Thursday, October 31, 2019

Sweatshops Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sweatshops - Essay Example While this might appear to make sense on paper, a deeper analysis proves otherwise. Those who make this assumption fail to understand that some of the sweatshop workers are skilled and educated. In addition, when workers are paid poorly, it only helps grow a society filled with illiterate and unskilled individuals. The cycle of poverty then continues. Should the poor continue to be poor just because they are poor? First, sweatshops expose the workers to indecent working and housing conditions and strip them off their human dignity. For instance, in the documentary titled Nike Sweatshops: Behind the Swoosh, Jim Keady highlights the pathetic life of Nike sweatshop workers in Indonesia. Workers are forced to share a small house with poor basic facilities. For instance, Jim and his partner were asked to live in a small 9 by 9 cement box, with no air conditioner and without furniture. The bathroom and toilet are shared, and the sewer lines are open. Under such conditions, workers are exposed to various diseases like cholera and typhoid. It becomes difficult for such workers to offer their families a descent life, and this also exposes their children to diseases and other dangers. As described by Jim, such living conditions strip one off his or her dignity. Furthermore, the working conditions in the sweatshops are not friendly. Most of the workers are subjected to all forms of abuses in the factori es, including sexual, verbal and physical abuses. Women, who are the majority of the sweatshop workers, are forced to take birth control and pregnancy tests so as to stop them from having children. They are denied the right to have families. This is also particularly the case for the vocal workers who attempt to fight for their rights or form independent labor unions. Overall, the working and living conditions of sweatshop workers are discouraging and violate basic human rights. Secondly, sweatshop workers are poorly paid. For instance, in the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Mission San Diego de Alcala Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mission San Diego de Alcala - Essay Example The relocation of the Mission from Presidio Hill to the new site took place in the year 1774. Mission San Diego de Alcala is listed as a designated National Historic Landmark and not only that but also on the state level is recognized as a Landmark by the Californian regime. The heritage resource is something that can be easily tied in with the Mission San Diego de Alcala. It has a lot of viewers annually due to its significance in terms of the historic site as well as the enigmatic structure which is based solely on the religious angles. It is after all a place of worship and surely looks like one. The open spaces within the Mission clearly suggest that there is indeed a large space for the worshippers and the sense of ease and calm is something that can be written home about as far as its architecture is concerned. The building rooms within the whole structure are not that tall but they provide space for a number of worshippers to be had within it. The roof at the lower level is covered in a very ancient looking manner which suggests that the traditional thinking was taken care of when it was being constructed. The official artistry of Mission San Diego de Alcala is in line with the religious places like a church or a mosque so to speak. The shades at the front end are supported by a number of pillars which form the support structure for the entrance at the anterior end. The reredos typifies the architecture of the Mission. The wooden structure has different small openings which hold the statues within it. Apart from this, the reredos gives support to the various mirrors which have their front ends with the large arch present towards the bottom sides as well as a smaller one being positioned on the faux and top columns side by side. The reredos is thus a structure that holds the complete statues positioning. Its location is somewhat of an interesting story since it is situated on the Friar’s Road, Murphy Canyon Road where there is a small lane

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Operations management in the tourist industry

Operations management in the tourist industry Operations management consists of those activities which are involved in planning, controlling and transformation process of a particular product or service. At the very beginning Operations management was only considered for the manufacturing industry but with the flow of time it’s now a job of service sector too. English Riviera Tourism Company is a service provider company. This company performing it’s operation management through- Planning of operations- ERTC has a grand plan of running its company. Their main strategy is ‘Turning the tide for Tourism in Torbay’. Mainly providing services within a range of local areas which mainly made up of Torquay, Paigton and Brixham as they are also working as a promotional tools for this company. The scenery of Bay is very much heart touching, ERTC is ensuring the standard tourism service for their visitors to enjoy this beautiful scenery. In 2012, it served nearly 997,000 visitors from UK. Management of these operations- As their main object is to provide quality services. They are managing their operations by this steps a) Providing adequate holiday accommodation, and also b) accommodations for local community c) accommodations available in every seasons. Quality management- English Riviera Attractions Partnership consists of: Paington Zoo, Living coasts and Peigton Pier. As they are attractive partners which represents the quality of this company. They are also awarded for ‘Fine dining’. They are also ensuring the leading position of ERTC. 1.2 Operations management was mainly for manufacturing industry. At this time it’s also a part of service industries. As manufacturing products are tangible and services are intangible that’s why both the operation managements are differ from each others. ERTC providing services to tourists, their main planning objective is to get attention of the tourists. On the other hand, a manufacturing company tries to produce a quality product according to buyer’s need which means their main planning program consists of producing quality product. In an operation management of service company facilities have to be given as they had announced. ERTC is providing standard facilities to its serving areas. When it is product, customers can also learn about the facilities through using the product. In service business owners always expends lots of time in selecting location, layout. Badly selected location will be a threat for a tourism company. Easy communication with the customers is also a matter of consideration. ERTC is providing online services to get tourists from all over the world. As it also has a commitment with some rewarded partners? Partners are also working as a promotional partner for this company. Product producers concentrate on the layout of the place where they will produce the product. Comfortable layout helps producer to produce products as the demand of the customers. Capacity planning of a manufacturer is easier than a service provider. ERTC can’t be able to store their service to meet the future demand. 1.3 Managerial functions mainly define as a combination of planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating and controlling. ERTC’s operation can also be related to these managerial functions. As this companies operations are related to planning, organizing customers, employee people and coordinating and controlling all the activities through a proper analysis. ERTC is mainly a Torbay’s major industry. It’s running with a plan ‘Turning the tide for Tourism in Torbay’ . They are providing their service through ensuring modernism, improved standard, playing with strength, wide promotions. This company is organized by- The chair, the board, the co-opted advisory panel, the chief executive officer. As it’s a company having partnership it get the opportunity to increase it’s investment and engaging more trained stuffs for the companies betterment. Coordinating function is done through controlling all the previous activities. ERTC needs maximum customers’ appreciation for coordinating all the plans. To turn the main strategy into reality they have to monitor the feedbacks of all single steps. They are also trying to involve their customers in this process. So, they provide a ‘promotional printed literature’ every year. This is designed not only to influence the existing customers but al so the potential customers. This guide contains over all details of a specific year which a customer wants to know before booking. Visitors also get the chance to connect through the internet. By analyzing the current situation of ERTC the controlling result can be like this- value of tourism in torbay’s economy has to be increased, repositioning the company, providing uniform platform, increase in employment, creating cost effective services, addressing the key objects. 1.4 Creating customer value and competitive advantage is very much important for a tourism company. As operations management consists all the activities of a company it can help to get these two important things. Actually, customer value is a matter which can be obtained through satisfying a customer. ERTC is maintaining its business- As a partnership company Ensuring standard service Focusing on the beauty of Bay Proper evaluation system. Introduced special app Maintain international media coverage and personal relation. They have to serve over 3million people in a year. Also having their marketing activities through you tube, twitter, Facebook. All these activities are enough to get customer satisfaction which leads to customer value. Customer value helps to have a long term customers. Being a brand of tourism industry ERTC has also some competitive advantages. Marketing activities of any company also a part of operations management. ERTC’s marketing acts are- Developing an attractive website. Producing annual officials. Coordination of advertising nationally. Supporting the management Both online and offline marketing Producing various articles as offline marketing tool Promotional activities by promotional partners. Rewarded as a best company many time. Again market segmentation of this company is also creating a great opportunity of having competitive advantages. They targeted their market on the basis of-geography, demographics, families, couples and business conferences. South west is generating most of the visitors and this place includes their segmentation. People belongs to over 50s are more attractive group of customer because they are the growing number of people having lots of leisure time with disposable earnings. This company can earn competitive advantage through having a great plan for this market. TASK-2 2.1 System design consists of the process of a specific subject which helps to collect data, interfaces and brings details to obtain an ultimate object. It has a respected role in business sector. System design can be done in several forms- Architectural design Logical design Physical design Physical design is very much applicable for tourism industry. It needs- requirements of input, requirements outputs, Storage requirements, processing requirements. Process design carries those documents which ensure the information of the documents are capable of fitting the design. ERTC’s system design shows the overall plan of this company. Its system design is given below- Running with the strategy ‘Turning the tide for Tourism in Torbay’ Working as a partnership company Increasing value of tourism in the economy of torbay Increasing return on investment Introducing the beauty of Bay Creating cost effective services This company’s system design is made to satisfy the tourists and get brand image. Total document of the overall system design will let us know whether this design is applicable or not. By analyzing this system design it is found that, customers are appreciating the partnership system, it helps to gain reliability from the customers, its attractive partnership also creating a promotional scope. All these are producing great process design of this company. This design says whether all the process are able to turn into real or not. ERTC’s process design has already started proceeding the tasks. 2.2 Implementing new or significant production or service providing method is known as process innovation. Introducing new or improved form of previous service state as a product development. These two jobs are very important for a tourism industry. Innovation is considered as a power of a particular industry. It is the way to be updated in a market. Maintains competitive advantages, increase efficiency and effectiveness. As need of a customers is changing and to cope with this changes innovation is very much important. Even innovation can be brought through renewing marketing activities. Every company normally use same marketing tools so it can be made different by innovating some new process. Innovation is also important because it is the only way of making differences with the competitors. ERTC is proving various innovated services and processes- Up- to-date with some new technologies. New visitors can get information from the website. One very useful innovation in this company’s process is providing yearly prospectus. Lunching new town sites. Introducing shared marketing tools. Embedding on others website. Providing newsletter. This process innovations are helping this company to serve its service all over the world. In this modern day it’s mainly focusing on modernism which is the only to get customer satisfaction. ERTC is getting changed according to their time or season of providing services. Strategic innovation doesn’t cost most. To catch more customers they provide free maps to the visitors. 2.3 Logistics is the complete flow of goods from the beginning to the consumption of the product. It mainly contains physical items. It describe the production process and distribution process of a particular product. Logistic process involves- Handling materials Production Packaging Inventory Transporting Warehousing and Security. In Tourism Company Such As ERTC also have the process of logistics. Servicing companies use logistics as a process of planning, controlling, realizing and monitoring. Supply chain refers the global vision of logistics. It can be defined as a process involves all the companies related to handling, transferring or distributing the finish product. Tourism industry is producing services for customers, it needs no physical transferring of services. So, for bringing customers they are taking many marketing steps which are creating different supply chain. ERTC is providing services through online and offline processes which are generating quality and bookings. Online marketing is mainly used to cover the new generation of travelers. They already have developed their own website. Also using YouTube, twitter, Facebook etc. As there are no presences of a salesperson in online marketing, the website or marketing tools have to be lucrative to the customers. Offline communication has a great effect on customers but now a days it’s declining. ERTC is producing an annual guide as an offline marketing tool containing all the details of this company. Personal relationship and branding are powerful tools for increasing interest of customers. TASK-3 3.1 The ERTC is continuing to invest locally, regionally, nationally in research market to have an standard Operational performance. Standard of something means a particular level where a company has to reach or its way of measuring the improvements. ERTC, as a renowned tourism company has some standards for its own. These are as following- Main three- Increase the number of visitors. Expanding the value of tourism in torbay’s economy. Re positioning the English Reveira. Others- This company has the responsibility to perform the marketing activities for English Reveira. But their whole plan is to get the ‘Turning the tide for Tourism in Torbay’ strategy. ERTC is working to ensuring the standard of services Getting modernism Having contracts with other brands Showing the spectacular natural beauty of Bay Local tourism businesses are working with it as a promotional partner. Increasing investment on marketing sectors. All these belongs to operational management which are helping managers to perform their job with a particular standard. This system cooperate an organization to work with a specific plan. This job of coordination is done by the employees, managers or customers also. And then gaining objectives become easier. Committing with other brands is a great initiative to get maximum market converges. They are working as a promotional tools for ERTC. These partners also have a specific standard while promoting ERTC. So, importance of a specific standard can be seen in reality. 3.2 ERTC mainly collects information or feedbacks from the customers. They also get feedbacks from the promotional partners. Feedbacks are the statement about something from a person who already has experienced or monitor that thing. Both are very effective way of collecting feedback. Some feedbacks from customers are given below- â€Å"They are great ambassadors for the Bay and we really owe them all a big thank you from all of us in Guesthouse Land. Keep up the good work and keep selling the Bay just the way you are doing.† Garry and Debbie Midmer The Shirley, Torquay Other customers also said that they are very much supportive. Promotional partners also share their opinions, ERTC’s website is very much communicative, remained the beauty of the Bay, abroad promotional acts increasing dividends. ERTC also introduced an special app which created opportunity for all the interested people for being up to date. Both customers and promotional partners are appreciating the strategy ‘Turning the tide for Tourism in Torbay’. Through comparison the feedbacks ERTC needs to take following corrective activities- Should focus on operation into three main areas. Operations of cell center Developing significant alternative websites Providing more information about marketing channels. Following the national quality standard to ensure the quality of the service. Avoiding incomplete information. Arranging events for special festivals. Moreover the company has to develop a plan how it can serve its customers in a cost effective way with the changing needs. This company is providing nearly 8,800 jobs within the resort. All the job holders are influenced to share their feedback and correction methods. 3.3 Operational system is mainly run by the employees of a company. With the growing number of competition British tourism is facing challenges. Employees are the direct monitor who can define the lacking of a company. In service industry employees direct monitoring result is very much effective for a company. ERTC is also doing the same thing. They get some points which are pointed by the employees. Wow factor is absence in English Reveira tourism product. And they are not considering modern enough to buy. This company also needs some creativity in product development to get new customers. Needs focusing on year round opportunity. ERTC also get some controlling suggestions from its employees, they mainly suggested some opportunities. These are- Maritime leisure – Torbay can be an icon of worldwide if it starts doing something on tha basis of water. Developing torbay weeks Developing experiences based on water Promoting maritime through central destination marketing. Improving retail offerings Bringing ‘Agatha Christie theme’ for adding glamour Arranging festivals in different events. Global geopark can be introduced by this company. Creative promotion and positioning will create enormous offers. Running an event during special festivals. This will also work as promotional act. As of course it will focus all possible cultures remaining the local area. 3.4 Effective management system consists all the managerial activities of a company. Well planned system will give the opportunity to gain competitive advantages which actually a power for a company against competitors. Competitive advantage means gaining such kind of attributes that helps to perform jobs successfully and make some differentiation in contrast of competitors. As we have already seen that managerial system made up of planning, organizing, stuffing and controlling. ERTC has established a well planned managerial system. First of all they developed a strategy ‘Turning the tide for Tourism in Torbay’ focusing mainly the Torbay. Relating strategic economic development, other delivery organizations, strategy and advice all these are done by the chair, managing director and other organizers. Member of this company is made up of private and public sectors which brings a balance. The over activities are also controlled by the authority. As ERTC found some results of controlling- Arresting the decline of visitors’ number. Increase in employment Developing a compelling brand. Coordinating and monitoring effective marketing strategies. Funding for tourism marketing Expanding the facilities Developing online and offline questionnaire to know him statements of the customers very frequently. This will also help to get new ideas or steps from them. These are the main thing which have to be implemented. Quality of service also has to be increased. To increase tourists for ERTC effective destinations management is required. Outputs of investments represent the ultimate situation of a company so this element should also me measured while controlling. All the controlling steps will create competitive advantage for this company.

Friday, October 25, 2019

The Ramist Logic of Edward Taylors Upon a Spider Catching a Fly Essay

The Ramist Logic of Edward Taylor's Upon a Spider Catching a Fly Like other Puritanical writers of his generation, Edward Taylor looked to nature and utilized it as an example of a belief system that he had already deemed factual. The use Ramist logic here may seem irrational to many. The very essence of logic commands that we must first look toward nature and then draw conclusions from it. In his work, "Upon a Spider Catching a Fly", Taylor applies his doctrine in advance by using the interaction between an arachnid and a certain contrasting insect as an example of the Calvinist theory of predestination; the belief that one's fate cannot be influenced by one's works or earthly deeds. It is also part of his belief system, however, that a person's prosperity on the earthly plain could be a testament that that individual is already a member of 'the elect'. Taylor interprets a natural situation with a personal hermeneutics with which he selectively reads situations that serve to enforce his beliefs. Upon introducing the central character of the spider in the first stanza, Taylor immediately questions the driving force that causes the spider to behave in the way it does. "To spin a web out of thyself /To catch a Fly?/ For Why?" Such a beginning immediately petitions the reader to question the nature of things. In the first line, Taylor refers to the spider as the "venomous elf" in order to plant the idea that the spider is an evil entity. The spider then becomes representative of the Christian devil, Satan, who instinctively casts his web amidst any of the unfortunate beings who would enter into his sphere. This devil image is further enforced in the seventh stanza when he refers to the predator as "Hell's spider". The spider ca... ...bility to do so, while the fly has been created defenseless; with no option but to fall victim to the spider. These two insects serve as a metaphor for the two differing castes of humans within the Calvinist school of thought. The wasp is representative of 'the elect'; those who are predestined to enter into the kingdom of heaven while the fly is representative of those who are doomed for damnation from the point of their incarnation. Within the life of the wasp, it is evident that it surpasses the fly, just as the Calvinists believed that 'the elect' were more successful in life than other humans. This idea of predestination did not come from the observation of the trials and tribulations between two insects and an arachnid. It was just the opposite. The situation was sited only after it fulfilled the requirements to serving as an example of Taylor's belief system.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Personal and organizational values Essay

What are personal and organizational values? Values are one of the most special achievements as human beings. A person acts not just in service to personal needs, but also out of a broader sense of what is important, purposeful and meaningful (Cynthia D. Scott, 1993). Values are the building blocks of organizational culture. They represent an organization’s basic guidelines about what is significant; how business is conducted; how people relate to one another; its clients and customers relationships; and its decision making strategies. Values affect every aspect of the organization, and take years, constant attention, and perseverance to change. Values serve to inspire and foster commitment, motivation, innovation and trust around principles of conduct that are held inviolate. They reflect intentions and provide guidance for every action when there is a gap between intentions and reality. When actions do not comply with stated intentions, the gap becomes a source of cynicism and loss of confidence and momentum toward change and innovation. Values are represented in decision making processes, interpersonal interactions, leadership actions, reward structures, supervisory styles, and information and control systems. Each plays a role in sustaining the structure of a value, and each serves as a lever of change. To stimulate an organization toward change, we must minimize or fill the gap between the stated values and value actions (Rodney Napier, 1997). Conflict between personal and organizational values and goals How do organizational and personal goals differ? Organizational goals are carefully and logically determined. Frequently, this must be discussed with other people in order to define them exactly. An organizational goal is one that we understand and commit to intellectuality. A personal goal, on the other hand, is a private and often purely emotional commitment (Merrill E. Douglass, 1993). Value conflicts arise when people are working in a situation where there is a conflict between personal and organizational values. Under these conditions, employee may have to struggle with the conflict between what they want to do and what they have to do (Diane F. Halpem, 2005). This can be a distracting experience as you face changes, contrasts and a few surprises, and have to make some sense of all this (Henry Tosi, 2000). For example, people whose personal values dictate that it is wrong to lie may find themselves in a job where lying becomes necessary for success. Successful job performance may require a bold lie, or perhaps just a shading of the truth. People who experience such a value conflict will give the following kinds of comments: â€Å"This job is eroding my soul,† or â€Å"I cannot look at myself in the mirror anymore knowing what I’m doing. I can’t live with myself. I don’t like this.† If workers are experiencing this kind of mismatch in values on a chronic basis, the burnout is likely to arise. However, a Machiavellian individual, who believes that the end justifies the means, will have a better fit with a job in which lying is essential to success and will probably not experience value conflict and many other situations (Diane F. Halpem, 2005). Value-driven management Value-driven philosophy is designed to develop effective and value-driven leadership at every level in the organization. The decision making and leadership styles of effective business leaders are value-driven men and women who create value for their organizations that goes far beyond mere stockholder value. This is not to suggest that they should disregard profitability as an important corporate goal, but it is instead to state that the financial bottom line—as a value—is integrated with other value drivers in their leadership behavior. Value Driven Management and value driven leadership are interactive and synergistic. Value-driven organizations will tend to develop value-driven leaders, and value driven leaders will create value over time for their organization and their organizations are becoming more valuable and fulfilled, and continue to grow and thrive throughout their lifetimes. This view is especially significant in today’s growing force of high employment, knowledgeable workers, and the concept of measuring and managing organizational knowledge as intangible financial assets. There are 8 value drivers that impact organizational and individual decision making. These value drivers are to some degree interrelated and overlapping, but in total, they encompass the universe of the organization, combining the internal and external variables it must confront throughout its existence:   external cultural values, organizational cultural values, individual employee values, customer values, supplier values, third-party values, owner values and competitor values. When these value drivers are used systematically and properly in the company’s decision processes, and when their individual and collective impact is weighed and balanced, in organizational decision making, the firm will create value for –itself over time—particularly in the long run (Randolph A. Pohlman, 2000). Collegial vs. meritocratic structure of value Better fit between individuals’ and organizations’ values predicted higher levels of satisfaction and commitment and lower turnover. Leadership organizations have a tough, but not, harsh, view of change. They focus on accountability for actions and give some emphasis to the discussions of goals and means. Although these organizations are still basically compliance-oriented, their documents portray the change process less impersonally and more persuasively, seeking to encourage employees to comply with the requirements rather than simply expecting it. In the meritocratic value structure, this appears to be a much greater emphasis on motivating employees to play a constructive role in change. This emphasis involves explaining both the goals of change and the means for bringing it about. Meritocratic structures can be characterized as trying to challenge or energize employees. Change, although difficult, is associated with achieving important goals, and the organization signals that people’s efforts and achievements are recognized and appreciated. This is characterized by themes of striving, effort, goals, achievement, motivation and recognition. Only collegial organizations view change in a positive way and emphasize employee participation. Collegial ones do not challenge their employees to achieve organizational goals; instead, they emphasize the benefits change brings to internal and external stakeholders and depict an enthusiastic, responsive orientation to change (Boris Kabanoff, 1995). Entrepreneurial vs. bureaucratic values (differences in social origins, including gender and cognitive ability) Differences in social origins, such as gender and cognitive skills create different sets of belief concerning the qualities of a good job. According to Miller and Swanson theory (1958), the theory identifies two major value systems—the entrepreneurial and bureaucratic. These values are oftentimes merged, and thus form beliefs about the desirable attributes of jobs, by comparing expected returns against expected risks in the search of opportunities for future economic wellbeing. Some people may embrace either of the entrepreneurial or bureaucratic orientation is determined mainly by entrepreneurial skills and attitudes towards risk, which in turn can be affected by family background, schooling, gender, and cognitive skills. The adult achievements are favored by early family and schooling forces, and the very same personal qualities that give in to advantages for achievement, also creates expressions of preference that favor entrepreneurial type over the bureaucratic job properties. Cognitive ability and gender, being the most powerful sources of variation in job values, are followed by years of schooling. Parental education, occupational status, self-employment and income all geared towards entrepreneurial over bureaucratic job properties. Significant other’s influence, educational aspirations and years of schooling, aside from favoring entrepreneurial over bureaucratic values, create a very strong preference for esteem over all other job properties and is significantly related   in the value system geared towards   achievements (Halaby, 2003). Cultural values on problem solving, teams, gender, stress and ethics National culture plays an important role and leads to differences in how problems are solved and in the quality of the solutions. Chinese employees are more likely to delay informing a manager about a problem until the manager sees the problem on his or her own. The employees are also likely to minimize the seriousness of the problem. In western cultures, managers are more likely to appreciate and give credit to an employee who draws attention to a problem, and therefore, problems are more rapidly identified and brought to the attention of management.    The result is that Western managers are more likely to speak directly about the problem. In collectivist cultures, decision making is more likely to rely on consensus while managers from individualist rely more on their own experience and training when making decisions. It is also   found that Australians prefer a decision making style based on having a selection choices that require careful individual thought, whereas the Japanese prefers styles that require more references to other people. In Japan, individuals are likely to measure their personal success by the success of their team and organization (Siverthome, 2005). Impact of technology While technology has increased the ability to communicate, one might question whether it has increased or diminished the capacity to connect with co-workers in the workplace. It is through feeling this connection that we derive our sense of teamwork, community, attachment, and belonging—all essential aspects of what humans needs to feel: valued, respected and acknowledged. It is these core social and emotional elements that lubricate human beings and keep them going in times of difficulty, be it a personal, professional, or even a national crisis (Lewis, 2006). Dealing with value conflicts What can be done to alleviate burnout? One approach is to focus on the individual who is experiencing stress and help him or her to either reduce it or cope with it. Another approach is to focus on the workplace, rather than just the worker, and change the conditions that are causing the stress. The challenge for organization is to identify interventions that target those particular areas (Diane F. Halpem, 2005). What implications these have for managers?   Value configurations may motivate and support the organization’s coherence, strength, and stability. They also offer managers a framework for conceptualizing the nature and purpose of organizational change. One possible explanation for the high failure rate of company mergers and acquisition is â€Å"culture incompatibility† and â€Å"culture collisions.† (Boris Kabanoff, 1995)          References: BORIS KABANOFF, R. W., MARCUS COHEN (1995) Espoused Values and Organizational Changes Themes. Academy of Management Journal, 38, 1075-1104. CYNTHIA D. SCOTT, D. T. J., GLENN R. TOBE (1993) Organizational Vision, Values and Mission, Thompson Crisp Learning. DIANE F. HALPEM, S. E. M. (2005) From Work-family Balance To Work-family Interaction: Changing The Metaphor, Routledge. HALABY, C. N. (2003) Where Job Values Come From: Family and Schooling Background, Cognitive Ability, and Gender. American Sociological Review, 68. HENRY TOSI, N. P. M., JOHN R. RIZZO (2000) Managing Organizational Behavior, Blackwell Publishing. LEWIS, G. W. (2006) Organizational Crisis Management: The Human Factor, New York, Auerbach Publications. MERRILL E. DOUGLASS, D. N. D. (1993) Manage Your Time, Your Work, Yourself AMACOM American Mangement Association. RANDOLPH A. POHLMAN, G. S. G. (2000) Value Driven Management: How to Create and Maximize Value Over Time for Organizational Success, AMACOM American Management Association. RODNEY NAPIER, C. S., PATRICK SANAGHAN (1997) High Impact Tools and Activities for Strategic Planning: Creative Techniques for Facilitating Your Organization’s Planning Process, McGraw-Hill Professional. SIVERTHOME, C. P. (2005) Organizational Psychology in Cross-cultural Perspective, NYU Press.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Maceda and Recto Law Essay

These two laws are relevant and are very often the issue of many court cases. Both laws govern the sale of property by installments. The Recto Law, which forms part of the Civil Code, covers installment sales of personal property while the Maceda Law governs installment sales of real property. The Recto Law The Recto Law comprises Articles 1484 to 1486 of the Civil Code. It was added to the Civil Code to prevent abuses in the foreclosure of chattel mortgages, such as when mortgagee-creditors foreclosed mortgaged property, bought them at a low price (on purpose,) then prosecuted the mortgagor-debtors to recover the deficiencies. In the event a buyer of personal property defaults by failing to pay two or more of the agreed installments, the seller can do any of the following: 1.) Demand that the buyer pay (a.k.a. specific performance) 2.) Cancel or rescind the sale 3.) Foreclose the mortgage on the property bought (if there ever was a chattel mortgage) Regarding no. 3, this happens when a person takes a loan to buy something and he mortgages the thing he bought to ensure the creditor that he will pay the loan. Remember: If you choose one remedy, you can’t choose the others. These remedies, believe it or not, are also available to the buyer. You also can’t use all or any of them at the same time. The Recto Law also won’t apply to a straight sale (i.e. a sale where there is a downpayment and the balance is payable in the future in a single payment only.) The seller can also assign his credit to another person, making that person the new creditor. If the buyer refuses to surrender the items to the seller, he becomes a perverse buyer-mortgagor. When that happens, the seller can recover expenses and attorney’s fees. The Recto Law also covers leases with the option to purchase. The Maceda Law The Maceda Law, RA 6552, is the real estate equivalent of the Recto Law. Like the Recto Law, it also covers financing of sales of real property (which is why mortgages also come in.) It doesn’t apply,however, to the following sales: 1.) Industrial lots 2.) Commercial buildings and lots 3.) Lands under the CARP Law Depending on when the buyer defaults, there are two (2) possible scenarios: if the buyer paid at least two (2) years’ installments and if the buyer paid less than 2 years’ installments. If the buyer paid less than 2 years’ installments and defaults, he is given a grace period of sixty (60) days starting from the date of his last installment to resume paying. This period can be increased by the seller. If after the grace period the buyer still can’t pay, the seller must make a notarial demand to cancel the sale. The cancellation becomes effective thirty (30) days after the buyer was notified. So it’s possible that the buyer could be notified two months after the 60-day period and then the 30-day period will begin. If the buyer paid at least two years’ installments, the buyer can pay the unpaid balance without interest. The grace period is computed at one (1) month per year of installment payments. It also begins from the time the buyer paid his last installment. The grace period can be used only once every five (5) years of the sales contract’s life -including its extensions. So it’s possible to have a grace period of a year if the buyer had been  paying his installments faithfully for 12 years. Once the buyer chooses to use the grace period, he can’t get it again until another five years are over. If the seller wants to cancel the sale, he has to refund the buyer of 50% of the actual payments. If the buyer paid more than five years’ installments another 5% for every year is to be added to the refund, but only up to 90% of the total payments made. The payments mentioned here include the downpayment, options and deposits. The refund is made in this way: if the buyer paid more 2 to 5 years’ installments, he can get back 50% of the cash surrender value. If he paid for more than 5 years, he can get the 50% plus 5% per year up to 90%. The buyer is also allowed to make advanced payments, or even the full price, without interest. He can also assign his rights to another person, making that person the new buyer, but he can only do that with a notarial deed of sale assignment. The Maceda Law cannot be used by a real estate developer (see here.) It also cannot be used by the highest bidder in foreclosure proceedings. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6552 REALTY INSTALLMENT BUYER PROTECTION ACT AN ACT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO BUYERS OF REAL ESTATE ON INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS Section 1. This Act shall be known as the â€Å"Realty Installment Buyer Act.† Sec. 2. It is hereby declared a public policy to protect buyers of real estate on installment payments against onerous and oppressive conditions. Sec. 3. In all transactions or contracts involving the sale or financing of real estate on installment payments, including residential condominium apartments but excluding industrial lots, commercial buildings and sales to tenants under Republic Act Numbered Thirty-eight hundred forty-four, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Sixty-three hundred eighty-nine, where the buyer has paid at least two years of installments, the buyer is entitled to the following rights in case he defaults in the payment of succeeding installments: (a) To pay, without additional interest, the unpaid  installments due within the total grace period earned by him which is hereby fixed at the rate of one month grace period for every one year of installment payments made: Provided, That this right shall be exercised by the buyer only once in every five years of the life of the contract and its extensions, if any. (b) If the contract is cancelled, the seller shall refund to the buyer the cash surrender value of the payments on the property equivalent to fifty per cent of the total payments made, and, after five years of installments, an additional five per cent every year but not to exceed ninety per cent of the total payments made: Provided, That the actual cancellation of the contract shall take place after thirty days from receipt by the buyer of the notice of cancellation or the demand for rescission of the contract by a notarial act and upon full payment of the cash surrender value to the buyer. Down payments, deposits or options on the contract shall be included in the computation of the total number of installment payments made. Sec. 4. In case where less than two years of installments were paid, the seller shall give the buyer a grace period of not less than sixty days from the date the installment became due. If the buyer fails to pay the installments due at the expiration of the grace period, the seller may cancel the contract after thirty days from receipt by the buyer of the notice of cancellation or the demand for rescission of the contract by a notarial act. Sec.   5. Under Section 3 and 4, the buyer shall have the right to sell his rights or assign the same to another person or to reinstate the contract by updating the account during the grace period and before actual cancellation of the contract. The deed of sale or assignment shall be done by notarial act. Sec.  6. The buyer shall have the right to pay in advance any installment or the full unpaid balance of the purchase price any time without interest and to have such full payment of the purchase price annotated in the certificate of title covering the property. Sec. 7. Any stipulation in any contract hereafter entered into contrary to the provisions of Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6, shall be null and void. Sec. 8. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, no other provision shall be affected thereby. Sec. 9. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. Approved: August 26, 1972 Source: http://www.foreclosurephilippines.com/2011/04/maceda-law-full-text-ra-6552.html#ixzz2WU4VzLe8

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Lord of the Flies - A Brief Overview essays

Lord of the Flies - A Brief Overview essays In the novel, Lord of the Flies, a group of British boys are left on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere. When the boys first arrived, the island was such a beautiful place to be; a place of peace. Jack thinks he is the leader because he is the oldest and can do things the other kids cannot. Ralph is somewhat mature, but is still childish in the beginning of the novel. Throughout chapters one through three of the novel, there are conflicts between the island, Jack's society level, and Ralph becoming more In chapter one of this novel, the island seems to be so beautiful with its natural beauty, but that quickly begins to change when the boys arrive and turns into a place of destruction. For example, Chpt. 1 Pg. 9 states, "The shore was fledged with palm trees. These stood or leaned or reclined against the light and their green feathers were a hundred feet up in the air." This description of the island gives you an idea of how peaceful and gorgeous this non-existing place is. Slowly but surely, the island becomes the opposite when the boys begin to search and discover things. As Ralph, Simon, and Jack begin to climb up the mountain, they discover a massive rock; the size a small motor car. The boys scream, "Heave!" and the great rock loitered, poised on one toe, decided not to return, moved through the air, fell, struck, turned over, leapt droning through the air, and smashed a deep hole in the canopy of the forest. Echoes and birds flew, white and pink dust floated, the forest further down shook as with the passage of an enraged monster: then the island was still, states in Chpt. 1 Pg. 28. This was the human impulse of the 3 boys. They saw a rock, reacted, and nearly destroyed half the island. Another incident in which makes the island more destruction than beauty is when Jack and Ralph start a fire on top of the mountain. It states in Chpt. 2 Pg. 41, "Jack knelt too and blew ...

Monday, October 21, 2019

Natural Law and Human Rights The WritePass Journal

Natural Law and Human Rights Introduction Natural Law and Human Rights Introduction Human Rights and the Legal TheoriesGreeks Medieval PeriodRenaissance, Reformation and Counter-ReformationSecularisation of Natural LawNatural Law and Social ContractThe 1688 Bill of Rights of England and WalesThe 18th 19th Centuries: Revolutions and RightsChallenges of Universality of Human RightsPeriod after World War II and Development of International LawConclusionBibliographyRelated Introduction    Human rights have roots deep in the mists of time yet the term itself dates back barely sixty years to the international discussions preceding the founding of the United Nations. Since 1945, the scope of human rights has been elaborated and the concept now permeates the fabric of international society. Although human rights issues continue to be debated and contested, the longer history of human rights is often unexamined and even forgotten. Human rights, rather than being a 20th century phenomenon, marks both a culmination of and a transition from the Western natural law and natural rights traditions. Human rights are rights possessed by people simply as, and because they are human beings. The term has only come into common currency during the 20th century. Rights are not the same thing as standards of behaviour punishable or required by rules, which can be fundamentally unfair to individuals, or used to oppress minority interests. Human rights are rights and freedomsto which all humans are entitled. Proponents of the concept usually assert that everyone is endowed with certain entitlements merely by reason of being human. Human rights are thus conceived in a universalist and egalitarian fashion. However, there is no consensus as to the precise nature of what in particular should or should not be regarded as a human right in any of the preceding senses, and the abstract concept of human rights has been a subject of intense philosophical debate and criticism. Natural law has objective, external existence. It follows from the ESS (evolutionary stable strategy) for the use of force that is natural for humans and similar animals. The ability to make moral judgments, the capacity to know good and evil, has immediate evolutionary benefits. It evolved in the same way, for the same straightforward and uncomplicated reasons, as our ability to throw rocks accurately. Donald looks at the meaning of natural law from four perspectives. The medieval/legal definition: Natural law cannot be defined in the way that positive law is defined, and to attempt to do so plays into the hands of the enemies of freedom. Natural law is best defined by pointing at particular examples, as a biologist defines a species by pointing at a particular animal, a type specimen preserved in formalin. The historical state of nature definition: Natural law is that law which corresponds to a spontaneous order in the absence of a state and which is enforced, in the absence of better methods, by individual unorganised violence, in particular the law that historically existed, in so far as any law existed, during the dark ages among the mingled barbarians that overran the Roman Empire. The medieval / philosophical definition: Natural law is that law, which it is proper to uphold by unorganised individual violence, whether a state is present or absent, and for which, in the absence of orderly society, it is proper to punish violators by unorganized individual violence. The scientific/ socio-biological/ game theoretic/ evolutionary definition: Natural law is, or follows from, an ESS for the use of force: Conduct which violates natural law is conduct such that, if a man were to use individual unorganised violence to prevent such conduct, or, in the absence of orderly society, use individual unorganised violence to punish such conduct, then such violence would not indicate that the person using such violence, is a danger to a reasonable man. The concept of natural rights arises from the belief that there is an instinctive human ability to distinguish right from wrong. Hugo Grotius believed that people have a ‘right reason’ for doing things. Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Immanuel Kant were supporters of natural rights theories, suggesting that we have basic fundamental rights because we are born human. Natural law thinkers see rights as universal and inalienable. Natural rights theories have been the inspiration behind ideas and democratic struggles, forcing politics to protect the rights of citizens. Natural rights theories imply that all human beings are equal and should be treated equally. The demand for equality before the law in individual states is synonymous with the development of international human rights law.It is therefore correct assertion to point out to the fact that human rights have evolved from natural rights as depicted by natural law theories. This paper will trace the changes and continuities of debates and claims about rights throughout the late medieval and early modern periods in order to explore how rights are historically asserted, justified, and defended. It will also delve into the transformation of rights, from natural to human. Human Rights and the Legal Theories The origins of international human rights lie in philosophical discussions evolved through the centuries. The theories of both Locke and Rousseau suffer from their failure to explain how the supreme right of the majority can go together with the inalienable rights of the individual. (Read the fact that legal theories fail to come down on the side of either democratic or autocratic principles of the government.) Historically, the assertion of natural rights has often been linked with a revolt against state, authority and a humanitarian belief in the equality and dignity of all men. This is true of the legal philosophy of Stoics or of Kant. (The idea of equality of men often causes democrats to be internationalists.) The history of natural law is a tale of the search of mankind for absolute justice and of its failure. Again and again, in its course of the last 2500 years, the idea of natural law has appeared, in some form of the other, as an expression of the search for an ideal higher than positive law after having been rejected and derided in the interval. With changing social and political conditions the notions about natural law have changed. The only thing that has remained constant is the appeal to something higher than positive law. The object of that appeal has been as often the justification of existing authority as a revolt against it. Natural law has fulfilled many functions. It has been the principle instrument in the transformation of the old civil law of the Romans into a broad and cosmopolitan system; it has been a weapon used by both sides in the fight between the medieval church and the German emperors; in its name the validity of international law has been asserted, and the appeal for freedom of the individual against absolutism launched. Again it was by appeal to principles of natural law that American judges, professing to interpret the constitution, resisted the attempt of state legislation to modify and restrict the unfettered economic freedom of the individual. Natural law has, at different times, been used to support almost any ideology; but the most important and lasting theories of natural law have undoubtedly been inspired by the two ideas, of a universal order governing all men, and the inalienable rights of the individual. Greeks Greeks were more interested in the philosophical foundations of law rather than its technical development. Though there were bodies of fundamental laws in the classical period, little attention was paid to the idea of universal law. Plato laid the foundations for much of subsequent speculation on natural law though he had nothing to say as such on natural law. His republic was based on substitution for law of the philosopher-king which partook of the divine wisdom but remained uncommunicable to lesser mortals. Aristotle was also not interested in natural law. Natural law as a universal system in Greek World came into the fore with the decline of the city state and the rise of large empires and kingdoms. For this stoic philosophers were responsible. They stressed the ideas of individual worth, moral duty and universal brotherhood Stoicism passed over and influenced over to and influenced Roman thought especially Cicero who defined natural (true) law as â€Å"right reason in agreement with nature†. Medieval Period The existence of a body of basic rights can be traced back to the early thirteenth century in Europe and has featured predominantly in different schools of thought since then. Its origins basically lie in the philosophical discourse with concepts such as liberty and even â€Å"rights†. This was a period when theology of the Catholic Church set the tone and pattern of all speculative thought. The theology was bedevilled by the notion that law and human domination were rooted in sin until Aquinas in the 13thCentury. Aquinas admits that human law, which derives its validity from natural law changes with human circumstances and human reason. Human rights are linked to the rule of law, a concept that imposes inherent limitations on the exercise of absolute power by a sovereign. The rule of law in turn links to the theories of natural law and to an extent religious doctrines. The right to expect rulers to be fair and reasonable, with limited authority in respect to the private lives and of their subjects, translating to the rule of law was first enshrined in paper in England in what is referred to as the Magna Carta of 1215. It enshrined a number of principles which now fall within the broad ambit of human rights, including the principle of equality before the law, a right to property and an element of religious freedom, albeit such rights extended only to nobles. The Declaration of Arbroath in Scotland in 132o, unlike the Magna Carta spoke of the profound right to liberty, rating it above glory, honour, and riches. Renaissance, Reformation and Counter-Reformation The renaissance led to an emphasis on the individual and free will and human liberty and a rejection of the universal collective society of medieval Europe in favour of independent national states, and, where the reformation followed, separate national churches. The 16th century also saw the revival of Thomism, a revival of crucial importance for the development of modern natural law theory of the state led by Victoria and Suarez. They took their way of thinking from Aquinas; it was not possible to neglect the law of nature since all men from beginning of creation have been subject to it. The social contract ideologies associated with Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau are also traced to the 16th century. Secularisation of Natural Law The secularisation of natural law is usually held to begin with Grotius. He inaugurated a new era in natural law thinking by his assertion that natural law would subsist even if God did not exist.His main concern was to establish a system of international law to regulate the affairs and warfare of the rising nation states.    Natural Law and Social Contract In Hobbes, the social contract is used in defence of absolutism while in Locke in support of limited constitutionalism. Natural law does not loom large in Hobbe’s thinking, except for the fact that he expressed the main precept of natural law in terms of man’s right to self preservation. To Locke the state of nature that preceded the social contact was not, as conceived by Hobbes, one of brutal horror, but rather a golden age, an Eden before the fall. Rousseau’s political theory has weak links to natural law. The general will has come almost to replace the higher law standard that natural law has typically represented. The emergence of human rights as part of modern domestic law therefore dates back at least to John Locke’s Two Treatises on Civil Government. In 1690, Locke argued that governments were bound in a covenant with the governed to protect an individual’s natural rights to life, liberty, and property. The 1688 Bill of Rights of England and Wales In 1688, the Bill of Rights of England and Wales mentioned minimal rights though with little substance. Whatever the case, these early documents connect as to the evolution of human rights. They show that the thinking of the masses then was directed towards human rights as much as ours is today. The 18th 19th Centuries: Revolutions and Rights Though Vico, Herder and Montesquieu, refuted the idea of a universal natural law common to all mankind due to increase in secularism and rationalism, it is during these two centuries that many philosophers and thinkers focussed on the idea of natural rights, rights which should be enjoyed by all humans. A corpus of basic rights to be afforded to all mankind was an obvious result of such thinking. That corpus found legal expression at the close of the 18th Century. The United States and France adopted statements on rights when proclaiming the independence of the former British North American colonies and when establishing the first French Republic following the 1789 revolution. The United States Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments which were ratified on December 1791, were a big leap into realisation of human rights. The American Bill of Rights refers to freedom of religion, due process and fair trial,and freedom of person and property. The French Declaration was inspired by the United States Declaration of Independence, though predates the Bill of Rights. It begins by stating that me nare born free and are equal in rights. Liberty is defined as being able to do anything that does not harm others. It also touches on rule of law issues such as a fair trial process.Others to be expounded are right to free communication and taxation issues. The rights enumerated by the American Bill of Rights and the French Declaration have modern equivalents in human rights instruments. This was another major step in conversion of human rights from theories and thoughts into real legal instruments that could be enforced and followed. It is arguable that 18th century developments as pertains development of human rights were better those of the 19thcentury where the influential theory of positivism meant that only states had rights in the international arena because of their legal status as subjects of international law rather than individuals whowere viewed as objects of international law. Challenges of Universality of Human Rights How can different countries and cultures have the same problems and values?  This is the main contention to opponents of universality of human rights. The objections to natural law as a basis for rights are long-standing. It is not difficult, of course, to demonstrate that all human beings share certain characteristics. But finding those that constitute the essence of being human and are of sufficient import to serve as a rationale for rights is a bit harder. Universality is one of the key essentials of human rights. All human beings are holders of human rights, independent from what they do, where they come from, where they live and from their inter alia, national citizenship, and their community. The universality of human rights is embedded in and also influenced by the other characteristics of human rights: human rights are categorical, egalitarian, individual, fundamental and indivisible. Kirchschlaeger,asserts that human rights struggle with particular interests. States claim the priority of their sovereignty over the universality of human rights and the private sector claims self-regulating approaches and uses this to define its sphere ofinfluence within certain limits. This challenge is part of the political and legal dimension of human rights and as a consequence of the moral dimension of human rights as well. In this regard, one can recognize a positive tendency of acceptance of human rights by states, a growth of an international institutionalization for the protection of human rights and a progress of the mechanisms for monitoring human rights performances by states to respect the universality of human rights and some small steps by the corporate world. At the same time, it has to be stated that the implementation of human rights is not yet there where it should be, and that the vast majority of human beings are still victims of violations of their human rights . The universality is still a claim, not reality. Human rights are challenged by cultural diversity as well. This challenge is taking place in the moral dimension of human rights. Although the UN Conference in Vienna 1993 reconfirmed the validity of the universality of human rights, the universality faced critics from different quarters because of its alleged western origin. Countries like China, Venezuela and those in the Arab world human rights as too westernized. Currently, an ongoing case against some Kenyan politicians at the International Criminal Court has added to the rant. In seeking a referral of the case by the Security Council, Kenya has the Support of China, Russia and the African countries but the US, UK and France who wield veto powers do not support the bid. This has been seen as a western effort to intrude into Kenyan sovereignty using human rights as a disguise. Religions, cultures, traditions, world views and beliefs benefit indirectly from the human right to freedom of religions and belief. This right enables and enhances the authentic practice of an individual and so the peaceful coexistence of religions, cultures, traditions and world views and the dialogue between them. It is an achievement of humanity to protect this variety. A show of universality of human rights was when the UN Security Council, announced a no flying zone in Libya and with the support of the Arab League, France, US and the UK moved to avert deaths of Libyan civilians by bombing strategic points to immobilize Gaddafi troops. Nickel, observes that the achievements of the human rights movement in have shown both that the optimistic beliefs of proponents of universality were not entirely without foundation and how difficult it is to create genuine international agreement about how governments should behave. Globalization promotes joint ventures between people from different and sharing of ideas or views, thus promoting the development of shared standards. Toespraak views the criticism of universality with skeptism. He argues that although sometimes the concerns are sincere, sometimes they are simply being abused to hide domestic shortcomings or they serve opportunistic political agendas. Recent initiatives at the UN, both in the General Assembly and in the Human Rights Council, such as the Russian initiative to promote the concept of traditional values, the Cuban initiative on cultural diversity, and the Pakistani proposals on interreligious dialogue, are slow but inhis view sure attempts to weaken the fundaments of universal rights. Some states have argued for a classification based on differences in culture, religion and development In the Universal Periodic Review process. This is all reason for growing concern according to him Period after World War II and Development of International Law World War II gave impetus to the modern development of basic principles of human rights and to the general acceptance of the idea that the human rights practices of individual countries toward their own citizens are legitimate matters of international concern. The 1945 United Nations Charter included a general commitment to respect for human rights, but it was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 that provided the basic statement of what have become widely accepted international human rights standards.[2] After World War II, the term human rights came into wide use replacing the earlier phrase natural rights, which had been associated with the Greco-Roman concept of natural law since the end of the Middle Ages. As understood today, human rights refer to a wide variety of values and capabilities reflecting the diversity of human circumstances and history. They are conceived of as universal, applying to all human beings everywhere, and as fundamental, referring to essential or basic human needs. Modern international conceptions of human rights can be traced to the aftermath of World War II and the foundation of the United Nations. [1]The rights espoused in the UN charter would be codified in the International Bill of Human Rights, composing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights The Universal Declaration was bifurcated into treaties, a Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and another on social, economic, and cultural rights, due to questions about the relevance and propriety of economic and social provisions in covenants on human rights. The covenants provide for the right to self-determination and to sovereignty over natural resources. The drafters of the Covenants initially intended only one instrument. The original drafts included only political and civil rights, but economic and social rights were also proposed. The disagreement over which rights were basic human rights resulted in there being two covenants. The debate was whether economic and social rights are aspirational, as contrasted with basic human rights which all people possess purely by being human, because economic and social rights depend on wealth and the availability of resources. In addition, which social and economic rights should be recognised depends on ideology or economic theories, in contrast to basic human rights, which are defined purely by the nature (mental and physical abilities) of human beings. It was debated whether economic rights were appropriate subjects for binding obligations and whether the lack of consensus over such rights would dilute the strength of political-civil rights. There was wide agreement and clear recognition that the means required to enforce or induce compliance with socio-economic undertakings were different from the means required for civil-political rights. From what I have discussed above, we can say that human rights have been classified historically in terms of the notion of three generations of human rights. The first generation of civil and political rights, associated with the Enlightenment and the English, American, and French revolutions, includes the rights to life and liberty and the rights to freedom of speech and worship. The second generation of economic, social, and cultural rights, associated with revolts against the predations of unregulated capitalism from the mid-19th century, includes the right to work and the right to an education. Finally, the third generation of solidarity rights, associated with the political and economic aspirations of developing and newly decolonized countries after World War II, includes the collective rights to political self-determination and economic development. Since then numerous other treaties have been offered at the international level. They are generally known as human rights instruments. Some of the most significant are: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women United Nations Convention Against Torture Convention on the Rights of the Child International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families There are also regional human rights instruments such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. Human rights principles, policy, and practices became an increased focus of popular and public attention during the last quarter of the twentieth century. Several influential nongovernmental organizations were formed during this period to monitor and report on human rights matters. In the late 20th century ad hoc international criminal tribunals were convened to prosecute serious human rights violations and other crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. The International Criminal Court, which came into existence in 2002, is empowered to prosecute crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and war crimes.[1] Conclusion    From the foregoing, it can be concluded that, Human laws are subordinate to natural law; some need more guidance to achieve a virtuous life than others; these people can only be compelled to behave well through human law; reason can be good, but it may be used to exploit base desires and cruelty – linking human law to natural law and natural law is used as a set of general first principles under which human law is made using reason. Using natural reason leads to creation of good human law to deal with the needs of practical situations not expressly covered by natural law. Human rights have come a long way to not only receive recognition by individual states, but also at the international arena .Universal validity of human rights norms under the current state of international law, does not permit a denial of the universal character of the human rights laws. When implementing human rights, within the context of the principle of universality, there is room for interpretation. The international community should define the scope or variations. Supervision of the implementation of human rights should be conducted by impartial, independent international bodies and not by individual states, as each state has its own particular views on fundamental rights and freedoms which are shaped by different historical developments. Another major development in the field of human rights is the general acceptance of the principle that human rights are no longer an exclusive domestic affair of states but a legitimate concern of the international community. This principle also reinforces the principle of universality. It is incorporated in the Declaration of the Vienna Conference which was adopted by consensus. With the 21st century bringing in more in the spheres of technological developments and unified world, we can only wait and see to what level human rights can be pushed. As Haule puts it, although human rights have their origin from natural law, it took a system of positive law to provide a definite and systematic statement of the actual rights which people possessed. Bibliography Rhona K.M. Smith, Textbook on International Human Rights, 2004, Oxford University Press, 2nd Ed.   W.Friedman, Legal Theory, 2008,Universal Law Publishing Co. 5th Ed.   Freeman, Introduction to Jurisprudence, (2008) Sweet Maxwell, 8th Ed.   Finer, V Bogdanor and B Rudden, Comparing Constitutions, (1995).   Hegarty Leonard, Human Rights, An Agenda for the 21st Century, (1999) Cavendish   Publishing.   History of Universal Human Rights Up to WW2 Article by Moira Rayner, appearing on universalrights.net/main/history.htm, accessed on 4th March, 2011. Human Rights, Wikipedia, Accessed 4 th March 2011, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right. Natural Law and Natural Rights, paper by  Ã‚   James A Donald, sourced from [emailprotected], accessed on 4 th March 2011. Australian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Theories, Fact Sheet 3, 2009, accessed on 4th March 2010.   Mark W Janis, sourced from http://law.jrank.org/pages/18657/Human-Rights-International-Law.html, accessed on 22nd March 2011. The Origin of Human Rights and the Challenge of Universality, excerpted from the book, Tainted Legacy 9/11 and the Ruin of Human Rights by William Schulz Thunders Mouth Press, 2003, paper. Sourced from thirdworldtraveler.com/Human_Rights/Origin_Human%20Rights_TL.html, accessed on 21st March 2011. Peter Kirchschlaeger, Universality of Human Rights. James Nickel, Human Rights and Globalisation, sourced from http://ivr-enc.info/index.php?title=Human_Rights_and_Globalization#Challenges_to_Universality, accessed on 21st March 2011. Toespraak, On the Universality of Human Rights in a Changing World, sourced from rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/toespraken/2010/05/03/on-the-universality-of-human-rights-in-a-changing-world.html, accessed on 21st March 2011.   Romuald R Haule, Some Reflections on the Foundations of Human Rights, Max Planck UNYN, 10 (2006).

Saturday, October 19, 2019

A Study in Scarlet Essay Example for Free

A Study in Scarlet Essay ? The great author Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle was born on the 22nd May 1859 in Edinburgh Scotland. He had graduated with a degree in medicine at Edinburgh University in 1881. His first short story was published in1879 however the first mystery featuring Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, ‘A Study in Scarlet’, was not until 1887. He had married twice and fathered five children. Conan Doyle had died in 1930. People are drawn to the Sherlock Holmes mystery as Conan Doyle is able to make the reader feel part of the story. The suspense and tension in his stories raise questions in the readers mind. This piece of course work will trace why Conan Doyle writings are popular in the 21st century. One key feature that helped the popularity of Sherlock Holmes stories is Conan Doyle’s use of language, style of writing and its simplicity. In the man with the twisted lip, Mr. Boone was a horrific looking beggar described as â€Å"a broad wheel from an old scar ran right across it from an old scar ran right across it from eye to chin, and by contraction had turned up one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over his eyes and forehead. † Conan Doyle’s use of descriptive language enables the reader to put together a picture of this revolting beggar. In the Red Headed League John Clay, also known as Vincent Spaulding, the criminal had asked to be called with respect â€Å"Have the goodness also, when you address me always say ‘sir’ and ‘please’. † The use of language to introduce humour can be picked up from such comments. Also the idea that a red headed man had died and he wanted to give his inheritance to any other red headed man. Conan Doyle starts to put questions in the readers mind ‘Why would someone want to do this? ‘ This seems virtually impossible and farfetched; such reference continually adds flavour to his writing. In the speckled band Dr. Roylott tried to threaten Sherlock Holmes and called him names â€Å"I know you, you scoundrel! I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler†¦ Holmes, the busybody†¦ Holmes the Scotland Yard Jack-In-Office†. Through dialogue we are able to deduce the character of Dr. Grimsby Roylott and his aggressive attitude towards people. The reader begins to understand why Helen stoner was afraid of her step father and had come to Holmes without his permission. Sherlock Holmes was able to speak fluent Latin â€Å"omne ignotum pro magnifico†; in the Victorian era you had to be well educated to be able to articulate a word of Latin. Conan Doyle has used this technique to show the reader Holmes accomplishments and status in society. Language plays a very important role in all Conan Doyle’s stories which in many ways have added to the never ending success. It has helped to transform the stories the stories into pleasant readings for a wide range of audiences. In all the stories a similar pattern seems to emerge which helps create the perfect recipe for a mystery. The stories unfold in the most unusual way leaving the reader intrigued up to the very end. The themes in Conan Doyle’s stories are directed towards acts of injustice, crimes, the clever villains and innocent victims; all spiced with greed. In the speckled band the victim was Helen stoner, who had come to seek help relating to the sudden death of her sister Julia. The villain to the readers surprise was Dr. Grimsby Roylott. Mrs. Stoner, mother of Helen and Julia Stoner, had received â€Å"not less than 1000 pounds a year† she gave this money to Dr. Roylott. â€Å"a certain annual sum should be allowed† to each daughter after marriage; due to Dr. Roylott’s selfish needs he was responsible for the death of Julia and attempt to murder Helen. In the red headed league Mr. Jabez Wilson had consulted Sherlock Holmes to look into an advert that seemed peculiar. Mr. Jabez Wilson had taken a job because it offered double a normal wage, â€Å"4 pound a week†. To the readers it seemed a shock that Vincent Spaulding, who was the loyal employee, had been the criminal John Clay. John clay had planned to steal the French napoleons from the bank. He was a con man â€Å"he’ll crack a crib in Scotland one week, and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. † In the man with the twisted lip Mrs. Neville StClair, the victim, had approached Holmes because she needed help finding her husband. Boone, the beggar, was able to earn â€Å"700 pounds a year† where as Mr. Neville StClair, a journalist, earned â€Å"two pounds a week. † Mr. Neville StClair was the victim of his own deeds as he was not able to meet the expectation of society within the Victorian era. In the 21st century many people are not able to find time to read long novels. Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories are short and simple to read, anyone can find time for them. You can pick up a story and read it on your way to work or school. The stories start in a similar way; we are first introduced to the innocent victims who are always reassured by Sherlock Holmes with his sympatric and caring nature and in most cases in the company of Dr. Watson. There is always a mention of the residence of Sherlock Holmes. This is to create a make believe situation in the readers mind. The setting is always dark and gloomy when the client comes to seek for advice; this gives a cosy and calm atmosphere. Conan Doyle was taught how to make deductions about patients by observing them closely; this skill was transferred to his stories and injected into his main character Sherlock Holmes. Holmes carries out his investigation using simple means. His use of knowledge allows him to give an insight in the red headed league. Vincent Spaulding had worked for half wage; he was always â€Å"diving down into the cellar like a rabbit† and he was the one who showed Mr. Jabez Wilson the advert. When Sherlock Holmes went to ask for directions, under pretence just to come in contact with the so called assistant Vincent Spaulding, he was reassuring himself that what he was thinking was actually possible. Holmes was able to conclude on the note that Vincent Spaulding and John Clay was the same person. Sherlock Holmes has a special essence which draws the reader towards him. Sherlock Holmes is known as one of the world’s greatest detectives. His mission was always to help gain justice for his clients. He is an individual who is never after money but more interested in solving the crime â€Å"my profession is its own reward†. He was a guardian angel to all and everyone had total trust in his skill. There are two sides of Holmes, one which is the never quitting crime solver and other which just likes to relax. He also has many weaknesses â€Å"cocaine injections and all the little weaknesses†. In these three stories Conan Doyle has used Watson to narrate the story. We are able to learn what is in the Dr. Watsons mind towards Holmes. John Watson is a very close friend and assistant of Holmes. He has full trust in friend’s skills and has the same thirst for mysteries as Holmes; â€Å"Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me† The mystery in most cases concludes on the note that Sherlock Holmes has solved the case. In the speckled band Helen stoner was able to live without fear of her stepfather. This pattern of a constant happy ending allows the reader to look forward to the end and they know that they can always rely on Holmes. In the 21st century Conan Doyle still rubs shoulder with many other famous detective stories such as â€Å"murder she wrote† and â€Å"C. S. I†. None of them however can beat Sherlock Holmes!!! Conan Doyle has out done himself. The Sherlock Holmes stories are suitable for all age groups. Worldwide he is an accomplished writer as the stories have been translated into over 60 different languages. Even today the famous residence 221b baker street is still known as the fictional home of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Now it is the site of the Sherlock Holmes museum. Such tributes have helped keep the stories alive to date. Neelam Hirani Page 1 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Miscellaneous section. A Study in Scarlet. (2017, Oct 30).

Friday, October 18, 2019

Bus law case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bus law case - Essay Example Boston Scientific Corp., 433 F.3d 1, US Court of Appeals, First Circuit, (2006). Ruben Carnero was an Argentine, and an employee of Boston Scientific Argentina as well as Boston Scientific Brazil prior to his termination in August 2002.the termination prompted him to seek statutory severance under Argentine and Brazilian law. Also, he brought a whistleblowing claim involving the value of stock option as stipulated under SOXA. Carnero asserted that SOXA was aimed at safeguarding domestic securities against improper accounting practices. Thus, the whistleblower protection was to extend outside the U.S to enhance effectiveness. To counter this, BSC quoted the legislative history of the Sarbanes-Oxley act which was inclined to domestic issues relating to the Enron scandal. On this grounds, BSC held that there lacked sufficient basis to overcome the presumption against application of the Sarbanes-Oxley statute outside the U.S. territories (Hartman and Cheeseman 287-291). The court therefore dismissed the whistleblowing claim which Carnero brought against the Boston Scientific Corporation. From this decision, it is discernible that foreign workers cannot sue under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act whistleblower provisions. Apparently, the decision implies that the whistleblowing protections are not applicable to foreign citizens who are working beyond the U.S territories for foreign subsidiary companies covered by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. This ruling does not seem to frustrate the SOXA as it does not apply extraterritorially. In Collins v. Beazer Homes USA Inc., 334 F. Supp. 2d 1365, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18374 (ND Ga. 2004) the plaintiff, Collins was relieved of her duties as a director of marketing after she complained about specific marketing and various other decisions. In this case, the court held that Beazer lacked clear evidence that would have Collins fired (Hartman and Cheeseman 281-287). This decision too, does not seem to thwart the SOXA act. With regards to

Play review of Richard Nilson's Some Americans Abroad at Second Stage Essay

Play review of Richard Nilson's Some Americans Abroad at Second Stage Theater, New York - Essay Example The play revolves round Joe Taylor, who is the new head of the English department of a New England college, his colleagues and students. On the tour they race from one literary landmark to another. As they do so the director showcases the character of these people. They are shown as spineless, arrogant, penny pinching, pompous individuals who in spite of all the knowledge they have are quite ill-equipped to handle conflicts that arise when they come out of their orderly campus and step into the real world. Mr. Nelson’s script is finely crafted pointing out a basic fact concerning tourists. Tourists are often too busy rushing from one tourist attraction to another without actually seeing. Even though the script was written nearly twenty years ago, the story is still topical and interesting and does not appear outdated. The comic and the serious elements that run throughout the play make for some interesting viewing. Gordon Edelstein, the director, has been able to get some fine performances from the cast. The acting is strong throughout the play and all the characters, though stereotyped at times, come across as fully formed characters. They are convincing and professional in portraying their empty but complicated and tense lives. Tom Cavanagh is excellent as Joe Taylor, the department head, who is friendly but aloof. John Cunningham and Pamela Payton-Wright play the politically incorrect Anglophiles. Anthony Rapp is good as the timid Henry, who is shown taking desperate measures to save his job (even dressing like his boss). Emily Bergl, who plays Betty, Henrys loyal wife, has a small part to play but stands out in the crowd with a compelling performance that has bitterness and anger written all over it. John Cunningham, a veteran and seasoned actor is able to make the audience laugh as the retired department chair with a mean streak. All the characters have a common thread among them,

Politics might be improved by more, rather than less marketing Essay

Politics might be improved by more, rather than less marketing. Discuss - Essay Example Marketing within the political realm is something that must be judged in the proper light to start with. The citizens of the state must be apprised of their due role within the country and then they must also be told about the different aspects related with the spreading of message through the right channels. Politics must make citizens stand up and act. They should take notice of what is happening around them and what the different regimes and movements are doing for their own betterment. This means that awareness and a sense of knowing needs to be the buzzword when we explore the true meaning of politics and marketing the same gives the whole discussion a real boost in the related scheme of things. Political marketing aims to look at the positive sides of delivering quality to the end consumers, for whom the politics is being done. The society is the eventual recipient hence it is the duty of the society to find out what is happening around it. The people are a part of this society and they are rightly the winners and/or losers at the end of the day. They must be made aware of the happenings around them when it comes to true political movements, activities, situations and the like. The usage of banners, websites, rallies, advertorials, email messages, sms texts, web portals, newspapers, magazines and even television and radio suggest that political marketing could be a real happening thing in the times much like today. (KELLEY, 1973) What also is suggested by these factors is the belief that there are a number of other avenues and different forms of media which could be explored so as to propagate the message of the political party or the politics as we might put it here. Politics in the world of today is like a relationship. It connects with an individual in much the same way as a family is connected to him. He is

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Natural and houman life in Mono Lake Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Natural and houman life in Mono Lake - Essay Example While many species find the lake unfavorable for life due to its high pH and alkalinity, the alkali flies find a lot of benefit in these conditions (Herbst1& Bradley1 670). The water of the lake provides a natural breeding ground to the flies much as it provides good ground for feeding as it is filled with different kinds of algae; blue and green (Herbst1& Bradley1 670). Many species of birds live around Mono Lake and many others travel from as far as South America and take time to rest and rejuvenate on as they migrate from different places. The birds mostly find the Mono Lake a suitable ground for breeding as there is plentiful supply of food in the form of alkali flies and brine shrimps, especially between mid summer and fall (Cash & Bradley 312). It is estimated that over 100 bird species in totaling millions grace the Mono lake area at different times of the year (Mono Basin Ecosystem Study Committee of the National Research Council 46). It is estimated that more than 44,000 California Gulls find breeding ground around the lake in spring every year (Mono Basin Ecosystem Study Committee of the National Research Council 46). Some of the birds that are found in the wider Mono Lake region include red-necked phalaropes, flamingoes, egrets, Wilsons phalaropes, horned lark , bank swallow, dusky flycatcher, stellers jay, scrub jay and eared grebes, to name but a few. While the population of water fowls such as ducks was high in the lake several decades ago, this is no longer the case. The ducks, Gadwalls, Geese, Mallards,and Green-winged Teals have almost disappeared over the years as a consequence of the diversion of the river that flowed into the lake in 1941. Humans have lived in the Mono Lake region for a long time. The Kutzadikaa people find benefit from the lake in that they normally hunt alkali flies for food during winter periods as noted by Herbst and Bradley (193). For the different bird species and the tufa mounds that

Outline Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Outline - Assignment Example He is no more an authoritative director who was supposed to give orders and merely direct subordinates as in the past. Today's fast growing world has new and revolutionary demands for leaders. A leader today has to be a charismatic being who does not shy away from doing work himself, rather enjoys putting valuable effort in the teamwork. Action Learning helps in producing such leaders (Rigg, & Richards, 2006). Paragraph 2: Development of leaders and effective leadership through action learning The practical approach of the Action Learning motivates the leaders to indulge in the work themselves to better perceive the situation. It makes them realize that they cannot win a war by standing on the edge. They will have to step into the arena to understand the demands of particular events and to decide and direct their subordinates accordingly. They will have to observe their own actions, analyze their motives and scrutinize their own experiences in order to find out the ways to improve th eir performances further. Thus, action learning teaches men to use their insight along with their knowledge and intelligence to perform better. And these very attributes have let Action Learning emerged as one of the most influential and valuable tools that is used worldwide for developing leaders nowadays.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Politics might be improved by more, rather than less marketing Essay

Politics might be improved by more, rather than less marketing. Discuss - Essay Example Marketing within the political realm is something that must be judged in the proper light to start with. The citizens of the state must be apprised of their due role within the country and then they must also be told about the different aspects related with the spreading of message through the right channels. Politics must make citizens stand up and act. They should take notice of what is happening around them and what the different regimes and movements are doing for their own betterment. This means that awareness and a sense of knowing needs to be the buzzword when we explore the true meaning of politics and marketing the same gives the whole discussion a real boost in the related scheme of things. Political marketing aims to look at the positive sides of delivering quality to the end consumers, for whom the politics is being done. The society is the eventual recipient hence it is the duty of the society to find out what is happening around it. The people are a part of this society and they are rightly the winners and/or losers at the end of the day. They must be made aware of the happenings around them when it comes to true political movements, activities, situations and the like. The usage of banners, websites, rallies, advertorials, email messages, sms texts, web portals, newspapers, magazines and even television and radio suggest that political marketing could be a real happening thing in the times much like today. (KELLEY, 1973) What also is suggested by these factors is the belief that there are a number of other avenues and different forms of media which could be explored so as to propagate the message of the political party or the politics as we might put it here. Politics in the world of today is like a relationship. It connects with an individual in much the same way as a family is connected to him. He is

Outline Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Outline - Assignment Example He is no more an authoritative director who was supposed to give orders and merely direct subordinates as in the past. Today's fast growing world has new and revolutionary demands for leaders. A leader today has to be a charismatic being who does not shy away from doing work himself, rather enjoys putting valuable effort in the teamwork. Action Learning helps in producing such leaders (Rigg, & Richards, 2006). Paragraph 2: Development of leaders and effective leadership through action learning The practical approach of the Action Learning motivates the leaders to indulge in the work themselves to better perceive the situation. It makes them realize that they cannot win a war by standing on the edge. They will have to step into the arena to understand the demands of particular events and to decide and direct their subordinates accordingly. They will have to observe their own actions, analyze their motives and scrutinize their own experiences in order to find out the ways to improve th eir performances further. Thus, action learning teaches men to use their insight along with their knowledge and intelligence to perform better. And these very attributes have let Action Learning emerged as one of the most influential and valuable tools that is used worldwide for developing leaders nowadays.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Underground Railroad Essay Example for Free

The Underground Railroad Essay The Underground Railroad was an important element in the fight for and promotion of freedom for blacks enslaved within the United States during the 19th century. However, in order to understand its importance to the development of U. S. society it is necessary to understand its historical and contextual basis. Leading off from the Mexican-American war which ended in 1848 there was increasing tension between Americans living in the northern section of the United States and those living in the south particularly over the issue of slavery (Epps, 2004). Those in the North had long demonstrated their intolerance for the continuance of slave practices in the Union and those in the South had long expressed sentiments that the practice of slavery would continue. This variance in viewpoint soon led to the North-South divide which also took on a strongly political aspect. Blacks in the South, jealous of their counterparts in the North and craving freedom from a lifetime of slavery, had long been exploiting this variance in viewpoint with regard to slave since the 1780s by finding opportunities to escape their plantations in the South and find refuge in the North or in Canada. This practice kept increasing as the divide between the North and South widened. Run-away slaves were often quite welcomed in the North and some sympathizers, beginning with the Quakers, assisted them in their escape. The practice of helping slaves cross over into the North and Canada was figuratively referred to as the Underground Railroad or the Liberty line. The literal Underground Railroad was a network of safe havens (Hicks, Montequin Hicks, 2000, p. 27) in the form of safe houses, churches and shelters (Anonymous, 2003, p. 10) to which safes running away could turn to facilitating their onward progress to the North, which represented freedom. The network of safe havens stretched from the states in the South to as far as Canada (Hicks, Montequin Hicks, 2000). The concept of this network as a railroad is evident in the codes that those involved used to refer to various components of the movement. Slaves that were running away were referred to as passengers, persons who were guiding them along the different routes were called conductors and the places at which they stopped were named stations. Thus the Underground Railroad was not a physical place or space but a movement aimed at liberating blacks from slavery. Numerous individuals collaborated in making this movement into the success it is now proclaimed to have had. Some estimates are that about 30, 000 blacks were able to escape via the Underground Railroad (Anonymous, 2000, p. 10) and still others put the figure at twice as much. Though the precise numbers are not known it is still very evident that the work of the individuals involved in the Underground Railroad movement was quite effective in bringing many blacks out of a lifetime of slavery. As has been noted before the movement began with the work of the Quakers. Over the lifetime of the Underground Railroad countless other individuals, the majority of whom were black but including whites and women, were involved in the process. One of the names most notably associated with the Underground Railroad is Harriet Tubman. She had herself been a slave when she took the opportunity, in 1849, to head north along the Underground Railroad. She subsequently became actively involved in helping other blacks escape slavery. It is reported that she made a total of nineteen round trips between the North and South bringing to freedom approximately 300 African slaves (Chism, 2005, p. 47). The persons who facilitated the slaves moving between safe houses on the Underground Railroad, were putting themselves at considerable legal risks and thus activities had to be carried out as clandestinely as possible. There were laws designed and implemented specifically to curb the rate of assistance that escaped slaves were given in the North. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 gave owners the power to retrieve their slaves from whatever state they escape to, even in the North. This act proved to be unsuccessful so it was later reinforced with additional provisions in 1850. Under the new act persons were obligated to return runaway slaves to their owners and law officials in all states were mandated to upkeep this law and participate in active slave recovery (Williams-Myers, 2005). With these stringent legal conditions it was indeed with fear and trepidation that many slaves took on the challenge of running for the North. The efforts made by the conductors, the keepers in the safe houses and all who facilitated the journey, are indeed commendable since they reached out to humanity without regarding person safety. Several states northern states, as a result of the large genesis of African Americans into the North, soon became de jure slave settlements. In Mid-West states such as Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan as well as in Northeast states such as Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine (Sayers, 2004, p. 437) large numbers of newly escaped blacks took up permanent residence and began to make a life in freedom. The Underground Railroad indeed represents not only the struggles towards emancipation but also, according to Williams-Myers (2005) â€Å"a moral challenge to an immoral mindset† References Epps, Garrett. (2004, Summer). The Antebellum Political Background of the Fourteenth Amendment. Law and Contemporary Problems, 67(3), 175-211. Williams-Myers, A.J. (2005, Jul). Some notes on the extent of New York Citys involvement in the Underground Railroad.  Afro-Americans in New York Life and History, 29(2), 73. Sayers, D. O. (2004). The Underground Railroad Reconsidered. The Western Journal of Black Studies, 28(3), 435-443. Hicks, B., Montequin, L. Hicks, J. (2000, Jan). Learning about our community: From the underground railroad to school lunch. Primary Voices K – 6, 8(3), 26-33. Chism, K. (2005, Mar). Harriet Tubman: Spy, veteran, and widow. OAH Magazine of History, 47-51. Anonymous. (2003, Feb 13). Researchers to study Natchezs role in Underground Railroad. Black Issues in Higher Education, 19(26), 10.