Our Buttocks Are Different Essay

I have chosen Arthur Rimbaud’s poem entitled â€Å"Our Assholes Are Different†. The poem was originally written in French and has been translated in many different versions. Interestingly, the poem is also known as â€Å"Our Buttocks Are Not Theirs†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and carries a significant reference to the poet’s personal life as he was an unabashed homosexual. The poem is also a reflection on Rimbaud’s tongue-in-cheek and witty sense of humor that is his unique trademark in all his writings. In this paper, I will discuss his usage of tone, imagery and symbolism. First I am going to analyze tone. The poem is spoken in a direct, straight-forward manner with feelings of animation, pleasure and amusement. The poet is clearly thrilled with the idea of peeping into other’s private moment of relief but instead of looking at them with disgust, the view provides him with romantic, happy, idle thoughts that remind him of freedom. The act of relieving oneself is actually a form of release and that the pleasure is both mutual, for the reliever as well as the watcher, â€Å"And in those happy floods that youth set free I watched the architecture of our crotch†. To the poet, seeing the buttocks is a way of appraising nature as it occurs upon him that not one buttock is similar to the other. It is interesting how he describes the buttock similar to our faces, with â€Å"a dimple indent’ and characteristic from one another, â€Å"Its forms to muscles, and a wickerwork/ Of hairs; for girls, the most enchanting lurk/ In a dark crack where tufted satin grows†. The smooth roundness and blushing cheeks of our buttocks reminds him of the â€Å"painted cherub on a Baroque shrine† known for their adorable exposed buttocks that are as chubby as the cheeks on their innocent, angelic faces. The touch and appearance of its softness from afar excites the poet as it inspires him the meaning of liberation, â€Å"If only we were naked now, and free†. And at the end of the poem the poet even sounds aroused when he declares, ‘to watch our protruding parts align;/ To whisper – both of us – in ecstasy! †. Next I will analyze imagery. Rimbaud uses simple language to describe his emotions and responses to something we often keep private. As he begins with describing his habit of watching people urinating in private, he describes them as how he sees them with a touch of romanticism. The poet is descriptive in the physical attributes of the buttocks similar to if he were looking and describing a building, â€Å"I watched the architecture of our crotch/ Quite firm, in many cases, it owes its form to muscles, and a wickerwork/Of hairs†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . While others would feel embarrassed to look, let alone illustrate, the sight of another’s private parts, Rimbaud is unabashed, telling them as God’s enchanting work of art as he sees them as ‘touching and wonderful innocence†. It is interesting how Rimbaud uses a small reference for relief (urinating) and transforms them into a bigger and more profound imagery such as freedom of the soul. And as one openly exposes oneself with his buttock, we might as well go completely naked to experience the ultimate form of relief – spiritual liberation. Next I will discuss symbolism. On the surface level, Rimbaud’s buttock is extremely physical: one sees another urinating and the buttock is exposed for all to see, perhaps unintentionally. However, on a closer inspection, the buttock signifies an opportunity to be free, not just for the observed but also the observer. From just the mere sight of a person’s buttock, the poet is saying we are hiding something so marvelous and beautiful to behold, thus, let alone an entire body that would be even more marvelous to be shared, â€Å"Oh! If only we were naked now, and free/ To watch our protruding parts align†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . The buttock is an attribute we have behind us and that is constantly covered, like a best-kept secret. Yet it plays a crucial role for humans as it releases toxins from the body. And because it is always kept hidden, it becomes a wonder. And how we keep it â€Å"quite firm† or â€Å"a wickerwork of hairs†, is a reflection of who we are and our personality, much like a thumbprint. And thus, seeing glimpses of one’s crack is much like having a preview into one’s personality before you even get to know that person, and that creates another significant excitement for the poet. â€Å"Our assholes are different from theirs† reverberate a connotation of distinction. It is as if the poet is saying, â€Å"theirs† are different to mine. He describes the buttocks he sees and those of â€Å"young men† depicting them as filled with youth and â€Å"innocence†. And if he could stand naked among them, his bottom would be â€Å"whispering† to theirs – as if in humility – the joys and pleasure to be firm, carefree and adolescent again. There are no worries and no hassles in life, just liberation. This poem has an odd topic for discussion, yet it makes a lot of sense about wanting, needing, and appreciating freedom. And what is unique about its symbolism, is that the poet uses a simple concept to teach us about freedom from the simple act of urinating and relieving oneself. The problems we bottle inside us are similar to the urine we accumulate throughout the day. And as we operate in a cycle from drinking to urinating, we need to do employ the same method in other aspects of our lives. Yet we do not. Imagine if we had the same discipline with our problems and our life’s choices. We have the ability to purge out unnecessary â€Å"toxins† in our body such as hate, anger, tension, stress, frustration and sadness on a daily basis, we would be leading healthy lives and cancer would not exist. Silly as it sounds, the poem about our buttocks is a good reminder of the little pleasures in life we often take for granted. And poems such as this are a reminder of why Rimbaud was hailed a brilliant poet. He succeeds in bringing to life imagery and symbolism that would otherwise make no sense to us.

A Good Life Does Not Have to Be Complex.

Arsh Atwal A Good Life does not have to be Complex April 6/2013 A good life is defined differently for everyone. Our parents, friends, and the media all comprise a vision that we see as the best way of experiencing our lives. Hen determining what is a good life, there are many evident things that come to mind that would be a part of a good life for everyone. Having an active healthy existence, feeling safe and secure in your life, and being happy are the most likely answers to the question of a good life. Health is an essential part to a good life, as is morals and beliefs.A good life is defined by how people interpret the term happiness. Most peoples lives are based on their morals and beliefs. People believe money is the root of all evil, allowing things of lesser value make them feel they are living the good life. An example of this would be when people purchase an apartment and being just as content as if they would have gotten a big spacious house. However, some also believe wea lth is needed to effectively live a good life when you are seeking happiness through things that make you individually well off.An example of this would be buying the newest car rather than a cheaper car. Pursuing happiness through morals can sometimes be dreadful. Happiness can be found in daily life. However, as peoples living standard rises, many people don’t content simple life, they always will want more. Having happiness does not mean how wonderful the house you live in is. While people are looking for something that they think can make them happy, their life becomes too complex. People will never be happy for what they have now.Although material things can make life more interesting, they will not make you feel the real happiness and have good life. Being simple everyday is what makes people happy. A happy family is a healthy and loving family. Having support of each other during good and bad times, is very important because it relives stress. Less stress means better health. Loving your family brings and keeps happiness inside the home. No support or love in a family leads to meaningless household, this can divide family members into not caring.Keeping family close by eating meals and going on trips together makes a great loving family, which is part of a good life. A good life is not a specific way of life for every person. For each person, the meaning of a good life is different. Whatever way of life a person is comfortable and happy with counts as a good life for that person. It is hard to say that only one way of life is a good way of life because each person prefers different things and wants different things

The politics of Southeast Asia (Crisis, Conflict, and Reform) Essay

The politics of Southeast Asia (Crisis, Conflict, and Reform) - Essay Example Where have they been less contentious? How would you account for the success or failure of multicultural politics in Southeast Asia? The development of discrimination worldwide has been a phenomenon that cannot be easily controlled; in fact, this problem occurs not only to developing but also to developed countries; of course, in countries where the quality of life is lower compared to the Western developed countries, the effects of discrimination on people’s daily activities are more severe. Current paper focuses on the examination of the aspects of discrimination in Southeast Asia; the cases of Cambodia and Indonesia are used in order to highlight the main aspects of this social problem. The ethnic and identity politics used in the specific countries are presented and critically analyzed – at the level that they are found to be responsible for the expansion of discrimination across the specific countries. Both countries mentioned above have similar social and political structure and could be used as a basis in order to identify the current status of discrimination in the region and the expected pr ospects in the future – referring to the potential limitation of the phenomenon either in the short or the long term. At the next level, the potential success of multicultural politics in Southeast Asia is examined; it is proved that the development of these politics is possible and could lead to the limitation of discrimination in the greater region; however, it would be necessary that these politics are critically evaluated – in terms of their expected duration taking into consideration the strong political and economic turbulences that characterize the greater region. In order to identify the role of ethnic and identity politics in the development of discrimination in Southeast Asia, it would be necessary to refer primarily to the main aspects of these politics; the examination

A Library Outside the Traditional Library System Article

A Library Outside the Traditional Library System - Article Example I was stuck in my research quest. I did not know what to do. My cousin had limited experience with the online library himself. We send a message through the system in the form of an inquiry to the librarian about how to proceed. The librarian answered in less than 48 hours. The tips I received from the librarian on how to find the information I was seeking were very useful. Remote access is the ability to enter or log into a network from a remote location (Webopedia, 2007). School should be providing this type of service to its student body. Remote access has plenty of applications for students enrolled at the k-12 level. Teachers can create laboratories in their classrooms is which all the students are able to log into a network to enjoy some type of educational experience. The teacher itself does not have to be present during the session since remote access allows teachers to monitor the system from an outside location. Student knowing that the teacher can monitor their computer activities; since every action get logged into the system will behave well and learn the value of responsibility and self-control. Remote access can also provide privileges to the k-12 students such as the ability to enter the school library or electronic resources to find information after school that can help them with their assignment from their homes. As a part of team responsible for managing a school library media system in the transition process of creating a website and electronic resources there would be plenty of things that had to be worked on, but the top priority would be on educating the faculty and teachers on the system. A school with technologies deficiencies in its library system has a great possibility of having these types of deficiencies thought the school. I would set up immediate mandatory seminars for the teachers to get them up to data on the National Educational Technology Standards.

Response of the United States to the Katarina Catastrophe Assignment - 7

Response of the United States to the Katarina Catastrophe - Assignment Example However, the administration lacks proper and efficient methods, hence failing to convince international partners to venture into the project. With this knowledge, the government has no other way but to come up with detailed procedures for accepting foreign aid. The first step entails setting up a communication protocol with a mandate to request for tailored support in a discreetly proper method (Lasser, 2012). National Preparedness and Response Authority (NPRA) creation and enactment will benefit in the provision of grave leadership for alertness and response to cataclysms. With the task, the NPRA, therefore, needs qualified and experienced leaders in crisis management. In addition, the technic used together with the staff needs real and professional knowledge in disaster management and justification (Bissell, 2014). The NPRA integrates inclusive approaches to crisis management, which involves readiness, response, repossession, and mitigation. Essential infrastructures that include energy and telecommunication system look up to the NPRA for protection from harm and recovery in case of a previous natural disaster encounter. For efficiency and systemic procedures, the establishment of regional offices will help coordinate the response process effectively. It is also the mandate of local agencies to identifying and tailor response to disasters that affect specified geographical areas (Lasser, 2012). The content of the paper precedes research on how a sea storm resulted to Katrina destructive hurricane. It clearly brings out the effects of Katrina on the population and destroyed properties in the affected areas. It also includes both the merits and demerits of processes used in the handling of the Katrina, with clearly outlined policies and recommendations in case of future occurrence of the same disaster. If followed, future damages will be reduced (Haddow, Bullock, & Coppola, 2014).

Dynamic Content Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Dynamic Content Management - Essay Example The basic operation of a Web content management system was set out clearly in the 1990s by the then MIT (now Harvard) database expert Philip Greenspun (2003). CMS is defined as those: â€Å"principles and practices around developing, managing, maintaining, and deploying (web) content in an organization† (Nakano, 2002) CMS concerns itself with the organizational tasks, goals and roles which lead to high quality content and accurate, attractive, useful websites which are easy to use. The average organisation's Web site or intranet has anywhere between one thousand and one million pieces of content. By the time the organisation has reached this size, it has a substantial Web content management challenge. What is a Web Content Management System? From Cascading Style Sheets through XML, has now evolved into the web CMS environment, where USD6.4 billions is expected to be spent by 2007 according to IDC. In a Web Content Management system the design and presentation of content on a Web page is separated from the content creation process. This is because Web pages and links can be dynamically generated from information held in a database. TerminalFour’s Site Manager is an example of a commercial off the shelf product which has found favour with commercial, public and academic sectors. By making use of XML (extensible Mark up Language), a CMS can also allow content that is stored in the database to be repurposed for different devices such as mobile phones, handheld computers, kiosks and Web TV as well as PCs.

Differences in Globalization.Differences Between Globalization From Essay

Differences in Globalization.Differences Between Globalization From Above And From Below - Essay Example In the business front, globalization may refer to the aspect of investing resources and conducting businesses beyond domestic and national markets to international markets across the world with a view of enhancing closer relations in different markets (Investopedia 2013, p. 1). Indeed, globalization involves the creation of an open and common global market and investment opportunities. Generally, globalization may define distinct political, economic, and social processes of a given society where it involves the decentralization of modern technologies, ideologies, and practices (Najera 2007, p. 1). This allows for the sharing of information and exercising free will in defined aspects as more people across the globe establish close and relevant relationships. More so, this fosters international trade, international policies, and cultural exchange (Investopedia 2013, p. 1). Ideally, there are significant benefits that relate to globalization in the modern world and hence the support on globalization by various scholars. Nevertheless, there are differences regarding the future and expansion of globalization with some scholars viewing globalization as an inexorable process. This leads to the assumption of different views concerning globalization. This includes globalization from â€Å"below† and globalization from â€Å"above.† The proponents of globalization may relate it to industrial growth in developing nations where such nations benefit from increased employment opportunities and technological transfer from the industrialized nations. Indeed, globalization allows the developing nations to derive economic benefits from the industrialized nations thus fostering economic growth in the developing nations. Nevertheless, we still have critics of globalization who claim that the benefits of globalization are prone to numerous risks. Indeed, the critics of globalization have homogenizing impacts on culture and exploit the domestic people and environment ( Najera 2007, p. 1). Moreover, they assert that globalization demeans national sovereignty and underrates the domestic labor force (Investopedia 2013, p. 1). There are different instruments of globalization, which include the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, which recorded immense success in the recent past (Brecher, Costello & Smith 2000, p. 1). As such, it is evident that globalization has taken root and its application in the modern world bears potential benefits. There are different types of globalization, which include economic globalization, cultural globalization, economic globalization, globalization of sport, globalization of higher education, and globalization of medicine, health, religion, and science (Ritzer 2010, p. 60). More so, there are distinct factors that drive contemporary globalization which include technology, capitalism, and multinational corporations (Ritzer 2010, p. 60). Nevertheless, there are differences regardi ng the future and expansion of globalization with some scholars viewing globalization as an inexorable process (Ritzer 2010, p. 60). This leads to the assumption of different views concerning globalization. This includes viewing globalization from â€Å"below† and viewing globalization from â€Å"above.† Notably, there are significant differences between globalization â€Å"from above† and globalization â€Å"from below.† Ideally, we can refer to the view of globalization â€Å"from below† as democratic globalization and refer to the view of globalization from above as corporate globalization. More specifically, globalization â€Å"from below† refers to a situation where individuals (activists) or

Operation Management asignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Operation Management asignment - Essay Example In formulating and implementing the organisation’s strategy, the operations management takes the organisation through the main strategic levels (Slack 2003, p23). The managers of these departments ensure the strategies are formulated through three different levels. These are the corporate level, the business unit level, and the departmental level. In the corporate level, the operations management plays a role in selecting the businesses that the organisation has to compete. Additionally, in this level, the operations managers often develop and coordinate the growth of business by ensuring the organisation has achieved its overall goals (Robinson 2012, p 56). In the Business Unit Level, the operations management department works independently in coordination of operating units that sustains the competitive advantage of the organisation’s goods and services. It is in this level that the operation managers implement the changes in demand and technologies. They bring on board the strategies that accommodate them (Mahadevan 2010, p 45). The operations management plays a vital role in the departmental level. In this level, the operations managers deal with strategic issues that relate to value chain and business activities. Additionally, in this level, the members of the operations department coordinate the resources that are important for the operations of the business. In any business, managers are aware strategies are important in maintaining the competitiveness and survival of a business. Such situations demand the top leadership of any business to strengthen their operations management section. Consider the Citizens Advice Bureau in England; it is a successful advice corporation, which pursues profits through a range of operations. The company has ten core business segments. For the growth of the business, the corporation must manage its portfolio of businesses. The operations manager

Low Voter Turnout in the United States Essay Example for Free

Low Voter Turnout in the United States Essay Throughout American history, there has been a steady decline in voter turnout. Not only has this been humiliating for the United States, low voter turnout has been and always will be a threat to American Democracy. The concept of democracy is dependent on citizens actively participating in elections and voting to select representatives for public office. The government cannot be representative of the people, unless the people elect its representatives. Voter turnout is a major indicator of how citizens view their electoral system, and whether or not they believe that the system is working. There are numerous factors that impede voter turnout, including: citizens political attitudes, demographic factors, and the structure of the electoral system. The established registration process is one of the main causes of low voter turnout in the United States. Unlike many democracies, the United States places the burden of registration on the individual (Vanishing Voter, 7). There are no penalties for citizens that do not register or vote in American elections. Some propose that requiring citizens to vote and imposing penalties on those who fail to do so will increase voter turnout. The dilemma with this proposal is that it is fundamentally undemocratic. Citizens of democratic societies are promised the right to vote. In guaranteeing the right to vote, citizens are guaranteed the right not to vote as well. There are better solutions to the problem of low voter turnout in the United States than enacting compulsory voting laws. America has not established a national system of automatic registration; procedures for voter registration differ from state to state. A universal system of voter registration would make it much more simple for people to vote. The problem with this solution is that automatically registering people to vote does not imply that they will actually go out and vote. Six states have enacted a good solution, same day registration, which has been proven to increase voter turnout anywhere from 10 to 17 percent (Donovan, 182). Same day voter registration allows qualified citizens to register to vote on the day that elections are held. Because many states do not allow same day registration, many Americans do not take the time and effort to register in the first place; same day registration helps to solve this  problem. The registration process and electoral system also creates a problem of convenience. Not only is the registration process inconvenient, Election Day itself is problematic. Election day is held on a Tuesday, impeding the majority of the population from voting due to work-related duties and responsibilities. The solution for this problem is to make Election Day a national holiday. If citizens did not have the responsibility to be at work, they would be much more likely to find time and take the effort to go out and vote. Other solutions have been offered, including: extending the voting period, enacting absentee ballot systems, and voting by mail. While all of these other solutions have made it easier, cheaper and more convenient for citizens to vote, the costs do not fully outweigh the benefits. In any kind of early voting solution, the biggest concern is that early voters vote without knowing all of the significant information needed to make a well-informed vote. Many occurrences and revelations come at the end of the campaigns and can no longer influence voters that have already voted and cannot change their selection. A voters political attitude is the biggest indicator of whether or not he or she will vote. Interest in the election, concern over outcome, feelings of civic pride, and political efficacy [all] affect how people vote (Wayne, 83). Throughout American history, there has been a decline in partisan identification. Party allegiance is a stimulus for voting. Since citizens are not as loyal to partisanship as they were in the past, they have less incentive to actually go out and vote in elections. As a group, independents are 12 percent less likely to vote than are strong partisans (Wayne, 83). Along with the decline in party identification, interest in political campaigns has been declining steadily overtime as well. In todays society, politics is forced to compete with so many other things in the media or at home for peoples attention. Media audiences are more interested in human-interest and celebrity stories than they are in politics. Because of this, election coverage in the media has greatly declined. The medias coverage of the election is dominated by the use of  negative advertising and attack journalism. The frequent use of negative advertising in the media has played a role in Americas declining voter turnout. These negative advertisements repel potential voters; causing them to lose interest in the political campaign. Along with negative advertising, the lack of competition between candidates has also decreased political interests and led to low voter turnout. Low political efficacy has greatly reduced voter turnout in the United States. Voter efficacy is the belief that ones vote counts and that voters can change the way government works or public officials behave (Wayne, 83). There are many factors affecting voter efficacy, including education and income. Income plays a major role in voter turnout. With the expansion of poverty in the United States, the gap between the rich and the poor is steadily growing. Citizens of lower income typically have lower voter efficacy. They are also less concerned with the outcome of the election than citizens of higher income levels, therefore, many of these people simply choose not to vote because they feel that they will not be affected by the outcome of the election. Income, education, and likelihood to vote are all positively correlated; more educated citizens have higher income levels and are much more likely to vote. Education is the greatest influence on voting behavior. It provides people with the skills for processing and evaluating information; for perceiving differences among the parties, candidates, and issues; and for relating these differences to personal values and behavior (Wayne, 83). The more educated a citizen is, the more interested they are in the election and the more concerned they are with the outcome. Educated citizens also have a great sense of civic pride and higher voter efficacy. All of these factors combined lead to a much higher likelihood of a person to actually turnout and vote. To increase political education, some propose conducting citizen education campaigns. The goal of these campaigns is to educate the people on the benefits and responsibility involved with voting. The main problem with this solution is that it is easier said than done. It is very hard to persuade  nonvoters to take the time and make the effort to educate themselves on the reasons why they should vote. A better way to increase education and voter turnout is to encourage grassroots campaigns. These get-out-the-vote campaigns help motivate interest in elections with nonvoters and can influence them to vote, increasing voter turnout. Neither conducting citizen education campaigns nor encouraging grassroots campaigns can promise an increase in voter turnout, but both can help influencing citizens to vote and possibly lead to higher voter turnout in the United States. Low voter turnout is a big problem in the United States. According to Wayne, Low turnout suggests that people may be alienated, lack faith in the candidate and parties, think that the government is and will remain unresponsive to their needs and interests, and believe that they cannot achieve change through the electoral process (Wayne, 85). The voter turnout problem is very hard to solve because low voter turnout itself leads to less voting. The numerous factors that impede voter turnout include: citizens political attitudes, demographic factors, and the structure of the electoral system. Some of the impediments are structural, but the most influential impediments are caused by other factors, such as the media, political campaigns, and the American citizens. Overall, the benefits of increasing voter turnout greatly outweigh the costs of doing so. While some proposed solutions may work better than others, it is most important to change voters attitudes about politics and make it more convenient for Americans to both register and vote. Higher voter turnout will reverse the relentless cycle of low voter turnout and help lead to a more representative democracy. Bibliography 1. The Road to the White House 2008. 8th edition. Stephen J. Wayne. 20082. Reforming the Republic: Democratic Institutions for the New America. Todd Donowan and Shaun Bowler. 2004

Reliability and validity Essay Example for Free

Reliability and validity Essay Normally when a survey and research is carried out the results should be tested to prove whether they are valid and reliable. Therefore I have come out with the following responses to judge the following students wrong or right. Student number one has no concrete ideas on what validity and reliability means. In the first place validity is not judgmental but objective. For the response to be valid the results should be seen to be working and practical. Reliability according to student one is a little bit applicable and I can therefore accept it. He/she argues out correctly that comparing the responses of groups’ pools and relating the accuracy of the out comers can achieve reliability. However one thing that has been ignored is that for the response of this student to be reliable then it should be done repeatedly is when comparisons on the accuracy can be done. Student one has not got the exact meaning of validity since a data is only valid when it has been tested and the results or outcome is accepted. This is always done at some levels of confidence interval. One cannot just pass a judgment that given information is valid before testing the results. For the second student reliability is properly defined and explained. For a data to be reliable automatically the test result should be consistent. Student two also has a bright idea on validity. A good test it said to reliable and valid if it is consistent and measures exactly what it tends to measure. I believe that the results that the students will get from the use of the healthy eating index as a tool on the changing quality of nutrient intake for 9th grade female athletes at the love joy high school will be accepted. The third student is a bright statistician as he/she uses a lot of statistics to express his mind. Results of a test will be reliable when they are consistent. Consistency is achieved after several repetitions of the test are done. His/her reaction on validity is also okay. The research measurement tool should only measure what it purports to measure. The different types of validity are also discussed clearly by this student. Student 4 is completely mixed up on differentiating the term validity and reliability. Basically validity is not whether or not the research explains or measures what he/she said he would be measuring. The validity should be based on the fact that the test should measure exactly what it is to measure. Again for results to be reliable they should be consistent after several experiments performed. You can use an instrument that gives accurate results but this doesn’t mean that the results will be reliable. His findings on the course curriculum may be misleading or not trusted in the long run. The fifth student is also wrong on the way he responds to validity and reliability. His argument is subjective in nature. Reliability doe not mean ability to be able to rely on the research instrument but it means the consistency of the results produced by the research instrument. The sixth student is judged right on how he defines the term validity and reliability. However he does not know how validity and reliability is achieved. It is not a matter of relying on the test tool and how it is administered but the tool should be able to test the exact thing it is suppose to test. Therefore relying on the test tool can create results that are not valid and reliable. The seventh student has not properly brought out the exact meaning of the two terms. Reliability has to do with the consistency of the test results. Therefore some measuring tool should be used. Success of any study cannot be generalized unless it is tested and found to be consisted and accurate. This is when we can rely on the results. The eighth student summarizes the discussion on the two terms very smartly. To be simple and to avoid confusion a test is valid if it measures what is says to measure. Then very smartly he defines reliability as the consistency of measurements. All the information collected from the survey he wanted to carry will be reliable if they are consistence. Otherwise I have no objection with his argument when he says that validity reliability assure that tests and results are done and performed in the most accurate manner. Reference: Louis, C. (2003). Research Methods in Education New York: Routledge Publishers.

Return on Investment for Emergency Obstetric Care Training

Return on Investment for Emergency Obstetric Care Training Social Return on Investment for Emergency Obstetric Care Training in Kenya Dedication â€Å"To philanthropy and all those contributing to making the world a better place† List of tables Table 1‑1: Summary table of social impact assessment methods Table 2‑1: WHO emergency obstetric care signal functions.. Table 3‑1: Krlev et al. 12-point quality assessment framework Table 3‑2: Sources of retrieved SROI studies. Table 3‑3: Criterion quality scores of health SROI studies across the 5 dimensions Table 3‑4: Health interventions that have been measured with SROI Table 3‑5: Summary table describing application of the SROI methodology in Health Table 3‑6: Summary of duration of health SROI analysis. Table 4‑1: Outputs of the current phase of the Making it Happen programme Table 4‑2: Content of the LSS-EOC NC. Table 4‑3: Distribution of Kenyan population across age groups. Table 4‑4: Kenyan Key development indicators.. Table 4‑5: EmONC indicators in Kenya compared to UN standards. Table 5‑1: Description of SROI principles. Table 5‑2: MiH outcome and output data indicators relevant for SROI analysis Table 6‑1: Stakeholder analysis of the EmONC training component of the Making it Happen programme Table 6‑2: Primary and secondary data required from the included stakeholders List of figures Figure 1‑1: Types of Social Return on Investment Studies Figure 2‑1: Annotation of the logic model (version 1). Figure 2‑2: Annotation of the logic model (version 2). Figure 2‑3: DFID 3Es + CE framework for Value for Money.. Figure 3‑1: Schematic representation of the conceptual framework underpinning the review Figure 3‑2: PRISMA flow diagram summarising the search process. Figure 3‑3: Mean quality scores of health SROI studies since 2005. Figure 3‑4: Number of public health SROI articles published since 2005. Figure 3‑5: Number of health SROI studies published by year, showing countries where the methodology was applied Figure 3‑6: Distribution of countries conducting SROI studies Figure 4‑1: Map of Kenya showing the eight provinces and the surrounding countries Figure 5‑1: SROI process map Figure 5‑2: Methods to be used within the SROI data collection stages.. Figure 6‑1: Analysis of stakeholders related to EmONC training in Kenya List of appendices Appendix 1: Search strategy Appendix 2: Systematic review results Appendix 3: Ethics Appendix 4: Materials relating to Making it Happen Appendix 5: Questionnaires Abbreviations ACAFIAtkisson Compass Assessment for Investors AIDSAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome BACOBest Available Charitable Option BEmOCBasic Emergency Obstetric Care BEmONCBasic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care BoP Base of Pyramid BScBalanced Scorecard BVABlended Value Accounting CAQDAS CEmOCComprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care CEmONCComprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care CBACost Benefit Analysis CEACost-Effectiveness Analysis CMA Cost-Minimization Analysis CMNHCentre for Maternal Newborn Health CRTCluster Randomised Trials CSOCivil Society Organisation CUACost-Utility Analysis DALYs Disability-Adjusted Life Years DFIDDepartment for International Development DHDepartment of Health DHS Demographic and Health Survey EEEconomic Evaluation EmOC Emergency Obstetric Care EmONCEmergency Obstetric and Newborn Care EOC NCEssential Obstetric Care and Newborn Care FGFocus Group FGDFocus Group Discussion GRIGlobal Reporting Initiative HCPHealth Care Providers HEFCEHigher Education Funding Council for England ICPIntegrated Care and Prevention IDIIn-Depth Interview KHSSIP Kenya Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan KIIKey Informant Interview KPIKey Person Interview LADSILabour and Delivery Satisfaction Index LATHLiverpool Associates in Tropical Health LEMLocal Economic Multiplier LMICsLow and Middle Income Countries LSS-EOCNCLife Saving Skills – Essential Obstetric Care and Newborn Care LSTMLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine MARPMost At Risk Population MDG-ScanMillennium Development Goal Scan MICSMultiple Indicator Cluster Survey MIFMeasuring Impact Framework MiHMaking It Happen MMRMaternal Mortality Ratio MNHMaternal and Newborn Health MOHMinistry of Health MOMSMinistry of Medical Services MOPHSMinistry of Public Health and Sanitation MSCMost Significant Change nefNew Economics Foundation NGOsNon-Governmental Organisations OASISOn-going assessment of Social Impacts OVCOrphan and Vulnerable Children PLHIVPeople Living with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus PLHWAPeople Living With AIDS PSIAPoverty and Social Impact Analysis PTOPerson Trade-Off QALYsQuality-Adjusted Life Years QIQuality Improvement RCOGRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists RCTRandomised Controlled Trials REDFRoberts Enterprise Development Fund RFRoberts Foundation ROIReturn on Investment SAASocial Accounting and Auditing SBASkilled Birth Attendant SCStakeholder Consultation SCBASocial Costs-Benefits Analysis SDRSocial Discount Rate SIASocial Impact Assessment SIAASocial Impact Analysts Association SRASocial Return Assessment SRHSexual and Reproductive Health SROISocial Return on Investment SSQSix Simple Questions STDsSexually Transmitted Infections SVAStakeholder Value Added TBLTriple Bottom Line ToCTheory of Change TSOThird Sector Organisation UKUnited Kingdom UNUnited Nations UNICEFUnited Nations Children’ Fund VfMValue for Money WBWorld Bank WHOWorld Health Organization 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the chapter This chapter introduces the social return on investment methodology – its definition, history as well as strengths and weaknesses of its application. It then proceeds to identify examples of previous applications of the method, explores any previous intersection of the methodology with the maternal and newborn health field and provides the rationale for the study. Finally, the objectives of this research and an overview of the thesis are provided. 1.2 What is Social Return on Investment? The first definition of Social Return on Investment (SROI) is â€Å"a simple financial assessment of socio-economic value. SROI compares a project’s net benefits to the investment required to generate those benefits over a certain period of time† (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000). Over time, this definition has been modified. In the most recent SROI methodology guidance, SROI is defined as â€Å"a framework for measuring and accounting for the much broader concept of value. It seeks to reduce inequality and environmental degradation and improve wellbeing by incorporating social, environmental and economic costs and benefits† (Nicholls et al., 2012). This definition is most commonly referred to in the literature, when authors define SROI, probably because it is stated within the SROI guidance. New Economics Foundation (nef) also defines SROI as â€Å"an analytic tool for measuring and accounting for a much broader concept of value, taking into account social, economic and environmental factors† (nef, 2014). SROI measures change from the perspective of stakeholders that experience or contribute to a particular activity, intervention, project, programme or policy. â€Å"It tells the story of how change is being created by measuring social, environmental and economic outcomes and uses monetary values to represent them† (Nicholls et al., 2012). Data collection and subsequent analyses allow calculation of a benefits-to-costs ratio. For example, a ratio of 4:1 indicates that an investment of  £1 delivers  £4 of social value. There are two types of SROI (Nicholls et al., 2012) [Figure 1-1]: Evaluative SROI: This retrospectively measures outcomes that have already happened. Forecast SROI: This estimates how much social impact will be generated if the activities to be conducted meet their intended outcomes. Figure 1.1: Types of Social Return on Investment Studies 1.3 History of SROI A review of the development of the SROI methodology would aid understanding of the initial considerations of those who developed the tool and the capabilities and potentials of the tool. This understanding is critical for this research as it provides a foundation upon which the application of the SROI framework in the maternal and newborn health (MNH) area can be better understood. Roberts Foundation (RF) developed the initial SROI framework in 1996, presented in a report titled New Social Entrepreneurs: The Success, Challenge and Lessons of Non-profit Enterprise Creation (REDF, 1996). The purpose of the first SROI report by REDF was to demonstrate the blend of financial, social and environmental value that all the social enterprises within REDF’s funding portfolio were producing compared to the total investment the organisation was making. This first SROI did not attempt to account for all benefits accrued from a programme, but estimated the cost savings or revenue contributions that are attributed to the programme. The framework utilised a modified discounted cash flow analysis for this calculation to demonstrate impact (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000; Emerson et al., 2000). In 1997, the RF, under its new initiative Roberts Foundation Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) updated the framework so to have the capacity to account for total organisational social return on investment and adjusted to be able to account for actual performance that could be continuously updated. REDF recognised more limitations in the methodology (Emerson et al., 2000), but has since not produced any further SROI reports or guidelines. However, the concepts that underpinned the development of this initial framework have been built upon in the subsequent development of the methodology over the past two decades (Tuan, 2008). Guidelines for SROI application have been produced in year 2000 (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000), 2004 (Lingane and Olsen, 2004) and 2006 (Scholten et al., 2006). In 2008, the United Kingdom (UK) Office of the Third Sector (Now referred to as Office for Civil Society (Civil Society Media, 2010)), which is responsible for charities, social enterprises and voluntary org anisations in the Cabinet Office (UK Government, 2014) launched the Measuring Social Value project (Arvidson et al., 2010) and this led to the development of an updated guideline in 2009 (Nicholls et al., 2009) and the production of another revision three years later (Nicholls et al., 2012). These revisions have over the years integrated the initial REDF SROI methodology, which was essentially a social impact measurement tool with principles and processes normally used in economic evaluations and financial return on investment to build a framework that captures social, economic and environmental impacts of interventions (Rotheroe and Richards, 2007). This concept of capturing the broader impacts is widely referred to as the â€Å"triple bottom line† (Norman and MacDonald, 2004), which is in itself encapsulated within the â€Å"blended value accounting† theory (Emerson, 2003). Furthermore, through this evolution, a more detailed stakeholder analysis is now included, shorter time frames are used for estimations and a process to adjusts the results for outcomes that may be attributable to different organisations has been incorporated into the calculation of the SROI ratio (Tuan, 2008). Discussions on how best to structure the methodology are on-going and networks such as the European SROI Network (ESROIN), formed in 2004, the SROI Network (international), formed in 2008 and subsequently affiliated networks formed in Sweden, Canada and Australia, are constantly leading and shaping this process (SROIN, 2014a). The methodology is gradually gaining interest in Africa and Asia too. The drive to develop the methodology has come from within and without the third sector, as third sector organisations (TSOs), such as not for profit organisations, charities and voluntary organisations, are increasingly getting involved in delivering public services and are viewed as development partners who need to show ‘value for money’ (Netten et al., 2010). On one hand, TSOs are pushing to become better in being accountable and demonstrating the value of their activities to donors. On the other hand, the focus of funding organisations has shifted from â€Å"output† to â€Å"outcome† and â€Å"impact† and from â€Å"generous giving† to â€Å"accountable giving†, through which they can demonstrate that evidence-based decisions have informed their choice of funded interventions, projects or programmes (Leat, 2006). 1.4 Application of the SROI methodology The application of the SROI framework can vary from measurement of the impact and social value generated by a project to a programme or indeed to an entire organisation (Millar and Hall, 2013). A rapid search of academic databases does not retrieve substantial amounts of research work that have used the SROI methodology, however the methodology is very popular within the third sector and has been widely embraced by the Office of the Civil Society, donors, commissioners and the public sector (Ainsworth, 2010; Heady, 2010). Its wider practice-based use but limited application within academia restricts its development and could potentially be the reason for its minimal uptake (Arvidson et al., 2010; Ebrahim and Rangan, 2010). Since its first use by REDF in 1996 (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000), the SROI methodology has been broadly applied to many organisations and within many industries. Examples of its use across different sectors include agriculture, where it was used to account for impact of care farming (Leck, 2013); environmental, where it was used to account for impact of a natural regeneration project (Weston and Hong, 2012); energy, where it was used to account for impact of energy efficiency of homes in Germany (Kuckshinrichs et al., 2010); social, where it was used to account for impact of providing training and employment for blind people (Sital-Singh, 2011), transport, where it was used to account for impact of a co-ordinated shared transport service which provides access to workplace, training and childcare in rural Scotland, where no alternative transport is available. (Wright et al., 2009) and indeed health, where amongst other examples, has been used to account for impact of a community-based pa ediatric asthma programme and provision of highly nutritious breakfast for school children in Sydney, Australia (Bhaumik et al., 2013; Varua and Stenberg, 2009). As regards its application in health [described in detail in Chapter 2: systematic review of SROI application in health], It is worth noting that in 2009, the UK Department of Health (DoH), with the support of the Cabinet Office, commissioned an action research project on which five health focused social enterprises were supported to conduct SROI analysis (Department of Health, 2010). This research demonstrated the relevance of the SROI methodology to the health sector and proved that there were additional benefits of using the methodology (Millar and Hall, 2013). However, to the best of our knowledge, though relevant and appropriate, there is no reported evidence of the application of the SROI methodology in the field of maternal and newborn health. 1.5 Difference between SROI and other related methodologies As mentioned above, the SROI methodology has evolved from a combination of social impact assessment tools and economic evaluation tools. It is therefore important to understand how SROI differs from these existing tools and identify what innovative approach it actually offers. When compared to other social impact measurement tools, there are subtle differences. There are several tools that have been previously or are currently being used in measuring and accounting for social impact (Acumen Fund, 2007; Brest and Harvey, 2008; Brest et al., 2009; Centre for High Impact Philanthropy, 2008; Clark et al., 2004; Emerson et al., 2000; Maas and Liket, 2011; Maas, 2008; Maughan, 2012; Nicholls et al., 2012; Owen and Swift, 2001; Schaltegger et al., 2004). Table 1‑1: Summary table of social impact assessment methods Method Primary application to Date Process Outcome Impact Monetisation Non Profit For Profit Government Acumen Scorecard à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Atkinsson Compass Assessment for Investors (ACAFI) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Balanced Scorecard (BSc) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Benefit-Cost Analysis à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Best Available Charitable Option (BACO) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Base of Pyramid (BoP) Impact Assessment Framework à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Cost per Impact à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Expected Return à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Global Reporting Initiative à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Local Economic Multiplier (LEM) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Measuring Impact Framework (MIF) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Millennium Development Goal Scan (MDG-Scan) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Most Significant Change à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Ongoing Assessment of Social Impact (OASIS) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Poverty and Social Impact Analysis à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Accounting and Auditing (SAA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Costs-Benefits Analysis (SCBA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Return Assessment (SRA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Return on Investment (SROI) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Stakeholder Value Added (SVA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Theories of Change à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ [Table 1-1] shows the key characteristics of these different social impact measurement tools described in the literature, identifying the tools that monitor efficiency and effectiveness of outputs, indicators or variables (process); tools that relate outputs and outcomes and to substantiate incremental outcomes above what would have occurred if the intervention was not implemented (impact) and tools that monetize outcomes and/or impact by transforming them to monetary value (monetization). Finally the table details the sector(s) in which the method has thus far been applied – non-profit (third sector), for profit (commercial) or public sector (government). Of these tools, SROI appears to have gained wide acclaim because of its involvement of all stakeholders, who independently define the value they have experienced because of the intervention. In addition, SROI monetises costs and benefits and also ticks all the boxes of the logical framework, as it accounts for processes, outcomes and impact (Arvidson et al., 2010; Nicholls et al., 2012). The other similar methodologies to SROI are Economic Evaluation (EE) tools. These compare two or more alternative interventions in terms of their costs and benefits (Drummond et al., 1997). Economists have distinguished four types of economic evaluation: Cost-minimization analysis (CMA), Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), Cost benefit analysis (CBA) and Cost-utility analysis (CUA). While the definition of cost remains the same, the manner of accounting for the benefits differs across the types (Drummond et al., 2005). These different types of EE are described below: Cost-minimization analysis (CMA): In which, there is proven evidence that equivalent effectiveness of the comparators in question. Thus the more cost-effective option would be the cheaper one (since both options have similar outcome). Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA): Effectiveness is measured in ‘natural units’ such as life years gained. Cost benefit analysis (CBA): Costs and benefits are monetised, with the cost-effective option being the one that results in a lower monetised ratio. Cost-utility analysis (CUA): Outcome is measured in Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) or Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which is a composite metric of both length and quality of life. When compared to the SROI methodology, whereas a large focus of economic evaluation tools is on the microeconomic evaluation of the impact of any intervention, SROI accounts for not just economic value, but social and environmental impacts. It has been described as an extension of the cost-benefit analysis that incorporates broader socio-economic outcomes (Westall, 2011). In addition, SROI focuses on stakeholders, uses financial proxies, is more of a management tool, is more likely conducted by organisations themselves, while CBAs are usually conducted by external agents and the most up to date guidance does not recommend comparing estimated SROI ratios, unlike CBAs that are designed to be comparable. However, these differences appear to be largely based on â€Å"the style of each approach, rather than the true substance† (Arvidson et al., 2010). 1.6 Strengths and limitations of the SROI methodology 1.6.1 Strengths of the SROI methodology Practitioners and previous authors have identified some of the key strengths of the SROI methodology. Firstly, the fact that the SROI process generates a singular ratio that captures the broader impact (positive and negative) of an intervention is perceived as a key strength (Millar and Hall, 2013). One other strength is its meaningful engagement of stakeholders and its representation of their benefits in ways that are unique to the stakeholders themselves (Millar and Hall, 2013). More so, the fact that this benefits experience or impact experience is being explained from the perspective of the stakeholder is a unique characteristic of SROI, and this important stakeholder view is often neglected in conventional impact evaluation tools (Rauscher et al., 2012). In addition, the method provides a platform for social enterprises to leverage and/or effectively communicate their impact. This ultimately promotes better communication amongst all partners, whether they are beneficiaries, funders or implementers (Mdee et al., 2008). The SROI process also strengthens accountability and transparency systems of social enterprises (Arvidson et al., 2010). Finally, the SROI process is a very useful auditing tool to aid management decisions and service improvement (Social Ventures Australia (SVA) Consulting, 2012). 1.6.2 Limitations of the SROI methodology However, there are limitations of the methodology, just as there are of other impact evaluation methodologies (Arvidson et al., 2010). Some methodological limitations that have been raised include the difficulty of attaching financial values to â€Å"soft outcomes† that require subjective evaluation to generate â€Å"financial proxies† (Lingane and Olsen, 2004) such as self-esteem or confidence (Bertotti et al., 2011). Albeit still in developmental stage, is the Wiki Values, Outcomes and Indicators for Stakeholders (VOIS) database of the SROI Network is an attempt are to standardise such outcomes by recommending indicators and values of such outcomes that can be used to account for them (Rauscher et al., 2012). An example of a health related outcome on WikiVOIS is â€Å"change in incidence of abortion†. Contributors to the database have suggested that â€Å"cost of medical termination of pregnancy† can be used to value this outcome in Canada (The Global Value Exchange, 2013). In addition, the methodology needs an estimation of â€Å"what would have happened anyway† to calculate the value that can be attributed to the specific organisation, programme or intervention, however, this counterfactual data is seldom available (Cordery, 2013; Heady, 2010). Furthermore, the lack of comparability of SROI ratios across different organisations and/or interventions is perceived as a limitation (Ryan and Lyne, 2008). On practical grounds, SROI methodology is adjudged to be cost-intensive and requires the expertise and know-how of professionals and in some cases training, some of which small organisations cannot afford (Wood and Leighton, 2010). 1.7 Rationale for the study Though applicable and relevant, to the best of our knowledge, there is no documented application of the SROI methodology in the area of maternal and newborn health. For most MNH interventions, the key beneficiaries are the women and their families. There is currently no tool that captures the perspectives of all these stakeholders on impact of any intervention in one summary figure. This underscores the need to explore the use of primary data that will include inputs of those benefiting from MNH interventions, as this may potentially be useful in identifying the most complete estimate of the impact of these interventions. To buttress this, some authors have pointed out that this complete evaluation of MNH interventions needs to include identification of the most culturally appropriate intervention for each local setting and peculiar issues unique to the setting. Those who are the major beneficiaries of the intervention are better positioned to identify these culturally appropriate in terventions. Thus the call for culturally sensitive impact evaluations, which attempt to identify specific causes of problems, rather than basing decisions on â€Å"superficial† indicators such as maternal mortality rate, which is only quantitative and does not capture softer outcomes that also demonstrate impact of an intervention (McPake and Koblinsky, 2009; Pradhan, 2008). Secondly, data used as maternal health indicators are usually generated from relatively credible sources such as the Demographics and Health Survey (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and World Development Indicators, but the problem of lack of uniformity in the process by which the indicators were generated remains (Pradhan, 2008). This is complicated by the fact that a large number of developing countries, that receive aid, do not have accurate or complete secondary data to base impact evaluation on (WHO,

The Role of Marlowes Excessive Drinking :: essays research papers

The Role of Marlowe's Excessive Drinking   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the book 'The Big Sleep'; the character Marlowe is a detective working in Criminal Justice. This job seems to bring about a lot of stress to Marlowe, and in order to cope; he turns to drinking which relaxes him. Although he is an alcoholic he still is able to function and get his investigations done. He is a functional alcoholic who abuses alcohol constantly and has a great desire for it for various reasons. Some of the reasons that may be directly linked to Marlowe's abuse of alcohol boredom, psychological and or physical dependence and sometimes he drinks casually and socially. But job- related stress is the main reason Marlowe turns to alcohol because there are times he is able to drink on the job, drinking helps him relax and cope with his job-related stress, and alcohol is the agent that helps him deal with those problems.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the reasons that may cause Marlowe to turn to alcohol is his job. His job as an investigator sometimes turns stressful and alcohol helps him relax and get his mind off the job. Dealing with people and criminals constantly through out the day on the job can be stressful. Besides the fact that he must deal with Carmen's craziness, as the author describes her to be. Marlowe at one moment states 'I went to bed full of whiskey and frustration.'; This shows us that he drinks to help deal with the frustration he goes through and whiskey helps him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Often times Marlowe drinks while working. Usually when socializing with someone. In a conversation with Eddie Mars Marlowe says 'I made myself a drink and was drinking it when the phone rang.'; In another situation while talking to Carmen he mentioned that he is going to go mix himself a drink and offers her one as well. After saying yes, Carmen and Marlowe drink together. This is all taking place while Marlowe is on the job, again drinking to get his mind off of other things and relax. This shows that Marlowe is not just a social or casual drinker, he is an alcoholic and has some form of dependency to alcohol, not to mention a great tolerance as well. Marlowe recognizes this and drinks in front of people, with people while along, and he mentioned he doesn't care if anyone knows. When people are vulnerable Marlowe offers drinks and in most situations finds himself a drinking partner.

Apollo 13 Essay -- Apollo 13 Essays

Apollo 13 Questions 1.I’d first have to say that the head of mission control on the ground was definitely important in the salvaging of Apollo 13. He was faced with problem after problem yet he kept a somewhat level head through all of it and managed the engineers and other people involved back at Houston very well. Jim Lovell’s piloting skills played a rold in the crew’s survival as well. When he had to set the ship’s course for Earth manually it took a great deal of skill and patience and he deserves credit for that. Ken Mattingly might not have made it to space, but his extensive knowledge of the ins and outs of the spacecraft saved the lives of his friends when they had a power crisis. 2. One particular problem during the Apollo 13 mission was a build up of carbon dioxide in the spacecraft. The CO2 scrubbers designed to filter out the gas weren’t working properly and as time progressed and the astronauts breathed more the situation worsened. To solve this problem NASA pooled together some engineers to come up with a design for a makeshift filter using common items onboard the space craft and an existing filter from another section of the spacecraft. 3. The general public and the press seemed disinterested with the Apollo 13 mission. Since we’d already beaten the Russians to the moon, no one in the general public put much interest into NASA anymore. The space race was decided and the public lost interest in NASA With no audience for the story, the...

Media and censorship

The media is everywhere you turn. The media can be found in various forms such as newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. In the process of capturing ratings, whom is the media hurting more? Is it people who are accused of a crime, such as O.J. Simpson, or is it the American public's stupidity for believing everything they hear. The job of the media should be to find the truth and tell it to the people. The reporters' work ought to be like a pane of glass, flawlessly clear and unspotted, through which the reader might view the important events of the day. The media has the power to inform the public, but often the information it receives is distorted. The media has the power, although indirect, to influence people's opinions; it has shaped our view of society and the process by which we choose our leaders, make our rules, and construct our values. The media promotes what it believes is easiest for the public to accept, but in the process it fails to cover the issues appropriately. The media can make us wiser, fuller, and more aware. Unfortunately, the media's tendencies veer more towards clouding the public's judgments, and causing confusion and disillusionment. Therefore, limitations greatly need to be placed upon the United States Constitution in regard to freedom speech and of the press because presently the media is doing more harm than good. In general, censorship is the regulation and control of information and ideas that are circulated among people within a society. It refers to the examination of electronic and print media for the purposes of altering and/or suppressing parts of the media thought to be inappropriate and/or offensive (Microsoft Encarta) The implication of censorship is that it is necessary for the protection of the viewing public. Pornography, praise of crime, gangs, terrorism, subversive, violations of national security, morality, opposition to the political or religious establishment are materials that can be exchanged through the above mentioned media, and are subjected to censorship. Throughout history there have been attempts to censor what people can read, write, speak, create, listen to and view. The verb â€Å"to censor† is defined in Webster's Dictionary as â€Å"to alter, delete, or ban completely after examination.†Ã‚   One attempt to regulate the media came when the Fairness Doctrine was established in 1934. This doctrine was instituted to ensure that publicly owned television and radio stations would not be biased and would not promote their own views. The Federal Communications Council (FCC) was created to enforce this doctrine. In 1987, under the Reagan Administration, the Fairness Doctrine was revoked. (Hull) The role of the FCC changed, therefore evolving to monitor the decency of materials presented on the radio and television. With the abolishment of the Fairness Doctrine, the window for controversial journalists was opened. Thus, America saw the emergence of two strong willed personalities – Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern (Green). The Communication Decency Act (CDA) adopted in 1996, is the most important recent development in the United States, regarding censorship and the Internet. The CDA made it an illegal crime to send â€Å"indecent material by the Internet into others computers† (Wilkins, 5).   â€Å"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers†. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19)   The Freedom of expression is a right that â€Å"shall not be subject to prior censorship.† (The American Convention on Human Rights states, Article 13). International laws allow governments to restrict the free flow of information as a way of protecting confidential data such as national security or public ethics. Materials should be subjected to a certain lever of examination inline with international standards before it is published, and prior to censorship, which normally includes inquiry whether there are various ways to protect those interests that are less restrictive of the right to free expression. Society has been affected and will continue to be affected not only by television but the media in general. Television is a constant form of entertainment and occasionally an average source of news. However, television has been blamed for much of societies flaws because it is easy to attribute it to violence in the media and a social of lack of initiative. Television is a small part of a much larger societal picture and should be weighed as such. Television is a multi billion-dollar industry. The primary concern of the television industry is to net a profit and then entertain the consumers. The network with the highest rating means more profit the network. Censorship is not only controversial but also quite difficult to implement. Who decides what is inappropriate or too violent, such vague terminology would be difficult to define. For many years the film industry has practiced a form of self-censorship. Increasing demands from the public forced the industry to develop a system classification in 1968. (Microsoft Encarta)   The major networks voluntarily adhere to a self-regulating system this is in conjunction with regulations established by the Federal Communications Commission. The V-chip is the most current weapon in the TV censorship battle. Parents are able to block certain channels so that children are not exposed to violent programming. (Aversa) Generally, knowledge is disseminated in the form of films, publications, computer games, and Internet content, and the Internet is considered the main media via which information can be shared and accessed easily.   The Internet is the embodiment of the Information era, and the explosive growth of the Internet brought all corners of the world to reach anyone with a computer, by surfing through a seemingly endless library of information. The rules governing the Internet are to some extent less strict than those controlling the media that are widely accessible to the masses like publications and broadcast.   Computer Bulletin Boards Systems (BBS) are operated by individuals, or organizations. The published material is usually topic oriented presenting information on interests and hobbies, while BBS systems may also contain adult oriented material, and attempts are exerted to limit minors from accessing the information enclosed in those systems. (Electronic Frontier Foundation) As digital technology is growing, liberties in cyberspace and in publications are threatened by government and corporate practices. According to some committees, foundations and movements, censorship is a dangerous weapon in the hands of governments. Some of these foundations are: The Free Software Foundation, The Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition (CIEC), Electronic frontier foundation (EFF), The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). (Microsoft Encarta) In conclusion, how should the media be regulated? Many people feel that the solution to the problem is to create a new media doctrine of self-restraint. Opponents of this feel that this would alter the information and this country would evolve into a dictatorship. But, if something is not done soon, who know what will happen? If the media does not establish an internal system of self-regulation, the government will surely intrude; this is a step that will begin with regulation and ultimately lead to total censorship. Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of America's image of itself. The question of free speech is arguably one of the most complex of all constitutional issues. To solve the problem, there must be a partnership between the media and the American public. If the public commits to not wanting the lies and gossip, the media is not going to try to feed it to them; but as America continues to be fascinated by lies and gossip, then the press will continue to print it. The likelihood of this occurring is very slim. The government, therefore, needs to step in. Special amendments to the Constitution regarding the right to freedom of press and speech need to be put in place in order to avoid such conflicts in the future. While it should not be the government's position to decide what kind of information the media may release, unfortunately no other medium currently exists through which this information can be sifted. Bibliography:  §Ã‚   The American Convention on Human Rights, 22 November 1969,   2004  §Ã‚   Universal Declaration of Human Rights. UN Website, 2004  §Ã‚   Green, Jonathan. The Encyclopedia of Censorship. New York: Facts on File, 1990.  §Ã‚   Hull, Mary E. Censorship in America: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 1999  §Ã‚   Wilkins, J. â€Å"Protecting our children from Internet smut: moral duty or moral panic?† The Humanist, 57 (Oct/Nov), 1997  §Ã‚   Aversa, Jeannine. FCC Adopts V-Chip Rules They Associated Press. 12 March 1998  §Ã‚   â€Å"Censorship,† Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia, 2004  §Ã‚   Electronic Frontier Foundation. Online Censorship & Free Expression, Internet Blocking & Censorware. 2004   

Blozis Company

Part 1 – Executive Summary My decision, as the supply manager of the Blozis company, is to implement new processes and procedures in the supply department. One of the changes to be made in the processes and procedures will include having the expediter’s role primarily limited to the expedition of materials. An expediter is the person in charge of scheduling purchases, purchasing and scheduling the delivery of materials and services, as well as checking orders and speeding up the arrival of materials needed to meet production schedules. The current expediter, besides undertaking these responsibilities, is also taking on a number of other responsibilities that are taking away from his abilities to properly complete his core job responsibilities. In addition, the process for the receiving of products and materials will be improved so that items received into inventory are properly accounted for, as well as properly accounted for once they leave inventory, so that they are charged to the correct departmental budget and are paid for in a timely manner so that early payment discounts are taken advantage of. A current and accurate inventory is necessary in order to properly manage the supply department. In regards to approval of requisitions, despite the fact the president likes to operate â€Å"informally† it is important to ensure that the required signatures are obtained on all requisitions as this helps to hold people accountable for their purchases and to control costs and remain within budget. Even though purchases over $10,000.00 may have technically been approved by the president in the budget, they are not realized purchases and in order to ensure they do fall within budget requirements, the president still should be required to execute these requisitions. As well to ensure managers are informed and can be held accountable to what items are charged to their departments, it is prudent to include on the requisition the signature of the manager of the department for which the purchase is being made. Finally the engineering department should be required to be as detailed and accurate in their descriptions and specifications on all purchase orders. While the current expeditor has some technical background, all purchase orders should be supplied to the supply department with detailed specifications to ensure the correct materials and parts are purchased and supplied. Even though the main responsibility for this should still fall to the engineering department, there is no reason why the continued process of discussing the details of purchase orders with the expeditor could not continue as well, as this will ensure greater accuracy in the specifications detailed on their purchase orders together with greater accuracy in the fulfillment of the purchase orders. Part 2 – Immediate Issue with Impact Analysis Besides expediting parts and materials throughout the company, the expeditor was also writing purchase requisitions and purchase orders. At times the expeditor would just pick up parts and advise suppliers that they would receive â€Å"confirming orders† that never followed. This resulted in the supply department at times receiving invoices for items that could not be matched to a corresponding purchase order. In order to control costs, remain within budget and to ensure accurate inventory and purchases, this process cannot continue. The Blozis Company needs to have their expeditor doing just that, expediting items throughout the company and not writing purchase requisitions and orders. The writing of purchase requisitions and orders should be limited to the engineering and production personnel. The current inventory and purchasing process within the Blozis Company is allowing for inventory to go missing, payments for materials and items received to be missed, as well as the receiving of invoices for payments to suppliers that are not supported by purchase orders. The current processes or lack of processes are not allowing for the proper tracking and accounting of inventory; the control of cost as purchasing discounts are being missed and invoicing is being received and paid for without proper documentation that the items were in fact ordered and received. This lax in documentation and recording of items is also impacting on the ability of each department to remain within budget. The company, as well, can no longer function without proper processes that are diligently followed in regards to signatures on purchase requisitions. Again this allows for greater control over costs, purchasing accountability and adherence to budget restrictions. As a whole the company needs to completely overhaul their current processes and procedures in their supply department in order to address the issues as detailed above. Part 3 – Environmental and Root Cause Analysis Under the current processes in the supply department the expeditor is spending too much time handling technical orders. While his involvement in technical orders to a degree does assist with greater accuracy in the fulfillment of these purchase orders, it is taking away from his time to expedite materials and items throughout the company. This has resulted in corners being cut which have cost the company money. For example, two special micrometers disappeared within the plant after the Blozis Company had waited six months to receive them. The supplier of these micrometers was able to prove that Blozis did receive these items as evidenced by a signed bill of lading, but it appears the expeditor, in an attempt to get these items to the engineers as quickly as possible, may have just picked up the micrometers on the receiving dock and taken them directly to the engineers. The expeditor on the other hand claims to never have seen the micrometers. Since no documentation was in place to evidence what happened, it became a he said she said situation, but in the end the two special micrometers were still gone at a financial loss to the company. In addition, when the expeditor was pressed for time, instead of completing the necessary purchase order, he would just pick up a desired item from a suppler and advise the supplier that they would be receiving a â€Å"confirming order† for the item or items he picked up. A number of times the expeditor would forget to ask supply for a confirming order and when the invoice arrived from the supplier for payment, the supply department was faced with an invoice for which they had no confirming order documentation to support the payment of. Besides the aforementioned issues relating to the lack of completed receiving reports, there was also the issue of suppliers claiming long overdue payments on materials that have been received by the Blozis Company. The supply department would not pass on a bill for payment until they had received the receiving report, which is a good process as this controlled the possibility of paying for materials that were never received. On the other hand, the lax of completion and/or the timely submission of the receiving reports to the supply department resulted in the delay of bills submitted for payment that included sizable discounts for early payment as well as not meeting the net date on several bills. This lax in the necessity of following process and procedures in order to ensure the correct documentation was in place to record and support purchases, was not only exercised by the supply department. The president of the company liked to operate â€Å"informally† and allowed anyone in the company to initiate requisitions with only the signature of the supply manager for any orders up to a value of $10,000.00. Many managers were complaining they were unaware of what was being charged to their departments until the monthly accounting statement came out. Changes need to be made to include, on each requisition, the signature of the manager of the department to which the requisition is being made. This allows for more managerial accountability in the control of their budgets. Part 4 – Alternatives and/or Options Based on the information that has been provided to the writer, it is their position that the issues are clearly identifiable and that solutions in regards to addressing these issues are contained herein. Despite the fact that specific issues have been identified, as with any process there could be room for more improvement in other areas that are not the subject matter of this report. Bearing this in mind, the supply department may also wish to conduct a process mapping session which will detail the entire process as it exists today and from this be able to indentify other areas of the process that require improvement. I do not believe there are any other viable alternative in regards to the solutions that have been presented herein, but the conducting of a process mapping session will only build upon and possibly lead to the discovery of more issues so that the process can be improved even further. Part 5 – Recommendation and Implementation In regards to the role of the expeditor, it should be mainly limited to the expediting of materials and items throughout the company. His role in the handling of technical orders should be decreased with more responsibility in this regard falling on the engineering department. If purchase requisitions are written with greater specifications without as much reliance on the expeditor to assist in the writing of same, another individual within the supply department could be trained to assist with these technical orders. The implementation of these changes will begin with the manager of the engineering department meeting with his group as well as the manager of the expeditor meeting with him to ascertain what their current involvement is in regard to technical orders. Once this information is obtained, then all managers will meet in order to discuss how these job responsibilities will be allocated between the engineering department and th e expeditor. Once this have been finalized, a further meeting will be held that will include all managers, the engineering department and the expeditor so that everyone can be advised of the changes in their job responsibilities going forward. In regards to inventory control all products received must be documented and signed off on by the receiving clerk and there must be a matching purchase order to go along with the bill of lading and/or packing slip. No items should be received into inventory in the supply department without a corresponding approved purchase order. The supply department at all times is to receive a receiving report so that they can arrange for the timely payment of invoices in order to take advantage of purchasing discounts. The process for this is to be implemented by the supply manager. To provide for further control, no one, including the expediter should be allowed to take a product or item out of inventory without providing a requisition for same. Again the process for this will be implemented by the supply manager. In order to facilitate communication of when products and materials have arrived and are in inventory, the company should purchase inventory software that all interested parties will have access to, so that they can check for themselves when products have arrived. A meeting will be held between all managers of all departments in order to discuss which software will meet their needs and once decided the software will be purchased and put into use. To assist managers being made aware of what materials are being charged to their departments, all purchase requisitions should also require the signature of the manager of the respective department for which the purchase is made in addition to the supply manager’s. The supply manager should never receive and process a purchase requisition unless the signature of the applicable department manager is contained on the requisitions. This process will be implemented by the supply manager. Part 6 – Monitor and Control In regards to monitoring and controlling the success of the changes in the job responsibilities of the expeditor, there will be a follow up meetings between all parties affected, within 2 weeks of the changes taking place just to ensure things are still in place and that no one has slipped back into their old roles. After this for a further 6 month period there will again be mnthly meetings to monitor that everything is still on track in regard to the changes. In regards to the change in the process to bring around greater inventory control, a person outside of the supply department will be assigned various audit responsibilities and will attend in the supply department, initially, on a monthly basis to ensure the controls put in place are being complied with, for example that all necessary documentation has been completed so that all inventory is recorded being received and taken out of inventory. After each audit session the auditor will be required to complete an audit report that will be delivered to the supply manager. The report will detail all areas where they have discovered non-compliance with a time line presented to the area affected to bring the process and department into compliance. It is the expectation of the writer, that if the recommendations as detailed herein are fully and accurately followed, there will be substantial improvement in the operations of the supply department and within Blozis as a whole.

Narcotics †Research Paper Essay

Narcotics Thesis Statement: Narcotics have valuable medical uses, however, illegal and excessive use of narcotics can endanger people’s lives because of its damaging effects on the mind and body. I.Narcotics Education A.Narcotics B.Kinds of Narcotics C.Characteristics and Medical Uses II.Narcotics Abuse A.Causes of Abuse B.Tolerance and Withdrawal III.Effects of Narcotics Abuse A.Effects on the Person B.Effects on the Family C.Effects on the Community IV.Treatment of Drug Abuses INTRODUCTION Narcotics play a big role in the field of medicine. It has a capability to reduce pain that you are feeling and even helps you to avoid anxiousness. But these drugs should be use properly or else it can cause a big damage in your health. It is very important for us to know something about these things. The study and findings that I have done regarding narcotics is really an important thing because you will be able to know how bad it can affects you when too much used and you will know how to avoid and fight against it. BODY NARCOTICS EDUCATION There are many kinds of drugs, and narcotics are one of them. Narcotics don’t always have bad results in one’s health. In fact, it’s one of the drugs that help ill people to reduce tension, anxiety and aggression. They are also effective pain relievers, used in cough medicine preparation and can induce sleep. These effects are really helpful when it comes on therapeutic setting but when improperly used, narcotics have adverse effects that may lead to abuse, and it will have a big effect on health of an individual who is involve. It can endanger people’s lives because of its damaging effects on the mind and body. The effects of narcotics abuse is felt not only by the individual but by the family, community, and society as well. NARCOTICS The term â€Å"Narcotic† was derived from a Greek word which means â€Å"to make numb.† Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain and induce sleep by depressing the central nervous system. Narcotics, primarily analgesics, produce several affects that relieve pain and induces narcosis that causes sleep. Narcotics, if administered prior to an operation, can enhance sedation and reduce apprehension and anxiety. These drugs have a very high potential for abuse. KINDS OF NARCOTICS, CHARACTERISICS, AND THEIR MEDICINAL USES 1.OPIUM – It is extracted from the seedpod of the poppy. It produces a gummy resin that creates narcotic effect. It can relieve severe pain, induces sleep, relieve anxiety and depression. 2.MORPHINE – It is extracted from opium in 1805 and later synthesized in its pure form. It is sold as a white powder in the drug market which is also called Dreamer or Miss Emma. 3.CODEINE – This is produced from gum of opium and has much milder effects. The common street name for codeine is School Boy. 4.HEROIN – It is synthesized from morphine but more powerful. It is used to help people to overcome their addiction to morphine. It is commonly called Horse, Junk Smack, and Scag. CAUSES OF ABUSE According to the National Statistics Office (2005), about 56.35% of the cases of drug abuse had friends or peers as the primary source of drugs. The causes of drug abuse are: 1.Pressure from peers; 2.Form of escape from problems and woes; 3.Relief from chronic pain caused by cancer and other diseases; 4.Psychological disorders, such as depression or emotional distress; 5.Use as a way out from stress of family life, work, and other concerns; and 6.Thrill and enjoyment in seemingly routine life. NARCOTICS ABUSE Narcotics abuse is the nonmedical use of narcotics. Narcotics abuse is widespread among the young people and the adults, as well as the poor and wealthy. It is, indeed, harmful and even life-threatening. It can ruin one’s life and one’s family. It can break down a person’s character, thus leading to the commission of criminal acts and even suicide. TOLERANCE AND WITHDRAWAL Tolerance is the condition where the standard doses of narcotics produce less effect or a person develops a state of resistance to the effects if the drug. Because of tolerance, the effect of narcotics diminishes with their chronic use. Thus, to maintain the same level of narcotic effect, a person must take more of it. Withdrawal is the reaction of the body when the regular use of narcotics is stopped. The narcotics dependent person experiences a withdrawal syndrome. In general, the symptoms of withdrawal include cramp, defecation, vomiting, and an increase in systolic blood pressure. A person who is excessively dependent may experience convulsions, respiratory failure, and death. EFFECTS OF NARCOTICS ABUSE The effects of narcotics abuse are similar but they differ in the degree of intensity, rate of onset, and the development of dependence. A.EFFECTS ON THE PERSON 1.Drowsiness 2.Loss of appetite 3.Inability to sleep well 4.May develop diseases such as hepatitis, tetanus, AIDS. 5.Skin abscesses 6.Inflammation of the veins 7.Congestion of the lungs 8.Loss of enthusiasm for work or study 9.Loss of personal care and hygiene 10. Psychological and physical dependence upon the drug B.EFFECTS ON THE FAMILY 1.Neglected responsibilities 2.Difficulty in keeping a job 3.Financial difficulty 4.Shame and embarrassment to the other family members 5.Disorganized and unhappy family C.EFFECTS ON THE COMMUNITY 1.Increased incidence of crime 2.Occurrence of different kinds of accidents, especially if the narcotic dependent is driving a vehicle. 3.Rampant stealing 4.Economic destabilization due to less manpower TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSES Detoxification is the most common form of drug treatment. This is a process of eliminating a person’s dependent on drugs. Part of the detoxification process is to decrease the daily dose of drugs that the dependent person takes and thus gradually reduce withdrawal symptoms. Another method of dealing with drug dependent people is to form a support group of fellow drug dependents. They share their experiences and learn from one another. Together, they recover from their dependence and get better. 1 Agripino G. Darilag, Enjoy Life with P.E, and Health (Manila: SD Publications, Inc., 2009), pp.192 – 201.s BIBLIOGRAPHY Darilag, Agripino G. Enjoy Life with P.E. and Health. Manila: SD Publications, Inc., 2009.

Chemistry Assignment Essay

Metals are mined from ores, considering yield to see if it is economically viable for a business to mine at a particular site. However, due to environmental damage and global warming, recycling has increased globally to create a sustainable future. By examining the cost and energy expenditure of recycling and extracting aluminium we can understand why recycling is a better choice than extracting metal from its ore. Discuss the importance of predicting yield in the identification, mining and extraction of commercial ore deposits Yield is the amount of product obtained or in mining terms how much (amount) a particular metal can be extracted from an ore (a deposit of minerals in which a commercial metal can be extracted from). Predicting yield in the processes of identification, mining and extraction is vital to the success of a business. For a business to compete with the global markets, the investment must be profitable and in some cases sustainable to last year’s into the future. Percentage composition is used widely in the mining industries to calculate and measure the yield of particular metal from an ore. For example, haematite (Fe2O3), a compound consisting only of iron and oxygen, can theoretically produce around 70% iron while chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), consisting only of copper, iron and sulphur can produce theoretically 35% copper. However if we express yield as a percentage of the ore dug out, an iron ore would only contain about 16% iron and for a copper ore only contain 1-5% copper. This is because an ore dug out of the ground contains unwanted minerals like dirt, rocks and other waste products which add to the mass of the required mineral ;giving a low yield percentage. Since compounds like chalcopyrite and haematite have uniform composition, ores are mixtures of useful minerals and other waste products which have variable composition (different location will yield different amounts of metals). This will affect if it is economical to mine the ore at a particular location and hence demonstrate that predicting yield is important. Predicting yield in the process of mining and extraction is important, whether extracting the metal from the ore or actually mining it, because it can determine if it is profitable or not. Extraction techniques must be efficient and sustainable. Copper is extracted through roasting it with oxygen before smelting it to form liquid copper. It is then reduced by bubbling air into the liquid copper to reduce copper sulphide to copper metal. Since this sulphur dioxide doesn’t escape fast enough, it forms blister copper with is 98% copper. Electrolysis is used to refine it. Due the significant amount of energy required and the cost involved it may seem copper is unprofitable. Yet if the copper price is high, the consumption is high, location is not far from refinery plants and factories that use copper, if there is a steady sustainable source(abundance) of copper ore and the extraction technique is efficient plus cost effective then a profit can be gained from the high cost of extraction, transport and the money needed to pay for the energy consumption. For a copper ore site to be economical it must contain at least 5% of copper or more. Haematite is extracted through reducing it with carbon monoxide to form iron (metal) which falls to the bottom of the blast furnace. Limestone is also heated in the blast furnace which decomposes and reacts with silica to form a slag that floats on the liquid iron, hence stopping iron from reacting with oxygen. High heat is needed to separate iron from oxygen since iron is reactive to oxygen and sand and limestone is needed to prevent the union of these two elements. Hence for haematite to be economically viable an ore must contain at least 20% iron as the energy needed to extract the metal is large and the world’s demand for iron is great. Since iron ore price is relatively high, a profit can be obtained from deposits of iron ore that contain more than 20% of iron. Hence predicting the yield of ore deposits is important to determine if it is profitable to mine. Justify the increased recycling of metals in our society and across the World Recycling is a process that changes waste materials into new products. In recent years, recycling of metals has increased dramatically in Australia and across the world. This is because we are more aware that recycling metals saves money, energy and causes far less pollution compared to extracting metals from ores. This is also spurred on by the fact that our metal ore deposits are depleting (going to run out) if we mine and extract metals at this rate. Hence recycling has been encouraged by organisation like Planet Ark and this has helped spread the message of the benefits of recycling instead of putting money into extracting and mining ores. ‘Reusing and recycling’ metals allow us to conserve these precious commodities so it would be available for the future generation. Demand for metals will increase as new technology will be discovered. Hence recycling is needed to return back old and useless appliance so it can be made it new useful products. Figure 1: It shows froth floatation Note: The vast amount of water used during the process Generally recycling metals use less energy (melting material requires the breaking of weak intermolecular bonds), water and cost less (less energy is needed to break the intermolecular bonds hence the cost will be minimised and new products with recycled material would be cheaper). Energy used in metal extraction comes from coal, oil or gas (as high temperatures are needed to break strong Intramolecular bonds). These fuels are non-renewable and are limited. It also releases large amounts of greenhouse gases when burnt which can cause global warming. Water is used extensively in mining during froth floatation (figure 1). This water can be better spent for human consumption as some countries are experiencing drought and this can cause famine (Africa). Also, harmful chemicals used in the extraction of some metals can seep into the soil and water making it toxic to fauna, flora and humans (figure 1. 1). Figure 1. 1: Acid mine water pollution For example, Bauxite (aluminium ore) is mined near tropical forest. This can cause irreversible damage to the environment as natural vegetation is destroyed, leaving soil bare and subjected to erosion. It can scar the land(figure 2)(removing so much soil and rock that leaves a gigantic hole in the landscape) and since many chemical process need to take place before aluminium is extracted, slag (unwanted metals) are left behind and pollutants are released into the atmosphere adding to global warming. Figure 2: Shows a mine that is extracting metals Note: The extensive invasion of the land and that it is irreversible. But recycling aluminium on the other hand doesn’t scar the land. Little to no pollution occurs and natural vegetation and fauna are not disrupted. Large amounts of rubbish are no produced and water is not needed. For every 1 tonne of aluminium that is recycled, 5 tonne of bauxite is conserved. Metals make up a small percentage of the ore. A large percentage of the ore is the gangue (consisting of dirt, sand and other material) which ends up in landfills. This reduces the space for cities to expand, limiting the number of farms and communities that can be developed and cause overcrowding. Recycling metals doesn’t take up space; hence reduces landfill, as scrap metals are mostly recycled back to make new products. Since ores are non-renewable resources (created by the Big bang and there is no way of returning it to Earth’s crust) it is conserved, reducing the amount of mines opened and environmental impacts that it is associated with. As ores high in metal concentration decrease, the cost of processing ever less pure ores increase. To compensate for the increase in less pure ores, more must be mined. This increases the price of ores making it a valuable resource which is expensive to the consumer. Recycling metals helps to lower the prices of these ores, as the metal is reused without having to mine for new ores. Metals are used worldwide for a variety of purposes from soft drink cans to aircraft bodies. Australia has recycled 63% of aluminium cans; nearly two billion cans a year with a total value estimated to be 33 million dollars. America has recycled in excess of 62. 6 billion cans in the year 2004, worth more than one billion dollars back into the economy. Since recycled aluminium is exported to other countries, Australia benefits as it generate large amounts of money; positively impacting on Australia economy and its benefit flowing into society. However, recycling can only be done if used material is collected from scattered location. The ore on the other hand is confined to one location (the mining site); where factories are often close by to produce products from the freshly extracted metals. But once the product hits the shelves it is scattered across many different countries and throughout communities. It is hard to keep track of all these products as some end up in landfill, waterways or in the people’s backyard. Collecting used material for recycling would cost money as trucks are needed to transport scrap metal to recycling centres. Hence energy (fuel) is needed to operate this machinery. In recent years (figure3), the media has focused on recycling aluminium drink cans because they are widely used and commonly dispersed inappropriately throughout the community. E. g. In waterways, storm drains and in the ocean. Recycling of others metal like iron, steel, copper and lead have always been significant but never reported as it is mainly used at an industrial/commercial level rather than by consumers. However since iron rust, it can be returned to the environment, but aluminium doesn’t corrode (if it does, it forms an oxide layer that actually protects it from further oxidation) it ends up in landfill; taking up space. The only way to ‘get rid of it’ is to recycle it so it can be made into new products. Notice that recycling of lead and ferrous materials have decreased Figure 3: Shows recycling metals Notice that when metals are recycled they can be reused to make different products. Recycling is a sustainable process, saving the environment from pollution, money, conserving natural resources and reduces landfill. Energy is also reduced as recycling requires less energy than extracting a metal from its ore. This will ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy a better standard of living. Analyse information to compare the cost and energy expenditure involved in the extraction of aluminium from its ore and the recycling of aluminium The recycling of aluminium is cost-effective and uses less energy compared to extraction of aluminium from bauxite. To extract bauxite, land must be cleared for mining. Heavy equipment like bulldozers, hydraulic excavators and explosives are used to clear and mine the ore. These equipment cost considerable amount of money and use vast amount of energy (fuel) to operate. Transporting trucks, ships, railway cars are used to transport ores to extracting facilities or shipped to other countries; cost money and again energy (fuel) is needed to power these machines. Notice the size of the person compared to the truck.