The Transportation Security Administration and Airport...

Airport security is extremely essential for stopping terrorism in the United States. Bombings and explosions account for 65% of terrorist attacks, armed assaults account for 25% of terrorist attacks, the last 10% accounts for assassination facility attacks and hostage takings. Today the Transportation Security Administration, also know as the TSA, has four to five thousand employees working every day to keep airports safe from a terrorist attack happening. New technology has made airports safer for travelers, nevertheless not all travelers think it is necessary. Some travelers complain that because of the new security systems in the baggage checks and body scanners it takes too long to get to the flight. These passengers do not understand†¦show more content†¦The Transportation Security Administration employees make sure travelers are not boarding planes with weapons, bombs and prohibited items. Before the Transportation Security Administration was established in 2001 there were many terrorist attacks around the world. The first terrorist attack aboard a plane was in 1933 (Airport, 2013). There still are terrorist attacks happening today for instance the underwear bombing on the Northwest flight 253 to Detroit on Christmas Day in 2009, and the shoe bombing in the fall of 2008. Another example demonstrating that since 2001 terrorist attacks have become less frequent is in the 1960s there was a wave of high-profile airline hijacking which then prompted the airline industry to tighten security (Airpory, 2013). This is an exceptional example because nothing has happened like that since the 1960s (Shane, 2013). Even though the airline industry made some adjustments, it was not enough to protect passengers like the Transportation Security Administration protects them now. Today the Transportation Security Administration has advanced airport technology with bottle liquid scanners, an explosive detection system and baggage security. In response to an underwear bombing the Transportation Security Administration instituted more rigorous passenger screening methods (Liberman,Show MoreRelated Airport Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)2719 Words   |  11 Pagesimportance of airport security has steadily increased. Since the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, many changes have taken place at airports to prevent such an attack from occurring again. The purpose of this paper is to: outline airport security procedures, discuss the different technologies involved with airport security, as well as examine the components of airport security. In addition I will also discuss the Transportation Security Administration’s role in our nation’s airport security. AirportRead MoreThe Transportation Security Administration Is An Integral Part Of Airports3306 Words   |  14 Pagesour time, the Transportation Security Administration is an integral part of airports in the United States. One cannot simply travel on a plane without going through the metal detectors or being instructed to take off his or her shoes to check for bombs. Many travelers regard the TSA to be a hassle, as it adds hours into the process of boarding a flight. Some treat it as a necessary evil; they believe that the presence of the TSA is needed to offset the vulnerable state of airports. However, the needRead MoreA Method of Terrorist Prevention Essay examples1085 Words   |  5 Pagesfor freedom and security to protect it. September 11, 2001, was a day when over three thousand people lost their lives due to targeted attacks (â€Å"US Government†). An attack on an area with a significant purpose such as the World Trade Center invades the minds and hearts of the coun try’s residents and changes its methods of functioning in the future. In an airport, several people venture in and out without a single person knowing who they are or their intentions. The administration vigorously discussedRead MoreThe United States Aviation Security888 Words   |  4 Pagesof terrorist who were able to infiltrate our security system from all angles. It was a very tragic event for the U.S, when terrorist attacked two landmarks in New York City, a densely populated area. Although this terrorist attack was very unfortunate, it was also the largest infiltration of the United States Aviation system through multiple breaches of aviation security. Immediately after the attack many changes were made to aircrafts and the airport system. This Day brought America to its kneesRead MoreEssay on The Heightening of Airport Security after September 11th797 Words   |  4 PagesThe Heightening of Airport Security after September 11th Extraordinary challenges require extraordinary measures. The terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001 required that we reform our nation’s aviation security system in fundamental ways. Three years after the Sept. 11 tragedies, how far has airport and airlines come? It depends on the source. While it is important for airports to heighten security after the attacks of 9/11, the policies of profiling passengers are inadequate andRead MoreThe National Transportation Safety Board767 Words   |  4 Pagesproviding air transportation for the United State mail. According to Airport Planning and Management, Civil Aeronautics Board or Civil Aeronautics Administration was formed to regulate air carrier industry and safety. Later Civil Aviation Board was transformed into Federal Aviation Agency. It had all the functions of Civil Aeronautics Board except the safety rule-making powers. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was formed in order to determine the cause or probable cause of transportation accidentsRead MoreThe Airport Full Body Scanners Essay 937 Words   |  4 Pages Before the attacks on September 11, 2001, there was hardly any security in airports throughout the United States. However, airports went from hardly any security to full-body scanners. According to the article Airport Full-Body Scanners, President Obama stated in a press conference on January 7, 2010 after a bombing on December 25, 2009 by Nigerian passenger Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, â€Å"Rather than a failure to collect or share intelligence, this was a failure to connect and understand the intelligenceRead MoreWhy We Need The TSA Essay1341 Words   |  6 Pagesof Homeland security was founded and within the department fell a new agency known as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The TSA was instructed to secure all modes of transportation and they committee was instructed that they wanted to see result soon. Additionally the Aviation and Transportation Security Act required the screening of passengers, cargo and luggage for explosive s as the primary priority. Even though the TSA is charged with the transportation security the primaryRead MoreAirline Safety Bill 2001 Essay1329 Words   |  6 Pages private security firms, various labor groups, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Transportation (DOT), Congress, The World Conference on Transportation Research Society (WCTRS) and the American people. Business Sector The business sector plays a major role in our domestic airline safety policies. This particular sector covers the commercial airline industry itself, the manufacturing industry and the private security firms thatRead MoreTsa And Transportation Security Administration916 Words   |  4 PagesStates established a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and heighten its security throughout the transportation system, which were designed to prevent similar attacks in the future. This research paper will discuss the history of the TSA and what it does, how TSA improve aviation security, and the cargo screening process. This paper will conclude an overall debrief of my discussion about the TSA and transportation security. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was establish

Seperation of Government and Religion Essay - 1886 Words

Faith groups and institutions should not be allowed to form political parties and they should not attempt to gain influence in the workings of government for their views and values by entering the realm of political discourse and attempting to elect their own politicians. Throughout our history there has been an ongoing argument between religion and government. Should religion play a part in the government, schools and other social compasses or should it be separated? Some believe that religion should be a part of the government while others believe that there should be a distinct separation. Some believe that religions should be able to influence the workings of the government and attempt to elect their own politicians. I believe the†¦show more content†¦We are supposed to be the motherland of tolerance and freedom of differences. In America there are approximately 67 million Roman Catholics; 16 million Protestants; five million Mormons; and five million and a quarter non-Christians (Clausen, 2007). This is a small indication of the differences that America inspires. It shows some of the different religions in our country and that religion shouldn’t be pushed on others. There isn’t a way for the government and faith gro ups to be intertwined in a way that will respect the abundance of religions in America. The only way I see to accomplish that is to separate it as we have been doing. Our society cannot respect all religions if there is only one that the government follows and includes within their decisions. The separation is a statement that religions are equal in the eyes of our countries leaders and our government. It is claimed that religion possess equal validity. As stated by Bellah â€Å"if the primary contribution of religion to society is through the character and conduct of citizens, any religion, large or small, familiar or strange, can be of equal value to one another (Clausen, 2007). To me, this quote means that it shouldn’t matter what religion our neighbors and fellow citizens practice but rather how we conduct ourselves and treat others. We need to respect one another’s beliefs and thoughts. To beShow MoreRelatedUnited States Political Culture754 Words   |  4 Pagesother words, it is freedom from â€Å"government interference†. As stated by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grie vances†. In layman terms, the citizens of the United States will not have their religion, speech or press dictated to them;Read MoreAP Human Geography Religion Notes Essay1830 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿Religion Unit Essay Notes 1. Secularism began to arise with the seperation of church and state in Europe. A. Why is this so? (Deblij 207, 222-224) Secularism is the indifference to or rejection of formal religion. The most secular countries today are in Europe. Secularism has become more widespread during the past century due to the rise in democracy. Democratic governments disadvantage the traditional practices of a religion because they offer freedom, whereas other forms of government mayRead More Seperation Of Church From State939 Words   |  4 Pagespresent in the constitution ever since it was written. The first amendment relates to a citizens freedom. This freedom does not only allow this practice speech but on thought as well. It states â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.† (Barton, America: To†¦ p.15). When the constitution was formed society in general belonged to Orthodox Christian. John Quincy Adams, in a speech on July 4,1837 asked the crowd, â€Å"Why is it, that next to theRead MoreOppression in Diversity Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pagesman and not civilized. Also among the colonies people were diversified by the religion they practiced such of examples are Puritans, Protestants and Catholics. William Penn was given land to by Charles II. He turned the land into a Religious Experiment. In which people from all over the world flock to live the ion religous freedom. The major religious belief was mostly Quakers in what is Now Pennsylvania. Some religions believed in strict belief in the bible others ,and some separated off an believedRead MoreFederalism Is The Division Of Powers Between A Central Government And Regional Governments1480 Words   |  6 PagesFederalism is the division of powers between a central government and regional governments. The United States have a federal system of government where the states and national government practice the seperation of powers system within their own scopes of authority. The Fourth Amendment protects the right of the people against unreasonable searche s and seizures†. The Fourth Amendment, spoke to the importance of federalism as a mechanism to secure liberty for the American people. State courtsRead MoreExploring the Differences Between Liberal Democratic, Authoritarian and Totalitarian Political Systems1246 Words   |  5 Pages ‘liberal democracies’ means that the classifications of systems changes over time. The British Westminster system is considered to be a ‘liberal democracy’ however in the Second World War there were several powers exercised by the government which do not fit with this type of system for example control was exercised over the media and labour and elections were put off. These powers were only used as a result of the emergency situation, seemingly with the support of the Read MoreSeparation of Church and State, or Not? Essay1151 Words   |  5 Pagesthis belief not only because of how they wanted spiritual principles in the New World that became the United States of America, but their belief that the Bible tells the truth. Spiritual principles should be put back into the schools and the government. Not only do I believe that spiritual principles should be put in schools again but the President of Hobby Lobby Steve Green believes it is necessary, also. He is working towards adding the Bible to the curriculum of public high schools nationwideRead More Evolution vs Intelligent Design Essay3313 Words   |  14 Pagesof religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.† After deconstructing the words, the most insignificant adjective â€Å"an,† tells us that the framers wanted to restrain Congress from installing any one religion as the official religion of the state. Those immortal words say nothing about religion informing congress or society on policy, education, or progress. I maintain that the first amendment’s establishment clause regarding religion was to protect citizens’ free exercise of religion fromRead MoreThe Difference Between Natural Law and Legal Positivism Essay example1756 Words   |  8 Pagesprinciples of natural law and legal positivism. Natural Law Natural Law started with the ancient Greeks and suggested that there was a higher power in control of human existence. Natural law deals with the combinatio n of law and morals and is sourced from religion, culture and reason. It is the means by which human beings can rationally guide themselves to their good and it is based on the structure of reality itself. All human beings possess a basic knowledge of the principles of natural law.Naturalists believeRead MoreHow Supreme Court Decisoins have affected American Society.1867 Words   |  8 Pages Decisions are made by the Justices from conflicting principles not because of the law, but because of an evaluation of what impact the decision will have on American society. The Supreme Court has had a greater important impact then any other government institution on society as a whole. The decisions have affected peoples behavior as individuals and social institutions such as the family and economy (Baum 318). The decisions of the Supreme Court justices have affected the social behavior of

Classic Rock free essay sample

Before the Punk Rock and Grudge Rock that came with Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, and Blink 182 Before the head banging music of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, And even before the vibrant and explosive Guns ‘N’ Roses and Bon Jovi There was a different style of Rock, A more open, animated, a more emotional kind. Many people today have forgotten this Rock, They are caught up in the dance, hip-hop, and rap from the ’80s, ’90s and the present Styles of tune they call music. But many people still hold the albums, CDs, and records in their libraries or dens By the brilliant artists of The ’60s and ’70s, and sometimes early ’80s. Hopefully we will never throw away our remembrance of those Who created music using only guitars, drums, pianos and words. It is remembered as Classic Rock. But there is more to Classic Rock than just the music; there are also the people who made it. We will write a custom essay sample on Classic Rock or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Jim Morrison and The Doors mixed magical poetry and their psychedelic aura, The creative and colorful rocking of Led Zeppelin will leave a distinguished trail forever, It’s â€Å"More Than A Feeling† when you listen to Boston, as well as the Classic songs of Kansas, and the marching band-character-like music of Chicago. Nothing can match the dynamic sound of Electric Light Orchestra, Or the mystifying, mysterious, subliminal messages in the compositions of Pink Floyd. George Thorogood and his Destroyers projected their â€Å"Bad to the Bone† style rock with Their teeth-gritting electric guitar and his renowned harmonica, But Peter Frampton’s and the great Santana’s crushing air guitar skills are those Of which the likes have never been seen or heard. But let us not forget classics Such as the overwhelming and towering emotion, spirit, and compassion through the Music of the brilliant Freddie Mercury and Queen, Or the catchy, uplifting tunes of The Rolling Stones Jethro Tull Steppenwolf Eagles it goes on. And only two bands held, could grasp, and hold on to true country rock: The great Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers. Finally yet not finally how could we forget arguably the two Greatest songwriters of all time: the Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney And the Beatles. These are just some of the pioneers of Classic Rock history, The Cream of the Crop, the Best of the Best. Some of these great bands have passed on, Some still exist, trying to relive great memories. Each and every one has made a legacy for themselves, And hopefully, we will never forget Any one of them.

To Test a Mans Character Give Him Power free essay sample

A title, office, uniform, piece of paper, certificate, skin colour, money or just being born in the right family provides others with power over us. What very few people fully understand is that they have been involved in an ongoing â€Å"power struggle† since the day of their birth. There always has been and there always will be people that play some kind of controlling role in your life. A child is obviously virtually powerless when he/she is still young and dependent on his/her parents. Almost everything he/she does, gets involved in, wears and even eats is decided by his/her parents. Due to them not being able to do anything about their disposition, they are forced to accept a submissive role until they are one day big and independent enough to leave home. Children often feel that they will be â€Å"free† once they escape the enforced control of their parents, just to discover to their dismay that there will always be a range of people that will play or attempt to play a fairly dominant role in their lives. We will write a custom essay sample on To Test a Mans Character Give Him Power or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When teenagers enter the adult world they soon notice that their professors, bosses or bank managers also have serious control over them. We will forever have people that are in power positions that â€Å"rule† or control certain areas of our lives. There are people that are appointed or have gained a controlling position over us that are empowered to police all our actions. Most people that are ruled by someone else tend to take on a submissive role and allow such people to dominate and intimidate them. The champions of life never bend their knee to anybody. They are strong and proud and never allow any person, notwithstanding his title, position, status or office to intimidate or dominate them. They remain strong and proud and never feel powerless in any situation and many people should be advised to follow these people due to the fact that everyone is just as important as the other. If you find yourself to swoon, cringe; become agitated or uptight when you think of a certain person he or she has too much control and power over you. You must never allow any person or situation to hold an unfair advantage over you. If you are currently dominated by any person or party you are the one that empowered this person and you are the one that must dismantle or modify his or her power position by talking to them, letting them express their true feelings and being the bigger person and sorting the problem out. I have found these words very true according to some people that have been selected to be of higher ranking than others, i. e. prefects or heads of a group. Many people that have become prefects or leaders of some sort tend to take it too far and become very ‘power hungry’. Even people who don’t have any leadership role tend to become jealous of those that do and feel the need to over-rule those that are actually leaders to be seen, known and heard. I have seen this happen many times as I have been through this process three times regarding prefects and countless times regarding leaders of a group. I believe that in order to be a good leader and a good person in general you would need to keep yourself level-headed and calm when it comes to leadership positions. I believe that you must remain strong and keep your dignity in tact notwithstanding your status in life. You do not need lots of money, rich parents, a uniform or certificate to retain your self-confidence. It is true most men can stand adversity but can definitely not withstand power. Many people lose friends and family because they are just unbearable when they become too over-powering. Once you’ve given someone a role of power you can really see who they actually are and it becomes a great disadvantage to many. Many people can stand adversity, but give him power and you will be sure to find the real deal behind all the little white lies about a true character.

Review Of Escape From New York Essays - Snake Plissken,

Review Of Escape From New York In the opening sequence of John Carpenter's Escape From New York, an anonymous narrator sets the tone of desperation and hopelessness with the line once you go in, you never come out. The narrator is referring to the only rule in the maximum security prison built on Manhattan Island. The prison, which was built in 1981 as a reaction to the crime rate going up 400 percent, has no guards. It's every man for himself. The once busy streets of New York city are now nearly deserted, decayed, and run by criminals. The hell on Earth is so unbearable that some attempt to break out of the prison, on a raft, in an almost Escape From Alcatraz fashion in the opening scene. The plot thickens as a group of terrorists hijack the President's plane and crash it in New York. The President is now somewhere in the New York prison and holds an important tape containing a speech that could prevent another world war. Snake Plissken, a tough, renowned war hero and recent inmate of the prison, is the government's only hope to save the world. Snake must capture the President within 24 hours so the President can present the tape at a peace summit the next day. In exchange for his good deed, the government promises to pardon him for every crime he has ever committed. The only catch is the two capsules implanted in his head. If he doesn't complete the mission in 24 hours the capsules will explode. Along the journey, Snake meets a rainbow of characters. He runs into Cabbie, who has driven the same taxi for 30 years in New York. He represents the nostalgia of the once great Big Apple. Snake fights the evil Duke of New York to capture the President. The Duke is the typical bad guy clad in lavish gold chains and surrounded by a group of dimwitted followers. Snake befriends Brain, a timid reserved genius and Maggie, his beautiful girlfriend. Their love affair adds a humanistic touch to the cold insensitive surroundings. In the midst of escaping from the prison, Brain dies on a bridge. Maggie refuses to go on with Snake and calmly awaits her own impending death on the bridge. Dismal tragedy doesn't dominate the movie, however. Elements of humor are found in scenes such as the prisoners' song and dance rendition of the Broadway tune Everybody's Coming to New York and the recurring line mentioned to Snake by each person he meets: I thought you were dead. In addition to humor, several strong themes are found in the film. Escape From New York can be easily compared to a mythic epic journey despite Snake's anti-hero I don't give a damn qualities. The gods (the government) sends Snake on a journey to capture the President. Difficult obstacles hinder his quest. At one point, he must fight a giant with clubs (baseball bats with spikes attached) and a shield (a trashcan lid). Escape From New York can also be compared to a Western with a futuristic twist. The good guys (Snake) and the bad guys (the Duke and his gang) are clearly defined. Old fashioned pistols are replaced with explosives and machine guns. The most obvious theme, however, is its attempt to address today's social problems. If the crime rate actually rose dramatically, what would America do about it? Would they take such drastic measures and put all the misfits of society on an island to die to avoid the risk of repeat offenders? The issue of America's diminishing trust in fair honest government and its leaders is also raised. When Snake is told that the President is missing he nonchalantly says, So? Get a new one. This movie attempts to enlighten the viewer about these issues in addition to entertaining them. Many critics have complained that this movie leaves too many questions unanswered, but I find Carpenter's use your imagination approach to the movie refreshing. In the final scene, Snake asks the President how he feels about the lives lost in the attempt to rescue him (the President). The President, who is about to go the air, impatiently responds this country appreciates their sacrifice. Snake walks away dissatisfied with the President's halfhearted answer as the President plays the tape containing the important

Why We Lie Essay Example

Why We Lie Essay Example Why We Lie Paper Why We Lie Paper Why we lie Lying has been around since the creation of human. Adam and Eve lied to god because they were scared after they ate from the forbidden apple tree. There are lots of reasons that could make people tell lies, Even though each reason might be different from the other in the end they all of them stem from one root cause which is being unable to bear the consequences of telling the truth. On the other hand, sometimes we lie because the truth may hurt someone we care about so we lie and from there we find some reasons why people lie. A guy and a girl have been married for more than five years. After all these years, one day the girl told the guy that she had lied to him many years ago about her previous love relationships! Infect when the guy and girl first met and started dating, the girl told the guy that he is her first and only boyfriend (love). .They got married after a long dating season. About five years later, the girl thought that she has to tell the truth to her husband and told him that she dated three other guys before him! The girl lied to him because she was afraid that the guy would not accept her as she was if she would have told him that she dated three other guys before him and maybe that she had sex with them too! The husband smiled at his wife and said â€Å"that is fine honey, because you lied for a good reason just to keep me by you†. From this short story, we learn that lying can be used for good reasoning and it is not always bad. Moreover, when a person loves someone so much he/she will do anything to stay with that person including lying, and this type of lying is usually called white lie. There are many different types of white lies that are told, such as, lies of flattery for example; if someone gives another person a gift and the gift was not what the person wanted, this person would reply â€Å"thank you so much! I love it! † This type of white lie is told because telling someone that their gift was undesirable would make the teller look like an inconsiderate being. On the other hand, lying is not always for a good reason even if people try because they do not want to hurt someone’s feelings. A doctor had a clinic that was located next to a coffee shop where he buys his morning coffee every day before going to work. At the coffee shop there was a beautiful woman working there and the guy liked her and someday he asked her out. As they were dating, the guy told everything about his past to the girl and asked her too says everything about her past. The girl told the guy that she had four boyfriends before and that she had no sexual relationship with any of them, and that one of them cheated on her with her best friend. She also told the guy that she has had some minor flirt relationships and kissed two other guys. The two of them dated for about ten months and everything was going as smooth as silk until the girl decided that it is time to tell the truth to her current boyfriend. So the girl told the guy that she lied and did not tell him about another guy with whom she had a relationship in the past. She told him that she met the guy on a social network some time ago before she started dating him and that she had sexual relationship with him and with another one. The boyfriend was very angry when he heard this fact after ten months of dating. The guy responded to the girl by saying â€Å"if you would have told me the truth from the beginning, i would have stayed with you but now it is too late I cannot trust you anymore†. The girl lied to the guy because she wanted to stay with him for money only and not because she liked him. There are many reasons to lie and one of them is like the story above. Lying to others has good benefits for others to prevent from falling into their own problems and escape them but at the end they will get hurt because lying does not last for long time. Once people learn how to lie successfully, they tend not to forget it because of the many benefits it brings. It is an art that progresses slowly from childhood into the adult years all the way to the last day we live. People lie to themselves and others for various reasons; some lie to make their story more compelling, a few lie to get them out of trouble, and others, such as lawyers, lie because they are accustomed to it. Even though people regard lying as a terrible thing, it is not. Lying does have its advantages.

E-commerce Individual Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

E-commerce Individual Assignment - Essay Example Although, there has been a failure of various electronic commerce initiatives but e-commerce is still of significant use to the economy of many companies. To understand the importance of the e business in the company, the case study will focus on the Gulf Agency Company that is a global leading provider of shipping and logistics materials. However, the company does not utilize the e- business modules in an efficient and effective manner due to the challenges and threats in the industry. The case will evaluate the areas of weakness of the Gulf Agency Company due to the failure of utilizing the e -business and discuss the various e business modules that it can employ to improve the situation. Meanwhile, the case will articulate its failing of the company based on the e-business can evaluate the areas for growth and development. 2. Internal and external analysis of GAC 2.1 SWOT analysis The SWOT analysis of the GAC will help in highlighting the areas of the business inefficiencies and i neffectiveness in its current business processes due to lack of an efficient and effective e business. ... 56).Thus, the SWOT analysis assist to examine the effectiveness of management providing clear comprehending of the e business before any action is taken. The process of undertaking internal analysis closely parallels of performing external audit that is done by the company’s representatives, managers and employees. The internal look analysis is based on the management, marketing research and development and the information technology system. The significant source of the strength of the GAC in its business operation is the availability of adequate financial resources and well trained staff in functional area strategies. However, instead of the company concentrating too much on its strength it is vital to look for the weakness that would diminish the organization ability to offer quality products and services. Most of the weakness of the GAC business operations arises are recognized from the perspective of the customers so that to have an honest evaluation of the failures the c ompany is facing and will affect the future of the company. The company is currently facing the weakness of not having a proper management system in that time and balanced scorecard has not been incorporated with the tailored training of the business that make it prone to challenges. Meanwhile, in current company’s research shows that to combat the difficulties of economies of scale the company needs expansion in its business portfolios so that to reach a wider market by way of diversification of products in the market and doing mergers. Further, the interview conducted on its employees revealed that there was an inefficient and ineffective of the e-business techniques that caused problems in outsourcing. The company needed to implement outsourcing

Illegal Immigration and The Cost to US Citizens Essay

Illegal Immigration and The Cost to US Citizens - Essay Example mmigration in the United States and would provide with both the view points on it concluding as to if it should be stopped or not (Illegal immigration). It was found that the number of illegal immigrants residing in the United States were almost 10.8 million in January 2009 (Reuters 2010) Most of these immigrants belonged to Latin America, Mexico, and Central America. These immigrants have crossed borders illegally through different ways to enter USA. Most of them enter USA to earn a better living there as it is a developed country. The proponents of illegal immigration believe that they have a positive effect on the economy of the United States as these immigrants tend to work a lot for the service sector. A report known as Perryman report of 2008 found that these illegal immigrants were adding up to $245 billion to the GDP of United States. These proponents believe that it is because of these illegal immigrants that the service sector of United States is booming. The wages that the illegal workers take from their employers is quite less as compared to the wages written in the constitution and this is because it gives an edge to em ployers. The proponents believe that illegal immigration can create a lot of jobs which naturally other citizens of United States would not be willing to take. It is because of their courtesy that all the sectors of the United States are working in an organized manner. However all these views are opposed by the opponents of illegal immigration as they believe the opposite of what the proponents believe (FOX NEWS 2010; Illegal Immigration). The opponents of illegal immigration argue that these immigrants are taking the rights of the citizens of United States and are depriving them of the basic necessities as laid down in the constitution. The jobs taken up by the illegal immigrants in United States can be taken up by legal citizens if they are given the chance. The opponents not only lay down the problems of economy because of these

Human Rights and the Privacy law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human Rights and the Privacy law - Essay Example The rights contained within the law are based on European Convention on Human Rights articles. It also gives further effects to freedom and rights that are guaranteed under the European Convention. This means that judges must study and give effect to the legislation in a way that is compatible with the convention rights. It also implicates unlawfulness for a public authority to act in an incompatible way with the conventional right. The Human Rights Act protects; the right of life, the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment, protection against forced labor and slavery, the right for freedom and liberty, the right for fair trial and no punishment without law and freedom of thought belief and religion. The act also gives respect privacy and family life providing the right to marry.Privacy and freedom of speech are important human rights that have not been strongly protected in English law. The freedom of speech has been a residual liberty traditionally because it existed only wh en the statute did not restrict its exercise. Liberty law on the other hand, is largely governed by the common law and is concerned with the protection of individual rights to reputation. This is vital for freedom of press and speech. However, there has been no explicit right of privacy. Even though the European Convention guarantees both rights, the English courts must take account of decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in order to interpret and apply Convention rights under HRA (Human Rights Act 1998).

Obesity in Developing Countries

Obesity in Developing Countries Overweight and Obesity: The emerging Trend of Childhood Malnutrition in Urban Centre in Nigeria Abstract Background: Overweight and obesity initially thought to be the problem of the developed countries is rapidly rising in the developing countries constituting a high proportion of nutritional problem in these countries. Several factors, including changing life style and improved economic power are believed to contribute to this trend. This pattern if unchecked is known to lead to several medical complications and hence the need to assess the burden of this condition, factors contributing to the rise and possible ways of reversing the trend. Method: Four hundred and twenty primary school children from public and private schools were selected using multistage stratified random sampling. Relevant information were obtained using a questionnaire, and anthropometric indices were recorded. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 16, and frequencies were compared using Chi square. Result: Seventy three (17.4%) of the pupils were found to be overweight/obese. Pupils from private school accounted for majority of these cases with 28 (13.3%) and 29 (13.8%) of them being overweight and obese respectively. High socioeconomic class and consumption of energy dense diet were significantly associated with high prevalence of overweight/obesity (P Conclusion and Recommendation: Prevalence of overweight/obesity among primary school pupils is quite high in Lagos, Nigeria. High socioeconomic class, consumption of energy dense food and lack of adequate physical activities appear to be major factors contributing to this high prevalence. Introduction of daily school meal and mandatory physical activity in all the schools would go a long way in imbibing healthy eating and life style pattern into these children. Public enlightenment and campaign on the importance of healthy life style and complications associated with overweight and obesity would probably reverse the trend. Key Words: Overweight, Obesity, Primary School Pupils Introduction Malnutrition is a serious public health problem that is caused by either deficient or excess intake of nutrients in relation to requirements. Under nutrition (Nutrient deficiency) has been the prevalent type of malnutrition in developing countries like Nigeria.1-3 This has been attributed to the synergistic interaction between several factors, most importantly, inadequate nutrient intake and infection.4-6 This is not the case with developed countries like the United States of America (USA), where over-nutrition is a major challenge amongst the school aged children. Studies done in the USA on the overweight status and eating patterns among adolescents showed that the prevalence of over-nutrition was higher amongst those from a low socio-economic class.7-9 Recently, overweight thought to be the problem of the developed world is spreading to the developing world.10 Several studies in Africa and other developing countries have documented an emerging trend of malnutrition with overweight and obesity increasing at an alarming rate in comparison to under nutrition.10-12 However, in these developing countries, contrary to the finding in USA, overweight and obesity appear to be commoner among the high socioeconomic class.13-15 The effect of urbanization and the associated change in life style have been shown to contribute immensely to the current trend of malnutrition in the developing countries.16,17 However, children of low socioeconomic status from such urban centres remain significantly associated with under nutrition rather than over nutrition.18 This further underscores the central role of socioeconomic status in malnutrition. The increasing rate of overweight/obesity means that obesity-related chronic diseases are likely to become common among the children. Being overweight is known to significantly increase the risk of asthma, Type 2 diabetes, gallstone, heart disease, high blood pressure and several other diseases.19 This will further impose a great challenge to the already over stretched health care system in the developing countries. We thus aim to assess and compare the prevalence of overweight/obesity among primary school pupils attending public and private schools, in Ikeja Local Government area of Lagos and to identify common factors associated with overweight. The information generated would be useful in guiding the concerned authorities in designing appropriate interventions in the various schools. Materials and Methods Study area: The study was carried out in public and private primary schools in Ikeja Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State Nigeria. Ikeja is the capital city of Lagos state, the most populated and urbanized state in Nigeria with over 10million residents.20There are 114 registered private primary schools and 32 public primary schools in Ikeja Local Government Area. Study design: It is a field-based cross-sectional descriptive study Study Population: This consists of pupils in public and private primary schools in Ikeja LGA. Sample Size determination: Calculated minimum sample size for each group of school is 200 pupils. Sampling method: Multistage stratified random sampling was used. Based on the numbers of schools, three Private and two public primary schools were selected. Participants were selected randomly using the class register as a template in each of the classes of the schools selected. Exclusion criteria: children whose parents denied consent, children with obvious skeletal deformity and those with known chronic medical conditions like Chronic renal failure, heart disease etc. Ethical consideration: Ethical clearance was sought and obtained from the Ikeja LGA Education Authority. The head teachers of the selected schools also gave well informed expressive approval after receiving appropriate information. All the selected pupils were given consent form and introductory note to the study to their parents for their signature or thumb print. There was no consequence for the pupil if he or she refused to participate or parents denied assess. Data obtained were treated with confidentiality and only for the purpose of this research. Study procedure: A structured questionnaire was used in collection of relevant information required to meet the objective of the study. All the participating pupils were interviewed at school, while the section to be completed by the parents were sent through their wards and were returned the following day. Information obtained included socio-demographic data like: age, gender, parents’ occupation, average monthly income and educational attainment. Information on dietary intake include type of diet, frequency and 24 hours dietary recall. Involvement in exercise and physical activity were also sought. Socioeconomic status was assessed using the model by Ogunlesi et al 21, while the dietary pattern of the child was assessed using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Weight was measure using a bathroom weighing scale with sensitivity of 0.5KG while height was measure using a stadiometer. Nutritional status was determined using the Z- score system in accordance with National Centre for Health Statistics/ World Health Organization (WHO) reference value.22 Data analysis: The data obtained were entered into and analysed using EPI INFO version 3.5.1. Tables were used in data presentation. Chi square and Fisher’s Exact test were used in comparing frequencies. RESULTS A total of 420 children were studied, 210 pupils from each group. The children from the private schools were younger with a mean age of 7.7Â ±1.9 years as against 10.3Â ±2.6 years for those in public school (t=11.58, p=2=305.34, p= The dietary pattern among the two study groups were significantly different; 90 (42.9%) pupils from the private school consumed beef daily as against 49(23.3) from the public schools. Similarly, approximately half 103(49.1) of the pupils from the private school eat white bread daily as against 45 (21.4%) from the public schools. Seventy five (35.7%) and 29 (13.8%) eats eggs while 44(21.0) and 11(5.2%) eat fried plantain and yam for public and private schools respectively. Again 25 (11.9%) and 13(6.2%) from private and public schools consume at least a can of coke/Fanta daily. These differences were all statistically significant P= Regarding extracurricular activity, the pupils in public schools engaged more in physical activity compared to those in private schools. One hundred and thirteen (53.9%) pupils from the public schools trek daily for a distance of at least one kilometre as against 8 (3.8%) pupils from the private schools. Similarly, 77(36.7%) pupils from the public schools engage in competitive sports daily as against 33(15.7%) from the private. The difference between the two groups regarding physical activity was statistically significant P= Table II shows the distribution of the study population by BMI percentile. The nutritional status varied significantly between the pupils from the public and private school. While under-nutrition was the predominant form of malnutrition in the public schools 33(15.7%), overweight and obesity predominated in the private schools 57(27.1%). Table III below show the effect of various studied variable on BMI percentile. The highest frequency of overweight was observed among those aged 5-6years while the least frequency was among those aged 11 and above. This pattern was statistically significant (X2=21.90, p= 0.01). Although more female pupils when compared to male pupils, were found to be overweight, but this was not statistically significant. More than half (50.9%) of the pupils of low socioeconomic class were undernourished while majority of overweight children (76.7%) were of high socioeconomic class. This pattern was statistically significant (X2=150.0, p= Discussion The overall prevalence of 17.4% for overweight and obesity in this study is quite alarming though similar to the findings from previous studies.6, 12, 23 Owa et al12 reporting from Nigeria in 1997 found a prevalence of 18% for obesity among children aged 5-15 years using fat mass percentage and body mass index based on the US standard. Similarly, Mogre et al23 reported a prevalence of 17.4% for overweight and obesity from Ghana in 2013 among school aged children (5-14 years). This finding from this study and the others above further support the rising trend of overweight and obesity among children in developing countries and that the burden of the problem might not be different from that in the developed countries.24 However, other studies have found much lower prevalence for overweight/obesity. Adegoke et al 14 in 2009 reported a prevalence of 3.1% for overweight/obesity from Ile-Ife South West Nigeria using anthropometry, while Alkali et al 15 in 2015 reported a prevalence of 6.5% from Gombe in North East Nigeria. These lower prevalence reported by Adegoke et al(14) and Alkali et al15 may be due to the difference in socioeconomic status between the study-populations, while greater than 86% of our study population were either of middle or upper socioeconomic class, 48.2% of those studied by Adegoke et al14 were of low socioeconomic class with only 19.6% belonging to the upper class. Although Alkali et al15 didn’t give socioeconomic distribution of their study population but Gombe located in the North East of Nigeria is a small town with small scale businesses and subsistence farming as major occupation compared to Lagos which is the most industrialized City in Nigeria. Furthermore, we studied children in primary schools alone but Adegoke et al14 as well as Alkali et al15 studied both primary and secondary school children. It has been severally documented that prevalence of overweight/obesity decreases in children with advancing age.25,26 In contrast to the developed countries where overweight/obesity is commoner among the low socioeconomic class7-9, majority 56 (76.7%) of these overweight children in this study were of high socioeconomic class. This pattern is similar to findings from other studies from other developing countries13-15,27. This fact was further confirmed by the significantly higher incidence of overweight/obesity among pupils from Private schools compared to those from public schools. In Nigeria, Privates schools particularly in the urban centres charge exorbitant fees affordable only to the rich while public schools are usually free and attended by the low socioeconomic class. In this study, 83.8% of the pupil in public schools were of high socioeconomic class as against 1.9% of those in public schools. Several factors could be responsible for this increasing pattern of overweight/obesity among the affluent class in the developing countries. In the first place, the parents of these children are likely of the working class with little or no time to plan and prepare healthy food for them.28 It is also known that such parents in an effort to compensate for the deficient care constantly provide junk food and snacks for these children.29 Nutritional habit and pattern have been shown to influence the nutritional status of the society.30 These are further driven by aggressive advertising practises, relatively low cost of energy dense food and improved purchasing power which are now most prevalent in developing countries and conducive for the development of overweight and obesity and subsequently the associated morbidities.31 This is in agreement with the finding in this study from Lagos, the most urbanized State in Nigeria, in which Children from the private schools and of high socioeconom ic status significantly consumed food of high energy density such as soft drink, egg, white bread, etc when compared to those from the public and low socioeconomic status. Sedentary life style has been well documented as a cause of overweight and obesity29,32,33 in children. Pupils from the private schools were significantly less involved in physical activities when compared to those from the public schools but engaged more in indoor activities like television viewing and computer games. Similar to previous studies, this practise was significantly associated with overweight and obesity. The low level of physical activity among those in private schools could be due to several reasons. Most of these children are usually driven in car to school by their parents or use the school bus. This is in contrast to the public school which lack school bus and majority, 53.9%, of the pupils trek to school daily. Secondly, while most public schools are usually sited in a planned location with enough space for sporting activity the same cannot be said of the private schools which do not have enough space for outdoor activities with only 15.7% of the pupils engaged in competitive sports. Pressure on the pupils from affluent society for good academic performance including regular extra lessons at home after school hours could also contribute to lack of outdoor activities at home. In this study, overweight and obesity were higher among the younger age groups compared to the older pupils with the highest frequency of 18.2% among those aged 5-6years. Similar pattern of decreasing incidence with advancing age among children less than 13 years was also observed in a study from India25 and Saudi Arabia26. However, other studies have found a contrary pattern: increasing incidence with advancing age34. The reason for this variability in finding is not clear. Females had slightly higher prevalence of overweight and obesity when compared to the male, though this difference was not significant. This is similar to the finding of Mohana et al 35 from India. The effect of gender on overweight and obesity in children remains inconclusive, while several studies have found significantly higher prevalence among the female gender 34,36-38 others have reported significantly higher prevalence among the males.39-41 The reason for this variability is not clear but studies with higher female prevalence have suggested cultural factors as a possible explanation as female children in certain society mostly engage in indoor activities. Conclusion and Recommendations The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children living in urban centres in developing countries like Nigeria is quite high and is comparable to that in the developed country. This problem is mainly a problem of children from high socioeconomic status. Dietary pattern and sedentary life style are important factors contributing to the high prevalence among these group of children. In contrast, under-nutrition has remain a major problem among the low socioeconomic status. We recommend introduction of school meal program in both the public and private school to augment calorie intake among the public school children and modulate same for those in private schools. Provision of sporting facilities must be made mandatory requirement for registering of private school and if already a requirement must be enforced on new and existing private schools. Finally, public enlightenment on the medical implications of overweight/obesity in children should be aggressively pursued by the relevan t agencies before the complications begin to set in. Conflict of Interest The authors had no conflict of interest whatsoever to declare

Diversity, Ideology, and Teaching Writing Essay -- Maxine Hairston Col

Diversity, Ideology, and Teaching Writing People come from many different environments which brings or doesn’t bring many different opportunities. These two essays highlight the multicultural, multiethnic, multiclass salad bowl that this world and this country possess. The first essay discusses the social demographics in the college classroom. The second essay is from a person who was not able to attend college, probably because of the lack of opportunity to do so. When I read these two essays it helps me realize the reason that I have chosen my major. The essay " Diversity, Ideology, and Teaching Writing" written by Maxine Hairston discusses the diversity in college classrooms in 1992. She highlights the idea that these students come from different backgrounds and have a lot to offer the class through their experiences. Also, they come in at different levels of writing and understanding. She believes that these students can learn from one another. They can learn about the diverse society that we live in. She states that " Real diversity emerges from the students themselves and flourishes in a collaborative classroom in which they work together to develop their ideas and test them out on each other." She looks at this diversity as an opportunity for students to learn and collaborate about society. Their papers and analysis would come from experiences that the class has had in life. The second essay, written by Kathy Camper also discusses diversity in our society. It is from the point of view of a person who was not given an opportunity to attend college. This essay is written about the future where almost everything involves computers. Persons that were not given the same means for a better education fall behind and c... ...I do want to make a difference for the people who write essay two. I want to help provide everyone an equal opportunity starting in the first grade, not waiting to college to level the playing field. I believe that a diverse community is great for everyone as long as everyone is given the same opportunities. The professor in essay one is asking "how can I provide these students the best education so they will succeed in our competitive society?" In essay two the question is "can I receive an education just to survive?" Providing college students an education that challenges their analysis of writing, involving computers, and involving a compassion for all individuals will help the students be competitive in society and the future work force. To answer question two we must require and provide the ways and means to an equal education across class, race and ethnicity.

Work Place Ethical Dilemma

Work place Ethical Dilemma Brenda Paz BSHS-331 August 25, 2010 Roberto Vara Jr. Work place Ethical Dilemma According to Freeman, S. (2000) Ethics: An introduction to philosophy and practice ethical dilemma is a complex situation that will involve conflicts between moral imperatives. This is also called ethical paradox which plays a central role in ethics debates. We are not animals and thus should not act and behave like animals. All humans have social acceptable behaviors we must abide from. Standards we all follow to what we believe, having our own opinions, from obeying the law and knowing what is morally right and wrong.For example the ethical admonition to â€Å"treat others as you would like to be treated† is not always easy to follow especially if the individual you should treat with respect does not in turn respect you. This is an example of ethical decision clashing. About three years ago I experienced an ethical dilemma in the workplace which made me feel puzzled, un appreciated and even confused for just doing and following procedure and protocol to my work responsibilities which my job duties required me to do.I worked for a nonprofit organization which helped advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families. My job title was that of a project assistant of a youth group which empowers young adults with disabilities gather the tools necessary to live a more independent and healthier way of life. The problem to the dilemma consisted in nepotism taking place by my immediate supervisor. The organization I worked for was just a small branch which was extended from the main office which was located in Albuquerque, NM.I did not have another immediate supervisor to question any such ethical dilemmas. Each year our project needed to provide accountability of ten new additional youth members to the group. Membership to the group required the creation and development of a goals and dream planning map. Once the member reached three months of attendance to monthly meetings the individual was then issued a stipend of five hundred dollars to assist in reaching such set goal in the plan. As a project assistant one of my job responsibilities was to locate youth with disabilities and invite them to become part of the group.Part of our initial protocol was not to use the stipend as the initial incentive to join the group but rather to make the youth group more appealing by emphasizing social group gatherings, activities, advocacy and the initial growth of one’s self confidence and development in learning to advocate for themselves and others who cannot speak for themselves in front of congress. My supervisor however did not follow protocol and often selected individuals from her immediate social circle of friends and family members to join the youth group.Secondly those initial members were not required to meet the three month required time limit of monthly meeting attendance to acquire the stipend. One day I politely q uestioned her selection process and she quickly gave the explanation that she needed to meet the quota and had to sign up 10 youth members no matter who they were so the project would not loose funding. Yet when I confronted her about trying to sign up my son or family members with disabilities I was informed I could not because I worked for the organization.I was informed by her that she needed to bend the rules to meet quota but when I offered to help by suggesting to enroll individuals with disabilities from my social circle I was denied. I should have just dropped the issue right there and them, however I went on to question her actions and she abruptly stated† How dare you question me? Don’t try to undermine me Brenda†, then she just changed the conversation right away. Well, soon after that our work relationship was very shaky and when my employment contract ended I was not offered a new contract again.Based on what I learned since I began my study at the Un iversity of Phoenix and through my continued work experience I think I would have handled the situation in the same manner but I would have chosen my words differently. At the time I believe my questioning of her actions and the way I came about it was wrong in the sense that I was trying to fight fire with fire. I was trying to justify my possible actions and suggesting the same methods she was using to recruited my circle of members in the same manner.I now realize that you should not try to suggest justification of one’s actions by doing the same thing the other individual is doing. I needed to fight fire with water and in turn make her analyze her actions and view her ways in a cam and professional manner. Then if that did not work I should have escalated to the next level and called her supervisor in Albuquerque just as a note of information not an accusation. According to _________Ethics can be seen as both the highest and the lowest standards of practice expected of a practitioner, reflecting both the standards of the community and the profession.Codes, rather than being precise dictates, are actually combinations of rules and utilitatian principles that do not provide a rational as to why a particular behavior is right or wrong in a particular situation or circumstance. Therefore, many issues cannot be resolved solely by relying on codes of ethics. Practical judgment and informed conscious reasoning are necessary in the proper application of codes of ethics. Various professional organizations have established codes of ethics for their members however in similar professional, the codes of ethics and acceptable behavior can vary greatly.When faced with an ethical dilemma, a practioner would do well to think of the formal code of ethics of his/her profession and then through a formal ethical decision making process to expedite s sound solution.References Freeman, S. J. , (2000). Publication manual of the Wadsworth group, a division of Thomson Learn ing Inc. Ethics: An introduction to philosophy & practice Environmental Protection Agency Website, (2009), Publication research group of the Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved from http:// www. epa. gov/progress/#i

Satellites - fiction essays

Satellites - fiction essays It was around 3:30 when I got the call. The man wouldnt explain why, but I needed to get down to the station. A jet was waiting. At 5:00 I arrived at the station. The room I was escorted into seated about thirty people, and every seat was filled. I recognized some people, but others seemed completely foreign to me. They were introduced as various government officials from countries around the world. Before I had the chance to move, a man rose out of his chair and spoke, Welcome, we brought you here for your expertise in these situations. Situations we have never before come across. I immediately assumed he was talking about the search for alien life. A few companions and I have been searching for any signs of life for almost twenty years. About two days ago we picked up a small radio signal. Our astronomers found an object floating out along the solar system at around 800,000 miles. By tracking the trajectory, we can defiantly rule out one of our satellites. The representatives from other countries with space programs have also denied it being theirs. We only have one possibility left. Our first problem was to decide what to do with the object. After much deliberation, we came to the conclusion to send out a ship to retrieve the satellite. Afterwards, my team and I could study the foreign object. Then the big problem came. Should the public be told about this object? The people did have the right to know, and they would probably find out eventually, but until we could learn more, we wanted to avoid the chance of a mass panic. The meeting ended with the decision not to inform the public; at least not for a while. Two months later, the ship finally returned after successfully capturing the satellite. My team and I would spend the next three years studying and dismantling the satellite, but it was clear from day one what we were dealing with. ...

Carbon Neutral Alternative Fuels

Carbon Neutral Alternative Fuels Carbon neutral is a term used to describe carbon-based fuels that when burned will not increase carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. These fuels neither contribute to nor reduce the amount of carbon (measured in the release of CO2) into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is plant food, which is a good thing, and it also helps keep our planet warm. However, too much CO2 can lead to what we now call global warming. Carbon neutral fuels can help prevent too much CO2 from accumulating in the atmosphere. It accomplishes this when the released carbon is absorbed by plant crops that will help produce tomorrow’s next gallon of a carbon-neutral fuel. Every time we travel in a gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle, we add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. That’s because burning a petroleum fuel (which were created millions of years ago) releases CO2 into the air. As a nation, 250 million passenger vehicles are currently registered, about 25 percent of all passenger vehicles in the world. In the U.S., our vehicles burn around 140 billion gallons of gasoline and 40 billion gallons of diesel a year. With those numbers it’s not difficult to see that every gallon of a carbon-neutral fuel that is burned can contribute to the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere, thus helping to reduce global warming. Biofuels Many people believe the future lies with carbon-neutral alternative fuels made from crops and waste products that are known as biofuels. Pure biofuels such as biodiesel, bio-ethanol, and bio-butanol are carbon neutral since plants absorb the C02 released by being burned. Biodiesel The most common carbon neutral fuel is biodiesel. Because it is produced from such organically derived resources as animal fats and vegetable oil it can be used to recycle a wide range of waste material. It’s available in a range of blend percentages- B5, for example, is 5 percent biodiesel and 95 percent diesel, while B100 is all biodiesel- and there are biodiesel filling stations throughout the U.S. Then there’s the small number of drivers who homebrew their own biodiesel and some who convert their diesel engines to run on straight vegetable oil recycled from restaurants. Bioethanol Bioethanol is ethanol (alcohol) that is produced by the fermentation of plant starches such as grains like corn, sugarcane, switchgrass and agricultural waste. Not to be confused with ethanol that is a by-product of a chemical reaction with petroleum, which is not considered renewable. In the U.S. most of the bioethanol comes from farmers who grow corn. Many American passenger cars and light-duty trucks can operate on either gasoline or a bioethanol/gasoline blend called E-85- 85 percent ethanol/15 percent gasoline. While E-85 is not a pure carbon neutral fuel it does produce low emissions. The big downside to ethanol is it is less energy-dense than other fuels, so it reduces fuel economy by 25% to 30%. With gasoline prices hovering around $2 a gallon E-85 is not competitively priced. And good luck finding a gas station that sells it outside the Midwest farming states. Methanol Methanol, like ethanol, is a very strong alcohol made from wheat, corn or sugar in a process similar to brewing, and is considered the most energy-efficient fuel to produce. A liquid at normal temperatures, it has a higher octane rating than gasoline but a lower energy density. Methanol can be mixed with other fuels or used on its own, but it is slightly more corrosive than traditional fuels, requiring engine fuel system modifications on the order of $100-$150. During a brief period of time in the early 2000s, there was a small growing market for methanol cars in California until the state’s Hydrogen Highway Initiative Network took command and the program lost support. Sales of these cars were sluggish due to the low price of gasoline at the time and the lack of service stations that pumped the fuel. However, the short program did prove the reliability of the vehicles and garnered positive feedback from drivers. Algae Algae- specifically microalgae- is a source for a carbon-neutral alternative fuel. Since the 1970s federal and state governments along with private investment firms have poured hundreds of millions into algae research as a biofuel with little success to date. Microalgae has the ability to produce lipids, which are known as a potential source for biofuels. These algae can be grown on non-potable water, perhaps even wastewater, in ponds so it is not using arable land or massive amounts of water. While on paper, micro-algae seems like a no-brainer, formidable technical issues have flummoxed researchers and scientists for years. But the algae true believers aren’t giving up, so maybe someday you’ll be pumping an algae-based biofuel into your car’s fuel tank. Diesel Fuel From Water And CO2 No, diesel fuel from water and carbon dioxide is not some Ponzi scheme intended to fleece dim-witted investors. Last year Audi, together with German energy-company Sunfire, announced it was able to synthesize a diesel fuel from water and CO2 that can fuel automobiles. The synthesis creates a liquid known as blue crude and is refined into what Audi is calling e-diesel. Audi claims that e-diesel is sulfur-free, cleaner burning than standard diesel and the process to make it is 70 percent efficient. The first five liters went into the tank of an  Audi A8  3.0 TDI driven by Germany’s Minister of Research. To become a viable carbon-neutral fuel, the next step is to ramp up production. A Complex and Difficult Challenge Our addiction to oil has had dire consequences. It seems that the logical solution would be to develop or discover an alternative carbon-neutral fuel not derived from petroleum. However, finding an alternative that is abundant, renewable, economical to produce and environmentally friendly is a complex and difficult challenge. The good news is, as you read this, scientists are working hard on this difficult challenge. Updated by Larry E. Hall

Griselda Blanco de Trujillo The Godmother of Drug Trafficking Essay

Griselda Blanco de Trujillo The Godmother of Drug Trafficking - Essay Example Griselda Blanco is one such personality who emerged and established her in the underworld so strongly that she was given the title of Godmother. It throws light on the fact that women are becoming increasingly involved in criminal activities, most importantly drug trafficking. This paper summarizes the rise and fall of Griselda Blanco. In the spring of 1975 Griselda Blanco’s Learjet arrived at the Bogota airport from Miami. As soon as the jet touched down, the runway was flocked by a cavalcade of black Limousines carrying fully armed enforcers. Blanco, the five feet tall, oval faced 32-year-old who weighed 165 pounds, was instantly escorted by her crew towards a famous night club in the Columbian capital. She was visiting her husband, Alberto Bravo, who was her confidante and her partner in crime. Together, they formed a cartel that â€Å"moved hundreds of kilos of cocaine in the US, and employed nearly 1,500 dealers â€Å"(Brown 95). That fateful day Griselda was a woman on a mission, which was to confront her husband for his wrong doings and corruption involving millions. Safely tucked inside her boot was a loaded pistol which left little doubt about her intentions. Bravo was eagerly waiting for her to assume nothing about her sudden visit to the drug-trafficking hub of America, i.e., Colombia. As they came in person, her rage alarmed him and the six guards who surrounded him. Nothing could stop this woman from the vengeance she nestled in her heart for her husband, who was the king of cocaine smuggling in Colombia. Bullets were fired from both the groups killing several guards. Bravo was killed on the spot by Griselda, who targeted his head and fired without thinking twice that this was her husband whom she wanted to eliminate. With just one careful shot, Griselda became the legendary godmother of the drug mafia in America. Griselda Blanco, the woman with a cleft chin, was hardly passable as a drug dealer, let alone the drug lord. However, this was indeed a fact that she became the undisputed queen of underworld mafia, and was the most feared one due to her ruthless tactics and aggressive approach. The surprising factor is that she was also a mysterious figure to the law enforcement agencies, and her complete criminal records were only revealed through her own kept diaries. Guy Gugliotta and Jeff Leen wrote that â€Å"in 1977 DEA agents in Medellin discovered the bookkeeping records of Griselda Blanco and began to learn of the ties between the traffickers they pursued† (Gugliotta and Leen 28). Blanco was born in a poor family on February 15, 1943 in the slums of Cartagena Columbia (Brown 96). She had a childhood and spent most of her early years in the barrio (Riano-Alcala 42). She became a prostitute at the young age of eleven to get rid of her turbulent life and abusive mother. As she belonged to the land of crime †Columbia," she was involved in various criminal acts like pocket picking, abducting children from wealthy families, robbing and shooting people for money since the age of eleven (Brown 96). Bob Polombo, US DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent said that â€Å"I just think it was inherent to Griselda Blanco. This goes back to her life, the way she was brought up. She was just a violent person† (Brown 96).   The period from 1960 to 1980 was a bountiful time for drug dealing all over

Alzheimer's Disease Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Alzheimer's Disease - Essay Example It is a disease that occurs mostly in older people and adversely affects various parts of the brain, which subsequently results in a loss of memory, thought and speech. Some of which have been provided as follows. Alzheimer 's disease is a form of dementia that is, "associated with the breakdown of the nervous tissue in the brain." (http://bse.airtime.co.uk/defb.htm) According to the ALS Therapy Development Foundation, Alzheimer's disease is, "a form of degenerative brain disease resulting in progressive mental deterioration with disorientation, memory disturbance and confusion. It leads to progressive dementia, often accompanied by dysphasia and/or dysphasia. The condition may also give rise ultimately to spastic weakness and paralysis of the limbs, epilepsy and other variable neurological signs." (http://www.als.net/als101/glossary.asp) The online site of the Medaus Pharmacy states that only in a few cases does Alzheimer's exist before the age of fifty. This disease results in a complete eventual breakdown of speech-patterns and results in disorientation and apathy in the patient. Other symptoms include the loss of intelligence, memory, judgment and the ability to think abstractly. In addition, diverse changes in the personality and behavior of the patient can often be seen as well. (http://www.medaus.com/p/147.html) It is natural for a person with Alzheimer's to remember things that may have happened years ago clearly and to forget those of the present. Any form of dementia (be it Alzheimer's or otherwise) does not occur all of a sudden; rather it is a slow process that often occurs over the course of months or years. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/) The number of people with Alzheimer's disease is likely to increase to 34 million by the year 2050. 350,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed annually and the approximately 50,000 patients die from the disease each year. It has been found in literature that life expectancy is directly proportional to Alzheimer's. In other words in every country where the life expectancy its citizens has increased (this would mostly include the developed nations around the world) so has the prevalence of Alzheimer's. (http://www.ahaf.org/alzdis/about/adabout.htm) In addition, it has been found that, "women have a slightly greater chance of developing Alzheimer's than men do at the same age". (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspxarticleId=14) There are basically two types of Alzheimer's disease; the early onset and the late onset. The early onset is the type of Alzheimer's that occurs before the age of 60. Though is not very common it is highly progressive and greatly degenerative. (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000760.htm) "To function properly, the brain must have a minimum number of healthy cells. In Alzheimer's disease brain cells progressively die. If the number of neurons is also suddenly reduced, the patient's mental state may deteriorate abruptly. Several conditions may be responsible for the loss of neurons, including: strokes, subdural hematomas and space-occupying lesions inside the skull." (Handy et al, 1998, pp.105) Though the symptoms of each patient are unique, there are some basic indicators, which are likely to be experienced by most patients. These are given as follows, (http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/disorders_dementia.shtml) Lack of concentration, Confusion about time & place(s), Negligence of one's own self, A

Informational Interview Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Informational Interview - Research Paper Example Upon graduating, she began her current role with her current employer after completing her internship with them as a web designer for company clients. Her current role involves the development of the company’s website and sub-sites. For this, she uses a combination of software including Drupla, Editplus, phpBB and Photoshop. She usually works independently but liaises with the company CEO and sales and marketing departments for website information regarding new content, information, customer information, target audiences and news. The interviewee believes that her educational programme helped greatly in preparation for her current role. She administers that attention to detail, creativity and technical proficiency are important skills for web designers. She is concerned by the current climate of the profession regarding the popularity and availability of accessible web-design software, however, she admits that effective web design of larger or complex sites can only be achieved by trained and skilled web designers. The following are some examples of the questions and answers given during the interview. â€Å"No, I wasn’t always interested in Web Design. I was always interested in the web itself and computers in general. I first became interested in web design when I took the web design module in my first year in college.† â€Å"I created a substantial web site for my third year project and again for my final year project......My project work definitely helped me with my career in web design. I also had an internship called INTRA during my third year of college. This also helped a lot with gaining experience in web design, and also gave me my job today.† â€Å"A typical day for me would be to come in at 9 o clock. Check emails. Email the CEO of the company and ask for any news and updates for the website†¦ Check that the website is working correctly and make any necessary changes†¦Add in any news or updates. Make changes†¦ Only yesterday I

Crime Control Essay Example for Free

Crime Control Essay Crime has become as multifaceted as human nature, impinging on communities and threatening human rights and freedoms. Has the impact of criminal activity become extremely intense, that we as society members have strayed away from honesty and justice? Are individuals no longer valuing integrity and fairness? Criminal justice organizations both public and private sectors goals are to reduce crime within the communities and regain the trust and confidence in a fair and just system for law-abiding citizens. In the process of achieving a fair and just society, due process and crime control tactics must adhere to the ethical dimensions of the criminal justice system. I am prepared to introduce a synopsis that highlights key ethical issues in the justice system that is directly affected by ethical motives. Honesty versus Justice within the Communities Trust is a factor that is lacking within the communities, and the question in mind is how will the criminal justice organization rehabilitate the issue and let justice prevail. Justice is often defined as fairness or the suitable rewards or retribution. Justice focuses more on a person’s rights more than the needs of an individual. So how can justice prevail if community members are fighting against law enforcement, and honesty among officers and the community is obsolete? In many cases, even when people notice a crime, they often turn the other way. According to NPR (2010), â€Å"Witnesses to crimes involving things like gang activities can often be scared away from giving information to police. It does not help that a stop snitching philosophy has been promoted by some hip-hop artists and many urban communities† (para 2). After past incidents of bad treatment by the outside world and law enforcement, it has become a mainstream thought in many minority communities law enforcement is not to be trusted. And if the community cannot trust police officials, the people in the community will not step forward and be honest and aid in the investigations. Police Departments are committed to working with the communities to recognize and resolve community problems. There are departments of employees dedicated to working collectively through an assortment of programs. These programs and services are created in hope that trust and justice will be incorporated back into the community and law enforcement agencies will be able to optimistically impact the community’s quality of life as well as highlight the strengths of neighborhoods. Due Process and Crime Control Tactics Law enforcement has integrated strategies into the communities to prevent and solve crimes that are affecting citizen’s quality of life. Crimes such as theft, burglary, and vandalism are a few areas law enforcement has turned their focus on. Local law enforcement organizations will have to become accustomed to existing policing programs to fulfill the requirements of security. The goal of due process and crime control is to enhance the effectiveness of the community. When the community trusts and believes in the justice field, community members will be more prone to assisting law enforcement. Due process ensures the law is being incorporated in the tactics to prevent and stop criminal acts. Another way for law enforcement to gain the trust and respect of the community is to offer up incentives that demonstrates community enhancements. increased involvement from groups in public decision making increases access to material resources and financial opportunities for underprivileged groups changes in public policy to achieve greater and meet the needs of diverse groups increases in suitable, available community services and common interest groups developing more early childhood and youth programs within the communities Law enforcement organizations have sought to investigate the causes of crime within the communities and lower the level from the hearts of the people being affected by criminal acts. Through the construction of successful joint venture with the community and public and private sectors problem solving procedures are being implemented and ethical standards and being followed. In the awaken of September 11th incident, law enforcement agencies discover that they are understanding that it is important to identify the responsibilities and create goals goals that will reduce crime within the communities and regain the trust and confidence in a fair and just system for law-abiding citizens. According to Lane Henry 2010, ‘People argue for longer term strategies aimed at dealing with the political, social, economic and cultural factors associated with crime. In doing so, we explore the potential of community development to contribute to crime prevention, particularly community or street crime and violence. Theoretical and practice intersections between community development and certain crime prevention approaches are identified notably those which link crime and violence with dis-empowerment, poverty, inequality, exclusion, the learning of violence within families and communities, and lack of opportunity for children and young people to develop their potential† (para 1). Conclusion Crime has become as multifaceted as human nature, impinging on communities and threatening human rights and freedoms. The impact of criminal activity has become extremely intense, that we as society members have strayed away from honesty and justice. Law enforcement agencies are working extremely hard to rebuild the union that has been broken. Individuals are no longer valuing integrity and fairness, but with the support from law enforcement, trust will be regained and community members will be more prone to step up and offer assistance. Criminal justice organizations both public and private sectors goals are to reduce crime within the communities and recover the trust and confidence in a fair and just system for law-abiding citizens. In the process of achieving a fair and just society, due process and crime control tactics must adhere to the ethical dimensions of the criminal justice system. I have identified ethical issues in the justice system that is directly affected by ethical motives and come to the conclusion that dedication from both parties is the answer to rebuilding a broken society.

Ethnographic study Essay -- Analysis, Whole Foods Market

This essay is an ethnographic study of Whole Foods Market which is located in Kensington, London. Whole Foods Market is a niche supermarket that sells high quality organic and natural products at high prices. In this essay, I will provide a brief orientation of ethics with regards to the concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility - macroethics and Business Ethics - microethics and the theoretical frameworks of consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics. I will be using deontology framework in ethics devised by Immanuel Kant to assess if the marketing strategy and the products sold at Whole Foods Market support their principle of ‘organic and natural’. My ethnographic study took place at Whole Foods Market in Kensington, London. Before entering the store, I closely examined the front display windows. The products displayed include very red fresh apples that were in a stack. The apples were placed on a tray and table to provide the product with a lift and increase product visibility for all to see. Merchandised in another window, were books written by several authors whose expertise include organic foods and farming. Behind the stack of books was a poster which had a picture of each book, highlighting the authors’ names and quotes made by the authors in the book. Also posted on the display window was information about the store supporting products made by local farmers in the Kensington area. The products were sold in store and the farmers’ names were written as well as the foods the farmers were selling. Colours used by the organisation with regards to store layout and marketing posters were light brown and green which highlights Whole Foods Market green credentials to existing, new and potential customers. The layout o... ...Market making this a primary issue and placing it in their code of conduct before the business began. Lahdesmaki (2005) argued that marketing can be an ethical contract between businesses and their customers. Therefore businesses are morally obliged to inform their customers about the products in store and provide all the information necessary via marketing strategy so the customer can make informed decisions about their purchase. Whole Foods Market does display qualities of deontology framework in relation to its marketing strategy. The analysis of the organisation and its marketing strategy within deontology theory has been carried out. The supermarket performed its ethical duty by informing customers about the products in store and showing them the preparation area, thereby justifying the high prices the high quality organic and natural products are sold at.

DNA Research Paper

DNA is a nucleic acid that is basis of genetic information. It is like a set of instructions for our bodies and genetic codes. DNA has many different components that make it up such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phospurous. The structure has two long polymers of a simple unit called nucleotides. Holding the back of the structure is sugar and phosphate which are attached by ester bonds. Bonded to each sugar is 4 different types of molecules called bases. The backbone of the dna is where the genetic information is stored. The code is read by copying stretches of DNA into the related nucleic acid RNA, in a process called transcription. Properties in DNA once put together make the structure scientists see under the microscope discovered by James D Watson. The structure is two helical chains coiled around the same axis. It’s two long strands twirl around like vines on each other in the shape of a double helix. The nucleotide repeats which is a base linked to sugar and one or more phosphate. The back bone of most DNA strand is made form is made from phosphate and sugar resides. Phosphate is a inorganic chemical that is a sale of phosphoric acid they are mined to obtain phosphorous that is used in agriculture. The sugar in dna is 2 deoxyribose which is pentose which is a 5 carbon sugar. Many bonds hold the dna together such as hydrogen bonds, and phosphodiester bonds. And the four bases are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. The bases attach to the sugar/phosphate which when attached make up a nucleotide. DNA plays a dramatic role in todays society such as paternity tests, criminal investigations, and genetic engineering. A forensic scientist can test blood, semen, skin, saliva, or hair found at any crime scene to solve crimes committed. When used for genetic engineering manipulation of the DNA is used and therefore synthetic genes are made and put into things such as food or animals. Genetically modified food has been on the market since 1994. An insulin producing bacteria produced since 1982. This simple yet complicated acid plays important roles from being copied to cure a disease. From holding genetic information Like a CPU for you body. Or solving a murder case. I can honestly say before doing this report I had no idea really what DNA was.

Green Marketing Plan †Nandos Essay

The purpose of this plan is to analyse the environmental efforts of the Nando’s Carnegie branch, and to develop strategies that propels them a step closer towards a more eco-friendly and sustainable future. Nando’s was established in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It has approximately 300 stores in Australia since the brand arrived here in 1990. Nando’s has already taken action to be more environmentally responsible, with better packaging designs and partnering with organizations that are tackling the world’s social problems. The sources of information for this  marketing plan include websites, articles and the management at the Carnegie branch of Nando’s. Since some data is unavailable to us (e.g. the annual costs of the business), certain assumptions will have to be made. Nando’s already has a clear focus on reducing its packaging, but energy and water usage have not been addressed as effectively. To reduce their usage of energy, they will have to consider their lighting, and the equipment that is used in the kitchen. Solar panels will also be installed to reduce their electricity use. Water usage will also be reduced by switching to more effi cient equipment in the kitchen and toilets. By employing the strategies that have been outlined, Nando’s will be able to target their triple bottom line by reducing cost, lightening their carbon footprint and consequently improving the lives of the people. Situation Analysis Nando’s Background Nando’s is not the common type of fast food joint, but is more of a casual dining place. Nando’s first began trading in 1987, in Johannesburg, South Africa. It arrived in Australia in 1990, with its first store opening in Perth. Since then, its popularity has grown in every state in Australia, with new stores opening all the time. There are approximately 300 stores operating nationally, with plans to expand further. Nando’s is famous for its unique Peri-Peri marinade that is used for all the chicken items on the menu (Nandos, 2012). This green marketing plan is for Nando’s Carnegie and how they can incorporate sustainability into their operations. Nando’s Environmental strategies Nandos does not advertise their sustainability efforts much, but protecting the environment and â€Å"doing the right thing† has always been a part of their business strategy. They are already raising awareness for an organisation called â€Å"United Against Malaria†, which is a charity that raises awareness of malaria, and aims to put an end to it (Mumbrella, 2012). Nando’s Carnegie has been selling â€Å"United Against Malaria† bracelets to raise funds for the charity. All Nando’s restaurants also use recyclable packaging for their products (they signed the Australian Packaging Covenant in 2010, which means they must adhere to their guidelines). They have also begun selling water bottles which use 35% less plastic than the previous bottles that were used. Recycle logos and information are also printed onto the packaging to educate consumers (Nandos, 2010). Nando’s also makes use of recycling services, which are available at every branch, including Carnegie. Nando’s have implemented a system of having its suppliers of oil provide oil to each store in large quantities so as to reduce the amount of trips that they need to make. This system also reduces the use of steel drums for containing the oil. Spent oil is then sent to recyclers to produce biodiesel, which Nando’s then uses to run its trucks (Nandos, 2010). Analysis of environmental performance Even though Nando’s does undertake all of the above- mentioned activities in their business processes, they are still not realizing their full potential in terms of sustainability. Even though Nando’s does try to buy recycled products, they do not have an explicit policy that states that they should buy recycled. Nando’s also does not have a policy to encourage their overseas suppliers to improve design to reduce the environmental impact of their packaging (Nandos, 2010). Just by implementing these guidelines, Nando’s could improve their environmental performance substantially. However, Nando’s does print environmental logos on all its primary and secondary packaging to encourage recycling throughout its value chain all the way to consumers. Nando’s also discourages consumers to take away the food, and this helps to reduce the use of extra packaging. All Nando’s restaurants have a relaxed atmosphere and a â€Å"homely† feel that urges consumers to eat there rather than take the food home (Nandos, 2012) The fast-food chain also uses renewable resources i.e. sugar cane material, for most of its packaging. Also, they try to make sure that the packaging is made using no small parts so littering is minimized (Nandos, 2010). A few inefficient business methods that are specific to the Carnegie branch include the washing of dishes and the use of disposable gloves. The bulky dishwasher is used even when there are just a few dishes, which results in wastage of water. Also, workers use disposable gloves which are not made of  renewable resources, and are replaced quite often due to overuse. Evidently, Nando’s has integrated sustainability into its organizational plans. However, with a more concentrated focus on the environment, Nando’s will be able to reduce their impact further, and could position themselves as the industry standard in terms of environmental impact. Current marketing strategies Nando’s main message in its advertising campaigns is the fact that they use fresh chicken that is flame-grilled, not fried. They use this as a point of differentiation to gain an advantage over other fast-food chains, like McDonald’s or KFC (Baker, 2010). With its creative and occasionally controversial marketing campaigns and catchy taglines such as â€Å"Portugasm†, Nando’s targets an educated, younger demographic market. The organization has successfully used social media to connect with their customers, and its website to communicate any new plans, or to inform the public of any events taking place at Nando’s.  Nando’s also uses its store design to complete the brand experience for customers. Wooden tables, soft,fluid lighting and posters showing the history of its unique flavours convey an image of relaxation and a natural, friendly appeal to the brand (Nandos, 2012). Even though the target market may be a young demographic, consumers of all ages and backgrounds visit Nando’s, presumably because of its uniquely cooked chicken. Industry analysis The Australian fast food industry has flourished in the last decade, with industry revenue rising by 4.3% to reach $16,007,400,000 per annum. There were approximately 36,730 fast food establishments in Australia in 2010 (RAPS, 2011). With such a large number of fast food organisations, they definitely have a significant impact on the Australian environment and could make a massive difference if they incorporated sustainability into their business practices. The current macro-environment factors will further examine the current situation and trends in the fast food industry. Political factors – All businesses involved in the production and sale of domestic food products must abide by the guidelines set in the â€Å"Food Standards Australia and New Zealand† (RAPS, 2011). This ensures that all businesses follow at least the minimum requirements for sustainability. – The introduction of the carbon tax has resulted in prices of products like fruits, vegetables, bread and meat will rise (Sebo, 2012), this means all fast food chains including Nando’s will have to raise their prices. Social factors – Consumers nowadays place more importance on preservation of the environment and healthy eating, so businesses must ensure they must deal with these issues (Price & Lawson, 1992) – Fast food continues to be seen as unhealthy and pollutants of the environment (Price & Lawson, 1992). – Fast food businesses are also perceived as litterers by a majority of consumers (Price & Lawson, 1992). Technological factors – A new kind of method of utilizing solar power, referred to as solar thermal, means that power can be stored for a longer period of time as the technology does not rely on direct sunlight (Sorly, n.d.) – Advances in packaging designs so they use less material mean that costs for companies are decreased and they decrease their environmental impact (Joy, 2011). – Progress in the development of water efficient fittings result in reduced water usage for all businesses. Natural factors – Water is a major factor influencing all businesses in Australia, as Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world (White, 2009). – Growing population means more demand for food, which places more pressure on the sources of fast food businesses (White, 2009). – Depleting sources of fossil fuels, which are the main source of energy in Australia, will result in increased energy prices (White, 2009). Customer analysis There has been a significant increase of fast food consumption in Australia, with traffic to fast food joints increasing by roughly 7% in 2010 (Markey & Watson, 2011). People of all walks of life come to Nando’s, but a majority of them consist of younger people. Majority of consumers who purchase fast food do so for convenience (TheTelegraph, 2007). Therefore, they probably do not consider environmental factors in their purchase decision. However, with the green consumer group growing within Australia, opportunities for going green for businesses are becoming more appealing. In Australia, there are certain trends that define consumers today. Consumers can be divided into certain groups. These include the Value Consumer, the Busy Consumer and the Green Consumer to name a few (ACRS, 2010) The Value Consumer These are consumers who spend their money more wisely, and mostly consider only what they need. This is mainly a consequence of the Global Financial Crisis as consumers have become more cautious in their spending habits. This can be evidenced by the fact that consumer spending in Australia has been decreasing steadily, and this trend looks set to continue (Schwarten, 2012). These customers then force businesses to create value, so as to attract them to their brand. The Busy Consumer These are consumers who are becoming increasingly time-poor and convenience has a major effect on their purchase decisions. They place more emphasis on â€Å"speed, simplicity and convenience† (ACRS, 2010). Time is very valuable to them, so fast food is the ideal choice for these types of consumers. The Green Consumer This has become a growing niche in the market, and identifies those consumers who are more concerned about the environment than other people. They are willing to spend more for products if they know it will help to conserve the environment. They will actively seek out green products or even organic products, and they take into account the environmental practices of the  business before choosing to purchase. This consumer market is continuously growing, with an estimated buying power of US$500 billion in 2007 globally (ACRS, 2010). In Australia, consumers spent around AU$12 billion on environmentally-friendly goods in 2009, and the market reached AU$21 billion by 2010. Australians attitude towards environmental issues Australians are undoubtedly concerned about the environment, but the high costs of going green are stopping them from being very eco-friendly. This is confirmed by the fact that 100% of Gen Y and 91% of Gen X believe in the effects of climate change, according to McCrindle Research (n.d.). However, 65% do not want to pay more than 10% for green products, while only 10% are willing to pay any price. Consumers also feel that environmentally friendly products should cost less than other  products so as to encourage people to buy them (McCrindle, n.d.) Consumers nowadays expect business to be transparent with their activities and to be accountable at every level of business (Davis, 2007). Organizations are also expected to provide accurate information regarding the environmental impact of their products, and to minimize the impact through the use of innovative designs and manufacturing techniques (Savita, 2011). This means a restaurant like Nando’s is expected to provide the information about their environmental impact to customers, and do all they can to protect the environment, and provide safe products to customers. The purpose of this marketing plan is to target the growing Green Consumer market, and to inform the Value Customer of the high level of environmentally friendly business practices taking place at Nando’s Carnegie so as to give them another reason to eat there. Competitor analysis Direct competitors of Nando’s Carnegie include Grill’d, McDonalds, KFC,  Subway and other various dining restaurants due to their geographic proximity to the Nando’s branch. McDonald’s Strengths 1. Participate in the  government’s Energies  Efficiencies  Opportunities Program. 2. Engage in countrywide water saving  programs. 3. McDonald’s has full  control over its supply  chain, which allows it to  incorporate sustainability  into its operations easily. 4. Conduct extensive  research into reducing  the impact of their  packaging, and are a  member of the Australian  Packaging Covenant.  (McDonalds, 2012) Weaknesses 1. The strategies they are undertaking have  not changed their greedy, corporate brand  image (Barriaux, M. 2007) 2. McDonald’s does have a slight perception  of going green in the minds of consumers, but  its actual green performance is much lower  (Streeter, 2011) 3. McDonald’s customers alone produce 6.35  kgs of trash during peak hour. 4. McDonalds, due to its large size, is  susceptible to being sued by individuals or  organisations that see any weakness in their  sustainability efforts e.g. the 1986 court case  (Archives, 2007) 5. Damage the environment extensively from  their production techniques  (EthicalFootprint,2010) Strategies 1. Litter Control program helps  keep the restaurant grounds clean. 2. Restaurant includes rain water  tanks, dual flush toilets and water  restrictors on taps. 3. Use scorecard method for  sustainability targets for its  suppliers to make sure the goals  are being met throughout the  supply chain. 4. Use recyclable material for  packaging, and continuous  research is put into finding new  ways to reduce packaging material.  (McDonalds, 2012) KFC Strengths Weaknesses Strategies 1. Benefit from alliance  with Carbon Trust, as  they provide them with  ideas of green  technologies. 2. Yum! Brands, (KFC’s  parent company) are  always looking for new  ways for environment  sustainability (Yum!  Brands, 2010). KFC  benefits from this as  they have access to all of  the green technologies  that Yum! Brands  develops. 1. KFC has been linked with deforestation  activities in several parts of the world  (Halladay, 2012). 2. KFC has experienced problems with animal  rights groups, hygiene problems at certain  restaurants, and poor working conditions for  workers. This has had an adverse effect on  their brand image. 1. Switched to recyclable material  for packaging in 2009  (EnvironmentalLeader, 2009). 2. All wrappers for chips, burgers,  and cups are put through a dual  waste stream bin, which is then  sorted and sent out to recycle  (KFC, 2012). 3. Dual flush system and waterless  urinals in the restaurant help to  conserve water. 4. Increased insulation for floor,  walls, and ceiling (KFC, 2012) Subway Strengths Weaknesses Strategies 1. Work with  International Purchasing  Companies Ltd to  generate ideas for  environment  sustainability (Subway,  2012). 2. Subways brand motto,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Eat Fresh†Ã‚  complements its  sustainability goals  (Fitzgerald, Brown &  Stewart, 2009). 3. Member of the  Australian Packaging  Covenant, which  provides Subway with  clear goals for reducing  environmental impact  (Subway, 2012) 1. Subway received some bad press for an  incident involving animal cruelty, which may  have damaged their brand image in the minds  of a few consumers (Reale, 2011) 1. Switched to more energy saving  lighting and low flow water  faucets. 2. Furniture and cleaning materials  are made from more sustainable  materials. 3. Majority of the paper packaging  used is completely recyclable.  (Subway, 2012) – Grill’d is also a competitor of the Nandos Carnegie branch. They have a brand image that promotes healthy living and their supply consists of only fresh ingredients. Their Local Matters initiative, which is used to support local charities, is a fundamental part of their corporate social responsibility program (Grilld, 2012) Internal analysis Human Resources The management at Nando’s Carnegie has had experience with Nando’s for quite some time, so they know how to implement any new operations into the business effectively. Also, this Carnegie branch is family-owned so they would be enthusiastic about any positive innovations or advancements. Marketing capabilities Nando’s uses several mediums to reach its consumers. It uses social media such as its own Facebook page and Twitter account. They also re-designed their website to give it a more informal, fun look. Nando’s also advertises in-store with a variety of posters and brochures. Nando’s also utilises TV advertising but not as intensely as the other fast food franchises. Nando’s is known for its somewhat cheeky advertising, and this has improved brand awareness since it first moved to Australia (Squidoo,n.d). Financial Resources Average revenue daily for the Nando’s Carnegie branch is approximately $2,200. So average annual revenue is approximately $791,720. Objectives To incorporate sustainability into Nando’s accounting framework, the Triple Bottom Line will be used. This means that objectives will be formed so as to address business, society and environmental factors. The TBL framework considers people, planet and profit at the core of the business. Objective 1: Reduce overall environmental impact by intensifying focus on water usage, energy usage and packaging material. By doing this, Nando’s Carnegie will aim to achieve a 50% reduction in costs. Objective 2: Increase awareness of Nando’s Carnegie’s environmental efforts by 50% among consumers by December 2014. Green Marketing Strategy Objective 1: Reduce overall environmental impact by intensifying focus on water usage, energy usage and packaging material. By doing this, Nando’s Carnegie will aim to achieve a 50% reduction in costs. Strategy Reduce water usage by 50% by December 2014. Strategy Reduce energy use by 50% by December 2014. Actions 1. Replace existing  dish washer with  dishwasher that has 4  Star Water Efficiency rating. 2. Ensure all employees  use the dishwasher only  for a full load. 3. Install time flow taps  and dual flush toilets. Actions 1. Replace fryer with  energy-efficient fryer  that has earned the  ENERGY STAR. 2. Install ENERGY  STAR convection oven. 3. Add strip curtains and  automatic door closers  to the walk-in  refrigerator to keep  inside temperature low. 4. Install CFL bulbs in  every part of the  restaurant. 5. Install demand based  exhaust control. This  regulates the exhaust fan  speed in the kitchen to  meet ventilation needs. 6. Install energy  efficient Reverse Cycle  Air Conditioner. 7. Install 7 solar panels  on roof of building. Cost $3000- $6000. Time flow taps- $300 each Dual flush toilets- $500 Cost $950- electric $4,400- gas $1,800- electric $ 3,400- gas $5 per bulb. (Times approximately 25 bulbs for the restaurant = $125) $1500 – $2000 $3000- $4000 Through the implementation of these strategies, Nando’s will be able to reduce their overall operating cost. The investment in green technology might have a high initial investment, but will definitely be profitable in the future. For example: – Energy-efficient fryers can save up to $100 for electricity or $470 for gas annually. ENERGY STAR electric ovens can save up to $190 annually CFL bulbs can reduce energy consumption by 75% Cutting down on idle time for the combination oven can save up to $800 annually. By turning down the central cooling by 3 F, air conditioning costs can be reduced by 12-15 percent. The solar panels could help save up to $400 in electricity costs. (Energy Star, 2012) Clearly, these cost savings are quite significant, and a 50% reduction in costs is therefore perfectly realistic. Strategy 4: Nando’s is already committed to eco-friendly packaging practices, as they follow the strict guidelines under the Australian Packaging Covenant. However, Nando’s does not currently work with third-party organizations to improve design and recycling of packaging, they must begin doing so in order to benefit from specialist knowledge that those firms (e.g. The Cardboard Pallet Company) have acquired. Objective 2: Increase awareness by 50% of Nando’s Carnegie’s environmental efforts among consumers by December 2014. Strategy Actions Increase communication efforts  of eco-friendly changes taking  place through a range of  mediums and creative tactics. 1. Change in-store poster design  to a green theme to emphasize  the changes taking place. N/A Cost 2. Advertise in local â€Å"Caulfield  Glen Eira Leader† newspaper  and â€Å"The Daily Green† website  about the restaurant’s green  efforts. 3. Use outdoor banners to  advertise sustainability practices. 4. Distribute brochures inside  store to raise awareness of the  shift to sustainability at  Nando’s. $500 (approximately) $300 ($150 for each banner) $2000 Other strategies that Nando’s could undertake involve: Using their food waste and turn it into compost to use it to grow plants. They could do this by having their own compost recycling operation or send their food waste to a compost facility. Encouraging more eat-ins by providing facts about the environmental impact of packaging to consumers. Using the strategies listed, Nando’s will be able to affect its Triple Bottom Line positively. Through the implementation of the strategies, they will be able to minimise their environmental impact, reduce their costs significantly and improve the store environment for the people who visit the store (i.e. through improved design and having more decorative plants in the store). The achievement of these objectives will show Nando’s devotion to sustainability. References Archives (2007, April 11). McDonalds, Environmental McNasty? Retrieved 27 September, 2012 from http://theconcordian.com/ Baker, R. (2010, June 30). Nandos has lipsmackin’ giveaway plan. Marketing Week. Retrieved from http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/nandos-has-lipsmackin-giveawayplan/3015217.art icle Barriaux, M. (2007, July 05). McDonalds goes green, but not all customers are lovin’ it. The Guardian. 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