Death of a Salesman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Death of a Salesman - Essay Example Plot The plays shows that Willy Loman has just returned back home and is quite exhausted due to cancellation of a business trip. Being concerned about Loman’s mental disturbances due to a car crash, his wife advises him to inform his boss that he would work in his home city in order to avoid travelling. Loman informs about his concern to his wife regarding their son as he was not doing well in his life as he had failed to pass the math test during his senior year and did not participate in collegiate level of education. Happy is the second son of Loman and in the play he discusses and recalls his childhood life with his brother. They exchange ides about the depleting state of their father’s cognitive health as he had a habit of conversing with himself. On the other hand, Loman is quite angry with his sons because both of them have failed to achieve success in life. At the moment, the sons reveal that Biff had a business plan in mind just to calm their father down. The v ery next day, Loman approaches his boss asking to work within the home town and Biff proposes his business plan, but both of them fail in their jobs. Loman looses his job as his boss deems him as unfit to work and be a representative of the company. On the other hand, Biff waited for long hours to meet his previous boss, but his boss doesn’t recognize him and asks him to leave. Out of anger, Biff steals a fountain pen from his prior boss. On the other hand Loman meets his colleague, Charles whose son, Bernard has developed into a successful lawyer. Bernard informs Loman that during summer session of school, Biff was quite positive about him and wanted to do something worth while in his life but due to certain events in Boston, he decided otherwise. S Next both the sons and father meet up for dinner where Loman looses his temper and recalls the moment when Biff had come to meet his father and found that his father was with another women in a hotel room and since that day, Biff and his father started departing from each other. Biff and Happy both exit the restaurant leaving their father alone in the restaurant. When they returned back home, their mother scolds them for dumping their father and Loman sits outside while he converses with himself. Later Biff tries to make things better between him and his father but this leads to another heated conversation between both of them where Biff states that he is worthless and he is similar to an ordinary human being and both the father and the son have same characteristics. The scene ends where Biff consoles to his father that he loves him and informs his father that he should not expect something extra ordinary from him. After this event Willy realizes that Biff has forgiven his wrongdoings and would now try to become a businessman and to finance Biff, Loman kills himself so his son can obtain finances form insurance company. But Biff continues not to pursue business, while Happy decides to fulfill his fatherâ₠¬â„¢s dreams. Character Analysis The four main characters of the play includes: Willy Loman, his wife Linda Loman, his sons, Biff and Happy Loman. Willy Loman is a salesman and is 60 years old, he lives in the past and he is represents the attitude of a child. His childish attitude is supported with his first name Willy which might appear like a question of â€Å"Will He?† His second name represents his low life character who can not gain success in his life. Linda is quite an intelligent and a supportive character and wants his children to support each other in

Rin vs Tide Essay Example for Free

Rin vs Tide Essay In the first move of its kind by HUL, homecare brand Rin has openly taken on rival P6s Tide, without the typical airbrushing or pixellation to hide the rival brand name on TV and ads on radio. The current high profile aggressive stand of Rin has a background story. There was a proxy war going on between Rin and Tide since December 2009. In order to retain its market share, in December PG introduced a low-cost detergent, Tide Natural, claiming in its ads that it provided whiteness with special fragrance. The product was positioned against HI-ILs Rin and Wheel. Tide Naturals was priced significantly ower to the Rin. Tide Naturals was launched at Rs 50 per Kg , Rs 10 for 200 gms and Rs 20 for400 gms. Rin was priced at Rs 70 per Kg at that time. The reduced price of the Tide variant was an immediate threat to Rin. Since Tide already has an established brand equity, Rin was bound to face the heat. Although HUL had another low priced brand Wheel priced at Rs 32/Kg, Tide was not in the same category of Wheel. Rin had to cut the price to resist the market share erosion. HUL was facing a steady erosion in the market share in most of the categories. In the detergent category itself, he brand faced a market share fall of 2. 5% in December 2009. With P;G starting a price war, HUL had to react and it did by cutting the price of Rin by 30% to Rs 50 per Kg. HUL also reacted to the Tide Naturals price war in a Guerrilla Marketing way. It took PG to the court regarding the Tide Naturals advertisement. The contention was that Tide Naturals was giving the impression to the consumers that it contained natural ingredients like Sandal. The court ordered P;G to modify the campaign and While P;G opened a war in the price front, HUL retaliated by opening two war fronts. One was the direct comparative ad and other through the court order asking P;G to modify Tide Naturals Ad and to admit that Tide Naturals is not Natural. So we can that HUL retaliated with an aggressive two-pronged strategy. * First, it challenged Tides claim of whiteness with special fragrance in the Chennai High Court, which passed an order on 25 February 2010 (CS 189/2010), directing PG to modify the advertisement since it was not really able to substantiate the claim of whiteness with special fragrance. The court has granted an injunction and directed PG to respond within three weeks. Three days later on 28 February, HUL launched an aggressive TV campaign aired during prime time It was Rin which won the Round 1 of this war. It generated enough Buzz about the brand with all the media talking about the campaign. Rin was also able to neutralize the aggression of PG to certain extent. Tide chose not to respond because further fuel to the fight can highlight the fact that Tide Naturals does not contain any Natural Ingredients which may negatively affect the brands standing in the consumers mind. So it is better to play the role of a poor victim at this point of time. PG can celebrate because of the free advertisement it got for Tide Naturals because of the comparative ad of Rin. Although Indian marketing world have seen lot of comparative ads, the Rin Vs Tide is a rare case of direct comparative ad where the brand has taken the competitor brands name and challenging it head on. That is the main reason behind the media noise about the campaign. PG India always was a laid back competitor in the FMCG market. Despite having the product portfolio and market strength, it never realized its potential. The company was happy with their minuscule market share in the various categories in the FMCG usiness. For television viewers, it was hard to miss the now infamous Rin commercial, which was unleashed on Indian television screens on Thursday (February 25, 2010). Perhaps bombardment would be a better word: the high-voltage TVC was supported by a media plan that included primetime slots across all major GECs and news channels, in an effort to deliver maximum impact over the long weekend. The ad shows two mothers waiting at a bus stop for their children, who are returning from school. They spot each others shopping baskets one womans basket sports a packet of Rin, while the other has purchased Tide Naturals. The Tide lady looks proudly at her purchase and brags about Tides khushboo aur safedi bhi offering When the school bus rounds the corner and drops off the two children, the Tide ladys boy is wearing a visibly dull shirt, while behind him emerges a boy clad in a spotless white shirt, who runs past the shocked Tide lady, over to his Rin mother. To make things cheekier, the boy asks his mother, Aunty chaunk kyun gayi? (Why is aunty so shocked? ), where the word chaunk could easily be a reference to Tides punch line, Chaunk gaye? The voiceover concludes that Rin is behtar or superior to Tide, when it comes to whiteness, and at a chaunkane wala price of Rs 25, at that. A super, Issued in the interest of Rin users, completes the commercial. Comparative advertising is, quite obviously, not a new phenomenon by any standards. Every other brand has dabbled with it at some point, while it is almost formulaic for some categories. However, to make comparisons with competition involves discretion in execution, such as air-brushing or pixelating a competitors brand name/pack shot, and most definitely, keeping away from referring to rival brand names. With this ad, however, Rin seems to have broken every rule in the book. But what may seem like a publicity stunt to some, is, in all probability, a well-thought out strategy on the part of Rins makers, Hindustan Unilever (HUL). There are two debatable issues in this advertisement: * The advertisement clearly shows a packet of Tide Naturals, which has green packaging and is a cheaper extension of Tide, which orange packaging) whereas the woman in the commercial says Tide se kahin behatar safedi de Rin (Rin gives better whiteness than Tide)- Does this amount to misleading the public as per the Indian Law? At the end of the advertisement, a line is displayed on the bottom stating hat this claim is based on laboratory tests done through globally accepted protocols in independent third-party laboratories and Schematic representation of superior whiteness is based on Whiteness Index test of Rin Vs Tide Naturals as tested by Independent lab .

The drug control policy of the United States Essay -- Criminology, Dru

The drug control policy of the United States has always been a subject of debate. From Prohibition in the early 1930’s to the current debate over the legalization of marijuana, drugs have always been near the top of the government’s agenda. Drug use affects every part of our society. It strains our economy, our healthcare, our criminal justice systems, and it endangers the futures of young people. In order to support a public health approach to drug control, the Obama administration has committed over $10 billion to drug education programs and support for expanding access to drug treatment for addicts (Office). The United States should commit more government resources to protect against illegal use of drugs by youths and provide help for recovering addicts. The current situation of drug control in the United States is imperfect and inadequate. Millions of men and women, both young and old, are affected by illicit drug use. It costs the United States about $6,123 every second because of drug use and its consequences (Office). Moreover, 90 percent of all adults with a substance use disorder started using under the age of 18 and half under the age of 15. Children who first smoke marijuana under the age of 14 are five times more likely to abuse drugs as adults than those who first use marijuana at age 18. Finally, the children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop problems with alcohol (Prevent). Current legislation that has to do with the United States’ drug control policy is the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the manufacture, importation, possession, use, and distribution of certain substances (Shannon). In 1966, Congress passed the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act also known as the NARA. This legislati ... ...ww.csdp.org/cms/>. Gandey, Allison. â€Å"New National Drug Control Policy Includes More Prescription Monitoring.† Medscape Today. Web MD, 7 May 2010. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. . Manchikanti, Laxmaiah. â€Å"National Drug Control Policy and Prescription Drug Abuse: Facts and Fallacies.† Pain Physician Journal 10 (May 2011): 399-424. Print. â€Å"Office of National Drug Control Policy.† The White House. USA, 1 Dec. 2011. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. . â€Å"Prevent.† The Partnership at Drugfree.org. The Partnership at Drugfree.org, 2011. Web. 18 Dec. 2011. . Shannon, Elaine. â€Å"The War on Drugs: A Losing Battle.† Time.com. Time Magazine, 3 Dec. 2010. Web. 18 Dec. 2011. . Wyler, Liana. â€Å"International Drug Control Policy.† CRS Report for Congress (June 2008): 2-46. Print.

Relating to Life Struggles Portrayed in Tim OBriens The Things They C

Relating to Life Struggles Portrayed in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried There are many things that I carry around with me in my daily life that I both need and don't need. Although, I carry many more positive things than I do negative, I know that they are there and how I must learn to use them is essential. Even if I don't carry around physical "things" like the soldiers in the story, I carry around the thoughts and images of my past and of the opinions and judgments of my future. Troubles that I dealt with as a teenager follow me into my present life now. Sure, we as teenagers made some stupid mistakes, but there are still a few of them that haunt me even to this day. I have learned that they will never disappear because of how much of an impact it had on me, but I have discovered on my own when it is healthy and harmful to bring them up. I had disagreements with my parents and I saw their viewpoints as outrageous and unfair but I have educated myself to know that they were in the right, while I was in the wrong. That is something that I will go on to pass through my chi...

Farley Mowat’s “Never cry wolf” Essay

Farley, Mowat’s â€Å"Never cry wolf,† is a book based on the research of the lifestyle of wolves in the Arctic Circle. Mowat uses his experience to educate the society of the social ills conducted by the hunters towards the wolves. The book displays the risk that the wolf pack families face due to the human activities in the area. The title of the book acts as a symbol in reference to the story of the boy who cried wolf. The book thus enables the reader to think beyond the tile so as to form an opinion of the author’s message. The book challenges the human communities who are in charge of the nature around them. Humans tend to overstep their authority by infringing on the rights of the wolves. The analysis of the book educates the society of the inhumane activities that humans are inflicting on the animals. â€Å"The wolf is a savage, powerful killer. It is one of the most feared and hated animals known to man and with excellent reason† Chapter 6, pg. 60. The passage showcases the dangers that the wolf portrays. Human beings often misinterpret the actions of the wolf due to its dangerous nature. Despite the fact that the wolf continues to become extinct, it poses a threat to the human beings who live next to the packs. This makes the world undesirable by man. â€Å"Evidence obtained by various Government agencies from hunters, trappers and traders seemed to prove that the plunge of the caribou toward extinction was primarily†¦ The intervention by the government saw the danger that the wolves are exposed to. Human activities were mostly responsible for these dynamics making them the number on culprits. This also displayed possible extinction of the breed of wolves if authorities continued to ignore the circumstances. â€Å"I had made my decision that, from this hour onward, I would go open-minded into the lupine world and lean to see and know the wolves, not for what they were supposed to be, but for what they actually are† Chapter 7, pg. 77. Morwat made a personal decision to protect the wildlife from the outside environment. One of the steps he takes is orienting himself with the lives of the wolves. This involves learning about the exact nature of the wolves instead of forming an assumption about them. This in turn will help remove the ignorance that he had so as to improve society’s awareness of the wolves. In conclusion, human beings are responsible for the surrounding environment. This involves observing the safety of all animals in and outside the wild. This is however, not the case in that the number of wild animals continues to diminish due to the human activity. The wolves are one of the animals that continue to face the wrath of human beings. The analysis of the book is thus ideal for the education of the public. This in turn will improve the existing relationship between man and nature.

The Progression of American Music in the 20th Century essays

The Progression of American Music in the 20th Century essays It is Americas music born out of a million American negotiations: between having and not having; between happy and sad, country and city; between black and white and men and women; between the Old Africa and the Old Europe which could only have happened in an entirely new world. (Ward 2) Jazz was truly the music of America. It is a mixture of the musical roots of all the people in America at that time. It borrows European classical themes, using harmonious melodies and peculiar scales, which allows it to be one of the only improvisational art forms allowing the artist to literally make up music on the spot. Many composers, both European and American, introduced aspects of jazz into their concert music. Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Hindemith, and Milhaud at one time or another imitated the rhythms of jazz, its typical harmonies, or its improvisational manners of playing the trumpet, saxophone, or percussion. (Hanning 542) Through all that it fuses the rhythmic percussion and bac kgrounds of African music, incorporating many gospel themes and complicated drum patterns, even often borrowing Latin styles. Prior to jazz, ragtime music, which used complicated chord structures with confusing rhythms and tempos, was very popular. Jazz used these theories and mixed them with powerful brass sounds found in Dixieland music, which sprouted from the south, often using gospel hymns and spirituals in an upbeat style; Dixieland was popular since the Civil War. One of the musicians who had the one of the biggest impacts in jazz, if not the biggest, was a New Orleans trumpeter named Louis Armstrong. With his simple, upbeat melodies and the invention of the Bebop Scale, Armstrong is undoubtedly the founder of true jazz. (Ward 43) Armstrong was famous for his bebop trumpet sound and remarkably gravely voice, perfect for a scat solo, which is just gibberish sung in different key...

Introducing Phrasal Verbs to ESL Students

Introducing Phrasal Verbs to ESL Students Getting students to come to terms with phrasal verbs is a constant challenge. The fact of the matter is that phrasal verbs are just rather difficult to learn. Learning phrasal verbs out of the dictionary can help, but students really need to read and hear phrasal verbs in context for them to be able to truly understand the correct usage of phrasal verbs. This lesson takes a two-pronged approach to helping student learn phrasal verbs. It begins with a reading comprehension which can also serve to introduce some interesting student stories for discussion. This comprehension is peppered with phrasal verbs which can then be discussed as a class. The second part of the lesson includes a brainstorming session for students to create lists of phrasal verbs to share with one another. Once students have become familiar with phrasal verbs, you can refer them to these resources to continue their learning. This phrasal verbs reference list will get students started with short definitions of approximately 100 of the most common phrasal verbs. This guide in how to study phrasal verbs will help them develop a strategy to understand and learn phrasal verbs. Aim: Improve phrasal verb vocabulary Activity: Reading comprehension followed by brainstorming session and discussion Level: Intermediate to upper intermediate Outline: Have the students read the short story full of phrasal verbs.Ask them some general comprehension questions about the text. Once they have read the text, ask them to tell a story of their own from their youth.Now that you have discussed the text, ask the students to find the phrasal verbs from the list which occur in the reading selection. Once the students have found these phrasal verbs, ask the students to provide synonyms for the phrasal verbs.Tell the students a little bit about what you have done that teaching day:Example: I got up at seven this morning. After I had breakfast, I put together tonights lesson plan and came to school. I got into the bus at X square and got off at Y square...Ask students which of the verbs you used were phrasal verbs and ask them to repeat those verbs. At this point, you might want to ask them if they have ever taken a look under the heading get in a dictionary. Ask them what they discovered.Explain that phrasal verbs are very important in English - especially for native speakers of the language. You can point out that it might not be important for them to be able to use a lot of phrasal verbs if they use their English with other non-native speakers. However, it is important that they have a passive knowledge of phrasal verbs, as they will need to understand more and more phrasal verbs as they become used to reading, listening, seeing and exploring authentic materials in English. Obviously, if they are going to use their English with native speakers, they will really need to buckle down and get used to using and understanding phrasal verbs. Write a list of common verbs that combine with prepositions to make phrasal verbs. I would suggest the following list:TakeGetMakePutBringTurnBeCarryDivide students into small groups of 3-4 each, ask students to choose three of the verbs from the list and then brainstorm to come up with as many phrasal verbs using each of the three verbs that they can. They should also write example sentences for each of the phrasal verbs.As a class, ask students to take notes while you write the phrasal verbs down that each group provides. You should then give a spoken example or two for each of the phrasal verbs so that students can understand the phrasal verbs from the context of what you are saying.Once you have provided the students with examples, ask the students to read their own examples and check to make sure that they have used the phrasal verbs correctly. NOTE: Dont introduce the idea of separable and inseparable phrasal verbs at this point. The students will already be dealing with almost too much new information. Save that for a future lesson! Adventures Growing Up I was brought up in a small town in the countryside. Growing up in the countryside offered lots of advantages for young people. The only problem was that we often got into trouble as we made up stories that we acted out around town. I can remember one adventure in particular: One day as we were coming back from school, we came up with the brilliant idea to make out that we were pirates looking for treasure. My best friend Tom said that he made out an enemy ship in the distance. We all ran for cover and picked up a number of rocks to use for ammunition against the ship as we got ready to put together our plan of action. We were ready to set off on our attack, we slowly went along the path until we were face to face with our enemy - the postmans truck! The postman was dropping off a package at Mrs. Browns house, so we got into his truck. At that point, we really didnt have any idea about what we were going to do next. The radio was playing so we turned down the volume to discuss what w e would do next. Jack was all for switching on the motor and getting away with the stolen mail! Of course, we were just children, but the idea of actually making off with a truck was too much for us to believe. We all broke out in nervous laughter at the thought of us driving down the road in this stolen Postal Truck. Luckily for us, the postman came running towards us shouting, What are you kids up to?!. Of course, we all got out of that truck as quickly as we could and took off down the road. Phrasal Verbs to make outto make off withto drop offto set offto get out ofto get intoto get readyto be up toto take offto grow upto make upto set offto turn downto get intoto bring upto break out There are at least 7 other phrasal verbs in the text. Can you find them?

Educational psychology Essays

Educational psychology Essays Educational psychology Essay Educational psychology Essay Appraisal is the procedure of roll uping. interpretation. and synthesizing information in order to do determinations about pupils ; supply scholars feedback about their advancement and their strengths and failings ; justice instructional effectivity and inform educational policy ( American Federation of Teachers. et Al. . 1990 as cited in Gage and Berliner. 1998 ) . On the other manus. motive is merely what moves scholars from ennui to involvement so that they continue larning. It arouses and directs learner’s activities towards larning over clip. Appraisals can actuate scholars if instructors and pupils functions are efficaciously performed. For case. the function of a instructor can be planing undertakings in a manner that scholars can finish with sensible sum of attempt. Difficult trials should be divided into subgroups that are accomplishable without inordinate attempt. The function of the instructor even includes ability to inform scholars in progress about the nature of the appraisals. In this manner. appraisals are able to actuate student’s attempt to larn. Furthermore. Nicholls ( 1999 ) as cited in Stepleton ( 2001 ) states appraisals will actuate scholars if they are non seen as a signifier of anguish to the pupils. The instructor should guarantee that pupils understand that appraisals are merely meant to help scholars towards accomplishment of effectual acquisition and attainment of educational ends. If pupils understand this. they will value appraisals and organize a positive attitude towards appraisals at that place by acquiring motivated to larn. Appraisals. if used judicially as in rating T trials and marking of Markss. can actuate scholars to larn ( Gage and Berliner. 1998 ) . Similarly. it is pointed out that given that scholars are labelled on the footing of appraisals and that these labels create outlooks about learner’s ability. features and educational competency. Teachers have to be careful in labelling pupils. Stepleton ( 2001 ) states that harmonizing to self-fulfilment prognostication theory. pupils learn to act in line with the label or feature that has been applied to them. Hence. if appraisals are to actuate pupils. instructors must avoid labelling scholars as hapless. dull. incompetent or failures on the footing of quantitative consequences of appraisals in the category. If a pupil feels the instructor knows him or her as an underachiever. the scholar may cleave to that outlook. On the other manus. good labels such as first-class. good and fantastic should be encouraged and used suitably to increase motive on the pupils larning attempts.

Embedding Core Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Embedding Core Skills - Essay Example According to Moser report (1998), one in five people were found to be functionally illiterate. The more recent Leitch report (2006) also discovered that a third of adults are not equipped with the basic school-leaving qualifications. Chances of functioning or success are undermined without this minimum core level. The two reports were funded by the government that was concerned that learners were not being equipped with the required level in core subjects like information and communication technology, mathematics and literacy. Embedding core skills in vocational subjects with emphasis on transferred skills that could be applied to workplace was considered. That’s why screening assessment like the BKSB are very important especially at the start of a course as a section of their opening assessment. It is very essential to know the level that your learners are operating at for their functional skills. Knowing where your students are, makes it possible for you to make out what they need to be taught. Having this knowledge will help in building towards where the students need to be. Embedding is the term mostly used to refer to the inclusion of these functional skills. Embedding, as defined in the Oxford English Dictionary (2012), refers to fixing an object deeply and firmly in a surrounding mass. Additionally it refers to implanting a feeling or an idea for it to become ingrained in a certain context. This indicates clearly that trainers and teachers have a responsibility of incorporating functional skills at any available chance. Beginning with planning, by writing lesson plans and schemes of learning which take into consideration core elements, showing details how ICT, numeracy and Literacy will be included to some degree in every lesson, helps in finding creative solutions. Therefore, it is the responsibility of teachers to find actively out chances of

Origins of global warming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Origins of global warming - Essay Example These trapped gases are called greenhouse gases. The human activities create carbon dioxide CO2 which is a type of a greenhouse gas that slows the escape of heat from the earth. Trees and plants contribute a lot in removing these gases from the environment through photosynthesis. However, due to illegal logging and other similar activities, there are only fewer trees and plants today. Aside from human activities, it is also proven that natural processes also cause global warming. These processes include the increase of energy given off by the sun due to depletion of the ozone layer. The effects of this phenomena is resulting in to animals change of habitats, impairment of ocean life, weather damage, rising sea level, changes in crop yield, and threats to human health. Extensive alteration of temperature among habitats causes animals less possibility to adapt with the environment. Warmer waters increase the stress and spread diseases on the marine ecosystem. Global warming causes a la rge amount of ice to melt and leads to higher sea level. Many crop plants can not tolerate higher temperature and eventually die. Lastly, tropical diseases among human beings such as malaria and dengue are more visible to larger regions. Intense heat waves, drought and floods increase number of people die due to hunger, malnutrition, heat stroke and other illnesses. The great impacts of global warming are not only observable to human beings but also to the entire ecosystem. It is irrevocable that in any issue, there are skeptics. Despite the fact that effects of global warming are highly noticeable, disbelievers still arise even from the group of scientists. In fact, an atmospheric physicist Fred Singer said that "The observational evidencesuggests that any warming from the growth of greenhouse gases is likely to be minor, difficult to detect above the natural fluctuations of the climate, and therefore inconsequential". Giving less importance to the issue leads to resistance of resolving it. Probably, it is one of the reasons why in spite of vocal suggestions concerning avoidance of harmful human activities, it is near impossible to reduce the effects of global warming. Given this fact, it is absolutely necessary to settle this disbelief even before the misperception continues to spread. Green leaders, on the other hand, stand to their stance that current changes in the ecosystem are triggered by something and this is global warming. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences declared in 2005 that "greenhouse gases are accumulating in Earth's atmosphere as a result of human activities, causing surface air temperatures and subsurface ocean temperatures to rise," adding that "the scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action." Amongst these two counter-arguments, how is it possible to create one's' own stand There is no absolute answer for this. However, put in mind that if people will act in accordance with the green leaders, no one can be harm. If people choose to take global warming for granted which turn out to be fact, thus, life of everyone even those innocent creatures is at high risk. The future depends on a well-thought decision. This explains half of what's' global warming is about. There is lot of details to research before it is fully defined. However, the basic knowledge of its causes and effects is

Marketing in the digital age-Kodak Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing in the digital age-Kodak - Essay Example It was only in the year 1892 that the company was renamed as Eastman Kodak Company of New York, only to be formed again under the New Jersey law as Eastman Kodak Company of New Jersey. Kodak expanded its operation and grew gradually by its low cost mass production concept, international distribution, extensive advertising and customer centric business policy. The initial years of the company was dedicated to the production and supply of low cost photography tools and make it available to the common people. It was not long before the company understood the true potential of the world market. Based on this fact the company expanded its operation to rest of USA, only to be followed by marketing in France, Germany, Italy and other European countries. As of today, Kodak has expanded its manufacturing operations in South America, Europe and Asia. Kodak has great exposure and popularity in the motion picture industry as well. Most of the movies are shot in Kodak film and the company has received 8 Academy Awards for scientific and technical excellence. Over the years especially in the early 1900s Kodak made lot of technical advancement in the world of photography. Kodak Developing Machine was introduced, which helped in processing films without a dark room. It also introduced the Non-Curling film, which has dominated the world of amateur photography for more than 30 years. Aerial cameras were developed by Kodak, which was extensively used during the World War 1. Along with the technical development the company was also doing well financially, with its worldwide employment crossing the figure of 20,000. The thirst for development in the field of photography and its accessories was never ending for Kodak. The company went on introducing new technology and products both for the consumers, the motion picture industry and for business use. It was in

Evaluate the effectiveness of technology in monitoring national Essay

Evaluate the effectiveness of technology in monitoring national borders and preventing trafficking of drugs or humans - Essay Example 37). In order to counter these crimes, prevention measures have to be implemented to forestall the trafficking of human beings and drugs into the country. Various measures have been implemented to tackle these problems such as imposing heavy penalties on individuals who break these laws and also protecting the national orders through a team of well trained personnel and equipment (United states 2010, pg. 16). The use of technology in monitoring the national borders and preventing human and drug trafficking will be discussed as well as its effectiveness. Application of Technology in monitoring National Borders The national borders are monitored by different organizations all with the intention of preventing illegal activities from taking place. This involves prevention of illegal drug and human trafficking and also the illegal immigration of individuals into the country. For this purpose, technology is required to keep track of the activities being carried out along the border and als o to verify the legality of individuals or activities. For example, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses technology to identify illegal aliens in the country and further rank them according to the severity of their crimes (National Research Council (U.S.) 2009, pg. 29). Particularly, they apply biometric identification techniques which are used to identify individuals according to their traits or characteristics. In addition to that, illegal activity can be monitored through closed circuit television cameras. The authorities use these cameras to monitor the boundaries and detect whether there is any crime being carried out (Manning 2008, pg. 97). The cameras are usually hidden and are on a 24-hour basis. They are set in a position where they can hold a wide view of the area thus making it easier for the law enforcers to monitor. Law enforcers then observe the borders through the cameras in shifts and also by carrying out patrols around the area. It is possible to record information through these cameras and the information is stored in form of tapes. The tapes are important in court cases as they serve as evidence pointing towards illegal activity being carried out across the border and into the country. Application of Technology in Drug and Human Trafficking Different forms of technology can be applied in drug and human trafficking. For example, scanners are used in major airports to identi fy illegal substances in an individual’s package (Belliotti 2009, pg. 117). Airport authorities use advanced imaging technology which is programmed to detect various threats against the crew members and the passengers. Other than threats, the imaging technology also highlights the illegal substances thus allowing for further human searching. This form of technology is less invasive compared to the previous methods thus encouraged by many airports. In addition, technology is used to monitor and track the whereabouts of individuals involved in criminal activity particularly drug and human trafficking. Authorities are able to track cell phones using tracking devices that function by tracking the cell phone number. This gives them the accurate position of the phone thus making it easier to take action upon the traffickers. Traffickers prefer using prepaid cell phones which makes them harder to track and thus preventing the control of these vices. However, police officers are allo wed to plant tracking devices on such phones and consequently gain

Ethical decision making in the workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical decision making in the workplace - Essay Example Restaurants and hotels are frequently accused of many environmental, and health and safety problems including obesity and diabetes. For example, McDonald’s has been accused a number of times in blogs, articles, social media websites, and research studies for having encouraged people to consume high-calorie foods. â€Å"[Globalization] has brought McDonald’s franchises to Mumbai†¦It has thus super-charged the â€Å"nutrition transition,† a term for the obesity-inducing shift from traditional to Western diets that accompanies modernization and wealth† (Harvard University, 2012). The digital media has provided the consumers with an insight into the work procedures and practices in the famous restaurants which raise many concerns among the consumers. For example, the video What are Chicken Nuggets Made of? uploaded on Youtube by TheYoungTurks (2010) is a very depressing video for the nuggets-lovers as it tells how the waste of chicken is combined, process ed, and treated into the mixture that the famous restaurants describe as Chicken meat. Ethical decision making in the hotel and hospitality industry requires commitment of the top management since the decision making authority rests with the top management. Ecological and environmental issues in the hotel and hospitality industry include but are not limited to the management of organic and inorganic waste produced in the restaurants, and improving the nutritional value of foods so as to make them safer and healthier for the customers. Ethical decision making requires restaurants to be very honest about what they are feeding their customers with. â€Å"Its important that parents know that the standards of food are good† (Balls cited in BBC News, 2010). Top management plays the fundamental role in making such information available to the customers since they are the decision-making authority rests with them. Delivering the customers comfort and good experience is

Evaluate the effectiveness of technology in monitoring national Essay

Evaluate the effectiveness of technology in monitoring national borders and preventing trafficking of drugs or humans - Essay Example 37). In order to counter these crimes, prevention measures have to be implemented to forestall the trafficking of human beings and drugs into the country. Various measures have been implemented to tackle these problems such as imposing heavy penalties on individuals who break these laws and also protecting the national orders through a team of well trained personnel and equipment (United states 2010, pg. 16). The use of technology in monitoring the national borders and preventing human and drug trafficking will be discussed as well as its effectiveness. Application of Technology in monitoring National Borders The national borders are monitored by different organizations all with the intention of preventing illegal activities from taking place. This involves prevention of illegal drug and human trafficking and also the illegal immigration of individuals into the country. For this purpose, technology is required to keep track of the activities being carried out along the border and als o to verify the legality of individuals or activities. For example, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses technology to identify illegal aliens in the country and further rank them according to the severity of their crimes (National Research Council (U.S.) 2009, pg. 29). Particularly, they apply biometric identification techniques which are used to identify individuals according to their traits or characteristics. In addition to that, illegal activity can be monitored through closed circuit television cameras. The authorities use these cameras to monitor the boundaries and detect whether there is any crime being carried out (Manning 2008, pg. 97). The cameras are usually hidden and are on a 24-hour basis. They are set in a position where they can hold a wide view of the area thus making it easier for the law enforcers to monitor. Law enforcers then observe the borders through the cameras in shifts and also by carrying out patrols around the area. It is possible to record information through these cameras and the information is stored in form of tapes. The tapes are important in court cases as they serve as evidence pointing towards illegal activity being carried out across the border and into the country. Application of Technology in Drug and Human Trafficking Different forms of technology can be applied in drug and human trafficking. For example, scanners are used in major airports to identi fy illegal substances in an individual’s package (Belliotti 2009, pg. 117). Airport authorities use advanced imaging technology which is programmed to detect various threats against the crew members and the passengers. Other than threats, the imaging technology also highlights the illegal substances thus allowing for further human searching. This form of technology is less invasive compared to the previous methods thus encouraged by many airports. In addition, technology is used to monitor and track the whereabouts of individuals involved in criminal activity particularly drug and human trafficking. Authorities are able to track cell phones using tracking devices that function by tracking the cell phone number. This gives them the accurate position of the phone thus making it easier to take action upon the traffickers. Traffickers prefer using prepaid cell phones which makes them harder to track and thus preventing the control of these vices. However, police officers are allo wed to plant tracking devices on such phones and consequently gain

Policing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Policing - Essay Example Group think is also a characteristic of police subculture that entails the police unit making decisions with minimal consultations or consideration of other options. The institutionalized behavior refers to the sense of contentment and completeness of the police (Stevens, 2011). The justification of wrongful rights involves coming up with reasons to justify the police’s actions, while the material essentials allows the officers share various essentials such as uniforms, technology and even vehicles. Mentoring conducted by the high-ranking patrol officers allows for appreciation of the ranks in the police service, personality development allows the policemen develop their personality types, secrecy where other police officers do not report of other officer do not betray other officers, thin blue line that prevents the citizens from resulting into chaos (Stevens, 2011; Pollock, 2011). Two worlds of perspective where police work and live in another, and lastly the use of force th at allows for the police officers justify the use of force (Stevens, 2011). Origins in training, brotherhood of officers, cohesion, institutionalized behavior, material essentials and conservatism are beneficial while use of force, CYA, justification of wrong acts and criminal blindness which are

Anthropology and Ethnic Boundary Markers Essay Example for Free

Anthropology and Ethnic Boundary Markers Essay Chapter Four: What Are The Underlying Reasons Behind Ethnic Conflict, And The Consequences Of These Conflicts? Questions 1) In what ways do you think you might experience Ethnic Conflict – on a much smaller level in your own life? Do you see it in other peoples lives? 2) Can you identify some of the Ethnic Boundary markers you see in our own culture (specifically microcultures)? Do these markers change depending where you go? Are these markers a good thing or a bad thing? What Ethnic Boundary Markers would you like to see change? 3) How fragile is our own nation? Where do you see Ethnic intolerance or Ethnocentrism ? Do you see fragments of ethnic stratification? 4) If Ethnic Conflict were to ever â€Å"break out†, in the U. S. what do you think would be the main causes specifically? 5) Place yourself in the shoes of an Anthropologist who is taking a fully emic approach to their Ethnic Conflict research. Are the hardships involved worth the benefits that could result from the research? Is â€Å"the juice worth the squeeze†? 6) Do you agree with Anthropologists who feel the need to downplay violence within Ethnic Conflict in order to help propel the idea of non-western stabilization? 7) Do you agree with Anthropologists who feel that refugee camps are â€Å"part of the problem†? 8) Do you think our world will ever see an end to Ethnic Conflict?

Definition of Research and Research Methodology

Definition of Research and Research Methodology In this section of study, components used to answer research questions and the methodology constructed to analyse those procedures are justified based on literature reviewed. Consequently, special emphasis is provided to other methods of research and the rationale behind them for not being subjected to be part of this exploration. However, constituent of research philosophy, research strategy and element of research design and research procedure are dealt in detail to offer maximum credibility to decisive findings. Besides, throughout the chapter ethical considerations have gained great substance allowing results to be analysed with immense attention. Research is used to describe a number of similar and overlapping activities relating a search for information. It is something that people undertake in order to find things out in a systematic way, thereby increasing their knowledge (Saunders et al. 2009). According to Kothari (2004), endeavour of any research is to uncover the concealed reality that is yet to be exposed or revealed. However, research is constantly used to solve organizational problems through systematic strategies (Ojo, 2008). Foundations of research are built and conducted over a structure called methodology (Remenyi et al. 1998) and a valid study will always adapt encouraging research methodology (Buckley et al. 1975). Hence, it is decisively fundamental to deploy quintessential methodology with great care and systematic understanding of the intricacies involved (Amaratunga et al. 2002). In this particular piece of study, efforts are made to discover the factors that lead to bullying at workplace with special emphasis on ethnic bullying. Intentions of this research were to illustrate, appreciate, anticipate, criticize and interpret the existing social science phenomenon (Maylor Blackmon, 2005) by systematically obtaining data to solve research problem (Ghauri Gronhaug, 2005). 3.3 Methodological Considerations: 3.3.1 Preconceptions and frame of reference: Generally research questions are derived from preconceptions. When study samples respond to these questions they react differently with reality (Lundahl Skarvad, 1992). Meanwhile, frame of reference formed in the minds of people due to preconceptions, repeatedly affect on findings of any research either directly or indirectly. Johansson Lindfors (1993) writes there are three major aspects to be considered in perceptions; Epistemological perceptions, Common perceptions and Theoretical perceptions. Temporarily, epistemological perception is a method used to explain the knowledge in the form of theories (Fisher, 2004). Thus, it is obligatory to know the acceptable knowledge of any discipline (Bryman Bell, (2003). While formation of common perception are developed through personal experience or firsthand information gathered from work or studies, Theoretical preconceptions provide an opportunity to appraise a range of views attained through various theories of academic sources, books, journals, articles, and magazines. To be precise they are impractical to compile through personal experience (Johansson Lindfors, 1993). 3.3.2 Research Philosophy and administration: Given that the research philosophy transmits the enlargement of knowledge and its temperament, chosen research philosophy ought to answer all the research questions in actual fact (Saunders et al. 2009). A lot of times research philosophy inculcated will manipulate the researcher views and the methods that are chosen to construct research strategy. But, within the context of social science there is an uncompleted argument to pick the most suitable position from the excessive horizons of positivism to the extreme end of interpretivism (Smith et al. 1991). However, research philosophy is further broadly classified into three major categories; Positivism, Interpritivism and Pragmatism or Realism. Core regulations of any approach are authentic/perceptual knowledge and hermeneutics (Johansson Lindfors, 1993) which constantly travel in opposite directions to each other (Andersson, 1979). While authentic/perceptual knowledge or positivism represents phenomenon of a discipline through quantifiable observations (Dayarathna, 2009), hermeneutics interprets the same social components through qualitative observations (Saunders et al. 2007). Under positivism there is a possibility of cause effect relation that can be confirmed or rejected (Patel Davidsson, 2003). Here, values of researcher and phenomenon of the study are clearly distinguished with a rule or law helping the researcher to observe reality. Whereas in interpritivism, this rule or law doesnt exist thereby making it viable for the researcher to involve in the process (Hartman, 2004) by allowing him/her to interpret the work at any desired stage in any desired ways to obtain complete knowledge. The philosophy adopted here is believed to express both positivism and interpritivism. Objective methods are used to measure properties of externally existing social world and are not subjectively attached through sensation, reflection or intuition (Smith et al. 2008). Hence, working with an observable social reality and the product of such research can be law-like generalizations similar to those products by natural and physical scientists. (Rememyi et al. 1998, pp. 32). For the moment, Interviews and self administered questionnaires are used here to gather the required data by emphasising on both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. The objectives of research: To discover different sources of ethnic minority bullying at work To inspect diverse forms of ethnic minority bullying at work To find out important causes that leads to ethnic minority bullying at work To expose effects of bullying on ethnic minority employees at work To observe reactions of ethnic minority employees to unhealthy practices bullying at work To realize various defensive mechanisms developed by ethnic minority employees to prevent from being bullied at work To examine the management/managers perspectives on ethnic minority bullying at work To suggest recommendations to prevent ethnic minority bullying at work A range of problems will be encountered throughout practical implementation of the project or research administration (Rowley, 2002). To avoid these inadequacies, study should infuse the objectives that are measure driven. Concurrently all the aims of research cannot completely revolve around human interests and beliefs (Smith et al 2008). Because, qualitative approaches often fail to reproduce commonality of the results (Sekaran, 2003). In such situations quantitative approaches appears much more meticulous. 3.3.3 Research strategy: Normally intentions of research invade strategy, where time, resources, philosophy and approaches play a greater role. But, there will always be an element of deduction in any type of studies undertaken (Ticehurst Veal, 2000), thereby persuading the researcher to be selective towards the data required or the data gathered. However, quantitative strategy is a method of data collection under deductive approach where data will be accumulated through survey questionnaires and acquired data will be analysed through statistical methods. Sub-sequentially deductive approach always helps in verifying or discarding a hypothesis by assembling and quantifying data (Dayarathna, 2009). Being objective and scientific in its nature this strategy is considered to be black and white method due to its lack of consideration with the results (Bryman Bell, 2003). Owing to positivism deductive approach is used for this study. Although there are various types of research strategy, general and business research rely more upon survey based strategy (Saunders et al. 2009). Because, the techniques applied here to collect data largely depend on purpose of the study, intensity of the problem, information required and the availability of time, money and human resources (Ghauri Gronhaug, 2005). Indeed, under this strategy data can be gathered in three different forms; personal interviews, survey questionnaires and telephone interviews (Bernard, 2006) and for the current project, personal interviews and survey questionnaires are used to extract required information. As part of quantitative analysis, a self administered questionnaire will be sent to the ethnic minority employees working in the organization to extract maximum information on ethnic minority bullying, and the sources, causes, and forms that leads to bullying behaviour. Personal interviews will also be used as part of study to know the responses of the employees to bullying manners and the measures anticipated by them in abolishing ethnic minority bullying at workplace thereby fulfilling the requirements of qualitative analysis. First section of the survey questionnaire consist of five basic or personal information questions; Age, Gender, Job Level, Ethnicity and Work Experience and in the second section of the questionnaire, eleven close ended and three open ended questions were asked focusing more on bullying and ethnic bullying at work. Especially, Open ended questions were used to present employees with an opportunity to express their genuine ideas and thoughts about the subject without any barrier. Primarily, all questions of the study were designed and uploaded to an online survey portal; SurveyPirate with a note in the beginning of the questionnaire clearly stating the purpose and objectives of the survey in brief. Later, link of the portal leading to questionnaire was downloaded and delivered to the respondents by emails with the help of Vice President-HR, ABB. India. Constructive nature of qualitative method makes it central to understand respondents views and how they generate meaning in an active manner (Maxwell, 2005). To involve interview approach as part of study researcher has to be very open in his perspective. As nature of the project demanded a qualitative approach to explore the unquenched myriads of ethnic bullying, a prior prepared semi-structured interview questions were also used during the study along with quantitative methods of data collection (Saunders et al. 2003). Personal interview conducted with the managers during the project will help in understanding the mangers perspective towards existing ethnic bullying practices and the problems caused by them. Furthermore, it also assists in recognizing the policies and measures implemented by both organization and the government to address these unpleasant and unfavourable workplace traditions By making use of qualitative or interview methods, analysis of the report gains a comprehensive and exclusive edge over other similar explorations undertaken on bullying. As it lend a hand in gathering valid and reliable information relevant to the questions and objectives of the research (Kahn Cannell, 1957), it becomes easier to compare the outcomes of the study to the theoretical frameworks ethnic bullying. Under qualitative method understanding between the author, respondents and the subjects will be on much higher grounds than other approaches of data accumulation (Bryman Bell, 2003) because Interview is nothing but a conversation or exchange of views and ideas between two people on a topic of mutual interest (Kvale, 1996). In order to accomplish the aims of the study eight managers from different department were interviewed with prior appointment. The ambitions behind interviewing managers were to bring broader viewpoint to the observations made and to explore the problem on macro levels. All the interviews were carried out as per the semi-structured questionnaire designed with in the time limit allotted. Despite all the above precautions qualitative methods can be very subjective and the final outcomes could involve element of bias due to preconceptions (Patel Davidsson, 2003). Semi-structured Questionnaire: Q1. Is ethnic minority bullying at workplace a major issue in your organization? Why do think so? Q2. What according to you are the major reasons that ignite and magnify ethnic minority bullying in your organization? Q3. In what form does the bullying take place in your organization and who are people that are often involved in the bullying practice? Q4. Have any staffs of yours left their job or taken time off work in the past six months? If yes, what were their reasons for leaving? Q5. How do the employees react in your organization when are being bullied? Q6. How do you tackle ethnic minority bullying in your organization? Q7. In your opinion what are the crucial factors that might lessen the likelihood of ethnic minority bullying in your organization? Q8. Does your organization make any efforts to prevent ethnic minority bullying? What are your views? Q9. Does your organization provide counselling services for bullied employees? If yes, how effective are they? 3.4 Research Design: According to Gauri and Gronhaug, (2005, pp. 56), The research design is the overall plan for relating the conceptual research problem to relevant and practicable empirical research. It is an important method used by the authors, in order to answer research questions (Saunders el al. 2007) and any design under the control of researcher will adjoin more flexibility in terms of valuable information. Meanwhile, there are four major types research design; exploratory, inductive, and casual descriptive (Zikmund, 2003) and the most appropriate way to get solutions to the research problems is through exploratory design (Zikmund, 2003). In exploratory design, researcher will have a weak idea about the problems as they are defined very poorly. But, the moment author starts accumulating relevant information; the entire picture becomes brighter and better thereby supporting to find healthier solutions to the problems (Gauri Gronhaug, 2005). On the other hand, inductive design employs various theories built on observation. Diverse approaches are carried over for deliberating and pursuing these observations. Justified theory emerging out of these observations will further aid in discovering appropriate solutions to the research problems. Although casual research is better structured than the other designs of research, cause and effect relationship is often confronted. In fact, during majority of instances it becomes very easy to predict the final results evolving from the changes incorporated (Nargundkar, 2003). Nonetheless, in contrary to the explorative method, problems are well defined under descriptive design. Thus researcher can start assembling secondary data associated to the problem instantaneously. In some circumstances, where there is a scarcity or absence of resources author will have attempt to collect data through different data collection techniques (Gauri Gronhaug, 2005). The research design used for this project is descriptive approach where a concrete problem is identified and defined by exploiting secondary sources of data existing. It is frequently used to depict precise silhouette of person/persons events and situations (Robson, 2002). Since research question is a problem which necessitate further investigation to formulate anticipated results (Bjereld et al, 2002), question for the current study is derived from the area of interest. Passable numbers of study samples are involved right through the process and unbiased measurements are practiced to execute and report about on project. Given that the sampling is important in this form of research, survey questionnaires and interviews are included with definite time limits. 3.5. Research Process and Procedure: 3.5.1 Sources of data: Sources of data are broadly classified in two categories, primary and secondary. According to Parasuraman et al. (2004) primary data are the information collected for the first time to bring about any explicit needs of a particular research. They are the firsthand descriptions represented by research reports, published in a scientific journal or periodical to reflect on the observations performed by the researcher (Gravetter Forzano, 2008). Furthermore, they also facilitate authors to illustrate their research by answering and substantiating against the questions or uncertainties rose during the progression of investigation. Like, why and how study was undertaken, what results were found, and how those results were interpreted. However, course of primary data collection entail a range of diverse means. They are, personal or emails based survey questionnaires, face to face or telephone interviews, observations and focus groups (Ghauri Gronhaug, 2005). Primary data is often more consistent with the research questions and objectives. Under this method of data gathering questions can be formed both formal and informal ways (Parasuraman et al. 2004). Yet, success of this approach relay largely upon the capabilities of the researcher, who pose the questions to the respondents (Bryman Bell, 2003). Major downside of this data source is that they require ample amount of time and may consume lot of money (Malhotra Bricks, 2007). Since the researcher is completely dependent on the willingness and ability of the respondents, at times it becomes very hard to approach respondents (Kanikapati, 2007). Secondary data is detailed information accessed by the researcher through other available sources of information to obtain thorough literature review. In fact, most of the studies begin in that fashion (Kanikapati, 2007). It is a second hand report where the observations of different authors will be discussed by the researcher to accomplish aspired objectives (Gravetter Forzona, 2008). Generally secondary information is of high standards (Bryman Bell, 2003) and fundamentally used to understand and explain research problems better. Secondary source of data is very easy to extract and available in plenty through, books, magazines, journals, articles, websites and etc. More importantly it is inexpensive and time saving but, its basic nature of collection for different purposes during different time span with different objectives makes it less effective to robust into present study. In this project, a combination of both sets of data are used achieve maximum results. Since the objective of the research is to observe whether, membership of an ethnic minority plays a greater role in work place bullying? A significant role is played by the primary data as it is directly accumulated from the employees in the ABB, UK. All over the study secondary data have been utilized to explore literature on the consequence of bullying, workplace bullying and ethnicity bullying. Majority of the data pertaining to study have been collected trough books, magazines, journals, websites and articles. 3.5.2 Direction-finder: Opportunity of every large study requires to be tested on a smaller sample size before execution. Direction-finder or pilot study will assist in inspecting the pros and cons of extensive process to be accomplished further. According to Saunders et al. (2007) questionnaires needed to be experimented on a limited population, to assess the difficulties that might encounter in answering the questionnaire and while recording data. By doing so, researcher can make certain that the collected data is valid and reliable. Conversely, pilot study is also essential to realise that the collected data answer all the research questions, easy to scrutinize and findings of the study are valuable (Smith et al, 1991). In the meantime, a direction-finder test was conducted to 4 employees of the Lebara organization, UK to investigate accuracy of questionnaire in extracting require data and their precision in gauging ethnic bullying factors in ABB, UK. Pilot process not only helped in understanding whether the respondents have interpreted the research questions as the same way they are intended to but, made the author realise that there were lot of concerns pertaining to open ended questions. However, a few of them were later modified or replaced with close ended ones. 3.5.3 Time horizons: At the outset, collection of samples was planned for the Month of July 2010 but shortly it was rescheduled to October 2010. Soon there were Christmas holidays to follow in the Month of December 2010 decision was made to distribute questionnaires in the Month of October to capture a balanced response as highlighted by Saunders (2007). 3.6 Research Context: 3.6.1 Obtaining permission: To obtain data, a request letter (Annexure) drafted by the researcher explaining the purpose of the study and the types of data required was sent to the Manager-Human Resource of ABB, UK through Vice President of ABB, India. Mr Rajesh Kumar Roy (Vice President ABB, India), who happens to be previous employer of the researcher accepted the request and recommended the proposal for further consideration. This was later approved by the respected authorities of ABB in UK. 3.6.2 Sample size: Multi-cultural or ethnic diverse nature of the research topic encouraged the researcher to choose ABB, UK for sample selection. Since the organization has its branches in more than 100 countries, mobility of ethnic centred employees within the company will be abundant. And this movement of workforce will be much more effective in UK because of its versatility. As it is impractical to survey the entire ethnic minority staff of ABB, UK due to time and budget constraints, a sample of 120 employees that represents the entire ethnic minority population of the organization was viewed as satisfactory for the quantitative method of study (Saunders et al, 2007). But, when it was realised that whole ABB labour force in UK consists approximately 8% of ethnic minority employees, the numbers of sample numbers were further reduced to 92 by considering 50% of the total ethnic minority workers (8% of 2300 is 184 and 50% of 184 is 92). On the other hand, qualitative research requires very limited num ber unlike quantitative approach (Miles Hubermann, 1994). Thus it is restricted to 8 members from four different locations (Daresbury Park Warrington, 9 Moorbrook Park Didcot, Park House Eastern Avenue Burton-on-Trent and Unit 15; Peddie Street Dundee). 3.6.3 Sampling techniques and selection: Selection of appropriate sample is the key in both qualitative and quantitative procedures of research (Maxwell, 2005). There are two major types of sampling techniques; Probability sampling or representative sampling Since they reflect the characteristics of the population, they often provide the most valid or credible results. But, they are expensive, time consuming and require certain level of skill sets to perform (Adamchak et al. 2000). However, under probability sampling every element has a chance of being selected and the selected elements probability can be calculated. Any variation between the elements is only a matter of chance as there is no bias involved (Adamchak et al. 2000). Non-probability or systematic sampling Though these methods are more elastic, cheap and require very limited time span, they are less desirable than probability samples due to their weaker evaluation and outcomes (Adamchak et al. 2000). But, their validity can be increased by approximating random section, and eliminating sources of bias. Here the elements are obtained on the basis of opportunity, judgement and referrals from other sample subjects (Adamchak et al. 2000). Probability sampling technique or procedure cannot be employed for this research because the population of the study is well defined. Therefore, systematic stratified sampling method is used to represent all the ethnic minority employees of ABB, UK without any discrimination. 3.6.4 Non response bias: Non response rate of any study depend upon sensitivity of the subject, clarity of objectives and level of confidentiality. However, anonymous questionnaires always enjoy high response rates. Hence, a covering letter (Annexure) stating purpose of the study was attached to the questionnaire to attract soaring response rates. Meanwhile, questions of the survey were kept anonymous to convince the respondents that the data collected will be treated with confidentiality (Sekaran, 2003). 3.6.5 Response rate: Respondents interests vary depending upon the type of research being conducted. Response rates tend to be very high among educational oriented studies. However, according to Saunders et al. (2007) satisfactory response rate of a research lies between 30% 40% and they could become even lesser when a topic is more sensitive and hard to relate. Meanwhile, unbiased approaches and ethical considerations might boost response rates despite all obstacles and hardships that could come in between. For the current research 92 survey questionnaires were distributed and 72 returned back. So the total response rate for this project was 78.26%. Non-response rate for the project was 21.74% and the core reasons for non-response could be refusal to become a part of the study or reluctant to answer all the questions (Dayarathna, 2009). 3.6.7 Rejected methods: Even though, focus groups are the supreme means of understanding through exchange of ideas within a group. They are not involved in the study due to their unfeasible nature. They are boring and often unsuccessful in bringing the group together under a single roof. Moreover, they dont provide sufficient time to the respondents during group discussions (Parasuraman et al. 2004). 3.7 Ethical Considerations: Issues pertaining to ethics of the study arise throughout research starting from formulation of research question, till presenting results. According to Saunders et al. (2007), they arrive in five stages; topic selection, designing and gaining access, collecting data, processing and storing data and during analysing and revealing findings. To begin with, access to data collection was attained by drafting a formal request letter to the concerned authority explaining the purpose of the study. When the access was granted a covering latter was prepared addressing respondents of the study ensuring that the data collected will be kept confidential and will be used only for the academic purpose. Anonymous questions were formed to conceal the identity of the individual participants (Smith et al. 1991) making it hard for other to recognise separately. To avoid personal bias and to add credibility and validity to the report research was conducted with minimum intervention. Collected observations are carefully analysed and results presented without any manipulations. All the secondary sources used for the study are recognised and acknowledged. 3.8 Limitations of the Study: Limitations are often accompanied by the element of human factor. Like any other general and social research even this research escort certain amount of boundaries to its procedure, scope and applicability. Firstly, Very limited numbers of open ended questions are used in the study and the ones that are used with the help of qualitative approach can make the results of the project biased (Patel Davidsson, 2003) by reflecting lack of transparency (Brayman Bell, 2003). Secondly, Closed ended questions used in the study might have restricted the respondents from indentifying various others factors that encourage workplace bullying. Finally, there will always be a problem of time, money and resources when a particular study is undertaken. 3.9 Conclusion: Comprehensive discussion about methodology for the selected study was presented in the above chapter to justify tactics incorporated is in line with the topic chosen. Deployment of deductive approach and addition of positivism and interpritivism were proved to be appropriate for the research due to various reasons as illustrated. Sampling procedures, sampling techniques and the size of samples were also explained along with the data collection methods, ethical considerations and limitations of the project. In the next chapter results of the research will be evaluated in detail.

Parental Manipulation and the Homogenization of Americans Essay

Parental Manipulation and the Homogenization of Americans Wooden arms and legs jerking, braided hair flailing, and glassy eyes rolling, the ragged dolls parade the cardboard stage. Their lifeless limbs give the appearance of haphazardry, but I know better than to be deceived by this bumbling surface. Behind the curtained stage, a woman deftly maneuvers the puppet figures; each movement is carefully controlled with a small sleight of hand. A string lifts, and their mouths open. Another tenses, and their arms rise in unison. Silently, they mimic the voices of their master: she who holds the strings. Watching this puppet scene, I am reminded of a dinner party I once attended. Over a slice of raspberry cheesecake, I remember commenting on my aversion towards women who wore dark lipstick—how they were really just trying to be seductive in a way demeaning to the female community. The moment the words came out of my mouth, I regretted them—not because I didn’t believe what I had said but because I remembered then, that the words were not my own. Not only was I echoing my mother, I also actually believed I was expressing my own sentiments. At times like these, I feel myself being pulled along by strings invisible, propelled by unseen forces—forces that not only influence my outward actions but also my inner character and mentally as well. Under normal circumstances, I am naively unaware of their presence. In â€Å"The Strange Homogenization of Americans,† Gibbs Staff and FA Jones relate that â€Å"Americans have been homogenized and conditioned to react in the same way.† They go on to assert that most Americans do not realize they are behaving in a â€Å"predictable and programmed manner.† And for a while, I did hold on to that deep-seated... ...ity Bride as a Cultural Icon.† Encounters: Essays for Exploration and Inquiry. 2nd ed. Ed. Pat C. Hoy II. and Robert DiYanni. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000. 277-81. Gibbs Staff and FA Jones. â€Å"The Strange Homogenization of Americans.† Gibbs Magazine. Date of Posting Unlisted. 26 Oct. 2002. . Gorman, Benjamin A. â€Å"Toys are Us.† Yale New Haven Teacher’s Institute. Date of Posting Unlisted. 17 Oct. 2002. http://elsinore.cis.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1985/6/85.06.04.x.html>. Hall, Mitch. â€Å"The Plague of Violence: A preventable epidemic.† Checkmate Press, 2002. 28 Oct. 2002. . Nelson, Pamela A. â€Å"Toys as History: Ethnic Images and Cultural Change.† Ethnic Images in Toys and Games. Balch Institute. 17 Oct. 2002..

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder :: Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition from which nearly 10% of Americans suffer. It, unlike other afflictions, is associated with a wide variety of circumstances. Many war veterans suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. However, a new group of people are quickly emerging as common suffers of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-sexually abused children. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a prevalent problem associated with children who are victims of sexual assault.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is classified as an anxiety disorder under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders (DSM-III). The diagnoses for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder was not formally diagnosed as part of DSM-III until 1980. According to Famolaro, "the diagnoses of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder requires: (a) experience of a significant traumatic events; (b) re- experiencing of the trauma in one of several different thought, emotional, or behavioral forms; (d) persistent symptoms of increased arousal, Particularly when exposedto stimuli concretely or symbolically reminiscent of the trauma; (e) symptoms lasting at least one month. (Famolaro, Maternal and Child Posttraumatic... 28)".   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Children are now becoming realized as significant sufferers of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is particularly bad for children under the age of 11, because they lack many of the skills needed to protect themselves. Furthermore, this vulnerability is enhanced when the child is exposed to any maltreatment. According to recent studies, "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a common sequella of severe or chronic maltreatment of children, particularly among sexually maltreated children ( Famularo, Symptom Differences... 28)". Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can be caused if the child is exposed to just one traumatic episode (rape, witnessing a violent crime, physical abuse); However, the child will become more susceptible to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder if the maltreatment continues. Moreover, a child is most likely to suffer from symptoms associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder when sexual assault is involved(28).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because children have not yet developed cognitively emotionally and are very immature, they are likely candidates to develop symptoms related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. As a child matures he/she becomes better equipped to deal with and prevent contributing factors to the eventual suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Up to age two, young children can recreate stressful events and even imagine such events recurring; However, the mind is not developed enough to identify, anticipate, or prevent future traumatic occurrences. At age three, children cannot, "distance themselves, in time, appreciate roles and differences in behavior, access situation, or adopt nonegocentric causality (Saigh 189)". This flaw opens them up to the impact of trauma because the child cannot anticipate and protect themselves. By age four, children have the ability to protect themselves by avoiding traumatic encounters. They also have the ability to suppress their anxiety when it becomes difficult

Fighting Against Violence in the LGBT Community Essay

Fighting Against Violence in the LGBT Community Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Violence against the LGBT community is a horrific and inhuman reality. Violence targeted at this community because of their sexuality could be physical or psychological. With times changing and an acknowledgement of LGBT rights growing there has been a reduction in the cases of violence. However, a reduction is not enough- it needs to stop completely. All of us have a duty in safeguarding the rights of LGBT. One major way we can do this is by creating public awareness. Watching the films â€Å"Celluloid Closet† and â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry†, reveals the sufferings that LGBT people have to undergo. It is surprising that even in the modern world, society has still not fully given room to accommodate homosexuals. Much needs to be done in this regard. Leaders should spearhead this fight against violence directed towards LGBT people. It is important to recognize that they are human beings, and sexual orientations notwithstandin g, need to be recognized as such. It is important to realize that homosexuality will never end and it is here with us whether we like it or not. In this paper, we look at what factors that motivate violence against LGBT and what can be done to end this violence against the otherwise innocent people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many motivating factors that make the mainstream population in the society resent LGBT community (Meyer, 851). They include cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, social beliefs and political factors. The norm that is socially accepted is that people should be heterosexual. Contravening this norm is therefore classified as social abnormality. The society frowns at any person that does not conform to what is socially â€Å"accepted†. However, what the people making up the society forget is that the definition of what is right or wrong is a matter of choice and highly variable. From the cultural point of view, humanity has a mentality that what they have found being done is what is right. In addition, they think that how things have been done before is how they should continue being done. In this regard, we can realize that heterosexuality is what has been the culture since antiquity according to the view of the majority. For this reason, homosexuality is taken to be an abnormality in the definition of the existing culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Religion itself has its definition of what is right (Meyer, 852). Let us look at the view of Christianity on homosexuality. This is simply because Christianity is the largest religious group in the world and its decisions impact a large number of people. When it comes to relationships, Christianity advocate for a heterosexual relationship. There are two major reasons they use to back this argument. First, they quote the Bible that God created a man and a woman in the beginning. This means that by creating a man and a woman, God wanted them to live in a heterosexual relationship. Therefore, according to Christianity, it was God’s plan to have heterosexual relationships. The second reason that is also backed in the Bible is that it is only a man and a woman that can come together and reproduce. This is biologically true. A man and a man or a woman and a woman cannot reproduce. To support their argument, religion states that the reason why God created a man and a woman was for procreation. However, what the religious society forgets is that there are people who do not follow their teachings and they have the rights not to do so. There are also those who believe that relationships are not for the purpose of reproduction alone. They can be used to fulfil other human needs such as happiness and companionship. Religions discuss care and love for one another, not hatred and pain. Cultural beliefs foster respect and growth, not violence and attacking. Social beliefs are meant to create togetherness and community, not divide people. Even though the mainstream population in the society does not agree with the lifestyle of the people belonging to the LGBT community, they should accord them their freedom to live in peace.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Violence against LGBT is being propagated even today (Kendell, 18). Many people have suffered over time on the grounds of homosexuality. Many have died and others injured. In America, there are numerous reports of these cases of violence. Many of the cases are those of assassination. As recent as this year, homosexual rights are being violated. A notable example in the US is the shooting of a man by the name Mark Carson in Greenwich Village in New York because he was gay. This incident happened on May 17, 2013 (Reuters). Homophobia is the leading reason why homosexuals are the target of violence. Those propagating this vice are arguing that they are acting in the best interest of the society to prevent this irregular behavior from getting deep into the society.They back their argument saying that they are protecting the future generations from learning from what is happening. However, this inhuman violence against LGBT community cannot be accounted for by using such arguments. This is because, the rights of the person are being violated and to say that you don’t agree with what they are doing does not warrant causing suffering to the point of death on these people. Therefore, it is disheartening to see these people suffer even at this modern time. People should wake up and help stop this practice once and for all.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is encouraging to see that LGBT community is also actively fighting for their rights. Even though it is not easy fighting against the society, slowly and progressively they are making their voices to be heard. Before, it was not possible to hear anyone speak about gay people or lesbian people in the public. The same case was with transgender issue. This is because there was a huge stigma associated with such issues. Nobody could proclaim in the public that he was gay or she was a lesbian. These individuals felt isolated from the society. Their problems could not be aired out. It is like they did not exist. However, things have changed in the recent years. These people have realized that they need to live in peace. They have said enough is enough in terms of living in isolation. They have decided to make their presence recognized though amidst resistance. They have formed movements to advocate for their rights in the society. These movem ents are headed by strong activists. An example is the Gay Liberation Front that was formed in New York to counter the episodes of police harassment. The main objective of this movement was to promote a radical social change of attitudes towards homosexual people. The movements used tactics such as demonstrations to contest against the prevailing social discrimination. However, in most cases, whenever these movements protest peacefully, anti-gay movements come in and attack the LGBT community movements. Therefore, it is clear that a lot more needs to be done to protect the rights of LGBT. An example of such a peaceful demonstration that turned out chaotic is what happened on October 12, 2013 in St. Petersburg in Russia. While the LGBT community activists were staging a peaceful demonstration, an anti-gay group stormed in against them. This episode led to the arrest of about 67 people including some of the gay activists. The Gay flag was destroyed (Reuters). Another incident occurred in Russia still on November 3, 2013 where an LGBT event in support of receiving free HIV testing was attacked. Two men wearing masks entered the room carrying guns and shot two people in the face (Reuters).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The society seems to listen to the plight of the LGBT community although the change is slow to come by (Fredricksen, et al.,22). States are changing their stance to the favor of the LGBT people. Many nations have taken steps in recognizing the existence of LGBT community thanks to their persistence in pushing for their rights. In the United State, the rights of the homosexuals have been categorically stated in the constitution. Laws have been formulated to protect the rights of the homosexuals. Violence against homosexuals is therefore a criminal offense in the US. It is classified as a hate-crime. Many nations have followed the same route. The UK has also decriminalized homosexuality. It isalso a criminal offense to attack another person or a group of people on the grounds of homosexuality. Even religion is slowly changing its stance on this issue. The Catholic Pope has condemned violence against homosexuals saying that killing and injuri ng these people does not auger well with the religion. However, the sad part is that still homosexuals are not accepted in the entire society. They are not given equal treatment like other people. In the US, there is discrimination in getting employment. In addition, this discrimination is present in seeking medical services such as HIV testing and Counselling. These are the reasons why LGBT activism is not going to end any time soon   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The proper way to go about agitating for equality and eradicating violence altogether is spreading awareness; sometimes that can be done in methods other can marches or protests. Pop culture has had a huge impact on the way people observe and understand the LGBT community. The movie industry has also helped in shedding light on the issue. Two movies specifically, the â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† and the â€Å"Celluloid Closet† have done so. The â€Å"Celluloid Closet† is a documentary that looks into the world of Hollywood gay culture and the progression of stereotypes to a positive change. Production Code influenced films throughout the years. It presumed that issues of homosexuality would not be discussed or created in the films. Furthermore, the film shows the way homosexuality was portrayed, when it was portrayed. The â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† is a film about a transgender man played by Hillary Swank. Thi s character desires to be a man while she has female parts. In her association with men, she ends up being raped and beaten. This clearly depicts the suffering of the transgender people. The stigma associated with her case cannot allow her to report such a case.Films such as these two discuss very important topics and visually force people to acknowledge the things that have happened. Moreover, joining organizations and donating to the events that help fight against violence in the LGBT community is another way though which we can help.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There have been decades of both violence and growth in relation to the acceptance of the LGBT community. While violence still continues it is important to note that the number of organizations and people fighting for equality has grown to great heights. Meanwhile, the LGBT community is not relenting in their efforts to fight for their rights. The society should learn to tolerate the lifestyle of the people that they disagree with. It is important to remember that these individuals, the homosexuals, are human beings in the first place. They therefore deserve the respect as human beings. The world at large is learning to live with LGBT people. They are slowly getting acceptance. But the fight must continue until when LGBT persons will enjoy full rights just like others without discrimination. Individuals who arepart of the community and those who are not have come together to end violence and promote respect for all. References â€Å"Gay rights protest in St. Petersburg ends in clashes, arrests.† Reuters. N.p., 12 Oct. 2013. Web. 4Nov.2013. . Human Rights Campaign. N.p., 2011. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. . Tanzer, Miles. â€Å"LGBT Rally In St. Petersburg Ends With Arrests And Violence.† Buzzfeed World. N.p., 12 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2013. . Kendell, Kate. â€Å"Ending Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientatà ­on and Gender Identity.† Human Rights 35.4  (2008): 18-19. Web. Meyer, Doug. â€Å"An Intersectional Analysis Of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (Lgbt) People’s Evaluations Of Anti-Queer Violence.†Gender and Society 26.6  (2012): 849-873. Web. Fredricksen, Karen  I., Michael  R. Woodford, Katherine  P. Luke, and Lorraine Gutierrez. â€Å"Support Of Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Content In Social Work Education: Results From National Surveys Of U.S. And Anglophone Canadian Faculty.† Journal of Social Work Education 47.1  (2011): 19-35. Web. Source document

Graffiti and vandalism acts in our community Essay

Introduction Graffiti and vandalism are a major blight on communities. Vandalism can lead to important services, such as public telephones, being damaged so that they don’t work, or removed, for example bus shelters, to protect from further harm. Vandalism can make the environment untidy, and graffiti can be offensive. All of these things contribute to an air of decline, and can lead to people fearing crime more. Acts of vandalism can include breaking windows, smashing up payphones, and graffiti. Many incidents of vandalism and graffiti are not reported. This is often because it is against private property and the victims do not consider it serious enough to tell the police, or think that the police won’t be able to do anything about it, or find the culprit. Sometimes, the people who own the property (for example, the gas board) are based a long way away, and never see the damage to complain about it. Vandalism and graffiti are a criminal offence under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. The penalty for vandalism and graffiti is a maximum fine of 500 and/ or 3 months in prison if the value of damage is less than 000. The court can also make a compensation order. Possessing equipment with intent to cause damage is also an offence, and, if intent can be proven to the court, spray paint would be included as such equipment. Types of graffiti There are many different types of graffiti: Tagging: this is perhaps the most frequent type of graffiti. People have their own signs, or ‘tags’, which identify them. These are put in as many places as possible to show that the writer has been there, to mark out their territory. ‘Pieces’ are the larger pictures, more traditionally associated with graffiti. These can have some artistic merit in the correct context. Glass etching: sometimes also called ‘Dutch graffiti’. This is where people scratch into glass, for example on a bus or train, with a sharp implement like a stone or bottle top. Writing slogans: these are often just sprayed onto large walls, and are often designed to be offensive. They may be racist, sexist or homophobic. Other slogans may be political. Who vandalises or graffitis? Young people are associated with a great many incidents of vandalism and graffiti. The scribbling of names and more simple ‘tags’ are known to come from children and young people. Many use felt-tips, or other commonly available materials. Other people are also involved – telephone boxes may be vandalised by people trying to get money out of them; political activists may write their slogans on blank walls or conventional artists may use graffiti in their art. Why do people do it? Here are some of the reasons why people graffiti: Offenders gain pleasure from finishing a piece of graffiti without getting caught and then afterwards from the permanence of their work. The problem grows as other vandals follow and what started as a single ‘tag’ ends up as a wall covered in graffiti. Young people’s eagerness to mark their territory. This can take on a more sinister form when gangs use it to stake out a claim to an area or to intimidate the local community and potential rivals. It can be because people see nothing better to do, or they want to be daring. Peer pressure can lead to people, especially younger people, doing things they would not normally do. This is made worse by the use of graffiti in youth culture, for example in advertising and music. Spaces are built with little consideration for design, so that large blank walls become enormous ‘canvases’. Problems caused by vandalism and graffiti The problems of vandalism and graffiti go much further than the obvious costs of repairs and cleaning. It causes fear of crime and a sense of insecurity. There is evidence that people’s fear of crime is influenced by their impression of public spaces which are dingy and run down because of vandalism, litter and graffiti. Graffiti can make people feel threatened and vulnerable, particularly if it is racist, sexist or homophobic. The ‘Broken Windows Theory’, developed in America, suggests that if a broken window is not repaired, other windows will soon be broken in response to the message that no one cares. It is argued that more broken windows or greater vandalism will influence the way people perceive crime in the area and will assume that other crime is also on the increase. What can I do about it? Investment to tackle graffiti and vandalism has to be long-term. If it is cut back when the problem starts to improve, the problem will come back. What can we do about vandalism? As with graffiti, repairing the damage as soon as it is done can deter vandals from causing further damage. When the vandalism is to property, securing empty houses with metal screens over the doors and windows can be effective, but this does advertise the fact that the house is empty and can encourage vandals. It also adds to the  air of disrepair in an area, and makes people feel less safe. Video recordings of incidents can be used to alert parents and can be used as evidence in court. What can we do about graffiti? Research shows that the best way to deal with graffiti and stop it coming back is to clear it up immediately. However, there are a great many websites for displaying photos of graffiti so the perpetrators may not be that worried about their graffiti being removed, as they get recognition this way. Cleaning up graffiti is something your community could get involved in. Tenants’ and residents’ groups often have volunteer ‘graffiti squads’. If yours doesn’t, why not suggest it at the next meeting? Some councils offer free paint to people who want to paint over graffiti in their neighbourhood. You could suggest your council does this. Another idea is providing a legal site where people are allowed to graffiti. There are mixed views on such graffiti walls or zones. There is some evidence that they bring their own problems, as graffiti tends to spread out to surrounding walls. Also, it is unlikely to stop users doing illegal graffiti elsewhere. Young people are attracted to legal graffiti zones because they don’t have to rush and don’t have to constantly be afraid of being caught. They have time to produce a good piece of work. However, most young people prefer to tag whereas the owners of the wall or site usually prefer pictures. Another problem is young people graffiti-ing on their way to or from the legal graffiti site. One project got round this by providing all the paint on site. Innovative designs of walls, with more windows or unusual materials may help, as it reduces the amount of ‘blank canvas’ available. Even better is to have railings instead of walls where possible, as this not only limits the possibility of graffiti, but also increases natural surveillance, making people feel safer. Where large walls are inevitable, for example around an industrial site, using murals to decorate the walls may stop people putting their own ‘pictures’ there. If public art is not a possibility, using vegetation, for example ivies and creepers, can help with stopping people graffiti. It also makes the area look more attractive. Other ways to limit graffiti and vandalism in your neighbourhood include: Educating young people about the impact which graffiti and vandalism have on the wider community (e.g. making people feel unsafe, costing millions of pounds a year to fix and clean up) Young people are often unaware of the cost of cleaning up graffiti or repairing criminal damage. They need to know that it is unacceptable and is taken seriously. Helping find other things for young people to do [link to yp section] What can schools and youth services do? Schools or youth groups can ‘adopt’ badly vandalised areas, such as subways or playgrounds, keeping them clean and well looked-after. These schemes work best where young people can get involved in the design or creation of the area themselves, for example by creating a mural or planting trees. The same approach has been used successfully by targeting groups of young people who are thought to be responsible for some of the damage. Detached youth workers can make contact with the young people and establish what they would like to do instead. A practical construction project often appeals. There are many examples of successful projects where young people have taken pride in what they have created and ensured that it stays vandal-free. What can others do to help? Agencies owning buildings or utilities which are prone to vandalism can assess the location and design of these to see if vandalism can be reduced. Measures might include: Demolishing unused buildings, or finding a temporary use for them (such as a youth centre). Relocating services, e.g. phone boxes and bus stops, so that they are closer to other facilities where they may be less prone to vandalism. Better damage-reporting procedures and quicker repair. Target-hardening, e.g. better lighting, toughened glass, graffiti-resistant paint. Authorising graffiti in some areas, e.g. graffiti walls. Probation service community service schemes may be able to help with repairs and graffiti removal. Under the Crime & Disorder Act, the court can require offenders to repair damage done by imposing a Reparation Order.