The Poison Wood Bible Essay Example For Students

The Poison Wood Bible Essay Cultural imperialism takes place, when a culture imposes their own beliefs onto another culture. This takes place in the book, when the United States and Belgium imposed their culture onto the Congolese. Barbara Kingsolver is showing us that cultural imperialism has a negative effect on a culture. She shows us this through two different stylistic devices: characterization and symbolism. Kingsolver uses characterization to show average characters in the book, and how they all have cultural arrogance. Cultural arrogance is when a person trys to show people they think they have a more superior way of life. Nathan and his family go into the Congo, and they all have a lot of cultural arrogance that is why they are there in the first place, to take over and convert their religion. And he thinks hes so right, the whole way, while hes eveneven while hes trying to speak in the language of hisof the people hes trying to save. We will write a custom essay on The Poison Wood Bible specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Another example of cultural arrogance is when; Ruth May tries to show them how to play games. The Congolese has always been used to playing games of survival. Ruth may comes in and less then 10 minutes later, she shows them how to play games for fun and not survival. Such games as Mother May I? This shows that the Congolese took years to invent games in their culture and she comes in and changes them with in a matter of minutes. In the book, when Nathan dies, that symbolizes how cultural imperialism is bad. Nathan takes the children forcefully and put them in a boat and brought them to the river to baptize them. A crocodile turned over the boat and all the children died. The Congolese were so mad, that they ran Nathan out of town. Nathan then ran up the old watchtower, and the Congolese then set it on fire.

Medias Coverage of the 2004 Election essays

Medias Coverage of the 2004 Election essays Medias Coverage of the 2004 Election Overall, I believe that the medias coverage of the 2004 presidential election was pretty fair. The biases on both sides ended up balancing each other out. If one candidate received more bashing than the other, it was the incumbent, George W. Bush. The most influential of the bashing being the film, Fahrenheit 9/11, written and produced by Michael Moore, who has become a big figure of the liberal media. There were also numerous books, such as Toby Rogers Ambushed and others of similar such titles, that criticized the Bush administration for misleading the nation into war and falsely assuming that there was a connection existing between Iraq and Al Qaeda, when it turns out there wasnt one. There was also an attempt by Dan Rather to deceive the American people into believing that bush not only dodged Vietnam but also lied on his resume. The presidential candidate John Kerry also received heavy criticism. A comical website (Jibjab.com) portrayed Kerry continuously flaunting his three pu rple hearts won during his service in Vietnam in attempt to show that his campaign and the media has only focused on his military background and avoided discussion about his stances on issues, which a lot of citizens, regardless of their party, had questions about. Fox news and other right wing sources ripped Kerry for at first voting for the war, then deciding not to support the troops and not fund them the $287 Billion they needed. A lot of networks then portrayed Kerry as a flip-flopper who was indecisive and also on both sides of every issue. Michael Moores Fahrenheit 911 was a deliberate attempt to sway peoples votes away from George W. Bush. In his movie, he portrays Bush as a dim-witted leader whose only concern is the well being of the businesses of his family and friends. The opening scene of Moores film s ...

Battle of Jutland in World War I

Battle of Jutland in World War I Battle of Jutland -Conflict Dates The Battle of Jutland was fought May 31-June 1, 1916, and was the largest naval battle of World War I (1914-1918). Fleets Commanders Royal Navy Admiral Sir John JellicoeVice Admiral Sir David Beatty28 battleships, 9 battlecruisers, 9 armored cruisers, 26 light cruisers, 78 destroyers, 1 minelayer, 1 seaplane carrier Kaiserliche Marine Vice Admiral Reinhard ScheerVice Admiral Franz Hipper16 battleships, 5 battlecruisers, 6 pre-dreadnoughts, 11 light cruisers, 61 torpedo boats Battle of Jutland -German Intentions: With the Allied blockade increasingly taking a toll on the German war effort, the Kaiserliche Marine began devising plans to bring the Royal Navy to battle. Outnumbered in battleships and battlecruisers, the commander of the High Seas Fleet, Vice Admiral Reinhard Scheer, hoped to lure part of the British fleet to its doom with the goal of evening the numbers for a larger engagement at a later date. To accomplish this, Scheer intended to have Vice Admiral Franz Hippers scouting force of battlecruisers raid the English coast to draw out Vice Admiral Sir David Beattys Battlecruiser Fleet. Hipper would then retire, leading the pursuing Beatty towards the High Seas Fleet which would destroy the British ships. To support the operation, submarines would be deployed to weaken Beattys forces while also watching Admiral Sir John Jellicoes main Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow. Unknown to Scheer, the British codebreakers at Room 40 had broken the German naval codes and were aware that a major operation was in the offing. Unaware of Scheers intentions, Jellicoe sortied with 24 battleships and three battlecruisers on May 30, 1916, and took up a blocking position ninety miles west of Jutland. Battle of Jutland -The Fleets Put to Sea: Jellicoes departure was followed later that day by Hipper who left the Jade Estuary with five battlecruisers. Able to move faster than his superior, Beatty sailed from the Firth of Forth early on May 31 with six battlecruisers and the four fast battleships of the Fifth Battle Squadron. Leaving after Hipper, Scheer put to sea on May 31 with sixteen battleships and six pre-dreadnoughts. In all cases, each formation was accompanied by a host of armored and light cruisers, destroyers, and torpedo boats. As the British moved into position, the German u-boat screen proved ineffective and played no role. Battle of Jutland -The Battlecruisers Collide: As the fleets moved towards each other, a communications error led Jellicoe to believe that Scheer was still in port. While he held his position, Beatty steamed east and received reports from his scouts at 2:20 PM of enemy ships to the southeast. Eight minutes later, the first shots of the battle occurred as British light cruisers encountered German destroyers. Turning towards the action, Beattys signal to Rear Admiral Sir Hugh Evan-Thomas was missed and a ten-mile gap opened between the battlecruisers and the Fifth Battle Squadron before the battleships corrected their course. This gap prevented Beatty from having a crushing advantage in firepower in the coming engagement. At 3:22 PM, Hipper, moving northwest, spotted Beattys approaching ships. Turning southeast to lead the British towards Scheers battleships, Hipper was sighted eight minutes later. Racing forward, Beatty squandered an advantage in range and failed to immediately form his ships for battle. At 3:48 PM, with both squadrons in parallel lines, Hipper opened fire. In the ensuing Run to the South, Hippers battlecruisers got the better of the action. Due to another British signaling error, the battlecruiser Derfflinger was left uncovered and fired with impunity. At 4:00 PM, Beattys flagship HMS Lion took a near fatal hit, while two minutes later HMS Indefatigable exploded and sank. Its loss was followed twenty minutes later when HMS Queen Mary met a similar fate. Though scoring hits on the German ships, Beattys battlecruisers failed to score any kills. Alerted to the approach of Scheers battleships shortly after 4:30 PM, Beatty quickly reversed course and began running to the northwest. Battle of Jutland -The Run to the North: Passing Evan-Thomass battleships, Beatty again had signal difficulties which hampered the Fifth Battle Squadrons turn. As the battered battlecruisers withdrew, the battleships fought a running rear-guard action with the High Seas Fleet. Moving to Beattys aid, Jellicoe sent forward Rear Admiral Horace Hoods Third Battlecruiser Squadron while attempting to obtain information about Scheers position and heading. As Beatty ran north, his ships hammered at Hipper, forcing him to turn south and join Scheer. Around 6:00 PM, Beatty joined Jellicoe as the commander debated which way to deploy the fleet. Battle of Jutland -The Dreadnoughts Clash: Deploying to the east of Scheer, Jellicoe put the fleet in position to cross Scheers T and have superior visibility as the sun began to set. As the Grand Fleet moved into line of battle, there was a flurry of activity as the smaller vessels raced into position, earning the area the name Windy Corner. With Jellicoe forming the fleet, the action was renewed when two British cruisers came under fire from the Germans. While one was sunk, the other was badly damaged but was inadvertently saved by HMS Warspite whose steering gear overheated causing it to circle and draw German fire. Approaching the British, Hipper again clashed with the battlecruisers, including Hoods fresh ships. Taking heavy damage, he was forced to abandon his flagship SMS Lutzow, but not before his ships sank HMS Invincible, killing Hood. At 6:30 PM the main fleet action began with Scheer stunned to find Jellicoes battleships crossing his T. His lead ships under intense fire from the British line, Scheer averted disaster by ordering an emergency maneuver known as Gefechtskehrtwendung (battle about turn to starboard) which saw each ship reverse course by turning 180-degrees. Knowing that he could not win a stern chase and with too much light remaining to escape, Scheer turned back towards the British at 6:55 PM. At 7:15 PM, Jellicoe again crossed the German T with his battleships hammering SMS Konig, SMS Grosser Kurfà ¼rst, SMS Markgraf, and SMS Kaiser of Scheers lead division. Under intense fire, Scheer was forced to order another battle about turn. To cover his withdrawal, he ordered a mass destroyer attack on the British line, along with an sending his battlecruisers forward. Meeting brutal fire from Jellicoes fleet, the battlecruisers took heavy damage as Scheer laid a smoke screen and retreated. As the battlecruisers limped away, the destroyers commenced torpedo attacks. Turning away from the assault, the British battleships escaped unscathed, however it cost Jellicoe valuable time and daylight. Battle of Jutland - Night Action: As darkness fell, Beattys remaining battlecruisers exchanged final shots with the Germans around 8:20 PM and scored several hits on SMS Seydlitz. Aware of German superiority in night fighting, Jellicoe sought to avoid renewing the battle until dawn. Cruising south, he intended to block Scheers most likely escape route back to the Jade. Anticipating Jellicoes move, Scheer slowed and crossed the Grand Fleets wake during the night. Fighting through a screen of light vessels, Scheers ships engaged in a series of chaotic night battles. In these fights, the British lost the cruiser HMS Black Prince and several destroyers to enemy fire and collisions. Scheers fleet saw the loss of the pre-dreadnought SMS Pommern, a light cruiser, and several destroyers. Though Scheers battleships were sighted several times, Jellicoe was never alerted and the Grand Fleet continued sailing south. At 11:15 PM, the British commander did receive an accurate message containing the German location and heading, but due to a series of faulty intelligence reports earlier in the day, it was disregarded. It was not until 4:15 AM on June 1, that Jellicoe was alerted to the Germans true position by which point he was too far away to resume the battle. Battle of Jutland - Aftermath: At Jutland, the British lost 3 battlecruisers, 3 armored cruisers, and 8 destroyers, as well as 6,094 killed, 510 wounded, and 177 captured. German losses numbered 1 pre-dreadnought, 1 battlecruiser, 5 light cruisers, 6 destroyers, and 1 submarine. Casualties were listed as 2,551 killed and 507 wounded. In the wake of the battle, both sides claimed victory. While the Germans succeeded in sinking more tonnage and inflicting higher casualties, the battle itself resulted in a strategic victory for the British. Though the public had sought a triumph similar to Trafalgar, the German efforts at Jutland failed to break the blockade or significantly reduce the Royal Navys numerical advantage in capital ships. Also, the result led to the High Seas Fleet effectively remaining in port for the remainder of the war as the Kaiserliche Marine turned its focus to submarine warfare. While both Jellicoe and Beatty were criticized for their performance at Jutland, the battle did lead to several changes in the Royal Navy. Determining that the loss in battlecruisers was largely due to shell handing procedures, changes were made to ensure a higher degree of safety. Also improvements were made to gunnery practices, signaling, and the Fleet Standing Orders. Selected Sources First World War: Battle of JutlandThe Battle of Jutland

Academic and Professional Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Academic and Professional Development - Essay Example A scholar-practitioner is a person that is actively involved in various types of research practices aimed at enhancing the success of the profession. It is important to realise that evidence-based research and good theory are both essential ingredients for great and effective leadership. Scholar-practitioners that often excel in their research activities often end up becoming great and inspiring leaders for companies that they work for; they are great people managers with profound knowledge and skills that enhances the success of their work. According to Cavalieri & Mark (2013) academic theory has the potential to get out of touch if it is not refined and tested by those realities of contemporary daily practice. If the ideas of the scholar do not have the capability to hold up complexities that lead in the present global economy, then their value beyond the academic journal is very low or unavailable. In this regard, scholar practitioners have to ensure that they understand and implement some of the lasting values that guide academic integrity, some of which have been outlined by Walden (Cavalieri & Mark 2013). Wladen’s values have had a profound effect on the learning community in that they enable learners to know how to develop better content that can be used in clinical and other disciplines, having been developed with due regard to academic integrity. Using the knowledge I have gathered from Walden’s values regarding professional and scholarly writing, I look forward to improving my writing skills, which will involve acknowledging other peoples academic works that I will use in my research and writing processes. Going into the future, I have learnt how to improve in my research and writing, things that were seemingly challenging in the past. Being at Walden has been an important undertaking that has heavily impacted on my academic and professional development. As far as communication is concerned, I realise that for

Eight history essay questions Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Eight history questions - Essay Example The â€Å"Black Codes† in the Mississippi allowed the Blacks to be arrested for vagrancy and used them as cheap labor. They were also prohibited from owning arms, holding large gatherings and enrolling in juries. In response to these â€Å"Black Codes† the Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in April 1866, which permitted blacks to enjoy many rights. President Johnson vetoed the Act saying it would â€Å"cause discord among races and this paved the way for his impeachment. During his trial, the Senate needed one more vote to reach the 2/3 rd majority and carry out the impeachment, but the single vote of Edmund G. Ross, a young Radical Republican, was instrumental in turning the tables in Johnson’s favor and so he remained in office. During the Civil War, on January 1st 1863, President Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation which set free all the slaves in the rebellious states. This proclamation captured the minds and hearts of millions of African Americans and in turn served to turn the war into a war of freedom. Though thousands of fugitives were crowded into camps, the Government organized relief societies for the families to be taken care of. They organized aid and schools to teach the men, women and children to read and write thus providing the African Americans with an education. The Government also commissioned the Blacks into the army and other jobs which were not open to them before. Women of the Civil War were held in high esteem and they were allowed to take on politically active roles. During the Californian Gold Rush between 1849 and 1882, quite a large group of Chinese immigrants immigrated to the United States. Some of them worked alone where as others worked for other miners. The majority of them settled there permanently while others went back home with the money they had saved. During the 1870’s there was an economic crisis where people

Eating Meat Essay Example for Free

Eating Meat Essay Premise 1: Meat eating in humans is a natural phenomenon that has been practiced since prehistoric times, as evidenced by human dental structure and some scientific studies. Premise 2: Not eating meat can lead to various health problems unless there is a thorough understanding of the nutritional needs of the human body and the person ensures measures are taken to maintain good health. This is not feasible in undeveloped countries, tribal cultures or other societies that do not yet have the advantage of advanced science and technology that aids in understanding the various needs of the human body. Conclusion: Yes, it is ethical to eat meat. ___ The question of whether eating meat is ethical or not implies an assumption of a universal standard of ethics, so whether eating meat is ethical or not needs to be addressed from different viewpoints. The ethics of meat eating is highly subjective—it depends on many factors, such as culture and religion. From a (general) religious standpoint, meat eating is not unethical. Most religions do not absolutely forbid eating meat. Also, there has been evidence for the â€Å"naturalness† of meat eating. As evidenced by some scientific studies (such as a quick internet search (http://tinyurl.com/a6mdk) will bring up), meat eating has been practiced by humans since prehistory. In fact, the assimilation of animal protein is the easiest way of preventing some health problems (this is not to say that meat should be a major part of human diet). The concept of a vegan diet is relatively modern and is usually only feasible in a setting where the people have, through the advantage of modern science, gained sufficient knowledge about human nutrition. So, the question should not actually be one of ethics, but of health, in which case, the answer is yes—meat is okay (as long as it is only a part of a balanced diet).

Coca-Cola :: essays research papers

Coca-Cola Company Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Coca-Cola company was founded in 1886 by John Pemberton, a Civil War veteran and Atlanta pharmacist. He was inspired by his curiosity as he stirred up a fragrant, caramel-colored liquid that he brought down to a place called Jacobs’ Pharmacy. There he added carbonated water and let several customers sample the new concoction. Jacobs’ Pharmacy put it on sale for five cents a glass and named it Coca-Cola. This â€Å"inspired curiosity† has now grown to be the world’s leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of nonalcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. In 1906 Coca-Cola opened bottling plants in Canada, Cuba, and Panama. Today they produce nearly 400 brands in over 200 countries. More than 70% of their income comes from outside the U.S. (1). This paper will focus on an analysis of operations of the statement of cash flow reports and a vertical and horizontal analysis of the consolidated balance sheets. Also an analysis of t he global financial condition of the Coca-Cola Company and the value of goodwill and other intangible assets will be discussed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The statement of cash flows reports a firm’s major cash inflows and outflows for a period. This statement provides useful information about a company’s ability to generate cash from operations, maintain and expand its operating capacity, meeting its financial obligations, and pay dividends. There are three types of activities to look at in this statement, which are cash flows from operating activities, investing activities, and financial activities (3, 2005). When analyzing Coca-Cola’s statement of cash flow, the first thing to note is a steady increase in operating activities within the past few years. These transactions affect the net income. From 2001 to 2003 the cash from net income increased from $4.1 million to $5.5 million. The operating activities is often the most important cash flow of a business because it shows the cash from revenue compared to the payments made for expenses (2). The cash flows from investing activities are cash flows from transactions that affect the investments in non-current assets. Some of these include investments in bottling companies; purchases of property, plant and equipment; and purchases of investments and assets. For the most part, these figures have remained fairly stable. From 2001 to 2003 it went from $1.1 million to $9.3 million, showing a slight decline (2). The last part of this report is the cash flow from financing activities.

Bbnmb

Elective classes such as art, music, gym, and auto mechanics are an important part of a students schedule during school. They give the children an opportunity to express themselves and their uniqueness, gives them a chance to interact and be sociable, and gives them experience for possible future careers. Reasons such as these are why we should not eliminate these subjects from schools. Uniqueness is a primary concern. Different varieties of art and music classes are offered as electives in school systems today. My school offers digital art, commercial art, and AD and AD drawing classes.Students can also participate in different music classes such as chorus, jazz band, and symphonic band. These classes give students the opportunity to express themselves through something they enjoy doing in many different ways. The electives are designed to specifically cater to a certain individual and what their skills are. Although electives do cost a significant amount of money and have a lot of needs that must be met, they greatly benefit the students and should not be removed from the school systems. In Dalton to uniqueness, social skills are also a factor.Elective classes such as gym are not as serious and strict as other core classes' students sit in all day. It allows children to get up, move around, and socialize. In the novel â€Å"Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie†, the protagonist has one class out of the six with his friend and that one class is what he looks forward to every day. It was the only class he had a chance to socialize and be outgoing in. The electives give students a mental break from the rigorous classes they participate in and lets them be kids. Classes like these are essential for a child's social skills and mental health.With social skills In mind, experience Is also an Issue. Many electives that are offered are Intended to prepare students for a future career Involving that elective. My school offers early childhood development classes and busin ess technology classes that prep you for a job in those fields. You take multitudes of tests and complete a variety of projects to become certified in that field. For example, if you take all three years of the early childhood elective classes you will have the requirements that are needed to be a preschool teacher.These electives will end up avian the student time and money and giving them a head start once they go to college to train for their careers. In the novel â€Å"Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie† the main character takes Journalism for an elective unintentionally and ends up being one of the best Journalists at the school and really enjoys himself. Elective classes that are offered In the school systems may do the same for the students that are enrolled there. It Is a vital part of a students every day school life that should not be eliminated. That although eliminating elective classes would save money, it should not be done.

Ethics of Compliance Southwest Essay

The purpose of this paper is to present, discuss, and examine the topic of ethical and social responsibility. It will discuss Southwest Airlines’ failure to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration’s rules on inspecting aircraft and what violations occurred. On March 6, 2008, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors submitted documents to the United States Congress, alleging that Southwest allowed 117 of its aircraft to fly carrying passengers despite the fact that the planes were â€Å"not airworthy† according to air safety investigators. In some cases, the planes were allowed to fly for up to 30 months after the inspection deadlines had passed, rendering them unfit to fly. Records indicate that thousands of passengers were flown on aircraft deemed unsafe by federal standards. Clearly, this is an issue tied to social responsibility and ethics at the highest level, ignoring the safety inspections put people’s lives in jeopardy. This situation actually began in 1988, when an Aloha Airlines Boeing 737 suffered an accident that killed a flight attendant. The top of the plane’s fuselage tore off, opening up a large section of the plane’s roof, killing the flight attendant. The accident occurred because of cracks in the plane’s fuselage. Since then, the FAA has required regular inspections of 737 fuselages to ensure an accident like this does not occur again. In 2007, two FAA inspectors began to question documentation and inspections at Southwest Airlines. They had reason to be concerned, because they felt their concerns were being ignored, and their supervisor was not investigating their complaints. FAA inspectors Bobby Boutris and Douglas Peters testified before Congress about their experiences, and asked for whistleblower status, meaning they could not be fired from their jobs because of their testimony. Boutris was the first to question records kept by Southwest about airplane inspections. In 2003, he was in charge of inspecting engines for the 737, and he could validate the Southwest’s reports. He told an NPR Radio reporter, â€Å"‘I had found a lot of inconsistencies with the records,’ Boutris says. They were different from aircraft to aircraft; it was very hard to determine compliance'† (Goodwyn, 2008). He notes that he complained to his supervisor, Douglas Gawadzinski, but he ignored Boutris’ complaints. In 2006, Boutris took over safety responsibility for the entire 737-700 series aircraft, and when he reviewed Southwest, he found the same recordkeeping problems he had uncovered in 2003. He notified his supervisor and wanted to send a le tter of investigation, again his supervisor Gawadzinski refused to acknowledge his concerns. Boutris believes it is because Gawadzinski had a close friendship with Paul Comeau, a former FAA employee who went to work for Southwest as their manager for regulatory compliance. Anything to do with Southwest and the FAA went through these two men, and Boutris believes they routinely covered up inspection irregularities or lack of inspections. Boutris continued to complain, and Southwest asked for him to be removed from their inspections. Reporter Goodwyn continues, â€Å"At first, Gawadzinski refused to remove Boutris. But it wasn’t long before the supervisory maintenance inspector told Boutris he was out and that his career was in jeopardy because there had been undisclosed complaints from anonymous Southwest officials† (Goodwyn, 2008). At this point, Douglas Peters, another FAA inspector, were brought in to review Boutris’ investigation into Southwest’s compliance. Goodwyn notes, â€Å"The more he looked into the matter, the more he agreed with Boutris that the flying public was in danger. Peters says the situation defied logic. ‘That something so critical †¦ would be not addressed †¦ I can’t explain it. It’s a mystery'† (Goodwyn, 2008). People from Southwest began to contact Gawadzinski directly, instead of going through Peters. Another reporter states, â€Å"The whistle-blowers complained repeatedly in memos written in 2007 that their concerns about Southwest were not being taken seriously. The underlying safety concern — the airline was unable to keep up with mandatory inspections — had been raised as early as 2003, one charged† (Levin, 2008). Finally, in March 2007, Southwest admitted to flying 47 737s without completing the problem fuselage inspections, which triggered a Congressional investigation. Even more disturbing, the airline continued to fly the planes even after disclosing they had not been inspected – it took almost a week to ground the planes. The two men testified before Congress in April 2008, and the FAA fined Southwest $10. 2 million for the blunders. Reporter Levin continues, â€Å"Last month, nearly a year after the initial problems were discovered, the FAA levied a $10. 2 million fine against Southwest. The vast majority of the fine was imposed because Southwest had certified that it stopped flying the planes as soon as it learned of the missed inspections, FAA officials said† (Levin, 2008). These are the basic facts and timeline of the case. The major overriding issue in this case is that the FAA and Southwest conspired to cover up inspection information, and they did so at passengers and crewmembers expense. The inspections were mandated because the FAA knew this particular plane had critical safety issues. By not inspecting planes and allowing them to continue flying, they were putting everyone on those planes in jeopardy, and they knew it. That is perhaps the biggest ethical concern of this case, that the company knew they had not completed checks, but continued to fly the planes anyway. One of the whistleblowers was told they did not ground the planes because it would â€Å"disrupt† Southwest’s service and flight schedule (Goodwyn, 2008). Every airline has a social responsibility to keep their passengers and crews as safe as possible. Flying is a relatively safe form of travel, however accidents do occur. Maintaining high maintenance and safety standards is simply the right thing to do in the transportation industry; it is the ethical, moral, and socially responsible choice. For an airline to lower those standards, especially because of worries about disruption of service, is simply incomprehensible. For example, the entire airline would be in jeopardy if one of the planes had crashed, and it was found to have been because of a crack that was not detected because of a missed inspection. Indeed, inspections on the aircraft did turn up cracks in some of the planes in question, cracks that had to be repaired before the airplanes took flight again (Wilber, 2008). Thus, Southwest put people in danger, and that is a major ethical violation that has not thoroughly been addressed in the media or by the airline itself. In addition, the FAA was compliant in this ethical transgression, because they allowed it to happen, calling into question the integrity of the organization that is supposed to be primarily concerned with airline safety and maintenance. If the agency doing the oversight is questionable, it brings the entire system into question. This issue should be studied further because it raises so many moral and ethical questions, and it should be studied because it seems, since there seem to be no lasting ramifications for the FAA, that it could happen again, which is even more disturbing. The stakeholders in this case are the people who fly on Southwest Airlines. Southwest damaged their reputation by letting down their stakeholders, and that is extremely disturbing. They put passenger safety in jeopardy over worries about income and disrupted flights, when their first concern should have been safety and only safety. This calls into question the entire integrity of the company. This is more than just the classical interpretation of right and wrong, it is a moral dilemma that should have had an extremely simple solution. Ground the planes, inspect them as quickly as possible, and get them back in the air. The fact that there was any other solution seen to the problem indicates just how unethical and morally irresponsible Southwest was, and the stakeholders should demand compensation for the threat this decision made to their safety. Southwest simply got lucky that one of the affected planes did not develop more serious issues, and the $10. 2 million dollar fine seems quite low in retrospect, considering the damage that could have occurred to people and property had a plane crashed. The economic responsibility of this situation is clear; Southwest had to pay a large fine and ground the planes, losing revenue anyway. Their reputation suffered, although it did not seem to make a dent in their passenger. Most people did not even seem to care that Southwest had endangered them and only a few spoke out in blogs or in other areas when the news broke. Southwest has a serious responsibility to keep its passengers and crews safe, and they lost the trust of at least some people because of their callous disregard for safety. That is a huge moral responsibility, and Southwest has never really acknowledged their failure, which is an even larger ethical concern, it seems. In a statement before Congress, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said, â€Å"Our compliance with certain specific Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness directives has been called into question. We have committed to a thorough review and to make any changes necessary to ensure that we are in full compliance with FAA airworthiness directives and our own maintenance programs, policies, and procedures† (Kelly, 2008). However, in previous testimony before Congress, Kelly and Southwest Executive Chairman Herb Kelleher both maintained that Southwest did comply with all FAA requirements, and the safety of passengers was never in question (Kelly, 2008). Thus, Southwest maintains they complied with all FAA regulations and did inspect the aircraft, only under a different maintenance directive than the one the two whistleblowers charged had not been done. It seems like a technicality, and that Southwest is not taking true moral or ethical responsibility for the incidents. They also stated that they did not think they would be fined for the maintenance issues, and it seems as if in their testimony, they were attempting to lay groundwork to fight a fine. However, they did eventually back down and stop contesting the fine, probably because they felt they looked bad enough already. Some recommendations for this case have already been completed. The FAA inspector, Gawadzinski, was transferred to another division, without contact with Southwest. Southwest placed several maintenance and safety personnel on leave, and developed new maintenance and safety guidelines. The two top executives maintain they did not know about the 2007 maintenance charges until March 2008, and as soon as they learned of them, they implemented stronger maintenance and communication directives so they would be notified and aware of any problems. These would have been at least some of the recommendations made in this case. Another would be for Southwest to undergo a major campaign to gain back the public’s trust, as many people would seem to have trust issues in flying on Southwest planes. This would include a media campaign that would address trust issues, and perhaps even a campaign including top executives flying on their own planes. This would not be too costly or difficult to administer, and it would let people know that the company is actually sorry about its actions and is going to be more responsible in the future. It also seems as if the company should apologize to their stakeholders and their crewmembers, not in front of Congress, but in front of them, and with humility. Frankly, their testimony and apology to Congress sounded defensive and insincere, and a true measure of humility might be to offer anyone who flew on those planes some type of compensation or personal apology to make the situation even a little bit more palatable. Of course, that would entail a large expense, but it would make their intentions a bit more acceptable. Finally, they have to be open and above board with their maintenance issues and they have to make quite certain there is nothing questionable about any of their practices. Their maintenance and safety department must be impeccable, and it must always be open to scrutiny not only by the FAA, but by the public, as well. They owe that, at the very least, to the people that choose to fly on Southwest Airlines. In conclusion, this case indicates how deeply ethical issues can affect a business. Allowing planes to fly uninspected is a terrible disservice to the passengers and crews of this airline. It indicates a deep-seated lack of respect for the public, the employees, and the agency created to maintain air travel safety. It also indicates an arrogance that the company can flaunt the system and win. Southwest Airlines has deeper issues than maintenance and safety. It has to take a strong look at its ethics and principles, and alter them to create a more socially responsible organization that respects and values the people it serves. Without a change, the organization will certainly suffer more ethical violations in the future.

A Short History of the American Red Cross

A Short History of the American Red Cross Historical Importance of the American Red Cross The American Red Cross is the only congressionally mandated organization to provide aid to victims of disaster and is responsible for fulfilling the mandates of the Geneva Convention within the United States. It was founded May 21, 1881 It has historically been known under other names, such as ARC; American Association of the Red Cross (1881 - 1892) and American National Red Cross (1893 - 1978). Overview Clara Barton, born in 1821, had been a schoolteacher, a clerk in the U.S. Patent Office, and had earned the nickname Angel of the Battlefield during the Civil War before she founded the American Red Cross in 1881. Bartons experiences of collecting and distributing supplies to soldiers during the Civil War, as well as working as a nurse on battlefields, made her a champion for the rights of wounded soldiers. After the Civil War, Barton aggressively lobbied for the establishment of an American version of the International Red Cross (which had been founded in Switzerland in 1863) and for the United States to sign the Geneva Convention. She succeeded with both the American Red Cross was founded in 1881 and the U.S. ratified the Geneva Convention in 1882. Clara Barton became the first president of the American Red Cross and led the organization for the next 23 years. Just days after the first local chapter of the American Red Cross was established in Dansville, NY on August 22, 1881, the American Red Cross jumped into its first disaster relief operation when they responded to the devastation caused by major forest fires in Michigan. The American Red Cross continued to aid victims of fires, floods, and hurricanes over the next several years; however, their role grew during the 1889 Johnstown flood when the American Red Cross set up large shelters to temporarily house those dislocated by the disaster. Sheltering and feeding continue to this day to be the largest responsibilities of the Red Cross immediately following a disaster. On June 6, 1900, the American Red Cross was given a congressional charter that mandated the organization to fulfill the provisions of the Geneva Convention, by rendering aid to those wounded during the war, providing communication between family members and members of the U.S. military, and administering relief to those affected by disasters during peacetime. The charter also protects the Red Cross emblem (a red cross on a white background) for use only by the Red Cross. On January 5, 1905, the American Red Cross received a slightly revised congressional charter, under which the organization still operates today. Though the American Red Cross has been given this mandate by Congress, it is not a federally funded organization; it is a non-profit, charitable organization that receives its funding from public donations. Though congressionally chartered, internal struggles threatened to topple the organization in the early 1900s. Clara Bartons sloppy bookkeeping, as well as questions regarding Bartons ability to manage a large, national organization, led to a congressional investigation. Instead of testifying, Barton resigned from the American Red Cross on May 14, 1904. (Clara Barton passed away April 12, 1912, at the age of 91.) In the decade following the congressional charter, the American Red Cross responded to disasters such as the ​1906 San Francisco earthquake and added classes such as first aid, nursing, and water safety. In 1907, the American Red Cross began working to combat consumption (tuberculosis) by selling Christmas Seals to raise money for the National Tuberculosis Association. World War I exponentially expanded the American Red Cross by significantly increasing Red Cross chapters, volunteers, and funds. The American Red Cross sent thousands of nurses overseas, helped organize the home front, established veterans hospitals, delivered care packages, organized ambulances, and even trained dogs to search for wounded. In World War II, the American Red Cross played a similar role but also sent millions of packages of food to POWs, began a blood collection service to aid the wounded, and established clubs such as the famous Rainbow Corner to offer entertainment and food to servicemen. After World War II, the American Red Cross established a civilian blood collection service in 1948, has continued to offer aid to victims of disasters and wars, added classes for CPR, and in 1990 added a Holocaust War Victims Tracing and Information Center. The American Red Cross has continued to be an important organization, offering aid to millions affected by wars and disasters.

How to Live Every Day Like Youre on Vacation

How to Live Every Day Like Youre on Vacation Vacation Mind â€Å"We’re on vacation!† my father would shout, whenever he made a choice to spend money on a normally extravagant purchase. Whether or not we were actually on vacation, his pronouncement would signify that financial caution was being thrown to the wind in service of whimsy and pure fun. Doors opened wide and anything seemed possible in those moments. I inherited my father’s sense of vacation-induced freedom. On a recent trip to Portland, I watched myself not only making unusual purchases, but also engaging in activities that I might not otherwise entertain. I got up early my first day to go hiking by myself in the rain. I bought food from food carts. I drove 2 hours to spend one night at Breitenbush Hot Springs. I bought a chocolate blackberry tart at a famous bakery. I chased sunsets. Although I also kept up with my work schedule, my mindset was definitely one of being on vacation. Beginner’s Mind When I returned home to Madison, I kept my sense of adventure with me. While I certainly won’t do this every day, I bought a treat from a well-known bakery a few blocks from my house that I had never before patronized. I tried out a restaurant I’ve been wanting to go to for many months, and that I have passed by literally hundreds of times in the last 7 years. It’s like I came back home with a â€Å"beginner’s mind,† ready to discover the new in the familiar of my life. Wherever You Go One of the items welcoming me home was a children’s book by Pat Zietlow Miller, Wherever You Go. The story, wondrously illustrated by Eliza Wheeler, is replete with metaphor as it examines the comings and goings of roads. Literal roads, like the roads we follow in life, can take us pretty much anywhere, allowing us to explore and connect in adventurous ways. They allow us to take a vacation from the routines we fall into in our daily lives. And then, for those of us lucky to have one, roads take us home. I find myself wondering: Why should coming back to â€Å"where the heart is,† mean we no longer take opportunities to zig and zag? To cross bridges, climb mountains, and chase clouds? Yet this is often how we experience home. Adventures at Home As I was showing pictures of my Portland trip to some of my yoga friends, while quietly drinking tea at my favorite studio in Madison, they marveled at the beautiful sunsets I had captured on my smartphone. They were oohing and aahing over the last sunset image when I pointed out the caption: â€Å"Sunset over Lake Mendota.† That picture was from before my trip. Lake Mendota is right here where I started, in Madison, Wisconsin. To be sure, I don’t have to go far to create life adventures. And the next time I see the colors of the sunset brimming, I will gleefully shout â€Å"I’m on vacation!† and go chase after them.

Petroleum Product Engineering Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Petroleum Product Engineering - Coursework Example According to the STEO report of 2015, the inventory for the global oil has been projected to maintain an average of 1.3 million bbl/day. This oil inventory is on top of the average increase of 0.9 million bbl/d in 2014 (IEA, 2015). Despite the overwhelming supply of oil for the global consumption, the discovery of potential oil reserves never stops. Over the decades, the oil reserves have explored the offshore oil resources, where the potentials are high. The offshore is considered as the next frontier when it comes to the global oil supply. The field of petroleum engineering continues to find innovation that focuses on the discovery of oil reserves, processes for oil extraction and refinery, drilling mechanisms, and other related activities. Offshore drilling is one of the greatest innovations for the petroleum engineering that contributed greatly to the continuous supplication of oil in the whole world. Offshore drilling technology is the mechanical process that involves the drilling of a wellbore along the seabed. This technology is specifically carried out for exploration purposes with its wide applications for discovering oil reserves found along the seabed (Beckman, 2014). The offshore technology in the oil industry started in the year 1950s where the first technologies include semi-submersible rigs and deepwater drillships. Throughout the years, the technologies for offshore drilling keeps on advancing, where there are various types of offshore facilities made available for application in various depths of water. Since its discovery, the offshore drilling technology consistently grows over the years. In fact, it is considered as one of the main sources for oil and petroleum for two decades and more. In the year 2005, the top most producer of oil using offshore facilities comes from the Persian Gulf (Sandrea and Sandrea, 2007). The Persian Gulf is now considered as the world’s top oil producer where the largest oil reserve are