Products and services of the organization Essay Example for Free

Products and services of the organization Essay Talent Acquisition Integrated Project Solutions Upon winning a tender our recruitment team in the region is given a list of requirements from the client which they then have to fill within a given time frame. It is also done through recruitment campaigns is one specific nationality is needed for a project. Global Mobility This is a service that we provide for all placed candidates who are travelling abroad for an assignment which involved on and off boarding support, visa, flights and housing arrangements Identification of Main Customers There are two types of customers that the company serves, those who are looking for workforce (the companies) and those who are looking for employment (the individuals). It is not possible to distinguish the percentage of who the company is more focused on as it varies on the region. What differentiates them is that the Clients that looking for workforce either request our company to be used as the resource through a recommendation or through a tendering process. On the other hand the individuals that approach our business while looking for new opportunities mostly use the website as a platform for searching and applying for employment which is then saved on our data base for future reference and use. 3. The companies’ mission and vision is as follows: The above describe the companies’ overall goal that all its branches are working towards on an annual basis. Those vary depending on the region due to different obstacles, structures or legislation surrounding it. Within the Middle East the main short to medium term objectives is to ensure that the existing relationships that have been established over the years remain undisturbed by this such as low quality of work and untimely delivery of work gained through tenders. This is achieved by employing the right people on the right positions to ensure that what has been built overtime won’t be damaged through wrong communication channels. Moreover the company needs to explore possibly needed adjustments in its operations to be able to work  with companies that work on smaller projects besides those which are government driven or large privately run entities. Finally, the company needs to explore and establish whether it is worth expanding into different. Industries within the region due to the growth within Rail and Construction sectors, considering a lot of competition from abroad this needs extensive analysis and research. 4. An analysis of minimum 4 external factors and their impact on the business activities of the organization. Political This factor within the ME Region is very influential. Due to ongoing conflicts in Iraq our consultants have to go through extensive training in case of emergencies such as wars which not only includes very high rotational/ demobilization costs but also involves a number of measures that the company had to incorporate and take into account while setting up the entity in high risk location which are: a separate emergency phone line, a 24/7 emergency contact, amendments to existing employee contacts which do not consider political conflicts; safe transportation, security guards and special camp accommodation which comes at a very high price The economy in the middle east is very good, however it is only accessible to those who have the right contacts and relationships. Also it is very strongly affected by politics. Western Companies have to go through a very lengthy process of registration which requires wasta not only at the beginning but also for certain regular activities which slows down a lot of processes which in h West wouldn’t be an issue. Arab culture is very strong and rules the legislation and all processes and procedures within workplaces in the Region. Introducing the process of nationalisation has had a great influence on all companies operating in the region as a quota on nationals has to be employed by every company which meant that current employees had to be replaced with locals who unfortunately often aren’t keen to work, which creates a lot of issues in the workplace. While expanding in the ME Region the company had tapped into the Caspian Region a few years ago and set up 3 offices in Kazakhstan. However business development and tenders were a struggle due to very common bribery and corruption methods in doing business in this region. AS this is against the companies’ Code of Business Conduct the Board is now considering to sell the business within that region, as it is impossible to develop without breaking the company codes. 5. Structure of the organization The company structure within the ME region is Functional due to the business need. Each of the departments and all employees have a specific role and function that contributes towards the entire region functioning properly Activity B 12 Organizational Strategy The companies’ overall Regional Strategy is focused on growth and development in existing and new locations. This means that all delivery managers are focused on bringing in numbers and new business to ensure high profits which equals meeting their KPIs. This relays to all other departments which like recruiters are pressured to provide the highest level of service and ensure the business’s regular growth. The HR department is there to: Ensure that all incoming business which requires new staff or increased workload for existing staff is worth the effort – preparing PL Reports Ensuring that all departments are equally rewarded, not just the recruiters that are given regular bonuses for placements made. Initiatives for the finance and GM department have been developed. Policies and procedures have been developed to ensure that all employees who join or are currently working for the company adhere to the same standards and are treated equally. All of the above mentioned directly or indirectly ensure staff retention. Supporting manager and staff contribution to the overall success of the business Conflict and Dispute solving -When a conflict arises HR is there to be the mediator and the person that is objective towards both sides. The HR helps to solve the problem without involvement of personal opinions of either of the sides. Conflicts often grow to an extent where other departments get involved and it becomes a personal issue rather than a small work issues that absorbs everyone. This is very unhealthy as it absorbs time and energy of the entire team or within an office where it could be used for positive actions and development. HR is there to ensure that misunderstandings do not grow on such scale and help the teams refocus on their goals as well s the common aim of the office or the region that every employee is working towards. This is crucial to the business because a team that doesn’t work well together will never produce results which will mirro their full potential. Performance Management – HR Provides the platform, tools and expertise to ensure that each employee is assessed on a regular basis and has a chance to express and discuss any problems or issues that they might be facing. It also provides written proof for the managers when it comes to promotions and pay rises at the end of the year. It also provides a source of analysis for training needs and employee development plans which are used during budget setting time. Appraisals, even though for many managers seem like a chore are a very important part of the businesses success. Even when a team doesn’t meet on a regular basis to discuss any issues, the assessment time is when real performers and those who clearly underperform are identified. Having detailed written reviews help to distinguish whether a staff member is worth investing in and having his employment continued or whether he should be let go of at early stages – within the first 3 months when the probation period is over. Without the HR department prompting the managers to complete those above described assessments, the managers often do not realize the lack of someone’s potential until crucial, often costly mistakes are made. Guidance in terms of employee legislation As the legislation in the region changes on a regular basis, it is important that HR has the information and relays it to all employees, and also acts as  the person that is informed of any immigration or legal changes. It is crucial to the business that all laws are followed to avoid any issues not only with employees in case of disputes but also with governmental bodies such as immigration or the Municipality. Following those rules in any country can be a deciding factor during an internal or external audit and ensure that the business can continue trading rather than being fined or even closed down for not adhering to the rules and regulations. Fair treatment of employees To ensure fair treatment of employees and to avoid favouritism, policies procedures and guidelines are developed. All employees are bound by the same rules which create guidelines for their day to day behaviours and actions which if broken and referred to during disciplinary or performance assessment meetings. Having rules in place is crucial to the business as it avoids unnecessary conflicts and issues as well as helps employees to understand and follow the company culture which is reflected within its rules.

Risk Management When Working At Height

Risk Management When Working At Height The Regulations apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall liable to cause personal injury. They place duties on employers, the self-employed, and any person who controls the work of others. These regulations have been made to prevent the Deaths and Injuries caused each year by falls at work. They also REPLACE all the earlier regulations about working at height and implement European Council Directive 2001/45/EC concerning safety and health for use of equipment for work at height (the Temporary Work at Height Directive). The objective of this paper is to identify relevant local laws related to working at height and examined the shortcoming from the laws. In Malaysia, the practice of safety including at construction sites is regulated by two main Acts. The Factories and Machinery (FMA) Act, 1967 is widely use by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) to make sure the safety, health and welfare at workplace. One of the regulations under the act, Buildi ng Operation of Work Engineering and Construction (BOWEC) is created specially to focus on the activities at construction industries. The are the legal requirements regulated by the government in related to working at height such as Regulation 12,Regulation 15, Regulation 39,Regulation 40,Regulation 41,and Regulation 42 using in this paper. To solve these problems, we need an improvement strategy that an employer must do everything reasonably possible to prevent anyone from falling, hazards situation, and carry out a risk assessment before working at height and take precautions where a person can fall a distance of more than 2m. If there is an increased risk of injury when falling a distance of less than 2m. The whole construction process should be planned to minimise the risk of falls. Planning work to minimise the need to work at height, and adding safety using guard rails, catch netting and barriers can reduce the risk. The results, construction professionals and the workers must be concerned with the construction process where the both professional and legal duties to take care, not only of their own health and safety at work, but the health and safety of others who might be put at risk by their acts and omissions. Keywords: Regulations, Working At Height, Construction Industries, Risks Introduction Over the years scenario of construction industry becomes more challenging. Accidents happen at construction site are always at everywhere especially in high rise construction. To date, people especially safety players in construction will find the best method in combating such accidents from happen. Working at height is defined as working at a place from which a person could be injured by falling from it, regardless of whether it is above, at or below ground level. Working at height describes work undertaken off the ground. Commonly, it involves the use of scaffolds, ladders, hoists, gantries or general roof work. Working at height can result in debris falling on workers or even workers falling from heights. Problem Statement Construction industry has been identifying by DOSH as among the highest activity contributed to the accident at workplace. Among the most hazardous activities at the building construction site is working at the building construction site working at height. Statistics indicate that almost one in three accidents involving working at height is fatal. Table 1.1 shows the statistic of fatality at construction site reported to DOSH from 1999 to 2004. Table 1.1: Fatality at Construction Sites in Malaysia Source: Department of Occupational Safety and Health Most accidents occur as a result of poor management control, which includes such failures as: Not recognising that a problem exists before it results in an accident Not designing and enforcing safe systems of work Not providing adequate information, instruction or training Poor supervision Not providing appropriate equipment or not using the right equipment for the job Objective The objective of this paper is to identify relevant local laws related to working at height and examined the shortcoming from the laws. Project Strategy` Identify the local laws related to working at height. Identify the shortcoming Background Work at Height Regulations state that all employers have a duty of care to ensure that work at height is properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner Local Law In Malaysia, the practice of safety including at construction sites is regulated by two main Acts. The Factories and Machinery (FMA) Act, 1967 is widely use by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) to make sure the safety, health and welfare at workplace. One of the regulations under the act, Building Operation of Work Engineering and Construction (BOWEC) is created specially to focus on the activities at construction industries. The act clearly emphasized on the safety and health at different elements of construction such as machineries, working and load platform, scaffolding, floor opening, and electrical safety. Indeed FMA only enforceable to factories and machinery in which it is considered as prescriptive, rigid and too dependant to government enforcement that make it ineffective in controlling the issues of occupational safety and health at workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSHA 1994) has been enacted in 1994 as a reinforcement to the FMA. The objectives of the act are to secure the safety health and welfare of worker, to protect person at workplace against of hazard, to promote the occupational environment adaptable to the persons physiological and psychological needs and to provide the means towards a legislative system based on regulations and industry codes of practice in combination with the provisions of the act. The philosophy of the act is the responsibilities to ensure safety and health at the workplace lies with those who create the risk and with those who work with the risk. In respect to the above philosophy, construction industries are expected to comply with the provision of the act such as general duty of employer and employee, the requirement of safety officer regulation, the requirements of safety and health committee and responsibilities of reporting of accident an dangerous occurrences. The followings are the legal requirements regulated by the government in related to working at height. Factories and Machinery (Safety, Health Welfare) Regulation 1970 Regulation 12 Working at a height Where any person is required to work at a place from which he will be liable to fall a distance of more then 10 feet, means shall be provided to ensure his safety and such means shall where practicable include the use of safety belts or ropes. Any person, who commits an offence against these regulations, shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit. Factories and Machinery (Building Operations and Works Of Engineering Construction) (Safety) Regulations, 1986 Part V Cleaning, Repairing and Maintenance of Roofs, Gutters, Windows, Louvers and Ventilators Regulation 39 Duties of employers Every employer shall provide and require his employee to use while engaged in the cleaning, repairing and maintenance of roof, gutters, windows, louvers and ventilators. All means of access to roofs, gutters, windows, louvers, ventilators and other fixtures, parts or equipment which require periodical cleaning or maintenance shall be maintained in good and safe order and condition. Regulation 40 Work on steep roofs Where work is being performed on roofs having a slope greater than one in four, there shall be provided protection against sliding, consisting of roofing brackets or crawling boards. The provision of sub-regulation (1) shall not apply where every employee engaged in work upon such roofs is protected by a safety belt. Regulation 41 Construction and installation of roofing brackets Roofing brackets shall be constructed to fit the pitch of the roof and when in use shall provide a level working platform. Roofing bracket shall be secured in place by nailing pointed metal projection attached to the underside of the bracket and securely driven into the roof or by secure rope passes over the ridge pole and tied. Regulation 42 Crawling boards Crawling board shall not be less than 250 millimetres wide and 25 millimetres thick and shall have cleats at least 38 millimetres wide, spaced at equal intervals not more than 310 millimetres apart across the full width of the board and firmly nailed. Such boards shall extend from the ridge pole to the eaves when used in connection with roof construction, repair or maintenance. Any person, who commits an offence against these regulations, shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand ringgit. Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 Section 15 General duties of employers and self-employed person to their employees of Occupational Safety and Health Acct 1994 clearly stated the employer responsibilities as follow:- It shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of all his employees. Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the matters to which the duty extends include in particular :- The provision and maintenance of plant and system of work that are, as far as is practicable, safe and without risks to health. The making of arrangements for ensuring, so far as is practicable, safety and absence of risks to health in connection with the use or operation, handling, storage and transport of plant and substances; The provision of such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety and health at work of his employees; So far as is practicable, as regards any place of work under the control of the employer or self-employed person, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risks to health and the provision and maintenance of the means of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks. The provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is, so far as is practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities for heir welfare at work. Failure to comply with the above requirements, employer shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both. Research Shortcomings The awareness of safety at workplace in Malaysia has emerged since 1967 with the introduction of the FMA. The regulation of BOWEC under FMA came into force on 1986 with the aims to control the safety at construction sites. OSHA enacted in 1994 with the same purpose to strengthen the control of safety health and welfare at workplace. In 2001, DOSH began to implement occupational safety and health inspection at construction site (Building Construction Safety Audit) for every four month in order to ensure the OSH elements are in place, adequate and effective in protecting the safety and health of workers subsequently preventing incidents. Unfortunately accidents and fatalities rates at construction sites still high. In Malaysia, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam They said the country recorded 6.7 accidents per 1,000 workers in 2005 while the average in developed nations stood at only three to four accidents per 1,000 workers. A construction site normally considered as a dangerous place. A large number of people die in them every year. Many site injuries result from people falling from structures like roofs and scaffolds, or being hit by falling objects. There is nearly always keen competition for new contracts and site personnel are often under pressure to work to tight time and cost constraints. It is hardly surprising that safety is often neglected. Improvement Strategy An employers duties An employer must do everything reasonably possible to prevent anyone from falling. This includes: avoiding all work at height wherever possible Use suitable equipment to aid work at height is there is no other method of carrying out the work from a place which is not at height. Do everything possible to minimise the height at which the person may fall from and minimise the consequences should someone fall. This means that: All work at height is properly planned and organised All work at height takes into consideration weather conditions which may adversely affect the work in progress. Employees who are involved are trained and competent The environment where the work is carried out is safe Equipment use to aid work at height is regularly inspected and is suitable for use The risks from fragile surfaces are properly controlled Risks from falling objects are properly controlled Hazards Falls from heights are a regular cause of fatal and serious injuries. There are three main hazards associated with work at heights: Falls. Falling objects. Falls from collapsing structures. Risk Assessment Carry out a risk assessment before working at height to find out what health and safety measures need to be adopted to avoid or reduce risk. Work should be done at a safe level to minimize risk. If this is not possible, consider the following: The physical condition of the people involved e.g. age, fitness, pregnancy, vertigo, etc; The activity; Equipment to be used; Location, e.g. near or over water, roads, under power lines, over raked stage, etc; The environment, e.g. weather, temperature, lighting; Duration of the work; Condition and stability of the work surfaces. Precautionary Measures Falls Precautions must be taken where a person can fall a distance of more than 2m. If there is an increased risk of injury when falling a distance of less than 2m, e.g. working near a traffic route or above a dangerous surface, suitable precautions will also be required. There are many ways of preventing falls of people: Edge protection, e.g. toe boards, guard rails; Safety harnesses; Maintaining a safe distance from an edge; Safety nets. Falling objects To prevent objects falling onto people you need a proper management system which: Provides barriers, e.g. a toe boards or mesh guards to prevent items from slipping or being knocked off the edge of a structure; Secures objects to the structure, e.g. lashing of scaffold boards; Ensures that there are no loose objects and that any tools are properly secured; Creates an exclusion zone, where necessary, beneath areas where work is taking place. In addition, when people are working at heights above other work areas, it is advisable to provide safety helmets to protect the workers below against falling objects. Danger areas can be clearly marked with suitable safety signs indicating that access is restricted to essential personnel wearing hard hats while this work is in progress. Falls from collapsing structures Structures need to be designed to be safe and to be built by competent people. The skills, knowledge and experience of the designer will depend upon the nature of the structure concerned and the use or uses to which it is put. A competent person should inspect and attach a notice to a structure after completion and before it is put into use. Further inspections on a regular basis (at least weekly) and after severe weather (external structures) or if the structure is significantly altered, will also be needed. Conclusion The working at height is part of important work in construction sector. Meanwhile, construction sector is an important part of the economy in most countries, yet is generally considered to be dangerous, dirty, hard and unreliable. In spite of the low attention often given to construction sites injuries in many countries, the statistics continue to be alarming. Construction workers are two to three times more likely to die on the job than workers in other industries while the risk of serious injury is almost three times higher. The construction professionals and the workers concerned with the construction process have both professional and legal duties to take care, not only of their own health and safety at work, but the health and safety of others who might be put at risk by their acts and omissions.

Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter

Analysis Of The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter, Nathanial Hawthorne made it quite evident that Pearl was a very symbolic character. As we know, following Hesters act of adultery, she became pregnant with Pearl and we get the sense that there is something strange and unnatural about her when fist introduced. This is relevant to her symbolism and the many attributes that she represents. Throughout the novel, her symbolism ranges from being equated to evil, sin, and innocence. Furthermore, it is also possible that her name in itself is used to symbolize different elements like a pearl; a treasure much like Pearl becomes for Hester. In many ways, it seems that Pearl symbolizes evil and the actual letter which is also is a representation of evil; she represented Gods punishment by her mocking and nagging of Hester. The symbolic quality of the letter is transferred to Pearl in which reinforces the idea that the symbol combines the reference to an abstract idea with a material existence. (Carrez) Although Hester loves Pearl, Pearl is a curse, the living personification of the scarlet letter, and is as much of a tormenting entity as the symbol upon her breast which also represents evil and sin in the novel. Due to Hesters and Dimmesdales sins, their result is Pearl who serves as a constant reminder to Hester of her sin. This is made evident in one instance where Hester removes the letter in the forest and Pearl throws a tantrum and refuses to listen to her because Pearl is not comfortable with the fact that the scarlet letter wasnt there. Furthermore, in many cases Hawthorne deliberately emphasizes her symbolism of the Scarlet A to the reader. While Hester dresses in a dull fashion, she uses her talents as a skilled seamstress and designs and sews intricate, beautiful clothing for Pearl; almost as intricate as the scarlet A Hester bears on her chest. Because of this, both the scarlet A on her breast and at her child will receive much attention from the townspeople. One example of this is noted in a passage where Pearl and Hester go to the Governors house and Pearl is dressed in a scarlet dress with gold edging resembling the A on Hester. In essence, Pearl really was the scarlet letter because if she wasnt born, Hester would have never been found guilty of adultery, and thus never would have had to wear the scarlet letter. Although Pearl had been mischievous and not very caring and often symbolized evil and sin; when her father, Arthur, finally admits he is Pearls father and is dying, Pearl changes. This breaks her free from being associated to the immoral symbolism. Pearl symbolically being equated to the scarlet letter is not the only symbolic meaning that she has; she is also the symbol of innocence. Pearl was often treated with disdain for no reason; meanwhile her only crime was her birth and existence. Furthermore, the children in The Scarlet Letter have a cruel nature; they know the significance of the scarlet letter, but in many cases, do not fully identify what its associated with. The children observe that the adults treat Hester with disdain and with attempts to imitate the adults; they sometimes harass and tease Pearl which further emphasizes her innocence and how she is sometimes a victim because of it. Also, Pearl has a strange attachment to the scarlet letter. When she was a baby, she would reach out to her mothers breast and try to grab the letter. She seems to instinctively realize that it has great significance, but when she confronts Hester about it because of her innocent curiosity, her mother lies to her, telling Pearl that sh e wears it because of its beautiful gold thread. Along with the idea of being the symbol of innocence; her name represents a treasure and great worth. Through Pearl being brought to life, is cost Hester a great deal; it was the price of her mothers public condemnation, but regardless of what it cost Hester, Pearl was also of great worth much like a real pearl. Consider an actual pear. For a pearl to develop, it starts as a piece of sand, which is grainy and rough; similar to how hard and rough it was for Hester to originally cope with the burden of the scarlet letter which is in essence Pearl. Then, after time that sand gets coated and becomes a pearl; a treasure much like Pearl becomes for Hester. This is also suggested in the text of the novel where Hawthorne writes, but she named the infant Pearl, as being of great price,purchased with all she had,her mothers only treasure! (Hawthorne 61) In addition it is important to consider that the idea of a pearl having a vivid beauty to it and would not belong in Puritan society because it would contrast with societys strict and rigid ideals. Pearl nonetheless stands out as beautiful and charming (like a pearl) in a society consisting of a populace of stern and dull people. She also gave Hester reason to live and press on with her life despite the hard times because regardless of what it cost Hester, she is at the same time Hesters source of happiness. In the same way that her mother Hester was different from Puritan society, her child also was not a normal Puritan. Pearl is different, but its her difference that gives her great worth and beauty; she is her mothers only treasure and companion. The ambiguity of the symbolism of Pearl within Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter is extremely evident for all of his readers. Hawthorne gives the reader a chance to consider their own opinion on what Pearl really stands for. His ambiguity shows the true complexity to Pearl and each of her symbolic meanings. This is clear in how many symbolic meanings Pearl had. In the novel, Pearl is an excellent example of childish innocence and treasure, evil and sin, and morality. Her willpower and imagination make her a blessing and a curse to her mother, who has paid such a great price for her child. Hawthornes ambiguity shows the true complexity of Pearl and each of her symbolic meanings that were covered and arrange it all quite brilliantly because Hawthorne incorporated the aftermaths of Hester and Dimmesdales sins into one innocent character, Pearl. Carrez, Dr. Stephanie. Symbol and Interpretation in Hawthornes Scarlet Letter. n.p. n.d. Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: W.W. Norton Company, Inc. 2005

Political Protest under the Totalitarian System Essay example -- Total

The paper concerns the principles presupposed in political protest against the totalitarian regime. In contrast to the utilitarian view of participating in political protest (K.D.Opp, M. Taylor) the author tries to suggest the moral model of political protest. According to this model, the main reason and motif for challenging the regime is the transgression of the limits of concession, which jeopardizes the spiritual identity and essential qualities of the individuals and all groups (i.e., Church, family, nation). The participants of the protest do not calculate in terms of egoistic or private interests and utilities but in terms of moral values. They consider what action is morally "good" and "bad" or morally "better" or "worse" in this situation, disregarding their personal profits and happiness. The overthrow of the communist system is an incalculating and contingent result of combating the extreme manifestations and worst excesses of the system. 1. Protest in Defense of Identity There are three essential forms of opposing the totalitarian system: covert passive resistance, overt non-violent protest, and armed struggle. The first form of activity results, in a way, from a combination of utilitarian calculating and axiological considerations. The oppositionists may cooperate with the rà ©gime and publicly countenance it, while at the same time they venture to take action in order to liberalize the system and take the edge off the dictatorship, whenever this is possible, i.e., not noticed by the authorities, legitimate, or profitable in view of the mildness of the punishment faced by the offenders. Both individuals and institutions may follow this pattern. Under the Communist rule in Eastern Europe, even persons holding publ... ...pp, "Repression and Revolutionary Action: East Germany in 1989," Rationality and Society, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1994, pp. 101–138; M. Taylor, Anarchy and Cooperation, London, 1976; M. Taylor [ed.], Rationality and Revolution, Cambridge, 1988. (7) M. Weber, Gesammelte Aufsà ¤tze zur Wissenschaftslehre, Tà ¼bingen, 1973, especially Chapters II & X. (8) Cf. A. Michnik, Z dziejà ³w honoru w Polsce [From the History of Honor in Poland], Warszawa, 1993. (9) Cf. V. Havel, Sila bezsilnych [The Power of the Powerless], Berlin, 1995. (10) Arystoteles [Aristotle], Etyka Nikomachejska [Nichomachean Ethics], Warszawa, 1956, Books III & V. (11) T. Buksinski, „Kategoria etycznosci a rzeczywistosc krajà ³w postkomunistycznych" ["The Category of the Ethical vs. the Reality of the Post-Communist Countries"], Edukacja Filozoficzna, 1995, No. 19, pp. 123–132. (12) J. Kuron, op. cit.

The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy Essay -- God Small Things Aru

The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy Before going into the theatre â€Å"to see The Sound of Music for the third time† (35), Estha â€Å"[completes] his first adult assignment† (93). He goes to the bathroom on his own, while Ammu, Baby and Rahel accompany each other to the ladies room. This little detail about going to use the restroom foreshadows another instance where Estha will be forced from being a child into manhood. Ammu tells Estha to â€Å"shut UP!!† (96) because he was singing along to the words of the movies. Instead of shutting up, he leaves the theatre on his own account, because â€Å"he couldn’t help† (96) but sing along to the words he knew. After completing his first adult assignment, his childlikeness comes out in having to sing the lyrics in â€Å"a nun’s voice† (96). He did not know that this act of immaturity, in acting his own age, he would be shoved into yet another adult assignment, something that he kept as a small thing, but ended up as a Big Thing inside him. The Orangedrink Lemondrink Man scolded Estha for â€Å"[disturbing]† (97) him with his song. As soon as he is done scolding him, his â€Å"yellow piano key† (97) teeth offered him a free drink. As Estha came, the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man already knew what he had in store for Estha. The Man asked him questions, and Estha, being a man and a child, had to answer. Where did he live? What did his family do? The Man â€Å"handed Estha his penis† (98) and made Estha masturbate him while he drank his lemon drink, and he had to, because the Man â€Å"knew where to find [him]† (104). After the Man was done with Estha, he sent him back into the theatre. Estha knew from this time that he would be love a little less if anyone knew what he had done with the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man. So he told no one. But in his head, a conversation was taking place between himself and Baron von Trapp, the father in The Sound of Music. Would von Trapp love him even though he was not white? Even though he â€Å"[blew] spit bubbles†¦[shivered] his legs†¦ held a strangers’ soo-soos?† (101). Was he still acceptable to obtain a Baba’s love? He knew that it was â€Å"out of the question. [He could not] love them† (102). No father could ever love him. They leave the theatre because Estha the child, Estha the man, is sick. When they exit the theatre, the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man smiles at Rahel and offers her candy. She goes toward him, and is... ...lowing it to be made into another myth or to be erased by the present. The time was â€Å"painted† on to the wrist-watch that was buried under the History House. When that watch was left to become one with the grass and the dirt, it captured many things. It made time stand still. It took away the desire to speak. This affected Ammu and Estha in everlasting ways. Ammu went mad before she died. Ammu treated Rahel as though she were still seven, when she was actually eleven, saying, â€Å"It was as though [she] believed that if she refused to acknowledge the passage of time, if she willed it to stand still in the lives or her twins, it would† (152). Estha changed dramatically as well. When â€Å"childhood tiptoed out† and â€Å"silence slid in like a bolt† (303), they went to where the watch was, buried with Ammu’s mind. In the ground of the History house, the time would remain at â€Å"ten to two† (121). Ten to two; two small people against ten big people. Rahel and Estha â€Å"trapped in†¦ a story† (224) against Mamachi, Baby, Chacko, Margret, Sophie, Ammu, Velutha, Kochu Maria, Pillai, and the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man. Ten. Ten to Two. Where the God of Small Things, â€Å"if he fought he couldn’t win† (207).

The Church and Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues :: Argumentative Persuasive Essay Examples

Free Essays - The Church and Gays, Lesbians The Catholic Church loves LGBT people with a profound love, just like it loves all of its other children. Various organizations within the church have as their main purpose the delivery of the Gospel to LGBT's. All of us are sacred creations of God, and therefore deserve respect on the basis of our human nature. This essay treats an outreach effort of the church in this area. In the rite of baptism, the liturgy joyfully proclaims, "you are God's work of art, created in Christ Jesus." Today, lesbian and gay Catholics are reminding the Church that they, too, have been baptized. Many are beginning to reclaim their membership in the body of Christ and the Church. As baptized persons, lesbian and gay Catholics share the rights of all the baptized: "to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church" (Catechism) Increasing numbers of lesbian and gay people are taking another look at the Catholic Church, which they thought had previously rejected them totally and definitively. Many are discovering in the Church a new spirit of understanding: "[I]t seems appropriate to understand sexual orientation (heterosexual or homosexual) as a deep-seated dimension of one's personality and to recognize its relative stability in a person. Generally, homosexual orientation is experienced as a given, not as something freely chosen. By itself, therefore, a homosexual orientation cannot be considered sinful, for morality presumes the freedom to choose. The teachings of the Church make it clear that the fundamental human rights of homosexual persons must be defended and that all of us must strive to eliminate any forms of injustice, oppression, or violence against them"(Pastoral). "It is not sufficient only to avoid unjust discrimination. Homosexual persons 'must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity'"(Catechism par.2358, Always 6,9) The U.S. bishops expressed their welcome of lesbian and gay people in 1976, and repeated it in 1991: "Homosexual [persons], like everyone else, should not suffer from prejudice against their basic human rights. They have a right to respect, friendship, and justice. They should have an active role in the Christian community.(To Live) Today, many dioceses and parishes are inviting lesbian and gay Catholics to assume active roles in the Christian community. Ministries of outreach and pastoral services welcome lesbian and gay Catholics to share their gifts with the entire Church.

The effects and implications of using ergogenic aids for exercise and sports performance

Throughout the history of sport, ergogenic aids have always been taken to enhance performance at sport. However, in more recent times physiological knowledge has improved and there are many more ergogenic aids becoming available for athletes. Some of these aids are legal and some are illegal. Therefore, when working as a coach, it is important to know which are legal and which are illegal so that you can avoid any risk of your athlete being prosecuted. One ergogenic aid that is prohibited is blood doping. This practice involves the athletes taking a certain amount of blood out of their body and frozen. Their bodies will then make up for this blood loss and after that process is complete, the blood that they took out is injected back into them. This process has a positive effect on sports performance as the number of red blood cells in your body is increased. Blood doping is most commonly used by endurance athletes, such as distance runners, skiers and cyclists. By increasing the number of red blood cells within the blood, higher volumes of haemoglobin are present. Haemoglobin binds to and carries Oxygen from the lungs and to the muscles where it can be used for aerobic respiration. Blood doping therefore allows extra Oxygen to be transported to the working muscles, resulting in a higher level of performance, without the use of the anaerobic energy systems. However, there are also many side effects to blood doping. Re injecting blood can cause many problems. Firstly it can easily cause infection to the athlete which can result in heart problems such as a heart attack. It can also cause blood clots in the body which can be fatal, jaundice which is the skin, eyes and body fluids turning yellow. One example of blood doping being used was at the winter Olympics. Six Austrian skiers had all been found to be using to using blood doping in an attempt to improve in the cross country skiing event. The skiers were called Wolfgang Perner and Wolfgang Rottmann and the cross-country skiers Martin Tauber, Jurgen Pinter, Johannes Eder, Roland Diethart and Christian Hoffmann. This particular event is an aerobic event as it lasts for a long time, with the competitors covering huge distances. Therefore the extra red blood cells in their bodies would have meant that they were able to go on much longer and faster than they would normally be able to. As a punishment, all six skiers were banned for life from the Olympics A second example of a prohibited ergogenic aid in sport is diuretics. Diuretics are banned in sports because they can help with weight loss and could also be used to speed up the elimination of drugs from the system. This can be very helpful to athletes competing in many different sports such as boxing, horse racing or rowing. One example would be a boxer that has put on weight between fights and is therefore too heavy for the weight category they are fighting in. Diuretics would help them to lose weight much more quickly than by natural means and they would be able to pass the weigh in. They help the sportsperson lose weight by increasing the volume of urine produced by promoting the excretion of salts and water from the kidney. This results in them losing a lot of water through urine, which causes them to lose weight very quickly. The second reason they are banned is, if you take a banned substance that is excreted through urine, it could speed up the elimination of drugs from the system. If it is being used in this way, it is not so much an aid to improve performance but could cover up for another prohibited aid. There are two main side effects to diuretics that damage a persons performance levels in sport. The first of these is dehydration. Diuretics work by removing all excess water and this means that dehydration often occurs. This will immediately have an effect on sports performance. Firstly, blood will become thicker and therefore more difficult to pump around the body, resulting in less oxygen being carried through the blood to the muscles. The body will then overheat due to an inability to sweat because of dehydration. Finally, Waste products such as lactic acid are not discreeted due to water conversation. A second effect on sports performance is muscles weakening, which is very important for sports people such as boxers. This is due to the poor blood supply to muscles. An example of the consequences that diuretics can cause is in boxers. They used to have the weigh in on the day of the fight. This meant that any boxer using diuretics would have to use them on the same day as they were fighting. The diuretics would get rid of any excess water in the body but the problem was that it took away the layer of water between the skull and the brain. This layer of liquid protects the brain from hitting the side of the skull when knocked. Therefore, without this protection, many boxers developed brain damage after years of boxing. Another prohibited ergogenic aid is beta blockers. Beta blockers are banned in many sports due to their ability to slow the heart rate. It is precision sports such as snooker, darts and diving that they improve performance in as they give you more control over slight movements. Beta blockers are normally given for the treatment of angina, high blood pressure, irregular heart beats or following a heart attack. They act by interfering and inhibiting certain nerve impulses being transmitted through the nervous system. They act by reducing the demand of oxygen required by the heart, lower heart rate and reduce the production of adrenalin. There are many possible side-effects of these drugs, but some people may not suffer from any. Possible effects include dizziness and fainting caused by the medications lowering heart rate too much and blood vessels can narrow causing cold and pale fingers and toes. On the other hand, there are also permitted ergogenic aids. This means that they can improve sports performance, but are still allowed by governing bodies of sports. One example of this is altitude training. Altitude training is very useful to any sports people that are competing in aerobic events. Many long distance runners either come from countries at high altitude or move there to train. Altitude training works because when the athlete trains at high altitude, there is very little oxygen in the air. The body soon adapts to this change of oxygen available and produces more red blood cells than normal. This means that there is increased haemoglobin levels in the blood that aren't lost when the athlete returns back to lower altitude to compete. These effects usually last for about two weeks after altitude training and result in much better endurance levels. There are very few side effects to altitude training as long as athletes do not over train themselves at altitude. It has been scientifically proven to have positive effects on performance. Altitude training is proven to have a positive effect on sporting performance b the Kenyan long distance runners. For years they have dominated all long distance running events. Kenya is at a very high altitude and the effects that the athletes get from training in their home country is proven in the times on the track. Another permitted ergogenic aid is psychological techniques. The increased stress of competitions can cause athletes to react both physically and mentally in a manner that can negatively affect their performance abilities. They may become tense, their heart rates race, break into sweat, worry about the outcome of the competition or find it hard to concentrate on the task in hand. There are many different psychological techniques that can be used to combat these effects on the body. These include imagery techniques, relaxation techniques and goal setting. There are three psychological factors which athletes must have control over to improve performance. These are confidence, control and commitment. Confidence is improved through mental imagery. Using imagery, the athlete is able to imagine a previous good performance, remembering how they felt and acted. It also allows you to imagine yourself winning at the end, feeling like you have already been in the same situation and improving confidence. Control is improved through relaxation techniques. An example of a relaxation technique is through meditation. If athletes complete meditation before competing, they will be able to be much more relaxed and have control over what they are doing. The final technique that athletes can use is goal setting, which can improve commitment in sport. If they are given something to aim for, with multiple small aims along the way, they are more likely to complete any objectives they have. There are no side effects to psychological techniques as long as they have the necessary skills to complete them. An example of psychological skills improving performance in sport is through Johnny Wilkinson. Whenever he is kicking a conversion, he pictures an elderly woman standing at the other side of the goal posts that catches the ball. This improves confidence and concentration as it makes the task at hand seem much simpler. One of the very few drugs that is allowed my governing bodies of all sports is paracetamol. These have been seen to not improve sporting performance and therefore are not banned. However, they could be used to help a performance in certain sports. Paracetamol work as pain killers. Therefore, any sport that requires its participants to go through pain may benefit from paracetamol. One example of a sport where athletes go through pain in is boxing. If boxers took some paracetamol before going out to fight, it is possible that it will help cover some of the pain when they are getting punched. They are most commonly used for aches such as head aches so they may also stop the boxers from getting head aches after being punched. It is not just contact sports however that deal with aches and pains. Nearly all sports at the top level require its participants to push their bodies to their absolute limit and through the pain barrier. A sport such as long distance running for example will cause a lot of aches on the athlete's body and paracetamol will help cover these. There are very few side effects to paracetamol as they are widely used by everyone to stop pains. This means that we know more about the dangers than we would of a new drug that may be illegal, as it is used by less people. The only danger would be if the athlete took an overdose which could cause serious problems or be fatal.