quality management :: essays research papers

the Xbox 360 will be HD-DVD compatible. Get the full story at GamesIndustry.biz. Who Needs Sight?: How would you feel if someone totally beat the ever-loving waste products out of you while you were playing a game...and they were facing away from the screen? Well, folks who set themselves up for a challenge with 17 year-old Brice Mellen may have to deal with those questions. You see, Brice is blind but has been playing games his entire life, and as a result, is probably a lot better than you in Mortal Kombat Annihilation and Soul Calibur 2. Meet the ultimate gamer at Yahoo! News. Google Wars: A dispute between Canada and Denmark over a tiny island near Greenland (which is a territory of Denmark, despite being larger than the entire European nation) is being fought online via ads on Google, which point to letters of protest centered around the dispute. Find out the full story on Yahoo! News. Wall Of Shame: Chicago's new way of humiliating those caught soliciting a prostitute in their city may be effective at making the perpetrators feel ashamed, but the practice of posting the names and photos of those caught before they're tried has come under scrutiny by law enforcement officials and attorneys. Those actions violate a person's constitutional right to a fair trial by punishing them before they are proven guilty. Read the whole story at Law.com. From The N-Side: At most companies, divulging corporate secrets could get one in boiling hot water, but if you've ever wanted to find out why some of the more peculiar decisions were made at Nintendo over the years, here's your chance. N-Sider has an article that reveals the reasons behind such odd happenings such as the Virtual Boy and the Game Boy-only sequel to Kid Icarus, plus more. Seeing Infrared: A hacker known as Major Malfunction online has revealed to the world exactly how easy it is to hack into one's personal information anytime information is transmitted via an infrared signal, such as in hotel room computers and car door locks. Find out what you're missing if you're not plugged in to DefCon at Wired. Best Name Ever: Even if you're already way past the whole 'birds and the bees' conversation stage in your life, you've got to chuckle at the name for the sequel to the Nintendo DS title Feel the Magic.

Outcomes of the Crusades

The â€Å"Crusades† was a military campaign of Christians in Western Europe whose purpose is to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims. The Roman Catholic Church stimulated most of the support for the war, showing its intolerance to both Islam and Orthodox Christianity. Although religious in nature, the Crusades had become a bloody frenzy. Six military campaigns comprised the period, starting from the First Crusade in 1096, inspired by Pope Urban II, and ending in the Sixth Crusade in 1254, led by the king of France, King Louis IX.To this day, the Crusades is still a controversial because of the military excesses during the battles. However, many outcomes came out of the movement: First, the European horizon expanded; second, the encounters with the different cultures promoted learning as well as commerce between different civilizations; third, as a result of the eastern influence, there was growth in western scholasticism and philosophy; and fourth, it sparked a dangerous con cept adapted in monarchy and politics. Among the noted significance of the first crusades was the increased contacts between the Europeans and the Byzantines and Muslims.During this time, the Byzantine was already beginning to decline and Islam was not as powerful as it once was, although still a formidable force. As regards the original intention of the Crusades, the Christians' success of having Jerusalem under their control never reached permanence. However, the first crusades effected the expansion of Europe, meaning it gained more strength than other competing civilizations did. Moreover, there became a balance of power between the Muslims and the Christians.During the First Crusade, supporters of the movement, such as those from Pisa and Genoa, sailed the Mediterranean Sea to bring help to Jerusalem. As a result, the sea was again reopened to western shipping, and, in turn, communication was reestablished between the east and west. Although at several points the Christians rul ed over the Holy Land, Muslims were able to conquer it again in the 12th century. However, the Christians continued to hold power over the sea. Thus, the ports in the countries such as Levant in the border of the sea were under their control.The number of commercial establishments grew rapidly in the ports of Syria and Egypt, and the Christians held autonomy over operations in the areas of Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily, which were originally controlled by the Saracens (Riley-Smith 85). The sea routes were open for trade, allowing products of Asia to come in. In short, the Crusades opened the lines of communication and exchange of knowledge between the eastern and western civilizations through the trade. This made a significant contribution to the development of Europe in terms of both knowledge and economy.Some of the practices of Muslim science, literature and philosophy, as well as medicine had found its way to Christian tradition (Riley-Smith 87). In time, the crusading movements were divided into two groups: the external Crusades and the internal Crusades. The former was directed mainly against Muslims, whereas the latter was a war against the perceived enemies of the Christian world. Unfortunately, the development of the internal Crusades enforced a violent thinking—that is, violence is sanctified in ideological pursuits.The Crusades was originally a war to retrieve the Holy Land, but the concept of sanctified violence extended to the monarchy and the political sphere. What used to be the holy cause of defending the Church became a moral duty of defending the state (Riley-Smith 90). Indeed, the Crusades was a crucial moment in history, and one that people can learn from. That is, the good things that came out of it should be emulated, and its detrimental effects should serve as a warning to modern society. Works Cited Riley-Smith, Jonathan. â€Å"The First Crusade and the Idea of Crusading†. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 1991. 85 -96.

Religion In Public Schools Essay - 1444 Words

Religion in Public Schools nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof......Ó according to the First Amendment of the Constitution. This idea of freedom of religion has been stated very clearly, but it also raises questions about the meaning of religious freedom . Should religious expression be excluded from all government activities? Has separation of church and state been violated by the U.S. Treasury? For example, on the back of every U.S. coin are the words, Ã’In God We TrustÓ. And what about when they swear-in government offficials with a Bible? Why not use the Torah or the Koran? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Is it separation of church†¦show more content†¦Of course, their schools didnÕt have many or probably any Muslims or Jews, but how does that differ from a small country town in Oklahoma where the population is completely of the Christian faith? Does this mean that the school cannot practice the religion in which the complete population is Christian? ArenÕt these students being denied their religious rights? These questions may be asked by many. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Government has a lot to do with the debate. Many Supreme Court rulings have made laws allowing or prohibiting the act of praying in schools in the past eighty years. The first one was in 1914 when the Ã’Gary PlanÓ was inaugurated in Gary,Indiana.The document stated that with the consent of parents, students would be released from school to attend places to worship. That was followed in 1940 when the Gary Plan was extended to Champaign, Illinois. It was struck down by the Court in quot;McCollum v. Board of Educationquot; in 1948. Another important decision was the Engel v. Vitale case in 1962 which said that it was unconsitutional for there to be recitation in public schools even though it was non-denominational. The Supreme Court has also ruled against posting the Ten Commandments in public school classroomsin 1978. Since the l980Õs the Supreme Court has allowed religious groups to use university facilities for extracurricularShow MoreRelatedReligion : Public Schools And Religion2002 Words   |  9 PagesReligion in Public Schools Issues involving public schools and religion have been topics involving intense debate. It is difficult for the government to elucidate the appropriate boundaries of religion in the public schools. It is true that teaching about religion is permitted in the public education systems, but the real question is where the margin should be set between teaching religion and simply teaching about religion. It is almost impossible to teach about the history of the United StatesRead MoreEssay on Religion in Public Schools 1442 Words   |  6 PagesThe subject of religion in public schools is one that has been debated vigorously and passionately. The warriors from the Right and Left fail to appreciate the facts because they are caught up in the rhetoric and have difficulty viewing this emotional topic dispassionately (Haynes, 2011). Both sides are right about one thing: this is an important subject. The debate on religion in the public school is complicated by the fact that there are two clauses dealing with religion in the First AmendmentRead MoreFreedom of Religion in Public Schools1748 Words   |  7 Pagesthe individual practice of religion in school has become a very controversial topic. There are many different views on this matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum, there are those who believe that it should be taught and allowed in school, and there are those who believe it should not be taught or practiced in school. There have been cases brought to court about how religion should be taken out of schools, or if it should be allowedRead MoreThe Practice of Religion in Public Schools762 Words   |  4 PagesThe Practice of Religion in Public Schools The â€Å"establishment† or â€Å"religion† clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution reads: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof† (Education Week, 2003, para. 2). It is from this clause that the idea of separation of church and state comes. It is also the basis for much of the debate regarding the practice of religion in public schools (Education Week, 2003). OneRead MoreReligion and Public school Essay1652 Words   |  7 Pagesestablished religion. To prevent this from happening in America, the Framers of the constitution banished the ability for the state to interfere with religion, and vice versa. Yet over time this mixture of government and religion has been tested, especially in cases involving school and religion. Like any argument, there is a party which agrees and another which disagrees. When looking at schools and practices of religion, there is a side that believ e the mixture of school and religion is just andRead MoreReligion in Public Schools Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesDefinition: Religion in school is the practice of any personal religious beliefs in a place of education. Introduction: In recent years teaching or the individual practice of religion in school has become a very controversial topic. There are many different views on this matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum, there are those who believe that it should be taught and allowed in school, and there are those who believe it shouldRead More Religion in Public Schools Essay2315 Words   |  10 PagesReligious Rights in Public Schools JESUS in the classroom! Are you feeling uncomfortable yet? Religion in the public school systems is among the top of the list of controversial topics in American society, Weve long been advised to avoid this and other religiously politically intertwined subjects in polite conversation. If youre like most Americans, this topic makes you frustrated, high strung, or at least a little queasy. From the day the 1st amendment right appeared in the U.S.Read More Religion in Public Schools Essay602 Words   |  3 Pages Religion in Public Schools Are you religious? Do you have children? What kind of environment would you like your child in while he/she is in school? A century ago, most of America’s public schools were religious schools. Over time the state has redesigned schools in order to make schools for all children and not alienate any students. The Supreme Court then accelerated the movement in 1962 when it declared that prayer in public schools was unconstitutional. Then one year later the court removedRead More No Religion or School Prayer in Public Schools Essay3018 Words   |  13 PagesConstitution was adopted, the separation of church and state issue focused on preventing a government mandated religion (Davis 245). The framers of the Constitution knew first hand the harmful consequences of a government that has complete control over religion. Protecting the religious freedoms of the various religions seeking refuge in America also raised great concern. Each religion s hould be given the same rights wh en practicing their beliefs. For these reasons, the First Amendment of hteRead More Religion and School Prayer in Public Schools Essays1853 Words   |  8 Pagespractice the same religion, Americas first legislators made certain that government intervention in religious matters was prohibited. Therefore, religious freedom was ensured in the First Amendment to the Constitution, as it states, Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . (Whitehead, Rights 49). This statement allowed Americans to f reely express and practice or chose not to practice a religion. The two distinct parts

Media Representatin of Women in Sport - 2262 Words

Major Essay Current society is built upon stereotypes and constructions that are predetermined by previous generations’ views. One of the most recognised historical constructions is the patriarchal theory, that the female is subservient to the male. However, this construction of gender power is slowly equalising, with the rise of feminist groups in the latter part of the 20th century giving reason for this occurring. Nevertheless, gender battles are still occurring, particularly in the sporting industry, which remains male dominated. Female sport has been given much notoriety over their uproar in the past decade, but is finding in a male controlled industry it is difficult for women to receive help from governing bodies. Female sport is†¦show more content†¦So from our perspective it is clear that the media has constructed a view that the amateur female athlete must be ‘sexy’ in order to be able to succeed, we don’t read in magazines or see photographs of less attractive female athletes, they have excluded them for what in their mind is good reason, sex sells. However it is creating an unrealistic image of the perfect female athlete, they are not judged by how good they are at hitting, catching, shooting, running or jumping, but by how much they can get paid for taking their clothes off. (Caple, Greenwood Lumby 2010) Another cause for concern over female sport is that professionally they are not getting anywhere near enough media coverage and money as their male counterparts. The media cover male sport in far more depth; in fact a study in 2006 by South Australian Premier’s Council for Women found just 4.1 per cent of coverage was about female sport () and on Foxtel approximately 10 per cent was about female sport (Senate Standing Committees on Environment, Communications and the Arts 2006). The chart below shows the volume of news coverage that all the different sports receive, which not surprisingly shows Tennis as being pretty much the main female sport that is being covered, with very little else in comparison to male sport, even horses gain more exposure than females. So while females are being

Essay on Geoffrey Chaucer - 778 Words

Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer was a poet, a writer, and of course a diplomat. Geoffrey Chaucer was born in the early hours of 1340s to John Chaucer, a vintner and assistant to the kings butler. As a boy, he was a leaf to the Countess of Ulster. (Lombardi) Chaucer was the most famous for writing his unfinished Canterbury tales. (Geoffrey Chaucer) He was born in London, only problem is, the exact date and place are unknown. From his writings Chaucer emerges as poet of love, both worldly and heavenly. No information exists about his early education, although without a doubt he would have been as good in French as in the Middle English of his time. (Bio.True Story) Chaucer pops up in the record books in 1357 he was working for the queen.†¦show more content†¦Some people collected the sixteenth-century editions of Chaucers Works. He set the goal line for all other English authors, including, presentation, quality and success of actually printing. (Geoffrey Chaucer) When these versions of his poems were printed, that was the time where Geoffrey Chaucer truly became famous.(Geoffrey Chaucer) It was in Chaucers final phase, which he gained his popularity, The Canterbury Tales (written mostly after 1387). The Canterbury Tales was an unfinished poem. Being his most successful, it consists of 17000 lines. It was one of the most unsullied works in all literature. (Info Please) The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written in Middle-English. As a group of pilgrims travels to the shrine of Saint Thomas they decide to tell stories to each other on the way. In a huge list of poems and stories, the Canterbury Tales is Chaucers most important and visual, and a stacking achievement of western culture and Old English times. While writing the Canterbury tales he use the characters and their lifestyles to create irony and every day events. Describing what the old English church was really like. (Geoffrey Chaucer) The Canterbury Tales were written in Middle English, in the old days, the tone was equivalent to London type style. Although there was never an official copy of the Canterbury tales, Adam Pankhurst made sure that wasn’t true. Chaucers second period (up to c.1387) is called his Italian period because during this timeShow MoreRelatedThe Wife Of Bath, By Geoffrey Chaucer1091 Words   |  5 Pagesdominated society. â€Å"Millions are condemned to a stiller doom than mine, and millions are in silent revolt against their lot.† As Charlotte Brontà « and many other authors have found, it is seemingly unfair that these roles are the way they are. Geoffrey Chaucer also explores this reality with his creation of the Wife of Bath’s Tale. Although her thoughts may have been a bit different from Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s, the character portrayed in this tale explores the duality of both challenging and upholding the patriarchyRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer1582 Words   |  7 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury tales a collection of short tales in the 14th century. The compilation of stories are told by different characters within the narrative as part of a game proposed by the host. Each individual must tell two stories on their journey and two stories on their way back. Each story tells some aspects of English life during the time and often added satire like qualities to the English life. In particular Chaucer often tells stories with elements of the relationshipRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath, By Geoffrey Chaucer880 Words   |  4 Pagessocial philosophies. These women are guided by desires, independence, and progress notions. These conflicting depictions of social and individual concepts, within female characters, illustrates feministic divergences within specific writings of Geoffrey Chaucer, the Pearl Poet, and Margery Kempe. In Chaucer’s frame story The Canterbury Tales, the account of â€Å"The Wife of Bath† demonstrates a mixture of feminine ideas. The prologue of to the tale shows a complexity of medieval female characteristicsRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer2127 Words   |  9 PagesIt is unknown when Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, but it is assumed that he wrote it in 1387. There are many different aspects and themes throughout this paper that are very prominent. One theme that is very important is the importance of company. This entire tale is about twenty-nine pilgrims who all tell tales while on a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. The importance of company is that this is a pilgrimage that requires companions and friendship. ThoughRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer2664 Words   |  11 PagesThe Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales was written by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1392, during the medieval period in Europe. Three important aspects, his family’s ties to the court, his schooling and working for royalty (XI), and his love for reading and learning (XII) all combined and enabled him to create his greatest work, The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer includes many different characters, pilgrims, all from very unique walks of life. Although there are not as many women included as men, their storiesRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer2648 Words   |  11 PagesThe Canterbury Tales was written by Geoffrey Chaucer in 1392, during the medieval period in Europe. Three important aspects, his family’s ties to the court, his schooling and working for royalty (XI), and his love for reading and learning (XII) all combined and enabled him to create his greatest work, The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer includes many different characters, pilgrims, all from very unique walks of life. Although there are not as many women included as men, their stories give some extraordinaryRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1073 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer introduced and described a variety of fictional characters that lived in the Middle Ages. It was the time period that European civilians were governed by a system called feudalism. Where kings were the head of the system and everyone was categorized in social classes. In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales the first character introduced was the knight. Geoffrey Chaucer depicts the knight correctly by characterizing him as a chivalrous and honorable man,Read MoreGeoffrey Chaucer s Impact On Literature1231 Words   |  5 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer’s Impact on Literature: English poet Geoffrey Chaucer is acclaimed to be one of the best and most influential poets in history. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote several famous literary works in what is called middle English. Geoffrey Chaucer was born in 1340 in London, England. Over the course of Chaucer’s life, he entered and exited several different social classes. He began to write his most known pieces when he became a public servant to Countess Elizabeth of Ulster in 1357. He diedRead MoreCanterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1380 Words   |  6 PagesCanterbury Tales Canterbury Tales written by Geoffrey Chaucer was a story of not the people themselves but a social statement of how the people of higher standing were viewed by the middle class. In the time that Canterbury Tales was written it was a time of corruption of the Church. There were many clergy members that were mentioned in this story. Each of the characters was unique in the way they went against the standards they should be held to. The most interesting this story was definitely TheRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath, By Geoffrey Chaucer1251 Words   |  6 PagesBath, emphasizing â€Å"The Prologue of the Wife of Bath’s Tale† and the â€Å"The Prologue† in Geoffrey Chaucer s Canterbury Tales, is an example of the Middle English concept that male authors reflect misogynistic ideals of society onto female characters.With the Wife of Bath, she is a fictional character, as told by Chaucer, going on a Pilgrimage, with constant ridicule for her sexuality and multiple marriages. C haucer portrays her as a previously battered wife who uses her sexual promiscuity as a way of

Analysing The Present Macro And Micro Environment Of The Hotel Karma

Question: Discuss about the Analysing The Present Macro And Micro Environment Of The Hotel Karma. Answer: Introduction Karma is a medium sized hotel that has around 250 air-conditioned rooms, all fitted with private bathrooms. The hotel even contains a lobby lounge, a full-service restaurant and a pub bar with snack service. There is a separate enclosed garden and some of the outbuildings get used as office or storage. The hotel has its location at Bondi Beach in Sydney, which is in itself a world-class tourist attraction, attracting huge visitors each year. This report is composed with the aim of analysing the present macro and micro environment of the hotel. Porter's Five Forces Model, PEST, and Value Chain models would be used for this process. Vision, mission and CSR related strategic approaches would be developed, with final recommendations provided for the initial year. Macro and Micro Environment Analysis PEST The strategy team chose PEST model for macro environmental analysis. It has the capability of analyzing the external factors that have an impact on the organization. PEST is short for Political, Economic, Social, and Technological factors (Gupta, 2013). Political Australia is a democratic nation that has a capitalist system (Walker, 2012). The political forces of this country do not hamper with legitimate business activities. Economic The economic development in this country is fast. The commercial quotient of the Bondi Beach area is high. Social Australia as a country boasts of multiculturalism and is highly migrant. The Bondi Beach area experiences visits from a lot of international visitors. Technological Australia has invested a lot in RD and the country has become technologically advanced in their industries in a fast and advanced manner. Porters Five Forces The strategy team chose Porter's Five Forces model as their main tool for external analysis of the five factors that help analyse the fundamental competitive situation of any industry - Bargaining Power of Suppliers, Bargaining Power of Buyers, Threat of New Entrants, Substitutes and Rivalry (Dobbs, 2014). Bargaining Power of Suppliers Low - Sydney being a metropolis, it boasts of many suppliers. Therefore, majority of the suppliers and their products are substitutable. Bargaining Power of Buyers Medium Many of the international tourists have high demand for Bondi Beach and they have huge purchasing power. At the same time, they are extremely concerned regarding the hotels quality. Threat of New Entrants Low the barriers to entry are high as huge amounts of funding is required to be able to enter the hotel industry at Bondi Beach. Threat of Substitutes High as the products and services of the hotel can be imitated and replaced easily. Competitive Rivalry High as there is high level competition due to most of the hotels not being dominated. Majority of the products of the hotel are costly and similar. Porter's Value Chain The strategy team made use of Porters Value Chain model for determining the possible values of the resources and the competitive advantage, which directs to the view that each step is valuable for resource utilization, as that influences the ultimate creation of value and competitive advantage for the business (Michelini Fiorentino, 2012). For Karma hotel at Bondi Beach, the main products are the rooms and the dining facilities. The production and sales elements of the service asks for investment from each link. Therefore, in the analysis of the value chain for Karma, each step of the hotels operation would be influencing the end value and competitive advantage. Overarching Business Strategy Vision The vision for Karma hotel is having a long-term impact on the people who visit them, their potential customers and the local community they operate in. Karma is on the path of becoming the first choice of hotel for their patrons, employees and the communities they expand in after Bondi Beach. Within a year it would be difficult for Karma, a medium sized hotel, to acquire market segment monopoly. Mission The mission of Karma would be representing their specific business scopes for their purposes and operations that would also relate to proper allocation of resources and action decisions. Karmas main mission are: Making the guests happy at all times of their stay (Smith Ong, 2015) Guests would be always choosing Karma whenever they are visiting Bondi Beach Ethical Business Investment of CSR At the heart of Karmas operations and business is ethics, which would make them pay more attention to corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR for Karma would imply them focusing in their stakeholder, market, finance, environment and community. Benevolent changes and investments made in CSR would help Karma acquire sustainable development (Chernev Blair, 2015). Strategic Direction The developed vision and mission, with the help of macro and micro-environmental analysis, would affect Karmas administration categories, including their exact operational measures. Karma lacks the capability of participating in the price war with its competitors, only have option of choosing blue ocean strategy, produced differences and carry out the development of niche market. The first decision would be of cooperating with organising with travel agencies and targeting the markets that are emerging currently, like India, China, and other South East Asian countries (Brotherton, 2012). Karma has a sustainable operational strategy. Therefore, its operations are completely subject to the needs of ethical business. As the decision is to be taken for the next year, the hotels CSR would be more worried about the community aspect and make use of citizenship strategy. The CSR strategy would be of building a CSR fund from every booking - a good way of serving the local community and benefitting the hotel (Hilson, 2012). Conclusion In conclusion, the environmental and resource analysis of Karma hotel was properly done with the help of PEST, Porters Five Forces and Value Chain models. The management has been able to develop an appropriate vision, mission and a completely ethical business operation approach, including CSR and its investments. Limitations are existing in the model and environmental monitoring, which is required to consider account internalities and externalities. More strategic research of the environment is required on this front, so that it is made sure that the teams strategic mission gets fulfilled in the first year of operation itself. References Brotherton, B. (Ed.). (2012).International Hospitality Industry. Routledge. Chernev, A., Blair, S. (2015). Doing well by doing good: The benevolent halo of corporate social responsibility.Journal of Consumer Research,41(6), 1412-1425. Dobbs, M. (2014). Guidelines for applying Porter's five forces framework: a set of industry analysis templates.Competitiveness Review,24(1), 32-45. Gupta, A. (2013). Environmental and pest analysis: An approach to external business environment.Merit Research Journal of Art, Social Science and Humanities,1(2), 13-17. Hilson, G. (2012). Corporate Social Responsibility in the extractive industries: Experiences from developing countries.Resources Policy,37(2), 131-137. Michelini, L., Fiorentino, D. (2012). New business models for creating shared value.Social Responsibility Journal,8(4), 561-577. Smith, R. A., Ong, J. L. T. (2015). Corporate social responsibility and the operationalization challenge for global tourism organizations.Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research,20(5), 487-499. Walker, D. (2012). Anxious nation: Australia and the rise of Asia 1850-1939.Anxious Nation: Australia and the rise of Asia 1850-1939, xv

Plastic Ocean Pollution on Ocean life in U.S

Introduction Plastics pollution is among the greatest threats to the oceans on earth. It has been found out that plastic make up about ninety percent of all litter that float on the surface of oceans, with about forty six thousand bits of plastic within every square mile (â€Å"Plastic Pollution† 1).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Plastic Ocean Pollution on Ocean life in U.S specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The reason for having the large amount of plastic in our oceans is that, plastic does not undergo biodegradation, like other forms of trash; but it instead photo-degrades with light from the sun, disintegrating into more and more little pieces, â€Å"but they never really disappear† (â€Å"Plastic Pollution† 1). The pieces of plastic are consumed by the living organisms that are found in the ocean. They may also disintegrate in to plastic dust, which is microscopic. The plastics are as well swept by the ocean currents, and they land in spinning vortexes referred to as ocean gyres (â€Å"Plastic Pollution† 1). It is reported that the North Pacific Gyre located off the Californian Coast is â€Å"home to the Great Pacific Garbage patch† (â€Å"Plastic Pollution† 1). This is the biggest marine garbage site in the whole world. The floating plastic mass is two times as big as Texas and has pieces of plastic that outnumber ocean life by a ratio of 6:1 and it is not possible to completely clean up these sites (â€Å"Plastic Pollution† 1). Plastics pose a great danger to the life of all ocean living organisms; be they small or big ones. More than one hundred thousand sea mammals as well as one million birds in the sea die annually and their deaths result from eating plastic materials or getting entangled in these materials (â€Å"Plastic Pollution† 1). It is also important to point out that it takes about seven hundred years for th e plastics to completely degrade. This implies that even if an initiative was taken to put a halt to the use of plastics, these materials will still be there for a large number of generations, continuing to pose a threat to the human as well as marine life. However, in spite of these, there is possibility of taking particular actions to effectively deal with this problem. This paper is going to present a discussion on effects of plastic ocean pollution on marine life in the U.S. The paper is specifically going to look at how plastic ocean pollution comes about and how it affects the ocean life. The measures that are aimed at dealing with this problem are also going to be looked at. The paper will be considering some of the examples related to this problem from even other parts of the world. The conclusion section is going to present a summary of the main points in the discussion. Ocean Plastic Pollution and its Effects on Ocean Life The amount of the ocean debris is now constantly e scalating in all the oceans on earth. The research conducted by the Algalita Marine Research Foundation presented findings which indicated that from the year 1997 up to 2007, there was an increase in the amount of the plastic debris in the â€Å"Central Pacific Gyre† by five times, â€Å"where the baseline in 1997 showed plastic pieces outnumbered plankton on the ocean surface 6:1† (â€Å"The Problem of marine plastic pollution†1).Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Elsewhere, off the coast of Japan, the amount of the floating plastic particles increased by ten times in a period of one decade, beginning from the 70s up to the 80s. This amount then started increasing ten times in every after about three years in the course of the 1990s (â€Å"The Problem of marine plastic pollution†1). It is also reported that the amount of debris increased 100 fold in the Southern Ocean at the beginning of the 1990s (Copello and Quintara 1514). This rise in the amount of the debris took place at a similar period during which the global plastic fiber production had increased by four times (â€Å"The Problem of marine plastic pollution†1). When the plastics enter into the ocean they injure and kill the sea animals including the fish, sea mammals and seabirds. Ocean plastic pollution has had a great impact on a minimum of two hundred and sixty seven species across the world and these include forty three percent of all of the sea mammal species, eighty six percent of the total number of species of the sea turtles and forty four percent of the total number of the species of seabirds (Laist 99). The common impact has been death which has been resulting from entanglement, ingestion and infection among others (Laist 99). It is also reported that, in the year 2010, â€Å"a California grey whale washed up dead on the shores of the Puge t Sound† (â€Å"The Problem of marine plastic pollution† p.1). Indications were given by autopsies that this animal’s stomach had several things which included, over twenty plastic bags, surgical gloves, golf ball and a pair of pants among other things (â€Å"The Problem of marine plastic pollution† 1). The seabirds that usually obtain their food from the surface of the ocean are particularly vulnerable to swallowing the floating plastic debris. The mature seabirds engage in feeding these plastic particles to their young ones and this adversely affects the survival and growth of these chicks (Hannah 1). Some research gave out findings which indicated that about ninety eight percent of the chicks that had been sampled during the research, had plastic in their body and the amount of the plastic that was being swallowed was ever increasing in the course of time (Auman 240). Since insistent organic pollutants within the ocean environment get attached on the pl astic debris’ surface, it has been established that the ocean floating plastics build up these pollutants and carry them through the sea currents (â€Å"The Problem of marine plastic pollution†1).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Plastic Ocean Pollution on Ocean life in U.S specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The moving and floating debris do facilitate transportation of the invasive ocean species as well (David 808). On an increasing level, studies give an indication that the ocean organisms that take in plastics that are coated with poisonous materials can have these substances get absorbed into their body systems (David 808). The plastic debris is contributing towards having the human food chain getting polluted. For instance, in research conducted in the ‘Pacific Gyre† by researchers on a voyage in the year 2008, it was found that fish are taking in plastic particles. Out of th e six hundred and seventy two fish that were caught in the course of the voyage, about thirty five percent of them had swallowed plastic particles (The Problem of marine plastic pollution† 1). Following a study that was conducted in North Carolina coast in which one thousand and thirty three seabirds were collected, the findings indicated that â€Å"individuals from 55% of the species recorded had plastic particles in their guts† (Derraik 846). These researchers got evidence which showed that some of the birds from the sea chose specific colors as well as shapes of the plastics, possibly mistaking these materials for some prey items (Derraik 845). It has also been found that the sea birds that have ingested large amounts of plastics experience a decrease in the amount of food consumed and this limits their capacity â€Å"to lay down fat deposits, thus reducing fitness† (Derraik 845). Other negative effects that are brought by the ingestion of the plastic material s include reduced feeding stimulus, reproductive failure, blocking of the secretion of the gastric enzyme and delayed ovulation among other effects (Derraik 845). Moreover, among the small birds and fish, ingesting plastic debris can cause a reduction in the food uptake, and may bring about internal injuries and eventually death as result of damages made on the intestinal tract (Derraik 848). However, the level of harm will vary from one species to the other. Dealing With Plastic Ocean Pollution Efforts have been made to put in place international legislation aimed at promoting conservation of oceans. For instance, there was setting up of the â€Å"1972 Convention of the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and other Matter†(Derraik 847). Perhaps the most significant legislation put in place to deal with the escalating problem regarding ocean pollution is the â€Å"1978 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships† (De rraik 847). This legislation had recognition that the vessels present a major and manageable cause of pollution into the ocean environment (Derraik 847).Advertising Looking for research paper on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The â€Å"Annex V of MARPOL† is found to be the main worldwide authority that controls ocean debris ship sources. It became effective beginning from the year 1988. It â€Å"restricts at sea discharge of garbage and bans at sea disposal of plastics and synthetic materials such as ropes, fishing nets, and plastic garbage bags with limited exceptions† (Derraik 847). Of greater significance, Annex V is applicable to all of the watercraft, the small leisure vessels included. It is reported that over seventy nine nations across the world have engaged in ratifying the Annex V. The signatory nations are supposed to take appropriate initiatives to ensure that they undertake its complete implementation (Derraik 848). However, there is still widespread ignoring of legislation and estimates are made that, ships dispose of about six and a half million tones of the plastics each year (Derraik 848). For instance, taking the case in Australia, it was found out that about thirty percen t of the ships did not fulfil MARPOL regulations on discarding plastics. The legislation that is put in place at the national level can actually also be very helpful. The individual nations can turn out to be effectual through their own legislation (Derraik 848). This may involve laws that call for having degradability measures or which support recycling. In the United States of America, the 1987 â€Å"Plastics Pollution Research and Control Act† (Derraik 848) did not just take up Annex V, but broadened its use to the United States vessels as well. The ocean carriers are supposed to take up these regulations that forbid discarding the plastic materials at the ocean. However, the greatest hardship when considering legislation is to essentially undertake its enforcement in the world’s oceans, which is a very large area. Therefore, it is important that the nations that are neighbours work jointly so that they can make sure that there is compliance with Annex V by all the vessels (Derraik 848). The plastics sector in the United States of America, through the guidance provided by ACC (American Chemical Council), engages in spending large amounts of money every year in order to persuade the people who make policies as well as the people living in such places as California, that the solutions to the problem of plastic ocean pollution is found in the anti-litter crusades which attribute the liability â€Å"for marine debris on individual behavior† (The Problem of marine plastic pollution† 1). However, they have just committed small amounts of money to the public education but a large amount to supporting polices which promote higher levels of plastics utilization (The Problem of marine plastic pollution†1). As on one hand increasing public education with an aim of preventing littering is of great importance, on the other hand, suitable litter management fails to deal with the unsustainable utilization of the resources which are involve d in the production of â€Å"packaging and single use disposable goods† (â€Å"The Problem of marine plastic pollution† 1). Moreover, while the quantity of the disposable products as well as packaging goes on increasing, managing litter by offering public education and cleaning up of the streets as well as waterway calls for having substantial and constant financing. Ensuring there is prevention of the creation of disposable products, to the highest level possible, cuts down the expenditure on litter management. Prevention is found to be good for the environment as well as being cost-effective (The Problem of marine plastic pollution†, 1). It is also important to point out that education is a very strong tool that can be used in dealing with the problem of ocean pollution, especially when discussions about this problem is carried out in schools. The young people may not just engage in changing habits without any difficulties, but they would as well be in a positi on to transfer the awareness they have acquired to their family members as well as to the community at large. In this case, they will be serving as being agents of change. Because the sources of pollution that are land-based offer greater inputs of plastics into the seas, in case a community turns out to have awareness about the problem, this can indeed bring in a great difference. Education holds great power that can not be undermined in any way and it can play a more important role towards realizing positive results than applying stringent laws, like the one applied in New York, referred to as â€Å"Suffolk County Plastic Law† (Derraik 848). This law prohibited some â€Å"retail food packaging† but the law did not succeed in bringing down the level of the roadside as well as beach litter (Derraik 848). Financial incentives may also be required and it is pointed out that â€Å"no effort to conserve biological diversity is realistic outside the economics and public po licies that drive the modern world† (Derraik 848). There also exist some aspects that are more complex regarding plastic ocean pollution. Since it could be viewed as being â€Å"side-effects† of advancement, the nations that are going through economic development and growth will look for their growth share, exerting more â€Å"pressure on the environment† (Derraik 848). There is no likelihood that nations like those ones would engage in taking any measure to bring down the level of utilizing plastics as well as their disposal in the sea water, if such a move would negatively affect any short-term economic benefit they my acquire. This is true especially when it is considered that even the developed countries themselves do not care and are even still not able to show compliance with Annex V requirements (Derraik 848). One way of dealing with this problem effectively is by setting up and using the photodegradable as well as biodegradable plastics. For instance, the Navy of the United States of America engaged in working on a biopolymer that was very promising for â€Å"the fabrication of marine-disposable trash bags† (Derraik 848). However, it is unlucky that the impact of the ultimate degradation products of these materials is yet to be known; there is a risk of replacing one problem with another (Derraik 848). Therefore researches were being conducted, for instance, with an intention of monitoring polymer degradation in â€Å"natural waters under real-life conditions†¦and assess the impact of degradation products on estuarine benthos† (Derraik 848). Conclusion Plastic ocean pollution currently poses a great danger to marine life. Plastics are widely used across the world and they now easily find their way into the ocean or they are sometimes dumped directly by ships. Plastic form just about ninety percent of all litter which float on the oceans’ surface. Large amounts of plastics exist because these materials do no t undergo biodegradation, like other forms of wastes. At the present, the amount of the ocean debris is ever increasing in all the available oceans. When plastics find their way into the ocean, they bring in adverse effects to the marine life including fish, sea mammals and seabirds; through either injuring them or even killing them. In the case of the occurrence of death to these animals, this commonly results from entanglement, ingestion and infection. Since ocean pollution in general, and plastic ocean pollution specifically, is turning out to be a big problem on an increasing level, there is need to take appropriate measures to deal with it effectively. One of the measures that need to be taken is that, ocean carriers need to obey all the international as well as national laws which prohibit discarding the plastic materials at the ocean. The problem here is that, oceans touch a number of countries and one country can not be able to achieve its goal of avoiding plastic ocean poll ution alone. The neighboring nations need to come together and operate as a team, and especially in regard with complying with Annex V. Moreover, there is need to educate people about how important it is to avoid plastic ocean pollution in order to save the marine life. Educating the young people in school can actually be helpful. These young people can be used as agents of change when they are encouraged to go out and pass the message to the wider community. The power that education holds is far much greater than the strict laws that may be put in place and can help in dealing with this problem more effectively. Works Cited Auman, Heidi, et al. â€Å"Plastic ingestion by Laysan Albatross Chicks on Sand Island, Midway Atoll, in 1994 and 1995.† Albatross Biology and Conservation, 1.1 (1997): 239-244. Print. Copello, Sofia and Quintara Flavio. â€Å"Marine Debris Ingestion by Southern Giant Petrels and its Potential Relationships with Fisheries in the Southern Ocean.† Ma rine Debris Bulletin, 46 (2003): 1513-1515. Print. David Barnes, â€Å"Biodiversity: Invasions by Marine Life on Plastic Debris.† Nature, 6883.1 (2002): 808-809. Print. Derraik, Jose G. â€Å"The pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review.† Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44.1 (2002): 842 – 852. Print. Hannah Nevins et al, â€Å"Seabirds as indicators of plastic pollution in the North Pacific,† presented at the Plastic Debris, Rivers to Sea Conference, Sept. 8, 2005, Redondo Beach, California. Plastic Debris Project Laist, David. â€Å"Impacts of marine debris: entanglement of marine life in marine debris including a comprehensive list of species with entanglement and ingestion records,† in Coe, J.M. Rogers, D.B. (eds), Marine Debris: Sources, Impacts, and Solutions: New York: Springer-Verlag, 1997. Pp. 99-139. Print. Plastic Pollution, 2013. Web. http://www.takepart.com/oceans/index.html. The Problem of marine plastic pollution, 20 13. Web. https://www.cleanwater.org/problem-marine-plastic-pollution. This research paper on Plastic Ocean Pollution on Ocean life in U.S was written and submitted by user Sharon Church to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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