Family Bond Essay

The family system is the most conspicuous bond in the social scheme of things. This bond ties people to each other with invisible strings of love and care, each one bonded to all others in his/her entirety. The family that consists of the elder’s brothers, sisters and children are all bound to each other no matter how far away they may be from each other physically. The family is the inspiration of each individual member and, above all, it is the objective for which each individual member lives and works. The encouragement from the family helps one to achieve marathon goals, and it is the family only that, at time forces a person to adopt the wrong path. Thus the family is of so much importance to every member that, its bonds are in reality responsible for whatever each member achieves or loses. The family is as if the backbone on which the bodies of the individuals in it stand. It is the family that acts as a booster for each one in it and, it is the same family that at times becomes a stumbling block in the growth of an individual in it. This is because the bonds of love are too great to be set apart and as we often hear that love is blind. It is this same blind love of the family that may at times prove to be a hindrance to growth For example, a child in the family may be brilliant in studies but the extreme and blind love of the parents wants to see him as the next Sachin Tendulkar. They, in trying to fulfill their ambition may try to impose their desire on the child and he, in the bargain loses track of studies. At the same time since he has no inclination for cricket, he does not manage to achieve anything in that sphere also. Thus, due to the unquestioned love and bond of the family, the child loses out on both fronts. He is unable to become Sachin Tendulkar and neither has he been able to keep pace with his studies. In this way, the bonds of the family prove to be disastrous also. At the same time, with the backing and support of the family, a child can work wonders as, it is here he gets all the encouragement and back up support. Besides being a support for the children of a family it has often been heard that, b ehind every successful man, there is a woman. This again goes to show how much the backing of a good co-operative wife helps the man also to grow in his career. Thus it is seen that the family bonds play a very prominent part in making or breaking each member of the family. It is from broken homes that, drug addicts, juvenile criminals are also created, so much is the importance of the bonds of a family. So much for parents and children in a family. Even grandparents have an intrinsic role to play in the growth of the individuals. If the children play and have fun with grandparents, they develop a liking for elders, and they learn to respect elders. Once they see their parents behaving well with the grandparents they also learn how to behave with elders. This presence of elders in a family makes the bonds still more pleasant and more lasting. Like everything else, bonds of a family also have their advantages and disadvantages. However, the disadvantages are so minuscule that, the prominent advantages overpower them and the essence of family life and its bonds appear to be just worth it. Where there is a family to fall back upon, even hard times of misfortune, it becomes easier to bear and this is just what family bonds is all about. These bonds are so strong that, no power can break them or destroy them. It is however great luck to get the fortune of a fully blooming family with all its bonds in place.

Blood Brothers Essay

You are the director of a new production of blood brothers. Give advice to the actors playing the roles of Eddie and Mickey about how to tackle the age changes. You must comment on at least two scenes in detail. If you have seen a production of Blood Brothers you may also refer to this. In the scene when you both meet for the first time you must consider your body language. You must consider how an eight year old would walk and stand. An eight year old would have fewer worries than someone who is older than them so they would walk not really paying much attention to what is around them. You would also have to think how someone who is better off would walk compared to someone who is from a less well off background. You have got to consider how to use the tone of your voice. At first they were a bit shy. But after they first met you would have to consider how an eight year old would not be shy so they would say anything so say your lines so the audience have no clue to what you will say next. Another important factor to consider is the way you deliver your lines. You should deliver your lines in a free flowing way. When they are swearing you should not feel like people might be offended. In the scene when you Mickey and Eddie meet for the first time after they have both moved to the country you should pay attention to your body language. This time Eddie and Mickey are both 16 – 17 years olds. So you have to think about how a 16 – 17 year old would act. A 16 – 17 year old would have more problems than a person of 8 years old but still not as many as an older person. You still have to consider how a person who is better off would act compared to a person from the ghetto. Again you would have to consider the tone of your voice. You would expect a teenager to swear more and they may speak with a slight mumble. Again you should consider the way you deliver your lines. In the scene when Mickey is trying to kill Eddie you should again pay attention to your body language. This time Eddie and Mickey are both in they’re thirty’s. Mickey is depressed and he has a lot of problems an example of which was that he was put in jail for his brother shooting someone. While Eddie on the other hand has few, because he has a successful business. Mickey has just realised that Eddie is seeing his girlfriend Linda. When Mickey is pointing the gun at Eddie, Eddie has to act scared because he fears for his life. Mickey is holding the gun so that he feels in control instead of having Eddie control his life. Mickey has to act confused because Eddie made his life; he gave him a job and a nice home. You again have to consider the tone of your voice. Mickey should say his lines in a sort of stuttery way. Eddie should deliver his lines in a scared voice, while Mickey should deliver his lines in a scared and confused way.

“Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley Essay

No matter how much two individuals are alike, there are always traits that separate one from the other. In Mary Shelley’s novel â€Å"Frankenstein†, Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton are both seekers of knowledge who are determined to succeed. However, while Walton is able to risk everything, Frankenstein soon realizes his errors in his frenzied obsession with discovery. The novel begins with Robert Walton’s caring letters to his sister Margaret. Walton bids farewell to his â€Å"dear, excellent Margaret(9)†, and thanks her for her â€Å"love and kindness(9)†. His words display his love and affection for Margaret. Robert Walton, while seemingly unfeeling on his search for discovery, is tender to his beloved sister. In the same manner, Victor Frankenstein harbors love for Elizabeth Lavenza. Frankenstein creates a horrific killing creature, yet still has the heart to be affectionate to cousin. Even before Frankenstein looks at Elizabeth as his spouse, she was a sister to him, the same way Margaret is a sisterly character to Walton. Loneliness is another aspect that Frankenstein and Walton have in common. Although loved ones first surround Frankenstein, the Creature soon takes out his anger of life and of Victor by killing all those close to him. After those unfortunate occurrences, Frankenstein is left lonely, with only one goal, to seek revenge on the Creature. Walton’s loneliness is clearly described in his first letters to Margaret. Perhaps the most obvious similarity connecting Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein is their quest for knowledge, or â€Å"the country of eternal life† as Walton described in a letter to his sister. Robert Walton’s perilous journey to the Arctic is very much like Frankenstein’s search for the secret of life. Walton explores unknown territory in the north. Likewise, Frankenstein delves into undiscovered territory on a theoretical basis. In the field of science, Frankenstein is very determined to achieve his goal. He describes his summer, as a time when he was â€Å"engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit(34)†. However, as soon as his creation, the Creature, opens his eyes, Victor Frankenstein realizes his mistakes in going against nature,  thus terminating his quest to revive life. Robert Walton, on the other hand, is still persistent on his expedition. He faces many obstacles like the numbing cold and abundance of ice, but Walton has not yet faced anything like the shocking creation of the Creature, that would stop him from his task. He continues Another characteristic that separates Frankenstein and Walton is their ability to attain friends. Frankenstein is constantly surrounded by his loved ones, if not his father or Elizabeth, then it is his best friend Henry Clerval. Unlike Frankenstein, Robert Walton seems unable to make friends. In his second letter to his sister, he writes that he desperately â€Å"feels† the want of a friend(10)†. Victor Frankenstein, on the other hand, even finds a friend in M. Waldman, his professor. He is blessed with companions, though he soon loses them by the hand of the Creature. Meanwhile, Walton, having no friends finds one in Frankenstein. Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton, both looking to achieve one goal, have many traits in common. Yet, no two people can be exactly alike, thus they also have areas in which the other lacks in. They both have love, and seek the truth. At the same time, Walton and Frankenstein have very different personalities, shown in their ability to make friends, and both go through different lengths to gain knowledge. In the end, they both learn that knowledge is not everything, and sometimes turning back is not so horrible.

Hysteria of Salem witch trial in comparison to the 1980s day care case Term Paper

Hysteria of Salem witch trial in comparison to the 1980s day care case hysteria, - Term Paper Example Peasants used witchcraft to invoke charms for agriculture and farming, which gradually transformed from white magic into dark magic with a growing association with evil spirits and demons. With an increasing association of superstitions with the devil, incidents of witchcraft persecutions also increased rapidly, causing panic that led to aggressive witch hunts (Adams 69). On the other hand, the daycare sex abuse hysteria of the 1980s was in the form of panic that featured claims of child abuse, specifically sexual abuse, and satanic ritual abuse against providers of daycare (Malloy, Lyon & Quas 164). As more mothers ventured into employment and had to be away from home, a large number of daycare centers opened up to care for their children. However, an outstanding case in California’s Kern County started a wave of panic, lasting for nearly a decade. Characterized by incredible accusations of children being sexually molested, the panic spread out of the United States to New Zea land, Canada and some countries in Europe (Malloy, Lyon & Quas 164). The most prominent cases in the United States were Kern County child abuse cases; McMartin preschool trial; Fells Acre Day Care Center; Wee Care Nursery School; Cleveland child abuse scandal; and Little Rascals Day Care Center (Malloy, Lyon & Quas 165). ... The two sets of trials originated from the behaviors of children and the statements they issued. Driven by hysteria, parents and doctors interpreted the statements and behaviors in extremely portentous and threatening ways, rather than innocent and rational interpretations. It is the panic that led the people to believe the remotely conceivable accusations placed by children, ignoring all the inconsistencies as narrated by either scared, confused or preconditioned children. In both sets, literature analyses show that the prosecutors were asking leading questions. Repetitive questioning led to multiplication of the accusations and with the heightened spread of the hysteria, there were new targets of the accusations. Most of them were those that defended the accused or showed cynicism about the charges. The hysteria and bias against the accused in both sets of trials led the prosecutors and investigators to find meaning in very unlikely places. For example, in the Salem trials, the inv estigators concluded that a mole on an accused person’s body was an entry or sucking point for evil spirits and demons. On the other hand, it was concluded that drawing hands by children on stick figures was evidence of them having been molested in the daycare cases. Another unlikely conclusion in the daycare cases drawn was that the hatred of tuna fish by a child was caused by exposure to vaginal odor (Malloy, Lyon & Quas 162). The insistence and use of leading questions by the investigators rendered the investigations themselves as the roots of multiple problems. Effectively, the accused were faced with the burden of proving their own innocence in both sets of trials. For example, in the Salem trials, the

Developing a More Agile Approach Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Developing a More Agile Approach - Essay Example Wal-Mart is not directly linked with a software business but they do use certain technological software for running their operations unlike Amazon.com which is influenced by software developments. The agile software is easy to implement in a business like Amazon.com rather than in a business like Wal-Mart. Providing quality is the main goals of organizations and it is one of the key determinants of an organization’s success. Nowadays organizations heavily rely on software and other technologies to improve the long-term product quality. Currently, agile software development has become one of the most popular technologies to be used in organizations. If a firm is successful in implementing the software successfully then it also succeeds in improving the long term product quality, as the software targets the factors that are directly related to improving the long term product quality. It improves areas such as finance and human resource that are directly related to aspects such as managing product

Globel health presentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Globel health presentation - Essay Example In 1978, the Alma-Ata declaration developed a global policy for health, which was to be realized by the year 2000. In this global policy, a universal primary health care system based on acceptable and practical methods was adopted. This was to involve the people and be affordable in different countries. This was adopted by most countries, except some capitalistic countries. In developing countries, this was faced with a number of obstacles, including political instability, poor economy, and emerging diseases. WHO is a major player in implementing the Alma Ata declaration. The development of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) helped in propagation of global policy. Today, different studies show that a health system comprising primary care is likely to deliver better health care. However, it is impossible for one heath policy to apply to the whole world. This is because of the difficulty in formulating uniform health interventions, which target a great number of people and different key groups with varying risk factors. These also live in different environments. Maternal and child health are critical in the global policy. Cost-effective interventions were identified, but the evidence on how these could reach the vulnerable groups was not established. Generally, the Alma Ata declaration is an unfinished business. However, it has been influential in responding to dynamic health issues across the globe, and so is a potential for health developments. The World Health Organization has a global policy of improving the quality of health, developing healthy lifestyles for all people, alleviating health risks, and being responsive to the determinants of health involved. The WHO public policies of health are age-and gender-sensitive, which will facilitate the empowerment of communities, self-care, and health protection, while cooperating with its different partners. On biological weapons, the

Everything you need to kow about a computer mouse Essay

Everything you need to kow about a computer mouse - Essay Example Dr. Douglas Carl Engelbart of Stanford Research Institute (SRI) invented the mouse in early 1960s. He worked with Bill English, the man behind the hardware design of the first mouse. Engelbart's innovative ideas changed the way working with computers, from a more complicated to a user-friendly machine. The results of analyzing different characteristics of pointing input devices (such as speed and accuracy) led to the invention of the first prototype computer mouse. Engelbart first called this device as "X-Y Position Indicator for a Display System," wherein it received its patent number 3,541,541 on November 17, 1970. According to an interview, Douglas Engelbart said, "SRI patented it, but they really had no idea of its value. Some years later I learned that they had licensed it to Apple for something like $40,000." So, how did this device get its popular name At first, it had its cord in front, so it was termed "mouse" and that's were it got its smart name. However, they later on changed the cord's position as the present mouse is. In early 1970s, Bill English invented the so-called "ball mouse" while he was working for Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). In 1981, Xerox Corporation introduced Star, officially known as the 8010 Star Information System, which features various technologies including mouse. Inspired by Xerox Star, Apple Computer released Apple Macintosh in 1984, which made mouse popular and indispensable for computer use. II. TYPES There are three basic types of mouse: mechanical, optomechanical, and optical mouse. Mechanical mouse has a rubber or metal ball at the base that moves against two rollers as it passed across a flat surface. As the ball rolls on a certain direction, circuits in the mouse translate its movement into signals the computer understands. Mechanical mouse must be place on a mouse pad - a rectangular rubber that provides better traction than the top of the desk. Optomechanical mouse works on the same principal as the mechanical mouse but uses optical sensors to detect the motion of the ball. Optical mouse on the contrary, has no moving mechanical parts inside. Instead, it uses light-emitting diodes (LED) to detect the mouse's movement. It is more efficient than mechanical and optomechanical mice but is also more expensive. III. CONNECTIONS A mouse can connect to your computer in several ways. Serial mouse connects directly to RS-232C serial port. Bus mouse connects directly on a small round connector (female mini-DIN-9), but this is pretty well obsolete because this mouse is difficult to install. PS/2 connects to a PS/2 connector (female mini-DIN-6); it's installed as simple as any serial mouse. Cordless mouse uses is a battery-powered device that transmits data using infrared technology of radio waves to communicate with the computer. Some users prefer to use cordless mouse because it frees him from the hassles of cords and provides much desk space. USB mouse is the easiest mouse you can connect in your computer, even when your computer is running. IV. SPEED Mouse speed is expressed in DPI (dots per inch), which is the number of pixels the mouse cursor will move when the mouse is moved one inch. V. INNOVATIONS AND ALTERNATIVE DEVICES a. Trackball is an input device with a ball mounted in its surface, which rotates to control the position of the cursor. b. Touchpad is an input device

Business Financing and the Capital Structure Assignment

Business Financing and the Capital Structure - Assignment Example The total cost of each resource has to be determined and summarized. On the basis of the summarized reports of cost of resources, a budget will be prepared by the finance and accounts department which would help the organization to determine next course of action (Summers, 2011, pp.2-11). Working Capital Management Proper working capital management is necessary to carry out day to day business operations. It is defined as the difference between current assets and liabilities. Thus, the objective of working capital management is to maintain a balance between current assets and liabilities. Positive difference or surplus funds can be used to make planned expenses such as payment of short term obligations and salaries. The working capital is negative or deficit when the current liabilities exceed current assets that would require the firms to borrow short term funds in order to manage the deficit (Ganesan, 2007, pp.1-2). When the working capital is positive, the firm would have surplus short term funds which can be invested in the money market instruments. The maturity of money market instruments are less than one year and hence investment in money market is less risky. This is because, the status of any business can be more or less accurately predicted in short term whereas the same becomes uncertain as the maturity increases due to increased chances of borrower to default. Some important money market financial instruments are discussed as follows: Commercial papers (CP) – They are issues by highly rated corporate entities and classified as short term unsecured promissory notes issued at discount and redeemed at face value. Certificate of Deposit (CD) – It is similar to ordinary time deposit differing only in maturity period and interest rates. They are issued by banks and the interest rates are generally higher than savings deposit rates. Municipal notes – Short term financial security issued by municipality in expectation of tax receipts as revenues. Treasury bills – They are debt instruments issued by the government whose maturity ranges from 3 to 12 months. Repurchase agreements – they are short term loans that are arranged by an investor to whom securities would be sold with an agreement to repurchase them back on a future date at pre-determined fixed rate. Thus, a corporate organization may park their excess generated from efficient working capital management in above discussed financial instruments that are liquid and used as marketable securities. Financial Instruments of Securities Market Every organization invests capital in business to finance its operations and generates goods and services to meet demands and earn profit. As the business expands its operations more funds are required to carry out business objectives. The financial sources may be broadly classified into equity and debt. Funds can be raised from these sources in the financial securities market. The securities market may be furthe r divided into primary or secondary securities market. In the primary securities market only those securities are issued that are participating in securities market for first time and the process is known as IPO (Initial Public offering). The secondary market is a place for traders who buy or sell differ securities.

Communication for Managers Final Exam Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communication for Managers Final Exam - Essay Example 23). First, Speaking slowly and clearly is one of the strategies used in global business, to address communication barriers. This is because many people fail to understand what the other person is saying due to speed of communication leading to vague meaning. Thus, this strategy gives an opportunity for foreigners to understand what the native speakers are saying (Guffey, 2009). Second, asking for clarification addresses communication barriers, to gain a deeper understanding of the subject mater. Thus, it is wise to allow one to ask a question to ensure that the intended information has reached the required party (Hogan & Stubbs, 2003, p. 34). Frequently checking for understanding is a third strategy used in avoiding communication barrier. When communicating with someone, ask questions to establish whether the communication objectives are realized (Samovar, Porter, & McDaniel, 2011, p. 32). Fourth, defining the basics of business is another strategy of avoiding communication barrier. When the objectives of business are clearly communicated to individuals, then chances of misconception are significantly reduced (Samovar, Porter, & McDaniel, 2011, p. 23). Finally, Careful selecting communication media is another strategy used to avoid communication barrier. Some of communication channels used creates communication barriers. Thus, it is essentially for an individual to use proper communication media. For example, when wanting to communicate abroad using of email may be more reliable communication media than use of telephone (Thompson, 2004, p. 56). Globalization of business poses a significant intercultural communication challenges. This is because culture differ across nations; thus, the need to adopt appropriate strategy to enhance effective intercultural communication. These strategies include the following. The organization should educate its staff on various cultural practices present at the

Southern Blacks in North America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Southern Blacks in North America - Essay Example This trend of industrialization threw up a complementary demand for hard workers. The Blacks have always been known for their hard working capacity as well as sheer physical strength. They began migrating towards North America, which had abolished slavery since the 19th century. (Palmer, 2005)This migration also gave them a chance to do what they really excelled at and earn a decent living while doing so. The industrial cities and their dwellers found a new sense of sympathy for and affinity towards these Blacks. There was a slow and steady movement towards respect in the attitudes that revolved around the way these people were subsequently treated. (Palmer, 2005) The industrial cities of North America needed due to the urbanization and its fast growing consequences. As a result of this urbanization, a number of new industries were set up with a growing demand for new kinds of products and services. Meanwhile, the traditional industries enjoyed a facelift by way of expansion and modernization of operations. This urbanization led to an influx of Blacks into the North. This led to a more even distribution as far demographics and population categories were concerned. Further, the corporate - capitalist trends helped the southern Blacks deviate from the traditional income generating activities like agriculture. (Palmer, 2005) In doing so, the Southern Blacks found a new lease of life. They learnt new things everyday and became the throbbing center of the industrial output of these Northern cities. The positioning of these Blacks at the very center of production activities helped them command terms that would appeal to them and elevate their lifestyles. The Black children received education and their parents, better training to further their prospects. In this, there was a sense of pride that awakened in their hearts. They were suddenly at par with their white counterparts and what was more; they were being offered the chance to build their lives. (Palmer, 2005)Through this integration of personal goals with the ones set by the organizations where they served, the Blacks endeavored to build the industries and form cities that became synonymous with modern urban centers the world over. There was also a new breed of Southern that came to hold white collar positions and occupy positions of power and respect. These factors helped the Southern Blacks in taking pride in the Northern industrial cities that had literally given them a new lease of life. They began to symbolize the growing face of American multi culturalism and freedom. (Parrillo, 2002) These sentiments were comparable only with the aggressively nationalist Mexicans. The Mexican love for the homeland is almost legendry. Having acquired a whole new state for themselves in the form of Mexico, these people guard their traditions fiercely irrespective of any part of the world they may be in. Further, they take immense pride in their language and culture as well as food habits. (Meier, 1994) The Mexicans have managed to fill the gap that was created during the first and second world wars, with unskilled labor in the American industrial market, yet their core has remained essentially Mexican. (Parrillo, 2002) The Southern Black experience shows that these people have great pride in where they come from and even

Improving your cardiovascular endurance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Improving your cardiovascular endurance - Essay Example There are also other factors that lead to cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure, smoking, and abnormal values of blood lipids. Nonetheless, research shows that the risks factors mentioned could be reduced. Additionally, reducing factors mentioned above decreases chances of having cardiovascular disorders. Other cardiac causative disorders such as stroke can also be minimized by avowing sedentary lifestyle (Myers, 2003). Regular exercise is one favorable way of curbing risks that lead to cardiovascular disorders. Weight reduction can be done by performing regular exercise. As such, regular exercise reduces blood pressure because bad cholesterol is minimized in the blood. Diabetic patient have found exercise as the most effective way of improving their lifestyle. Regular exercise to them is a sure way because it affects the body’s ability to make use of insulin in controlling glucose in the blood (Myers, 2003). Exercise is beneficial to many of us in many ways; some include physiological and health benefits. One of these benefits is the improvement in functionality of muscles. Additionally, physiological benefits of exercise improve the ability of the body’s to take in and make use of oxygen. An individual benefits from such because the ability to take in oxygen and use it improves, as such, the person can perform regular activities without getting tired (Silberman, 2015). Cardiovascular endurance is important for our physical fitness. In this regard, it refers to a capability of the heart to perform better or the strength of the heart. The heart plays a significant role in the body. Therefore, it is important to keep it healthy in order to avoid diseases associated with heart mentioned earlier in this paper. Additionally, cardiovascular endurance is important in the sense that the heart function is to pump the blood to all parts of the body. Also, it controls the circulation

What is globalization Essay Example for Free

What is globalization Essay Globalization: The following will elaborate on globalization, and some theories on traditional trade. AlsoGlobalization as defined by Charles Hill, of the University of Washington†¦ refers to the shift toward a more integrated and interdependent world economy. Globalization has several facets, including the globalization of markets and the globalization of production. Free trade is an example of a situation where government makes no attempt to influence what its citizens can buy from other countries. Under the free trade system Smith, 2009 argued that †¦the in visible hand of the market mechanism, rather then government policy, should determine what a country imports and what it exports. When looking at globalization there are two major factors. The first is the decline in barriers that could have impeded the free flow of goods, services, and capital. This decline in barriers has been on going since the end of World War II. The second factor is the changes in technology. Technology has in recent years has allowed dramatic developments in communication, information processing, and an easy in transportation, that past businesses did not have. (Hill, 2009)One example of a declining barrier to international trade that occurred after World War II was the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The goal of GATT was to remove the barriers to the free flow of goods, services, and capital between nations. Through eight rounds of negotiations among members of state this was accomplished. From GATT the World Trade Organization (WTO) was also founded. The WTO was established to police the international trading system. (Hill, 2009)The lowering of trade barriers made globalization of markets and production a theoretical possibility (Hill, 2009). Since the end of World War II the gains of technology have exploded. The world has seen major advances in communication, information processing, and transportation technology. Telecommunication gives even the smallest companies the ability to gain a global audience. When the computer was first introduced, the computer could easily fill a room and was capable of only a few hundred computations per minute, with a cost the put even the thought of owning a computer in the hands of the government. With the invention of the microprocessor the cost of computing was significantly reduced while the power of the computer increased dramatically. As a result the lower costs of  technology companies today can communicate with potential suppliers, retailers, consumers anywhere in the world at prices that were unheard up only 10 years ago. (Hill, 2009)Technological advances in the transportation have also improved rapidly. The commercial jet of today makes a trip from New York to Tokyo in less time then it would have taken someone to get from New York to Philadelphia in the Colonial days. Other advances such as containerization have help to reduce the cost of transportation while increasing efficiency. (Hill, 2009)Some effects of globalization found locally are in almost any store, from food to auto parts and most things in between, many items we use are not make in the United States as a whole or in part. With out globalization supply of many of these items would be lower due to an increased cost of production. The city of Jacksonville, Fl also offers appeal to global companies. The location of Jacksonville in relation to: an international air and shipping port, major highways, and easy access to rail terminals makes the city an ideal location for global companies such as Bridgestone. Bridgestone is a global company based in Japan with manufacturing facilities in Central, South, and North America, as well as Japan and Africa. The ability of Bridgestone to acquire supplies for production of a wide range of products from around the world allows the company to supply a product of the highest qualities while allowing the price to remain competitive. Globalization has become a reality for almost any company regardless of size. Reference: Hill, Charles W.L. (2009). International Business. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-Text]. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Retrieved April 2, 209, from University of Phoenix, Mgt 448.

Discharge Planning And Processing Nursing Care Nursing Essay

Discharge Planning And Processing Nursing Care Nursing Essay Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health care providers by their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice. Nurses practice in a wide diversity of practice areas with a different scope of practice and level of prescriber authority in each. Many nurses provide care within the ordering scope of physicians, and this traditional role has come to shape the historic public image of nurses as care providers. However, nurses are permitted by most jurisdictions to practice independently in a variety of settings depending on training level. In the postwar period, nurse education has undergone a process of diversification towards advanced and specialized credentials, and many of the traditional regulations and provider roles are changing. Nursing care is understood as being particularly crucial during patients recovery from serious illness or injury. Classically, it was thought that people requiring these services were probably people who were bed ridden. The objective of health services delivery is not only to care for bed ridden people but also anybody else that have a condition that is reducing their quality of life. It is known that some diseases significantly reduce the quality of life led by individuals and not by necessarily sending them to bed. The aim of healthcare today is to assist any person with any disease, ailment or any form of suffering to recover and have a joyous and creative life. Another factor that makes a nurse to be specifically suited to their job is because they are trained about community care. They deliver care in the context of the whole community. They are able to reach the society or community and teach or assist them on the best way to care for various people needing care in a society. Psoriasis is a non-contagious disease that affects a peoples skin. It is found in a class of diseases that are described as immune mediated. It occurs when a persons body starts sensing the skin cells that are foreign cells of disease causing microorganisms hence reacting against them. For this reason, the body responds to this faulty signal by producing more skin cells. The patients skin cells in the affected places divide up to 10 times faster and lead to accumulation of dead cells on the surface. The skin of the patient appears to have a red plaque that is covered with white rashes. This disease is particularly acutely irritating and is probably the most frustrating and unpredictable skin disorder. This disorder is also the most inexplicable and continual skin illnesses. Some parts of the body are more affected by this disease than others. These include the scalp, elbows, and knees. Some other parts are affected but on rare instances. They include the soles, the palms, and the fee t. Commons symptoms of psoriasis include reddening of the skin with white or silvery scales occurring at the top. These areas can be exceedingly sore and may crack and bleed occasionally. In most cases, the affected patches expand and coalesce forming large and continuous patches. In other instances, this disease may affect the nails where nails become rough, crumbled or even detached from their bed. Another symptom that health care providers look for in diagnosing psoriasis is crusts, scales or plaques on a persons scalp. There are various aspects of care that a nurse considers during care delivery. These are sometimes utilized by professional nurses as a checklist to ensure that the care is all inclusive, and the process of recovery is holistic. The main aim of this assignment is to address the nursing care of a patient with psoriasis based on two aspects of care which include patient education and discharge planning and process. Patients Education of Psoriasis Patient It is essential in the nursing care process of a patient with psoriasis to be educated and advised on how to live with the society, to avoid psychological torture and lastly to meet the prescribed medical instruction. The Patients are reported to face stigma and antagonism by such other people in the society. They become less indispensable resource to the society and hence said to experience negative attitude for the firsthand. They have seen how a single look on them initiates talks among people among other forms of stigmatization. Nurses teach patients to become ambassadors of truth. The society mistreats its members through stigmatization because of ignorance. The nurses also educate patients on how to protect friends, relatives and other members of the community (Smith et al, 2002). Moreover in Medical care, the nurse give educational care techniques including assistance on the application of the medicine, monitoring the progress of the patient and advising the patients on the fa ctors that aggravate psoriasis. Secondly, the nurses have noticed that the patients due to stress are currently suffering from psychological disorders such as post traumatic stress disorders and anxiety. They feel neglected and thus they need psychological education. Some of the nurses collaborate with psychologists to educate both the society and the psoriasis patients. In most case, nurses find themselves in a situation where the psychological health of the patient is crucial. Some patient feel like their image has been dented after they suffer from a psoriasis attack. The nurse has to respond to this by educating the patient on how to deal with these psychological problems. Sometimes, the patient is so psychologically affected that the nurse has to refer the patient for specialized counseling among other interventions. Bearing in mind the wide spread nature of psoriasis nurses come up with a way of assisting the society. The challenge that nurses face is lack of an elaborate system of reaching the society in order to educate them. The patients are advised on how to live healthy and boost their self-esteem. Nurses take this opportunity to educate parents and guardians how to handle the case and enhance the recovery of the patient. These educational programs are currently found to improve the health of the patient and to reduce stigmatization directed to the skin infections victims. Also in some cases, nurses organize members of the public into groups which have initiated some sports or even meditation. Other benefits of these sports are they help to deal with behaviors such as scratching. Furthermore other patients educational campaigns carried out by the nurse are to educate the patients and the society on the symptoms and origin of the disease thus clearing misconceptions in peoples mind. For example, some people believe that psoriasis is a sign of a curse, due to this they fail to take the medication and the advice seriously. It jeopardizes the process of treatment exceedingly and seriously. It may even increase stigma; people do not want to get close or in contact with a cursed person. Even when such people should be giving care, they stay away due to unreasonable fear. It becomes the responsibilities of nurses to shed more light on psoriasis. Friends, family, and people living with the affected individuals are educated to provide the necessary support for the patient. Lastly, the nurses are currently educating the patients who ignorantly fear to access the medical services due to been noticed that medical services will save them a lot from the disease. In some cases, it may disappear, in others it does not; thus, medical help is required. Additionally, it may leave an individual with extraordinarily large psychological problems that require specialized assistance. In most cases, nurses know specialists who can counsel and help the patient to fully recover. Nurses offer their advice regarding medical care and refer the patient for further counseling and peer support. In home care, the nurses are also educating the patients on how to handle stress. Medically, it is known that the careless and irresponsible behaviors that people develop during the stress cause psoriasis. Such behavior may include rubbing of hands and face. Stressed people have destructive tendencies of holding into anything and bringing things in contact with their faces. During care of a patient or other members of the community, the nurses shed more light on these issues so that people can lead a more informed life. They are also advised to protect themselves against excessive exposure to sunshine that can aggravate psoriasis especially during the summer periods. It is a method of illnesses prevention in a community, as observation of such basic rules can keep psoriasis at bay, at least for some people for some time (Walji et al, 1994). Thus in summary, the nurse has been carrying out the patients education across the medical services, stigmatizations and stress from other people, misconceptions and myths about the origin of the disease, treatment methods, society approach to psoriasis victims and lastly on how to handle psychological perception found to affect them adversely. Discharge Planning and Processing of Nursing Care Acute based care hospital discharge planning and process starts immediately upon admission in the hospitals. In most cases it is found to ensure that the nurses follow the right psoriasis disease medical guidelines and system (Fabian et al, 2011). It is defined as a multi-disciplinary nursing approach by the nurses and other medical practitioners to the patients signs, treatment process and discharging means. It involves several planning process, as described below. Immediately after admission of the patient, the first step in the nursing care designing planning and process is to examine the skin in general circumstances. The nurse should contact this within three hours. At the same time the patient is prepared for discharging through contacting the Medicare organizations such as insurance. At the same time the nurse should interview the patients about the problems linked to the disease, when did it start, what are some of the medications the patient accessed before and lastly, whether they have any hereditary problem of the disease across their family lineage. The next planning process is the nurse to describe the information given in line to the prevailing psoriasis diagnosis where the patient is taken for laboratory medical examination. At this process, the patients are instructed not to scratch themselves even if they are itching and home cares prepared for discharging process .This help to reduce more infections and complications. Moreover, in this stage, the patients are instructed to isolate themselves from other people in the society, utilize their own clothing and even take bath using bath oils. Moreover, the patient should avoid any skin injury that is going to complicate the medical process (Walji .Kingston, 1994) Third step in the discharge of nursing care planning method include keeping the skin moist. The nurses are trained to apply epidemiological prescription to ensure the patient skin is moist and thus not to itch. This involves reducing the scales by applying the necessary medical bath oils and staying in a cool place free from any dust and high temperature. The patients are also provided with some injections and clothing necessary to reduce itching, smell and pain. In the next stage, the patients are nursed in a manner as to keep the wounds clean and to apply the necessary antibiotics carefully and skillfully. This ensures that the patients do not have pain and itching is reduced. The nurses take this opportunity to educate the family members on how to prescribe the medical drugs to the psoriasis patients and thus improved services. At this moment, the nurses must monitor the risk of infections, outcomes of the disease and lastly the implication of the bath oil to the skin (Papadopoulo s Walker, 2003). Lastly, some of the patients found to be stressed, stigmatized and psychologically affected are provided with advices or even referred to psychologists for guidance and counseling. The nurses have a goal to improve the mind perceptions of the patients and to positively impact on their health. The nurses consider some numerous patients factors in the process of discharging the duties. They have to make necessary recommendations in line to the Medicare guideline so as to ensure that psoriasis patients enjoy the best Medicare services (Braverman, 1998). In the process, they must have insurance and Medicare eligibility so as to ensure that the psoriasis patient has in-patient services and hospitalized for at least three consecutive calendar years for observation purposes. Secondly, they must observe the cognitive status and especially their safety awareness while in the discharging process. This helps in reducing unnecessary infections to both the nurses and other patients. The clothing and bed sheets of the psoriasis infections must be handled with a lot of care (Camisa, 1994). Lastly, the nurses should observe the illness history and the future falls of the patient. Moreover, other factors that should be observed in the planning and discharge of psoriasis patients includes; age, living situation and lastly the daily nutrition and activities of the patients. Conclusion The nursing process of any psoriasis patient does not just require observation of the two aspects discussed above. Rather than that, it require all the nurses and medical practitioners to maintain people medical services to the patients, educate them and plan for the discharge process well. This will help to improve the health of this skin condition victim and reduce society misconception about the disease.

The State Of Food Security In Botswana

The State Of Food Security In Botswana About 25,000 people die every day according to the United Nations report (www.unicef.org ) due to hunger, this happens because of increase in food prices resulting in at least one billion people around the world suffering. The UN and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) are working very hard to come up with the solutions to the global food scarcity and high food prices, which started the beginning of mid- 2008. The under investment in the agriculture sector has caused a silent crisis, which was worsened by the creation of a booming bio-fuel industry in which food crops are used for fuel instead of as food for eating (FAO 2008). In addition, the recent global financial crisis affecting the economies of the countries, led to loss of job to millions of people around the world thus deepening poverty. The World Food Summit 2009 (WFS) estimated that the number of hungry people could increase by a further 100 million in 2009 and pass the one billion mark. The FAO director Diouf showed a concern on the issue by saying the following words: The silent hunger crisis affecting one sixth of all of humanity poses a serious risk for world peace and security. We urgently need to forge a broad consensus on the total and rapid eradication of hunger in the world.(www.fao.org) The world is faced with all the challenges which reduce the level of access to food by all leaving many people with hunger. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, one third of the population is well fed, and one third is starving while the remaining one third of the population is under-fed. With these statistics it shows that there is not enough food for everyone in the world. The global food insecurity situation has worsened and continues to pose a threat for humanity. With the increase in food prices and transportation costs remaining high in developing countries, the number of people suffering from hunger has been increasing rapidly in recent years (FAO 2009). This increase in food insecurity has negative effects on gender equality and education, and it undermines the efforts of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Objectives and scope of the study Poverty estimates indicate that 30.3 percent of the population in Botswana is below the poverty line (CSO HIES Report 2002), that is, nearly one-third of the population. Though Botswanas poverty rate declined from 59 percent to 47 percent in 1985 and 1994 respectively, there is still evidence of high poverty as indicated by the report. In 2002/3, the national income poverty was estimated to be 33 percent and subsequently stood at 30.2 percent in 2005/06. The recent FAO (2009) statistics indicates that about 500,000 people in Botswana are food insecure mainly because they do not have access to quality food. For an import dependent country like Botswana, increase in prices due to high transportation costs and use of food crops for bio-fuels results in a decline of the countrys import capacity (Steven 2000). With macroeconomic policies that have proven to be efficient, competitive and sustainable in past years (BOB Annual Report 2008), the results from the FAO report and statistics of poverty rates in Botswana informs this discussion on what could be reasons leading to high rates of food insecurity in Botswana. The paper will discuss how policies and strategies on food security can be implemented to assist Botswana to achieve her intended goals of reducing poverty and the level of food insecurity, the effectiveness of the policies that have been put in place; the impact of the climate conditions on the food production and the effects of trade liberations. Management of natural resources and good implantation of agricultural policies are the most important determinants of food supply. Furthermore, the efficient support of markets, from the government have the capacity to improve the performance of appropriate roles each sector either the private sector or government in order to assist in curbing failing policies is important (Robinson 1997). These issues will be discussed in detail to analyse the situation in Botswana. Chapter 2: FOOD SECURITY Introduction There are various conceptual development of thinking on how to define food security, different writers have differing definitions. Whenever the title is introduced in the study, it is important to look closely to find an explicit definition because of its intensity. Food security is a widely debated topic, given that it affects people across the globe. Diseases, famine, wars are the major contributors to food insecurity especially in the sub Saharan African continent (Lado 2001) The World Bank (1986) defined food security as permanent access to sufficient food by all people at all times for an active, productive and healthy life, and this definition together with the FAO definition are widely accepted by institutions and organisations (Stevens 2000). The FAO (1998) defines food security as the right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger. Looking closely into the definitions, they seem to capture the most important components of food security which is the guarantee (availability) of having access (accessibility) to enough food (utilization) at any given time (Stevens 2000). These three components will be discussed further in the next section. Furthermore, a situation whereby people have the right to enough food leads to a healthy and productive life, and this is determined by access to and availability of food. Accessibility to food has a close relationship to economic growth and poverty. The poor usually do not have enough means to gain access to food in the required quantities (Alversen 1997). Habbard (1995) and Lado (2001) also provide a similar definition, these definitions indicates that people should be confident that food will always be accessible easily by having the economic right in order to maintain a healthy status. There are no satisfactory definitions of food security, hence there are some other alternative ways of describing it. Some researchers use terms such as food crisis, famine, and food insecurity to come up with suitable definition (Sen 1981). FAO defines food insecurity as a situation whereby people do not have adequate physical, social or economic access to food. In order to be able to define food security, it is prudent to differentiate between the household level and the national level of food security. Kotze (2000) explains household level as having enough food to ensure a minimum intake for all members of the household, while at the national level food insecurity exist because the countrys food production and trade entitlements becomes problematic. If the countrys production level becomes insufficient, it jeopardizes access to food by all, and also leads to inadequate supplies. In conclusion, food security can be defined as access to physical and economic means by all groups of people at all times in order to meet their dietary demand and food preferences for an active and healthy life. History of food security Food security has been in the public eye for many decades. The example provided by Tannehill (1988) of Julius Caesar struggle with the spiraling cost of food subsidies in ancient Rome shows the historic trend of interests in the evolution thinking of food security. The FAO report indicates that the food security concept started in the 1970s at a global food crisis meeting that was discussing the international food problems. The reduction in the food supply and instability of prices on basic foods led to the World food conference that was held in 1974 (ODI 1997). Maxwell (2001) characterized the history of thinking about the food security since the 1970s as a progressive conceptual development. Since the mid-1990s, more approaches based on the livelihoods approaches have dominated the discussions of poverty and food insecurity analysis. Since then, there have been more programs initiated to embark on fighting the food insecurity level in the world. Different approaches have been adopted to assess, monitor and map the way forward of food insecurity and vulnerability. A number of models have been developed and adopted by development countries in order to curb the problem of food insecurity. In the case of FAO for example, they came up with a program of refining the social economic analysis by expanding national food availability to include household and individuals (Devereux 2004). Components of food security Food security can be determined by different components which are related to the definitions provided earlier. Stevens (2000) explains these components of food security as the determining sets of factors. These components are availability, accessibility, utilization and vulnerability. All the form components conforms to the definition of the World Bank (1998) which is the guarantee (availability) of having access (accessibility) to enough food (utilization) at any given time by all people (vulnerability) (Stevens 2000). Causes of food insecurity Different studies show that there are many causes of food insecurity in the world. In the Sub Sahara continent, the increase in food insecurity is a result of poor economic and social conditions such as the population growth, natural disasters, and also political disturbances plays a major role. The southern Africa countries most have a bad climatic condition as reported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP 2005) and SADC monitoring unit. Furthermore, these poor weather conditions results in low production of Agricultural goods thus affecting food availability and utilization. Other contributors to food security will be discussed in depth, and these are as follows: Natural disasters, Low production of agricultural commodities, falling process of agricultural commodities, Scarcity of land, Unequal distribution of food and resources, Lack of purchasing power, Political instability and Population growth. CHAPTER 3: FOOD SECURITY IN BOTSWANA Brief description of Botswana Economic policies Botswana gained independence in 1966, during that time, the economy was dominated by the agriculture sector which comprised of mainly cattle farming, and it contributed about 40 per cent to the countrys GDP. Since then, the country enjoyed rapid economic transformation which placed Botswana on top of the list of countries in the African continent (CSO statistical bulletin 2006). In 1968 the economy of Botswana was mainly dependent on minerals such as diamonds. The mining sector now contributes about 51 per cent to the countrys GDP dominated by the diamonds, while the agricultural sector showed a decline in share of the GDP thus contributing about 4 per cent (CSO 2006). The most drastic changes in the economy were seen in the 1990s due to the decrease in diamond prices globally, (BOB 2008). These challenges resulted in the country to come up with other alternatives, hence decided to diversify the economy by looking into other sectors such as tourism, agriculture and textile manufactu ring (BIDPA). The IMF 2008 report indicates that economic growth has picked up especially in the non mining sector. Inflation has decreased stabilizing the targeted range by the central bank, though inflation risks remain (BOB 2008). Despite these structural economic changes, however the country is faced with high incidence of poverty, unemployment, and HIV/AIDS (IMF 2008). The country depends heavily on imports mainly from the neighboring country South Africa. Minerals and beef exports accounted for 85 and 4.4 per cent, respectively, of total exports in 2009 (CSO monthly trade report 2009). On the other, 22.0 percent and 13.3 percent of machinery equipment and food respectively shows the highest number of imports. Therefore, food remains the most important component of the import bill in order to meet the shortfall in most basic food commodities that the country cannot produce. Due to its land lock position, Botswanas economic development is vulnerable to external influences. The country is easily affected by the unstable political regional situation in southern Africa. Population trend The population of Botswana is approximately 1, 7 million. , leaving it in the 144th position amongst 193 nations in the world (UN). The population growth rate is estimated to be 2, 4 per cent per annum (CSO, 2009). The population in Botswana is unevenly distributed, with 54 per cent of the population living in the urban areas and 46 percent living in the rural areas (CSO stats update 2009). The main problem leading to the slow growth of population is mainly due to the high prevalence rate of HIV aids which stood at 17.1 percent in 2002. Agricultural polices Botswana started to adopt food security policies since the 1970s, and the policies were mainly to promote self sufficiency. In 1991, a shift in the policy from self sufficiency to food security was seen whereby the government, banks and donors, farmers worked together in order to fulfill the intentions of the policy (BOB 1990). In 1972, the Botswana Rural strategy was launched aimed to increase the level of production and improving the market facilities in the rural areas and creating rural employment opportunities. As part of its National Development Plan (NDP), a policy known as Accelerated Rural Development Program (ARDP) was formulated in 1973. Later in 1975, another program called The Tribal Grazing Land Policy (TGLP) aimed at maintaining optimal balance between the people, land and livestock (GOB 1972). As a way of showing commitment to availability of food to the people, the government in 1985 approved a National Food Strategy Policy for formulation and implementation of whole range of food security related programs (www.moa.gov.bw). Furthermore, the government introduced other programmes in line with the NDPs such as The Arable Land Development Programme (ALDEP) which was aimed at assisting small-scale farmers in increasing cereal production to promote self-sufficiency. The small farmers were provided with subsidies by the government to buy capital inputs such as farm implements, draft power and fencing. Another program called The Accelerated Rainfed Arable Program (ARAP) was launched. It provided farmers with short term assistance to help them recover from the drought season. During the NDP 6, the government allocated more funds to the agricultural sector, subsectors such as arable farming was targeted. The Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) programme was introduced to provide capital and labor grants to dairy farming, irrigated agriculture, poultry and small stock farming (Sigwele, 1991). Recently, the government reviewed all these policies to come up with new schemes that will increase the level of food production in the country. Certain constraints were identified such as non committal by farmers after receiving funds from the government (MOA 2006). The government also provided farmers with training skills and increased the budget on research and development to increase knowledge on achievements of self-sufficiency. However, with all the good initiatives by the government, the unfavorable climate conditions in Botswana made it difficult for the government to achieve the priorities of attaining self sufficiency programs due to periodic droughts (MOA 2006). Health Botswana has achieved remarkable advances in terms of achieving good health status. In order to achieve the goals of reducing poor families economically and socially, providing access to good health facilities will help to maintain good health status among people. The government should provide health programs , medication which everyone can access for free in order to enhance productivity and self reliance. The government of Botswana has shown commitment to improve its health status by increasing the allocation of resources to the health sector. In the past decades, we have seen the health sector given between 5 and 8 percent share. More hospitals have been constructed in various villages and proper training of personnel has been a major investment of the government. (www.gov.bw). Though Botswana is faced with challenges of high HIV prevalence rates and Malnutrition which has severely affected the economic and agricultural situation of the country, there is has been a substantial change in the health system, this is proven by the improvement of survival indicators (CSO stats update 2009). The government is trying to allocate resources evenly across the country through its implementation of the NDPs, but sometimes it fails to achieve this goal. Hence they may be some instances in which other regions get more developments than the others. This leads to most rural areas being disadvantaged and resulting in more health facilities it urban areas. People in the urban areas are better off as they can easily access the hospital due to good transportation systems. These differences may contribute more to the inequality and household poverty in Botswana. When people are ill or malnutrition, they cannot contribute positively to the production of food hence affecting the agriculture sector. Education Education is very important to the development of humanity creates better opportunities an choices for individuals. It empowers people to improve their welfare through increasing productivity and offer potential chances to improve standards of living. If more people are not educated, they cannot adapt easily to new innovation skills and technologies for agriculture, hence hampering government programmes to support food- self sufficiency, economic achievement and social prosperity. Climate and Environmental impacts Research has indicated that Botswanas climate change projections are vulnerable to climate change, posing a negative impact on the water resources and crop production. As currently there is no policy which deals with the problems caused by climate change, instead there are some recommendations that the government is trying to implement from the various studies that were conducted, a number of national policies are already in place responding to climate change. The government has demonstrated a high level of concern for environmental issues in the country. The climate of Botswana is distinguished by both high temperatures and low rainfall. There is disparity in rainfall in various districts. The northern part of the country usually gets more rain than the other parts of the country. The CSO report further indicates that the total land area of Botswana is 581,730 square kilometers where most of the land is infertile due to the predominant sandy soils and the unreliable and low rainfall. The land is differentiated into two types which are, The Kalahari Sandveld covering 77.2 percent of the land area and Eastern Hardveld covering 22.8 percent of the total land area (CSO 2008). The soils around the country are comparatively all poor. With its given conditions of weather, Botswana does not have suitable area of producing more food because the physical and climatic characteristics are not suitable for food production. This variability is of critical importance to food security and the populations use of the environment. Water and Sanitation Botswana is a water scarce country in southern Africa region due to its unfavorable weather conditions. Statistics shows that Botswana records high evaporation rates and low rainfall rates. There is concern about the low levels of water which are not able to meet the demand of the growing population and the economic expansion activities. The consumption of water has increased over the years and yet on the other hand water levels are declining manly due to drought seasons, especially in urban areas. The government of Botswana has adopted some imitative policies to provide and accelerate sanitation services with the aim of improving health conditions of the public. This was seen by an adoption of the Waste Management Bill of 1998, which resulted in the establishment of the Sanitation and Waste management Department (www.gov.bw). Sanitation promotes dignity, safety and privacy especially for women and girls. Clean, safe toilets and hand-washing facilities at home and school help increasing the childrens ability to learn. Improving health status helps individuals to earn a better living. With effective sanitation in place, it means that the environment will be safer and cleaner for all activities thus allowing children to play activities in clean environments. Families will also be able to prepare safe food and keep cleaner homes. Having access to clean water and good sanitation infrastructure leads to reduction in poverty and food insecurity (CSO Stats Update 2009). According to CSO report, about 84 per cent of urban residents have access to safe water. Government approach to food security The government of Botswana demonstrates the commitment to poverty alleviation through various programs. Botswana signed the United Nations global declarations for the improvement of human conditions and the Millennium Declaration of 2000. Botswana is also a signatory to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990); the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979); the SADC Gender and Development Declaration; the International Conference on Population and Development (1994); and the World Food Summit (Rome 1996). The government of Botswana has managed to adapt and implement good strategies towards poverty reduction and food security through its polices to alleviate poverty such as the Vision 2016, The National Policy on Rural Development, NDPs , the National Poverty Reduction Strategy and other policies, As part of its commitment to poverty reduction and food security, Botswana has adopted a United Nations Millennium Declaration from which the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) integrates the eradication of poverty and hunger. In order for the government of Botswana to mainstream poverty eradication and hunger, the government came up with the Vision 2016 strategy which its main aim is to propel the socio economic and development into a competitive, winning and prosperous nation. This strategy is aligned to the countries National Development Plan 9 which is currently active and also it is aligned to the MDGs. Furthermore they provide guidance on how the agriculture sector will be productive and sustainable, and how they will make positive changes to the economic development, poverty alleviation programs and food security by the year 2016 (Vision 2016 document, 2003). CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS In this chapter, I will look into the trends of data on Households methods of obtaining food, field and harvest size, Number of meals per day consumed by each member of the household, Level of trade statistics and other elements that are contributors to food insecurity. And also some case studies that have been done in the past about the situation of Botswana on food security. 4.1 Food Production Deficiency Botswana has a semi- arid climate, only five percent of the land is suitable for arable farming (FAO 2008 Statistics). This makes it difficult for the country to have support for food production in order to meet the demands of the consumers. In developing countries, the arable land use is deviating from its use of farming to industrial base thus resulting in number of farmers reducing (Brown 1995). In Botswana, a similar case is shown by a decline in the level of food production as indicated by figures 1, 2 and 3. Since 1995, the production level of food is insufficient, maize, millet and other crops are manly affected until 2005. This poses to be a threat to the level of food security in Botswana because if food production reduces, many people will not be able to have access to food. As compared to other countries, for example China, as a developing country is undergoing through some process of industrialization, their agricultural land has seen some land use changes to industries, housing and infrastructure leading to a decline in the arable land base. Similarly, a decline in the farming base has been experienced in developed countries, such as Japan. Japan produces about 47% of its calories and relies on imports from other countries. Before in 1960, Japan had about 11.75 million farms which declined to 3.13 million in 1992. Furthermore estimates shows that the economically active population in agriculture will be older hence a less number of people will be left in the agriculture sector (Mikishi Okada Association, personal communication, 1996). From this research, we can see that the global world is becoming more food insecure with shortage of land for farming playing a major role. For the world to run away from poverty, they should take land as a very important resource. If developed countries and developing countries increases the levels of urban agriculture, may be countries will begin to bear fruits by creating conducive environment for food stability (UNDP 1996). In order to achieve this, countries should come up with good policies in land tenure and maximise the local food production as a strategy to stabilise world food resources. Water is becoming increasingly scarce in Botswana. A number of countries throughout the world experience water shortages (Nicholas 1994). To enhance proper implementation of policies on food security, governments has to increase their expenditure on agriculture sector in order to promote agricultural production. But this has important implications for water availability. Water scarcity is not currently a major issue in Botswana only, even in the entire world, hence it more attention is needed by policy makers and should not be neglected. Not only the irrigation agriculture will be affected, all other sectors are affected by lack of water. It should be recognised that a land-use decision is also a water-use decision. A plan based on improving rain-fed agriculture through adoption of measures to make better use of rainfall brings trade-offs in that there may be less runoff to satisfy the water needs of downstream users and environmental functions. Planning for future food security req uires integrated analysis of land-use and water resources issues (Gowing 2003). The agriculture sector in Botswana is composed of the livestock sub sector and farming sub- sector. The sectors include a traditional system and a commercialized system. The livestock contributes about eighty percent to the agriculture sector (Agriculture Census Report 2004). The above figure 4, shows a decline in the livestock population. Botswana is deficient overall in food production under the current state of technology due to drought. The decline in population of the cattle is mainly due to higher recorded numbers of animal mortality cases. Botswana is mostly affected by the Foot and Mouth Disease which affects the growth of livestock population (CSO Stats brief 2008). 4.2 Employment and Inequality in urban and rural areas The agriculture sector share on Botswanas GDP has shown a decline, it stood at 3.7 percent and 1.8 percent in 1994 and 2008 respectively (CSO stats brief 2008). The cause in the decline is mainly due to the fact that from the previous analysis, we have seen that the food production reduced, and the population of the livestock reduced. The 2002/03 HIES report shows that 21.20 percent of the population in Botswana is employed by the agriculture sector and this was the highest sector at national level. The agriculture sector further employs 50.3 percent of people in the rural areas leaving a problem of rural inequality due to economys primary reliance on cattle sub sector. Moreover, even in the livestock sector, there is a substantial inequality. The data shows a skewed distribution of ownership of resources. The report further shows that even though agriculture sector employs a large proportion of the population, the income earned is lower in general as compared to other sectors. Only a minority of the population owns cattle and farming land while the rest depend on agriculture by working, they do not have cattle of their own. About 80 percent of rural households produced insufficient food to feed themselves, and the average household produce less than half of its daily caloric requirement (HIES 2002/03). In rural areas, there are more single households headed by females than in urban areas. They are mostly affected by food insecurity as they are unable to feed and provide substantial care for their families (FAO 2000). This resulted in Botswana adopting strategies that can help the country in its diversification programs in order to alleviate poverty. 4.3 Food Consumption According to the FAO, the food  [1]  consumption refers to the amount of food available for human consumption as estimated by the FAO Food Balance Sheets. The data used was extracted from the FAO statistical database, however the actual food consumption recorded may be lower than the quantity shown as food availability depending on the magnitude of wastage and losses of food in the household, e.g. during storage, in preparation and cooking, as plate-waste or quantities fed to domestic animals and pets, thrown or given away. Food consumption per person is the amount of food, in terms of quantity, for each individual in the total population. Figure 5 shows food groups and the quantities consumed. From the figure, it can be seen that cereals excluding beer and milk excluding butter are the mostly consumed food category, even though showing a decline over the period. From a food security point of view, this is not a good sign of progress for the countrys state of food security. The starchy roots and alcoholic beverages follows as the most consumed food category in Botswana. The 2002/03 HIES report also indicates a shift in consumption patterns of households. Alcohol and Tobacco category remains the highest consumed food after the food category (HIES 2002/03). Research has shown that alcohol has a negative relationship towards food security because households members spend more of their disposable income on alcohol rather than buying food, thus resulting in lack of access to food by other members of the household. In Botswana research has shown that high intake of alcohol has a positive relationship in contribution to high prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS (BIAS II 2005). CHAPTER 5: CONCULSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Conclusions will be made on the basis of the data analysis, and also after discussing the policies aimed at improving the level of food security by the government, how effective are they implemented by policy makers, and then will discuss what the government should learn from other countries who fairing well in maintaining low values of food insecure people.

Bread Givers :: essays research papers fc

Clashing of Wills Conflict between generations is a common them to many novels. In the novel"Bread Givers", by Anzia Yezierksa, the clashing of wills of two generations is one major theme. We see clashes through culture, generations, community, religion,generations, and many others. The most prominent clash of wills is that of the protagonist Sara with her father Moisha or Reb Smolinsky. Some may say that these two characters clash because of their differences. Others might say that it their similarities that cause the clash between them both. It seems that it is a combination of their similarities and their differences that cause their clash and, in fact, binds them closer than any of the other characters. At the beginning of the novel we learn that Sara’s father has nick named her blood and iron recognizing the fact that she has a strong will. It is Sara’s strong will that causes the most of the conflict with her and her father. Sara gets her strong will and drive from her father. She is not like her sisters who follow the cultural expectations of early marriage, but she, instead, has greater ambition for her life. Sara plans to get an education which is not in her fathers plan for her life. Reb wants Sara to marry like her other sisters, and live a "holy" life according to the Torah. Sara’s will to educate herself, and Reb’s will to have Sara married is what causes the conflict in their relationship. Like Sara’s blood and iron will, Reb also is driven for his daughters to live their life according to the Torah. It is the strong will of these two characters that cause their connection. While Reb is bound to the laws and traditions of the Torah, Sara is bound to the drive to be educated or make herself a better, more successful person. One incident that exemplifies the strong will of both these characters is found at the beginning of the novel. The rent collector for the landlord comes to the apartment to collect rent, but Reb does not have the money. The two argue and Reb finally hits the collector, who is Jewish, and shouts, "I’ll teach you respect for the Holy Torah" (p. 18). Reb is then taken off to jail for assault. Then Sara decides since none of her sisters are bringing in enough money, that she would go out and make some.

Personal Narrative: Football Underdogs to Champions Essay -- essays re

Football Underdogs to Champions I had tried out for the High School football team but unfortunately was cut. I worked hard over the summer and even passed on the family vacation to North Carolina to attend football conditioning at the school. Even with all of my effort put towards running and weightlifting I was still cut. That however did not stop me from playing the sport I love. I had heard of a local pigskin football league that allowed any teen my age to play. I immediately conversed with my parents and received their permission to sign up. When I first went to get my equipment I met my first coach. Coach Andy was a larger gentleman with a muscular frame. He had a bald head and slightly crooked teeth. He seemed very friendly when I met him and found out he had played football during his high school and college career. I also met the president of the pigskin league Mr. Kemp. He was fitting other players for their shoulder pads and helmets. While I was getting fitted he noted that I was a larger player and asked why I had not played high school football. I took the comment as a compliment and explained the story to him. I had also found out that my team would be the Cowboys. Through various conversations at the fitting, I found out that the Cowboys was the team in which late arrivals and new players were assigned. The Cowboys were considered the â€Å"misfit† team that had been thought of as the worst team in the league. That very night from receiving my gear I had an idea. I knew that my friend Brian Alvey enjoyed football as much as I did. He had also tried out for the high school football team and had been cut the year before. I proposed the idea of him playing football on the same team with me in the p... ...ud of me and we continued to pummel the Redskins. Our defensive line would not allow them to score at all. On one occurrence, the Redskins made it to our end zone and had fumbled the ball. I quickly jumped on the ball and prevented them from scoring. We had come back and won with a blowout game. With the game sounding whistle came roars of cheers from the sidelines, bleachers, and the team. We had won the Turkey Bowl Championship. The underdog team of misfits and late arrivals had come together and won. Winning the Turkey Bowl was one of the most memorable experiences in my life. My team had come together and through hard work and effort won the championship. To this very day, I proudly display the large Turkey Bowl Championship trophy in my room. Every time I look at the trophy it reminds me of how a group of misfits came together and won as a team.

Value Management And Value Engineering Study Report

This Value Management and Value Engineering (VM/VE) Study Report summarizes the benefits of various proposals for a strategic level Value Management process followed by Value Engineering Study in order to obtain a better Value for Money (VFM) for any projects. This report is prepared specially for our Client M/s. SBEinnovations Ltd for the construction of the Mixed-Use Recreation and Commercial Centre Project. Value Management and Value Engineering is a technique on any projects that can be delivered in the most economical way. Normally, Value Management processes are carried out before Value Engineering Study to determine how it can add value to the Client business by a delivery of a project which is carried out during the initial Client brief of a project. It is an integral part of any projects. Whereas Value Engineering is a technical study on a selected design for its technical viability and cost studies which is carried out during detailed design stage. United Project Management (UPM) believes that VM and VE have the greatest influence and impact at the strategy and design stage respectively. It requires reliable and appropriate cost data, design information, ideas, past experience and uses brain-storming workshops by our team of experts under the direction of the Project Manager. Value Management is a continuous process from inception to completion. The purpose of conducting the Value Management workshop is to set up an effective partnership agreement which should seek to achieve the scope and benefits of the project with respect of time, cost and quality. The benefits of Value Management contribute towards this project especially since the project is still in its early stages. Some of the concepts through which SBEinnovations Ltd can obtain value for money (VFM) are mentioned below; 1. Reduced Learning Curve 2. Improved communications and decision procedures 3. Improved quality and programming This report also includes a recommendation on Value Engineering Study conducted before the completed design stage and construction activities. Issues targeted during VE study include: 1. Design Optimization 2. Selection of Procurement Route 3. Cost, Quality and Time 4. Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) Study 5. Stakeholders Coordination 1. Introduction This report explains how Value Management and Value Engineering studies can contribute value to the Client before commencement of a project. The report summarises the key principles of Value Management and Value Engineering in the context of construction project of mixed-use recreation and commercial centre for SBEInnovations Ltd. This report is prepared for SBEinnovations Ltd on their request for proposals for a strategic level Value Management and Value Engineering studies. The aim of Value Management Study is to assess the project requirement in terms of functionally and efficiency of achieving the requirements. Prime consideration needs to be given to the importance of Time, Cost, Quality, Safety and Client's satisfaction. The specific issues to be evaluated at the VM Study are divided into two categories. 1. Strategic Issues (which will be considered in Value Management) 2. Tactical Issues (which will be considered in Value Engineering) 3.1 Strategic Issues 1. The following are considered as project strategic issues: 1. Project Drivers 2. Project Type 3. Size and Location 4. Procurement 5. Initial Cost Estimate 6. Esteem 7. Politics 8. Organisational Management 9. Change Management 3.2 Tactical Issues The following are considered as project strategic issues: 1. Design 2. Structure of the Project Organisation 3. Detail of accessibility and planning procedure 4. Time and Quality: 5. Outline Specification 6. Coordination 2. Value Management Study This is the first process where carefully selected team members from various parties get together to discuss various aims, objectives, constraints and risk associated with the Project in order to formulate Client objective of the need of such project. Value management usually incorporates a series of workshops, interviews and reviews involving diversified teams members through whom the project requirements are evaluated against the means and methods of achieving them. VM process will be dependent on the procurement route selected for the project. VM and VE Studies are very important for successful delivery of any project. Failure to carry out these studies will cause problems at subsequent design and construction stages causing cost overruns, project delays, claims etc. Value Management can help to avoid or minimize these problems. At the outset of a project, Value Management provides an exceptionally powerful way of exploring the client’s needs in-depth by addressing inconsistencies and expressing these in a language that all parties, whether technically informed or new to the construction industry, can understand. The Value Management process works top-down, starting with needs and strategic goals and focusing on root causes, not symptoms. An early consensus is developed between the key stakeholders about the need for the project or service, the scope, deliverables, key functions and risks, in the context of the wider business objectives. Opportunities for innovation are explored and the most cost effective means of implementation developed, consistent with desired time and quality requirements. VM considers the whole project rather than components and the process are underpinned by consensus. A typical Value Management Study has the following characteristics: 1. A systematic, staged approach 2. Clear definition of objectives and scope at the outset – focus on the customer requirements 3. Consideration of the organizational environment – internal and external influences 4. Multi-disciplinary team effort – positive human dynamics 5. Function Analysis System Technique 6. A workshop format with a structured job plan that separates creativity from evaluation and development. 7. Effective use of methods and tools – independent facilitation 2.1 Early Application of Value Management and its benefits The design is still at the very early stage. The Client has not yet committed with any design teams for project design. The client aims to innovate with creativity and to enhance the health, wellbeing and quality of life of its citizens. It is very important to get a feedback of its citizens of the Client intentions for such a project, because the clients’ and the citizens’ aim and objectives are totally different and conflicting ones. Therefore it is recommended that Value Management study at such early stage is carried out involving the all parties who have interest on the projects so that later in the projects the problems and risk will be minimized to a greater extent. As such the following benefits can be expected by applying Value Management to this specific project. 1. It defines what both the client and the citizens of the local area mean by value, and provide the basis for making decisions, throughout the project, on the basis of value. It provides a means for optimising the balance between private developer and public sector local authority having different aims and objectives out of the project. 1. It provides the basis for clear briefs that reflect the client’s priorities and expectations, expressed in a language that all can understand. This improves communication between both stakeholders so that each of them can understand and respect other’s constraints and requirements. 1. It ensures that the project is the most cost-effective way of delivering the business benefits and provides a basis for refining the business case. It addresses both the monetary and the non-monetary benefits. 1. It supports good design through improved communications, mutual learning and enhanced team-working, leading to better technical solutions with enhanced performance and quality, where it matters. 1. It provides a way of measuring value, taking into account nonmonetary benefits and demonstrating that value for money has been achieved. Project Objectives: In a construction project objectives shall be clearly defined. In clearly defining the project objectives value management plays a vital role and it is the starting point of value management in a project. Client Function, Activities and Stakeholders: Value management plays crucial role in ascertaining the client functions, requirements, stakeholder needs, briefing, gathering information pertaining to the project. Project Size and Location: In deciding the project size and location both value management and value engineering will be applied as value management will focus on the location, political situation, environment and others will focus, whereas value engineering will focus on the type of foundation to be used is suitable for the soil conditions, floor area index on the area and other design issues. Budget: It is a crucial in a construction project and the main purpose of the value management is to gain the maximum value for the money and for that budget is important and also careful budgeting is crucial for the success of the project, here value management will be applied. Procurement Option: In deciding the contract for the project the best procurement option is to be chosen, it depends on the scope of the project, requirements, budget and other external factors. To choose the best procurement option value management and value engineering both plays a vita role. Design and built option value management plays a vital role, value engineer plays a vital role in other types of procurement options as designs are being verified in this option. Design Change and Variation: happens during the course of the project, value engineering plays a lead role. In the design changes and variations as the changes will have an impact on the original design to be checked? The proposed changes can be accommodated or not also to be checked, also the cost impact, constructability and other design related parameters to be verified. Organization Structure: Many discrepancies arise due to unorganized organization structure, due to that construction and project gets delayed. Value management is employed, during the initial stages itself giving the requirements for organization and key personnel and appropriate accounting provision will be given in the costing. All the above will be applied in value management. Quality Control, Health, Safety and Environmental Issues: are crucial in project success, here both value management and engineering will be applied as quality cannot be compromised and design team will clearly indicate the minimum quality requirements and also HSE issues cannot be compromised it is a combination of both the above. The following graph illustrates the potential cost savings possible against time when VM is applied in a project. It is clear the when VM is applied at the early stage of a project, the saving will be far less to adopt the changes proposed by the Value Management since the design is yet not commenced and hence it is easy to incorporate any kind of design change proposal due to VM process. Fig 1: Cost Impact of Making Changes Over Time 2.2 Development of Value Management within project scenario: UPM suggests the budget should be equally divided among the different elements of the project. Some suggestions provided by UPM are: 1. Sports Centre Proper design management should be applied for the construction of Seating/Scoring or/and Spectator Seating arrangements. 2. Culture recreational centre Public community should be comfortable with different recreational centres. Their satisfaction is the primary goal to be achieved. 3. Hotels Lighting is a large cost item. The impact it has on energy and guest experience influence to a great extent the operation and spacing cost. 4. Shopping malls Primary objective here is to obtain maximum customer satisfaction keeping returns in mind. Quality should be maintained throughout the lifecycle of the project. 5. Parking space The financial cost for parking space depends on three factors: Total number of parking space required, ‘opportunity cost’ of parking land and cost per parking land available. Careful planning and brainstorming helps to obtain maximum value for land. 6. Food court Proper economical and environmental friendly techniques could be arranged for waste disposal. 7. Cinema Multiplex Natural Ventilation could be installed thereby reducing the cost and power consumption. Value Management Team Selection and Value Management Workshop VM is undertaken as a series stakeholder workshops held at key stages during the development of the project. Value Management Team forms an important aspect in decision making process. It is a flexible, team-based activity, planned and directed by an independent VM facilitator and driven by consensus. Team selection for the Value Management workshop is very critical to success to ensure that the full range of influences are properly addressed by people with the right balance of knowledge, skills, experience and judgment. Where particular stakeholders are not able to take part, or it is not politic to involve them, specific team members should be tasked as champions of those stakeholder interests. As such, the team should include the following participants: 1. Project Sponsor The Project Sponsor is responsible for endorsement of the study objectives. They are responsible for monitoring outcomes, action plans, client’s vision, timeframe, values and constraints. 2. Value Management Coordinator Usually, a client representative may designate this post. Before the workshop is developed, a number of activities need to be decided upon: 1. Developing brief for Facilitator 2. Identifying the Scope of Work 3. Engaging the Facilitator 4. Organizing the schedule for the workshop 5. Date and Venue confirmation 6. Arrangement of objectives of study 7. Selection and invitation of participants 8. Preparation of agenda These roles and the corresponding tasks may vary depending on nature of Value Management topic, the organizations involved and the scale to which Value Management activities undertaken by the parties. 3. Value Management Facilitator He initiates their evaluation at the beginning of the pre-workshop process, helping the client towards clearly defining the aim, assumptions and viewpoints of each stakeholder. The facilitator should specialise in assisting the process by providing support and advice to the sponsor. During Pre-workshop stage, the facilitator focus should be more towards process than content. The facilitator manages time, determines appropriate progress, manages the group, promotes collaboration within the group, and seeks agreement or a method of understanding between teammates at key stages. However, the facilitator should maintain client confidentiality and ensure every member contributes equally to the achievement of value. 4. Project Manager The Project Manager should be included within the workshop because he/she acts as a reference and as a team catalyst for continued action. 5. Stakeholders They should be included in the team as they give a clear cut idea about the objectives, needs and constraints. 6. Technical Experts SBEinnovations Ltd. members who have specialist skills in a particular area are to attend the workshop. Their responsibilities include providing advice and suggestions in the specialist area for which they are invited. 7. Relevant compliance agency Value Management briefing papers should be forwarded to relevant compliance agencies so that they can be affirmed that the steps followed are as per ‘Practice Guidance’. Though, it is not compulsory that their presence should be essential at the workshop. Value Management Workshop and Agenda Following are the three components of a VM Workshop: 1. Job Plan 2. Functions and Functionality 3. Multi-Disciplinary Team The VM Job plan of the workshop will have the following 5 phases 1. Information Phase 2. Creativity Phase 3. Evaluation Phase 4. Development Phase 5. Presentation and Reporting Phase All of the above phases will be covered in 3 weeks workshop as described below. TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES USED IN VM STUDY There are number of tools and techniques which can be used in VM study. However, the following are recommended by UPM. 1. Function Analysis System Technique (FAST) Diagram: It is a graphical representation of logical relationship of functions that need to be performed and how they are linked together into HOW-WHY logical connections to deliver the project. HOW and WHY questions are asked to develop the logic of a function. While defining any function, we ask HOW that particular function can contribute towards developing a more standardized and specific approach. This method of questioning and thinking is referred and summarized from left to right. To solve the problem to a higher level, we ask WHY that particular function is performed. This process of logic is read from right to left. 1. Risk Analysis Risk analysis is a financial tool used to identify risks that can potentially affect the project. The analysis looks at the costs involved, time constraints and other variables that may negatively affect the outcome. As a tool, risk analysis helps managers make decisions and find alternatives. 1. SWOT Analysis SWOT is an acronym that stands for â€Å"strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats,† which is precisely what the SWOT analysis aims to identify. The SWOT helps management see the company's strengths and weaknesses on paper as well as the potential opportunities and threats looming in the industry. Management can then find ways to maximize the company's strengths in order to capitalize on opportunities while minimizing potential threats and weaknesses. 6. VALUE ENGINEERING STUDY Value Engineering is a subset of Value Management. Once the Client is decided on the project, then before the detailed design will commence, the Value Engineering study will be carried out. 6.1 Recommended timing for VALUE ENGINEERING study: In order to expect the greatest return from this project, SBEinnovations Ltd. is suggested to include value engineering exercise during the early design stage and before 60% of the design commitment is reached. Value Engineering workshop should be carried out during the schematic design stage and the detailed design stage. If the Value Engineering occurs later it probably will be seen as a cost cutting exercise but it will be undertaken under a hostile climate that will prevent SBEinnovations from achieving the desired requirements and objectives of  £9M. 6.2 Recommended VE Team The number of participants should be a minimum of five and a maximum of ten. Although more members could participate, we recommend that a larger group may cause difficulties in one-to-one communication. Participants should involve: 1. Project Managers from SBEinnovations Ltd.: These Project Managers help to define the procurement routes and contract administration in the most effective way by putting to use their skills earned by experience. 2. Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Structural Engineers: While conducting brainstorm sections, Comments and views from Engineers, Architects and Quantity Surveyors are valid for active participation. 3. Value Engineering Facilitator: The facilitator should be someone apart from the project manager, the chief design engineer, or the client. The VE facilitator will guide the discussion to confirm and approve, but not to criticize the project approaches and details. 6.3 Value Engineering Workshops VE workshops are concerned with the detailed technical appraisal of alternative solutions proposed by the project team to meet the client’s requirements. Duration for VE workshop will be normally longer than that of VM Workshop. One of the following approaches could be used by SBEinnovations Ltd towards achieving a successful Workshop session: 1. Mini Workshops: A value engineer should join the design team at the briefing stage and be promoted as the facilitator throughout the project. Two mini-workshops should be organized following the job plan format and then reviewed at about 20% and 40% design completion. 2. The two-day workshop: All members of the team focus on issues in an intense and focused way. 6.4 Elements of the Scheme for VE study: Design Optimization As long as the bid documents and the process to detail design are open enough to allow for adjustment of the design, then a buildable design will rise. Design ideas for mixed use commercial and recreational centre should be developed during Value Engineering workshops keeping in mind the constructability and purpose for which it serves. This should include health, safety and security of the local community. Procurement Route The suitable Procurement route should be studied identified and applied by SBEinnovations Ltd. taking into consideration the pros and cons of that particular procurement route and its benefits to the client and the employer. Quality, Time and Cost Maximum return can only be achieved through proper quality, time and cost management. Value Engineering study team should be keen to attain maximum Value for Money (VFM) by proper planning and scheduling of works to ensure cost lies within  £ 9M within the stipulated time frame. Organizational Breakdown Structure (OBS) Study OBS review would be done during the VE workshop which helps to identify roles and responsibilities. Stakeholders Coordination Coordination should be justified during VE studies so as to dissolve any interference between Stakeholders. Part 2 – Risk Management Essay Risk Management in Infrastructure Projects Introduction All large projects face risks. Project risk is an activity, event or action which tends to cause a negative impact on the planned goals of project scope, quality, performance, execution time or cost. Inevitably, risks and uncertainties are substantially inherent in infrastructure projects. Problematically, many infrastructure projects could not have achieved project goals satisfactorily. Therefore, it is very important for the identification and treatment of these project risks. Project risks always contribute to the poor performance leading to cost and time over run. Their major reason is the occurrence of external and internal project risks and uncertainties throughout project stages from planning, bidding, contracting to construction. This essay intends to provide a useful insight into the inherent risk into infrastructure projects, and will discuss about the management of these risks. The essay will also enable the reader to understand and application of the key concepts and techniques used in management of risk in infrastructure projects. For the purpose of this essay, Railway Projects in the MENA region is considered. History has shown that railways have always been central to any country’s growth ambitions. Thus it comes as no surprise that the GCC countries have embraced railway networks as their best hope for expanding and consolidating future economic growth. By providing a low cost alternative to shipping and air, the GCC member states allow for increased trade and thus further economic prosperity. As a result of this increased focus, it’s no surprise to find that railway networks account for nine of the ten biggest infrastructure projects in the Middle East. With ambitious plans to produce a GCC wide network within the next decade, the countries are working to develop their own interior networks in preparation. The following Table shows a list of top 10 infrastructure projects (ongoing and planned) in the MENA area.