Supply Chain and Risk Management

Introduction Like economies and financial markets, as supply chains grow more global and interconnected, they get more exposed to disruptions and risks. Moreover, the supply chain speed exacerbates the problem. Even minor miscalculations can have major consequences as the impact spreads like viruses throughout the complex supply chain networks. Hence, it is vital to build smarter supply chains and address the issues that pose a challenge to this objective. These risk factors can effect productivity, economy and band image of the company so it is very important to identify and manage these problems on right time. Risk is a set of unexpected or unpredictable event that directly or indirectly affects the efficient working of an organization. † So to avoid this situation there should be a effective risk management process which can help the company to work efficiently and effectively Risk management can be defined as Risk management is an important function in business industry. It is an entrepreneurial need which caters all the solution which are needed for the efficient working of an organization to achieve is goals. It helps the management to understand the root cause of the problem and all possible ways by which it can be solved.Risk management process About The Company Cipla is one of the pioneer’s in the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry. The company was first started in 1935 and throughout its long journey of 75years has introduced many life-changing and innovative drugs to serve humanity while supporting, improving and enriching millions of lives worldwide. Cipla has 50 manufacturing plants with its headquarters situated in Mumbai, India. Its current stable has over 1200 products in current production which can cure almost every illness known to man.Cipla boasts the world’s largest range of respiratory medicines, dosage forms and devices for the management of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. The company is well known for providing co nsistently high quality of medical updates and patient education material to help patients as well as doctors in their respective environments. The company had also setup a dedicated center which carried on research and education on respiration named the Chest Research Foundation (CRF) in Pune, India. The company has also pioneered revolutionary medicines for treatment of cancer, AIDS, hepatitis A, B and C. ardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, weight control, depression and many other health conditions, distributing its product to almost every country. Recently the company had researched and created a medicine called QVIR that can cure AIDS and can be used for both first and second line treatment of HIV-AIDS. Currently, 40% of the worlds HIV patients undergoing anti AIDS therapy are taking Cipla Drugs. Pain Points with QVIR Cipla is well known for is innovations in the field of pharmaceutical but not so for its supply chain and impeccable delivery.This was also the case with the recently launched QVIR which had not been effectively distributed or consumed at the right time. Every year around 5 -7 % of the patients failed their first line treatment because the dose was unavailable and wasn’t there at the stipulated treatment time. For a drug priced at a paltry sum of $ 3 and the life changing benefits of containing four drugs in one single strip, it never served its intended purpose. From our qualitative data collection method we understood that the pain points facing Cipla in the delivery of QVIR were as follows: * Inventory levels are too high and/or misplaced Spending is too high, either indirect or direct categories * Cash-to-cash cycles are too long * Lean manufacturing and quality goals are not being met – potentially accompanied by excess waste generated or scarce resources used Cipla’s Supply Chain Cipla has over 180 manufacturing plant across the world out of which 50 manufacturing plants manufacture QVIR. Cipla also manufac turing some of its own raw material in three of its own factors situated in Mumbai, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka states of India.For some of the raw materials of QVIR, Cipla also conducts import/export trade with some of its local and international suppliers located in India, Germany, USA, UK, Italy, France, Australian, South Africa and South Korea Chine and Japan. Cipla has its export market in 180 countries of which its main customers are USA, Germany, South Africa, New-Zealand, Australia, China, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Japan. The transportation is carried out internationally via ship and air and domestically either by road or rail. Value Stream Mapping for QVIRThe Top challenges of Cipla’s Supply Chain for QVIR After conducting our initial investigation, assessment and analysis we were able to group the top challenges of Cipla’s supply chain into 3 major components: * Supply Chain Visibility * Increasing Customer Demands * Globalization Supply Chain Visibility Th ere is an inherent lack of willingness to share information and collaborate effectively. Inhibitive organization silos are widespread across Cipla where individuals are too busy to share within the organization and among supply chain networks.This leads to misaligned performance measures, ineffective integration and collaboration not viewed as important. Namita Kelwa, Partner Management director who is also a champion of change within Cipla says, â€Å"When we talk about supply chain visibility, it does not simply mean visibility into your own supply chain and your own shipments. It means visibility among partners, which enables collaborative decision making closer to the customer. This is both a science (managing the technology) and an art (using the information and metrics for competitive advantage). Partial and experimental adoption is widespread in visibility, but extensive adoption is still very low. Increasing Customer Demands Customers are almost always last on the list for synchronizing supply & demand. Cipla as an organization has forgotten to identify that customers continue to have aggressive demands for differentiated products & services, while their own product lifecycles have been shortening. According to Garima Singh, vice president of consumer products, â€Å"We must combine SCM with CRM†¦ get supply chain staff thinking in terms of a commercial customer mindset.Bringing the customer perspective into all facets of SCM will push us to further supply chain excellence† Remaining competitive in developing a new product or service also has the following challenges such as cross function cooperation, product/service innovation and proper allocation of resources. There should be a further integration of customer demands from inception to delivery – the entire Cipla global supply chain network focused on the end customer. Globalization Globalization for many businesses including Cipla is the complexities of interconnectivity.The imp act of global sourcing has led Cipla to experience delivery issues in the form of unreliable commitments especially in the case of the QVIR drugs. It has also resulted in larger than anticipated lead times and quality issues. While looking for lower cost sourcing options, Cipla should pave the way for constantly updated and differentiated business models and distribution strategies. Identifying Risk factors Supplier Risks In the supply chain management of the pharmaceutical industry the selection of supplier should be done very carefully because the raw material can directly affect the finished drug.In CIPLA API Plants the ingredient are manufactured as per Regulatory requirements like USFDA, WHO, MHRA, and TGA and but these API plants are not enough for 50 manufacturing plant so they need external suppliers to provide other ingredients such as Diluants, binding agents, colorant, lubricant and granulating agents. 1. Imports The major risk associated with the import is the availabili ty of the raw material at right time. Some of the delay includes: * Delay in movement of cargo * Custom handling * Delay in processing documents due to system error at Seaport/Airport. Continuous holidays, strike by laborers customs may delay clearances. 2. Inferior Quality of supply Quality is very important in case of any pharmaceutical manufacturing as it directly deals with the life of the people therefore it is governed by many regulations. The inferior Quality of the raw material can increases the risk of waste in the final steps of manufacturing. Some of the adverse effects would be * Breaking and rusting of tables * Short shelf life * Less potency * Side effect to patents * Batch rejection * Market complain Packaging RisksPackaging material for QVIR is one of the important concerns which can not be compromised on the terms of availability and quality, a special packing is needed for the QVIR since it is a four in one drug packing which contain a kit of Tenofovir, Emtricitabi ne, Atazanavir and Ritonavir. If the packaging material is not available in that situation * The raw material shelf life will increase ( as kept in stores) * Productivity will decrease * Unable to fulfill order on time * Holding of batch can increase the reanalysis cost Production Risks 1. Malfunctioning of MachineryIn CIPLA entire process of manufacturing is automated. So efficient working of the machines is essential in that manufacturing process any malfunctioning of machine can lead to increase the production time and cost. 2. Human error Although in the company most of the production process is automated, there is still chance of human error due to negligence of the employee who operates the machines. This can lead to serious problem not only to the company but to the employee himself some of the common human errors are: * Improver gowning * Negligence in handling of material * Improper documentation * Negligence in following SOPs Negligence in maintain personal hygiene * Negli gence in clearing the apparatuses * Negligence during handling chemicals * Negligence during operating machines The human error can led up to some serious problems such as * can cause damage to the life of others * wastage of material * wastage of time * can damage the machine * can lead to batch failure 3. Quality Risks Quality of the QVIR is an important concern for CIPLA pharmaceutical because it directly deals with the life of the customers moreover the industry is highly regulated so it is extremely necessary to produce products with high quality.The inferior quality of drug can cause * Batch rejection * Market complain * Economic lose * Lose of company reputation * As the industry is highly regulated by government law inferior quality can lead to close done of organization Storage Risks Improper storage of the drug special QVIR can lead to serious problems not only to the manufacturer but also to there customers. Some of the common storage risks are * Drug contamination * Drug deterioration * Batch rejection * Market complain * Reduce the self life of drug etc Demand Side Risks 1. Forecasting ErrorsForecasting errors can lead to serious problems related to the long lead times, over production, demand analysis, short life cycle, and order placement in the value chain which lead to bullwhip effect. Forecast error can affect the whole supply chain from the beginning till the end affecting the entire resources in inventory, facilities, transportation, sourcing, pricing and information management so there should be a proper forecast analysis. 2. Transportation Risk The main risk factors involved after the batch is moved out of factor is the transportation risk. The major problem during the transportation process is Tracking the shipment * Delay of the shipment * Product contamination * Stock clearness 3. Information Sharing Risks Information sharing is the foundation on which supply chain processes work. Without information sharing manager cannot indentify th e demand related to the product and the amount to be produced. Information systems will help the manager to know how the inventory is flowing in the supply chain and how the stocks are maintained. Moreover in the production process the flow of information help to minimize the risk and maintain the quality of the product. Risk AnalysisRoot Cause Analysis The root cause analysis can help CIPLA mangers to identify and correct the root causes which may lead to the identified risks Below Fish Bone diagram is used to perform the root cause analysis for Cipla – After conducting the root cause, we were able to establish certain glaring problems in the supply & demand of QVIR such as supplier selection, non-availability of resources, machinery problems, improper management SCM Specific Brainstorming A periodic ‘All Hands’ session has to be conducted with the entire supply chain team of QVIR at Cipla.These sessions could be either fortnightly or monthly basis. During these sessions, members of the team are encouraged to ask several sets of questions related to improvement and transformation of a SMARTER Supply Chain. Some possible questions include: * Do you have real time visibility into the cost & performance of your supply chain both inside and across organizational boundaries? * Are you able to collaborate with your upstream and downstream trading partners on changing supply and demand conditions? Have you exploited rapid ROI opportunities relating to inventory optimization, demand forecasting, network design, and procurement spend? * What are your inventory levels vs. peers, your cash-to cycle time vs. peers? * Is your business able to quickly and directly make changes to supply chain processes and policies based on identified savings opportunities? * Have you balanced your cost reduction initiatives against customer requirements and supply chain risk including those related to sustainability issues? * Would cost reduction quick wins allow inves ting in future necessary SC capabilities?By predicting the risk components while brainstorming and doing the root cause analysis, there are also other risks during production which is more human error and packaging error. As part of the analysis for this assignment, we’ve also assessed the risks during production and how that risk can be controlled Risk Mitigation Supplier Risk Mitigation To overcome all the relative problems with the supplier Cilpa management needs to:- 1. Planning 2. Supplier selection 3. Supplier evaluation 4. Performance measurement 5. Feedback and communication Production Risk MitigationMalfunctioning of the machinery Malfunctioning of machinery in the production process can be overcome by- * Regularly checking and maintaining the working of the machines. The machines should be checked after each batch production. * Special engineers should be hired for the maintenance job with deep knowledge * The checking and maintenance process should be added into th e standard operating process and proper validation process should be conducted for the clearing process for each machine. * There should be a proper training process for the employees who are operating the machines.This will not only prevent the risk in the production process but also help in maintaining the quality of the product. Human error risk The human error can be minimized by providing proper – * training to the employee * maintaining proper standard operating procedures * automating the process where possible * providing proper documentation Packaging Risk Mitigation To minimize the risk in the packing and packaging process Cipla has to move out from the traditional model to more technological side. * Photo scanning system * Ratio frequency identification system and ePedigrees technologyPhoto scanning system is a modern way of minimizing risk in the packaging line by using photo scanning system. Cipla can eliminate the risk on cross labeling, miss printing and over p rinting of the labels this will minimize the risk of batch rejection by the customer in different country Advantage of using Photo Scanner System 1. Minimize the risk cross labeling 2. Minimize the risk of miss print related with date of expire, date of manufacturing and dose to be taken 3. Minimize the waste 4. Safe time 5. Increases the efficacy of the production line.Radio Frequency identification system (RFID) and ePedigees technology is a modern way of thinking in supply chain of Pharmaceutical industry. RFID is a better solution to minimize the risk associated with packaging and delivering, inventory management forecasting, monitoring and collecting data. In this process the RFID tag is attached to the product and than it can be tracked any where in the entire supply chain. The tag transfer electronic information through radio frequency electromagnetic ways that can be read from several meters away.Unlike the traditional bar code system there is no need of aligning the product in front of the reader. There is no chance of data error with this system In this system the electronic documents know as ePedigree are generated. These E pedigee have all the historical information regarding the product movement in the supply chain which makes it easy to monitor the product and remove optical in the supply chain. Advantages of using RFID * Improve Forecasting and Planning * Reduce Out-Of-Stock Conditions * eliminate excess and missing inventory as well as reduce losses and write * Improves Decision-Making Improve Customer Experience. * Reduce Theft * Increase Efficiency of production process * Improves Asset Utilization and Visibility Quality and storage risk mitigation Quality management play most crucial role in the pharmaceutical industry so a systemic monitoring and evaluation of quality in the production process is necessary to reduce the risk associated with the quality of the product This can only be achieved by following strict quality protocols at each st age. The Quality assurance team and the Quality control term should monitor – * The quality of the raw material purchase Storage condition of the raw material and the finished product * The standard operating procedure of the production process * Proper cleaning of the machines as per validation * Quality of the packaging material * SOP for labeling and packaging * Proper storage of the finished good with correct labeling At each step of quality management data should be collected and reports should be generated to identify where the problem is occurring in the supply chain and how to mitigate those problems simultaneously. Demand Side Risk Mitigation Transportation risk mitigation To minimize the risk related to the transportation there should be a proper selection of the transporter as per GMP requirement * There should be a proper procedure to select the logistic supplier * Proper communication * Regular inspection Information flow risk Technology plays an important role t o minimize the risk factor in the information flow. Use of certain ERP tools such as SAP and ORACLE can help CIPLA minimize the risk. Moreover using RFID the electronic documents – epidgees make the flow of information quite easier and quicker.Recommendation The supply chain of the future for Cipla would be Smarter. It would be Instrumented, Interconnected & Intelligent. Flexibility will be the watchword for cost containment, Visibility will become vital, Risk would be managed systematically, and customer input would permeate the supply chain. The smart map of this new supply chain for Cipla would help in the following: * Integrated real-time transactions (ERP) with business intelligence * Multi-partner collaboration platform * Dynamic supply & demand balancing Predictive sense-and-respond event detection & resolution * Probability-based risk management * Supply chain risk analysis & mitigation models * Risk-adjusted inventory optimization * Environmental strategies & policie s with sustainability models for usage impact analysis: Carbon. Energy, Water, Waste * Customer-segmented product lifecycle management * Real-time consumption & replenishment programs * Optimized pipeline inventory * Variable cost structures that fluctuate with market demand * Outsourcing non-differentiating functions Global â€Å"centers of excellence† to optimize capability and delivery * Asset management strategy & global execution Conclusion By employing the risk mitigating factors for this supply chain and leveraging on the data collected, deep supply chain management expertise, methods and analytical tools Cipla can quickly assess current inventory situations for inventory optimization realizing 30-50% inventory reduction, significantly improve demand forecasting accuracy 10-30% and provide direction to reduce spend 5-20%.With the futuristic instrumented, interconnected and intelligent smarter supply chain, smart devices, sensors and actuators can capture real-time data including: shelf-level replenishment, forecasts and orders, pipeline inventory and shipment lifecycle status. Advanced instrumentation will â€Å"sense-and-respond† demand and supply signal notification with thresholds to determine corrective actions from disturbances and there would be more â€Å"self-correcting†, â€Å"self-actuating† transactions.With the new smarter supply chain model and future integration of sustainability principles our desire with this assignment is to have the supply chain emerge as a major business tool that can help control costs, manage risks and make profit in a fully responsible manner. Much of the opportunity to address related energy, water and waste management costs rests on the supply chain.

Blood Diamon

Delilah Crespo Mr. McParland English 101 October 24, 2010 In the article â€Å"I’m Happy with an Arranged Marriage† by Gitangeli Sapra it discusses her view of arranged marriages. Ms. Gitangeli is for arranged marriage, she stated that people who get married for â€Å"love† has a 40% rate of divorce. She also states that arranged marriages have a lower rate of divorce for the fact that the couples do not want to start a wrath between their families. I disagree; I believe that families should not have the right to set up their children with who they think best suits their child. I personally would not prefer my parents to set me up with someone who they think is a great person, because I have different standards then they do. If parents were to choose who they want their child to marry then they will be involved in the couple’s lives, therefore if the relationship is not working out the couple would be too scared to get a divorce because of what their family might do. Some countries make arranged marriage mandatory, and some people actually agree with it but others such as me do not. Fatma Uncon was a twenty year old female who was forced into an arranged marriage, which she did not want. Since she was forced she decided to commit suicide by shooting herself with her father’s handgun. Another female named Gulbahar Karokoyn was also forced into an arranged marriage, which she did not want. She was forced into marrying her uncle’s son, therefore she also committed suicide. These two young females committed suicide because they felt pressured and forced into something which they did not want. They felt that by ending their life they would finally be free. I asked one of my friend if she was for arranged marriage and she stated no, â€Å"I want to fall in love with the person before I get married not my parents, they are not the one’s who has to stay with this specific person their entire life so why should they choose who I marry†. I completely agree with her because it is true why should anyone tell me who I should marry. Altogether, as I stated before I do not think arranged marriage is a good idea. I believe that people should decide who they want to be with. Their parents should not force you to choose who you want to make your life long partner, because you will be the one who has to be with that person for life. Also arranged marriages might make people feel too trapped and that might cause them to do something to harm themselves or their partner. Therefore I believe the choice should be yours.

Technology and Capitalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Technology and Capitalism - Essay Example This advertisement peg for his discourse allowed Hochschild to strongly argue that American society is currently being flooded by goods and services that promises people – busy people – of saving their precious time. Meanwhile, Sherry Turkle discourse on technology in Alone Together reinforced this take on capitalism today by explaining how tools and machines such as the Internet, personal computers, mobile phones and gadgets all became indispensable in modern way of life. Capitalism and Efficiency The concept of efficiency has been put forward in Hochschild’s culture of time (184). The argument is that in modern America, people are faced with the time dilemma. Most individuals have to balance personal/family life with work and career and all things in between. Here, the experience of American mothers was used as an example. With the Quaker Oats ad, it was depicted how mothers find it extremely challenging to spend quality time with their children when their job and occupations are also vying for an equal degree of attention. Hochschild identified that breakfast cereal – as suggested by its marketer – emerged as the solution for the dilemma. Modern capitalism made this possible. The oat brand is delicious and healthy, solving several problems for children as it provides a quality mother-child experience at the breakfast table and solves the child’s requirement for attention, love and well-being. The deliciously prepared oat meal, which any child will supposedly love is seen to qualify as sufficient for parents in order for them to let their children know they are loved and taken cared of. Finally, the oatmeal and the ease in its preparation provided the mother an opportunity to lessen time spent at home so she could be at her work or at her appointment on time. Turkle’s discourse on technology further explained Hochschild’s conception of time, efficiency and the permeation of goods and services that cater to the past two variables. She used technology and how it affected the lives of people today as the basis for her insights. The analogy is that technology has successfully ingratiated itself in the lives of people today because it addresses their main vulnerabilities. For instance, Turkle argued that people today are lonely and technology provides a convenient and perfect answer by providing an illusion of companionship without the demand for friendship (263). The pattern is clear: people are becoming dependent on the goods and services that can meet their demands for time and efficiency. The consequence is that people are increasingly substituting them for what is real. Substitution In Hochschild’s observation, people still value the conventional concepts of human relationship such as the family. Here, work and all other preoccupations are supposedly being undertaken in order for the family to survive and, do so comfortably. Ironically, this brings them further to it because the culture of work relegated family as a mere ideal, separate from what is real. To many people, wrote Hochschild, family is important morally and that they certainly cherish such ideal but â€Å"we don’t link what we think with what we do,† or we often say at work that we â€Å"don’t walk the talk at home (186). This perspective – the encapsulation of family as a mere ideal - supposedly make people reconcile the dilemma of the competing meanings in modern capitalism and its impact on modern necessities to traditional concepts such as the family. With technology, Turkle, provided several examples to this emerging preference for illusion and the substitution of goods and services for what is real. She pointed out, for instance: Some people are looking for robots to clean rugs and help with the laundry. Others hope for a mechanical bride. As sociable

Life Experiences of the Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Research Paper

Life Experiences of the Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus - Research Paper Example According to the most recent forecasts, the number of patients with different types of diabetes will reach more than 360 million globally by 2030 (Wild, Roglic, Green, Sicree, and King, 2004). The lion's share of such occurrence is attributed to the elderly population. Most likely, the main reason for high vulnerability of the elderly population to diabetes is the ageing process that leads to a broad range of physiological changes, including decreased or deteriorated functionality of vital life organs (Rother, 2007). A number of studies have been conducted up to date to explore the effects of diabetes on the general health condition of the elderly patients. However, only few works are available to investigate specific life experiences of the elderly patients with diabetes though such research is necessary to improve the quality of health care for the elderly. Various types of diabetes and chronic illnesses associated with late adulthood represent a serious challenge for modern health care practitioners. According the estimates provided by the National Academy on an Aging Society (NAAS) and APA almost 4/5 of the elder adult population suffers from at least one chronic illness, while majority of seniors have multiple chronic health problems the most common of which are arthritis, hypertension, hearing impairments, heart disease, cataracts, various types of diabetes, osteoporosis, vascular diseases, neurological diseases, including stroke, and respiratory diseases (APA, 2003). Absolute majority of these illnesses and health problems are associated with specific life experiences, psychological issues and mental health problems, which should be taken into consideration during treatment (Frazer, Leicht, & Baker, 1996). Understanding of specific life experiences of senior diabetic patients is highly essential in the clinical setting for several reasons. Firstly, it will enable the health practitioner to design a correct treatment strategy to cope with the disease and improve quality of the patient's life. Secondly, such understanding is likely to contribute greatly to the efficiency of non-clinical (social) support of the diabetic patients and decrease the occurrence of complications, such as, for example, hypoglycemic episodes. This study employs phenomenological approach to investigate the specific life experiences and meaning of life of senior patients with diabetes. Literature review There is sufficient literature addressing various aspect of diabetes and particularly its relationship with the quality of patient's life. The following review briefly describes several most notable publications that provide valuable background information in the context of this study. One of the most recent studies carried out by Peck (2003) establishes a link between several chronic illnesses including type 2 diabetes in the elderly population and quality of life. The concept of 'quality of life' covers a number of different aspects such as food preferences, level of physical activity, psychological issues and social status, etc. Besides, the author provides some credible evidence that ability of the elderly diabetic patients to effectively cope with the illness normally results in substantially improved qualify of

What it means to you to be a healer and how you envision yourself in Essay

What it means to you to be a healer and how you envision yourself in this role in the future - Essay Example s advocating for patients, educating patients about their health, organizing staff and helping prioritize busy workloads for effective health care delivery, mentoring students and junior/ incoming nurses, maintaining good and accurate patient records and also making ethical decisions concerning consent and confidentiality. As a nurse, I will support recovery from illness and operations by care plans, carrying out care procedures and assessments and by focusing on the needs of the patient rather than fully looking at the illness or condition. Thus, alongside ensuring continuity of healthcare by always being available to patients, providing a source of comfort, warmth and a much needed listening ear during turmoil is also highly essential in ensuring patients heal faster (Crowley, 1961). I also envision myself giving people preventative treatment and meeting patient needs in the comfort of their houses, thus conveniently avoiding the patient’s unnecessary burden of travels to hospitals for appointments and hospital admissions. Apart from writing a patient’s care plans, implementing plans through tasks such as preparation of patients for operations, wound treatment and monitoring pulse, temperature and blood pressure, I also see myself solemnly engrossed in routine and close observation and recording of patient conditions, checking and administering drugs and injection, setting up drips and blood transfusions, assisting with tests and evaluations while also responding with utmost speed to emergencies. As a future nurse, I also, in order to be an effective healer, will be involved in planning discharges from hospitals and liaising with community nurses, GPs and social workers regarding emerging health conditions and patients in need of assistance. I envision myself providing care to patients in the physical, psychosocial, developmental, cultural and spiritual levels while preserving the patient’s dignity. As already mentioned, communication will form an

Metal Toxicity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Metal Toxicity - Essay Example Metal toxicity of water may be defined as the dissolved metal concentration per unit volume of water. Various models have been developed to predict acute metal toxicity of water. Following are the most used and most satisfactory models used for acute metal toxicity prediction: To calculate water effect ratio first of all one solution is prepared in laboratory with known toxicity and average range of pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and specific conductivity is calculated. After that a water sample is collected from a site whose water effect ratio has to be calculated. Metal toxicity of the site water is calculated and the values of test from lab sample and site sample are used to calculate the ratio. Free ion activity model is based on the fact that there is always equilibrium between free metal ions in a solution. This model uses Ion characteristics to predict the relative toxicity effects of metal ions. Most ion characteristics that are useful in predictive modeling of metal toxicity reflect the binding tendencies of metals to ligands (Christopher P. Tatara, Michael C. Newman, John T. McCloskey, Phillip L. Williams). The concentration of metal ions in a solution depends upon various factors such as temperature and chemistry of water. Free ion activity model predicts the metal toxicity by directly measuring the metal ion concentration in water. This model is based on the assumption that organism only responds to the free-metal ion concentration in solution, regardless of the nature of the metal complexes present in water (J. Phycol, 2005). For example in case of AgCl(s) Ag+(aq) + Cl-(aq) if the Cl- ion increase that that can be consumed by Ag+ ions the concentration of Cl- will increase in water and if the concentration of Cl- ions is lesser than that of Ag+ there will be more free Ag+ cations in the water. And if the extra Ag+ ions are not consumed by other anions available in water the Ag metal toxicity of water will increase. Biotic Ligand Model The Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) use metal speciation and the protective effects of competing cations (+ve metal ions) to predict metal binding at a surface with possibility of acute metal toxicity (e.g. gill of a fish). A legand may be defined as chemical structures that bind with another chemical or metal. It is an effective and widely used model to determine acute metal toxicity of dissolved metals. It relies on the mathematical integration of interaction of trace metal or solution phase ligands with biotic ligands i.e. the living organism exposed to the toxicity. This model analyses the ligand's interaction with living beings (biotic ligands). Biotic legand model predict the toxicity of dissolved metal according to the quantity of metal deposited on the receptor living being. Following diagram shows conceptual biotic legand model. Fig: Conceptual Biotic Legand Diagram Biotic legand model of toxicity prediction clearly shows the effect of water chemistry variation on the toxicity of metal. Water chemistry which is characterized by the dissolved hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon-di-oxide

Comparing and Contrasting Sec. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John Kerry Essay

Comparing and Contrasting Sec. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John Kerry - Essay Example This paper is the compare and contrast essays example. It is interesting to note that both Sec. Clinton and Sen. Kerry received both attended Yale University at one time or another. Sen. Kerry received his Political Science degree from Yale University in 1966 (bio.com â€Å"John Kerry†) while Sec. Clinton received her Law degree from Yale in 1973 (bio.com â€Å"Hillary Clinton†). Therefore one can deduce that the political beliefs of these two notable U.S. political figures found itself being shaped and molded within the hallowed halls of this ivy league university. Both Sec. Clinton and Sen. Kerry are active members of the Democratic Party of the United States and have served as senators during their time in active politics. Sen. Clinton was elected to represent the people of New York in the senate halls of Washington D.C. in the year 2000 (bio.com â€Å"Hillary Clinton†) while Sen. Kerry began serving the people of Massachusetts as their senator in 1984. He won his reelection bids in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008 (bio.com â€Å"John Kerry†). Even though both had a failed run for the Democratic presidential nomination, it seems that Pres. Barack Obama has an unquestioning belief in both of them to have appointed them both to the office of Secretary of State, the little president position as some call it, where they are required to represent both the president and the country across the seas as envoys of foreign relations. While both Sec. Clinton and Sen. Kerry have some notable similarities in their political history and educational background, the two also have some marked differences that one should take note of. The first being that Sen. Kerry actively served in the Vietnam war before entering into political office. It is believed that this field experience will greatly help the incoming secretary as he navigates the treacherous waters of national security and U.S. foreign policies. Democrat Sen. Chris Coons recalls one meeting that Sen. Kerry had with the politicians in Islamabad that could quite possibly set the tone for his run in the State Department. Sen. Coons recalls (Associated Press â€Å"John Kerry Touted as Successor to Hillary Clinton†

Marketing Research Report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing Research Report - Coursework Example The research findings indicated that about 55% of the respondents used the laptops for online streaming. There was a correlation between age and streaming, with close to 75% of the subjects being between 18-24. The higher the income, the less likely for the subjects to engage in streaming behavior, with majority being those who earned between $10,000-$35,000. This is a demonstration that there was also a relationship between the free time, and online streaming. Those earning less were more likely to have more free time, hence being able to engage in the behavior. The conclusion of the study was that the penetration of Smartphones and the internet had played a huge role in enhancing online streaming. In terms of recommendation, there is a need to replicate the study on a larger population, in order to establish whether the findings were credible. The marketers should take advantage of the e marketing owing to the fact that it has become common phenomenon going by the statistics obtain ed from the study. The study aims at establishing the correlation between age, free time, income, sex and online streaming. The paper will contain the executive summary, background information, research methodologies, data analysis and findings, interpretation of findings, conclusion and recommendation and limitation of study. The online streaming has become a common social phenomenon globally. In the United States close to 28 million people aged 18 and above had a Netflix app, which they used in streaming. The internet penetration and the access to Smartphones has been one of the major factors enhancing the online streaming. The plummeting cost of internet access explains why a majority of the young people choose online streaming. Factors such as convenience, reliability and quality also affect the attitude of the consumers towards online streaming. Close to 70% of the people, prefer streaming since they can

Porsche 911 turbo and ferrari 458 italia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Porsche 911 turbo and ferrari 458 italia - Essay Example Loaded with tones of accessories and electronics, the two cars provide a remarkable comfort level to the driver. However, Porsche 911 Turbo S beats Ferrari 458 Italia in terms of pricing, its low maintenance cost, and ability to be used as a daily car. The price is one factor which differentiates the two cars with a Porsche 911 Turbo S being available for about $140,000 while the fully loaded version comes for only an additional $20,000 i.e. $160,000. A Ferrari 458 Italia on the other hand has a base price of about $230,000 while the fully loaded version comes at $300,000. The main upside to buying a Porsche 911 Turbo S is the fact that it is available with fairly similar specifications and engine power at a significantly low price as compared to a Ferrari 458 Italia. The high pricing for the Ferrari discourage many people from buying the car as it provides almost similar level of comfort, style, and performance but for a very high price. As a result, many would prefer investing in a Porsche which comes with similar technical specifications but for a pocket friendly price. Although Ferrari 458 Italia costs a dreadfully large amount of money to the buyer, it also does not come with any warranty. In order to acquire a warranty for the car, an additional $50,000 has to be paid over the price which only covers the warranty for 7 years. A Porsche 911 Turbo S however gets warranty coverage for only an additional fee of $2500 which is significantly low as compared to the extremely high warranty fee for a Ferrari. Also, this includes warranty coverage for 9 years. Apart from the high warranty fee, Ferrari also has a high maintenance cost particularly due to its unreliable nature and frequent break downs. In such cases, the spare parts are quite expensive. Due to a dual clutch gearbox in Ferrari the typical replacement costs more than $40,000. However, the Porsche proves to be a reliable car with cheaper spare parts and maintenance costs. Another advantage of owning a P orsche 911 Turbo S is its ability to be used as an everyday car. This feature is particularly useful for those individuals who have an inclination for high speed and want to use the car to travel to work or any other place. A Ferrari with its upper high speed engine is normally suitable for driving on tracks rather than city roads which has traffic and may not satisfy the driver as a work vehicle. Many people prefer buying a Porsche because it can be used as a daily car. Also, it provides a smoother ride and a more comfortable one as compared to a Ferrari which is often uncomfortable to drive on city roads. That is why one may find more Porsches on the road than Ferraris. While a Ferrari may be a favorite among its fans, a Porsche proves to be a far more practical option for people looking for a fast, reliable, and yet a cheap car to maintain. Not only is its initial cost low but it does not require frequent maintenance because of its dependable nature. The warranty covers a greater number of years allowing its owners to stay tension-free with the high costs. Even its spare parts come at a cheaper cost and its simple Turbo 911 engine at the rear, the cost of repairing the engine is low and seldom does it break down. Because of the

Female circumcision Essay Example for Free

Female circumcision Essay Female circumcision, also referred to as female genital mutilation, is a traditional practice dating back to ancient times in many African and Middle Eastern countries. It is a procedure that involves the cutting, burning or removal of the clitoris, labia and sexual tissues; the specifics of the procedure vary by region and culture. Female circumcision is performed on young girls usually between the ages of five and twelve years old. Many of the girls are tricked or forced into the procedure, which is performed by a woman in the village with knowledge of the tradition but no medical education or training. While it is considered a rite of passage for girls in these cultures, female circumcision has no valid medical purpose. The practice of female genital circumcision is a medically unnecessary one that leaves women with permanent physical, mental and emotional pain and scarring. Female genital mutilation procedures are done differently in various parts of the world. In some cases, the clitoris is cut from the body. In others, the clitoris and labia, the sexual tissues that are external to the vaginal opening, are cut away and the vaginal opening is stitched shut. According to Anika Rahman, there are, â€Å"numerous other procedures that have been documented, such as pricking, piercing, stretching or burning of the clitoris and/or surrounding tissues† (8). The procedure is usually done by a woman of the village or tribe designated for just this task. It is usually performed with knives or razor blades that are not sterile in unsanitary environments and conditions, increasing the risk for infection and complications. Performing such an intricate medical procedure outside of a hospital and without trained medical personnel can result in a variety of complications, including urinary tract infections, pelvic infections and anemia from excess bleeding. One of the most common long-term complications from female circumcision is pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse. Adding to this common problem is the fact that many women whose vaginal openings are stitched closed are forced to stay that way until their first sexual experience with their predetermined husband, which can lead to tearing, bleeding and further tissue damage or scarring. There are emotional and mental scars that accompany female genital mutilation along with the physical ones. In Tears of the Desert, Halima Bashir describes her experiences at eight years old in which a girl is made to feel special without being told what specifically will be done to her: â€Å"In our tradition circumcision is supposed to mark the passage from girlhood to womanhood, and so I was treated almost as if I were getting married† (55). She describes being held down by her own grandmother while a village woman cuts her with a razor blade and that, â€Å"I knew that somewhere deep in my lost womanhood there was a burning heart of agony, but I had removed my mind to a place where it couldn’t be hurt anymore† (57). These words sound like those of a trauma victim in shock rather than those of a girl that has undergone a traditional rite of passage, providing an example of the emotions that can be experienced by a girl forced into female circumcision with no prior knowledge of the procedure. In an interview with Alice Walker, another woman described how she was kidnapped by friends of her family and circumcised: â€Å"†¦her mother had told her they were going to a place where there were many bananas. She loved bananas. When they arrived, she was captured by women she’d never seen before, pinned down by them, circumcised, and kept secluded for two weeks† (Walker 42). Numerous accounts reflect memories of searing physical pain, tearing, bleeding, and fainting. The realization that this is done to a girl when she is as young as five years old makes the procedure seem even more brutal. The actual process of female circumcision is different in each country that practices it and so are the reasons behind it. There are no valid medical reasons for the procedure, and most countries that practice female circumcision hold it as a cultural tradition or rite of passage rather than a religious rite. Rahman states, â€Å"It is important to note that female circumcision is a cultural, not a religious practice. The practice predates the arrival of Christianity and Islam in Africa and is not a requirement of either religion† (6). In these countries, most women are considered the property of their families until they are given away to the husbands their parents has chosen for them to marry, and it is considered vital to go to marriage sexually pure and a virgin. It is believed in these cultures that female circumcision is one way to suppress sexual urges, to prevent sexual activity, and to ensure that a girl’s virginity is kept intact. A girl that isn’t circumcised is considered dirty, impure, and sexually deviant. Ayaan Hirsi Ali describes how, during her childhood in Somalia, â€Å"†¦little girls were made ‘pure’ by having their genitals cut out†¦I was a Somali woman, and therefore my sexuality belonged to the owner of my family, my father or my uncles†¦the place between my legs†¦would be broken only by my husband† (Ali 31, 72). This attitude is a commonly accepted one in countries that practice female circumcision, leading mothers to subject their daughters to the same practice that was done to them and often deceive them in order to force them to submit to tradition. Many girls are taught that they will be physically unclean and unsuitable for any man to want to marry and will therefore bring shame and dishonour to their families if they are not circumcised to keep them pure until marriage. Rheman states, â€Å"Refusing to undergo female circumcision may jeopardize a woman’s family relations, her social life or her ability to find a spouse† (25). Since most of these girls remain in their home villages their entire lives, the concept that not all women undergo this procedure is often unthinkable to them. Halima Bashir relates how, when she went away to college and encountered girls her age that hadn’t been forced to undergo circumcision, â€Å"At first I didn’t believe it. I had just presumed that all girls went through their cutting time† (145). Though it may be tradition, there is proof that female circumcision violates women’s human rights and should be illegal. The international treaty known as the Women’s Convention defends women against human rights violation and sexual discrimination. According to the convention, states Rheman, â€Å"female circumcision must meet two principal criteria. One, it must be a distinction based on sex and two, it must have the effect or purpose of impairing the equal enjoyment of rights by women. Female circumcision fits within this definition of gender discrimination† (21). Female circumcision is intended to stop women from experiencing physical pleasure during sex or even being able to have sex outside of their sanctioned marriage, making it a form of gender discrimination. Female circumcision deserves to be recognized as a tradition in the African and Middle Eastern countries in which it has been practiced. However, its recognition does not warrant the continued abuse and violation of human rights of the women in these countries. These women are subjected to years of physical pain, sexual problems, infections and childbearing complications. These procedures are inflicted upon them without their consent and without informing them of the health risks or alternatives. It represents an antiquated view of women in which they are undervalued and treated as property instead of free-thinking individuals with equal rights and voices. Female circumcision might be tradition, but it’s one that needs to be outlawed for the health and safety of women and in the name of upholding the human rights of all people. Works Cited Bashir, Halima. Tears of the Desert. New York: Ballantine, 2008. Hirsi Ali, Ayaan. Infidel. New York: Free Press, 2007. Rahman, Anika, ed. Female Genital Mutilation: A Guide to Laws and Policies Worldwide. New York: Zed Books, 2001. Walker, Alice and Prathiba Parmar. Warrior Marks: Female Genital Mutilation and the Sexual Blinding of Women. New York: Harvest Books, 1993.

Biological And Psychological Theories Of Crime Criminology Essay

Biological And Psychological Theories Of Crime Criminology Essay As the famous English playwright and poet, William Congreve, said in his play titled; The Mourning Bride: a tragedy;Heavn has no rage, like love to hatred turnd, Nor hell a fury, like a woman scornd. This famous quote is nowadays more known as Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned and I believe, shows the hidden power within a woman; the power to deceive the conventional image of a woman, that is to neglect all the characteristics often associated to a woman, and to commit crime. This in turn, I believe, is the reason why so many people are intrigued with learning about why women do what they do. Often enough, we tend to look at a woman as a gentle being, capable of bearing and taking care of children, someone who is calm and low tempered, as well as, capable of holding a family together. This, however, is the conventional portrayal of a woman and is highly associated with the Sex-role theory by the Functionalists which explains the socialisation of females and males. This claim states that males are inclined to be tough, risk taking and to be aggressive, but females, on the other hand are socialised to be gentle. Hence, according to the functionalists, males are more likely to be criminals. Sociologist Frances Heidensohn also argues that women are less involved in crime because crime is gendered as a male activity whereas females exhibit soft characteristics. Nonetheless, many women around the world have committed crimes, as can be seen in the case studies and statistics in the sections below. Women have loitered, stolen, stalked, and even murdered. This functionalist theory does not, in any way, explain why a woman, in the first place would commit crime, however, it does somewhat relate to a theory by Cesar Lombroso (1835-1909). Lombroso believed that all crime was a Biological Atavism. This involved the examination of the cranial capacity as well as the facial features which in turn could identify biological criminal traits. Lombroso concluded that females who committed crime had more masculine traits whereby the brain capacity and difference in skull was more inclined to that of a male. In his studies, results showed that female criminals also carried the worst possible female characteristics which include; a lack of sensitivity to pain as well as a lack for compassion which are generally controlled in women by what he called feminine weakness and underdeveloped intelligence. This in turn, could mildly explain the vicious and dangerous personality of a female criminal. According to Lombrosos study, criminal women had deficient moral sensibilities, unstable characters, excessive vanity, irritability, revengefulness, and an uncontrolled sexual desire. Lombroso went on to say that the only way to end female c riminality was to prohibit criminal meaning so as to avoid the biological traits from passing onto another generation genetically. More recent explanations look at hormones such as testosterone which is proven to control levels of aggression and anger. A certain James M. Dabbs, Jr, from the department of psychology at Georgia State University in Atlanta, conducted a lot of research on how high testosterone levels are linked to crimes. He noted that high testosterone levels were strongly linked to more violent crimes, and violations. This was also proven in women, whereby high testosterone levels were related to crimes of unprovoked violence, increased numbers of prior charges, and decisions against parole. Dalton (1964) studied the effects of menstruation cycles upon female behaviour. Parker (1960) concluded that sixty-two per cent of the crimes of violence committed by female prison inmates were committed in the premenstrual week. Parker claimed that hormonal or menstrual factors can influence women to commit crime in certain circumstances. Although biology seems to produce a convincing starting point as to why women commit crime and is nowadays more commonly used as an explanation, sociologists often dismiss biological factors as they take a deeper look into the environmental background of women who commit crime and the society which they live in. Feminist Sociologist Carol Smart was a very important figure within the Feminist Criminology world. In her 1977 writing she stated; Our knowledge is still in its infancy. In comparison with the massive documentation on all aspects of male delinquency and criminality, the amount of work carried out on the area of women and crime is extremely limited Since her writing, one may actually find more theories and ideas related to female criminality, yet a few broad theories related to this aspect of sociology continuously overlook the idea that gender may indeed be a factor influencing criminality. This is despite the fact that official figures suggest that gender is perhaps the most significant single factor in whether an individual is convicted of crime (Smart, 1977). Women, due to the social portrayal of roles as already mentioned above, is depicted as someone who is unable to commit crime. This in turn leads us to the Mad not bad theory (Lloyd, 1995: xvii). This is the idea that a woman who commits crime must indeed be mad as opposed to bad since she dared to go against [her] natural biological givens such as passivity and a weakness of compliance' (Lloyd, 1995). As a theory, this may, in turn, reflect the low number of female prisoners, however, if we had to apply this theory to Malta, research has shown that by the end of December 2011, Mount Carmel had 268 males and 252 females who formed part of the sleeping-in population. Although I am not able to say if any of these patients actually had anything to do with any sort of criminal behaviour, by simply looking at the numbers, one can conclude that the theory is inefficient in explaining the Maltese situation because the numbers of females to males is less. Another theory is the Liberation Theory also known as Freda Adlers theory of Emancipation. This theory deals with the idea that ever since the liberation of women, the rate of female criminality has increased. Research, however, shows that female criminality was on a rise before the liberation of women. James and Thornton studied women prisoners and from their studies revealed that the women who were imprisoned originally came from poor and uneducated backgrounds. When asked for a reason as to why they offended, the responses received did not appear to be linked to liberation (1980). Upon looking for Sociological theories, I realised that Carol Smart was actually right in her accusation. Not a lot of sociological theories are in fact linked solely to female criminality. Sociological theories try to find a reason as to why people in general commit crime and rarely focus solely on female criminals. However, when looking for biological theories many were actually found and these seemed to focus a lot upon why females commit crime and what brings them to commit it. Could this mean that female criminality is largely linked to biology as opposed to environment, since research seems to direct us to this conclusion? Could female criminality be the perfect answer to the Nature vs. Nurture argument, again due to the theories found and how they are mainly linked to biology? The nature vs. nurture argument is one that has been discussed for years, and continues to be discussed. This argument tries to figure out as to whether crime is something which is controlled genetically or environmentally. The Nativists take on the extreme heredity Position whereby they assume that the features together with the characteristics of a human being are a result of evolution and individual differences evolve from our unique genetic code. In other words, they take on the nature approach, whereby our biology and genetic code can determine as to whether we are more likely to commit crime or not. For example, if my mother is a criminal, this theory believes that I too am very likely to become a criminal as was my grandmother. On the other hand we find the Empiricists (not to be confused with the scientific Empiricists). These are the environmentalists whom take up the nurture approach. They believe that at birth, everyones mind is a tabula rasa which means a blank slate (a t erm often used by John Locke). Over time this tabula rasa is filled as a consequence of experience (e.g. Behaviourism). In other words it is through experience that one might become a criminal and another may not. Personally, I believe that no matter how much we try to wrack our brains to ultimately figure out the reason as to why females commit crime, it is not one that as such can be answered. We can continue trying to come up with theories, which will eventually always be criticized by someone who thinks otherwise. The truth is that every human being has their own way of thinking, and trying to come up with a universal explanation as to how people think or why they do what they do is rather impossible. The Judiciary System and Female Criminals Apart from theories regarding why women commit crime, other theories take a closer look into the judiciary system and female criminals. Many believe that female criminality and court sentencing are linked together in a very unusual manner. Some believe that the Judiciary system can ultimately be affected by such a thing as gender. In other words, some believe that females receive a different sentence than men for the sole reason that they are females. Some of these theories can be seen below. A theory which looks at female criminality and sentencing is the Chivalry Theory. This theory deals with the idea that female offenders tend to be sentenced in a more lenient manner than that of men. This theory is highly linked to the sex-role theory presented earlier by the Functionalists. Females are seen as nurturers and caregivers, and hence this theory believes that females should be given a much more merciful sentence because they are weak and fragile. According to Otto Pollak (1950) in his book The Criminality of Women men have a protective attitude towards women and hence Men hate to accuse women and thus send them to their punishment, police officers dislike to arrest them, district attorneys to prosecute them, judges and juries to find them guilty, and so on David Farrington and Alison Morris (1984) studied the sentencing of 408 theft cases in a magistrates court. All these cases happened in Cambridge that same year. Around 110 of these offences were committed by women. Through these cases, it was shown that even though the male offenders received more severe sentences than the women did, research found that this difference had disappeared when the severity of the offences was then taken into account. Furthermore, Farrington and Morris concluded that there was no independent effect of sex on sentence severity. Nagel and Hagan (1983)believe that females are treated more leniently than males as long as they are committing less serious offenses and exhibit behaviours consistent with their appropriate gender role: acting passively( Ruth T. Zaplin. Female Offenders: Critical Perspectives and Effective Interventions) This leads us to the second theory related to the criminal justice system; The Evil Woman theory. This theory deals with the idea that since women are stepping out of their social roles and actually committing crime they are treated in a harsher manner than men who commit the same crime. It is hard for one to actually pinpoint which theory, if any, is most commonly put into practice. According to Joanne Belknap and Kristi Holsinger, it is important for us to keep in mind that the hypothesis best reflecting reality may depend on the type of crime and stage of the system where the decision is made (i.e., policing, courts, and corrections). In other words, each case will have to be taken individually and each stage will need to be looked at in depth. The Maltese SituationC:UsersuserDesktopUNIVERSITYAssignementsprison StatisticsLogo.jpg C:UsersuserDesktopUntitled.jpg C:UsersuserDesktopUNIVERSITYAssignementsprison StatisticsStatistics per year.jpg C:UsersuserDesktopUNIVERSITYAssignementsAnnual CCF Population.jpg The above information has been obtained from the site http://www.crimemalta.com/prison.html. In turn, this information was provided by Corradino Correctional Facility, Valletta Road Paola, Malta, PLA 1518. The tables and charts above present us with the exact number of prisoners present in the Maltese prison and the amount of males as opposed to females who are or have carried out a prison sentence. Through the tables, one can look at the prison population over the years, the population of prisoners monthly throughout the year 2011, the amount of prisoners over the months of 2012, as well as a weekly update of the current month. The Maltese prison carrying capacity is actually meant to be 500 people. However, as one can note, the amount of prisoners actually staying in our Maltese prison adds up to over 600 people, of which only 45 are female prisoners. Looking through statistics, one can see the largest gap of prisoners between 2006 and 2007, whereby the amount of female prisoners increased by 12 whereas in the following years we can see that the number was kept rather constant. Through these statistics, one can conclude that in proportion to the total amount of prisoners present, Malta has an extremely small number of female prisons. Nonetheless, this does not mean that actual female criminality is very low. One must keep in mind that a lot of crimes go unreported or undetected. Therefore, one cannot assume that there arent many female criminals in Malta. In fact, it is known that a lot of domestic violence cases on men go unreported for several reasons, one being humiliation. As Katryna Storace stated in her article THE UNFAIR SEX; Domestic violence has traditionally been understood as a crime perpetrated by domineering men against vulnerable women. But recent data is slowly beginning to reveal a growing number of male victims. Ms. Ruth Sciberras, Manager of Domestic Violence Services at AppoÄ ¡Ãƒâ€žÃ‚ ¡, the national social welfare agency, seconds the idea that a lot of domestic violence cases upon men are not the actual figures and that in actual fact there is a hidden figure concealed. Such an example proves to one how the rate of female criminality in Malta could very well be higher than what our prison is indicating. Even so, one cannot help but ask for the reasons as to why the 49 female prisoners are actually there. The following table, obtained from Formosa S., (2012) CrimeMalta, www.crimemalta.com presents us with a good idea of the offences for which women were incarcerated during the 2000s (2000-2009). Catagory Over 10 Years % Theft 43 16.8 Arson 1 0.4 Blackmail 1 0.4 Breach of Conditions 14 5.5 Court Order 1 0.4 Conversion of Fines 50 19.5 Drugs 51 19.9 Contempt of Court 3 1.2 Defilement 1 0.4 Disturbances 1 0.4 Escaped from Custody 1 0.4 Falsification 12 4.7 False Evidence 1 0.4 Fraud 15 5.9 Threats 5 2.0 Homicide 1 0.4 Loitering 14 5.5 Migration 5 2.0 Others 36 14.1 Total 256 100 Although Loitering is often the common assumption as to why women go to prison, the table above actually shows that women who have in fact ended up in prison were mainly for conversion of fines (which is when a person has received several fines, those fines are not paid, so therefore converted into a prison sentence), drugs and also theft. Through this research and statistics we are now not only able to determine the exact amount of women in the Maltese prison, but also have a clear indication of the crimes that are mostly committed by Maltese women of crime. Case Studies Here are two examples of the most Notorious female criminals; Bonnie Parker Famously known as Bonnie and Clyde, were shot to death by officers on May 23, 1934 in Louisiana. They were believed to have murdered 13 people, and involved in several robberies as well as burglaries. Aileen Wuornos A former prostitute who was executed in 2002 for killing seven men in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As can be seen from all the research, a log of people have tried to find the reason and solution for women and criminality. Through shown statistics, Malta has a very low number of female criminals. This, of course, does not include hidden statistics i.e. crimes which go undetected. The reasons as to why women end up in prison in Malta have also been shown to be safer then those abroad, whereby very little lives have been taken away by Maltese female criminals. This topic has taught me a lot regarding the female sex and social expectations upon us. Nonetheless to every rule there is an exception, and no social construct can prevent criminality.

Descriptive Essay - The Baseball Diamond -- Descriptive Essay, Descript

The Baseball Diamond Many people don't understand the point in playing baseball. Why would someone swing a stick, hit a ball, and try to get back to where they started before the ball returns? What pleasure is there in that? Why not participate in a sport like wrestling or track where there is an obvious level of individual improvement and therefore pleasure. Well, I play baseball because of the love I have for the sport, and because of the feeling that overwhelms me every time I walk onto a baseball field. When I walk onto a field I am given the desire to better myself not only as an athlete, but also as a person. The thoughts and feelings I get drive me to work hard towards my goals and to be a better person. The most relevant example of these feelings is when I stepped on the field at Runyon Complex in Pueblo, Colorado during our high school state playoffs in 2003. This baseball field will always be an important place to me. It was two hours before our anticipated game against Manitou Springs, the second ranked team in the state. As I walked through the brick arches I heard nothing but honking traffic from blocks away. I got an eerie feeling when I saw all the smoke coming out of industrial factories, and noticed that no one else was there; I felt like I was in a ghost town. Our team started to go on to the field that we would be playing on to observe the differences in it. As I walked through the gate leading to the field, I was awestruck. It seemed as though this field was the only place in this strange neighborhood privileged enough to receive light from the blazing sun; standing on the field made it seem as though the creepy town had disappeared. The feeling overwhelmed me as I saw the flawless grass outfield and th... ...gout echoed with yells and high pitched whoops. The announcer began announcing our team to start the introduction for the game. Since I was the lead-off batter, my name was echoed over the park first. It was at this time that the feeling elevated; the feeling that makes every baseball field so special. As my teammates yelled for me, while I ran to the nearest baseline and faced the crowd, the feeling gave me goose bumps and raised the hairs on the back of my neck. The feeling is so amazing that it will keep me playing baseball for as long as possible because it makes my love for the sport that much more. I can't even begin to explain the complex feeling I get when I walk on a baseball field, but that feeling will always be cherished and hopefully when I pass on my love of baseball to others, they will too understand what that special diamond makes me feel like.

The Life & Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche :: Biographies Biographical Essays

The Life & Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche Philosophy Class Essay Born: 1844. Rocken, Germany Died: 1900. Weimar, Germany Major Works: The Gay Science (1882), Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883-1885), Beyond Good & Evil (1886), On the Genealogy of Morals (1887), MAJOR IDEAS Self deception is a particularly destructive characteristic of West Culture. Life is The Will To Power; our natural desire is to dominate and reshape the world to fit our own preferences and assert our personal strength to the fullest degree possible. Struggle, through which individuals achieve a degree of power commensurate with their abilities, is the basic fact of human existence. Ideals of human equality perpetuate mediocrity -- a truth that has been distorted and concealed by modern value systems. Christian morality, which identifies goodness with meekness and servility is the prime culprit in creating a cultural climate that thwarts the drive for excellence and self realization God is dead; a new era of human creativity and achievement is at hand. -- Great Thinkers In The Western World. By: Ian P. McGreal, 1992 PREFACE Much information is available on Mr. Friedrich Nietzsche, including many books that he wrote himself, during his philosophical career. I took this as a good sign I would find a fountain of enlightened material produced by the man. I've had to go through a bit of my own philosophical meditations to put my own value judgements aside, and truly look for the contributions Nietzsche gave to philosophy. Much of my understanding came only after I had a grasp of Neitzsche's history; therefore, I encourage you to read-up on his history before diving into his philosophy (see Appendix I). The modern Westerner might disagree with every aspect of his philosophy, but there are many things one must unfortunately admit are true (only if you put your morality aside). So, from here, I will present his contributions to philosophy, and do my best to delete my own opinions, other than to say that he was not the chosen topic of this paper out of any admiration. THE PHILOSOPHY OF FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE Sometimes philosophy is called "timeless," implying that it's lessons are of value to any generation. This may be hard to see in Nietzsche's work; but, we are assured that it was appropriate thought for his time. However, even Nietzsche's critics admit that his words hold an undeniable truth, as hard as it is to accept. Perhaps this is why his work is timeless, and has survived 150 years in print.

Will Canada Become The 51st St :: essays research papers

Is Canada going to be swallowed up by the United States? A political cartoon based on Pierre Trudeau's famous quote, 'Living next to you (the United States) is like sleeping with an elephant. No matter how friendly and even tempered is the beast, one is affected by every twist and grunt.'; was made. This means when something occurs in the United States, we too are affected. If the United States goes to war, because we belong to N.A.T.O., Canada would support their position. If McDonalds, an American based company, were to close down, then many Canadian workers would lose their jobs since McDonalds is well established in Canada. Many Canadian businesses are American owned, such as Ford, Burger King, Chevrolet, Wendy's, and Walmart to name a few. Also, many more sports teams are owned in America than in Canada. For example, only 5 hockey teams exist in Canada, while the United States has at least 5 times more teams. Our players must be payed in American funds, and one American dollar i s worth $1.50 in Canada. Those are some ways Canada is being swallowed by the United States.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, Canada is a valued trade partner for the Americans. For example, the United States has a dire need for our natural resources, such as water. Having polluted their own water supply, the now looks to Canada for the solution to their problem. If Canada were to become a part of the United States, our water would become polluted, forcing the United States government to buy even more clean water from another country for even more people. Also, the differences in our political systems would mean change for both the United States and Canada, which would doubtlessly upset millions of people. Would we have a President or a Prime Minister? Indeed, our 'assimilation' would be difficult. However, youth would have little trouble fitting in, since we wear the same clothes, listen to the same music, watch the same television shows, and play the same games.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  But how would the assimilation begin? The answer is simple. If Quebec were to win a referendum and leave Canada, we would lose much of our industry. After Quebec, the maritime provinces would also leave, which would cripple us further. In desperate need of a stable economy, we would begin negotiations with the United States. The House of Commons would become a meaningless symbol, along with many of our historical buildings and monuments.

Administrative Decentralization

In a centralized organization, the decisions are made by top executives or on the basis of pre-set policies. These decisions are then enforced through several tiers of the organization after gradually broadening the span of control until it reaches the bottom level.In a more decentralized organization, the top executives delegate much of their decision-making authority to lower tiers of the organizational structure. As a correlation, the organization is likely to run on less rigid policies and wider spans of control among each officer of the organization.This paper will consider administrative decentralization, the benefits and potential pitfalls as it pertains to local emergency services. The first section reviews the term administrative decentralization and its various forms. While its followed by the benefits and pitfalls in relations to local emergency servicesAdministrative decentralizationAdministrative decentralization seeks to redistribute authority, responsibility and financ ial resources for providing public services among different levels of governance. Its is the transfer of responsibility for proper planning, financing and public functions management from central government to the local governments, semi-autonomous public authorities or corporations, or area-wide, regional or functional authorities.An example of administrative decentralization is the power of a field office to settle certain claims against the central administration (decentralization â€Å"government† Encarta student 2008). Governments in developing countries have variety of administrative decentralization policies.These range from those that are more widespread in scope and designed to transfer development planning and management responsibilities to local units of government. Others have been more narrowly conceived, deconcentrating or reallocating administrative tasks among the units of central government.The three major forms of administrative decentralization — dec oncentration, delegation, and devolution — each have different featuresDeconcentrationThis is the weakest form of administrative decentralization and is used most often in unitary states. It distributes decision making, authority and financial and management responsibilities, among various tiers of the central government.It can simply shift responsibilities from the central government workers who are in the capital city to those working in local regions, provinces or districts, or it can create strong field management or local administrative capability under the supervision of   the central government ministries.DelegationDelegation is another form of administrative decentralization. It’s more extensive form of decentralization. It works by transferring of responsibility for decision making and administration through semi-autonomous bodies. Such bodies are not wholly controlled by the central government but they are somehow accountable to the government.This is usual ly done by designating responsibilities by creating various forms of public enterprise, housing authorities, transportation authorities, and special project implementation units. These bodies have an enormous caution in decision making. The organization may be excluded from certain law and constraints on regular civil service personnel. They may also charge the customers directly for product consumption.DevolutionDevolution is the third form of administrative decentralization. Governments delegates functions, by transferring authority for decision-making, finance, and management to semi-autonomous units of local government with corporate status.It usually transfers responsibilities for services to districts that elect their own mayors and councils, generate their revenues, and have independent authority to make investment decisions. In such a system, local governments have plain and lawfully recognized geographical boundaries over which they exercise power and within which they perf orm public functions.This form of administrative decentralization underlies nearly all political decentralization.Community services produced by local government include water provisions, wastewater disposal and creating and maintaining streets and parks, education and social welfare, infrastructure development and protecting the citizens’ legal security and the exercise of public authority and police power.Benefits of administrative decentralization in local emergency servicesIncrease coordination; since power has been brought closer to people, it makes the citizen contribute in one form or the other in reducing the risks of hazards. There is also increase in self reliance of the population at reducing risk of hazards and also helps in disaster prevention.Its also believe that bringing power close to people enhance vertical linkages and flexibility among the administrative agencies hence facilitating planning and implementation of local emergency service policies.Administrat ive decentralization also helps government in post-disaster relief compensation programs and international assistance may also act as ‘incentives’ for people to locate to disaster-prone areas. There’s also effectiveness in development and conservation, planning and implementation of various local emergency system.Potential pitfalls of administrative decentralization pertaining to local   emergency   Ã‚  servicesEquilibrium in empowerment; as stated earlier the objectives of a decentralized administration are good, this is characterized by public empowerment, effectiveness in development, increased efficiency and increased coordination. There is usually a problem in achieving equilibrium between the people of different geographic location or in different communities in people empowerment.Administrative decentralization; it's not absolute in its purpose nor is it always efficient or just. It may assist in programs that alleviate poverty or sustainable forest ma nagement but it is not always sufficient. It’s usually a long term process which is to be achieved in stages or phases. The local government also tends to lack the skills in proper management of disaster.Weak; decentralizing power does not mean doing away with control, hence it tend to be more effective under a strong central government. Hence effectiveness might not be accomplished under the weak form of government.Policies; administrative decentralization policies especially those involving devolution should address existing corruption and potential new structures before initiating the necessary change to address them.Staffs; another problem that tend to arise from this form of decentralization pertaining to the local emergency services is the transfer of power to officials who care more about their self interest than the welfare of the community. This can lead to corruption. Another problem may also arise when power is been devolve to an incompetent official.ConclusionCons idering the merit and demerits of administrative decentralization of governance, proper implementation and designation of power and it monitoring will help to prevent local emergencies and its proper management if it occurs. Its makes life better and brings out their innate potentials because they are allowed in the decision making process.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ReferencesDecentralization Thematic Team.(2008). Different forms of decentralization. Decentralization. Retrieved July 7, 2008. From www.ciesin.orgIan, Ferguson, Cherukat, Chandrasekhar an. (2004). What effect is decentralization having on the quest for sustainable forest management in the Asia-Pacific region?   Path and pitfalls of decentralization. Retrieved July 7, 2008. From www.itto.or.jpJean, Bonnal. (2008). A history of decentralization.   Decentralizatio n. Retrieved July 7, 2008. From www.ciesin.orgJohn, Cohen, Stephen, Peterson. (2008). Administrative Decentralization: A New Framework for Improved Governance, Accountability, and Performance. Retrieved July 7, 2008. From www.cid.harvard.

Inner City Neighborhoods

Writing 100 – Essay 4 One problem that faces inner city neighborhoods is boredom. Everyday residents may be scared to leave their homes late at night out of fear that something might happen because of danger. Whether it’s getting mug on the sidewalk or being held at gun point because someone wants to steal their car, any reason is a good enough reason for these residents to be scared for their lives. Residents have to come up with ideas to help improve the reoccurring crimes. I’m sure that political figures would also like to help these inner city neighborhoods, but don’t always have the funding to do so.Individuals who drop out of college or even high school at such a young age can’t do much with their lives because they have no skills to get them a job. One bad decision like having unprotected sex, can lead to failing at life which can cause pregnancies at an early age. These harmless children are forced to grow up in around people who won’ t make the right decisions for them at a young age which causes them to mistakenly make the same decisions that their parents made. Situations like these, where young children can’t get the help they need, are what cause high unemployment rates.Sadly, this doesn’t only happen in inner city neighborhoods. I’ve seen it happen in my own neighborhood with kids that I have grown up with and decided that certain decisions would be okay and those same decisions took over their lives and took away opportunities that they can now never get back. If there were more centers in inner city areas with either free or cheap activities for citizens, more kids, teens, and young adults would have activities or games to do instead of walking the streets.It would stop people from doing drugs, robbing stores, or hurting passersby on the sidewalk, from getting drunk and trying to take advantage of one another and making hurtful decisions. One example of a hurtful decision was in Janua ry of this year in Brooklyn. A New York City policeman was shot in the back of the head while pursuing a man who had reportedly been armed with a gun. I happen to know the policeman, Officer Brennan, who’s his young daughter and wife are what gave him the power to believe that he could make it through this tragedy.If people go to these centers, maybe they wouldn’t stay out as late. However, if they’re not free, it’s less money that they can spend on drugs and alcohol. These would be centers where one can rent equipment and a court to play select sports for a certain amount of time. For example, on Long Island there are plenty of things to do in almost any town and crime is lower. In the inner city neighborhoods people have less money and less activities. Having paintball arenas, airsoft arenas, and other controlled environments can be rewarding and reflecting of what good behavior should be like.I’m sure that spending the small amount of money, aro und ten dollars a group, for these activities or games wouldn’t be a problem because some people like to compete and play a lot of pick-up sport games with random people. Growing up in these places just might make future generations fall into the same bad path of doing drugs and the same wrongful decisions and getting into trouble or even getting killed. Every day in the newspapers or on the news you can read or hear about a new story where someone made a bad decision and some innocent person was accidentally harmed or killed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.The country has been coming out of a recent state of economic depression which caused various amounts of job loss across the country thus, giving too many people too much free time. And now that the hurricane came and wiped out the nice places, citizens now have less things to do on weekends and their days off from work. I think that crime will increase in these inner city neighborhoods because of these reas ons. I like to know that when I leave my house every day to go to school that I’m not going to die in a car accident because of someone recklessly driving to get away from the police.

Jury Nullification Paper Essay

Jury nullification is defined as when juries believe a case is unjust or wrong and may set free a defendant who violated the law. Jury nullification has been an option of a jury in the United States. In the legal system that we use today, jurors have the power to give a non-guilty verdict even when the evidence clearly shows that the defendant is guilty. In cases like this, the jurors decide that the certain laws should not be applied to the particular case or that the laws are unjust for the case. In other cases the jurors may believe that the laws are certainly bias against the defendant to begin with. The 14th amendment in our Constitution promises that all persons no matter race, sex, or religion are allowed due process and equal protection from the law. Today society find it vital to question to what extent a jury may take these laws and make them their own. In this paper it will explain whether ethnicity influences courtroom proceedings and judicial practices, summarize the arg uments for and against ethnicity-based jury nullification, include contemporary examples of ethnicity-based jury nullification and last but not least conclude by choosing a position for or against ethnicity-based jury nullification and defend your decision. A debate that has been going on for some time has always been race-based jury nullification. Jury nullification does have some good point in which it benefits the criminal justice system as it allows the jury to interpret the law and come up with an agreement based on their beliefs. There are reports and statistics that prove discrimination is alive and that a persons race does affect the length and severity of the punishment assigned to him or her. Racial- based nullification can be beneficial in addressing the unfair issues in the criminal justice system. According to the article, Race Based Jury Nullification, it indicated that Jury nullification occurs when a criminal- trial jury refuses to convict a defendant despite proof of guilt because the jurors believe the law is unjust or is being unjustly applied (Rivera). When this method is applied and used in an honest manner, it could possibly to help even out the playing fields for racial based jury nullification for minorities in t he courtroom when it is time for sentencing based on the law rather than on race. Many of the candidates picked to be a part of the jury knows about jury nullification. Anywhere in the world a jury just like a judge can nullify a criminal case. Based on race many of these cases are  nullified even though the evidence proves guilt. For example OJ Simpsons case proved that he was guilty but since the Rodney King incident occurred prior too, he was nullified by the jury. Often times it is not supported because it allows a biased judgment to be formed not based on guilt of the person but based on race. Majority of the times setting criminals free to commit the same crimes again. Being acquitted of all charges is usually how jury nullifications occur. Many believe that racial nullification should be possible for those that have committed non-violent crimes even if the evidence shows that the person is in fact guilty. The contribution to the criminal justice system is that this would allow the prison system to have more space for those that commit more violent crimes regardless of their race. As we see jury nullification can either be beneficial or it can truly destroy the criminal justice system. Courtrooms need to recognize that there needs to be no biases within the system or people need to be blindfolded before being a part of a case. There needs to be a model set forth in regards to the influence that justice should outweigh any feelings in regards to race and one should serve time for the crime that they was convicted of. African American, or Hispanic or minorities races apply society ought to come close to their effort and be aware of its supporting nature and their choice to practice their authority in benefit of their area. In all these cases, the juror should be educated through his or her viewpoint of what is just and unjust. An opinion paper mentioned that all Black Americans should partake in race- based jury nullification and that to do so would bring about changes in how the justice system handled minority cases, (Jemal, 1997). Other valid points are made b y Jemel, supporting his belief in race-based jury nullification by stating The system is designed to put blacks in jail for largely economic crimes while letting child molesters, rapist and murderers go free (1997). After doing all the necessary research, I stand to say that I am against race based nullification. As stated the juror knows what the defendant has done and yet still allows him or her to be acquitted of the crimes because they feel bad for them or the most used their race. These are biased reasons that should not be used when a person is involved with a criminal case. Race nullification either helps or hinders the system and we are always fighting for a better system. The 14th Amendment helps supports my stance by stating  that All persons receive a fair trial by their peers and that can have no effect at all on the decisions made by the jury. The jury is also sworn into the court by swearing on a Bible that they will not only take into consideration the evidence presented by both parties and that they will not allow for any personal feelings or personal bias to get in the way of their vote. Upon reading this paper it provide detailed information about the influence that ethnicity had on courtroom proceeds and judicial practices, the arguments that were for and against race based nullification with contemporary examples. Where I stand on this subject is evident based on my response and I am a firm believer in equality for all. Racism comes in all forms as we can see.

ICT and Society Essay

My mobile phone is a Nokia 6020. I got it a year ago, for my birthday. It is on a pay as you go tariff, and I have to pay it all my self. I have had to get myself a paper-round to contribute towards some of the costs. I use it to make phone calls, but mainly to text, and take pictures, with the camera. I often use the video camera to make low quality videos. I quite like the look of my phone but it is getting slightly old now. It is still a very good, basic phone however I think that the memory is much too small. It can acess the internet; but I don’t use that mainly because of the cost. Describe how you use the ICT technology. My phone is mostly used in the social category because I use it most to communicate with others. However, it can also come under the personal category because I use it to entertain myself by playing games on it among other things. Because I have to pay for it myself I tend not to spend as much as my friends, who’s parents pay for it. I am probably more conscious about the cost than them too. I am not someone who relies on it completely, I have lost it for a whole week before, without even realising. Saying this I do tend to text friends who don’t live near me. This way I can keep in touch with them. I would like to text them more but a phone is quite expensive to run and I would rather spread out my remaining money on other things. I also use my mobile to arrange outings with my school friends during the holidays or weekends. I like to text them because it is quick and easy. I don’t really use any kind of predictive text when I write text messages. This is becaus e I don’t really like it that much. The avantages of it is that it writes texts quicker with less movement of fingers. However it doesn’t have text talk words in the program, like â€Å"2moro† so therefore the text is longer and you can’t fit so much in the text. I find having a camera on the phone very useful too. Like most people I can take a picture any time, any where. This means I can caputure really cool pictures. I can send the good pictures to people via multimedia messages. If I’m on holiday they can see what I’m doing and generally keep in touch. Another thing which makes my phone more personal is the fact that I can change the background and the order of the lists in menu. I like to do this but it is quite complicated to do. I also use my phone for entertainment, I play games when I am bored like on the train. Although the games are not that advanced, they keep me entertained. I use the calculator appliance a bit but I can’t use it in school because the school has banned mobile’s. I often use the calander. The calander, if set, will remind me of people’s birthdays a week or so before. However it does take a while to set and add information. My phone also has an alarm, which I use when I am camping or sleeping in a hotel. I use most of the things that are on my phone and usually they work well. What are the advantages of using the ICT technology. One of the things which I find most useful about having a mobile phone, is having so many things on one device. It has endless uses all in one tiny object. It saves people carrying around lots of different devices each with one use. The other thing which I find most useful about having a mobile is that it gives me freedom. This is so important. My parents will let me go out and know that I can phone them at any time. They’ll say â€Å"well, as long as you have got your mobile with you†. For my parents, it gives them a slight chance to relax. My parents also know that they can log onto a website and track my phone, this is an advantage for them. Say, should the worst happen, I was hurt and got rushed to hospital. The paramedics could look at my phone and find ‘mum’ in my contacts and immediately let her know. Another reason for having a phone with lots of things on it, is money. It could actually save money, not having to buy a digital camera, ect. What are the disadvantages, if any, of the ICT technology. There were several studies recently that warned of a possible health risk to teens who use their phone a lot. It was worried about the waves that a phone uses damaging heavy users. Now I don’t use my phone that much but I don’t exactly like the thought. Nothing has been proved yet but, then again, nothing has been not proved. So at the moment I am just cautious. For me, the fact that my parents can track my phone is generally a bad thing. I don’t want my parents to know exactly where I am all the time, they’ve got to learn to let go a little. But if I got into trouble I think that I would be really glad so as long as they only use it when they are really worried it’s OK. The fact that it costs quite a lot to run a phone also is a bad thing. Handsets cost a lot to buy, the better and more features it has, the more expensive the price. Packages where users are lured into by the promise of â€Å"free weekend texts† or â€Å"100 free picture mes sages† are often not right for the customers. Most people end up paying a set amount per month, say à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½20. That’s fine if they would use à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½20 credit on pay as you go tariff but most won’t. They don’t realise that they’d get a better deal if they went onto another tariff. I think this is how phone companies make all their money. Bullying is another major problem. More and more, younger and younger children possess phones for all the reasons I have listed above. Bullying via text messages is becoming a substantial problem, big enough for many schools to start to ban mobile phones. This leads us onto the next disadvantage. Many schools have banned phones completely. My school still allows us to have phones in school however we’re not allowed to use them or get them out during the day. We can turn them on at the end of the school but not otherwise. If a teacher sees them they confiscate them. This is a real pain because a parent needs to come in and collect it. A wider problem is security. If you have a phone apparently some hackers can hack onto phones, steal personal information and stuff. Also having a phone makes you a target to thieves and muggers. They will just whip your phone anytime. It has now been made harder for thieves as you can block the SIM card and make it un-useable. However if you take out the blocked SIM, and put in another the handset will still work perfectly. This still makes stealing a phone worth it. What companies need to develop is a way of blocking the handset too. If I lived and the mobile phone wasn’t around today I wouldn’t be able to keep in touch with my friends as easily or arrange to meet up with them. My parents would feel less comfortable with me going out so I would have less freedom and if I got into trouble I couldn’t ring for help. The mobile is so convienient that many people would have to change too. So although there seem to be more disadvantages than advantages I still find a mobile the most useful piece of IT I use, secondary only to the computer. This is simply because it gives me the freedom I want in more than one way. The freedom to go out without my parents worrying and the freedom to walk around with one little device in my pocket.