A Letter from Birmingham Jail

Reflection of â€Å"A Letter from Birmingham Jail† by Martin Luther Kingjr. For our honors portfolio this quarter we were required to read three documents. We, then, were quizzed over each of the readings. First, we read â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail† by Martin Luther King, Jr. , then, we read the transcript of President John F. Kennedys inaugural address, and last but not least, we read â€Å"Millennial Makeover† by Morley Winograd and Michael Hals.Furthermore, we had to read and analyze the documents because the quizzes required us to think deeper than the written words on the paper. I believe these documents are critical because they have shaped the government and our society today. My favorite of these three documents, if I had to pick. would be â€Å"Letter from a Birmingham Jail†, not only because I admire Martin Luther King Jr. , but also because this letter Is a very powerful and Inspiring piece of work.Luther wrote while being confined in a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, for participating in civil rights demonstrations. His letter states that he will continue resisting nonviolently against racial discrimination and pleads the readers to see segregation from a different point f view. Moreover, I noticed that he quoted many people including Apostle Paul, St. Augustine, Reinhold Niebuhr and many others. This made me realize that he most likely had the quotations memorized since he didn't have access to those sources while imprisoned.He mentions that â€Å"injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere† and that â€Å"an unjust law is no law at all† (Luther). This means that an unjust law causes harm; for example, If it Is lawful to torture a certain group of people, then that is not a law whatsoever. This idea of injustice affects many directly, ut also affects everyone else indirectly in the fact that prejudice is occurring around them. Furthermore, his words describe in detail what segregation was Ilke and what people like him had to go through.This impacted me because now, the idea of racial discrimination is completely frowned upon, while in the 1900's it was something that seemed right and normal. It took years of hard work, bloody massacres. and non-stop action to obtain equality and I hate to see that a little bit of racism still exists today. The idea that immigrants are taking away Jobs and opportunities that should be for U. S. citizens. surprises me because this country was founded and created by immigrants.Instead of seeing different countries and different people in one world, we should see the whole world as one, because every human being, no matter what race. has his/her own rights and should have the same opportunities that his neighbor does. Luther is one of the most charismatic and persuasive people in history and has not only inspired many, but also revolutionized a country's view. He wrote this letter hoping to stir up some emotion and I think he got his point a cross in very non-violent and mature kind of way that was unexpected and at the same time, admirable.His stance ofa nonviolent action and the desperate cry for an end to social discrimination is as powerful now as It was 50 years ago. We now stand by these liberal values and believe the God has made us all equal and has given us n r gnts tnat no law can take away. A tnougn tnls was not an easy project, I certainly did learn something from it and it inspired me to stand up for my beliefs, but also, in a way, allowed me to see that anything is possible through hard work.

Prehistory and antiquity Essay

Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant watercraft. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing, entertainment, public safety, and warfare. Historically, a â€Å"ship† was a vessel with sails rigged in a specific manner. Ships and boats have developed alongside humanity. In armed conflict and in daily life they have become an integral part of modern commercial and military systems. Fishing boats are used by millions of fishermen throughout the world. History The first known vessels date back to the Neolithic Period, about 10,000 years ago, but could not be described as ships. The first navigators began to use animal skins or woven fabrics as sails. Affixed to the top of a pole set upright in a boat, these sails gave early ships range. By around 3000 BC, Ancient Egyptians knew how to assemble wooden planks into a hull.[10] They used woven straps to lash the planks togetherand reeds or grass stuffed between the planks helped to seal the seams. A panel found at Mohenjodaro, depicted a sailing craft. Vessels were of many types Their construction is vividly described in the Yukti Kalpa Taru, an ancient Indian text on shipbuilding. This treatise gives a technical exposition on the techniques of shipbuilding. It sets forth minute details about the various types of ships, their sizes, and the materials from which they were built. The Swahili people had various extensive trading ports dotting the coast of medieval East Africa and Great Zimbabwe had extensive trading contacts with Central Africa, and likely also imported goods brought to Africa through the Southeast African shore trade of Kilwa in modern-day Tanzania.[21] Before the introduction of the compass, celestial navigation was the main method for navigation at sea. In China, early versions of the magnetic compass were being developed and used in navigation between 1040 and 1117. Renaissance Until the Renaissance, navigational technology remained comparatively primitive. This absence of technology did not prevent some civilizations from becoming sea powers. Examples include the maritime republics of Genoaand Venice, Hanseatic League, and the Byzantine navy. The carrack and then the caravel were developed in Iberia. After Columbus, European exploration rapidly accelerated, and many new trade routes were established.[38] In 1498, by reaching India, Vasco da Gama proved that the access to the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic was possible. These explorations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans were soon followed by France, England and the Netherlands, who explored the Portuguese and Spanish trade routes into the Pacific Ocean, reaching Australia in 1606 and New Zealand in 1642.[39] A major sea power, the Dutch in 1650 owned 16,000 merchant ships. Specialization and modernization During the first half of the 18th century, the French Navy began to develop a new type of vessel known as a ship of the line, featuring seventy-four guns. This type of ship became the backbone of all European fighting fleets. These ships were 56 metres (184 ft) long and their construction required 2,800 oak trees and 40 kilometres (25 mi) of rope; they carried a crew of about 800 sailors and soldiers. Ship designs stayed fairly unchanged until the late 19th century. The industrial revolution, new mechanical methods of propulsion, and the ability to construct ships from metal triggered an explosion in ship design. Factors including the quest for more efficient ships, the end of long running and wasteful maritime conflicts, and the increased financial capacity of industrial powers created an avalanche of more specialized boats and ships. Ships built for entirely new functions, such as firefighting, rescue, and research, also began to appear. In light of this, classification of vessels by type or function can be difficult. Even using very broad functional classifications such as fishery, trade, military, and exploration fails to classify most of the old ships. This difficulty is increased by the fact that the terms such as sloop and frigate are used by old and new ships alike, and often the modern vessels sometimes have little in common with their predecessors. Today In 2007, the world’s fleet included 34,882 commercial vessels with gross tonnage of more than 1,000 tons,[42] totaling 1.04 billion tons.[1] These ships carried 7.4 billion tons of cargo in 2006, a sum that grew by 8% over the previous year.[1] In terms of tonnage, 39% of these ships are tankers, 26% arebulk carriers, 17% container ships and 15% were other types.[1] In 2002, there were 1,240 warships operating in the world, not counting small vessels such as patrol boats. The United States accounted for 3 million tons worth of these vessels, Russia 1.35 million tons, the United Kingdom 504,660 tons and China 402,830 tons. The 20th century saw many naval engagements during the two world wars, the Cold War, and the rise to power of naval forces of the two blocs. The size of the world’s fishing fleet is more difficult to estimate. The largest of these are counted as commercial vessels, but the smallest are legion.Fishing vessels can be found in most seaside villages in the world. As of 2004, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated 4 million fishing vessels were operating worldwide.[43] Types of ships[edit] Ships are difficult to classify, mainly because there are so many criteria to base classification on. One classification is based on propulsion; with ships categorised as a sailing ship, a steamship, or a motorship. Sailing ships are propelled solely by means of sails. Another way to categorize ships and boats is based on their use, as described by Paulet and Presles.[46] This system includes military ships, commercial vessels, fishing boats, pleasure craft and competitive boats. In this section, ships are classified using the first four of those categories, and adding a section for lake and river boats, and one for vessels which fall outside these categories. Commercial vessels Commercial vessels or merchant ships can be divided into three broad categories: cargo ships, passenger ships, and special-purpose ships.[47] Cargo ships transport dry and liquid cargo. Dry cargo can be transported in bulk by bulk carriers, packed directly onto a general cargo ship in break-bulk, packed in intermodal containers as aboard a container ship, or driven aboard as in roll-on roll-off ships. Liquid cargo is generally carried in bulk aboard tankers, such as oil tankers which may include both crude and finished products of oil, chemical tankers which may also carry vegetable oils other than chemicals and LPG/LNG tankers, Passenger ships range in size from small river ferries to very large cruise ships. This type of vessel includes ferries, which move passengers and vehicles on short trips; ocean liners, which carry passengers from one place to another; and cruise ships, which carry passengers on voyages undertaken for pleasure Special-purpose vessels are not used for transport but for other tasks. Examples include tugboats, pilot boats, rescue boats, cable ships, research vessels, survey vessels, and icebreakers. Most commercial vessels have full hull-forms to maximize cargo capacity.[citation needed] Commercial vessels generally have a crew headed by a captain, with deck officers and marine engineers on larger vessels. Special-purpose vessels often have specialized crew if necessary, for example scientists aboard research vessels. Commercial vessels are typically powered by a single propeller driven by a diesel or, less usually, gas turbine engine.[citation needed] The fastest vessels may use pump-jet engines.[citation needed] Naval vessels Naval vessels are those used by a navy for military purposes. There have been many types of naval vessel. Modern naval vessels can be broken down into three categories: surface warships, submarines, and support and auxiliary vessels. Modern warships are generally divided into seven main categories: aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, corvettes, submarines and amphibious assault ships. The distinction between cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and corvettes is not rigorous; the same vessel may be described differently in different navies. Battleships were used during the Second World War and occasionally since then, but were made obsolete by the use of carrier-borne aircraft and guided missiles.[48] Most navies also include many types of support and auxiliary vessel, such as minesweepers, patrol boats, offshore patrol vessels, replenishment ships, and hospital ships which are designatedmedical treatment facilities.[49] Fast combat vessels such as cruisers and destroyers usually have fine hulls to maximize speed and maneuverability. They also usually have advanced electronics and communication systems, as well as weapons. Fishing vessels Fishing vessels are a subset of commercial vessels, but generally small in size and often subject to different regulations and classification. They can be categorized by several criteria: architecture, the type of fish they catch, the fishing method used, geographical origin, and technical features such as rigging. As of 2004, the world’s fishing fleet consisted of some 4 million vessels.[43] More than 60% of all existing large fishing vessels[51] were built in Japan, Peru, the Russian Federation, Spain or the United States of America.[52] Fishing boats are generally small, often little more than 30 meters (98 ft) but up to 100 metres (330 ft) for a large tuna or whaling ship. Aboard a fish processing vessel, the catch can be made ready for market and sold more quickly once the ship makes port. Weather vessels[edit] A weather ship was a ship stationed in the ocean as a platform for surface and upper air meteorological observations for use in marine weather forecasting. Surface weather observations were taken hourly, and four radiosonde releases occurred daily. [54] It was also meant to aid in search and rescue operations and to support transatlantic flights. Proposed as early as 1927 by the aviation community,[56] the establishment of weather ships proved to be so useful during World War II that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) established a global network of weather ships in 1948, with 13 to be supplied by the United States. Their crews were normally out to sea for three weeks at a time, returning to port for 10 day stretches.[54] Weather ship observations proved to be helpful in wind and wave studies, as they did not avoid weather systems like other ships tended to for safety reasons.[58] They were also helpful in monitoring storms at sea, such as tropical cyclones.[59] The removal of a weather ship became a negative factor in forecasts leading up to theGreat Storm of 1987.[60] Beginning in the 1970s, their role became largely superseded by weather buoys due to the ships’ significant cost.[61] The agreement of the use of weather ships by the international community ended in 1990. The last weather ship was Polarfront, known as weather station M (â€Å"Mike†), which was put out of operation on 1 January 2010. Weather observations from ships continue from a fleet of voluntary merchant vessels in routine commercial operation. Inland and coastal boats Many types of boats and ships are designed for inland and coastal waterways. These are the vessels that trade upon the lakes, rivers and canals. Barges are a prime example of inland vessels. Barges towed along canals by draft animals on an adjacent towpath contended with the railway in the early industrial revolution but were out competed in the carriage of high value items because of the higher speed, falling costs, and route flexibility ofrail transport. Riverboats and inland ferries are specially designed to carry passengers, cargo, or both in the challenging river environment. Rivers present special hazards to vessels. They usually have varying water flows that alternately lead to high speed water flows or protruding rock hazards. Changing siltation patterns may cause the sudden appearance of shoal waters, and often floating or sunken logs and trees (called snags) can endanger the hulls and propulsion of riverboats. Riverboats are generally of shallow draft, being broad of beam and rather square in plan, with a low freeboard and high topsides. Riverboats can survive with this type of configuration as they do not have to withstand the high winds or large waves that are seen on large lakes, seas, or oceans. Lake freighters, also called lakers, are cargo vessels that ply the Great Lakes. The most well-known is the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, the latest major vessel to be wrecked on the Lakes. These vessels are traditionally called boats, not ships. Visiting ocean-going vessels are called â€Å"salties.† Because of their additional beam, very large salties are never seen inland of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Because the smallest of the Soo Locks is larger than any Seaway lock, salties that can pass through the Seaway may travel anywhere in the Great Lakes. Because of their deeper draft, salties may accept partial loads on the Great Lakes, â€Å"topping off† when they have exited the Seaway. Similarly, the largest lakers are confined to the Upper Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron,Erie) because they are too large to use the Seaway locks, beginning at the Welland Canal that bypasses the Niagara River. Since the freshwater lakes are less corrosive to ships than the salt water of the oceans, lakers tend to last much longer than ocean freighters. Lakers older than 50 years are not unusual, and as of 2005, all were over 20 years of age.[62] The St. Mary’s Challenger, built in 1906 as the William P Snyder, is the oldest laker still working on the Lakes. Similarly, the E.M. Ford, built in 1898 as the Presque Isle, was sailing the lakes 98 years later in 1996. As of 2007 the Ford was still afloat as a stationary transfer vessel at a riverside cement silo in Saginaw, Michigan. Architecture[edit] Some components exist in vessels of any size and purpose. Every vessel has a hull of sorts. Every vessel has some sort of propulsion, whether it’s a pole, an ox, or a nuclear reactor. Most vessels have some sort of steering system. Other characteristics are common, but not as universal, such as compartments, holds, a superstructure, and equipment such as anchors and winches. Hull For a ship to float, its weight must be less than that of the water displaced by the ship’s hull.[63] There are many types of hulls, from logs lashed together to form a raft to the advanced hulls of America’s Cup sailboats. A vessel may have a single hull , two in the case ofcatamarans, or three in the case of trimarans. Hulls have several elements. The bow is the foremost part of the hull. Many ships feature a bulbous bow. The keel is at the very bottom of the hull, extending the entire length of the ship. The rear part of the hull is known as the stern, and many hulls have a flat back known as a transom. Common hull appendages include propellers for propulsion, rudders for steering, and stabilizers to quell a ship’s rolling motion. Other hull features can be related to the vessel’s work, such as fishing gear and sonar domes. Hulls are subject to various hydrostatic and hydrodynamic constraints. The key hydrostatic constraint is that it must be able to support the entire weight of the boat, and maintain stability even with often unevenly distributed weight. Hydrodynamic constraints include the ability to withstand shock waves, weather collisions and groundings. Propulsion systems Propulsion systems for ships fall into three categories: human propulsion, sailing, and mechanical propulsion. Human propulsion includes rowing, which was used even on large galleys. Propulsion by sail generally consists of a sail hoisted on an erect mast, supported by stays and spars and controlled by ropes. Sail systems were the dominant form of propulsion until the 19th century. Mechanical propulsion systems generally consist of a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, an impeller or wave propulsion fins. Steam engines were first used for this purpose, but have mostly been replaced by two-stroke or four-stroke diesel engines, outboard motors, and gas turbine engines on faster ships. Nuclear reactors producing steam are used to propel warships and icebreakers, and there have been attempts to utilize them to power commercial vessels For ships with independent propulsion systems for each side, such as manual oars or some paddles,[64] steering systems may not be necessary. In most designs, such as boats propelled by engines or sails, a steering system becomes necessary. The most common is a rudder, a submerged plane located at the rear of the hull. Rudders are rotated to generate a lateral force which turns the boat. Rudders can be rotated by a tiller, manual wheels, or electro-hydraulic systems. Autopilot systems combine mechanical rudders with navigation systems. Ducted propellers are sometimes used for steering. Some propulsion systems are inherently steering systems. Examples include the outboard motor, the bow thruster, and the Z-drive. Some sails, such as jibs and the mizzen sail on a ketch rig, are used more for steering than propulsion. Holds, compartments, and the superstructure[edit] Larger boats and ships generally have multiple decks and compartments. Separate berthings and heads are found on sailboats over about 25 feet (7.6 m). Fishing boats and cargo ships typically have one or more cargo holds. Most larger vessels have an engine room, a galley, and various compartments for work. Tanks are used to store fuel, engine oil, and fresh water. Ballast tanks are equipped to change a ship’s trim and modify its stability. Superstructures are found above the main deck. On sailboats, these are usually very low. On modern cargo ships, they are almost always located near the ship’s stern. On passenger ships and warships, the superstructure generally extends far forward. Equipment[edit] Shipboard equipment varies from ship to ship depending on such factors as the ship’s era, design, area of operation, and purpose. Some types of equipment that are widely found include: Masts can be the home of antennas, navigation lights, radar transponders, fog signals, and similar devices often required by law. Ground tackle includes equipment such as mooring winches, windlasses, and anchors. Anchors are used to moor ships in shallow water. They are connected to the ship by a rope or chain. On larger vessels, the chain runs through a hawsepipe. Cargo equipment such as cranes and cargo booms are used to load and unload cargo and ship’s stores. Safety equipment such as lifeboats, liferafts, and survival suits are carried aboard many vessels for emergency use. Design considerations Hydrostatics[edit] Boats and ships are kept on (or slightly above) the water in three ways: For most vessels, known as displacement vessels, the vessel’s weight is offset by that of the water displaced by the hull. For planing ships and boats, such as the hydrofoil, the lift developed by the movement of the foil through the water increases with the vessel’s speed, until the vessel is foilborne. For non-displacement craft such as hovercraft and air-cushion vehicles, the vessel is suspended over the water by a cushion of high-pressure air it projects downwards against the surface of the water. A vessel is in equilibrium when the upwards and downwards forces are of equal magnitude. As a vessel is lowered into the water its weight remains constant but the corresponding weight of water displaced by its hull increases. When the two forces are equal, the boat floats. Hydrodynamics[edit] The advance of a vessel through water is resisted by the water. This resistance can be broken down into several components, the main ones being the friction of the water on the hull and wave making resistance. To reduce resistance and therefore increase the speed for a given power, it is necessary to reduce the wetted surface and use submerged hull shapes that produce low amplitude waves. To do so, high-speed vessels are often more slender, with fewer or smaller appendages. The friction of the water is also reduced by regular maintenance of the hull to remove the sea creatures and algae that accumulate there. Antifouling paint is commonly used to assist in this. Advanced designs such as the bulbous bow assist in decreasing wave resistance. A simple way of considering wave-making resistance is to look at the hull in relation to its wake. At speeds lower than the wave propagation speed, the wave rapidly dissipates to the sides. As the hull approaches the wave propagation speed, however, the wake at the bow begins to build up faster than it can dissipate, and so it grows in amplitude. Since the water is not able to â€Å"get out of the way of the hull fast enough†, the hull, in essence, has to climb over or push through the bow wave. This results in an exponential increase in resistance with increasing speed. This hull speed is found by the formula: or, in metric units: Where L is the length of the waterline in feet or meters. When the vessel exceeds a speed/length ratio of 0.94, it starts to outrun most of its bow wave, and the hull actually settles slightly in the water as it is now only supported by two wave peaks. As the vessel exceeds a speed/length ratio of 1.34, the hull speed, the wavelength is now longer than the hull, and the stern is no longer supported by the wake, causing the stern to squat, and the bow rise. The hull is now starting to climb its own bow wave, and resistance begins to increase at a very high rate. While it is possible to drive a displacement hull faster than a speed/length ratio of 1.34, it is prohibitively expensive to do so. Most large vessels operate at speed/length ratios well below that level, at speed/length ratios of under 1.0. For large projects with adequate funding, hydrodynamic resistance can be tested experimentally in a hull testing pool or using tools of computational fluid dynamics. Vessels are also subject to ocean surface waves and sea swell as well as effects of wind and weather. These movements can be stressful for passengers and equipment, and must be controlled if possible. The rolling movement can be controlled, to an extent, by ballasting or by devices such as fin stabilizers. Pitching movement is more difficult to limit and can be dangerous if the bow submerges in the waves, a phenomenon called pounding. Sometimes, ships must change course or speed to stop violent rolling or pitching. How it has been convincingly shown in scientific studies of the 21st century[65][66], controllability of some vessels decreases dramatically in some cases that are conditioned by effects of the bifurcation memory. This class of vessels includes ships with high manoeuvring capabilities, aircraft and controlled underwater vehicles designed to be unstable in steady-state motion that are interesting in terms of applications. These features must be considered in designing ships and in their control in critical situations. Lifecycle A ship will pass through several stages during its career. The first is usually an initial contract to build the ship, the details of which can vary widely based on relationships between theshipowners, operators, designers and the shipyard. Then, the design phase carried out by a naval architect. Then the ship is constructed in a shipyard. After construction, the vessel is launched and goes into service. Ships end their careers in a number of ways, ranging from shipwrecks to service as a museum ship to the scrapyard. Design A vessel’s design starts with a specification, which a naval architect uses to create a project outline, assess required dimensions, and create a basic layout of spaces and a rough displacement. After this initial rough draft, the architect can create an initial hull design, a general profile and an initial overview of the ship’s propulsion. At this stage, the designer can iterate on the ship’s design, adding detail and refining the design at each stage. As environmental laws are strictening, ship designers need to create their design in such a way that the ship -when it nears its end-of-term- can be disassmbledor disposed easily and that waste is reduced to a minimum. Construction[edit] Ship construction takes place in a shipyard, and can last from a few months for a unit produced in series, to several years to reconstruct a wooden boat, to more than 10 years for an aircraft carrier Generally, construction starts with the hull, and on vessels over about 30 meters (98 ft), by the laying of the keel. This is done in a drydock or on land. Once the hull is assembled and painted, it is launched. The last stages, such as raising the superstructure and adding equipment and accommodation, can be done after the vessel is afloat. Once completed, the vessel is delivered to the customer. Ship launching is often a ceremony of some significance, and is usually when the vessel is formally named. Repair and conversion Ships undergo nearly constant maintenance during their career, whether they be underway, pierside, or in some cases, in periods of reduced operating status between charters or shipping seasons. Vessels that sustain major damage at sea may be repaired at a facility equipped for major repairs, such as a shipyard. Ships may also be converted for a new purpose: oil tankers are often converted into floating production storage and offloading units. End of service Most ocean-going cargo ships have a life expectancy of between 20 and 30 years. A sailboat made of plywood or fiberglass can last between 30 and 40 years. Solid wooden ships can last much longer but require regular maintenance. Carefully maintained steel-hulled yachts can have a lifespan of over 100 years. As ships age, forces such as corrosion, osmosis, and rotting compromise hull strength, and a vessel becomes too dangerous to sail. At this point, it can bescuttled at sea or scrapped by shipbreakers. Ships can also be used as museum ships, or expended to construct breakwaters or artificial reefs. Many ships do not make it to the scrapyard, and are lost in fires, collisions, grounding, or sinking at sea. There are more than 3 million shipwrecks on the ocean floor, the United Nations estimates. Buoyancy A floating boat displaces its weight in water. The material of the boat hull may be denser than water, but if this is the case then it forms only the outer layer. If the boat floats, the mass of the boat (plus contents) as a whole divided by the volume below the waterline is equal to the density of water (1 kg/l). If weight is added to the boat, the volume below the waterline will increase to keep the weight balance equal, and so the boat sinks a little to compensate.

Significance and Limitations of the Royal Prerogative Essay

Significance and Limitations of the Royal Prerogative - Essay Example In the 1700s, debates regarding the extent of the Royal Prerogative powers ensued.   This was further aggravated by the execution of one King and the expulsion of Charles I in 1649 and James II in 1688.   Discussions on the issue culminated with the passing of the 1689 Bill of Rights, which considered the use, and abuse of certain specific royal prerogatives as unlawful.   It was concluded that most of the prerogative powers may be exercised only upon the advice of ministers, and although the Monarch retained certain powers which can be exercised independently such as the power of appointment and removal of ministers and ministries, the royal power found it difficult to freely exercise its prerogatives, especially if it is in contravention of the advice of the Parliament. The following are some of the powers vested under the Royal Prerogative:   (1) Calling for and dissolving of the parliament, calling of elections; (2) Giving of royal assent to legislation; (3) Preparing plans to confer benefits to citizens; (4) Granting of clemency, pardoning of convicts, or reducing penalties thereof; (5) Entering into treaties, declaring war and making peace, controlling the issuance of passports and preventing foreigners from entering the country; (6) Controlling, organizing and disposing of the armed forces; (7) Appointing of judicial officers, ministers, and other public officers; (8) Procuring of ships; (9) Printing of authorized versions of the Holy Bible. The royal prerogative to establish and enter into diplomatic relations with other countries or states played a significant role in the formation of a strategic alliance that has been an important factor in international relations.   The wisdom of determining whether or not the country should befriend another country, and which country or countries it should be, is properly laid on the Crown/Monarch.   The latter is in a better position to evaluate the conduct of relations with other jurisdictions.   The long process of debates and arguments in the Parliament is considered unnecessary as it involves a purely executive function.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also, since it is the Crown/Monarch who personally engages himself in these functions, it is but proper that such power be exercised by him, to the exclusion of the Parliament.

Marketing Mix and Product Life Cycle Coursework

Marketing Mix and Product Life Cycle - Coursework Example From this discussion it is clear that the pasteurized goat milk exhibits superior market mix characteristics. First, the product meets consumers’ needs. American homesteads need dairy products with low saturated fat, high calcium content and less allergies on their children; goat milk satisfy all these consumer demands. Secondly, dairy shops and local convenience stores are ideal places where consumers can purchase pasteurized goat milk. With respect to price, a liter of pasteurized goal milk retail at $3.75; hence the product is fairy affordable. In reaching consumers of all ages, social media platforms like Facebook is the main tool for promotion and advertising of the goat milk product. Technically, the product exhibits a strong market mix profile.This study discusses that  the market mix elements of product quality, pricing, promotion, and sales place offers an excellent and effective influence on marketing status of the pasteurized goat milk. Therefore, affordable prici ng, sales at local convenience stores, and promotion through social media channels will remain as the main marketing strategy for the product. However, specific adjustments need to be made, particularly on aspects of people and marketing process. A preferable niche market for the pasteurized goat milk comprise of mostly parents and the elderly. Unfortunately, most parents and elderly citizens are not active on marketing platforms like social network sites.

Middle range or grand theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Middle range or grand theory - Essay Example As a result of this, a situation referred to as self-care deficit results for patients receiving care. Self-care deficit has been explained as a situation where a patient is unable to meet their self-care requites (Register and Herman, 2006). As explained already this situation occurs because of the amount of time that care givers give to mental health patients, denying patients the need to give themselves care. Meanwhile, Dorothea Orem developed and introduced the self-care deficit nursing theory as a form of middle range nursing theory to help nurses tackle such situations as described above (Good, 2008). Because self-care deficit nursing theory is a form of middle range nursing theory, it would be said that middle range theory will be most applicable to the author’s area of nursing practice. In the application of middle range theory however, there are a number of assumptions that are used to underpin the implementation of the theory. The central philosophy or assumption based on which the theory works is that all patients wish to care for themselves (Register and Herman, 2006). This means that patients are presented with better opportunities of recovery if they are allowed to perform their own self-care. Based on this assumption, it is expected that instead of psychiatric nurses doing everything for patients, they should make room for patients to try their hands on basic tasks. Th is can help in making the whole healthcare process

Homework Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Homework - Term Paper Example Nevertheless world is going to need alternative energy sources sooner or later because of this reason the America has started a war against Iraq in the name of uprooting global terrorism. But in reality America wanted to get its hands of Iraqi oil fields. On the other hand US have indulged itself with a useless military confrontation in Afghanistan so that it can get near to the hot waters of Pakistan. The American nation is getting ready to fight a future war that will be fought on the water disputes. The western nations are increasingly concerned about the futuristic outlook of the world regarding energy production while under developed nations are not bothered by the griming condition of world’s most significant oil producing nations such as Saudi Arabia. Furthermore an interesting note has been shared by a research which conveyed that humanity is wasting two barrels of oil in order to extract a new one. The above mentioned statement pointed out to the fact that oil extract ion and refinement systems are not efficient because they are presently consuming more oil than their production, this is causing the net availability of oil products to decrease on a worldwide basis. Moreover oil producing companies are reportedly believed to have been involved in hindering the development of alternative energy sources because these projects can cut down oil producers’ margin for good. The supporters of alternative energy are considering battery power as a bailout for energy crisis of the world. Some of the pranks say that wind energy can save the world from acute lack of energy sources. But the problem is that all of the ideas are innovative but impractical at this time because they need financial muscle to prove their applicability on the vast scale. Yet the world’s oil supplies are going down this is a given and in the few years world will turn to renewable energy sources. Meanwhile the countries should enhance the efficiency of oil extracting and refinement processes in order to minimize the wastage of oil while it is being produced. In addition The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ ability to form an oligopoly should be minimized with the help of implementing stricter trade and commerce laws on oil business. The global oil regularity authorities are suggested to conduct an impartial assessment of current level of oil left in the earth. The oil producing corporations are also known to expedite oil extraction projects without the consent of surrounding population which causes a huge population displacement. These oil extraction processes are also notorious for causing immeasurable pollution and weakening the structural integrity of the ground that makes it prone towards experiencing seismic activities such as earthquakes of higher magnitude. The global political scenario is also playing a significant role in terms of not letting the alternative energy projects to propagate freely. But, they are advised to support these alternative energy ventures because they may represent humanity’s only chance against serious power shortage in the future. Finally if humanity fails to fight the threat of oil shortage then humans have to revert towards simpler existence that may include the use of horses as transportation mean and wood would be used to generate heat and cook food. Literature Review In the view of Dresselhaus & Thomson, (2001) world needs the alternative

The applied significance of teambuilding Research Paper

The applied significance of teambuilding - Research Paper Example The paper tells that the new century has offered a myriad of challenges to managers from all over the world. The impact of globalization and the technological advances that have basically shaped the way businesses are conducted are very real and pressing concerns for business today. Moreover, these developments have paved the way for the emergence of a new breed of workers. These people have been able to almost literally transcend time and space since they are basically prized for their intellectual capabilities and special technical skills. These people are known as knowledge workers. It is very important that managers recognize the existence of these knowledge workers and be able to utilize them to their full potential. Moreover, with the many challenges hounding companies today, teams have been very much relied upon in order to be able to get thru difficult challenges as well as to succeed in many endeavours. However, it is very important for the teams to be composed properly and be able to choose the members well. Furthermore, it is important to have a clear definition and be able to set the expectations of team members as well. Hence, it is very crucial also to be able to set the roles of each team members so that they may work harmoniously towards the achievements of the predetermined goals and objectives. Clearly, these are people that are central to the team building process. Thus, as the functional area primarily concerned with manpower, the human resources department must play a central role in the team building efforts of companies. This will ensure the proper implementation of necessary guidelines so that the team building process will be successful. Hence, Hackman (1993) has put forward excellent examples in order to get these things done whereby the flight trainings that involve flight crews have different functions interdependent in order to bring the group’s goal into fruition. Timing events and the various developments are also necessary . In building teams, it is also important for the members to have a clear understanding when to step up and take the helm for the group. It is important for the different members to take turns at the spotlight and indeed the team members must be ready when the time comes for them to be the one to move forward for the sake of the team (Gersick, 1988). Teambuilding There have been many challenges affecting businesses today among which are the pressing forces of globalization and technological innovations that have enabled companies to utilize various automation processes in place of manual labor. However, despite the many changes that has strongly shaped and continuously form the business landscape, manpower has continuously been the force that companies have continuously relied upon. Though there are automation options, certain processes still require human touch in order to be able to get things done. Consequently, these automation processes usually lessens the labor employed but th ese machines still require human elements to make them function. Thus, manpower continues to be a key enabler for companies to go about their businesses and be able to bring about the realization of their strategies and to bring into fruition the target successes that are being talked about in the boardrooms. Hence, there is the all too important learning and growth perspective in the Balanced Scorecard (BSC). The BSC has four perspectives namely the financial perspective, customer perspective, internal business process perspective and the aforementioned learning and growth perspective. In its most basic sense, the strategic activities illustrated in the BSC seem to have its roots from the learning and growth perspective. Of course there are variations to the model but still, the learning and growth illustrates the need to capture the all too important elements of a company’s manpower which continues to be a crucial enabler in the success of a company’

Compare and contrast Stopping by woods on a snowny evening & The Road Essay

Compare and contrast Stopping by woods on a snowny evening & The Road Not Taken - Essay Example The woods, although beautiful and serene, represent a dark and lonely place away from society and responsibilities. This isolation is tempting and seems to offer peace and quiet but is something no one would want or advise. For example, even the owner of these woods is away in his village on this â€Å"darkest evening of the year† (8). The village symbolizes society and civilization and is separate from this lonely, isolated spot so that even the owner won’t know that this visitor was here. In â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the narrator comes across a fork in the road and is presented with two choices. Both are seemingly the same and there is no sure way to choose the right one, â€Å"the passing there/ Had worn them really about the same† (9-10). What matters most is that a choice has to be made. The narrator does, however, spend a lot of time judging his decision (Fagan 295). For example, he looks down one path and analyzes it as best he can, â€Å"long I stood /And looked down one as far as I could/ To where it bent in the undergrowth† (3-5). Also, the narrator realizes that any choice he makes will lead him to other choices and he won’t be able to come back to the first one. In both poems, Frost uses nature imagery to symbolize the journey of life. For example, in â€Å"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening†, the woods represent a place and choice away from society, free from any obligations. Similarly, in the â€Å"The Road Not Taken†, the two paths in the woods are symbolic of life’s critical choices and decisions that one has to make (Fagan 295). Also, the imagery of grass represents the people that have already traveled down that particular path. Both poems also allude to the fact that both narrators have a long way to go and that their journey does not stop at these woods or cross roads of life. For example, in â€Å"The Road

Major Events during World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Major Events during World War II - Essay Example Rising to power by Adolf Hitler in the year 1933 reestablished the German army and prepared it well to participate in a war of invasion. Events took place during the World War II. Prior to the real war, growing of tension took about three years, which include the union of Germany and Austria, incursion of Czechoslovakia and Spanish Civil war. The result was the invasion of Poland by German army; war on Germany was declared just two days after the German attack on Poland by Britain and France. United States played a role in supplying Britain with war weapons but they did not take part in it (Alleman). Tripartite Pact Tripartite Pact was created and signed between Germany, Italy and Japan in 1940 with an aim of fostering peace among themselves and the entire world. The threes governments believed that in fostering peace, they would maintain a systematic way of doing things, promote partnership and prosperity among its people. In addition, it is the mandate of the three countries to col laborate with other countries in the globe. These countries in agreement, both recognize and respect the leadership of each country so that they could create new order of things in Europe and Middle Asia (Robinson). They also confirmed that their agreement had no impact on the political status that existed then between the constricting authorities and soviet Russia. The three countries agreed that the validity of the pact was to take effect immediately it was signed and was to last for ten years from the day of signing. Renewal of the pact would depend on negotiations between any of the countries and high constricting authorities. The Lend-Lease Act Lend-Lease Act was a United States Federal Government plan during World War II which was passed on March 11 1941. President Roosevelt authorized the act. United States provided this service with the aim of defending its country from external attacks as well as for economic benefits. This act provided United States with the ability to sup ply war materials and other resources to associated nations while it acted on neutral grounds (Kellogg p.330). The act was based on cash and carry grounds as a result of mutual understanding as a result of weak economic power of England which was unable to purchase and provide transport means for the materials which came to an end in 1945. Attack of Pearl Harbor Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor on the 7th day of December 1941which was the base of about 50000 American military; highest concentration of United States army was. Japanese carriers and ships that escorted the carriers positioned themselves some miles away from the target area and instigated its first group of fighters, bombers, and war planes. Their main aim was to destroy the U.S fleets; the battle ships, carriers and the aircraft (Gropman p.11). Many U.S soldiers were killed, the Pacific fleet of the U.S was damaged although temporarily, which was a success to the Japanese. It was out of this that United States of America affirmed war on Japan (Robinson). Battle of the Coral Sea In May 1942, battle of the Coral Sea was experienced. It was battled in the waters and was the first among the six pacific wars, which was between conflicting aircraft transporter military. The battle was as a result of the Japanese

A Passage to India Essay Example for Free

A Passage to India Essay In E. M. Forsters A Passage to India, identities and the labels placed on identities create a vicious environment in which little can be achieved. The English colonists and their Indian subjects are on polar sides of the struggle. The Indians acknowledge that labels are subject to limitation and can blind one to critical differences. The English, however, insist on assigning a label to all components of their lives. A tiny and unidentifiable green bird symbolizes this struggle between these two groups, as they are embroiled in the muddle of India. The indeterminate green bird hints at the irreconcilability of the two cultures. Indias mystery, just as the birds, cannot be explained when approached from two wholly different methodologies. Miss Adela Quested and Ronny Heaslop argue over the green bird, and in doing so, illustrate how the English handle identity. Foremost, it is imperative to the two that they identify what kind of bird it is. Forster admits that although the bird was of no importance, (91) the two, and therefore the English whom they represent, feel a need to assign a name to the bird. His narration is certain that identifying the bird would somehow have solaced their hearts. (91) Critically, the two have just agreed to call off the wedding plans for which Adela had journeyed to India. The two ex-lovers are surprisingly mechanical when discussing this new course of action. The two agree that had they quarreled (90) about this change of plans, it would have been too absurd. (90) Emotions do not seem to hold an important part in English interpersonal relationships. Adela describes their apparent detachment as being awfully British. (90) In fact, although Ronny felt angry and bruised (90) by his dismissal, he refuses to show his pain because of pride, furthering the message of English emotional detachment. From a modern perspective, if Ronny loves Adela deeply, it would be unthinkable that he could let his pride keep him from pursuing her. Instead of addressing their emotional problems, the two pursue the green bird and try to force it to have some degree of English order. The small green bird symbolizes India; it defies English labeling, it is constantly changing and it is far more complex than a single name could communicate. Adela does her best to describe the bird by noting its physical characteristics and location. She hopes that Ronny can explain this bird to her once he knows that it is green and in the tree above them. Similarly, Adela hopes she will understand India once Aziz lists a few characteristics. Yet, she is unable to determine between fact and opinion as she accepted everything Aziz said as verbally true. (76) Just as Ronny is unable to name the bird, Aziz will be unable to explain India. Adela makes the mistake that a label will suffice to create understanding. However, nothing in India is identifiable (91) and by asking the very question Adela has already started a ripple that will cavitate through picture which she asks to see. For example, one cannot study water in any detail without placing oneself into the water. However, by entering the water, one will have created a ripple and the water has forever changed. It is an unreasonable hope to observe an experiene without concurrently changing or interacting with it. Studying birds is much the same; one cannot study the bird if it is unaccustomed to ones presence and while one appears foreign to the environment the bird will not act as it would naturally. Therefore, as long as the English neither assimilate into their environment nor attempt any reconciliation with it, they will be unable to appreciate it. Ronny Heaslop is unable to visualize the problem he faces; he does not begin to imagine that his presence in an environment changes it and therefore requires some adjustment on his own part. An example of this problem is when Ronny encroaches Fieldings luncheon and is rude to the Indian guests. While it is possible to imagine the guests might normally ignore such behavior and assume it was merely English, for the past few hours they have been attending an unconventional party (71) in which they were treated as equals and with respect by all parties. Yet Ronny brings the party back to the reality where [s]uch affabilitiy is seldom seen. (77) When Ronny deals with Indians as private individuals he [forgets] them. (81) As Fielding finally confronts Ronny with the results of his actions, Ronny responds, Well its nothing Ive said I never even spoke to [Aziz. ] (83) He is completely unaware that ignoring Aziz is exactly what has infuriated him. Ronny ignores Aziz because he has labeled him. In the standard English colonists mind there are three types of people in India. There are the British, the Indians in professional environments and the natives. To the colonists, only the first group requires any acknowledgement otherwise Ronny would obviously have greeted Aziz or Godbole. The last and overwhelmingly largest group includes everyone who does not come under the first two headings. The natives are unworthy of respect, should not be trusted and certainly are not gentlemen. As Aziz is therefore unworthy of respect, in Ronnys mind, Ronny simply could not be rude to him. It is physically impossible to offend a native. In Ronnys logic, if he were told he had been rude to one of the British he would be ashamed and apologetic; with regard to Indians, he simply does not see his transgressions. In the same capacity, because he is British he is unable to vary in his treatment of Indians; the man who doesnt tow the line is lost. (190) The English do not understand there is a problem with the way the two cultures interact. From the English perspective, the natives are brutish and almost worthless. From the Indian perspective, the English are rude and unaccommodating. It is unfortunate that the two groups cannot find a middle ground. Nevertheless, Forsters description of these troubled dealings is practically flawless. If the English and the Indians are able to find a common ground and communicate with each other, it is likely that the two cultures could co-exist in Forsters world. The green bird will remain indecipherable to the English and Indian to the Indians. India requires the acceptance and embracing of variation; when the English realize this, their interaction will improve, not before. Works Cited: Forster, E. M.. A Passage to India. New York: Harcourt Brace Company, 1989.

The Taboo Subject Of Death

The Taboo Subject Of Death The Oxford English Dictionary defines Taboo as being a social or religious custom placing a ban or restriction on a particular thing or topic. The Adjective added to that definition was banned or restricted by social custom ( Oxford University Press 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006). For many people, death is a taboo subject in spite of the fact that it is of universal concern, but is this statement necessarily true across cultures and countries? This essay will explore both the topical statement and the question. We will look at death from a brief historical context and how, if at all, the passage of time has altered the perception and the acceptance of death. We will take a look at two research studies undertaken in the United Kingdom and in the United States and then look at New Zealands diverse multi cultural society. Does a different cultural perspective of death change when absorbed into a western culture? We will also show that whilst death is still a taboo subject in some cultures, i t is more the inability of people to be comfortable in dealing with the terminally ill and our awkwardness in accepting that death is the inevitable end to our physical life as we know it. Coupled with this, is the fear of the great unknown and these three factors combine to contribute to our unwillingness to talk about of death, rather than death being a taboo subject per say. The fact is, is that we just dont know how. Space is often described as the final frontier. But could death be defined within the same context? Often, the subject of death is easier to discuss in general terms rather than on a personal level. Some of the factors that may give reason to this are as follows: Death in the media may often be portrayed as being violent, traumatic or speedy. This image usually involves some disaster or trauma in order to become newsworthy. In contrast, most real-life deaths are usually un-newsworthy, but this may lead to the developing of a stereotyped view of death that relates to the media image, rather than reality. Today death is not usually encountered on a personal level as frequently as history portrays, or in some other cultures outside of our western world. Science has reduced the incidence of infant mortality and there is a greater perception that technology will also prolong our life as well. There is a reduction in the spiritual belief of an afterlife. Death may now be seen as a final event and hence, becomes a more difficult subject to discuss. Families now tend to be separated and there are not the same support systems as in the past. Different bereavements and factors can affect a persons acceptance. Denial protects the individual from the initial impact of the loss. Not just the individual, but whole groups and societies deny. From a historical perspective, one can begin to see how patterns of Denial within societies changes over time and influences the present. * Lendrum, S. Syme, G. Gift of Tears, (second edition, 2004). During the period of the great Roman Empire, death was common place and more often than not, a public spectacle. The question was not of when they would die; it was more one of how. Would it be through natural causes, or, if their crime was worthy of such a death, crucifixion or rotting in some Roman dungeon. Maybe they would be promoted to the position of Gladiator. At least then they would only have to face war chariots, lions, or the choice of a blood thirsty crowd if they survived at all. And the Roman Legion was not much better. In Medieval times, death was perceived as a much greater presence than in todays societies. Not surprisingly, life expectancy was about half of that today. People had to be prepared to face death. And death was more likely to be violent, cruel and extremely painful. *Lendrum, S. Syme, G. Gift of Tears, (second edition, 2004). Death was unpredictable and uncontrollable. People had to live with a greater awareness of death around them and of their own mortality. There was always the constant reminder of death in the midst of life. One could not deny the existence of death and were forced to be more prepared to meet their deaths than today. In the last century death crossed over two distinct boundaries. With the occurrence of World Wars 1 2, Vietnam, Korea, China, Afghanistan and China, you had the violent deaths of both combatants and civilians alike. Civilians had to try and carry on with their lives as best they could and at the same time, knowing that this day could be their last. And for those left at home, it wasnt overly better. Not that they were openly threatened with death, but had, to a certain extent, live with a living death. trying to live a reasonably normal life, yet constantly living in the fear of whether or not their loved one would return. Admittedly, death within the context of the above is portrayed in somewhat violent and uncertain terms but throughout, there are three poignant observations that arise: 1/ There are those that live with death face to face on a daily basis. 2/ There are those that live in a somewhat removed position from the turmoil of what is happening. Not isolated but knowing that at some stage they will have to face reality. 3/ Death is something that we will all face head on. The question is, do we acknowledge our mortality and learn to be open about it, or do we hide from the reality and repress our innermost fears? In their book Awareness of dying, Glaser and Strauss (2005), researched the average Americans attitude to death and dying. One key point that they found was the strangely paradoxical attitude that revealed itself. Whilst Americans were seemingly able to accept that death was an everyday affair in that on a daily basis, newspapers confronted the brutal fact of death directly (from front page headlines to back page funeral notices, someone was always dying somewhere), they generally seemed to prefer to talk about a particular death rather than about death in the abstract. Characteristically, Americans are unwilling to talk openly about the process of dying itself and also prone to not telling a dying person that they are dying. This, in part, is a moral attitude life is preferable to whatever may follow it. One should not look forward to death. Feifel, H. Death, (as cited in Farberow, N.L., 1963). Social and Psychological problems involved in terminality are perhaps most acute when the dying person knows that they are dying. For this reason, Physicians in America are quite reluctant to disclose impending death to their patients. Fieifel, H. Death, (1961, p 17). The problem of awareness is crucial as to what happens both to the dying patient and to the people who give medical and nursing care, as well as those supporting the patient. Whilst one view of awareness is a technical one: should the patient be told they are dying and what is to be done if they dont know or only suspect, there is also a moral one involving professional ethics, social issues, and personal values. Should a dying person be denied the opportunity to make peace with their conscience and with their God, and to settle their affairs and provide for the future of their family? Do they have the right to control their style of dying, much as they controlled their style of living? Does anyone have the right to withhold such information? Fulton, R. Death and Self, (July 1964) In their article titled Dying Conversation Death remains a taboo subject among Brits (25th Sept. 2002), Norwich Union wrote the following: Death is a taboo subject when it comes to conversation. The topic is the most avoided conversation item for around 1 in 5 people nationwide. Women feel more at ease discussing the subject than men. Research also revealed that: .Death is seen as less of a taboo by the youngest (16 24) and oldest (65+), than all other age groups, while religion was the biggest conversational taboo among the 30 something group. .Both death and sex are considered equally taboo subjects by woman. .Death is seen as the biggest taboo by 24% of Londoners far more than anywhere else in Britain. .People in the Northwest are the most likely to openly discuss death only 12% of people asked described death as the biggest taboo. Forty eight percent of people questioned also said that they were treated differently by others after their friend or loved one died and nearly 54% said advice on how to support someone who has suffered bereavement would be useful. Research showed that 2 out of every 3 people in the UK have lost either a close family member or a friend in the last 3 years yet as a nation, we still find it extremely difficult to discuss death and to cope with bereavement. Does culture have any direct influence on how people handle death? In many cultures, there are taboos surrounding death do not touch a dead body least you inherit the disease; do not cremate the body as then the spirit will not rest and will return to persecute (the family). But are these taboos about openly discussing death or merely cultural beliefs as to how to treat the deceased. And what happens to such culture when absorbed into another, larger culture? Such is the case within New Zealand where the country boosts one of the highest cross cultural populations in the western world. For example and from a Maori perspective, serious illness, dying, death and grieving are among the most sacred and important in Maori life. Sanctity (tapu), Ceremony (kawa) and Language (reo), are intertwined in all of Maori life and traditions, and held in the highest regard. Unity, harmony and balance are central to their culture and are maintained through the systems of customary practices and the law of Tapu. For the Maori, serious illness or the process for a terminally ill person is very much a living, family (Whanau) affair. Relatives and friends gather daily beside the patient, either at home or at the hospital, each providing spiritual, moral, emotional and physical support for the patient and for the family. The interests of the patient and family are of paramount concern. Karakia (prayers and incantations) are an integral part and often both traditional Maori and modern Christian believes are combined and whilst traditional healing practices are still practiced, acknowledgement is given for the place and role of scientific medicine. Without great expansion on Maori culture and even given the current cultural climate, Maori traditions and practices continue to be an integral part of Maori life and will undoubtedly continue to be so. It is, perhaps, one of the truly sacred and time honoured cultures that have withstood the test of time in what is basically, a strong western culture. Maori do not appear to have any taboos when it comes to the overall aspect of sickness and Death. In fact, they seem to embrace and encompass it within their Tapu and Kawa. Keene, L. A race nearly lost, (1989, June). Ngata, N.P. Death, dying and grief: a Maori perspective, (1986). Other cultural groups within New Zealand have very similar views and practices in their attitude towards death and dying. In the case of either serious illness and/or in dealing with the terminally ill, it is very much a strong family time with both practical and spiritual/moral support being on constant avail. Of one major exception is that of the Niueans. For them, death is regarded as taboo. Discussion of death amongst themselves or with the dying is forbidden unless the dying raises their impending death. However though, within the same context, the family and friends of the dying/seriously ill person will maintain a constant bedside vidual. People have always grappled with the meaning of death. This was probably mitigated during the Middle Ages by a belief in an afterlife a belief that death was not the end and that the soul moved to another place. Christianity and other faiths expand on this belief. This discomfort about death has lead to shame and embarrassment and an avoidance of talking or writing about death. Euphemisms are often used, especially when talking to children. Such euphemisms as: Snuffed it; Kicked the bucket; Passed away/on; Pushing up daisies; all serve to distance ourselves from the effects of death. We experience great uncomfortableness in attempting to talk to the terminally ill, even if they are family. Out of shear awkwardness, we may say nothing at all and in doing so deprive both ourselves and the dying person of physical touch, words of comfort, and the recognition and emotional connectedness that we all desire. The very words and the valuable proof of our affection and tenderness go unsaid. Hockey, J. (1990, as cited in Lendrum, S. Syme, G., 2004). Freud et al, (as cited in Lendrum, S. Syme, G. 2004), pointed out the connection between the fear of death and the feeling of guilt. Putting into a simple example, Adam and Eve were immortal in Paradise but once they had sinned, became mortal and were condemned to die. That death was punishment for evil committed. The notion that death is a punishment could be used as a way of trying to make sense of death. This same notion could also have contributed to our fear of death and in turn, our guilt. Guilt is a strong emotion that is almost always experienced both by the dying and by those who survive. Not only are the feelings of if only I had.., I only wish that I .., experienced, but even in death, the deceased can be tainted with guilt by those who can find no better way of dealing with their own guilt and fears..Aids is caused by promiscuity..serves them right! An awareness of this might allow us to understand the value of confession and forgiveness. As a personal comment, I have experienced more than 15 deaths in my 53 years of life. These include both of my birth Parents (I was adopted at birth), My Parents, My first real girlfriend (as a result of a plane crash), and numerous motor vehicle accidents involving death where I just happened to be first on the scene. In particular, I recall the deaths of my Father and Mother. My Father died as a result of lung cancer, at home in 1968. I was 12 years old. Throughout the period of 8 months including major lung surgery, my Mother never once said anything to myself or my brother about Dads impending death. In fact we didnt really comprehend it until the day that Dad wasnt at home anymore and the house was totally silent. My mother died from cancer in a Hospice at Lower Hutt. I was 34 and in my first marriage. Mum had been living with my then wife and me for 6 months prior and when she finally died, I wasnt even present. I had struggled to talk to her or even my wife of her death and took solace in alcohol big time. In conclusion, throughout the research of this topic I have found that there are certainly some situations and circumstances in which the subject of death is taboo. However, I am personally of the belief that it is not that the subject is taboo per say; it is more the case of that we just dont know how to speak of, let alone handle death. Society is slowly changing in both the dialogue of, and the acceptance of death on deaths terms, but in saying that, I firmly believe that we, as New Zealand Europeans, can learn a lot from the vast array of other cultures within our country. The question is..Do we want to

Self StudyBasics of Education :: essays papers

Self StudyBasics of Education Chemistry is not my favorite subject. I think it seems funny to have a minor in chemistry when I don't even like chemistry, but it was sort of a package deal when I decided my biological science major. It not that I despise or hate chemistry, it's just that I have a ingrained fear of it. Chemistry is the only class that I've failed. I've never failed any class up until I failed my inorganic class my sophomore year. That class was unbearable and I really believe that it was partially the instructor's fault. She taught us one thing and we where tested over something else, she never showed up to her office hours, and when we had scheduled review sessions, she told the class that she would not go over the old material. She believe that she had already taught it once and that if we had questions we should look back in our notes and read our book. Besides she was foreign and had quite a thick Eastern European accent and she could be hard to understand. It seemed the more I studied th e worse I did on tests and quizzes so by the end of the semester I gave up because it was hopeless. I would of had to get over %100 on my final to even come close to passing. At the end of the semester I found out that almost half of the class failed. I think that says something when there is that many students failing a class. It has been three semesters since I took that class. I took one semester off from chemistry, and then retook that inorganic class this previous semester. Now I am back on tract and on my next phase of chemistry, "The Deep Fried World of Organic Chemistry". The first day of class was a real eye opener. "Organic Chemistry 251 is the biggest class I have ever been in! I'm guessing that there is about 400 people in this class. It would make sense that there would be this many people since this is the only one lecture time of 251 this semester. I had a hard time finding a seat. The seating capacity for this lecture hall is 438 people, and I think it almost at that capacity.

Booker T Washington Essay example -- essays research papers

Booker T Washington was one of the best advocates in his time. Growing up in slavery and out coming the horrifying struggles of the 1870’s was a great effort. Born in the era were black people were like flies he found a determination to succeed and discovered many powers in life. Washington childhood was one of privation, poverty, slavery, and backbreaking work. Born in 1856, he was from birth the property of James Burroughs of Virginia. He didn’t know his father but his mother Jane raised him and put him to work as soon as possible. Washington received no Education because it was illegal for him to receive an education. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but it could not be enforced until the end of The Civil War in 1865. Washington’s stepfather was very fortunate because he found work packing salt in Malden. Jane moved to join her husband in Malden. The nine year old spent exhausting days packing salt. Like many blacks being free Washington wanted an education. When he was 16 he decided he wanted to go to Hampton Institute. He didn’t know if he was going to excepted and if he did were he would get the money to pay.. Hungry he arrived at the doorsteps of Hampton. Hampton Institute became a big influence to Washington’s life. Armstrong, the founder of Hampton, believed in work, study, hygiene, morality, self-discipline, and self-reliance. His purpose was to train black teachers, but every student should have a trade was well. Washington’s trade was being a janit... Booker T Washington Essay example -- essays research papers Booker T Washington was one of the best advocates in his time. Growing up in slavery and out coming the horrifying struggles of the 1870’s was a great effort. Born in the era were black people were like flies he found a determination to succeed and discovered many powers in life. Washington childhood was one of privation, poverty, slavery, and backbreaking work. Born in 1856, he was from birth the property of James Burroughs of Virginia. He didn’t know his father but his mother Jane raised him and put him to work as soon as possible. Washington received no Education because it was illegal for him to receive an education. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, but it could not be enforced until the end of The Civil War in 1865. Washington’s stepfather was very fortunate because he found work packing salt in Malden. Jane moved to join her husband in Malden. The nine year old spent exhausting days packing salt. Like many blacks being free Washington wanted an education. When he was 16 he decided he wanted to go to Hampton Institute. He didn’t know if he was going to excepted and if he did were he would get the money to pay.. Hungry he arrived at the doorsteps of Hampton. Hampton Institute became a big influence to Washington’s life. Armstrong, the founder of Hampton, believed in work, study, hygiene, morality, self-discipline, and self-reliance. His purpose was to train black teachers, but every student should have a trade was well. Washington’s trade was being a janit...

Why Do Managers Prefer to Pay Dividend in Cash? Essay -- Business, Sto

The study makes use of the financial data on Pakistani listed firms for 2001-2008 to look at the objective behind distribution of cash dividends. Based on the analysis it is found that poorly performing firms listed on Karachi Stock Market (KSE) having larger portion of non-tradable shares pay cash dividends. Because the holders of non-tradable shares (directors and block-holders) do not/cannot realize capital gains from positive change in the price of their holdings. The study finds that cash dividend distribution behavior of the poorly-performing firms is subjected to what the directors and block-holders prefer. The result advocates the findings of Faccio, Lang and Young (2006), Chen, Fung and Leung (2007) regarding cash channeling hypothesis. Key words: non-tradable shares; cash dividends; cash channeling hypothesis 1. Introduction Dividend policy for a firm means whether to pay or not pay; whether to pay in cash, in stocks or both in cash and stocks and how frequently to pay. Why do firms distribute cash dividends when they observe a decline in their earnings? Why not stock repurchases? Why not stock dividend? To look at this research issue, the research will evaluate the cash dividend distribution behavior of firms in light of different ownership structures having trading restrictions. KSE is a developing market of the region with not a sound regulatory framework. There is a shortage of managerial talent in the firms listed on the market. So it is reasonable to say that as compare to firms listed on the developed markets of United States and Europe, the firms listed on KSE do not observe good corporate governance practices generally. Louis Cheng, Fung Leung (2004). Moreover, to protect shareholder... ...ent variables i.e., Director Ownership, Financial institutions ownership, Block-holders’ ownership to examine the relation with the dependent variable which is Cash-Dividend-to-assets. But there are some other variables that also affect the cash dividend distribution behavior of a firm. To control for that effect the study include those variables in the model. The control variables are Debt-to-Assets, Free Cash Flow per Share, Free Cash Flow to Assets, Earning per Share, Size of the firm and Return on Assets. 4. Results and Discussion 4.1 Descriptive Statistics Table 4.1 provides summary statistics of Cash Dividend to Assets, Director Ownership, Financial institutions ownership, Block-holders ownership, Free Cash flow to Assets, Earnings per Share Debt-to-Assets ratio, Return on Assets and firm size (LnAssets) of the sampled firms for the period 2001 to 2008.

Ethics Munson’s 5 Ethical Theories Essay

Ethics is a branch if philosophy that deal with ideas about what is morally good and bad. Ethics act as tools, giving us guidance when we need to make important decisions in personal and professional situations. There are biblical inferences that can relate to most if not all situations that we come across in our daily lives. God will not put us in any situations that we cannot be triumphant in. If the Bible is an absolute in all of these theories, so is Jesus Christ. The first ethical theory is Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is the ethical theory that describes how the moral value or worth of an action is determined by how much benefit is gained from that action. It is measured by not only the amount of benefit gained but also the amount of people with benefits in the process. This theory hopes to provide guidance when choosing a course of action. Utilitarianism is divided into two groups based off of how they apply the theory. A Rule Utilitarian believes that the action is right if it results in happiness of great benefit (Munson, 2009). For example, the commandment, â€Å"thou shall not kill† is very straight forward and doesn’t leave room for interpretation. Someone who follows Rule Utilitarianism would strictly follow this rule by never committing murder or killing any living creature. An Act Utilitarian would decipher the commandment according to its greatest benefit. Act utilitarianism is the belief that an action is right if it is better than all of the other options as long as it yields the best results. In other words, there may be situations in which breaking the rules may be the best option. Breaking the commandment, â€Å" thou shall not kill† may seem wrong when looking at it from the surface, but if it is done to save the life’s of others it may yield the best result. The absolute that applies to Utilitarianism is the Bible. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, â€Å"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart; not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.† This theory is about the best benefit and focuses on the amount of benefit as well as the amount of people it benefits. In order to achieve this, the reason for giving cannot be selfishly or self- motivated. Immanuel Kant’s deontological theory is the complet ely opposite of Utilitarianism. Kantian Ethics believes that right and wrong are not depended on their consequences but on whether the duty or task at hand is fulfilled. Kant theory is also reliant on the view that humans, unlike any  other creature, have the capacity to rationalize. He believes that a person’s feelings and inclinations should not play any part in motivating a chosen action. This theory does not work well in the field of healthcare. Feelings and inclinations are a necessity when working with human beings. Healthcare workers are not reading step by step instructions as if they are putting a car together, but instead are caring for a patient whose case is different and patient specific. Patients cannot be treated like a checklist. Although this theory eliminated any of the categories under the Bible: commandments, guidelines, inferences, and convictions; completion is a big topic in the Bible. God completed the creation of the world in six days, and rested on the seventh. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day. In John 17:4, Jesus said to them, â€Å"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.† W.D. Ross believed that there was not one rule or principle that one must abide by. Instead he believed that we can progress through moral duties. Ross proposed that we have self-evident prima facie moral duties and that there are some things have intrinsic value (Ross, 2002). He believed we have the duty of fidelity or the duty to keep our promises, the duty of reparation or the duty to pay for harm done to others, the duty of gratitude or the duty to return favors, the duty of beneficence or the duty to maximize the good, and the duty of non-injury or the duty to refuse harm to others (Ross, 2002). For example, it is generally wrong to kill a person because it causes pain and is one of the 10 commandments. In order for it not to be wrong to kill, a person must have an overriding reason to do it such as saving the lives of others. Ross’s belief in overriding reason is very similar to that Act Utilitarianism. The Bible is an absolute in this theory as well. Ross puts emphasis on the duties we must uphold. The Bible lays out many duties given to Christians. One of the most popular lists is the Ten Commandments. Virtue Ethics is the approach that deemphasizes rules and duty, focusing on a person’s character (Munson, 2009). Character is an impor tant focus when choosing employees in the Healthcare field. I have worked in many healthcare areas and have worked with many people who truly were not in the field for the right reasons. Passion is a necessity when working with human beings. There are many workers who lack this characteristic and are simply in the field for monetary benefit. Although it may be impossible to completely rid the  healthcare field of â€Å"bad seeds,† providing an overflow of kindhearted, loving employees would definitely help. The Bible is an absolute in this ethical approach. Matthew 12:35 says, â€Å"The good person out of his good treasure bring forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.† As a Christian we must make sure we are living our lives in God’s image. We are walking billboards for Christ and need to make sure that we act accordingly. As a Christian, this walk will definitely be hard and there will be many temptations along the way but our character will help us to choose the right path. Care Ethics argues that some duties cannot be justified by theories of right, justice, and utility (Velasquez, 2002). Care ethics believe that the most important factor is the concrete relationship with a person or persons (Velasquez, 2002). This theory is very evident in the healthcare fiel d and I find this theory most appealing. I have worked in the healthcare field for most of my career and realize that it is my duty to take care of and provide for each patient I serve. Through experience, I also realize that there are certain patients that I have been drawn to, and that I feel closer to. At my last job, I worked on the spinal cord injury unit. Most of my patients were fully depended on what I did for them. The interaction could be awkward as I was performing tasks such as showers, bowel programs, and diaper changes. I felt it my duty to make them feel comfortable and to let them know that I care. For a lot of my patients, I was the only family they had. No one ever came to visit them so our conversation was something to look forward to. As I worked with a patient every day, special bonds were formed. We celebrated any and all progress made. Whether it is something as small as moving a pinky for the first time or taking a first step after, everything should be celebrated. Both Jesus Christ and the Bible are absolutes in this theory. This job has also taught me to be more appreciative of the things I do have. It has taught me to stop complaining about little things. Most of my patients lived regular lives just as I do, and in an instance it was taken away from them. Most people unknowingly take things for granted such as being able to walk, talk, brush your teeth, and clothe yourself. Instead, we feel that the things are owed to us and that we are deserving of these things. The Bible and Jesus Christ are definitely absolutes in this theory. We as Christians yearn for a strong, deeper relationship with God and the best way to attain this is by  studying the word of God daily. Proverbs 8:17 says, â€Å"I Love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.† References Holy Bible Kant, I. (1785) â€Å"First Section: Transition from the Common Rational Knowledge of Morals to the Philosophical.† Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals. Munson, R. (2009). Intervention and Reflection: Basic issues of bioethics (9th ed.). Ross, W.D., (2002). The Right and the Good. Edited, with an Introduction, by Philip Stratton- Lake. New York: Oxford University Press: rpt. of original 1930 edition. Velasquez, M.G., (2002). Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.

Death Penalty for the Mentally Insane

Mental illness is defined as â€Å"any various conditions characterized by impairment of an individual’s normal cognitive, emotional or behavioral functioning, and caused by social, psychological, biochemical, genetic or other factors, such as infection or head trauma† (Fiack). The mentally insane have a brain condition which directly effects wellbeing and actions. Mental insanity can be described as an incomplete development of the brain which can have an impact on conduct and social effectiveness.Congressman should not allow the death penalty on the mentally insane because giving the death penalty to the mentally insane is an abomination. Congressmen might consider issuing the death penalty to the mentally insane because all punishments should be equal no matter the individual, but the mentally insane are not always in control of their actions and they are not always in a stable condition in which they know what they are doing. A troubled history or childhood can prov ide a diminishing value (â€Å"Court†).Not all mentally insane are brought up in stable environments which could lead to rage and violence. The rage and violence cannot be controlled by the mentally insane patient because do to over exposure to abuse they rely on the rage and violence for self-defense. Over thirty percent of male and eighty percent of female mentally insane inmates have reported sexual or physical abuse (Fiack). A vast majority of the mentally insane have experienced some sort of abuse which may cause mixed emotions and instability.This instability causes the mentally to go crazy and take everything out on the nearest guardian they see and the mentally insane should not be penalized for being put into a state of craziness. The mentally insane receiving the death penalty is an abomination. All abominations have similar characteristics. Like crime in the United States, inflicting the death penalty on the mentally insane is a negative characteristic of the judic ial system. Every abomination has a consequence. Jail might be a consequence considering the severity of the offense, such as murder.America sells all types of guns and like enforcing the death penalty on the mentally insane, guns are fatal. Guns are the causes of many deaths and just like the death penalty, many lives are taken away from innocent and mentally insane civilians. Like gangs, the death penalty of the mentally insane affects everyone and is not community oriented. Gangs are a threat to everyone in a community and the death penalty is a threat to every citizen of the United States. Using the death penalty to kill the mentally insane is not for the community and ruins the closeness and bond a community shares among the children and adults.Smuggling in weapons, illegal narcotics and the use of drugs is a disgrace to the youths of America just like the use of the death penalty on the mentally insane. The death penalty is an abomination because in the last thirty years, more than sixty people with a mental illness have been executed (Fiack). Putting these mentally insane to rest because of an action they probably did not have control over is completely unnecessary and un-just. If Congressmen wish to punish a mentally insane person they could place them in an insane asylum to learn to control their anger and violence towards others.A consequence now exists because of all the insanity pleas within the last thirty years. The â€Å"M’Naughten Test† is now given to show if the defendant was unable to understand what he or she was doing and if there is a substantial lack of capacity to understand ones conduct (Fisanck). If the mentally insane patient can pass this test and the test clearly shows they had no control of their action and did not recognize the crime they were committing, giving them the death penalty would be unlawful. The court gave Darrell W.Ferguson the death penalty, an inmate with an apparent unclear thought process. The court s rejected the claim, not thoroughly considering mental health issues (â€Å"Court†). Although abominations are not community oriented, a group called â€Å"Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation† travels around North Carolina helping raise awareness and trying to gain support to get a bill passed against the death penalty of the mentally insane (â€Å"Murder†). The issue with bringing a mental illness case into court is the jury members do not always understand how the brain is affected by this disease.Jury members with a misunderstanding of mental illness cause the mentally insane to die on death row because they do not realize the challenges of raising a mentally insane child or grown adult nor what they are capable of without the patient even being aware of his actions. As a result, the jury tends to lean more towards a guilty verdict convicting the mentally insane before truly understanding how a diseased brain works. This process can be unfair to the victim and if the jury is not clear of the mental illness the defendant has.To solve such a problem, each individual should be informed of the exact mental illness present before the court is in session or should not be a part of the jury. Congressmen should not promote the death penalty of the mentally insane because the death penalty of the mentally insane will lead to public outcry and angered families, disassembly of moral value, and will aid in the first steps to the disintegration of human life and self-worth. Over thirty years ago John Hinckley shot Ronald Regan in the chest but was not given the death penalty because he plead insane (Vatz).Instead of giving him the ultimate punishment there is to offer he was sentenced to a mental hospital, which is what happens in most cases of the mentally insane. â€Å"In 2006, The American Bar Association passed a resolution calling for the exemption of those with serious mental illness from imposition and execution of the death penalty† (Fisanck). Congressmen should present a law to protect the mentally insane in death penalty situations. Works Cited â€Å"Court Reject Mental Health Claims Of Inmate Who Sought Death Penalty. † Mental Health Law Report. 66, June 2006.Gale Power Search. Web. 6 October 2011. Fiack, Shannon. Mental Illness and Criminal Behavior. Greenhaven Press, 2009. Gale Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 6 October 2011. Fisanck, Christina. Crime and Criminals. Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 6 October 2011. â€Å"Murder and Mental Illness: Group Supports Removing Death Penalty. † Wilson Daily Times. 11 May 2011. Gale Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 6 October 2011. Vatz, Richard E. â€Å"The Insanity Excuse and Retrograde Thinking. † USA Today. March 2011; 66-67. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 6 October 2011.

Micro and Nanotechnology Adoption by the Pharmaceutical Industry Essay

Micro and nanotechnology is starting to show promise in the pharmaceutical industry. The two key questions in this field are ‘what is nanotech’ and ‘aren’t all drugs nanotech – after all, they are in the nano size range’. These can be answered fairly simply; Nanotechnology is where the nano-size of a substance affects its activity – the size placing the substance at the interface between quantum and material effects. The classic example to demonstrate these effects is that of gold nanoparticles. Bulk gold is insoluble and metallic-yellow in colour. However, once the gold is formulated as a nanoparticle it is soluble and the size of the particle determines its colour – from bright blue to vivid red. Two key areas where nanotechnology is showing promise in the pharmaceuticals industry are tools for drug discovery, and secondly in formulation and delivery systems. In the development of tools to support drug discovery, nanotechnology is developing a trend to move away from high throughput to high content screening, where greater information on fewer compounds is achieved. As our knowledge about drug-target interactions increases, it is becoming apparent that high-volume/low-content screening can miss extremely interesting interactions and effects. For example, SPR biosensors can detect a ligand binding step and measure the binding constants. But it cannot measure surface stresses caused by binding, which are an important factor for example in antibiotic efficacy against MRSA and VRE. Here nanomechanical cantilevers have been shown to be effective in providing extremely elegant information that can explain the difference between various drugs that appear to have the same binding kinetics.[i] The move to high content screening has been slow due to the large investments in high throughput screening laboratories and so new systems need to be compatible. However, where systems are compatible with these techniques – for example using 96 well plate platforms, adoption is possible. As a result, improvements and adoption is currently iterative, rather than revolutionary, but it is happening. With regards to nanotechnology in formulation and delivery science, there are a number of early adopters of nanotechnology in the pharmaceutical industry. Table 1 shows a number of types of nanoparticle formulations that are already approved for marketing. The full list of approved ‘nano-enabled’ products is very small and those that have made it to the market are generally reformulations of existing generic drugs. We are still awaiting the second-generation nanodrug, where the nano-effect is integral to the product activity. Nanotechnology appears to be following the classic technology adoption curve as shown in Figure 1. This shows the bell-shaped adoption curve for any technology, overlaid by the technology acceptance line. Nanotechnology appears to have passed through the hype and trough and is now starting to be slowly adopted. It appears that the problem for nanotechnology in formulation is one of risk. Companies need to get their products to market quickly to allow as much market exclusivity time as possible – not to recoup their investment, as this is a sunk cost, but to recoup the cost of developing future drugs, the cost of which is becoming ever more expensive. The Tufts Center for Drug Development estimated that the cost of bringing a single drug to market was in the order of $1.2 billion in 2008, compared to $802 million in 2000.[ii],[iii] Given these issues, companies won’t adopt new technology unless they know that the technology has a clear and fast route to approval. This is particularly poignant in drug formulation and other rate-limiting activities that occur post-patent filing. Once a patent is filed, the clock is ticking on the product’s life. If a product is going to be a $1billion a year blockbuster, lost revenues will be at least $2.7 million for every day a product is held from the market. This produces a catch 22 scenario; no-one will take the risk to demonstrate a new technology, especially if it is competing with existing and proven methods, so no-one will see a clear adoption path and use it. This is reminiscent of the fledgling biotech industry 15-20 years ago. Pharma was focussed on small molecules and didn’t want to risk bringing into their portfolio relatively unstable products, with complex manufacturing methods and which were without a clear regulatory pathway. Now however, many traditional large-pharma refer to themselves as biopharma companies and Amgen and Genentech (prior to the Roche purchase) are in the top twenty pharma by revenue. Early adopters, such as Abraxis and Elan, have started to clear a pathway to approval, but as yet no company has developed a true nanodrug – ie one which was conceived as a nano-enabled product from first principles as opposed to using nano-formulation on existing products. Nanotech has a lot to offer the pharmaceuticals industry and if it follows previous technology examples such as biotech, the successful early adopters will reap the rewards. It still has a number of hurdles to leap, such as a clear regulatory pathway and a demonstration of value above and beyond current technologies, before it can become mainstream. However, there are significant efforts by industry and governments to help it to jump the technology adoption gap quickly and ensure it can assist in developing the next generation of products that are needed to solve some of the significant unmet medical needs faced by patients and healthcare professionals. ———————– [i] Ndieyira, J. W. et al. Nanomechanical detection of antibiotic–mucopeptide binding in a model for superbug drug resistance. Nature Nanotech. 3, 691-696 (2008). [ii] Outlook 2008, Tufts Center for Drug Discovery (Available at http://csdd.tufts.edu/InfoServices/ OutlookReportsRequest.asp) [iii] Outlook 2000, Tufts Center for Drug Discovery (Available at http://csdd.tufts.edu/InfoServices/ OutlookReportsRequest.asp)