Climate Change and National Security Essay

That same month, the UN Security Council—at the initiative of the UK government—held its first-ever debate on the potential impact of climate change on peace and security. In October 2007, the Nobel committee recognized this emerging threat to peace and security by awarding former vice president Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change its peace prize. In November 2007, wo think tanks, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), released another report on the issue, concluding from a range of possible scenarios of climate change that, â€Å"We already know enough to appreciate that the cascading consequences of unchecked climate change are to include a range of security problems that will have dire global consequences. †2 The new interest in climate change and national security has been a valuable warning about the potential security consequences of global warming, but the proposed solutions that accompanied recent efforts have emphasized broader climate policy rather than specific responses to security threats. Because the links between climate change and national security are worthy of concern in their own right, and because some significant climate change is inevitable, strategies that go beyond long-run efforts to rein in greenhouse gas emissions are required. This report sharpens the connections between climate change and national security and recommends specific policies to address the security consequences of climate change for the United States. In all areas of climate change policy, adaptation and mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) should be viewed as complements rather than competing alternatives—and the national security dimension is no exception. Some policies will be targeted at adaptation, most notably risk-reduction and preparedness policies at home and abroad. These could spare the United States the need to mobilize its military later to rescue people and to prevent regional disorder—and would ensure a more effective response if such mobilization was nonetheless necessary. Others will focus on mitigation, 2 CSIS/CNAS, The Age of Consequences: The Foreign Policy and National Security Implications of Global Climate Change, November 2007; available at http://www. cnas. org/climatechange. 2 which is almost universally accepted as an essential part of the response to climate change. Mitigation efforts will need to be international and involve deep changes in the world’s major economies, such as those of China and India. As a result, the processes of working together to craft and implement them provide opportunities to advance American security interests.

Cell Phone Speech Essay

According to Merriam-Webster a cell phone by definition is a telephone with access to a cellular radio system so it can be used over a wide area, without a physical connection to a network. The cell phone has been very beneficial to humans, but at the same time, there are some negative aspects about the cell phone as well. Although the cell phone has come a very long way since when it first was invented it has also been proven to cause cancer in the brain, cause distractions in a person’s life but it can also bring people together and a cell phone could also save one’s life. Without the creation of the cell phone, society would be very different. In the beginning the phones only purpose was to talk to others. This was a great invention back then because they did not have to venture out for miles after miles simply to ask someone a question. The cell phone is a proven way of bringing people together. The advantage of calling someone up for homework help, to hangout, or s imply to talk is one of the most beneficial aspects of this creation. In the olden days, folks were always stuck pondering around with their families because they did not have a means of getting ahold of anyone to develop a social life. Although that is one great aspect of the phone, now that it has developed a lot more, it can also cause negative things in a person’s life too. There was a time when teens had to beg to get a phone but now having a cell phone is now a trend in society, kids as young as 8 are walking around with the latest iPhones. According to Pew Internet Research Project, an online research database, in 2004 a survey showed that 45% of teens had a cell phone. Since then mobile phone use has climbed steadily among teens to 63% in 2006 and 71% in 2008.Cell phones also play a role in how students abuse their devices, it has gotten in the way of their academics. Students are so attached to their phones that they do not know how to act when their phone is not with them. They depend so much on their devices that it is almost impossible for teens to go a day without them. The phones enable bad habits such as cheating on tests, compulsive use of social media and sometimes even taking part in illegal activities. However because the cell phone has developed so much throughout the years, it has also made life way easier. Depending on the device the phone can help you in daily tasks. Cell phones can be a learning tool for children as they can learn a new form of technology as well as explore the Internet if the phone has the  capability to do so. Most cell phones allow access to the Internet, which can help people obtain answers to questions very quickly and easily. This can help with studies as well as other simple daily questions like daily weather or finding directions to go someplace new. It also allows parents and children to stay in touch. If a child needs to stay after school and needs a ride, they are able to call their parents and let them know by simply using their cell phone. This is especially important because pay phones are become more and more rare. Cell phones can be important in emergency situations as well when a parent needs to quickly get in touch with their child or vice versa. A cell phone comes in handy very well if ever there may be an emergency. The most helpful thing a cell phone can do is having the ability to call for help if there is a car accident or someone really needs help. Cell phones have made it a long way over the past few years and are most likely going to keep having new inventions discovered for a cell phone to be able to do. Cell phones have a lot of negative and positive aspects about them and new negative and positive aspects are going to keep being discovered. Even though cell phones are able to affect someone’s life in the most amazing or horrible way, people are always going to be using them and they are most likely never going to go away, but if they did, this world would be such a different place to live in.

Communications Chapter

Interpersonal communication is the way by which we maintain personal relationships. Interpersonal communication occurs most likely with someone that you know, and depends on what you know about them as an individual. 2. True of False: The social information processing theory states that we can communicate rational and emotional messages via the Internet, and that it will not take longer than it would to express these messages with facial expressions and tone of voice. Correct Answer: False (found on page 21) Social media is a huge part of our current culture.People today, especially those of a younger age, often find it normal to document every detail of their daily lives online to share with people they barely know. While social media can be a great way to stay in contact with friends or relatives that live far away, or keep up to date with the lives of those you care about, it is important to remember the value of talking face-to-face. Text messages and tweets can be misinterpreted in their meaning because the reader in unable to hear the one of voice or observe the body language of the sender.These subtle cues are a valuable part of communication, and we have been learning how to interpret them since the daddy were born. 3. The media richness theory suggests that the richness of a communication channel is based on all of the following criteria except: A. The amount of feedback that the communicator can receive B. The number of cues that the channel can convey and that can be interpreted by a receiver C. The variety of language that a communicator uses D. The skill of the communicatorCorrect Answer: D (found on page 21) All of the other options are essential to assessing the value, or richness, of communication. Someone can be a fantastic public speaker, but they will still achieve a less-rich connection over a fax than an average communicator could in a face-to-face conversation. There are so many things that we do in an actual conversation that conveys our emotions or feelings without even realizing it. We may step away when we have somewhere to be, or avoid eye contact when we are uncomfortable.

Early childhood - Philosophy and newsletter Assignment

Early childhood - Philosophy and newsletter - Assignment Example (Ornstein, 1998) Early Childhood Education . . . . 1. Should be about making discoveries 2. Should show experience is important in learning 3. Experiences that builds upon other skills learned 4. Should teach about the community 5. Should show how we fit into that community 6. Should be challenging 7. Should be engaging 8. Should show that making relationships is important 9. Is a time that we learn about and work towards explanations and reasons and find solutions 10. Will teach how to make decisions 11. Will give children a chance to make choices â€Å"According to Shileod and Bergson Early childhood education is to try and create an ideal adult by making reasoned choices and decisions to reach our goals and society’s goals. We will learn to see things in different ways, and to make connections that we need to learn. We will also not criticize or learn to criticize to speak our minds. We will learn and be able to observe, question, challenge, invent, speculate and explore.à ¢â‚¬ (Cromwell, 2000) Activities for Learning Early Childhood Education must also develop positive self-esteem, show how to be nurturing and to use our natural resources to improve our survival in the community and the world and to be able to solve their own problems and children and adults will continue to always keep learning. Early childhood education should also show that learning never stops it just keeps happening. This field of education has children learn by Specific Skills or in increment. Children learn by training, practice and motivation. They will learn that failures are still learning and through failing we learn how to make our lives and relationships better. Early childhood education is a beginning and teaches that we want balance to what we can do and what we want to do. In my philosophy I want my teaching to be based on Discovery learning and Mastery learning. (Ornstein, 1998) Play is also important in the early childhood education. In a child care center for two to five year olds the teacher will have learning centers for the various content areas. In our center we will be using Science, Social Studies units along with Language activities to teach our children about the community around them. The activities will involve growing plants from seeds, then trying to figure out how these plants can help the community and the world around them. Play is another way that the children will learn in this child care center. The children will learn through play activities that are age appropriate that will teach them about cooperation and how to self-initiate ideas of their own. Play can be used in the content areas and the children can learn the necessary skill of learning how to question what is going on around them. Through play children will become aware and be sensitive to the happenings around them and make friends with the children of other cultures. Early childhood education also allows the children to make many choices and this will help them t o improve their thinking skills and also to improve their persuasive skills. The children will also learn and use decision-making skills. This early childhood center will always be aware of the safety needs of the children for healthy living. The center will also be flexible and creative in our ways of teaching academics and social interactions.

Literature Review Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Literature Review - Assignment Example Clinical symptoms of CHF include: breathing problems, fatigue, exercise intolerance and peripheral oedema, and frequent thirst. According to Donner et al. (2012, p. 442), some of the causes of heart failures include high sodium consumption, consumption of foods that are poor in vitamins, mineral and fiber, high intake of saturated fat, cholesterol, and simple carbohydrate. Among adults with over 65 years, CHF is the leading cause of hospitalization. Doris et al. (2007) argue that effective management of heart failure requires pharmacological management combined with non-pharmacological interventions. This position is significant in this literature review because of the need to evaluate the best option between pharmacological and non pharmacological management interventions. It will be vital to evaluate which option will provide the best management that will ensure no reoccurrence of hear failure in elderly patients. In this literature review, three themes stand out in the management of congestive heart failure namely; pharmacological treatment therapies, non pharmacological treatment therapies, and a combination of the two management therapies. PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT THERAPIES Pharmacological management therapies involve administration of a drug to alleviate the symptoms of CHF. Diuretics such as furosemide, torsemide, bumetanide and thiazide are important drugs in the management of CHF. Administration of these drugs can either be through intravenous bolus every 12 hours or by continuous intravenous infusion. Debates still exist on the most effective way of administrating these drugs. Similarity Some studies have shown that administration by continuous intravenous infusion is more effective in the management of CHF. Differences However, these studies have received a fair share of criticism. Similarly it is not clear as to whether administration of high dose of diuretics is more effective in management of CHF than administration of low doses of diuretics. Th is means that current guidelines on administration of diuretics are based on expert opinion. This has resulted in variation in the mode of administration and the dosing. The integration/synthesis of the evidence There is still some controversy on the administration of pharmacological management therapies. This may have some negative impact on the treatment of CHF among elderly patients. For example, in a study done by Felker et al. (2011), it was observed that among patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF), there no significant differences in â€Å"patients’ global assessment of symptoms† or in the change in renal function on administering diuretic therapy by bolus when compared with continuous infusion or at a high dose as compared with a low dose (p.797). These findings do not agree with findings of previous study, which recommended that continuous intravenous infusion is more effective than intravenous bolus. Critique of the evidence This leaves the medi cal doctor at a dilemma and thereby, no agreement on the best way to administer pharmacological treatment to patients. Unless this is done, varying expert opinion will still be used in the administration of diuretics by clinicians, and this poses a danger to the patients because such treatment will be based on try and error. NON PHARMACOLOGICAL CHF MANAGEMENT THERAPIES Non pharmacological CHF management therapies involve the use of non drug approaches to alleviate the symptoms (Kostis, et al., 1994).

Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Argument - Essay Example The powers are crafted to ensure that the president does not apply or enjoy government excesses, leading to a monarchical regime. In my understanding on how the federal or state governments operate, immigration reforms fall solely under the purview of the federal state. The federal government aims to provide protection for all the citizens under its care. As has been introduced above, a federal state works in tandem with the state government. There is a strong law that accords and insists that both institutions work together to seal the existing loopholes in the element of governance (Proudhon 16). This means that all laws, threats, challenges and governance issues that are experienced at state level get to be discussed at that level. This will then create room for the issues to be dissected, and approved by the partially governing states, and the central government. In conclusion, immigration issues remain sensitive and overly dramatic. This is a major reason why it is important for both state governments and the central government to agree if lenient or stiffer immigration policies should be

Business & International Trade Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business & International Trade - Assignment Example The two main parts of the current account are the balances of visible and invisible trade (goods and services) and both of these are affected by the exchange rate of a country against others. The basic types of exchange rates are floating exchange rate, where the market dictates movements in the exchange rate; pegged float, where a central bank keeps the rate from deviating too far from a target band or value; fixed exchange rate, which ties the currency to another currency, mostly more widespread currencies such as the U.S. dollar or the euro or a basket of currencies. If the economy of UK has a large and persistent deficit on its balance of payments, then serious economic problems could result, such as: †¢ A fall or depreciation in the value of ?‘s exchange rate (Campbell, 2007, p.110-114) †¢ A decline in the country’s reserves of foreign currency †¢ An unwillingness of foreign investors to put money into the economy. The business importance of these pro blems is likely to be most serious if: †¢ The exchange rate depreciation (or frequent fluctuations in the exchange rate) make importing and exporting too risky (Bean, 2002, p.276) — see section below on exchange rates †¢ The government takes corrective actions by, for example, limiting foreign exchange transactions and putting substantial controls on imports, such as tariffs and quotas (Dale & Haldane, 2005, p.1611-26). This policy (protectionist policy), used currently by Zimbabwe, might have short-term benefits by reducing imports of competitors’ products. However, serious consequences could also result. The policy could lead to retaliation by other countries that will then reduce export demand. Also, import controls are serious for firms that depend on imported supplies of raw materials. Question: How would an increase in the value of the ? against the $ and/or the â‚ ¬ affect the price of UK exports and imports into the UK? (2.1a) Answer: When demand f or a currency exceeds supply, its value will rise. This is called an appreciation because one unit of the currency will buy more units of other currencies. Exchange rate depreciation, on the other hand, is a fall in the external value of a currency as measured by its exchange rate against other currencies. If ?1 increases in value from â‚ ¬2 to â‚ ¬1.5, the value of the ? has appreciated (Fisher et al, 2007, p.19). The domestic firms that would gain from an appreciation of the country’s currency are: †¢ Importers and exporters in the UK of foreign raw materials and components, for whom the domestic currency cost, of these imports will be falling — this increases their competitiveness. †¢ Importers and exporters in the UK of foreign manufactured goods, who are’ able to import the product more cheaply in terms of domestic currency —in 2008, it was claimed that European importers of US-produced cars were profiteering at the expense of consume rs(Britton & Whitley, 2007,p. 152-62). This was because, although the import price of cars was falling due, to the appreciation of the euro against the US dollar, they were not selling them more cheaply to European consumers. Hence, they were taking advantage of the appreciation to make much higher profits (Calvo, 2003, p.383-98). †¢ Lower import prices will help to reduce the rate of inflation for the whole economy and all firms are likely to gain from this more stable position. The domestic fir

The house Queens, New York Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The house Queens, New York - Essay Example The house Queens, New York where I grew up in and spent most of my childhood, looked more formidable and forlorn than awe-inspiring. Its walls have now started to give in a little; the ceiling has begun to leak when it rains and the iron grills on the second floor windows have been leisurely yielding to rust and the changes in weather. At one glance it doesn't seem to show that the house bestowed us the best learning experience children could achieve. The house is now decrepit, dilapidating and in virtual disrepair, almost empty of laughter and gaiety, and wanting of the possessive warmth of its master. Not long ago, Queens was home for the five of us - me my two other sisters and my parents. When we were growing up, we divided the four-bedroom house into two wings; the right wing and its four rooms were our bedrooms. The second half of the house was turned into a library and a study as books, newspapers, magazines and journals littered the whole house from the kitchen to the front porch. We could not remember not reading. Since my mother taught all of us to read at a very early age of three, books have become integral parts of our growing up. My mother was a very persistent and patient woman - not giving up when we give up on learning how to read and understand difficult books. In fact, we started reading difficult books first than study children's books most parents would recommend their young children. My mother did not go to college as she married my father at a young age. We did not know where she learned how to teach. All we know was that, we started learning the alphabet at the age of two or three. Then, she would move on teaching us how to read words, shorter ones, and longer ones after, then phrases, then sentences. There were times when you have to read aloud passages from the American Constitution or Modern History of America as she listened attentively, observing closely if you were making a mistake on the enunciation of each word, and if you did, she wou ld ask you to start from the very beginning. It didn't really matter at first whether we understand a word we were reading or not, what was noteworthy was that we knew how to read simple to complex words. I realized later that my mother prepared us to learn independently. She explained that if you knew how to read words, you would know their meanings by searching for those words in the dictionary. My other relatives would give us a thick dictionary for Christmas as presents because of my mother's constant request for them to do so. As a result, the dictionary had always been our constant companion. Later on, all of us were able to scan and search for the definition of words as fast as we could. My parents bestowed us so much freedom to choose our own individual paths to learning. As the left wing of our house was turned into a library, we were given freedom to choose which books to read and our parents would never dictate on us which book to choose. If we made the wrong choice of book, it was our responsibility to pick and choose a better one next time. Much of my childhood was spent in the left wing of the house. The dingy rooms surrounded by cabinets and shelves reeked with the smell of old paper, ink and gaseous odor emanating from the damp newspapers, oak wood and leaves - but it represents a whole world to me. The cabinets and shelves were shrouded in dusts and soot but it didn't hinder me

Christian Ethics in Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Christian Ethics in Business - Research Paper Example the branch of philosophy that defines what is good for the individual and for society and establishes the nature of obligations, or duties, that people owe themselves and one another.† (2004: 31) Though the political authorities in all countries devise statutes of laws and implement them for the best interest of the society at large, which aim to strictly establish the complete code of responsibilities and relationships on the professionals while entering into communication, dealing and interaction; yet there appear several issues that have not been manifestly described and defined by law. The rule of law respects us as equals. It allows us to organize our lives, plan our futures, and resolve disputes in a rational way.† (Rule, 2008: 12) Thus, apparently these laws look comprehensive and sufficient in deciding the role, duties and rights of professionals while interacting with others in career life; even then there is an urgent need for some specific code on the basis of which the individuals could be restricted to adopt while dealing with their customers and clients as well as the public at large. However, there certainly exist some specific moral values that are other than laws, and the prevailing legal framework does not restrict the professionals to abide by these moral values. On the contrary, it is religious beliefs and ethical values that apply restrictions and limitations upon the professionals while offering their services at offices and work places. Consequently, religious beliefs vehemently lay stress upon observing of ethics in personal and professional dealings. MacFarlane has explained the decline of ethics with particular reference to occupation of law. â€Å"When we speak of the decline in â€Å"ethical† standards, we should not use the term ‘ethics’ to mean only compliance with the Ten Commandments or other standards of common, basic morality.....A lawyer can [adhere to all these requirements] and still fail to meet the standards of a true

China and America Educational System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

China and America Educational System - Essay Example From the discussion it is clear that  the college application in America considers the student’s own future career expectations unlike in China’s system were the college selection process is entirely determined by standardized tests that are administered annually. The pressure to pass these tests creates a burden since prospective college students will have to spend long hours while doing their revisions in order to ensure preparedness. Most higher education institutions in America have their own admission criteria and requirements depending on the preferred study program and thus comprehensive abilities and attributes of the prospective student are important in the selection criteria.As the paper highlights that  China and America education system differ from the way the curriculum is taught since American system values personal expression in the teaching strategies unlike Chinese system that values teacher lecturing. The American classrooms are based on discussion of materials and posing questions to students thus ensuring students actively participate in learning unlike China’s curriculum delivery methods that mainly involve lecturing and minimal participation of students during the learning process. The difference is evident in the differing attitudes of students while in classroom since American students are more likely to engage in group discussions that may sometimes be boisterous unlike Chinese classrooms where students remain more attentive to the teacher unlike they are called upon by the teacher to answer to questions while learning.

The Effects of Video Games on Society Essay Example for Free

The Effects of Video Games on Society Essay Perhaps the most positive way video games are being used these days are in the classroom. Video games challenge students to think and solve problems (Vlasak and Ranaldo 36). These educational games must take on an approach that involves gaming and must also be â€Å"fun. † Suggestive evidence includes that spatial visualization skills improve with video game playing. These skills are the ability to rotate mentally, manipulate and twist two and three dimensional objects. Students with a high degree of spatial visualization are high achievers in mathematics and science. Improving spatial visualization may have a corresponding effect on student mathematics (Dorman 133). Students these days are referred to as the Net generation. Their environment is saturated by media as they spend an average of 6. 5 hours per day engaged with various types of media (Annetta 233). Creating educational games that are centered on human interaction is no easy task. Designing today’s educational video games includes blended motivation and self-regulated learning (Annetta 233). Educational games enable students to learn by doing, experience situations first-hand, and role-playing. â€Å"Gee (2003a) stated that the practice of learning a video game is an enculturation practice that involves not only learning the mechanics of game play, but learning how to negotiate the context of play, the terms and practices of a game’s players, and the design choices of its developers† (Annetta 233). Studies for the negative effects of video games on society highly outweigh the positives. Research has shown increases in aggressive behavior associated with the amount of time teenagers are allotted to play video games. This rise in aggression seems to be due to the parents not regulating the amount of time teenagers play their video games. In a study, teenage girls played video games for an average of 5 hours a week, where boys played for an average of 13 hours a week. The study also showed that teens who played violent video games for extended periods of time are more prone to aggressive behavior, teacher/student confrontation, fights with peers and a decline in academic achievement (Fritz 1). Tips from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) include managing your teen’s media consumption, limit how long and how often they play video games, and know the rating of your teen’s video games. â€Å"Video games share much in common with other pursuits that are enjoyable and rewarding, but may become hazardous in certain contexts. Parents can best protect their children by remaining engaged with them and providing limits and guidance as necessary† (Harvard Mental Health Letter 3). Boys, more often than girls, tend to play video games for a means to compete and win. The violent games may be similar to the rough-housing that boys are prone to when growing up (Harvard Mental Health Letter 3). In conclusion these video games represent a fad that is extremely unlikely to fade anytime soon. In fact, technology is something that is getting more advanced every day. With advancing technological video games comes more opportunities for positive and negative effects on society as a whole. The key to this advancing technology is education. Get out there and educate yourself about the possibilities of video games.

Ethics - Morality Essay Example for Free

Ethics Morality Essay 1. Definition of Ethics It studies how man ought to behave. Ethics is a thoughtful review of how to act in the best interest of patients and their family. It is also about making good choices based on beliefs and values regarding life, health, suffering and death. Relationship of Ethics in other branches of science: * Ethics and Logic- Studies the correct and organized thinking of a man. Focused foremost on demands of materials, nonhuman world, or world of â€Å"things† in one’s environment it is people-oriented * Ethics and Psychology- Both deals with the study of man and his behavior. Studies how man ought to behave. Concerned with man’s moral obligation or the result of his behavior. It studies the human behavior from the perspective of morality. * Ethics and Sociology- Sociology deals with the study of social order and human relations in a society. Sociology is related to Ethics because Ethics deals with the study of moral orders in a society. Importance of Ethics: Ethics form the base ground of values, which differ from one culture to another. Ethics was applied in health care system, since ancient Egyptian times. A physician has moral obligations towards his patient based on physician patients relationship. The ethical principle of confidentiality confirms that patient can trust his health care provider not to disclose any information that the patient may have given in order to get cured. A current ethical issue in research involving human participants informed consent has prime importance. The subject and his guardian must have the capacity to understand the issue in question and the possible risks of treatment in the trial study. We need to do more to ensure that medical research practices are sound and ethical, and the goals of research should be secondary to the well being of the participants. The study of ethics and the study and practice of healthcare have not merged much in the past, but nevertheless ethical standards are essential to the practice of the health professions. Each professional discipline has its own code of conduct, guidelines for practice and philosophy of care to direct practice within its professional remit. There have been several international declarations of human rights within healthcare to protect patients from unethical practices that might nevertheless be portrayed to them as necessary evils in the course of scientific research and utilitarian principles – that is, the greater good. Despite the relative lack of moral philosophy and healthcare ethics in the curricula of healthcare professionals, it does not take long for anyone in clinical practice to face their first ethical dilemma about which they are called upon to make a judgment or have a view. In any healthcare system, whether organized and managed by the state or government or by the independent sector (private or non-governmental/voluntary) – or any mixture of these – moral issues will frequently be raised and should challenge the practitioner, teacher, manager or researcher. Establishing moral codes of practice between the various organizations mentioned above is important at the outset of any professional relationship or client encounter. For the practitioner the appropriate use of professional power, compared with the relative vulnerability of the lay client/patient during the first meeting, establishes the relationship for all future transactions between the two parties. In the context of progressive illness there are many occasions that will challenge this relationship as the illness trajectory takes its course. 2. Basic concepts in Ethics. Definition of Human Acts Human Acts (Actus Humani) refer to â€Å"actions that proceed from insight into the nature and purpose of one’s doing and from consent of free will†. Specifically, human acts are those actions done by a person in certain situations, which are essentially the result of his conscious knowledge, freedom and voluntariness, or consent. Hence, man performs these actions knowingly, freely, and voluntarily. Aspects of Human Acts * The Act Itself or the Object Of The Act. The act itself refers to the action that is done or performed by an agent, or simply, what the person does. This is the â€Å"substance of a moral act†, and here regarded as the basic factor of morality. More concretely, the object of the act is â€Å"that act effect which an action primarily and directly causes (finis operis). It is always necessary that the result of the act, independent of any circumstances or of the intention of the agent. † * The Motive or the Intention. The motive is the purpose that for the sake of which something is done. It is the reason behind our acting. It answers the question â€Å"why the person does what he does? †. Man normally performs an act as a means to achieve an end or goal, different from an act itself. And since the motive or intention is practically present in all human acts, it then becomes an important and integral part of morality. * The Circumstances. It refers to the various conditions outside of the act. They are not part and parcel of the act itself. Circumstances are conditions that influence, to a lesser or greater degree, the moral quality of the human act. The moral goodness or badness of an act is determined not only by the object or act itself, plus the motive or intention of the moral agent, but also on the circumstances or situation surrounding the performance of the action. Classification of Human Acts * Elicited Acts. These are actions performed by the will. (Wish, Intention, Consent, Election, Use) * Commanded acts. These are those acts done by man’s mental or bodily powers under the command of the will. (External and Internal Actions) Constituents of Human Acts * Knowledge. A human act as a deliberate act is a KNOWING ACT. No human act is possible without knowledge. * Freedom. The CAPACITY or POWER to choose between two or more courses of actions WITHOUT being forced to take one or the other by anything except our own will. * Voluntariness. A human act is a WILL- ACT. A voluntary act is different from what is merely WILLED and cannot be controlled by the will, as good or bad. Modifiers of Human Acts * Ignorance. It is the absence of necessary knowledge, which a person in a given situation, who is performing a certain act, ought to have. Ignorance therefore is a negation of knowledge. It can be classified as Vincible or Invincible Ignorance. * Passion or Concupiscence. It is here understood as a strong or powerful feeling or emotion. It refers more specifically to those bodily appetites or tendencies as experienced and expressed in such feelings as fear, love, hatred, despair, horror, sadness, anger, grief and the like. Passions are either classified as Antecedent or Consequent. * Fear. It is defined as the disturbance of the mind of a person who is confronted by an impending danger or harm to himself or loved ones. Fear may be considered a passion, which arises as an impulsive movement of avoidance of a threatening evil, ordinarily accompanied by bodily services. * Violence. It is generally referred to any physical force exerted on a person by another free agent for the purpose of compelling the said person to act against his will. * Habit. It is a constant and easy way of doing things acquired by the repetition of the same act. Habit is a lasting readiness and facility, born of frequently repeated acts, for acting in certain manner. Definition of Morality Ethics and morality are two words, which are oftentimes used interchangeably, not just in ordinary discourse and in popular media but also in academic discussions. Etymologically, the word â€Å"ethics† is derived from the Greek word â€Å"ethos†, which can be roughly translated in English as custom or a particular way and manner of acting and behaving. The Latin equivalent for custom is â€Å"mos† or â€Å"mores†. It is from this root word that the term â€Å"moral† or â€Å"morality† is derived. The two terms, ethics and morality, in this sense, therefore, have literally the same meaning. That is why ethics is usually taken synonymous with morality. Also because of this, ethics is also called morality, or more precisely, the other name of ethics is morality. Norms of Morality The general way in which a given society or group operates is largely determined by societal norms of morality. These norms are composed of the rules by which people are supposed to operate within that society, and these rules can be explicit or implicit. According to the definition of societal norms of morality, they are subject to change from society to society and age to age. If a particular social norm becomes unpopular, it ceases to be a social norm. There are, of course, some societal norms that are viewed with differing perspectives even within a society. Because of this, any given society can be broken down into further subgroups that share a more common set of societal norms. This process can, in theory, continue all the way to the individual level, at which point it ceases due to the obvious need for more than one person to constitute a group. Understanding and adhering to social norms begins at birth, and most of these social norms are so ingrained within an individual that it is difficult to see that they exist. Formal social norms are quite easy to spot, of course, because they are recorded in some way and require a specific punishment if they are not followed. Informal social norms make up the vast majority of social norms, however, and are much easier to miss. They take the form of folkways, which are rather informal norms that are ordinarily followed, but do not carry great consequences when broken, and mores, which are also informal, but carry great consequences when broken. The development of social norms is inevitable, and the pressure to conform to them is great. There are occasions upon which the larger group conforms to the norms of the individual or a small group, but it is far more likely that the individual or small group will conform to the norms of those in the majority. It is important to be aware of social norms so that the actions an individual can determine which social norms are worthy of challenging and which serve a useful purpose. Many of these social norms will not ever be noticed because they are a core part of each person, but it is still useful to reflect upon those which can be noticed. Determinants of Morality The factors in human conduct that determine whether it is good or bad. There are three such determinants of morality, namely the object, the end, and the circumstances. By object is meant what the free will chooses to doin thought, word, or deed-or chooses not to do. Be end is meant the purpose for which the act is willed, which may be the act itself (as one of loving God) or some other purpose for which a person acts (as reading to learn). In either case, the end is the motive or the reason why an action is performed. By circumstances are meant all the elements that surround a human action and affect its morality without belonging to its essence. A convenient listing of these circumstances is to ask: who? Where? How? How much? By what means? How often? Some circumstances so affect the morality of an action as to change its species, as stealing a consecrated object becomes sacrilege and lying under oath is perjury. Other circumstances change the degree of goodness or badness of an act. In bad acts they are called aggravating circumstances, as the amount of money a person steals. To be morally good, a human act must agree with the norm of morality on all three counts: in its nature, its motive, and its circumstances. Departure from any of these makes the action morally wrong. Definition of Rights. Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory. Rights are of essential importance in such disciplines as law and ethics, especially theories of justice and deontology. Rights are often considered fundamental to civilization, being regarded as established pillars of society and culture and the history of social conflicts can be found in the history of each right and its development. According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, rights structure the form of governments, the content of laws, and the shape of morality as it is currently perceived. The connection between rights and struggle cannot be overstated — rights are not as much granted or endowed as they are fought for and claimed, and the essence of struggles past and ancient are encoded in the spirit of current concepts of rights and their modern formulations. Definition of Duties. A duty to use care toward others that would be exercised by an ordinarily reasonable and prudent person in order to protect them from unnecessary risk of harm in a typical medical malpractice lawsuit, the plaintiff has the burden of proof to show that the physician had a legal duty of care to the patient, that the physician breached that duty, and that the breach caused injury to the plaintiff. Divisions of Duties An appropriate division of duties is the first basic principle of internal control. Remember, the basic point is that no single person should handle a transaction from beginning to end. The primary reason is to prevent an individual from having enough control over a transaction to where errors and/or irregularities can occur and go undetected for extended periods of time. An appropriate division of duties should also produce warning signals when errors and /or irregularities do occur. It is important to keep in mind that a good division of duties does not guarantee that things will operate, as they should. This is because two or more people can be involved in wrongdoing (i. e. collusion). Unannounced rotation of job duties and surprise audits can help reduce the chances of collusion. 3. Disablement Terminologies Disability * Inability to function normally, physically or mentally; incapacity. * Inability to pursue an occupation because of physical or mental impairment * The term disability summarizes a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country, of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illnesses may be permanent or transitory in nature. Functional Limitation * Any health problem that prevents a person from completing a range of tasks, whether simple or complex. Handicap * A disadvantage for the given individual resulting from impairment or a disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a task that is normal in that individual. * A disadvantage that makes achievement unusually difficult. * The term handicap means the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the life of the community on an equal level with others. It describes the encounter between the person with a disability and the environment. The purpose of this term is to emphasize the focus on the shortcomings in the environment and in many organized activities in society, for example, information, communication and education, which prevent persons with disabilities from participating on equal terms. Impairment (Indirect and Composite) * To cause to diminish, as in strength, value, or quality: an injury that impaired my hearing a severe storm impairing communications. * Any abnormality of, partial or complete loss of, or loss of the function of, a body part, organ, or system. * An injury, illness, or congenital condition that causes or is likely to cause a loss or difference of physiological or psychological function.

Influence of Advertising on Children

Influence of Advertising on Children CHAPTER 1 Introduction This chapter provides general information on the influence of advertising to children by looking at different researches and surveys on media influence and implications on the behaviour of children. This research attempts to study the implications of advertising on the behaviour of children in the UK. The research aims and objectives are also provided in this chapter. 1.1 Influence of Advertising on Child Behaviour Technology has created more choices for people to gain an access to information. The development of modern technology enables all ages to access various types of information with unlimited access. Also, major advances in the media technology have created different and unique ways of providing products and services to several audiences. For instance, animation are used in various numbers of advertising to children, and the messages from these television advertisements affect children in gender role stereotype learning (Hogg Garrow 2003). These days, people cannot watch television, go shopping, or browse the internet without being flooded with advertisements (Dotson Hyatt 2005). Not only adults are exposed to these advertisements, but young children are also targeted by many advertisements with an attempt to sell these products and services to them, such as movies and food (Flew 2002). A research indicated that children under eight years old are more likely to accept advertising messages as been truthful and unbiased (Cohen et al. 2002). Therefore, it is difficult for children to see and examine the hidden agenda in thousands of advertisements they watch every year (Cohen et al. 2002). A study showed that many advertisements for toys, snack food, video games, and cereal are often targeted towards children. However, it is also crucial for parents to watch out for other advertisements. An example is beer and cigarette advertisements that are usually directed towards adults also have messages that can influence children (Shin Cameron 2003). According to Dotson Hyatt (2005), beer advertisements are shown very often during sport events. Beer advertisements are also seen by millions of young children. Research finding showed that these advertisements attempt to create both brand familiarity and positive attitudes towards drinking in children aged between 9 and 10 years old (Shin Cameron 2003). In addition, a research finding revealed that young children can be persuaded very easily by the messages of advertisements (Dotson Hyatt 2005). Young children believe that the messages in the adverts are truthful and unbiased, and this can cause unhealthy behaviours in children, including: Poor eating habits: This is a factor in todays youth obesity epidemic (Dotson Hyatt 2005). The most common advertisements directed towards young children include sweets, fizzy drinks, and other snack foods (Dotson Hyatt 2005). An increase in the likelihood of aggressive behaviour and less sensitivity to violence: Aggressive behaviour in young children is more likely to appear if a child is exposed to the advertisements for violent video games, movies, and television programs (Dotson Hyatt 2005). The research result also indicated that advertisements can be the cause of conflict between parents and children (Meech 1999). The research showed that commercials often get young children to want the advertised products and then pressurising their parents to buy it for them. As a result, the conflict between them takes place when the parents say ‘no (Meech 1999). 1.2 Advertising Implications and Health and Obesity Issues In 2003, the BBC revealed that corporate giants such as McDonalds, Cadbury Schweppes, PepsiCo UK, and Kelloggs faced a tough time from the committee of the Members of Parliament who had been holding a long running investigation into the state of the nations health (BBC UK 2003). McDonalds, Cadbury Schweppes, PepsiCo UK, and Kelloggs were accused of marketing high calories meals aimed at children, while neglecting the health implications of a fast food diet (BBC UK 2003). It was revealed by the Chairman of the Health Committee that some food commercials from these accused corporate giants failed to carry health warnings on the packages in similar manner to the tobacco (BBC UK 2003). Chairman of the Health Committee stated that a certain branded cheeseburger with fries and a milkshake would take nine miles to walk off, and this level is too high for young children (BBC UK 2003). It was reported that calorie content does not mean a great deal to people. However, the messages in the advertising are not sufficiently honest to their audiences (BBC UK 2003). An article in reputed medical journal called ‘The Lancet studied and suggested that celebrity endorsement of ‘junk food should be banned. Also, the scale of health and obesity problems have been highlighted in a report of the Food Standards Agency, claiming that some 15 per cent of 15 year-old children are now obese. This figure is three times as many as ten years ago (BBC UK 2003). In addition, the UK government admitted a serious concern about the growing incidence of obesity in the UK by putting new regulations on food and drink manufacturers who must follow the strict code of practice when producing adverts aimed at children (BBC UK 2003). Plans to improve school students diet have also been welcomed by the UK government. A research titled ‘Food Marketing and Advertising Directed at Children and Adolescents: Implications for Overweight (Apha Food and Nutrition 2004) indicates that there is a growing outbreak of overweight children. The unhealthy eating habits of young kids has brought attention to the possible role that food and beverage advertising and marketing play in influencing eating behaviours in young children. In recent years, youth consumers have become potential target market for the food and beverage industry because of their spending power, purchasing influence, and as future adult consumers. Therefore, young children are now the target market of the intense and aggressive food marketing and advertising campaigns. Marketers and advertisers have been employing multiple techniques and channels to reach youth consumers, beginning when they are still toddlers in order to develop and build brands and also encourage the product use when they are in their youth phase. These food marketing channels comprise of effectively and carefully developed marketing communications strategies. Examples include television advertising, in-school marketing, product placements, kids clubs, internet, products with branded logos, and youth-targeted marketing promotions like cross-selling and tie-ins marketing campaigns. It was also reported that foods targeted at children contain high fat, salt, and sugar contents which are the main causes of being overweight. In addition, television advertising and in-school marketing techniques are two of the most prevalent forms of marketing to young children. Television is reported as the largest source of media messages about food to children, particularly younger children. Moreover, a qualitative survey by the Office of Communication (2004) indicates that the average child or adolescent watches an average of three hours of television per day. It showed that young children may view as many as 40,000 commercials each year and food appears to be the most frequently advertised product category on childrens television, accounting for over 50 percent of all advertisements. The survey also disclosed that children view an average of one food commercial every five minutes of television viewing time, and they may see as many as three hours of food commercials each week. Several studies have documented that the foods targeted at young childrens television are mainly high in sugar and fat, with almost no references to fruits or vegetables. Young children and adolescents are currently being exposed to an increasing and unprecedented amount of food advertising and marketing through a wide range of places. It is revealed that young children have few defences against persuasive advertisements and misleading messages. 1.3 Restrictions on Messages of Advertising to Children In recent years, several studies were conducted to highlight and understand the implications of advertising on the behaviour of young children. These studies focus on different aspect. For example, Maher (et al. 2006) carried a research to investigate the changes in types of advertised food products and the use of nutrition versus consumer appeals in childrens advertising from 2000 to 2005. The results revealed that obesity is a serious and expanding concern especially the health of young children. The research further indicated that messages on food advertising have a major impact on eating behaviour. Children tend to ask for food advertised on television when they are eating out with families (Maher et al. 2006). Also, the research disclosed that food processors and restaurants have not changed their advertising messages to young children in response to the multitude of pressure the industry is experiencing (Maher et al. 2006). A recent study by the Office of Communication (OFCOM) revealed that restrictions were launched to eliminate misleading advertising to children. OFCOM published the results of its extended consultation on the television content and scheduling restrictions for food advertising at children. The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) has included the new restrictions in its Television Code and CAP (CAP News 2007). The new changes to the television restrictions are now known to all organizations involved in food and soft drink advertising (CAP News 2007). Recently, the BCAP and the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC) conducted training sessions for the industry and explained the new restrictions and implications of radio advertisements directed at children (CAP News 2007). The launch of new rules on advertising messages to children were based on the agreement of the committee members. The television content restrictions were put into place on 1st of July 2007, while the CAP code changes were published by 1 April 2008 (CAP News 2007). 1.4 Research Aims To examine the effect of advertising on children for the purposes of marketing To know the effect of advertising on a childs eating habit. To understand the opinion of parents on the role of marketers and advertisers. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Defining Implications of Advertising on Children According to Terry Flew (2002), advertising influence is referred to â€Å"The way in which the mass media in all of their forms affect the way the audiences act and behave in their daily lives. The forms of media include television, films, songs and other similar forms.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (Flew 2002) Jostein Gripsrud (2002) revealed in a book titled ‘Understanding Media Culture that the rapid development of technology has had an impact over the growth of media and advertising over the past few years. He stated that the new forms of media such as the internet changes the way people consume media or advertise products and services. The fast development of media has raised questions on the issue of how media influences attitudes and beliefs of customers. Flew (2002) also disclosed that one of a popular passive audience theories is the inoculation model. This is a long-term affect model. This model explained that upon being exposed to advertisings messages, the viewers will become instantaneously immune to them (2002). Karen Hartman (2000) applied the concept of this model to conduct a research titled ‘Studies of negative political advertising: an annotated bibliography. Gripsrud (2002) argued against the concept of the inoculation model that there was no evidence that the inoculation effect can lead to negative perception, attitude and behaviour. In fact, Gripsrud (2002) said that there was only basic finding to suggest that people had even seen the information which would lead to negative perception. As a result, this concept is commonly discredited by media theorists (Gripsrud 2002). 2.2 Media and Advertising Implication on Children 2.2.1 Television Influence on Human Development Margaret Hogg and Jade Garrow (2003) highlighted in their research called ‘Gender, identity and the consumption of advertising that television advertising has the most influential impact in shaping ideas of appropriate gender role. They concluded that television had a significant impact on the lives of children, influencing attitudes about race and gender (Hogg Garrow 2003). Hogg and Garrow (2003) also claimed in their research that young children are exposed to around 20,000 advertisements a year. By the time they finished or graduated from secondary schools, they would have watched and witnessed many violent deaths on television which could lead to aggressive copycat behaviours (Hogg Garrow 2003). In addition, Michael Dotson and Eva Hyatt (2005) carried out a research to examine the major factors influencing childrens consumer socialization. The research findings showed that that pro-social and antisocial behaviour was influenced by television programs (Dotson Hyatt 2005). In a research entitled ‘Childrens television programming (Cohen et al. 2002), it was revealed that young children spend an average of thirty hours a week watching television programs. The study also indicated that children spend more time watching television than the time they spend on anything else with sleeping as an exception (Cohen et al. 2002). Furthermore, Kara Chan and James McNeal (2006) examined the effect of advertising on children in China. The main aim of their research was to examine how advertising ownership, media usage, and attention to advertising vary among urban and rural children in Mainland China (Chan McNeal 2006). The study also collected information regarding the context of media usage and time spent on various activities. A survey of 1,977 urban rural children age group of 6 to 13 year-old in four Chinese cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai, and in the rural areas of four provinces Heilongjian, Hubei, Hunan and Yunnan was carried out in March 2003 to May 2004 (Chan McNeal 2006). The questionnaires were distributed through sixteen elementary schools and local researchers were selected and trained to administer the data collection (Chan McNeal 2006). The research result indicated that media ownership and media exposure were high for television, childrens books, cassette players, VCD players and radios among both urban and rural samples (Chan McNeal 2006). In general, media ownership, exposure and usage were far higher among urban children than among rural children. However, the results revealed that television ownership and television exposure were slightly higher among rural children than among urban children. Chan and McNeal (2006) also claimed in their study that the urban-rural gap between media ownership and media exposure was more well-known for new media forms such as internet. Chinese children had low to medium attention to advertising. Rural children were reported to have a higher attention to television commercial than urban children, whilst urban children reported a higher attention to other forms of advertising than rural children (Chan McNeal 2006). 2.2.2 Advertising Influence on Child Behaviour Jobber (1974) conducted a research examining the implications television advertising had on consumers behaviour. His research presented and analyzed consumer reaction to television advertising. It assessed consumer attitude by the use of three criteria, including consumer feeling exaggerated and annoying advertising, the consumers subjective assessment of creative advertising and their assessment of their ideal type of advertisement (Jobber 1974). The research finding showed that consumer reactions were disturbing, indicating the uncomplimentary result which could reduce advertising effectiveness (Jobber 1974). In addition, Noor Ghani (2004) disclosed in a research ‘Television viewing and consumer behaviour that the effect of television programs on childrens development as consumers begins with consumer socialization. Ghani (2004) stated that television is an influential model for childrens expressions of nonverbal behaviour and emotion. A survey of Malaysian schoolchildren was studied, focusing on demographic variables, such as gender and family income. Ghani (2004) also considered personal trait, in relation to television viewing habits and consumer behaviours propensity to buy, time spent watching television, preferred type of programme etc. The research results indicated that the importance of family income is a predictor of the differences in socialization, while gender is less influential (Ghani 2004).The study also looked at six personality traits and revealed that an aggressive-passive personality is the most influential on socialization (Ghani 2004). 2.2.4 Media and Advertising Influence on Food Choice Preference A study examined the implications television advertisements on food and eating behaviour was conducted by Roger Dickson (2000). He described the background to and main findings from a three-year funded research project on the role of television in the food choices of young people. The research project investigated the nature and extent of televisions portrayal of food and eating of young peoples interpretation (Dickson 2000). The research finding indicated that food and eating habits were portrayed very frequently on the television advertisements in the UK, but the ‘message in television programmes contrasts with the ‘message in the advertising in the terms of nutritional content of the food depicted (Dickson 2000). Dickson stated that this disorder eating behaviours and contradiction reflected in young viewers accounts of their own eating habits. In addition, a serious public concern on ‘size zero boy size is another good example of television advertising and media implications on unhealthy eating habit of young generations. In an article titled ‘Primetime television impact on adolescents impression of bodyweight, sex appeal and food and beverage consumption (Hamp et al. 2004) investigated the issue. The research presented a content analysis of ten television programmes frequently viewed by twelve to seventeen year-olds consumers in the US. The research finding indicated that television viewing is ever-present in adolescent culture, but the influence of television characters on adolescent behaviours and social norms is not well understood among young audients (Hamp et al. 2004). Another survey conducted by posting questionnaires online to investigate the same issue with students aged between 12 to 19 year-olds from across the state of Arizona participated to complete the survey electronically. The data were assessed by tabulation, principal axis factor analysis and liner regression analysis (Hamp et al. 2004) The research results indicated that 12 per cent of the subjects had a body mass index for age over the 95th percentile, 50 per cent of them reported watching television two hours of each day, and 59 per cent reported accruing 60 minutes of exercise and physical each day (Hamp et al. 2004). The results also discovered that over 35 per cent of respondents reported eating pizza and pasta frequently (Hamp et al. 2004). In the drink category, beer and wine were seen as the most frequently consumed beverages on television, while 63.9 per cent of sample members reported soda as their personal beverage of choice preference (Hamp et al. 2004). The factors extraction from this survey revealed three-factor solutions: television viewers and perceivers, television viewers and doers. Significant predictors of body mass index for age included urbanity and survey questions related to bodyweight perceptions (Hamp et al. 2004). It can be concluded that television programs with the focuses on sex appeal, thinness, and alcohol may have a powerful effect on young people self-esteem, body satisfaction, and eating habits (Hamp et al. 2004). 2.3 The Survey Child Obesity Food Advertising in Context by Ofcom This section presents the executive summary from a survey findings investigated by the Office of Communication (Ofcom), focusing on childrens food choice, parents understanding and influence, and the role of food promotions. The full research results are available on Ofcoms official website http://www.ofcom.org.uk. A survey was carried out by Ofcom in 2004 to present the followings: Background data on national lifestyle changes Re-analysis of market data on family food purchase and consumption An analysis of The Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB) An analysis of data from Neilsen Media Research on the advertising market The content analysis of food advertising on ITV1 The summary of bespoke qualitative and quantitative research commissioned by Ofcom to identify implications on childrens food preferences, purchase behaviour and consumption, and the role of television advertising 2.3.1 Changing Lifestyle Effect British Food Culture The lifestyle trends in the UK include the rising incomes, longer working hours, increasing numbers of working mothers, time-poor/cash-rich parents support a ‘convenience food culture and the increased consumption of High Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) foods. The demand for ready-meals in the UK grew by 44 per cent between 1990 and 2002. People in the UK are now consuming double the amount of ready-meals consumed in France, and six times the number in Spain. 80 per cent of households in the UK have a microwave, compared with 27 per cent in Italy (Ofcom 2004). The findings in qualitative research by Ofcom indicate that many mothers talked of having no time to cook meals. There was a feeling that real cooking is hard work. The abundance of processed products that do not need forward planning and require little effort, making it easy to produce food for children quickly and conveniently (Ofcom 2004). Also, the lack of preparation is important to older children who are likely to be preparing their own snacks. Ofcoms qualitative research found that breakfast and packed lunches for school are prepared in the morning rush, when mothers are particularly busy. The food industry has developed products, and many of which are high fat, salt, and sugar contents, targeting these eating occasions and markets them heavily to mothers and children (Ofcom 2004). The research results are also somewhat contradictory. There is some evidence that demand for take-away meals and affordable eating options outside the home are on an increase. The food industry has met such needs by the expansion of fast food outlets, and many of which sell high fat, salt, and sugar products (Ofcom 2004). The pre-prepared, convenience foods, take-away meals and eating-out, reduce parents control over what goes into food, making it more difficult to monitor high fat, salt, and sugar contents (Ofcom 2004). In addition, the convenient and pre-prepared meals are less likely to be eaten with fresh fruits and vegetables (Ofcom 2004). There is a continuously growing snacking culture amongst children who favours high fat, salt, and sugar foods consumption (Ofcom 2004).There is a decline on the number of occasions that a family eats together (Ofcom 2004). The food and grocery market has developed a range of chilled, frozen, and pre-prepared meals targeting children who eat without adults (Ofcom 2004). These ready-to-cook meals can be prepared without affecting dining patterns of the rest of the household (Ofcom 2004). There is an increasing of less controlling parents and child relationships. Children have more spending power and they are increasingly control their own eating patterns (Ofcom 2004). 2.3.2 What Children Are Eating? According to the research conducted by Ofcom (2004), it was reported that British children are reported to enjoy foods high in fats, sugars and salt, such as sweets, soft drinks, crisps and savoury snacks, fast food and pre-sugared breakfast cereals, which are well-known as ‘the Big Five (Ofcom 2004). Also, families are consuming more pre-prepared and convenience foods, which are high in fats, salt and sugar. This trend makes ‘a Big 6 of foods, urging dieticians and health professionals to have serious concerns (Ofcom 2004). Children consume well below the recommended amount of fresh fruits and vegetables (Ofcom 2004). The World Health Organization recommends at least five portions of fruits and vegetables per day (Ofcom 2004). Fresh fruit consumption in household has risen for much of the last twenty-five years, while fresh green vegetables consumption was 27 per cent lower in 2000 than in 1975 (Ofcom 2004). Furthermore, most kids do know that fruits and vegetables are good for them, but they prefer the taste of high fat, salt, and sugar food (Ofcom 2004). If young children do not want to get fat, it is because they perceive it to be unattractive (Ofcom 2004). 2.3.3 Factors Influencing Child Food Choices Psychosocial factors food preferences, meanings of food, and food knowledge Biological factors, such as hunger and gender Behavioural factors, including time and convenience and dieting patterns Family income, working status of mother, family eating patterns etc. Friends conformity, norms, and peers Schools school meals, sponsorship, and vending machines Commercial sites, such as fast food restaurants and stores Youth market and pester power Media factors, such as television advertising 2.3.4 The Role of Parents in Child Obesity According to the survey of the Gfk NOP investigated opinion on the role of parents in child obesity indicated that 79 per cent of parents have a great responsibility for the situation outlined in a recent publicity about child diet, while other groups are seen as having an important part to play, such as schools with 52 per cent and food manufacturers with 43 per cent (Ofcom 2004). About Just one third think the government (33 per cent) and the media (32 per cent) as for having great responsibility on the issue, followed by the supermarkets (28 per cent) and broadcasters (23 per cent) (Ofcom 2004). When the subjects were asked which one of the same groups could do most to ensure that children eat healthily, the research finding indicated that parents and family are named by 55 per cent of the respondents, followed by food manufacturers, schools, media, the government, supermarkets, and broadcasters (Ofcom 2004). The qualitative research conducted by the Ofcom suggested that the majority of parents often put off their child food preferences (Ofcom 2004). They also tended to serve their kids with high fat, salt, and sugar foods. These parents were more often to be found in the lower socio-economic groups in which money is tighter, and food choices in the area are more restricted (Ofcom 2004). The research results also showed only a minority of parents who seemed to exercise effective control over their child food choices. These parents were usually better off in the term of income, and they more often found in the higher socio-economic groups (Ofcom 2004). In addition, the qualitative research by Ofcome suggested that many mothers thought they know what a healthy diet is. However, these mothers were at a loss as to how to make the healthy diet attractive to their kids (Ofcom 2004). These mothers expressed that they would have to reject the whole categories of foods, such as dairy products, sugar, and carbohydrates. Such mothers believed the outcomes of healthy eating outlined in the media, lessening the risk of obesity and better dental health (Ofcom 2004). Moreover, the minority of more confident, better-informed, and middle-class, mothers were more proactive (Ofcom 2004). These mothers were aware of the long-term risks involved with unhealthy eating habits which could cause heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Such mothers do not exclude whole categories of food, but they were more likely to limit the use of high fat, salt, and sugar foods and exclude those with artificial additives (Ofcom 2004). 2.3.5 The Role of Schools in Child Obesity Ofcoms qualitative research in schools revealed that there was a formal coverage of diet and nutrition in classrooms, where teachers educate students about healthy food choices (Ofcom 2004). In addition, there was evidence that some schools were making successful attempts to provide healthy food choices and influence students to have health diets (Ofcom 2004). However, there was a little active supervision of what children actually choose to eat at schools during the lunchtimes. Moreover, most school provision appeared to be driven by what children wanted and could be seen as giving a seal of approval to eating high fat, salt, and sugar products which were popular among stents in both primary and secondary schools (Ofcom 2004). Regarding the barriers to healthier diet in schools in the qualitative research reported that finance is a key barrier to healthier provision in schools (Ofcom 2004). To make food provision cost-effective, schools to sell high fat, salt, and sugar foods because these products are what children like, want and will buy (Ofcom 2004). Thus, the vending machines bring in much needed income for the schools. Another key barrier to healthier provision in schools is that schools may lack of control over the food provision if contracted catering companies have power in terms of what food is provided (Ofcom 2004). These firms can be very resistant to moves towards healthier food which may be less popular among students and has an impact on the financial performance of their business operation (Ofcom 2004). 2.3.6 The Role of Television Advertising An academic research confirmed that numbers of hours spent in watching television correlate with the measures of poor diet, poor health, and obesity among both children and adults (Ofcom 2004). There are three explanations for this finding: Television viewing is an inactive activity that reduces metabolic rates and displaces physical exercise (Ofcom 2004). Television viewing is associated with frequent snacking, pre-prepared meals and fast food consumption (Ofcom 2004). Television viewing includes exposure to advertisements for HFSS food products (Ofcom 2004). 2.3.7 The Direct Effects of Television Advertising Academic research showed the modest direct effects of television advertising on child food preference, consumption, and behaviour (Ofcom 2004). It revealed that there was insufficient evidence to determine the relative size of the effect of television advertising on child food choice by comparison with other relevant factors (Ofcom 2004). In the context of the multiplicity of psychosocial, biological, behavioural, family, friends, schools, commercial sites youth market and pester power, and media factors were not surprising that they direct contribution of television advertising had been found to be modest (Ofcom 2004). According to the Gfk NOP survey results, when television advertising is put in the context of other influencing factors, the subjects believed that it does not have an impact on food choice preferences among parents and children (Ofcom 2004). However, it is rather small when compared to

To what extent did the World’s Fair of 1893 impact the United States of

Background As of today, the city of Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, right behind New York and Los Angles. It is home to more 3 million people, but this was not always the case. When the city was created in 1833, it only "coveted less than half a square mile on either side of the main channel of the Chicago River and contained only 350 adventurous inhabitants, mostly male." (Abu-Lughod 49). As the years went on the city continued to grow and by 1870 its "economic base had evolved considerably" (51). However, the following year Chicago suffered a disaster that ultimately destroyed the city. This event is known as the Great Chicago Fire. The fire is said to have begun in a small farm owned by Catherine and Patrick O'Leary and lasted for 36 hours. The fire destroyed more than 18,000 buildings, leaving around 99,000 of the city’s residents homeless, and killed more than 300 people. Despite the destruction of almost the entire city, Chicago was able to rebuild and rees tablish itself as a place that offered opportunities, and a future. Although Chicago continued to grow rapidly, the US entered an economic depression in 1893. Luckily for the country, this was the very year that Chicago had been selected to host the 1893 World’s Fair, also known as the World’s Columbian Exposition. This fair gave not only the city of Chicago, but also the US, an opportunity to show the world what this nation was capable of creating and building. Introduction The World’s Fair of 1893 was set to commemorate the 400th year anniversary of Columbus’ voyage to America. When the top leaders in the US heard about the opportunity of hosting the fair, they quickly showed their interest. The main cities that showed interest were New York,... ...he building would not be designed the way they are now in the city. The fair allowed Chicago to be the great city it is today and have the magnificent downtown envied by many other cities. Work Cited Abu-Lughod, Janet L. New York, Chicago, Los Angeles: America's Global Cities. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1999. Print. Crandall, Abbey, and Daniel Green. "Chicago Inventions." Chicago World's Fair. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2013. Maranzani, Barbara. "7 Things You May Not Know About the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 May 2013. Web. 27 May 2013. Rose, Julie K. "World's Columbian Exposition: Reactions to the Fair." World's Columbian Exposition: Reactions to the Fair. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2013. Rydell, Robert W. "World's Columbian Exposition." World's Columbian Exposition. Encyclopedia of Chicago, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.

The Human Genome Project Essay -- Science Genetics Essays

The Human Genome Project On the brink of the 21st century, genetics is paving the way into a brave, new world where the discoveries being made will bestow upon us tremendous powers and possibilities that are restricted only by our imaginations. Many things long considered "science fiction" are well on their way to becoming reality. Advancements made by the Human Genome Project give us the ability to alter our own destinies along with those of our descendents. However, along with the benefits of increased control over our lives come the uncertainties: Will humankind choose to draw boundaries in regards to genetic choices? Where will those boundaries be? How will this affect our future? Could our deepened knowledge of the power of genetics threaten the biodiversity essential to evolution? Would we, in essence, be "playing God"? One thing is certain- life, as we know it, will never be the same (Rayl, 112). Before one can speculate intellectually about the benefits and uncertainties of genetic study, it is important to understand how we, as humankind, have reached this breaking point of science. The HGP began in 1990 as a 15-year project coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. It is expected to be complete by 2003, two years ahead of schedule, due to rapid technological advances. The overall goals of this project are to catalog the estimated 80,000- 100,000 genes in the human DNA and to determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical bases that make up the human DNA. This new information will then be stored in databases, as geneticists then develop tools for its analysis. Finally, the HGP is to address the ethical, legal, and social issues that may arise from the genetic research (... ...ty, must agree upon a set of rules and standards that will govern the ethical, legal, and social issues surrounding the final outcome of the project. Clearly, we must do it quickly. References 1- Rayl, A.J.S., et al. "Genetics in the New Millennium." MINNESOTA MONTHLY. Aug., 1999:112- 124. 2- Human Genome Project Information. Obtained 20 Oct., 1999: http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis. 3- "The Future is Now." TIME magazine international. 8 Feb., 1999:VOL. 153 NO. 5. Obtained 20 Oct., 1999: http://www.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,20825,00.html. 4- Associated Press. "Unregulated gene testing can be faulty." Star Tribune. 21 Sept., 1999. 5- Holtzman, Neil and Shapiro, David, et al. "Genetic Testing and Public Policy." British Medical Journal. 14 March, 1998: 316(7134). Obtained 17 Nov., 1999: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/316/7134/852.

Alcoholism - No Easy Solution Essay examples -- Argumentative Persuasi

Alcoholism - No Easy Solution Mike Brake’s â€Å"Needed: A License to Drink† is a well-written essay that covers the serious issue of alcoholism and goes on to offer a creative proposal to solve the situation. Brake addresses alcoholism as a â€Å"primary public health-problem† which holds merit, considering Brake sites alcohol is the cause of 19,000 auto fatalities each year. To remedy these preventable fatalities, Brake proposes to institute a national system of licensing with appropriate penalties for violators. He goes on to say that these licenses should be issued the same way as driver’s licenses. An applicant would have to read a manual, and take a written exam which would include questions such as â€Å"How many drinks would it take to intoxicate a 150lb man?† and â€Å"What is the penalty for drunk driving?† After passing the written test applicants would be issued a drinking license that would be required for buying any alcoholic drink. Brake bases his credibility on the tragic premature loss of four family members due to alcoholism which he refers to as a â€Å"deadly disease† (Brake 135). And although it would never be acceptable to wish such terror on anyone, the misfortune is not enough to qualify a person as an expert. Brake presents strong family values and plays into the reader’s compassion for loved ones. Brake also spent two years working as a counselor in a chemical-dependency treatment center, where he gained first hand experience working with a young man who passed out while smoking and a nurse who lost her license and became a prostitute. However he mistakenly forgets the patient explanation as to why a young man who passed out while smoking and a nurse who turned prostitute, is relevant to the problem of alcoholism. If ... ... can not present a legitimate argument, second alcoholism is not a disease and so each person must find it in themselves to stop, or they have family that really loves them and help them stop. Third it would cause more problems then it is solving, and finally it would cost the general public more money then it is worth. Works Cited. Brake, Mike. "Needed: A License to Drink." The Genre of Argument. Ed. Rosenberg. Boston, MA: Thomson Heinle, March 14, 1994. 135-136. Falcone, Timothy J. "Alcoholism and Drug Addiction FAQ's Saint Jude Retreat House. 19 April 2004. Online. Internet. 19 April 2004. Available: http://www.soberforever.net/FAQ1.cfm. "National Highway Traffic Saftey Administration." Operating Administrations, U.S. DOT FY 2005 Budget in Brief. 19 April 2004. Online. Internet. 19 April 2004. Available: http://www.dot.gov/bib2005/admins.html#nhtsa.

Red Dead Redemption Analysis

Critical Analysis of a Game: Red Dead Redemption Professor Shawn Graham Jad Slaibeh 100804020 Submitted: Thursday February 7th 2013 The game I have chosen for my critical analysis is Red Dead Redemption. Red Dead Redemption was made, published, and engineered by a company called Rockstar Games (Rockstar Website). The major distributor of the game is a company who happens to own Rockstar, Take-Two interactive. Being one of the most successful video game developers to date, Rockstar is famous for creating the popular and controversial game series Grand Theft Auto.Rockstar differs very much from other video game developers because they are one of few who have grown and experienced the advancement of video games in terms of graphics and gameplay. Rockstar is known for revolutionizing the concept of having an open world in console video games. This was not originally the case and happened over years of expansion. Rockstar’s first game was released on the original PlayStation. The g ame is called Grand Theft Auto. Its camera was in a bird’s eye view with basic 3D graphics consisting of repetitive player movements. In comparison to today, the game was really quite simple in terms of graphics and game play.The game lacked a larger narrative. Its gameplay was based mostly around the options of stealing cars, doing hits for gang members, killing civilians, and evading the police. This lack of narrative and focus on violence may be one of the reasons why Rockstar dealt with a lot of controversy from the media. As Rockstar grew and released multiple titles, their video games utilized the advancement in technology to create a larger narrative. Using Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE), Rockstar developed third person 3D modeled sandbox game (Ogilvie, 2010). With this new open world, the game developers were able to explore more narrative options.Red Dead Redemption used their graphical improvements to allow for new historical representations such as: talking N PCs with their own ethnicity and culture and NPCs who show facial emotion and body language. This allows players to connect better with the world Rockstar has created because they represent what people are familiar with. Rockstar had greatly passed simple storyline of Grand Theft Auto. This is why I chose Red Dead Redemption. It excels in the ability of experiencing a fun and highly skilled game while having improved representations of people, stories, and histories.They do so through implementing character traits in certain NPCs. The NPCs are programmed primarily in two ways. One is to help the player in their quest by providing information to solve the main problem space. The other is to try and stop the player; this creates another problem space that the player must solve. The addition of these advanced NPCs really helped Rockstar deliver a story to their players. They force the player to constantly see familiar NPCs which creates a bond between them and the player. These NPCs fo rce you to make many moral decisions throughout the game.These moral choices the player has to make adds a great deal of advancement to the narrative because the game is programed to change based on these decisions. If the player was to help a gang of thieves raid a site in order to get money, civilians would remember due to the decrease in honour and news would spread. Decisions the player makes affect how NPCs, such as townsfolk or sheriffs, approach the player in the game. If the player was riding their horse along a prairie road and happened to see a gang of thieves taking someone hostage, the player could kill or hogtie the bandits and their honour meter would go increase.These decisions program NPCs to now feel safe around the player by cheering for them. These cheers can often make the player feel happier because of the heroic role they are playing. This social value is what makes Rockstar games a fan favourite. Another reason Rockstar advanced so quickly was the positive cha nge in hardware. The game was originally released on both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 on May 18th 2010. I played the game on my Xbox 360 console. To capture the experience of the Wild West, Rockstar consulted some historical experts in the field, along with channelling a lot of time and money into the graphics of the game.According to a New York Times online article, Rockstar spent between 80-100 million dollars on developing the game (Schiesel 2010). I mention this statistic because this comes to show the new era of devotion Rockstar brought to video game production. In any video game, soundtracks can be an incredible boost in its overall character. The soundtracks in Red Dead Redemption are authentic; it gives the game historical flavour. What I mean by this is you truly get a feeling of the Western experience. Rockstar brought on composers Woody Jackson and Bill Elm.In a behind the scenes video, the composers explain that it is essential for them to â€Å"find a balance, paying hom age to what was there but also trying to add our stamp to the music† (GamerSpawn, 2010). Another interesting fact they mentioned was the ability for the game to launch certain lines of music to start based on your actions. For example, if you jump on a horse, a bass line rolls in. If the player is in a shootout, the music intensifies. The music helps reinforce the player’s connection with the historic west by creating familiar sounds associated with the Western era.Before I mention the problem spaces of the game, I would like to continue back to explaining some of the hardware information behind Red Dead Redemption. First we will talk about the controller/controls. Controls have the potential to play a big factor in how we experience a video game. The way the controls are programmed correlate directly with your character’s movement. This gives the player a bigger sense of control. This control makes for a better physical connection. Red Dead Redemption’s c ontroller functions do a great job in the ability to allow the player to become immersed in the game world.If you were not aware of the classic Xbox 360 controller, here is how it is laid out: Some basic controls of the game are: left stick controls which direction your character moves in, right stick controls which direction your character looks, pulling the right trigger will fire your weapon, and pulling left trigger starts the aim mode which makes it easier to hit your target. The Xbox 360 controller, along with the Red Dead Redemption controls, allow the player to control what we are familiar in our everyday lives For example, to shoot a gun in the real world you have to pull a trigger.This is emulated when pulling the trigger on the Xbox controller. When driving a vehicle and turning in a certain direction, we turn the wheel. This is emulated by moving the left stick in order to direct your character. This makes the experience more enjoyable and recognizable. Throughout the ga me you are only controlling one character, the protagonist. The name of this protagonist is John Marston. Marston is a former outlaw who makes a deal with the state to bring justice to his former gang of outlaws in order to get his family back.Upon Marston's attempt to find and capture his former gang members, the plan goes wrong for our protagonist and he is left for dead. Luckily, you are approached by a local ranch farmer, Bonnie Mcfarlane. Bonnie saves your life and brings you back to her farm. That is our initial problem space. The player is immediately placed into the world with a want to defeat our twisted former gang of outlaws and get our family back. This creates an immediate sympathy for our protagonist which adds even more of narrative. Because the game represents plausible situations, players are more likely to sympathize.Although we are placed in a world where there is only one end goal of killing the men who left you for dead and are in the way of getting your family; we have a wide variety of choices in the path of attaining this goal. This concept of beginning the game after being left for dead completely on your own creates an even bigger problem space. My big question was, what do I do first? The player has the ability to access this map in the start menu: [pic] In the Western era, maps would certainly be a way to represent space. Therefore the map gives us the ability to represent space in a way that people are used to.This adds a historical flavour to it because it represents history with adding its own personalized flavour. This map is a fictionalized/representational map of Canada, Mexico and the US. Much like the real world, each territory has its differences. For example: certain NPCs with ethnic representations are present in each area, certain animals are associated with familiar habitats in different territories, and territories such as Canada have more green lands where as Mexico is represented as more dry. To travel to these diffe rent lands, we are immediately handed a horse.When the player first gets their horse, it is quite slow. This is a problem and slow travel can become quite boring. Upon playing I thought there had to be some options to overcoming this problem. Like the real world, the player has the option of feeding their horse to increase its stamina. Another implementation is the trust bar that develops with the players’ horse. This trust bar adds narrative because we are familiar with gaining trust with living things in the real world. The longer the player has kept their horse, the faster it gets and the more risks it is willing to take to get you to your destination.The game specifically promotes value by rewarding the players for keeping the same horse. In doing so, the interface encourages the player to behave a certain way with this virtual animal, representing a relationship common to real life. Even though this horse is merely a program in a video game, the power of the game and the value I had onto it made me have a connection to it. Unfortunately, it is quite possible for the player’s horse to die. For example, upon passing by a poor woman being harassed by drunk men just before entering a town, one of the men shot my horse dead while attempting to hogtie them.After all the investment of money I had put into my horse to increase its stamina, the time spent together gaining trust, and the many missions we had completed together, my horse was now gone. Connecting to history, the video game allows the player to feel the pain that people must have gone through when their own horse died. Clearly their problem was much bigger than a video game can represent, but it once again brings out empathetic emotions. Although the game itself was not based off any real characters or real story lines, it still had the power to create a real connection.The game places the character in an age outside of their norm. If a car breaks down, that person now has the ability to take out a cell phone and call a friend to pick them up. If in 1900 someone’s horse died, that is that until a new horse is acquired. This was now part of my problem space. With these newly acquired problems that I did not have just thirty seconds earlier, I clearly had to deal with these men who altered my path for the negative. Due to this setback I had developed, I quickly hogtied the surviving men and placed their bodies on the train tracks for the upcoming train to deal with them.Although this was an act of immorality because the game gives you an option to return them to the sheriff’s station, I felt no sympathy for these men who, before shooting my horse, were attacking a lone woman. Looking at the game on a narrative level, this meant that a side of my true character was shown, one that let my emotions dictate my actions. At that exact moment the video game explained and taught me a lesson in morality. It also explained how, just like in the real world, others may have handled that same situation completely differently.Moving forward in the game, I was forced to purchase another horse and develop a new connection between us. Purchasing horses is one of the many ways that money is used to solve problems in the game. Money is quite similar to how it is in the real world. The player needs to do work and complete services in order to gain it. It is quite hard to gain money, unlike the other Grand Theft Auto games, which enforces the player to spend wisely. Some examples of situations where you need money are: to buy weapons, ammunition, houses (in order to have multiple save points), and medicine to heal.The player may also acquire money through selling items they find and doing favours and missions for locals and friends met along the way. There is one final question to be answered: was the game historically accurate? The answer to this question is: it depends what you classify as â€Å"historically accurate†. The term is thrown arou nd quite often. Unfortunately, based on the game play, there is far too much fantasy to consider it a game that accurately depicts the lifestyle that people lived in the early 20th century.The game is based off a completely fictional story with fake characters in a fake world. However, the game did a great job of showcasing some aspects of the time frame by utilizing: the advanced RAGE physics engine, the programmed NPCs with character traits, a familiar map system, the player’s horse that rewards you for your loyalty and protection, and the advanced controller settings. Overall, the narrative behind Rockstar Games’s Red Dead Redemption will be remembered in history as one of the most advanced video games for its time. Reference List: 1.Rockstar San Diego Official Website – Available from: http://www. rockstargames. com/reddeadredemption/ 2. Ogilvie Red Dead Redemption: All the RAGE – Available from: http://ca. ign. com/articles/2010/01/28/red-dead-redemp tion-all-the-rage Jan 28 2010 3. Schiesel Way Down Deep In the Wild, Wild West – Available from: http://www. nytimes. com/2010/05/17/arts/television/17dead. html? pagewanted=all=0 May 16th 2010 4. GamerSpawn Red Dead Redemption: Soundtrack Behind the Scenes – Available from: http://www. youtube. com/watch? v=vEsknPy5rvg July 29th 2010