Food Security Essay

As the effort to alleviate poverty and increase food security takes on new dimensions on the backdrop of increasing challenges, asset-based community development has become a key strategy. There has been a shift of focus to individual, communal and institutional asset and the capacity or potential they have in building the capacity of achieving locally defined development (Social Design, 2010). The asset-based community development strategy is based on the principle that including as many people as is possible in a development project increases the probability of the project remaining sustainable even after the experts implementing it leave it under the management of the community. The asset-based community development strategy begins by first acknowledging that the existent poverty and insufficiency in a community cannot be solved by the human, physical and intellectual assets at the disposal of the community (Social Design, 2010). It involves the mobilization of members of the community so that these assets, coupled with external investment, can be effectively utilized to improve the community’s capacity of meeting the developmental challenges that face it. In addition, there needs to be creation of awareness about alternative means of acquiring additional assets and resources. Secondly, asset-based community development should be viewed as complementary to developmental work already in progress within the community; and must be based on the traditions rooted within the community with regard to organization, community development and developmental planning (Social Design, 2010). It should be noted that not a single entity (government, the business community, civil society and the community itself) can bring meaningful development on its own, so the essence of asset-based community is to forge a working partnership between all the stakeholders to bring about improvement in sufficiency, democracy and respect to human rights (Social Design, 2010). The process must therefore be based on transparency and accountability, justice and participation. Having established this operational framework, attention is shifted on ways of mobilizing the community and the assets it has towards a clearly defined vision. The first step is mapping all the assets within the community and its local institutions (Social Design, 2010). Full mobilization in this context is only achieved after the community can address its agenda and challenges with an awareness of the resources that it has to counter the developmental challenges it faces. Second, elaborate plans should be put in place to build strong relationships within the community so that these resources can be aggregated and given a common focus towards progress. Strength and self-reliance are attributes bolstered when all members of the community are linked and actively involved in finding solutions to the challenges that face them (Social Design, 2010). The community realizes that it has a great potential than it had realized and there is a rejuvenation of hope, motivation and renewal. After relationships have been established, the assets owned within the community are mobilized towards economic development and for the purpose of sharing information. This includes the assets relegated due to lack of information on how to harness them or lack of the applicable technology. The community is then convened as a unit to participate in the development of a vision and the plan to achieve it. As said earlier, the assets and resources within poor communities are not sufficient. Asset-based development strategies need therefore to leverage outside resources to support them; and after all these steps have been taken, the community is on its way to self-sufficiency (Social Design, 2010). Sustainable livelihoods frameworks (SLF) Sustainable Livelihoods frameworks provide a basis for poverty analysis so that policies, programs and projects designed to reduce poverty can be specifically tailored to meet developmental challenges facing a community (Ludy & Slater, 2008). Through SLFs, a coherent approach to the analysis of economic challenges can be performed, leading to the identification of suitable intervention and the timetable for these interventions. SLF implementation are founded on analyzing livelihoods, risks and vulnerabilities of individuals, households and the community so that key drivers of poverty and their remedies can be established (Ludy & Slater, 2008). Sustainable livelihoods frameworks are centered on people and their capacity to mobilize the natural, human, social and financial assets at their disposal in response to opportunities and risks so that the quality of life can be improved. An emphasis is laid on strengths rather than weaknesses, and the strategy is to make targeted people have the awareness that they have the assets and the potential to utilize them in pursuit of livelihood goals (Ludy & Slater, 2008). SLF implementation is multidimensional and aims at first identifying the constrictions standing in the way of individuals and households and analyzing the same to yield the opportunities that may arise therein; developing specific but diverse strategies to empower the people to pursue paths towards securing their livelihoods. SLFs focus on each target’s individual strategy for socio-economic development and therefore favor full participation and multidisciplinary approach at different levels (Ludy & Slater, 2008). They thus are flexible to organizations planning specific interventions to poverty and allow focus to be on the elements within a society most likely to face developmental challenges. Entrepreneurial ideology in rural project Entrepreneurship has been identified as a very strategic intervention for accelerating development in rural areas. It creates employment, prevents rural unrest and leads to the creation of wealth at the local level reducing dependency especially for women and other marginalized people (FAO, 1997). There is acceptance that entrepreneurship in rural areas by itself cannot achieve development; so the emphasis of this ideology is the creation of an environment that makes entrepreneurship in rural areas a viable venture. The premise of the rural entrepreneurship ideology is that diversification from subsistence agriculture holds the key to economic development (FAO, 1997). Attention is therefore paid to alternatives like the promotion of tourism and other trades like carpentry, training, retailing and sports. The genesis of rural entrepreneurship is the creation of a supporting environment through policies that establish macro-economic stability, property rights and an international outlook (FAO, 1997). The necessary inputs to the entrepreneurship process like capital, infrastructure and management training can therefore be dispatched to the rural areas as a base for establishing a vibrant economy, consequently increasing sufficiency and reducing dependency. ? References Food and Agricultural Organization, FAO. (1997). â€Å"Rural development through entrepreneurship† Retrieved on 20/5/2010 from http://www. fao. org/docrep/W6882E/w6882e02. htm#P359_61606 Ludy, E. & Slater, R. (2008). Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to understand and tackle poverty. Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Social Design. â€Å"Asset-Based Community Development† Retrieved on 19/05/2010 from http://www. socialdesign. org/assets/development. html

Radical Leadership Essay

1.Describe Ricardo Semler’s leadership style. What do you think the advantages and drawbacks of his style might be? Ask your students to select two leadership models that would help to portray Ricardo Semler’s leadership style. In his own words, Semler is the â€Å"leading proponent and most tireless evangelist† of participative management. He places little emphasis on traditional features of corporate management as he avoids written rules, policy manuals, dress codes, and organization charts. Semler empowers employees to make managerial decisions, including strategic plans and leadership positions for the company. Challenges incurred in implementing Semler’s leadership style might occur in the recruitment of qualified individuals who are a good fit for this organizational culture and providing the training and development needed for employees in this type of work environment. 2.What challenges might a radically â€Å"hands-off† leader face? How could those challenges be addressed? A manager who adopts a radically hands-off leadership style faces challenges as well as opportunities for managerial success. In using this style, a leader places a great amount of trust in the ability of employees and in their dedication to the achievement of organizational goals. The efforts required to reach these goals may require a willingness by employees to â€Å"go the extra mile† and to show a high degree of devotion to the fulfillment of the leader’s vision for the company. A leader who uses the participative management approach should support training and development programs for employees in order to equip them for empowerment and leadership roles. This leader must be an individual who gives credit to the employees who are responsible for the successes of the organization. Moreover, a leader who adopts the participative management approach should recruit and train for diversity. The implications for training involve emphasis on situational and contingency models. Managers must be willing to seek employees who have strengths that are lacking in management. By hiring employees who supply needed qualities and skills, managers are gaining employees whose strengths complement the skills and talents already present in the organization. 3.How could future leaders be identified in this organization? Would leadership training be important to this organization? Discuss. By exercising the responsibility and authority already given to them by management, employees of Semler are preparing to be future leaders of the organization in their work every day. These employees are truly learning by doing—one of the most effective methods of training. By empowering his employees, Ricardo Semler enjoys the opportunity to observe their skills, dedication, and leadership qualities firsthand. Thus, his ability to identify potential leaders is greatly enhanced by his leadership style. 4.What could other businesses learn from Ricardo Semler’s approach to leadership? Managers in other businesses could learn about the benefits of empowering and equipping employees to make major managerial contributions to an organization. By carefully observing and studying Semler’s leadership style, other leaders could gain insight into the value of establishing trust between employees and management and demonstrating confidence in employees’ ability to assume leadership roles.

A Personal Perspective

Week 3 Hand-in Assignment A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a mobile computer with display circuitry and battery in a single unit. Tablets are equipped with sensors, including cameras, microphone, accelerometer and touch screen, with finger or stylus gestures replacing computer mouse and keyboard. The tablet computer and he associated special operating software is an example of pen computing technology. The first patent for a system that recognized handwritten characters by analyzing the handwriting motion was granted In 1915. In 1987. Apple computer started Its tablet project.In 2000 Microsoft coined the term Microsoft Tablet Pc for tablet Pc s built to Microsoft specification. In 2010 Apple introduce the IPad. The IPad has been characterized by some as a tablet computer that mainly focuses on videos, photos, presentation, and Microsoft Office-compatible software for word processing. The iOS 5 was released in October 2011. Samsung Galaxy Tab was also released in September 2010 . Over 80 new tablets were announced to compete with the IPad In January 2011. Companies who announced tablets included: Samsung with a new Galaxy Tab (android 2. ), Motorola with its xoom Tablet (android3. O) Research in motion demonstrating their blackberry playbook, Toshiba with the android 3. 0, Vizio with the tablet and others including Asus, and the startup Company Notion Ink. Many of these tablets are designed to run android 3. 0 honeycomb. An electronic calculator is a small, portable, often inexpensive electronic device used to perform both basic and complex operations of arithmetic, The first known tool used to ald arithmetic alculations was the Abacus, devised by Sumerians and Egyptians before 2000 BC.Computer operating systems as far back as early Unix have included interactive calculator programs such as dc and hoc, and calculator functions are included in almost all PDA-type devices (save a few dedicated address book and dictionary devices). Modern electronic calculato rs contain a keyboard with buttons for digits and arithmetical operations. Some even contain 00 and 000 buttons to make large numbers easier to enter. Most basic calculators assign only one dlglt or operation on each button.However, in more specific calculators, a button can perform multi- function working with key combination or current reckoning mode. In most countries, students use calculators for schoolwork and even financial institutions for caculating money e. g the bank etc . To conclude these systems are different than the systems am currently using today, taking the Tablet for instance we have got lots of brands now and operating systems with Interesting and educative apps .

The Relation of Heat to Kinetic Theory of Matter Essay

The Relation of Heat to Kinetic Theory of Matter - Essay Example It means that movement of molecules or atoms becomes more when there is more heat. Molecules or atoms have energy preserved in them. They have potential energy as well as kinetic energy and these energies together form thermal energy. Thermal energy moves from an object having high temperature to an object having low temperature and with this movement (Maxwell, 1871), the movement of molecules or atoms also gets faster. The object having high temperature will have fast moving molecules or atoms. Therefore, it is quite clear that the study of heat is related to the kinetic theory of matter. 2. What is temperature? Heat is a process in which, thermal energy shifts from an object of high temperature to an object of low temperature. Heat is not pre-located in matter. It is created and can be noticed as shifting of thermal energy between objects based on temperature difference between the objects. There can be many examples of heat. When we touch a hot surface, the thermal energy shifts f rom the hot surface to our hand due to which, we feel heat as there is a temperature difference between the hot surface and our hand, which on touching shifts. In this way, we can say that the temperature is the measure of heat energy. With the help of a temperature scale we can estimate the degree of hotness or coldness of the surrounding atmosphere or any object. 3. What is the relationship between heat and temperature? While heat is a form of energy that can be converted to any other form, temperature is only an effect caused by the heat. However, both the quantities heat and temperature are directly proportional to each other. If one quantity rises the other also varies directly, if one lowers the other quantity lowers too. The more the amount of heat the more will be kinetic energy of molecules while temperature is the measure of the degree of motion of particles in a system. 4. What are the various properties of a substance that determine its heat capacity? The most important factor that determines the heat capacity of a substance is the energy state of the molecules of the substance that is the direct measure of the heat capacity of a substance. The difference of the heat capacities of the two substances is due to the difference in the molecular energy state of the two substances (Hagg, 2011). The other factors that determine the heat capacity of the material are the pressure, composition of the substance and the temperature. Pressure makes the molecules to be close to each other that make the molecules to collide in a more repetitively that increase the average kinetic energy of the molecules and changes the energy state of the material. Under pressure the three state of the matter behave differently (Belzer, 2011). Gasses are most influences by the pressure and temperature while solids gave little impact when they are under pressure as the molecules are close enough in the solids. As the temperature of the substance is raised the bond between the mole cules weakens and the matter changes its state, as solids when heated to a certain temperature melts to a liquid form and liquids change to gaseous form when heated to a certain temperature. Composition of the material can change its heat capacity by altering the energy states of the material. 5. What are the var

Advance Management accounting and performance management Essay

Advance Management accounting and performance management - Essay Example Moreover, the demand will extensively rise next year due to the Olympic Games that will be hosted in the region (Heather, 2000). Therefore, a fitness club is the best business venture that can transform the Olympic Village post the Olympic Games that commence in 2012. Besides, initiating a fitness club is a fun and financially paying business that assists people get and remain strong, healthy and fit. Owning such a business enables an individual own an artistic and resourceful business in a recession-resistant field. This business entails providing fitness services, which include individual training services, and BFIT rehab, which refers to a physical rehabilitation service. The club will also sell a range of nutritional, fitness and health products. These include the company’s own BFIT nutritionals at its stores that will be exclusive in the center (Curtis, 2003). The facilities that must be present at Rollin Fitness Center include cardio training equipments like 50Kg Barbell Dumbbell set, magnum fitness flat and auto incline treadmill; strength equipments like BNRG Proto Whey 5Lbs, power rack and smith machine and bench package. Most gyms in Europe especially in UK charge ?500 to ?700 a month but to increase competitiveness, Rollin Fitness Center should charge ?450 to ?500 a month. ... Per Unit Cost Statement It is very difficult to come up with per unit cost for a fitness club since the center offers more of service than goods (Jeff, 2004). The best way to go about it is through coming up with an hourly cost statement for any person who visits the center for fitness services. Now that monthly cost is like ?500, weekly cost will be; Monthly cost/ four (number of weeks in a month) ?500/4 Weekly cost = ?125 Daily cost = ?125/7 Daily cost = 17.86 which is approximately ?18 per person Now, to determine the hourly cost for attending the gym, the daily cost should be divided by the number of hours the center operates in a day (Curtis, 2003). Rollin Fitness Center should be opened at 8 in the morning and closed at 6 in the evening which amounts to 10 hours per day. Therefore; ?18/10 Hourly cost = ?1.8 per person This is the best way to put the charges since most people like spending few hours in the gym. Besides, since the Olympic Games are around the corner, most of the participants in the Olympic Games will only afford to spend few hours in the gym and that is the best cost for them (Kirk, 2000). Seven-year Budget Income Statement Year Number of people/day Daily income Monthly income Annual income Revenue (per year) Spent on operations Total relevant income/profit 2012 50 ?90 ?2700 ?32400 ?1000 ?5000 ?26400 2013 80 ?144 ?4320 ?51840 ?1100 ?6000 ?44740 2014 100 ?180 ?5400 ?64800 ?1200 ?7000 ?56600 2015 120 ?216 ?6480 ?77760 ?1200 ?8000 ?68560 2016 140 ?252 ?7560 ?90720 ?1300 ?8000 ?81420 2017 160 ?288 ?8640 ?103680 ?1500 ?9000 ?93180 2018 180 ?324 ?9720 ?116640 ?1500 ?9000 ?106140 N/B the amount spent on operations and revenue charged

The Main Arguments for and against Turkey's entry to the EU Essay

The Main Arguments for and against Turkey's entry to the EU - Essay Example Since 1959, when Turkey sent in its application to join the European Union (then known as the European Economic Community), Europe has been pondering over the fact whether a primarily Islamic nation lying mostly outside European geographic borders can really be made a part of the Union. While Turkey and EU have a common past of contractual relationship for many years, which led to the negotiations for accession in 2005, the former has always been perceived as an outsider, with whom Europe established relationships primarily for security reasons. The decision to start official talks on Turkey’s EU membership was made on 16 December 2004, while the accession negotiations started on 3 October 2005. This met with a hurdle, when Austria and Germany asked for permissions to allow ‘privileged partnership’ for Turkey without actually making it a full member. With other member states not agreeing to this clause, accession negotiations started, aimed at a full membership. H owever, negotiations have been adjourned on many instances since 2006, primarily due to objections raised by Cyprus, which is against Turkey’s accession to the EU membership (Barber, 2009). This is owing to the fact that currently the island of Cyprus is divided, wherein the Turkish troops have occupied its northern part and its ships are denied entry into Turkish ports. Austria and France have also declared their intention of holding a referendum on Turkey's EU membership. Currently, out of 35 accession chapters eight have been adjourned, which has effectively interrupted the membership negotiations. Owing to this, there has been a sharp fall in pro-EU support amongst the Turks, where a majority believe the accession process is biased and close-ended (Sayfa, 2013). A closer study reveals that majority of the EU member states never considered the EU-Turkey relationship as an essential part of the EU integration. Even after nearly five decades of EU’s relationship with Turkey, the perspective did not change, on the other hand the feeling of alienation increased on both sides (Cendrowicz, 2009). While a majority of the Europeans viewed Turkey as an outsider, the Turks felt that Europe as a political entity cannot be trusted, especially after the Treaty of Sevres post WWI, and furthermore after viewing unwillingness on part of the EU to assist Turkey once the accession negotiations started. In this context, the essay analyses the highly controversial issue of Turkey’s integration into the EU, and highlights the main arguments for and against Turkey's entry to the Union. Discussion Hurdles to the EU accession based on legal principles There were six member states that created the European Community for Coal and Steel (primarily states from Western Europe) in 1952, later known as the European Economic Community or EEC (1957), and which is now referred to as the EU. The preamble of the EEC treaty stated very clearly that this treaty aimed at cre ating a close union among the European people. In the same treaty, Article 237 stated that all European states are eligible to become a part of this Community. This article has since them become the foundation for integration, and is an essential aspect in the political and legal basis of the EU and the Union’s policy to unite Europe. This aspect has been reiterated in the 1993 Maastricht Treaty and had been considered in the proposal for 2004 drafting of the treaty for the Constitution for Europe, ratified by all EU member states. This treaty states in Article I-58 that all European states are free to enter the Union. Thus, here the main emphasis has always been on ‘European states,’ and all contractual provisions become a part of the common law framed by the different European treaties, binding

Philosophy - sexism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Philosophy - sexism - Essay Example This concept marks the drawing line between having a male and female within a society. It is on this basis that Frye is trying to show that sexism and gender is a very significant matter. According to her prepositions and perceptions, various actions between men and women lead us to believe that women are very different, that sex/gender is the most important thing, and that these behaviors must represent something biologically about women (Frye). Reading through Frye’s concepts, it becomes clear that children that are born with imperfectly formed genitals, a body that’s doesn’t seem to develop towards â€Å"the norm† of the gender, are given cosmetics, surgeries, medicines, therapies, etc in order to fit the picture sharply towards the gender. It is like they’re being punished. This probably is one of the most interesting parts within the reading. What’s more, it is the demand of the world that suggested all this. This follows the fact that all these have been planted in our conscious

FAMILY LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

FAMILY LAW - Essay Example Alternatively, you may also be eligible for a lump sum payment and an equitable distribution of assets on a mathematical basis, although the Court is likely to take into consideration the fact that your husband is the legal titleholder of the property you now live in. I present below, for your information, an assessment of ancillary relief that you may be eligible for in the event that you choose to divorce your husband. Firstly, I would like to bring to your notice that one of the objectives of modern law in the case of a breakdown of a marriage between two parties is to achieve a clean break and â€Å"encourage each to put the past behind †¦. and to begin a new life which is not overshadowed by the relationship which has broken down.†1 This would appear to be the best solution and perhaps in your case, after your discovery of your husband’s adultery, you may be keen to pursue a clean break from him and look for a financial settlement that would ensure such an end. However, in your case, there are two small children involved2, who are only six and two years old. The welfare of your children is at stake so the Court may not necessarily allow a clean break from your husband, since your children need continued maintenance and your husband, as the earning member of the family, will need to contribute monies towards their continued maintenance, as well as providing for your upkeep, especially if your primary function is that of taking care of your children. As a result, your husband as the earning parent will be responsible for paying maintenance to you for looking after the children3. In some instances the Courts have not allowed maintenance when a pressing need does not exist or where the parties are only cohabiting4, as was the case with your husband and Sandra Quartro. However in your case, since you are married and are employed full time in taking care of the children who are very small, you may be eligible for maintenance

Bullying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Bullying - Essay Example Although the UK does not have legal definitions of bullying under their current law, some states in the US have laws that address it, and categorize it into three fundamental types. They are physical, verbal and emotional. According to the US legal system, bullying cultures develop in all contexts where human beings interact ranging from the workplace, family, school to social gatherings. Bullies are inclined towards negativity, and workplace bullies are likely to have been poor academic performers in school. They feel negatively toward themselves and have difficulties solving problems with others. Most of them come from backgrounds characterized by poor parenting and conflict within the family. At the workplace, bullying can take place in the simple one on one form or the more complex type where the key bully has accomplices willing to frustrate co-workers. This paper will discuss the health, legal and social consequences employees and their organizations may face in the event that bullying takes place in the workplace. A workplace’s culture is reflected in its beliefs and values, and what the management accepts as normal behavior. Positive and ethical cultures promote the adoption of appropriate behavior and mutual respect among co-workers. On the other hand, when the management condones inappropriate attitudes and behaviors, majority of the employees will assume bullying to be a normal trend (Haight, 2005). A survey established that bullying at the workplace is driven by varying factors and, ironically, 57 percent of co-workers in the US have a tendency of being hostile and unsupportive to the already bullied colleague. An individual may use his position of authority or physical dominance to harass those he perceives as weaker. Based purely on their perception of weakness, they frustrate the efforts of their colleagues, who in turn end up performing dismally. To deal with their own inadequacies, low self esteem and personal grudges, bullies usually pu t down others by sabotaging their reputation or projects they are working on. This not only demoralizes the victim, but harms the company’s schedules by unnecessary delays and incurring expenses. One may also fall victim to others who view them as threats to their position or employment as a whole. In such cases, the bully spends so much time on efforts to tarnish the achievements of their perceived enemy at the expense of productive company work, hence, wasting innovation. Many workplace bullying victims suffer post traumatic stress disorder. This is so because they have found a passion and self-identity in their work, yet a bully is using the same work to pull them down. When prolonged, it causes panic attacks, loss of concentration, depression, insecurity and stress breakdown. The victims are prone to become overly sensitive, hyper vigilant and irritable with mood swings. In the end, they rely on alcohol, nicotine or caffeine to calm down. A study conducted by a doctor in the UK revealed that 20 percent of co-workers who witnessed a colleague being bullied or suffer the consequences of bullying were also affected and opted to change jobs (Einarsen et al, 2003). 98 percent of those who stayed on were distressed. The overall effect observed on such workers was lack of productivity. They caused more accidents, were often absent, handled customers poorly, exhibited no motivation and forced the company to

Identity and identity politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Identity and identity politics - Essay Example owever, they never lost their identity and their feeling is that the country retains it as a â€Å"residual sovereignty.† Scots’ have a party of their own that did so well last year and proved its worth and potentiality of their identity. Mr. Salmond, Scots’ first minister and leader of Scottish National party, wants a referendum by 2014 to fulfil the promise, (Ascherson web). According to Ford, social identities are a product of politics. He claims that â€Å"social identities are inherently and irreducibly political† (Ford web). It is true that some identities are a product of politics. Scots after winning elections last year, Mr. Salmond is leading them towards a referendum, which will see them as an independent country. Calhoun argues that identity is seen in the relationship between essence and appearance and that it had to be achieved for development, (Calhoun 37). I feel that this need to identify Scotland as a country is triggered by the political success. The idea of a possible referendum is quickly gaining acceptance among the Scots and therefore, it is just a matter of time before the overwhelming power of identity takes place. I think the main reason for Scots desire to move and be independent is to develop themselves as an independent nation. Identity is a great need of all human beings and Scots is no exception. Ford, Thompson, Richard. â€Å"Political Identity as Identity Politics.† Unbound Harvard Journal of the Legal Left. 2009. 10 March 2012. Macintyre, James. â€Å"From Devolution to Independence.† The New York Times, 2012. Web 9 March 2012.

Against Euthanasia Essay Example for Free

Against Euthanasia Essay Freedom is defined as the power to determine action without restraint . Given this definition, is the practice of euthanasia morally justifiable or wrong? The debate of freedom arises. Euthanasia is acknowledged as a mercy killing. It is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp. a painful, disease or condition. This begs the question: does an individual have the right to decide to take another individuals life? Religious groups would ultimately argue euthanasia is a crime against life. (Citation?)The issue of morality and ethnics are proposed. Is it moral to kill someone to take them out of their pain, as opposed to letting them live suffering? This is when spirituality comes into opposition with human rights. Euthanasia is a controversial issue that compares ones quality of life to ethics. It can be viewed as a form of suicide or a form of being merciful. Even so, does humanity have the right to determine if someone should die or not? Those who are governed by a faithful belief may see euthanasia as practiced against gods will. However, others may believe mankind has the choice over their own lives (Remove comma) and that the belief of god is a theory. Economic costs and human resources are legitimate arguments as to why euthanasia may be an acceptable option. Yet, could financial problems cause one to consent under pressure? Euthanasia denotes good death in Greek. This begs the question: does a good death exist? Despite it being acknowledged as painless, arguably it is still murderous. Society is forbidden to commit murder, making euthanasia contradictive, since it is allowing one to take the life of another. (Perhaps it may be helpful here to define murder.) Medically, euthanasia is the norm and portrayed as a gracious practice. Morally, it is dissipated and seen as an immoral exercise. Even though euthanasia is a merciful killing, it does not change the fact that it is murder. This practice is unethical and unrighteous. It should be internationally forbidden and prohibited. In 1999, Dr. Jack Kevorkian was sentenced to a 10-25 year prison term for giving a lethal injection to Thomas Youk, a man who was in the final stages of amyotrophic . (Perhaps here you can explain a little bit about the disease, i.e. what it does, what this mans life was like, what kind of pain he was in, what his future (if any) would hold.) Kevorkian saw his actions as a deed. Kevorkian stated that he has helped more than 130 people since 1990. The defense party focused on the issues surrounding euthanasia, while the prosecution concentrated on Dr.Kevorkians actions associated with Michigans laws. The prosecutor stated, This case is about what Jack Kevorkian did, and what he did under the law under the state of Michigan is commit murder. This trail did not touch base on the political aspect of euthanasia, but on the ethnical side. Thomas Youk videotaped himself consenting Dr. Kevokian to take his life, yet Dr. Kevokian was still charged with committing a crime. This is proof euthan asia is wrongful. There is no difference between Dr. Kevorkian and a medical surgeon when it comes to taking a life; the practice is still murderous. The court found him guilty since his actions were unlawful; meaning in general euthanasia can arguably be found a crime. A similar case in Saskatchewan occurred when Robert Latimer murdered his severely disabled daughter, Tracy, on October 24th, 2008. The reasoning for Latimers immoral act was he could not bear to witness his daughter suffering from a severe form of cerebral palsy. He killed her by placing her in the back of his Chevy pickup, ran a hose from the exhaust to the cab, and watched her die. Latimer was convicted on November 4, 1993 of first-degree murder. The following year he was convicted of second-degree murder. This begs a question: what is the difference between Latimers actions, killing his daughter who suffers  from excruciating pain, and a doctor who was given permission from a loved one to kill an individual who is also suffering from a brutal pain? A doctor must receive authorization to kill a patient who is overly sick. Doesnt Latimer have the right to take his own daughters life, since a doctor would have had to ask him anyways to have the right to kill Tracy? Latimer supposedly saved his daughter from being in pain, which is the same reason why many individuals chose to give permission for those who are not physically in good health to undergo euthanasia. His methods were the same as a person with a medical degree. He watched an innocent individual die. Latimer was punished since his act was seen as wrongful. So why it is that euthanasia is seen as merciful killing? Many thought Latimers behavior could be compared to the act of euthanasia, since it’s perceived as a compassionate homicide. How could a man who watches his daughter die is seen as a merciful killing? Obviously it was not, which is why he was sentenced for second degree murder. Are you suggesting that these decisions be taken out of the hands of qualified medical personnel? You could make reference to the qualifications of docto rs in these situations; it could contribute to your essay. John Pearson, born in June 1980 in Derby City Hospital, was diagnosed with Downs syndrome (http:// http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2600923.stm.) and was left in the care of a specialized consulting pediatrician, Dr. Arthur. Three days later, Pearson was found dead. Dr. Arthur was later charged with the babys murder. He was allegedly asked by the parents to take the life of this child, whom he killed by starvation. In November 1981, Dr. Arthur was acquitted of murder (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2600923. stm), due to him taking the life of a child with the parents’ consent. (If he was acquitted of murder, you cannot call him a murderer. You can refer to him as an alleged murderer, but because he was not convicted, anything else would be inappropriate.) This is proof that the practice of euthanasia is causing other individuals to believe they have the right to take the life of someone in their family whom is suffering from a disease or disability. (Are you suggesting thi s newborn was able to make their own decision as to whether or not they wanted to live with this disability? If so, why do we not allow children to make more decisions at a younger age? Why not let elementary students vote, for instance, or enter into their own legal contracts? Make sure your stances are logical and well thought out. The more times you allow an opposing view to poke holes in your statements the more difficult it will be for you to stay credible.) John Pearson may have not been as privileged (Remove comma) as others in society due to his disability, but he did not deserve to die. It can be argued that euthanasia is form of suicide. This outrages religious groups who see this practice as immoral (Remove comma) and against the word of god. Suicide denotes the killing of one self.(Citation?) Euthanasia, a majority of the time, occurs when individuals decide to medically kill someone who is undergoing crucial agony. This practice can be perceived rather as murder. Murder means to cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/commit/suicide). (This statement and the one previous should be placed earlier on in the essay. You can then make reference to it here if necessary.) Either or, euthanasia is condemned by many religious laws. The Jewish perspective states that instances of euthanasia should be dealt with as such: any form of active euthanasia is strictly prohibited and condemned as plain murder(http://www.aisha.com/societywork/science /Doctor-Assisted_Suicide.asp). Talmudic and Rabbinic sources state, One who is in a dying condition is regarded as a living person in all respect (Talmud Smachot 1:1). The Jewish religion also believes: One may not close the eyes of a dying person (Talmud Smachot 1:1). Rabbi Merri interprets this saying as, It is to be compared to a sputtering candle which is extinguished as soon a person touches it so too, whoever closes the eyes of a dying person is compared to have taken the soul (http://www.aisha.com/societywork/ science /Doctor-Assisted_Suicide.asp). Islam also criticizes euthanasia. Muslims see life as being sacred, since Allah provided it to them. Allah decides how long each human being will live, not a doctor. It states in the Quran 5:32, If anyone kills a person unless it be for murder or spreading mischief in the land it would be as if he killed the whole people (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/islamethnics/ euthanasia. shtml). The Quran 3:145 clearly establishes, And no person can ever die except by Allahs leave and at an appointed term (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/islamethnics/euthanasia. shtml). This rule also applies to Christianity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2003) states: All forms of suicide and euthanasia remain strictly prohibited, but questions of moral culpability and eternal salvation are left open (http://www.acu-cell.com/suicide.html). In the Orthodox Church decisively is in opposition of euthanasia and considers it as, as form of suicide on the part of the individual, and a form of murder on a part of others who assist in this practice, both of which are seen as sins. The Church does not expect that excessive and heroic means must be used at all costs to prolong dying, as has now become possible through technical medical advances (http://www.acu-cell.com/suicide.html). Depending on your citation style requirements, this quote should probably be in block format since it is longer than 40 words.) Internationally, there are over 3.3 billion Christians, Muslims, and Jews who are opposed to euthanasia (http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Theology-World-Religions.htm) . However, Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist groups make up 850 million of the worlds population (http://www.atheistempire.com/reference/stats/index.php). Atheists question the truth in religion; therefore they do not recognize euthanasia as a sin, or as a form of suicide. (Are you suggesting that all of these people believe euthanasia is a positive thing?) Even though theology is governed by powerful messages, it’s still not a reliable source. Religion is still seen as just a theory, since it is just a belief. Humanity has not yet seen or conversed with a higher power, so the religious information provided to mankind has not been proven. On January 11, 2003 Dr. David Jerrrey wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper the Financial Times. In the letter he stated, Terminally ill patients often fear being a burden to others and may feel they ought to request euthanasia to relieve their relatives from distress (cite). Given economic situations, many patients and families of the patients feel pressured by medical figures to turn to euthanasia. Michael Prowse wrote in the newspaper the Financial Times, published January 4th 2003, If euthanasia became socially acceptable, the sick would no longer be able to trust either doctors or their relatives: many of those earnestly counseling a painless, dignified death would be doing so mainly on financial grounds. Euthanasia would become a euphemism for assisted murder (Michael Prowse). Many feel psychologically pressured to consent to voluntary euthanasia because they maybe a financial burden to their loved ones. However, those who do personally require euthanasia without being forced will allow this practice to continue. Humanity has the choice of fundamental principles, being they believe they should be allowed to make the decision if they want to die, since it’s their own life. There is a shortage of hospital space, so those who have slim chances of living may feel that by them dying another who has a greater chance of life can have more attention by medical care (Michael Prowse). These arguments can be seen as a valid, which may overrule the fact that euthanasia is murderous. Individuals may sympathize with those who are in great pain, and feel they cannot continue on with life. Despite these intellectual reasons, euthanasia is a form of murder, and a practice that should be banned. Euthanasia is a deliberate act of killing. Since the beginning of mankind our world has been exposed to laws that forbid murder. In the Ten Commandments, thou shall not murder, (Citation?) has influenced recent laws. This ethnical issue must be solved, but with the help of communities (Remove comma) and countries. There are two forms of euthanasia that must be focussed on: active euthanasia, or inducing or assisting in the death of a person, who is undergoing intense suffering and who has no practical hope of recovery (cite), and passive euthanasia, which is withholding life-saving equipment or treatment, by medical equipment I mean surgeries, chemotherapy and other treatments beyond basic food, water, warmth, care and personal attention (cite). Each form must be individually looked at. Passive euthanasia is what society must accept. Active euthanasia contradicts the law (Remove comma) and commandments. The money that is being put into cloning and other scientific practices should be put towards cures that can stop the diseases which cause individuals to turn euthanasia. The truth is mankind continues to play the role of god. Our world is presently exposed to cloning; organ transplants, etc. (If this is a strictly formal essay, refrain from using etc. Rewrite your sentence to something like Our world is presently exposed to such morally compromising issues such as cloning and organ transplants.) This allows one to think that euthanasia will become a dominant practice internationally. More will rely on it (Remove comma) and see it as a consideration in their decision whether or not they want to live or die. Religion does contain truth. Only nature should have the power to decide when it is our time to go, but as technology continues to advance it provides mankind with the choice to determine one’s life or death. Illnesses do cause families grief and to suffering, but if humanity started to believe in faith again, maybe euthanasia would have to significance, (This is not a logical sentence; please clarify.) since we just lack hope. A doctor diagnoses a patient with cancer and automatically the patient senses death. What happened to believing in miracles and fate? Maybe mankind no longer believes in miracles simply because our world continues to destruct by war, poverty, and violence. We now turn to an easy way out, since the fight seems too long. Euthanasia is just a way to control our population and economy. It is a homicidal act that should be immediately stopped internationally. Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Robert Latimer, and Dr. Arthur (Remove comma) were all charged with murder because they chose to practice euthanasia without medical consent. These three men were charged with murder, which proves this operation is murderous (Remove semi colon) despite it having the word medical behind it. If a doctor performs euthanasia on a normal individual it should be equally weighed because it is a deliberate act of murder. Theology condemns euthanasia simply due to it being considered a form of suicide or murder. Individuals are pressured into euthanasia because they are sick and their life becomes less important than one that is healthy.

A Christmas Carol Essay Example for Free

A Christmas Carol Essay In the time Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol life was tough. Poverty was common and for most people food was scarce. Many people were forced to move to the already overpopulated, crowded cities and due to the lack of housing many of these people were living in horrible conditions on the streets. Dickens tried to point out some of the social issues of the time through his literature in the hope that something could be done to make conditions for the poorer people better. One issue Dickens points out is how money could change peoples lives dramatically. In A Christmas Carol Scrooge represents a rich snob. He is stubborn, selfish and self-centred. He appears to be ignorant to all the poverty around him and doesnt acknowledge the impact it has on peoples lives. Scrooge is the type of person many of us would purposely avoid meeting, talking to or even catching eye contact with. It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance (Page 35). It seems Scrooge makes a conscious effort to be seen as a loner and perhaps even enjoys it. The Cratchits represent the other side of the story and many of the poor families living at the time, they are poor and have so many hardships they have to cope with they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbrokers. But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time (Page 84). This shows how, even though they didnt have very many things going for them, they were happy with what they had been blessed with. In stave 3 Scrooge is taken by the ghost of Christmas present to see the Cratchits Christmas dinner. The dinner is not very big at all, as they all know, but Mrs Cratchit refuses to believe that they had eaten it all and everyone had enough to fill their starving stomachs. Mrs Cratchit said with great delight (surveying one small atom of a bone upon the dish), they hadnt ate it all at last! (Page 81) we are seeing her mothering instincts here as she tries to persuade herself, and anyone else listening to her that she has managed feed her family adequately and shes not stinting them despite the situation. Tiny Tim is a cripple, and represents the Cratchits unending struggle to cope with life. This doesnt upset the family though, because they treat him in the same way they treat each other. Before Scrooge met the family he was callous and uncaring, so when he asks the ghost if Tiny Tim will survive, the ghost quotes Scrooges words If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population Scrooge then realises how horrid he had been in the past about cripples and other less fortunate people than himself so he was overcome with penitence and grief, feelings he hadnt felt for a long time. The Cratchit family are certainly not as rich as Scrooge but they are so much happier. They believe family and friends are so much more important than work and money. Mrs Cratchit doesnt worry about not having very much food, she worries more about her family and if anyone is late on Christmas day. What has ever got your precious father then, said Mrs Cratchit Page 79. This shows how loving Mrs Cratchit and the rest of the family are to each other, and they would rather have a smaller portion of food than some of the family missing out and having more food to themselves. Scrooge has a very different view on life to the Cratchits, he believes he doesnt needs friends, family and happiness because he is rich, has a successful job and works hard. What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? Youre poor enough. (Page 36) Scrooge believed this until he met the Cratchit family.

Instrument Rules vs Targeting Rules

Instrument Rules vs Targeting Rules Instrument rules vs targeting rules? Should Central Banks commit to a simple instrument rule such as the Taylor Rule? How well does such a rule explain Central Bank behaviour? Do targeting rules provide a more compelling alternative? The Taylor rule has had a wide-reaching effect on the literature surrounding monetary policy design. It is a simple instrument rule which aims to show how interest rates should respond to two economic indicators: Inflation and Output. This simple rule has led to the â€Å"Taylor Principle† which has been said to be useful in guiding policy design. Many studies have been done to determine whether or not the Taylor rule appears to guide monetary policy in many central banks. However there has been a vocal group that criticises the Taylor Rule and instrument rules in general as being inflexible and not allowing for discretionary measures, this has sparked lively debate between the two sides of the debate. This essay will examine the literature surrounding the Taylor Rule and analyse the good and bad aspects of the rule. In addition to this the empirical studies examining the Taylor Rule will be discussed. Furthermore a brief look targeting rules will provide a useful counterpoint to the analysis of instrument rules. Literature surrounding the Taylor Rule Before discussion of the literature surrounding the Taylor Rule can begin it is necessary to define what Central banks aim to achieve with monetary policy. Most agree that inflation targeting is a key concern for central banks with the aim being to keep it at a low and stable level. In addition to this there are concerns for keeping a stable level of output which should aim to keep it at a level around potential output and for general control of monetary aggregates such as money supply. With these objectives in place the Taylor rule can now be examined in how it allows central banks to follow a simple rule to meet its objective. The Taylor rule is a simple instrument rule which shows that interest rates should be determined by the inflation gap and the output gap as shown in this equation: (Walsh, 2003, p.546) The à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¢ and à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ § coefficients are both >0. This being added to the real interest rates leads to the Taylor principle which states that a deviation from the target rate of inflation should be met with a larger than one to one change in the nominal rate of interest. This is called the â€Å"Taylor Principle† and the empirical literature surrounding central bank behaviour aims to find evidence of the Taylor Principle adhered to by Central Banks. Bernanke (2004) describes the above equation as a simple feedback policy due to the central bank reacting to feedback from the economy on a number of variables that can be estimated at the time and don’t rely on forecasting. As the literature around the Taylor rule has grown so too has the variations of the model which have included both lagged variables and forecasting (Clarinda, et al.) It has also been adapted to provide guidelines for a variety of monetary policy regimes as Orphanides (2007, p.15) has pointed out two examples; one being a money growth regime and the other an inflation targeting regime. The Taylor Rule and the principle which follows on from it serve as a good starting point for monetary policy making due to its simplicity allowing a variety of variations of it to suit a variety of needs and thus serves a useful benchmark. Its simplicity provides a host of other benefits well. Firstly its ability to relate policy to the state of economy by showing how interest rates, inflation and output interact with each other it provides a good guideline for central banks to follow. In addition to if a central bank can commit to such a rule it will provide a baseline for expectations regarding future monetary policy for financial markets and other private agents. There are many criticisms of the Taylor Rule. Svensson (2003) and Woodford (2001) both imply that rules may be too simplistic to carry out the task of dictating monetary policy. Svensson (2003) also argues that it doesn’t contain enough economic variables to be useful. He mentions the exchange rate, terms of trade as well as others which may be of importance to a central bank in a small open economy. Thus he concludes that any policy using Taylor Instrument rules will be sub-optimal (Svensson, 2003, p.442). McCallum and Nelson rebut this by citing two models (Clarida et al. (2000) and McCallum Nelson (1999)) which are open-economy models which don’t require terms other than the interest rate, output and inflation rate. (McCallum Nelson, 2004, p.600) Tschandize et al. (2005) also points out that any recommendation based off of a formula is likely to ignore the judgment policymakers use in light of other developments not captured in the output gap or inflation behaviour. There are also practical problems with the Taylor rule though. Firstly the measures of both output and inflation can have a very different result depending on how they are measured (Yearly or Quarterly Data) and also due to measurement errors. (Orphanides, 2007) This could have a significant effect on parameters and lead to sub optimal policy making. Furthermore when there is deflation the Taylor rule if followed mechanically would demand a negative interest rate which is highly unlikely if not impossible due to the existence of a zero lower bound. Finally say if the inflation target was met and output was at its natural level then the rule dictates we set nominal rates at the real interest rate plus inflation. This presents numerous problems as there is extreme difficulty in measuring what is the natural long run rate of interest due to it being unobservable and having to be obtained implicitly. The Taylor rule is however generally held by all to be a good model considering its limited number of variables and serves as a good starting point for the oft complex task of creating monetary policy. Also if the Taylor rule is indeed followed as a rule many of the criticisms levelled against it are entirely valid, however if seen as a policy guideline rather than an iron clad law it is a lot more flexible and can instead inform policy makers rather than dictate them. Empirical Studies of the Taylor Rule Empirical studies tend to utilise rational expectations of forecasts, especially the model developed by Clarinda et al. this specification of the model is intuitively true as it would be rational to assume that central banks are forward looking in their policymaking due to the time lag between taking action and seeing that action having an effect it is better to take the action now for a forecast. In their study they find that the Taylor Principle held up well and you could accurately describe the policy undertaken by the Fed, Bundesbank and the Bank of Japan in the time frame studied. Clarinda et al go a step further and also include lagged variables of interest, regressions ran on interests rate with the coefficient on lagged inflation is both large and statistically significant implying serial correlation. For example Clarinda et al. find that with the fed two lagged variables of interest rates for the fed is both large and statistically significant. Some argue it implies that the fed is following an interest smoothing policy. This interest smoothing policy is intuitive for a number of reasons, for example central banks also use data from financial markets amongst others when deciding interest rates, and thus an interest smoothing policy would aim to not destabilize these other macroeconomic variables which would not be good for an economy’s wellbeing. This has been referred to as an illusion by Rudebusch (2002). He shows that if the Fed did adopt a gradual policy then it would be predictable but he argues that evidence from forward rates does not support this view. In addition to this Lansing shows econometrically why gradual smoothing appears. If the fed is using real time data to update its trend output each period then when the final data is produced due to the serial correlation between the real time errors will make it appear to be correlated with lagged interest rates. This creates the illusion of interest rate smoothing. More general points of criticism have been raised by many others (Perez(2001) Tschiadize et al. (2005) and Orphanides (2007). Perez (2001) argues argue that if we used real time data available to policymakers at the time we would find that the results do not hold up well and that in the period before the so called great deviation we would see that the Taylor rule was followed in the period of the great inflation (Perez, 2001). Orphanides (2007) argues that many studies have fallen into the trap of using revised ex-post data instead of the data available at the time, this error leads to results which provide no real insight into how decisions were made at the time. This point is also made by Tschandize (2005) Tschadize also points out that the structural change in an economy must be taken into account and thus it would be difficult to impose the same coefficients and targets on of one regime on another without accounting for structural changes. They elaborate by saying that while the structure of the economy may not change attitudes may change which may shift the result of the Taylor Rule equation due to different weights placed on the inflation variance and the output gap, and also a change in targets. Both of these would drastically change In addition to this many papers provide a counterfactual account of what should’ve been done. However with the benefit of hindsight and revised datasets it is very easy to say what should be done. Furthermore a study of this sort is of limited use as it is purely theoretical and is subject to the same limitations outlined above. They mention a 2003 study by Rogoff which shows that the smoothing of inflation may have occurred anyway due to favourable conditions in the macroeconomic environment, primarily globalization which put a downward pressure on prices due to increased competition from abroad so the evidence of Taylor Rules controlling inflation may be overstated. The empirical studies surrounding the Taylor rule have provided great insights into the conduct of monetary policy historically and have given insights into what works and has deepened our understanding of monetary policy. However there are many flaws in many of these studies which limits how many conclusions we can draw from them. Targeting Rules Could targeting rules provide a better alternative to an instrument rule? Svennson has been a strong advocate of targeting rules based on forecasting. One thing to note is that the Taylor rule is explicit whereas the model Svensson advocates is implicit in that inflation and output gaps matter but not because of themselves but in the way they affected the forecast for inflation. This particular model of optimal targeting relies heavily on developments made in consumption theory, Svensson argues that they are superior as they are structural, robust and compact. This model hinges on a very simple Euler Equation. This of course has come under criticism but it is irrefutable that it is compelling in its simplicity and its ability to distil the complexities of policymakers decision making into the very simple form of essentially MRS=MRT. The Euler condition is simply this: Et (Eq. 2 Svensson 2003, p.616) How does this relate to targeting rules? Targeting rules aim to minimise the loss between the marginal rate of substitution (MRS) between inflation and the output gap and the marginal rate of transformation between inflation and output is determined by the aggregate supply (AS) relationship between inflation and unemployment. Svensson (2005) notes that aggregate demand doesn’t determine the marginal rate of transformation (MRT), therefore the model is robust to changes in the AD relationship. This is an intuitive idea as policymakers have a preference over inflation and output just as a consumer has a preference over consumption today or tomorrow. Thus, a decision is made over how much output and inflation, which is dependent on the trade-off between them, which is given by the AS curve. So the principle of MRS=MRT can be applied to monetary policy. This principle is independent of any model and Svennson believes that this should drive a policymaker’s decision making not simply adhering to an instrument rule. Svennson (2005) outlines the central bank’s optimal targeting rule as: (Svensson, 2005, Eq.3) This rule is a structural model of monetary policy, in the same way that AS and AD are structural (and they are designed to capture price-setting and consumption choice respectively). As previously stated this essentially captures the equality MRS=MRT. MRS being given by the central banks preferences between inflation and output with à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  capturing the weight authorities place on output variability. The MRT being given by à ¯Ã‚ Ã‚ ¡x à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  which is the slope of the short-run Philips curve which captures the trade-off between inflation and unemployment. Svennson (2005) says it is also robust to shocks and judgement since there is no variable in the rule to capture this. Finally he states that targeting rules are superior to instrument rules as they are more compact. This means that they can explain the same amount with less variables which can only be a good thing as it should lead to less errors. McCallum and Nelson (2004) argue that targeting rules are specific to a particular model. As they rely on assumptions of the dynamics of the models IS and Phillips curves amongst other structural equations. (2004, p.599) They criticise them as although they are optimal for a particular model they may well not be optimal in another model. In contrast they argue that instrument rules can be defined outside particular models and can be tested in other models, and that the best instrument rule over the range of models can be selected. They provide numerical examples in which the optimal rule in one model can give results in other models that are more than twice as bad as the optimum for that model (2004, p.599) They then run some simulations and conclude that there is little difference between the performance of instrument and targeting rules when a mistake is made regarding economic conditions. They argue that targeting rules are not superior to instrument rules in this respect. Svensson (2005) counters that if the error is not immediately realised, instrument rules can perform very badly. He also points out that whereas targeting rules are by definition optimal, varying the response coefficient in instrument rules finitely (rather than infinitely) can on some occasions only get close to optimality Targeting rules provide a good alternative to instrument rules and provide many benefits over instrument rules as shown above. That is not to say that it isn’t without its flaws but it does appear to more accurately model the behaviour of central banks as Conclusion Taylor rules and more generally instrument rules have been the focus of a great deal of economic research. The idea of a simple policy rule is an enticing one as it would be easy to commit to and would allow for an easy understanding of monetary policy. However the main issue is its simplicity as has been pointed out by many, central banks rely on all sorts of data when making monetary policy decisions. This thought process cannot be hoped to be captured in a simple instrument rule. It has found some success in empirical studies however with many showing that there is evidence of central banks making use of the Taylor rule and Principle but these findings should be taken with a pinch of salt as there are of course no certainties that central banks strictly followed a Taylor rule and also many critics have discredited some of the findings. However the results are still impressive considering the model has performed admirably in the years after it was first published in 1993 and still provides a compelling idea as to how monetary policy should be conducted and provides a reasonable explanation of central bank actions over the years. The development of optimal targeting rules has led to a compelling alternative to proposed instrument rules with its simplicity and strong micro foundations providing a model that holds up well to analysis. Indeed it is superior to instruments in a variety of ways due to its implicit nature and in the way it captures the principle that monetary policy is a case of getting MRS=MRT which is independent of any model and it leaves more scope for judgement to be used in how best to achieve this equilibrium. Of course it is not without its flaws such as its specificity to certain models and its inability to be used in other models. Unlike an instrument rule which is easy to apply and examine in a variety of models and the best rule can be selected. So the debate will continue and instrument rules and in particular the Taylor Rule are still relevant in the debate over the best way to conduct monetary policy due to its simplicity and it will serve as a useful guide for policymakers in the fu ture but the development of optimal targeting rules does provides a compelling alternative which is in my opinion a better model of monetary policy than any instrument rules as it more accurately captures the decisions facing policymakers due to its simplicity.

The Benefits of Eating Raw Foods Essay -- essays research papers

Amanda is a twenty-something year old going to college in a big city. She lives in one of the identical shoebox-sized dorm rooms with a room mate. She wakes up in the early afternoon each day and shuffles to her first class. By the time her classes are over for the day she is famished and feels utterly empty of any sustenance. She looks around for the nearest place that she could get as much food as she wants for the least amount of money possible. She sees the dining hall of her university, but they only serve realistic portions of reasonably healthy food for a not completely reasonable price. Not what she?s looking for. She then decides to hop into her old, but reliable car and drive to the nearest McDonalds to satisfy the raging hunger within her. She orders a Big Mac, then another, with extra large fries, a large soda and two apple pies. She devours the food with animal like savageness. Soon she is bloated and miserable. Her stomach is so full that she must unbutton her already bursting at the seams jeans. She drives back to the residence hall and plops on her bed to take a nice long nap after that exhausting meal. When she wakes, she immediately clutches her stomach writhing in pain. When it?s all over she lay there covered in sweat, her head pounding and splitting at the same time and yet again completely empty of sustenance. ?Something has to change,? she thinks to herself. Amanda then starts to eat foods completely opposite her usual diet. She has more energy throughout the entire day. She needs less sleep and feels more rested when she wakes up. Her mind is clear and answers come to her quickly without having to search her memory. She no longer has headaches or any other body aches. She loses all of the excess and s... ...d and knife. That?s it! You save time and money and are all the better for it! Eating only raw food also benefits the environment. It takes far less land to raise raw foods than animals, which conserves natural habitats. Eating only raw food produces far less trash to pollute the environment than cooked and processed foods. Think of all of the packaging that goes to food. All of the trees cut down for paper packaging and all of the oil used to create plastic packaging. Most of it just gets thrown away and pollutes the environment. The process of making plastic alone pollutes the environment. The gases and smoke from the factories billow up into the air and then into our lungs, or off to destroy the O-zone. So in conclusion, eating only raw and vegan foods not only has outstanding benefits to your health and appearance, but it benefits the world around you as well.

Descartes, Leibniz, And Spinoza Essay -- essays research papers

If these great thinkers (Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz) were to discuss instead the soul’s connection to the body, what might each say (both on his own behalf and in response to the other)? Would they find any places where they might agree? If not, why not? (These are, after all, smart guys!)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Though this sort of meeting would strike me as a debate with as furiously disparate and uncompromising ideals as one would find in a meeting of Andrew Weil, Jerry Falwell, and David Duke, I expect that the philosophers would find some surprisingly common ground. Descartes, the Christian outcast, Spinoza, the Jewish outcast, and Leibniz, the creative mathematician all acknowledge that what we know better than anything is the mind. Given this, we can deduce that any knowledge we acquire of our perceived bodies does not necessarily relate to some external reality, physical substance, or biological bodies. However, from this point on the three scholars meander off in separate definitive arguments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Descartes reasons in â€Å"Meditations on the First Philosophy: In Which the Existence of God and the Distinction Between Mind and Body are Demonstrated† that mind and body are real, extant, and separate products of God. He does this by suggesting that if the body were not real, then God would be deceiving us, which is unlikely from a perfect god. He also arrives at a proof for his mind’s existence by postulating the famous cogito, ...

Portraying the Character of Lady Macbeth :: Lady Macbeth Scottish Plays Essays

Portraying the Character of Lady Macbeth Congratulations on getting the part of Lady Macbeth in the recent Old Vic’s production of the Scottish Play I am writing this letter to give you some interpretation and tips on how you can portray you character best on stage. After watching numerous versions of the play, I have not once seen this character being conveyed as well as the Globe’s recent production. Hence in this letter I want to clarify and explain how this scene can be staged best, since it is one of the most important in the play; your role will need to be played out exceptionally well. The reason why this scene is so important is that in this scene we feel sympathy for Lady Macbeth for the first time in the play, we witness the true depth of guilt expressed for all to see, and in this scene it is expressed through her actions and words during her nightmare sleep. We see her suffering and realize the extent of her actions earlier in the play. I will explain line by line how I would like to see you play this scene on stage. At this stage in the play, Lady Macbeth, is an odd one since her character is so different from the earlier scenes in the play. In this scene it is crucial that you act with despair and regret in your eyes and most importantly the audience must feel pity and definitely must sense sympathy for you. You will need to portray yourself as a totally different Lady Macbeth in this scene from the one who so coolly prepared the murder of the King. Her trance-like state must echo that of Macbeth in Act two, scene one; it is crucial that you convey the detachment and isolation she is feeling to the audience. The doctor will be dressed in a black outfit to convey that Scotland is sick and disordered under the hands or an unnatural evil ruler, whereas the Gentlewoman will be dressed in a white maids outfit reflecting her loyalty towards her mistress, looking after her even during her illness and not revealing her secrets to anyone. As I witnessed in the Roman Polanski’s version of the Scottish Play, I thought it was clever for Lady Macbeth’s character to be undressed as it conveyed the sense of revealing all of your inner thoughts to the audience quite brilliantly. Although, I don’t know how comfortable you might feel being nude on stage, I thought that this would be a great way to portray your character the best. We will negotiate this matter

Zheng He or Christopher Columbus?

who was the greatest explorer Christopher Columbus or Zheng He? Tristan Stanchfield A great explorer in my mind requires being a visionary thats willing to pursue his goal despite the challenges faced, supported by high risk undertakings where the winnings are all or nothing, set on the uncertain future with a non back looking persona. That, and if the outcome is great is what my judging is based on. Zheng He, originally named Ma He, was born into a Muslim family just beyond the borders of China (later Yunnan Province in the southwestern part of China) in 1371.In 1402, after Emperor Cheng Zu of the Ming Dynasty ascended the throne, he dispatched Zheng He and Wang Jinghong to lead a giant fleet to the Western Sea (today's Southeast Asia), carrying members of soldiers and large quantity of goods. The fleet reached the countries of Southeast Asia, east Africa and Arabia, initiating a feat in the history of navigation and regarded as an unprecedented great historical period in Chinese hi story of trade and cultural exchanges. He led his fleet to voyage to the Western Sea for seven times.The number of ships of his fleet was from 40 to 63 each time, taking many soldiers and sailors on the voyage, with a total party over 27,000 people. and also took with him ships almost four-hundred feet long. Explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in the Republic of Genoa, Italy. His first voyage into the Atlantic Ocean in 1476 nearly cost him his life. (attacked by french privateers). In 1492, Columbus left Spain in the Santa Maria, with the Pinta and the Nina along side in search of a new trade route to Asia.Instead he sailed West and discovered America, and has been credited for the colonization of America also. in my opinion the greatest explorer was christopher columbus. this was because he was he founded America, and this took the high risk of sailing across the north atlantic ocean which he acomplished. Then he made several more voyages back and fourth fr om europe and America trading goods also at the same time creating colonies in the new world we live in today known as the United states of America. cites: iphone siri, http://www. biography. com/people/christopher-columbus-9254209, wikipedia. com.

Developing your Empowering People Skill Essay

The following skills exercise is focus on how manager can develop empowering people (delegating) skill. According to Robbins & Coulter (2012), clarify the assignment, specify the employee’s range of discretion, allow the employee to participate, inform other that delegation has occurred, and establish feedback channels are the five actions that separate an effective delegator from a ineffective delegator. It is essential for manager to be effective delegator because not all managers have the time or knowledge to work on every single project. To practice the five skills, Robbins and Coulter have provided a scenario. The scenario involved a manager (Ricky Lee) who is currently does not have the time for a new project, the boss (Anne Zumwalt) who want the manager to prepare the department’s new procedures manual, and Ricky’s employee (Bill Harmon) who is going to be task with the project. The team (Team B) is going the five actions as a guideline to solve the problem. In the captioned scenario, one should first receive permission from Anne Zumwalt to task Bill Harmon with this project. Bill is chosen for this assignment for his three years experience in the contracts group; therefore, he is more than capable of completing the task in a satisfactory manner. One would then need to sit down with Bill and see if he has the time and motivation to complete the task (Robbins & Coulter, 2012). If Bill agrees, one would then explain the details of the project. This can be achieved by specifically identifying the conten t and scope of the manual. If there is a certain standard format, that should be discussed as well. It would need to be pointed out that thorough research, reference material and accurate information is expected in the manual. As recommended in Robbins and Coulter (2012) Bill should then be given a deadline. The Friday of the week prior to the end of the  month would give Ricky time to review the work and direct any changes. Robbins and Coulter (2012) explains the next step as, â€Å"Specify the employee’s range of discretion† (p. 282). Ricky would then need to explain to Bill what his range of discretion is for this project. As this is a fairly large project with a short deadline, it would be advisable to give Bill discretion to delegate sections of the manual to those employees with experience in each section. Ricky should insist that all although Bill has the freedom to task others for help, all final decisions rest with Ricky to ensure someone is not pulled away from other projects. Ricky should also tell Bill to use all of the resources he needs at the office to complete the task. The next step is to specify the level of participation the employee will have in the project (Robbins & Coulter, 2012). Regarding Bill’s level of participation in the project, that decision should be left to him and will depend on his leadership style. Bill should be reminded that ultimately, the proje ct is his responsibility, regardless of his level of participation. At this point, a meeting with all of the employees should be held where Ricky would announce what has been delegated to Bill for this project. Robbins and Coulter (2012) indicates the purpose of this step is to let others know that a delegation has occurred, to whom and what its circumstances are. Ricky should stress with everyone that this is an important project, during which, everyone should give 100% of his or her energy. Ricky should articulate that Anne Zumwalt has given him discretion to task others with parts of the project so there would be no challenge to his authority. To establish feedback channels as discussed in Robbins and Coulter (2012), Ricky should instruct Bill to give him progress reports each Monday about the prior week’s work to ensure he stays on track. Ricky should also instruct Bill to have the project completed the Friday of the week prior to the end of the month. This way, there is time to review the manual, make adjustments and smooth it over before the deadline. It would also be advisable for Ricky to check on Bill randomly during each week to ensure he is not abusing his authority or is on the wrong track with the project. â€Å"Delegation is an art that must be practiced. Few people are born with this innate ability, but given time and practice, they can learn to become confident and tactful delegators† (Mahoney, 1997) Anne was clear in her directions to Ricky as she disclosed her requirements and briefly yet in great detail defining the assignment, specify the employee’s range of discretion, allow the employee to participate, inform other that delegation has occurred, and establish feedback channels. Which in turn Ricky too practiced the five actions that separate an effective delegator from a ineffective delegator when informing Bill of the assignment. I enjoyed both Anne and Ricky actions: Anne describe the real basics what we call the who, what, when, where and how. And Ricky took the bull by the horns and in his requirements went a bit further into the details. Ricky laid an outline, timeline and left the team a week to fix any short comings if needed once Bill completed the task. I thought that was excellent in his planning. The other think I admired in this process was Ricky’s ability to recognize his own work load and knew right away who to delegate to and knew that persons skill set, all which tells me Ricky is a very in turned type leader. If Ricky had not delegated to Bill the project probably would not have been as strong as a final product because of his current work load. In my years of leading and managing I have observed many leaders take on more than they could handle and bad things happen. Delegating is skill that all leaders, managers must possess to be effective in a greater sense. Meaning managers must know their people and their skill sets and of course trust their team greatly to delegate task. Both Anne and Ricky clear ly practiced the five skills present in Robbins and Coulter book. References Robbins, S.P. & Coulter, M. (2012). Management. (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Janet Mahoney, Nursing Management, (1997), (Volume 28) (Issue 6), Springhouse Corporation, Chicago

Chronic Sorrow

Living with Chronic Sorrow The middle range theory of chronic sorrow theory was researched in the 1980’s validating parent’s feelings over the loss of not having the perfect child and having a child with a disability. Chronic sorrow provided a framework for understanding the reactions of individuals to various loss situations and offered a way to view the experience of bereavement. Involvement in an experience of a significant loss is the necessary antecedent to the development of chronic sorrow (Peterson & Bredow, 2009). The loss may affect individuals and family members at any time. Chronic sorrow may come to any of us during our lifetime. Chronic sorrow can best be described as a natural response to a tragic situation. Where life experiences cause deep distress, sadness, or regret especially for the loss of someone or something loved ( Gordon, 2009 ). Chronic sorrow is followed by a permanent loss of a personal attachment that may be ongoing with a sadness of such intensity that it recurs for the lifetime of the person. Mental pain, suffering and despair can all occur from chronic sorrow regardless if the loss is caused by injury, trauma or by death ( Alligood, & Tomey,(2010). Washington Irving says it best, â€Å"There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of over whelming grief and unspeakable love. † The rational for choosing the middle range theory of chronic sorrow was because this theory was easy to identify with. From losing a home to a natural disaster, a job, and even in death of family members, friends and numerous pets this theory really hit home from personnel experiences. Possible Antecedents, Defining Attributes and Consequences Let’s start but trying to understand the antecedents of chronic sorrow and how they relate to ach other and affect each of us as individuals. This may help to understand how strongly emotions control and play an important part in our everyday lives. The antecedents that go along with chronic sorrow are loss and grief. They are experienced periodically by individuals of all ages through their life time. Whether in the death of a family member, friend or pet, losing a home and all worldly possessions or losing a functioning body part. To be able to get through these powerful feelings and emotions can be very difficult and even more difficult for others to understand (Peterson & Bredow, 2009). People all over the world are forced to deal with this daily, but until it happens to you, do you truly begin to understand the impact this has on ones’ own life. Every one of us will have to deal with loss at some time in our life. A loss can be described as â€Å"a pervasive psychic pain and sadness, stimulated by certain trigger events, which follows loss of a relationship of an attachment† (Teel,1991, pg. 1316). Losses come in many forms both large and small, such as loss of a job, a home, a way of life, a relationship, or loss of a significant other, spouse, family member or even a pet. The perception of the event, the situational supports, and the coping mechanisms all influence return of equilibrium or homeostasis. A person either advances or regresses as a result of the crisis, depending upon how the person manages the crisis (Potter & Perry, 2009). Experiencing a loss can trigger the grief process. Everyone is different and comes to terms with loss in different ways, so it is difficult to say how long a person’s process may take. Losses that are smaller and have less of an impact on peoples’ lives will take a much shorter time to resolve emotionally than more significant losses (Foust, 2006). Some people deal with the loss a day at a time, yet for some people it may be an hour at a time. As long as the person is not denying the loss, they are working through it. Action oriented is an internal management for coping with a loss. This includes continuing to be involved in interests, hobbies, activities, talking with friends, professionals and even joining a support group (Peterson and Bredow,2009). Lost your job, your home, a loved one, or a beloved pet? There are many forms of loss, and all are felt individually on a very personal level (Foust, 2006). A loss is losing or being deprived of something you once had. Any loss can have a profound effect on your life. Loss can happen at any time day or night and does not need a reason. A consequence of a loss can stop you from socializing, cause you to have lack of interests, and take you emotionally away from those who love you. A loss can impact your job, your home, your finances, and your relationships. This is a real emotion that people around the world experience daily. Coping with loss and grief can be challenging in many ways (Teel. 1991). A loss may be felt physically and emotionally, like something is missing. A feeling of worry and emptiness may be felt deep inside. Two types of losses most relevant to depressive symptoms are related to self, goal attainment, and loss of financial resources (Van Horn & Mischel, 2008). One may begin to suffer physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal upset, anxiety, sleeplessness, or anorexia. Emotionally you may feel tired, lack the ability to care about what is going on around you, sleep too much or too little, over eat or under eat, and neglect yourself and those around you. These are all feelings and emotions a person may experience in grief. Loss is an experience caused by changes and recognizing these changes are important in dentify feelings and most importantly, by allowing individuals to feel and express themselves begins the healing process (Love, 2007). Grief comes in many shapes and sizes. There is no â€Å"one size fits all† for the grieving process. Grief is the series of emotions that a person goes through after a loss. Grief may involve feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, shame, relief, jealousy, hopelessness and powerlessness ( Love, 2007). Many people allow for grief after the passing of a loved one, but many of today’s views tend to ignore the grief that can follow other kinds of losses. As a result, people find themselves unexpectedly alone dealing with the sorrow, anger and other emotions associated with grief at various times in their life. Confused and even ashamed, they may attempt to hide or avoid these emotions, pushing them inward rather than letting them out. This may cause destructive and devastating repercussions which can follow. Yet all of this can be avoided, if people recognize that there are all kinds of grief (Castledine,2002). Learning to deal with the loss and cope with ones misfortunes is where grief comes in. So, how long is the grieving process? Basically, a person grieves as long as it takes to come to terms with their loss and the impact that it has had on their life (Foust, 2006). The obvious time for grieving is after the death of a loved one. Many people experience this first with grandparents and parents, as well as aunts, uncles and family pets. Some people may suffer the difficult loss of siblings or spouses and still others may experience the tragic loss of a child. There is no way to measure grief, and no instrument or scale to measure for sorrow. Each person grieves these losses uniquely and differently. When a death of a loved one occurs those left ehind are often allowed time and space for grieving and usually supported by family and friends (Burglass, 2010). But what happens when someone loses a beloved pet? Or when a family loses a home? Or better yet the loss of a functioning body part, example hearing, seeing or loss of limb? These too are times of great loss. Unfortunately, they are seldom recognized as suc h and because of this the grieving are left alone to work through emotions that are many times misunderstood by those around them (Castledine, 2002). Coworkers, friends or even spouses can find it hard to understand ones grief and even find it difficult to handle. A person must grieve in order to heal and move forward. The suffering of dazed confusion, distress and unrelenting despair will generally ease with time (Love, 2007). At home, whenever you are alone, don’t push or force yourself to do anything. Relax and do what comes naturally. Many cultures do not encourage people to grieve openly. Crying and other ways of expressing distress can be seen as signs of weakness. Crying can actually help relieve stress, so cry, take a bath or watch television (Gipson, 2009). Do whatever makes you feel comfortable and helps you relax. Management forms of grief can be in the form of faith, istractions, like work, hobbies, and honoring your loss through ritual is important in overcoming the loss. There are many ways to go through the grieving process, regardless of how one grieves, grief is critical in the healing process (Potter & Perry, pg. 496). Any loss can warrant grief. Grief is a normal reaction to loss and is not usually associated with lon g term negative consequences. Grief is a natural psychological and sometimes physical response to loss or change. Though death is most commonly associated with grieving, many other life changes can have the same result (911, Oklahoma City bombing). Losing a job (being laid off after working several years for the same company), losing a home (natural disaster, fire, tornado or even hurricane), having children leave home ( go away to college, military service, get married), retiring, divorce, declaring bankruptcy (loss of financial resources) a breakup, even moving can all create a sense of real loss and grief (Love, 2007). Grieving is a natural and healthy reaction to all losses. The five stages of grief denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are all natural feelings when one experiences a significant loss. These can also be overlapped with shock, yearning and protest, despair, and recovery (Buglass, 2010). Grieving helps people understanding what has occurred and how to adapt to a new set of circumstances in their life. What makes the grieving process so challenging, is that many of the emotions we experience are painful and most people do not want to feel painful emotions. Another challenging piece is that many people are not prepared for the variety of emotions that occur. Most people expect to feel sad, but may not expect to feel angry, anxious, hopeless, terrified, confused, frustrated, lonely, and so on. The emotions felt do not occur in any predictable pattern and many people often tend to cycle through them throughout the grieving process (Drench, 2004). Grief is something that cannot be fixed and one cannot take a pill to make the grief go away. A person needs to experience the loss and all the negative emotions that result in order to accept the loss. Grief cannot be medicated with pills or alcohol. In fact, individuals that do attempt to take medication are using their own form of denial which usually lengthens the process and may even add a drug or alcohol addiction problem on top of their grief. The good news is that there are things that people can do to help cope and work through the grief process (Potter and Perry, pg. 496). These are a few examples people may use to help work through the grieving process. Take care of yourself by getting rest, eating regularly and maintain a regular routine. This can be challenging during the early process, but is essential with recovery (Potter & Perry, pg. 496). Support systems of family, friends and colleagues who will listen, offer advice and provide emotional support can benefit you. Talk about your loss helps get your thoughts and feelings ut. Journaling is also a helpful to get your thoughts out. In a private journal or diary people are able to express their emotions and vent their feelings honestly without hurting anyone or without concern for how they may appear to others (Potter & Perry, pg. 496). Time management techniques include developing a list of tasks that are felt to be important and need to be accomplished. Perform the tasks at the top of the list that require immediate attention, those that are not as important can be delayed (Potter & Perry, pg. 497). Guided imagery and visualization can help with relaxation. Gather pictures and other things that remind you of your loss, person, pet, house or phase of your life you have lost. Try talking with family and friends about your memories. Funniest, worst, happiest, anything you share will help with adjusting to the loss. Play music that reminds you of your loss. Music is a powerful memory that can make you feel good or is comforting to you (Potter & Perry, pg. 497). Progressive muscle relaxation may help with physiological tension. Exercise, fresh air, Sunshine, visiting with friends may all help. Deep breathing exercises may help reduce stress nd relax muscles (Potter & Perry, pg. 497). Have a friend share in an activity that may have been your activity with what or whom you lost. An example would be if you went to breakfast every morning at McDonalds, it can make you sad and upset to think about going back there. Sharing the activity with a friend will not replace your loss, but may help establish a new routine for you. That is what grieving i s about, facing and dealing with your new circumstances rather than avoiding them (Gipson, 2009). Many of these suggestions are easy things to do. What is not easy is managing negative motions. The grieving process does take time, but you can get through the loss and grief by dealing with your emotions one day at a time. None of these suggestions will take grief away, but may help to manage feelings and emotions that are experienced. Managing ones feelings can assist in feeling like the person is taking an active role again in their life. If the feelings a person experiences becomes overwhelming or significantly interferes with their life (can’t go to work, feeling suicidal, panic attacks, difficulty in carrying out every day routines, etc. ). This person ould likely benefit from seeing a therapist that can assist them with the grieving process and help them with acceptance and recovery (Buglass, 2010). Grieving can be difficult and a person does not have to go through this a lone (Gipson, 2009). Case Study Three young men, Brad, Tom and Mike return home from active military duty with the loss of a lower leg while fighting for our country. Each man experiences their loss differently and uniquely. The first, Brad, is supported by his wife, parents, two children and many other family members and friends. Brad’s leg has healed and a useful diverse type of prosthesis has been itted to his lower leg. After many months of rehabilitation Brad is able to walk again with the use of his new prosthesis. The prosthesis fits well with no skin irritations. Brad is able to enjoy many of the things he did prior to losing the leg (fishing, dancing, playing ball with his child). Brad is a very spiritual man and with the help of his wife, parents, family and friends he has been able to accept his loss and move forward. The quality of life Brad once new has slowly returned to an almost normal state. Although Brad does miss the loss of is leg he has adjusted to his ne w life and faces daily challenges as they come. The second, Tom, is also supported by his wife, parents, one child and many friends and family. The leg due to infection took longer than Tom expected to heal delaying his recovery time. Tom had a useful diverse type prosthesis fitted to his lower leg. Tom attended many more months of rehabilitation than Brad, do to skin integrity problems. Skin issues have disrupted the daily use of the prosthesis interfering with Tom’s independence and lifestyle. Tom has had difficulty at first adjusting to his new lifestyle. Everyday tasks have been very challenging for Tom at times. Toms’ wife, parents, family and friends have een very supportive to Tom every step of the way. A remote controlled wheel chair is available for Tom on the days he is unable to wear his prosthesis. Tom has learned to do many tricks with his wheel chair and has joined a wheel chair basketball team because he likes showing off. Toms’ acceptance and recovery was a lot slower, but in the end he was abl e to adjust to his new lifestyle. The third, Mike, is supported by his wife, parents, family and friends. Mike was diagnosed with Diabetes after returning home from active duty. Mikes’ leg had a hard time healing due to infection and adjustment to having Diabetes. Mike did not like having Diabetes and would refuse to eat the right foods. Mikes’ blood sugar was out of control because of his refusal to take medication prescribed and frequently drinking. These actions were responsible for causing skin integrity problems. After a long, hard, trying year, the leg finally healed. Mike was fitted with a useful diverse type prosthesis. Skin issues continued to be a problem because of Mikes Diabetes and his refusal to eat healthy and take his medication properly. The prosthesis was painful and awkward for Mike to use. Just looking at the prosthesis filled Mike with such an incredible loss. Mike was angry with everyone that tried to help him. He sat day after day in a wheelchair drinking beer. Mike refused to take a bath, shave, eat, or go anywhere he might be seen by people that knew him. Mike would stay for days at a time in bed and refuse to get up. Counseling was verbally rejected every time counseling was brought up by anyone. Mikes’ doctor placed him on depression medication which he refused to take on a regular basis. Mikes friends stopped dropping by to see him. Mikes’ wife was having difficulties dealing with Mikes’ drinking and verbal abuse. She would argue with Mike till she cried and could no onger take Mikes’ drinking and feeling sorry for himself. His parents tried being very supportive, but also found Mike really difficult to deal with. Mike continued to drink and blamed everyone for the loss of his leg. Mike refused to accept the loss or move forward. Mikes’ wife finally after two years had all the verbal abuse she coul d handle and left him. Mike ended up moving back home and living with his parents. He still is unable to wear the prosthesis and to this day rarely leaves his parents’ home. As a nurse working with individuals, families and patients we need to be able to recognize hese individuals that are suffering. By listening to what the person is saying and their body language should be triggers for nurses if this is a person wanting, needing or requiring some kid of outside assistance. Chronic sorrow is characterized as pervasive, permanent, periodic sadness or other grief- related feelings associated with ongoing disparity resulting from a loss experience (Lindgren, Burke, Hainesworth, & Eakes,1992). The concept of chronic sorrow as you have read may go hand in hand with the antecedents grief and loss. For a person to experience one, they can experience the other. Even though the loss may have been for seen or was totally unexpected, a person does not always overcome the loss or grief over night. For some people this may take days, weeks or even years. Then for others like Mike, they may be so devastated over the loss with grief that the loss is unbearable. They never overcome the loss and live with chronic sorrow. Reference Alligood, M. R. , & Tomey, A. M. (2010). Nursing Theorists and Their Work (7th ed. ). Maryland Heights, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier Inc. Bickerstaff, K. A. , Grasser, C. M. , and McCabe, B. (2007). How elderly nursing home residents transcend losses of later life. Holistic Nursing Practice May/June 159-166 Bui, K. M. , Raugi, G. J. , Nguyen, V. Q. , & Reiher, G. E. , (2009). Skin problems in individuals with lower-limb loss: Literature review and proposed classification system. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development 46(11)1085-1090 Retrieved September 22, 2011, from: http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=12&hid=17&sid=fb4631bd-e30d-4d04-86b9-9daef0a7f731%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3 d#db=rzh&AN=2010582711 Castledine, G. ,(2002). Recognizing problems of loss in patients. Britsh Journal of Nursing Retrieved September 5, 2011, from: http://ezproxy. ardner webb. edu/login? url=http://search. ebscohost. com/login. aspx? direct=true&d b=c8h&AN=2009019179&site=ehost-live. Chan, C. , NG, S. , HO, R. , & Chow, A. , (2006). East meets West: applying Eastern spirituality in clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing 15(7): 822-832 Retrieved September 18, 2011, from: http://ezproxy. snu. edu:2056/ehost/detail? vid =6&hid=8&sid=82932029-8cc8- 434b-afd5-63517ab0000e%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ %3d%3 d#db=rzh&AN=2009258194 Clements, P. T , Benasutti, K. M. , & Carmone, A. , (2003). Support of Bereaved owners of pets. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care 39(2), 49-54 Retrieved September 18, 2011, from: http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=20&hid=127&sid=1346ad7f-572a-4072-b160- a0ba9b0916e1%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db= rzh&AN=2003162539 Curtis, R. C. , (2010). Social worker practitioners and the human-companion animal bond: a national study. Social Work 55(1), 38-46 Retrieved September 18, 2011, from: http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=19&hid=127&sid=1346ad7f-572a -4072-b160-a0ba9b0916e1%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ 3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=2010505488 Dickson, A. , Knussen, C. , & Flowers, P. (2007). â€Å"That was my old life; it’s almost like a past- life now†: Identity crisis, loss and adjustment amongst people living with chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychology and Health 23(4), 459-476. Dougherty, P. J. , McFarland, L. V. , Smith, D. G. , Esquenazi, A. , Blake, D. J. , & Reiber, G. E. (2010). Multiple traumatic limb loss: A comparison of Vietnam veterans to OIF/OEF service members. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development 47(4), 333-348 Drench, M. E. (2004). Loss, grief, and adjustment: A primer for physical theraphy, part 1 Retrieved September 5, 2011, from: http://ezproxy. snu. edu:2056/ehost/detail? vid=18&hid= 126&sid=69ff5835-74c8-43e1-bffd-3252bfa3a859%40sessionmgr111&bdata=JnNp dGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=2003126574 Durkin, A. , (2009). Loss of a companion animal understanding and helping bereaved. 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Retrieved September 18, 2011, from: http://web. ebscohost. com/ehost/detail? vid=22&hid=127&sid=1346ad7f-572a- 4072- b160-a0ba9b0916e1%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2 ZQ%3d%3d#d b=rzh&AN=2010714399 Foust, J. , (2006). Re: Grief sorrow loss and morning [Online forum comment]. Retrieved September 5, 2011, from: http://theraphyinphiladelphia. com/selfhelp/tips/C86/ Gailey, R. , McFarland, L. V. , Cooper, R. A. , Czerniecki, J. , Gambel, J. M. , Hubbard, S. , Maynard, C. , Smith, D. G. , Raya, M. , & Reiber, G. E. (2010). Unilateral lower-limb loss: Prosthetic device use and functional outcomes in servicemembers from Vietnam war and OIF/OEF conflicts. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development 47(11) 317-332 Gipson, J. , (2009) Living with loss. Mental Health Practice 12(5), 22-24. 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