Homeschooling: An option to choose or refuse? Essay

Schooling is considered as a major step in a child’s development towards becoming a good citizen and a good human being in this global world. Every parent wants the best for their children and they seek for the best education option available. No matter how good or disciplined a school is, the worries and anxieties respective to child’s development, remains constant for the parents. Due to increasing concerns and lack of satisfaction with public schools, new options are being sought after. Homeschooling is one such option that is rapidly emerging as a favorite amongst worried parents. Homeschooling is a way of education, wherein a child, instead of studying by traditional means of going to a public or private school, learns at home, with the help of a private tutor or the parents themselves. Homeschooling is being preferred over traditional methods in this growing world, where the number of students in class, are increasing day by day. Considering the facts, homeschooling looks like a good option for parents who can be assured of individual attention and good educational facilities, right at their homes. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, defines homeschooling as, â€Å"home schooling the practice of teaching children in the home as an alternative to attending public or private elementary or high school. In most cases, one or both of the children’s parents serve as the teachers. Like the charter school movement, home schooling usually arises from religious or other disenchantment with conventional public schools. Home schooling may also include full-time education at home by hired tutors. † The most important benefit of homeschooling is the fact that parents can themselves teach the children at their home and not worry about their children being given due attention in school or not. Homeschooling is said to be first noted in the year 1997, when Rebecca Sealfon, a thirteen year old girl, won the national spelling bee. Rebecca was being schooled in her home and this brought waves among the society (Anderson). Hettinger, in her article, â€Å"Trend to go home for school is on the rise across Indiana, nation† states that parents report dissatisfaction over not being given individual attention in public or private schools and the number of students in a class are increasing. Hettinger also states that, In the United States, an estimated 1. 5 million children were home schooled in 2007, an increase of 74 percent since 1999, according to a press release from Indiana University School of Education. The latest numbers in Indiana were 23,455 students in 2005-06, a 429 percent increase from 10 years earlier, according to the Indiana Department of Education. Lloyd from USA today reports that the number of home schooled kids have reached to 1. 5 million in the year 2007, risen up 74% from when the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics started keeping track in 1999, and up 36% since 2003. Lloyd states that the reasons are mostly religious for homeschooling. The traditional means of schooling does not give the liberty to the parents for being watchful. In homeschooling, even with private tutors, parents can keep an eye on the quality of education and teaching strategies given to their children. The basic positive point about homeschooling is freedom. Children have the freedom to flexible hours of study and they do not have to go by strict schedules (Shaw). Families that move constantly from one town to another, face difficulties in changing schools again and again. Homeschooling gives them full freedom in that respect. Another reason that can be studied for homeschooling being preferred over traditional teaching methods is that no matter how good the school is, parents are still worried about their child’s safety (Davis, 27). The school may be secure enough, but it is not their home. Public schools are dissatisfactory and private schools are highly expensive. Some parents prefer homeschooling because they like to pass on their moral values to their children. Many parents have religious beliefs and they like to pass on their beliefs to their children as a means of their education (Davis, 37). The disadvantages of homeschooling can be simply put by a single word, ‘Isolation’. Schools highly serve as a means of communication and socializing for children with the outer world. In homeschooling, this channel for communication is blocked. Isabel Shaw says that, â€Å"Depending on where you live, homeschoolers may or may not be welcome to participate on teams with their public-schooled peers. Several parents did mention that a few families overcame this problem by creating their own teams. † Tara Hettinger, in her article, states that socializing, though it may seem as a hindrance in homeschooling, isn’t really much of a problem. One of the parents she interviewed, states that, in her opinion, children socialize more outside the school in their play groups rather than in schools. Other disadvantage mainly seen in homeschooling is that the level of education, often provided by the parents, may not live up to high standards. Homeschooled children may not live up to high grades, just like the rest. Davis argues that all students cannot perform with good grades (Davis, 56). There could be more reasons to this argument. The parent acting as a tutor, which is mostly common in homeschooling, should be qualified and educated to tutor the child with proper standards. If the child doesn’t reach proper standards due to the lack of knowledge or efficiency on the part of the tutor, the child is not to be blamed. As a conclusion, it is seen that most parents resort to homeschooling for their children, to get freed from worries and anxieties and to impart better educational facilities to their children in front of their eyes. Even after being aware of its disadvantages, homeschooling seems to be a better resort for parents who want their children to have more than just the average, with respect to education. Homeschooling is becoming more preferred amongst parents, due to its advantages of flexibility, more individual attention, security and variable teaching methodologies over the traditional public or private schooling. Works Cited â€Å"Homeschooling† The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008 Encyclopedia. com 16 Mar 2009 Anderson, Brian C. â€Å"An A for Home Schooling† City Journal Summer 2000. < http://www. city-journal. org/html/10_3_an_a_for_home. html>. Hettinger, Tara â€Å"Trend to go home for school is on the rise across Indiana, nation† The Evening News & The Tribune 10 January 2009. Lloyd, Janice â€Å"Home schooling grows† USA Today 1 January 2009. Shaw, Isabel â€Å"The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling† FamilyEducation. com 16 March 2009 Davis, Mimi. So – Why Do You Homeschool?. Xulon Press, 2005.

Samsung

Samsung Electronics Co. , Ltd. and its subsidiaries Stevenson Saby & Lesly Castillo American Intercontinental University September 7, 2012 Nicole Pringle Abstract The for-profit organization of interest we selected is Samsung electronics co. , ltd. and its subsidiaries. We researched the unusual or conflicting accounting principle that has impacted Samsung electronics co, Included in this research we present, a review and analyze the organizations published accounting statements of the last two years.Specifically, our research paper will: Identify the core functions of each department, their strengths and weaknesses, and make recommendations for improvement, as appropriate. This paper Identifies and describe the underlying problems, Compares the alternative courses of action, Explain the effects at issues, Recommend options that would be consistent with the organization’s accounting practices, accounting processes, and accounting-related departments. Last includes the last two years of published accounting statementsFrom its inception as a small export business in Taegu, Korea, Samsung has grown to become one of the world’s leading electronics companies, specializing in digital appliances and media, semiconductors, memory, and system integration. Today Samsung's innovative and top quality products and processes are world recognized. This timeline captures the major milestones in Samsung's history, showing how the company expanded its product lines and reach, grew its revenue and market share, and has followed its mission of making life better for consumers around the world. SAMSUNG All rights reserved) To identify the core functions of each department, Samsung organization structure consist of Vice Chairman, US executive team and a Board of directors. http://visiblebusiness. blogspot. com/2009/11/samsung-samsung-ar-2008. html Samsung has recently been involved one of the largest patent laws of its kind, Apple Inc. has sued Samsung for $2. 525 bill ion for copyright infringement of the iPhone and iPad with Samsung’s Android technology smart phones.Apple claims, Samsung owes â€Å"substantial monetary damages† for when they illegally â€Å"chose to compete by copying Apple. † You might hear some comments like â€Å"Apple is better â€Å"or what’s so good about Samsung. First let’s identify, Samsung throughout the years has been very successful in providing consumers with innovative technology. Samsung has revenue of 247. 5billon, Assets of 384. 3 billion, Equity of 224. 7 billion and net income of 18. 3 billion with 344, 00 employees. Samsung Electronics Co. , Ltd. and its subsidiaries) Apple has pulled together 434 LTE patents in order to counter a legal threat from Samsung, according to reports on Tuesday. Samsung has vowed to sue Apple if, as expected, if it unveils an LTE-enabled iPhone 5 during the launch event now confirmed for September 12. Anticipating this, Apple has been acquiring and developing enough LTE patents to combat the legal challenge, according to the Chosun Ilbo website.Samsung is planning to make the air-condition product category more strong with unique technology called ‘Triple protection proposition’ Samsung is the India’s official ‘Olympic partner’ for the 2012 London Olympic and recently launched ‘Olympic Ratna Program’. This will result enhance brand awareness and increase the sales. Samsung Mobile and Home appliance has future plans of launching Customized products for Indian market. This will improve the market share in rural market being that Apple is filling injections on a lot of their products.The Indian youth population is growing and mobile phone sales is expected to increase due to lesser call rates, Its financial position is strong and there is a scope of entering into unrelated diversification. Two years published accounting statements 2011> http://www. samsung. com/us/aboutsamsung/ir/ financialinformation/annualreport/downloads/2011/SECAR2011_Eng_Final. pdf (http://www. samsung. com, 2011) http://www. samsung. com/us/aboutsamsung/ir/financialinformation/auditedfinancialstatements/downloads/consolidated/2012_con_all. df (Samsung, 2012) Samsung’s core functions of each department, their strengths and weaknesses were identified, recommendations for improvement were addresses. We hit on possible course of actions Samsung could take with the drop in market shares as well as the alternative courses of action. Samsung Has been in the Industry to long to make a mistake as big as they did in the lawsuit against apple but they are innovators and will continue to make great products and make profits as represented in the financial statements provided.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CRITICAL ANALYSIS - Essay Example Although, microscopic urine sediment analysis is generally regarded as the gold standard for urinalysis, its flaws are also acknowledged. Besides the problem with interobserver variability and imprecision, this method is also labour intensive and very time consuming (Langlois et al., 1999). While the culture method is the preferred method of detecting and quantifying bacteria in urine (Graham and Galloway, 2001), non-culture tests include Gram staining of uncentrifuged urine specimens, Gram staining of centrifuged specimens, or direct observation of bacteria in urine specimens, Nitrite test, leukocyte esterase tests etc. Suprapubic aspiration is generally considered the best method to avoid contamination of specimen, however, this method is rarely used because it is invasive and thus uncomfortable and dangerous (Wilson and Loretta, 2004). Semi-automatic equipments like the Yellow IRIS, followed by the UA-1000 and UA-2000 (Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan) were early attempts at automation of urine analysis. With the Yellow IRIS, precision and sensitivity is reported to be considerably better as compared to visual microscopy, especially at the lower concentration range. The Yellow IRIS device after removing mucus strands from native urine, adds a dye and the stained urine is passed through an optical pathway. A strobe lamp interrupts the motion of the fluid and the particles in it are captured on a colour video-camera. The resulting images of the particles are differentiated with respect to their lengthwise dimensions and then presented for validation by a trained analyst. UA-1000 and UA-2000 follow the same principle, but provide better image resolution compared with the Yellow IRIS because the particles are captured by a colour CCD camera Several studies evaluating and/or validating these automated urine examination methods have been carried out and published. From its findings, a few authors concluded that though the UF-100 might not be seen as a

Intro to Disaster (SLP) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Intro to Disaster (SLP) - Essay Example In CRED (2010), earthquakes are the most frequent disaster to occur in Japan and the most economically damaging, followed by storm and flood. Japan and the Three Natural Phenomena As mentioned, Japan is prone to seismic activities, storm and floods due to their geological and geographic locations, which is also heightened by global warming. Following the earthquake, is a possibility of tsunami generation in the coastal areas of Japan. In 1993, â€Å"only 239 people died when a 30 m high tsunami smashed† in Hokkaido (Bird & Lubkowski, 2005, p. 271). This is due to the experience and knowledge of the residents. Although not all earthquakes can cause tsunamis, it is still imperative for people to have precautionary measures of a possible tsunami. This is necessary in terms of a needed time for self-evacuation, just as what happened to December 26 event. Unlike the July 17, 2006 tsunami of Java, Indonesia, the number of deaths in Japanese tsunamis is not so high. Johnson (2006) co ntends that â€Å"immediate assistance is crucial when natural disasters strike,† but precaution is a better way of addressing help. In other words, tsunami disaster prevention solves the problem before it occurs.

Special populations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Special populations - Essay Example e cost that are involved with it are subtracted .Mostly this analysis puts great emphasis on monetary value unlike cost effective analysis (Brent, 2003). The outcomes of this program are based on both cost effective perspective and cost benefit perspective. Under the cost effective perspective ,the aim of the program is to sensitize those that are trying to battle with alcohol or drug abuse and those who are fearing or do not want to deal with this problem in their lives, under this program the organization does not intent to benefit from the program either directly or indirectly but rather it aims to change the lives of those who are affected by this problem, by investing its financial resources in various programs that are geared towards assisting the affected people. The outcomes of the financial investments in the programs are usually measured against the responses and the effectiveness of the programs i.e. the ratio of change against its effects in the programs. Also ,the aim of this organization is to evaluate the impact of the awareness against what they have invested in the awareness and the result that are obtained may be us ed to help or benefit other organizations or communities(Brent ,2003 ) at the button on their website (get help now) assists them to measure the response against the investment in the program hence though this ,the organization is able to tell how people are responding to their campaigns and the statistics may be used for future reference (Levin, & McEwan ,2000).This program has been able to help most military men and women who are coming out of their work to be able to adjust to the outside live and not to turn to drug and alcohol abuse as their consolation. Some of the services offered to the military by the organization include; guidance and counseling where the programs aim is to advice those living the military on how to accept the outside world away from the military duties, and educate them on the challenges

Executive Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 9

Executive Summary - Essay Example For example in a laundering shop dry cleaning is excluded during laundering process, but included on a customer request while the remaining steps like hanging, pressing and packing would still exercised before giving back to the customer. It follows policies and procedures with specific amount of products to be completed. An assembly area utilizes a line flow of sequence and objects. Companies follow this strategy commonly for make-to-stock purpose. It requires huge amount of capital to be invested. Every worker in assembly is responsible to carry out same work repeatedly for a complete shift. To keep the logistical impact low the products are moved from station to station automatically. In this step a steps are fixed for the production of the products. It is structured in way that high volumes of products are produced within a complete standard. It also required high capital investment with very low flexibility. The workers are just for monitoring the equipment for quality checks and

Oldcross Borough Council Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Oldcross Borough Council - Assignment Example In other words, we can say that public sector procurement is advantageous. The public sector is always in a better position if we compare the investment projects of the economy of any country. The reason may be the presence of Government at the back of the project to fully support it (Tosics & Gaal 2007). The specialists or experts can be hired from different fields to make this project fully working. The idea of the cultural centre is unique and the experts will definitely make it real with their efforts. We only need truly devoted people for this project of building cultural centre. After completion, this cultural centre will stand as an example for other community councils because of its unique idea of placing different things under one roof. These kinds of public projects are also facing competition regarding their procurement decisions (Econ 2004). The public sector is always a source of revenue for the investors (Macfarlane, Cook & Collins 2008). The concept of Value for Money can be described as the best possible permutation of cost and quality to meet the customer’s requirements. Usually the public sector projects are easy to keep under estimated cost because of certain policies and procedures. For such public projects we can easily maintain the blend of finest quality and manageable cost keeping our estimated budget under control. This cultural centre will be constructed on a land which is owned by the Oldcross Borough Council just near to it. This piece of land is a neglected portion and now the management at Community Department is planning to utilize it for the welfare of the citizens. This cultural centre will be a worth visiting place for all the individual of any age i.e. teenagers, juniors and adults. The cultural centre will not only lend books but also cassettes, CDs, DVDs, large collection of computer software, and even books in soft copy also. There will be a library shop in the

Managing data and information as a nurse infromatics specialist Essay

Managing data and information as a nurse infromatics specialist - Essay Example Informatics and information technology specialists, as well as assistance of nursing technicians are utterly important in this field. The various databases are created for several purposes besides information management. One of the core competences resulting from such a system is marketing. A majority of patients mostly prefers institutions with an accurate and elaborate database. Besides, efficiency is another main advantage derived from the use of these systems. Majority of the databases is made to increase the speed and capability of the organization. Database systems are developed through a number of issues and a number of strategies that have been employed over a long period. These are mostly known as the dimensions of database construction. Several dimensions are used in the development of database systems for not only nursing but virtually all fields. The core field that will have to be assessed is the data transformation dimension, which is basically the main field in databas e construction. Database construction involves the development of a field, or a transformational item that will directly and automatically convert raw information or data into information that can be stored. For this part of the system, an already developed system for this purpose, say digital computers, or the usual computer system, and the development of servers to store data will be used. The server will store the information whereas the computers, connected to the servers will be used for as the access interfaces for the users. Besides the transformation of data, developing a dimension or criterion for information storage is vital and crucial, for instance, deciding who can access the information and who can alter the content in the information. The basic overall consideration that will be used in the development of this data management system is the basic and common use of fact tables. According to Langer (2007), basic use of data management tables and dimensional factual infor mation is crucial in the development of database dimension systems. These systems basically involve the entry of information that has been crosschecked by a supervisor for certainty. The use of factual tables is the simplest data entry method used in most database systems, which allows even the least technologically aware employee to use the system after the use of basic training. The final dimension that will have to be considered in this case is the basic consideration of context. What information will be contained in the information system and what will not. Automatically, the information used will be of a digital and alphanumerical nature. This is judged through the consideration of patient information that has to be put in words and not only digits or amounts the client in question has consumed. Besides patients’ information, employee information, such as their experience and their applicability to the patients’ conditions can be used in assigning different nurses to different patients depending on their familiarity with the conditions in question. According to Roussel (2006), general nursing informatics encompasses the inclusion and use of various dimensions from nurses’ information, to patients’ conditions and information, their respective usage of hospital facilities, such as beds, electronics and other similar facilities. In addition to that, practically any nurse can use consideration the

The Social Construction of Deviance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Social Construction of Deviance - Essay Example It can be said that one's behavior is "deviant" when it strays from cultural norms. In today's society, body weight and size are of great importance in terms of fitting in or being considered attractive. Obesity has become something that society as a whole, frowns upon. The market is flooded with diet pills, health food, diet books, medical procedures, gym memberships and exercise equipment. This has been the case for several decades but is increasingly more and more of a sociological issue. Being "thin" is synonymous with the institution of being attractive or socially accepted. The first step to relating obesity to deviant behavior is to look at "who" is being labeled as deviant. Naturally, it is safe to assume for the purposes of this paper that any individual, who is of a body weight greater than what is "normal" for their height and bone structure, can be considered deviant. The definition of obesity declares that in order to be obese, one must weight 30 lbs or more above the acceptable weight for their height and bone structure, to be considered obese, "Approximately 127 million adults in the U.S. are overweight, 60 million are obese (Body Mass Index or BMI > 30) and 9 million are extremely obese (Body Mass Index or BMI > 40)" (http://www.obesityinamerica.org/bythenumbers.html). These acceptable weights are listed in body mass indexes and can be found in almost any physician's office. When we observe that individuals who can b... This is the social norm that has been deviated from by individuals who are said to be obese. Next, let us examine who is constructing obese individuals as being deviant. In other words, let us discuss who is setting these social norms that are being deviated from and who is deciding that individuals who are obese are in fact deviating or socially deviant. "In 1991, only four of 45 states participating in the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System had obesity prevalence rates of 15 to 19 percent and none had obesity prevalence rates greater than 20 percent" (http://www.obesityinamerica.org/geographic.html). According to this statement, the CDC is one specific organization that is essentially labeling obesity as "high risk behavior" and therefore it can be said that the CDC is one aspect to the social construction of obesity as deviant. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) is a health organization responsible for identifying and helping prevent the outbreak of rapidly occurring diseases. This organization seeks to keep any wide spread disease from becoming an epidem ic or pandemic. Clearly, obesity is being labeled as not only a deviation from social norm but also a disease of epidemic proportion. The CDC is not the only health organization concerned with obesity; virtually any major health organizations contain some facet to address the problem of obesity. In addition, virtually any television show or movie will display individuals as quite thin, and this is to be interpreted as normal. This is established as a uni-cultural standard among virtually any television or Hollywood production. It is important to note however, that the individuals responsible for the web site pertinent to this discussion are a part of

Annotated Bibliography - Outsourcing Human Resource Management Essay

Annotated Bibliography - Outsourcing Human Resource Management - Essay Example Outsourcing, human resource is a strategic move by organizations to improve the flexibility and quality of their workforce, while at the same time improving on the company’s capability, to accommodate impending change and stay way ahead of market forces (Benson & Littler 2002). Currently, a lot of organizations are outsourcing their various human personnel functions. The need to outsource affects not only employees, but also owners, human resource managers and executives. It includes benefits to access top skilled professionals, cost savings, and also advanced technology. This in the long run leads to a competitive advantage. Moreover, according to the authors, HRO will go a long way in improving an employee’s productivity and ultimate dedication to the organization (Benson & Littler 2002). HRO helps in improving the worker’s satisfaction; a number of workers get tired of being under the constant watch of their employers, and they cannot wait to be able to take c harge of their lives. The workers want to create a balance between their life and work. Southwestairlines, 2011, 2011 Southwest Airlines Annual Report, Southwest Airlines, 64-70. In this annual report by southwest airlines, the airline was able to save costs running into millions of dollars from Human Resource Outsourcing. Not only has the firm been effective in its daily operations but has been fast in improving its activities. According to the statement by the Chief Executive Officer, Human Resource Outsourcing has been one of the primary areas that the company has been able to raise more money (Southwest Airlines 2011, p.68). The other benefit has managed to obtain through outsourcing, according to the author is an efficient HR system leading to soft cost savings. The Human Resource Outsourcing organization takes over a number of tiresome administrative duties relating to employment (Southwest Airlines 2011, p.68). According to the CEO, these duties include; responding to differe nt inquiries by the employees, tax filing and payments, unemployment claims administration, workers health and benefits administration, and streamlining the Human Resource activities for an employee’s entire life cycle. Relieved from these non productive processes, management can now focus their resources on other revenue generating activities. He also states that the management should be at all times aware of the continuously changing employment legislation in HR, tax laws and benefits. Effect of company size on HR outsourcing Gupta, U. G., & Gupta, A, 1992, Outsourcing the IS function, Information Systems Management, 9(3), 44-50. The article talks in detail on how the size of an organization plays a leading role in HR outsourcing. The size can influence the critical decision for a firm to embark on HR outsourcing. The authors in the researches they have undertaken argue that small companies have a higher need of external expertise because of their limited scale (Gupta & Gup ta 1992, p.44). True to that, small companies often lack the necessary economies of scale to create an effective Human Resource mechanism using its internal mechanisms. Unlike large companies that can afford to design, develop and implement complex HR process in the organization, smaller companies with minimal resources become faced with many costs if they follow suit. According to the authors, researchers argue that small companies will outsource their Human Resource functions for them to acquire the needed expertise (Gupta & Gupta 1992, p.50). Nevertheless, outsourcing is more common in large companies that would want to reduce their organizational costs to within their functional processes.

Political Power Essay Example for Free

Political Power Essay Power could be defined as â€Å"the ability to bring about change† according to Beyond intractability. Org website (http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/Power/). Power is the ability to influence the behavior of the others so as to make them do what one wants.   It entails authority and control.   Thus political power is the authority to control a society. Political power can be manipulated leading to negative use by the person or people holding it.   There are many bad uses of political power that can result from holding of the power by an irresponsible person. Such negative uses include dictatorship, corruption and oppression of the society.   Political power can also be used positively to bring benefit to the society. Political power can be used to foster development, to maintain peace and also to protect the society from external threats of invasion.   Despite the various harsh negative uses of political power, the positive uses shows that political power does not always lead to negative outcomes.   Political power can be effectively used to bring a lot of benefits to the society. Political power can be used to perpetrate corruption. People holding much political power can use it inappropriately to engage in corruption. This is particularly possible when much of the power is vested on a few individuals and there is no evaluation or a watchdog on how this power is used.   When they get enticed to use it for their personal gain at the expense of the society for which they are supposed to care. Corruption is abuse of office or power by a person so as he can benefit.   Corruption can take many forms all leading to great injustices to the society.   When political officers get into office, they do so promising the society that they will serve the interest of the society before their own personal gains.   However, after gaining political power they uphold their personal gain.   This can be done through misappropriation of funds whereby the offices holding the power spends public funds in a way that do not bring benefits to the society.   Example of misappropriation of funds may entail starting of projects that are not necessary to the society or buying luxurious facilities for their use at the expense of other more necessary facilities. Corruption can also be in the form of embezzlement o f public funds.   The political officers may use their power to get access to money belonging to the public through public corporations and use it for their own personal interests.   Facilities of such corporation can be wrongly used to serve the officer’s personal interests instead of their official use. Such actions lead to poor performance of such corporation leading to difficulties in meeting the essential needs of the society.   If funds belonging to a government institution, for example, a hospital are embezzled by a few officers, it means the hospital is not able to offer the services it is supposed to offer efficiently.   This will lead to great suffering of the members of the society which depend on such public facilities.   It is also very unfair to the society as they pay taxes so that they government can offer such services Corruption can also take the form of bribery.   This is mostly an administrative form of corruption but can be perpetrated by political officers also.   This involves the political officers asking for bribes from the members of society or organization so as they can be offered certain services. The is bribes may range from small gifts to massive amounts of money.   This form of corruption means the members of society are not able to get services without parting with other resources.   It also means there is segregation of some of the members of the society as, if they fail to raise the required bribes, they don’t get access to the resources they need. Corruption can also lead to extortion.   This entails use of political power by the political officers to obtain something by illegal threats.   The political officers may acquire interests in certain things or organization though issuing threats or force. Corruption has various costs to a country. If corruption is predominant in a country all the members of society are affected in one way or another.   The wealth of such a country is significantly affected leading to decrease in income.   The economy in a very corrupt state will be poor and businesses will not operate efficiently.   Consequently, the national income goes down affecting the ability of the government to offer essential services to the citizens.   This will inform produce a society with high rates of illiteracy and poverty. In the animal farm Napoleon used his political power to instigate corruption. He changed the rules from what had been collectively agreed to what suited his rule. He also used the dogs to threaten any other animal that opposed his rule. Napoleon and the other pigs also used the property of the farm for their own use which the other animals had not agreed upon. Another negative use of political power is establishment of dictatorship rule. Dictatorship is whereby the country is controlled by one or a few individuals who have absolute power.   Their rule is not limited by anyone, buy law constitution or social justices.   They do what they want. To gain dictatorship political officers use the little political power they have to gain more political power and later dictatorship. This is possible through oppression of nay efforts that try to limit their power.   This may include execution of people who take the bold steps of openly opposing the rule of these political powers. Dictators take control of all the operations of power in the country and personalize the rule. The dictatorship may also regulate all the actions by the citizens of a country and directs these actions against the will or consent of the citizens. Dictatorships are influenced by different factors that lead the political rules to misuse their political powers and establish dictatorships.   There are many countries that have been ruled by dictators or are still ruled by dictators.   An example of dictatorship is Stalinism which was a regime established by Joseph Stalin who lived between 1878 and 1953 in United Social Soviet Republic.   He was a dictator party leader whose tenure and campaigns costed lives of millions of people.   His rule had big negative impacts on USSR but also transformed it from a peasant society to an industrial nation http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSstalin.htm). In George Orwell’s book (1996), the Animal Farm he depicts how people struggle collectively to oust bad rule but after gaining control, the few who are trusted with the political power misuse it and establishes an autocratic form of rule whereby they dictate on all the others. The pigs in the story, after chasing the oppressive farmer, took control of the farm and established a rule that oppressed the other animals.   The animals that questioned the rule were mistreated or executed (Orwell 1996). Napoleon used mudslinging to destroy the reputation of Snowball and later chased him from the farm. These represent how people who oppose a dictator are exiled after being falsely accused. This is typical of many African and Asian countries whereby after gaining independence form colonialism, the leaders who were trusted with political power went ahead to establish dictatorship.   Other examples of dictators include Idd Amin of Uganda, Hu Chi Minh of North Vietnam and Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Oppression of citizens and social injustices is another form of negative use of political power.   In this case, the leaders vested with political power bends the rules, and perpetrate actions that lead to oppression of citizens and social injustices.   The law or the constitution is not followed and injustice becomes inaccessible to the society. In political system where citizen are oppressed and social injustice are rife, a few people control all the branches of government. Though the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of the government may seem independent, this few individuals use their political powers to influence the operations of all these branches.   This results to much suffering of the citizens and as the justice system are faulty the citizen lack a forum through which their injustices can be addressed. In modern society this can be done through practices like imposition of rules that are aimed at oppressing the citizens, coercion to the citizens to carry out certain actions and even detention of some prominent people.   The individuals who do not support the action of those with the political power are mistreated, detained or exiled. In the Animal farm, George Orwell depicts how this is done when the pigs after assuming the leadership of the other animals change the rules and uses their power to mistreat, overwork, starve and oppress the other animals (Orwell 1996). Napoleon sold off one of the animals after he became old and less productive. This was an act of betrayal and oppression of the animal as he had also taken part in the fight for their independence. Political power can also be used for the benefits of the society. There are many countries that have benefited from positive use of the political powers to the benefit of the society.   One way political power can be used positively is fostering development can greatly be encouraged through use of political power to create the right environment for development.   Political powers can be used to enact laws, policies and strategies that are aimed at fostering development.   As the political systems influence much of the economic systems in a country, positive use of the political power can lead to positive influence on the economy of a country. The leaders vested with political power can use this pioneer to help enact laws or policies that will encourage investment and expansion of the economy.   This may be in the form of providing incentives to investors building effective infrastructures or providing a conducive environment for the economy to flourish.   In the animal farm the decision to build the windmill was a good idea aimed at bringing development in the farm and comfort to the animals (Orwell 1996). United States is a country that has massive political power that is used to foster developments. The country has a free market economy with policies encouraging conducive running of the economy.   A country like Japan has used their political power to build good infrastructures that facilitate expansion of their economy. Another positive use of political power is maintenance of peace. Political power can be effectively used to maintain peace and order in the country.   As peace is very crucial for co-existence and development in a country such use of political power can lead to great benefits to the country.   The political leaders can use their authority and influence in the society they rule to encourage and foster good co-existence between the citizens.    Political powers are needed to ensure that this happens.   The leader will use their authority to maintain order in the society and make sure that no one single citizen engages in practices that infringe the rights of others.   Laws are enacted to guide the actions of the citizens and certain strategies are taken to make sure that the laws are followed.   Political power is used to establish such a system. In Orwell’s Animal Farm the animal had collaborated to come up with rules that were aimed at maintaining good co-existence among the animals (Orwell 1996). This is done through establishment of a police force that maintains law and order and enactment of a court system that ensures that those who defy the rules are punished or forced to obey. Political power also establishes the judicial system that offers a forum through which the citizens can have their rights enforced.   All these actions bring peace by ensuring all the citizens get their rights and live harmoniously. Another positive use of political power is protection of the country from invasion. Political power is used in establishment of strategies of ensuring that a country is protected from external invasion.   This will ensure that the country is safe from threats and can concentrate on development. Political power can be utilized in different ways to protect a country from external attacks.   First the political leader can use their power and authority to help and lead in formation of policies aimed at protecting the country from possible attacks.   These policies may include security measures aimed at preventing such attacks.   The political powers can also establish armed forces that will maintain the security of the country and defend it in case of any external attacks. Weapons can also be acquired either through manufacturing or purchase form other countries aiming at providing a security measure to prevent or defend an attack.   Political leaders can also use their authority to established partnerships links with other countries aimed at fostering co-operation thus minimizing threat of attack from those countries.   These co operations may also be used as partners in maintenance of the peace of the country.   Such partners will collaborate in case of an attack or in strategies aimed at minimizing possibilities of an attack. In Orwell’s Animal Farm he depicted good use of political power when the animals united in their fight against Mr. Jones, the earlier owner of the farm. Because of this unity they were able to defeat Mr. Jones (Orwell 1996). Political leaders can use their authority to influence the practices of their country so as to prevent any actions that may trigger attacks from other countries.   Such actions may include neutrality in conflicts involving other parties. Countries in Europe have formed the European Union aimed at co-operation and collaboration in different issues.   This union unites the country hence minimizing the possibility of attack of one country by another.   There are many such unions that have been formed for such purposes including organization for economic co-operation and development (OECD) and the African Union (AU). Other countries in Europe and other places have formed NATO which is aimed at collaboration to prevent attacks form other countries.   All these efforts are aimed at protection of the individual countries and are established by political powers Political power can be used to instigate very bad and harmful activities in a country such as corruption, dictatorship and oppression of citizens. These activities lead to a lot of suffering and deterioration of economies of such countries.   However, political power can also be used to establish policies and practices for the benefit of a country. Political power is a key ingredient for development, peace and safety of a country.   Actually for country to be successful it must have a good and strong political powers that will help instigate the success.   Ã‚  Thus, it is evidence that political power does not always lead to negative outcomes.   It can be used effectively to produce many benefits to a society. Reference: Beyondintractability.org. Power. Retrieved on February 6, 2008 from http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/Power/ Orwell G. (1996).Animal Farm. New York; New American Library. Spartacus educational. Joseph Stalin. Retrieved on February 6, 2008 from http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/RUSstalin.htm

HIV Prevalence in Uganda

HIV Prevalence in Uganda Uganda (HIV/AIDS) Section 1: Between 2002-2011, the international non-profit NGO AVSI Foundation has supported Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MoH) prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) program in four Northern Ugandan districts: Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader, and Agago. The program â€Å"aimed to be comprehensive, emphasizing social and medical care and support† and was successful in reducing HIV prevalence among HIV-exposed infants from 10.3% in 2004 to 5.0% in 2011, among other things. The MoH/AVSI PMTCT sites showed how a â€Å"comprehensive PMTCT program emphasizing social and community engagement alongside medical care and support can succeed in a remote setting with multiple challenges† (3). Despite the advances of the MoH/AVSI program, HIV/AIDS remains a critical issue in Uganda. Northern Uganda especially faces dispropriate challenges and adversities in regards to the national HIV/AIDS epidemic response. In 2011, the Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey measured a national HIV prevalence of 7.3%, but the HIV prevalence in northern Uganda specifically was shown to be 8.3%. Also, Uganda has one of the largest crude birth rates in the world. In 2011 Ugandas birth rate was 42.1/1000 (3). In addition, Northern Uganda has faced great adversity from the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) during the period 1986-2006. There was an estimated two million individuals mandated to live in internally displaced people (IDP) camps from this violent discord (3). The fallout from the war between the government and the LRA had worsened already sparse health services in the north. Due to the high birth rate, HIV prevalence, and structural violence faced in northern Uganda, the AVSI Foundation proposes to extend the MoH/AVSI PMTCT program for an additional five years with support from the Global Fund. Support from the Global Fund will allow us to broaden PMTCT services in 24 Northern Uganda MoH facilities (located in Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader, and Agago) and help expand these sustainable PMTCT service sites to other MoH facilities nationwide. Estimated Populations (2011) of Targeted Northern Ugandan Districts Kitgum 222,737 Lamwo 164,754 Pader 237,100 Agago 285,300 Link to Map: https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zZ1ADMHAfHkY.krdFRCFxMCRQ Section 2: Goal: Impact Indicators Baseline* (Year 1) Target (Year 5) Reduction in HIV incidence among HIV-exposed infants 5% 3% *2011 estimate The first and foremost goal is to reduce HIV incidence among HIV-exposed infants by reducing Mother-to-child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV. MTCT occurs when an HIV-positive mother infects her infant with HIV during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding (1). Yet, the risk of transmission can be reduced to less than 5% if mothers undergo proper maternal ART treatment. The diagram below illustrates the many steps mothers need to take to successfully complete a PMTCT program. This series of complex steps is why it is absolutely critical to assist Ugandan mothers as much as possible to make successfully complete our program. However, even if HIV-positive mothers complete a PMTCT program in all of its entirety and give birth to an HIV-free infant, infants still remain at risk of HIV infection. Other channels, such as contaminated needles, can infect an infant who was initially born HIV-free. Thus, maintaining and promoting strict sanitation procedures, alongside a strong PMTCT program, is absolutely critical in reducing HIV incidence among HIV-exposed infants. The table below summarizes the PMTCT Indicators â€Å"number of HIV-exposed children (18 months or younger) tested† and the â€Å"number of HIV-exposed children (18 months or younger) that tested HIV-positive† measured by the MoH/AVSI program between 2002-2011. This data was used to formulate Year 1 and project a realistic target for Year 5. Section 3: Objectives: Outcome/coverage indicators Baseline* (Year 1) Target (Year 5) Increase the proportion of HIV-positive women who deliver in health facilities 81.1% 95% Increase the number of mothers who undergo HIV testing (in ANC) 96% 98% Increase proportion of HIV-positive mothers on ART treatment 78.5% 95% Increase antenatal care attendance (mothers) 20,032 50,000 *2011 estimate One of the main objectives is to increase the proportion of HIV-positive women who deliver in health facilities. It is absolutely critical for HIV-positive women to deliver in health facilities. After all, health facilities can provide better medical care and support than a traditional midwife would be able to in a home delivery. Furthermore, health facilities have more resources, equipment, and personnel to respond to any emergencies during delivery. Above all, delivering in a health facility will better guarantee the infant receives the appropriate antivirals need to PMTCT. HIV-positive women delivering at home run a higher risk of these crucial medications not being administered. Thus, increasing the proportion of HIV-positive women who deliver in health facilities better protects both the mother and the child, than a home delivery. The table below summarizes the PMTCT Indicator â€Å"percentage of HIV-positive women who delivered in health facilities† measured by the MoH/AVSI program between 2002-2011. This data was used to formulate Year 1 and project a realistic target for Year 5. Another objective is to increase the number of mothers who undergo HIV testing while in ANC. There are clearly many benefits for at risk individuals undergoing HIV-testing. However, the benefits of having undergone an HIV test are lost if the patient does not return to learn their result. Thus, it is absolutely crucial for our program will utilize â€Å"rapid testing at a women’s first antenatal clinic visit† (1). In contrast to a â€Å"conventional HIV test† that can take days or even weeks to attain results, â€Å"rapid tests can produce a result in as little as twenty minutes† (1). This will allow reduce the number of HIV-positive women who are lost from lack of follow-up and will also facilitate rapid enrollment of HIV-positive pregnant women into PMTCT program services. The table below summarizes the PMTCT Indicator â€Å"ANC women tested for HIV† measured by the MoH/AVSI program between 2002-2011. This data was used to formulate Year 1 and project a realistic target for Year 5. Another objective is to increase proportion of HIV-positive mothers on ART treatment (e.g. antiretroviral prophylaxis or triple antiretroviral therapy, depending on the circumstance). However, â€Å"to be fully effective, antiretroviral medication needs to reach newborn babies as well as their mothers† (1). The table below summarizes the PMTCT Indicators â€Å"number of HIV-positive women who received ARV prophylaxis† and â€Å"percentage of ANC HIV-positive women started on prophylaxis† measured by the MoH/AVSI program between 2002-2011. This data was used to formulate Year 1 and project a realistic target for Year 5. Specifically, our program will utilize and adhere to the 2013 World Health Organization’s (WHO) Option B guidelines for PMTCT (until subsequent more effective recommendation plans replace it). The WHO’s 2013 Option B advocates to provide â€Å"Provide all HIV-positive pregnant or breastfeeding women with a course of antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission† (2). They explicitly state that a triple-drug antiretroviral treatment should be administered throughout pregnancy and delivery. Furthermore, breastfeeding mothers should persist on the triple-drug antiretroviral treatment until at least one week after stopping breastfeeding. The steps and procedures of Option B are outlined in the flowchart below. Another objective is to Increase antenatal (ANC) care attendance for mothers. After it has been shown that â€Å"A number of clinical processes, such as antenatal care and safe delivery, can improve the health of both mother and child† (4). ANC services offer certainly offer many benefits for mothers but their benefits (just like in HIV-testing), are lost if women do not take advantage and utilize these services. There are numerous reasons a mother may not seek ANC services, even if they are â€Å"free†. A huge factor is accessibility difficulties. Pregnant women in low income countries, like Uganda, often have an increased difficulty in utilizing maternal programs because of their busy schedules. They are heavily occupied in caring for children, working, and running numerous kinds of other errands. Furthermore, many mothers live far away from health clinics and may lack a reliable means of travel. Both of these issues creates a huge barrier for women who need antenatal care services, but struggle to access it. Thus, our program will offer basic care and support services (such as food/transportation vouchers, housing assistance, and child-care services) to help increase ANC attendance. After all organizations, such as Partners in Health, have proven that by seeking to overcome the â€Å"social barriers† to accessing care by implementing â€Å"wraparound services [e.g. transportation costs ]† can help in addressing some of the â€Å"social and economic determinants of ill health† (4). The table below summarizes the PMTCT Indicator â€Å"ANC attendance† measured by the MoH/AVSI program between 2002-2011. This data was used to formulate Year 1 and project a realistic target for Year 5. Section 4: Activities: Main Activities Process/Output Indicators Program Year 1 Target Program Year 5 Target Responsible/implementing agencies Free/accessible HIV testing and antenatal care services for mothers ANC attendance (# persons) 30,000 50,000 Ministry of Health Maternal mobile teams Number home-births assisted 2,000 10,000 AVSI HIV counseling for mothers and their partners % HIV-positive mothers participating in therapy 25% 50% AVSI One of the main activities to be conducted is providing free and accessible HIV testing and antenatal care for mothers. Indeed, it has been proven, on behalf of the structural adjustment era, that â€Å"user fees in many resource-poor settings deterred the poor from accessing any health services (4). Likewise, charging service fees for PMTCT services would create a huge barrier for the poorest northern Ugandan mothers. On the other hand, providing financial support to mothers would encourage and give incentive for mothers to continue to attend and adhere to PMTCT program services. Thus, financial support will be given to mothers who attain antenatal services and HIV testing. This will not only help support poor Ugandan mothers, but will also reduces the likelihood of mothers being lost by lack of follow-up. Another activity that will be conducted is using maternal mobile teams to reach at risk mothers who have an increased difficulty and/or refusal to travel. After all, some pregnant women, despite being offered transportation services and/or financial support, will refuse to deliver in health facilities for whatever reason. Therefore, maternal mobile teams will be trained to provide â€Å"services such as HIV education, testing and counseling, and advice on infant feeding† (1). Maternal mobile teams should be used for the women who deliver at home and ensure that those who have tested positive for HIV have access to the essential antiretrovirals needed for PMTCT. Indeed, keeping track of mothers (especially HIV-positive mothers) who plan to delivery at home will be a challenge. Consequently, this will be a major a coordinating responsibility of community health workers who will be responsible for the gathering the necessary records (i.e. HIV-positive pregnant mothers) to pass on to the maternal mobile teams. Additionally, HIV counseling for mothers and their partners will be provided at no cost. Indeed, biomedical treatments are not the only thing needed for a successful HIV intervention. Social and emotional support are also crucial. Unfortunately it can sometimes prove difficult to persuade men to attend such services that are often regarded as â€Å"women’s clinics dealing with women’s issues† (1). Nevertheless, another vital activity will be to train and engage community health workers who will be paid to promote maternal education and social support to mothers. After all, the use of expert clients and other community-based volunteers helps reduce the stigma and discrimination of mothers living with HIV. It also helps improve the utilization of basic care services and adherence to Antiretroviral (ARV) Therapy. The term â€Å"expert clients† refers to people who are currently HIV/AIDs positive who serve as experienced role models for other PLHIV. Currently, expert clients work in almost every Ugandan ART site, engaging in various activities ranging from promoting health education to providing psychosocial support for PLHIV. Furthermore, mothers will be either followed up with an invitation to come to the health facility for specific interventions/services or visited by a team of health professionals (i.e. a maternal mobile team). Section 5: Our goals and objectives fit within the National Plan because they complement and scale-up an HIV infection prevention campaign to one of the most disadvantaged regions in the country, Karamoja. This 2013 campaign, called Elimination of Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV (eMTCT), is part of the Ugandan government’s large-scaled efforts to prevent new HIV infections. Furthermore, our goals and objectives further assist Uganda in their Ministry of Health 2010-2015 Scale Up Plan for PMTCT that aims to achieve an HIV-free generation of Ugandans by 2015 through the virtual elimination of MTCT of HIV, which utilizes a Sector-Wide Approach (1). Indeed, it is extremely critical to work with the public sector and not against the public sector. Our program is committed to working in public sector PMTCT health systems because â€Å"only governments can enshrine health as a human right and then implement programs to safeguard this right for its citizens on a national scale† (4). Section 6: a) We will involve Ugandan mothers by providing HIV counseling services for mothers and their partners. Social support is a crucial component of providing medical services. Indeed it has been shown that when â€Å"male partners are involved, both partners can get tested for HIV, know their status, and therefore improve the baby’s chances of a healthy survival† (1). Furthermore, counselors are better able to â€Å"emphasise the man’s responsibility for protecting the health of his partner and family† and can also advance the use of PMTCT services, â€Å"resulting in much higher rates of treatment uptake† (1). b) Community participation will be fostered by using community health workers to promote awareness, attendance, and adherence to PMTCT services. Specifically, community-based female volunteers who are â€Å"expert clients† (current HIV-positive mothers who serve as mentors and have experience with overcoming HIV-related stigma) will especially be invaluable. After all, community health workers can gain the trust of mothers who will thus be more likely to adhere to PMTCT services. c) This PMTCT campaign will help to improve the status of women in Uganda by empowering mothers to be active, confident, and assertive actors in the health of their children. Indeed, educating women is crucial to improving the health of infants. By increasing maternal education for mothers, indicators such as infant mortality will be reduced. d) Social equality is promoted by providing free antenatal care, HIV testing, and free antiretroviral treatment (WHO’s Option B); we are removing the financial barrier that would keep the poorest mothers from attaining maternal services. Indeed it is of the utmost importance to avoid punitive user fees† and other â€Å"cost-sharing devices that shift the burden of payment to those least able to pay† (4). As mentioned previously, charging user fees for services would exclude poorer populations. Not only will free treatment be provided, but financial support will be given to women who adhere to therapy. e) There will be an emphasis on education and expansion of programs nationwide to promote human resources development. We will train community health workers. These community health workers will pass on their training to mothers. These mothers will likewise be encouraged to share their acquired knowledge with friends, relatives, and other community members. In other words, creating a dynamic chain reaction of teaching will be a huge focus of this program. Moreover, we wish to spread the effectiveness of our PMTCT program from northern Uganda to other parts of the country. After all, â€Å"addressing maternal and child health comprehensively will require training more health workers; strengthening referral networks between communities, health centers, and hospitals; and ensuring adequate supplies at care centers- all elements of a robust health system† (4). Section 7: There may be potential opposition from the local context regarding the empowering of women our services inevitably (and justly) bring. According to the Foundation for Sustainable Development, â€Å"women face . . . discrimination, low social status, lack of economic self sufficiency, and greater risk of HIV/AIDS infection† (5). Because women typically have lower status than men in Uganda, some natives may potentially view this education and empowerment of women as a threat to their culture. The best way to address it will be to involve the mothers boyfriends, husbands, etc as much as possible in the lessons and counseling. Promoting equity is a crucial measure and indicator of a successful program. Another potential opposition to the plan will be the barrier of HIV-testing stigma that keeps mothers from getting HIV-testing. The best way to address this is to integrate HIV-testing as a standard part of antenatal care. Instead of asking women if they would like to â€Å"opt in† (receive HIV- testing), one would only ask them if they would like to â€Å"opt out† (not receive HIV-testing). In other words, if HIV-testing is set as the default option, women will be more comfortable with receiving it. And thus, overtime, HIV-testing will be normalized and become common practice, which will help remove the barrier of stigma. In brief, removing the â€Å"special status given to HIV testing helps to make it more acceptable† (1) Finally, any other existing NGOs in the area who are doing similar PMTC work may create conflict with our plan. There may be some â€Å"turf war† as different NGOs commonly have different agendas. The best way to address any NGO conflict is to do preliminary research to ensure we set up the PMTCT care services in areas that are not disrupting any â€Å"parallel programs†. References AIDS Education and Research Trust. Preventing PMTCT. AVERT. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. http://www.avert.org/preventing-mother-child-transmission-pmtct-practice.htm>. AIDS Education and Research Trust. WHO Guidelines. AVERT. Web. 9 Mar. 2014. http://www.avert.org/who-guidelines-pmtct-breastfeeding.htm>. Bannink-Mbazzi, Femke, MA. High PMTCT Program Uptake and Coverage of Mothers, Their Partners, and Babies in Northern Uganda: Achievements and Lessons Learned Over 10 Years of Implementation (2002–2011). Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 62.5 (2013). JAIDS. Lippincott Williams Wilkins, Inc., 27 July 2012. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Fulltext/2013/04150/High_PMTCT_Program_Uptake_and_Coverage_of_Mothers,.20.aspx>. Farmer, Paul. Reimagining Global Health: An Introduction. Berkeley: University of California, 2013. Print. Gender Equity Issues in Uganda. Gender Equity Issues in Uganda. Foundation for Sustainable Development. Web. 09 Mar. 2014. http://fsdinternational.org/country/uganda/weissues>.

The Financial Analysis Of Mcdonalds

The Financial Analysis Of Mcdonalds Ray Kroc gained the rights of McDonalds restaurant in 1954. This restaurant was based in California, USA. After being unsuccessful at Des Plaines restaurant Ray Kroc achieved a multitude of success in McDonalds after buying it out from McDonald brothers. McDonalds was made public in the year 1965 via the stock exchange. McDonalds was introduced in the stock exchange with 100 shares totaling at 2250 USD. Their success brought them up to 4.7 million stocks as of today. McDonalds have opened around 33000 restaurants worldwide. The main focus of their restaurants is towards franchising which has brought them revenues in terms of sales as well as renting. Currently 80% of McDonalds are franchises around the world with franchising cost around 45000 USD per license. They have succeeded to expand their company in more than 100 countries around the world. 2.1 Current Situation McDonalds have worked hard throughout years to attain a respectable position amongst the world fast food chains. They have managed to perform better in the face of sustained pressure. This has helped them to achieve the top position amongst the worlds fast food companies. McDonalds current situation is very stable. After going through the introductory passage it would be hard to imagine otherwise. With a huge number of restaurants all around the world it can be safely said that McDonalds is doing very well. This was not the case in the year 2002 when McDonalds faced their first overall loss after over 35 years in business. Being a strong company they did not bend in face of problems rather they planned a strategy to get out of this dilemma by electing a new CEO. Cantalupo, the new CEO, focused on the problem and introduced a new strategy known as the plan to win strategy. Under his guidance the company achieved customer satisfaction and improved operating of their current franchises as well as standardizing the future franchising. This strategy raised standards and helped McDonalds to achieve a share price of around 80 thousand dollars in the year 2010. The board of directors made this strategy as one of their core plans because of it doing so well. I nvestors now take McDonalds as a safe place and put their money in McDonalds shares considering that McDonalds will not see another recession if they continue acting on their policies. This can be seen in the revenues of McDonalds. Their revenues have increased from 20,895 million dollars in 2006 to 24,075 million dollars in 2010 and are still increasing. Their continuous success is a result of their introducing new products and even new product lines as they have done by introducing McCafe drink lines containing different types of coffees and teas. This line of products has taken McDonalds in cafeteria market and is rivaling Starbucks in USA. This has resulted for them to have a stable place in the market and in the stocks as well. 2.2 Business Planning and Strategy In McDonalds there is a strategy named Plan to Win since 2003. This plan to win in the industry exist till now and it forced McDonalds to have 32 months of global comparative positive sales which is the longest strip for the last 25 years. To say more, company has had a growth which in general lies above the industry average growth. To get better understanding about the current strategy of the company, let take a look what is the Plan to Win? It is nothing else except 5Ps that are behind the Plan to Win, it includes: People, Place, Product, Price, and Promotion. The 5Ps are trying to perceive every thinkable angle of the company, and have ways to improve everything, from refurbishing old shops, to maintenance Wi-Fi for customers, setting the right mood with music and creating deli menus to cope with the bad publicity. Promotion Products Im loving it worldwide campaign Billboards, internet, TV, all advertising in general Broaden the selections McDonalds Food Studios Superior supplier practices High product standards McCafe Examples: Rice burger, fruit and walnut salad Price High quality food at a reasonable price Value menus Premium selections Place People Refurbishing stores New music Wi-fi Flatscreens Developed training and hospitality programs to teach our people the skills they need to deliver great service Computer based training -Restaurant Operations Improvement Process (ROIP) Their main efforts are in a direction of maintenance of their unique firm power, and creation of the additional added cost through experience to keep and develop their shares in the American market. Companys newest leading addition of industrial line is the McCafe. The McCafe have a target audience of those who would like something else than regular soft drinks, or probably only wants some coffee. Using this new strategy and an industrial line McDonalds tries to seize shares of the market in the industry of coffee industry, which mainly operates Starbucks. It is courageous strategy, where they have an experience minimum, but however it is strategy which is supported by a considerable quantity of their forces. They already have global network of suppliers and one of the most influential brands in the world. Their marketing has focused on two separate things: first, coping with the effects of the obesity through marketing and a new healthier product category and second, increasing brand awareness to maintain and develop market shares. While supervising the result (outcome) of McDonalds has carried out strategy the last years, then the financial data speaks in own language. Development of the incomes which are above development of the market means that they increase the shares in the market. When supervising of their edges of total profit, then since performance of Plan to Win has increased edge more than forty percent. It shows that McDonalds till now have correct forces and strategy to outmanoeuvre any problems of fatness. McDonalds should study their basic products in the future. As changing requirements and instructions from clients and the governments appear, then at McDonalds there would be a big advantage of being preventive on these questions. Now they were some of the slowest in the industry to get rid of their trans-fat to make French fries which sends a bad signal on not caring about their clients. On all questions of public health services they, apparently, have very jet manner, still precisely knowing what to make with a problem. If they have to change and expand the research of these areas, the pure size and resources could give easily to them the big push up in CSR competencies and the general image in comparison with their competitors. But as it now, their research some kind of weakness as they concentrate more on research in decorating than in full healthy meal. It isnt intended these that they should change the basic products as a cheeseburger, big Mac and French fries, but rather plac ing some resources in creation of the basic of more healthy products. Thus, they also would deal with some of their weaknesses and would construct protection against future threats. 2.3 Performance Analysis Financial data can be used to analyse the performance of a company. In this manner, McDonalds performance can be analysed through their balance sheet over the period of three years. Different ratios are used in this analysis and these ratios are then used to compare the performance of McDonalds over time with regards to standards. All companies are bound by law to submit their financial statements at the end of each year. This helps analysts to observe the cause and effect relationships in the financial data provided by the company. Following is detailed analysis of McDonalds Corporation with help of their balance sheet. This data has been taken from the financial statement McDonalds submitted on their website. Balance sheet Period Ending Dec 31, 2010 Dec 31, 2009 Dec 31, 2008 Assets Current Assets Cash And Cash Equivalents 2,387,000 1,796,000 2,063,400 Short Term Investments Net Receivables 1,179,100 1,060,400 931,200 Inventory 109,900 106,200 111,500 Other Current Assets 692,500 453,700 411,500 Total Current Assets 4,368,500 3,416,300 3,517,600 Long Term Investments 1,335,300 1,212,700 1,222,300 Property Plant and Equipment 22,060,600 21,531,500 20,254,500 Goodwill 2,586,100 2,425,200 2,237,400 Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization Other Assets 1,624,700 1,639,200 1,229,700 Deferred Long Term Asset Charges Total Assets 31,975,200 30,224,900 28,461,500 Liabilities Current Liabilities Accounts Payable 2,916,400 2,970,600 2,506,100 Short/Current Long Term Debt 8,300 18,100 31,800 Other Current Liabilities Total Current Liabilities 2,924,700 2,988,700 2,537,900 Long Term Debt 11,497,000 10,560,300 10,186,000 Other Liabilities 1,586,900 1,363,100 1,410,100 Deferred Long Term Liability Charges 1,332,400 1,278,900 944,900 Minority Interest Negative Goodwill Total Liabilities 17,341,000 16,191,000 15,078,900 Stockholders Equity Misc Stocks Options Warrants Redeemable Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Common Stock 16,600 16,600 16,600 Retained Earnings 33,811,700 31,270,800 28,953,900 Treasury Stock (25,143,400) (22,854,800) (20,289,400) Capital Surplus 5,196,400 4,853,900 4,600,200 Other Stockholder Equity 752,900 747,400 101,300 Total Stockholder Equity 14,634,200 14,033,900 13,382,600 Net Tangible Assets 12,048,100 11,608,700 11,145,200 Currency in USD 2.4 Recommendations Strategic options: Reduction of employee training spending (lowering employee turnover); Taking advantage of organic food industry popularity (develop new products for new segments); Advantage of human health problems (improvement of products). Reduction of employee training spending (lowering employee turnover). In order to reduce of employee training spending and to lower turnover, we would like to suggest: To give the job just for highly motivated people. It means, that they are going to be loyal and not to leave job so fast; To train new employees using Big Brother principle. New employees would be trained by employees, who are working longer. In this way, company reduces training spending, new employees are trained by the people, who are working inside the company and do the same things every day. To motivate employees and always take care about their expectations. It can be money premiums for good working in the end of the month (or year), some employees parties, Employee of the week (month) competition and etc.; also employer should take a look of what employee is expected from employer and try to solve that, ex. Maybe employee is not expected to get premium every month, but for good and loyal working he would like that the company would pay his child studies fee after 5 years. Taking advantage of organic food industry popularity (develop new products for new segments); McDonalds is not that company, who suggest the most organic food, so they can try: To make a line of organic food in their menu and take a look what is more popular and healthy for their customers. If it is going more popular than usual menu food, it is more worth to make all food in organic way, even it is more expensive. First of all, people like what is natural, and then they are interested in the price. To be in a partnership with scientists and doctors in order to take care of their customers heath. Everybody knows that organic food makes people feel better and healthier; also it affects nature in a good way. McDonalds declares that everything is for customer, so it must take an advantage of organic food popularity and make their customers to live healthier and in more natural way. To make big advertisement companies declaring organic food pluses and make it more popular in such way. Many people loves McDonalds food, so it has an authority and can show good example of necessity of organic food in people life and compare how organic and usual McDonalds food effect customers health and all the nature about them. Advantage of human health problems (improvement of products) McDonalds is big food supplying company, and all of us know, how food affects our health. It is one of the main factors, what built our body and strength our brains. Knowing that, McDonalds should: Suggest just high quality, improved products, which is full of vitamins and minerals. So, it means that the company must improve their products, all the food must be certificated and fit for all healthy food standards. Be in a contact with suppliers, who supply products for McDonalds food and always check if the products is natural, high standard and healthy for all of age customers. Contact with doctors, scientist and improve their products to fit for all of age customers, even they have some problems with their stomach. It means to make measures and find what is the best for all possible customers. 2.5 Conclusions The financial analysis of McDonalds says that the recovery of McDonalds after the global crises seems to be surprisingly fast and the sales growth rate continues to increase. It tries to improve customer metrics by which it can follow and decide what are the changes in the customers needs and wants, how they can satisfy these issues. The most important thing is to think globally but act locally. The later stage of the second part proposes companys current strategy. McDonalds has a specific Plan to win current strategy since 2003. These are 5Ps that are behind the Plan to Win, and it includes: People, Place, Product, Price, and Promotion. As changing requirements and instructions from clients and the government, McDonalds should study their basic products in the future.

The Use of Tone and Metaphors in Marks by Linda Pastan Essay -- Papers

The Use of Tone and Metaphors in Marks by Linda Pastan Linda Pastan?s poem ?Marks? is unusual because it addresses the frustrations of a typical housewife. Few people consider being a wife and mother a full-time job in itself, and it is not uncommon for a woman who plays both of these roles to feel overworked and unappreciated. What is unusual about Pastan?s poem is the way she effectively conveys these sentiments by the use of metaphors, tone, and informal diction. The speaker?s attitude is one of indifference, and this is made apparent by the metaphors she uses to compare her family?s regard for her duties as a wife and mother to school grades. The poem opens with, ?My husband gives me an A for last night?s supper, an incomplete for my ironing, a B plus in bed. My son says I am average...?. There is no emotion used in these lines, as if the speaker wishes to convey to the reader that she is so tired of serving others that she does not have time to consider her own personal feelings. She may believe that she is constantly being evaluated, and the fact th...

Affirmative Action - Public Opinion vs. Policy :: Affirmative Action Racism Discrimination Essays

Affirmative Action - Public Opinion vs. Policy When Justin Ketcham, a white college student from the suburbs, thinks about affirmative action, he thinks about what happened when he sent out letters seeking scholarships so he could attend Stanford University after being accepted during his senior year of high school.The organizations that wrote back told him their money was reserved for women or minorities. To Americans like Ketcham, it's a matter of fairness. The average white male will claim that it's not fair to attempt to rebalance scales by balancing them the other way. Students like Ketcham are also more likely to claim that affirmative action is a program geared towards curtailing workplace prejudices that really don't exist anymore.But when Hillary Williams, a black insurance company manager from the inner-city, thinks about affirmative action, she thinks about the time she had to train three consecutive white male bosses for a job that no one even approached her about filling. To her, it's also a question of fairness. African-Americans like Hillary feel that there is just no other was besides affirmative action to level the playing field in certain businesses.And so the disparity in public opinion begins. A racially-divided America creates separate groups, which "Affirmative Action issue taps a fundamental cleavage in American Society" (Gamson and Modigliani 170)--each with their own view of affirmative action on different sides of the line. Government attempts to create policy based upon the voice of the people but affirmative action seems to present an almost un-solvable dilemma. Traditionally, it had been a policy that was greatly scrutinized for its quotas and alleged unfairness towards Blacks, but at the same time it had also been praised for its inherent ability to help minorities gets jobs they deserve but could not obtain otherwise. So how do we reach a "happy medium" so-to-speak? In American political culture, it appears as though individualism and egalitarianism are values that find themselves on opposite ends of the political battlefield. In a complex world of political ideology and political culture are sets of values and principles that are widely endorsed by politicians, educators, the media and other opinion leaders that make up the definition of what is to be American (Feldman and Zaller). Some favor the values of individual freedom, especially individual economic freedom, over other values, especially equality and popular sovereignty (egalitarianism). These people are labeled Conservatives. The other side of the spectrum consider themselves as Liberals (Feldman and Zaller).Because we live in a meritocracy created by the strong forces of capitalism, there is a tendency for people to fall behind either in the economy or in the academic community.

Call of the Wild :: Free Essay Writer

Call of the Wild I recently read a really good book. It is called Call of the Wild, by Jack London. It has 104 pages and is a fiction book. The Call of the Wild has a very interesting plot. It is centered around a St. Bernard and Scotch Shepard mix, named Buck. At home, which was a large house called Judge Millers Place, in the sun kissed Sanata Clara Valley, he ruled over all dogs. Buck was Judge Miller's inseperable companion, until a man named Manuel, who was the one of the gardener's helpers, commited a treacherous act. Manuel, to cover his Chinese lottery gambling debts, stole Buck from his sound sleep and brought him to a flag station called College Park. There, the exchanging of money took place. It was simple. Manuel needed money to pay off his gambling debts, and Buck was a prime candidate. Buck was loaded onto an express car to Seattle. When he got there, he was bought by two men named Perrault and Francois. He was loaded onto a ship called the Narwhal and tooken to the Yukon, where he was to be trained as a sled dog. There were other sled dogs that Buck came to know well, each with their own unique personality. After only a short time of training, Buck was a sled dog, traveling with the team of huskys and mix breeds from Dyea Beach, to the town of Dawson. After several trips with Perrault and Francois, Buck was traded to a know nothing, gold seeking family. they knew nothing, or hardly nothing, about managing a sled team. There trip began with a very bad start. The family had loaded up their wagon with too much unneded baggage, and it was top heavy. as the dogs began to pull away and pull around a curve, the baggage tipped over along with the sled and thus the unnecessary baggage was discarded, and the trip was barely completed because of harsh weather, inadequate supplies, and poor management skills of the dog handlers. All except a man that went by the name of John Thornton, perhaps the only sane one in the group. After on e of the men repeatedly beat on a dog, Thornton became enraged. He threatened to kill the man, and shortly after, he unhooked the beaten Buck from the sled, the rest of the family left John Thornton.

Stalin’s Reign of Terror

In 1910 Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili renamed himself ‘Josef Stalin', the man of steel, a foreshadowing of the iron hand he would rule the Soviet Union with a mere 15 years later. Lenin knew that Stalin was dangerous and sought to get rid of him: † I propose to find a way to remove Stalin† (Stalinism Chronology), but died before accomplishing this, leaving Stalin free to ascend to absolute power in both the Communist Party and the country. This absolute power enabled Stalin to unleash a reign of terror and death on his country unprecedented at the time. There is, perhaps, and argument for Stalin's ‘Bolshevik firmness' to have enabled the Soviet Union to accomplish incredible feats regarding its move from a mostly agrarian society in the early 1920s to the industrial powerhouse it became on the eve of World War II; but at a terrible price. How did it come to the necessity for brutality as a means to achieve Communist Party aims? There were several reasons. Stalin sought to reorganize the Soviet Union via his Five Year Plans, which called for a radical industrialization as well as collectivisation to increase agricultural production and efficiency. This increased agricultural output was necessary to support the rapid industrialization he espoused; how else could the workers be fed? Many peasants who had been awarded or taken their land†¦ to liquidating the kulaks as a class† (Document 5. 3 Collectivisation 181). Millions were sent to labor camps, deported and died. The impossible demands made on the peasant farmers of increased production, only to turn everything over to the state, resulted in peasants that remained on the land at first hiding, then burning their crops/killing their animals rather than give them up â€Å"Stock was slaughtered every night†¦ (History in Quotations #5). An infuriated Stalin sent industrial workers into the country to show the peasants ‘Bolshevik firmness' â€Å"without any rotten liberalism†¦ [or] bourgeois humanitarianism†¦ [and with]extreme measures† to get the grain. (Document 5. 4 Horror in the Village 182). The capitalist kulaks and peasants stashing grain and eating their own animals were not the only enemies of the state that Stalin doomed. Extending this definition to all who opposed him enabled Stalin, via his purges, to get rid of all the old Bolsheviks, like Trotsky, Kirov, Kamenov etc and deciminate the Army Officers. His paranoia was not necessarily misplaced: ‘just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't after you' is an adage with a large element of truth, but by the end of the 1930s there were few who could or would oppose him with any real threat behind them. In true totalitarian style, Stalin's control of all aspects of life, ie: free, compulsory education that indoctrinated youth with the party ideology to the point where they would inform on family members left citizens so loyal to the Communist Party they didn't believe the party acted wrongly, even after unjust arrest. Each person simply believed their own arrest was a mistake and everyone around them in prison was guilty: â€Å"Most of the women in our car were high ranking Communists. Not a single one considered herself guilty†¦ or expressed any indignation†¦ Each one knew the truth about herself, but did not believe any of the others† (History in Quotations #13). This incredibly successful totalitarian regime that controlled every aspect of life, enabled Stalin to impose his reign of terror, eliminating all who stood between him and his policies or power.

A Million Little Pieces

Is James Frey the next Great American author? A Million Little Pieces is the supposed documentation of James Frey’s six week rehabilitation from alcohol addiction, when he was 23 years old.The graphic results caused by Frey’s complex, along with the deeply rooted relationship America has with alcoholism allowed this novel to become a best seller.   This is despite the fact that the majority of instances presented in this book to be actual occurrences are, in fact, fiction.The story follows James Frey’s struggle with addiction.   It begins with him in dire straights.   In this essay, I will prove and show why James Frey is a candidate for possibly being considered the greatest writer of the new generation.Frey wakes up on an airplane half dead with absolutely no recollection of how he got there.   With a hole in his cheek, his nose broken and barely able to walk, Frey’s family picking him up from the airport has absolutely no choice but to take him to rehab.   In rehab, Frey is forced to quit alcohol and drugs cold-turkey, which would be reasonably difficult for anyone in his assumed position.He claims to be addicted to practically every drug, on top of his addiction to alcohol; he claims to have an extensive criminal record, which makes it very clear to the reader that he was a self destructive youth. But, I personally feel some of his depictions are a bit over the top. The signature line from this book is, I am an Alcoholic and I am a Drug Addict and I am a Criminal.   This also seems to be more of a persona played out by the main character as apposed to an actual depiction of Frey himself.The fact that Frey has dental surgery without any anesthetics, and the idea that he gets into numerous fights with whomever crosses his path, these are all examples of how Frey tries to create a tough persona for himself.   As an epic hero, Frey serves well, but once it is discovered that his book is fictional, I think it becomes eve n more complex and actually makes a very saying statement about the author.I do commend Frey on his writing style.   It is very unpredictable and unique to him.   His linesThe fact that it is known that Frey fabricated the truth, and that the book is very loosely based on fact, it leaves very little room for sociological interpretations.   There are moments in Frey’s rehabilitation when he meets with other interesting addicts.He compares their addictions to his own, and in turn forms a rational perception of his own problem.   He eventually uses this new self perception for the purpose of his own rehabilitation.This is a very trying and uplifting moment for the reader, whether it is fictional or not.   The six week experience draws a lot of emotion out of Frey, and if you feel for the character you will embody these emotions along with him.   Frey’s realization about addiction is a sincere take that is universally true.

Is war ever justified

Wars can be justified through the utilitarian theory and cost benefit analysis. These are dependent on whether the intention of the war is right and the cause for the war is just. Further, wars are only justified when other forms of conflict management have been tried and have failed. There are many types of war, however this essay will focus on military war in particular. Utility Theory and Just War The theory of utility is one way to justify war. The utilitarian approach is defined as the pursuit of the greatest good of society for the greatest number f people in society. There are two branches of utility theory – act and rule.Act utilitarianism looks closely at the Consequences of the act Of war in order to justify engaging in war. Rule utilitarianism will only condone war when the reason for entering a war is just in itself, is based on good intentions and not for selfish reasons. In essence, act utilitarianism can be summarized as the ends justifying the means, while rule utilitarianism can be summarized as genuine intentions justifying the means. For instance, the Allied Forces declaring war on Germany's invasion of their gibbous as well as on their anti-Semitic activities is an example of utilitarianism in action.The declaration of war was to prevent further harm to the world even if it did mean a significant loss to the Allied Forces by engaging in such actions. The end of the German terror as well as the protection Of the persecuted justified the means through which this was achieved. The distinction between act and rule utilitarianism while easily distinguishable in theory, is much harder to apply in real life. The example given above can be categorized under both types of utility theory. The protection of a large persecuted number of people justified entering into war against the anti- Semitic administration in Germany.Viewing it in this manner allows rule utilitarianism to come into play. At the same time, looking at the consequences of war - ? which would be the saving of not only Jews, but also the prevention of invasion of other countries in Europe allows act utilitarianism to justify the Allied Forces declaration on war on Nazi Germany. Utility theory does run the risk of being manipulated and abused and has been used by terrorists and Islamic fundamentalists to justify the use of rower and force for â€Å"jihad† or what they call, â€Å"holy war†.However, it must be noted that utility theory condones war only if it causes the greatest good for the greatest number of society. Even if â€Å"jihad† is considered to be the greatest good, it is only from the perspective of a select few people with biased opinions. Hence, a terrorist's justification of war via utility theory cannot be said to be a true justification at all. Be it act or rule utilitarianism, so long as the ends result in the greatest good for the largest number of people in society and are made with the best intentions in mind, war is justified.Cost-benefit Analysis and Just War The benefits should outweigh the costs in order to justify engaging in war. Cost-benefit analysis is a way of weighing the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives. It helps us determine whether an approach was worth the adoption and practice in terms of benefits in labor, time, Cost savings and so on. It is largely considered an economic analysis and is an approach that can be taken when determining whether a war is justified because of the high socio-economic costs involved in war.A good way to go about analyzing this would be to look at a case study of the Iraq war. The Gulf war resulted in 220,000 Iraqi casualties and a few hundred thousand wounded Iraqis. The costs of war amounted to 6 trillion US dollars. These numbers are neither small nor insignificant. The benefits, however, are the exact opposite. As far as tangible benefits go, the Iraqi economy saw a slight growth in its GAP since the end of the war. Part of this, is a windfal l due to high oil prices but if the war had not taken place, oil sanctions imposed on Iraq would have severely curtailed Iraqi oil sale.This would have further crushed the already dying economy pre-war. Of course, since Cost-Benefit analysis is primarily economic in nature, on paper, the growth in Iraq's GAP is touted by pro-war candidates as being worth the effort. However it would be ridiculous to imagine that Iraq's economy would have grown enough to cover the costs of war even, much less to actually grow enough to recover and sustain the country post-war. Further, as cost-benefit analysis also should include some elements of intangibility, one must take note Of the accessory costs that came along with the war.Besides the devastation and disease that struck Iraq, neighbors Iran also saw acceleration in its nuclear programmed because it saw that as the only way to prevent an imminent US invasion. This is not good for the global economy because it makes the Middle East a very dange rous place. Further, there is a high continuing rate of violence in Iraq because society sees it as the only form of protection for them. Of course, regime change and the demise of Sadism Hussein must be considered in the benefit analysis but despite that, Iraq is still in shambles -? both economically as well as socially.Overall, a cost-benefit analysis allows us another opportunity to evaluate a war and to decide if it can be justified. In the example of Iraq, we can see how it can be used to prove that it cannot be justified. Counter argument However, despite these two analytical methods of justifying war, they come with a caveat. The caveat being that they are only used to justify war when negotiations have failed between parties; all peaceful methods have been already exhausted and war is the final and only option available to them. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.Many a time, countries prepare for war while negotiations are ongoing. Worse still, they may not even en gage in any peaceful forms of collaboration or settlement at all. The notions of war always remain at the back of countries' minds. The Cold War may seem like a successful instance where there were no missiles or bombs unloaded on either the USSR or the US. However, there was a war nonetheless and a war which lasted 30 years. Despite supposed ‘peaceful' negotiations between the two superpowers, the thought of missile warfare was always at the back of their minds.It would not be far-fetched to imagine that this severely impacted the success Of their discussions. One cannot fully and calmly negotiate with a finger on the trigger. It was merely a combination of luck, timing and the right set of leaders that prevented the outbreak of a disastrous third world war. Conclusion War can be justified through two methods – utility theory and cost-benefit analysis. These allow an intangible and tangible account of the ways in which a war can be explained as being necessary.