Standard Procedure For Male Circumcision Health And Social Care Essay

In a combined survey from the USA and Kenya, the safety of big male Circumcision in the latter state was reviewed, peculiarly with the purported association between this process and a lower incidence of HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections. It was found that safe and acceptable grownup male Circumcision services could be delivered in developing states should this be advocated as a public wellness step. Aim To develop a standard process for male Circumcision in a resource-poor medical scene and prospectively measure the result in a randomized, controlled test with the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) as the chief result, as surveies suggest that Circumcision is associated with a lower incidence of HIV and other sexually familial infections in bad populations. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Healthy, uncircumcised, HIV-seronegative work forces aged 18-24 old ages from Kisumu District, Kenya, were offered engagement in a clinical test utilizing a standard Circumcision process based on ‘usual ‘ medical processs in Western Kenya. The followup included visits at 3, 8 and 30 yearss after Circumcision, with extra visits if necessary. Healing, satisfaction and recommencement of activities were assessed at these visits and 3 months from randomisation. Consequence Overall, 17 ( 3.5 % ) of the 479 Circumcisions were associated with inauspicious events judged decidedly, likely or perchance related to the process. The most common inauspicious events were wound infections ( 1.3 % ) , shed blooding ( 0.8 % ) , and delayed lesion healing or sutura line break ( 0.8 % ) . After 30 yearss, 99 % of participants reported being really satisfied with the process ; ?aˆS23 % reported holding had sex and 15 % reported that their spouses had expressed an sentiment, all of whom were really satisfied with the result. About 96 % of the work forces resumed normal general activities within the first hebdomad after the process. Decision Safe and acceptable grownup male Circumcision services can be delivered in developing states should male Circumcision finally be advocated as a public-health step. Abbreviations STI sexually transmitted infection KES Kenya shilling. Introduction Top of page Abstraction Introduction SUBJECTS AND METHODS Consequence Discussion Recognitions Conflict OF Interest Mentions Of African work forces, ?aˆS62 % are circumcised [ 1 ] ; more African work forces are seeking clinical Circumcision to better hygiene, to cut down the hazard of sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ) , to look more ‘urban ‘ , or to be more like others [ 2-6 ] . Epidemiologic surveies suggest that male Circumcision is associated with a ?aˆS50 % decrease in the hazard of HIV infection, and with a lower hazard of ulcerative STI [ 4,7-10 ] . Male Circumcision eliminates the venereal jobs of balanoposthitis, phimosis and paraphimosis, well reduces penial carcinoma rates and, in one survey, reduced the cervical malignant neoplastic disease hazard in female spouses [ 3 ] . Despite increased involvement among medical governments and greater credence among African work forces, there are significant concerns about urging male Circumcision as a public-health step. These reserves include the deficiency of informations from randomized, controlled clinical tests demoing that Circumcision decreases the hazard of STIs and HIV. Considerable anecdotal grounds, including studies based on medical record reappraisal, suggests that Circumcision in traditional scenes exposes immature work forces to an inordinate hazard of complications [ 11-15 ] . Very few informations on Circumcision results are available from African clinical scenes. One survey from Tanzania found that infant Circumcision utilizing the Plastibell technique resulted in a 2 % complication rate [ 16 ] , comparable to reported rates in developed states [ 17 ] . We are carry oning a prospective, randomized controlled clinical test of grownup male Circumcision to measure its impact on the incidence of HIV among 18-24-year-old work forces in Kisumu District, Kenya. One of import aim was to develop a standard Circumcision process that would be applicable to resource-poor medical scenes. A 2nd aim was to find the inauspicious event rates associated with this process. Thus the intents of this study are to: ( I ) describe the proficient facets of the standard process ; ( two ) outline the processs for monitoring and sorting inauspicious events ; and ( three ) to depict results and inauspicious events associated with the first 479 Circumcisions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Top of page Abstraction Introduction SUBJECTS AND METHODS Consequence Discussion Recognitions Conflict OF Interest Mentions Uncircumcised, HIV-seronegative work forces aged 18-24 old ages shacking within Kisumu District, Kenya, were offered admittance to the test. After supplying written, informed consent, participants were randomized every bit to either Circumcision or delayed Circumcision after a 2-year followup ( the control group ) . Exclusion standards included: any medical indicant for Circumcision ( e.g. important phimosis, recurrent balanitis, paraphimosis, or extended venereal warts ) , history of a hemorrhage upset, keloid formation, or other status that might unduly increase the hazards of elected surgery. Work force in both weaponries of the test were given extended reding about the decrease in hazard of STI/HIV, including the proviso of limitless supplies of free rubbers. This survey was approved by institutional reappraisal boards at the Universities of Nairobi, Illinois at Chicago, Manitoba, Washington, and RTI International. A Data Safety and Monitoring Board reports to the USA National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. For Circumcision, a standard process was based on ‘usual ‘ medical Circumcision processs in Western Kenya [ 18 ] . One Medical Officer ( medical physician ) and two Clinical Military officers ( Kenyan paramedicals who conduct medical audiences and selected surgical processs ) were trained in techniques and inside informations of the process. All instruments and supplies were purchased from providers in Western Kenya. The genital organ were prepared with a povidone-iodine solution and draped in unfertile manner. A dorsal nervus block was applied utilizing 2 % Lidocaine, with extra anesthetic administered circumferentially about the penial base ( maximal 10 milliliter ) . The foreskin was grasped at the 3 and 9 o'clock places utilizing two mosquito clinchs, so pulled over the glans. The scratch was outlined with a taging pen analogue to and 1 centimeter proximal to the coronal sulcus. The mosquito clinchs were so used to draw the foreskin over the glans while a Kocher clinch was applied below the planned scratch, taking attention to avoid wounding the glans. The foreskin was excised by cutting above the Kocher clinch, which was so removed. Shed blooding vass were ligated utilizing 3/0 field intestine. The lesion was irrigated with physiological saline. The tegument and mucosal scratchs were aligned utilizing 3/0 chromic perpendicular mattress suturas at the 12, 3 and 9 o'clock places, and a horizontal mattress sutura at the 6 o'clock ( frenulum ) place. The four initial suturas were tagged with mosquito clinchs to supply grip during the balance of the closing. Four extra perpendicular mattress suturas were placed halfway between the initial suturas, with simple suturas so placed to jump between the mattress suturas. The lesion was covered utilizing a Vaseline gauze dressing. Each patient was given verbal and written instructions, including vesture and bathing patterns, and instructed to urinate often to minimise hard-ons. They were given Datrils, 1 g three times daily as needed for 5 yearss, and tramadol hydrochloride, 100 milligram at bedtime as needed for two darks. Participants were strongly counselled to abstain from sex for at least a month. Follow-up visits were scheduled for 3, 8 and 30 yearss after surgery. Patients were instructed to return to the clinic if there was shed blooding, infection or inordinate hurting. At each visit the lesion was checked, and standard inquiries assessed activities of day-to-day life, possible inauspicious events, and the participants ‘ satisfaction. Additional elaborate ratings were conducted at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months from randomisation. Regular instance conferences reviewed all processs and results. Adverse events were categorized by badness and relatedness to the survey. Severity classs were mild, moderate and terrible. Relatedness to the process was classified as: ( 1 ) decidedly unrelated, clearly explained by another cause ; ( 2 ) perchance related, probably explained by other causes ; ( 3 ) likely related, most likely explained by the Circumcision ; and ( 4 ) decidedly related, a clear complication. Patient satisfaction was analysed at ?aˆS30 and 90 yearss after surgery as ( 1 ) really satisfied, ( 2 ) slightly satisfied, ( 3 ) slightly disgruntled, or ( 4 ) really disgruntled. We evaluated whether patients had resumed work and sexual activities and, if so, whether their sexual spouses had expressed an sentiment about their Circumcision position. The critical end points and definitions were determined before get downing the survey. Datas were collected prospectively and entered on site, and evaluated for quality and consistence continuously. Consequence Top of page Abstraction Introduction SUBJECTS AND METHODS Consequence Discussion Recognitions Conflict OF Interest Mentions Between 4 February 2002 and 11 March 2004, 2160 work forces were screened, including 47 % who agreed to take part. Of these, 505 were randomized to Circumcision, including 479 ( 95 % ) who had the process. The balance either declined after randomisation or deferred Circumcision until subsequently. The average age of circumcised participants was 21 old ages and 96 % were of Luo cultural beginning ; 89 % had completed primary school, 53 % had completed secondary school and & A ; gt ; 90 % were single. Almost half classified themselves as unskilled workers and about a one-fourth were pupils. Merely 37 % reported regular employment. The median ( scope ) continuance of Circumcision was 30 ( 18-63 ) min ; Fig. 1 shows the continuance for each consecutive group with clip ( Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel rank correlativity statistic, chi-square 149.4, 1 d.f. , P & A ; lt ; 0.001 ) . Figure 1. Box-and-whisker secret plan comparing process continuance with the figure of Circumcisions. For each group of Circumcisions, the line in the box indicates the median ( 50th percentile ) , and the upper and lower bounds of the box the interquartile scope ( 25-75th percentiles ) . The mistake bars indicate the 10th and 90th percentiles. Valuess above the 90th or below the tenth percentiles are plotted as points. For all 479 Circumcisions, the median ( scope ) continuance was 30 ( 18-63 ) min ; the average continuance was 38 min for the first 100, 30 min for the 2nd 100, 30 min for the 3rd, 28 min for the 4th and 26 min for processs 401-479 ( Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel rank correlativity P & A ; lt ; 0.001 ) . Of the 479 Circumcisions, 17 ( 3.5 % ) were associated with 18 inauspicious events considered decidedly, likely or perchance related, including six wound infections ( 1.3 % ) , four bleeds ( 0.8 % ) , four delayed healing or disrupted lesions ( 0.8 % ) , two with inordinate puffiness ( 0.4 % ) , one anesthetic reaction, and one participant who reported erectile disfunction. Of the 18 inauspicious events, none was classified as terrible, 11 were moderate ( necessitating extra intervention, e.g. drainage of an infection or revising a sutura to command indecent hemorrhage ) , and seven were mild ( necessitating minimum extra intervention ) . Fourteen inauspicious events were considered decidedly related ( including most infections and shed blooding jobs, plus the anesthetic reaction ) , one was considered likely related ( an infection off from the lesion that represented a reaction to the dressing tape ) , and three perchance related ( including diminished erectile map reported, folliculitis at the pubic base, and a pubic abscess in one participant each ) . Overall, nine of 18 inauspicious events were considered to be both moderate and definitely/probably procedure-related, happening after eight of 479 processs ( 1.7 % ) . The decorative consequences were first-class, with no demand for alterations or secondary processs. There were no instances of extra preputial tegument remotion, unequal preputial tegument remotion, penial tortuosity, cheloid, other hapless decorative or functional results. At this analysis, 411 of 479 participants were evaluated at ?aˆS30 yearss after surgery ; 99 % reported being really satisfied, 23 % reported holding had sex since the Circumcision, and 15 % of these work forces reported that their female spouse had expressed an sentiment about the process, all of whom were really satisfied with the result. In all, 321 work forces had appraisals at ?aˆS90 yearss from surgery, when 65 % reported holding resumed sexual intercourse, and 54 % of their sex spouses had expressed an sentiment about the process. Of these spouses, 95 % were really satisfied with the result, 4 % were slightly satisfied and 2 % were slightly disgruntled. None was really disgruntled. At 30 yearss after surgery, 98 % of work forces who were employed reported holding returned to work, 91 % within a hebdomad of the process and 97 % within 2 hebdomads. At this visit, all work forces reported holding resumed normal general activities, 96 % within the first hebdomad and another 3 % during the 2nd hebdomad after surgery. Discussion Top of page Abstraction Introduction SUBJECTS AND METHODS Consequence Discussion Recognitions Conflict OF Interest Mentions We developed a Circumcision process that was implemented efficaciously in an African medical scene. All instruments and supplies were purchased locally and local clinicians performed all processs. The standard method was based on medical processs used in eastern Africa [ 18 ] . To avoid trust on a engineering that is non widely available in developing states, we did non utilize electrocautery. Nevertheless, the overall inauspicious event rate was comparable to reported rates from the developed universe. Postoperative lesion infection ( 1.3 % ) and shed blooding ( 0.8 % ) were the most common inauspicious events, as would be predicted. The huge bulk of participants and their spouses who expressed sentiments were really satisfied at 30 and 90 yearss after surgery. This is one of the largest series of big male Circumcisions and it is alone in that results were monitored prospectively. Participants were followed utilizing a strict protocol. We used simple definitions that may turn out utile for other surgical tests, particularly surveies measuring Circumcision as a public-health step. The average clip to finish a Circumcision was 30 min ; runing continuance decreased from a median of 38 min for the first 100 processs to 26 min for processs 401-479 ( P & A ; lt ; 0.001 ) . This is of import, because if Circumcision were recommended as a public-health step for forestalling HIV, so it would be necessary to finish processs within an acceptable period in resource-poor states. The instruments and supplies were modest and all were obtained locally. In Kisumu the cost of supplies is 1500 Kenya shillings ( KES ) per process at our installation ( ? US $ 20 ) . In the Kisumu community, charges for Circumcision scope from 1000 KES ( US $ 13 ) at the authorities infirmary to 5800 KES ( US $ 77 ) at the taking private infirmary. Therefore, this survey suggests that our standard Circumcision method is consistent with bing pattern in Kenya and is likely to turn out practical within the underdeveloped universe. We besides showed that it is possible to obtain consequences that are tantamount to series of big male Circumcisions from the developed universe. The present survey has some advantages ; it represents a big series of big male Circumcisions and one of really few studies of surveies designed to supply an optimal prospective appraisal of results. We used strict definitions for events. The Circumcision process and resources were based on local medical pattern and resource handiness. All instruments and supplies were obtained locally, and clinicians trained and working in their ain community completed all processs. Therefore, our consequences should be straight applicable to similar clinical scenes in other countries. Two of the three clinicians were Clinical Military officers, the cell of professionals likely to execute most Circumcisions in sub-Saharan Africa. An of import lesson was that clear patient instructions are critical for lesion attention after surgery. Young work forces in many developing state scenes may miss easy entree to H2O and have trouble in keeping hygiene. Their timeserving employment forms frequently require high degrees of physical activity that can interrupt wound mending. Instruction manuals, both verbal and written in autochthonal linguistic communications, can help patients to restrict the possible effects of such lifestyle challenges. A determination that requires further attending is that 23 % of work forces reportedly resumed sexual activities before their 30-day follow-up visit, despite intensive reding to the contrary. Fortunately, merely one adult male reported holding had sexual intercourse at one of the early visits, and that was 19 yearss after the process. If work forces resume sexual contact before their scratchs are to the full healed, there is the danger of increased hazard of infection with HIV or other STIs. Once the test is complete, we will prove whether circumcised work forces have a higher incidence of HIV/STI than uncircumcised controls during this 1-month period after randomisation. Effective guidance of immature work forces is disputing, but developing effectual ways to advocate against sexual contact while the surgical lesion is mending will be important if male Circumcision is to be introduced as an intercession to forestall HIV. The present survey has of import restrictions ; the work forces were circumcised in a carefully designed, controlled research undertaking, with thorough preparation of clinicians, careful choice of healthy patients and uninterrupted monitoring of the result. It will be necessary to demo similar results in less strict scenes. The followup was short, but we will obtain more informations on sexual map. Most significantly, we need to find, through the test, whether grownup male Circumcision is effectual in cut downing the incidence of HIV. In decision, we developed a standard process for grownup male Circumcision that proved suited for resource-poor clinical scenes. The inauspicious event rate compares favorably with rates reported from developed states. Participants had first-class clinical results, acceptable morbidity and first-class patient satisfaction. They returned to work and to normal general activities really rapidly. These findings suggest that it should be possible to present grownup male Circumcision services with acceptable complication rates in developing states. Recognitions Top of page Abstraction Introduction SUBJECTS AND METHODS Consequence Discussion Recognitions Conflict OF Interest Mentions We particularly thank the immature work forces in Kisumu who have so enthusiastically participated in the survey. We acknowledge the aid and indefatigable support provided by Dr J. Otieno. We greatly appreciate the tireless attempts of the UNIM undertaking staff. This survey was funded by grants from the National Institute of Allergy and Infections Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland USA, Grant No. AI150440, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research ( CIHR ) , Grant No. HCT 44180. S. Moses is the receiver of a CIHR research worker award. Conflict OF Interest Top of page Abstraction Introduction SUBJECTS AND METHODS Consequence Discussion Recognitions Conflict OF Interest Mentions None declared. Mentions Top of page Abstraction Introduction SUBJECTS AND METHODS Consequence Discussion Recognitions Conflict OF Interest Mentions 1 Drain PK, Smith JS, Hughes JP, Halpern DT, Holmes KK. Correlates of national HIV seroprevalence: an ecologic analysis of 122 developing states. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2004 ; 35: 407-20 CrossRef, PubMed, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 21 2 Caldwell JC, Caldwell P. The African AIDS epidemic. Sci Am 1996 ; 274: 66-8 CrossRef 3 Castellsague X, Bosch FX, Munoz N et Al. Male Circumcision, penial human papillomavirus infection, and cervical malignant neoplastic disease in female spouses. N Engl J Med 2002 ; 346: 1105-12 CrossRef, PubMed, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 188 4 Bailey RC, Muga R, Poulussen R, Abicht H. The acceptableness of male Circumcision to cut down HIV infections in Nyanza Province, Kenya. AIDS Care 2002 ; 14: 27-40 CrossRef, PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 33 5 Lagarde E, Dirk T, Puren A, Reathe RT, Bertran A. Acceptability of male Circumcision as a tool for forestalling HIV infection in a extremely infected community in South Africa. Aids 2003 ; 17: 89-95 CrossRef, PubMed, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 25 6 Kebaabetswe P, Lockman S, Mogwe S et Al. Male Circumcision: an acceptable scheme for HIV bar in Botswana. Sex Transm Infect 2003 ; 79: 214-9 CrossRef, PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 24 7 Jessamine PG, Plummer FA, Ndinya Achola JO et Al. Human immunodeficiency virus, venereal ulcers and the male prepuce: synergy in HIV-1 transmittal. Scand J Infect Dis Suppl 1990 ; 69: 181-6 PubMed, ChemPort 8 Cameron DW, Simonsen JN, D'Costa LJ et Al. Female to male transmittal of human immunodeficiency virus type 1: hazard factors for seroconversion in work forces. Lancet 1989 ; 2: 403-7 CrossRef, PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 541 9 Todd J, Munguti K, Grosskurth H et Al. Hazard factors for active pox and TPHA seroconversion in a rural African population. Sex Transm Infect 2001 ; 77: 37-45 CrossRef, PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 15 10 Weiss HA, Quigley MA, Hayes RJ. Male Circumcision and hazard of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic reappraisal and meta-analysis. Aids 2000 ; 14: 2361-70 CrossRef, PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 189 11 Mayatula V, Mavundla TR. A reappraisal on male Circumcision processs among South African inkinesss. Curationis 1997 ; 20: 16-20 PubMed, ChemPort 12 Ahmed A, Mbibi NH, Dawam D, Kalayi GD. Complications of traditional male Circumcision. Ann Trop Paediatr 1999 ; 19: 113-7 CrossRef, PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 19 13 Crowley IP, Kesner KM. Ritual Circumcision ( Umkhwetha ) amongst the Xhosa of the Ciskei. Br J Urol 1990 ; 66: 318-21 Direct Link: Abstraction PDF ( 630K ) Mentions 14 Magoha GA. Circumcision in assorted Nigerian and Kenyan infirmaries. East Afr Med J 1999 ; 76: 583-6 PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 24 15 Khalifa S. Implications of the protective consequence of male Circumcision against HIV. A reappraisal of male Circumcision processs presently used in Africa and their safety. [ Maestro of Science ] . London, UK. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 2000 16 Manji KP. January 1 of the immature baby in a underdeveloped state utilizing the Plastibell. Ann Trop Paediatr 2000 ; 20: 101-4 PubMed, ChemPort, Web of Science ® Times Cited: 9 17 Williams N, Kapila L. Complications of Circumcision. Br J Surg 1993 ; 80: 1231-6 Direct Link: Abstraction PDF ( 808K )

Disney: The Decision

Eisner and some of the executives were very interested in expanding and building a new theme park. When they were attending a meeting in Virginia, they were impressed by the post war restoration. The idea of building a theme park with American history as the main idea came to Eisner at that time. The idea became a plan and soon the executives of Disney found suitable land that was affordable with all amenities. An international airport was nearby; the land would not create any environmental issues. It was also near an interstate highway. The politicians of the state were also for development and growth.The land identified with all these benefits was in Prince William County in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont region. What Eisner may not have known at that time was that the Piedmont region was home to some of Americas most influential and wealthy people. The region had also fought off several developmental projects from that area. Once the announcement was made by Disney about the building of the theme park, opposition started rising from most of the wealthiest people from the region. There was also opposition from various organizations like The Piedmont Environmental Council.Why Disney America was never built The various organizations started mounting negative publicity against Disney. Disney being an image conscious company was put in a dilemma. Eisner was of the view that the project had to go on. He was also supported by the Virginia’s Governor George Allen. In spite of various campaigns by Eisner, the opposition kept mounting against the project with historians and journalists joining the bandwagon against Disney. All the opposition finally caught up with Eisner who decided that continuing with the project was not worth it.The decision was made because Eisner knew that if the park was opened in spite of the opposition, after it was opened, it could lead to further trouble, especially from the historians. The need for focusing on the other proj ects and the risk to Disney’s reputation were the most important aspects that made Eisner decide not to go ahead with the project. Eisner decided that deciding not to go ahead with the project was the best option under the circumstances. If he had continued with the project, there could have been opposition from Historians who were already campaigning against the project.If Disney had to concentrate all its efforts on the Disney America project then there was a risk of losing focus on its other business concerns. There was also the risk of losing the reputation of Disney that had been built for years. These were the main reasons for ending the project, but the other reasons were because of the problems in the management of Disney where one key executive had died and another had resigned. There were also rumors that there was a leadership crisis in Disney. All these reasons made Eisner deciding against continuing the project.The best choice under the circumstances This was als o the best choice that Eisner had. The project seems to have become a personal ambition for him. He had made remarks in a press release that would not have benefited the company. He also took it upon himself to go ahead with the project. This led to irrational thinking. Monitoring various projects would have actually become difficult if the company had so many hurdles in just a single project. The situation for the Disney company at that time was not good with the EuroDisney making a huge loss and the number of visitors dropping.Fighting a legal battle with the opponents of the park in Piedmont would have drained the resources of the company financially. There is evidence to suggest that Historians would have found fault with the many historical scenes depicted in the theme park, if it had been built. The Piedmont community and the environmentalists were also preparing for a legal battle with monetary contributions pouring in. This would have led to a long legal battle if the park h ad been built. So it was best in the interests of the company that Eisner decided not to go ahead with the building of the Disney America theme park.

Black People and Larger Racial Minorities

Associate Program Material Racial Diversity: Historical Worksheet Answer the following questions in 100 to 250 words each. Provide citations for all the sources you use. * Throughout most of U. S. history, in most locations, what race has been in the majority? What is the common ancestral background of most members of this group? White people have been the majority of the population. The common ancestral background of most of the members in this group are Europeans. * What are some of the larger racial minorities in U. S. history? What have been the common ancestral backgrounds of each of these groups? When did each become a significant or notable minority group? Whites and blacks are a larger race in us. Europeans are the common ancestral background of whites and African American common ancestral background was from the west. The whites became a significant minority group in the 1600’s and blacks became a significant minority group in the 1800’s * In what ways have laws been used to enforce discrimination? Provide examples. These laws were intended against which racial minorities? Laws have been enforcing discrimination by making sure that all races have the same opportunity at a job. This is the civil rights act and it was made so that blacks and other races could all have a fair chance at a job and could not be rejected because of their race. If a black person would try to get a job and not get hired but a white person goes in and has everything the same as the black person but gets hired the black person can take that company to court for discrimination. These laws where intended for all racial minorities so everyone has the same opportunity. * In what ways have laws been used to eliminate discrimination? Provide examples. Did the laws work to eliminate discrimination? Allowing blacks and white to attend the same schools and allowing them to sit anywhere on a bus. Back years ago blacks had to sit in the back of the bus and if a white person needed a seat they had to give up theirs, as far as the schooling goes now black and whites can go to the same schools. I think the laws worked to eliminate discrimination because you do not see anyone making a black person move for a white person or having a school with only white kids. They laws have helped us become one country instead of 2 and everyone has a better look at each other now that we can combine races.

The American writer Ursula LeGuin's The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas Essay

The American writer Ursula LeGuin's The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas - Essay Example In the text’s description of city Omela it’s clear that there is an almost satirically good description of the on-goings. For instance, Le Guin writes, â€Å"The horses wore no gear at all but a halter without bit. Their manes were braided with streamers of silver, gold and green† (Le Guin). Here one sees that even the animals residing in the city were of a glorious nature. In terms of the social order, it’s noted that in large part there is no overriding government structure in this society. Le Guin states, â€Å"I do not know the rules and laws of their society, but I suspect that they were singularly few. As they did without monarchy and slavery, so they also got on without the stock exchange†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Le Guin). It seems in advancing this notion of government Le Guin is indicating that the society is so well functioning and efficient that it does not need any government structure to regulate anti-social behavior. The story also greatly considers t he nature of the individual. In large regards it seems to flesh out the notions of the individual as a means of establishing their conscious awareness of the society, as well as their happiness. Consider Le Guin when she writes, â€Å"How can I tell you about the people of Omelas? They were not naive and happy children--though their children were, in fact, happy† (Le Guin). ... The child is described as either feeble minded, or made so through malnutrition and fear. The child is even horrifically described as screaming that it will be good if it is let out. The child is perhaps the most indicative element of the city of Omela as it indicates that even as the individuals in the society enjoy considerable happiness and social cohesion there is still an aspect of their existence that is sinister. The story also indicates that occasionally an individual will leave Omela after learning the reality of the child’s situation. While it seems in part that Le Guin is making a statement about the nature of scapegoats in society, what one makes of the child in the basement is more a reflection on the individual reader than the story itself. In conclusion, this essay has considered the nature of society and the individual in Ursula Le Guin’s ‘The One’s Who Walk Away From Omelas’. In terms of society it’s demonstrated that the text presents a utopian world that is loosely described, allowing the reader to implement their imagination. The individuals are presented as conscious and intelligent. Ultimately, at the center of the story is a moral choice that is meant to reveal aspects of human character and nature of

National Nursing shortage and Patient Advocacy Act Essay

National Nursing shortage and Patient Advocacy Act - Essay Example o in the hospitals as currently there is a severe shortage in the nursing professionals and some hospitals had nurses which were attending to numerous patients (Buerhaus, 191-198). This paper will assess and document the pros and con that are accompanied with this act. It will mainly focus on the impact in the patients, hospital as well as financial burden that is incurred by the health care institution. Firstly there are obvious financial implications that are accompanied with this act as hospitals are required to hire extra staff members. The financial burden in this instance is incurred by Medicare which is required to adjust its payments to hospitals in order to facilitate for this staff increment. Hospitals however also have some increased financial responsibility as the staff members will be in the hospital facility and incur other expenses besides the wages. In addition, the Secretary only implemented that the hospitals will be compensate only for expenses that are incurred when care is provided to Medicare users. Hence it will remain uncompensated for the other patients and will have to devise new plans to cover these extra costs. This may include a reduction in salaries which will obviously have a negative effect financially on the nursing staff. Another approach which the hospital could take is an increment in the service costs which will affect the patients as healthcare is expensive. The United States Census Bureau documented that approximately 50 million individuals were uninsured which is approximately 15% of the population (Buerhaus, 191-198). There are also advantages that are derived from this act and these include the improvement in the quality of healthcare. Reducing the ratio of patients that are attended by one nurse will result in better services and detection of certain issues that might have been missed due to the nurse’s busy schedule. This also improves the nurse-patient relationship which is essential in the prognosis of the patient

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Electrical and Electronic Engineering laboratory logbook and report - Essay Example This arrangement determines the direction of conventional current or electron flow and the polarities of any voltages applied. Concerning the direction of conventional current flow, the arrow at the emitter terminal of the transistor representation for both types of transistors points towards the direction of conventional current flow and therefore offers an important reference. The methods of determining the type of transistor and material used to make it are demonstrated in this experiment including how to identify the three terminals of a transistor (Gates 2012). Transistors are categorized according to: type (PNP or NPN); material used (silicon or germanium); and major application (high frequency, switching or high and low power). Most transistors are labeled with a number used to identify them. They are packaged into different sizes and configurations depending on application requirements. Transistor packages protect them, provide a means of making electrical connections to the three terminals, and act as heat sinks preventing heat damage. The relationship between the currents and the voltages related to a transistor under different conditions of operation determine its performance. These relationships are collectively known as the characteristics of the transistors. These characteristics are published by the manufacturer of a particular transistor in a specification sheet that accompanies the device when purchased. One of the objectives of this laboratory experiment is to experimentally measure these characteristics of transistors and compare them to their published values (Kal 2003). A transistor acts as an amplifier; the basic function of the device is to switch a signal or to provide current amplification of the signal. For this purpose to be achieved, the transistor must be correctly biased by external voltages so that the base, emitter, and collector terminals interact in the

History Early Christians Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

History Early Christians - Essay Example Agnes shows the image of Mary placed between St. Peter and St. Paul with her arms extended towards the two saints. The increased interest in the Virgin Mary that was evident during the catacombs came about as a result of a new doctrine by the Church Fathers who represented the Virgin Mary as the â€Å"New Eve†. The church fathers taught that just in the same way that Eve had played an important role in bringing the downfall of Adam, the Virgin Mary as the New Eve had played an important role in the redemptive ministry of Jesus who was seen as the new Adam. According to this teaching, both Eve and Mary had played secondary but significant roles in the lives of Adam and Jesus2. Ideally, this understanding was not popular in the Apostolic church and hence the reason why there was little art depicting the Virgin Mary in the earlier period. Although Mary had been recognized in earlier literature within the church, the assumption by the Church Fathers that she participated in the work of Salvation with Jesus Christ had given her new status within the church. By the 3rd century, most people within the church had accepted the Virgin Mary under the title â€Å"Mother of God† even though this title had not been solemnized until two centuries later. Under this new status, praying directly to Mary was no longer seen as idolatry but rather as a spiritual communication with God3. By the time the Council of Ephesus was convened in 431 A.D., where the Virgin Mary was officially christened as the â€Å"Mother of God† there were numerous cathedrals that had been dedicated to her name in most parts of Rome and Jerusalem and this was also the time within which art was also developing. After the Council of Ephesus, the went through a flourishing period of dedication to the Blessed Virgin in most parts of the East and the West and the quantity of this dedication was mostly brought out through art. This devotion

American history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

American history - Essay Example Industrialization left the northern states of the Union developed and the south was still operating under the agrarian practices, which had existed prior to the formation of the United States. The arguments of slavery address the fundamental questions, which are whether slaves are regarded as people or property, the view of states’ rights vs. federal rights, and the impact of sociology and religion in politics. The question of the rights of states and slavery started to begin as Manifest Destiny began to take place. The United States was becoming an established world power and was expanding west. As a result, the original thirteen colonies were growing. Some of these new territories were taken through purchases with foreign nations and some were the result of wars. The Compromise of 1850 dealt with the future of slave states versus those in the Union. In the compromise, there were specific territorial and financial compensations which were given in order to prevent the worst, but what would become an inevitable action: cessation of the southern slave states (Boyer, Clark, Hawley, Kett, & Rieserm 2010) The biggest debate, which was invoked, was over the debate of whether slaves were regarded as people or property. Seward argued on the behalf of natural law and the laws that were passed down by God.

Discussion Questions Week 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Discussion Questions Week 2 - Essay Example These are some of the most commonly used financial instrument retirement financial plan or portfolio since these investments are considered risk free since they are not affected by economic or financial market cycles, like stocks for example. The time frame of the investments before retirement, the investor’s risk adversity as well as overall investment goals of the individual are the main factors that determine the required rate of return on the principal invested. Stocks and derivatives are the other type financial instruments utilized in a retirement plan. They are not directly affected by time of money, but are subject to fluctuations in economic and market conditions. Therefore they are capable of providing much greater overall level of return, albeit with the appropriate increased level of risk, since your investment is not protected by the issuing bank or the FDIC. In order to best determine the ratio of safe investments versus more speculative ones such as stocks and corporate bonds the investor must decide the portfolio breakdown that best fills their investments goals and acceptable level of risk.. 2) A loan amortization schedule provides a complete timeline of all the payments to be made during the lifetime of the loan contract. It provides the user with a complete breakdown of all the payments, including the amounts to be allocated to principal and interest for each individual monthly payment. It gives the owner to calculate at any time the amount paid towards principal as well as interest at any point during the life of the loan. The amortization schedule could be used to determine interest rate by modifying the cash flow time line equation and solving for the present value interest factor, which would provide you with the loan interest rate. By consulting the PVIF table and looking for the

Risk Management Business Contingency Plan Essay Example for Free

Risk Management Business Contingency Plan Essay The qualitative risk analysis performed in a previous report identified eight notable risks associated with setting up a call-center presence in Quà ©bec, Canada. As those risks are successfully managed, the call center will commence operation and start handling telephonic insurance requests from mostly French-speaking customers. (Only one-quarter of employees at this center will handle English-speaking calls from Canadian customers.) Because there will be a sole call center in Canada handling 100 percent of the French-speaking calls and one-quarter of English-speaking calls, it will be imperative to establish a business contingency plan, or BCP. Because of the aforementioned propensity for natural disasters in Canada, this plan will address continuity of business in the event of a natural disaster, such as a tornado. The specific areas of business continuity to be treated are 1. Pre-incident adjustments, 2. Ethical use and protection of sensitive data, 3. Ethical use and protection of customer data, 4. Communication plan, and 5. Post-incident continuity. The goal of this plan is to reduce pandemonium associated with natural disasters’ effects on normative business operations. Pre-Incident Adjustments It is important to understand the principal components that contribute to the locomotion of a well-functioning call center. These components include: 1. A functioning telephone-delivery system, also known as a PSTN 2. A functioning networking system for data sharing 3. A functional group of computers for customer processing 4. A functioning electrical system There are other less-crucial components that contribute to a normative operational environment, such as fax capabilities and office equipment. The focus, however, will be on major components. It is obvious that a call center requires the ability to manage inbound and outbound calls. A tornado of any strength has a high likelihood of disrupting this call management ability. (Please review the risk register and attendant risk report for more information on the level of severity and likelihood.) Public Switch Telephone Network The call center is dependent on a public switch telephone network, or PSTN. This is an array of externally managed networks employed to deliver calls throughout the world; this network uses coaxial cables, fiber optics, land lines, and satellite communication to support communication. A natural disaster can physically affect this aspect of the communication network, which effectively prevents the delivery of calls to the call center’s own internal automatic call-delivery system, or ACD. This is an obvious impediment to the nature of a call center. Networking System In order for call-center employees to make and receive calls, the PSTN must deliver the calls to the call center’s networking system, which comprises the business telephone system, or PABX, and high-speed data delivery lines, such as ISDN. If a tornado affects the PSTN, the call center’s networking system for call delivery would be useless, and no calls would be delivered or could be made. If the tornado damaged the call-center structure, the networking system would also fail, not only preventing the handling of calls but the appropriate transmission of data. If there are onsite servers or mainframes, they may also be damaged. Functioning Computers Computers are required in every aspect of call-center operation. Front-line employees cannot process calls or customer requests without access to a computer. Information-technology workers cannot support the existing call-center network without a computer to interface with the network. A direct impact of a tornado would most likely destroy a significant number of workstations, causing elevated levels of inefficiency and the inability to meet customer needs. Functioning computers and network lines are also important for what is referred to as the Intra-Day Management Team. This team is responsible for 1) the proper routing of calls to call-center representatives based on their skill set—referred to skill-set gating—and 2) managing the call-center employees’ phone and off-the-phone schedules—referred to adherence and conformance. Damage to telephone lines, networking structures, and computers prevents the proper support of the call-center employees, which results in missed commitments with telephonic customers. Functioning Electrical System The electrical system is managed by the public-utilities company of the local area. If a tornado sufficiently damaged this entity to prevent the consistent delivery of electricity to the call center, there may be a disruption to the ability to make and receive calls as well as process data. The call center employs backup power generators in such an instance, but these generators provide eight hours of power. In natural disasters, it is not unlikely that utilities companies will be able to restore service within weeks. For each of the communications components listed above, State Farm should establish a call-routing process to handle inbound and outbound calls in exigent situations. Call routing simply means that a national Intra-Day Management Team, a team that manages the overall statistics generated from all State Farm’s call centers and that supersedes the authority of local intra-day management teams, would direct calls from the Canadian center to any number of call centers in the United States. In theory, this concept is simple: Calls are routed to a random call center for processing. In reality, the execution of this process is complicated. State Farm’s call centers house representatives with specific skill sets, with some call centers sharing overall skill-set attributes with others. For example, State Farm’s call center in Jacksonville, Florida, shares the same skill set as its Tempe, Arizona, location. However, four other call centers house representatives that, internal to each call center, are multi-skilled and, external to other call centers, do not share the same skill set. For example, the Phoenix call center houses customer-service representatives and claims representatives—two mutually exclusive skill sets within one call center. The Utah call center houses Spanish-speaking risk-management representatives and non-polyglot underwriting professionals. The call centers are dissimilar in the skill attributes and overall functioning. Depending on the call volume handled by the damaged Canadian call center and based on the distinctions in the antecedent paragraph, routing Canadian customers to American centers can 1. Be tedious to find the appropriate representatives in the call centers to handle the calls 2. Be a negative influence on the call center’s existing metrics it is required to meet. The latter difficulty is notable, since each call center is required to meet specific service-level agreements set forth by operations managers at the national level. These service-level agreements comprise call statistics, such as average speed of answer, average hold time for calls answered, abandon rate (number of calls that disconnect before being answered), etc. These agreements do not account for natural disasters, so with the introduction of, for example, 400 calls to a particular call center, that call center’s ability to meet its own service-level agreements will most  likely be constrained. Considering the nature of service-level agreements is to ensure that telephonic customers are responded to within a reasonable time frame, the customer experience will decline, which will result in lower customer-satisfaction results. This reality correlates with lower profit-maximization opportunities; customers who must wait what they deem to be an interminable amount of time to have a request processed will be more likely to choose a competitor, such as All State, for their insurance needs. Another notable concern is that the Canadian call center answers mostly French-speaking calls. There are currently no other centers nationwide that have French-speaking representatives. At present, customers routed to other customer-service call centers would speak with customer-service representatives who would use a language vendor State Farm employs, ATT Language Line. With the assistance of a language professional from the vendor’s company, the State Farm representative can successfully handle the call. However, statistics demonstrate that these calls are extensively longer and negatively influence the customer experience. It is recommended, therefore, that State Farm seek to employ bilingual representatives throughout its call centers. Human resources would be responsible for managing this proactive initiative. Ethical Use and Protection of Data State Farm houses a staggering amount of proprietary sensitive data. This data must be ethically used and protected. Some examples of this sensitive data is call-center statistics that can expose the employee identification numbers of the Canadian call-center employees; human-resources information systems, or HRIS, containing employee records; and financial records of all payments made to vendors. The call-center statistics are stored onsite on a server. The reason for the onsite storage is the ready access to read and write to this information. Call-center statistics change constantly. For example, the average speed of answer will vary daily, depending on the call volume. The HRIS is also stored onsite on the same server that houses the call-center statistics. The reason that this data is resident on the same server as the call-center statistics is that they are interdependent. The HRIS will contain information on the results of previous-years’ performance evaluation; however, this performance-review data cannot be properly curated without input from call-center statistics. As an example, State Farm can justifiably offer a 10-percent salary increase to an employee because that employee met the calls-handled-per-hour metric, which is culled from call-center statistics. Technically, this data can be discretely stored, but an attention to efficiency demands otherwise. Pulling data sets from one location is more efficient than doing so from discrete locations. The call center has many vendor relationships, all of which require payment to sustain the contractual relationships. For example, all office equipment, excluding computers, is leased through Ricoh International. The call center makes quarterly lease payments for the use of this equipment. This is a financial relationship that requires each element be tracked and stored for tax-reporting purposes. This data is housed in a separate server onsite. The reason for onsite storage is ready access to reading and writing to this data. Similar to call-center statistics, this data constantly changes, so onsite storage offers an efficient way of handling this data. In the event of a natural disaster, the call center must adopt a data-redundancy mindset. Specifically, State Farm must house this data at a separate location, preferably in a different country. Doing so ensures that if a natural disaster were to affect all of Canada, this data, which is stored in Salt Lake City, would still maintain its integrity and can be readily accessed by American call centers that would temporarily manage the calls. Also, when housed offsite, the data should be maintained in the same fashion as it is onsite. Call-center statistics and HRIS data should be housed together due to their interdependence, and financial data should be housed  separately. Ethical Use and Protection of Customer Data Just as company data is important, the maintenance and protection of the integrity of customer data is imperative. Examples of State Farm customer data include customer name, Social Security number, insurance-policy identification number, mailing address, vehicle identification number, and credit-card information. As has been demonstrated with well-publicized data breaches in the past, there is a causal relationship between identity theft and dilatory security processes. Thus, State Farm should not take a languid attitude toward customer security. The abstractions from the customer profile are grouped in two: 1. Demographics: name, address, Social Security number, and license-plate information 2. Financial data: credit-card name and number, banking information, invoices, receipts, and tax documents Each categorization is housed on separate onsite servers, but the categories are connected by a primary key, that is, a record in each group that connects in order to create a complete customer profile. The primary key is name—the name field in the demographic group abstraction and credit-card-name field in the financial-data group abstraction. (This primary key is necessary in order for each representative to access a complete customer profile upon processing a customer request during a call.) In preparation for a natural disaster, this data must be stored offsite on discrete servers but still connected by a primary key. These servers must also be in another country, though they both can be offsite in the same country. When a natural disaster causes the Canadian call center to shutter temporarily, American call centers will still have access to complete customer profiles to add insurance riders or to make payments, since they will not have been affected by the natural disaster. It should also be clearly noted that this data must be stored, whether onsite or off, using the highest encryption, which is presently 256 bit. This encryption level is especially imperative for offsite storage. It mitigates against unauthorized access or breach of this customer data, which would surely lead to expensive and unnecessary lawsuits. Communication Plan A communication plan is a strategy, normally a project-management function, that details the process of effective communication during exigent situations, such as when a call center is damaged due to a natural disaster and is unable to function normally. To avoid chaotic discourse or managers leading at cross purposes, the communication plan offers structure and, thus, efficiency. Ultimately, it is a planning document. (Please note that the goal is always to ensure the customer’s needs are met; this can only happen when the company proceeds in a structured, well-planned fashion.) An effective communication plan has the following attributes: * Objectives * Stakeholder identification * Communication strategy Objectives are set forth in a scope statement. A scope statement is a sentence or series of sentences that define the parameters of the communication plan, that is, what the plan will manage, and what is out of its purview. Setting these boundaries is necessary in order to promote efficiency and structure. The objective of the State Farm Canadian call-center communication plan is to keep all shareholders updated on the drive to normative call-center functioning for the Canadian location. Stakeholder identification is also important, since doing so identifies the key individuals who will benefit from the communication plan. This is also  referred to as a stakeholder analysis. The reason to know the beneficiaries of the plan is so the plan can be crafted to meet their needs. State Farm’s communication plan for a natural-disaster event identifies external customers, shareholders, management, and even line-level employees as stakeholders. Each of these entities will gain a benefit from the successful execution of the plan. Communication strategy sets forth the details of how communication is to occur. For example, when the network fails due to damage from a natural disaster, the communication plan will explicitly designate the entities responsible for communicating and receiving the communication of this event. The communication strategy can be reduced to several components. First, a routine communication strategy must be set. This strategy identifies quotidian communication behaviors, for example, meetings that are held, issues that are identified, and the communication of status updates. Second, financial communication should be set. This aspect is important to internal stakeholders, since recovery from a natural disaster places a burden on limited company finances and, as a result, on their ability to earn profit. Questions that this portion of the communication plan addresses are 1. Is the cost of transferring calls to different American call centers aligned with expectations? 2. What are the current costs for repairing the Canadian call center? 3. What is the downtime cost for every day that the Canadian call center cannot take a call? This is not an all-inclusive list of queries. Third, this communication plan should provide updates on risks and issues that are identified during recovery from the natural disaster. This portion of the communication plan is dependent on prior risk registers and reports that were generated. When additional risks are identified or if additional  issues are noted, this portion of the plan identifies the entity that should be notified and updated. Two risks associated are delays in re-building permits and follow-up natural disasters that thwart rebuilding progress. Post-Incident Continuity The goal of this BCP is to ensure that the call center returns to the level of function prior to the natural disaster. To ensure continuity of the business after the natural disaster, the following must take place: 1. Collaboration with external entities to resolve any communication-line issues 2. Restoration of any communication lines managed by the call center 3. Possible repurchasing of office equipment, inclusive of computers 4. Reinstatement of laid-off employees 5. Rehousing of company data onsite 6. Rehousing of customer data onsite 7. Rehousing of financial data onsite 8. Redirection of routed calls back to the Canadian call center Depending on the severity level of the natural disaster, adjustments will have to be made to the Canadian call center’s service-level agreements. The average-speed-of-answer requirement is 95 percent, that is, 95 percent of all incoming calls must be answered within 30 seconds. This level would have to be upwardly adjusted to allot time for call-center homeostasis. Also, depending on the call center’s downtime, there may be an extenuating time period in which there are no statistics to generate. Such a scenario would have an overall negative influence on the achievement of yearly service-level agreements. It may also be conceivable to start to reroute calls back to the Canadian call center in a gradated fashion. For example, if the call center returns to mostly normal functioning in August, it may be helpful to route only 20 percent of normally handled calls back. Doing so allows the target call center to adjust sufficiently to avoid short-circuiting processes designed  for restoration that are already underway. With each successive month, rerouting can increase by 20 percent. Within five months, the call center would handle all the calls it originally handled, and it would do so within the service-level agreement. State Farm previously developed a risk register and attendant risk report to account for such natural disasters. After normative functions have been restored, call-center management, along with any other entities involved in the execution of the restoration project, should hold a lessons-learned session. The purpose of this session is to determine which executions of the restoration project, based on the risks identified before the natural disaster, were successful and which were areas of opportunities. This is a continuous-improvement aim. Adjustments may have to be made to various aspect of the restoration project to better respond to future natural disasters affecting the Canadian call center.

Value Added Services In Logistics Operations Marketing Essay

Value Added Services In Logistics Operations Marketing Essay Logistics is a procedure to optimize all activities to ensure the delivery of cargo through a transport chain from one end to the other. The comparative efficiency of a countrys trade logistics chain is of vital importance in enhancing competitiveness of its industry and commerce. In this regard, international differences in trade logistics efficiency determine in large extent the efficiency and sustainability of the economies. In developed countries such as the U.S. and Japan, logistics costs are about 10 per cent of GDP. For some less developed economies, these costs exceed 30 per cent. Moreover, these differences among countries appear to be widening. According to the European Logistics Association, the logistics costs in relation to annual turnover can amount to more than 30 per cent in the food industry, 27 per cent in the metal industry, 23 per cent in the chemical industry, 15 per cent in the automotive sector. The percentages may differ from country to country and industry by industry, but many of the critical cost factors are influenced by public policy. The logistics chain consists of activities that facilitate the movement of goods from supply to demand. As many such activities require the use of ports, port authorities have taken a particular interest in the various port activities involved in logistics. Logistics costs are not limited to costs consumed in carrying out logistics activities. Rather, they should be understood as all costs input into a given logistics system for the provision of logistics service. According to the US Department of Transportation, logistics is defined to be the method that service groups position themselves to perform activities such as transportation, warehousing, inventories, information processing and customer relations. Advanced logistics is the term used when the firms make use of technologies and permits to reduce costs by substituting large inventories, multiple warehouses and customer service outlets with transportation, e-commerce and just-in-time deliveries. To reap the benefits of advanced logistics, firms have restructured themselves in relation to transporting of goods from one point to another and improving infrastructure. During the 1970s typical logistics functions focused on traditional physical distribution activities, including the movement and storage of finished goods between the producer and consumer. Those specific functions were identified in the 1985 A.T. Kearney study of logistics organizations as outbound transportation, logistics administration, intracompany transportation, logistics control, finished goods field warehousing, and logistics systems planning. These activities were eventually determined to be quite narrow in terms of meeting customer needs. Therefore, they provided the foundation for broader interpretation of logistics, which led to inclusion of various activities like the processing of orders and development of customer relations, finished goods plant warehousing, finished goods inventory management, and inbound transportation. The third phase in this evolutionary process was identified to include logistics engineering, production planning, sourcing or purchasing, raw mater ials or work-in-process inventory management, sales forecasting, and international logistics. This evolutionary process moves logistics from its traditional physical responsibility to an integrative value added role in the business. As logistics becomes more important in an organization, it encompasses more functional areas within a single responsibility center to provide more coordination and more highly integrate the logistics channel. Because of the evolution of the logistics operations, its responsibility travels further back through the supply chain to the raw material source. When logistics operations is linked with manufacturing operations, it can be seen that the aspects of manufacturing activities with logistics operations activities address the common underlying foundations that contribute to the value of the products and services offered to customers. According to a study conducted by Frost Sullivan in 2009, about logistics operations in ASEAN countries, it was found that Singapore accounts for the lowest percentage of logistics as a part of total sales at 8 percent while Indonesia has the highest at 19 percent. According to this 2009 study, Malaysia and Thailand accounts for 17 and 12 percent, respectively. It has been noted that the high logistics costs may be attributed to inefficiency in operations. The inefficiency may be linked to the lack of trained man power and inadequate support to facilities and infrastructure, which has led to the slow flow of cargo and distribution of goods. Based from this study it can be deducted that an efficient operation is due to the presence of trained professionals, high quality and an array of logistics services offered and an excellent infrastructure and communications or information system. As of present date, studies have shown that transportation is the largest contributing factor to the cost acquired by most companies. Currently, the primary reason of most consumers for engaging in a third party logistics provider or what is known to be a trucking service is to enhance the efficiency of logistics operations through professional intervention. Engaging in a trucking service also has its cost advantages and thereby acts as a cost saving move for most companies. An arrangement with a logistics company also provides the consumer the ability to focus on other concerns such as their own competency and reliability. It is no surprise therefore that the main criterion evaluated by most companies engaging in this service is the cost savings factor. There is only Malaysia that evaluates the services offered and the condition of the equipments when choosing their logistics service provider. Meanwhile, it has also been found out that across ASEAN countries, technology is the least considered factor. On the other hand, it can be noted that the most efficient country in logistics operations, Singapore, is heavily focused in the communications area. This countrys most influential consideration factor is the network coverage employed by the logistics service provider since Singaporean companies are main players in the international market. Technology wise, there are sixty percent of consumers adopting technology are heavily rely on warehouse management and the bar coding system. On the other hand, transportation planning system and vehicle tracking system are yet to be embraced by more than sixty percent of the end-users. The use of the smart labeling system or RFID for public vehicles is still low. The adoption and usage for RFID or smart labeling system are still low mainly because of the high cost of implementation and the less mature technologies across South East Asia. Among all the activities in logistics operations, transportation is the most utilized activity accounting for more than seventy percent of end users outsourcing such logistics activities to service providers. Freight forwarding comes to a close second to transportation followed by inbound warehousing accounting for more than fifty percent. On the other hand, processes like the packing and labeling of goods and management of fleet are the value added services that are most utilized. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS Value Added Services (VAS), which is loosely defined as a collection of specific requirements mandated by customers involving additional processing of a product or an order beyond the simple picking of the product for an order, is an especially common practice in the retail supply chain and is estimated to consume +10% (and growing) of total labor hours. According to Logistics Managements 2nd Annual Warehouse Operations Survey, 80% of respondents are dealing with some form of VAS in their DCs. This was confirmed during in-depth interviews conducted by Distribution Digest for our report on Automated Case Picking (ACP). Value added services are offered by the logistics companies in order for customers to benefit from their full use and application. This may include anything from routine maintenance and customer technical support; to customization and application training; to real-time inventory management and state-of-the-art channel support. It refers to the process of developing rela tionships with customers through the provision of an augmented offer, which may encompass many aspects of value-added activities. Value added services are aimed at ensuring that special requirements of customers are met and that product is received as ordered. These services are integrated with logistics operations through a global network of agents and coordinated at either point of origin or final delivery location. These services may include: complete shipping documentation from start to finish; cooperation with convention/trade show coordinator; pickup and delivery of time definitive freight; unpacking and setup assistance including the removal of packing materials; repackaging of materials at end of trade show; pickup and return; logistics consulting; performance reporting and distribution services. Through out the years, an evolution to the terminologies relating to the consumer has been witnessed in the logistics industry. Logistics initially gave birth to the concept of customer relations which represents the combined output of the various processes in logistics. Eventually, end products of marketing and logistics activities were connected to customer relations to create customer satisfaction. Most recently, the concept of customer success has been introduced to link the service provided by the firm not only with the satisfaction of the customer, but with the success that the customer realizes in attaining its organizational objectives. Since, transportation, warehousing and freight forwarding are activities that are most likely to continue in the next 2-3 years, there is an increasing trend for consumers to look for companies that can supply value added services. The value added service employed by the logistics companies are created through the eyes of the logistics executi ve. It is critical that the strategies and tactics used influence the perception that the customer has of the organization and has the potential of transaction creation during the short term as well as the long term. Therefore, the logistics executives perception of value is directly linked to the firms ability to satisfy the customer. This can result in customer satisfaction, which can ultimately lead to a positive attitude by the customer towards the service provider. The value of the logistics service provided is measured by an assessment of the logistics executives perception of how customers perceive the service provided by the firm and how they react, or respond to this service. This measure, called customer reaction, include the level of perceived satisfaction with the existing service levels, whether customers are inclined to reduce or increase their business with the firm if the service levels change relative to their expectations, and whether customers can recognize change s in the service levels provided by the firm. These days, the commercial success of a logistics operation could stem from a productivity advantage in traditional cargo-handling service, from value-added service, or from a combination of the two. Productivity advantages come mainly from economies of scale and economies of scope, suggesting that the most productive ports will be those that are equipped to handle large cargo volumes and significantly reduce unit costs through efficient management. Shippers and carriers select individual ports not only based on their cargo handling service capabilities, but also on the benefits they are capable of delivering. Unless a port can deliver benefits that are superior to those provided by its competitors in a functional aspect, customers are likely to select logistics providers based merely on price. This fact raises the question of how to one logistics company can stand out from the rest of the companies that are in the market or what is known to be value differentiation. In the 1970s, almost every logistics company provided the same basic package of services to almost every customer. Nowadays, however, it is more difficult for service providers to compete on the basis of cargo-handling service. There has been a convergence of technology within cargo-handling service categories. This means that though new technology may sometimes provide a window of opportunity for productivity improvement, in many cases that same technology is also available to competitors. It is no longer possible to compete effectively on the basis of basic, traditional functions. Thus, there is a need for logistics service providers to seek out new means of gaining a competitive edge. The late 1980s saw the emergence of major changes. Consumers began to ask service providers to provide a greater variety of services. Providing value-added services is a powerful way for logistics companies to build a sustainable competitive advantage. Shippers and customers are becoming increasingly demanding. Customers now tend to look at value-added logistics services as an integral part of their supply chain. As a result, service providers must attempt to satisfy these needs by offering differentiated services. This poses a particular challenge for logistics operators in the industry. Studies show that the most successful logistics service providers are those that not only have a productivity advantage in cargo-handling services, but that also offer value-added services because operators who do not provide additional services are indistinguishable to their competitors. Although there have been researches that have found that there continues to be a need for operators to provide the basic, traditional cargo-handling function and that there continue to be many customers for such services, it is clear that, in the future of the logistics operations industry, there will be fewer ports that prosper only in this area. Rather, we will see the dominance of superior service leaders that possess both a productivity advantage and a value-added service advantage. Logistics companies that provide value-added services are on their way to becoming the more superior logistics company. The advanced ports around the world have continuously emphasized the function of logistics centres mainly due to the high degree of global production and the need for value added services. These trends in international logistics strongly suggest that the trend toward value added services is likely to continue into the future. Currently, the logistics discipline continues to revolutionize itself with the adaptation of various e-business practices and forms of just in time delivery. The nature of these adjustments may result to more single package deliveries requiring additional transport services. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS Therefore, for logistic operations to have an edge, it is recommended that logistics companies incorporate valued added services to the array of services that they provide in a matter that is cost efficient. There is also a need for service providers to be able to offer services of high quality and as well as cost reducing solutions. Service providers must also take a closer look at the activities in operations and ensure that there are no repetitions of activities for maximum optimization. The elimination of redundant activities results in more efficiency and cost reductions. Providing trainings for inexperienced personnel is also vital in achieving maximum customer satisfaction in the future. The ultimate output of the quality effort by the logistics organization should be through the customers reaction in the market. This reaction is continually perceived by the logistics executive in the form of individual customer sales, business in specific traffic lanes, changes in facility in ventory levels, or changes in the volume of customer complaints to the customer service department. However, the simple truth is that when you are processing thousands of cases an hour and shipping dozens of trailers per day, there just isnt a lot of time for value added services, especially that which doesnt provide real benefit. In the end engaging in value added services is a business decision. A customer can be told that the service provider can do just about anything they want, but the customer must also know that its not free. Value added services make the services provided by the logistics service providers more expensive. The customer needs to gauge how important it is to its business. Sometimes retailers are surprised that their requests dont add any value. As an example, in a certain logistics company, one Vice President of Operations, described a situation where an existing customer ordered standard 12 packs last year, however this year all their orders were in 6 packs. The Operations VP went back to the customer explaining that when youre handling 80,000 cases verses 40 ,000 there is a big difference in handling and processing cost. That particular customer understood the logistics cost impact for the DC, as well as for them, and immediately changed their Purchase Order back to 12 packs. Still, for some companies the consequences of value added services have been more frequent shipments and in smaller quantities, forcing many of them into piece-pick operations where they had previously been a full case-based pick. Or, at the very least, having to open full cases to apply tickets and other paperwork and then manually applying a special shipping label.    If it is determined that the cost absorption for a specified value added service is too great, the logistics company has the option to try and work out a deal with the customer to obtain waivers, or in some extreme situations refuse to comply. On the other hand, a major component of an efficient supply chain is getting everything done on the first touch. Therefore, it can be logically argued that in many cases moving value added services upstream to the manufacturing level is moving it in the right direction. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢

Affirmative Action in the United States Essay -- Affirmative Action Pr

Affirmative Action in the United States Affirmative Action in the United States consists of the active efforts that take into account race, sex and national origin for the purpose of remedying and preventing discrimination. Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the federal government requires certain businesses and educational institutions that receive federal funds to develop affirmative action programs. Such policies are enforced and monitored by both The Office of Federal Contract Compliance and The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (Lazear 37). The most noteworthy criticism of affirmative action is that of the white male population who insists that such programs are forms of "reverse discrimination". In contrast to their view, the United States Commission on Civil Rights argued until 1983 that only if society were operating fairly would measures that take race, sex, and national origin into account be "preferential treatment." After the commission on civil rights was reorganized in late 1983, however, it took the opposite position. By January of 1984, it approved a statement that "racial preferences merely constitute another form of unjustified discrimination". In recent years, however, affirmative action has continued to grow, and the number of controversies surrounding its existence is consistently augmented. In 1978, in University of California Regents v. Bakke, the U.S. Supreme Court held (5-4) that fixed quotas may not be set for places for minority applicants for medical school if white applicants are denied a chance to compete for those places. The court, however, did say that professional schools may consider race as a factor in making decisions on admissions. More recently than the Regents decision, in United Steelworkers of America V. Weber (1979) and Fullilove v. Klutznick (1980), the court continued to hold for affirmative action. II. An Introduction to the Controversy The transformation of affirmative action over the years is generally considered a negative and socially unfair one. Although the original intention of such programs with regard to minority management was one of an undeniably just nature, my research has clearly indicated that over the years, various legal trends have drastically altered the socio-political implications of affirmative action often creating unfair situations for white males who are not part o... ...ope for in the current system is an augmentation in the number of companies educating their employees on multicultural human relations. Since the eventual long-term goal is to eliminate prejudice, the only way to do so in corporate America is to teach people about acceptance. Executive stereotyping only exists because mainstream stereotyping exists. Minorities can stop feeling like "inferior tokens" when whites stop regarding us as such and stereotyping us out of sheer ignorance. Affirmative action must exist at least as symbolism of this country's commitment to civil rights. The thick blood of prejudice will still continue to run through the veins of U.S. society, despite upbeat talk about the increasingly diversified work force. Government-mandated hiring preferences prod companies into integrating their work force, and in the past twenty-five years of affirmative action, blacks and other minorities have indeed benefitted both socially and economically. Individual businesses and the economy have profited, not lost. Until the United States conceives a better idea, it is most wise to maintain a policy that despite its flaws, is both a moral imperative and an economic necessity.

global Practice Regents Essay :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through out history, nations and regions have experienced barriers to development as a result of geographic factors.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   *Japan: Japan is a mountainous region geographically isolated from the rest of the world with a lack of raw materials. They formed a barrier for trade, development, industrialization, and cultural diffusion. They attempted to adapt to the barrier by turning to imperilization of China to gain raw materials.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   *Russia: Russia has very cold climatic conditions, the Ural mountains. The adapted to their geological barrier by using their weather to avoid being invaded by other nations. But they were unable to mine for minerals due to permafrost and the cold temperatures.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  *Switzerland:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Waterpower is the chief natural resource of Switzerland. Granite, limestone, and other building stones and salt are the only abundant mineral resources; small deposits of iron and manganese ores are found. Agricultural resources are limited, as most of the soil is leached and stony. Neither the soil nor the climate favors agriculture, and Switzerland must import much of the food it consumes and subsidize the farms that do exist. Nearly all the farms are family enterprises, and most are small in size.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Global Regents Practice Essay No. #4   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This artistic creations of different cultures reflect the values and goals of the people. These works are created in a variety of artistic mediums.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   *Traditional African/Dance: Like music, African American dance is rooted in African and African American traditions. In Africa, dance is often an integral part of religious ceremonies. The degree to which African slaves were able to retain African dance forms in North America depended on their masters. In some parts of North America, dancing was frowned upon by some Protestant slave-owners as sinful. Since these slave-owners defined dancing as crossing the feet, slaves adapted their dances to conform to European beliefs, creating a shuffling motion with the feet that would be less offensive to Europeans.

Bubonic Plague Essay examples -- Disease/Disorders

In the early 1300's, an outbreak of a deadly disease commonly known as the "bubonic plague" occurred in China. The precious lives of these people were being taken with no warning at all. It is said that the victims "would eat lunch with their friends, and dinner with their ancestors in paradise." (Boccaccio, 2011) Due to the trading that was going on between countries at that time, this devastating disease eventually spread to Asia and Europe. The tragic loss of lives was a mystery to the people of that period. They lived in fear from year to year, because they never knew when this mass murderer would hit next. Clearly even the children had to find unique ways of coping with the tragic events occurring; as the well-known nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie" is actually a reference to the 1300's bubonic plague with its description of the round rosy-red rashes, pockets filled with scented herbs, and the cremated ashes of the dead. (NA, Ring Around the Rosy Rhyme) It was not until a round 1894, that Alexander Yersin discovered the bacteria responsible for this devastating disease. The mass murderer turned out to be a small harmless looking microbe by the name of Yersinia pestis. It is believed today that Yersinia pestis is a microbe that actually originates from natural bacteria living in the soil, that simply went pathogenic. This virulent, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium can grow with or without oxygen. It is able to survive for several months in cool, moist conditions. (Schoenstadt, 2008) It is a zoonotic microbe most commonly found in oriental rat fleas. In most cases these tiny, havoc-wreaking bacterium actually gather together and block the proventriculus in the flea, which prevents it from digesting it's food. This in... ...ague-in-2011-appears-in-new-mexico/ Orent, W. (2001, November 1). Will the Black Death Return? Retrieved April 18, 2012, from Discover Magazine: http://discovermagazine.com/2001/nov/featblack Plague. (2005, February). Retrieved April 12, 2012, from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs267/en/ Schoenstadt, A. (2008, October 28). Yersinia pestis. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from eMedTV: http://plague.emedtv.com/yersinia-pestis/yersinia-pestis.html TheMedievalNun. (2012). The Black Death. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from Squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/the_black_death Wilkins, A. (2011, August 30). The bacterium responsible for the Black Death was once a mild stomach bug. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from i09 We Come From the Future: http://io9.com/5835859/the-bacterium-responsible-for-the-black-death-was-once-a-mild- stomach-bug Bubonic Plague Essay examples -- Disease/Disorders In the early 1300's, an outbreak of a deadly disease commonly known as the "bubonic plague" occurred in China. The precious lives of these people were being taken with no warning at all. It is said that the victims "would eat lunch with their friends, and dinner with their ancestors in paradise." (Boccaccio, 2011) Due to the trading that was going on between countries at that time, this devastating disease eventually spread to Asia and Europe. The tragic loss of lives was a mystery to the people of that period. They lived in fear from year to year, because they never knew when this mass murderer would hit next. Clearly even the children had to find unique ways of coping with the tragic events occurring; as the well-known nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie" is actually a reference to the 1300's bubonic plague with its description of the round rosy-red rashes, pockets filled with scented herbs, and the cremated ashes of the dead. (NA, Ring Around the Rosy Rhyme) It was not until a round 1894, that Alexander Yersin discovered the bacteria responsible for this devastating disease. The mass murderer turned out to be a small harmless looking microbe by the name of Yersinia pestis. It is believed today that Yersinia pestis is a microbe that actually originates from natural bacteria living in the soil, that simply went pathogenic. This virulent, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium can grow with or without oxygen. It is able to survive for several months in cool, moist conditions. (Schoenstadt, 2008) It is a zoonotic microbe most commonly found in oriental rat fleas. In most cases these tiny, havoc-wreaking bacterium actually gather together and block the proventriculus in the flea, which prevents it from digesting it's food. This in... ...ague-in-2011-appears-in-new-mexico/ Orent, W. (2001, November 1). Will the Black Death Return? Retrieved April 18, 2012, from Discover Magazine: http://discovermagazine.com/2001/nov/featblack Plague. (2005, February). Retrieved April 12, 2012, from World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs267/en/ Schoenstadt, A. (2008, October 28). Yersinia pestis. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from eMedTV: http://plague.emedtv.com/yersinia-pestis/yersinia-pestis.html TheMedievalNun. (2012). The Black Death. Retrieved March 26, 2012, from Squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/the_black_death Wilkins, A. (2011, August 30). The bacterium responsible for the Black Death was once a mild stomach bug. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from i09 We Come From the Future: http://io9.com/5835859/the-bacterium-responsible-for-the-black-death-was-once-a-mild- stomach-bug

Business Structure, Recommendations by Accountants

?Accountants are in a position to provide advice to business owners to determine which organization structure is best for their particular business venture. Imagine that you were approached by a friend or relative interested in starting a specialty business to design men and women clothing. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of at least two (2) forms of business structures. Make a recommendation regarding the structure your friend or relative should use based on this particular venture. Explain your rationale.Based on your recommendation regarding the appropriate business structure, explain the major advantages and disadvantages of the business owner with minimal accounting experience maintaining the company's books instead of hiring an accountant. Discuss the major impact to the users of accounting statements if the statements are prepared in error. Provide support for your position. The first business structure that I would recommend, would be a partnership I would inform the m that general partnerships consist of two or more partners who are both responsible for the business.They share the assets and profits, as well as the liabilities and management responsibilities for running the business. Some benefits of general partnerships is their simplicity and flexibility. General partnerships are usually less expensive to form and require less paperwork and formalities than corporations, limited partnerships or limited liability partnerships. General partnerships can choose a centralized management structure, like a corporation, or a completely decentralized structure, where every partner is actively involved in the management of the business.Other advantages of a general partnership are that the partners can combine resources and share the financial commitment. Some disadvantages to general partnerships, principally liability. General partners are personally liable for the business debts and liabilities. Each partner is also liable for the debts incurred by the actions of other partners. Because of this potential personal liability, general partnerships are limited in their ability to raise money and attract investors.The second business structure that I would recommend and I think would be most beneficial to both parties would be an LLC (Limited Liability Company). A limited liability company, is a new form of business organization that is certainly worth consideration. It has several features that create favorable tax treatments, as well as protection from personal liability. Since the status of the LLC form of organization varies somewhat from state to state, be certain to find out how your state's law applies.Some of the advantages of an LLC are, LLC allows for an unlimited number of members however, if the LLC has just one owner, it will be taxed as a sole proprietorship. The LLC allows for the special allocation of profits the disproportionate splitting of member profits and losses in different percentages than their respective p ercentages of ownership. This means that members can enjoy the benefits of receiving profits and writing off losses in excess of their individual ownership percentage.The members enjoy limited liability, which means they are personally protected from any liability of the LLC and successful judgments, as well as from the LLC itself. And just with all advantages there are always disadvantages. Each member's pro-rata share of profits represents taxable income–whether or not a member's share of profits is distributed to him or her. The managing member's share of the bottom-line profit of the LLC is considered earned income, and therefore is subject to self-employment tax.The member’s share of bottom-line profit is not considered earned income because the members are considered to be inactive owners therefore, the members do not qualify for special tax-favored â€Å"fringe benefit† treatment. As a member of an LLC, you are not allowed to pay yourself wages. I would s trongly recommend going with an LLC simple because there is a lot less risk involved. There is a large percentage that businesses fail in the first year, and with that being said you don’t want to lose your business and you personal property too.

A Book Review of All Quiet on the Western Front

While All Quiet on the Western Front may help us understand the effects of the Great War on Germany, it is as an account of trench warfare and a simple story of human endurance. It is understandably one of the most famous of war novel.â€Å"All quiet on the western front†Ã‚  Ã‚   talks about the vehemence of war, friendship, bewilderment and mishap. It gives a description of German soldiers’ experiences. It is a clear, simple narration. Quite terrible are those dreamlike pictures in its ditches.The same for the severe feeling of being alone for the friend on leave only to return to the forefront .Remarque is the intensely interesting story of war experience of Paul Baumer who is a member of German army in world war one.He is positioned on the western front having a role of fighting against the French and English soldiers. He however hated the war believing that it was needless and that the war has decimated the generation he belongs .This fight of the adolescent Germans was seen by Paul as useless which they have been forced to do.This was a time that Germany was trying to gain influence in the world .Paul and 7 others eventually die   in the book as depicted in the last chapter. Paul gives a picture of dying men around him in many of the battles. The pattern of Remarque’s presentation in the book is awesome. All pages with the exception of the short paragraph in the last chapter are described in first person.The portrayal of the characters makes the reader feels as if at the scene of the battle. Two passages I really found interesting in the book the first being   where Paul expresses his longing to survive: â€Å"I think no more of the dead man   : â€Å"I think no more of the dead man. He is of no consequence to me now. With one bound the lust to live flares up again and everything that has filled my thoughts goes down before it† (138-139).Here  Ã‚   the objectives of all the armies is   illustrated and it is that they all want to live and arrive home safely and they are desperate to achieve this by all means whether good or bad. The book also teaches that to escape the fear of war the best thing is to face it. In another passage, Paul talks about how his teacher previously advised about the battle to the German youths:   â€Å"Kantorek would say that we stood on the threshold of life. And so it would seem. We had as yet taken no root.The war swept us away† (16).In this place, the book depicts how young men, unprepared for war but preparing for their future are forced to give their dreams and aspirations in other to face a gruesome and deadly battle. What a mature strong men may not survive is being faced by this young people i.e. famine, poverty, thirst, terrors and demise of friends or even they themselves. Will they survive?Even after the war, if they survive they are old and what can they do with their lives again? No jobs, no families, and no homes again. Unfortunately various life e vents appear purposeless after fighting in the trenches.â€Å"All quiet on the western front† relates the events of one man who suddenly found himself in the war he knew little or nothing about. Paul Braumer was laboring in trenches while for the purpose of the uplifting of the Germany he volunteered himself for war having been persuaded by his teacher.He and his friends served as members of the infantry. Paul wondered not only the possibility of escaping without himself being killed  Ã‚   as he watched his friends dying one after the other but also the likelihood of surviving a world without war. He observed the trenches of western government were soaked in human blood from the death and massacre of the people.Remarque in his book allows for a period of relief amidst hell of battle. His approach is simplistic, clear and direct without losing the essential purpose and value. There are also periods of lyrics and thoughtful ruminations. Patriotism and countryman spirit are co nfronted by entity of the pompous schoolmaster who persuaded the writer and his fellows to join together.Disconnection from the civilian way of life is seen following the narrator’s leave having previously left the school for trenches with no assurance of establishing ties. It allows for a pensive thought on the generalized effects of war most marked by hindsight. Horrors are slimly depicted. With progression of the novel in terms of its character transformation, character reinforcement, the breaking and twisting in the battle front, we are being gradually challenged by the Aristocrats and the disastrous genre of the book.The Genre of the book is tragedy. In one scene of the book, Paul and his friends were together in the open space over the boxes being used as latrines: â€Å"And it will be 2 hours before we get up again† (page 7). Paul rails: â€Å"There he lies now but why? The entire world should have passed.† The book depicts the combination of joy, happine ss sorrow and the outbreak of violence.All quiet on the western front is laudable as it will compete to emerge as one of the best if not ever best book written on war. I enjoy reading the book and the lesson I learn is that war can be terrible. I give the book distinction and I can recommend it anytime, anyday.