Patient confidentiality Essay

As a member of the health care team, one has to be equipped with not only the skills and the knowledge regarding one’s area of specialty, but most importantly on how to deal with the patients and their family members. There have been several studies that showed how substantial the impact of health care staff interaction is with the patient and the family members on the patient’s recovery and in the overall outcome of the patient’s health. In dealing with situations wherein the family member of the patient is speaking quite loudly and demanding answers, one can address the situation by answering the questions of the family member, but first to tell her to calm down and after which you will be able to understand and answer the questions. In addition to that, you can also remind her that the safety and prompt administration of care to her daughter is the priority, so to be able to get there, the x-rays have to be taken as soon as possible. Also, tell her, in the most respectful way, that the other patients are bothered by her and this will cause anxiety, not only to the other patients but to her daughter as well, so if she can still take a hold of herself and compose herself so the x-ray can take place. As a technician, it is also one’s duty to explain the method and the rationale behind the x-ray procedure to alleviate the sixteen-year-old’s anxiety. Also, it would be helpful if you will tell her that routine x-ray is needed by some people with certain disorders and as a requirement by employers in some institutions and that it does not cause illnesses for those who have their x-rays taken routinely, at most twice a year. Tell her that this procedure has helped diagnose what is wrong with people who have their bones injured and that this will help visualize what has gone wrong in her body.

Impact of Globalization in Africa Essay

Globalization is the global interconnectedness of economic activities. It is characterized by new technologies, new structures, new economies and new cultures. All these are structured around global financial flows that are based of computer simulations and speculations. The resulting global economy is very turbulent due to non-linear feedbacks and it is easily influenced by political events and influential analysts’ projections. These is seen when there is instability in the stock markets in certain countries like the United States of America. The instability affects all other stock markets in the world. But is globalization global? The global economy sees some areas as invaluable and politically irrelevant and often such areas are excluded from this global economy. The idea of globalization was conceived by leading capitalist countries, global financial institutions (World Bank, International Monetary fund (IMF) and World Trade Organization (WTO)) and transnational co-operat ions. The minds behind this idea of globalization thought that this was one way of improving the livelihoods everybody in the globe but as we shall see later on, the models used to come up with globalization had major loop holes. Global information communications and new technologies have played a big role facilitating globalization. This is through the computers, Internet and mobile phones. This has made business transactions easy such that by the click of a button, a lot of money circulates around the globe. New innovations have resulted in increased productivity and competition. These technological advances have lowered the costs of transport and communication. Computers have made it possible to handle large amounts of data in a short time and information storage and retrieval has been made very easy. On a positive note, the new technologies have in one way or another helped in growth of economics  through sharing of ideas. On the other hand, these advances in technology have led to homogenization of cultures. Globalization has increased the profits and productivity of multinational corporations. With free trade rules, some few people, the global elite has become richer and others who are the majority have become poorer. The free trade rules has enabled multinational companies invest their money in emerging economies and removing their money once they speculate that that economy is not doing well. This has wrecked the economies of many countries. Another issue is that this big multinationals have swallowed the small companies leading to losses of jobs. Capra, 2002, in his book ‘hidden connections’ says that most of these multi national companies always try to evade taxes and benefit from subsidies. As a result, their products are cheap and this outcompetes the local companies, which can result in more job losses. But on the other hand, globalization can become a scapegoat for failed national policies. Embezzlement and mismanagement of public resources and corruption deeply rooted in some countries should not be blamed on globalization. In any case, a government should be able to provide the needs of its people. According to the 2002 report on the international forum on globalization, the free trade rules set by the World trade organization consolidate power to a small corporate elite. Globalization has erased political and economic boundaries such that power has shifted from the people and communities to financial speculators, global corporations and leading capitalist countries. As a result, currency markets have made governments unable to control their economic policies because it is this markets that determine the values of national currency. According to Capra 2002, large economies are able to absorb these turbulences but for developing countries, this is a big problem. This financial crisis has led to developing countries to seek for aid and as a result, they have sunk to end less debts. It is important to note that aid is basically a tool for manipulating developing countries. It is important to note that in globalization, capital is global while  labour is local. This means that the globalized capital has the economic power leaving labour disintegrated. Labour itself can be divided into professionals and unskilled workers. Globalization seems to favour the professional laborers while the unskilled laborers can be fired anytime. This has led to social inequality and polarization. Many jobs nowadays are on contract basis and forming labor organizations to bargain for better working conditions is not easy because of fear of loosing jobs. People working in multinational companies operating in their countries fear bargaining for better terms of employment because they fear loosing jobs as the company can move to another country. As a result, people have to put up with poor working conditions and wages. Increased trade as a result of free trade by the World Trade organization has led to increased pollution of the environments. Trade has also resulted to introduction of invasive alien species to new environments. From the ecological perspective, trade, which has increased in the recent past, is the major route in which invasive alien species are introduced to new environments. According to the Convention for Biodiversity, invasive alien species are the major causes for the loss of biodiversity. The environmental impacts are heavily felt in the countries in the south. The free market idea by the World Trade Organization has resulted in constant search for access to natural resources, and this has led to so much pressure on the Earth’s limited natural resources. Another bit is the destruction of the environment, which has led to floods, droughts and other catastrophes. Increased shipping has lead to pollution of waterways. Globalization has also favored monoculture to enhance a nation’s competitiveness in the global market. This has put more pressure on the limited natural resources and use of chemicals to enhance production, which further exacerbates the problem of pollution. Globalization has also penetrated into power and politics. Most of these multinational companies and lobby groups normally finance political candidates in countries of interest  so that if the person gets into power, he/ she may create favorable conditions for their activities. So in a way, these companies and lobby  groups control a country’s economy. Rise of globalized criminal gangs is another problem that stems out of globalization. Boosted by easy communication networks, criminals have found it easy to conduct their businesses. Recently, a drug cartel involving Mexicans, Kenyans and the Dutch was uncovered and this is a classic example of criminal gangs operating on a global scale. WAY OUT. With Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) press release of 2010 estimating that 925 million around the globe are undernourished, something must be wrong somewhere. As already noted, globalization is to blame social inequalities which can be seen from the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Borrowing from title of the first annual World Social Forum held in Porto Alegre in Brazil, another world is possible. First, change should first start with the ruling elite. With the help of international nongovernmental organizations there should be a power transformation from the global elite to the human society. These global elites together with World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organization should be more transparent in decision-making. In is also very important to include various non-governmental organizations representing interests of social justice, human rights environmental interests and democracy in the decisionmaking processes. Most of the countries affected by globalization are developing countries and most of these countries have very huge debts. It seems impossible for these developing countries to put tight rules on international organizations in order to protect the local companies. But with the help on lobby groups, it is possible for government to remove subsidies and exemptions offered to these multinational corporations. These multinational corporations should also be held responsible for any wrongdoing like destruction of the environment. Cancellation of debts will help developing countries grow economically but these countries too should have leaders who are accountable to the citizens. On that note, corruption and lobbying should be dealt with at every level. This is to ensure fair competition of business deals. It is important to empower workers so that they can bargain for better working conditions. National governments can also protect their people by defining working conditions to investors setting up enterprises in the country. Finally, it is important we practice ecological sustainability. Proper waste disposal, use of alternative fuel sources (scientifically proven to be sustainable), efficient and ecofriendly technologies, sustainable farming practices and strict environmental practices are some of the ways of making the world sustainable. The most important part of sustainability is educating everybody on the importance of conserving the environment so it’s important to take environmental movements deep down to the grass roots. Remember, it starts with me and you and the future generations will be thanking all of us. REFERENCES A better world is possible: Alternatives to Economic globalization Report summary 2002 International forum on Globalization. Capra fritjof, 2002. The hidden connections Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations: Economic and Social Development report, September 2010 http://anticap.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/what-globalization-paradox/ (Website I downloaded the cover picture).

International Strategies an Oranizational Design Essay

International Strategies an Oranizational Design - Essay Example s the responsibility of the CEO to conceptualize and chart the strategic plan of the business to ensure the health and viability of the organization under his direction. Below him are functional managers whose leadership, -- such as in marketing, finance, production and R&D -- will help enable the company to achieve effective results through division by specialization. Despite lack of general management orientation, they are important role players in the implementation of the overall strategy of the business. Because of the level and intensity of competition in the global markets, the companys international strategy must be prepared carefully and employed dynamically so that the company can survive and earn above-average returns in both the short and long term. The global planning process starts with the CEO taking the initiative or recognizing the need for a global strategic planning. While plans can exist solely in the mind of the CEO, a formal and rational planning process is necessary in order to obtain participation and commitment of those who will execute the plan. The major activities in such planning activity involves the following: 1) defining the mission and major goals and objectives of the organization, 2) analyzing the internal and external environments, 3) choosing the business model and strategies that will align or fit an organizations strengths and weaknesses with the opportunities and threats of the external environment; 4 adopting the organizational design or structures of the organization, and 5) the establishing of control systems to ensure proper implementation, monitoring and evaluation. A feedback mechanism may suggest changes in the components of the plan so that corrective action can be carried out. A SWOT analysis will identify the fit between the existing resources and competencies of the organization and the opportunities and threats in the external environment. What is perhaps of major importance is for the organization

The Fighter (film 2010) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Fighter (film 2010) - Research Paper Example Director David O. Russell’s seamlessly interweaves HBO raw footage of an addiction documentary, intimate psychologically complex family scenes, boxing training and spares, and professional boxing matches. All these elements serve to create a visceral, emotional, artistic experience for audiences as the story is framed within reality, yet we feel privy to private, behind-the-scenes moments and well as competing character perspectives. To vary the film quality of the documentary, daily life and training, and the professional matches and create an aura of authenticity, Russell employed a variety of techniques. He recreated footage from the HBO documentary High on Crack: Lost Lives in Lowell using circa 1990-1 Datacams. He filmed on the actual streets of Lowell and surrounding neighborhoods capturing local life and people—their postures, dress, and Name 2 attitudes. While Amy Adams and Christian Bale, are not Boston-natives, casting Mark Wahlberg as the Micky Ward secured a natural Boston accent from an identifiable Bostonian. In an interview with James Bell, Russell comments, â€Å"We were saturated in the people and the place† (para. 16). ... ed the HBO Datacams and sports film crews to create an authentic use of angles and distances from actors to enhance the believability of the fight scenes. Russell also used long takes to for pivotal fight scenes as Wahlberg had trained to build up the stamina for this type of film work. All of these factors tightly intersect to strengthen the authenticity of the film, draw audiences into the Boston-oriented world of this family, and create cinematic variety balanced by overall visual cohesion. Since The Fighter was based on an actual family’s experience, part of the reception inevitably includes how the family members react to their screen portrayals and image. While Ward and his charismatic brother accepted the film, as evidenced by their short clip at the film’s conclusion, many of the sisters did not agree with actresses cast to play them nor with their interpretations as a loud, brash, excluding unit of women. Also, the dominant matriarch Alice, who acted as mother and boxing manager to her two sons, greatly disagreed with her portrayal in the film. While during interviews actress Melissa Leo respectfully focused on Alice’s pioneering efforts as woman working in the Name 3 masculine world of boxing and engineered Dicky’s iconic match with Sugar Ray Leonard, Alice still felt the movie showed her to be more interested in making money off her sons, particularly Micky, as well as turning a blind eye to Dicky’s crack addiction. In general, few critics or audience members expressed dislike for The Fighter. Robbie Collin from News of the World and Kevin A. Ranson from MovieCrypt.com both disparaged Bales performance as egocentric and overshadowing of Wahlberg’s main character. However, many critics found Bale performance in keeping with the self-centered

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT - Essay Example Infomedia also considers itself as an interest publishing organization. Their strategic alliance’s formation occurred in April, 2008. The two companies sought to provide the Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with quality solutions directed towards the advancement of both domestic and global trade (Das 34). Introduction Managers in most organizations are adopting strategic alliance as a way of realizing their strategies instead of retaining the old strategic make and sell strategy initially used. By definition, a strategic alliance is a relationship formed because of the availability of mutual interests between groups of interdependent organizations. These relationships last for as long as they prove to be economically viable (Das 67). In the case of Alibaba and Infomedia, both companies realized the potential benefits of supplying the SMEs with quality solutions, which pave the way for further advancement in both the domestic and global trade sectors (Yoshino and Rangan 76). .. . Alibaba, a company, which has an established presence in e-commerce, stood to benefit from the alliance by realizing some of its expansion strategies. Alibaba’s choice to form an alliance with Infomedia, a respectable Indian based company guaranteed Alibaba a successful entry into the Indian market. On the other hand, Infomedia stood to benefit from the access into the global mainframe, a niche successfully occupied by Alibaba. Targeting the small and medium enterprises proved to be a successful strategy. This is because both Indian and Chinese business sectors comprise these businesses in large numbers. Therefore, both management teams were able to come up with strategic goals that would ensure an efficient and effective way of dealing with their competitive surroundings. The different areas analyzed in order to determine whether both companies fit included strategic, cultural, resource, and structural aspects. The realization that these companies proved to be compatible on a strategic, cultural, resources and structural level showed that two were a match and that they formed a perfect fit (Das 116). b) Type of strategic alliance Determining the strategic alliance suitable for both the organizations also proved to be an integral part for both organizations. Companies choose between horizontal and vertical types of strategic alliance. The horizontal type allows competing businesses to form an alliance that will allow each partner to gain access to various segments in the industry. Horizontal strategic alliances allow partners to learn from each other, reduce the risks, and improve efficiency. On the other hand, vertical strategic alliances involve the partnering of one or more suppliers or customers. They create extra value for the

Kentucky v. King, 563 U.S. ___ (2011) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Kentucky v. King, 563 U.S. ___ (2011) - Essay Example Acker & Malatesta (2013) highlights that the Fourth Amendment grants each person’s right to security at home in contradiction of irrational searches and seizures with no violations. The State Court’s ruling intended at eliminating instances where police created exigent conditions to avoid obtaining a warrant. The respondent appealed his sentence for possessing drugs as stated in a police search of his apartment (Doyle, 2011). The unwarranted search to Mr. King’s home was the belief by the police that there were drugs in his apartment. Then, the police had knocked on the respondent’s door and revealed their presence upon which the respondent’s room smelt burning drugs as detected from the door. According to the police, the situation called for urgent measures that prompted entry into the apartment to avoid further evidence demolition. Consequently, the Kentucky Supreme Court held to the illegality of the police search as founded on the Fourth Amendment and that the police developed the urgency. However, the U.S Supreme Court approved certiorari to investigate this decision. In November 21, 2005 at Fayette County Circuit Court, a bench accused Mr. King with trafficking marijuana, first-degree precise substance handling, and second-degree tenacious crime. The grand jury’s decision held that marijuana smoke prompting further investigations but did not vindicate warrantless search. Consequently, the respondent was granted the right to appeal. At the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Mr. King’s appeal occurred on March 14, 2008 maintaining that the police created the exigent conditions and that there was no exception to possessing a search warrant. However, the court supported the need for immediate action to prevent evidence demolition. The Kentucky Supreme Court granted Mr. King’s discretionary review on January 21, 2010 reversing the decision

The Merchant of Venice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Merchant of Venice - Essay Example In the same scene, she showed what a good judge of character she was, when discussing the various suitors with Nerissa. She did not break her word, but managed to get the man she wanted by hanging on to her belief in love, and then offering him the duty and love she once gave her father. Next, is her quick mind and intelligence; she saw right to the crux of any problems and thought of solutions quickly. When Bassanio got the letter about Antonio's problems, she offered the money right away to get them out of trouble. It was a rational and decisive solution. When the offer of money did not work, Portia looked for another way out and sought expert help to put her plan into practice. Her intelligence meant she had a realistic view, and helped her recognize that a rich young woman would have no influence or power, but a clever young lawyer would. It also made her aware that expert advice was necessary, as was the quick decision to get that advice. Her great reasoning and negotiating powers allowed her to understand that Shylock wanted to use the law, so she would use it too, to get a good outcome for all. The third and most important characteristic is her ethical and fair way of dealing with everything.

LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

LAW - Essay Example Since the incident took place at a public event and there are a number of eye witnesses out of whom there are two adults the statements can be corroborated to see if they match in case of any doubts regarding the children’s eye witness accounts of the occurring(section 4(7)(g) Code for Crown Prosecutors). Furthermore post emergency doctor’s reports can be used as supporting evidence to ascertain section 4(7)(k) Code for Crown Prosecutors. The evidence has been gathered in the normal course of investigation therefore it is safe to presume its admissibility will not be an issue also (section 4(7)(a) Code for Crown Prosecutors). Though section 4(11) of the Code may seem to be satisfied where sufficiency of evidence is concerned but it remains to be considered whether public interest will be served in prosecuting Mr. Eric assessing the balance scale between factors tending in favor (section 4(16) Code for Crown Prosecutors) and against(section 4(17) Code for Crown Prosecuto rs) a prosecution. ... Though an out of court disposal may be considered if section 4(16)(b) of the Code can be satisfied and that it can be ascertained that Eric’s offence was likely a one off incident induced by his intoxicated state (section 4(16)(e)) and that Fred is accepting or unaffected by the decision not to prosecute. As Fred has suffered serious jaw injury which is likely to require a minor or intrusive surgery causing him physical and mental distress (section 4(16)(g) Code for Crown Prosecutors) is of importance whether Eric’s monetary compensation if any satisfies Fred’s sense of due justice (section 4(16)(i) Code for Crown Prosecutors). As only in exceptional circumstances an out of court disposal by way of a simple caution is offered for indictable offences (section 7(5) Code for Crown Prosecutors) and a conditional caution may only be considered if after accounting for the victim’s and community’s interest it would serve no purpose to prosecute (section 7( 2) Code for Crown Prosecutors). Based on the facts provided Eric’s state of intoxication at a children’s sporting event makes the presumption of an assessment in his favor extremely unlikely, thus balancing the arguments and counter-arguments the decision to prosecute is the plausible outcome (section 7(8) Code for Crown Prosecutors). 2. The issue in respect of this question requires an analysis on the arrest and it’s lawfulness in respect of PACE 1984. Since Martin was merely a store detective section 24A Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 , which is relevant to the facts at hand, will be discussed. Section 24A Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides for

How Did Colonization of the Americas Both Enrich And Weaken European Essay

How Did Colonization of the Americas Both Enrich And Weaken European Countries - Essay Example The Europeans carried out farming in these lands belonging to Americans and shipped the farm proceeds back home. This played a phenomenal role in ensuring that food shortage could not be experienced in the European countries. Therefore, European countries benefitted from carrying out farming in land belonging to Americans (Kicza, 2003). During the time of colonizing America, English, Basque, and French fishing fleets arrived and regularly visited the coasts of Cape Cod and Newfoundland. The fishing fleets set up semi-permanent camps to dry their catches on the coasts. In addition, these fleets were involved in trade with local Indians, which was of immense benefits to the European countries. They exchanged manufactured goods for commodities such as furs, thus encouraging and contributing to trade activities in Europe. Therefore, the European countries enriched themselves by acquiring fishing grounds in America and gaining commodities not produced in Europe (Picket & Picket, 2011). Du ring the conquest and the subsequent colonization of America by European countries, Europe benefitted immensely as they were able to provide for their large population. European countries that conquered America attained land, which they used to grow crops such as tobacco that could be sold in Europe; for example, the colony of Jamestown was used for tobacco growing. Tobacco from this colony was exported to England by 1619. The Europeans also benefitted from the cheap labor available in America. For example, Native American Indians could be enslaved and used to provide labor in the farms belonging to the European settlers. Furthermore, African Americans sold during the Atlantic slave trade acted as cheap sources of labor in the farms of European settlers (Mancall, 1995). Countries... This paper approves that the Colonization of America weakened the European countries in a number of ways. One of the ways in which the colonization weakened the European countries included loss of some of their cultural beliefs as they got influence from America. Issues of gender in Europe mainly centered on patriarchy while most of the Americans used to be matriarchal. Colonization of America weakened the culture of patriarchy, which was a common phenomenon in Europe. As a result, European countries were forced to accept some of the aspects of the American culture, such as matriarchy, which used to be traditionally unacceptable in the European cultures. The colonization of America by European countries led to the American Revolution, which culminated the rule of Britain in North America. This report makes a conclusion that European countries reaped immense benefits from the colonization of America. Through colonization of America, they acquired resources and essential raw materials that could be used in European industries. They also carried out trade easily between themselves by colonizing America. However, there were ways in which the European countries were weakened by colonization of America. These countries invested a lot of their resources to fight and conquer the colonies. This weakened their economies and quality of life in Europe. These countries were also involved in constant wars between themselves as each country strived to exercise control over America.

Postcolonial Theory & Feminism Essay Example for Free

Postcolonial Theory Feminism Essay Postcolonial theory is actually a growing as well as a controversial field. Some of the critics understand postcolonial theory as hypothetically and incoherent not worth mentioning at its best and political harmful at its worst. Post colonial theory is however superficial as an uncritical condemnation of the Western nations, cultures as well as values. For some reasons, these wrong interpretations materialize from a lack of intellectual commitment with the topics in that same field. These critics are actually motivated by a political desire which is out to sustain and legitimize the power of Western values, nations together with the cultures. This paper will respond to these types of distortions. The paper will identify how philosophical reflections might assist people to understand the nature of connections between dissimilar cultures. After the introduction together with the main problems in the field of postcolonial theory, the paper will talk so much about the early theorists of anti-colonialism. However, postcolonial theory must be conceptualized as an extension of the aforementioned anti colonial struggles. In this situation one is able to understand fully the connections between colonialism and the western philosophy. At times when the West tends to control as well as shaping different cultures and the way of their thinking, the study of the way different cultures interacted during the past seems tremendously necessary. As a result, feminist theory is the expansion of feminism into philosophical or theoretical position. It tends to encompass the work done in a very broad variety of disciplines, importantly including the approaches towards women’s roles and lives together with the feminist politics in sociology and anthropology. Feminist theory always aims at understanding the natural history of inequality and it actually focuses on power relations, femininity politics as well as sexuality (Tiffin, 9). Postcolonial feminism is the main form of feminist philosophy which tends to criticize the Western forms of feminism, particularly liberal feminism as well as fundamental feminism plus their universalism of female experience. The postcolonial feminists argue that the cultures that are impacted by the colonialism are often vastly different and it should be treated that way. Colonial oppression might result in glorification of pre-colonial culture in which in cultures with traditions of stratification of power along the lines of gender, could somehow mean the acceptance or refusal to deal with, inherent matters of gender inequality. Postcolonial feminists does not present a united front on feminist issues, but it can be described as the feminists who have always reacted against both universalizing tendencies in the Western feminist thought as well as a lack of attention to gender issues in mainstream postcolonial thought (Tiffin, 9). A lot of postcolonial feminists tend to argue that the oppressions connecting to the colonial experience, more especially class, radical together with ethnic oppressions, have marginalized women in postcolonial societies. In one way or the other, they tend to challenge the assumption whereby the gender domination is the most important force of patriarchy. Furthermore, postcolonial feminists point to the superficial interpretation of women of non-Western societies just like the passive and people who don’t have a voice, as opposed to the depiction of Western women as educated, modern as well as empowered. At the same time as demanding gender oppression contained by their individual cultures, postcolonial feminists in addition tends to fight the charges of being Western, just the way some would contend within their cultures (Reina, 46). As a result, feminism is the conviction in the social, political as well as the economic equality of women. It involves a variety of movements, philosophies and theories which are concerned with the idea of gender dissimilarities as well as campaigning for the rights of women together with their interests. Feminist theory came as a result of these particular feminist movements. The idea of postcolonial feminism arose right from the gender history of colonialism. The regal powers regularly imposed Westernized norms on top of colonized areas. In the year 1940 to 1950, immediately after the creation of the United Nations, previous colonies were being supervised for what was deemed as social development by Western principles. The progression of women, in the middle of other variables, has always been supervised by questionably Western organizations for example the United Nations. Consequently, customary practices together with the roles taken up by women from time to time is regarded as objectionable by Western standards which could sometimes considered as a type of rebellion in opposition to colonial oppression. Postcolonial feminists, they really work so hard in order to fight femininity oppression in their individual cultural models of the social order relatively than from those of the Western. The fundamental theoretical principle of postcolonial feminism is that the concept of freedom, equality as well as rights stems right from the enlightenment together with privilege European and Western norms, instead of representing a universal ethical system (Boniface, 14). Postcolonial feminist writing tends to overlap a great deal with transnational feminism together with the third world feminism. Postcolonial feminism is somehow connected with post colonialism. However, there is an essential alliance among black feminists plus the postcolonial feminists because both of them have really struggled for identification by the Western feminists as well as men in their own individual ethnicity. As a result, feminist discourse actually shares a lot of similarities with post colonial theory and consequently both fields have always been thinking of being associative. They are both predominantly political and they are concerned with the struggle against injustice and oppression. However, both of them tend to refuse the established patriarchal, hierarchical system which is actually conquered by the hegemonic white men as well as passionately denying the hypothetical supremacy of mannish power together with the authority. The demoralized women are in this sense of the same kind with the colonized subject matter. Basically, exponents of post colonialism are very much reacting in opposition to colonialism in both the political and economical sense. The feminist theorists on the other hand are refusing colonialism of a sexual environment. In one way or the other, colonialism is the biggest iniquity for the reason that it mechanically entails the danger of misogynistic. Colonial oppression do affect the lives of women both socially and economically whereby it has forced postcolonial critics to take on a keener awareness of gender roles during the time when they are discussing imperialist exploits. In the same way, feminism has become very much aware of the post colonial counterparts in the latest period of time. The failure to acknowledge the historical specificity is actually damaging like any other assumptions which are based in chauvinism as well as ignorance. Feminists also tried to apply the intolerance of blanket terms towards post colonialism and they as well have subsequently been so much critical of post colonialists’ tendencies to construct one category of the colonized, hence ignoring the essential issues of gender differences (Reina, 29). There are quite a number of significant literary texts which are written both from post-colonial and feminist stand point. The texts usually share views about individuality and disparity of the subject and agreements on shared strategies of resistance against the external forces that are doctorial. Bill Ashcroft in his book, â€Å"Key Concepts in Post Colonial Studies† compares â€Å"writing place† in post-colonial theory to â€Å"writing the body† in feminism. This clearly indicates that colonized space in the discourse of feminist is the highly vulnerable body of the female. This therefore reflects the fertile and productive nature of the place and body that has got the power to yield crop and also to destroy it. They are both capable of ruthlessness when forced to it. Caryl Churchill’s controversial play â€Å"Cloud Nine† written in 1979 deals in a broader length with ‘double colonization’ towards women by their male counterparts and the colonial powers. Consequently, there is a critic of gender of familial and sexual duties in the ‘Victorian colonial society’. The play utilizes both cross-dressing and role-doubling in a comical way to fully explore the association between colonial and sexual oppression throughout history. The first act takes place in a British colony within Africa whereby Clive, one of the racist and sexist colonial administrator brings forth his stringent ideals both to his family and the natives of Africa. Being the superior white male, he identifies the roles that women and the natives must play. His doting and self effacing female counterpart is Betty. She says she is a man’s creation and what men want is what she wants to be. The boundaries of gender are fully closed as Betty is played by a man. This foregrounds her gender as a fiction that is constructed by a â€Å"male gaze†. The patriarchal society of Clive can not be able to envision the identity of women. Betty therefore, must just be played by a male actor and through Betty’s character; Churchill satirizes the traditional role of women who are subordinate in history. This forces us to recognize that the female identity is both a historical and a cultural construction. There are also some constructions of the pre-colonial that are strongly influenced by phallocentrice prejudice which defines a native woman as passive and subsidiary inferior. There are also more representations of female native figures in Western Art and Literature which perpetuate the myth of the female that is charged erotically. For instance, the primitive exotism danger of Ayesha in H. Rider Haggards novel â€Å"She† which is full of prejudice. And truly much of the 19th century, the black skin depicted sexual promiscuity and bad behavior It has been made clear that during the time the artists were attempting to make an ultimate change and the oppressive power connections encoded in the sense of nation, race and empire, together with those of class, gender and sexuality in tracing a path of feminist postcolonial concerns. The present feminist postcolonial theory goes on exerts a pressure on mainstream postcolonial theory on its constant iteration of the necessity to consider gender issues. Some time ago, feminist postcolonial theorists tent to criticize male theorists because of assuming the behavior of British men might take a stand for the behavior of imperial subjects in general or to symbolize the empire as a whole. The feminist postcolonial theories always engage the two fold project, to racialise mainstream feminist theory as well as to insert feminist concerns into conceptualizations of colonialism and post colonialism. Feminist postcolonial theory is concerned, among other things, to analyze the relationship among the western women and that is indigenous women (Tiffin, 9). Feminist is at present abandoned in a good number of feminist theories. The acknowledgment of subjectivity which tends to ground the feminist practice apparently doesn’t ground it for others. People don’t think the same way. However, ant-liberal feminist theory as well demonstrated and enacted its own failure to resolve the conflicts it debates so energetically. The conflicts are not going to be resolved by the theory. They cannot be resolved for the reason that women are human beings in spite of everything. Finally, that unbearable reality makes feminist theory important.

Examining The Debates And Arguments Of Parole Criminology Essay

Examining The Debates And Arguments Of Parole Criminology Essay The most debated argument involving parole is not whether or not it is needed, but rather how should it be instituted. Parole is not a sentence; rather, it is the extension of a prison into the community and under the supervision of the parole authority, which is a branch of the prison system. Prisoners are eligible for parole after they have served a minimum number of years of their sentence as dictated by state statutes and the discretion of the judge. A parole board reviews their crimes, their criminal histories, and their behaviors in prison to decide whether the prisoners can be supervised safely in the community. After serving only a portion of their sentence, prisoners can also be released automatically by the prison administration for respectful behavior, which involves observing prison rules. In a standard formula, prisoners are given 1 day off of the sentence for every day of ethical behavior. The conditions of parole supervision are set by the releasing body and are simila r to the mandatory and special conditions of probation supervision. History of the Creation of Social Agency The creation of parole can be connected to the work of several individuals who managed prisons; it involved Brockway Zebulon in the year 1867, Alexander Maconochie in the year 1840 and Walter Crofton in the year 1854, the above mentioned contributed to the introduction of parole system in the prison system. (Criminal Law Bolg) Parole was introduced in the United States by Brockway Zebulon in the year 1876 as a way to cut jail overcrowding and in unison as a way to rehabilitate prisoners by encouraging them to gain their freedom from prison through good behavior. The parole of federal prisoners began after enactment of legislation on June 25, 1910. There were three federal penitentiaries and parole was granted by a parole board at each Parole System institution. The membership of each parole board consisted of the warden of the institution, the physician of the institution, and the Superintendent of Prisons of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. (http://www.justice.gov/uspc/history.htm) By May 13, 1930, a single Board of Parole in Washington, D.C. was established (Chase, 2000). The provision of services to victims by parole officers began in the 1970s on the heels of the Victims Rights Movement, which propelled victims needs into the public and juridical consciousness and underscored the importance of treating crime victims with compassion and sensitivity at every step in the criminal justice process. In many states, parole officers are responsible for providing victims with a copy of the Victims Bill of Rights, which have been passed throughout the country, and with information about the progress of their case through the court system, as well as the courts expectation regarding their obligation to participate in the proceedings. In addition, parole officers facilitate victim-offender reconciliation, mediation, and dialog programs, which are critical in the achievement of victim healing and offender rehabilitation. Such programs can be therapeutic to both offenders and victims. Parole officers can educate victims about sentencing practices and the nature of parole, which helps them feel more involved in their cases and more informed about outcomes at each stage in the parole process. Finally, parole officers can refer victims for services to treat their emotional injuries and, adjust more effectively in the aftermath of serious criminal victimization. Parole System Mission statement of the Parole System Mission To serve, challenge and empower our members and constituents by educating, communicating and training; advocating and influencing; acting as a resource and conduit for information, ideas and support; developing standards and models; and collaborating with other disciplines. (http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?WebCode=IA_Introduction) 2. Vision We see a fair, just and safe society where community partnerships are restoring hope by embracing a balance of prevention, intervention and advocacy. (http://www.appa-net.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?WebCode=IA_Introduction) Financial reports Last year The Sacramento Bee reported that California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was looking to save money by cutting the corrections budget, perhaps by releasing as many as a third of the inmates in California prisons because theyre non-violent and no danger to anyone. The problem is, when a plan like this is being proposed as a budget-cutting measure instead of a good public policy measure the apprehension is that it may go wrong. Speeding up the release of many/most/all non-violent drug offenders may be a good alternative to the budget crisis although, releasing them all at once is not a good plan, and presuming it will magically fix our budget is unwise. Society has placed so many barriers preventing the re-integration of former inmates into normal life that it is hard to imagine a successful mass prison release without spending quite a bit of additional moneys on reintegration programs. Parole System Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggers administration certainty, that Californias inability to afford its $5.3 billion prison and parole system, has explored changes that would all but eradicate parole conditions for nonviolent, non serious offenders and ultimately through early release and lighter penalties dramatically shrinking the prison population. The State of California continues to face  a fiscal crisis. Both the Governors Office and the Legislature are projecting more than a $25 billion deficit. (CALIFORNIA FISCAL CRISIS INFORMATION) Gov. Jerry Browns revised budget plan axes 5,500 positions from state government and kills or combines more than three dozen boards, commissions, offices and task forces, but the blade wont fall particularly heavily on Sacramento if at all. Although two-thirds of the job losses would hit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, it has unfilled positions in its budget to absorb some cuts. About 200 to 300 at-risk jobs are positions in its Sacramento headquarters, Corrections Secretary Matt Cate said. (Ortiz J. (2011) The overhaul to the parole system that has been created is non-revocable parole or unsupervised parole, so that specific parolees considered low-risk wont be sent back to prison for technical violations. According to the article Dealing With Californias Overcrowded Prisons.  (26, May 2011) the big concern here is whether by just by simply transferring people to county facilities, if theyre just kicking the can down the road, or whether there can be fundamental structural changes in the way people are sentenced so that it, again, kind of slows or Parole System stops the revolving door. Thats still very much a big question right now. (Dealing With Californias Overcrowded Prisons.  (26, May 2011)) Summary of their Work In the preparation, of a considered release an investigational report is prepared, which helps at parole-board hearings, the victim(s) and their family members can testify regarding the impact of the crime on their lives. In the former, the victim impact statement can influence the BPT to choose leaving the inmate in prison over paroling as a more just sentence given the nature and extent of victim harm that was perpetrated in the case. In the latter, the parole board can factor victim harm into its decision and conclude in the prisoners initial release. When the Board of Prison Terms puts an offender under supervision in the community, the effort and task of managing that individual case shifts from institutional corrections to a parole agent. Therefore, board members decision is based on supervision personnels caseloads, workloads, and other duties. Once BPT have determined conditions for an inmate, it befalls to the parole agent to oversee and enforce those conditions. The conditions are tailored to the offender or the case; it can create a problem for both the offender and the agent if this is not achieved. At a minimum, parole agents should have data and information that assist them in the availability of and intended audience for specific community programs, the flexibility and discretion allowed to them to help in a successful reintegration back into society. In collaboration, parole boards and parole agents seek to balance the use of assessment tools or instruments, disclose information, and develop general strategies to maximize the effectiveness of parole in their jurisdiction. (Paroles Function, Purpose, and Role in the Criminal Justice System) Expanding California Prisons When it concerns the expansion of prisons, at present it is not feasible, one, theyre in no position to build more prisons. Two, having so many prisoners is a key reason for their bloated budget in the first place. (Blackwell B. 2011) Restructuring Californias Parole System Bearing in mind the analyses of criteria, feasibility and realization yield a hybrid substandard proposal, combining the existing model of construction and prison population reduction strategies, in addition to better rehabilitative services alongside the streamline of parole. My conclusion indicates that this system will be both politically acceptable and will prove more effective at subduing the current crisis than a strict brick and mortar approach. A critical analysis of the effectiveness of the Parole System The California parole system is in a shamble. Aside from serious overcrowding and substandard health care, it is plagued by deadly violence, a revolving-door parole system and a lethal injection procedure deemed constitutionally flawed by a federal judge. The department of corrections current $8 billion budget pays for operations at the states 33 prisons, which were designed for a capacity of 109,805 inmates but which now hold 143,435. (Vara, V. and White, B. 2011) As a result of some 16,000 of those prisoners now bunking in corridors, gymnasiums, and rec rooms, these facilities are now bordering on constant lockdown, increasing both tensions and the crime rate within. We have overcrowding and idle inmates and the combination of the two is causing an unsafe situation, says James Tilton, Secretary of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (http://www.ccpoa.org/news/tags/tag/james+tilton)On top of that we have pressure from all these lawsuits regarding our provision of medical and mental heal th care which has brought the threat of [judicially imposed] population caps. (Vara, V. and White, B. 2011) We have the facts in front of us and we need to act on them. The current culture within the prison and parole system is one of punishment. Unfortunately, the inmates model the treatment they receive, he said. Instead of leaving prison a changed person, six out of 10 go right back to crime. The system is broken. He said correctional staff must be given an understanding of who is in prison, how they got there and what can be done about it. They need training in leadership, discipline, substance abuse, anger management and people skills, he said. Citing a slew of issues that drive up crime, Deacon Dufour said poverty is at the top of the list. He explains that the vast majority of Texas inmates come from very poor circumstances. So then we look at the causes of poverty and find three consistent characteristics, he said. Being a school drop-out, having children outside of marriage, and/or getting married before the age of 20. Just having one of these life stories puts you in a group with a 79 percent poverty rate. He added that 80 to 90 percent of all Texas offenders have the following the problems before they break the law: they were abused and/or neglected as children, they were reared in fatherless households, they abused drugs/alcohol, and they had no spiritual life. Nothing will change until these social tragedies are addressed, he said. Deacon Dufour works with county, city and school authorities to develop services directed at reducing drop-out rates, stabilizing families and training teachers to properly deal with at-risk kids. Im convinced that most teachers, with the proper training, can make a huge difference in the choices a child makes. There are techniques that are being used in other states with great success, he said. Describing Catholics as excellent educators, producing outstanding schools, Dufour believes that the church can help make changes with the secular school system. We need the power of the Catholic Church to push life-changing initiatives in Texas public schools through our legislature. That is what our Criminal Justice Ministry is attempting to do. Deacon Dufour comes from a military background; he served in Korea and Vietnam. A long-time parishioner of St. Theresa Parish in Austin, he was ordained a deacon in 1984. A few years later, he was asked to lead a prison Bible study ministry and from there the Criminal Justice Ministry was born. I feel blessed to be in this role, Deacon Dufour said. And I know we are making a difference. In the 25 years I have seen some definite improvements, especially after the last three Texas legislative sessions. Instead of the automatic throw them in prison attitude, Im seeing more treatments and alternatives to incarceration. The provision of services to victims by parole agents began in the 1970s on the heels of the Victims Rights Movement, which propelled victims needs into the public and juridical consciousness and underscored the importance of treating crime victims with compassion and sensitivity at every step in the criminal justice process. The field operations involve the direct supervision of offenders and are in charge of the regional directors in the offices of Tyler, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Midland. The field staff consists mainly of probation officers are responsible for overseeing the activities of offenders and their compliance with release conditions and the laws of society. The probation officers are also investigating release plans before the meeting, evaluate and classify released after his release and develop a monitoring plan based on the needs of each offender. Monitoring programs include after-care treatment at a substance abuse testing, drug and alcohol, electronic monitoring and supervision of offenders treatment and probation officers sexuales. Los promote compliance by the offender of the conditions release. To this end, support the use of interventions, and implementation of options motivation, and make every effort improve the successful reintegration of offenders through services that affect the factors contributing to recidivism. In addition, when necessary, field staff works closely with the Board of Pardons and Paroles and its hearing officers to process the transgressions of the conditions of release. The probation officers also supervise those released have been transferred from other states under the Interstate Compact. The main objective of the Central Coordination Unit (CCU) is to provide support to field operations. In this capacity, incumbent have various responsibilities. The unit monitors the number of cases assigned detention / deportation until a case is officially closed and then notifies field staff on changes in the status of the case. In addition, the CCU checks the death notices received by the processing unit and case files for transfer to estatales. Asimismo files, the CCU receives transfers from the Interstate Compact Office with regard to offenders who move to other states seeking or move to Texas from other states then the unit monitors the case until its release, death or his return to Texas. Finally, the Central Coordination Unit is responsible for the location of offenders that the Board has separately incorporated or intermediate sanction facilities (ISF) and Felony Punishment Facility Substance Abuse (SAFPF) state wide. Parole officers are responsible for enforcing the conditions of community supervision. Failure to obey these conditions can result in a violation of probation or parole. The former can result in a longer sentence to probation or stricter conditions of supervision; the latter usually results in a return to prison. In the enforcement of the conditions of probation and parole, officers duties focus on the rights, needs, and recovery of crime victims. In cases of victim abuse and interpersonal violence, social agency officers participate in ensuring the safety of the victim through the enforcement of orders of protection. Such orders prohibit offenders from having any contact with the victim or being within a certain geographic proximity to the victim. The failure to abide by the orders is corroborated by the officers who use victim reports of offender harassment as evidence to file a petition to have the probation or parole revoked. To help victims cope with injuries or other adverse effects of victimization, probation and parole officers broker services from public or private agencies that respond to the needs of crime victims. They also notify victims about changes in an offenders case status. For example, parole officers can notify victims about a parolees release date from prison and probation officers can notify them about a violation of probation hearing or when a probation sentence is near termination or completion. Commentary on ways in which the social agency could improve its effectiveness towards its social goals The federal parole service establishes minimum and optimum targets for the employment of Aboriginal people. The minimum target must be no less than the percentage of Aboriginal people in Manitoba; the optimum target is the percentage of Aboriginal people served by the parole service. The National Parole Board, in conjunction with Aboriginal groups, establishes release guidelines, which take into account the cultural and social circumstances unique to Aboriginal people. There are Aboriginal parole officers in each Aboriginal community. The National Parole Board be given authority to transfer jurisdiction over a case to the Aboriginal Parole Board. The Solicitor General name an additional number of Aboriginal persons as National Parole Board members, in consultation with Aboriginal organizations. The National Parole Board ensures that all applications involving Aboriginal inmates, including applications for the revocation of parole, be heard by panels which have at least one Aboriginal member. The membership profile for National Parole Board members be changed to permit greater representation of Aboriginal people. A program of cross-cultural awareness be developed and implemented for all correctional and parole staff who are involved in making parole decisions about Aboriginal offenders; and that any such cross-cultural awareness program specifically take into account Aboriginal living conditions, Aboriginal values and customs, and the resources available in Aboriginal communities to support the reintegration of offenders. The separate roles of parole officer and probation officer are combined in Aboriginal communities. http://www.ajic.mb.ca/volumel/chapter12.html Conclusion Social agencies officers are responsible for the supervision of more than 5 million adult offenders in the United States. As the most common disposition in the United States for felony convictions, probation is a sentence in lieu of incarceration that monitors people under conditions of release. The two types of parole conditions are mandatory and special. Mandatory conditions are defined by state or federal statutes and applied to every sentenced to probation. These conditions include not owning or carrying a weapon, reporting to a probation officer on a schedule that is determined by the officer at intake, leaving jurisdiction only with the judges knowledge and approval, allowing unannounced home visits by the officer, and remaining free of arrests during the probation period. Special conditions are imposing by the judge during sentencing and applying to the circumstances of the case. They can include participation in treatment for alcohol or drug abuse, the payment of fines, the obtaining of mental health services, and earning a General Equivalency Diploma.

William Shakespeares Henry IV Essay -- Shakespeare Henry IV 4 Essays

William Shakespeare's Henry IV In Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 2, the brilliant playwright introduces us to several complex and intricate themes, clever language, and a fascinating cast of multifaceted characters, including the thief Jack Falstaff, who may be as wise as his belly is big, and the young Prince Hal, who conceals his shrewd mind and physical prowess beneath a soiled reputation for â€Å"unthrifty† behavior. Perhaps the most dynamic character of the play is Hotspur, or Henry Percy, the idealistic rebel warrior, and Hal’s rival for power, glory, and the throne. Although the public perceives him to be just an intense, hotheaded he-man, Hotspur actually has many different dimensions to his personality. Hotspur shows, particularly in his interactions with his wife, Lady Percy, that his attitude toward the roles of masculinity and femininity differ from the public’s expectations of him, and his expression of certain feminine characteristics proves that he is not solely the manl y-man warrior he is thought to be. The first impressions of Hotspur in the play support his macho reputation well. King Henry himself speaks favorably of Percy, calling him â€Å"the theme of honor’s tongue† (I.i.81) and in comparing Hotspur with the King’s own son Hal he expresses his wish that â€Å"some night-tripping fairy had exchang’d / In cradle-clothes our children where they lay / And call’d mine Percy, his Plantagenet!† (I.i.86). We learn that Hotspur is valiant, and skillful in war: he has recently captured several important hostages. He is also full of pride, and is not afraid to stand up to the King in requesting the freedom of his brother-in-law, Mortimer. Conversely, we also see that Hotspur is apt to fall prey to his i... ...nvied by many, and as Lady Percy says in this play’s sequel, Henry IV Part 2, after his death, â€Å"He was indeed the glass / Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves† (Part 2, I.iii.21-22). However, it is clear now that Hotspur is not exactly the ultimate 15th century manly-man: he is prone to â€Å"woman’s moods† such as irrational and hurried thoughts, he engages in hissy fits, and his relationship with his wife is one of balanced teasing and tenderness rather than superficiality and traditional male/female inequality. Albeit being a talented soldier and a challenging opponent, Hotspur is capable of exposing his feminine qualities in situations such as those with his wife. Hotspur is one of the most complex characters in this play, and the fact that he can balance his masculine image with typically feminine traits proves that he truly is the most dynamic character. William Shakespeare's Henry IV Essay -- Shakespeare Henry IV 4 Essays William Shakespeare's Henry IV In Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part 2, the brilliant playwright introduces us to several complex and intricate themes, clever language, and a fascinating cast of multifaceted characters, including the thief Jack Falstaff, who may be as wise as his belly is big, and the young Prince Hal, who conceals his shrewd mind and physical prowess beneath a soiled reputation for â€Å"unthrifty† behavior. Perhaps the most dynamic character of the play is Hotspur, or Henry Percy, the idealistic rebel warrior, and Hal’s rival for power, glory, and the throne. Although the public perceives him to be just an intense, hotheaded he-man, Hotspur actually has many different dimensions to his personality. Hotspur shows, particularly in his interactions with his wife, Lady Percy, that his attitude toward the roles of masculinity and femininity differ from the public’s expectations of him, and his expression of certain feminine characteristics proves that he is not solely the manl y-man warrior he is thought to be. The first impressions of Hotspur in the play support his macho reputation well. King Henry himself speaks favorably of Percy, calling him â€Å"the theme of honor’s tongue† (I.i.81) and in comparing Hotspur with the King’s own son Hal he expresses his wish that â€Å"some night-tripping fairy had exchang’d / In cradle-clothes our children where they lay / And call’d mine Percy, his Plantagenet!† (I.i.86). We learn that Hotspur is valiant, and skillful in war: he has recently captured several important hostages. He is also full of pride, and is not afraid to stand up to the King in requesting the freedom of his brother-in-law, Mortimer. Conversely, we also see that Hotspur is apt to fall prey to his i... ...nvied by many, and as Lady Percy says in this play’s sequel, Henry IV Part 2, after his death, â€Å"He was indeed the glass / Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves† (Part 2, I.iii.21-22). However, it is clear now that Hotspur is not exactly the ultimate 15th century manly-man: he is prone to â€Å"woman’s moods† such as irrational and hurried thoughts, he engages in hissy fits, and his relationship with his wife is one of balanced teasing and tenderness rather than superficiality and traditional male/female inequality. Albeit being a talented soldier and a challenging opponent, Hotspur is capable of exposing his feminine qualities in situations such as those with his wife. Hotspur is one of the most complex characters in this play, and the fact that he can balance his masculine image with typically feminine traits proves that he truly is the most dynamic character.

A Comparison Of The Knight And The Squire In Chaucers The Canterbury Es

In the medieval period that is described by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, chivalry was perhaps the most recognized quality of a true gentleman. This quality is explored in Chaucer's two characters of the warrior class, the Knight and the Squire. The squire is the son of the Knight; both ride gallantly and have the air of true gentleman warriors. However, the two are very dissimilar despite their appearances. The Knight possesses the true qualities of chivalry, devotion to service, constancy in humility, and honesty. The Squire possesses none of these qualities truly; instead his demeanor is one that is less honorable and virtuous. Although both claim the same vocation, the Squire and the Knight display contradicting attitudes in respect to dedication, material possessions, and sincerity. The main point in the description of the Knight was the abundance and importance of his battles, while it was the least mentioned aspect in the Squire. The entirety of the Squire's military experience is named in two lines, "he had seen some service with the cavalry/ If Flanders and Artois and Picardy," perchance a direct consequence of the Squire's youth (5). The list of the Knight's battles clearly dominates the text of his description, running many lines. He had embarked ".along the Mediterranean coast" to such places as Alexandria, Lithuania, Russia, Granada, Algeciras, North Africa, Benamarin, Anatolia, Ayas, and Attalia (4). Not only were the battles of the knight more numerous, they were more extensive and required lengthy travels to far-away lands. The Squire had "done valiantly in little space" in these battles, but had not distinguished himself from his peers. This is implied when it is said that he had only seen "some service with the cavalry" (5). The Squire had pursued no noteworthy errands in the interest of chivalry like his father. The "distinguished knight", on the other hand, was very chivalrous because of his unconditional dedication (4). He had been in "fifteen mortal battles" and "always killed his men" which supports that he is committed to his work, as opposed to the Squire, who possessed a distracted attitude (4). "He could make sons and poems and recite, / Knew how to joust and dance, to draw and write" and so has focused his time and energy to many other things (5). The S... ...agility", he did not use it to the full extent that his father used his own. In all aspects, in comparison with his own contradictory behavior, and in comparison with the Knight's behavior, the Squire is shown to be less than sincere in his chivalry. The Knight and the Squire have distinctly different attitudes towards their vocation. As a result, they are complementing images of the medieval warrior. The Knight is the romantic image that all true knights aspire to, generously practicing such chivalrous qualities as dedication, humility, and sincerity. Contrasting this, however, is the image depicted by the Squire, that of an imperfect knight who was to some degree boastful, lusting, or superficial. The Squire was never directly criticized by Chaucer, but the implications that resulted from the description amounted to an extravagant, un-chivalrous image, perhaps a reflection of the actual knights of Chaucer's day. Therefore, Chaucer was not merely comparing two knights and defining the virtues that comprised chivalry, but on a bigger scale was revealing the corruption of humanity by comparing the difference between the realities of our humanity with the ideal of perfection.

The Four Topics Method of Analysis: A Pregnant Accident Victim Essay

The Four Topics Method of Analysis is a tool developed by clinical ethicists used to examine clinical encounters. This method provides a consistent, organized framework for gathering information regarding the encounter in order to perform analysis. The method is organized into four parts: Medical Indications, Patient Preferences, Quality of Life, and Contextual Features. We can organize information regarding this case study by using the Four Topics Method beginning with the Medical Indications. Maria, a 20-year-old female, has been involved in a motor vehicle accident. She has a history of Sickle Cell disease and is currently twenty-five weeks pregnant with her first child. Initially Maria presents with somewhat stable vital signs. She displays tachypnea, and complains of severe abdominal cramping as well as weakness, light-headedness and left shoulder pain. She is neurologically intact with lung sounds that are within defined parameters. Maria’s condition changes and she begins to display signs and symptoms of internal bleeding. This is a life threatening condition. The problem is critical and can be reversed with a transfusion and surgery. The goal of transfusion would be to replace blood loss and restore vascular volume and the goal of surgery would be to repair the bleed. If the bleed is corrected in a timely manner and without c omplication, the probabilities of success are somewhat high. There is no plan in place to account for therapeutic failure. Medical care in this instance could not only save the life of this patient but also that of her unborn child. Further harm to Maria and her baby could be avoided if she would agree to the treatment. The next area to consider is Patient Preferences. In th... ...s driven by non-maleficence, or the intent to â€Å"do no harm†. They know that withholding treatment for religious beliefs will potentially be fatal to both. While Maria is acting out of loyalty to her religious beliefs, the medical staff is acting out of loyalty to the patient’s well being and that of her unborn child. It would be unfair if no party were acting on behalf of that child. In conclusion, providers in this case must pursue every option in delivering life saving treatment for this child. This may involve legal action. If it were just Maria providers may attempt to influence her decision, but ultimately it would be up to her to refuse suggested treatment. Since her decision affects the life of the baby providers are called upon to save that child . Works Cited Unborn Victims of Violence Act, 10 and 18 U.S.C.  § 1841 et seq. (Cornell Law 2004).

Brain Development Essay

At birth there are about 100 billion brain cells produced and they are beginning to connect with each other. At the first week of age, brain development starts with conception. It is important to reach the age of an infant and practice the ten principals. In the early years, young brains produce almost twice as many synapses as they will need. By age two, the number of synapses a toddler has is similar to that of an adult. By three the child has twice as many synapses as an adult. The infant brain develops through the interaction with the world around, especially the interaction with adults. At the first few months, an infant cannot response to praise or punishment. Emerging research on brain development indicates that the degree for responsive care giving that children receive as infants and toddlers positively affects the connections between neurons in the brain (Brain Cells), and the architecture of the brain itself. The first three years of life are the period of growth in all areas of a baby’s development. Consistent, responsive relationships enable infants and toddlers to develop secure attachments. Infants and Toddlers develop knowing and understanding by perceiving experiences directly with the senses. For infants to acquire the ability to comprehend this sensory information they must b able to distinguish between the familiar and the unknown; later they will begin to consider, to formulate, and to form mental images in this process of experiencing and clarifying the environment. Infants begin by exploring the world with their bodies. They internalize what they take in through their senses and display it in their physical movements. Infants gather vital information through such simple acts as mouthing, grasping, and reaching. The knowing process also involves language abilities. As young children use their senses to experience the world, they need labels to categorize and remember these experiences. By creating these labels, children increase their ability to communicate and begin to control their own behavior. These expanded abilities give young children additional opportunities to understand the world (Infant, Toddlers, and Caregiver Ninth Edition). Recent brain research supports the goal of building a total person instead of concentrating on cognitive development alone. Providing a rich environment with interesting things to do is desirable and stimulates cognitive development. But that does not work without working on physical, social, and emotional development at the same time. What make differences are the day-to-day living, the relationships, the experiences, the diapering, the feedings, the toilet training, and the free play and exploration that contribute to intellectual development. Early experiences matter, and shape brain architecture. Advances in brain research have provided great insight into how young children’s experiences have profound impact on genetic predispositions and thereby share the processes that determine whether their brains will have adaptations or maladaptations for later learning, memory, reasoning, executive functioning, expressing a full range of positive and negative emotions, socialization, behavior control and lifelong health. The thrust of this element is to close the gap between what we have learned and what we do with infants and toddlers. Experiences that prepare the developing brain to function optimally include having warm, nurturing, attentive social interactions and conscientiously buffering young children from the adverse impact of toxic stress. Lack of these kinds of experiences can have devastating, long-term effects on brain development including cognitive functioning and social-emotional competencies. For example, unpredictable or chaotic routines or lack of consistent caregivers may jeopardize children’s foundation for identity development or self regulation, or few language experiences, toys, and opportunities to explore impede the development of neural connections and pathways that facilitate learning (Essential elements of Quality-Infant-toddler Program). To deliver high quality care giving, adults need to understand and recognize key developmental processes that help them understand and support infants and toddlers. Since this essential element explicitly identifies knowledge about key developmental processes threats to them as a factor in quality infant-toddler program, three terms are defined as important pieces of a wider knowledge base about brain development that informs practice: serve and return, executive functioning and toxic stress. Serve and return is the interaction between young children and their parents and caregiver is a key to healthy brain development. It helps to create neural connections that build later cognitive and emotional skills. Executive functioning represents the cognitive skills that enable a child to focus on, hold, and think about information, filter distractions; and divert their attention to something new. The foundation for executive functioning is laid in infancy and is facilitated through early experiences. Acquiring the early building blocks of (executive functioning) skills is one of the most important and challenging tasks of the early childhood years. Toxic stress is defined as strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity without adequate adult support. Toxic stress disrupts brain development. While some experience with manageable stress is important for healthy development, prolonged, uninterrupted, overwhelming stress; toxic stress without the buffering relationships a child needs, can result in damaged, weakened systems and brain architecture that can have negative long-term effect (Essential Elements of Quality-Infant-Toddler Program). Environments make a difference in brain development. Environments that provide proper nutrition and regularly scheduled periods of sleep and physical activity consistently promote warm, nurturing, attentive social interaction; and conscientiously buffer young children from the adverse impacts of toxic stress. Lack of adequate nutrition, physical activity, appropriate sensory stimulation or social-emotional developmental experiences disrupt brain architecture and can have a decisively negative Impact on future development (Essential Elements of Quality-Infant-Toddler Program). Finding about the impact of early experiences on brain development highlight the importance of intervening early with highly stressed infants and toddlers and their families. Infants and children who are rarely spoken to, who are exposed to few toys, and who have little opportunity to explore and experiment with their environment may fail to fully develop the neural connections and path ways that facilitate later learning. Despite their normal genetic endowment, these children are at a significant intellectual disadvantage and are likely to require costly special education or other remedial services when they enter school. Fortunately, intervention programs that start working with children and their families at birth or even prenatally can help prevent this tragic loss of potential. While high-quality infant and toddler programs are not necessarily intervention programs. When caregiver and parenting practices are grounded in knowledge of early brain development, caregivers and parents are much more effective in providing experiences that facilitate optimal development including strong brain architecture (Essential element of Quality-Infant-Toddler Program).

Aztec and City

Jarrett Barber Mr. Slaughter 11/16/12 Tenochtitlan Tenochtitlan was the main city and capital of the Aztec empire. The city was founded in 1325 when the Aztec emperor told some of his tribes to look for a spot for their new capital city. He told them that the spot for the city would be found when they saw an eagle eating a snake on top of a cactus. This symbol is now on the Mexican coat of arms and on the Mexican flag (King). The tribes wondered around in what is now present day Mexico City, looking for this strange site. They finally came to the spot where they saw the scene.It happened on a small island in the middle of Lake Texacco. All of the surrounding area of the lake was all swamp land, but because they saw the eagle there, that’s where the city was to be built. The construction of Tenochtitlan took place under the rule of four different Aztec kings. They laid out the construction plans for the city on a grid, making the building of the city much easier and run smoothe r. The city was linked to the mainland by three raised causeways; the three different causeways pointed north, west, and south.The raised causeways had bridges in the middle of them to allow canoes and other traffic underneath; the bridges could also be raised up in case of an attack. The city had two aqueducts that were 2. 5 miles long to supply fresh water from the springs of Chapultepec, though most of this water was used for bathing, washing dishes, and other various reasons (Stearns). Most of the Tenochtitlan population bathed twice every day, but ruler Montezuma was rumored to bathe as many as 4 times a day.The people preferred their drinking water from the nearby mountain springs, as it was much cleaner. When it was at its biggest point, Tenochtitlan covered a little more than five square miles. And at the height of its existence, Tenochtitlan’s population was approximately 150,000 people (closely comparable to the size of the population of the city of Cordoba). Tenoch titlan was the largest city in Mesoamerica, but also one of the largest in the world (Tenochtitlan). The only two cities larger than this at the time were Paris and Constantinople which had populations of 300,000.The language of the city was Nahuatl, it was spoken throughout the Aztec empire. The people also practiced Aztec religion, the religion consisted of human sacrifice and religious festivals. Gods of different elements were worshiped and given sacrifices. Human sacrifices were given to the sun god in fear that the sun might not rise the next morning (Stearns). Templo Mayor was the largest temple in Tenochtitlan, it was rebuilt 6 different times (King). The temple first went under construction in 1325, in succession with the rest of the city.Each time it was rebuilt, it grew slightly larger. The temple was dedicated to 2 different gods,  Tlaloc, god of rain and agriculture, and Huitzilopochtli, god of war. Each god had its own separate temple at the top. In 1427 Aztec empero r Ahuitzotl sacrificed tens of thousands of people in the span of 4 days in honor of the temple.. The organization of the city was that of a city-state, with an organized central region. Agriculture was a thriving practice in Tenochtitlan. Because there was no room for it in the city, chinampas were developed.Chinampas were fields created on floating platforms on the lake’s surface. Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes visited the city in 1519 and was amazed. Cortes and his men were in awe at the sight of the city. They were greeted by the Aztecs with gifts and food. Despite the hospitality, Cortes challenged the Aztecs and took emperor Montezuma hostage. The Aztecs declared war and drove the Spaniards out in 1520. Cortes led later attacks on the city but most of the population was wiped by diseases that the Spaniards had brought.The city finally fell to the Spaniards in 1521. The city was demolished and rebuilt to what is now Mexico City. There are still ruins of Tenochtitlan that can still be seen today in central Mexico City. Works Cited Stearns, Peter et al. World Civilizations. 3rd ed. New York. Pearson Longman, 2000. â€Å"Tenochtitlan. † Retrieved from https://www. courses. psu. edu/anth/anth008_cmg149/aten. html King, Heidi. â€Å"Tenochtitlan†. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (October 2004) Retrieved from http://www. metmuseum. org/toah/hd/teno_1/hd_teno_1. htm (October 2004)

Faculty of Economics and Business Science Essay

Introduction – How the American Low-Cost Airline Industry Looks Like? In the post World War II the federal government heavily regulated period, commercial air travels in the US. As a result, the nation was reliant on a few leading airline companies. Competition was permitted only within individual states. California and Texas were the only two states that had both the geographical and demographic advantage to make air travel attractive. Since 1938, the U.S. Congress formally regulated air transportation through the Civil Aeronautics Act. This Act created a board to control the entry and exit of air carriers, to regulate fares, and to control mergers. These new findings led to the deregulation of the airline industry in 1978. Deregulation was premised on the idea that an unregulated market would approximate a perfectly competitive industry, one that had numerous carriers, no significant economies of scale, and no significant barriers to entry. As a result, many new entrants tried to establish on the airline market, although most of them get bankrupt due to the fierce competition on prices which made a profit margin too low to stay in the game. Besides, financial crises in 1983 and 1990 made many low-cost airlines leave the market. As an example, over 200 airlines stopped operating from 1983 to 1988. However, few significant airlines were born at that time: Spirit Airlines (1964) and Southwest Airlines (1967), Sun Country Airlines (1982). The relatively new low-cost carriers include Allegiant Air (1997), Frontier Airlines (1994), JetBlue (1999) and Virgin America (2004). In 2006 the low cost carriers have a market share of 30% in the Unites States, compared to 7% in 1990. One of the reasons for such an escalating increase could be a raising traveling demand in the US: total number of passengers in 2012 reached 800 million! We assume that such a significant market share should be understood as a separate industry. We would like to analyze the environment of the US low-cost airline industry by applying following tools: PESTEL analysis, Porter’s five forces framework and Strategic Groups  analysis. The Macro-Environment We will start with the analysis of the largest layer of the business environment. In order to investigate the macro-environment we will apply PESTEL analysis to understand to which extent the following six main factors have an impact on the whole industry. Political Factor Thread of terrorism: The airline industry has never really recovered from the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. This situation leads to more invasive security procedures at the airports and customers dissatisfaction even before taking a flight. September 11, 2001 has put a long-term shadow on the whole airline industry leading to significantly higher operating costs. The airline industry is highly regulated by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, primarily in areas of flight operations, maintenance and other safety and technical matters. Stricter regulations on aircraft safety maintenance, for instance, are placing new burdens on operators of older aircraft. Average aircraft operating age in the industry is 11 years. The 1978 Airline Deregulation Act partially shifted control over air travel from the political to the market sphere. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), which had previously controlled entry, exit, and the pricing of airline services, mergers, and consumer issues, was phased out under the CAB Sunset Act and expired officially on December 31, 1984. The economic liberalization of air travel was part of a series of â€Å"deregulation† moves based on the growing realization that a politically controlled economy served no continuing public interest. U.S. deregulation has been part of a greater global airline liberalization trend. Economic Factor This economic part of the airlines industry has already struggling the airlines to contend with declining passenger traffic, competition from low cost carriers, high aviation fuel prices, labor demands, and soaring maintenance and operating costs. All these factors have made the airlines to get in bankruptcies because they can no longer afford to run their operations profitably. Fuel is the airline industry’s second largest  expense, exceeded only by labor. The major U.S. airlines spend more than $10 billion a year on fuel, which is approximately 10 percent of total operating expenses. As a result, increased fuel efficiency has been a top industry priority for many years. Significant changes appeared in the US economy between 1983 and 1988; the airline industry experienced a massive wave of bankruptcies, mergers, and acquisitions. Over 200 carriers left the market, leaving nine airlines (United, American, Continental, TWA, US Air, Pan Am, Delta, Northwest, and Eastern) to share 92 percent of domestic revenue. Contrary to initial expectations, deregulation actually led to a decrease in competition. Airlines’ profitability is closely tied to economic growth and trade. During the first half of the 1990s, the industry suffered not only from world recession but the Gulf War further depressed travel. In 1991 the number of international passengers dropped for the first time. The financial difficulties were exacerbated by airlines over-ordering aircraft in the boom years of the late 1980s, leading too significant excess capacity in the market. Mergers and acquisitions are seen to be one of the most important trends in the low-cost airline industry. Many carriers make efforts to purchase small regional aircraft operating companies or even fuel suppliers of the local level. This leads to lower operating costs and will result even into higher ticket prices in the future. The expectation for the US economy for the next years is that the growth rate will increase for 1.6% to 2.4%. Growing economy means an increase in buying power of the customers. For this reason, the traveling demand is expected to increase in the future as well. Social Factor The profile of the passengers has changed with more economically passengers and less business class passengers. Now with more information and social media the customers have high expectations in the low price sector of the tickets because the expected standards of the services have increased. Even for a low price passengers expect to have clean seats, smiling crew, no delays etc. Moreover, customers are ready to complain if the service does not meet their expectations. Technological Factor Though it is a fact that the airline industry uses technology extensively in its operations, they are limited to the aircraft and the operations of the  airlines excluding the ticketing and the distribution aspects. This has prompted many experts to call on the airlines to make use of the advances in technology for the front office and the customer facing functions as well. In other words, the technological changes have to be adapted to include mobile technologies as far as ticketing, distribution, and customer service. Technology media now is necessary, for their promotion and for the customers that can buy their tickets in a safe and a quicly way. An example is that Southwest Airlines uses the technology extensively and it is a fact that the 75% of its profits the company gains due to the online sales. Such technologies as mobile phone applications, homepages, online reservations and others are not necessary just to be successful in the market – they are an absolutely a  ¨must have ¨ for the airline to even start to make sales. Environmental Factor The social responsibility initiatives are becoming more pronounced in the airilines industry. As consumers and activists turn a critical eye towards the airlines and their corporate social responsibility. Many people do not associate noise with pollution. But in the last decades the noise produced by jets has become one of the airlines biggest environmental challenges, the one the companies have spent billions of dollars to address. Key to their noise reduction efforts has been the development and introduction of new technology over the years. The airlines have implemented a recycling program to reduce the amount of solid waste they send to landfills. These are the most commons: aluminum can recycling by flight, greater use of metal utensils and ceramic dishes, paper recycling of airline offices. Legal Factor The number of lawsuits against airlines from both customers as well as workers has gone up. In other words, the regulators are being stricter with the airlines, which mean that they are now increasingly their strategies, and actualizing their strategies only after they are convinced that they are not violating any laws. For the airlines industry the customers are the priority beacuase they know thath having an airplane accident will have legal issues and can destroy a whole airiline. The legal system became intolerant of delays, safety issues, and other aspects has only served to increase the fears among the airlines as each and every move of theirs is being checked. In the restrictions on mergers the U.S. Department of Justice approves a certain number of airline mergers, but also blocks a number of them because they fear a trend towards monopolization which would mean less competition and could lead to higher ticket prices. Airlines then sometimes file in lawsuits to defend their proposed merger and tend to succeed. Open Skies Agreement was signed in 2008, the intention of this U.S. and EU aviation pact was to allow greater access to U.S. markets by non-U.S. carriers. This means a greater competitive pressure for U.S. airlines. Conclusion from the PESTEL analysis: Key drivers from the macro-environment include political, economic and legal factors. In order to analyze the next layer of the environment – industries and sectors – we will use Porter’s five forces framework. This tool was developed to estimate the industry’s attractiveness. Another purpose of our analyze is to recognize dynamics of the US low-cost airline industry. Bargaining Power of Suppliers The suppliers of airline companies are fuel supplier, foods supplier, aircraft supplier and airport facilities. It should be mentioned that the US supplier market for the airlines is quite limited. There exist only two possible suppliers for the airplanes – Boeing and Airbus. There is a large investment required to purchase the airplanes. Thus, it makes it very difficult to switch between these two suppliers (for instance, to switch from Boeing vehicles to Airbus) as the switching costs will be unavoidably high. Another issue which is worth mentioning – in the case of switching to another supplier all mechanics and pilots should be retrained according to the standards of a new supplier. In the past, low-cost carriers tended to operate older aircraft purchased second-hand. Since 2000, however, fleets generally consist of newer, more fuel efficient aircraft. These are extremely efficient aircraft in terms of fuel, training, maintenance and  crew costs per passenger. Airlines are also highly dependent on Boeing’s and Airbus’s innovation strategy – especially low-cost carriers have little bargaining power to negotiate with the suppliers and order special custom-made vehicles (for example, airlines cannot make an order to Boeing/Airbus to produce special airplanes with more seats/less fuel costs in order to maximize airline’s profits). Thus, the power of the suppliers makes the airlines to adopt their strategies to a new fleet and the other way round! Fuel market is quite monopolized as well (PDVSA, Venezuela; Petrobras, Brazil). Moreover, price of aviation fuel is directly related to the cost of oil. It implies difficulties to the airlines as oil market is very unpredictable and tend to increase. For this reason airlines prefer to sign long-term contracts with the fuel suppliers in order to negotiate fuel prices for the future as well. Foods suppliers do not cause any specific difficulties for the low-cost airlines due to two main points. Firstly, many low-cost carriers do not serve a warm/cooked food for the passengers. Secondly, foods suppliers have little bargaining power as their market is highly competitive as well. This makes it very easy for the airline to switch to another foods supplier. Large airports charge very high prices for renting or buying the gates. Thus, they are seen as a big challenge for the airlines. On the other hand, regional airports have little bargaining power as they are heavily dependent to make their profits from a regionally dominant airline. It is worth mentioning that it is very important for the low-cost airlines to dominate on the regional level. But in this case, low-cost carriers do not challenge fees of regional airports – they rather compete with other low-cost airlines to get the airport gates. Conclusion: In general, bargaining power of suppliers in US low-cost airline industry is very high, although there can be some differences between the national and regional level of operating. Regional low-cost airlines are not so much dependent on airports’ bargaining power, but even this issue does not affect the whole picture of the industry. Bargaining Power of Customers Customers seem to be very price sensitive. According to the survey conducted in 2010, 36 percent of travelers ranked price as their top consideration while choosing a airline. The second most valued factor, with 32 percent respectively, is particular schedules and routes the airline can offer to a  passenger. Surprisingly, on-time performance and star rating all gathered seven percent or less. Thus, customers’ behavior towards prices makes low-cost carriers participate in a fierce competition on low prices for the flights and invite special sales offers and promotions to gather new customers. The next problem which low-cost companies face is low switching costs for the passengers. The opportunity to compare prices from different airlines online allows the customers to make a best-choice decision. According to the survey mentioned above, only less than two percent of travelers mentioned brand loyalty to be a crucial factor of choosing an airline to fly with. Increase in customers’ awareness about building the prices also puts some limits on the airlines’ strategies: modern travelers know exactly how much their flight tickets should cost! They are aware that most low-cost carriers try to promote online sales in order to shorten their costs by not renting offices and not establishing call centers with call agents. Today’s customers also understand that online check-in allows the airline to cut its costs for renting check-in desks at the airports etc. As a result of this awareness, customers become more suspicious about the price and have higher expectations for the services. Conclusion: Price became for the customers the most crucial factor to decide what airline they want to use. No switching costs and customers’ awareness define as well that customers possess a huge bargaining power towards low-cost carriers in the US. Threat of New Entrants Deregulation law of 1978 had a great impact on the whole US airline industry. The idea of deregulation changed the airline business into a perfectly competitive industry with numerous carriers, no significant economies of scale, and no significant barriers to entry. After plenty of mergers and acquisitions in the airline industry in the 1980s were executed, over 200 carriers left the market. Thus, US deregulation created a more concentrated airline market with no specific barriers for the new entrants on the other hand. Historically, it has been seen very prestige to owe an airline – for this reason a lot of investors tried to enter the industry despite of its low attractiveness. Most of them, however, left the market as the airlines declared themselves being bankrupt. In general, airline industry has one of the highest turnover rates – over 60% of all new entrants leave the market  in the first five operating years. There is a high capital investment required to ente r the industry. Moreover, investors cannot change the existing prices in the industry. Most costs for the airline are built from its fixed costs (renting or purchasing fleet, renting airport gates, fuel costs, salary paid to the personnel, trainings). This makes it very difficult to reduce the costs when needed – fixed costs cannot be reduced in the emergency case. Restricted slot availability makes it even more difficult for the new entrants to find suitable airports. Especially in the low-cost sector of the US airline industry it causes extremely high challenges for the new entrants to have enough basis to set low fares for the flight tickets. By setting very low and competitive ticket prices a new entrant should take a risk to stay unprofitable for the first operating years as a new company has a lot of debts from the investment and no customer base to make enough profits. On the other hand, as we analyzed before no close customer relationship is possible within a low-cost airline industry. Hence, if a new entrant is able to catch customers’ attention by setting low fares this airline can expect the profits in a short time. Conclusion: Although the new entrants will face a fierce price war immediately after entering the market, there are some key factors (low prices, different routes) that can save the company from going bankrupt. Nevertheless, the thread of new entrants in the industry tends to be low. Competitive Rivalry As mentioned before, the low-cost carrier market in the USA is highly competitive due to heavy pressure on prices, margins, and hence on profitability. Besides, the industry is characterized by the following specifics: Most cost advantages can be copied immediately. Low chances to participate in the competition for the national market as the two major low-cost airlines (Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines) have avoided direct head to head competition by choosing different routes to serve. Existing rivalry is competing on the regional and local level. Not much differentiation between services. Price is the main differentiating factor. The pricing policy of the low cost carriers is usually very dynamic, with discounts and tickets in promotion. A new tendency towards prices: the  prices steadily rise thereafter to a point where they can be comparable or more expensive than a flight on a full-service carrier. Conclusion: highly competitive environment. Threat of Substitutes Historically, airlines have satisfied the demand for a speedier travel experience with faster aircraft. Travelers choose air for a variety of reasons; chief among them are costs and time. But in the future airlines can be on the edge of losing this advantage if high-speed rail will be improved. In this case more travelers will re-evaluate this alternative, and many will quit flying because of the reasons they dislike air travel: check-in/security hassles, lost productive time, lower-than expected reliability on in-time departure and arrival, and negative environmental impact. Rail is not a complete substitute for air travel in all markets because longer distances magnify the effects of slower travel speeds. But for travel distances of less than 1,200 kilometers, high-speed rail can be seen as a viable choice. It is worth saying that after the Deregulation law in 1978 the American railway was quite â€Å"abandoned† as most travelers switched to the air travel due to the low fares offered for the tickets. Thus, American railway has hardly introduced new rail destinations and can be barely seen to be a substation for the air travel today. Nevertheless, the situation can change if investment in the improvement of American rail destinations will be made. Buses are not a substition for the US low-cost carriers as their prices (even for the regional destination) are comparable to the prices for the flight tickets. Conclusion: Low-cost carriers are not threatened by the substition by railway/buses. The summary of the Porter’s five forces analysis can be represented by the following graph: Conclusion from the Porter’s five forces framework: The U.S. low-cost airline industry is not an attractive industry to enter because of the heavy competition, large turnover rates and high fixed costs which results in one of the lowest profitability of all industries. Now we came to the most immediate layer by which the companies are surrounded – layer of competitors and markets. We will conduct the analysis of this layer by dividing the airline industry into particular Strategic Groups. We decided to define Strategic Groups by following terms: by geographic coverage (national, regional, international) and by customer satisfaction (measured in the airline industry by a scale from 1-1000 points). Conclusion to the Strategic Groups: The most direct competitors of low cost-carriers are very often other low-cost carriers. There is a strong competitive rivalry both within the strategic group of low cost carriers like Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, but also there exists a competition between strategic groups. For instance, a big low cost-carrier Southwest also competes with Delta Air Lines who is the largest legacy/major U.S.airline who operates in both a domestic and an international network. According to our research, critical success factors for the low-cost airline industry include: ticket fares, waiting times for flights, safety measure, customer-oriented service and comfort, special sales offers (for example, frequent-flyers programs), airport fees, number of destinations, costs of airplaines, fuel price conditions, online ticket booking, high-frequency flights.