-effectiveness studies are of supreme importance for wide adoption of telemedicine and to convince physicians and policy makers of its effectiveness. Without any information on the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine policy makers, decision maker, implementers run the risk of supporting telemedicine systems that are not perceptive to healthcare needs of the patient and which do not provide cost-effective services either from patient or provider perspective (Hailey, 2005). Most of the empirical studies on cost-effectiveness of telemedicine are either based on assumptions, weak evidence and inadequate details on study design and methodologies or narrow perception on the outcome. Whitten et al. (2002) undertook a systematic review of cost effectiveness studies, and identified several articles that met their se lection criteria. Most of the studies provided no details of sensitivity analysis, none employed cost utility analysis and no study adequately compared telemedicine services to traditionally organized health care. Thus, concluding that â€Å"there is no good evidence that telemedicine is a cost effective means of delivering health care† Telemedicine costs are mainly determined by the scale and utilization of the service. For example, if a large number of patients use telemedicine service, the cost of the service would significantly decrease. Mistry (2011) highlighted that many studies fail to define what is meant by cost-effectiveness or provide a cost-effectiveness threshold. Furthermore, his analysis defined that cost-effectiveness of telemedicine depends not only on the service being assessed, patient group and sample size, type of economic analysis and how the costs and outcomes are measured, but also on the take-up rate and the usage of the service. Cost-effectiveness of telemedicine may vary according to it usage in sub-specialty such as teleradiology (WHO, 2010), telepsychiatry (Spek et al., 2006), teledermatology (Loane et al., 2001) etcetera, as concluded by a systematic review that the potential effectiveness of telemedicine could only be credited to teleradiology, telepsychiatry, transmission of ECHO images and consultations between primary and secondary health providers (Roine, Ohinmaa Hailey, 2001). According to a systematic review by Wade, Karnon, Elshaug Hiller (2010), real-time telemedicine was cost-effective for home care but not for local delivery of services between hospitals and primary care. Similarly, in a cost study by Lamminen, Lamminen, Ruohonen Uusitalo (2001) concluded that benefits and savings attained through teleconsultations included reduction in travel costs and paperwork as well as time savings for the patient, with an addition benefit of improved medical learning. Use of telemedicine in chronic pain management has yield worthwhile results as patients suffering from chronic pain often find it back-breaking to travel long distances for treatment. Telemedicine delivered to such patients for pain management, irrespective of their geographical location, were 56% satisfied as compared to the 24% of traditional in-person clinical visits, resulting in significant cost advantage for patients and attendees (Pronovost, Peng Kern, 2009). Pronovost et al. (2009) also inferred that significant improvement on a patient’s financial budget was a likely factor for greater degree of telemedicine patient satisfaction as compared to in-person clinical visit group. Chan, Woo, Chan Hjelm (2000) in a study for cost effectiveness of geriatric teledermatology concluded that travelling to see a dermatologist is a hurdle, for the elderly and disabled patients, which can be cost effectively resolved by teledermatology. Hayward Mitchell (2000) in their cost effec tiveness study for teleradiology identified tangible benefits from patient perspective as reduced costs of travel and accommodation, need for childcare and time off from work. Intangible benefits included faster management of medical problems, reduced anxiety as second opinion is rapidly provided, equitable access to specialist level opinion. A retrospective study from 2005 to 2012 examined the cost effectiveness of telemedicine diabetes consultations and concluded that telemedicine setup was associated with improved cost effectiveness and patient satisfaction. It emphasizes that patient satisfaction was primarily related to the major decrease in travel time, which accounts to a full working day (Levin, Madsen, Petersen, Wanscher Hangaard, 2013). A systematic review on cost comparison between telemonitoring and usual care of heart failure reported that all studies reviewed found a reduction in costs that ranged from 1.6% to 68.3%. These cost reductions were largely attributed to reduced hospitalization and travel costs. It was found that 55% of the patients were willing to pay $20 and 19% were willing to pay $40 to access telemedicine instead of traveling to the physician’s office (Seto, 2008). Similarly, a study reported 24% cost saving; of cost per year; of patients using telemedicine (Zanaboni et al., 2013). Transportation savings using telemedicine have been noted in several studies- Maass, Kosonen Kormano; James Folen study (as cited in Whitacre, 2011, p.176). Thaker, Monypenny, Olver Sabesan (2013) included various costs in their cost savings teleoncology model; from one-time costs to running costs; and found that it provides considerable savings, compared to the usual mode of healthcare delivery. Savings were attributed to reduced patient travel, along with an escort, to a tertiary center, avoiding of overnight accommodation, aeromedical retrievals as well as reduced visits from a specialist. It emphasizes that the net savings are mainly due to reduced patient travel and this model can be applied to geographically distant rural areas, which require lengthy travel. Research has shown that the availability of telemedicine allows rural areas to offer a larger variety of healthcare services, improve the overall perception of healthcare quality – Ricket’s study (as cited in Whitacre, 2011, p.172) and increases equality between citizens as medical expertise becomes available irrespective of patient location (Maass, Kosonen Kormano, 1999). It impacts the economy of a rural community by reducing travel that lowers transportation costs and decreases missed time from work; increases local pharmacy and lab work and provides saving to the hospital by out-sourcing telemedicine procedures. Increase in local pharmacy and lab work has a financial impact on the local economy which is mainly because telemedicine patients do not leave their local areas to receive their original diagnosis hence any resulting follow-up work ends up at the local pharmacy or lab (Whitacre, 2011). One of the major points of telemedicine adoption is abridging distances thus reducing productivity loss and delivering high quality health care outside the healthcare center. It highlights that since telemedicine reduces the number of visits, it consequentially reduces travel expenses as well as productivity loss (Fusco, Trieste Turchetti, 2013; Deshpande, Khoja, Lorca, McKibbon, Rizo Jadad, 2008).

Religious Information Seeking on Social Media in Saudi

Religious Information Seeking on Social Media in Saudi Abdullah Almobarraz Religious Information Seeking on Social Media in Saudi Society ABSTRACT Reading and learning about religious information is a habit that Saudis practice to increase their understanding of Islamic rules. It is common now for people to learn about religion from social media. Therefore, the study reports on a survey that was distributed to people in Saudi Arabia to investigate the use of social media technologies for religious information seeking. The objective is to determine if Saudis utilize social media to search for religious information and to understand their information-seeking behaviors when using such a resource. In addition, the study is an attempt to investigate how religious information on social media changes and influences people, and what obstacles and difficulties Saudis encounter when they use social media to obtain religious information. Keywords: Information behavior, Internet resources, Religious information, Saudi Society, Social network, Social media Introduction Social media has become a popular tool used to search for information during the past few years. Currently, a growing number of people use social media in all activities related to their lives. Social media tools can also be excellent for searching out, learning, and publishing religious information. As people become more adept in their use of social media in religious learning and practice, questions begin to emerge about the implications of new media platforms and practices for faith formation, leadership, and religious practice across traditions (Anderson, 2013). By answering these questions, we can come to understand why social media is commonly used to change religious views and deliver beliefs to different types of people. As social media increasingly becomes part of our daily lives, people will find new ways to interact with religion and spirituality. In the digital age, a group of virtual religionists will emerge, comprising individuals who do not affiliate with religious institutions, but are nevertheless engaged in many aspects of a faith community through social networking (Miller, 2011). Research Problem Reading and learning about religious information is a habit that Saudis practice to increase their understanding of Islamic rules. In the past, most people learned about religion from traditional resources, such as attending religious events, reading books and journals, and watching television programs. But with the advent of social media, religious information and resources have become accessible through this new channel. However, we do not know how religion and new forms of social media interact or what impact they have on each other. Indeed, no study has thus far investigated the use of social media or its content on the subject of religion. Therefore, this study explores the extent to which Saudis utilize social media to find religious information and examines how this affects their knowledge and learning style. Specifically, this exploratory study employs a quantitative approach through the distribution of a questionnaire to collect data related to the population. Literature Review Social media plays a clear role in changing the way people talk about faith and share religious information and perspectives, so religious leaders find it a great way to involve younger generations who may not be growing up with religion in their households (Cyprian, 2015). Recent years have seen a concern with the publishing of new information to help religious scholars understand digital media-especially social media. Religious leaders can now find texts to guide them through the construction of websites, blogs, and social media (Hutchings, 2012). However, the use of social media is not limited to religious leaders, but is also used by laypeople. It has increasingly become an important source of religious information for many people in the world (Harvey, 2014). In an average week, one in five Americans shares their religious faith online (Pew Research Center, 2014). In addition to sharing their religious faith, people use social media to share information about their favorite relig ious organizations, activities, preachers, religious resources, Web sites, educational materials, new issues, and much more (Groenpj, 2011). Preston (2011) reported that although it is too early to say that social media has transformed the way in which people practice religion, the number of people discussing faith on Facebook has significantly increased in the past year. This trend is supported by the findings of Tallant (2013), who declared that over 43 million Facebook users are fans of at least one religious page, and 31% of users in the United States list a religion in their profile. At this very basic level, it is possible to see that members of religious groups are using Facebook and are incorporating their religious beliefs into their online activities. As the use of social media evolves into an essential part of peoples daily lives, religious organizations are also using social media tools in increasingly inspired ways to spread their influence and build communities (Newberg, 2013). For example, a recent study in China showed that digital and social media have allowed one of the largest international religious an d benevolent organizations to keep in touch with its more than 10 million followers worldwide, helping it in its mission to provide humanitarian relief (Cheong, Hwang, Brummans, 2014). Religious information in the Islamic world is also in the category of favored information. Baddawy (2014) surveyed 250 Muslim Facebook users and found that the highest percent of them are attracted by religious information. Mustafa et al. (2013) states that the attraction of information may contribute to religious understanding; however, this is reliant on how people perceive the Islamic information shared on social media. Religious information may lead to improper behavior due to various reasons, such as ignorance of a religion, ease of online publishing, and spread of fringe groups (Hammad Faraj Allah, 2011). In Saudi Arabia, over the past few years, social media usage has been one of the most rapidly adopted activities, with more and more users accessing the Internet via their smartphones and tablets (AlJabre, 2013). Research conducted by Global Web Index suggested that almost 25% of the population in Saudi Arabia is active on social media (Zarovsky, 2013). Moreover, a social media agency report showed that there are 3 million Twitter users (around 12% of the population), growing by 3000%, with an average 50 million tweets per month, 840,000 LinkedIn users (4% of the population), and 6 million Facebook users (23% of the population) (Social Clinic, 2014). The adoption of social media has had a great effect on Saudis behaviors and beliefs (Alsharkh, 2012). Religion, for example, is an essential part of society, and so information related to religious issues has a crucial influence upon the cultures and thinking styles of individuals. Almaghthaway (2011) states that these issues used to be delivered by preachers and through traditional resources such as newspapers and audio materials, but in the 20th century, this all began to change. The advent of greater literacy, the deterioration of religious establishments, and new forms of communication such as radio and television all contributed to breaking down the pre-modern modes of religious authority (Almaghthaway, 2011). The late 20th century brought forth a new phenomenon: the creation of Google. It is now common for Muslims to search for answers to religious questions by accessing the Internet. Social media, especially mobile computing devices such as smartphones and tables, contributes to the importance of the Internet as a source of religious information, which fosters discussion of contemporary religious issues. Increasingly, Saudis are posing questions to people they identify as religious authorities through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media apparatuses (Hellyer, 2013). Purpose of the Study and Research Questions Although some research has been conducted on the effects of social media on peoples lives, previous studies have not focused on specific areas of Saudi society. More specifically, no studies have examined the effect of social media on religious information seeking. Therefore, the current study serves to examine this issue by using a descriptive method to investigate how religious information on social media changes and influences people. The study was designed to address four questions central to understanding Saudis information-seeking behavior on social media regarding religious information: To what extent do Saudis use social media for religious purposes? What are the purposes and strategies of searching for religious information via social media? To what extent do Saudis trust social media to obtain religious information? What obstacles and difficulties do Saudis encounter when they use social media to obtain religious information? Methodology This study applied a quantitative research design involving a questionnaire distributed by e-mail to a group of participants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants represent various segments of society. The questionnaire contained 14 items in five categories in order to collect data related to participants use of searches via social media for religious information. The five question categories were (a) the demographics of participants; (b) usage level of social media; (c) purposes of and strategies for use; (d) behavioral trust in social media; and (e) obstacles to social media use. A total of 492 participants completed the questionnaire. Due to the nature of the research, descriptive statistical techniques were used to analyze and report the data. In the following sections, the findings are presented in relevant tables immediately after their corresponding interpretations. Data Analysis and Results Descriptive statistics on each variable of the study are used to investigate peoples use of social media related to religious information. The percentage for each survey item question is reported in the tables that follow. The results are divided into categories that address the previously mentioned five issues, namely the demographic characteristics of participants, social media use, purposes and strategies of use, trust in social media, and difficulties of use. Demographic Characteristics of the Sample As shown in Table 1, participants were relatively equally split by gender, with 54% men and 46% women. As for age groups, 40% were aged 20-30 years, 28% were 31-40 years, 17% were 41-50 years, 9% were less than 20 years, and 5% were in the 51-60 years age group. As for marital status, the majority of participants (62%) were married, 34% were single, 3% were divorced, and only 1% were widowed. As for level of education, half of the participants (50%) had a bachelors degree, 18% had completed high school, 13% held an associate degree, 10% had a masters degree, 6% had a doctorate, and the rest of participants (3%) had not completed high school. In terms of occupation, 45% reported being government employees, 23% were students, 15% were unemployed, 13% were private-sector employees, and 4% were self-employed. Table 1. Demographic characteristics Variable Item Percentage Gender Male Female 54% 46% Marital status Single Married Divorced Widowed 34% 62% 3% 1% Age (years old) 20-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 >60 9% 40% 28% 17% 5% 0 Level of education Less than high school High school Associate degree Bachelors Masters Doctorate 3% 18% 13% 50% 10% 6% Occupation Student Government employee Private-sector employee Self-employed Unemployed 23% 45% 13% 4% 15% Social Media Usage for Searching for Religious Information Table 2 shows the percentage of participants who strongly agree, agree, sometimes agree, disagree, and strongly disagree, respectively, with the use of social media to obtain religious information. Almost half of the participants (47%) agreed or strongly agreed that social media is their preferred source for obtaining religious information. This phenomenon could be a result of the widespread use of social media by Saudi religious scholars. Of the top 10 most-followed users of social media in Saudi Arabia, 5 are religious scholars (Tweepar, 2014). Therefore, a large amount of information related to religion will be available to those who look for it on social media. Table 2. Use of social media to obtain religious information Opinion Frequency Percentage Strongly agree 82 17% Agree 148 30% Sometimes agree 189 38% Disagree 48 10% Strongly disagree 25 5% Traditional Resources for Religious Information Participants were allowed to choose more than one option to specify the resources they used to search for religious information before the advent of social media. Table 3 shows that among the different pre-social media resources, Internet Websites were reported by 64% of participants as their primary resource, followed by books (55%). A much smaller percentage of participants (3%) indicated that they used newspapers to obtain religious information. Table 3. Resources used to search for religious information before the advent of social media Resources Frequency Percentage Books 271 55% Journals 19 4% Newspapers 16 3% Audiovisual materials 260 53% Websites 315 64% Other 29 6% Most-Consulted Social Media When seeking religious information, the majority of participants (71%) consulted Twitter, followed by Google+ (42%). Surprisingly, Facebook was consulted for religious information by only 11% of participants. This finding differs from the general state of social media in Saudi Arabia, as Facebook is favored in that country (Social Clinic, 2014). Table 4. Most-used social media for seeking religious information Media Frequency Percentage Twitter 348 71% Facebook 54 11% LinkedIn 10 2% Google+ 207 42% H5 2 1% Other 65 13% Purposes of Using Social Media Related to Religion Alzoman (2012) stated that Saudi youths mostly use social media to understand and learn about new events. This study is consistent with those previous results. As Table 5 shows, learning about religion was the biggest reason (43%) for using social media to obtain information about religion, followed closely by the desire to read posts written by religious scholars (40%) who have a good reputation and are highly popular and by the desire to find answers related to religious issues in society (34%), and by the wish to communicate with religious scholars (12%). Table 5. Purpose for using social media Purpose Frequency Percentage Finding answers to religious issues 166 34% Communicating with religious scholars 61 12% Learning about religion 213 43% Reading posts written by religious scholars 198 40% Other 63 13% Religious Information Sources Although most people use electronic databases and formal Websites rather than personal Websites to locate new information and keep pace with scientific developments in their fields of specialty (Alsharhan, 2002), the search for religious information seems to operate differently. Almost half of the participants (45%) reported that they turn to the personal accounts of religious specialists to find information about religion. This finding may be unsurprising for Saudi Arabia due to the good reputation religious scholars hold within that society. Institutional accounts, by contrast, did not have the same popularity with participants, only 21% of whom reported using institutional accounts (government and nongovernment) for this kind of search. Table 6. Sources for searching for religious information via social media Source Frequency Percentage Government agencies accounts 110 16% Nongovernment agencies accounts 46 7% Personal accounts of religious specialists 308 45% Subject headings and hashtags 201 29% Other 21 3% Handling Information Participants were asked what actions they usually take after finding the information for which they were searching. The majority (68%) declared that they search for other sources to verify the credibility of the information. Because any one can publish information on social media, participants might understandably not trust information the first time they see it. Social media is full of both no credible users and no credible information. Therefore, some users prefer to make some kind of evaluation before accepting information as credible. The behavior of the remaining 32% was as follows: 12% accept the information and use it for their original purpose, 12% discuss the information and comment on it, and 6% publish it in their social media accounts. Table 7. Action taken after obtaining information Action Frequency Percentage Accept it and use it for my original purpose 60 12% Search for other sources to verify the credibility 335 68% Publish it in my social media accounts 30 6% Discuss and comment on it 58 12% Other 9 2% Credibility Participants were asked to report their opinions regarding the credibility of religious information on social media and whether or not it can be trusted. A five-point Likert scale was given to measure this item, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The highest percentage of participants (45%) indicated that they sometimes trusted religious information on social media, whereas 32% of participants either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the credibility of social media. This matches the previous result indicating that users will search for other resources to verify the credibility of information they find on social media. The rest of the participants (24%) indicated that they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that social media is credible and trustworthy. Table 8. Religious information on social media is credible and can be trusted Opinion Frequency Percentage Strongly agree 20 4% Agree 96 20% Sometimes agree 220 45% Disagree 128 26% Strongly disagree 28 6% Social Media Sufficiency Table 9 shows the percentage of participants who strongly agree, agree, sometimes agree, disagree, or strongly disagree with the statement that religious information on social media is sufficient and meets their needs. A plurality of participants (38%) disagreed or strongly disagreed with this statement, whereas the next highest percentage (33%) thought that it is sometimes sufficient. This is not surprising, because many people feel strongly about their religion and therefore may care about the credibility of religious information more than some other types of information. The information found on social media may be posted by users who are nonspecialists in religion. This leads many people to search for more credible and trusted resources. The rest (29%) of participants agreed or strongly agreed that religious information on social media is sufficient and meets their needs. Table 9. Social media sufficiency Opinion Frequency Percentage Strongly agree 16 3% Agree 128 26% Sometimes agree 163 33% Disagree 148 30% Strongly disagree 37 8% Influence on Peoples Thoughts Table 10 reports participants opinions regarding the statement that social media affects religious thoughts on society. The majority of participants (82%) reported that they agreed or strongly agreed with this statement. This result is compatible with a referendum conducted by a local newspaper that indicated that social media sites influence the personality of users and change their intellectual and cultural attitudes (Okaz newspaper, 2013). Only a small percentage of participants (3%) disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement. This finding shows the strength of social media in Saudi society, further confirming its role in societal and cultural transformation. Table 10. Social media affects religious thoughts on society Opinion Frequency Percentage Strongly agree 148 30% Agree 258 52% Sometimes agree 71 14% Disagree 12 2% Strongly disagree 3 1% Presentation and Dissemination of Religious Issues A recent study revealed that social media is very effective at improving the dissemination of information (Allen, Stanton, Di Pietro, Moseley, 2013). The present study reached the same result. Table 11 shows that most participants (76%) agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that social media is useful in presenting and disseminating religious issues. By contrast, only a small number of participants (8%) reported that they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement regarding the positive role of social media in publishing religious opinions and issues. Table 11. Social media is useful for presenting and disseminating religious issues Opinion Frequency Percentage Strongly agree 154 31% Agree 223 45% Sometimes agree 76 15% Disagree 31 6% Strongly disagree 8 2% Social Media Censorship Saudi Arabias Internet censorship is considered one of the most extensive in the world, and restricted and blocked Websites include those that are incompatible with Islam (Almobarraz, 2007). Therefore, participants were asked if they believed that the religious content of social media risked censorship. Table 12 shows that the highest percentage (44%) sometimes agreed that religious information on social media was blocked, whereas the next highest percentage (34%) agreed or strongly agreed with this statement. The rest of participants (22%) either disagreed or strongly disagreed. Table 12. Some accounts specializing in religious information are blocked Opinion Frequency Percentage Strongly agree 51 10% Agree 118 24% Sometimes agree 216 44% Disagree 84 17% Strongly disagree 23 5% Awareness of Religious Accounts Participants were asked if they were aware of specialized religious accounts. As shown in Table 13, combining the positive responses of agree and strongly agree indicates that a plurality of participants (45%) were aware of specialized religious accounts on social media. The combination of negative responses of disagree and strongly disagree indicates that 25% were unaware of such accounts. The rest of participants (30%) were neutral. Table 13. Knowledge and awareness of accounts specializing in religious information Opinion Frequency Percentage Strongly agree 39 8% Agree 182 37% Sometimes agree 147 30% Disagree 109 22% Strongly disagree 15 3% Presence of Religious Resources on Social Media Participants were asked about the resources they trust to find religious information presented on social

Hamlet: Nature of Truth Essay -- GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet:   Nature of Truth Hamlet  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To some, truth is something that is absolute and unchanging. To others, truth is volatile and inconstant. In the 16th and 17th century, the foundations of civilization itself had been shaken. Many of the ideas which were thought to be absolutely true had been plunged into the depths of uncertainty. The cosmological, geographical, and religious revolutions called into question the nature of truth itself. It is no wonder, then, that some of the great writers at the time included within their works a treatise on the ways in which truth is constructed. Because of the major ideological revolutions that shaped his world Shakespeare used characters and theatrical devices to create their own ideas on the construction of truth. Shakespeare agrees that each individual must search for his or her conception of the truth, based upon our his or her current knowledge, but he uses the limitations of the stage itself to demonstrate this idea. When Ophelia dies at the end of Act IV, Gertrude gives Laertes a vivid description of Ophelia's death, but this death is never acted on stage. We never know for sure whether Gertrude is telling the truth, and if she was a witness to the death, why she didn't try to save Ophelia. The fact that we only hear about the death calls into question the validity of the transmission of knowledge from one person to another, suggesting that truth itself is not something that one will always learn from another, but something that one must find by oneself. Shakespeare further complicates the truth in Hamlet with the many unanswered questions he leaves us with. We don't know for sure if the ghost is truly good or e... ...d by the rest of history. The revolution of thought that occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries forced Shakespeare and other authors to change the foundations of their own thought. They were all willing to present to us their own ideology of truth so that we may benefit from their knowledge. Everyone faces these crises in life, the crisis of one's own opinions being shattered by reality. We may hold on to our opinions, disregarding fact or twisting the facts to fit our theories. But in order for progress to occur, we must at times shed our previous beliefs in favor of ones newly created. We must endeavor to find a version of the truth that is based in knowledge, and one that satisfies our desires. We may never find a version of truth that is satisfactory for everyone. But our search cannot cease. The truth, after all, is in the eye of the beholder.      

The Effective Use of Symbols in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Lette

The Effective Use of Symbols in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter Webster defined "symbol" with these words: "Something concrete that represents or suggests another thing that cannot in itself be pictured." This concept has been particularly applied to literature and used by writers throughout history. Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter uses multitudes of symbols in such a manner. One of the most prominent, and most complicated, of such symbols is the scarlet letter "A". The scarlet letter "A" is a symbol of a daughter's connection to her mother, isolation, and the devil and its associations. The scarlet letter represents Pearl's emotional attachment to Hester. For instance, Pearl is as deeply affectionate to the letter as she is to her mother. In chapter ten, Pearl takes "a handful of [burrs], [and she arranged] them along the lines of the scarlet letter." In this instance, Pearl is showing her fondness for her mother by decorating her letter - as if the letter itself were a medium between the two. Additionally, Pearl views the letter and her mother as equals. During chapter fourteen, Hester decides to remove her letter while in the forest. Thus, Pearl is reluctant to approach her. Hester, realizing what is wrong, says, "Pearl misses that which she has always seen me wear." After she returns the letter her bosom, "Pearl kissed [Hester's] brow and both cheeks ... but ... Pearl put up her mouth, and kissed the scarlet letter too. (Hawthorne)" Because of the fact that Pearl equates the letter to her mother, the letter is as deep a symbol of motherly connection as Hester is herself. In addition to emotional attachment, the scarlet letter represents isolation. Whoever wears the letter will be feared by so... ...references to the devil and Hell make it clear that the letter is indeed infernal. The scarlet letter "A", the most intricate symbol in the novel, is extremely diverse as its meanings strongly contrast. Often times, these meanings of the symbol are directly stated, but they are frequently indirect as well. The symbol's meaning can also be expressed through a variety of methods such as character dialogue, narrative, or allusions through imagery. Despite the differences between maternal love, estrangement, and avernal entities, the letter is still able to encompass these concepts into its symbolism. Works Cited Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. Langenscheidt's Pocket Merriam-Webster Dictionary. New York: Langenscheidt Publishers, Inc, 1999. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 1997.

Comparison of the North American and Japanese Educational Systems Essay

Comparison of the North American and Japanese Educational Systems The comparison between Japanese and North American educational systems is often used. The Japanese system, along with other Asian cultures, places importance on the group and the interdependence of its members (Cole & Cole, 2001, p. 541). The North American model, in contrast, focuses on the ideals of individuality and independence (Cole & Cole, 2001, p.541). This contrast is due to a conflicting cultural/social structure and outlook of the world. Japanese look at the development of self as doubled sided: the inner self and the social or public self (Hoffman, 2000, p.307). Within the Japanese education system, the teacher's goal is to develop and cultivate both layers. Opposing this concept can be found in the North American style, which does not distinguish the two, but instead stresses the importance of the one true self (Hoffman, 2000, p.307). It is interesting to compare my personal experiences as an educator in both Japan and Canada. Both educational systems aims towards the sam e outcome: the development of the child toward their future role in adult society. However, the difference can be seen in the differences in the educator's desire for the children’s development, and their role in adult society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Japanese educational system emphasizes the importance of the group (Hoffman, 2000, 301). The national, cultural image reflects its stress on group interconnectedness (Hoffman, 2000, p.301). Within a classroom’s daily life, large group activities are encouraged. Japanese students spend less time seated and more time participating in whole or small group activities (Hoffman, 2000, p.302). On a regular basis, as a teacher in elementary schools in Japan, I prepared group or whole class interactive activities. As children learn, the attention is given to the children' development in terms of a collective effort as a class (Hoffman, 2000, p.302). In Japan, the greatest task of the children's education is considered to be their socialization into group life (Hoffman, 2000, p.302). In the middle childhood years, there is a large increase of formalization and rituals in schools. Every part if life is a routine. The school code of dress, attitude, and daily routi ne, all are oriented to encourage proper observance of form (Hoffman, 2000, p.305). The role of the teacher is not authorita... ...The culture as a whole, reflects the need to be a member of a group. There are many cultural, sports and social adult groups. Within groups, Japanese adults are some of the most unique people, but without it, you wonder where their identity lies: what the group is or what they are as people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both of these educational systems are reflective of the culture. The Japanese educational system aims to socialize the children to rely on groups and stresses the importance of relations within those groups. In contrast, the North American educational system aims to socialize the children to be independent and individualistic. Each system aims to socialize their children in a way they see as important for the culture they live in. Japanese culture is very dependent on the group concept, whereas the North American culture stresses the notion of independence. References: Cole, Michael, & Sheila R. Cole, (2001) The Development if Children. (4th ed.). New   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  York, New York: Worth Publishers. Hoffman D, (2000). Individualism and Individuality in American and Japanese Early   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Education: A Review and Critique. American Journal of Education 108 (Aug.,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2000): 300-317.

International Economy (Eu)& UK Construction Sector Essay

When John Maynard Keynes, father of modern microeconomics, first formulated the theory of how to increase national product, brass domestic production, and address the issues of inflation and unemployment, government spending was the example that he drew upon as one of the economic solutions in order to escape such problems which had significantly impacted the United States in many European countries and even resulted in the economic Great Depression. This is important especially for the topic of construction and infrastructure in the United Kingdom because, as the economist had place it, construction and infrastructure projects are the largest government spending economic activities (Begg et al. 2008). Therefore, in the question of economic development for the UK, construction in such public Works by the government is seen as the primary way in order to follow such economic concepts to avoid further microeconomic problems. However, economics understands that the local projects such as infrastructure that are created by the government in order to deliver services under the umbrella of public goods do not occur in a static situation and there are other external economic variables that are taken into consideration in such an occurrence(Begg et al. 2008). Therefore, especially in today’s global economy, the international economy plays an important role in the construction sector of the United Kingdom and that specific industry. The area of financing or one of the international economic factors that play a significant role. Remember that government infrastructure and public works projects are often extremely expensive public good initiatives that could not be handled and funded by local governments in that process. In the example of Third World countries, most development and infrastructure projects are gone about by borrowing in international institutions such as the World Bank and international monetary fund. In the United Kingdom, however, a first world country, even though they’re also funds allocated by the local government for such infrastructure projects, international financing through economic cooperation activities with other countries place the role of funding such government works (Obstfeld et al. 2005). The macro economic multiplier effect for labor and consumption claims that such funds that are borrowed from international economies may be repaid by the exponential growth in reduction in a country which is created by labor growth in labor consumption through production. Another importance of the international community to local construction projects is that construction and engineering eventually creates knowledge spillovers especially for countries that have made use of   the same kinds of infrastructure. Such knowledge spillovers are important especially in the generation of higher-level management and individuals who have knowledge — and eventually economies of scale — in such construction and infrastructure projects. Without previous knowledge, or costly for the United Kingdom to implement construction projects on its own especially for the relevant on the risk public works infrastructure (Caves 2007). In this respect, the European Union, the larger economic umbrella in the area, is able to address both these issues especially the first one. In international trade theory in economics, there are five levels of economic operations, where a trade union is the highest one that generates international capital mobility as well as international labor mobility among members of such trade union and economic cooperation (Artis & Nixson 2007). Therefore, the existence of European Union significantly contributes to improvements in the public works infrastructure sector of the United Kingdom.