Describe The Scope Of Business Ethics

The scope of ethics indicates its subject matter. Ethics as normative science deals with moral ideal or the good in order to enquire the nature of our conduct. It enquires into the nature of the springs of actions, motives, intentions, voluntary actions and so on. It determines rightness or wrongness of human actions. It does not enquire into the origin and growth of human conduct. As a science of morality ethics discusses the contents of moral consciousness and the various problems of moral consciousness.Ethics is concerned with the highest good or absolute good. It investigates the nature of its fundamental notions i. e. right, duty and good. Moral judgments passed on our voluntary actions are also included within the scope of ethics. In discussing the moral judgment it has also to concern with the nature, object, faculty and standard of moral judgment. Moral sentiments and feelings are arising in our mind when we contemplate about the moral judgment and therefore, ethics has to di scuss the nature of moral sentiments to moral judgment.The scope of ethics includes whatever has reference to free human acts, whether as principle or cause of action (law, conscience, virtue), or as effect or circumstance of action (merit, punishment, etc. ) Ethics discusses the nature of human freedom. Ethics investigates what constitutes good or bad, just or unjust. It also inquires into-what is virtue, law, conscience and duty? What obligations are common to all? What is the good in all good acts? These questions lie within the scope of ethics. The sense of duty, oughtness or moral obligation and the responsibility for actions are also included within the range of ethics.The particular aspect under which ethics considers free acts is that of their moral goodness or the rectitude of order involved in them as human acts. A man may be a good artist or orator and at the same time a morally bad man, or, conversely, a morally good man may be a poor artist or technician. Ethics has mer ely to do with the order which relates to man as man and which makes of him a good man. Thus we find that although Ethics is not a guidebook of moral rules as a branch of philosophy Ethics seeks clarification of terms used in moral language.The ‘meta-ethical† problems fall within the scope of philosophical aspect of Ethics. There are other ‘meta ethical discussions related to the nature of moral judgments, the logical basis of ethical evaluation etc. The applied dimension of Ethics is known as â€Å"Applied Ethics’ that falls within the broad field of Ethics. These comprise the areas of situational Ethics while Meta Ethics deals with logical and semantic questions like ‘What do we mean by â€Å"freedom† and â€Å"determinism† etc.Ethics is essentially related to all other branches of knowledge like sociology, political science, jurisprudence, law and legal study, psychology, anthropology, culture study, ecology and environmental study, e conomics, religion, aesthetics and other similar areas. Ethics is concerned with political, sociological, cultural, psychical, economic, environmental, religious problems in pursuit of highest good. So these problems have an additional place in the scope of ethics. With the emergence of new technology there is scope for widening the scope of ethics to address new issues

How Does Military Bearing Affects the Work Center and the People Around You

Military bearing affects the work center and the people around you in different ways. Having good and bad military bearing will always have different results. With a mess up no would not want to work with you at all. Good military bearing affects everyone in a positive way. You will have a positive attitude about everything you do and more. Everything wills eventually workout the way you want and need it to be. With good military bearing show that you know what you are doing.Someone will task you with something and know for a fact you will get the job done with no supervision. Bad military bearing will definitely affect and everyone else. Your bad military bearing will have a negative affect on yourself and will start to rub off on everyone else. Bad military bearing someone will never go to you with a task, if they have to someone will go with you to make sure that job get finished. Having a mess up attitude about everything you do. No one will never want too work with or for you at all.With a great attitude will always want to work with and for all the time. With military bearing it will always affect what you do and how you do it. Always think about it and realize is it the right thing or the wrong thing to. Always keep proper military bearing because you will never know what might happen when you don’t. No matter what military bearing will always be there even when you’re out on liberty. Your direct representative of the armed forces, so always remember that.

Introduction to heritage tourism

In Northern Ireland heritage tourism attractions can be classified in many different ways. These include manmade but not built to attract tourists attractions, manmade and purpose built to attract tourists attractions, natural attractions and can also be applied to special events. It is hoped that this seminar will help people to gain a wider understanding and appreciation of heritage tourism and the efforts of the bodies who do so much excellent work in order to protect and preserve Northern Ireland's rich heritage attractions. Manmade but not built to attract tourist heritage attractions include the Walls of Derry which were built in 1613 to protect the inhabitants from hostile enemies. They fulfilled their purpose during the siege by the Jacobites and defended the city for more than a hundred days until the siege ended. Another example of a heritage attraction is St Columb's Cathedral, built in 1633 and was the first cathedral in the British Isles to be built after the Reformation. Today, like the Walls, they are the city's most popular tourist attraction and receive hundreds of tourists a year .However the Cathedral is still used to worship in. The Walls are owned by the Honourable The Irish Society but are looked after by the Environment and Heritage Service. Manmade and purpose built to attract tourist attractions include the Tower Museum, which was built in 1992, which has displays on the early history of Derry, the Siege and the role it played during World War Two. Another example of this is the Ulster American Folk Park in Tyrone which was primarily built as an educational facility. It was built in the late 1970's to celebrate the United States' bicentenary in 1976. It is owned by MAGNI (National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland) which looks after all the museums and parks in its care. Natural attractions include the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim which was formed sixty five million years ago by the cooling of magma into its unique hexagonal shapes. It is perhaps the legend of Finn MacCool forming the Causeway that is perhaps more interesting than the actual formation. It is also the only World Heritage Site in Ireland having been made so in 1986. Special heritage attractions include the Halloween festival and the Maiden City Festival in Derry. The Maiden City festival was first held in 1997 and has had an extremely successful run each subsequent year. It embraces both sides of the community and has helped both sides to gain a better understanding of the others culture. The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival has had perhaps an even more successful run. It won the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's â€Å"Event of the Year† Award in 2002. To tie in with the festivities are ghost tours around the city and story telling in the Tower Museum. 0950- The National Trust The National Trust was established in 1895 by Robert Hunter, Octavia Hill and Hardwicke Rawnsley to â€Å"guard† the threatened coastlines, countryside and historic buildings of the United Kingdom. They had been concerned with the unrestrained development and industrialisation of the Victorian Era. Since 1884 Hunter had been calling for the establishment of an organization to â€Å"administer its property with a view to the protection of the public interests in open spaces.† In over a hundred years it has become the largest independent conservation body in the world and now owns more than two hundred historic buildings , more than six hundred thousand acres of countryside and more than five hundred miles of coastline. Its main aim is, and always has been, to â€Å"maintain and care for the coast, countryside and historic buildings on behalf of the nation†. In Northern Ireland the Trust owns almost fifty different properties spread around the country .These include Mount Stewart in County Down which is one of the Trust's more popular properties in Northern Ireland. The property not only includes some of the most magnificent gardens in Northern Ireland but also objects of historical significance. The dining room features the actual chairs that were used by the delegates in the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The house also contains priceless paintings which were collected by members of the family over several centuries. The Dining Room Mount Stewart Another popular property is Florencecourt in County Fermanagh. It was previously the home of the Enniskillen family and was given to the National Trust by the fifth Earl of Enniskillen in 1953. It is also of natural importance as on its grounds is the first Yew Tree was planted here in 1767. The land around the house is owned by the Forest Service which purchased the land from the sixth Earl of Enniskillen in 1975. Florence Court, County Fermanagh In County Antrim the Trust owns the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. It was primarily used as a way for fishermen to Carrick-a-Rede Island. Over one hundred thousand tourists visit the bridge every year. It is also an excellent place to view porpoises, dolphins and basking sharks. Carrick- a-Rede Rope Bridge The Giant's Causeway is the most popular heritage attraction in Northern Ireland and is the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ireland. More than five hundred thousand tourists a year visit the area from around the world. Over sixty million years old it was formed by lava flowing into the sea and gradually cooling and hardening. In 2002 the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway opened more than fifty years after its predecessor the Giants Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Tramway closed. The line runs from the Giant's Causeway to Bushmills. The Causeway is also an important area for wildlife including peregrine falcons and a rare species of bird known as chough. The Causeway is the last known area in Northern Ireland for these birds to inhabit. The Giant's Causeway The Trust also owns and manages the Mourne Mountains specifically Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh. Slieve Donard is Northern Ireland's highest mountain standing at a majestic 850 metres. The Trust has only owned these two mountains since 1991 and, since it is a charity, it had to use its own money to buy them. It managed to raise enough money through a fundraising campaign and bought over a thousand acres. The Mournes have an abundance of wildlife including ravens, hares and rare dragonflies. Slieve Donard and Slieve Commedagh The Trust also owns and cares for sites that belong to Northern Ireland's industrial heritage such as Patterson's Spade Mill in County Antrim. It operated from 1919 to 1990 and was purchased by the Trust in 1992. It is the last working water-powered spade mill in the British Isles. The spades are still available for purchase at around twenty pounds. 1010- The Environment and Heritage Service The Environment and Heritage Service is the largest department in the Department of the Environment with more than five hundred personnel. It advises and implements the Government's policy on the environment in Northern Ireland. Their main aim is â€Å"to protect and conserve the natural and built environment and to promote it's appreciation for the benefit of present and future generations.† One of the areas the EHS cares for includes Scrabo Tower and Country Park in County Down. It was built in 1857 in memory of the 3rd Marquis of Londonderry (who also owned Mount Stewart) and can be seen for miles around. There is also a disused mine where the famous Scrabo Rock was extracted and exported to other areas of the United Kingdom. The EHS also cares for Roe Valley Country Park in County Antrim. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife including foxes, badgers and otters. The park is also a popular place for recreation including salmon and trout fishing, canoeing rock climbing, orienteering and riverside and woodland walks. They also look after Dunluce Castle in County Antrim which was built in the late 16th century. The incident in 1639 in which the kitchen fell into the sea is what the Castle is most renowned for. Carrickfergus Castle, Bellaghy Bawn, Ballycopeland Windmill, Dundrum Castle, Inch abbey, Grey Abbey and Hillsborough Courthouse. Other country parks and countryside centres the EHS cares for include Portrush, Countryside Centre, Castle Archdale County Park, Ervey Wood and Ness Wood. Scrabo Tower and Country Park Dunluce Castle Greenpeace Greenpeace had it's beginnings in 1971 when several people protested at the USA detonating underground nuclear bombs in a area used by rare otters near Alaska. It has grown in the last thirty years and has over 2.8 million supporters around the world. It operates in more than forty countries and has its headquarters in Amsterdam. Greenpeace's latest triumph has been in putting pressure on the World Heritage Committee to add Lake Baikal (the largest fresh water lake in the world) and the Volcanoes of Kamchatka in Russia to the list of World Heritage sites. More than twelve million hectares will now be preserved. Greenpeace also successfully put pressure on the WHC to declare the Komi Virgin Forests in the Urals a World Heritage Site. 1100-The Wildlife Trust It is the United Kingdom's largest conservation charity devoted to wildlife. No member of the trust is paid as all of its members volunteer to help the Trust. The Trust cares for more than two thousand nature reserves. There were four hundred thousand voluntary members of the Trust in 2002 and the member is still growing. Membership costs à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½24 a year for one person and à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½36 per annum for a family membership. They have 47 local trusts and a trust for children known as the Wildlife Watch who work together to protect wildlife in different areas from cities to the countryside especially in national and country parks. The local trust in Northern Ireland is the Ulster Wildlife Trust and was founded in 1978. In Northern Ireland there are more than 2000 members of the Trust. Their main aim is to â€Å"help people recognise that a healthy environment, rich in wildlife and managed on sustainable principles, is essential for continued human existence.† WWF The World Wide Fund for Nature's main aims are to protect and conserve endangered species and to address global threats to wildlife. However it only works to protect animals in the wild and has â€Å"no experience or expertise to deal with issues relating to animals in captivity. Whereas the larger organisation works on international issues relating to animals the UK organisation work to look after the countries wild animals. It can be involved in many matters affecting wildlife such as challenging the government on the destruction of the countryside. It also puts forward the effects of tourism in wildlife. Unlike other heritage organisations it owns no property and therefore has more money to spend.

Critique of self-determination theory Assignment

Critique of self-determination theory - Assignment Example reatest strength of the self-determination theory in education is concentric upon the means by which it serves to help educators understand the concept of motivation within their stakeholders (Brophy, 2010). Though one may be tempted to view the self-determination theory of education as something of a hands off approach, the truth of the matter is that the theory itself encourages educator involvement in the form of integrating understandings of the value of risk within the students. Even though the series by its very nature places the most responsibility within the hands of the student/stakeholder, a proper understanding of motivation by the educator is sufficient to ensure that a given degree of self-determination will ultimately be realized. Likewise, with regards to the greatest weakness, the reader can readily understand that due to the great differentials and personality type that exists within the student body, not all individuals will fully integrate with a self deterministic approach to education. As with any theory, the weakness of the self-determination theory in education hinges upon the fact that although it helps to adequately explain a majority of educator/student involvement, it is ultimately not 100% effective in explaining all educator/student involvement. With regards to the work of Edwards Deci and Richard Ryan, the self determination theory is understood in a slightly different way. Accordingly, these authors note that the self-determination theory, though effective, ultimately seeks to reward those that most actively integrate with the process of education (Ryan & Deci, 2000). Even though this is not a bad thing, it necessarily implies that those students that do not seek to actively participate or motivate themselves will be at a significant disadvantage if this theory is applied universally within education. The authors note that the application of this theory can be seen as something of a reward mechanism whereby the students that

The Crucible Theatre Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

The Crucible Theatre Case Study - Essay Example What is the basis of strategy formulation in the Crucible Theatre Trust Comment on the management of the risk and the crises evident in the Case Study. The Crucible Theatre (from hereon referred to as "Crucible") is an enterprise that is owned, operated, and managed by a legally registered company with the Trust as its board of directors (or, strictly speaking, trustees). Like any other enterprise, the theatre receives income, has expenditures, hires employees, and faces many problems. As part of its strategic management function, the Trust should have focused on the long-term identification, development, and exploitation of the Crucible's core competencies, thought about the concept of the corporation and its mission, and designed the management processes to achieve the mission, which is why the Crucible existed in the first place. In effect, the Trust's main function is to set the strategy: give an over-all "direction" and "destination" for the business and the guidelines on how to get there. Then, operating management takes care of the details that are part of making the business enterprise succeed. It is understandable that at the beginning, the Crucible's management had problems as shown by the theatre's construction cost over-runs (by 184,000 or 26 percent over budget) and the low theatre attendance. But as the years passed, the number of "empty" seats, the financial losses (if not for the increasing amount of grants), the recurring cycles of financial crises, and a general lack of direction showed that the Trust could improve the way it did strategic management. In its first decade (1971-1981), the Trust may have done well in identifying and developing the Crucible's concept, core competencies, and its mission, but it had not done well in exploiting those core competencies and in managing the processes of marketing (audience development) and finance (non-government sources). As a result, its resources were under-utilised and the Crucible became a financial burden to the government. The second decade (1982-1991) saw "improvements" in the Trust's management, hitting "lower" attendance targets, increasing box office income (average annual growth of 23 percent) and its percentage (from 40 to 50 percent) of total income, and decreasing the growth rate of income from grants (average annual growth dropped from 16 percent from 1971-1981 to 7 percent from 1982-1991) for its operations. However, the financial burden remained for reasons easy to see: the "strategic" decision to bring down attendance targets made it easy to achieve, and as expenses rose, it was only due to effective lobbying by the Trust in the Arts Council and with Sheffield's local government that the Crucible secured the grants that allowed its financial survival. Balancing accounts and fund-raising could be

Unit 1 Individual Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Unit 1 Individual Project - Essay Example E may look for to start a Greenfield project in Hungary as the subsequent analysis would suggest that the from the start of making its transition to the market economies, Hungary has been able to attract most of the FDI in the form of Greenfield projects. Hungary has gone through a very tough period of its economic history however the same is now seems to be paying of to the country. Hungary has traditionally remained an agriculturalist country with lot of reliance on the agriculture as the main deriver of the economic growth in the country. It has remained under the socialist school of government however is believed to be undertaking the reforms under the socialist era much before the other communist countries in the region. Due to its structural reforms and economic restructuring, Hungary has now being considered as surviving its bad patch and is now on the route of economic growth. As discussed above that the historically, Hungary has remained an agriculturalist country however after the World War II, it turn to the industrialization however most of the industrialization was state owned and most of the agriculture output was coming out of the state owned firms. Over the period of time Hungary has been able to attract more than 90% of all the foreign capital being invested in the Eastern Europe showing the strong trust of the foreign investors into strength of the country. Over the period from 1992 to 2005, the average GDP growth in the economy has remained well over 5% with drastic reduction in inflation and public debt. The economic model followed by Hungary is considered as the model for the transition economies as it is considered as one of the most successful transition model. On the whole, Hungary has the stable economic outlook as well as supporting government policies encouraging foreign direct investment as well as other means of entering into the Hungarian model. (EU Commission, 2006). Hungary has remained a communist nation with centralized and

Significance of Mehmet Ali Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Significance of Mehmet Ali - Essay Example Most important decisions that Mehmet Ali took, were regarding the reformation of Egyptian society based on European patterns. He brought up the idea of Bureaucracy which separated Egyptian social system from the earlier patterns where Kings were very much the final authorities and every smaller decision would make sure that it takes place according to the pattern that would have pleased the king. Although, Mehmet Ali’s pattern of Society was not like a democratic system yet it made the state very powerful as it almost bound producers to sell the entire outcome to the state that will take care of reselling. Such authority of State helped Egypt to develop faster because Khedive himself would take care of revenues contrasting to modern communist systems where State is provided with power but restricts liberal policies for traders outside the state. This system turned Egyptian society and politics into a self-regulating society which paid very much for the future development in ec onomy and army. On the other hand, Mehmet Ali also rebuilt the army structure based on different segments controlled by separate department united as whole army under Khedive. It was more structured pattern compared of any military system Egypt has seen before. Consequently, Mehmet Ali also succeeded in ruling a bigger land that any earlier king of Egypt could manage to. Mehmet Ali had been a successful emperor for a long time, succeeding to establish his dynasty to work for future and to take Egypt towards the upcoming new era of modernism (Vatikiotis, 1991, p.70). Even after such a long rule over Egypt, Mehmet Ali was considered as a Turk by a number of natives. Further, progression of revolutions had been paid by this fact on large amount. Another charge revolutionaries had against Mehmet Ali’s dynasty was about their conceiving the state in limited bureaucratic structures providing no liberty for producers. However, as this fact comes up as a truth during modern society, it has paid much in Egypt’s development in earlier times. Still when it did not fit into a changed world prone to democracies, Egypt also demanded liberty and further Mehmet Ali’s dynasty led to its terminal with the revolution. Portrait of Omai- By Sir Joshua Reynolds One of the cult figures of simultaneous time of painting art is the portrait of Omai by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It holds significance as an artifact as well as a representation of Egyptian culture to the western civilization. Joshua Reynolds is known wildly among the most recognized landscape painter. In his portrait of Omai, he has used an authorized technique of expression which comes out as one of his greatest portraits. Reynolds has painted certain number of portraits of Omai which are considered on different aspects. However, best knows of his portraits of Omai is the one that was shows at Royal Academy at 1776. It has achieved a cult status in Landscape painting. Some earlier portraits painted by Reyn olds are considered previous attempt as appears that Reynolds himself was not satisfied with the outcome and wanted to make it grand. (Connaughton, 2005) Specific importance of Omai is as an encounter between East and west. It is the background of Omai’s visit to London.  

Human resource management policies implemented by Watsons Engine Assignment

Human resource management policies implemented by Watsons Engine Components - Assignment Example However there are factors which resist effective management of human resource. In this study, theoretical frameworks have also been incorporated to better analyze HRM policies and functions. A critical perspective for human resource management helps in determining the need for strategic HR planning to enhance company performance. The report will even highlight certain recommendations for Watsons at the end which can be implemented to reduce problems observed within the organization. Various approaches of human resource management are outlined in this study and each of them has a significant impact on workforce productivity. Human resource management is an organizational function structured to maximize employee performance. The major objective of this function is to meet objectives of employer. Management of human resource is related to developing systems and policies for effectively managing workforce in an organization. The units and departments of HR are responsible for employee re cruitment, performance appraisal, training and development and even rewarding. HR is associated with industrial relations, or rather balancing governmental laws and collective bargaining regulations with organizational practices. In 20th century, human relations movement framed the concept of human resource management. Researchers worked on this concept and stated that strategic management of workforce can create competitive advantage for a business.

Procurement route Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Procurement route - Essay Example The clients specify the budgetary constraints to the consultant who are then supposed to determine the targets and requirements from the business case prepared by the client. As the requirements and specification are prepared by different entities, certain amount of time is spent in the transformation and is hence slow in comparison to other approaches. This approach has also not been found to be suitable for complex construction projects due to a lack of prolonged involvement of the client in the design and build, due to which there is a gap between desired outcomes and the actual implementation. There is a greater degree of sub-contracting of certain aspects of the construction to specialized sub contractors due to which work progresses on numerous fronts simultaneously, which is why it is suitable for fast-track and complex projects. An additional management contractor is employed to maintain correspondence with all elements connected with the project involved in the project. This way, the management contractor has full freedom to choose specialized companies to handle specific works of the project qualitatively and at a brisk pace. This approach also provides less cost certainty as both design and construction commence at the same time, which means adjustments and modifications to cost, budget and raw materials always take place. The preceding paragraphs have described the various procurement routes that have evolved as part of the process of procurement. However, not all are suitable in the current context of the issue surrounding the Conlon’s Chemicals site. As such, it is deemed appropriate to evaluate each procurement approach with the given problem and arrive at the most suitable procurement route. The client in this case has only specified the budget and has made it clear that the cost of the two projects have to stay within the specified budget. When considering the traditional

The different between originality and plagiarism Essay

The different between originality and plagiarism - Essay Example Originality on the other hand is a different concept and it is not a wrong act as is plagiarism. It is basically the assembling of ideas and writings by an author that were already available and presented by other writers with the viewpoint of the current author. The author gives a new shape and meaning to the other thoughts and philosophies and does not basically steal the ideas of others. It is an original piece of work where the author can be credited for the writing as he only takes the understanding from previous readings but amends and writes them according to his own concept and viewpoint. According to Knoop, â€Å"Originality is defined as the identification, development, and combination of pre-existing structures and elements, mostly from literature, but also from other fields, such as philosophy, politics, or science.†(Knoop 2011). Thus, plagiarism is an act of copying the works of sources without acknowledging the true writers of the author.

Singer on Animal Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Singer on Animal Rights - Essay Example Several human activists have advocated the making and imposition of animal rights. This struggle on behalf of their loyal friends is not new and lasts over the last numerous decades. One of the most prominent human rights activists is Peter Singer who has an Australian origin. A renowned Philosopher and the professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, the sixty four (64) year old humanist has voiced his thoughts in favor of human rights for about four decades now. Peter Singer’s work â€Å"All Animals are Equal†, that came into print in the later part of the 1980s, highlights his decades old philosophy of safeguarding animal rights by voicing and maintaining the stance of respect of animals. This text is an attempt to voice Singer’s thoughts that he has advocated in the said work. The main theme of this article of Peter Singer is that animals, may they be ‘humans’ or ‘non humans’ deserve respect. He is quoted in this article as: †Å"I am urging that we extend to other species the basic principle of equality that most of us recognize should be extended to all members of our own species.† Singer does not emphasize that animals should have rights like humans but emphasizes that their rights should be recognized. He does not mean to say that animals are just like humans or should be treated just like humans. All he wants to say is that the discriminating factor between them should not be that one is an animal and the other is a human. Regardless of the species of a living being, rights should be associated with every individual thus attaching importance to their interests. The author compares the ambitions of human beings to those of an animal. Man has each and every step of his life planned. Every minute that passes brings him closer to his next planned task and then moreover to the next one. Animals however do not follow any such scheduled activity. Singer emphasizes that this fantasizing of humans does n ot give them any edge over animals with respect to rights. â€Å"If a being suffers,† he says, â€Å"there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration.† The famous activist proposes a situation where a building might accidentally be on fire. A human and a dog would be distressfully caught into the fire in exactly the same manner. They’re both hurt to the same extent and have become immobile. In such a situation, the author emphasizes that, both the human being and the animal have equal rights of being picked up as the first option of rescue. He shuns the thought that since a man has his whole planned life to live he should be the first choice of being picked up by rescue personnel. Singer emphasizes that there potentially is no difference in the suffering of the distressing animal and the human being. ‘The Human Pain’ he says has the same intensity as the animal’s pain. He strictly shuns that merely th e thought that human suffering is more than animal suffering should not make the picking up of the human being as the first choice. On the contrary, if the person suffering may be your loved one then you may ask the rescue team to pick him up first, but not otherwise. Singer states that of all the things that may exist, human beings have only and only a single edge over other species and that is the fact that they belong to the â€Å"Human Species† or â€Å"Homo Sapiens†. Singer emphasizes by saying, â€Å"Like it or not, we must face the fact that humans come in different shapes and sizes; they

Reaction Paper- Asian and Global Crisis Essay Example for Free

Reaction Paper- Asian and Global Crisis Essay Reaction Paper Asian and Global Crisis During the Asian and Global Crisis many of the criticisms are against accounting and accountants. In my further readings, I’ve read that during the Asian Crisis in 1997, where affected countries suffered severe setbacks in their economies and where development stagnated, the accountancy profession, including its standards, policies and levels of information disclosures, had played a role in the start of the crisis, and perhaps had even worsened it. Moreover, I’ve also read that during both crises, the Asian Crisis and Global Crisis in 2008, insufficient clarity in what was being measured, the wrong things being measured or things being measured inappropriately, lack of standards, inadequate transparency and poor ethical conduct, in short, poor corporate governance is the main breadth and depth of the crises. As a future accountant, what will I do after all the doubts and criticisms against the profession? In my opinion, sufficient clarity on what to measure, measuring things appropriately, following the applicable standards, adequate transparency and good ethical conduct are the things that I should carry out. It should be clarified in the accountant on what is the thing that he/she should measure. If I’m the accountant I should be knowledgeable on the nature and I should have understood necessary facts about the account when doing measurement or on examining the reasonableness of the measurement method used by the management. In addition, in measuring risks like financial risk, I should use a valid and reliable risk measurement technique because the information that I’ll be giving will be the basis for the management’s decision-making. If I have measured the things incorrectly or a wrong technique has been used, it could be misleading to the decision-making of the management and may cause chaos in the future to the company. In an accounting perspective, applicable generally accepted accounting standards should be used in the accounts of the financials of the company. Strict compliance should be observed so that transactions are properly recorded, summarized, classified and accounted for. Adequate disclosures should also be done. In the auditing perspective, as an auditor, auditing the company should be in accordance with the applicable generally accepted auditing standards. The auditor should be independent so that the opinion will be unbiased. I would like to emphasize that in compliance with the generally accepted auditing standards, the auditor should always take into consideration if the company provided adequate disclosures. Disclosure on significant matters is really important for the users who don’t have enough information regarding the matter will be informed. However, I have read in an article that there is also a lack of standards that also caused the hitch on crises. Regarding the lack of standards, I think it is already in the hands of the appropriate groups with authorities. Accountants need to refocus the structuring of financial transactions so that they comply with generally accepted accounting principles and that the economic substance of financial transactions is communicated. More accountability and ethical awareness needs to be instilled in the individuals who deceitfully structure financial transactions. Regulatory bodies need to ensure more transparency by closing loopholes and better enforcement of accounting standards. Audit committees, need to be sure that a company is communicating the true economic reality of the financial transactions and financial position of the business entity. Off-balance-sheet financing is one of the most significant ways, among others, that the user of financial statements can be misled. It is time for regulatory bodies to eliminate overly rules-based standards, clearly state the economic objective of each standard, and require firms to disclose the economic motivations for the accounting practices they adopt. While making judgment accountants need to be cautious and prudent. Accounting transactions and other events are sometimes uncertain but in order to be relevant it should be reported in time. Accountants have to make estimates requiring judgment to counter the uncertainty. Prudence is a key accounting principle which makes sure that assets and income are not overstated and liabilities and expenses are not understated. The bottom-line for all of these is to have good corporate governance. As defined by Robert M. Bushman, corporate governance structures serve: 1) to ensure that minority shareholders receive reliable information about the value of firms and that a company’s managers and large shareholders do not cheat them out of the value of their investments, and 2) to motivate managers to maximize firm value instead of pursuing personal objectives. I believe that all of the things I have mentioned are some of the keys that can help me as a future accountant in dealing the reality and to get out of all the doubts against the accounting profession.

Life Cycle Assessment Of Laptops And Printed Notes Engineering Essay

Life Cycle Assessment Of Laptops And Printed Notes Engineering Essay For the last few years, the society had started to use electronic devices for reading instead of using printed paper especially for university students. However, the paper is still used for printing and other usage. Paper is one of the main causes of global warming as trees will be cut down and processed into wood as wood is the main ingredient of producing paper. Without trees, there will be less photosynthesis phenomena occurring to reduce carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is produced by human activities such as breathing, power generation, combustion etc. To reduce the cutting of trees, several electronic devices have been introduced to replace the paper used for several purposes. 1.2 Life Cycle Assessment Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method used to analyze the impacts caused by products and services to the environment surrounding. It is used to study the life cycle from the extraction of raw materials, processing, transport, use, reuse, recycling or disposal of the products and services. There are four stages in LCA which includes goal identification, life cycle inventory, impact analysis and improvement analysis. LCA is used to identify and analyze the input and output of materials, energy and waste emissions in solid, liquid and gaseous state in order to make the improvement from the environmental impacts determined. (Life cycle assessment n.d) 2. Goal and scope definition 2.1 Goal of this study The goal of this study is to compare the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the service between reading printed lecture notes and reading lecture notes on the laptop. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of printed and computer document as learning materials for an undergraduate engineering student of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus is conducted. The LCA of this study is done by the undergraduate Civil Engineering students of Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus. The results of this study is based on the two reports titled Scanning Life Cycle Assessment of Printed and E-paper Documents based on the iRex Digital Reader by Sebastiaan Deetman and Ingrid Odegard in March 2009 and Life Cycle Assessment of a Laptop Computer and its Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Anh Hoang, Wei li Tseng, Shekar Viswanathan and Howard Evans. The study will compare the environment impacts of the printed paper and laptop. 2.2 Scope of this study Scope of this study consists of function and functional units. Function of the product will be analyzed and functional units will be included in this study is used to make comparison of the services and the LCA of the laptop. 2.2.1 Function Laptop can be useful in reading lecture notes and making notes in a document files. These are the functions that will be analyzed. However, laptop can also be used to read online newspaper, journals, magazine and for doing assignments. These functions will not be included in this study but they can definitely help in reducing the environment impacts. The use of Microsoft Office software in laptop enables students to make own notes and read lecture notes for e-paper and printed documents. This function has made the comparison between computer documents and printed paper viable. In this report, it is assumed that the time taken for a student to download lecture notes from the BlackBoard System used by Swinburne University of Technology into the computer is the same. Therefore, it can be excluded from this study because initially, both alternatives need to use this function. Besides, the wireless connection in Swinburne University should be neglected as both printed notes and e-notes require the wireless connection to download the lecture notes from the BlackBoard System. 2.2.2 Product System a. Manufacturing The manufacturing and assembly of components for the laptop including packaging result in releasing greenhouse gases. b. Distribution To distribute the laptop to retails, transportation of the laptop is included in this study. The greenhouse gases also will be released through the transports used. c. Use The usage of the laptop will be four years equivalent to the four years course. The total usage of laptop including lecture, tutorial and self-study per unit for one week is included in this study. So, the laptop usage for one year can be calculated. d. End of life End of life in this study is about recycling a laptop that can no longer be used or function anymore. The laptop will be recycled under the US recycling requirements. 2.2.3 Functional Unit The functional unit of LCA is to study the service of the paper used for printing notes for a student which is four years as the engineering courses for Swinburne University of Technology takes four years to complete. However, the laptop is assumed to replace all the printed notes in this study throughout the four years course. The assumptions of the laptop and printed paper that need to be taken into the consideration in this study are as shown as below. Assumptions: 1. The life span of the laptop and printer are four years as engineering courses take four years. 2. Plug is used for laptop for all the time instead of using battery. 3. Laser printer is used for printing. 4. Wooden uncoated paper is used for printing. 5. The printed paper is in greyscale. 2.2.4 Impact Categories In this study, the laptop usage and the printed paper are compared to analyze the data of greenhouse gas emission for both alternatives which contributes to Global Warming Potential (GWP). 3. Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) In this report, the data collected are the manufacturing, distribution, use and end-of-life of a standard laptop. The CO2-e emission of each stage are also calculated and included in the report. 3.1 Inventory of Laptop Computer 3.1.1 Manufacturing It includes the manufacturing and assembly of components as well as manufacturing and assembly of laptop which comes with packaging. On the whole, the greenhouse gas emission is approximately 160 kg CO2-e which is obtained from the graph on a report entitled Carbon Footprint of a Typical Business Laptop from Dell which is written by Markus Stutz (2010). 3.1.2 Distribution Transportation of laptop by all means to assembly locations and distributed to local retails, including transportation to customers themselves. For this report, the greenhouse gas emission of distribution of laptop is approximately 50 kg CO2-e (Stutz 2010) following the US region. However, the transportation may vary with region. So the emissions will vary as well but not much difference. 3.1.3 Use The life span of the laptop is estimated to be four years which is assumed to be used for the whole four years course of engineering students of Swinburne University Sarawak. One laptop is used by one student only. It is assumed that for one week, the total usage (hours) of laptop is 28 hours inclusive of 3 hours lecture, 2 hours tutorial and 2 hours of self-study per unit. There are four units altogether so 7 hours multiply by 4 equals to 28 hours. Assuming two semesters which consists of 32 weeks (inclusive of exam weeks) are equivalent to one year, the total hours is 896 hours. Hence, for four years, the total hour is 3584 hours. To calculate the power consumption and greenhouse gas emission, the mode taken into consideration is Active mode. Based on the report written by the students of National University entitled Life Cycle Assessment of a Laptop Computer and its Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions, the electricity used for average Active mode is 0.032 kWh. The power consu mption is tabulated in the table below. Electricity Used (kWh) Hours for 4 Years Power consumed (kWh) Active (Average) 0.032 3584 114.69 Based on the report too, the formula is converted to kWh. Hence, the greenhouse gas emission for usage is equal to 45.88 kg CO2-e. 3.1.4 End-of-life Once the laptop can no longer be used or it is unable to function anymore, the laptop will be sent for recycling. Sometimes laptops can be reformatted but it will not perform as well as before. Hence, according to Stutz 2010, it is assumed that 75 percent of the laptop will be recycled under the US recycling requirements. So, the greenhouse gas emission of -30 kg CO2-e is obtained. Stages Kg CO2-e released Manufacturing 160 Distribution 50 Use 45.88 End of life -30 Total 225.88 Table 1: The CO2e emission for laptop 3.2 Print Alternative Other alternative is that, the lecture notes, tutorial sheet and solutions can be printed out for study. The significant part which manipulates the GWP value is the type of paper used for printing. In this inventory, woodfree uncoated paper will be used to print out the lecture notes as well as tutorial questions. The GWP of manufacturing, distribution, use, end-of-life stage was taken from the LCA done by the ecoinvent for the inventory of the print alternative. 3.2.1 The use of printer A laser printer is used to print all the lecture notes and tutorial exercises. According to the report of LCA done by the student of University of Technology in Delft, they are using the process description of Ecoinvent database, which includes the life-time of printer, energy use during 3 different operational modes(active, stand-by and off), the print speed and average paper consumption. These numbers were all converted to an average inventory for an hour of printer use, as summarized in Table 4 below [Lehmann, 2007]. Process/part description Amount (per hour of printer use) Unit Ecoinvent name Electricity use 0.0402 kWh Electricity, low voltage, production UCTE Printing paper 0.214 kg Paper, woodfree, uncoated, at regional storage [RER] Laser Printer Scenario 1: Scenario 2: piece piece Printer laserjet, b/w, at plant [GLO] Toner 0.0644 kg Toner, black, used for printing [RER] Transport 0.0215 tkm Transport, freight, rail[RER] Table 1: The usage of printer and papers per hour In table 4, the usage of printer, paper and toner was converted to per hour usage. This is because Ecoinvent database recorded the lifetime of a printer is about four years. However, the usage of the laserjet printer will not be operating twenty four hours per day for four years. Therefore, the inventory is converted to per hour determination. 3.2.2 Paper Uncoated woodfree paper is the type of paper that we used most for printing. The dataset of the production and distribution of the type of paper is based on the Ecoinvent database. And according to the database, the uncoated woodfree paper contains at least 90% of fibres in the form of chemical pulp. Calculation: The estimation of paper used in 4 years. The approximate number of paper used for 1 chapter=15 sheets There total chapters for 1 subject= 8 chapters Subjects in 1 semester= 4 Semesters in 1 year=2 There are approximately 960 sheets of paper used in one year. And one student will consumed approximately 3840 sheets of paper in four years time. Paper disposal There are three types of paper disposal flows are defined in Ecoinvent, they are: Â · [G139] disposal, paper, 11.2% water, to municipal incineration [CH] Â · [G449] disposal, paper, 11.2% water, to sanitary landfill [CH] Â · [G1984] paper, recycling, with deinking, at plant [RER] The first two processes, however, differ from the third. The disposal processes have economic outflow the service of the disposal of 1 kg of the paper, as what is expected. A physical mass of recycled paper is the output for the recycling flow. According to Ecoinvent, there isnt recycling paper service and recycling gives out recycled paper as output. This means that the printer not only provide service of printing, but also produce recycled paper. Part of the total process to the recycled paper and part of the total process to the use of printer were allocated. This means that the environmental impacts of recycling the paper as waste are taken into account. 4.0 Impact Assessment This stage is to assess the impacts will affect on human health and the environment associated with energy and raw material inputs and environmental releases quantified by the inventory. We have done the impact assessment for the category of global warming potential (GWP). From the result, we do a comparison of CO2-equivalent between the laptop and printed paper. 4.1 Break-even Point: GWP Break-even point is when the GWP of both alternatives is the same occur. This can determine which alternative is more sustainable to the environment. When the GWP of both alternatives meets at this point, their emission is equal. After that, based on different situation, which ever goes higher is considered as not sustainable. GWP (kg CO2 equivalents) Print Alternative Scenario 1 Printing 3840 pages for four years Printing with woodfree uncoated paper 13.53 Laptop 225.88 Table: GWP values (in CO2-eq) of printed notes and laptop usage. From the table above, the relationship between the print alternative and laptop computer between two scenarios was assumed. After that, it can generate the graph as seen in figure below. Figure: From the figure, the impact assigned to the laptop computer remains constant as it is used daily for reading and studying. The graph shows the GWP of print alternative is much lower than the laptop computer. The break-even point is too far that it is probably about 70000 prints for four years. 5.0 Improvement Analysis Based on the research done, the usage of e-paper (laptops) still releases quite a high amount of CO2e which leads to Global Warming Potential. Hence, a few improvements to reduce emissions should be done. Improvements that could be done are as follows: Optimization of electricity usage when manufacturing laptops Minimize the number of transportation of laptops by distributing as many laptops as possible delivery process Turn off laptop when it is not used (i.e when taking a break from studying lecture notes) Purchasing laptops which has Energy Star label. Energy Star is a program by US government which helps to protect environment using superior energy efficiency. (Energy Star n.d.) Public awareness give talks on managing electricity and power usage In order to reduce the effect of global warming potential for paper, improvement can be done in the ways of: Conserving paper by printing on the both sides of the paper. Select to print what is really needed. Print only a few pages that are needed instead of the whole book. Recycle the used paper and use sustainable paper too. Return the empty printing cartridges to the supplier for recycling. 6.0 Conclusion From the life cycle assessment, we have compared the carbon dioxide equivalent of a laptop and paper for four years. It is shown that the CO2-e of a laptop is higher than paper. In other words, print alternative is a better choice to reduce the environmental impacts. It is more environmental friendly to study the lecture slides by printing paper instead of using laptop as paper emits less CO2e. The results above can only be applied to study lecture notes, not for office use and others.

Reducing energy consumption in hospitality

Reducing energy consumption in hospitality Introduction In recent years the environmental issues and energy saving methods have become increasingly important towards tourism and hospitality industry. Hotel energy consumption depends on various factors such as geographical location, size, class, equipments, occupancy and age of facilities. In this report it includes the methods of reducing energy consumption in hotels at a management level, followed by current legislations towards controlling environmental issues, in addition it shows how the building design and structure of hotels can help with environmental issues. How energy consumption can be reduced on a management level In order to build up an efficient energy system the hotels should, re think, re-use, reduce, recycle, recover and rationalise the resources. In fact those practices should be followed in every single department throughout the organisation. Such as housekeeping, food and beverage, maintenance, room division, front office should participate individually towards energy consumption process. Below are the actions that should be taken, in order to build a healthy and energy efficient environment. Employees contribution One major step towards reducing energy consumption is to plan a staff awareness programme throughout every department, it is important because their daily contact with guests gives them the opportunity to increase the awareness of the guests. Include the environmental messages on gifts (such as mugs) to employees. Encourage staff to switch off lights and switch off unnecessary equipments (computers, air conditioners) when leaving staff rooms. Get staff ideas about energy conversation methods and environmental issues in staff meetings. (www.gogreentravelgreen.com) Allocate coordinators towards environmental activities. Allocate designated members of staff who will be responsible for daily monitoring water/gas/electricity consumption. Furthermore the hotel can fix separate consumption meters in each department in order to have a better view and control of energy. For an example, it should be daily practise with all employees of the hotel to switch off all lights when leaving an empty room. At the end of a working day, all unused office appliances should be turned off at mains and not to be left on standby. Furthermore providing computers, printers with a power down features can reduce 60% energy than regular electronic equipments. On top of that encourage staff to use emails where possible instead of printing. (www.businesslink.gov.uk) Gaining Guests contribution Send an environmental message with reservation conformation messages. When guest check-in and check-out take couple of minutes to educate the guest about the hotels environmental effort. Leaving placards in guest rooms can save the use of unnecessary energy. This can encourage the guests to reuse their towels and bed sheets. Bed sheets washed every day in thousand of hotels in this world millions of gallons of water, electricity and tons of detergent. Sheets are customarily changed between guests. If you feel that your sheets need to be changed daily, please leave this card on your pillow each morning. Housekeeping will be pleased to accommodate you. PLEASE DECIDE YOURSELF Every day millions of gallons of water, electricity and tons of detergent is used to wash towels that have been used only once, A towel o the rack means Ill use it again, a towel o the floor or in the tub means please exchange. PLEASE DECIDE YOURSELF (www.greenhotels.com) Encourage the guest to switch off unnecessary electric items such as air conditioner, and use natural ventilation instead. Place recycle bins in guest rooms and hallways. Allow the guests to contribute an extra pound (Â £) towards a local environmental group. (Georgia hospitality environmental partnaship.1996) Lightning efficiency By replacing the excising bulbs with low energy consumption ones (florescent light bulbs), offers savings in energy costs. On top of that those bulbs have a longer life span than the ordinary light bulbs. Fix light reflectors that direct more light into the room. Using motion detectors for public area lighting (lobby), staff rest rooms, walk-in cooers and storage area can keep the unnecessary lights switched off. (www.4hoteliers.com) Install photovoltaic lighting systems (Georgia hospitality environmental partnaship.1996) for advertising signs, walkways, water fountains and remote outdoor areas. Use solar lamps in order to lighten the hotel garden area. Further by installing daylight sensors for garden area and other exterior lightning can save a massive load of energy consumption. (www.gogreentravelgreen.com) Use of Air conditioners (A/C) When the A/C competes with hot or cold air more energy is wasted. So do not cool more than necessary. Install timers and sensors in order reduce energy waste. Turn off the A/C when the weather is cooler. Close air gaps around doors and windows, and close all the unnecessary openings. Use higher energy efficiency rating equipments. Compare efficiency between gas and electric A/C equipments. Have the units checked yearly; spring is the best time before starting the heavy use in summer. Minimise the available heat sources (Below are methods to reduce heat sources) (My Ton.1996) Minimising heat sources Turn off lights and other heat producing sources that is not in use. Position heat producing sources such as lamps, television away from the thermostats. Cover windows (especially west and south facing) to reduce the heat Use window film to reduce the heat sources heading in to the rooms. Install timers and sensors for lights and other necessary electric equipments. (My Ton.1996) Reducing water consumption Provide Dual flush toilets to save water. Provide separate walk-in showers in order to encourage the guests to have a shower instead a bath; this saves both water and energy. Keep a good maintenance on the plumbing system, fix any drips as soon as possible (www.businesslink.gov.uk) Introduce dish washing machines and laundry machines which use final rinse water for prewash of next load. Use of a food thawing machine instead of running water for faster thawing. (Georgia hospitality environmental partnaship.1996) Adapt the hotel water system to be able to re-use the water for gardening and other non-drinking purpose. (One Source.2009) Other general operations and actions By lowering the thermostat temperature by 2 degrees in the winter or raising it by 2 in the summer you will save a lot of energy. This is a technique used in many organisations in order to save without even noticing the change of temperature. (Keynote.2008) Review and update the hotels preventative maintenance in order to maintain standards which help the system to sustain the system efficiently. (www.gogreentravelgreen.com) Change all individual amenities in the guest bathrooms to automatic dispensers of eco-friendly products; these can be refilled upon usage. (www.4hoteliers.com) Re use the heat and steam of the kitchen and laundry to be re-used for public heating Calculate the energy usage and assess it against available industry benchmarks in terms of per guest night or CO2 (carbon dioxide) generated. (www.tourismpartnership.org) Below it shows actions taken by some of the hotels in United Kingdom, in order to be an eco friendly property. Derwentwater Hotel, Keswick has been following eco friendly prospectors and has been one of the greenest hotel in United Kingdom. They have introduced water saving measures, energy saving measures and waste reduction methods by gaining support from staff, guests and the local communities. (Georgia hospitality environmental partnaship.1996) Also, Radisson Edinburgh has replaced their ordinary light bulbs to energy efficient lights at a cost of $2,307, as a result the first year savings were $27,889. (www.environmentalleader.com) this is a perfect example towards energy conservation, it clearly shows although it costs in order to take action, at the end of the process it save more than 10 times of the cost. According to environmental leader (2009) reports Hilton has announced their sustainability targets to reach by 2014, which includes the following, Reducing energy consumption from direct operations by 20 percent. Reducing CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions by 20 percent. Reducing output of waste by 20 percent. Reducing water consumption by 10 percent. Hilton has already introduced carbon-free electricity in United Kingdom and Ireland, they say it reduce CO2 emission by more than 64,000 tons, or 56 percent of its carbon footprint. They also managed to reduce energy and water consumption by 10 percent over the last two years. According to economically sound reports Marriott hotels are planning to publish their environmental policies on the official website, and each hotel will list their eco friendly actions. They say this will encourage each hotel to discuss their specific environmental policies and share these with other individual hotels. This will encourage the whole hotel chain to be an environmental friendly property as an individual. How Structure and the design of hotels can help with environmental issues When planning the design and the structure of the building, the hotel can get help from government and private companies in order bring guidance and knowledge towards building an environmentally friendly building. In terms of design the following steps can be taken, Light or reflector roofs and exterior coatings can result an environment with a lower temperature. Planting shade trees on the south side helps to keep the building cooler in warm climates. Also it provides the guests an attractive and enjoyable environment. (my ton.1996) Install large windows and glass bricks in lobby and other public areas to maximise the use of natural light (www.businesslink.gov.uk) When designing guest rooms, installing thick curtains and carpets made with wool can retain the heat in order to conserve energy. Painting the walls in light colours (such as white, green) can help to reduce the temperature of the rooms. Also by installing reflective mirrors with reflective wall paint can facilitate natural lightning. Introduce water saving shower heads and sink faucet aerators, 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM) shower heads and 1.5 GPM aerators are recommended for water saving and guest satisfaction. Because less water flow showerheads causes guest complains. (Georgia hospitality environmental partnaship.1996) Design of the building should allow space for recycling, which encourages staff and guests to contribute towards the process. Key card systems control lighting, heating and air coolers when room not in use. Because of Key cards the hotel can make sure there wont be any electricity waste on a vacant room. (www.4hoteliers.com) When positioning equipment such as refrigerators, in order to get the best performance should avoid it placing next to heat sources (cookers, Owen) Adopt a water system that reuses the water for non-drinking purposes such as gardening purposes. In terms of structure the following steps can be taken. Thermostat should not be installed nearby heaters and other heat producing equipments, because this may calculate the building temperature incorrectly and increase the energy costs. (www.carbontrust.co.uk) Installing double or triple glazed windows will protect the heat sources inside the building. Furthermore proper insulation throughout the building will reduce energy consumption. Installing solar energy system to retain heat from the sunlight and make it one and only source of energy for the hotel. Use of timing devices on thermostats will control the energy produced by the radiators. In fact fitting reflective material behind radiators can reduce energy consumption. (ww.4hoteliers.com) Placing gas, electricity and water meters in individual departments allows the organisation to examine energy consumption of each department which helps them to take actions on energy waste and provide necessary improvement. When designing the structure of the building it should be in a way that invites natural light and air in to the building. (www.archinode.com) A research done by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system in United States have proved when designing the structure of the building use of steel superstructure is estimated environmental friendly than using concrete superstructures. Below it shows the negative impacts of concrete. A concrete superstructure would consume over three times more energy than a steel one. A concrete superstructure would consume almost six times as much as natural resources than a steel one. Production of a concrete superstructure would use more toxic than a steel superstructure. A concrete superstructure would produce over four times solid waste as a steel one. A steel superstructure is easier to recycle, producing more secondary useful product, than a concrete one. A concrete superstructure would pollute air over five times than a steel one. A steel superstructure would pollute water over three times than a concrete one. A concrete superstructure would contribute to global warming almost seven times more than a steel one. (www.archinode.com) Current legislations relating to environmental issues Environmental Protection Act 1990 Environment Act 1995 Environment Agency and Scottish Environment Protection Agency as the regulating bodies for contaminated land, abandoned mines, national parks, control of pollution, conservation of natural resources and conservation or enhancement of the environment.. (www.opsi.gov.uk) Energy conservation act 1996 This act was introduced to make provisions for energy conservations, future to to allow local authorities to implement a strategy to achieve improvement in energy efficiency (www.opsi.gov.uk) Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 c.14 This act controls the methods of waste disposal with the Environment Agency or Scottish Environment Protection Agency and outlines the penalties (including seizure and disposal) for vehicles shown to have been used for illegal waste disposal. (www.statutelaw.gov.uk) Clean air act 1993 The clean air act authorizes the local councils to control domestic and industrial smoke and allows them to create smoke control areas in order to improve the local air quality. (www.netregs.gov.uk) Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 SI 3538 Introduces a new system for environmental permits for industrial activities and waste operations in England and Wales, including landfill and waste incineration, and sets out the powers, functions and duties of the regulator. (www.opsi.gov.uk) Buildings Regulations 2000, SI 2531 Introduces requirements for builders to calculate and display energy ratings on new or altered buildings. (www.books.google.com) Eco Design for Energy-using Products Regulations 2007 SI 2037 This regulation establishes a framework for setting eco design requirements for energy-using products. (www.opsi.gov.uk) Water act 2003 This act was introduced to control the abstraction and impounding of water. It helps to protect the water resources throughout the country. (www.environment-agency.gov.uk) Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 SI 991 This regulation issues energy performance certificates (to maintain energy efficient standards) when buildings are constructed in order to rent out or sell. (www.communities.gov.uk) EU Regulation on a Revised Community Eco-Label Award Scheme 1980/2000 This is an award scheme towards eco-label to manufacturers who want to inform consumers about what they are doing to reduce the environmental impact of their products. (Eur-lex.europa.eu) List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005 SI 895 This regulation provides the European Waste Catalogue list of codes used to classify wastes. (www.products.ihs.com) Conclusion Being an environmental friendly property means that they save electricity, water, reduce solid waste while saving money and creating a healthy environment to the guest, staff and the management. In order to become a green property the organisation should the gain contribution from every parties such as staff, guests, local communities, local councils and other environmental friendly organisation. As a result the organisation can gain respect towards the idea of conserving the environment. From a business point of view this allows them to differentiate their products from rivals and attract more guests. Being a green property will not only gain guest respect, they will overlook at the hotel over the rivals. Further, by being environmental friendly the organisation can reduce costs on energy, water and waste, the money saved can be re invested in future development, research and staff incentives. This concept also leads towards staff satisfaction by building a pleasant, relaxed environment to work. Once the hotel adapts to environmentally friendly practices it will gain marketing opportunities and support by local media (magazines, newspapers and television programs). Also it allows the hotel to gain financial support and expertise form government organisations who helps green concepts. Furthermore all these efforts give an opportunity to achieve rewards and awards from hospitality bodies which the organisation can be proud of. The most important fact of all this whole process is that, it will contribute to protect our one and only earth. Bibliography My ton.1996.Greening your property, green seal Georgia hospitality environmental partnaship.1996.Waste reduction in hotels and motels Top 10 tips for reducing waste and saving energy http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=ONEOFFPAGEitemId=1081838672 [accessed on: 20/08/2009] One Source information service (2009) Data monitor independent research. (British Library online database) Available from: http/globalbb,onesource.com/sharedscripts/reports/FetchAR.asp?process=cpDocID [Accessed on: 13/03/2009] Keynote information service (2009) (British Library online database) http:/www.bl.uk/eresources/business/cd-busin.html#market. (Keynote) [Accessed on: 13/03/2009] Tips and Tricks for Greening your Hotel Available from: http://gogreentravelgreen.com/green-hotels-green-accommodation/11-tips-and-tricks-for-greening-your-hotel-stay-25-days-to-green-travel-day-16/ [Accessed on: 13/03/2009] Tips and Tricks for Greening your Hotel Available from: http://www.4hoteliers.com/4hots_fshw.php?mwi=3229 [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Steel VS Concrete Available from: http://www.archinode.com/lcasteel.html [accessed on: 12/03/2009] http://www.healthandsafety.co.uk/envas.htm [accessed on: 12/03/2009] Going green Available from: http://www.tourismpartnership.org/downloads/Going%20Green.pdf [20/08/2009] Hilton Sets Target Of 20% CO2 Reduction By 2014 Available from: http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/06/05/hilton-sets-target-of-20-co2-reduction-by-2014/ [accessed on: 22/08/2009] Marriott To List Green Actions Of Individual Hotels Available from: http://www.economicallysound.com/marriott_speaks_green_soon.html [accessed on: 22/08/2009] Environmental Protection Act 1990 Available from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1990/ukpga_19900043_en_1#Legislation-Preamble [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Environment act 1995 Available from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ukpga_19950025_en_1 [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Environmental permitting regulations 2007 SI 3538 Available from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20073538_en_1 [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Building regulations 2000, SI 2531 Available from: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ixzl0dw8LpICpg=PA3lpg=PA3dq=building+regulations+2000,+si+2531source=blots=BkC1vCaLdSsig=HBUkP0oQmHzE5s5dq_RD0dwuvPYhl=enei=6mqNSpS3Kd6RjAeWiZHcDQsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=5#v=onepageq=building%20regulations%202000%2C%20si%202531f=false [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Energy Conservation Act 1996 Available from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1996/Ukpga_19960038_en_1[accessed on: 20/08/2009] Eco design for energy-using products regulations 2007 SI 2037 Available from: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20072037_en_1 [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 c.14 Available from: http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+PrimaryPageNumber=36NavFrom=2parentActiveTextDocId=1349599ActiveTextDocId=1349599filesize=112837 [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Clean Air Act 1993 Available from: http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/legislation/current/107146.aspx [accessed on: 20/08/2009] Water act 2003 Available from: http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/water_act_leaflet_833646.pdf [accessed on: 20/08/2009] The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/991) Available from: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/energyperformance [accessed on: 20/08/2009] EU Regulation on a Revised Community Eco-Label Award Scheme 1980/2000 Available from: http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2000:237:0001:0012:en:PDF [accessed on: 20/08/2009] List of Wastes (England) Regulations 2005 SI 895 Available from: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=enq=List+of+Wastes+%28England%29+Regulations+2005+SI+895btnG=Searchmeta= [accessed on: 20/08/2009]

Irony as an Instrument Essay -- Ironic Irony Essays

Irony as an Instrument Its 7:09 am and Olivia is woken up by a wetness between her legs. She looks down and finds that the wetness is actually her water that broke. She anxiously wakes up her husband John, and the two of them quickly gather their things. After nine long months of waiting, John and Olivia are finally on their way to the hospital to welcome their first child into the world. The two have already chosen Jacob Alexander as the baby's name and have the nursery ready for him at home. Once at the hospital, Olivia and John meet with their doctor, Dr. Rodriguez, who assures the anxious couple that everything will be fine and their new son will be in their arms in just a matter of hours. It is now 8:22 am and the pain from Olivia's contractions is beginning to grow stronger. Several hours later, Olivia is in crucial pain but is only dilated 4 1/2 centimeters and is beginning to bleed. Knowing that something is wrong, Dr. Rodriguez realizes that the baby's heart rate is declining and that Olivia's blo od pressure has significantly dropped as well. Worried about the health of both the baby and Olivia, Dr. Rodriquez decides that emergency surgery would be the only way to have a successful delivery. Before preparing for surgery, he once again reassures the family that everything will be just fine and shows John to the waiting room. After hours of surgery with several complications, Dr. Rodriguez has successfully delivered baby Jacob but unfortunately could not save Olivia. Soon after Jacob was born, Olivia began hemorrhaging and there was no way for Dr. Rodriguez to stop the bleeding. She simply lost too much blood and he was unable to save her. With his pounding heart caught in his throat and a feeling failure, Dr. Rodri... ...on why readers respond to irony is because it catches them off guard. By incorporating the element of irony, the author has an opportunity to provoke desired emotions within the reader then change them within an instant. In both stories, the thoughts and expectations of the reader were altered and the truth was revealed. No matter who the author, one truth about irony remains: there will always be an inconsistency between what you predict and what will actually transpire. Now isn't that ironic? Works Cited Bierce, Ambrose. "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 8th Edition. Eds. Dana Gioia, X.J. Kennedy. New York: Longman, 2002, 513-520. Gioia, Dana, X. J. Kennedy. "Glossary of Literary Terms." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 8th Edition. New York: Longman, 2002, G1-G32.

Modern Collegiate A Cappella Essay -- Music Art Cultural Essays Histor

Modern Collegiate A Cappella Introduction A cappella is a relatively young art form that is catching the interest of many people across the nation. The popular movement is believed to have been started in 1909, when part of the Yale Glee Club broke off and formed the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the first collegiate a cappella group; the Whiffenpoofs exist to this day, and the a cappella movement has only grown in popularity. Throughout the middle decades of the 20th century, professional a cappella groups attracted a lot of attention for their renditions of popular songs. As this new progressive style caught on, the a cappella art form evolved from its roots in harmonically complex barbershop quartets into a more modem and freely structured type of music. The trend-setting groups remained attentive to musicality, but left behind the rigidity commonly associated with barbershop performance. Songs like "Mr. Sandman," by the Chordettes, and "It Won't Be Very Long," by the Soul Stirrers, showed people that a cappella could be exciting and also that it could tackle a multitude of musical genres. The next big developments in a cappella came on the collegiate front. While professional groups retained their popularity, their numbers did not increase much toward the end of the 20th century. On the other hand, the number of college groups skyrocketed during this same time period. According to the Mainely A Cappella website's history of a cappella, since 1989, there have been about 20 new groups formed at schools across the nation every year. 1 This paper suggests that the reason for the drastic spike in collegiate interest in a cappella is because students began to realize the wide range of creative expression that can be achieve... ...ed methods of making music. 3 Quotation from Michael Kendall's "Philosophy of Music Education." See reference list. Works Cited: 1.Bethel College Website. Michael Kendall, "Philosophy of Music Education." http://www.bethelcollege.edu/acadb/und s/finearts/music/phil.htm. 2. Hemsley, Thomas. Singing and Imagination. Oxford University Press. 1998. 3. Mainely A Cappella website. "A Century of A Cappella." http://www.a-cappella.corn/misc/history.php. 4. Sawyer, Keith. Group Creativity – Music, Theater, Collaboration. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers. 2003. 5. Singer, Irving. Feeling and Imagination – The Vibrant Flux of Our Existence. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. 2001. 6. Schoenherr, Steve. "Recording Technology History." http://history.acusd.edu/ mml#di ital. 7. Ward, Finke, Smith. Creativity and the Mind. Plenum Press. 1995.

The Character of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire :: A Streetcar Named Desire Essays

The Character of Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Blanche, Stella's older sister, until recently a high school English teacher in Laurel, Mississippi. She arrives in New Orleans a loquacious, witty, arrogant, fragile, and ultimately crumbling figure. Blanche once was married to and passionately in love with a tortured young man. He killed himself after she discovered his homosexuality, and she has suffered from guilt and regret ever since. Blanche watched parents and relatives, all the old guard, die off, and then had to endure foreclosure on the family estate. Cracking under the strain, or perhaps yielding to urges so long suppressed that they now could no longer be contained, Blanche engages in a series of sexual escapades that trigger an expulsion from her community. In New Orleans she puts on the airs of a woman who has never known indignity, but Stanley sees through her. Her past catches up with her and destroys her relationship with Mitch. Stanley, as she fears he might, destroys what's left of her. At the end of the play she is led away to an insane asylum. This is indeed the story of what happened to Blanche in the play but what flaws in her own character were to blame for her subsequent tragedy. Blanche is by far the most complex character of the play. An intelligent and sensitive woman who values literature and the creativity of the human imagination, she is also emotionally traumatised and repressed. This gives license for her own imagination to become a haven for her pain. One senses that Blanches own view of her real self as opposed to her ideal self has been increasingly blurred over the years until it is sometimes difficult for her to tell the difference. It is a challenge to find the key to Blanche's melancholy but perhaps the roots of her trauma lie in her early marriage. She was haunted by her inability to help or understand her young, troubled husband and that she has tortured herself for it ever since. Her drive to lose herself in the "kindness of strangers" might also be understood from th is period in that her sense of confidence in her own feminine attraction was shaken by the knowledge of her husband's homosexuality and she is driven to use her sexual charms to attract men over and over. Yet, beneath all this, there is a desire to find a companion, to find fulfilment in love.

Life’s Unexpected Roller Coaster: A Study of Scoliosis Essay

Many people may wonder exactly what scoliosis is. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that is greater than ten degrees. Mild scoliosis ranges from ten to twenty degrees. Intermediate scoliosis ranges from twenty to seventy degrees, and severe scoliosis is any curve greater than seventy degrees. Though cases of scoliosis are found equally among both male and females, females scoliosis tends to be more severe (Board). Scoliosis can be present at birth, congenital. There are a few different types of scoliosis; functional, structural, and idiopathic structural. In functional scoliosis the problem does not originate the spine. The curvature in functional scoliosis is flexible, and the curve is normally caused by uneven legs or muscle spasms caused by pain (Board). Functional scoliosis will go away when the underlying problem is corrected. For example in the case of uneven legs orthopedic shoes can be worn. In structural scoliosis the curvature is not flexible it is a fixed curvature in the spine. There could be an underlying problem with the brain or spinal cord. In structural scoliosis there could also be an underlying problem with nerves or muscles (Board). Most scoliosis patients have idiopathic structural scoliosis. Eighty percent of all scoliosis cases are idiopathic structural scoliosis. The cause of idiopathic structural scoliosis is unknown, but symptoms are present. Scoliosis can have several symptoms. It can cause uneven body parts such has the shoulders or waist. Scoliosis victims may lean to the side or become fatigued. Back pain and difficulty breathing are also some of the symptoms but normally are only seen in severe scoliosis cases (Board). Though there are some known causes, most causes for scoliosis are unknown. Congenital scoliosis is considered to be a birth defect. It may occur with other problems such as heart and kidney abnormalities. Spinal cord and brainstem abnormalities are also a possibility (Board). The way scoliosis is diagnosed is called the Cobb Method. The Cobb Method requires the most tilted vertebrae to be identified. A line is then drawn along the ends of these vertebrae to measure the curve. The patient is then asked to bend forward to check for bumps which may be a sign of scoliosis. Finally, an x-ray helps determine the type of scoliosis the patient has (Board). Scoliosis can come with some health risks. In severe scoliosis, the curvature is so great that it could cause the ribs to press against the heart or lungs. This in turn can cause breathing problems. If the curve is greater than one hundred degrees it could cause physical damage to the heart or lungs. Scoliosis can also cause chronic back pain or arthritis of the spine in adults (Board). There are several ways scoliosis can be treated. If the patient is a child that is still growing with a curve of twenty to thirty degrees a back brace can be used. There are two different types of back braces. The underarm or low profile brace is close fitting which makes it almost invisible under clothes. This brace fits under the arms, and around the ribcage, lower back and hips. The underarm brace is a custom made brace fit specially to the patient (Board). The Milwaukee brace is a full torso brace used for upper spine curves. It has a neck ring with rests for the chin and for the back of the head (Board). For curves greater than forty degrees, surgery may be needed. There are a few different types of scoliosis surgery. Spinal fusion is the most common type of scoliosis surgeries. This surgery works by releasing some ligaments and joints around the spinal cord and attaching a rod. A posterior or anterior approach is used to reach the spine. Hook or screws are inserted into the vertebrae to hold the rod in place, and the joints between vertebrae are removed. The rod is pulled tight and a bone graft is placed (Board). Another type of spinal fusion uses thoracoscopy. The procedure is viewed on a monitor while tiny tools are inserted through small incisions. These tools are used to help attach the metal rod to the spine. This method is usually used for curvatures in the chest region that are moderately large (Board). The growing spine system is used for young children who are still growing but are not helped by a back brace. The metal rod that is used to support the spine is adjustable. The procedure is similar to spinal fusion but the joints are not removed and the spine will not fuse. With this system surgery is needed about ever six months to change the length of the rod as the patient grows (Board). Clinical Trials â€Å"A Multicenter Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adult Scoliosis,† is a trail that tests the effectiveness of non-operative and operative treatments of scoliosis. The trial is currently not open for recruitment. The primary goal of this trail is to compare the outcomes of surgery and non-operative treatments of scoliosis. The study will be done on patients aged forty to eighty with ASLS defined as a lumbar curve with a coronal Cobb measurement that is thirys degrees or greater. The secondary goal of this trial is to evaluate the impart of patient factors and co-morbidities (Multicenter). In order to be eligible for this study the patient must be between the ages of 40-80 years, have a double major or thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis measure thirty degrees or greater, and a SRS score of 4.0 or less in pain, activity and or appearance. The estimated enrollment is three hundred patients. This trial will be conducted by Washington University School of Medicine. It is sche duled to start in July 2009 and estimated to end in December 2015 (Multicenter). â€Å"Phase IV Comparing Rods of Yield Strengths to Correct Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis,† is a trail that tests titanium rods vs. ultra strength stainless steel rods for better correction of scoliosis. This trial is currently recruiting. The goal of this trial is to figure out whether titanium rods or ultra strength stainless steal rods are better for the correction of scoliosis. Surgeons have noticed that the screw construction has been increasing while the strength of the rod has not. The rod is now the weak part of the construction. This brings the need for newer, stronger rods (Phase). Patients must 10-20 years of age, have progressive lenke type 1A, N or idiopathic adolescent scoliosis measuring greater than forty-five degrees. The estimated enrollment for this trial is one hundred patients. This trial will be conducted by Queen’s University in Canada. The trial started September 2008 and is estimated to be complete by September 2011 (Phase). â€Å"Surgical Outcomes Using Variable Rod Diameters in the Treatment of Idiopathic Scoliosis,† is a trail to test the difference in a rod with a diameter of 5.5mm vs. one with a diameter of 6.35mm. This trial is currently r ecruiting. The primary goal of this trail is to discover which diameter of rod is more successful in correcting scoliosis in children. Surgeons use the specific rods based on their preference. There is no proof as to which diameter of rod works better. It is a question that needs to be put to the test (Surgical). Patients must be 11-18 years of age, have scoliosis, and be anticipating a spinal fusion surgery. The estimated enrollment is three hundred patients. This trail is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The starting date was May 2007 and it is estimated to end in May 2010 (Surgical). The purpose of â€Å"The Idiopathic Scoliosis and Its Treatment (Orthopedic and Surgery): Effect of the Severity, Orthosis and the Arthrodesis on the Gait (scoliosis),† trial is to test the effects of the treatment of scoliosis. This trial is currently recruiting. The primary goal is to compare locomotion parameters in treated scoliosis patients. The secondary goal is to evaluat e the effects of the frontal curve’s severity of the AIS (Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis). Another goal that is hoped to be achieved is comparing the effects of treatment on the gait parameters (Idiopathic). Patients must be 12-18 years of age and female to participate. Both healthy and patients diagnosed with scoliosis by x-ray are needed. The estimated enrollment for this trial is fifty patients. It will be conducted by Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc-Universite Catholique de Louvain in France. The start date for this trial was January 2009 and it is expected to be over by September 2009 (Idiopathic). â€Å"Influence of Leg Length Discrepancy on the Spinal Shape and Biomechanics in Functional and Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients,† is a trial that was created for motion analysis of scoliosis patients. The trial is not yet open for recruitment. The primary goal is to investigate the effects of correction of Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD). LLD is defined as a condition in which paired limbs are unequal in length (Influence) LLD may lead to lumbar scoliosis. It is thought that if LLD is taken care of it can cure the scoliosis. To be eligible for this trial the patient must have functional lumbar scoliosis combined with LLD or idiopathic lumbar scoliosis without LLD. The estimated enrollment for this trial is thirty patients. The trial will be conducted by National Taiwan University Hospital. There are no available dates for this trial (Influence). The trial â€Å"Comparing Two Instrumentation Systems for the Treatment of Adolescent Scoliosis† was created to test the Moss Miami Spine Instrumentation System and the Universal Spine Instrumentation System. This trial has been completed. The primary goal was to compare the quality of life, functional outcome, cosmetic result, and the correction of spinal deformity of the two instrumentation systems (Comparing). Patients had to be 8-18 years of age, have idiopathic scoliosis requiring posterior instrumentation and fusion, scoliosis and a finding of conus less then L1-2 disc level, scoli osis and a finding of a small syrinx (non-progressivie and does not require neurosurgical treatment), and non-progressive spondylolysis. This trial had an estimated enrollment of one hundred and twenty-six patients. It was conducted by The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada. The study was received January 4, 2006 (Comparing) The Moss Miami system and the Universal Spine systems provided similar quality of life and curve correction (Comparing). â€Å"Continuous Local Infusion of Anesthetic at the Incisional Site for Scoliosis Surgery,† is a trial for testing the drugs Bupivacaine and normal Saline. This trial is currently recruiting. The primary goal is to evaluate effects of continuous local anesthetic delivery on the immediate post-operation recover of patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery (Continuous). The eligibility for this trial is 8-18 years of age, clinical diagnosis of congenital scoliosis, clinical diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis, and anticipated spinal fusion surgery. The estimated enrollment is sixty patients. The trial is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The trial started May 2007 and is estimated to end January 2010 (Continuous). The trial â€Å"Analgesic Effects of Gabapentin After Scoliosis Surgery in Children† was created to test the drugs Gabapentin and Placebo. This trial is currently recruiting patients. The primary goal is to determine whether the use of Gabapentin will improve postoperative analgesia and reduce opioid consumption and side effects in children undergoing corrective spinal surgery for idiopathic scoliosis (Analgesic). The secondary goal is to evaluate whether use of Gabapentin reduces pain scores, decreases postoperative nausea and vomiting, decreases persisting pain and improves patient satisfaction (Analgesic). Scoliosis surgery can cause sever pain after the surgery is over so a way to control this pain is needed. Patients must be 10-17 years of age, scheduled for elective surgical correction of scoliosis, and able to operate a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. The estimated enrollment is thiry -six patients. This trial is being conducted by The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada. The start date for this trial was May 2008 (Analgesic). â€Å"Effect of Early Morphine Administration on the Development of Acute Opioid Tolerance During Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery† is a completed trial that tested the drugs Morphine and Saline. The primary goal was to examine if morphine administered by bolus before initiating Remifentanil by infusion decreases the incidence of acute postoperative opioid tolerance (Effect). To be eligible for this trial the patient had to be 11-18 years of age, unpremedicated, ASA physical status 1 or 2, and be scheduled for posterior instrumentation for correction of idiopathic scoliosis. This trial had an enrollment of thirty-seven patients. The groups were demographically similar. No differences were observed between groups in the initial 24-hr morphine consumption, NRS pain scores, sedation, nausea, or vomiting (Effect). â€Å"VEPTR Implantation to Treat Children With Early Onset Scoliosis Without Rib Abnormalities† is a recruiting trial that tests unilateral or bilateral VEPTR devices. The primary goal of this trial is to evaluate the use of unilateral or bilateral VEPTR devises for preventing further progression of the angle, allowing for spinal growth and improving pulmonary function in the treatment of children with scoliosis (VEPTR). To be eligible for this trial, patients must be 18 months-10 years of age, have progressive scoliosis, and have a curve beyond 45 degrees. The estimated enrollment is two hundred and fifty patients. This study is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The start date was January 2008 and it is estimated to be over by January 2016 (VEPTR). â€Å"Effectiveness of Bracing in Preventing Scoliosis in Children With Spinal Cord Injury† is an active trial that tests Thoraco-Lumbar-Sacral-Orthosis (TLSO)/Flex-Foam. The primary goal is to determine whether full-time high dose prophylactic bracing is more effective then low dose bracing (12 hours/day) in preventing or delaying spinal curve progression (Effectiveness) Patients must be 5-16 years of age, have C5 to L2 SCI, ASIA impairment levels A, B, or C, single structure curve smaller than forty degrees or double curve smaller than forty degrees where the largest curve is less than twenty-five degree bending film, risk for paralystic scoliosis, and the ability to follow simple instructions. The estimated enrollment is eighty-eight patients. This trial is being conducted by Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. The trial started June 2005 and is estimated to be over by December 2010 (Effectiveness). â€Å"Shilla Growth Permitting Spinal Instrumentation System for Treatment of Scoliosis in the Immature Spine† is a active trial that tests the Shilla growth permitting spinal procedure. The Shilla growth permitting spinal procedure is very similar to the growing spine system but requires fewer surgeries. The primary goal is to retrospectively review patients who have undergone this technique looking at age of the patient, magnitude of the curve preoperatively, postoperatively and over time, diagnosis, pulmonary function, surgical procedures, complications, and spinal growth (Shilla). To be eligible for this study the patient must be 1-10 years of age, have sever, progressive scoliosis unresponsive to bracing, or have severe, progressive scoliosis but cannot tolerate bracing. The estimated enrollment for this trial was fifty patients. It is becing conducted by Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute. The start date for this trial was April 2005 and it is expecte d to be complete by April 2015 (Shilla). â€Å"Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Compared to Autologous Pre-Donation Prior to Scoliosis Surgery in Children† is a completed trial that tested recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo). This procedure was created to decrease the need for blood transfusions during surgery. The primary goal of this trial is to establish whether rHuEpo is as effective as PAD in increasing red bell mass prior to surgery (Recombinant). Patients had to be 12-18 years of age and require scoliosis repair to be eligible. The estimated enrollment for this trial was twenty patients. The trial was conducted by the University of British Columbia. The start date was October 2004 and the trial ended December 2007 (Recombinant). The use of rHuEPO preoperatively and the use of PAD are not cost-effective although both techniques remain clinically effective tools (VEPTR). â€Å"Effects of Lateral Trunk Support in Spinal Alignment in Spinal Cord Injured Persons† is a completed trial that tested lateral trunk support of wheelchair seating. Different types of seating is used to help with patients posture but it was unknown if it helped with the scoliosis curve. The primary goal is to examine the effects of lateral trunk supports in special seating on the spinal alignment of spinal cord injured subjects with scoliosis (Effects of). Patients had to be 18-60 years of age, have C4-T12 SCI, sit on the wheelchair more then four hours a day, have thoracic lumbar scoliosis, and flexible scoliosis. The estimated enrollment for this trial was twenty patients. The trial was conducted by the National Taiwan University Hospital. The trial started September 2002 and ended November 2004 (Effects of). The radiographic findings demonstrate improved scoliotic spinal alignment in the frontal plane and reduced lumbar angles in the sagittal plane in persons with SCI when seated in a special seat and using LTS (Effects of). â€Å"The Use of Intraoperative Intrathecal Morphine Versus Epidural Extended Release Morphine for Postoperative Pain Control in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion (IT Morphine)† is a recruiting trial that tests the drug DepoDur. The primary goal of this trial is to learn more about preventing pain in children who are having posterior spinal fusion surgery (Use). Patients must be 8-17 years of age and need a fusion of a minimum of five and maximum of thirteen levels, including at least L1 or lower. The estimated enrollment is eighty patients. The trial will be conducted by The Children’s Hospital in Denver. It started December 2008 and is estimated to end December 2010 (Use). Foundations and Grants The Scoliosis Care Foundation was founded by Gary Deutchman in 2001. The foundation helps with improving education, treatment and diagnosis of scoliosis. Gary Deautchman disliked the watch and wait approach to diagnosing scoliosis. He thought this approach was harming the future well-being of children. The Scoliosis Care Foundation has a program called the Scoliosis Awareness Program which is designed to catch early scoliosis so it does not progress (Scoliosis). The National Scoliosis Foundation is a patient-led nonprofit organization dedicated since 1976 to helping children, parents, adults, and health-care providers to understand the complexities of spinal deformities such as scoliosis (24). The National Scoliosis Foundation helps with all aspects of support. The main focus is promoting the awareness of scoliosis and providing information (National). The Small Exploratory Grant is designed for new investigators who have a preliminary concept they would like to develop into a research project (Research). The maximum grant rewarded for this category is $10,000. The maximum duration of research is one year (Research). The New Investigator Grant is designed for new investigators. Candidates who have received the Small Exploratory grant are eligible as long as they have not received any other previous funding from national granting organizations. The maximum award is $25,000, and the duration of the research can last up to two years (Research). The Standard Investigator Grant is awarded a maximum of $50,000 a year. The duration can last up to two years with the maximum total being $100,000. These grants are for any type of spinal deformity but there is additional money if it is going towards scoliosis (Research). The Continuation or Extension Grant is for on-going projects, which have previously been funded by the Scoliosis Research Society. In order to receive these grants a report of the progress is required (Research). Scoliosis is a fairly common disorder and it effects it’s victims in different ways. Scoliosis can do more then just cause the victim deformities. It can cause pain, breathing problems, and a number of other things. It could even get so bad that it could paralyze it’s victims. Scoliosis is nothing that should be left alone. Though in most cases the cause of scoliosis is unknown, it does not mean that it is not treatable. There are already several ways to treat scoliosis and more research is being done to develop more ways to treat this unexpected life roller coaster known as scoliosis. Works Cited 1. â€Å"Analgesic Effects of Gabapentin After Scoliosis Surgery in Children.† Clinical Trials. The Hospital for Sick Children, 22 May 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 2. Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. â€Å"Scoliosis.† Scoliosis. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 3. â€Å"Comparing Two Instrumentation Systems for the Treatment of Adolescent Scoliosis.† Clinical Trials. The Hospital for Sick Children, 4 Jan. 2006. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 4. â€Å"Continuous Local Infusion of Anesthetic at the Incisional Site for Scoliosis Surgery.† Clinical Trials. Shriners Hospitals for Children, 25 July 2007. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 5. â€Å"Effect of Early Morphine Administration on the Development of Acute Opioid Tolerance During Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery.† Clinical Trials. The Hospital for Sick Children, 18 Aug. 2008. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 6. â€Å"Effectiveness of Bracing in Preventing Scoliosis in Children With Spinal Cord Injury.† Clinical Trials. Shriners Hospitals for Children, 16 Nov. 2005. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 7. â€Å"Effects of Lateral Trunk Support on Spinal Alignment in Spinal Cord Injured Persons.† Clinical Trials. National Taiwan University Hospital, 9 Sept. 2005. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 8. â€Å"The Idiopathic Scoliosis and Its Treatment (Orthopaedic and Surgery): Effect of the Severity, the Orthosis and the Arthrodesis on the Gait (scoliosis).† Clinical Trials. Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc- Università © Catholique De Louvain, 10 Feb. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 9. â€Å"Influence of Leg Length Discrepancy on the Spinal Shape and B iomechanics in Functional and Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients.† Clinical Trials. National Taiwan University Hospital, 9 Sept. 05. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 10. â€Å"A Multicenter Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adult Scoliosis (ASLS).† A Multicenter Prospective Study of Quality of Life in Adult Scoliosis. Washington University School of Medicine, 2 Mar. 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2012. . 11. â€Å"National Scoliosis Foundation.† National Scoliosis Foundation. NSF, n.d. 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