Shc 31

SHC 31: Promote communication in health, social care or children’s and young people’s settings. Understand why effective communication is important in the work setting. 1. 1: Identify the different reasons people communicate. We all communicate for many different reasons; it allows us to fully participate in society. Below is a spider diagram to show the key reasons to why we communicate: How these reasons relate to child care: We communicate to express our feelings, what we need and what we want. Without being able to do this at any age can make us frustrated. For younger children this frustration can lead to them also feeling isolated, so it is important that we try to understand what young children are trying to communicate and give them plenty of opportunities to do so. Sharing Information within any childcare setting is very important. Parents should be able to share information about their children’s likes, dislikes and any important information that a setting needs to know, regarding any known special needs, cultural beliefs, dietary requirements etc. Sharing this information with colleagues and other professionals will make sure that children are fully supported and allow the setting to work at its full potential. Children’s parents will also want to know how well their children are doing at the setting and if they are having any problems. Building and maintaining relationships are the underpinning factor in any childcare setting. Building relationships with parents, their children and colleagues ensure that the setting can run smoothly. Maintaining these relationships will account for much of our language and communication used throughout the day. As human beings we are creative and have our own thoughts and ideas that we need to share with others. Young children will often just come out with things that they are thinking, as they have not yet built up a thought process, where as adults generally tell their thoughts when they need to. Sharing thoughts and ideas about the setting you are in can be beneficial. Speaking up if you think something could be done in a different way or if you are not happy about something can be resolved. Not speaking out can cause tension. People like to be acknowledged, especially when you are speaking to them. Reassuring people that you are paying attention and listening to what they are saying can be as simple as giving them eye contact. With children and young people they may need a little more, praising them and taking an interest in what they are doing will reassure them that they are being heard and that they are important. The reassurance and acknowledgement of colleagues will also create an effective work setting. 1. 2 Explain how communication affects relationships in the work setting. Good working relationships are a crucial factor in any working environment Communication is a vital relationship-building skill. In childcare settings, it is essential to establish and maintain good relationships with children, their families and colleagues as well as other professionals that may be involved in the children’s care. Practitioners who have superior communication skills are more likely to have good relationships with everyone involved in the setting. Working relationships are influenced by the body language, tone of voice and the words that we use. For example good open body posture, calm facial expressions and a calm steady tone of voice will show that you are approachable, willing to help and open to communication. Crossed arms, stiff face and leaning against the wall will show that you are not open for communication and in turn may cause tension. Good communicators should also have good listening skills as people like to know that they are being heard, this can be shown through eye-contact, positioning of the body and a reassuring facial expression. Lack of communication skills can cause problems in the work place as it limits your ability to connect with people on any level. This can lead to tension and conflict. Below is a diagram of some of the ways working relationships are fundamental in child care. Being able to communicate well and form good working relationships is a massive part of the role of a child care practitioner. From the first moment a child steps into a setting on their first day, they are experiencing many different emotions due to the transition from being at home with parents or carers to starting a Pre-school or going from Primary to Secondary School. Children will feel apprehensive, scared and out of place. This can be made easier when the adults involved have good relationships with each other and share information effectively. Gaining information regarding the child like their full name and a little bit about them will make them feel more relaxed. Finding a way to communicate and build a relationship with the child will help them to settle in and feel comfortable with you and their surroundings. This also counts for the parents, they too will feel apprehensive about leaving their children unless they have trust that their child is in good hands. Building a good relationship with parents will ease their minds, in turn their children will settle in faster than if the parents and children are all worried. These relationships have to be maintained throughout the time the children are in the setting. This is to ensure that the children are able to reach their full potential. If they are happy and relaxed they are able to play and learn more effectively. Good communication from the adults around them will allow them to develop and build on vocabulary, develop concepts and express ideas. If you can communicate well and maintain working relationships you will become a valued member of staff and the children in your care will be able to reach their full potential as individuals learning form you and with your support. Here is a diagram of

Civil War Dbq Essay

Throughout the 1800’s, up until about 1860, the North and South had an immense amount of struggles, both economically and socially, that led them to the Civil War. The main difference they fought over was their opinions on slavery. These problems led to years of conflict and misery among the states. The North and South were extremely different when it came to their economy. For instance, the North had more so factories, unlike the South, which relied on farming. The immense amount of railroads in the North helped make deliveries between factories. (Doc. 1a) This added to the fact that the North had more of a manufacturing value as well. (Doc. 1b) Since the South relied on farming, slavery was more common in their territories. Thomas R. Dew claimed that in Virginia, slavery was important to their soil and economy. (Doc. 2b) Around 1830, there was an estimated 470,000 slaves working/ residing in Virginia, valued at an average of $200 per slave. If Virginia were to give up slavery, they’d lose about $94,000,000, which was about half their value. (Doc. 2b) Socially, the North and South were greatly different as well. Northerners thought that slavery should be gotten rid of, but Southerners, on the other hand, were all for it. In the North, slaves could roam around freely after escaping their owners. The Underground Railroad, started by Harriet Tubman, was one of the most well known routes used to escape in history. In the South, slave owners claimed that slavery was essential to the story of progress. They stated without it, civilization would not have been the way it was. (Doc. 3) It was also said that slavery made civilization possible to begin with. On the other hand, the American Anti-Slavery Society found slavery to be morally wrong. They said it went against both religion and humanity. (Doc. 2a) After the Civil War, the North and South still had their conflicts and differences, there’s no doubt about it. Under the newly written Constitution, the North had seemingly more power and it looked like they had gotten their way more so than the South had. The South had claimed, â€Å"The Union formed under the Constitution was a Union of consent and not force.† (Doc. 7) Although the Constitution was supposed to settle things down, it  seemed to do the exact opposite.

Financial Check Up Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial Check Up - Essay Example First worksheet entry reflects money I used to fuel my car. I used $100 in every week to fuel my car. For one month, I spent $400 dollars to fuel my car. This is equivalent to 8% of my monthly income. The second worksheet entry shows the amount of money I used to go for a movie show for a single month. To go for Movie Theater to watch a movie, I spent $20. This was part of my entertainment expenses equivalent to 0.4% of my income. According to Gibson (145-189), financial tracking sheet maintain a record of individual’s financial progress. It reflects individual decisions before they complete a budget, fulfill diverse distribution demands and meet their main requirements (Gibson, pp145-189). From my spreadsheet, there were only nine entries for a whole month. Each entry showed some financial decisions I made for the whole month. The spreadsheet give information like the date I spent, the amount of money I spent, amount of income, category of the event and description of the event. The tracking sheet measured my financial performance over the one-month financial duration. To find expense statement, I determined how I acquire cash and sustain some in the pocket amidst expenses. My overall expenses amounted to $2545 and my income was $5000. The tracking sheet displays my new worth statement; it displays my underlying money, liabilities and the net worth after subtracting cash from liabilities (Gibson, 145-189). After adding my expenses ($2545), and subtracting it from my income ($5000), my net worth was $2455. Financial ratios are useful determiners of financial condition. They reveal my financial strengths and weakness. The liquidity ratios (1.96464) measured the presence of cash to settle debts. Since it is greater than one, I could easily meet my debts. The debts ratios measure my ability to repay the long-term debts. For this case, I did not have any debt. The profitability

The impact of computer system has had on McDonalds fast food resturant Essay

The impact of computer system has had on McDonalds fast food resturant - Essay Example McDonalds got us to throw away our trash and banks converted us from using tellers to ATM's. Retail customers are increasingly choosing to serve themselves. Kiosks are becoming common. Customers can determine/verify product pricing, view on-line promotions and advertising, locate products, and access frequent shopper program information. With kiosks, customers can view a much wider assortment of merchandise than can be accommodated on the sales floor. Retailers can offer more colors, sizes, flavors and options. Kiosks allow for offering complementary products to standard store offerings. Customers can also quickly find what they want. The retailer can provide additional product information - including specifications, price comparisons and product reviews. Customers can perform transactions such as buying a gift card or applying for a credit card on a kiosk. Handheld computers can read barcodes on products in the store, and calculate a running total of the bill as customers shop. More customers can be served quicker by fewer people when self-checkout systems are implemented, resulting in a long-term cost savings. Self-checkout is an example of how technology has increased margins for retailers."3 Currently McDonalds is testing the use of new technologies such as RFID and barcode-selling in some countries. For example, in South Korea, customers can buy their food through their cell phones which rings when the order is ready4 but it is said that "this trial is much more an RFID effort than a traditional mobile experiment. Most of the phone's communications capabilities and its display are barely used, with customers having to download a McDonalds application into their phone."5 However the system works easily for the people with compatible cell phones. "At each table, there is an RFID reader and a menu that has built-in RFID chips. Customers plug the reader into their mobile phones and point them at the item on the menu that they wish to eat or drink. The bill is charged through the mobile phone. When the meal is ready, the system sends a short message to the phone so the customer can pick up the ready tray at a designated counter."6 In order for McDonalds to implement a secure RFID and barcode system, they consider all the security measurements for these technologies. "There are a number of fundamental design features necessary in automatic data collection systems and good database design."7 "Not surprisingly, FRIDs poor system design, whether capturing RFID tag information, bar code information or keyboard-entered data will create vulnerabilities."8 In other words, initial RFID is a system with weaknesses and in order to use this system, McDonalds needs to resolve some security issues. Researchers state that "RFID systems as a whole are often treated with suspicion, but the input data received from individual RFID tags is implicitly trusted."9 Viruses and worms are known threats that can influence these systems with ease. Currently McDonalds is cooperating with security companies to provide maximum security tools and protocols to

Research Paper ( Fine Art) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

( Fine Art) - Research Paper Example This therefore implies that art is relative and differs greatly with the region either of origin or of representation. The metropolitan Museum in New York therefore stocks artifacts from diverse cultures among the most common of the current exhibits are The Sleeping Eros, Birds in the art of Japan and Plain or Fancy among many others. The above artifacts have unique features that set them apart from the rest. Additionally, the creators of such works employ different artistic features to ensure that the above artifacts communicate effectively and draw the attention from their audiences. Each of the three artifacts has specific placing and draw relevance to specific cultures. However, the modern society is integrated and culture therefore is increasingly difficult to distinct between the different social groupings. This requirement by the modern consumers of art works dictates the use of familiar and modern features that best earn the artifacts familiarity with the modern audience. Owi ng to such features as time and the social stratifications, the different artifacts possess distinctive features, which readily set them apart in terms of both their time of production thus their target audience. The Sleeping Eros for example is an iconic artifact in the museum, one of the oldest and among the finest. Set during the Bronze Age in the human history, the artifact consists of pure bronze. Man had identified a number of metals throughout the evolution history. The discovery of bronze was an integral period in the development of man since with bronze, man could make very strong and durable (Semper and Harry 33). Bronze was therefore the only essential tool man had, he artifact is therefore also made of bronze and set in the early times. The sleeping Eros is a simple artifact, which simply depicts a sleeping male child with curly white hair lying on his left arm but with a wing. The simplicity of the creation makes it easier to understand and is typical of the timing of t he artifact. At such early periods, man had not developed sophisticated features that could influence the development of more sophisticated artifacts. However, in its simplicity owing to the use of bronze, which was arguably easier to manipulate, the artifact conveys complex social features of the early Greek society. The hair of the Eros among other pertinent features sets it to the early Greek culture. Its other intricate features such as the wing and the missing left arm set it in the supernatural world thereby earning it some elements of divinity. Plain or fancy is yet another beautiful artifact, which just as the name depicts a comparison of two iconic artifacts bound into one. It is a painting of two different jugs. One of the jugs is earthen while the other is metallic. The difference between the jugs is conspicuous yet it becomes increasingly difficult to select which is more beautiful. In such a simple creation, the artist manages to conceal his intended meaning in the cont ours of his creation. The relativity in the comparison of the two jugs is also applicable in the analysis of the message that the artist communicates in his artifact (Foster and Judith 51). It is evident that the artifact compares a number of features of both the earthen jug and the metallic one. In the history of man, the use of earthenware was characteristic of the

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project Management - Essay Example The project is to launch a new product, a multiple container system that requires minimal cabinet storage space in the consumer’s home, within nine months from now. The product is more described in greater detail as similar to a competitor's product but will have significantly more features. As reported, this product will open new markets for the sales channel, lay the foundation for add-on products, and generate new revenue. The objective therefore is for sales and marketing personnel to make the necessary preparations in terms of designing appropriate marketing strategies encompassing the 4Ps: product, pricing, place and promotions to be used for the launching of the new product. This research aims to evaluate and present such deliverables: 1. Sales Team 1.1 Generate sales forecasts 1.2 Set price for the new product 1.3 Familiarize the team with potential add-on products 1.4 Identify potential customers within sales boundaries 1.5 Conduct sales force education and orientation for the new product 1.6 Synchronize time schedule of designing strategies with manufacturing and marketing team 2. Marketing Team 2.1 Design advertisements and promotional campaign for the new product 2.2 Identify strategic markets 2.3 Monitor prospective competitors’ response to the new product 2.4 Provide all crucial marketing materials (brochures, product specifications and features, packaging) 2.5 Determine schedules for home sales events to launch the new product 2.6 Synchronize time schedule of identified activities with manufacturing and sales team.

Smart city and IT enablement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Smart city and IT enablement - Research Paper Example A smart city generally, strives towards making itself smarter in terms of efficiency, sustainability, ensuring equity and enhancing livability. Smart cities rely, among others, on the compilation of brilliant computing technologies that are applied on the significant infrastructure elements and services. Smart computing is all about a new generation of amalgamated hardware, software combined with network technologies that offer IT systems with the real time consciousness of the real world and complex analytics that assist citizens in making smart decisions, which would help them optimize their business processes (Chourabi, 2012). A development approach that is directed to a smart city includes concerns such as flexibility, awareness, synergy, transformability, a strategic conduct, some sense of individuality and a self decisiveness. A smart city denotes an interconnected, intelligent and an instrumented city. Instrumentation enhances the capturing and integration of live real world i nformation through the use of personal devices, sensors, appliances, smart phones, the internet and other comparable data acquirement systems which include the social networks (Chourabi, 2012). ... This projects and initiatives are meant to serve the citizens at large and also improve their lives. These initiatives engage multiple of stakeholders, leading to most cities developing a need to have better governance, to be able to manage the above projects and initiatives (Chourabi, 2012). Governance involves the execution of processes with components that are responsible for exchanging of information in regard to the set rules and standards in order to ensure attainment of the goals and objectives. A lot of cities have been in a position to garner the advantages of technology emergence, which has seen the improvement of their form of governance. Governance that is technology based is termed as smart governance. It is thus, a representation of a broad collection of technologies practices, policies, the social norms and all the other information that interrelate to maintain the activities of city governing. Smart governance is said to be the core of the smart cities initiative, thu s representing a vital challenge for a smart city initiative (Chourabi, 2012). How Technology Influences Efficiency in a Smart City Technology is said to be one of the key drivers of the initiative that pertains to the smart cities. The amalgamation of Technology with expansion projects altogether bring change to the urban setting of a city and thereafter, provide a range of potential opportunities that can contribute in the enhancement of management and functionality of a given smart city. The infrastructure that entails a smart city is often linked through the help of ICT that enhances a more efficient control. On the other hand, this kind of interdependence augments the rate of security risks. The

The development of morality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The development of morality - Essay Example Often times, children will have placed a lot of trust in an adult which adds to their influence over their moral development. Educators such as teachers also are influential in the process of moral development. According to a book entitled â€Å"Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice,† â€Å"teachers are in a position to foster the necessary social skills to allow students to become autonomous and socially competent individuals†( Robert E. Slavin, 2010).This can lead to conflict as a teacher’s morals might not be the same as the parent’s who does not want their children to be influenced negatively by contradicting morals. According to the article entitled â€Å"Fostering Goodness: Teaching Parents to Facilitate Children's Moral Development,† there are a few ways that adults can foster moral development within children. One of the most effective ways is through modeling which is an adult demonstrates a particular moral element by ways of words, behaviors, or actions in the presence of the child(Berkowitz, 1998).

Team and leadership ip 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Team and leadership ip 2 - Essay Example On the other hand, leadership is a concern with bringing the team to the vision, which is through inspiration and good communication. They do this so that the team they lead can work harder and achieve the targeted goals. An effective leader needs to have leadership skills, and the knowledge that a leader possesses is influenced by factors such as personality, values, attitude, cognitive differences and charisma (Phipps and Prieto, 2011). Personality has been considered to influence as a major element in what makeup leadership style of a person. The personality trait of every leader has an impact on the dynamic of the team; therefore, indicating the way the leader must approach their working. It greatly affects how a leader interacts with his team members, and how the leader will act. A person’s charisma is a divine grace and is a source of authority for a leader to do good deeds (Phipps and Prieto, 2011). Hence, it makes people being led believe in the remarkable quality of a leader. Leaders who have charisma, they have an extraordinary personality, character, focused on their work and behaviour. Leaders attract people through interacting with them in discussions and arguments. Values of a person greatly affect and shape their decision-making and behaviour. In addition, personal values serve as a driver on the methods one uses in creating value. They influence how a leader perceives the external environment a nd shapes the choices they make and organizational performance. A leader’s attitude towards his team should be friendly, but of serious working to meet the goals set. A leader with a bad attitude towards his team members will not lead effectively. The cognitive difference between leaders includes the processes that these individuals use in making decisions and not just the decisions they make (Caruso, Mayer and Salovey, 2002). Leaders have

Dieting makes people fat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Dieting makes people fat - Essay Example Regulations create and establish rules that should be observed and respected by individuals, organisations or firms that operate within a particular industry or business. In a pro-regulation scenario, anyone or any entity that does not act in accordance to the preset rules is in direct contravention of the law and is thus subject to punishment by law. The punishment to be handed down can either be in terms of fines, imprisonment or repossession of the respective business. However, in the free market, the allocation of market resources is solely on the foundation of supply and demand forces, this happens in the absolute absence of any form of government intervention. The question now becomes whether free market approach or pro-regulation approach is the best avenue to take in the Australian economy. When it is all said and done, regulation is the appropriate approach to take. This paper will endeavour to illustrate, with logical backing, why this approach is the most suitable one in t he Australian perspective. This paper will evaluate twelve articles, which are either for or against, the introduction of legislation to the Australian environment. ... The work by MJR Gaffikin (2005) strongly illuminates on this situation. Gaffikin notes that change in legislation might result in either an increase or decrease in the total expenses, to be incurred by the affected firms. He additionally cites the example of waste management. He explores this issue and ends up asserting that if firms are made to account for their waste management systems, many firms will have to invest more in their waste disposal mechanisms. This leads to a substantial increase in their overall operations cost. Thus, judging on this fact, then the free market approach is favoured. However, Michael gives a biased assertion that regulation aids in the creation of wealth, this is the view adopted by economists. This literal work is prejudiced in a manner that it does not back its assertions with hard facts. Nonetheless, the author has targeted the whole subject of regulation. In a situation whereby this article is the only information available on the projected impact of legislation, then the measure to be adopted would be to campaign for free market approach. However, this article does not take into consideration the general environmental effect of careless disposing of waste. Such events would and are characteristic in a free market approach. Once legislation has been passed, the parties affected must institute modifications in order to be in, a situation to comply with the new law. In most cases, this entails the whole or partial restructuring of business operations, which is sometimes an expensive feat. Thus, it is expected that a number of parties will not comply with the new legislation. According to Jason Mitchell and Majella Percy,

Melody in the Middle Ages Essay Example for Free

Melody in the Middle Ages Essay In the early Middle Ages, melodic or textual embellishments added to plainchant were referred to as prosulae. In your own words, summarize the types of plainchant to which prosulae were most often added and the reasons for those additions. The Book of Hymns is one prime example of a prosulae. Plainchant was being sung day in and day out by the monks, who had already added some slight melody, but was still not easy to memorize. By adding some rhythm and separation in syllables throughout the melody, a new way to not only memorize the verses, but also present them, was born. In the early Middle Ages, melodic or textual embellishments added to plainchant were referred to as prosulae. In your own words, summarize Notkers description of how and why he came to add words to melismas, and his teacher Isos response. Notker realized as a young child that he wanted to find a way to remember the words to certain melodies, but with them being so long, he could not. When he came across a man with sequenced verses he was at first excited, but soon disappointed as they did no better than the long, monotonous melodies he remembered as a child. When he decided to add words to these verses and took them to his teacher, Iso, he both appreciated and pitied Notker. He went back and corrected some mistakes pointed out by his teacher, and these changes proved to be successful. The new verses were deemed worthy and copied to a roll for the all of the boys to sing.

Change Management at ExxonMobil

Change Management at ExxonMobil Introduction: The purpose of this report is to critically evaluate the change management policies of ExxonMobil Corporation with special of focus on. Factors influencing Exxon Mobil Cooperation. Alternative form of organizational development. effectiveness of Exxon Mobil strategy for managing change with in the organization . problems in managing change ExxonMobil is the largest publically traded energy company which evolve form small marketer of kerosene in regions of United States to the largest publically traded petrochemical and petroleum company/business in the world which operate in many parts of the world over a time period of 125 year. 1 ExxonMobile prepare product that which are as diverse as supplying petrochemical building blocks from which thousand of other products used by individual consumers are made to drive new generation of transportation, power cities and to lubricant industry. Today ExxonMobil is energy for growing economies and helping improve the standard of life throughout the world. ExxonMobil has build its structure on the structure on globalize basis and therefore its designed in itself allow ExxonMobil to compete in the best possible way in the dynamic market of energy industry worldwide and furthermore ExxonMobil always strive for and use innovative and changing technology to deliver its energy product which includes exploration, production and finally sell of crude oil, natural gas and petroleum product not only in United States but throughout the world . Task 1 Factors affecting and influencing Exxon Mobile is innovation and change strategy. Environmental awareness among public cause energy companies like ExxonMobil to work in a more responsible way due to increase expectation of public. Today competitive and informed world it is increasingly important and become a necessity for energy companies the change the way the use to conduct their operation and to strive for and achieve operational excellence with following areas are critical such ethical operations, safety of employees, environment , local community etc, corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, security, operations reliability , healthy and energy efficiency with good environmental performance, investment in environmentally sound together economically worthwhile projects. 2 Today environmentally concern and active atmosphere requires from energy companies especially from industry giants like ExxonMobil to not only follow law and regulations in later and spirit as minimum but go beyond and comply an uphold high standard even to place/areas where there is no particular legal requirement. Therefore it is increasingly important for energy companies especially big names like ExxonMobil to not only achieve good results but also look at the means of achieving those results and develop uphold high ethical standard with strong controls in business and practical approach and actions regarding corporate governance and social responsibility. 2 Energy market is traditionally and by its very nature is significantly different from other business as here decision are made for the future as long as as decade ahead instead months or years in other business and therefore decision making require formal and discipline, organize approach . Innovation and continuous change in technology is essential in todays energy industry as through technological innovation new opportunities are created by delivering least cost solutions development which is vital for success in this dynamic and competitive environment together with this technological innovation and change is vital and for improving performance as well. Operating a one global functional organization is one of most significant challenge which todays organization faces with common standard process and culture of one corporation generate significant competitive advantage and finding new ways to increase cooperation and working one big global functional organization is important factor to consider when making change and innovation strategy. Extraordinary performance of any organization will always depend on the performance people working in it. Therefore any change and innovation strategy must take into account human factors and try to attract and retain outstanding people. Contributing to community in which business is operating is also important factor and therefore must be consider when making strategy for change as it give positive image of an organization which is important asset. The ultimate aim of any business to make profit and therefore any strategy must take into account the financial worth of different measures to be taken. Global reduction in demand for energy due to recession and other reason create additional pressure on our industry. Leaders around the world are discussing importance of climate change policies which create significant legislative un certainties which would have significant and huge long term impact every one using developing or using energy. The fact is, government and private-sector assessments of the worlds energy needs consistently highlight the certainty of rising demand over time. As the world grows and economies develop, future demand for energy will grow dramatically. The International Energy Agency and many others predict that the worlds total energy demand will grow by 35 percent in 2030 versus the demand in 2005, even after factoring in the current economic slowdown. 2 Task 2: Bureaucracy is a way of organising work in which people are treated as interchangeable and replaceable cogs to fill specialised roles. Two key features of bureaucracy are hierarchy and a specialised division of labour. Other characteristics of an ideal bureaucracy are rules which describe the duties of members, a set of standard operating procedures, and impersonal relations between members. In a model bureaucracy, initiatives and policy directions come only from the top echelons. Work in carrying out policies is done at the lower levels within the guidelines set from above. Most large modern organisations are bureaucratic in form: government departments, corporations, political parties, churches and trade unions. None of these real organisations are pure bureaucracies. For example, initiatives and policy directions in political parties and trade unions sometimes come from the rank and file. The main demerit of bureaucratic organizations includes lack of innovation. All the processes and tasks are so much fixed that the innovation process is almost eliminated in bureaucratic organizations. Employees get demotivated because of lesser employee participation and involvement. HR cant be utilized in the fullest manner by optimizing creativity which is the prime disadvantage in bureaucratic structure of the organizations. Advantages include the increased control and monitoring of upper level management. The success of the organizations depend upon the wise decisions of top management. If the top management is good, then results can be favorable and if the top management is not good then it can result in disaster. Task 3 Importance of change strategy for ExxonMobil and Potential problems : Now that we had look at the various factor affecting and influencing the change and innovation strategy now we would look at the importance of change to ExxonMobil. There is never been more importance and need for energy industry to think ahead and formed strategies which are essential to address the difficult challenges that this industry face and improve the efficiency of value chain of entire energy industry. In todays increasingly environmentally conscious and concern environment energy companies are not only expected by but required to show more commitment to safety, security, health and of course the environment/ climate in order to not only survive but achieve superior results. And therefore Exxon has to change the way industry work in past and develop new and innovative approach to things. Potential problem from changing the manner in which energy business use to operate will be most importantly cost as new approach to things required financial and other resource. ExxonMobil is in operation since past 125 years and its would be very challenging to difficult to change the culture and manner in which it work in past such as bringing safety and health concerns embedded in the culture in of ExxonMobil would require lots of efforts training and commitment from senior management and middle management. The energy industry is has the most important role to play as it has played in past (by providing significant tax revenue to governments, providing huge employment and increase share holders value )in the development of not only national economies but global development. The potential problems are legislature and people are taking energy industry as source of additional tax revenue which is though short term view which will restrict growth in long term and so that new jobs and high energy cost for consumers. The oil and gas is expected to remain primary source of energy and expected that almost 60% of energy supply of world till 2030 will be through oil and gas. Although there is enough oil reserve according to source there are four trillion barrels of oil and gas reservoirs are present around the world but problems with their extraction as only one trillion is extracted till now Therefore there is still significant amount challenges ahead in terms of scale of efforts and technological deployment required and required for long term not for years and months but decade and generations as this new supply of energy will come from thousands of mile away or thousands of feet below the sea level, so to keep energy supply stable international energy agency estimate that an investment of 25 trillion dollars required . There is another problem associated with the energy demand and finally is the environmental impact on increase energy as carbon dioxide emission of the world is increasing by an average on one percent per year. The continues improvement of operations will not only result in result in fueling the economic growth in this turbulent time but also meet the future need s of energy product. There is huge demand of energy in future expected and therefore this demand will create opportunities for energy companies to develop new source of energy and improve their existing operation to improve efficiency. The problem with improving efficiency is that it require financial resource and with measure taken by governments to increase tax on energy products limiting its ability to invest in improvement of its operations but energy industry must continue to improver their safety and reliability of operation with efficiency of its plants and increase shareholders return. Task 4 Issues encountered during implementation of change Exxon mobile has an effective strategies to deal with the problem arises as a result change and innovation strategies takes place. ExxonMobil responded on setting high standards for operation through its operation integrity management systems which provide a framework to ensure its operation safe and according to standard set.In past there were very few incident with very rate of work related injuries and illness show effectiveness of its safety strategy in past. ExxonMobil reduce its corporate wide lost time incident rate by setting priorities, measuring progress and holding people accountable Exxon has given particular importance to operational efficiency in past and therefore they can claim that operational efficiency in build in deep inside in their culture Operations safety and integrity are central to the successful execution of ExxonMobils business strategies. The objective of operational excellence is embedded in our company culture and drives continuous improvements in all areas of our business. ExxonMobil has developed a wide range of management and operating systems that address critical aspects of our business, including: ethics, safety, corporate governance, security, health, environmental performance, operations reliability, business controls, project investment and execution, energy efficiency, profit improvement, and external affairs. The disciplined application of these management and operating systems, deployed through our functional organization, has consistently delivered superior result. Operate in a Safe and Environmentally Responsible Manner ExxonMobils long-term safety performance leads the industry. Its commitment to safety, security, health, and the environment creates a solid foundation for superior results inall aspects of our business. ExxonMobils senior management and employees are committed to the goal of creating an incident-free workplace, and our culture reflects this objective. ExxonMobil drives improvement in environmental performance with the goal of reducing incidents with real environmental impact to zero. i t conduct business using an approach that is compatible with both the environmental and economic needs of the communities in which we operate. ExxonMobil has developed a wide range of management and operating systems that address critical aspects of our business, including: ethics, safety, corporate governance,  security, health, environmental performance, operations reliability, business controls, project investment and execution, energy efficiency, profit improvement, and external  affairs. The disciplined application of these management and operating systems, deployed through our functional organization, has consistently delivered superior result Uphold High Standards ExxonMobil adheres to all applicable laws and regulations as a minimum standard, and, when requirements do not exist, they apply responsible standards to their day to day operations. Which shows believe that a well-founded reputation for high ethical  standards, strong business controls, and good corporate governance is a priceless corporate asset. This means that how they give importantance to achieve results is as important as the results themselves. They choose the course of highest integrity in all of their business interactions. Directors, officers, and employees must comply with their Standards of  Business Conduct. Invest with Discipline The energy industry is a long-term business that requires decisions to be made with a time horizon that is measured in decades, rather than months or years, and that spans multiple business cycles. Projects are tested over a range of economic scenarios to ensure that risks are properly identified, evaluated, and managed. This approach enables superior investment returns through the business cycle. ExxonMobil proven project management system incorporates best practices developed around the world. Emphasis on theearly phases of concept selection and effective project execution results in investments that maximize resource and asset value. ExxonMobil complete a rigorous reappraisal of all major projects and incorporate learnings into future project planning and design, further strengthening our capabilities. Differentiate with Proprietary Technology Technology is vital to meeting the worlds growing demand for energy. ExxonMobil has a long-standing commitment to fundamental research to develop and grow our technical capabilities and to deliver advantaged technologies for all of our businesses. ExxonMobil have a wide array of research programs designed to meet the needs identified in their functional businesses. Over the past five years, ExxonMobil have invested more than $4 billion in research and development. ExxonMobil global functional organization enables rapid deployment of new technologies to ensure early value capture. 2 It is also important to create and support a culture where every employee and contractor understands he or she must take part in creating a safe workplace. For instance, ExxonMobil refineries in Beaumont and in Joliet, Illinois, they have worked to achieve OSHA recognition as Star sites in OSHAs Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). 2 ExxonMobil commitment to safety also yields benefits reflected in the bottom line especially important in these challenging economic times. A safe workplace is a more productive one. operational excellence refers to a constant focus on improving efficiency, a more efficient operation yields numerous benefits, including lower costs and fewer emissions. In terms of identifying energy savings at ExxonMobil, their Global Energy Management System has proven to be one of their most important tools for bringing about positive, long-term change. This initiative helps identify potential energy efficiencies in their operations, and allows them to use resources more effectively, ultimately reducing e energy usage and emissions from theri operations. This energy efficiency program began by tapping knowledge from their best operations around the globe. We looked at every link in the energy chain, documented their best practices and then applied those lessons to their worldwide operations. Each day, as part of this initiative, they track more than 12,000 energy variables worldwide, using them to improve both individual plants and global operations. Since 2000, they have identified $1.5 billion in potential efficiency savings, approximately 60 percent of which have now been captured. 2 One of ExxonMobil most important energy efficiency stories is one that is critically important to refining cogeneration. ExxonMobil currently have interests in approximately 100 cogeneration plants in more than 30 facilities around the world. Their latest expansion in Antwerp, Belgium, inaugurated a 125-megawatt cogeneration facility. That new plant will reduce Belgiums carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 200,000 tonnes per year. Leveraging Scale and Integration There are also opportunities for refiners to capture efficiency benefits from world-scale, integrated manufacturing sites. At ExxonMobil, more than 75 percent of their refining capacity is integrated with either their lubes or chemical businesses or in some cases, both. These integrated operations allow us to optimize manufacturing processes, lower costs and improve product yields. Integration also brings significant circuit synergies. ExxonMobil global network of reliable and efficient manufacturing plants, transportation systems, and distribution centers enable them to provide fuels, lubricants, and other high-value products to customers in more than 100 countries and territories. their global supply organization directs raw materials to their refineries, finding the most efficient processing configuration and determining the best way to supply products to their customers around the world. Every day, this network lowers costs and optimizes overall supply chain performance. ExxonMobil also think it is important to find ways to improve product yields and increase feedstock flexibility. their refineries currently have 40 percent more conversion capacity than the industry average, allowing to produce more, higher-value products per barrel of crude processed. In fact, since 2003, they have added about 90,000 barrels per day of additional conversion capacity to refineries effectively adding one new conversion unit to facilities every two years. In addition, by using proprietary Molecule Management technology ExxonMobil continue to grow raw material flexibility. As part of this program, they have developed molecular fingerprinting technology that enables themto better understand of the key characteristics of a crude well beyond its physical characteristics, right down to its chemical and molecular makeup. This, in turn, has allowed them to make a step-change improvement in crude selections that maximize yields of higher-value products, while at the same time increasing utilization of new and lower cost crudes. In fact, last year they processed 150 crudes new to individual refineries. 2 Long-term Investments This brings me to a key point of investing through the business cycle. ExxonMobil, believe that to be successful long term, they must continue to invest to sustain competitiveness regardless of business conditions. ExxonMobil know that in the long run, demand for energy and for refined products will grow and to meet future demand, they must act now and invest capital and human ingenuity into expanding supplies and increasing efficiency. That is why they continue to invest in improvements and new projects, even during these challenging times. ExxonMobil announce late last year regarding significant investments to increase production of low-sulfur diesel. We plan to spend more than $1 billion to expand their refineries in Texas, Louisiana, and Belgium, to meet the growing demand for low-sulfur diesel. When completed next year, these expansions will increase diesel production by approximately 6 million gallons a day the equivalent to the diesel produced from about four average sized refineries. With these expansions ExxonMobil is taking steps not just to meet that demand but will be meeting growing demand with a more advanced, cleaner-burning fuel. 2 Any discussion of demand growth in developing countries must include Asia Pacific. Between 2005 and 2030, we expect total liquids demand to grow about 2 percent per year in this dynamic region. This translates to an increase of 65 percent by 2030. Refiners will need to move aggressively to meet that demand growth. Next month ExxonMobil will participate in a celebration marking the completion of the Fujian Petroleum and Petrochemical Complex, a joint venture between Sinopec, the Fujian Province in China, Saudi Aramco, and ExxonMobil. This expanded facility will process 240 thousands of barrels per day of crude, and includes a 250-megawatt cogeneration facility. But even with this ambitious project in place, more capacity will be needed as energy demand soars around the world. Investing in technology for the future Interestingly, some people do not realize that the oil and gas industry is a high-tech industry! But the best hope for addressing the enormous dual challenge of meeting growing energy demand while mitigating emissions is through development and deployment of new advanced technologies. Developing and deploying promising technologies requires long-term thinking, focus, and disciplined investments the same fundamentals that have driven our businesses for more than 100 years. ExxonMobils more recent technology developments. One of their technology focus areas directly relates to consumers our work on advanced vehicle technologies . In the worlds massive transportation sector, even tiny improvements in efficiency can yield impressive benefits to both consumers and society. As an example, their energy-saving plastics are making vehicles lighter, and their improved tire inner liners help reduce tire weight and keep them inflated longer, which is important for fuel economy. They have also developed lower viscosity lubricants like Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy which can improve fuel economy by up to two percent versus motor oils most commonly used. To put that savings in perspective, if one-third of U.S. motorists reduce their gasoline consumption by two percent, it would prevent the emission of about 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, which would have the same effect as taking about 1.5 million cars off the road. ExxonMobil are also improving vehicle-battery technologies. In 2007, ExxonMobil unveiled new separator filmsNaN, developed by their chemical company, for lithium-ion batteries. These films have the potential to improve the energy efficiency and affordability of next generation hybrid electric vehicles. If just 10 percent of the light-duty vehicle fleets were hybrids, the resulting carbon-dioxide reduction would be equal to taking five million cars off the road. 2 And finally, ExxonMobil scientists and engineers are working with those from other industries on a breakthrough technology that could advance the use of hydrogen fuel cellsNaN. This new technology, which has been under development for more than a decade, will be applied first to industrial applications, such as forklifts. their approach quite different than most converts traditional hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline, into hydrogen directly on-board the vehicle, eliminating the need for separate facilities to produce and distribute hydrogen. Measured on a well-to-wheels basis, this on-board hydrogen fuel system could be up to 80 percent more fuel-efficient, and emit 45 percent less carbon dioxide, than internal-combustion engines. ExxonMobil is also investing in integrated solutions that could be even more transformative. In 2002, ExxonMobil launched the Global Climate and Energy ProjectNaN in concert with Stanford University. Along with our co-sponsors General Electric, Schlumberger, and Toyota, we are investing $225 million at Stanford and other leading institutions around the world to research and develop truly game-changing technologies. Our goal is to bring together some of the worlds best scientific and engineering minds to perform fundamental scientific research research that can redefine the field. Conclusion Few industries are more instrumental to economic growth and development than the energy industry. And in the years ahead, the role energy industry play in meeting the worlds increasing energy needs will only grow. Looking at current economic challenges, ExxonMobil must maintain our commitment to safety, reliability, and continuous improvement in our operations. And finally, the worlds shared energy challenges will require long-term planning and a steadfast commitment to develop and deploy new technologies that meet multiple objectives. A commitment to innovative thinking and deployment of new technologies will expand energy supplies, increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions all helping to keep people, communities and nations safe and prosperous. Not only will these strategies ensure ExxonMobil return value to shareholders, they will be key to economic growth and increasing opportunity for all. References ExxonMobil, 2010. Financial and Operating review. London, ExxonMobil {online} Available at http://ir.exxonmobil.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=115024p=irol- reportsOther (Last Access 19th July 2010) ExxonMobil, 2010. Annual Report. London, ExxonMobil {online} Available at http://ir.exxonmobil.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=115024p=irol-reportsOther (Last Access 19th July 2010) Anna Nagurney: Supply Chain Network Economics: Dynamics of Prices, Flows, and Profits, Edward Elgar Publishing, Strahan, David, 2008. :The last oil shock :a survival guide to the imminent extinction of petroleum man, London, John Murray, 2008. Robert, Paul, 2005: The end of oil :the decline of the petroleum economy and the rise of a new energy order, London. Bloomsbury, 2005. Julia,balogun. : Exploring Strategic Change David Buchanan :Power politic and organization change Research paper and Journal Articles Reviewed by me Risking Investor Value ? ExxonMobil and Climate change by Mark mansley LAGS FAR BEHIND paper on 17 leading institutional investor want meeting with ExxonMobil board. Website used Source: {online} http://www.exxonmobil.com/corporate/ Available at 20th July 2010 Source: {online} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExxonMobil Available at 20th July 2010 Source: {online} http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4859 Available at 20th July 2010 Source: {online} http://www.soxfirst.com/50226711/exxon_mobil_climate_change_and_the_reputation_wars.php Available at 20th July 2010 Source: {online} http://www.thinkingmanagers.com/exxon-mobil-management Available at 20th July 2010

Art in the Urban Environment: Case Study Analysis

Art in the Urban Environment: Case Study Analysis Historical Context In the late eighteenth century, the establishment of the museum revolutionised the notion that art had to be exclusive. Paintings and sculptures, objects previously housed in private collections and viewed by a typically bourgeois audience, were propelled into the wider public arena. Although originating as national institutions, as popularity for this new cultural attraction grew, further art museums were required on a regional and local basis and over the centuries this trend culminated in the formation of the contemporary art gallery. The technological revolution of the 1960s, then, brought with it an increase in available leisure time for the general public, spurring a continued and unprecedented growth in the rate at which art galleries were built. Alongside the introduction of modern media techniques, this combination once again succeeded in bringing art to an increasingly large and diverse audience. This progression, however, brought about a fundamental change in the actual production, format and display of the art pieces themselves. Artists and curators alike, were required to respond to the changing perceptions of a broader, multi-cultural and modern day audience. To retain an appeal, more experimental forms of art and methods of display were introduced. Art was no longer restricted to being hung on a wall, mounted on a plinth or designed to suit a neutral backdrop. The role of the spectator no longer had to be purely passive. Over the past fifty years, the practice of art and its reliance on the modern gallery setting, that of the conventional white cube, which seeks to transcend specificity of time and location (Ault, J., 2003, in Dernie, 2006, p.9) has been confronted. One outcome is that we have witnessed emerging practices of art that extend past the architectural confines of the traditional gallery space and into the external urban fabric. Public art in the urban context, in its broadest definition, is not new in concept. As a work of art or design that is created by an artist specifically to be sited in a public space, (The Newport News Public Art Foundation) monuments, memorials and architectural ornamentation are all valid examples. It was again in the 1960s, however, that public art became a discipline in its own right, forming new sub-genres including environmental, land, site-specific, community-based and street art. By testing ideas of display through actively engaging the public in a more natural environment, art has formed a much greater part in everyday life. That is not to say, that public art need be mutually exclusive of the contemporary art gallery. Historically art forms more closely linked to areas of everyday life have been marginalized by the art establishments as lacking aesthetic quality. (Gastil, 1997, p.85) With its gradual acceptance as a compelling art form, however, there are now many examples where an exhibition of public art, has been divided between both the urban environment and the interior gallery setting. In some cases, the works of art in the urban context, are physically linked to a gallery or merely act as an extension to the main internal exhibition. In other examples, the gallery takes a lesser role, providing a framework of background knowledge, acting as an interpretive voice or a financial benefactor for a display primarily located elsewhere. The internal and external events may run in parallel, or the gallery exhibition may precede or follow the external display by a few days, weeks or even years. Public Art in the 21st Century In the first decade of the 21st century, there is a greater demand for art in the urban context, but the popularity and proliferation of this public art, has in turn, led to the danger of it becoming generic/gentrified and having a lesser impact. Now no longer a novel concept, artists in their desire to attract an audience, once again have to strive much harder. In the urban environment, unlike the contained gallery setting, there is not always an expectant observer, here there is a much larger audience that simply happens upon the scene/location and they need to be engaged if the work is to be received successfully. Works of contemporary art in public spaces are encountered by diverse publics who have, to a large extent, no contact with art in galleries, though they may be adept at reading the codes of mass culture. (Gastil, 1997, p.14) More problematically, art in general, also needs to compete with a vigorous leisure industry and an overly cinematic modern world. The built environment has become increasingly globalised and homogenous. As a society already bombarded with spectacular imagery and simulated environments (Dernie, 2006, p.14) through the daily onslaught of visual stimulation, (advertisements, graphics and digital media) we also require added stimulation of our other senses, to engage with our surroundings and create a rich, memorable experience. Within the contemporary art gallery it is apparent what is now fundamental to contemporary exhibition design is the creation of an experience that is engaging, multi-sensorial and rewarding. (ibid., p.13) This experience relies on a mixture of digital technology, graphical design, sound, performance and virtual reality, to build up the blank canvas of the internal space and create an immersive environment. In contrast, back within the external context, this diverse layering of attributes is a pre-defined condition. The built environment provides the experience, the context, sights, sounds, and smells that are only ever fabricated within the purpose built gallery. Naturally occurring phenomena, the layering of human activity and habitation, social, economic and political factors, environmental factors, historical and cultural backgrounds, all combine organically to form a stimulating environment. It is interesting therefore that, often, it is the everyday environment that is overlooked. Many people appear so oblivious to their surroundings, or so insulated from the incursions of modern life, that they really do need someone to stand in front of them, signaling wildly, before they raise their eyes and look up. (Searle, 2007) In the current climate, it is evident that for public art to succeed in such a hostile environment, it needs to have either an impact or a resonance, to make a lasting impression. Exploration through Example To look at how some artists have tackled this idea, this paper focuses on three specific projects of external public art, that not only note-worthy for their innovative approach, have also have risen to the challenges of a modern society, and are projects that deliberately provoke exploration of public spaces eliciting fresh thinking about familiar sites and contexts. (Gastil, 2004, p.99) These are projects that due either to their scale, spontaneity or purpose, could not have occurred within the confines of an art gallery. It is important to note, however, each case study did have a direct link with the conventional gallery setting, showing an interesting interdependence. This relationship can be seen to differ between the examples, dependent on the requirements of the specific project. In examining the three case studies, I intend to explore more specifically the differing methods employed by the artists to engage the viewer; the context of urban art and how it affects its purpose, meaning, and value, and whether the relationship these projects had with conventional art gallery, strengthened the work itself. Gormley The first project, Event Horizon, was a large-scale sculpture project by Antony Gormley, centered around the Hayward Gallery on the south bank of the Thames in 2007. As one of Londons most ambitious public art commissions, 31 life size replicas of the artists naked body were scattered within a two kilometer proximity of this central London site. 4 of these 31 statues were made from cast iron and located at street level. By temporarily placing them in the direct pathway of the public, tangibly interrupting the course of daily life, (www.antonygormley.com, 2009), the artist orchestrated an engagement through a series of confrontations. The unsuspecting passer-by was challenged to make a decision. Whether tourist, resident or daily commuter, the passer-by was forced to choose either to walk by head down, to pause to take in the sight, or to stop and reach out to touch this alien figure. The remaining 27 figures, were alternatively placed overhead, on the rooftops of prominent buildings. The unexpected sighting of a human silhouette inhabiting the skyline, evoked intrigue and astonishment (and in some more controversial instances, a phone call to the emergency services). In either encounter, the installation achieved its preliminary goal in forming an initial dialogue between itself and the passer-by. Despite being extended over this two kilometer site, the considered placement of the statues, ensured that more than one would always be apparent in the peripheral vision of the spectator, widening the scale of the work. Whilst some were clearly visible and others a mere speck on the horizon, there became an ambiguity to how many more of these figures there were placed around the city. The work connects the palpable, perceptual and conceptual, and implicates the viewer in a field condition. (www.antonygormley.com, 2009) Through an implied interrelationship between the figures and their various locations, the existing built environment became the larger stage on which the display was set. The spectator was distanced from the works on the horizon, but the implication was that they themselves, by standing within this stage, could also be an additional figure in the landscape. At street level, the contrasting proximity of the statues further increased this active participation of the spectator / passer-by, by permitting closer examination. The tactile quality and scale of the figures, their material response to environmental factors such as the appearance of rust and the shadows cast from them by the sun, could all be observed and assessed first hand, making the project more memorable. By integrating this temporary installation into the familiar urban landscape, Gormley does not only try to encourage the spectator to look at the individual statues, but to look afresh at their surroundings. In this case the eye is drawn to aspects of the skyline that are frequently overlooked and spectators are encouraged to consider their relationship as individuals to the city and other inhabitants. Event Horizon gives one a terrific sense of the citys scale, of the relative size of the human in relation to the architecture, of the distances and proximities of the citys jumbled elevations. (Searle, 2007) Event Horizon ran in parallel with an exhibition of Gormleys earlier sculptures, prints, drawings and photographs, located within the Hayward Gallery itself. These works were seminal in their own right, but the curiosity developed by placing the figures within the urban context, encouraged a far larger number of visitors to the exhibition. Each of the 31 external statues had been rotated to face the external viewing balcony of the Hayward making this the focal point of attraction. Visitors flooded into the gallery to this observation deck, to stand and look back out at the city. Deliberately no figures were placed on the balcony itself, in a reversal of the normal relationship between viewer and art object, (Gormley in Vidler, 2007, p.47) those observing from the gallery, were encouraged to watch the array of interactions with the art in the street. Once in the gallery setting, visitors could then observe similar statues within a different context. The gallery provided an alternative insight to the work, and ultimately this relationship further enhanced the overall experience. Christo and Jeanne-Claude The highly publicised installation Wrapped Reichstag, by Christo and Jeanne-Claude provides the second case study. In 1995 The Reichstag in Berlin, a symbol of democracy for Germany, was wrapped for 14 days in 100,000 square meters of thick woven polypropylene fabric. A steel framework was temporarily installed to the facades and roof of the building, altering the original proportions and allowing the fabric to cascade to the ground. First conceived in 1971, it took 24 years of public forums, parliamentary debates, press conferences and design trials, before approval for the project was granted and as such the considerable activity that preceded the wrapping, became as much a part of the work as the actual installation. As a building of huge historical significance, the image of The Reichstag was a familiar one and therefore the initial encounter of the viewer to the installation tended to be one of awe. Both spectacular in scale and drama, this display showcased how projects could be strengthened by their interaction with the outside world. The draped fabric took on a dynamic quality by being free to ripple in the wind, whilst the aluminum coating reflected the sun during the day and became muted in the evening. Even the sheer amount of people who went to see the transformation, provided a spectacle in itself. By being deliberately temporary, the work was enhanced in intensity and value. Described as a revelation through concealment, (Bourdon, 1971) by transforming the appearance it drew on peoples memory to remember the original proportions, the materiality and the solidarity of the building hidden beneath. When the installation was then dismantled and the site returned to its original state, this too provoked a further re-evaluation that continued long after the project was dismantled. In 1995, it was seen by five million people and has retained its power through documentation and memory long after it was removed. (Gastil, 1997, p.102) In this instance the relationship of the gallery was based around two parts. Prior to the two-week installation, the role of the galley was one of promotion. Due to the sheer logistics of wrapping such a significant icon of German history, drawings, collages and scale models were, over a period of years, displayed within a multitude of galleries. Beginning at the Annely Juda Gallery in London and then moving to galleries in Cologne and finally Berlin, the artists sought an international awareness of the project, to raise both the public support and the finances required to undertake the task. After the event, photographs taken during the installation, were then exhibited alongside the original drawings as a record of the event. The wrapping of The Reichstag also raised several political and historical issues, which were again documented within these further exhibitions, to expand the background knowledge of the visitor. The spectacle was executed within the urban environment, but for those who perhaps could not attend, those that had heard about the event only afterwards through the media, or those that simply wanted to learn more, the contemporary art gallery provided this forum and subsequently extended the life of the installation. Slinkachu The third example is far subtler in nature. Produced by artist Slinkachu in 2006, a series of one-inch mini-installations were created for, and placed in, the streets of London. In modifying small, shop bought plastic figurines and placing them within a real urban context, Slinkachu curated everyday human scenarios, in miniature, whether it be reading the newspaper, shopping, sight-seeing or engaged in more criminal activities. Unlike the two previous examples, the art works of Slinkachu, did not rely on being at odds with their urban surroundings. Left to be discovered by passers-by, the orchestrated scenes invited exploration through curiosity and intrigue. Like Gormleys statues, these miniature figures were designed to engage the audience emotively through personal resonance. Even when you know they are just hand-painted figurines, you cant help but feel that their plights convey something of our own fears about being lost and vulnerable. (The Times, 2006) In the urban context, by the very nature of the size of the installation, even the trained eye could pass over the work unnoticed and the pieces were only likely to attract the attention of a very small number of people. To ensure the engagement of a wider audience, Slinkachu captured these interventions through photographic images that appeared, in tandem, on advertisement boards throughout the city. For each miniature scene, photographs were taken from distances both far away and up close, yet the advertisement boards showed only one image of the set, deliberately puzzling the passer-by and encouraging a second glance. In the wider scene it was not immediately obvious where the work was, whilst at the macro scale, the figurines appeared to adopt human proportions. The artist also relied on the traditional gallery space to provide an interpretive voice. Exhibiting at the Cosh Gallery, the two photographs of each installation could be placed adjacent to one another alongside recreated scenes of the original context, revealing the distortion of scale, to the viewer, in a witty manner. The gallery in this instance provided recognition of the artist and of his installations that outside of the gallery setting, were not necessarily obvious as a pieces of art. If the audience had been unsuccessful in finding the installations in the urban environment or, alternatively once engaged, simply wanted to learn more, the gallery provided a space to summarise the events that occurred externally. In a reversal of roles, for some the gallery even became the starting point. On noting the separate scenarios and their locations within the city, visitors would often be encouraged to then go back outside and search for the work, which by then however, may have been washed away by rain, discarded as rubbish or rescued as a treasure. Conclusion Whilst each individual will observe or experience a situation differently, dependent on their own preconceptions, by engineering encounters, storylines and multi-sensorial experiences, in each case study, the artists have been successful in encouraging an audience to raise their eyes and look up (Searle, 2007) from their everyday lives. As demonstrated, if works of art can evoke an emotive response from the spectator, such as shock, awe, curiosity or empathy, it can contribute to a lasting impression. Also by being temporary in nature there is an element of spontaneity to these places and events that is memorable. One doesnt actually expect the experience you arrive at. (Gastil, 1997, p.18) In the example of Event Horizon, even the most unsuspecting of passers-by, can become active participants in the drama unfolding around them. It is evident that each case study also became strengthened by the richness of its surrounding location. By being placed alongside attributes identifiable in everyday life, the spectator could draw upon a deeper social and cultural framework, to form their own opinion of the art. In turn, as new interventions within familiar landscapes, these projects heightened the awareness of the spectator and encouraged them, even if only subliminally, to reassess the urban environment around them. The value of urban art is therefore, not judged solely on its own intrinsic merits as an individual piece or installation, but instead its value is in the dialogue it can generate between itself, the spectator and the surrounding context. The purpose of this paper is not to suggest that displays in the urban environment are ever likely to replace or take precedence over those in the typical gallery space, but that by being more experimental in nature, they act as a catalyst to test the perceptions of a developing audience. For many of us the designed air of the modern art gallery or museum still represents a kind of elitism, (Dernie, 2006, p.9) Alternatively the unpredictable and unregulated external environment, offers familiarity, an opportunity for spontaneity, and a larger stage on which to exhibit. Urban installations bring works of art to a mass audience; to those who may not be actively seeking it, but might well become engaged by it and find enjoyment from it. They can motivate people to seek further understanding in entering a gallery they would perhaps not visit otherwise. The contemporary art gallery in linking with these urban installations has adapted and taken on a new supporting role, providing a level of education, a longer lasting memory, financial incentives, recognition and ultimately a voice between the artist and general public. The advantage of combining these two environments, as indicated in the three case studies, is that this relationship can be of mutual benefit, it can provide added value and impact and prove fruitful in engaging a wider diverse audience, or as in the case of Slinkachu, even lead to a cult following. Related bibliography Books: Baal-Teshuva, J. (2001), Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Taschen Bourdon, D. (1971), Christo, Harry N. Abrams Publishers, New York Chernow, B. (2000), Christo and Jeanne-Claude A Biography, St Martins Press, New York Dernie, D. (2006), Exhibition Design, Laurence King, London Gastil, W., Ryan, Z. (2004), Open: New Designs for Public Space, Princeton Architectural Press Holl, S. (2007), Questions of Perception: Phenomenology of Architecture (2nd Edition), William K Stout Publishers Lynch, K. (1972), What Time is This Place, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA Miles, M. (1997), Art, Space and the City: Public Art and Urban Futures, Routledge ODoherty, B. (2000), Inside the White Cube: The Ideology of the Gallery Space, University of California Press, California Pallasmaa, J. (2005) The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses (2nd Edition), John Wiley Sons Psarra, S. (2009), Architecture and Narrative: The formation of space and cultural meaning, Routledge, Oxford Self, W. (2008), Little People in the City: The street art of Slinkachu, Boxtree, Oxford Vidler, A., Stewart, S. and Mitchell, W. (2007), Anthony Gormley Blind Light, Hayward Gallery Publishing, London Zardini, M. (2005) Sense of the City: An Alternative Approach to Urbanism, Lars Muller Publishers, Toronto Press Articles: Searle, A., (2007), Antonys Army, The Guardian, May 15th Websites: (Accessed 04/01/10) The Newport News Public Art Foundation, What is Public Art, Available from: (Accessed 03/01/10) The Times, (2006), The Blog of the Week, October 28th, Available from: (Accessed 29/12/09) Picture Credits: Photograph by Miller, D. (2005) The White Cube Gallery, Available from: Photograph by Hopper, D. (1967) Fluids by Allan Kaprow, Los Angeles, Available from: Running Fence by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, California, (1972) in Baal-Teshuva, J. (2001), Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Taschen Photograph by Aschkenas, D. (1985) Tilted Arc by Richard Serra, Available from: Famous advertisement boards on Piccadilly Circus, London, (2005) Available from: Interactive Displays, London Underground, (2007) Available from: Nikon Interactive Lightbox, Subway Station Seoul, (2009) Available from: Photograph by White, S. (2007) Event Horizon, in Vidler, A., Stewart, S. and Mitchell, W. (2007) Anthony Gormley Blind Light, Hayward Gallery Publishing, London Event Horizon (2007) Available from: Photograph by White, S. (2007) Event Horizon, in Vidler, A., Stewart, S. and Mitchell, W. (2007) Anthony Gormley Blind Light, Hayward Gallery Publishing, London Photograph by Harrison, C. (2007) Event Horizon By Antony Gormle ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­y, Waterloo Bridge, London, Available from: Wrapped Reichstag (1995) in Baal-Teshuva, J. (2001), Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Taschen Photograph by Manzanares, R. (2009) Christo and Jeanne-Claude with a model of Wrapped Reichstag, Available from: Preliminary Drawings, Wrapped Reichstag in Baal-Teshuva, J. (2001), Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Taschen Photograph by Hecht, H. (1995) Wrapped Reichstag, Available from: Photograph by Hecht, H. (1995) Wrapped Reichstag at Night, Available from: Slinkachu, (2008) Ground Zero Solo Show, Cosh Gallery, London, Available from:> Slinkachu, (2008) Ground Zero Solo Show, Cosh Gallery, London, Available from: Slinkachu, (2007) I Cant Actually Graffiti, Festival Hall, London, Available from: Slinkachu, (2007) I Cant Actually Graffiti, Festival Hall, London, Available from: Slinkachu, (2009) Small Victory, Billingsgate, London, Available from: Slinkachu, (2009) Small Victory, Billingsgate, London, Available from:

History of The Guillotine :: essays research papers

The guillotine was first introduced during the French Revolution by a man named Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin. He is a physician who first was involved with the issues of medicine. On December 1, 1789 he became interested in the idea of capital punishment. He invented the guillotine. It was a contraption used for causing immediate and painless death. It included a falling blade, running between two upright boards of wood and later a basket. Therefore, one may believe that the design of the guillotine helped with executions. The basket was used to catch the falling heads. In the early revolution Richard Clark said that originally a wicker basket lined with an oil cloth had been used to catch the head. Later on a metal bucket was used to prevent the blood from flowing through the streets. Since they guillotined so any people the bucket became a necessity to have. Along with this it helped to prevent the smell of death in the streets. The most important part of the guillotine is of course the blade. The first guillotine was built with a blade that was straight across. When someone had to be decapitated,force and exact precision were needed in order for it to be a success (Jonas L. Bulman). If the blade did not hit the exact spot on the neck it would become as thought it was an axe. It would hack away until the head came off. After all the chopping, the blade would often become dull. Throughout the revolution the blade was changed, it became angled. The angling of the blade helped to kill faster. It would not become dull as quickly and it would slice straight through without having to chop. The blade was made from steel and weighed about 40 kgs. To work the blade it was pulled to the top of the contraption then released with the cord to give it a quick reaction. With the quickness of the blade it was estimated that it took about .75th of a second to be guillotined. The bascule was invented later on through the revolution. Due to the fact it was found to be easier then forcing a struggling prisoner up a flight of steps. With the bascule a prisoner could just be bound to it then tipped over and moved into position to be guillotined. The bascule was made of wood and shaped like a plank. A prisoner would be strapped to it by their feet, ankles and waist.

Ibn Battutas 1331 Journey to West Africa Essay -- Gender Roles, Mecca

Ibn Battuta’s 1331 journey to West Africa provides a contrast of two worlds: Battuta’s pre-modern Islamic culture conflicting with African societies’ interpretation of Muslim beliefs and tribal traditions. He is especially critical of the various roles of women he observes—thus, allowing us insight into his own judgments formed by his culture and society. A brief summary of his life is paramount in the understanding of Battuta’s impressions and reactions to West African society. Abu Abdallah ibn Battuta was born in Morocco in 1304. By 1325, Battuta embarked on his first hajj, or pilgrimage to the holiest Islamic city of Mecca at age twenty-one (Hamdun, King, p. 1). Although expected to complete this religious duty at least once in his or her lifetime, Battuta accomplished the hajj, â€Å"six or seven times, each time presumably accruing divine merit† (Dunn, p. xvii). Battuta was a part of the ulama, an elite class of Muslim religious and legal scholars who, â€Å"traveled to make the hajj or to further their education in the religious sciences (Dunn, p. xii). Battuta traveled extensively for nearly thirty years, visiting around fifty countries, often multiple times (Dunn, p. ix). He chronicled his lengthy expeditions in the Rihla (Book of Travels), allowing some of the first and only written accounts of Sub-Saharan Afri ca in the 14th century. Battuta’s beliefs regarding status of women in Islamic society is perhaps first alluded to in his account of the MassÃ… «fa of Ä ªwÄ lÄ tan. He chides, â€Å"The condition of these people is strange and their manners outlandish†¦None of them derives his genealogy from his father, but on the contrary, from his maternal uncle† (Battuta, p. 37). Battuta disagrees with the MassÃ… «fa’s tradition of matrilineal derive... ...and counted among his associates eminent scholars, royal officials, rich merchants, and Mongol Kings† (Dunn, p. ix). It is these experiences that also allow us to also extrapolate some of the realities and experiences of the pre-modern Muslim woman. It is these same experiences during this formative period of Islamic society that established and shaped the contemporary Islamic world. Today, just as Ibn Battuta was able to observe other cultures through caravans on camelback, Muslim men and women are now exposed to various cultures in our globalized world through technology without having to travel far. And also just as Battuta, these same men and women are also experiencing the both strengthening and testing of his or her cultural and religious identity. The social constructs of Battuta’s era are being challenged through revolutions and uprisings throughout Islam.

Conextualizing Homebody/Kabul Essay -- Essays Papers

Conextualizing Homebody/Kabul In the aftermath of the bombing of the Twin Towers on September 11 th, Tony Kushner’s Homebody/Kabul has received remarkable acclaim from its opening in New York City in December of 2001. Written â€Å"before September 11th, before we began bombing,† Kushner’s play is a startling look into Kabul, Afghanistan, a world once ruled by sharia hudud and strangled by poverty, violence and the world’s apathy (Homebody/Kabul 144). It chronicles the story of one middle-aged British woman, the ‘Homebody,’ and her life-changing encounter with an Afghan refugee in an import shop in London, her subsequent flight to and disputed death in Kabul, and the stories of her daughter and husband who travel to Kabul to recover her. Brushed with dark humor and realism, this play offers a haunting glimmer of the ignorance the West to war-torn countries of this world. The Homebody only appears for the opening monologue, an excerpt of which I have selected to perform, yet her character sets the plot for this entire award winning drama. Throughout her monologue, her speech is lyrical, loquacious to the point of being ridiculous, and in moments, magnificently contrived to illumine connections between her life and the sorrow of others. As the play opens, she is seated in an armchair on stage, a guidebook to Afghanistan in her lap, which she proceeds to read aloud, interrupting herself with tangent thoughts that spiral and twist away from any tangible organization of ideas, save that of relying the story of the man in the hat shop and the imaginary world she creates from this encounter. The excerpt I have selected is remarkable for the gravity of feeling the Homebody relates, and the sensitivity she exhibits, empathizing with ... ...bombs rendered them. In preparing the delivery this monologue, I have learned much about Islamic extremism and my own ignorance of the suffering of the Afghan people, women in particular. As an avid advocate of reading and writing for every person, I found the restrictions placed on Muslim women in particular to be hideous. Through this drama, I have learned that extremists of a faith to not constitute the spirit of a faith, and that Islam is a religion as equally misinterpreted by the public as Christianity is today. Wherever people are permitted to let their own political and cultural philosophies override the truth and tradition of sacred scripture, there is a crookedness of reality; Afghanistan was one such nation, and its pain depicted in this play is real and running with living blood today. I hope to do justice to this depiction in the delivery of my monologue.

Barilla Spa Case Study

Barilla SpA (Barilla), is an Italian largest pasta manufacturer in the world manufacturer that sells pasta to retailers largely through third-party distributors. Barilla has been facing huge variability in demand which is straining the manufacturing and distribution network of the company. This fluctuation in demand, are forcing the CDCs to maintain a higher level of inventory. The proposed new system, Just-In-Time Distribution (JITD), is the solution suggested to resolve the demand fluctuation issues and lower costs.This new process would move forecasting and shipment allocation responsibilities to Barilla rather than allowing each distributor/retailer place the order amounts separately. This approach has both internal and external complications as there is much resistance from both within the company and from the suppliers and distributors. Implementing the JITD is a good idea for a number of reasons.This will streamline the information flow, reduce uncertainty in demand , reduce t he lead time, and decrease both finished and raw material inventory, thus making the system efficient and reducing the overall cost. A good plan would be for Barilla to start by running a pilot test within its own depot then with 1 or 2 distributors and  use the results of the test regarding the cost savings and improvement in supply chain efficiency to convince other distributors about how beneficiary will be to all by implementing JITD.ISSUE IDENTIFICATIONImmediate issue:The main issue in this case is the fluctuating demand imposed on Barilla’s manufacturing and distribution system. Once this is brought under control, many other problems will be solved. These following are some of the causes of this fluctuating demand that must be addressed: Demand fluctuations (Bullwhip effect)Cost of having to hold high inventory in order to meet distributor’s order Transportation costBarilla’s sales strategy relied heavily on the use of promotions Long Lead timeCustomer s ervice.Higher overall warehouse and transportation costsSales Representatives Incentives based on the amount of the products that they sold to the distributorsISSUE IDENTIFICATION & ROOT CAUSE Demand fluctuations (Bullwhip effect)As the 1980s progressed, Barilla has been facing huge variability in demand essentially affecting dry products, such extreme demand fluctuation strained the manufacturing and distribution network of the company (see Exhibit 12) Cost of having to hold high inventoryThis fluctuation in demand and the difficulty of the manufacturing process to deal with fast-track orders are forcing the CDCs to maintain a higher level of inventory in order to meet distributor’s order. â€Å" A distributor warehouse held a two- week supply of Barilla dry products in inventory†. (see Exhibit 13) Reduce the number of SkusTransportation costThe greater number of trucks that it required in periods of high demand increased its Transportation costs. Barilla’s sal es strategy relied heavily on the use of promotions In the form of price, transportation and volume discountsLong Lead timeBarilla supplied its distributors between 8 and 14 days after it received their orders, the average lead-time being 10 days. Customer service Barilla has no visibility when it comes to plan and forecast in order to meet the customer demand. Higher overall warehouse and transportation costsThe fluctuation demand may lead to overtime shifts in order to meet the demand, higher inventory of raw materials and frequent capacity adjustments, as well as higher transportation costs which all increase the overall cost of the product. Sales Representatives Incentives based on the amount of the products that they sold to the distributors. This was causing problems as the sales reps would try and push more products during the promotional period to get a bonus and were not able to sell as much during non-promotional periods.ALTERNATIVES AND OPTIONThe proposed new system, Just -In-Time Distribution (JITD), is one solution I suggest to resolve the demand fluctuation issues and lower costs. PROS:1- Resolve the demand fluctuation that often lead to the bullwhip effect. 2- Offer additional service to the customer at no extra cost 3- Increase supply chain visibility and there by fewer stock outs 4- Reduce forecasting errors5- Lower cost of capital tied up in inventory 6- Improve customer service 7- Improve the information flow, 8- Reduce the lead time 9- Decrease both finished and raw material inventory, thus making the system efficient and reducing the overall cost. CONS:1- Heavy Investment in information technology in order to implement the JITD program 2- The internal resistance to the JITD system, comes from the  production, sales and marketing divisions and the top management. The production division is concerned about the lack of a sophisticated forecasting system in order to properly use the data received from the distributors in an efficient way. The sales representatives are concerned about their compensation, they will lose their incentives, because the sale will be predictable or flat and their responsibilities will be minimized under the new mode of operation.The top management will be concerned about the added responsibility of predicting demand on Barilla without any guarantee of cost reduction. 3- The external resistance comes from the distributors and retailers. They will be concerned about the loss of control in deciding their inventory levels. The JITD system gives more power to Barilla which may be looked on with doubt by some distributors who are not sure about the long term intentions of Barilla.These distributors expressed concerns about becoming too tight to Barilla and fearful of losing control by giving Barilla the power to push products into their warehouse just so they Barilla can reduce its costs. 4- Difficulty to run trade promotions with JITD which may push the customer to switch to another brand. 5- Custo mer need to improve their equipment ( computer, bar-code, scanner..) 6- Customer will have to share their sales data with Barilla on a daily basis in order to insure replenishment 7- Loss of control in deciding their inventory levelsRECOMMENDATIONS1- Eliminate or reduce the promotional discounts to customers because it leads to demand accumulation and a release during the promotion period. 2- Volume discounts to distributors should be reduced or eliminated for the same reasons highlighted above. 3- Barilla should also move to a new compensation for sales representatives, they should be rewarded on company performance not on their own. Their responsibilities and relationships should be closer to distributors and retailer in order to improve and insure Barilla’s customers satisfaction. 4- The distributors will have to be offered collaboration incentives in order to keep them on board 5- Keep the assessment period the same but stagger the end dates for these periods over sales r epresentatives to smooth out demand fluctuations.IMPLEMENTATIONHow to effectively implement JITD at Barilla? And When?1- Start by running a test pilot within its own depot then with few distributors and use the results to convince the internal and external resistance on how the new program will reduce dramatically their cost. and improve supply chain efficiency. 1- Collaborative Planning: Barilla and the distributors can work as a team and plan on different issues. 2- Manage the demand: Barilla should not only forecast demand but also should try to shape and influence it by marketing using surveys to determine the needs and expectations of the consumers and designing products to satisfy them.3- Gather information from point of sale: This model has been successfully implemented in Wal-Mart’s distribution system. However Barilla will have to improve its relationship with retailer and that will involve a costly investment as the retailer doesn’t have the computer to commu nicate the information to Barilla.MONITOR AND CONTROLThe JITD system has the potential to substantial reduce costs if it is implemented correctly. In order to do so Barilla should begin implementing JITD within its own Depots and expand with pilot projects with the Distributors. Therefore mentioned analysis discussed a variety of methods by which to make such implementation more viable than it was in the past. However, such a list is in no way conclusive. Ideas such as reducing the number of SKUs and rearranging distribution channels should also be explored in the long term as they can also result in substantial cost savings. Barilla should be able to monitor and control the partnership with its distributors by measuring their performance, these are the following list of inclusions that may be used for this purpose:

Cannabis and Marijuana Plants

Marijuana Marijuana is a psychoactive drug, and is the most controversial of these types of drugs. The reason being is that there are so many myths and misconceptions that surround marijuana. It is not clear about the addiction potential, physical and psychological problems of marijuana. . Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America behind only alcohol and tobacco, and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans (marijuana). Marijuana is widely used and it is estimated that nearly 25% of Americans have used marijuana once in their lives and that 2-5 million people use it daily despite it being illegal.Marijuana is a mixture of crushed leaves, flowers, small branches, stems, and seed of the hemp plant. This plant grows best in tropical climates and can be found throughout the world. Most countries cultivate this plant on purpose. Cannabis Indica species can withstand colder climates (â€Å"Marijuana, history of,†) If marijuana were to become a cash crop i t would be the largest grown in the United States. It is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world, following caffeine, nicotine, and alcoholic beverages in the popularity.In the United States, where the route of admission is usually smoking, it also has been called weed, grass, pot, or reefer (â€Å"Marijuana, history of,†). Marijuana is a depressant. The effects of marijuana may vary with its strength and dosage and with the state of mind of the user. High doses can cause tachycardia, paranoia, and delusions (â€Å"Marijuana, history of,†). Marijuana can also have a psychedelic effect in high doses. With this being said, marijuana is classified as both a depressant and a psychedelic.Marijuana does produce some of the same effects as hallucinogens like a LSD or mescaline, but it differs chemically and pharmacologically. Marijuana is made up of many chemicals. There are currently 426 known compounds in the plant. When marijuana is burned there are 1500 additiona l compounds that are formed. The chemical compounds that are found in marijuana only are called cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are the most active and mind-altering ingredients in marijuana. The primary active component of marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), although other cannabin derivatives are also thought to be intoxicating.In 1988 scientists discovered receptors that bind THC on the membranes of nerve cells. They reasoned that the body must make its own THC-like substance. The substance, named anandamide, was isolated from pig brains in 1992 by an American pharmacologist, William A. Devane (â€Å"Marijuana, history of,†). The potency of marijuana is determined by the amount of THC present. All the parts of the plant have different concentrations of THC. So the mixture of the plant material used and the conditions of how the plant was grown determines the potency of this drug sold on the street.The root of this plant has no THC value, the stalk have very l ittle value, there is some THC found in the branches, there is a moderate amount of THC found in the leaves(male has 5 leaves and female has 7 leaves), and the highest amount of THC concentration will be found in the buds, flowers and seeds. The concentration of THC has increased over the past 30 years. Marijuana is 25 to 40 times more potent than it was in the 1960’s, it’s up from . 2% to 5-8% pure today. Marijuana dates back to 2700 B. C. in ancient China. The plant was used to make rope, cloth, and paper from its fiber.It was during this time that the resins, flowers, and leaves from the plant could also be used for medical use. It was used to treat gout, malaria, and gas pains. It was by 500 B. C. that the Chinese put a ban of the use of the plant because of it unpredictable intoxicating effects. Marijuana was introduced into ancient India mainly for the mind altering effects. Marijuana was used in religious ceremonies the euphoria producing ability. It didnâ€℠¢t take long for the plant to be recognized for its intoxicating effects and its value in making rope and cloth.In America the public didn’t show any interest in marijuana as a recreational drug. It was just used in medicines. It was primarily prescribed legally for a numerous physical and mental aliments until 1940. In fact when Congress passed the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914, many drugs were removed from the marketplace, but it excluded marijuana. It was not until the prohibition of alcohol that marijuana smoking became prominent. The Mexican immigrants were introducing marijuana along the Mexican border, while West Indian sailors were bringing it into the Gulf States.People no longer could legally use alcohol in and get their intoxicating effects so smoking marijuana became very popular. It became apparent in the 1930’s that marijuana was being abused and there was an increase in violence because of its use. Tales were beginning to spread of the effects, murder, rape, sexual excess, and memory loss from using marijuana. The federal government tried to scare the public with a film called â€Å"reefer madness†, but it actually did more harm than good. In 1935 the states took action and started passing their own laws towards non-medical use of marijuana.In 1937 the federal government stepped up and passed a Marijuana Tax Act that prohibited the use of all non-medical marijuana, the possession and use of cannabis nationwide. Marijuana came back on the scene during the World War II era. It was extensively cultivated during the World War II era, when Asian sources of hemp were cut off (â€Å"Marijuana, history of,†). It was commercially grown. The Philippines were being invaded by the Japanese so there was no sisal plant to make rope. American farmers were actually encouraged to the marijuana plants for rope production.Birds loved the seeds of this plant and when they would leave their droppings it would start wild plants of marijua na to grow throughout the United States. Marijuana became a very popular drug of choice because of its availability. Today marijuana is a widely used illegal drug among many ethnic groups. Hispanics are among 9. 2 percent of users; non-Hispanic blacks (7. 7% , nearly 8 percent of females used marijuana in the past year vs. 14% of males used in the past year); non-Hispanic whites (6. 7%, nearly 7 percent vs. 11 percent); Asian/Pacific Islanders (2. 0%, 2% vs. 7. %); South Americans (4. 2%, more than 4% vs. 13 percent). It can be found on the street for a price of $250-500 ounce depending on where it is bought. The cheapest is in Oregon at $258 ounce and most expensive in Washington D. C. at $486 ounce. Age itself is one of the most significant variables in understanding marijuana use. Past-year use of marijuana increased with age, to a peak prevalence of about 23 percent among 18 -25 year olds, before declining to about 44 percent among persons aged 35 and older. Among adults, male s moking rates for marijuana are nearly twice those for females.IN the total surveyed population, males were about 70% more likely than females to have used marijuana in the past year (11 percent versus 6. 7, nearly 7 percent). The only exception to the data showing more male smokers of marijuana than females occurs among children and teens. There still remains controversy over the medical uses of marijuana. Proponents are saying that it is useful for treating pain and the nausea and vomiting that are side effects of cancer chemotherapy and for restoring the appetite in people with AIDS (â€Å"Marijuana, history of,†) Modern research uggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief-in particular (neuropathic pain), nausea, plasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia (Ma rijuana). What are the acute effects of marijuana? Marijuana can reach the brain through the bloodstream in less than 30 seconds of smoking a joint. It delivers a physical and psychological effect rather quickly.The peak of the effects is usually reached by the time smoking is finished. If a person wants these effects to last longer they would have to consume the marijuana orally from brownies for example. This would allow the marijuana to be absorbed into the system much longer and these effects would last over 2-3 hours. It only takes a single use of marijuana to impair a person’s motor coordination. The person who just used marijuana may think that they are just fine, but they are really clumsy. This kind of thinking from a person under the influence only spells disaster waiting to happen.A person under the influence of marijuana and their ability to follow a moving stimulus is greatly diminished and can last up to 4-8 hours beyond the point of intoxication. This would int erfere with their driving skills. Also their ability to perceive light will be significantly impaired and would be a major risk for someone operating heavy machinery. Marijuana has some serious physical effects on a person. Although legalization activists and many marijuana users believe smoking pot has no negative effects, scientific research indicates that marijuana use can cause many different health problems (The health effects of marijuana, n. . ) . Smoking a single joint of marijuana is the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes. Marijuana has at least 50% more tar and carcinogenic materials than cigarettes. Because marijuana is not filtered it enters the lungs at a temperature hotter than cigarette smoke and thus drying and irritating the tissues in the lung. Marijuana has been shown to increase the heart rate. Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana, the heart begins beating more rapidly and the blood pressure drops.Marijuana can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 5 0 beats per minute, and can increase even more if other drugs are used at the same time (The health effects of marijuana, n. d. ) It is because of the lower blood pressure and higher heart rate that the researchers have found that a person smoking marijuana has a 4 times greater risk of heart attack compared to them not smoking marijuana. If a person is aware that they have heart disease they should avoid the use of marijuana. Marijuana can hurt the immune system of a person’s lungs.Smoking marijuana can paralyze or destroy the anti-infection white blood cells of the lungs. It is because of this that most smokers will develop laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis, cough, hoarseness, and dry throat. Research indicates that THC impairs the body’s immune system from fighting disease, which can cause a wide variety of health problems. One study found that marijuana actually inhibited the disease-preventing actions of key immune cell (The health effects of marijuana, n. d. ) . There have been recent studies that show marijuana can depress T cells.The depressing of T-lymphocyte functions known as â€Å"killer T cells† would make a person more susceptible to the AIDS infection. The greatest concern is the fact that marijuana is a drug. Some of the most profound effects occur in the brain. Marijuana produces a sense of euphoria, but it also produces anxiety, confusion and if used heavily-drug induced psychosis. Not to mention the effects on reflexes, vision, and motor coordination. Marijuana has effects on long-term memory, because studies suggest that marijuana will fill a synaptic gap between brain cells which stops the flow of electrical signals.Marijuana users experience burn-out or amotivational syndrome from regular use. They have a lack of concern for the future, loss of motivation, loss of ambition, loss of effectiveness, dullness, diminished ability to carry out long term planning, difficulty in concentration, intermittent confusion, impair ed memory, and a decline in work and school performance. There are treatments for marijuana disorders. Marijuana dependence may appear to be very similar to other substance dependence disorders, but the long term clinical outcomes may be less severe.The adults who are seeking treatment for marijuana abuse or dependence have used marijuana nearly every day for more than 10 years and have attempted to quit more than six times (â€Å"Marijuana abuse,†). Let it be noted that marijuana dependence is most prevalent in patients that are suffering from other psychiatric disorders, who are mostly adolescents or young adults. Usually dependence in marijuana co-occurs with other drugs such as cocaine and alcohol. Studies indicate that effectively treating the mental health disorder with standard treatments involving medications and behavioral therapies may help reduce annabis use, particularly among heavy users and those with more chronic mental disorders. Behavioral treatments, such as motivational enhancement therapy (MET), group or individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and contingency management (CM), as well as family-based treatments, have shown promise (â€Å"Marijuana abuse,†). Success rates of those seeking treatment are modest and even the most effective treatment for adults will only achieve 50% abstinence in a 2 week period. Those that do achieve a full two week abstinence, more than half will resume use within a year.Across studies, 1 year abstinence rates have ranged between q0 and 30 percent for the various behavioral approaches (â€Å"Marijuana abuse,†). This data suggest that a more chronic care model should be considered for marijuana addiction. The intensity of the treatment can be stepped up or down based on the patients need. The availability of family and other supports are needed. There are currently no medications to treat the abuse of marijuana, but there is ongoing research being conducted. The studies are mostly tar geting the withdrawal syndrome of marijuana.For example, a recent human laboratory study showed that a combination of a cannabin agonist medication with loffexidine ( a medication approved in the United Kingdom for the treatment of opioid withdrawal) produced more robust improvements in sleep and decreased marijuana withdrawal, craving, and relapse in daily marijuana smokers relative to either medication alone(â€Å"Marijuana abuse,†). There have been recent discoveries about endogenous cannabin systems inner workings. It raises the possibility of a future medication that would be able to block THC’s intoxicating effects.This would prevent patients from relapsing by eliminating marijuana’s appeal. References Abbott, A. (2010). Alcohol tobacco and other drugs (2nd ed. ). Washington, DC: NASW Press. Colorado and washington legalized marijuana today, what happens now? (2012, November). Retrieved from http://blog. norml. org/2012/11/08/colorado-and-washington-legali zed-marijuana-tuesday-what-happens-now/ Demographics of marijuana users. (n. d. ). Retrieved from http://www. opposingviews. com/i/gov-t-stats-reveal-demographics-of-adult-marijuana-users Drug facts: marijuana. (n. d. ). Retrieved from