Into Thin Air

The Tragedy On Everest The preventable mistakes caused by several guides caused several climbers to perish. As a group of climbers get closer and closer to the top of the world, a freak storm arrives and mistakes are made, transforming what should have been the greatest days of the climbers’ lives into a battle for survival and for some, their last moments on Earth. The guides on Mount Everest made several mistakes. There were multiple teams which tried to summit on one day, not taking into consideration the possibly fatal results of the bottleneck effect on the climb.On the summit climb, a number of different mishaps confronted them causing the climbers to fall behind schedule. This caused most of the climbers and guides to be in a poor position on the mountain when the storm arrived (Krakauer 11). This storm trapped and killed several guides and climbers. Time delays were a huge contributing cause of this tragedy and the majority of time issues were caused by the guides. Bef ore they summited, they had a set schedule which would allow the climbers to return to base camp safely in a reasonable time (Krakauer 7). Bottlenecks caused a significant delay in ascent (Storm Over Everest).Too much time reaching and celebrating on the summit caused delays. Rob Hall ( guide) did not abide by the rules of the turn-around time (Krakauer 11). This was a vital element in the outcome of whether he and his clients would live or die. Hubris was a major problem for the guides that led to the demise of many climbers. In this case, some guides did not use oxygen masks (Storm Over Everest). This increased the risk of the climb and made it more likely that they could be incapacitated and unable to perform the duties of a guide as necessary and endangering the customers (Krakauer 9).Regardless of their climbing experience, the safety of the customer should have been put first. Hubris was also relevant when the guides got behind schedule and thought that they could disregard th eir own safety rules without quickening the descent down the mountain. The final error the guides committed was with their decision-making and priorities on the climb. Their intent was to get as many climbers to the summit as possible for their business and reputation interests( Krakauer 4).They did not consider fully the safety of the climber’s summiting. Another issue was Anatoli Boukreev’s decision to descend ahead of his customers indicating more self-interest than interest in the safety of the group (Boukreev et al. 3). In many instances, the guides placed a greater importance on reputation, money, and business and in one case personal safety over the safety of the climbers. Although there might be other causes of the disaster, if the guides put the climbers safety first, then there would have been much less chance of a bad outcome.The tragedy cannot be blamed on the sherpas because if the guides had properly reacted to the mistakes that the sherpas made and sent the climbers back to camp, then every one would have been safe. I do not feel like you can blame this on the physical condition of a few individuals because the guides had the responsibility of making sure that all climbers were cleared for health conditions that would have hampered their ability to climb. Due to the decisions the guides made during the tragedy, some people who perished may still be alive.In general, the guides put money, pride and reaching the summit ahead of the safety of the climbers. This ultimately was the deciding and most influential cause for the 1996 Mount Everest tragedy. Works Cited Boukreev, Anatoli, Jon Krakauer, and Lopsang Jangbu Sherpa. â€Å"What Really Happened In The Thin Air†. MountainZone. Demand Media Sports, 29 August 1996. Web. 27 October 2011. Krakauer, Jon. â€Å"Into Thin Air. † Outside. Mariah Media Network, September 1996. Web. O5 October 2011. Storm Over Everest. Dir. David Breashears. Perf. Neil Beidleman, David Breashear s, and Guy Cotter. Frontline. 2008. Film.

Role Management in Workplace

Role Management in the Workplace Role Management to me seems to be all about delegation. It helps you to decide who does what and who handles what. Management in psychology probably would be the same way designate responsibilities and also delegate so that each person could know what it is that they are going to do. I would say put people where they excel if you know someone has a strong suit then that is where they will best excel and get the job done. If a person is a great school counselor then they should be counseling at a school, if they work well in a clinical setting then that is the setting they should be in. Ayame may not be good in the confrontational aspect, and that is probably for not for her. Sometimes people are soft-spoken and don’t deal well with confrontation so in turn how can you really be motivated to do something that really doesn’t make you happy. I think it is really hard to receive feedback if people really can’t understand where you are coming from and maybe her culture isn’t really a confrontational culture and she is more reserved and laid back. Then again that may not really be the role for Ayame in delegating it is a manager’s responsibility to see what skills their employees have and what they are good at. Since Ayame is a project manager that means that she is in charge of managing other people and if she isn’t motivated to do her job how can she really motivate a team of people to get their jobs done as well. Everyone has their role in a workplace and if they can’t handle it then maybe that really isn’t the role for them. Cultural Background Some countries are more reserved and not quite so confrontational and maybe that is what Ayame’s problem is. Americans are aggressive and Japanese tend to be a little more laid back and hard working. Herzberg believes that with job satisfaction is what motivated people especially Japan. The way she is receiving feedback may be a way that she isn’t used to because she is not handling the situation confrontational. She may not be really comfortable with how things are done at her job because not all cultures handle things the same way. It seems as though Ayame may not have that go hard mentality and that’s just because of what she is used to. The Japanese are not like Americans and where they are different is that Americans can be confrontational whereas Japanese are more reserved. Ayame may just need to meet with her boss and find out what it is that she needs to do differently or maybe that isn’t the job for her. She can have a sit down and address ways she feels that she may excel better and see if those ways work and if they can implement them, because not everything has to be confrontational and some people handle it better with finesse. Motivation Techniques Motivation is the process by which a person’s effort are energized, directed, and sustained toward attaining a goal. I think the goal setting theory is great theory because sometimes goals push people further so that they can go further than they normally would if there were no goals set in place. Then when you are rewarding employees for achieving those goals it makes it even better because it feels as though their hard work has paid off and that just makes them want to work harder. I think when goals are put in front of you if you are a harder worker then you are going to do what you need to make sure you achieve them. When employers reward employee’s incentives do make people work harder because it means that there is something to look forward to. I also think a good technique is to see your manager working hard too it’s one thing to just designate but to help your employees and take time to make sure they understand the task makes them feel inspired and shows them that you care and that you actually want them to succeed. References 1). Decenzo, D. , & Coulter, M. (2011). Fundamentals of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications (7th ed. ). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall.

How did developments in the Balkans lead to the outbreak of the war?

What was the role of Serbia? Austria? Russia? What was the aim of German policy in July 1914? Did Germany want a general war? The Balkans is the historic name given to the states in southeastern Europe. Only five states in the Balkans were free from being ruled by Turkey. The people that lived in these areas were considered Slavs. Once Turkey stopped ruling these five states, they wanted to save the remaining states under Turkish rule. The movement was called the Pan-Slavism movement. This movement wanted to unite all of the Slavs including Russia, and break down Turkey and Austria-Hungary. Because Austria wanted to disable the movements of Slavs, they annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Balkan Wars prepared the way for World War I by satisfying some of the aspirations of Serbia and thereby giving a great impetus to the Serbian desire to annex parts of Austria-Hungary; by alarming Austria and stiffening Austrian resolution to crush Serbia; and by giving causes of dissatisfaction to Bulgaria and Turkey (â€Å"Balkan Wars† 2007) In July 1914, Germany sought war and started what we called now the World War I. The German policy at that tome was centered on the following: a. )illustrating Russia as the aggressor, b. an Austrian ultimatum to Serbia had to be designed to preclude a negotiated settlement, c. ) Italy had to be convinced to join the German side through whatever means and d.) as many secret military measures as possible had to be taken to facilitate mobilization once it was announced. Generally, Germany with its goals was evidently setting the stage for a successful general war (Copeland 2001 pp. 85-87). 2. Assess the settlement of Versailles. What were its good points? Bad points? Was the peace too harsh or too conciliatory? Could it have ensured peace in Europe? How might it have been improved? The Treaty of Versailles seemed to satisfy only the â€Å"Big Three† which are Britain, France and America. For France, it appeared as if Germany had been smashed; for Britain, it was satisfied that enough of Germany's power had been left to act as a buffer to communist expansion from Russia ; and for America, it was just happy that the proceedings were over. They kept Germany weak yet strong enough to stop the spread of communism. They kept the French border safe from another German attack and created the organization, the League of Nations, whose was to end warfare throughout the world. However, it left a mood of anger throughout Germany as it was felt that as a nation Germany had been unfairly treated. Above all else, Germany hated the clause blaming them for the cause of the war and the resultant financial penalties the treaty was bound to impose on Germany. Those who signed it became known as the â€Å"November Criminals†. Many German citizens felt that they were being punished for the mistakes of the German government in August 1914 as it was the government that had declared war not the people. On the other hand, the Treaty of Versailles brought forth peace settlements to materialize all over Europe particularly in Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. But because of the harsh conditions of the treaty, Germany's acceptance of the provisions did not last. In 1933, Hitler refused to pay the reparations. This instigated the rise of power of the Nazis (Trueman 2008). 3. Discuss France’s foreign policy problems after the Versailles Treaty. By what means could it best obtain security? Was the invasion of the Ruhr wise? Should France have signed the Locarno pact? Should it have made an alliance with Soviet Russia? French defense policy right through the inter-war decades (1919–39) was consistently defensive and non-aggressive – consistent with France’s status as a territorially satisfied ‘status quo’ power. The Versailles Treaty caused a financial imperative in which dominated France's foreign policy through-out the twenties, leading to the 1923 occupation of the Ruhr in order to force Germany to pay the reparations required under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The occupation of the Ruhr led to a collapse of the German economy. There was massive inflation and large increase in unemployment. Germany was unable to pay, and obtained support from the United States. Thus, the Dawes Plan was negotiated after President Raymond Poincare's occupation of the Ruhr, and then the Young Plan in 1929. The French occupation of the Ruhr had swung German opinion to the Right. It encouraged Hitler and his Fascists in Bavaria that somehow led to World War II (Price, 1969). More so, French pursuit of economic cooperation with Germany from 1919-1922 was perceived as â€Å"an initial stage† of â€Å"an important strain – in some respects the dominant strain–in France’s postwar foreign policy† (Blatt, 2001). Meanwhile, the Locarno pact led to the improvement of the relationship between France and Germany wherein series of treaties of mutual guarantee and arbitration were signed that guaranteed the common boundaries of Belgium, France, and Germany as specified in the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 (â€Å"Locorno Pact, 2007). Furthermore, France’s leaders were aware, however, that she could not defeat Germany alone. Therefore, French foreign and defense policy in 1936–39 was heavily determined by a quest for a firm British commitment to underwrite French security. This, however, was not obtained until February 1939. Another problem was the French need to find a counterweight to Germany in Eastern Europe. This had traditionally been Russia (through the Franco-Russian alliance of 1894). That union had foundered, however, on the ideological hostility of French political conservatives to Russia’s Bolshevik regime after 1917. This diplomatic problem was compounded by geo-politics: Russia had no common frontier with Germany after the territorial adjustments of 1919 had re-created Poland. Thus, even the French Left’s desire for an updated Franco-Russian (Franco-Soviet) defensive alliance was not self-evidently the answer to France’s strategic exposure, if faced by further German aggression as seen in 1914 (Evans &Godin. 2004). 4. How was Hitler able to defeat France so easily in 1940? Why was the air war against Britain a failure? Why did Hitler invade Russia? Why did the invasion fail? Could it have succeeded? Hitler was able to swiftly defeat France because of the German's strategic boldness and operational dash. Actually, the French forces could have been able to fight the German offensive that opened on 10 May 1940 to a standstill because they have more superior design and more combat capabilities. But because the forces were deployed all over France, their defenses were easily breached. However, the air strikes of Germany in Great Britain did not experience the same victory as it had with its first conquest. There were several reasons for this defeat of Hitler, including the superiority of the British Spitfire over German fighters and limited fuel supply. The main factor that caused the German's strategy. In the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe concentrated on attacking the British air fields. Despite British superiority in aerial combat, their air fields were being steadily degraded and were damaged. If the Germans kept were able to constantly attacked the British air fields, the would have gained the upper hand in the battle. But Hitler's order of attacking British cities, to terrorize the British people into submission have caused the British air force's to secure their air fields and gain tactical advantages. â€Å"The Beginning of World War II†). Hitler suffered a major military and political problem in his quest for the invasion of Britain. He was dubious about his own plan. The ideological reason why Hitler was not fully committed to invading Britain was for him, it would have been a distraction. Britain contained neither the space, nor the raw materials, that he believed the new German Empire needed. But for Hitler's po int of view, there was an alternative to invading Britain: he could invade the Soviet Union. Both Hitler and his military planners knew that Germany's best chance of victory was for the war in Europe to be finished swiftly (Rees, 2001, p. 1). At first, the Soviet invasion was successful because of their German Blitzkrieg technique that cause annihilation in Russia (Rees, 2001, p. 2). The tables were turned when Hitler set in motion one of the bitterest conflicts of the 20th century – the Battle of Stalingrad. In the spring of 1942, he launched a two-pronged attack. The ferocity of the fighting at Stalingrad shocked the Germans, who were used to the relative ease of their Blitzkrieg tactics (Rees, 2001, p. ). The Germans could not have won the battle because Stalin did everything he could to prove to the Germans that they will not back down from the German's power. He utilized every Soviet to defend their territory. 5. Trace the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. How important was Gorbachev in transforming the political and economic atmosphere of the Soviet Union? Why did he fail? How did things change under Boris Yeltsin? What problems still face Russia today? On the night of November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall—the most potent symbol of the cold-war division of Europe—came down. The collapse of the Berlin Wall was the culminating point of the revolutionary changes sweeping East Central Europe in 1989. Throughout the Soviet bloc, reformers assumed power and ended over 40 years of dictatorial Communist rule which was called the â€Å"Revolutionary Wave† that started in Poland followed through by Czechoslovakia, Romania and other eastern European countries. In 1985, the assumption of power in the Soviet Union by a reformer, Mikhail Gorbachev, paved the way for political and economic reforms in East Central Europe. Gorbachev abandoned the â€Å"Brezhnev Doctrine† — the Soviet Union’s policy of intervening with military force, if necessary, to preserve Communist rule in the region. Instead, he encouraged the local Communist leaders to seek new ways of gaining popular support for their rule (â€Å"Fall of Communism in Eastern Europe, 1989†). However, Gorbachev's â€Å"balancing act† between reform and hard-line Communist forces within the Soviet Union helped create a power vacuum which unleashed forces that destroyed the Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union from within. Ultimately, Gorbachev’s failure to lead and inability to act decisively brought about his own downfall(â€Å"Tear Down This Wall: The Fall of Soviet Communism in Central and Eastern Europe,† 2008). After the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union, Boris Yeltsin became the freely elected leader of Russia. During his term, there was incoherence in the party and Yeltsin had a debilitated hold on the Russian people. His leadership was erratic and often crude, and the democrat often ruled in the manner of a czar. He showed no reluctance to use the power of the presidency to face down his opponents, as he did in a showdown in 1993 when he ordered tanks to fire on the parliament, dominated by openly seditious Communists, and in 1994 when he embarked upon a harsh military operation to subdue the breakaway republic of Chechnya. That costly and ruinous war almost became his undoing, and it flared ferociously back to life in 1999, continuing to rage long after his resignation (Berger, 2007, p. 1). Generally, modern Russia is still experiencing an economic crisis and many social problems caused by costly mistakes committed by their leaders. There is a large number of unemployment that resulted millions of Russians to live in poverty. With this kind of living condition, Russian are incline to have short life expectancy (â€Å"Troubled Times – political, economic and social problems in Russia† 1999). 6. How do you account for the continued vitality of Christianity in a secular age? What role should the church play in the modern world? Should it involve itself with the political affairs of the world? In this regard, discuss John Paul II’s papacy. Will Church and State come into conflict again? The Church is a living community, lay and ecclesiastical, dedicated to the moral and spiritual education of its followers and the whole modern Western society in general. The Church is one of the great transmitters and mediators of the whole moral and spiritual wealth of the past into the present-day world, a mission which transcends sectarian divisions and particular formal moral and theological beliefs. Its teaching mission calls for not merely preserving the ideals and beauties of the past, but vigorously translating them into an idiom for the modern world . For centuries the Church has exerted a profound and incalculable spiritual and cultural influence in many parts of the world, helping to shape men's minds, and the motives which govern their actions. In terms of meddling in political affairs, the Church has the role of peacemaker. A number of religious leaders particularly the Pope encourage a more favorable climate for the peaceful diplomatic settlement of disputes. A Pope can use its moral prestige to mobilize public opinion in behalf of peace and its diplomatic apparatus to encourage conciliation (Rostow, 1968). This role is clearly seen during the papacy of Pope John Paul II from 1978 to 2005. During his term, he had met with various political leaders such as Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat and Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. He facilitated these talks to ensure that these leaders are not abusing their power and most importantly that they are doing their jobs to protect and serve their constituents. However, the Church should not push further its participation with political matters so as not to aggravate these political leaders. The Church should act as facilitators of peace and order and not as implementors because that is the role of the government. Doing the latter would mean that Church is bypassing the function of the government that would eventually lead to a conflict. In simpler terms, the Church deals with the eternal order that pertains to eternal salvation while the State deals with the temporal order, which is concerned with the here and now, the material well-being of citizens (â€Å"The Role of the Church in Society† 2007).

Strategic Management Accounting in University Essay

Strategic Management Accounting in University - Essay Example The strategies are implemented with the help of a number of activities whose progress has to be assessed in order to control the activities and assure the achievement of the goals of the organisations various type of performance indicators are used by the organisation. In this segment the various forms of performance indicators used by the organisations including those which are used by the University of Newland has been analysed to assess the present techniques used by the management of the of University of Newland and identify the alternative techniques which can be used by the university to measure the performance. 2.1 Traditional method Traditionally organisations used to measure their performance with the help of various financial techniques like ratio analysis, trend analysis etc. These techniques were used to evaluate the performance of the companies or other organisations and the results were often compared with that of the desired level of the organisation which is also term ed as benchmark. Ratio analysis is done on the historical data that is after the activities have already been done and the financial statements have been prepared. Most of the data used in ratio analysis are mainly used from the financial statements. The ratio analysis helps to ascertain the financial position of the organisation as well as the profitability and the managerial performance of the organisation. This is a very useful and convenient performance indicator which is prevalent in today’s time also. The main disadvantage of ratio analysis is that ratio analysis uses historical data which cannot be used to analyse the ongoing performance of the organisation. Another disadvantage of this kind of performance measurement tool is that through this type of analysis... The paper tells that every organization whether it is a profit making organization or non-profit making organization has various vision and mission. The objectives or the organisations are focussed on this achievement of the vision and mission of the organisation. The organisation at various time adopt a number of strategies to achieve the mission of the organisation. These strategies are focussed on the objectives of the organisation. To achieve the organisational objectives it is very important to control the activities of the organisation. In this regard tools and techniques of management accounting can be used to control the organisational activities and direct them towards the attainment of the organisational goals. Thus strategic management accounting helps the mangers to take strategic decisions by providing useful financial and nonfinancial information. After analysing the strategic environment, costing and budgeting techniques it can be concluded that the education environme nt is quite favourable to successfully run universities but the costing and budgeting techniques used by the University is quite outdated and the University must adopt the newer approaches of cost allocation and budgeting which would improve the strategic position and efficiency of the organisation. The organisation should also adopt the newer performance indicators which would not only increase the efficiency of the organisation but will also help the organisation in achieving the strategic goals.

Discuss the benefits and environmental implications of applying Essay

Discuss the benefits and environmental implications of applying composts and other organic amendments to agricultural land - Essay Example These include sewage sludges, municipal solid wastes, urban yard refuses, food industry residues, wood processing wastes, and agricultural crop residues; these are produced in considerable quantities by the human community, particularly in urban, highly populated areas, state Senesi et al (1996). Besides their application to agricultural land after appropriate treatment, other alternatives for their disposal are incineration, land filling, and discharge to water bodies. However, the most environmentally safe and economically satisfactory solution is the application of composts and other organic amendments to agricultural land. â€Å"This choice also provides advantages which may result in soil fertility and agricultural production benefits† (Senesi et al, 1996, p.533). Organic wastes and residues of any nature require appropriate treatment before soil application. ... conomic benefits to agriculture, the measures to prevent adverse environmental outcomes, alternative options, and whether benefits outweigh negative effects will be examined. BENEFITS OF APPLYING COMPOSTS AND OTHER ORGANIC AMENDMENTS TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS The application of compost benefits the biological, chemical and physical properties of soil. Biologically, compost promotes the development of fauna and microflora, reduces plants’ susceptibility to attack by parasites, and supports the faster root development of plants. Chemically, compost has beneficial outcomes on soil in several ways. It â€Å"increases nutrient content, turns mineral substances in soil into forms available to plants, and regulates the addition of minerals to soil, particularly nitrogenous compounds† (EPA, 1994, p.87). Additionally, compost serves as a buffer in making minerals available to plants, and provides a source of micronutrients. Moreover, compost improves numerous physical characteristic s of the soil including the soil’s â€Å"texture, water retention capacity, infiltration, resistance to wind and water erosion, aeration capacity, and structural and temperature stability† (EPA, 1994, p.87). In Tigray Region of Ethiopia, the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development undertook since 1998 the production of compost as a part of its extension package. By 2007, at least 25% of the farmers were making and using compost. The success of this approach is emphasized by the doubling in the quantity of grain yield between 2003 and 2006, from 714 to 1,354 thousand tonnes. At the same time, since 1998, there has also been a steady decrease in the use of chemical fertiliser from 13.7 to 8.2 thousand tonnes (Asmelash, Araya, Egziabher et al, 2007, p.19). Other regions of Ethiopia are also promoting

What I have learned from men Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

What I have learned from men - Research Paper Example In my opinion, most of her arguments are valid however she overlooks certain facts by making false generalizations. The article deserves a lot of credits since it offers a clear explanation to the topic. The writer has used both a sarcastic and a serious tone to drive her message home. It is a dependable source of information for the topic since it gives credit where it is due. The author does not favor any gender and she criticizes both men and women characters. Although her main aim is to explain the fact that women should change their characters, she does not appreciate a woman’s natural character. As a woman writer, it is expected that she would defend women but instead she criticizes them. This criticism allows the reader to explore her views more closely and to clarify her views. Ehrenreich does not agree with the fact that women are the way they are because they were created that way. She considers that as a fallacy and takes firms stands to her arguments. I accord with most of her arguments, but she seems to get the fact of diversity wrong. Men and women are naturally different and very diverse in their character. However, she does not seem to give value to diversity, and her believe is that women are the way they are because they haven’t tried changing. Ehrenreich is very bitter about the expectation of the society that women should always act in a soft manner. She reiterates that it is not the job of a woman to be polite. The writer seems to have little discernment for politeness, and all her emphasis is on women and men equality. She considers that if women get to be harsh like men, gender equality will be achieved and gender-based exploitation will be history. She strongly criticizes the normality of women being soft in conversations. She does not see the reason why women should act ‘good’ by being soft and yet they it has little or no benefit

An Analysis Using the ECLS-K dataset, Researching correlations between Statistics Project

An Analysis Using the ECLS-K dataset, Researching correlations between Student Academic Achievement and Parental Involvement - Statistics Project Example For a student, there are many distractions since they are undergoing growth and need to practice different ways of making decisions. These distractions can range from the need to join clubs to intramurals or even soccer. In my opinion, these are social practices necessary in schools but pose a great challenge when it comes to choosing perfect study habits and concentration for learning and achievement of success. From many researches done in the previous years, it is evident that involvement of parents is incredibly beneficial to the success of children and adolescents in both academic and general life learning. With an active family involved, the entire programs involved in early childhood, middle, elementary and even high schools are greatly enhanced, and their outcomes are considered more effective. Although most people relate this involvement with only academic success, the parent-child relation assists also in student attitude, sense of well being, grades, homework readiness, and educational aspirations. This relationship is essential to all students despite their level of study. Statistics have showed that a positive relationship between the parents and their children especially in high schools have caused a decline in the come to of school drop outs with variables like educational aspirations, school retention and homework being the indicators to motivation caused or expounded by parents. This research paper is aimed at providing various types of parental involvement in the academic success of their children, but with regard to other factors. Some of the motivational aspects that are associated to parental involvement are autonomy, school engagement, self-regulation, motivation to read, intrinsic /extrinsic motivation and mastery goal orientation. Student academic achievement can be impacted greatly by parenting practices. Their positive participation in all school activities can be used to

Ocado Chief Executive Tim Steiner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ocado Chief Executive Tim Steiner - Essay Example Ensuring utility in its services is another corporate social responsibility action that is taken by Ocado. This involves meeting consumers’ needs with respect to product description, quality, and delivery time. Significance of the action to market expansion and the company’s initiatives that include significant coverage of its physical market by van suggests this. The delivery initiative indicates commitment to customers’ needs that include delivery of actual products and quality of products. I also believe that Ocado recruits employees from the community around it in in order to empower people economically. This further has the effect of integrating the community into a business entity and developing a loyalty towards market caption and retention, a phenomenon that has occurred for the company. Lastly, Ocado is ensuring environmental sustainability as a corporate social responsibility initiative because the society is environmentally conscious and a contrary action would discourage them from the organization, especially in the competitive environment that allows consumers options of suppliers.   Ã‚  Ã‚   The pyramid of corporate social responsibility starts with the economic responsibilities at the base, then legal, ethical and ends with philanthropic responsibilities at the top. In regards to Ocado’s economic responsibilities, it turns over nearly eight hundred million pounds every year. It has more than three hundred and sixty thousand customers and more than six thousand employees (Erickson 2009, 161).   In terms of its legal responsibilities, for the most part it complies with regulations in the food retail industry. However, in 2012, it undercut Waitrose products unfairly in a manner deserving of legal action but it was not sued. In addition, the company makes it clear that it does not donate to political parties,

Advantages and disadvantages of the FairTax Act Term Paper - 2

Advantages and disadvantages of the FairTax Act - Term Paper Example In this regard, this essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Fair Tax Act proposed in the U.S. To start with, the Fair Tax Act would result into several advantages to the citizens by using fair tax system. Firstly, the fair tax system is simple when compared to the existing system of taxation. One of the major aims of tax reforms is to simplify the taxation codes in order to save tax payers energy in terms of time and resources required to comply with tax returns (Garner, 2005). The existing federal taxation system is complex because of the many types of returns expected to be complied with making tax payers and even the government to incur extra expenses to acquire resources, such as documentations, that can help in compliance. In addition, different organizations have to higher financial experts to guide them in compliance to the federal tax code. Therefore, using a fair tax system would result into minimal usage of resources to comply with the taxation system hence saving the tax payers the additional costs associated with the existing tax code (Garner, 2005). Implementation of the Fair Tax Act would result into increased development in economic terms. According to Jokisch and Kotlikoff, implementation of the fair tax system would removes payroll taxes that reduce significant portions of generated income (2007). This makes sense because the fair tax plan taxes expenditure as opposed to the income thereby motivating people to work harder in order to generate more income for their personal development. In addition, the fact that the fair tax plan taxes consumption and not income encourages citizens to reduce their expenditure and increase on their savings something that indirectly stimulates economic growth. Lastly, the implementation of Fair Tax Act would result into ‘fairness’ in taxation of people or

Combustion of a series of Alcohols Essay Example for Free

Combustion of a series of Alcohols Essay The larger the surface area over which the reaction can occur, and the faster the reaction rate. This is because small particles have a large surface area in relation to their volume more particles are exposed and available for collision this means more collisions take place so the reaction is faster. Oppositely large particles have small surface area in relation to their volume fewer particles are exposed and available for collisions. This means less collisions and a slower reaction. To ensure that my test will be fair I have to keep all these factors the same except for one, the concentration. I will have to control the temperature of the room; the particle size will be same as I will shake the substance so it will be equally diffused. Hypothesis I predict that the higher the concentration of hydrochloric acid the faster the reaction occurs. The lower the concentration the slower the reaction is. Supporting information I base this hypothesis on the collision theory as I know that concentration affects the reaction greatly. This is because when there is a higher concentration the particles are closely packed together and there are more successful collisions occurring, thus making the reaction happen quicker. Preliminary For my preliminary I have used various concentrations of hydrochloric acid and 4cm of magnesium ribbon. The concentrations that I decided to experiment was he reason why I am doing a preliminary experiment is so that I know which concentrations of hydrochloric acid to use that would make my experiment more convenient. For the actual preliminary experiment I reacted hydrochloric acid with magnesium ribbon to see how long it took. I did this by watching when the magnesium ribbon had stopped reacting and disappeared. Although I was just using this method to find out how long a particular concentration took to finish reacting I attached a glass syringe to my conical flask to observe how much hydrogen was being produced, so that I could be prepared when it came to doing my actual experiment. The table below shows the amount of hydrochloric acid and water I used for a certain percent and the time taken for the magnesium ribbon to fully stop reacting. Volume of HCL (ml) Volume of H2O % of concentration Time taken for the mg ribbon to disappear (in seconds). From looking at the information from my preliminary I have decided to use the following concentrations for my actual experiment: 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%. The reason why I have decided to use these percentages of concentrations is because even though it shows a variety it will not be as time consuming as 10% concentration of hydrochloric acid took 1205 seconds which was approximately 20 minutes. 10% concentration took so long that I didnt have enough time, there for I left it anonymous. I also realised that even though I experiment 20% of hydrochloric acid it will still take long, there for I decided to lower the amount of magnesium ribbon so I decided to use 3. 5cm instead of 4cm. From doing my preliminary I have decided to repeat my experiment 3 times because this will give me a more reliable results to choose from and an average. This also will be less time consuming then repeating it 5 times. The preliminary experiment also helped my produce a better plan because I learnt that for 100% of concentration the reaction takes place quite quickly there for watching the stop watch had to be done very quickly but correctly. Plan: The apparatus that I will be needing for experiment and why: 3. 5cm of magnesium ribbons to react with HCL Stop watch to measure how long it took for the magnesium ribbon to stop reacting. Hydrochloric acid (1m) to react with the magnesium ribbon Measuring cylinder to measure the concentration of H20 and HCL Pipette to measure smaller concentrations of H20 and HCL Retort stand to hold the syringe Conical flast for the reaction Thermometer to measure room temperature Syringe to measure the volume of hydrogen produced Ruler to measure 3. 5cm of magnesium ribbon Scissors to cut the magnesium ribbon Distilled water to add with the concentrations of HCL Sand paper to sand the magnesium ribbon 1. I will firstly collect all the equipment needed for my experiment, then measure them to the exact measurement. I will start with 100% concentration of hydrochloric acid which will contain no distilled water and 10ml concentration. I will then measure my magnesium ribbon to 3. 5cm and sand it 8 times on each side making sure it is fair. Using the measuring cylinder and pipette I will put my hydrochloric acid into the conical flask. 2. To ensure that the magnesium ribbon doesnt get stuck I will coil the magnesium ribbon with a clean sterilised ruler. 3. I will then attach the syringe onto the retort stand. Then I will attach my conical flask with the syringe. 4. Because I want this test to be fair I cannot do it on my own so my partner will start the stopwatch as soon as I drop the magnesium ribbon into the hydrochloric acid. Then I will seal the conical flask with the cork. 5. Every 10 seconds my partner will tell my the time on the stop watch and then I will look at the syringe to see what the volume of gas produced is. I will note this down very quickly. 6. After the reaction has fully stopped. I will empty the conical flask, then start the same process again but for 80% concentration which is 8ml of hydrochloric acid and 2ml of distilled water. This process will happen for all 5 concentrations. 7. After experimenting all 5 concentrations I will repeat the same process 3 times to ensure my results are fair and reliable. Keeping my experiment fair: making sure all equipment is clean from unwanted substances. sanding the magnesium ribbon same times on each side. hile my partner starts stop watch, I quickly drop magnesium ribbon so it is done at the same time. Use the same length of magnesium ribbon, checking it is exactly 3. 5cm. Safety issues:aking sure I wear my goggles at all times. Tying hair up. Tuck in stalls, and stand up during experiment. Making sure I handle all the equipment correctly. If there is any spillage, quickly wiping it with paper towels. Obtaining evidence: 100% Time (sec) Volume 1 Volume 2 volume 3 Average 1.To find my average number of hydrogen produced I added the 3 volumes together then divided by 3. The answer most close I decided was my average. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.

Building Information Modeling In Site Management Construction Essay

Building Information Modeling In Site Management Construction Essay The construction industry is ever evolving with increasing performance demand. Project handover deadlines are shorter, costs are tighter, regulation more stringent, project briefs are more complex, construction procurement methods more varied, Technology forever developing, parallel to technology quality more difficult to achieve and maintain. How do we, as construction professionals, respond to these increasing demands and retain implementing quality in an environment of such increasing complexity and competing constrain? The purpose is to deconstruct the process of managing construction site to investigate how a BIM approach to design and development as well as documentation might assist us to meet the future demands of implementation and site management practice. I will try to focus on present techniques used and successfully implemented examples, especially with the help of BIM tools to assist the process of site management. This report will show an outline methodology in regard to the site management work flow in practice. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the fast track nature of site implementation that is becoming more commonplace in the construction industry. These approaches, supported by property developed and implemented standard and procedures will assist to maximize the efficiency of our practices workflow as well as clarify some myths under the increasing pressure of contemporary site management. Keywords: BIM, Construction, Site Management, Site implementation, collision. Background Industrial Context Managing site is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking. Normally, the job is managed by a project manager, and supervised by a construction manager, design engineer, construction engineer or project architect. For the successful management and execution of a construction project, effective planning and technical supports are essential. Involved with the design and execution of the infrastructure in question must consider the environmental impact of the work, the successful scheduling, budgeting, construction site safety, availability of building materials, logistics, inconvenience to the public caused by construction delays and bidding, etc. Participants in the whole managing process are constantly challenged to deliver successful projects despite tight budgets, limited manpower, accelerated schedules, and limited or conflicting information. The BIM concept en visages virtual construction of a facility prior to its actual physical construction, in order to reduce uncertainty, improve safety, work out problems, and simulate and analyze potential impacts.  [1]  Sub-contractors from every trade can input critical information into the model before beginning construction, with opportunities to pre-fabricate or pre-assemble some systems off-site. Problem Of course, BIM is an absolutely wonderful tool, and it has great potential to streamline costs, processes and time, to help different disciplines communicate effectively and to ensure little confusion on a construction site. But to get to that promised land of benefits, you have to pass through the wilderness of adoption, which always seems to hinge on organizational change, not technology. This is the inconvenient truth. Without having a clear concept and following some myths, BIM has become another cost, instead of a cost-savings tool for site management. Learning Objectives: What is BIM? What is virtual construction and how it helps to manage site? What is BIM 3D to 6D approaches for construction site management? How BIM collaborate all contractor works in a single platform to the project from collision? Approach Masters(ConREM) Course materials of Product Modeling, literatures, recent real estate journals, Conference Lectures of world renowned practicing BIM experts and site managers of these days were my key features for investigation and analysis of this discussion topic. Course materials were well organized and highly informative to understand BIM and personally I have used 2D / 3D CAD for more than 2 years and have had the opportunity to work in a largest construction site (satellite city) in Bangladesh as a Project Engineer in my professional career. Analysis What is BIM? Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception to demolition.  [2]  For the professionals involved in a project, BIM enables a virtual information model to be handed from the design team (architects, surveyors, civil, structural and building services engineers, etc.) to the main contractor and subcontractors and then on to the owner/operator; each professional adds discipline-specific knowledge to the single shared model. This reduces information losses that traditionally occurred when a new team takes ownership of the project, and provides more extensive information to owners of complex structures. BIM can be used to demonstrate the entire building life cycle, supporting processes including cost management, construction management, project management and facility operation. Quantities and shared properties of materials can be extracted easily. Scopes of work can be isolated and defined. Systems, assemblies and sequences can be shown in a relative scale with the entire facility or group of facilities. Dynamic information about the building, such as sensor measurements and control signals from the building systems, can also be incorporated within BIM to support analysis of building operation and maintenance.  [3]  BIM also prevents errors by enabling conflict or clash detection whereby the computer model visually highlights to the team where parts of the building (e.g.: structural frame and building services pipes or ducts) may wrongly intersect. Features of BIM in site management One of the features of BIM in site management is Virtual design and construction. Virtual Design and Construction is the use of integrated multi-disciplinary performance models of design-construction projects to support explicit and public business objectives. Virtual models are virtual because they show computer-based descriptions of the project. The Virtual project model emphasizes those aspects of the project that can be designed and managed, i.e., the product (typically a building or plant), the organization that will define, design, construct and operate it, and the process that the site management teams will follow. These models are logically integrated in the sense that they all can access shared data, and if a user highlights or changes an aspect of one, the integrated models can highlight or change the dependent aspects of related models. The models are multi-disciplinary in the sense that they represent the Architect, Engineering, Contractor (AEC) and Owner of the project, as well as relevant sub disciplines. The models are performance models in the sense that they predict some aspects of project performance, track many that are relevant, and can show predicted and measured performance in relationship to stated project performance objectives. 3D Model Model walkthroughs: These provide a great visualization tool enabling designers and contractors to work together to identify and resolve problems with the help of the model before walking on-site. Clash detection: Traditionally design drawings must be coordinated to assure that different building systems do not clash and can actually be constructed in the allowed space. Accordingly, most clashes are identified when the contractor receives the design drawings and everyone is on-site and working. With clashes being detected so late, delay is caused and decisions need to be made very quickly in order to provide a solution. BIM enables potential problems to be identified early in the design phase and resolved before construction begins. Illustrating the advantages of BIM, one project for the General Services Administration in America saw BIM model reviewers find 257 constructability issues and 7,213 conflicts. On the same project, traditional plan reviewers found six constructability issues and one conflict. Project visualization: Simple schedule simulation can show the owner what the building will look like as construction progresses. This provides a very useful and successful marketing tool for all those involved in a project. Contractors can also use project visualization to understand how the building will come together. Virtual mock-up models: Often on large projects the owner will request physical mock-up models so they can visualize, better understand and make decisions about the aesthetics and the functionality of part of the project. BIM modeling enables virtual mock-ups to be made and tested for a fraction of the cost. Prefabrication: The level of construction information in a BIM model means that prefabrication can be utilized with greater assurance that prefabricated components will fit once on-site. As a result, more construction work can be performed offsite, cost efficiently, in controlled factory conditions and then efficiently installed. 4D Time Construction planning and management: BIM models provide a means of verifying site logistics and yard operations by including tools to visually depict the space utilization of the job site throughout a projects construction. The model can include temporary components such as cranes, Lorries and fencing. Traffic access routes for lorries, cranes, lifts, and other large items can also be incorporated into the model as part of the logistics plan. Tools can further be used to enhance the planning and monitoring of health and safety precautions needed on-site as the project progresses. Schedule visualization: By watching the schedule visualization, project members will be able to make sound decisions based upon multiple sources of accurate real-time information. Within the BIM model a chart can be used to show the critical path and visually show the dependency of some sequences on others. As the design is changed, advanced BIM models will be able to automatically identify those changes that will affect the critical path and indicate what there corresponding impact will be on the overall delivery of the project. 5D Cost Quantity Takeoffs: To determine a projects construction cost and requirements, contractors traditionally perform material take-offs manually, a process fraught with the potential for error. With BIM, the model includes information that allows a contractor to accurately and rapidly generate an array of essential estimating information, such as materials quantities and costs, size and area estimates, and productivity projections. As changes are made, estimating information automatically adjusts, allowing greater contractor productivity. Real Time cost estimating: In a BIM model cost data can be added to each object enabling the model to automatically calculate a rough estimate of material costs. This provides a valuable tool for designers, enabling them to conduct value engineering. However, it should be noted that overall project pricing would still require the expertise of a cost estimator. 6D Facilities Management Lifecycle management: Where a model is created by the designer and updated throughout the construction phase, it will have the capacity to become an as built model, which also can be turned over to the owner. The model will be able to contain all of the specifications, operation and maintenance (OM) manuals and warranty information, useful for future maintenance. This eliminates the problems that can currently be experienced if the OM manual has been misplaced or is kept at a remote location. Data Capture: Sensors can feed back and record data relevant to the operation phase of a building, enabling BIM to be used to model and evaluate energy efficiency, monitor a buildings life cycle costs and optimize its cost efficiency. It also enables the owner to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of any proposed upgrades. Project communication and Collaboration Communication is essential to integrated site management processes. Without tools that simplify communication and allow the decision maker to make timely decisions, it is difficult to minimize errors and keep everyone in the loop. A collaborative approach by BIM to project communications is the best way to minimize problems. In an integrated process, it is the only way. Different BIM models ideally, a construction project would utilize a single BIM model used by designers, contractors, subcontractors and fabricators for all purposes. Each party could access the model at will, adding content that all others could immediately utilize. The reality is that for many years there will rarely be a single BIM model. The architect may have its design model, each engineer may have an analysis model for its discipline, and the contractor may have a construction simulation model and the fabricator its shop drawing or fabrication model. Interoperability the sharing of information between these di fferent models is critical to the collaborative use of BIM, by assuring that each model consistently represents the same building. However, current technologies, and levels of BIM adoption, do not yet allow seamless coordination between different BIM models. The use of multiple models undermines the collaborative use of BIM and prevents project parties from reaping the full benefits of BIMs capabilities. Identify Collisions before They Cause Issues in the Field: Heres an example of how BIM can dramatically reduce construction cost overruns. KAI was providing BIM services for a large hospital project already under construction. When the managers integrated the MEP, HVAC and fire protection drawings into BIM model, they detected a potential collision between the electrical cable raceways and the HVAC. Then they met with the owner, the designer and the affected contractors to review the 3-D BIM model and work out the best solution for co-locating the raceways and the HVAC. The three-hour meeting saved thousands of dollars in change orders and weeks of potential construction delays. In addition to collision detection, BIM enables the cost-saving power of reusability. For example, for health-care portfolio, they developed standard hospital room types in our BIM system that they continuously adapt for standard components, such as wall and bathroom designs. That allows them to build quickly and keep costs competitive. BIM also makes more off-site fabrication possible. BIMs benefits for general contractors include higher quality work completed on a faster schedule, better design visualization, ability to clarify and control scope of work, more detailed scheduling and phasing, more accurate estimates and quantity takeoffs, improved spatial coordination and, of course, better collision detection. Results and Business Impacts Key Findings BIM building information modelling is a co-ordinated set of processes, supported by technology, that add value by creating, managing and sharing the properties of an asset throughout its lifecycle. BIM incorporates data physical, commercial, environmental, and operational on every element of a developments design. Better outcomes through collaboration All project partners different design disciplines, the customer, contractor, specialists and suppliers use a single, shared 3D model, cultivating collaborative working relationships. This ensures everyone is focused on achieving best value, from project inception to eventual decommissioning. Enhanced performance BIM makes possible swift and accurate comparison of different design options, enabling development of more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable solutions. Optimised solutions Through deployment of new generative modelling technologies, solutions can be cost-effectively optimised against agreed parameters. Greater predictability Projects can be visualised at an early stage, giving owners and operators a clear idea of design intent and allowing them to modify the design to achieve the outcomes they want. In advance of construction, BIM also enables the project team to build the project in a virtual environment, rehearsing complex procedures, optimising temporary works designs and planning procurement of materials, equipment and manpower. Faster project delivery Time savings, up to 50%, can be achieved by agreeing the design concept early in project development to eliminate late stage design changes; using standard design elements when practicable; resolving complex construction details before the project goes on site; avoiding clashes; taking advantage of intelligence and automation within the model to check design integrity and estimate quantities; producing fabrication and construction drawings from the model; and using data to control construction equipment. Reduced safety risk Crowd behaviour and fire modelling capability enable designs to be optimised for public safety. Asset managers can use the 3D model to enhance operational safety. Contractors can minimise construction risks by reviewing complex details or procedures before going on site. Fits first time Integrating multidisciplinary design inputs using a single 3D model allows interface issues to be identified and resolved in advance of construction, eliminating the cost and time impacts of redesign. The model also enables new and existing assets to be integrated seamlessly. Reduced waste Exact quantity take-offs mean that materials are not over-ordered. Precise programme scheduling enables just-in-time delivery of materials and equipment, reducing potential for damage. Use of BIM for automated fabrication of equipment and components enables more efficient materials handling and waste recovery. Whole life asset management BIM models contain product information that assists with commissioning, operation and maintenance activities for example sequences for start-up and shut-down, interactive 3D diagrams showing how to take apart and reassemble equipment items and specifications allowing replacement parts to be ordered. Continual improvement Members of the project team can feed back information about the performance of processes and items of equipment, driving improvements on subsequent projects Business Impact BIM is the future of construction and long term facility management but there is still much confusion about what exactly it is and how it should be utilized and implemented. BIM is a relatively new technology in an industry typically slow to adopt change. Yet many early adopters are confident that BIM will grow to play an even more crucial role in building documentation. BIM provides the potential for a virtual information model to be handed from Design Team (architects, surveyors, consulting engineers, and others) to Contractor and Subcontractors and then to the Owner, each adding their own additional discipline-specific knowledge and tracking of changes to the single model. The result greatly reduces information losses in transfer. It also prevents errors made at the different stages of development/construction by allowing the use of conflict detection where the model actually informs the team about parts of the building in conflict or clashing. It also offers detailed computer visualization of each part in relation to the total building. Conclusion BIM is much more than an electronic drawing tool. In a nutshell, BIM is the creation of a complete digital representation of all stages of the building process in order to facilitate the exchange of project information in a digital format. Driven by an information-rich database, it enables members of the project team to simulate the structure and all of its systems in three dimensions and to share this information. The drawings, specifications and construction details are integral to the model. As a result, the team members are able to identify design issues and construction conflicts well before the first earth mover arrives at the site. A project can realize its greatest potential and highest value when it is collaboratively designed and built that is, when the entire design team works together starting in the early planning and design phase. When effectively used by all key members of a project team the architecture/engineering firm (A/E), general contractor or construction manage r, and specialty contractors, in particular, the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection contractors BIM is a platform for true collaboration. In fact, input from the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection contractors in the design phase is critically important to prevent collisions or conflicts in the field. Practical Tips and Key Lessons: Virtual modeling by BIM 3D to 6D approach Cost saving More organized site management Prediction of site problems Collaboration of site works Well scheduled management of site Acknowledgements I would like to thanks my BIM course tutor Janne Salin (part time lecturer, ConREM) and Pà ¤ivi Jà ¤và ¤jà ¤ (teacher, ConREM) for providing me helpful information in the field of Building Information Modeling.

Benefits Of Developing Conservation Strategies Environmental Sciences Essay

Benefits Of Developing Conservation Strategies Environmental Sciences Essay Increases in the human population and degradation of habitats have caused many species that were formerly common to decline to near extinction. As a result, we have become increasingly involved in attempting to preserve populations of rare or endangered species (Deborah T., 1987). Over the last two decades almost all arguments about nature conservation have involved the issue of biological diversity and ways to preserve it. These discussions culminated in the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity and its implementation (Glowka L, 1994). The conservation of biodiversity is a vast undertaking, requiring the mobilization of existing data, huge amounts of new information, and the monitoring and management of wildlife on an unprecedented scale (Malcolm L. Hunter, 2007). The biologists are fairly skilled at looking at the big picture, at seeing forests not just trees. They understand that we cannot maintain genetic diversity without maintaining species diversity and that we cannot mainta in species without maintaining without ecosystem diversity (Malcolm L. Hunter, 2007). In addition, the size of a habitat and the number of species it can support are systematically related. Physically larger species and those living at lower latitudes or in forests or oceans are more sensitive to reduction in habitat area (Drakare S, 2006).Therefore, endangered species conservation requires many lines of inquiry to provide the evidence required for a holistic approach to conservation planning (Sutaria D 2009). Conservation biology is reforming around strategic plans that include principles, guidelines, and tools for the purpose of protecting biodiversity (M. E. Soule, 1986). Conservation biology is crisis-oriented and multi-disciplinary, including ecology, social organization, education, and other disciplines outside of biology (F. van Dyke, 2008). Preserving biodiversity is a global priority in strategic conservation plans that are designed to engage public policy and concerns affecting local, regional and global scales of communities, ecosystems, and cultures (Gascon C., 2007). Action plans identify ways of sustaining human well-being, employing natural capital, market capital, and ecosystem services (G. W. Luck, 2003). A strategy, simply defined, is a set of actions that a conservation project implements to reduce threats, capitalize on important opportunities. Examples of strategies include building the capacity of local law enforcement, educating schoolchildren about wildlife, and dev eloping alternative livelihood options such as ecotourism. One could say that the conservation of endangered species to be effective, both biological and social elements of the conservation process must be considered as a basic for minimizing threats (Beasley L. 2007). This essay will discusses about evaluating the conservation costs and benefits of developing conservation strategies focusing on species, then habitats and finally on the resources. Biological species tigers, butterflies, trees, frogs, whales, and so on are integral to nature; they are the players on the stage; species and their interrelationships, including the relationship to people. Many of the closest relationships human beings have established with nature are based on species (IUCN, 2008). There are several strategies that are beneficial for species and human. One of several strategies is the Opportunities for Debt Investment in Environmental Conservation. By combining microfinance lending approaches with performance-based payments for conservation of environmental assets, long-term incentives for environmental conservation and sustainable economic development can be coupled. For example, migratory species like loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles suffer from a suite of human impacts, including harvest of eggs and adults on nesting beaches across many Pacific island nations and mortality from industrial fishing on the high seas. These species are at a cr itical point, it has been estimated that loggerhead turtles may be extinct in 50 years. Some governments have taken steps to minimize impacts on marine turtles by limiting coastal development and regulating fisheries, at some cost to the public and private sectors. Investment in endangered species recovery in low-income countries can deliver local benefits, such as increased opportunities for sustainable harvest, nature-based tourism or other non-turtle related economic activities, as well as monetary and non-monetary dividends back to governments .There are a number of potential advantages with using debt investment as a tool for environmental conservation. The program is aimed directly at improving livelihoods and lending can be targeted at reducing unsustainable resource use, an environmental mortgage program could directly address the alleviation of poverty. In some instances local people are as motivated, or even more motivated than conservationists to protect the animals in th eir homeland, especially when they represent a valuable resource for food or commerce. But for some communities, it comes down to protecting animals that are as much a part of a hostile environment as drought or fire (C. Josh Donlan). As with African villagers expected to protect an elephant herd that continually destroys their crops and leaves them hungry without a means of generating income. For example, when villagers living in or near a game reserve are told by authorities that they cant hunt an animal because it is endangered even as they are struggling with hunger. Although, the African elephants are protected by CITES (Kimbra C, 2010). Habitat change is another cause for animal endangerment. Without a large enough area to breed and hunt, animals have no way to survive. Climate changes also cause risks to animals. With the planets surface warming up, some animals are forced to move to other areas in order to find food and breed. From this problem, the US Fish and Wildlife Service have been promoting the use of habitat conservation plans which allow some loss of endangered species habitat in exchange for activities which minimize and mitigate for the loss. These plans have come under increasing criticism from environmentalists and conservation biologists who argue that the plans are contributing to the continued loss of endangered species habitat. The habitat conservation planning provisions were modeled on an effort to resolve a dispute over protection of habitat for two endangered butterflies on San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County, CA. The San Bruno plan allowed for the loss of some butterfly habitat in exchange for the permanent protection and management of much of the habitat on the mountain for these species. This paper proposes that mitigation banking of endangered species habitat may provide a useful tool to resolve endangered species conflicts on private lands while concurrently advancing the recovery of endangered species. Mitigation banking would allow landowners seeking a permit to destroy endangered species habitat to mitigate the loss by buying mitigation credits from other private landowners who restore and or protect suitable habitat. Mitigation banking has the potential to increase mitigation alternatives for the regulated community while providing a needed economic incentive for other landowners to restore and protect important habitats. From an ecological perspective, mitigation banking could allow for the exchange of fragmented habitats with little long range viability for habitats that are strategically located and can contribute to species recovery (Robert B., 1999). Thi s is a strategy in US to preserve habitat for species conservation. Another exam is in the South East Asia. The strategy habitat conservation is under Mekong Wetlands Conservation and Sustainable Use Program, Floodplain and wetland areas which are flooded part of the year or which expand greatly in area during the flood season can produce much far more aquatic resources than permanent water bodies of the same size, such as lakes and reservoirs. In fact, according to Ringler and Xai (2006) natural wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems in existence and the benefits from wetland products are often considerably higher per unit area than from other land uses. The benefits in terms of the regional fishery and other aquatic resources have already been considered and identified as huge, but wetlands also provide a wide range of additional ecological goods and natural services as specified. These include physical benefits such as natural flood storage and flood attenuation, imp roved water quality through pollution control and waste dilution, habitat provision for resident and migratory species and the maintenance of important biochemical equilibrium. For these and other related reasons, the economic benefits generated by wetlands and the economic costs associated their degradation or loss are usually unknown and omitted in project and policy analysis. As a result, the potential of wetlands to be used as contributors to economic growth, income generating activities and as sources of goods and services has been underestimated in many parts of the world resulting in the loss of valuable species, services, and livelihoods. The strategy can help a diversity of wildlife habitats to be successfully developed on restored or constructed wetland sites because ecosystem function can be restored to degraded or impacted wetland areas. Restoration can rapidly establish a stable biological community, including invertebrates and soil microorganisms. A good cover of fast- growing annual, as well as perennial, vegetation can be established within the first year. Within three years, a wetland restoration effort can produce a diverse community of desired plants and animals. In addition, constructed wetlands can be very effective in improving water quality in downstream waters. Constructed wetlands are effective in removing or stabilizing sediments, metals, and organic contaminants. However, although constructed wetlands may function as sediment retention systems, excessive amounts of sediment can reduce function over time. In addition, contaminants immobilized in upstream sediments are not eliminated by downstream constructed wetlands. These contaminants remain in place unless they are removed using a separate remediation technology, such as phytoremediation or physical removal (Ken W.) However, the World Conservation Strategy was aimed at policy-makers, development practitioners and conservationists. It defined conservation in human terms as the management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to present generations while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. For development to be sustainable it must take account of the social and ecological factors as well as economic ones: of the living and non-living resource base and of the long-term as well as the short-term advantages and disadvantages of alternative actions(Seema P). The World Conservation Strategy (1980) is intended to stimulation more focused approach to the management of living resources and to provide policy guidance on how this can be carried out. The aim of the World Conservation Strategy is to achieve the three main objectives of living resource conservation: a. to maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems (such as soil regeneration and protection, the recycling of nutrients and the cleansing of waters), on which human survival and development depend; b. to preserve genetic diversity (the range of genetic material found in the worlds organisms), on which depend the functioning of many of the above processes and life-support systems, the breeding programs necessary for the protection and improvement of cultivated plants, domesticated animals and microorganisms, as well as much scientific and medical advance, technical innovation, and the security of the many industries that use living resources. c. to ensure the sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems (notably fish and other wildlife, forests and grazing lands), which support millions of rural communities as well as major industries (world resource strategic). Although, the WCS emphasized the integration of environment and conservation values/concerns into the development process. In addition, caring for the earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living elaborated the Brundtland theme, integrating environmental/conservation, social and economic imperatives and elaborating principles for their practical integration (Barry Dalal-Clayton, 2002). In the other hand the WCS The World Conservation Strategy was frequently criticised for being concerned mainly with ecological sustainability rather than sustainable development( Barbier, 1987). distinguishes two strands of debate at this time about economic development: one focusing on basic needs with emphasis on helping the poor; the other stressing that real development was impossible without consideration of the environment and without taking into account local social and cultural values and enabling stakeholder participation (Barry Dalal-Clayton, 2002). Even nowadays, it is understood that the conservation strategy is the foundation necessary to be indispensable, if mankind has to have the well-being and security forever. But while we are awarding of the importance and necessity of these biological resources, one of the things facing humanity across the world and is becoming increasingly serious is the loss of biodiversity. Especially in tropical regions which are rich source of this important natural resource. The conservation strategy should combine both biological and economical, as the Opportunities for Debt Investment in Environmental Conservation which bring debt and conservation turtle together. This way not only protect the species but also help the raise revenue in community where they protect the species for sustainable.

Comparing King Arthur and With Honors :: Movies Film With Honors King Arthur Essays

Comparing King Arthur and With Honors Have you ever watched a movie or read a novel without a plot? Most likely your answer to this question would be no, because it would be dull. No one wants to hear a story with no intrigue or conflict. As you read a novel or watch a film, you want to connect with the characters and feel you can relate to the situations they’re dealing with. In every film and every story there’s a conflict the main character(s) is facing. The story of King Arthur, and the film With Honors appear at first to be on opposite sides of the entertainment spectrum. However, both are excellent examples of searching for ones inner human, and life’s meaning. While watching the film With Honors one could pick up on a lot of symbolism, foreshadowing, and numerous heroes’ journeys. Each character goes through their own search and personal development. For example the character Courtney played by Maria Kelly. In the beginning of the film she’s head over heals for her roommate and close friend Monty played by Brendan Fraiser. As the story unfolds, Courtney’s eyes are opened to see Monty’s true inner human qualities. The biggest heroes journey in the film With Honors is the journey Monty a Harvard law student goes through. During a heavy snowstorm one night, his computer freezes up, while he’s in the middle of working on his thesis paper, which he needs to pass in order to graduate. He goes to the library to make a copy of what he already has saved, but then he trips and drops his thesis into the basement of the library. Once in the library he finds a bum burning up his thesis for heat. The bum whose name Simon played by Joe Pesci. Simon makes a deal with Monty he will give him back his thesis page by page, for every good deed he does towards him. As the story unfolds Monty and Simon change each other’s lives. Monty starts off as an uptight, stereotypical, close-minded young man. Before knowing Monty, Simon is very set is his ways, and unapproachable. Because Monty and Simon’s personalities are so different, they are FOILS. As Monty earns back pages of his thesis Simon becomes a father figure to him. He shows him what is really valuable in life. Simon keeps rocks from memorial places; the rocks represent Simon’s life.

Thinking and Enquiry Skills in Global Education Essay -- Global Educat

To examine and explore what is global citizenship? This essay will look at the importance of becoming a global citizenship, the role we, as educators play in this development and how the curriculum frameworks and associated learning emphases for global education assist in the development of a global citizen. What is global education? â€Å"Global citizenship would seem a recent concept, but its origin can be traced back to at least 4th century Greece when Diogenes declared himself a cosmopolitan – a citizen of the world† (Hower, 2010, p.1). The idea of global citizenship, then, emerged even before there was a clear understanding of just what the globe entailed or who populated it, Hower, 2010, although different people and cultures were unknown to anyone. Oxfam (1997) believes that global citizenship goes beyond knowing that as citizens of the world there is a need to acknowledge our responsibilities towards each other and the earth. It is about the need to solve inequality and to work actively in achieving these needs. It can be just a matter of looking after the earth for our future generations and to have a belief that as individuals or as a nation can make a difference. â€Å"Twenty-first century Australians are members of a global community, connected to the whole wor ld by ties of culture, economics and politics, enhanced communication and travel and a shared environment† (Curriculum Corporation, 2008, p.2). The importance of becoming a global citizen is paramount for us as humans as there is a need to develop a sense of identity and self esteem Oxfam 1997. In addition being a global citizen gives us an awareness of what it means to be a member of a community and how this can influence responses to global issues. Hower (2010) p... ...ademics/.../Making_of_a_Global_Citizen.pdf Curriculum Corporation, (2008). Global Perspectives: A framework for global education in Australian schools. Carlton South, Vic. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2009). Education for Global and Multicultural Citizenship. A strategy for Victorian Government Schools, 2009-2013. Retrieved December 26th, 2010 from: www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/.../multicultural-ed-strategy.pdf Opotow, S., Gerson, J., & Woodside, S. (2005). From Moral Exclusion to Moral Inclusion: Theory for Teaching Peace. Retrieved December 31st, from: http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.utas.edu.au/pqdweb?RQT=318&pmid=27912 Victorian Essential Learning Standards, (2005). Civics and Citizenship – Level 1. Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Retrieved January 1st, from: http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/

“Saudi Arabia still projecting the real picture of Islam

The geo-political consequences after the 9-11 mishap entirely twisted the image of the Muslim countries all over the world. Many countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Syria and Iran had to face the menace of the â€Å"War Against Terrorism† and even had to combat with their domestic security issues which set tough challenges for them to struggle to maintain their peaceful image on an international perspective. Saudi Arabia is one Islamic country which somehow managed to sustain its dignified and peaceful image on the map of the contemporary international political scenario and this was possible because of their positive and influential foreign policies, their economic stability and their potent financial role across the globe. Another factor that added to their credit was their domestic prevalence and sustenance of law and order that enabled the pace of their progress to remain uniform and also provided external favors to flourish within the country. Most of the Muslim countries have not been able to earn significance in the pace of economic progress and development of the world throughout the last century; despite being the oil producing and exporting countries like Syria could not be listed amongst the developed ones. But Saudi Arabia since its establishment of modern Kingdom back in 1932 has not only been uniform in its form of Government but also maintained a uniform pace of progress and development in all the walks of life. Its chief source of income has no doubt been the export of oil and products of petroleum as it has been one of the leading oil producing countries of the world but the Government of Saudi Arabia has always invested at a mass level to improve and upgrade the overall socio-economic representation of the country. Saudi Arabia is the center of the Islam as the entire Muslim ummah (community) ahead towards this region during the holy month of Zil Haj to perform the annual pilgrimage (HAJ) to the holy city of Kaaba, in Makkah and also to pay homage to the Prophet’s grave in Madinah. This annual tourism also brings in a lot of foreign exchange and revenue to the Saudi treasure. Apart from the earnings the organizing of this great event every year also proves the persistent efficiency of the Saudi administration and also their expertise in catering people from different regions of the world with heterogeneous backgrounds in the most homogenous environment. They have certainly proved to be very ardent custodians of the Islamic heritage of the Two Holy Places. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always kept the superb maintenance of these two Holy places in the top most priority. The Ministry of Pilgrimage, in union with other government agencies, manages the annual logistical challenge for the organization of Hajj and endorses such projects in the Kingdom and abroad that promote Islam's role in the community. The annual conducting of Hajj reflects the dedication of the leadership and citizens of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the service of Islam and this also totally negates and defies the general impression of the Muslim community as terrorists or fanatics. Apart from the religious service Saudi Arabia has also been a great donor for many Muslim countries for several humanitarian causes and also as war aid. Since 2002, Saudi Arabia has provided more than $480 million in budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority and supported Palestinian refugees through contributions to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). More than $250 million was also provided to Arab League funds for the Palestinians, and pledged $500 million in assistance over the next three years at the Donors Conference in Dec 2007; pledged $230 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq; pledged $133 million in direct grant aid, $187 million in concessional loans, and $153 million in export credits for Pakistan earthquake relief; pledged a total of $1. 9 billion to Lebanon in assistance and deposits to the Central Bank of Lebanon in 2006 and pledged an additional $1. 1 billion in early 2007. Many things may have been said in the most crucial diction about Saudi Arabia by the west especially after the 911 attacks. Some writers like Dore Gold in his book â€Å"Hatred's Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism† have stated the Saudi government to be directly involved in the plotting of the attacks and even nurturing the Al-Qaeda’s master mi nds like Osama Bin Laden. Such claims could easily be made and concocted as all the odds were tilted towards the Muslim community at the heat of the moment of the 911. But the fact is that Saudi Arabia has always been an ally for the war for peace and has supported US during the Gulf War in 1990. Secondly Saudi Arabia and US have been partners in the petroleum exports and distribution since 1970s when ARAMCO was established. Saudi Arabia is also considered to be one of the fastest developing countries of the modern era. This is because of Saudi Arabia’s free market economy which has shown remarkable progressive shifts in the recent past. It has been observed that Saudi Arabia has managed to develop its agricultural society into an advanced economy that is globally connected through modern technology and infrastructure. This depicts the progressive minded approach of the Saudi government which has always focused on the development of the country by meeting the contemporary pace of development especially in the modern means and modes communication. This leap towards progress began during the time of King Faysal who invested at a large scale for the improvement of the infrastructure and the communication system. His motto was the modernization of Saudi Arabia. This era is even known to be the renaissance of the Saudi intellect of progress and development. And since then Saudi Arabia has made an effort to become the member of WTO in December 2005. Although there may be numerous reasons why countries like Saudi Arabia become a victim of criticism under the tag of stereotypical for its people, ideas, customs and even religious beliefs but the fact and the figures regarding Saudi Arabia’s peaceful role in the present scenario political turmoil proves that associating such rigid views with such a progressive and rapidly developing country like Saudi Arabia would itself be a biased and un-scrutinized bent of thought that requires maturity of insight to comprehend.

Media : empowering women in globalize world Essay

â€Å"Women must not accept; she must challenge she must not be awed by that it has been built up around her she must reverence that woman in her which struggles for expression†. -Margaret Sanger â€Å"There is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing.† – Swami Vivekananda Media is a part of culture and society. It is widely accepted that media are transmitters of culture and engines behind globalizing cultures. We live in a globalizing age in which people around the world participate in a single information order. Because of globalization and the power of internet,  people from Caracas to Cairo are able to receive the same popular music, news, films and television programs. There is a clear intersection between women’s empowerment and media development in the globalizing world. Media were explicitly implicated in the second and third waves of women’s empowerment. The proliferation of media, the explosion of new technologies and the emergence of social media in many parts of the world have provided multiple sources for access to gender related information and knowledge. While inequalities and gender stereotypes exist in social structures and the minds of people, media have the potential to propagate and perpetuate or ameliorate these. S o, media workers can play an important role in opening up thinking of gender equality and gender-based stereotypes through media. Before discussing the topic â€Å"Media: empowering women in a globalize world†- it is important to define the concept of ‘media’, ‘empowerment’ and ‘globalization’ What is media? The term media is defined as a means of communication that operates on a large scale, reaching and involving virtually everyone in the society to a greater or lesser degree. Media feed the people with the latest information and create the need for change in contemporary society. Media plays a vital role in dissemination of information. Media is the today’s most powerful vehicle in molding of beliefs, attitudes, values and lifestyles. By becoming more gender aware in content and language, media can present a clearer and more accurate picture of the roles and responsibilities of both men and women in the society. It also paved the way for greater courage of human rights issues, and the condition of marginalized social groups. Media: Types and Influences Media has become an integral part of our lives and cannot be separated from our lives. The media include a wide variety of forms including print media, electronic media and new age media. Print media includes newspapers, books and pamphlets. Electronic media includes television and radio while the new age media include the internet and mobile phones. It is worth remembering  that there have been three recent revolutions in the history, i.e. agrarian revolution in farming, industry revolution & mass production and information revolution that provides global access. We are now in the midst of information revolution. Due to continuing developments in media technology, we are flooded by a huge volume of non-stop information. Media technologies allow us to take part ‘virtually ‘in occasions and activities in other parts of the world. Definition of empowerment of Women Empowerment is about people- women and men- taking control over their lives, setting their own agendas, gaining skills, building self-confidence, participating in decision-making process and solving problems. Empowerment requires having access to and control over resources and the benefits that are derived from development efforts. It is both a process and an outcome. Economic empowerment of women means – ensure women’s full participation in mainstream economic activities including decision making, implementation, access & control and enjoy equal benefits. Social empowerment of women means – the transformation of attitudes and beliefs about the rights, roles and capacities of women has enabled them to participate more fully in various spheres of life. Political empowerments of women means- take positive discrimination measures for women to ensure equal participation of women in politics. WHAT IS GLOBALIZATION? Globalization means to know about the social, political and economic empowerment of the women through their status. Globalization is a mode of sharing of the experiences, exchange of ideas, technology and network of the institutions and organizations through bilateral and multilateral arrangements. There are various means by which globalization mitigate the cross border problems with the help of air planes, telephone services, e-mails and instant capital flows. Globalization strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly women organizations. It is the phenomenon of increased integration of the world economy as evidenced by the international trade and factor mobility. In the feminist analysis of  globalization, two views are existent regarding the impact of globalization on women and these reveal two divert directions: (1)The critics of globalization. These views identified four major criticisms. These include: The gendered division of labor Women’s marginalization in the informal sector of the economy The exploitative nature of Multi-National Corporations Negative impact of Structural Adjustment programmes imposed in the name of globalization. (2)The second believe that are many positives and advantages for women bringing about women’s advancement. These including: Enhanced employment opportunities for women Helping to ease the problem of poverty Strengthening women’s networks Improving the access of women to health, micro-credit, employment opportunities and information in general. Globalization and the Media Until the 1970s, the media industry was differentiated into distinct sectors-for the most part, cinema, print media, radio and television broadcasting all operated independently of one another. In the past three decades, profound transformations have taken place within the media industry. National markets have given way to a fluid global market, while new technologies have led to the fusion of forms of media that were once distinct. By the start of the twenty-first century, the global media market was dominated by a group of about twenty multinational corporations whose role in the production, distribution and marketing of news and entertainment of news could be felt in almost every country in the world. These are the six major shifts that have contributed to bringing about the global media order: †¢Increasing concentration of ownership: The global media is now dominated by a small number of powerful corporations. Small-scale, independent media companies have gradually been incorporated into highly centralized media conglomerates. †¢A shift from public to private ownership: In the past few decades, the  liberalization of the business environment and the relaxing of regulations has led to the privatizations of media companies in many countries. †¢Transnational corporation structures: Media companies no longer operate strictly within national boundaries. Likewise, media ownership rules have been loosened to allow cross-border investment and acquisition. †¢Diversification over a variety of media products: The media industry has diversified and is much less segmented than in previous times. Enormous media conglomerates, such as AOL-Time warner profiled below, produce and distribute a mix of media content, including music, news, print media and television programming. †¢A growing number of corporate media mergers: There has been a trend towards alliances between companies in different segments of the media industry. Telecommunication firms, computer hardware and software manufactures and media content producers are increasingly involved in corporate mergers as media forms become increasingly integrated. †¢Contribution to the women’s empowerment: Today, media has an important role to play – to create awakening in women to achieve their potential as the prime movers of change in society. Gender sensitive indicators for media 76% of the people heard or read about in the world’s news are male. The world seen in news media remains largely a male one.† –Who Makes the News, Global Media Monitoring Project, 2010 The aim of the Gender-Sensitive Indicators for Media (GSIM) is to contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment in and through media of all forms, irrespective of the technology used. The media are a channel to examine the right to freedom of opinion and expression. For empowerment efforts to be successful, women must be able to exercise their rights in the same manner and to the same extent as their male counterparts. Yet, being able to exercise a universally declared human right is insufficient for empowerment. Allowing women access to communication systems, such as media, does not guarantee that their opinions will be expressed equally or that their participation in the media will be mainstreamed: stereotyping and alienation of women by the media are still remarkably widespread phenomena (WACC 2010). According to the International Federation of Journalists (2009), â€Å"If we continue at the current rate of progress, it will take another 75 years to achieve gender equality in media.† Indicators pertaining to gender equality measure the extent to which women participate and are fairly represented in the media. Two main categories make up the gender sensitive indicators for media. These are: Category A: Actions to foster gender equality within media organizations Gender balance at decision-making level. Gender equality in work and working conditions. Gender equality in unions, associations, clubs and organizations of journalists, other media professionals and media self-regulatory bodies. Media organizations promote ethical codes and policies in favor of gender equality in media content. Gender balance in education and training. Category B: Gender portrayal in media content Gender portrayal in news & current affairs. Gender portrayal in advertising. Media’s Role in empowerment of women in a globalize world Communication is extremely important for women’s development and media play significant role. Growths of women’s education and their entries into employment have contributed to the growth of media. In all spheres of life whether for controlling population growth, spread of literacy or improving quality of life for vast masses, women have crucial role to play. However, women can be expected to play this role when they become conscious of their strength and are not deliberately marginalized by male domination. In this context, media has an important role to play – to create awakening in women to achieve their potential as the prime movers of change in society. In  today’s world, print, electronic and social media play a vital role in effectively conveying message that needs to be conveyed. Electronic and Print media: Empowerment of women Electronic media such as radio and television as well as print media such as books play a vital role in empowering women. In this context, media has an important role to play – to create awakening in women to achieve their potential as the prime movers of change in society. In today’s world, print and electronic media play a vital role in effectively conveying message that needs to be conveyed. â€Å"Family, society and workplace – women journalists have to deal with all three – the family allows them to work as pilots or doctors, but not as journalists† – Participant at roundtable in Dhaka, Bangladesh In such a rapidly changing environment, women in media have a large responsibility in not only changing attitude towards women but also shaping public opinion. In today’s world, with women holding responsible position in newspapers or electronic media, their competency is extend to a wider area and a range of issues. More importantly, a woman journalist is expected to show more sensitivity to issues relating to women and to more meaningful insights and perspectives. A significant number of women journalists are very successful in magazines dealing with various problems of women and child. With sensitivity and skill for analyzing events in depth, issues such as women abuse and exploitation, harassment of women at workplace and the trauma of HIV infected women, female infanticide in rural areas find a prominent place in such magazines. The magazines deal with the issues more in depth compared to newspapers and women are considered competent to handle such stories. As per a study in the NCR there are around 900 women journalists and even in cities like Chennai the number is impressive 200. Journalism is no more a male domain. This new trend has also led to a change in the portrayal of women in the media in general and newspaper in particular. It is important to mention here the success of ‘Khabar Lahariya’. A group of eight women belonging to backward class bring out this paper from the Bundelkhand region. This paper which is being funded by an NGO was started with an aim to encourage women to fight for their own rights. Such kinds of initiative are required in every nook and corner of our country, so as to empower the women at grass root level.  But on the other hand, the risks women in the media face, both in the urban and rural areas, have also to be seriously considered. As we move down, from the metropolitan towns and the state capitals, the risks increase. In remoter rural areas a woman journalist and particularly a reporter is a novelty not easily accepted and assimilated in the social milieu. Zakia Zaki, shot dead in her home in Afganistan Nadia Sharmeen was attacked and hospitalized in Bangladesh. She was harassed because of our religious fundamentalism. Despite these environments, It is noticed that more and more young graduates are joining the journalism degree and diploma courses, with an ambition to make a mark in the profession, and quite a good proportion of them are girls. With the rapid expansion, almost a proliferation of the electronic media through satellite channels, with the popularity of the FM on the radio and with the growth of the print media, notwithstanding the electronic media, now there is a good scope for absorption of both men and women qualified journalists in various media outlets. Women, young and old, are prepared to weather the risks. The society, therefore, must make arrangements to provide adequate security to the vulnerable section of women in the media to promote their participation at all levels. At last, it can be said that, now-a-days both electronic and print media play an extremely significant role in spreading awareness, promoting alternative-empowered images of women, breaking down stereotypes and shaping mindset. Women entering the labor market are at its peak, there is increase in the number of educated women, and heightened awareness of their mobilization to fight against the unjust and discrimination. Social Media: A tool for Women Empowerment Social media play a vital role for empowering women. Social media could enhance women’s participation in economic and political life, and allows them to increase their self-expression and promote social change, and this is a strong belief that has risen up in the society. For example, large segments of the population have been empowered by the sweeping societal and political transformations in the Arab region, where women became the main drivers for regional change and more engaged in civic and political actions  and took over a leading role in the historic changes sweeping over the region. However, at the regional and global levels reached a debate about the role of social media in these transformations, making it to the policy making circles. This graph shows to what extent the following statements (below each bar) regarding women and social media are valid- Fimage When analyzing the graph, it appears that the most popular use for social media as a tool of empowerment being communication and self-expression is followed by civic participation and social change. It was found at that more men (65%) than women (62%) believed that social media can be used for the political empowerment of women (Dubai School of Government Report, 2011). Women advancement through the blogosphere Blogging has become a solitary platform for free speech in the world. Many female bloggers in the world face a unique challenge: to speak out about women’s issues often means going against the grain of family and society, but there are well-known female bloggers discussing issues unique to women. Being part of the blogosphere will create a psychological support for women who are hesitant about starting their own blog. This is a key factor in advancing women’s courage to take their own personal initiatives. Against oppression and injustice in their communities, women can freely speak out with no censorship of their voices, through their blogs. Blogs are used as public diaries where women discuss personal and public issues in their life and development. Storytelling used by women in blogs to introduce their thoughts has been proven to have its major effect. The image of woman portrayed in mainstream media is that of a submissive stereotypical image. Alternative media concept originally aroused from the mainstream media’s black out of alternative opinion. It can be defined by rediscovering the purpose of mass communication. Alternative media are media inclusive of newspapers, radio, TV, magazines, movies, internet, etc. which provide alternative information to the mainstream media in a given context, whether the mainstream media are commercial, publicly supported or government owned. The main characteristics of alternative media are: †¢ Small scale and oriented towards specific communities, possibly disadvantaged groups, respecting their diversity; †¢ Independent of state and market †¢ Horizontally structured, allowing for the facilitation of audience access and participation within the frame of democratization and multiplicity †¢ Carriers of non – dominant discourses and representations, stressing the importance of self-representation. The main objective of alternative media towards woman’s empowerment is to support social struggles, awaken women’s consciousness to their subordination, advocate and defend rights. It also aims to promote various groups reflection and popular communication.  Alternative media provides an alternative platform to voice the plight of woman against various marginalization and it connects amongst the weaker sections of the society who are deprived of their will to fight against their basic human rights. Various alternative media practices in the world: Woman’s community radio: It is a kind of alternative media effectively nurtures equality, diversity and promotes democratic values amongst women. It help in promoting the grassroots activism and gives a whole range of platform to a â€Å"feminist public sphere† and serve as tool for woman’s empowerment. World pulse magazine: It was founded in 2003 and a nonprofit NY media organization in which ground level initiatives network of people has grown into an international network connecting women across borders and building and rising pulse of women’s empowerment across the globe. Such media help woman to become voice of change. GAMCOTRAP: It is a movement organization which is abbreviated as Gambia committee on traditional practices that affect health of women and children is a space where women speak in their own language – the very personnel and intimate experiences to express the challenges they face and share the coping strategies they have employed. NYC grassroots media coalition: It is the coalition which works to build the capacity of diverse communities to communicate, collaborate and strategize ways to increase awareness and participation in independent media and social justice movements. Democracy now: An alternative news service hosted by Amy Goodman. It plays a more subtle role which serves to sow powerful seeds of misinformation in a way that the ‘compromised’ mainstream media cannot. Black music radio or pirate radio: a form of alternative media that defies narrow definitions focused on radical content and social movement. Indy media: It is the Independent Media Centre â€Å"is a network of collectively run media outlets for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate telling of the truth.† AlterNet is news-magazine and online community that challenges the right wing media in the United States. OneWorld.net: It brings together the latest news and views from over 1,600 organizations promoting human rights awareness and fighting poverty worldwide. Jay’s Leftist & â€Å"Progressive† Internet Resources Directory is a vast site. Check on the Alternative Media topic, (under Subjects), which includes magazines (such as the New Internationalist, Third World Resurgence and Resurgence), publishers, e-zines and radio/TV. Community Broadcasting Online: It provides background information and links to Australian community radio and television. Alternative Radio is a source for public affairs programming which is made available without charge to all public radio stations. The Common Dreams News Center: It provides â€Å"news & views for the progressive community† as does Z-Net and the Alternative Press Review – all are American. Z-net also has an Alternative Media Watch page. Global Voices Online: It scans the international community of bloggers to bring attention to news that otherwise might go unseen. Conclusion â€Å"If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate an entire family†. – Mahatma Gandhi So, education is also one of the prime needs of women towards its development and empowerment in the society. With education, media can act as a platform or bridge to surpass the barrier of essential communication and