DNA Evidence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

DNA Evidence - Research Paper Example The research on DNA evidence started showing significant improvement by the 20th century. DNA evidence became widespread and it became a problem-solving tool for immigration disputes, refining the assay, resolving specimen identity, detecting genetic differences and identifying criminals; thus, the need for DNA identity testing became significant. Historically, DNA evidence began in the forensic field when ABO blood group was used as a system in providing evidence of crime issues. Later, the paternity identification that based on serum protein variation became commonly used. However, it was not until when Jeffrey became a pioneer of DNA based identity testing. DNA evidence became common in federal courts, and the first DNA evidence was carried out in the court case of Andrews Vs., Florida in 1988 (Newton, 2008). Many states started adopting DNA evidence in order to identify crime issues as a way of maintaining criminal justice. DNA evidence started evolving as an effective technique of providing proof over crimes issues. It is used up to present in many areas including clinical applications for testing identity, and also solving paternity issues in case of child denial or resolving specimen identity; thus determining the origin of mishandled specimens. The major sources of DNA evidence include semen, bone, blood, skin cells, hair, teeth, urine, tissue, saliva, feces, and vomit. First, blood is one of the main sources of DNA evidence. The substrate in which bloodstain is found can determine the DNA testing; thus providing effective evidence in case of homicide or any other crimes issues. Blood contains some substances that may hamper successful DNA testing process; thus, these substances can be removed through purification methods (Parks, 2010). DNA profiling is the only way through which scientists can be able to stain of a given blood mixture. Through DNA testing, one can be able to determine in case specimen are from the same or different sexes. Semen is anot her source of DNA testing. The semen stains can be analyzed and examined as well as tested through conventional methods in order to provide the required evidence. Sperm cell staining can help in determining in case the stain is the outcome of vaginal drainage. This will enable scientists to determine the rape cases through DNA analysis of semen stains. Moreover, body tissues, saliva and hair roots are among the major sources of DNA evidence. DNA strand isolation from body tissues can help in achieving the intended goals of DNA evidence. DNA survival can be found in teeth or dense bones. The remains of body tissues that have been scattered by either gunshot or trauma can adhere to the bullet; thus, they can sometimes yield sufficient DNA testing. There are some treated tissues by use of the chemical treatment known as formaldehyde and embalming. DNA testing can be successful in both tissues. For instance, a body of a person killed and buried for many years can still yield better resu lts when used in carrying out DNA evidence. Hair roots can be the legitimate source of DNA evidence, but they are not effective in regular forensic use. Saliva can be taken from penile marks, bite marks,  bottles and cigarette butts found in the crime scene. Despite the exciting promise of DNA technology, DNA evidence poses some problems.

Sanitary conditions in Mauritius slaughter houses

Sanitary conditions in Mauritius slaughter houses INTRODUCTION A slaughterhouse, also known as an abattoir is a place where animals are sacrificed for food. It can also be defined as any premises used for the slaughter of animals whose meat is intended for human consumption. The slaughtering of animals for community consumption is inevitable in most nations of the world and dated back to the ancient times (Bello and Oyedemi, 2009). Public slaughter houses had been traced to Roman civilization and in France by 15th and 16th centuries, and were among the public facilities. In Italy, a law from 1890 stipulated that public abattoir should be provided in all communities comprisingof more than six thousand inhabitants. Similar things were reported in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and Rumania (Jode Loverdo et al. 1906). The animals most commonly killed for food are cattle, sheep (for goat and mutton), pigs (for pork), goats (for chevon), and fowl, largely chickens, turkeys, and ducks, for poultry meat. The most important issue in all meat-processing plants is maintenance of proper hygiene and adequate sanitary conditions to prevent contamination and in this way caters for a product which is safe and sound for the public. An abattoir as defined above is a building approved and registered by the controlling authority for hygienic slaughtering and inspection of animals, processing and effective preservation and storage of meat products for human consumption (Alonge, 1991), as such the sanitation line in a slaughter house must be flawless. Slaughtering animals on a large scale brings about significant technical problems and public health concerns. Furthermore, some religions insist on certain specific conditions for slaughtering practices so that slaughter within slaughter houses may change. As such abattoirs commence the chain of the meat industry, where livestock come from farms for processing and dressing and passes through markets to enter the food chain (Wikipedia Encyclopedia). The values, morals, ethics and regulations ruling slaughter houses changes significantly throughout the world. In several countries the slaughter of animals is delimited by folklore and traditions instead of the law. In the non-Western world, including Muslim countries both forms of meat are obtainable, that is product from modern mechanized slaughter houses, and the other from local meat shops. The situation in Mauritius is typically representative of the conflict between modern processes and religious practices with regards to the slaughtering of animals for the supply of meat to the population. Over the last few decades there have been important developments meat inspection systems in slaughter houses. As compared to the most highly developed countries which have taken the lead in bringing about changes in the meat inspection procedures in slaughterhouses by enacting new legislations (These new laws have been reproduced by the Codex Alimentarius in its Codes of Good Practice and this resulted in the homogenization of the world trade in foodstuffs) (Schnà ¶ller, 2006), we, on the national level, are dealing with a more pious look over the slaughtering industry which is delimited by religious practices. As per the legislation enforced in Mauritius, the Mauritius Meat Authority is the only institution empowered to deal with the slaughtering of animals. Aim The aim of the study is to carry out an assessment on the sanitary conditions prevailing in slaughter houses in Mauritius. Objectives The main purpose of this survey is to know to what extent are the workmen of slaughter houses aware of importance of sanitary practices and what it entails, to see if sanitary practices are respected and analyse the possible route by which contamination by pathogenic micro organisms may occur in slaughter houses. LITERATURE REVIEW Sanitation in the slaughter house Thewordsanitationcomesfromthelatinwordsanitas,whichmeanshealth, it has many different meanings but it can be generally defined as the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Such hazards can be physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease (Wikipedia Encyclopedia). The slaughter house should be constructed in such a way as to respect all the norms and regulations and planned such that all processes runs smoothly without contaminating or hindering the quality of the end product. Primarily there are several key factors that a slaughter house should observe to be able to satisfy the necessary conditions which will contribute to adequate sanitation for the prevention of contamination. PROPER INFRASTRUCTURES AND PLANNING OF THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE Site of building Ideally the slaughterhouse should be located away from residential areas to prevent possible inconvenience to dwelling-places either by way of pollution from slaughter wastes or by way of nuisance from noise (FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 49). There must be free access for animals to the site by road and the slaughterhouse should be situated in areas where flooding is unlikely to happen. If the slaughterhouse is of regular buildings construction the ground should be free of bushes or vegetation in the vicinity of the structure (FAO, 1985). Size The amount of animals to be slaughtered should take into account the the size of slaughter facility and the number of animals to be slaughtered is of great importance to avoid sanitary problems due to overcrowding (Tove, 1985). Building / facility The building or facility of such process has normally been described as places which stands for good sanitation and hygiene. According to the norms stipulating such process the building should normally have clean and unclean processes separated. Walls and Floors The flooring of the facility which is one of the major source of contamination must be hard, free of cracks, evenly leveld and impervious, and sloping adequately towards a drain to allow cleaning with water and disinfection. The walls as well must be smooth enough to be easily cleaned by water, and recommended materials are, for instance, stone, lava blocks, bricks or concrete. To provide shade, a good environment and finally to keep down the internal temperature in the slaughter line, a roof made up of concrete would be ideal (P.J. Eriksen, 1978). lighting system As a matter of hygiene, the slaughterhouse should have a proper lighting system inside the slaughter line to allow proper functioning and avoid accidents and moreover will act as a deterrent to insects and rodents. Ventilation system The internal temperature inside the slaughter house shall be maintained to prevent proliferation of unwanted micro organisms and also to cater for a good working environment. Equipment Equipment for undergoing such process, normally have to follow certain norm and regulation, it has been reported that such equipments have to be of non-corrosive materials, for example stainless steel and structures like tables, hooks and machines should be that they are easy to disassemble to facilitate cleaning and disinfection. The key step for the hygienic handling of carcasses is the equipment for elevating the carcass when slaughtered. In the processing line cranes are preferred to working tables due to hygienic practices. Procedures assuring continuous cleaning of hoists are recommended and should be performed on a periodical basis. However the cleaning and disinfection is usually complicated or simply impossible because of the complexity of the machines (Tove, 1985). Water supply Water is a vehicle for the transmission of several agents of disease and continues to cause significant outbreaks of disease in developed and developing countries (Kirby, 2003). A cholera epidemic in Jerusalem in 1970 was traced back to the consumption of salad vegetables which were irrigated with raw waste water (Shuval, 1986). In Canada, an outbreak of E.coli was reported (Kondro, 2000) and In the USA, Cryptosporidium affected approximately 400,000 consumers and caused 45 deaths and in 1993 due to the consumption of contaminated water (Kramer, 1996, Hoxie, 1997). Since slaughtering is a process which generates a lot of wastes, to cater for the good running of the processes and minimize contamination, there should be a good supply of water of drinking quality to allow processing and cleaning procedures which will assure hygienic quality products. Working routines should be planned in such a way as to economically use the consumption of water because of waste water disposal (Tove, 1985). Sanitary facilities Several water points, sterilizers for hand tools, hoses and cleaning equipment is the key to provide a good standard of hygiene and must be provided sufficiently. The availability of hot water in preference to chemical disinfectants should be supplied with the sterilizers where possible (Tove, 1985). Sanitary facilities must also include an adequate number of toilets and arrangements for hand-washing and even for bathing (showering). Such facilities must be clean and well kept at all times and the toilets should possess hand wash basins along with soap, disinfectants, antiseptics, nailbrushes and clean towels readily available. A mess room for resting and eating should be provided to the staff and as such be separated from the processing line to assure that the carcasses and the food for the personnel cannot be mixed (FAO animal production and health paper; 53). ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE As in all sectors of hygiene, the external and internal environment of the slaughter house should be protected against any infestation. Insects, birds and rodents have been recognized as important carriers of pathogens and other micro organisms (Olsen and Hammack, 2000). To avoid these, a strict control should be exerted over the following: Pests Control Good Hygienic Practices (GMP) should be employed to avoid generating an environment favorable to pests (CAC, 1997). A control system for pest control must include the following: Good Hygienic Practices should be used to avoid creating an environment conducive to pests Pest control programs could include preventing access to principle site, eliminating harbourage and establishing monitoring detection and eradication systems. Physical, chemical and biological agents should be properly applied by suitably qualified personnel. Souce: http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/Y1579E/y1579e02.htm Proper fencing The aim is to prevent access of unauthorized persons, the public in general, dogs and other animals around the slaughterhouse premises. The fencing should have direct contact with the ground and should be sufficiently high to prevent access inside the premises. Bird control The best control is to prevent them from accessing the buildings by placing nets on the openings and windows. Allowing birds to fly inside the slaughter house might cause contamination through its droppings. Bird are often attracted by food supplies, water, special vegetation around buildings, and these attractants should be removed. SLAUGHTERING PROCESSING The hallmark for hygiene principle in processing is that the procedures considered as clean and considered as unclean should be efficiently separated. This requires a well-structured plant layout, where the purpose of any structure should be the protection of the end product against accidental contamination (Tove, 1985). Transport The animals are hauled from pastures or farms to the slaughterhouse. All necessary precautions during transportation should be considered to minimize stress and injury to the animals and as such will cater for the good quality of the end product (Tove, 1985). Road transport is probably the cheaper and more convenient means for conveying animals. Below are some precautions that are worthwhile during road transporting of the animals to slaughter: The transport facility should be designed and modified to convey the stock; they should provide for sufficient ventilation and lighting; for open trucks the top should be covered with a tarpaulin to protect the animals from bad weather conditions, they should be equipped with appropriate loading and unloading mechanisms to prevent injuries, and most importantly; they should be as comfortable as possible for the animals. Source: FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 49, Manual for the slaughter of small ruminants in developing countries, 1985. Lairage Lairage is a place where livestock are kept temporarily (Microsoft Encarta 2008) and in our present situation is a specific area inside the premises of a slaughter house where the animals are conveyed for rest. Rest is an important factor because when animals are stressed, carcasses of lower quality result from slaughter. There should be sufficient space for the animals and a good supply of potable water for drinking purposes. A washing system where the animals can be cleaned before passing to the slaughter house is generally recommended (FAO animal production and health paper; 53). Source: Heinz G, Abattoir development. Options and designs for hygienic basic and medium-sized abattoirs, 2009 (http://www.fao.org, Annex 7). Stunning, slaughtering and bleeding Common methods for stunning consists of: Captive Bolt Pistol (CBP) This stunning method is extensively used for all agrarian animals. Gun powder (cartridge), compressed air and spring under tension propels the bolt through the skull of animals. The name captive means that the bolt is shot out of the barrel but remains in the pistol. Concussion stunning: A mechanically operated instrument which delivers a blow to the brain. Used for cattle, sheep and calves. Another method which consisted of knocking or striking a hammer on the head of the animal is now banned with regards to humane practices in some countries. Free bullets: are generally used on animals which are difficult to handle for instance, wild pigs, bison and deer. Electric Stunning Head-Only Stunning: generally cattle, sheep, pork and are all stunned by the use of this method. The technique involves the application an electric shock using a pair of tongs on either side of the animals head. An electric current is passed through the brain and this leads to the temporary loss of consciousness. Source: The Slaughter of Livestock (part 2): Modern Techniques of Slaughtering by M.Abdulsalam (www.IslamReligion.com). Slaughtering and Bleeding After stunning, the animal is vertically hanged lifting the animal (head down) to a convenient height. The bleeding operation is made by inserting a knife through the neck behind the jaw bone and below the first neck bone. The aim is to sever the carotid artery and jugular vein (Pig slaughtering, www.Hyfoma.com) and let the blood to drain out. The exsanguination process should be as fast and complete as possible due to hygienic norms since insufficient bleeding and slow death could result in blood clotting in the deep tissues and this might be hazardous in the later stages of slaughtering. Elevation bleeding is more hygienic and is preferred other alternatives as it decreases the potential risk of contaminating the carcass (Heinz, 2008). This process is usually separated from the operations which will follow. If the blood is not intended for use it should be drained away into a separate pit and should not be allowed to drain into the waste water (Tove, 1985). Skinning /dehairing The process will vary according to animal (pigs and cattle). Such process consists of removing the skin of animals. Cutting of the skin is made around the leg with the perspective of exposing and loosen the tendon of the animals lower leg joint to be used for hanging the carcass, following which the entire skin is removed and the body is prepared for evisceration (Heinz, 2008). This process is usually meant for cattle, goat, deer and sheep. Whereas dehairing is a process normally done in the slaughter of pigs which consists of releasing the bled animal into a pool of boiling water for a couple of minutes and then pulling it out for removal of the hairs before proceeding for evisceration. Evisceration Evisceration is the process which consists of removing the internal organs of the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The internal organs are also known as offal and they falls into two categories: Red offal such as the heart, liver and lungs (pluck). Grey offal such as the stomach or intestine (paunch). To avoid contamination of the carcass through accidental punctures of the intestines and stomach, it is important that the carcass is placed in the hanging position. The body cavity is severed and the intestinal mass and the stomach (the paunch) are pushed slightly out. The liver is held out care is taken not to spill its bitter contents onto the carcass and as such spoil the taste of the meat. The last stage in evisceration is the removal of the contents from the chest cavity. By cutting the diaphragm which separates the thoracic cavity from the belly, the pluck can be pulled out as a unit (Heinz, 2008). Leakage from the rectum is prevented by tying the anus with a process called bagging. Splitting and trimming The carcass is cut down along the backbone and split into two sides using a brisket saw and is then subjected to inspection from an authorized officer for detection of diseases . Trimming is a process that should be performed by trained employees and consists of the removal of visible contamination. All equipment (hooks and knives) should be sanitized between each use to reduce cross-contamination between areas. Carcasses which have been railed out for visible contamination, such as fecal contamination, should be re-conditioned as quickly as possible to get the carcass through the process and back into the system (Harris and Savell et al., 2003). Delivery After undergoing all processes in the slaughter line, the carcass is weighed and finally labeled for identification and send for delivery on the local markets. PRECAUTIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE SLAUGHTERING PROCESS AS PER HEINZ (2008) INVOLVES THE FOLLOWING: Disinfection on entering the premises Every time an authorized officer or member of the staff is to enter the slaughter house, he should undergo a process of disinfection by dipping his boots in a footbath, which is a basin situated at each entrance of the slaughter line, to avoid carrying infectious agents that might stick to the boots via soil particles. Bleeding and exsanguinations The knife used to slaughter each animal should be cleaned and rinsed in hot water. It is known that a contaminated knife can pass on bacteria into the animal tissues during the initial stages of bleeding, that is, when the heart is still in pumping. Skinning Knife skinning and the use of bare hands can similarly hosts contaminating organisms on the surface of the carcass. As such washing of the hands is a must after the passage of each carcass to avoid contamination of same. Evisceration Extreme care should be emphasized on not to puncture the intestines. The slaughtermen should follow the procedure of tying the end part of the intestine and the severed end of the esophagus, then removing intestine and stomach first, followed by the pluck ( heart, liver, and lungs of an animal used as meat, Microsoft Encarta, 2008). The pluck should be hung on a hook while the paunch (stomach) should be dropped in a paunch container. As a matter of hygiene, the stomach and intestines should not be processed while carcass dressing is in operation as any minor splash from same can easily cause contamination of the meat. Washing Is a process by which the carcasses undergoes washing with clean potable water. If water is a problem then a dry slaughter process by trained slaughtermen should be used as alternative as it is more appropriate as a safety measure for carcasses to be dry clean than to contaminate them with polluted water. Offal handling The offals (stomach and intestines) are the organs from the carcass which contains the greatest load of infectious organisms and for preventive measure must be moved to a separated chamber provided for them. At first they should be emptied of their contents, dried, then cleansed with water. Personnel The personal hygiene of the workmen is a primordial factor in slaughtering operations, the reason is simply that contamination of food and disease transmission as such depend equivalently upon the human factor as well as on the tools and mode of operation. Transfer of microorganisms by personnel particularly from hands is of vital importance (Chen et al.2001, Montville, 2001, Bloomfield, 2003). During handling, bacteria are transferred from contaminated hands of workers to the food and subsequently to other surfaces (Montville, 2002). Low infectious doses of organisms such as shigella and pathogenic Escherichia coli have been linked to hands as a source of contamination (Snyder, 1998). Poor hygiene, particularly deficient or absence of hand washing has been identified as the causative mode of transmission (Reji, 2003). Proper hand washing and disinfection has been recognized as one of the most effective ways to control the spread of pathogens, especially when considered along with th e restriction of sick workers (Alder, 1999, Montville, 2001). Moreover persons with unhygienic habits like spitting, coughing and nose-blowing should not be under umployment. As such it is important to allow access only to the staff into the premises at the time of slaughter and they should be wearing the proper attire, e.g. clean trousers and wearing appropriate waterproof aprons. Boots as well should be worn with the trousers neatly folded inside. And the hallmark is that the workers must strictly abide to a formal code of hygiene. Hand-washing As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): It is well-documented that one of the most important measures for preventing the spread of pathogens is effective hand washing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_washing). Fundamentally the good habit of careful and frequent hand-washing will definitely reduce contamination. Therefore hand-washing facilities with sufficient water supply is a must in such a delicate process of this kind. Basically the mess room and the working area is where there should be several hand-washing points. If it is situated away from working places, the risk that they will not be used is higher and would probably result in contamination of the meat (Tove, 1985). Hand-washing should be done by all members if the working staff: before starting slaughter after being to the toilets after being into contact with dirty objects and materials after smoking and eating The staff should understand that hands is prone to contamination if used for scratching the skin, the hair, clothes and picking the nose. Such acts may cause bacteria to be transmitted to the hands and thereafter infect the meat which is handled by the same hands. The management of slaughter house should provide antiseptic soap or germicidal, coupled with the use of brush for washing of hands since bacteria are often under the nails (FAO animal production and health paper; 53). Cleaning Operations For the purpose of sanitation clean water is usually required for the cleaning of equipment, tools floors and walls. Such operation normally starts with removal of solid waste of meat and fat trimmings, pieces of bones, blood clots by scrubbing them off the floor. High pressure water cleaning begins from the walls and finally ends with the floors. Hot water hosing under pressure would be ideal for removing sticky waste from corners and drains. For scrubbing of other surfaces such as tables, and tools, the use of hard fibre brushes and detergents is suggested. Liquid detergents are more effectual than ordinary soaps, since they dissolve easily in water while absorbing dirt, which is finally removed by flushing. Powdered soap may also be dissolved in water and used. Knives also should be sterilized or boiled in water. Source: FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 49, Manual for the slaughter of small ruminants in developing countries, 1985. DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH UNHYGIENIC SLAUGHTERING There are many different ways by which an infectious organism can make its way through the slaughtering process of animals and cause very subsequent diseases. Below is some of the common diseases related to slaughter houses: Anthrax is a naturally-occurring bacterial disease of animals caused by Bacillus anthracis, which forms spores that generally survive for years in the environment. Cattle, sheep, and goats are at the highest risk but humans can also contract the disease. Most animals are infected by oral ingestion of soil contaminated with the spores. People may acquire anthrax when in contact with infected hides or hair of animals. The organism is inhaled from contaminated dust, or is eaten in undercooked meat from infected animals, or even penetrates a wound in the skin. Animals that died of anthrax may have blood secreted from the mouth, nose, and anus (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). In slaughtering process, the bacteria can be transferred from hides of infected animals to the hides of the healthy ones during the immediate pre-slaughter phase in lairage (Small and Buncic, 2009). As such if no particular precaution is taken when removing the hides, the probability of contaminating the carcass is very high. Brucellosis Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by contact with animals carrying bacteria called Brucella which affects a wide variety of animals including dogs, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and horses. The disease has been known as Malta fever, Bangs disease, Mediterranean fever, rock fever, and goat fever (Microsoft Encarta, 2008). Humans can be infected if in contact with infected meat or placenta of infected animals. The slaughter of undetected a diseased animal is a threat since contamination may result if, for instance, blood from the infected carcass came into contact with the knife of the slaughterman and the same knife is being used for processing another uninfected carcass during the slaughtering. In case of ingestion of infected meat, symptoms in humans are undulating fever, headache, joint pain, weakness, and night sweats (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). People who handle meat should wear PPE such as protective glasses and clothing for protection of wounds from infection. Detecting infected animals prior to slaughter controls the infection at its source. Vaccination is actually available for cattle, but not humans (Franco et al, Goldman et al. 2007). Escherichia coli Escherichia coli (E. coli) are bacteria which is normally found as a normal flora in the intestines of people and animals. One can get infected after handling or being exposed to feces of a carrier animal (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Animals usually carry it without causing disease however when humans are infected, the toxins causes serious illness which ranges from diarrhoea to kidney failure. Personal hygiene is very important, particularly after contact with animal feces, since very few organisms are required to cause infection in humans (Stevenson and Hughes, 1988). E-coli can be easily contaminate the carcass in the slaughtering process if ; for instance the worker does not wash his hands after being to the toilet, the bacteria will be transferred when handling the meat. care is not taken at the evisceration step when disemboweling the carcass, as such if the intestines get perforated and intestinal matter comes into contact with the meat ( Heinz, 2008) Prevention focuses on hand washing and proper hygiene. Hands and all equipments should be properly disinfected after touching or handling raw meat (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Salmonellosis (Gastroenteritis) Salmonella sp. are bacteria that live in the intestinal tract of carrier animals. The bacteria are shed into the faeces of animals which are particularly stressed during steps such as being yarded and transported (Stevenson and Hughes, 1988). As in E-coli contamination, salmonella can be transferred to the carcass in the slaughtering line by: slaughtermen who are handling meat after being to the toilet without proper hand washing, fecal matter being in contact with the meat at the evisceration process, if the anus is not bagged properly, and also if the intestines get punctured upon removal and intestinal matter is in contact with the meat. If hands are not properly washed after contact with infected feces, the accidental ingestion of bacteria may occur (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Infection also occurs as a result of equipments that are unsanitary. Symptoms generally includes fever, foul smelling diarrhea, and severe dehydration, especially in young children and infants. Life-threatening diseases like meningitis and septicemia may also occur (Montes and DuPont, 2004). Q-fever (Query fever) Q fever is a bacterial infection that can affect the lungs, liver, heart, and other parts of the body. It is found around the world and is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. The bacteria affects sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, cats, birds and rodents as well as some other animals (Goldman and Ausiello, 2007). Humans normally acquire fever, night sweats, and pneumonia and hepatitis in the worst cases (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). Abattoir workers (particularly those dealing with foetuses), veterinarians and farm workers ) are the people who are most at risk of contracting this disease (Stevenson and Hughes, 1988). In slaughtering meat can be contaminated in the process of evisceration whereby feces of contaminated animals have been transferred to the hands of the slaughterman which in turn contaminates other healthy carcasses. To prevent further spread of Q fever, dead fetuses and reproductive tissues should be buried or burned. Wearing of protective equipment such as gloves and eyewear (PPE) when assisting in birthings and washing of hands thoroughly afterward are highly recommended (Pelzer .K and Currin .N). LAWS PERTAINING TO THE SLAUGHTERING INDUSTRY IN MAURITIUS Nowadays not all people are entitled to slaughter animals as it used to be in the past. There are norms and standard which have been set up by the necessary authority to guarantee the safety of the end product to the public. As such in each country there is an institution which is responsible for maintaining this hallmark. In our present situation the regulating body responsible for slaughtering in Mauritius is the MAURITIUS MEAT AUTHORITY (MMA). The main lines of the re

Alert, Alerter, Alertest :: September 11 Terrorism Essays

Alert, Alerter, Alertest "Our military at home and around the world is on high alert status and we have taken the necessary security precautions to continue the functions of your government." President George W. Bush, September 11, 2001 As an American, I am on a state of high alert much of the time. I tend to be alert to inequities, discrimination, intolerance, injustice, restriction of liberty. "Give me liberty or give me death," was Patrick Henry's cry. "Live Free or Die" is New Hampshire's motto. I am alert to affronts to democracy. My American nervous system is on alert, like a smoke detector, to tell me of dangers and threats. I have American sensors, receptors, antennae. They are set to pick up any trace of insults and injuries to the American way of life. We Americans have a sensitivity to mistreatment of people, to bias, prejudice, abridgements of democratic principles. We've got 10 of them in our secular form of the Ten Commandments of Moses. But more than this bill of particulars, our Bill of Rights, we have additional rights. They include the Declaration of Independence's "inalienable rights"--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They probably include Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms- "The first is freedom of speech and expression -- everywhere in the world. "The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way -- everywhere in the world. "The third is freedom from want -- which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants -- everywhere in the world. "The fourth is freedom from fear -- which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world." (Jan. 6, 1941) In addition to such explicit statements, we are concerned about other rights that are implicit. And we are alert to them as well. Social conscience is one form of our patriotism. A patriot of democracy believes in disagreement, in unpopular ideas, thoughts, and opinions. What is unpatriotic is mob behavior, complacency, conformity, when everyone does the same thing.

Dr. Jonas Salk Polio Vaccine

Dr. Jonas Salk Polio Vaccine Dr. Jonas Salk Polio Vaccine Polio in the 1950’s has American parents in fear and anxiety due to thousands of children were become infected with a crippling disease Poliomyelitis (polio). Polio is a disease caused by infections of the poliovirus, which can affect nerves and can leads to a partial or full paralysis. It is an inflammation of the spinal cord’s gray matter and can sometimes extend into the brainstem. Now thanks to Dr. Salk most children in the U. S get this Polio Vaccine along with many other vaccination shots as children to prevent this from procuring.In New York City in 1914 Russian-Jewish immigrant couples were happy to be blessed with a happy healthy boy names Jonas Salk. His parents had little educational background but they were determined to make sure that there kids succeed and do well. Dr. Salk was the first one in his family to go to college his plan was to go into law but then switched to medical science. While at New York University Dr. Salk was invited to spend a year researching influenza’s. Dr. Salk joined his mentor Dr. Thomas Francis, as a research fellow at the University of Michigan.There, he worked to develop an influenza vaccine In 1947 was appointed to the University of Pittsburgh Medical School and saw a golden opportunity to develop a vaccine against polio and devoted his work to it for the next 8years. In 1948 Dr. Salk took the techniques that he had learned from the past with working with influenzas and the â€Å"principle of vaccinations that if the bod is artificially exposed to a harmless form of the disease virus, the body will produce antibodies that resist or kill dangerous form of the virus if later exposed. â€Å"History of Jonas Salk. †Ã‚  Salk Institute – About Salk – History of Salk – About Jonas Salk. Salk Institute for Biological Studies). † Most of the support he got was from National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and la ter became known as the March of Dimes. The founder of this organization was Former presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt who himself had Polio. In 1952 Dr. Salk and his team developed what they considered to be a safe potential polio vaccine. The vaccine was given to volunteers who had not had polio Dr.Salk laboratory staff, his kids and wife all volunteered and had no bad reactions to the vaccine. Then they tested in on a group of children at Watson Home for Crippled children located near Pittsburgh. One million kids between 6 and 9 half received the vaccine the other half got a placebo. On April 12, 1955 at the University of Michigan they announced that the vaccine had proven to be safe and effective. A year later they continued to improve it and began to work with a pharmaceutical company to scale it for a clinical trial and commercial manufacture.Dr. Salk spent most of the last 1950’s refining the vaccine and working on the scientific principles behind the researchers and by 1960 Dr. Salk was ready to move on and create a community of researcher’s to expand and work on other things too including Multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune disease , cancer immunology improving manufacture and standardization of killed polio vaccine and then eventually AIDS. The average number of polio cases in the US was more than 45,000 but by 1962 it was only 910. Dr.Salk never received any money for his discovery. A few year later a vaccine made from live polio virus was developed which could be administered orally Dr. Salk’s originally vaccine had to be injected. Dr. Salk last years were spent searching for a vaccine against AIDS Dr. Salk passed away on June 23, 1995 at the age of 80. A memorial at the Institute with a statement from Salk captures his vision: â€Å"Hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality. Work cited 1. â€Å"Jonas Salk Biography. †Ã‚  Academy of Achievement. N. p. , 05 Feb. 200 5. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. http://www. achievement. org/autodoc/page/sal0bio-1 2. â€Å"Jonas Salk 1914 – 1995. †Ã‚  PBS. PBS, n. d. Web. 24 Jan. 2013. http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bmsalk. html 3. â€Å"History of Jonas Salk. †Ã‚  Salk Institute – About Salk – History of Salk – About Jonas Salk. Salk Institute for Biological Studies, n. d. Web. 28 Jan. 2013. http://www. salk. edu/about/jonas_salk. html

Beautiful Tragic Love (Creative Writing)

g Beautiful Tragic Love I never asked my life to be a FAIRY TALE or PERFECT, all I wanted was a normal life, and I didn't have a very happy childhood living with my parents as an only child. As I was growing up all my life it revolved around men, every time I would fall in love with one, they would leave me after 3 months. I was beginning to feel like a hopeless romantic just like my mum when my dad had left her when I was beginning to experiment with love. I felt cursed. I kept asking myself â€Å"WHY, WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME All men are dogs! I am almost twenty one and I don’t know if the problem lies with me or my family, all I know is that I have given my parents so much problems and so much  pain, I guess my life is a long journey and am finding myself in it everyday. My story began last summer of 2009; I could feel that there was something in the air that day. Birds were chirping, the wind was blowing leaving me shivers down my spine and everything felt so alive. I had been  depressed  for about a year before that day.I was  walking  along  the beach  with my bare feet buried in the sand and the waves of the sea crushing into my feet when my life started to take a turn for the best†¦ From a distance I saw a handsome young man admiring me from far. Our eyes met and it was like nothing I had ever felt before with any of the men I had been with. It was something special. We began  walking  closer together like something out of a movie. I felt on  top of the world for once, my eyes were sparkling and my  stomach  was fluttering with butterflies, as we walked closer and closer to each other.When we became close enough to talk about our personal lives, Will would get on his knee and speak my fluent language, French and say the most  romantic  things. At that point I knew he had my heart. We talked until 2. 00 a. m. The next  morning it turned out that he lives only about ten minutes from where I was living. We started seeing more of each other, Will begin to get serious about us. I fought the depression  that I had and soon I was glowing with life and he was the world to me, he became my anything and everything. We had been going out for about six months when he met my mother.My mother disapproved of Will mainly because she thought I was too young to be in a serious relationship and that I wasn’t ready because this relationship might end up like the rest of my other terrible relationship. Just like any mother she was worried about me but I kept reassuring her that this time it was something different. She soon banned me from seeing him. For a while we went out against her will and had four more months of endless happiness. I had finally met someone whom I loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life with. One day when I finished from work he had texted me to meet him at the same beach we met a year ago.When I got there I saw him standing on one of the big rocks beside the sea , he waved from far and yelled my name â€Å"LAKE, AM OVER HERE! † my heart was beating so fast as if I was in a race. When I got on the rock with him, it was nearly sunset time; he took both of my hands (Oh My God) I screamed quietly inside with excitement hoping that he would say something along the lines of marrying him. He looked at me straight in the eye to show that he was serious, and started saying â€Å"Lake ever since I have laid eyes on you, it’s like you have awaked me from my soul, and I don’t see life without you. He moved on from saying â€Å"Would you like to move in with me? † All I could feel was special, wanted, happy, in love, and emotional all at the same time. Few tears dropped down my cheeks without realizing because I kept repeating what he had just said. No boy had ever said anything like what Will had said. Holding me closer to him I looked him deep in those amazing emerald green eyes and answered â€Å"YES!!! † as I fall in to kiss him. Life couldn’t have got any better; we were so madly in love that we couldn’t wait so we got married a few months later.It has been two years since we got married and it feels like it was just yesterday. On our two year  anniversary, I was 4 months pregnant with our first child, so that night he had planned to take me out to a fancy  French Restaurant. As we were leaving we both looked up at the big beautiful moon, it was shinning like a bight, bright light, it was just the perfect moment in my life where I could hold pause forever. When suddenly a man came out of the shadows with a gun, he came took my purse and Will's wallet. Someone saw the crime taking place and screamed â€Å"STOP† at the man.Everything became a blur as Will threw himself in front of me as the gun went off. I couldn’t believe my eyes, what I hadn’t envisioned in a million years seemed to become a reality. The robber ran off into the night and left Will to d ie in my arms. I looked down at him and tears started to explode down my cheeks as I screamed â€Å"HELP! † â€Å"SOMEONE CALL THE AMBALANCE! † I held him closely for the longest time as he bled to his death. Right before he died he told me â€Å"We will be  together again†¦ I promise†¦ I love you and the baby†¦and both of you will be always in y heart. † He looked so peaceful and handsome just like the first day I had met him; my heart was torn into pieces as he drew his last breath. He lay there dead in my arms staring at me with his emerald green eyes. I felt helpless as I held him even closer and kept screaming and crying â€Å"NO†¦ NO THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING†¦NOT TO ME†¦NOT AGAIN!! † He will always be in my heart; whenever the wind blows I can still hear him whispering sweet things in my ear. Sometimes when you find happiness again in your life, it turns into your worst nightmare.

European Lion Facts and Figures

European Lion Facts and Figures Panthera leo, the modern lion, included a bewildering array of subspecies in early historical times. At least three of these- Panthera leo europaea, Panthera leo tartarica and Panthera leo fossilis- are referred to collectively as the European Lion; these big cats inhabited a broad swath of western, central and eastern Europe, ranging from the Iberian peninsula to as far east as Greece and the Caucasus. The European Lion probably descended from the same common ancestor as the Asiatic Lion, Panthera leo persica, the still-extant remnants of which can still be found in modern India. Cultural References Tantalizingly, the European Lion is referenced numerous times in classical literature; the Persian king Xerxes reportedly encountered some specimens when he invaded Macedonia in the 5th century B.C.E, and this big cat was almost certainly used by the Romans in gladiatorial combat or to dispose of unfortunate Christians in the first and second centuries A.D. Like other Panthera leo subspecies, the European Lion was hunted to extinction by humans, either for sport or to protect villages and farmland, and disappeared off the face of the earth about 1,000 years ago. The European Lion should not be confused with the Cave Lion, Panthera leo spelaea, which survived in Europe and Asia up to the cusp of the last Ice Age. Facts Historical Epoch Late Pleistocene-Modern (one million-1,000 years ago) Size and Weight Up to four feet high at the shoulder and 400 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics Large size; lack of manes in females

Law and Order Scenerio essays

Law and Order Scenerio essays A young teenage girl by the name of Jackie Lendrix is raped, and an older woman by the name of Karen is murdered and raped in the same area. After she is raped the police start questioning everyone that is a suspect. Jackie tells the D.A. that she was blind folded and couldnt see who it was. The first to be suspected is Mr. Randal. Her dad rents a room in there house to this forty year old man. To make things look more suspicious to the cops is that the room is right next to Jackies. The cops ask if they can have a DNA sample. Mr. Randal agrees. The police find two matches of the DNA which was retrieved from Jackie. Mr. Randals DNA matched it, but so did his friends Charles Enos. Before they question Mr. Randal again, they question Mr. Enos. The police tell him that the DNA found in Jackie was his. He told the police, Why would he want jail bait when he can get it from her mom. The police then question Mr. Randal again. They tell him that the DNA he gave them was the same DNA found in Jackie. He claims that he has sex with the mother for money from Tom her husband. The police have an idea that the dad is sick minded and might be a sexual obsessive Narcissus. He might just use the kids as vicaress sexual partners. The children wont say anything about their parents actions because they love them. This is called child sexual abusive commendation syndrome. The police quickly put their children to a safe house. While picking them up, they find out that Mr. Lendrix has two kids from a different man. To make things worst, Tom is the one that insisted she should have kids from other men to keep their family going. They question Tom. He denies any such action of hurting his girls in anyway. After questioning Tom, the police go to the safe house to question Jackie. Jackie then opens up and tells them that her dad forced a syringe in her vagina. She told him to stop, bu...

11 Tips for Surviving a Miserable Job

11 Tips for Surviving a Miserable Job Work is work, not play. That’s why it’s called work. But there’s a difference between work being work and having to work a really miserable job. We’ve all been there. Here are 11 ways to tough it out in a job you hate- at least until you can get another one.1. Vent it OutAs long as you don’t do it at the office or with your coworkers or too publicly (ahem, on social media), it can be a really good thing to rant and rave and get your feelings off your chest rather than letting them fester. If you’ve already annoyed your friends with your work gripes, try a forum like jobvent.com.2. Realize it’s Only TemporaryYou’re only stuck there until you can find another job. Start looking. The average number of jobs a typical worker has in their career is growing to five. And there is no longer a stigma about switching jobs or careers like there used to be. Get out there and start working on your resume and soon this bummer job will be way i n the past.3. Make Time for YourselfAll work and no play will make you miserable, no matter what your work is. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself and taking time to do things you find enjoyable. If you build these activities into your day, it’ll be a lot easier to get through.4. Find Something Fun in Your WorkdayGive yourself a daily treat at the office, whether that’s listening to music at your desk, buying yourself  a snazzy lunch, keeping track of your sports team, playing the occasional round of chess against your computer†¦ just something to break up the day. Find something you like that will give you a few minutes of fun among the drudgery.5. Keep LaughingYour sense of humor is your best friend in rough times. Don’t lose sight of it. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. Find a way to keep a hold on perspective and keep laughing. Your situation is manageable and can be changed. Just keep your chin up and stay positive.6. Focus on Your Real LifeChances are you have plenty going on outside the office. Put your main focus on that stuff for a change. Don’t take your bad job home with you; leave work at work and make sure your outside life is rich and rewarding. And fun.7. Try to Do BetterIf you hate your job, it’s probably really hard to motivate yourself to excel. But being better at your job will actually help you move jobs- whether up the ladder at your current company, or to another one entirely. Put your hating energy into working harder and your problem might just solve itself.8. Don’t Screw UpYou hate your job, but the last thing you want to do is get fired. Be doubly careful not to put your job in jeopardy while you’re figuring out what to do next. Whatever you do, don’t let your performance slip. You’ll probably need a reference.9. Organize a Fun Night OutGet your coworkers to all go bowling, or to a movie, or to have a potluck picnic in the park. Chances ar e they’re probably as miserable as you are on the job. Get together, share some laughs, and feel a little better about life.10. Get HelpWorkplace stress can be a major factor in depression. Check to see whether your company has an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and get some professional help to see you through. A happy worker is more productive, obviously. Plus, it never hurts to talk things out with the pros.11. Be PatientYour bad job sucks, but you only have to cope long enough to find a new job. Devote yourself to that, but leave the rest of it at the office. You can get through 9-5 every day for a few weeks until you find something new. Hang in there.

Business Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Business Ethics - Essay Example In fact, an individual can not achieve the purpose and goals of management without taking care of the daily life needs and necessities of the subordinates. In light of the importance of the role of a manager in an organizational context as discussed above, I would allow the assembly line worker to leave early with his/her child’s teacher, though I fully understand that it is my responsibility to be impartial to the maximum extent and equally take care of the needs of his/her coworkers as well. Despite that, it is often not possible for manager to address the needs of all of the subordinates at any one specific time. There are two types of needs that a manager needs to take care of simultaneously. These two needs are the subordinates’ needs and the business needs. Subordinates’ individualistic needs revolve around their personal lives and have often no concern with the business. On the other hand, business needs are directed at the achievement of organizational go als and are often unconcerned with the individualistic needs of employees.

ENGLISH (BA) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ENGLISH (BA) - Essay Example The importance of sustaining the relationship with family members amidst controversial thoughts and other social issues is revealed in both the novels. For example, the life of Joe and Violet amidst Joe’s extra marital relationship with Dorcas and Ginny’s inability to face her father in spite of the sexual abuse shown by her father towards her and her first younger sister Rose reflects the above situation. â€Å"Jazz† is the popular-most novel of the renowned Afro-American writer Toni Morrison that won unabated fame as well as Noble Prize for the writer in the field of literature. Like other Morrison’s novels, Jazz also lays its concentration on the historical background and socio-cultural aspects of life of Black people of America, who have been got settled in America. The central theme of the novel seems to be personal, domestic and cultural memories. Morrison has structured her characters in Jazz from 1850s through 1920s chronicling the extended cultural responses to the eradication of slavery from different parts of the world. The novel discusses family life of the individuals belonging to different areas and professions, having two things in common i.e. race and social class. The novelist looks for the old traditional domestic life of Blacks where there was complete peace and harmony among the members of family. The novel is the reflection of feelings like care, love, sympathies and kindness she had observed in her own family life. Her novel also depicts to search out the same characteristics in contemporary American society. The novel deplores on the displacement of the members of one family reminding the time when the European nations made the poor Africans as captives to take them to Europe as slaves. No body in Africa could even resist all such atrocities due to the powerful imperialistic political set

HRM Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

HRM - Research Paper Example ional human resource in Kaiser Permanente has put several measures in place to ensure that both internal and external laws are enforced in a very effective and appropriate way. This plays a very vital role in ensuring that good relationship is maintained in the entire organization and to the extended environment. On the other hand the organizations has several policies which are put in place to ensure that the organization’s goals and objectives are fully achieved. However, for the goals to be met the policies of Kaiser Permanente must be fully implemented. Decisions made in the organization can be borrowed from the transnational scope which implies that Kaiser as an organization can make its decisions on international scope (Harris 98). On the other hand the organization also makes its decisions basing on a worldwide perspective but not on a local perspective. The style of management is also another ideal secret to successful growth of Kaiser. As an organization it has put in place measures to ensure that all leaders or heads of different department are qualified and able to manage the duties of the department bestowed to them. On the other hang the human resource management strategies should put measures in place to ensure that the style of management suits each and every employee within the organization. This enables all the works to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. However the challenge arises when it comes to coming up with the suitable way of catering for every employee irrespective of the country they come from. The other feature of good leadership in this organization is prevalence several managers from different places of the world therefore the services offered by this managers is commendable (Harzing and Ruysseveldt 45). Multicultural way of operation has also be embraced to ensure than not only the demotic people get employed but also people from the international world, however the core principle of international human resource

Gorgias - Phaedrus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Gorgias - Phaedrus - Essay Example He believes that justice defines equal proportions to all as the most powerful and less powerful people are all considered to have equal rights and responsibilities. Intelligent he believes that justice does not come from power but is attained through equality. He differs with the definition of natural justice which states that ‘the weak are there to be ruled’ but instead considers slaves to be stronger than their masters due to the difference in daily experiences (Wardy, 2005. Pg. 59). Socrates is persuasive as he insists on knowing Gorgias concept of examining nature of rhetoric. He pesters Gorgias to explain to him the art in rhetoric. This is portrayed in an extract of their conversation when Gorgias says, â€Å"Therefore I claim that the art of Rhetoric has to do with the words, and maintain that may claim is correct.† Socrates responds by saying, â€Å"I wonder whether I understand the kind of thing you wish to call it.†(Wardy, 2005. Pg. 62) Socrates also believes in inner personal drive as he tells Callicles that a slave is better than his master as he possesses greater strength. In Phaedrus, Socrates is given the characters of a critic as he criticizes the speech written by Lysias the love aspect presented by the logographer thus proposing that â€Å"the speech should focus on the non-lover rather than the lover.† In conjunction to this, he bears the character of a hypocrite as he praises Love in his speech having disputed it on Lysias’s writings (Plato, 2008). The persuasive nature of Socrates makes him to strive in the verge of finding out the true definition of rhetoric. In his view, rhetoric is divided into two approaches. The first approach uses flattery and shameful public harangue. Second approach considers the creation of a good image in a dialogue as a writer tends to strive towards what is considered to be

Bank of Americas Problem Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Bank of Americas Problem - Research Paper Example The bank spent billions of dollars in a bid to solve the issues Countrywide was involved in but almost four years later, the problems still persist and BAC has not been as profitable as it was before it acquired Countrywide. The reason has remained controversial about the failure of the bank’s performance soon after the acquisition and on the basis of this controversial issue; this paper has been decided to be taken up. Countrywide has been selectively considered as the most influencing fact towards the failure of the bank which is evident from various articles searched for during the making up of this paper. Various charts consisting of figures related to the downfall in the bank’s performance after acquiring Countrywide have been incorporated in this paper so that a comprehensive notion of the entire fact can be derived. The aim of this paper has been set with respect to resolving the present problematic situation of the bank pertaining to its merging with Countrywide during the year 2008.   Bank of America Position Bank of America (BAC) prides itself in its position and the role it plays in serving households, businesses, individuals and families to grow and succeed as a way of fuelling the economy. The bank upholds high standards of corporate governance and ethical conduct as a way of demonstrating its commitment. BAC is the biggest US lender in terms of assets and has about 13.9 million mortgages half of which are marred by controversy and are in the process of being segregated into good and bad. The effort to perform mortgage segregation on the part of BAC is aimed at staving off lawsuits arising from Countrywide mortgages (Plunkett, â€Å"Mortgages and Credit Industry Almanac†). BAC works with the belief of holding strength and rebuilding strength on failure each time. The recreation of strength after failure or even sustenance of strengths is undertaken by the bank mainly through concentration on key goals of the corporationâ€⠄¢s performance. The goals are obviously set according to the vision of the corporation and the strategies laid down by it for reaching to the vision in the long term. On this note, the vision statement of BAC is to evolve as the best company in the segment of financial services within the world. BAC holds the belief that the bank has its entire resources set for achieving the long-term goal in the form of vision. The vision is deemed to be also achievable by the bank based on the capabilities that it holds. The bank believes that the capabilities of the bank are efficient enough for meeting the financial requirements of the clients and the consumers. These capabilities are believed to be taking the bank near to the vision it has set for the future (Bank of America, â€Å"Annual Report 2010†). For the purpose of fulfilling its long-term vision, the bank concentrates heavily on its mission which is evident from the banks’ follow up of certain strategies.  

Organizational Psychology Leadership Term Paper

Organizational Psychology Leadership - Term Paper Example It is proved that leadership is a key indicator of organizational psychology, reflecting the psychological and social trends developed within each particular organization. At the same time it is made clear that the approaches used by researchers when having to explore the particular subject may be differentiated, a fact that cannot influence the value of organizational psychology as a factor influencing all aspects of organizational life, including leadership. Also, after examining the content and structure of the three studies, the following assumption has been developed: all of them have addressed their aims; however, the study of Strauss, Griffin and Rafferty (2009) seems to be more appropriately structured and justified responding fully to the requirements of academic research. Aims In the study of Vigoda-Gadot (2007), aims are clearly stated: reference is made to the effort of the researchers to identify ‘politics can be a mediator between the leadership styles and the for mal and informal aspects of employee performance (Vigoda-Gadot 2007, p.661). Rowold & Schlotz (2009) also clearly state – in the introductory section - the aim of their study: to prove that leadership style can lead to the employees’ chronic stress. In the third study also, no problem seems to exist regarding the presentation of the study’s aims; Strauss, Griffin and Rafferty (2009) make clear that their study focuses on the identification of the relationship between leadership and employees’ proactivity. However, the specific study seems to have an advantage – regarding the presentation of its aims – compared to the previous two studies; analytical explanations are providing regarding the decision of the authors to choose the particular subject and the gaps in the literature that the study is expected to cover. Structure The structure of the study of Vigoda-Gadot (2007) can be characterized as quite satisfactory, focusing on the analysis of the issues under discussion; moreover, the literature related to the issue under discussion is analytically presented – headings and sub-headings have been employed for increasing the quality of the flow of the text and ensuring that all parts of the text are distinctive, a fact that can be considered as an advantage of the particular paper. From a similar point of view, in the studies of Strauss, Griffin & Rafferty, A. (2009) and Rowold & Schlotz (2009), no problem seems to exist regarding their structure; sub-headings have been used to indicate the parts of the paper and the order/ reasoning of methodology involved. Between the specific two studies also, an advantage seems to exist for that of Strauss, Griffin & Rafferty (2009). Comparing the three studies, it could be noted that the Vigoda-Gadot (2007) offers more analytical explanations on leadership and its role within organization; moreover, the issues discussed are fully and adequately justified using appropriate theo ries and empirical evidence. Theories In terms of the literature used in the three studies under

Bank of Americas Problem Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Bank of Americas Problem - Research Paper Example The bank spent billions of dollars in a bid to solve the issues Countrywide was involved in but almost four years later, the problems still persist and BAC has not been as profitable as it was before it acquired Countrywide. The reason has remained controversial about the failure of the bank’s performance soon after the acquisition and on the basis of this controversial issue; this paper has been decided to be taken up. Countrywide has been selectively considered as the most influencing fact towards the failure of the bank which is evident from various articles searched for during the making up of this paper. Various charts consisting of figures related to the downfall in the bank’s performance after acquiring Countrywide have been incorporated in this paper so that a comprehensive notion of the entire fact can be derived. The aim of this paper has been set with respect to resolving the present problematic situation of the bank pertaining to its merging with Countrywide during the year 2008.   Bank of America Position Bank of America (BAC) prides itself in its position and the role it plays in serving households, businesses, individuals and families to grow and succeed as a way of fuelling the economy. The bank upholds high standards of corporate governance and ethical conduct as a way of demonstrating its commitment. BAC is the biggest US lender in terms of assets and has about 13.9 million mortgages half of which are marred by controversy and are in the process of being segregated into good and bad. The effort to perform mortgage segregation on the part of BAC is aimed at staving off lawsuits arising from Countrywide mortgages (Plunkett, â€Å"Mortgages and Credit Industry Almanac†). BAC works with the belief of holding strength and rebuilding strength on failure each time. The recreation of strength after failure or even sustenance of strengths is undertaken by the bank mainly through concentration on key goals of the corporationâ€⠄¢s performance. The goals are obviously set according to the vision of the corporation and the strategies laid down by it for reaching to the vision in the long term. On this note, the vision statement of BAC is to evolve as the best company in the segment of financial services within the world. BAC holds the belief that the bank has its entire resources set for achieving the long-term goal in the form of vision. The vision is deemed to be also achievable by the bank based on the capabilities that it holds. The bank believes that the capabilities of the bank are efficient enough for meeting the financial requirements of the clients and the consumers. These capabilities are believed to be taking the bank near to the vision it has set for the future (Bank of America, â€Å"Annual Report 2010†). For the purpose of fulfilling its long-term vision, the bank concentrates heavily on its mission which is evident from the banks’ follow up of certain strategies.  

Ford vs Toyota Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ford vs Toyota - Essay Example rds protecting the environment Ford has often been categorized as one of the leaders in terms of innovating fuel efficient vehicles in the current automotive market Ford has expanded its business activities to several developing countries including the European, Asia Pacific, Middle-Eastern, African and American regions Weaknesses Ford has been noticed to significantly depend upon the automobile sector restricting itself from expanding to other segments. In this regard, it can be stated that Fords is likely to lack in diversification strategy The company has also been criticized on the basis of its efficiency in establishing sustainable markets for high end cars The company can be witnessed to face the limitation of continuously declining market share in its global market, especially in the Asia Pacific region owing to the increase in competition level Ford can be witnessed to consider defensive competitive strategies in most instances to cope up with the competition in the internati onal arena Financial stability of Ford is significantly impacted by the economic fluctuations of that particular region Opportunities Ford has introduced hybrid cars which runs on electrical energy and is forecasted to have great opportunity in the near future The demand for fuel efficient vehicles of Ford has been notably increasing opening up significant opportunities for its future growth The increasing sales revenue evidently depicts that Ford has been well accepted in the global market by its customers The automobile sector has been noticed to demonstrate a growing trend in the small and medium markets Introduction of fuel efficient cars, such as ‘Focus ECOnetic’ of Ford in the European market, are likely to have significant opportunities for the growth of the company in its future Threats The sales volume of cars has been noticed to decline to a certain extent in various places such as US, Canada and UK among others imposing a market risk to Ford The company has b een facing significant competition from the Japanese automotive companies operating within the Western regions The company faces difficulties as a result of the strict emission norms in certain nation such as US and Europe causing an obstruction on its marketing operations Ford has been facing a problem in capturing the Asian markets owing to the presence of automobile giants such as Toyota which in turn hampered the growth of the company in terms of its market share Economic fluctuations tend to impose a major threat to Ford’s financial stance in that particular region (Ford Motor Company, 2012; Richter, A. & Pahl, 2009) Toyota Motor Corporation Strengths Toyota is among the leading manufacturers of automobiles in terms of production capacity as well as sales volume Toyota is recognized as a company which is dedicated towards producing environmentally safe vehicles and technologies, since its inception Toyota is the manufacturer of world’s most excellent selling hybri d car, Prius which evidently rewarded the company a leading position in the inter

Examining The Roles Of Moral Entrepreneurs Media Essay

Examining The Roles Of Moral Entrepreneurs Media Essay There are certain powerful tools such as moral entrepreneurs and/or social control agents that are said to contribute to the development of moral panics in a society (Becker, 1963:147; Cohen, 1980:85). This essay will argue that amplitude as a news value appears to be the major tool through which moral panics are developed in a society (Cohen, 1980:31). The essay will commence with a brief background and definition of key terms such as news values, amplitude and moral panics, not necessarily in the same sequence. Then using relevant research sources, this essay will analyse the role that the news value of amplitude plays in the development of moral panics. Furthermore, the reasons for this kind of journalism will be considered by carefully analysing the issues of interest and morality. Finally, the essay will consider the effects of moral panics on society by looking into instances in different societies. Ben-Yehuda (2009:1) describes the concept of moral panic as creating a state of exaggerated fear from topics that are claimed to have a moral element. He states that moral panics have to create, focus on and sustain powerfully persuasive images of folk devils that can serve as the heart of moral fears. According to Ben-Yehuda and Goode (1994:12), the idea of moral panics developed from the earlier concept of moral crusades where a person or a group of persons where stigmatised as deviants and isolated from what was regarded as normal society. It was first revealed by Jock Young in 1971 as opposed to the thought that Stanley Cohen was the originator of the concept. Critcher (2006: ix) also concurs that Cohen borrowed the term from Young. However, though Young introduced the term, it was Cohens research on the Mods and Rockers that launched it to its present state as a still central tool of sociological and media analysis, as well as a common phrase in popular discourse (Ben-Yehuda, 20 09:1). Cohen defines moral panic in his book Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of Mods and Rockers (1980:9), as when a condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media This shows that every society has particular moral values and interests that define it as a society. Hence, it will not be normal for a person or group of persons to go against those moral values and interests. Becker (1963:1) states that social rules are made to be enforced and they determine what is right or wrong in a social group. Therefore the person or group of persons who breaks those rules is regarded as an outsider because such cannot be trusted to live by the rules. The outsider is then labelled by that society as a deviant or a folk devil as Cohen calls it. The outsider is isolated from normal society and this leads to more deviance (Cohen, 1980:12; 18). Goode (1993:93) also defines moral panic as a widespread feeling on the part of the public that something is terribly wrong in the society because of the moral failure of a specific group of individuals, subpopulation is defined as the enemy. In short, a category of people has been deviantized. Deviance refers to behaviour that breaks social values or upsets the expectations of society thereby attracting social penalty or punishment (OSullivan, et al., 1994: 83; Aggleton, 1987:4). Some examples of deviant behaviours that lead to moral panics are related to drug usage, homosexuality, gang activities, pornography, prostitution, and so on (Ben-Yehuda, 2009:2; Cohen, 1980:18). Cohen (1980:9; 59) observes that a type of moral panic which has kept occurring in Britain since the war has been tied to the coming up of a variety of youth culture who are either working class, middle class or students and are seen as deviants associated with violence. The Teddy Boys, the Mods and Rockers, the Skinheads, are some examples he gives of those labelled deviants or folk devils that represented youths at the time. This is also reflected in Ben-Yehudas study of the 1982 drug panic in Israel where youths were identified with the deviant behaviour of illicit drug-taking. Those who create and enforce the rules in society respectively referred to as moral entrepreneurs by Becker (1963: 147) and social control agents by Cohen (1980: 85). These are powerful concepts that are said to contribute to the development of moral panics in a society. They comprise the Police, the Courts and Civil Society or Action Groups who take appropriate action at the Federal and Local levels. Here the media also plays a vital positive role in checking the excesses of these so-called deviants. As we all know, the media is a tool through which information is dispensed to the public. The way and manner information is dispensed determines how the public reacts to such information. There are certain criteria that determine what news is and it varies from one culture to the other (Galtung and Ruge, 1965: 65). The criteria or guidelines by which events are regarded as newsworthy are referred to as news values (Brighton and Foy, 2007:1). Galtung and Ruge (1965: 70) provide a list of a number of factors that qualify for news values. An event must possess at least one of these to qualify as news. One of such news values is amplitude on which this essay will focus. Amplitude refers to how big the event is; The bigger, the better, the more dramatic, the more likely the event is to achievethreshold value (Watson, 1998: 118). It is argued here that amplitude as a news value appears to be the major tool through which moral panics are developed in a society (Cohen, 1980: 31). It was stated earlier that moral entrepreneurs or social control agents are powerful tools that are said to contribute to the development of moral panics. Cohen (1980: 166) and Becker (1963: 147) have argued that these tools create and enforce rules in order to control deviant behaviours. They intervene whenever they feel a particular value in society is being threatened by behaviours that are out of the norm. This shows that a deviant behaviour can be powerful enough as to instigate creation and the enactment of laws in a society (Ben-Yehuda, 1990: 124). However, it is important to note that these agents cannot function alone to create moral panics in the society, they need the mass media to be able to pass across what they deem as morally wrong or evil so, they take advantage of the media to be able to create a moral panic (Ben-Yehuda, 1990: 116). It thus seems that without the media, moral panics may never occur and amplitude plays a major role in such a development. Cohen (1980:1 6) describes the media as an especially important carrier and producer of moral panics. He states that information that gets to the public have already been processed by the media, that is to say that they have been subject to classifications of newsworthiness and how they are to be relayed to the audience. He argues that what is usually called news focuses on reports on deviance and its consequences and such reports create concerns, anxiety, indignation or panic. When these feelings have been created, the need to protect certain moral values arises and this leads to the definition of the problem and the creation of rules to protect societal values. All that has been said boils down to the fact that for the media to cover an event successfully as news, amplitude (as a news value) plays a very important role. As earlier defined, amplitude refers to how big and dramatic the event is (Watson, 1998: 118; Galtung and Ruge, 1965: 66) so the need for amplitude leads the media to amplify de viance whereby exaggerating the event so it becomes a very big issue through the reaction of the audience. OSullivan, et al. (1994:10-11) define amplification as the process whereby initial activity, labelled as deviant is increased or amplified as a result of social reaction which is largely co-ordinated and articulated by the mass media. Furthermore, Galtung and Ruge (1965: 71) state that there are three things the media does to manufacture news and one of them is accentuation or distortion and that is to make the event even more noticeable. Cohen (1980: 31) gives examples of this kind of distortion or exaggeration. In describing the Mods and Rockers event at Clacton, he states that a journalist from the Daily Mirror admitted that the event had been over reported. Cohen describes how the media grossly exaggerated its seriousness; Over-reportingthe number taking part, the number involved in violence and the amount and effects of any damage or violence. Such distortion took place primarily in terms of the mode and style of presentation characteristic of most crime reporting: the sensational headlines, melodramatic vocabulary and heightening of those elements in the story considered as news. The regular use of phrases such as riot, orgy of destruction, battle, attack, beat up town and screaming mob left an image of a besieged town from which innocent holidaymakers were fleeing to escape a marauding mob. This event was so exaggerated that the police began making preparations for the next anticipated Bank Holiday hooliganism. On the next Bank Holiday at Brighton, so many suspicious youths, though not guilty of all that they were accused of, were arrested on the beach escalating the matter and confirming the doubts and fears of the public who acted and took their local problem to the legislature ( Cohen, 1980:91-113). Another instance of such exaggeration is found in the 1982 drug scare event in Israel. Ben-Yehuda (1990:103) argues that the media played a crucial role by providing information that stimulated the panic. He states that youths in high schools in Israel were accused by the police and a member of legislature of the misuse of psychoactive drugs. It appeared in the media that over a hundred thousand students used hashish. A particular school was labelled Hashish High School because it was accused of a high rate of unlawful drug use. The principal revealed statistics showing o nly one pupil in the school was found using drugs but the release of the statistics did not help because the panic had already been created. The Ministry of Education sought for proof from the police for the outrageous statistics they released to the media but none was given. Anxious parents parents demanded that the Ministry of Education do something about the terrible drug problem. Most parents eventually withdrew their children from schools as a result of such exaggerations, turning the event into a huge story. The media used such headlines as youth drug abuse plague, How to Behave with a Drug Abusing Adolescent, The Dangers of Hashish. This event shows how active the social control agents and the media were in the development of moral panic but the media seemed to be the major tool through which moral panic began. The connection between personal and group interests to moral panics has been espoused by (Ben-Yehuda, 1990: 114; Becker, 1963:148; Goode and Ben-Yehuda, 1994: 159). Ben-Yehuda (1990:114) suggests that on one hand, moral panics reflect the moral struggle in a society and on the other hand, the issue of interests show that moral panics use moral topics to cover up clash of interests between different parties. He argues that the moral panic in Israel in 1982 was based on distorted information, clearly aimed at sharply marking the boundaries between moral right and moral wrong. However, behind the public display about morality, there were other strong interests at work as well. This shows that just as there are moral entrepreneurs who seek to truly uphold moral values for the good of the society, there are also those entrepreneurs who seek to fulfil their own interests. Young (2009: 10) states that there are three reasons for moral intervention. The first is the conflict of interest wher e he explains that interests of a powerful group are directly threatened or the group sees that the intervention would be to its advantage. The second reason for intervention is moral indignation. He explains that the deviant threatens the moral values of a more powerful group therefore an intervention is required. Finally, the third reason is humanitarianism where the more powerful group intervenes for the good of the deviant(s). This goes further to reveal a powerful economic and political relationship between those in power and those regarded as outsiders because laws, wealth and status could be created as a result of moral panics (Goode and Ben-Yehuda, 1994: 159). For instance, the legislator could create laws and have his political status established as a result of a moral panic through the media and the police could gain more funds to aid in fighting deviance. Furthermore, the media is responsible to protect the public interest through the proper dissemination of information. The public should be aware of events that affect them through the news. News that stirs up moral panics does not seem to be in the public interest because the end result is fear and anxiety (Ben-Yehuda, 2009: 1). It then seems that the media may only be interested in its business competition through the selling of a breaking story to attract more viewership and not minding how the news is presented thereby fulfilling its own interest. It could also be that the media in creating a moral panic is not aware that it is doing so and may publish or broadcast news in the public interest since its duty is to create awareness of issues prevalent in the society. Moral panics have certain effects on the society. They create stereotypes, for instance, (Young, 2009:6) thereby segregating a particular class or group of people within society. A stereotype is a social classification of a group based on a particular set of values, judgments and assumptions toward the groups behaviour, characteristics or history (OSullivan, et al., 1994:299). The Mods and Rockers were stereotyped because they behaved and did things differently from the rest of the society at the time. They dressed differently, rode scooters and motor-bikes and they were two confrontational groups. As a result they were seen as a threat to traditional, decent values of law and order (Critcher, 2006: xii). According to Cohen (1980:62) the Mods and Rockers were seen as a disease that needed to be cured or completely removed from society therefore they experienced indignation. A survey revealed that the medias reaction to the Mods and Rockers were more intense and stereotypical than the opinion of the public (Cohen, 1980: 66). In addition, moral panics create fear, anxiety and panic among members of society. Statistics show that fear is created especially among older people (Cohen 1980:70). For instance, as mentioned earlier, during the 1982 drug scare in Israel, parents out of fear and anxiety about the terrible drug problem that had invaded high schools, withdrew their children from school. The sort of presentation and language used by the media may cause its audience to think they are living in a very unsafe environment while that may not be entirely true. Also, moral panics could help establish new laws claimed to guard the moral values and interests of the society and even if it does not do so, it leaves memories that usher in the next panic (Ben-Yehuda, 2009: 3). For instance, early 1970 in America, President Nixon successfully carried out a war on drugs that later paved the way for subsequent drug panic that led to the creation of laws against illicit drug taking in America in 1986 and 1989 (Goode and Ben-Yehuda, 1994:169). All these prove that moral panics could either have a lasting or a short term effect on a society. The effect could be felt at the time of the panic and eventually fade away with the panic as it was with the Mods and Rockers or the effect could be a long lasting one as in the case of laws made to prohibit illicit drug use. In conclusion, although other strong tools such as the moral entrepreneurs or the social control agents contribute in creating moral panics, it is clear that amplitude as a news value is a major tool used by the media to create moral panics in the society. This essay has also shown that there are certain reasons why moral panics occur and those reasons could either be moral or for personal interests. Furthermore, there is a preponderance of the unhealthy effects of moral panics in the society including the creation of stereotypes, the instigation of fear among people and possibly the creation of new unnecessary laws. Practitioners in journalism and media must be careful in the reporting and dissemination of information to the general public to avoid impressing their personal or group interests on society that they may have detrimental effects in the peaceful order of society. WORD COUNT: 2,824

The Value of Diversity Essay -- immigrants, immigration

Diversity, as it relates to thoughts, ideas, ethnicity, race, and a host of other areas, is the quintessential ingredient needed to establish a free nation. Amendment I of the United States Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Through this simple statement made so many years ago, the founding fathers laid down not only the framework for the basic freedoms that Americans cherish, but also the foundation for establishing a diverse nation. You see, without diversity, there cannot be freedom, and without freedom, there cannot be America. Since diversity is so vital for all free nations, it can also be said that diversity education is essential for the citizens of these nations. Without diversity education, people forgo the opportunity to broaden their horizons through the myriad of ideas and thoughts that exist in ...

Is Human Cloning the Answer? :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Is Human Cloning the Answer? That depends upon the question. Recently there was a major breakthrough in the scientific research - the mapping of all DNA in a human gene is complete. Couple of years ago, this seems an impossible task for scientist to triumph over. All this revolution in science leads us to believe that the day, when the human being will be cloned, is not far away. Human cloning has always been an issue of controversy, be it in terms of ethically or religiously. Taking a look at why cloning might be beneficial, among many cases, it is arguable that parents who are known to be at risk of passing a genetic defect to a child could make use of cloning. A fertilized ovum could be cloned, and the duplicate tested for the disease or disorder. If the clone was free of genetic defects, then the other clone would be as well. The latter could be implanted in the woman and allowed to mature to term. Moreover, cloning would enable infertile couples to have children of their own rather than using sperm of another man. Cloning humans would also mean that organs could be cloned, so it would be a source of perfect transplant organs. This, surely would be immensely beneficial to millions of unfortunate people around the world that are expected to lose their lives due to failure of single (or more) organ(s). It is also arguable that a ban on cloning may be unconstitutional and would deprive people of the right to reproduce and restrict the freedom of scientists. Arguments against cloning are also on a perfectly viable side. Primarily, I believe that cloning would intervene with the normal 'cycle' of life. There would be large number of identical genes, which minimizes the chances of mutation, and, in turn, evolution - the fundamental reason how living things naturally adapt to the ever-changing environment. Life processes failing to do so might result in untimely extinction. Furthermore, cloning would eliminate the uniqueness that each one of us posses. Thus, leading to creation of genetically engineered groups of people for specific purposes and, chances are, that those individuals would be regarded as 'objects' rather than people in the society in grand scale.

Competitive Rivalry

Competitive Rivalry * Industry dominance by few large firms The car automobile industry -There are various competitors in this market but the dominant ones include General Motors, Volkswagen, Chrysler, Ford, and Honda etc. Entry barriers prevent other entrants and pricing is mostly by competition and mutual understanding between top manufacturers. * Huge setup cost and complete resource ownership * Prices remain stable if a  firm reduces product price others follow suit and cut down their price as well,   if a firm increases product price, others do not increase their price. oyota focusing on continuously finding ways to reduce production costs. The company also optimized its processes to accelerate the various phases of production — from initial design to production — so that it could introduce new models faster than its competitors. Seek less expensive ways to produce desirable products -BMW Group and the Toyota Motor Corporation announced a collaborative effort a imed at developing new products and advanced-powertrain technologies. Toyota also has an agreement with Ford to develop hybrid systems for light trucks and sport utility vehicles. Threat of substitute products * There are a lot of substitutes in the automobile industry. When the price of the vehicles rises, the substitutes will emerge, there are many types of equipment that can take the place of vehicles, such bus, subway, bicycle and even walking. The Hybrid Synergy Drive also must be evaluated using Porter's model factor for threat of substitute products.Other companies could potentially enter the hybrid market by developing a similar drive and neutralizing Toyota's advantage. In fact, Nissan and Honda have developed similar technologies for their sedan models. However, Toyota continues to dominate the market for hybrid vehicles because Honda and Nissan do not have a significant impact on the market yet. In the future, Toyota may lose their competitive advantage if hybrid vehicles take a bigger market share in the automotive industry.However, currently Toyota is adding Sport Utility Vehicles (Toyota Highlander) to their line of vehicles using the HSD. By being the first to add SUV's to the hybrid market, they have currently protected their competitive advantage from substitute products. Bargaining power of Suppliers Toyota Production System which developed a network of suppliers who would supply the right quality, quantity at a point just in time for Toyota to use in building its cars. This reflects weak bargaining power on the part of the suppliers in terms of our model.

The main problem of the high amount

Alcoholism has always taken its toll on people, when they can stop controlling their habit, which would ultimately lead them to destruction in the form of alcohol abuse.   The people of Alaska are going through the same phase, and their rate of acceleration of the abuse is getting pretty much alarming.The main problem of the high amount of alcohol abuse in the state, can not only just be blamed at the people, but also should be blamed at the authority over them. Somehow the government’s function machinery seems too weak to handle the problem, and no proper steps have been taken till date that would help curb the problem.The relaxed laws, are the icing on the cake when it comes to the abuse in alcohol, as people have taken it for granted and know about the maximum punishment the state has to offer, when it comes to over drinking or to Alaska’s biggest problem, ‘underage drinking’; which is why the pathetic condition of the state in regards to alcoholism ca n be seen.Curbing the problem is not very easy, and steps have to be taken which have to be imaginative and out of the way category to put an end to the state’s meaningless alcoholism. More care can be given in counseling in schools, so that children from the age of 12 understand the bad effects of alcoholic abuse, and can learn to compete and to tackle the pressure of alcoholic parents and the pressures of the peer group to remain sober.Laws should be more vindictive when it’s coming to alcoholism in the state, and harsher punishments should be given than just monetary fines. People committing crime under the influence of alcohol, should be punished more strictly than compared to other states, as there is a serious rise in alcohol related crimes and felonies. More forces should be used to curtail smugglers providing illegal liquor in dry areas, as they have almost ruined the small rural areas of the state.A proposed solution to the problem would be that every person i n the state, should be given liquor permits, on the basis of compulsory psychological and physical tests, where his limit to alcohol would be based on the severity of his alcoholic problem, giving the government insights of severity of citizens along with getting sound demographic knowledge of alcohol abused areas.Since the beginning of civilization, man has always had tried to acquire a habit, that would keep him occupied and would make him content, at the cost of others. Strange as it may seem, man had developed the production of alcohol not too far after he understood the concept of still agriculture, and end of nomadic life also bought in an era of a time, where the concept of being in an inebriated state was realized.Alcohol has been introduced and has been cherished by all the civilizations that have come and that have been responsible for the development of mankind. Alcohol in those times, were used as medicine, God offerings, for nutrition purposes and was used for different sets of rituals and traditions that the natives followed apart from gratification.In today’s times, alcohol has become an integral part of our culture, and apart from beer and wine, which were the olden times favorite beverages, we have now options for the choicest of choicest drinks and cocktails available to us with great ease.Any pleasure activity that is done in control is well appreciated, but the problem occurs with an uncontrollable desire to continue doing pleasure activities, without understanding the consequences, and falling into the trap of addiction. This addiction trap, initial gains access to individuals, then groups, then large sections of the society, and finally it consumes an entire state, like the current condition of Alaska.  Alaska, is probably the best example of effects of alcohol abuse on a very large scale, and the whole state’s function is collapsing and the state output is being wastedon it residents, as the inhabitants of the state have reached a stage known as â€Å"disease of dependency†, because of high alcohol consumption.The problem with the state is it’s firstly very sparsely populated, and it suffers from a high percentage from the phenomenon of brain drain right after high school. Moreover in the winter the climate goes down berserk, and temperature can go down below -50 degree Celsius.This extreme cold also prompts the natives to drink more than the quota of an average American, and the natives love for alcohol has given the state an average of alcohol consumption more than double when compared to the national average for alcohol consumption.The report of the Alaska native federation stated the alcohol abuse has badly gripped the state of Alaska, and the entire state was heading for doom, as the effects of the alcohol were quiet drastic.