Saturday, August 31, 2019

Diplomatic Immunity

The importance of developing friendly intercourse between members of international community which is one of the avowed aims of the United Nations, necessitate the establishment of diplomatic relations between nations. As the complexity of international affairs increased and the interdependence of nations grew, countries recognized both the convenience and necessity of maintaining resident envoys abroad. A code of diplomatic procedure was developed and has become part of the law of nations.On 18 April l961, the United Nations Conference on Diplomatic Intercourse and Immunities adopted the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, hereafter called the â€Å"Vienna Convention†, which codified the law on the subject (Salonga, J. & Yap, P. l966 p. 252). Diplomatic persons have been accorded since ancient times special privileges and immunities on the necessity of permitting free and unhampered exercise of diplomatic functions and of maintaining the dignity of the diplomatic repre sentative and the nation he represents.However, the Vienna Convention clearly expressed that those who enjoy the privileges and immunities have the duty to respect the laws of the host country. Although inadequate, diplomatic immunity provides a means to forestall active hostilities that might arise between nations. Discussions/Analysis The person of a diplomatic envoy is inviolable. A diplomatic agent, official family members and his administrative and technical staff may not be subpoenaed as a witness, arrested or detained, prosecuted and residence may not be entered subject to ordinary procedure.The United Nations Organizations and other international bodies also enjoy the right of legation and are accorded diplomatic immunity by receiving nations. Nonetheless, without prejudice to the privileges and immunities, diplomatic personnel are not exempt from legal responsibility for infractions committed under the local laws of the receiving country. For death and injury committed, the receiving country may request the sending nation to waive the immunity of a diplomatic agent. Gueorgui Makharadze, a deputy ambassador of the Republic of Goergia to the United States was convicted by the U. S.  for causing the death of a sixteen-year-old girl and wounding four others in a car accident.As a diplomat, he was released from custody, but the Georgian government waived his immunity when the U. S. government asked for it (Frieden, T. & the Associated Press 2000). Less grave offenses, however, are being dealt with administratively by the sending State as in the case of theft. Mexican embassy asked a Mexican press attachà © Rafael Quintero Curiel to tender his resignation upon arrival in Mexico City when he was caught through a surveillance video stealing blackberry PDA units from a White House press meeting room.He was caught up at the airport by the United States Secret Service and was about to leave. He claimed diplomatic immunity and left (. Rosen, James, Max Emanuel & the Associated Press). Exemption from taxation by the receiving State is held to be part of the â€Å"non-essential† prerogatives of diplomats, granted to them only as a matter of comity or courtesy. A diplomatic envoy however is not exempt from charges levied for specific services rendered. An example of this is the charge on cars entering central London. There are reports that diplomatic immunity has been used to avoid payment of traffic fines reaching to several million pounds.There are embassies who agreed to settle their accounts. Londoners welcome the move of the United Arab Emirates to settle  £99,950 of traffic fines and hope that the U. S. government will follow the move made by UAE (â€Å"Embassy to pay†). The premises occupied by a diplomatic mission are also inviolable. The agents of the receiving State may not enter such premises without the consent of the envoy, except in extreme cases of necessity such as when the premises are on fire or where there is imminent danger that a crime of violence is about to be perpetrated on the premises.Such premises cannot be entered or searched and neither can the records and archives be detained by local authorities even under process of law. Premises of global organizations are also inviolable. Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) become the center of controversy when Geneva police entered the Geneva headquarters of the international patents agency to collect evidences in the alleged smear campaign against WIPO’s deputy head, Francis Gurry, following his complaint filed.The police authorities get rid of diplomatic immunity when they entered the premises of an international body to greet DNA samples from ten employees of the said organization as reported by the Tribune de Genà ¨ve. To allow the investigation to proceed, the Swiss government assented earlier to lift the diplomatic immunity from the 10 WIPO diplomats (Curtis, M. 2008). Diplomatic privileges and immunities may be waived, but as a rule, the waiver cannot be made by the individual concerned since such privileges and immunities are not personal to him.The waiver may be made only by the government of the sending State, in the case of UN International agencies; it is the member nations that could waive the immunity. Summary/Conclusion Diplomatic agents are entitled to privileges and immunities, such as: personal inviolability, inviolability of premises and archives, exemption from taxes and customs duties, exemption from local jurisdiction, etc. Privileges and immunities however, are not without limitations; envoys are not immune from legal liability.The host country may request the sending State expressed waiver of immunity or can declare persona non grata a diplomat or any member of his family who commit serious crime. Though immune from local laws, he can be recalled and prosecuted under his own country’s justice system. An envoy is immune from the criminal and saves i n certain cases, the civil jurisdiction of the receiving State for all acts, whether official or private. Thus he cannot be arrested, prosecuted and punished for any offense he may commit, unless his diplomatic immunity is waived.The procedure in cases where an envoy is guilty of a serious infraction of laws is to ask for his recall. Immunity from jurisdiction, however, does not mean exemption from the local law. It does not presuppose a right to violate any of the laws of the receiving State. They are not liable to be sued unless they submit to the jurisdiction. Diplomatic immunity does not signify immunity from legal liability but only exemption from local jurisdiction.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Impact of WTO membership on China’s Agriculture Sector Essay

Although fruitful for sectors like finance and banking, China’s WTO member has not proved to be that much lucrative for the agriculture sector of China since it provides both opportunities and threats for the country’s economy. At one hand, China’s decreasing tariffs of agricultural exports attracted global market thereby causing a considerable boom in the year 2004 in which China’s agricultural exports raised to $17. 3 billion. At the other hand, as a result of free trade China faces a major threat in terms of the competition for domestic grains like corn and soybeans with the imported grains of better quality thereby snatching the livelihood of many farmers and people related to the agriculture sector. For the very reason, China has not opened its market of agricultural products as much as it has for the manufactured goods. Another reason behind a non restricted import of agricultural goods is that such a step on China’s behalf would have led to a trade deficit. Keeping in mind China’s growing population, China’s import would have superseded its export in case of non-protectionism. Also, China faces a risk of suffering losses because such products are easily infected and such a scenario can not only leave a scar for China’s growing international repute but can also cause a major set back to the Chinese exporters. Impact of China’s membership of WTO on China’s Manufacturing Industry: The manufacturing industry of China represents one of the major successes pertaining to the membership of WTO. Because of the cheaper prices of China made goods in the international market, the demand of these products is ever increasing. In case of manufacturing of automobiles, China has been excelling since 1975 but the major boom after its membership of WTO indicating a production percentage increase of 41. 3 percent in a single year when its production number raised to 3. 25 million in the year 2002. Today, the China’s automobile industry stands among the world’s top automobile giants. In the case of China’s Telecommunication Industry with China having entered 2nd generation of mobile communications equipment, china has launched its replica mobile phone. Unusually similar in appearance to the high quality branded cell phones, china made replica mobile phones are cheaper enough to satisfy a number of customers across the globe. Impact of WTO membership on China’s International repute: Having discussed the impact of WTO membership on China’s economy, what remains worth mentioning is a series of changes for the other sectors of the country. The impact of globalization is not just confined to the financial gains but has also left a strong image of China thereby hushing away the chances of any other world war in future. For the pro-globalists, globalization has opened new horizons for China to reach out to the world. This has resulted in an ascendance of China’s products across the world. The proliferation of China made good across the world are so wide that it has left U. S. with a ‘China Street’ in the New York City and Pakistan with a ‘China Market’ in the country’s capital. Both these markets are peculiarly meant for the selling of China made goods that are much cheaper as compared to those made by other countries. It is the result of internationalization that China has permeated into every corner of the global community by attracting the customers with its cheaper prices. But the other side of the coin suggest contrary to the positive side WTO membership on China’s international repute. The exemption of trade barriers encourages the flow of infections and diseases through products from one place to another. SARS stands as one such example that had left many people at the verge of death. It was in first few months of the year 2003 that marked the outbreak of SARS. â€Å"Originating in southern China in late 2002 (or earlier by some accounts), the epidemic quickly infected more than 8,000 people in 30-plus countries, causing nearly 800 deaths within six months. By the time the disease was finally brought under control, Beijing’s initial mishandling of the crisis, as well as the SARS scourge itself, had taken a serious toll on China’s economy and its international reputation. † Impact of WTO membership on China’s Legal System: Gregory C. Chow in his article ‘The impact of joining WTO on China’s economic, legal and political institutions’ suggests that the WTO membership of China has not only resulted in economic boom but has also brought an amelioration in the legal system of the country. He lays his assumption on the fact that by WTO membership China is dealing with a number of international firms. The exposure of foreign laws would positively affect China to pave its way to legal modernization. Also, it is in the aggrandizing phase of globalization that China has enacted many commercial laws that involve the laws pertaining to bankruptcy and corporate behaviour. It is a direct result of this fact that the number of Chinese legal personnel continue to increase. With WTO membership, this move towards globalization is further facilitated thereby suggesting a further amelioration of China’s legal system. Impact of China’s membership of WTO on other nations: Of all the corollaries of China’s entrance into the World Trade Organization, the global competition supersedes providing both the optimistic and pessimistic implications for the world. At one hand the increasing competitive has triggered a wave of fear for many smaller economies by dragging them at the verge of economic fiasco. At the other hand, the same competitiveness has fostered the production of high quality products and innovative technologies employed by the competitors. China’s accession to WTO demanded a decline in China’s tariffs on goods. These tariff barriers were employed by China as a technique of economic protectionism in order to flourish the domestic industry that might have faced overwhelming competition by the entrance of foreign goods with low tariffs. Making it crystal clear, the WTO membership not only opened new opportunities for China to globalize its export but with the ascendance of export the integration also caused the increase of import by China being forced to lower the tariffs on imported goods. According to the findings of Dorothy Guerrero in ‘China, the WTO and Globalization: looking beyond growth figures’ China had to lower down its overall tariffs on agricultural goods from 54 percent in 2001 to 15. 3 percent in 2005. However the net results favoured China in a sense that even in the absence of high tariffs, some invisible barriers for the products of foreign countries were still implemented by China. These non tariff barriers indirectly dissuade the participants of international trade market from progressively entering China’s domestic market. These non tariff barriers involve issues pertaining to stringent security check, product certification, labelling standards, delay in customs clearance and import approval. The stringency of these national non tariff barriers significantly differ from the international standards and often keep varying from time to time. As a result of rejection based on these national standards, foreign manufacturers suffered a great loss especially in terms of agricultural products. This rejection has lessened their share of goods exported to China. Apparently being insulated from the economic progress and WTO membership of China, Chinese Politics also experiences changes in terms of the preference of communists or democrats. Just like WTO demands free trade and rights of all the nations, the Chinese citizens of future can be predicted to unanimously demand democracy for the rights of every citizen.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

What Really Matters in Cancer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

What Really Matters in Cancer - Essay Example The article states that the biomedicalisation of cancer care has led to the treating of the disease than cancer. The patient has been neglected especially aged patients who spend a fortune in treatment at the face discrimination (Purushotham et al., 1669). Treatment has become expensive and complex. It talks about the social nature of cancer. It states that cancer is a community disease in its origin and risk factors in spite of patients being treated as individuals. Hence, if the social aspect is taken, then its treatment should be different. It advocates for cancer self-help groups for patients. It talks about the consequences of neglecting the social aspects of cancer. The author advocates for compassionate cancer care where the patient is cared for rather than undergoing treatment alone. It is stated that social cancer medicine has been neglected for the molecularisation of cancer. The article advocates for research into the social nature of cancer (Purushotham et al., 1670). The information in this article is relevant to the real world in the care and treatment of cancer patients all over the world. It is applicable at this present moment as there are a lot of cancer patients suffering from the toxic nature of cancer treatments without the social care they need to go through it. There is a lack of cancer self-help groups to help patients in meeting the cost of cancer treatment. It is applicable all over the world as cancer does not select on the region to affect. It is a worldwide disease. The information is relevant because of the technological aspect of cancer treatment without the social care needed. Treatment is all about treating the disease rather than the person. There is no other author or research that opposes the ideas presented in the article. Macmillan’s research named Discrimination at Work support the ideas presented in this article. Further research into the social nature of cancer is needed along with research into patient-centered care (Purushotham et al., 1671).     

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Changes in capacity and dicision making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Changes in capacity and dicision making - Essay Example Every surrogate decision maker appointed by the patient or by the court or selected automatically, have the responsibility of representing the wishes of the grown up individual and take into consideration the patients values. Health care practitioners also have the responsibility of honoring these values and wishes as they are. When the wishes and values of the patient are not known by the surrogate, he/she should be guided based on the patient’s best interest (Buchanan et al. 1998). Capacity assessment plays a very important role in determining when a patient cannot make decisions; hence they should be made on his behalf. This has a big implication for the clinic health professionals and civil freedoms effects of the patient. The process of determining the patients capacity is very important and can have serious implication to the patient’s life or even health, it can also make the person offering the treatment to lose his/her career/job. A health practitioner can get wrong information about a patient’s health that he/she gets from the patient who is mentally impaired. When such information is used, it may end up endangering the life of the patient. It is, therefore, crucial to adequate capacity assessment to be carried out. In this scenario, there is a conflict between the father and the daughter hence an ethical decision-making will be required by the healthcare executive. The decision makers, in this case, must take into account ethical, justice to parties involved, autonomy, beneficence, & nonmaleficence. They should also take consideration their professional and organizational moral principles codes and standards. The bioethicist should come up with a proper and sound decision-making framework. A mechanism that comprise of ethics committees, services for consulting, and policies that are written. An official way with guidelines should be established to help in the decision-making process. However, given that the patient

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Drugs and drug traffiking Annotated Bibliography

Drugs and drug traffiking - Annotated Bibliography Example According to Bean (2014), free trade is noted to continuously be getting recognition as a result of the increasing globalization, of note also is that drug trafficking is also gaining this recognition. The book by Collison has been penned to tackle a large number of issues surrounding the political, strategic and cultural effects that contemporary drug policing has managed to have. Collison presents a strong argument that the current approach to the enforcement of drug laws has for the most part failed to be effective. The role of cartels in drug trafficking cannot be overlooked. Collison (1995) will be used to provide an analysis of the Guadalajara cartel. Collison (1995) highlights the fact that although the Guadalajara cartel was disbanded in 1989 as a result of the arrest of Felix Guallardo who was its main leader, this cartel nevertheless remains as one of the most notable drug catels. In their book, Dorn & South (1990), present a number of different perspectives pertaining to the issue of trafficking and law enforcement. In writing the book, the authors were able to interview and obtain valuable first-hand information from traffickers, police informers, ex-traffickers and others. The work by Dorn & South (1990) will be used to demonstrate that the penalties that are normally attached to drug trafficking are often varied based on a number of wide ranging factors. Some of these factors include the nature of the drug, the amount and the circumstance in which one is found with the drug. In his article, Duke conducts a critical analysis of the failings and gains of the drug policy that is being enforced in the United Kingdom. He notes that although different countries tend to have different penalties for drug use and drug trafficking, most countries tend to have what is essentially a blanket on both the use and possession of narcotic drugs. This book will be used to demonstrate

Monday, August 26, 2019

Econometrcs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Econometrcs - Essay Example Accordingly the log-log model was found consistent with the economic theory. For example, the coefficient of own price was not significant while the coefficient of output price was negatively correlated in the linear-linear model. Cost minimizing farmers’ input demand however, should be positively correlated to the output price i.e. with increasing output price which in turn increase farmer’s profit the demand for inputs also should increase. Therefore, in the urea fertilizer demand model the paddy price should be positively correlated with the fertilizer demand. And also the price of urea should be negatively and significantly correlated to the demand for urea. Hence the log-log model is consistent with the economics theory. Therefore, it was used for interpretation as follows. Table2: Test for Autocorrelation Breusch-Godfrey LM test for autocorrelation lags(p) chi2 df Prob > chi2 1 0.520 1 0.4709 H0: no serial correlation N*R2 = 23*0.516 = 11.868 N*R2 > chi2 Therefore reject H0. There is auto correlation in the model. Thus the robust estimates were taken. Table3: Test for Multicolinarity Variable VIF 1/VIF Log-Urea Price (Rs/Kg) 2.67 0.37453 Log- Open Market Price of Paddy (Rs/Mt) 2.42 0.41322 Log- Wages (Rs/Day) 2.08 0.48072 Log- Lag dependent 1.58 0.63344 Mean VIF 2.19 ii) In log-log equations the coefficients reflects the price elasticity of the respective variables. For example in the above model the own price elasticity of urea demand is -0.0561 i.e. with 1 percentage proportion decrease in urea price the increase the demand for urea by 5.6 percentage proportion. Similarly, the elasticity of urea demand for paddy price is 0.459 i.e. 1 percentage proportion increase in open market price of paddy can increase the demand for urea fertilizer by 45.9 percentage proportion. In the model the largest, significant coefficient was associated with the open market price of paddy. This shows that paddy farmers production decisions are influenced highly by the output price compared to the price of other factors of production such as fertilizer, labor and crude oil. However both own price elasticity and output price elasticitys are less than one and hence are inelastic. The demand for fertilizer is negatively correlated to the wage rates and crude oil prices. With increasing wage rates and oil prices the cost of production increase and hence these variables are negatively correlated in the demand model. The elasticity of demand with respect to wage rates is -0.261 while the elasticity of demand with respect to crude oil price is -0.145. therefore the demand for urea fertilizer decrease by 26.1 and 14.5 percentage proportions with respect to 1 percentage proportion increase in wage rates and crude oil prices respectively. Crude oil price represent the transport cost and also paddy processing costs. The goodness of fit as denoted by the adjusted R2 value of the above model is 51.6 percentage proportion and the probability value of the f statistic was 0.00. Therefore the model is statistically significant

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Communication Development in the Early Age and Negative Impacts on Essay

Communication Development in the Early Age and Negative Impacts on Personal Relationships - Essay Example Today in my studies, I read about 12-year-old James whose condition provided a case study for the author. James had a congenital motor disorder in the form of mild cerebral palsy. I learned from this case study that children with cerebral palsy not only had their movements uncoordinated but also suffered from learning and communication development disabilities. Due to their limited control of facial expression, gesture and speech, James words are slurred and often unrecognizable. Communicating with a person with the motor disorder is quite complicated as the typical response to questions is a confused gaze. If a trained person like me finds it difficult to manage the situation, then what about untrained people? The research of Michellin & O’Brien (2005), Levine & Nourse (1998) and Seo et.al. (2008) have shown that people who have motor disorders, in general, are less likely to find good opportunities in personal relationships and employment. They also require special types of education which are costly to bear. Children with cerebral palsy or other motor disorders interact with their communication partners differently from children who are undergoing typical development. Communication with a familiar partner occurs only to meet a particular purpose rather than for general conversation or chatting. It has also been observed that communication partners such as parents and siblings often take control of the conversation in an effort to prevent communications breakdown resulting from the difficulties in understanding the child’s signals.

Definitions of Evaluation Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Definitions of Evaluation - Coursework Example nt and development of the best workforce that will, in turn, enable both the employees and the organizations to efficiently accomplish their set goals. The opportunities that an organization’s HRD provides to its employees can be in or beyond their workplaces. The HRD could be formal as in the training programs that are offered within learning institutions (Heathfield, 2012). Alternatively, it could also be informal where managers within an organization are responsible for coaching their employees on various aspects concerning their organizations. HRD has also been defined as the departments that are found within organizations that have been charged with the duty of organizing their employees and reporting on their working relationships. This is done while ensuring the behavior best conforms to their organizational goals. A department of human resource that is forward thinking has been described as one that is concerned with the provision of effective policies, guidelines and procedures that are friendly. This department is responsible for ensuring that an organization’s mission and values along with visions that enable the company to focus on success are usually optimized. The department is generally responsible for compensating, ensuring safety, anddeveloping the human resources within an organization (Heathfield, 2012). Evaluation, on the other hand, has been defined as involving the activities assessing or judging the worth of some work that has been done within an organization or a service provision institution. The major purpose of carrying out the evaluation process is that it helps an organization in reflecting on what it intends to achieve in the course of its operations and assessing its success rate in the achievement of their set goals. It additionally helps in the identification of the required changes within the organization to ensure the set goals are achieved within the budget and cost constraints that have been set (Tufo, 2002). Evaluating a

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Critical Thinking Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Critical Thinking - Essay Example When organizations use effective critical thinking skills and processes, they draw legitimate conclusions based on perfect evidence and well-supported claims. In an organization employees are expected to make good decisions. And these decisions need to be based on a methodical and careful examination of all existing information. In order to take a good decision it is important to ask relevant questions, listen to the each and every one, compile complex information, and involve others and make use of their expertise in critical decision making. Recently, I got promoted as the regional sales manager for a pharmaceutical company. This promotion came to me as a reward for helping my company achieve the set target and also by getting involved in the companies’ decision making that will determine the future growth of my company. Until the last year the sales target was only 3 crores but the company put forward a proposal to achieve 50 crores in the next 10 years. Though it looked challenging, I took up the challenge and initiated the planning process. I made a through market survey to find out if such a huge target could be achieved in the next 10 years. I also took the feed back from my subordinates and also suggestions my superiors. Before I put forth the final plan in front of my company, I had to make sure the all my team members were with me and supported my plan. Once I finished with my planning I presented it. I was confident about the success of my plan because each and every step to be taken was planned out critically.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Why should we study rhetoric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why should we study rhetoric - Essay Example There are three kinds of rhetoric - deliberative oratory, forensic oratory, and epideictic oratory - each type, or the combination of two or all types, provide individuals with a means to effectively persuade based on the type of situation a speech must deal with. Deliberative oratory, for example, proves to be an effective tool when persuading an audience to take action in the future. This category is used today in avenues of legislation such as the U.S. Senate, where lobbyists convince legislators to take action in either abolishing or creating a law. Forensic oratory, on the other hand, dealing with events that happened in the past, is an effective tool to prove or disprove events or acts that supposedly took place. Lawyers in court proceedings use this today. Lastly, Epideictic oratory, which aims to convince an audience about the pros and cons of a belief or ideology is an effective tool commonly used in most public speeches today. Rhetoric is also an efficient means to communicate. By looking into the parts of a rhetorical speech, one can observe the efficient manner that the speech is organized. A rhetorical speech has three major subdivisions - the introduction, them idle, and the conclusion.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Observation Paper Essay Example for Free

Observation Paper Essay Conformity is behavior change designed to match the actions of others. During my research, I found many examples of conformitive behavior. I often related conformity to adolescents due to the fact that they usually do their best to try and fit in when it comes to group settings. This type of behavior can be seen in college students attending educational facilities away from home. Those that are in dorms tend to indulge in drinking even if they aren’t â€Å"big drinkers†. They do this to conform to that of others and to be included in the fun and try and fit in. One last example that I will discuss prior to getting into my own observation, was the study that was done my Crandall in 1988 which examined normative social influences involving bulimia in college sororities. Sororities are the true definition of conformity and those that don’t conform are usually not allowed to continue to pledge. In the particular sororities that were examined, Crandall found that it had its own norm when it came to the â€Å"right† amount of food to eat and the popularity within the sorority was associated with adhering to this norm. Those that wanted to be a part of the sororities needed to conform to the â€Å"norm† and fell into a bulimic state. These girls had to of known this was not healthy for them yet they wanted to continue to become of part of this group and follow the â€Å"norm† that was set out. To me, this is just ridiculous. Some of us have issues with conforming and I believe I’m one of those people. The observation that I decided to conduct was that of a military setting. I decided to do this based on the fact that when I was in the military, there were times when I struggled with those appointed over me because I knew the tasks that they were giving me were wrong. I wasn’t willing to conform when I knew it wasn’t right. This is where my â€Å"issue† with authority came into play. The military is one of, if not the largest, organization that requires conformity to the fullest. Those that don’t conform will be punished. During my reading I found a Japanese saying that really hit close to home. â€Å"The nail that sticks up gets hammered down†. What that means to me is that it’s better to not stand out in the group but rather conform and fall amongst them. Prior to the start of my observation, I had a background of the military setting so I guess we could call that an unfair advantage because maybe I didn’t go into this assignment with open-mindedness. I had the assumed idea that those being observed would  conform to the standards set forth by the military official in charge of them regardless if they thought that it was right/wrong. I envisioned that normative pressure would come into play since those that are in authoritative position are respected and looked up to. So, in order to support my assumption, I decided to have my wife, who is currently active duty and a Division Officer, assist me. She didn’t do this by choice, but I had her conform ï Å  I asked her to give personnel in her division orders that they would know were wrong. For instance, she gave three separate Sailors (2-E3, 1-E4) direction to go to McDonald’s to get her something to eat while in a duty status. Then, she briefed all of them at duty section muster that no one was authorized to leave the confines of the ship on their duty for any reason to include going to get something to eat. They all were aware this wasn’t allowed but being that she told them, they thought that it must be right. There was no questioning attitude, just a â€Å"yes Ma’am† by every single one. I wanted her to take it one step further so I asked her to do something that would affect the safety of Sailors and see how they responded. Would they conform? So, all her Sailors are required to wear protective head gear and glasses due to the dry dock environment and the hazards associated. She went to quarters and directed them all to come back tomorrow with only their hard hats. She stated glasses were no longer required. Not one person said anything when she gave this information out. No one questioned her but simply just went on about their days. The next day, over 75% of her personnel showed up without glasses. This was clearly a safety violation and could potentially have an impact on their individual safety but because she was an authoritative figure, they accepted that risk and conformed to what she stated. It wasn’t right but they did it anyway. After it was completed, she let them know that it was ok to question things that you thought weren’t right. She informed them about the study and stated that she was surprised so many had not followed their instincts and did the right thing. I wasn’t quite so shocked by the results. I saw a lot of Sailors do things that aren’t necessarily right because someone higher ranking told them and instead of questioning them, and possibly getting in trouble, they just did it. So, the results she got didn’t surprise me. In the military, it’s like the unspoken rule†¦just conform. Overall, this study was exactly what I thought it was going to be. In many  situations, we are uncertain how to think or act/react to those around us especially when it’s not the socially accepted â€Å"norm†. We tend to use the behavior and actions of others to dictate what were going to do. Informational social influence occurs because we conform using others as a source of information. That’s exactly what happened in my observation. No one stood up and said it was wrong so being that my wife told them it was right (she was the source of information), they did it! Was it right, no! This is where I think change needs to happen. Stand up for what you believe. Don’t just be rebellious because you can but have a reason and stand by it. Find people who believe in the same thing that you believe in and take a stance. Her Sailors should have confided in one another and they all should have worn their glasses to muster knowing that it was their safety that they were protecting. All of them should have stood up to protect themselves!

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

US Constitutional Policy for Privacy

US Constitutional Policy for Privacy Case of Reading Weeks v. the United States The main issue in the case The main issue, in this case, was that private property was not to be interfered with unless there was a warranty and if not it was taken as illegal according to the Fourth Amendment. The security officers disallowed from interfering with evidence if it is gotten through illegal means or undertaking illegal searches. Precedent or Laws used by the court to come to its ultimate conclusion The court undertook the case based on the Fourth Amendment to achieve its conclusion. Under this Amendment as per the United States Constitution, the security officers and the federal court are restricted from undertaking cases which involved evidence which was taken from suspects illegally or through unwarranted searches. All searches and arrests are to be issued a warranty so as to be termed as legal as per the law (Vile, 2013). How the court applied the law to the facts of the case The court had to order for his property which included papers and articles returned and he was left free because the police officers who undertook the search had no warranty for the search. Under the Fourth Amendment, he was protected by the law and his property was returned. Conclusion This case played a big role in ensuring that private properties are handled legally and all the rights of individuals are not misused and hence improving equity. Silverthorne Lumber Company, Inc., Et Al. v. United States The main issue in this case The main issue, in this case, was to ensure that any evidence which is gotten by obtaining documents from private property without a permit to be taken as illegal. Precedent or Laws used by the court to come to its ultimate conclusion The court used the exclusionary rule and the Fourth Amendment based on the constitution, which says that the evidence achieved without a permit from a suspect is illegal. The constitutional rights had to be protected in the case as so the case was dismissed because the tax papers copies were gotten without a permit (Cruft, 2015). How the court applied the law to the facts of the case The tax records were copied by the federal agents without the permit and as per the law this records were therefore seen as not perfect and interfered with. The court applied this rule as this led to doing away with the case. Conclusion The case played a good role in ensuring that the documents of individuals are not accessed without his/her knowing and therefore has helped improving privacy. Mapp v. Ohio The main issue in this case The main issue, in this case, was that the obtaining of evidence from a suspect to use in criminal prosecutions which are undertaken without a search warrant and through unreasonable searches. Precedent or Laws used by the court to come to its ultimate conclusion The court made a conclusion of the case based on the interpretation of the fourteenth amendment of the constitution to ensure the protection of the rights of individuals. How the court applied the law to the facts of the case The police officers had gotten to Mapps property and taken unreasonable searches. The court, therefore, had to do away with the evidence which was obtained illegally as per the constitution. Conclusion This case helped to ensure that the evidence obtained from any case is obtained through a way that the suspect is able to know. The role played by the cases to form standards of constitutional searches in the US This cases helped in ensuring there is a protection of rights for all individuals during searches. They have ensured that the privacy of individuals property is considered. They have also ensured that the individuals are able to understand clear reasons for searches before they are done. REFERENCES Cruft, R., Liao, S. Renzo, M. (2015). Philosophical foundations of human rights. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Vile, J. Hudson, D. (2013). Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment. Thousand Oaks, Calif: CQ Press.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Symbolism and Use of Water in Religion

Symbolism and Use of Water in Religion Question Title: On the element of your choice and the agency of that element. Water and its Purification and Curative Function Christianity and Bathing in Early Medieval Italy This paper analyses the natural element water and its purification and curative function, in the context of Christianity and bathing activity, in early medieval Italy, approximately between the fifth and the seventh centuries. The paper starts by tracing the qualities of water as an element in nature, and how the Italian society responded and produced social and cultural value. The next section examines water as a spiritual purifier in Christianity, with reference of works of medieval art. Lastly, the curative function of water is analyzed with the study of bathing activity in medieval Italy. In this section, the development of bathing from the Roman world to medieval Italy is also analyzed with the continuity of the discussion of Christianity and how it affected the peoples preference in bathing as well as their perception of water. Nature, Society and Culture of Water Among the four classical elements, water was regarded as the ylem, or basic substance of the universe.[1] Water is pervasively and powerfully presented within Western philosophical, literary, and geographical thought. Thales, who is widely regarded as the first Greek philosopher, claimed that water is the source of all things. Reasoned from the circumstance that moisture appears to nurture and inhabit all living things, Thales claimed that such wetness is contained in seeds and sperm, making water as the progenitor-agents of much life.[2] Such philosophical explanation can be supported by the nature of water. Not only it is obvious that the survival and growth of plants, animals, and people largely depends on water; the fact that babies are nurtured inside and protected by amniotic fluid before birth, suggests how particularly close and harmonious the relationship of the people and water is. The way how water was integrated into daily life and contributed to the civilization in early medieval society is particularly irreplaceable when compared to the other three elements fire, earth and air. Domestic usage of water, bathing, irrigation and drainage, fishing, milling and transport all receive full benefit from water.[3] The social and economic values of water can be showed by the scenes of the cities developed upon good sources of water, the numerous sanctuaries built near springs and rivers, and the gathering of women and men at fountains and wells. Water, as an essential element for any community, was not only a resource upon which people relied heavily, but also an element which largely produced philosophical and cultural reactions, which ultimately the Etymologies written by Isidore of Seville in the early seventh century was one of these. Isidore of Seville remarked that water is wondrous by its numerous unusual natural properties curing or sickening people, making plants grow, washing dirt off, quenching thirst, and even removing sins.[4] The natural element water imbued imaginations, associations and cultural values which step forward from its initial nature and practical function. Largely due to the natural function of cleansing and nurturing of water, people associate water with the power of healing and purification. For example, the health of a human body depends on medieval humors, which is the balance of water and the other three elements. Baths, spas, and hot springs were popular not only for the purpose of hygiene and relaxation, but also due to their belief in the benefit of bathing to their physical and spiritual health. The purifying and curative power of water as well as bath was certainly strengthened by the religious association of Christianity. Christianity and Purification of Water Water, as a friendly, useful and tangible element in the Middle Ages, is easily associated with positive qualities in most religions, including Christianity, which water is considered as a purifier. The importance of water in Christianity is interestingly expressed by the fact that water is mentioned in the Bible 442 times in the New International Version and 363 times in the King James Version.[5] One of the most important rite in the Church is baptism, which by the immersion of a person in water, one receive gift of the Holy Spirt and ones sins is simply washed away. The initiates died and were reborn in Christ in baptism.[6] This is when the element water is greatly associated with purification as well as the religious sense of death and rebirth, which is expressed in works of Medieval art, which can be viewed as Christian art in the early Middle Ages. Analyzing a baptistery in real life, the Baptistery of the Orthodox in Ravenna in Italy built in the middle of the fifth century (see Fig.1), the function of purification associated with Christianity cannot be more obvious. The sacrament of baptism, we recall, symbolized not only the cleansing of the soul but also the death of the sinful self and the initiates rebirth in Christ. The architectural design of an octagon plan associates with the spiritual resurrection of baptism, as for the context of Early Christian numerology, eight was the number of regeneration on the eighth day after creation the world began; and Jesus arose from the dead on the eighth day of the Passion Cycle.[7] At the center of the octagonal building is the baptismal font used for immersion, which is built like a bath. In such a Christian setting, the water poured inside the baptismal font is sublimated as a wondrous spiritual purifier, demonstrating how much cultural value a natural element water can imbued. Th e illustrations on the walls and dome of the Baptistery of Orthodox is stressing the importance of baptism as the first step in the divine scheme of salvation.[8] The center of the dome depicts the doctrine that Saint John the Baptist is baptizing Christ with water from the Jordan River (see Fig.2). This evokes a sense that the purest form of water which is able to cure and purify ones soul can lie in natural environment like a river, and is not limited to a holy Christian architecture or a luxurious bath. Interestingly the small human figure on the right hand side is a river god who personifies the Jordon River, showing the rich imagination and association with water by the Italians of the early Middle Ages (see Fig.2). Another example is an apse mosaic located not in Italy, but in Thessalonika in Greece, which has a similar background with Ravenna, that both are a former Roman imperial city that became an important Christian capital in the Middle Ages. Despite its location not in Italy, this apse mosaic in a small chapel dated in the early sixth century is worth analyzing as it clearly illustrates the holy quality of the element water in the context of Christianity, which the Christianity in Greece and Italy would not differ much in the early Middle Ages. It depicts the incarnation of Christ the Lord, represented in human form, emanates from a radiant glory (see Fig.3).[9] Below at Crists feet, four rivers of paradise stream down from a hilltop. Ancient tradition held that four sacred rivers symbolized the four Gospels that flow from Christ. An inscription at the bottom of the mosaic explains that Jesus is the spring of living water, clearly evokes association that water would have the holy power like Christ, including curing and purifying. Water is also somehow associated with paradise, which would be the home of Christ and those who had received baptism. Fig.1 Baptistery of the Orthodox, mid-5th century. Stucco sculpture. Ravenna, Italy.[10]     Ã‚   Fig.2 Baptism of Christ, dome of the Baptistery of the Orthodox, mid-5th century. Mosaic. Ravenna, Italy.[11] Fig.3 Christ in Glory, the Vision of Ezekiel, Hosios David, early 6th century. Apse mosaic. Thessalonika, Greece.[12] Bathing and the Curative Power of Water Noted that bathing is not a new habit but a custom that survived in medieval Italy after the Romes demise. Therefore, the custom of bathing in the Roman world is briefly explained as follows. To the Romans, bathing was an irreplaceable part of the daily routine, which created relaxation, happiness, comfort, and well-being after a morning of hard work and business.[13] Bathing is viewed as a necessity as well as luxury, as baths are built with lavish and magnificent interiors, decorated with trophies, inscriptions, and sculpture, which reflected the splendor of the empire and the prosperity.[14] Furthermore, bathing had already gone beyond the functional and hygienic necessities of washing, and had been considered to be able to cleanse physical as well as moral stains.[15] Romans usually exercise before bathing as a means of keeping fit and healthy. The feelings of regeneration and rebirth of the body achieved through exercise and bathing acted as an effective tonic for the mind. Henc e, bathing, from its earliest history, was considered as therapeutic measure and received full support and authority from ancient medicine. Continuing to the Middle Ages of Italy, the habits of bathing was continuously popular. The understanding of bathing as the means of cleansing and hygiene as well as the maintenance or reestablishment of health was apparent. The development is that there was a change in the preference of where and what kind of water to bath. In the Roman world, people prefer bathing in the communal baths that is luxuriously decorated. However, in medieval Italy, with reference to the previous section Christianity and Purification of Water, people tend to define water of purity as from a natural environment, hence they prefer to enjoy therapeutic thermo-mineral baths, that is built at or near natural hot springs, than the artificially heated baths in a luxurious setting. The popularity of thermo-mineral baths in the Middle Ages depends on the curative qualities of their waters. in relation to the balance of elements in the setting all four elements of water, earth, fire, and air tangibly present in a thermos-mineral bath which might help the bodies to achieve a balance between the four medieval humors and hence to achieve health. The nature of the thermal-mineral phenomena of the region and the technical and architectural setups built around them on the volcanic hills were described with great precision by Dio in the early third century: The mountains here, which lie close to the inner bodies of water, have springs which send forth a great deal of fire mingled with water à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ from this association the water is heated and the fire moistened. The water on its way down the foothills to the sea runs into reservoirs and the inhabitants conduct the steam from it through pipes into upper rooms where they use the steam for vapor baths; for the hi gher it ascends from the earth and from the water, the drier it becomes. Costly apparatus is in use for turning both the vapor and water into practical use, and they are very serviceable indeed for the uses of daily life and also for effecting cures.[16] Here we can observe the presence of all classical elements in the setting of a thermo-mineral bath the natural heat of spring is fire mingled with water; the element earth presents as the water passes through the foothills while thermo-mineral baths were built in comparatively rural environment which are rocky and muddy, and some baths even were built directly on top of the Roman ruins; lastly, steam is created, which is a wet and visible form of the element air. Besides, it is also believed the mineral content added to water would produce different curative functions for different illnesses. Concerning the curative effect of mineral water, one could referred to the ancient book written by Vitruvius, a famous Roman author and architect, of the first century BC. Vitruvius devoted an entire chapter in Book Eight to the properties of waters in the ancient world: every hot spring has healing properties because it has been boiled with foreign substances, and this acquires a new useful quality. For example, Sulphur springs cure pains in the sinews, by warming up and burning out the corrupt humors of the body by their heat. Aluminous springs, used in the treatment of the limbs when enfeebled by paralysis or the stroke of any such malady, introduce warmth through the open pores, counteracting the chill by the opposite effect of their heat, and thus equably restoring the limbs to their former condition..[17] Rounding up the qualities of water as a beneficial natural resource contributing to the civilization of the society, a holy spiritual purifier in the Christian context, and an agency that combines with different elements and substances to generate curative function; water seems to be a perfect and completely positive element in the eyes of the medieval Italian society. However, bathing, as an activity which ones body is soaked and surrounded by water faced opposition of the Christian Church interestingly starting from the fifth century. As mentioned, bathing was a luxurious activity in the Roman world, which the Church drew a connection between the devil and the sinful temptations of baths, was against the Christian notion of spirituality. Barsanuphius, a hermit from Palestine, was asked if it was a sin to bathe if it were ordered by ones doctor, then the Church responded: Bathing is not absolutely forbidden to one who needs it of you are ill, you need it; so, it is not a sin. If a man is healthy, it cossets and relaxes the body and conduces to lust.[18] This query illustrates the permissive position taken by the Church with respect to medicinal and curative bathing. Many thermo-mineral baths and other bathing facilities continued to function throughout the Middle Ages. Since medieval medicine depended as much as ancient medicine has done upon hydrotherapy as a preventive and curative measure.[19] The opposition of the Church to bathing in medieval Italy is not an opposition to water. The Church respected the curative function of water, and reduced bathing to a functional, hygienic, and medicinal activity, opposing the component of pleasure and luxury associated with the experience of bathing. This reflected the seriousness of the medieval Italian society in their rational and intellectual reflection of their compact and spiritual relations with natural elements like water. Bibliography By Wikipedians, Biochemistry: An Introduction (PediaPress GmbH, Mainz, 2011) Cynthia Kosso and Anne Scott, The Nature and Function of Water, Baths, Bathing and Hygiene from Antiquity through the Renaissance (Brill) David Macauley, Elemental philosophy: earth, air, fire, and water as environmental ideas (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2010). Dio Cassius, Roman History (trans. Cary Earnest) http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/home.html> [accessed 8 March 2017] Douglas Biow, The Culture of Cleanliness in Renaissance Italy (London: Cornell University Press, 2006) Fikret Yegà ¼l, Baths and Bathing in Classical Antiquity (New York: Architectural History Foundation, 1995) Marilyn Stokstad, Medieval Art (Colorado: Westview Press, 2004) Paolo Squatriti, Water and society in early medieval Italy, AD 400-1000 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998) Vitruvius (trans Morris Hicky Morgan) http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0073:book%3D8:chapter%3D3:section%3D4> [accessed 8 March 2017] [1] By Wikipedians, Biochemistry: An Introduction (PediaPress GmbH, Mainz, 2011), p.62. [2] David Macauley, Elemental philosophy: earth, air, fire, and water as environmental ideas (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2010), p.43. [3] Cynthia Kosso and Anne Scott, The Nature and Function of Water, Baths, Bathing and Hygiene from Antiquity through the Renaissance (Brill), p.2. [4] Paolo Squatriti, Water and society in early medieval Italy, AD 400-1000 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998), p.8-9. [5] By Wikipedians, p.62. [6] Marilyn Stokstad, Medieval Art (Colorado: Westview Press, 2004), p.5. [7] Marilyn Stokstad, p.41 [8] Marilyn Stokstad, p.41. [9] Marilyn Stokstad, p.43. [10] Image from Starvin Artist, History of Architecture 2, Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/251779435388066516/> [accessed 8 March 2017] [11] Image from Neonian Baptistery, Ravenna, Sacred Destinations http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/ravenna-battistero-neoniano> [accessed 8 March 2017] [12] Image from The Vision of Prophet Ezekiel, Macedonian Heritage http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/img_C235a.html> [accessed 8 March 2017] [13] Fikret Yegà ¼l, p.4. [14] Douglas Biow, The Culture of Cleanliness in Renaissance Italy (London: Cornell University Press, 2006), p.4. [15] Fikret Yegà ¼l, Baths and Bathing in Classical Antiquity (New York: Architectural History Foundation, 1995), p.5. [16] Dio Cassius, Roman History (trans. Cary Earnest), 48, 51 ff. http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/home.html> [accessed 8 March 2017] Fikret Yegà ¼l, p.4. [17] Vitruvius (trans Morris Hicky Morgan), 8, 3, 4. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.02.0073:book%3D8:chapter%3D3:section%3D4> [accessed 8 March 2017] [18] Barsanuphius, 336 (ed. S. N. Schoinas, Volos, 1960); A.H.M. Jones, LRE, II, 977; III, 328. [19] Fikret Yegà ¼l, P.317.

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Destruction of Macbeth Essay -- Macbeth essays

The Destruction of Macbeth      Ã‚   In the beginning of the play, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Macbeth is merely a nobleman and a Scottish general in King Duncan's army. Macbeth later becomes the deserving Thane of Glamis and Cawdor and the undeserving King of Scotland (Dominic 255). In the beginning Macbeth is a man with good intentions and a good heart; sometimes he just has a hard time following his good instincts and heart. Macbeth's ambition and the persuasion of his wife lead him to commit several horrible deeds. Macbeth is brave, good-hearted, disobeying, easily persuaded, overly-ambitious, and literal-minded and unimaginative (Scott 281).      Ã‚  Ã‚   Throughout the play, Macbeth is a character who shows extreme bravery. The reader can see his bravery through his efforts and victories on the battle field. The Captain speaks of Macbeth's bravery when he is describing Macbeth's triumph over Macdonald and his strong forces, "But all's too weak,/For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name-/Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel/Which smoked with bloody execution,/Like Valour's minion carved out his passage" . . .(I.i.5). The captain then goes on to tell how Macbeth and Banquo fought successfully through an assault of fresh Norwegian troops. Macbeth is obviously a loyal general who fights hard and with courage for his country. Macbeth displays his bravery when he kills Duncan and Duncan's two guards. Killing someone is in itself a brave act. In order to actually go through with the act of murdering somebody takes much courage. Murdering a person is an act which requires bravery to commit, but it also requires bra very to face the consequences if one is caught. Another instance of Macbeth's bravery is when Macbeth fights... ...l him. Just because three witches tell Macbeth of his future, does not mean it is a true prophesy (Scott 281).      Ã‚  Ã‚   All in all, Macbeth is a good man who is too easily persuaded by his wife to commit several awful deeds. Macbeth's ambition and disobedience gets him killed. It is true that Macbeth is given a prophesy to be King, and it is true that pressure is applied by his wife, but his ambition is what kills him in the end. Macbeth is a brave, good hearted man, who possesses a weak mind which allows his ambition and the persuasion of his wife to lead him down the wrong paths, ultimately leading to his destruction.    Works Cited Dominic, C. Catherine. Shakespeare's Characters for Students. Detroit - New York - Toronto - London: Gale Research, 1997. Scott, W. Mark, ed. Shakespeare for Students. Detroit - Washington, D.C.: Gale Research, 1992.

polymers :: essays research papers

Cornstarch is an example of a polymer. Polymers are long strains of molecules that keep repeating and have different properties of the original single molecule group. A single section of a polymer is called a monomer. It resembles the simplest form of the repeating portion of the entire polymer. These polymers may get stretched when you make a mixture such as cornstarch and water. This mixture behaves a certain way. There are many theories on why this may occur. One theory is because the strands get tangled, making it hard for them to slide against each other. Stretched molecules would offer more resistance to movement, like the resistance of a stretched rubber band. However, this argument does explain why rapid motion (stirring, shaking, etc.) increases viscosity, which is the property of a fluid that offers resistance to flow. Cornstarch and water is a non-Newtonian, organic fluid. Fluids can fall under different sub groups. They are either Non-Newtonian or Newtonian. They can also be either organic or non organic. Non﷓Newtonian Fluids are a group of liquids that change viscosity when they are stirred, shaken, or otherwise agitated. Cornstarch and water acts differently depending on whether it is still or agitated. This kind of fluid is called a dilatant. It becomes more viscous (has a relatively high resistance to flow) when agitated or compressed. The viscosity of a non-Newtonian fluid is also dependant on temperature. Cornstarch would decrease in viscosity if put in a boiling pot (it would become thinner). Examples of Newtonian fluids include motor oils, mineral oils, gasoline, kerosene, and most salt solutions in water.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The most popular explanation for the behavior of cornstarch and water is that when sitting still, the tiny grains of starch are surrounded by water. The surface tension of the water keeps it from completely flowing out of the spaces between the grains. The lubrication of water allows the granules to move freely. However, if the movement is abrupt (shaking, stirring, poking, slapping, etc.) the water is squeezed out from between the granules and the friction between them increases dramatically.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Other examples of polymers are present in our everyday lives. Water-resistant paints and varnishes derive from a family of synthetic polymers called acrylics. Polystyrene foam, or styrafoam, is used when making cartons to protect eggs, or making packing peanuts to cushion fragile objects for shipping. It insulates, so people put drinks in foam cups and coolers to keep the warm ones warm and the cold ones cold.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Free Essays on Vouchers, School Choice, and Charter Schools :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

School Choice and Charter Schools    I am not so sure I am for or against the idea of school choice as much as the idea for educational equality. If school choice and charter schools are the way this country will gain equity in the schools then I am for school choice. I feel that the impoverished are not going to get the best education that is available to them in their area. If the town fifteen miles away is a much better school, both educationally and developmentally, then I believe that the student that goes to school A should have the opportunity to attend school B. Why should someone who was born into an underpriviledged home live an underpriviledged life? This child did not choose to be born into this family, so I believe we should give them some kind of choice in their lives. A good education, along with other assets that one can gain through education, is the answer to bettering one's life. It gives these childrenm the choice to make a different life for themselves and for their children.    I am not so sure that there is an ideal school choice program, but then again does there really have to be? Choice is choice. If I am given the opportunity to choose, I will most likely make the right decision or I will fix the mistake that I made. If people are given the chance to better their lives, they will take that opportunity, if they are smart. We, as change agents, are not responsible to hold the hands of those who do not take the bull by the horn! There is only so much people can do for others. Give them the choice, and if they take it greeat, and if they don't, what else can we possibly do.    I think the only responsibilty of the change agents are to inform the public of their choices. Let the public know what is out there, and what the benefits are to school choice. Most people are going to wonder why they should take the trouble to transport their children to a school that might be a little farther than the school in the neighborhood. I believe that it is also very important to give many choices. I think it would be a mistake to limit the students to certain schools. Free Essays on Vouchers, School Choice, and Charter Schools :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics School Choice and Charter Schools    I am not so sure I am for or against the idea of school choice as much as the idea for educational equality. If school choice and charter schools are the way this country will gain equity in the schools then I am for school choice. I feel that the impoverished are not going to get the best education that is available to them in their area. If the town fifteen miles away is a much better school, both educationally and developmentally, then I believe that the student that goes to school A should have the opportunity to attend school B. Why should someone who was born into an underpriviledged home live an underpriviledged life? This child did not choose to be born into this family, so I believe we should give them some kind of choice in their lives. A good education, along with other assets that one can gain through education, is the answer to bettering one's life. It gives these childrenm the choice to make a different life for themselves and for their children.    I am not so sure that there is an ideal school choice program, but then again does there really have to be? Choice is choice. If I am given the opportunity to choose, I will most likely make the right decision or I will fix the mistake that I made. If people are given the chance to better their lives, they will take that opportunity, if they are smart. We, as change agents, are not responsible to hold the hands of those who do not take the bull by the horn! There is only so much people can do for others. Give them the choice, and if they take it greeat, and if they don't, what else can we possibly do.    I think the only responsibilty of the change agents are to inform the public of their choices. Let the public know what is out there, and what the benefits are to school choice. Most people are going to wonder why they should take the trouble to transport their children to a school that might be a little farther than the school in the neighborhood. I believe that it is also very important to give many choices. I think it would be a mistake to limit the students to certain schools.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Military Commander & the Law Essay

Both in the civilian and the military population, the issue of legal drinking age has been a contentious issue. The proposal to lower the minimum drinking age among members of the military in different states has attracted a lot of debate all over the United States. The basic argument has been individuals who are able to defend the country and participate in combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq among other areas are responsible enough to be allowed to legally buy and consume alcoholic drinks irrespective of the age. However, any debate that deals with changes in the law is always a controversial issue. There are a large number of people in support of the lowering of the drinking age in the military to 18 years irrespective of the laws in the state in which the military base is located. On the other hand, it has been opposed by a large number of individuals and groups (Bray & Hourani, 2007). However, it is important to note that if an individual is mature enough to take part in military duties, he is mature enough to drinking and therefore the drinking age in the military should be lowered to 18 years. Surveys carried out in the United States have always indicated that majority of Americans support the abolishment of legal drinking age limits in the military. The Americans are generally for the argument that all individuals in active duties in the armed forces should not be limited by the law to consume beer. Being a democratic country, the policy makers have no option but act according to the will of the majority. In the past, all military officials in active duty were allowed to consume alcohol in their military bases irrespective of the laws limiting the drinking age in the state. This changed in the 1980s when the congress enacted laws that required the states and federal laws on legal drinking age be enforced in the military bases (Powers, 2009). Since then, there have been suggestions to abolish this law in different states. The basic argument has always been if the individual is man enough to be in a battlefield, he should be able to handle beer responsibly. Common sense indicates that an individual is recruited and allowed to work in the military because they are adults and therefore should not be limited by the law (Hoellwarth, 2007). An 18 years individual in the United States has attained the majority age and is considered to have the ability to make informed decisions such as participating in general elections. The person can also take a weapon to defend his country. Does it make sense really for such a person to be denied the right to consume alcohol? I don’t think so. The common believe that tolerance to alcohol increases with age is not necessarily true. There are cases where younger people have been found to be more tolerant. Moreover, tolerance to alcohol is an issue of responsibility and discipline rather than age. Many young people serving in the US military are more responsible that some senior members of the society (Jacobson, et al, 2008). In conclusion, it does not make sense the limit the military personnel from consuming alcohol based on their age. The fact that they are mature enough to take part in combat missions and defend their country suggests that they are mature enough to control their drinking. Moreover, majority of the Americans are in support of abolishing legal drinking age in the military. Reference Bray R. M & Hourani L. L. (2007). â€Å"Substance use trends among active duty military personnel: findings from the United States Department of Defense Health Related Behavior Surveys,† 1980-2005. Addiction; 102(7):1092-101 Gittins, R. A. (1996). The Military Commander & the Law, ISBN 0788172603, DIANE Publishing Hoellwarth, J. (2007). Corps lowers drinking age to 18 in some cases, Retrieved on July 22, 2010 from: http://www. marinecorpstimes. com/news/2007/05/marine_alcohol_070511/ Jacobson I. G, Ryan MAK, Hooper TI, Smith TC, et al. (2008). â€Å"Alcohol use and alcohol-related problems before and after military combat deployment. † JAMA; 300:663–675. Powers, R. (2009). U. S. Military: Military Drinking Age. Retrieved on July 22, 2010 from: http://usmilitary. about. com/library/polls/blmildrinkingage. htm

Friday, August 16, 2019

Effects of Media Globalisation Essay

Summary of the Effects of Media Globalization by Mary Hickman The world, in many ways, has been benefited from media globalization. However, the lurking dark side of media globalization that threatens us, as audiences of the media, has to be acknowledged and cogitated. Undoubtedly, media globalization has transformed our lives in many ways. Friedman (2005) asserted that the seamless information sharing have brought nations closer in the facets of businesses, personal communications and medical industries. Unfortunately, media globalization has brought about many drawbacks to the world. Firstly, it is a question of the motivation behind media corporations. According to Chomsky (1996), profits are the primary motivation behind every multi-national media corporations. Overwhelming media businesses have swallowed the essence of journalism. As a result, media corporations have the ability to manipulate the media, creating their ideal audience of a certain kind. Due to the small pool of competing media corporations, the existing powerful media corporations have been dominating the media content. Through various underhand methods, the media corporations have effectively influenced and gained favor by the government. Friedman acknowledges that American media corporation, as leaders in the media globalization arena, are leading the media world into a dangerous position; posing a great challenge to media liberation. In addition, Siochru (2004) postulated that intervening American media has damaged cultures amongst countries. While the voices of the audiences are suppressed, proliferation of unhealthy media content such as cognitive content of greed has been appalling. Due to the minimum participation of media content from the audiences, we are vulnerable to any form of ideologies that are intentionally displayed by the media monopoly.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Strategic Alliances: A Competitive Necessity

The past two decades has been an era of global evolution, in which the globalisation of markets, the convergence of and rapid shifts in technologies, and the breakdown of many traditional industry boundaries, has rendered strategic alliances a competitive necessity (Ohmae, 1989). A single firm is unlikely to possess all the resources and capabilities to achieve global competitiveness. Therefore, collaboration among organisations that possess complementary resources is often necessary for survival and growth (Dussauge, Garrette and Mitchell, 1998).Defined as a long-term, explicit contractual agreement pertaining to an exchange or combination of some of a firm's resources with another firm(s), strategic alliances allow firms to share risks and resources, gain knowledge and technology, expand the existing product base, and obtain access to new markets (Burgers, Hill and Kim, 1993; Dacin, Hitt and Levitas, 1997; HagedoornAlthough the benefits of strategic alliances are well documented, w hether strategic alliances can be a viable entry strategy option for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to successfully penetrate markets held by major incumbent suppliers is less clear.In this paper, strategic alliances are shown to be an effective entry-cum-deterrence strategy for SMEs to successfully penetrate markets that are well established and dominated by major corporations. In addition, the conditions under which SMEs can use strategic alliances as an entry strategy without restricting themselves to target only those markets ignored by bigger firms are identified.In terms of methodology, this paper follows a deductive approach – one based on game theory, to examine explicitly the reactions of bigger firms to the entry of SMEs into their markets, specifically taking into account the resource limitations faced by SMEs. To verify that the theoretical arguments presented are consistent with practice, two cases of the use of strategic alliances by SMEs as an entry s trategy to penetrate markets dominated by major corporations are examined. The practices and experiences of these SMEs were found to be consistent with the theoretical arguments presented here.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Group Dynamics: Ethics in Counseling Essay

Abstract A current and very active debate surrounding counseling, psychotherapy, and the human services professions is the hot topic of ethics in groups. This paper will explore the intriguing world of ethics by looking at how ethics is defined, including ethical theories and philosophical concerns. Ethics are designed to enforce the needs, and ethical principles of an association, organization, or business, while demonstrating the expectations of professionals obligated to particular ethic codes. This paper will seek to examine ethics in-group counseling settings by reviewing empirical based evidence and outlining information from the American Counseling Association (ACA) code of ethics. In addition, this paper will discuss ethical practices in counseling, focusing on issues such as a competence, confidentiality, and rights while taking an in depth look at group therapy versus individual counseling. Furthermore, it will establish an understanding of why a therapist would choose one type of therapy over another. A spiritual integration will include a worldview perception of ethics in relation to God’s covenant. In conclusion, a first person analysis will discuss leadership qualities, an individual approach to group therapy, along with identifying ethical personal challenges. Intro Counseling is a broad term encompassing many types of counseling subfields; marriage counseling, family counseling, grief counseling, and group and individual counseling to name a few. Counseling offers a way for an individual to gain perspective on his or her behavior, emotions, relationships or personal circumstances. It acts as a means for addressing pain or working through difficult transitions in life. This is accomplished by providing methods for expressing feelings, exploring new ideas, and  identifying patterns in behavior and thinking. For many people it is a way to alleviate anxiety or depression and to find effective ways to develop their communication skills. â€Å"Counseling specialties share a common interest in facilitating human and systematic growth† (Ponton, R. F., & Duba, J. D., 2009). However, professionals in human service and mental health professions are challenged with ethical dilemmas involving their clients on a continual basis. Ethics in Counseling Throughout history numerous individuals have sought to maintain their psychological well being through therapeutic methods such as counseling. An important aspect of the counseling field is ethics, a system of moral principles, which attempts to differentiate between good and bad. According to Collins English Dictionary, ethics are defined as a social, religious, or civil code of behavior considered correct, especially that of a particular group, profession, or individual. Ethic codes are an integral part of both personal and professional lives that are the root of an individual’s actions on a daily basis. There are several types of ethics that are applied to different fields, however ethics play a very pivotal role in the various forms of counseling. One of the principle concerns of ethics is an individual’s well being. For counselors, according to Gravitz (2008), â€Å"facing ethical dilemmas is a normal and expected part of our work, and ethical awareness is a continuous, active process that involves constant questioning† An individual’s conception of ethics is based on his or her own system of beliefs, values, cultural influences and life experiences. In efforts to govern the professional application of qualified therapists, counselors, and human service professionals, a standardized code of ethics was developed by mental health associations. This code of ethics is a basic foundation that defines professional therapy and sets the standards for appropriate behavior, professional expectations, and protects the client, the counselor, and the profession as a whole. A therapist or human service professional is responsible for identifying the limit or scope of his or her practice and training in efforts to prevent crossing ethical boundaries.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The ACA Code of Ethics (American Counseling Association, 2005) is an articulation of the ever-changing relationship between counseling  professionals and society† (Ponton, 2009). Mental health professionals have an obligation to themselves and their clients to be familiar with their professional code of ethics and how it applies to their particular professional service. Group Counseling Among the many forms of counseling available to individuals is group counseling. In-group counseling a therapist, or therapist and co- therapist work with multiple patients in resolving specific issues. According to MacNair-Semands, R. R. (2007), â€Å"In a society marked by racism, classism, sexism, and heterosexism, we have an opportunity of transforming the group experience rather than perpetuating these dynamics†. For people who may suffer from social anxiety issues or who are not comfortable in a one on one setting with a therapist, a group setting can be very effective. Another important factor to consider is the cost involved with group counseling as opposed to individual counseling. As previously stated, group counseling is a form of counseling designed for several people at once, as opposed to individual counseling. In section B.4 of the ACA Code of Ethics (2005), it highlights the specific areas that should be taken into consideration in group therapy. An important role as the group leader is to keep the group focused and to encourage healthy positive communication between and among group members. A group will typically focus on one specific issue due to the complexities of having different people with unique personalities and circumstances together in a group. By focusing on one issue, such as depression, sexual assault, or social anxiety, each member of the group is surrounded by others who are struggling with a similar experience or concern. This allows the group members to feel heard and understood by their peers. As time progresses in a group setting, the cohesion and trust of group members also evolves. The group members are more confident, drawing strength from one another and able to support each other, essentially beginning to heal. For trained human service professionals (i.e., medical doctor, counselor, social worker, etc†¦), there is a high standard of ethical behavior that applies to group counseling to protect the group leaders and members of the  group. In an article written by Corey, G., Williams, G. T., & Moline, M. E. (1995) it notes how â€Å"we assume that the group leader’s personal life is a key determinant of how well he or she will function in the role of group facilitator†. However, in terms of ethical considerations, the focus should be on unethical behavior such as â€Å"sexual misconduct, incompetence, negligence, and malpractice†. It is essential for therapist to be knowledgeable about ethical principles and incorporate them into everyday decision-making. According to Brabender, V. (2006), â€Å"in the training of group psychotherapists, considerable attention is devoted to the mastery of theory and technique that will enable the therapist to be effective in helpi ng members to meet their individual and group goals†. There are many issues associated with group therapy that can provide significant implications for a group therapist or the group as a whole. In Section B.4.a of the ACA Code of Ethics (2005), it states that counselors â€Å"clearly explain the importance and parameters of confidentiality for the specific group being entered†. Unfortunately, literature on ethical issues with group therapy is not as prominent as existing literature within individual therapy settings. â€Å"One of the major clinical and ethical challenges for the group therapist is identifying and managing the difference between therapeutic and destructive pressures for members’ self disclosures† (MacNair-Semands, 2007). A group therapist is responsible for the consideration of group members’ sensitivities and disclosures to be held confidential by other group members as well as him or her. Ellman, M., & Pezanis-Christou, P. (2010) notes how â€Å"communication can affect the ethical behavior of a group†. If confidentiality is not handled in a professional and ethical manner it can cause anxiety and shame towards the group member and the therapist may suffer extreme repercussions from state licensure boards, and the group may encounter a premature termination. Individual Therapy An alternative to group counseling is individual therapy that involves individuals meeting with a therapist one on one. This direct approach allows individuals to identify effective techniques to achieve their goals and cope with difficult events in their lives. Individuals seeking therapy are typically suffering from different forms of problematic behaviors, feelings, beliefs, or some form of traumatic experience. This active form of therapy  may encompass many different treatment styles such as psychoanalysis that strives for personal growth and cognitive behavioral therapy, which examines the patterns of a client’s feelings and behaviors. Therapist and human service professionals will help clients focus on issues such as self-awareness, adjustment to personal circumstances, and finding understanding in their lives. For effective individual therapy to take place it is essential that the therapist or human service professional has a good awareness of self and how his or her own morals and values could affect the relationship with the client. However, â€Å"every form of psychological intervention presents its own set of ethical and legal problems and dilemmas† (Brabender, V. M., & Fallon, A., 2009). Ethical principles stem from ethical theories, which are divided into three general subject areas; metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics. When human service professionals are defending particular actions, they normally appeal to these principles and not the underlying theory. According to Fieser (2009), â€Å"Metaethics investigates where our ethical principles come from, and what they mean† this focus is on universal truths, the will of God, the role of reason, and the role of reason in ethical judgments. â€Å"Normative ethics takes on a more practical task, which is to arrive at a moral standards that regulate right and wrong conduct†. This includes the consequences of behavior along with the rules we should follow, such as the guidelines provided by the ACA Code of Ethics, 2005. â€Å"Applied ethics involves examining specific controversial issues, such as abortion, infanticide, animal rights, environmental concerns, homosexuality, capital punishment, or nuclear war. An individual therapist can be faced with a variety of ethical concerns that branch from these ethical theories such as accepting gifts, which could cause harm to a client or breach relationship lines. Yet, in the same instance, a counselor may risk insulting a client from another culture if they refuse the gift. â€Å"The psychoanalytic psychotherapist encounters various, often conflicting guiding principles, when faced with an ethical predicament† (Brà ¤sler, L., 2009). Confidentiality is a major problem that is often reported to state license boards across the country. There are a number of exceptions to this rule when the decision to breach confidentiality must be made to protect the client from him or herself, or  another person. Another important issue is in relation to boundaries, there are both sexual and non-sexual ethical boundaries that counselors should not cross. Counselor self-disclosure is one example of boundary counseling. According to Gutheil (2010), ethical aspects of self-disclosure identify â€Å"the most relevant principles, which are: †¢Beneficence (doing good for the patient) †¢Nonmaleficence (doing no harm) †¢The fiduciary relationship between clinician and patient, where the interests and welfare of the patient always predominate A counselor’s self-disclosure can often place an added burden on the client or take the focus off him or her and put it on the counselor. Some individuals, who are not comfortable with self-disclosure or examining their feelings in individual therapy, may choose to seek group counseling to be surrounded by others dealing with similar difficulties. Group Therapy vs. Individual Therapy The traditional form of therapy is a one on one interaction with a client and therapist, or human service professional. People seek individual or group counseling to address many issues such as depression, anxiety, low self esteem, mental disorders, or sexual assault to name a few. However, as previously stated, group therapy is a form of treatment that involves more than two or more clients at once and can sometimes involve more than one therapist. While group therapy encompasses many of the same techniques that are utilized in individual therapy, it does this on a larger scale and with a variety of complex ethical implications. According to MacNair-Semands (2007), â€Å"another potential conflict for group members is maintaining the confidentiality of other group members when they feel the need to discuss their group experiences with significant others†. Nonetheless, group therapy can be used as an alternative, or in conjunction with, individual therapy, â€Å" The complexi ty of combined therapy necessitates the therapist’s firm grounding in ethical theories and a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of the ethical codes of the human service professions† (Brabender, V. M., & Fallon, A., 2009). Depending on the situation, a therapist providing individual counseling can opt for group therapy to best  serve the needs of his or her client. â€Å"In principle ethics, when principles conflict, the practitioner must carefully weigh, balance, sift, and winnow competing principles to determine which principle has precedence† (Urofsky, R. I., Engels, D. W., & Engebretson, K., 2008). A therapist must consider these principles when in a group setting, because people often feel a sense of connection with other members of the group that could lead to potential conflict or jealousy. They are surrounded by people suffering from a similar experience and typically will grow a sense of mutual support with one another. Individuals are accustomed to being in groups in one form or another, through family, work, or school for example. Counselors may choose group therapy for their clients to bring them into a situation in which they may be more comfortable. Members are able to learn and grow from one another. Others prefer to have the one on one attention that is provided in individual counseling. Approach Like many counselors in the human services profession, the leadership qualities I possess have developed from my life experiences, personal ethics, morals and values. I have a strong, determined, willful personality that feeds into my skills as a leader. I am an active, empathetic listener and I will approach any counseling setting with the confidence and skill necessary to help others. I am flexible, considerate, and willing to adapt to any given situation, especially when my client requires change. It is my belief that we grow from our own difficulties. My life experience has helped me to communicate in an efficient manner, listen and hear more effectively, and maintain a non-judgmental, non-dismissive stance on the complexities in life. Therapy is about helping someone examine themselves in an honest and open manner so they may learn and grow from the experience. I am a sincere, genuine, and trusting individual with a passion for helping others; I have a clear understanding of my competence level and will competently provide the best care possible within my limits. I understand that what works well for one person may not work for another, therefore keeping in mind that every person is unique and finding what works best for each client at that specific time is invaluable. In a group setting, preparation is a very important factor, I would first  make a commitment to providing an ample amount of time to organize and plan for my group. I will make sure all group members are aware of all the rules and expectations in a group setting. My primary focus would be to encourage the group members to be open and honest with themselves, and to the group. I will tactfully handle any conflict that occurs, and provide substantial questions for the group to open discussion. By knowing my own strengths and weakness I am aware of my abilities and knowledge that I will bring to a group setting. For instance, if I am working with a group of abused women, I understand that trust and security are a very important factor in their lives. It is imperative that I be viewed as a trustworthy person. Therapy in any setting is a very personal and private relationship, it is important for clients to be able to trust and depend on their therapist or group leader. Corey (1995) indicates that: â€Å"Groups have unique therapeutic power that can be used to empower clients in their life changing journey, groups also have the potential to produce harm to their participants. Thus, the group leader’s skill, style, personal characteristics, and competence in group work are crucial dimensions that contribute to the quality of the outcomes of a group†. In a group setting, I will treat all group members with respect, set limits when necessary and include self-disclosure to maintain trust and cohesion. â€Å"For completeness, note also that the therapist’s comfort level, personal needs, and wishes for privacy also enter into the decision of whether and what to disclose† (Gutheil, G. T., 2010). I am most confident in a leader directed approach to group settings however, I am also comfortable with maintaining the group’s focus when turning the group over to group members in a group directed approach to determine the direction and content. In a group setting I will focus on the strengths of group members and help each to utilize their strengths when facing areas of weakness. I will also be cautious to make referrals when an issue has reached a scope beyond my capability. When faced with an ethical challenge, I will handle it according to principle and ethical guidelines. There are a number of ethical concerns, which I may encounter, such as end of life care for terminally ill patients.  I tend to be very emotional about this subject matter and may find myself in a situation in which I am unable to separate my personal beliefs from my professional responsibilities. Another area of concern is my roles and relationships with clients. In section A.5.c of the ACA Code of Ethics (2005), it outlines that a â€Å" counselor-client nonprofessional relationships with clients, former clients, their romantic partners, or their family members should be avoided, except when the interaction is potentially beneficial to the client†. I have a tendency to become attached to people and form close relationships, which will be unethical in a counseling setting. Because of my personal nature a main ethical concern of mine is boundaries in relation to self-disclosure. While a certain amount of self-disclosure can establish trust in a therapeutic relationship, â€Å"both disclosure and nondisclosure may foster or impair the therapeutic alliance† (Gutheil, G. T., 2010)†. A key factor when encountering any ethical dilemmas will be maintaining my professionalism and handling the issue in the most responsible, effective manner. Spiritual Integration One of the most widely used scriptural references used worldwide is found in John 3:16 (English Standard Version), â€Å" For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life†. This scripture declares God’s response to our sin, his covenant. The bible speaks of God’s covenant with his people in numerous places, explaining how our relationship with God is made by provision and exists by his terms alone. As humans through our covenant with God we enjoy a relationship with Him, which includes material provision in this life as well as the life to come. As counselors we enter into a covenant agreement with our clients, and the human services profession. According to Ponton (2009), when he speaks of the ACA Code of Ethics, 2005 he states that it â€Å"provides clear parameters of behaviors to meet the challenging needs of the people counselors are called to serve†. He includes that it acts as both a statement of counselor identity and an ethical covenant with society. In our covenant with God we are called to serve Him. One way this is done is by serving others through the human services professions, using the gifts in which God has given us to help others. Throughout the old and new testaments we read stories of ethical and moral concerns, such as in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (English Standard Version) where it reads â€Å" Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God†. In our covenant with God there is no bargaining, no bartering, or contract negotiations regarding the terms of His covenant. It makes an extreme difference how we think of our covenant with God, especially with regard to the motives of the heart. Our covenant with God is a unique relationship of intimate fellowship in mutual love. We have an ethical and moral responsibility to our God and ourselves in keeping the covenant. If human services viewed their professional covenant outside of the realm of cold, business like, rules and guidelines then it would make a world of difference in how clients are treated. Conclusion Having been on both sides of the counseling spectrum as a client and group leader, I am a firm believer in the therapeutic process and the power of groups. If a counselor is of sound mind and body, and has a full understanding of his or her ethical obligation then they will be fully aware of how to handle the ethical dilemmas that they may encounter. The American Counseling Association (2005), and other mental health associations provide distinctive outlines of things that should be considered when entering the field of counseling. The aforementioned sections of this paper are only a mere sample of what is indicated in ethical concentrations. References American Counseling Association. (2005). ACA Code of Ethics. Alexandria, VA Retrieved from http://www.counseling.org/Resources/CodeOfEthics/TP/Home/CT2.aspx Brabender, V. (2006). The ethical group psychotherapist. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 56(4), 395-414. doi:10.1521/ijgp.2006.56.4.395 Brabender, V. M., & Fallon, A. (2009). Ethical hot spots of combined individual and group therapy: Applying four ethical systems. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 59(1), 127-147. doi:10.1521/ijgp.2009.59.1.127 Brà ¤sler, L. (2009). The ethical container: Different dimensions informing ethical action. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in South Africa, 17(2), 53. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics Corey, G., Williams, G. T., & Moline, M. E. (1995). Ethical and legal issues in group counseling. Ethics & Behavior, 5(2), 161-183. doi: 10.1207/s15327019eb0502_4 Ellman, M., & Pezanis-Christou, P. (2010). Organizational structure, communication, and group ethics. (author abstract). American Economic Review, 100(5), 2478. doi:10.1257/aer.100.5.2478 Fieser, J., (2009). Ethics. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from http://www.iep.utm.edu/ethics/ Gravitz, M. A. (2008). Ethics in psychotherapy and counseling: A practical guide, 3rd ed. American Journal of Clinical H ypnosis, 51(1), 79. Gutheil, G. T. (2010). Ethical aspects of self-disclosure in psychotherapy. Psychiatric Times, 27(5), 39. MacNair-Semands, R. R. (2007). Attending to the spirit of social justice as an ethical approach in group therapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 57(1), 61-66. doi:10.1521/ijgp.2007.57.1.61 Ponton, R. F., & Duba, J. D. (2009). The â€Å"ACA code of ethics†: Articulating counseling’s professional covenant. Journal of Counseling & Development, 87(1), 117-121. Urofsky, R. I., Engels, D. W., & Engebretson, K. (2008). Kitchener’s principle ethics: Implications for counseling practice and research. Counseling and Values, 53(1), 67.