Employment Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

Employment Law - Essay Example By enacting the ERA, the government deemed employers should be able to negotiate provisions with workers that allow them to meet the needs of their customers. Businesses need to be able to adjust to changes.   The ERA structure is intended to aid employers by allowing different types of employment relationships that suit the needs of employers.   Enacting this flexibility should enable businesses to become more competitive in national and international markets.   At the same time, according to the Department of Trade, the Act should translate to a variety of working arrangements enabling more people to participate in work suitable to their individual circumstances2.By virtue of the ERA, employees have several rights not enjoyed by atypical workers.   These include the ability to take leave for a wide variety of personal reasons, guaranteed wage payments, the right to protection of wages in the event of an employer’s insolvency, to seek representation, and to receive a written statement of dismissal among many others benefits.   Temporary workers may be regarded as employees under certain conditions and thus qualified for provisions contained within the ERA.   Employers fill long term assignments through employment agencies.   When a worker employs through an agency for one company for more than a year, the question has arisen whether the worker is considered an employee and if so, who is the employer, the agency or the company (end-user)? These workers, under contract with a hiring agency, may be considered independent contractors.

Criminal justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Criminal justice - Essay Example Identity theft is associated with stolen credit cards and drivers licenses, as well as a broader use of fake identifications in order to impersonate someone else or lie about age. Some of these challenges are related to gender and race issues because they can all involve discriminating among suspects due to their gender and race. For example, airport security often faces a challenge in decided who must be randomly searched, and tries to walk the line between political correctness and security by avoiding singling out Middle Eastern men and invading the privacy of women who may choose to wear clothing that covers their face. In the same sense, drivers licenses often require that a face is visible in the photo, yet this may clash with religious beliefs of Muslims. However, protection of rights in these areas can also lead to criminals avoiding detection by claiming they are discriminated against by race or gender. These challenges increase stress and burnout in law enforcement because they place great responsibility on law enforcement professionals, who must act in a manner that is respectful and polite despite the necessity to make some citizens uncomfortable. Officials often take criticism for discrimination that may indeed be necessary, and may desire to leave the public spotlight after experiencing a great amount of public scrutiny.

The Rise Of Nationalism In Europe History Essay

The Rise Of Nationalism In Europe History Essay Nationalism has been on the rise over the last few years throughout Europe. Nationalism is the loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups, according to Mariam Webster Online Dictionary. The European Union was formed to bring peace to the people, make sure that people live safely in other counties; theyre free to work in other European counties without any problems, promote balanced economic decisions in Europe. European countries face a struggle with all of the people turning all of a sudden to nationalism due to the economic crisis. The governments are losing control and the trust of their people, showing widespread protests for the past 2 years. Most European countries have problems with unemployment and people blame the immigrants for it (since theyre not part of any other Euro pean country), thats why youll mostly see attacks on immigrants and not on the domestic people or people from Europe. The main reasons for the rise in nationalism are the economic crisis by the EU, unemployment and illegal immigration. Countries should fix the economic crisis by making the right choices, since its the main reason for increase in nationalism, supported by unemployment and illegal immigration. The European Union (E.U) was formed in the years after WWII to boost up economic cooperation so that governments work together to prevent such mass killing in the world from ever happening again. In simpler words, its like a club joined by a group of people who agree to work together and follow the rules whether they agree or not. Of course this will result in a great benefit for your country and your economy. It was formed by leaders such as Konrad Adenauer, Joseph Bech, Johan Beyem, Winston Churchill, Alcide de Gasperi, Walter Hallstein, Sicco Mansholt, Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, Paul-Henry Spaak and Altiero Spinelli. These leaders dreamed of a peaceful Europe after the shocking number of deaths of WWII. The first step of creating the EU was in 1949 with West European countries creating the Council of Europe. Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg were the first six countries in April 18, 1951, to sign a contract that said these countries should trade coal and steel with each other since this was one of the reasons of World Wars. They couldnt turn on against the other. In March 25, 1957, the six countries expand their trading treatise by signing The Treaty of Rome forming the European Economic Community. The treaty of Rome said that people, goods services should move freely across the borders of these six countries without any problems by the governments. Germany was in a bad position since the building of the wall in 1961 by the communist to put a stop to the people of the East to move freely to the West. This was a problem since Germany was one of the founding countries of the EU. In July 20, 1963 the EU helps the colonies in Africa; their goal was to bring respect for human rights for those people which suffer. On July 1st 1968 remove all the taxes imported to their country as a sign to move freely all the goods and services. This movement was the first free-trade treaty made in history. On January 1, 1973, three more countries j oin the EU; Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The economic problems started from 1973 when the Arab-Israeli War was on with oil producing nations to face an increase in prices creating economic problems through Europe. The EU responded quickly setting up the European Regional Development Fund whose purpose was to transfer money from rich countries to poorer countries so they develop means of communication such as roads, creating jobs etc. Problems such as human right are more efficient when in 1980s Polish workers strike for their rights. On January 1st 1981, Greece joins the EU after the fall of its military dictatorship (Junta). In 1986 Portugal and Spain join the EU, making the Union up to 12 countries. In 1989 was the fall of the Berlin Wall, reuniting Germany after almost 40 years with the Eastern part joining the EU in 1990. On February 7 the EU sets the rules of its single currency (Euro). At that time they officially name the European Community as the EU. On January 1, 1995 three more countries join the EU, Austria, Finland and Sweden. The EU makes an agreement to 7 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal). The agreement said that the people of these countries can travel freely between these countries without showing any passports or anything!! The Euro was officially introduced in 1999 with notes and coins printed to 11 countries, Greece joined later in 2001. The UK declined this offer preferring to stay with the English Pound. In May 1, 2004 eight more countries join the EU; Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia. Later on in January 2007 two more countries join the EU, Bulgaria and Romania. On September 2008 the crisis strikes again! This time, through the whole world. The crisis started with mortgage problems in the United States. In the other hand, European banks did poorly handling the situation. (EU) Nationalism has a variety of different definitions based on what ideology people grew up with or what different political parties tell them it is. But, lets have a look at the dictionary definition of nationalism. Nationalism is the loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of it culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups (Marriam-Webster Online Dictionary). Many people have a question of whether patriotism is the same with nationalism. Patriotism is the love for or devotion to ones country. The main difference is that in nationalism you put your nation above all others, making them look weaker or almost non-existence to you, in patriotism even though you love your country, you dont particularly hate other countries. The definition in both cases doesnt show us a terrible meaning of nationalism or patriotism. What people make thro ugh them is different. It all started with the French Revolution back in the 1700s. The people of France wanted to over through the monarch which was in power for many centuries. A monarch is a single man ruling the country without any democratic decisions being made. Its more like a tyranny. They over threw the monarch within just 3 years. The peoples dream was to create a strong nation with solid power to continue. A measure taken for the formation of a French nation was for a group of people to join together and have the same rights as the other person had. They created the flag of France, the tricolor (blue, white, red). The president of the National Assembly which was then called The Estates General was elected democratically by the people. Oaths and the laws of being in the National Assembly were taken very seriously for the name of their nation. For the better effect of nationalism, the French banned all dialects from the country, they encouraged people to speak only the French language which was es tablished in Paris and moved rapidly throughout the nation. With the revolution being successful, the French army started to expand the idea of nationalism into other European countries such as Holland, Switzerland, Belgium, wanting them to become nations instead of sates. During the 18th century, Europe had no nation-states; some countries were divided into kingdoms such as Germany and Italy. In the middle of Europe, the monarchies were still in power and they didnt want to share the same culture as a whole or have the same identity. Monarchy in France was right in the corner to kick in again with Napoleon. He destroyed the democratic views of the country but, he had a plan; to revolutionize in order to make this system work. Nationalism in Europe started to bend towards liberal nationalism. According to the dictionary, liberalism is the power of being free. People got the right to vote regardless of their property, because during the revolution only men with property were allowed to vote. They had the privilege of moving goods and services in between countries. After the defeat of Napoleon, people didnt want to return to the old days of the revolution, they wanted a strong army protecting the church, the families, boosting up the economy and having a strong monarchy. Italy was split into seven states following the years of 1830. Groups were formed underground to revolve and making Italy a whole nation. They believed that God and religion wanted nations as a whole and not be parts of states. The revolutionary citizens were liberal-nationalist, from teachers, professors to middle class people. The Greek War for Independence was one of the most nationalistic movements during that time. After being occupied by the Ottomans for almost 400 years, the Greek stood up with pride and fought the Ottomans which were later on defeated. They got help from other Greeks living away from Greece. They also got help from Western Europeans because they had love for the ancient Greeks and decided to help them. In 1832 the Treaty of Constantinople accepted the Greeks as an independent nation. In the years after 1840, Europe started to shift from nationalistic revolutions to nationalism and the power of reaching political control through Europe. In 1848 German nationalist wanted to unite the parts of Germany as a whole nation-state. They got the help of the military and the monarchs. (History of nationalism, rise of nationalism.) The rise of nationalism in Europe has been a problem for the governments and the EU. These national groups are formed to hit the system and their governments by embracing teenagers to join them. The steps are simple, the internet, in specific Facebook has been a great site for communicating with others while some take advantage of it and control teenagers by promoting videos and other methods of propaganda. It cannot be just that though. People have their own beliefs, they fear that their cultural identity will get lost in a few years from now if immigration increases. The countries that face an increase of nationalism and anti-immigration groups until now are Austria, the Netherlands, which is ironic because they were in the group of six who created the EU, Hungary, Greece, France, Italy, and Spain. The Hungarian national party called Jobbik at the 2010 elections won 47 seats in the parliament! The increase shocked everyone hence in 2006 they were almost invisible in Work Cited: Nationalism in Europe. The Rise of Social Science CBSE Class Ten. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2012. The History of the European Union. EU. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2012

Origins of the Biblical Flood of Genesis and the Flood of Gilgamesh :: Epic Gilgamesh essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Flood stories have been a common thread in many religions across the globe. One of the stories we are most familiar with in our culture, the story of Noah’s Ark, is a well-known segment of the old testament, and an interesting story of how God punished the world for how corrupt it had become. God accomplished this by flooding the world, and annihilating all the creatures upon it, save for Noah and his family and a pair of each type of creature on the earth . This story, however, has roots deep in the past, some of which have only come to light with the development of new archeological techniques and technology. As more and more is found out about the era from when this story originates, discoveries are made as to the origin of the story, what tale it was based upon, and as to the authenticity that such an event may have actually even occurred, if on a somewhat smaller scale. Based on the information available at the present time, one can make fairly confid ent inferences as to the root of this story. One could argue that the story of Noah’s Ark was based on the Epic of Gilgamesh, and that in turn was based on older stories that were based on a real flood of the Black Sea. The story of Noah’s Ark was first written as part of the old testament by the Jewish people. However, it is predated by far by the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh, a story that originated in the same area that holds many striking similarities to the tale of Noah’s Ark. Though the story was modified to accommodate new characters, many properties of the story are similar, from small details like the creatures used as scouts to the religious purpose of the flood itself. For example, both the flood stories start with the characters receiving specific building instructions for a ship, which is to be used to spare the lives of one set of pairs of the creatures of the world. The dimensions of the ship underwent some drastic changes however, quite possibly because the dimensions of Gilgamesh’s boat were rather unreasonable: â€Å"Equal shall be her width and her length†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . Both Gilgamesh and Noah received 7 days notice, and after the flood ceased, both employ ed doves and ravens as scouts to determine if the land was dry yet (Gilgamesh also employed a swallow, but the results of its trip did not greatly differ from the first trip of the dove in Noah’s tale ). Origins of the Biblical Flood of Genesis and the Flood of Gilgamesh :: Epic Gilgamesh essays   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Flood stories have been a common thread in many religions across the globe. One of the stories we are most familiar with in our culture, the story of Noah’s Ark, is a well-known segment of the old testament, and an interesting story of how God punished the world for how corrupt it had become. God accomplished this by flooding the world, and annihilating all the creatures upon it, save for Noah and his family and a pair of each type of creature on the earth . This story, however, has roots deep in the past, some of which have only come to light with the development of new archeological techniques and technology. As more and more is found out about the era from when this story originates, discoveries are made as to the origin of the story, what tale it was based upon, and as to the authenticity that such an event may have actually even occurred, if on a somewhat smaller scale. Based on the information available at the present time, one can make fairly confid ent inferences as to the root of this story. One could argue that the story of Noah’s Ark was based on the Epic of Gilgamesh, and that in turn was based on older stories that were based on a real flood of the Black Sea. The story of Noah’s Ark was first written as part of the old testament by the Jewish people. However, it is predated by far by the story of the Epic of Gilgamesh, a story that originated in the same area that holds many striking similarities to the tale of Noah’s Ark. Though the story was modified to accommodate new characters, many properties of the story are similar, from small details like the creatures used as scouts to the religious purpose of the flood itself. For example, both the flood stories start with the characters receiving specific building instructions for a ship, which is to be used to spare the lives of one set of pairs of the creatures of the world. The dimensions of the ship underwent some drastic changes however, quite possibly because the dimensions of Gilgamesh’s boat were rather unreasonable: â€Å"Equal shall be her width and her length†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . Both Gilgamesh and Noah received 7 days notice, and after the flood ceased, both employ ed doves and ravens as scouts to determine if the land was dry yet (Gilgamesh also employed a swallow, but the results of its trip did not greatly differ from the first trip of the dove in Noah’s tale ).

Chapter 17 Assessment U.S. History

Chapter 17 Assessment 1. progressive movement- Efforts to make govt. more responsive to the people, restore economic opportunities, and correct injustices. 2. muckraker- One of the magazine journalists who exposed the corrupt side of business and public life 3. suffrage- The right to vote 4. Susan B. Anthony- Co-founder of the national woman suffrage association in 1869. 5. Theodore Roosevelt- 26th president of the US. His term lasted from 1901-1909. Known for the â€Å"square deal† politics, that describes progressive reforms, of big business that victimized workers . NAACP- National association for the advancement of colored people founded in 1909 to promote full racial equality 7. Gifford Pinchot- Head of US forest service under president Roosevelt believed that wilderness areas could be scientifically managed for public enjoyment while allowing private development. 8. Woodrow Wilson- 28th president of the united states, from 1913-1921. Continued Roosevelt’s and Taft ’s antitrust effort. Enacted his program called â€Å"New Freedom† that attacked trusts Tariffs and high finance. . Clayton Antitrust Act- 1914 declaring certain business practices illegal. A corporation could no longer acquire stock of another corporation if it would create a monopoly. 10. Federal Reserve System- a way to make credit more easily available outside the financial centers of New York and Boston. Credit and money would keep pace with the economy. 1. The four goals are protect social welfare, promote moral improvement, create economic reform and foster efficiency. 2. Limit working hours for women and children, and workers compensation for workers hurt or killed on the job. 3. City government became aware of corruption and mismanagement and used various strategies to reform and become more responsible. 4. Domestic work 5. 1. NAWSA: national American woman suffrage association. Women’s right to vote. 2. NACW: national association of colored women. Mana ged nurseries, reading rooms and kindergartens 6. He exposed unsanitary conditions in food industry. They made new sanitation laws, inspections/ FDA. 7.EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROOSEVELT’S FORM OF PROGRESSIVISM AND WILSON’S at  https://donemyessay.com/apush-chapter-29/Roosevelt emerged as a trust buster by using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up some of the nation's largest corporations. 8. Although he accomplished many things, he was not popular, and did not receive credit for what he did. 9. Republican conservatives and progressives split over Taft's support of the political boss Joseph Cannon. 10. Declared certain business practices illegal. This prevented monopolies. 11. Wilson did not support woman suffrage and introduced segregation into the federal government. He did not want to change things. 1.Square deal was a program to keep the wealthy and powerful from taking advantage of small businesses and the poor. While the New Freedom was a program to al low small businesses to have more opportunities. The similarities were that both Roosevelt and Wilson were both trying to help out the small businesses. 2. The social economic and political impulses that caused the reform movement were many things. Women without a right to vote, low morale and many people without money or education to get money. Also the heavy presence of child labor. 1. C 2. F 3. A Chapter 17 Assessment U.S. History Chapter 17 Assessment 1. progressive movement- Efforts to make govt. more responsive to the people, restore economic opportunities, and correct injustices. 2. muckraker- One of the magazine journalists who exposed the corrupt side of business and public life 3. suffrage- The right to vote 4. Susan B. Anthony- Co-founder of the national woman suffrage association in 1869. 5. Theodore Roosevelt- 26th president of the US. His term lasted from 1901-1909. Known for the â€Å"square deal† politics, that describes progressive reforms, of big business that victimized workers . NAACP- National association for the advancement of colored people founded in 1909 to promote full racial equality 7. Gifford Pinchot- Head of US forest service under president Roosevelt believed that wilderness areas could be scientifically managed for public enjoyment while allowing private development. 8. Woodrow Wilson- 28th president of the united states, from 1913-1921. Continued Roosevelt’s and Taft ’s antitrust effort. Enacted his program called â€Å"New Freedom† that attacked trusts Tariffs and high finance. . Clayton Antitrust Act- 1914 declaring certain business practices illegal. A corporation could no longer acquire stock of another corporation if it would create a monopoly. 10. Federal Reserve System- a way to make credit more easily available outside the financial centers of New York and Boston. Credit and money would keep pace with the economy. 1. The four goals are protect social welfare, promote moral improvement, create economic reform and foster efficiency. 2. Limit working hours for women and children, and workers compensation for workers hurt or killed on the job. 3. City government became aware of corruption and mismanagement and used various strategies to reform and become more responsible. 4. Domestic work 5. 1. NAWSA: national American woman suffrage association. Women’s right to vote. 2. NACW: national association of colored women. Mana ged nurseries, reading rooms and kindergartens 6. He exposed unsanitary conditions in food industry. They made new sanitation laws, inspections/ FDA. 7.EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ROOSEVELT’S FORM OF PROGRESSIVISM AND WILSON’S at  https://donemyessay.com/apush-chapter-29/Roosevelt emerged as a trust buster by using the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to break up some of the nation's largest corporations. 8. Although he accomplished many things, he was not popular, and did not receive credit for what he did. 9. Republican conservatives and progressives split over Taft's support of the political boss Joseph Cannon. 10. Declared certain business practices illegal. This prevented monopolies. 11. Wilson did not support woman suffrage and introduced segregation into the federal government. He did not want to change things. 1.Square deal was a program to keep the wealthy and powerful from taking advantage of small businesses and the poor. While the New Freedom was a program to al low small businesses to have more opportunities. The similarities were that both Roosevelt and Wilson were both trying to help out the small businesses. 2. The social economic and political impulses that caused the reform movement were many things. Women without a right to vote, low morale and many people without money or education to get money. Also the heavy presence of child labor. 1. C 2. F 3. A

James Baldwin “Language is a key political instrument”

Imagine this, you are from a small town in Alabama, but you have Just moved to New Jersey. You have a deep southern accent and you use words like â€Å"Yall. † People are going to automatically think that you're a redneck, which probably means that you live in a trailer, you hunt deer as a hobby, you live on a farm, and moonshine is your favorite drink. They will treat you according to the way that they think you are, only because they don't understand the way you speak.Because both of you are from a different part of the United States their way of speaking English is different from ours, which makes the way you speak unique to you and your identity. In Baldwin's essay, he is saying that the manner in which you speak, will determine how people treat you. I agree, people will make assumptions about you based on your choice of words, accent, or vocabulary.In order to conform to this harsh reality people evolve a new language in order to control their circumstances and/or environ ment. Black English originated during slavery, when the slaves were brought to America they were all from different tribes; therefore they did not speak the same language. In order to survive and to understand each other, they evolved a language of their own.In England people can tell what kind of person you are, where you're from, and if you're wealthy Just by listening to your diction. A person living in Paris cannot understand what a person from Quebec is saying even though they speak the same language (French. ) I do believe that language is the key to a person's identity. Your grammar, language, etc. will determine how you are treated and if you will be accepted in the society that you are in.

Manifesto of the Communist Party essays

Manifesto of the Communist Party essays This paper is analysis of part one of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Manifesto of the Communist Party. [1] In particular the text will be situated historically, as well as within a scheme of development of Marxist thought. The main problem and arguments of the text will be explored with emphasis on Marxs outline of the historical development of capitalism, as well as the development of the capitalist and working classes. The Manifesto of the Communist Party was written in 1847 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels for the Communist League of London. It is this Manifesto that Marx first applies his concept of historical materialism, which he constructed in 1846 in The German Ideology. This alternative theory of history synthesized materialism and idealism to ultimately describe society as a social totality; with the mode of production being a historical phenomenon giving rise to civil society. Following the Manifesto, Marx and Engels continue to apply historical materialism to society, as seen in Capital. Capital was written in 1867 by Marx and Engels, and it focused on analyzing the capitalist mode of production. In particular this work uses dialectical thinking to explain Marxs theory of exploitation; a theory which explains the origins of profits as the exchange of the fixed variable of labour for the potential variable of the product of labour. Part one of the Manifesto of the Communist Party focuses on explaining the emergence of capitalism, and the resulting social classes that emerge out of this new mode of production. Foremost Marx notes that capitalism comes forth out of the context of feudal society. The feudal system of industry, under which industrial production was monopolized by closed guilds, now no longer sufficed for the growing wants of the new markets. The manufacturing system took its place. ...

How does the media portray football hooliganism Essays

How does the media portray football hooliganism Essays How does the media portray football hooliganism Essay How does the media portray football hooliganism Essay The publics opinion of this stereotypical image of rampant football fans has been strengthened by the media with the use of news reports, documentaries, and newspaper articles, but is it important how these are presented to the public? Macentyre investigates (a documentary in which John Macentyre explores the lives of football hooligans) and The Daily Stars presentation of Eric Cantonas reaction to racial taunts by a fan are two clear examples of media which have both been carefully orchestrated to strongly influence the opinion of the public, and show that there is more to football than 22 players kicking a ball around a field. The still image of Cantona hurdling a barrier has been deliberately edited to have a forceful impact on the opinion of the reader. Cantonas aggression, determination and skill are displayed to the reader in this photograph due to the fact that the editor has kept the advertising barrier in the shot. It proves that Cantonas adrenaline must have been running high in order for him to jump over such a large barrier and kick somebody in the chest. The display of his athleticism is boosted by the letters on the barrier being large, white letters, making the barrier appear large. The Macentyre visual presentation also displays the skill of the hooligans by including long range CCTV footage of numerous fights that have broken out between fans of rival clubs. On one occasion, a football fan hits a fan from a rival football club with a large iron bar, giving the impression that he is strong and powerful. Power is an aspect that is focused on greatly in the documentary; a fish eye lens that is looking up at the hooligan being interviewed is used. This may have been because the camera needed to be hidden, or it could have been done on purpose to make the hooligans seem more forceful and vigorous. This image is increased with scenes of the hooligans driving in large, fast cars and throughout the programme, and the sound is slightly distorted, making the hooligans voices sound deep and forceful. The editor of the video has later added non-diegetic sounds. The documentary consistently contains daunting music that engages the audience and amplifies the terror that is taking place. There is also a lot of diegetic sound that has been included; when the hooligans are being interviewed in the pub there is a lot of shouting and cheering in the background. When the hooligans are at the football ground, the sounds of a riot taking place can be heard continuously. The photograph of Cantona is a medium shot with the camera at a low level. It may have been like this for a specific reason; the photographer may of only wanted to include the player and the members of the crowd who were looking at Cantona to sharpen the focus on him. But it is also likely that the photographer would not of had time to calculate the shot of this spontaneous act of hooliganism, and so would of hurriedly pointed his/her camera in the direction of the incident and taken the photo. Although the still image is in black and white, this contrast provides enough colour to influence the impression that the photograph creates. The picture is lighter at the bottom and fades into black at the top. The attention of the reader is drawn to the large letters at the bottom of the picture and the large no.7 on Cantonas back, sharpening the focus on Cantona. As admitted by a self confessed hooligan in the Macentyre video, the more experienced hooligans hide at the back of the back of the stands and stay protected, while the newer hooligans are vulnerable at the front. Because the photograph is darker at the top, it appears that the experienced hooligans seem to be hiding under the cover of darkness and getting away with abusing Cantona, while the louder, inexperienced hooligans continually abuse Cantona and draw the attention of the target. The picture contains two types of people, player and fan. The fans differ in age and appearance, but all show facial expressions of shock in different ways. When the picture is quickly looked at, as it would be by most readers of The Daily Star, the reader would notice the members of the crowd who are covering their faces or have their mouths wide open in shock. The photograph contains no officials or stewards, showing that the attack was not anticipated. On the left of the picture, there is a hand that is trying to stop Cantona from carrying out the attack. But this person can do nothing, Cantona is too determined and out of control. Similarly, the Macentyre documentary contains few shots of police officers controlling the hooligans, showing that they too are out of control. Also, the editor has left out images of the supporters wearing football strips, and in the Cantona photograph there is not single fan wearing a football strip either. This makes the fans look like a stereotypical football hooligan and although the fans in the still image may be supporting different teams, they are united by the casual uniform that they are wearing and gives the impression that Cantona is on his own against the terraces. The caption at the bottom of the article forms the bottom 20% of the page, and this is another of the first things that the reader would notice when reading this newspaper. It contains the statement: The Daily Star Says in capital letters, which gives the impression that the Daily Star is expressing their opinion openly. This statement is followed by a variation of the popular saying when the shit hits the fan. It contains an expletive in which three of the letters have been replaced by punctuation marks, but it is still clear to the reader what the word is because the S remains and the i is replaced by an exclamation mark, which is an inverted i. The phrase has been deliberately engineered to have a double meaning; if the question mark is removed, it refers directly to Cantona as a shit. When it is left in, the phrase questions Cantonas actions. The semantic field of war is clearly present throughout the documentary. When arranging the fights, the hooligans refer to their associates as their army and soldiers. Similar to a war, the people in the video are shown equipping themselves with weapons, such as guns and knives. This shows how serious the hooligans are, and the lengths they are prepared to go to when they reach the terraces. The entire video seems to be like a war; it is known where the two sides will meet, both sides are prejudice because of where the other comes from and they are all prepared to kill. The Macentyre documentary and The Daily Stars presentation of the Cantona incident are different types of media, but with careful editing they both give out the same message to the viewing public about football hooliganism.

Sea Cliffs - Habitats of High, Rocky Coastlines

Sea Cliffs - Habitats of High, Rocky Coastlines Sea cliffs are high, rocky coasts that plunge down to the seas edge. These harsh environments are subject to the battering of waves, wind, and salt-laden sea spray. Conditions on a sea cliff vary as you move up the cliff, with waves and sea spray playing larger parts in shaping the communities at the base of a sea cliff while wind, weather, and sun exposure are the driving forces that shape the communities towards the top of a sea cliff. Sea cliffs provide ideal nesting habitat for many species of sea birds such as gannets, cormorants, kittiwakes, and guillemots. Some cliff-nesting species form large, dense nesting colonies that stretch across the face of the cliff, taking advantage of every inch of available rock. At the base of the cliff, the pommeling by the surf prohibits all but the most tenacious of animals from surviving there. Mollusks and other invertebrates such as crabs and echinoderms occasionally find shelter behind rocky outcrops or tucked within tiny crevices. The top of the sea cliff is often more forgiving than its base and can be frequented by wildlife from surrounding terrain. Often, the craggy edges at the top of a cliff provide ideal habitat for small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Habitat Classification: Ecozones: Terrestrial / Marine Ecosystem: Beaches / Coasts Habitat: Sea Cliffs Wildlife: Birds, mammals, invertebrates, reptiles. Where to See: Sea cliffs are located along rocky coastlines throughout the world.

BUSMOD 1 - SLP Globalization and Global Strategic Planning Essay

BUSMOD 1 - SLP Globalization and Global Strategic Planning - Essay Example From the Interbrand’s best global brand 2011, Coca Cola has been selected as the world’s most valuable brand. This paper will analyze the Coca Cola Company in the context of globalization and global strategic planning. Globalization and International Operations of Coke Cola Globalization refers to the process through which national economies and cultures are integrated into an international economy so as to enhance international trade, direct foreign investment, migration, and technology sharing. As Mishkin (2008) opines, globalization greatly contributes to effective and rapid circulation of ideas, languages, and cultural ideologies (p.134). With intent to enhance foreign investment and cross-border trade for international business expansion, nations have liberalized cross border trade regulations. Hence, the emergence of globalization brought significant changes in Coke Cola’s international operations and strategic planning as the company had obtained free acce ss to global economies. This process allowed the company to enter highly developing market segments like India, which is currently one of the potential markets of the firm. The Coca Cola gives increased emphasis on human resources management because effective employee participation is essential for the company to ensure global integration of its business operations (The Coca-Cola Company). Nowadays, the company is introducing diverse product lines (for instance, 7.5 ounce mini can) to its markets in order to effectively defend stiff market competition. Recently, the company has formulated a series of corporate and social responsibility programs so as to promote a sustainable growth (Coca Cola Sabco). Marketing Entry Strategy of Coca Cola According to Arnold (2003), while analyzing overseas operations of the Coke, it is obvious that the company practices a global localization or glocalization strategy when considering entry into a foreign market. The localization strategy involves tw o distinct techniques. Under the first method, a multinational corporation adapts its marketing mix in a way that suites its product lines with the foreign market conditions where it entered. In contrast, the second approach involves the development of new-market specific sources. Although the second method is most direct and easy to implement, it involves higher costs and is a slower approach than adaptation. It seems that the Coke practices the both product adaptation and specification approaches. For instance, the company adopted the adaptation strategy while it entered India whereas the Coke dealt with a number of locally oriented brands as part of its market entry in Japan. Similarly, the organization extensively makes use of media as part of product positioning and territory expansion. It is clear that globalization enhanced the development of telecommunications media and which in turn fastened the spread of global mass culture. The higher development of global media as a resu lt of globalization has greatly assisted the Coke to promote its products across regions where it recently entered. In Indian market operation, the Coke Cola has hired several famous film stars like Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi to endorse its products as part of its

Market Research Methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Market Research Methodology - Essay Example 'Typically focus groups are used as a means of testing concepts new products and messages. A focus group is qualitative research which means that you do not obtain results with percentages, statistical testing or tables .instead this methodology is less structured than surveys or other quantitative research and tends to be more exploratory as well. Rather than providing quantifiable responses to a specific question obtained from a large sampling of the population, focus group participants provide a flow of input and interaction related to the topic or group of topics that the group is centered around. While they appear to be less formal than a survey, focus groups do provide an important source of information for making business decisions. It is important how ever to ensure that persons using the results of such a qualitative study understand how to correctly interpret the resulting information'. 1 The composition of a focus group is usually based on the homogeneity or similarity of the group members. Bringing people with common interests or experiences together makes it easier for them to carry on a productive discussion. Often a research project will use different groups to get differing views. For example, an organization is planning a major restructuring. It would be desirable to have three separate focus groups - union members, nonunion employees, and managers. Each of these groups would represent a potentially different perspective on the changes facing the organization. Imagine the potential problems in bringing together union members and management. Neither would feel free to speak spontaneously and, depending on the anxiety level, the discussion might possibly spiral out of control. Demographic characteristics are another way to determine focus group composition: A political candidate might consider holding separate focus groups with both men and women or younger and older voters. A company testing a new product might conduct focus groups in different geographical regions. Organizational decision makers might find it useful to have separate focus groups for those who favor and those who oppose a particular issue. One caution-remember that with a focus group, it is not possible to compare the results from different groups in a strict quantitative sense, because they lack representative ness. Each group may be characterized as augmenting the information of the others - in an effort to look for as many different explanations or interpretations as

The psychological implications of workplace violence Assignment

The psychological implications of workplace violence - Assignment Example Workplace violence is one of the major causes of fatalities in the workplace, especially for women. Violence in the workplace is a wicked and dangerous problem that deprives organizations with efficiency, high productivity, resources, and even the capacity to operate fully. Therefore, workplace violence remains a grave threat to employees and the larger community. This paper argues that victims of workplace violence experience perceived fear and psychological distress or mental problems immediately after the unpleasant incident. These negative outcomes of workplace violence cause dysfunctions in an organization. Hence it is important to implement effective prevention policies against workplace violence. Workplace violence is an issue that demands immediate consideration and prevention. An exact definition of workplace violence can generate more precise statistics and more effective strategies to deal with the issue. For the purposes of this paper, the International Labor Organization (ILO) definition of workplace violence is used (Privitera, 2010, 43): Internal workplace violence is that which takes place between workers, including managers and supervisors; and External workplace violence is that which takes place between workers (and managers and supervisors) and any other person present at the workplace. Although the above definition only highlights the physical features of workplace violence, it does indirectly imply the potential psychological impact of this incident on victims and third parties. Perceived Fear and the Psychological Effect of Workplace Violence Numerous studies have reported the effect of workplace violence on the victims’ psychological or emotional wellbeing, as well as on their self-perception. After a violent incident in the workplace, the victims, those who witnessed the violence, colleagues, peers, family, and other individuals in the organization may go through psychologically distressing outcomes. For the victims and their col leagues it is apparent that the workplace has become an unsafe place. Besides physical injuries, workplace violence usually leads to severe and incapacitating psychological impact. Some examples of the psychological impacts of violence in the workplace are lowered self-worth, distress, vulnerability, anger, fear, depression, denial, humiliation, and guilt. Several researchers have identified post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an outcome of violence in the workplace among those victimized. Several of the warning signs of PTSD are damaged concentration, weakened memory, recurrent nightmares, disturbance, isolation, bad temper, physiological stimulation, and anxiety (Cavanaugh et al., 2012). Moreover, according to Kamery (2004), employees usually blame themselves for their victimization, and quite often management provokes this self-blaming attitude. Victims of workplace violence immediately feel physical and psychological numbing, distress, denial, and suspicion. Immediately aft er the unpleasant incident, the victims go through three kinds of effects (Browne-Miller, 2012): (1) withdrawal effects such as truancy, social isolation; reliving effects such as nightmares, recollections; and (3) other effects such as excessive shock, anger, fear, and irritability. Employees who have been involved in interpersonal violence will perhaps suffer from a negative disposition and intensified fear at work. This consequently will lessen employee motivation and satisfaction at work (Mueller & Tschan, 2011). This discovery is significant because it is widely known that employee motivation and satisfaction are an exact determinant of voluntary turnover. Many studies have found out that the lower the employee motivation and satisfaction, the greater the likelihood of voluntary turnover. Thus it is apparent that not merely does workplace violence have a major and considerable psychological effect on victims and other people; in addition,

Electro magntic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Electro magntic - Essay Example MS Excel once more helped drew the line of best fit and helped conclude that the relationship was actually also linear. The resulting formula has the ability to calculate the exact amount of force in any given length of coil. Even when the length of coil was varied, the resulting relationship was still consistently linear. Here is the formula: 3- The plotted points above show the relationship between the force and the magnetic field when the latter was altered. The graph shows a rather approximate linear relationship, and the general equation or formula is based on the line of best fit that is made through MS Excel. The formula is as follows: 4- Other relationships plotted above the graph of force tended to have nonlinear relationships with the varied angle. Theoretically, current-bearing conductors in magnetic fields with respect to altered angles tend to form sinusoids. The sinusoid is dependent on a number of factors such as current, magnetic field and the length of the coil conductor. Given that every other condition remains constant, the plotted graph assumes the form of a sin graph. Perhaps, the only discrepancy here is that the magnetic field is expressed in the number of magnets and not in SI units. Magnetic field is usually expressed in Teslas (T) and so there was a calculation to determine how much the consistent value of equivalent teslas is on the six magnets. The formula derived from this is as follows: Considering that our current, magnetic field and coil length were all constant from the results table, a specific angle was replaced with a force value in order to determine the constant value of Teslas appropriate for the magnetic field of six magnets, thus, 1. The doubling of the current will increase the value by a factor of 0.0058, which means that the current is actually directly proportional to the calculated force. Thus, it is expected that the force would increase. b. An electrical car that runs on an electrical

How Thomas Church and Andrew Jackson Downing were from two different Essay

How Thomas Church and Andrew Jackson Downing were from two different eras but both were influential in establishing the pattern - Essay Example Both men shared the opinion that gardens should be for everyone; indeed, the title of Thomas Church’s book, Gardens are for People, seems to say everything about his philosophy on gardens, believing that they are for people to enjoy, not just look at (Tilston). Downing, as well, thought that gardens should be accessible to all, not just the well-to-do members of society, and lobbied hard with politicians to create a space of greenery in New York City, accessible to all (R.). Though working in different time frames and with different areas of the country, both Downing and Church have had a lasting influence on gardens seen by those living in the present-day era, mainly due to their willingness to go against what was considered â€Å"conventional† at the time during their work, but also because they believed that gardens, plants, and greenery should be accessible to all, not just the wealthy. Andrew Jackson Downing was born on October 15, 1831, in Newburg, New York. He fi nished his schooling at the age of 16, and came by his love of landscaping and gardening honestly, as his father ran a nursery in which he worked after finishing school (â€Å"Living Places†). ... udson River, those with money to spend immediately bough trade gardening books from merchant-class England, where they were popular (â€Å"Gardenvisit.com†). Gardens of the working class, or â€Å"those raised between the plow handles† (â€Å"Smithsonian Gardens†) were limited to functionality. They were not interested in growing a beautiful plant or flower to look at, but how many vegetables could be grown to feed the usually ever-growing family. Downing had an undeniable and lasting effect on American landscape and gardening with the publishing of his first book, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, Adapted to North America, published in 1841. The book, the first of its kind to be published in North America, brought immediate fame and recognition as people realized, perhaps for the first time, that they did not have to have large gardens filled with exotic plants; their style could be more of a simple taste. People also realized, as pro moted through Downing, that they could use the natural beauty of their surroundings and plants that were native to North America to define their style (â€Å"Smithsonian Gardens†). Though Downing was a follower of the English style of gardens, as well as the Greek Revival style of homes, he carefully tailored his book to the needs of North Americans, recognizing several key points (â€Å"Smithsonian Gardens†). First and foremost, Downing recognized that the soils of North America were different from that of Europe, and therefore would need plants and flora that grew and prospered in North America, not imports from Europe, along with the belief that Americans were not aristocratic like most of Europe, and therefore should celebrate their republicanism, hence his designs for middle and lower class cottages and gardens

Can micro-finance schemes solve the problem of rural poverty OR Is Essay

Can micro-finance schemes solve the problem of rural poverty OR Is poverty a sufficient or necessary explanation for child labourArgue in line with reference to strategies totackle child labour - Essay Example In fact persistence poverty can even dampen the prospects of economic growth. The poor stand to benefit when investments are made to ensure better health and education leading to increased current consumption and higher future incomes. To eradicate poverty it is also essential to understand the causes of poverty. Political instability, ill-defined property rights, discrimination on the basis of race, gender and sex, rapidly growing families without sustainable income are some of the causes of rural poverty. Macroeconomic stability and public investment in the physical and social infrastructure are the basic requirements to reduce poverty. However, at the individual level, microfinance was considered by Muhammad Yunus as the way to help the poor start an income that could eventually bring them out of the state of poverty. Microfinance, according to the World Bank, is the ‘provision of financial services’ (including saving and credit) to ‘the poor’ (Irobi, 2008). The purpose of microfinance is to engage the people in economic activities, make them self-reliant, increase employment oppurtunities and enhance their household income and wealth (Emeni, 2008). The basic idea behind starting the microfinance loan scheme for the rural poor was to provide loans to them without collateral security. This was based on trust and selflessness. According to Yunus, people do not seek charity but an oppurtunity to grow and become economically independent. To this extent, the concept of microfinance had a noble purpose the economic growth of the people and thereby the nation. Neo-liberalism is also based on the premise that human welfare can be served best when the state withdrawn from the welfarist policies (Karim, 2009). Neo-liberalism, a social and moral philosophy, has also been described as a way of governance where governing relies on calculative choices and techniques. The subjects have to act in accordance of the

How Thomas Church and Andrew Jackson Downing were from two different Essay

How Thomas Church and Andrew Jackson Downing were from two different eras but both were influential in establishing the pattern - Essay Example Both men shared the opinion that gardens should be for everyone; indeed, the title of Thomas Church’s book, Gardens are for People, seems to say everything about his philosophy on gardens, believing that they are for people to enjoy, not just look at (Tilston). Downing, as well, thought that gardens should be accessible to all, not just the well-to-do members of society, and lobbied hard with politicians to create a space of greenery in New York City, accessible to all (R.). Though working in different time frames and with different areas of the country, both Downing and Church have had a lasting influence on gardens seen by those living in the present-day era, mainly due to their willingness to go against what was considered â€Å"conventional† at the time during their work, but also because they believed that gardens, plants, and greenery should be accessible to all, not just the wealthy. Andrew Jackson Downing was born on October 15, 1831, in Newburg, New York. He fi nished his schooling at the age of 16, and came by his love of landscaping and gardening honestly, as his father ran a nursery in which he worked after finishing school (â€Å"Living Places†). ... udson River, those with money to spend immediately bough trade gardening books from merchant-class England, where they were popular (â€Å"Gardenvisit.com†). Gardens of the working class, or â€Å"those raised between the plow handles† (â€Å"Smithsonian Gardens†) were limited to functionality. They were not interested in growing a beautiful plant or flower to look at, but how many vegetables could be grown to feed the usually ever-growing family. Downing had an undeniable and lasting effect on American landscape and gardening with the publishing of his first book, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, Adapted to North America, published in 1841. The book, the first of its kind to be published in North America, brought immediate fame and recognition as people realized, perhaps for the first time, that they did not have to have large gardens filled with exotic plants; their style could be more of a simple taste. People also realized, as pro moted through Downing, that they could use the natural beauty of their surroundings and plants that were native to North America to define their style (â€Å"Smithsonian Gardens†). Though Downing was a follower of the English style of gardens, as well as the Greek Revival style of homes, he carefully tailored his book to the needs of North Americans, recognizing several key points (â€Å"Smithsonian Gardens†). First and foremost, Downing recognized that the soils of North America were different from that of Europe, and therefore would need plants and flora that grew and prospered in North America, not imports from Europe, along with the belief that Americans were not aristocratic like most of Europe, and therefore should celebrate their republicanism, hence his designs for middle and lower class cottages and gardens

Top 10 New Years Resolutions Essay Example for Free

Top 10 New Years Resolutions Essay New Years Eve has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year. Its a time to reflect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes. Did your New Year resolutions make our top ten list? 1. Spend More Time with Family Friends Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. Make plans to meet up with friends for an evening of comaraderie at a favorite Pittsburgh restaurant or take the family to one of these popular Pittsburgh places for family fun. Work shouldnt always come first! More: Home Family in Pittsburgh 2. Fit in Fitness The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better. Why not make this the time to start getting in shape for one of these popular Pittsburgh Area Charity Walks, Runs or Rides? More: Getting Fit in Pittsburgh 3. Tame the Bulge Over 66 percent of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Years resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Years commitment to shed extra pounds. More: Weight Loss Help in Pittsburgh 4. Quit Smoking If you have resolved to make this the year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now  provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if youve tried to quit before and failed, dont let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life! Even Allegheny County is trying to go smoke-free, and its taken them a few tries as well. Locally, there are a variety of free support services, hotlines and smoking cessation classes to help you kick the smoking habit. More: Quit Smoking Classes Support Groups in the Greater Pittsburgh area 5. Enjoy Life More Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that enjoying life more has become a popular resolution in recent years. Its an important step to a happier and healthier you! Consider one of Pittsburghs holistic healing centers for products designed to bring balance to your body, mind and soul. Or just get out and try something new! Take up a new hobby or try your hand at skiing. Go to a theater performance, or head to the local spa. Pittsburgh offers a wealth of artistic and recreational activities to meet just about anyones wishes. More: Things to Do in Pittsburgh 6. Quit Drinking While many people use the New Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available. Pittsburgh Alcoholics Anonymous offers meetings throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. There is also a Pittsburgh group for Parents of Teenage Alcohol and Drug Abusers. There are also a number of treatment-based programs, as well as support groups for families of alcoholics. More: Alcohol Recovery Support in Pittsburgh 7. Get Out of Debt Was money a big source of stress in your life last year? Join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. Its a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year  ahead. More: Find a Financial Planner in Pittsburgh 8. Learn Something New Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, youll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Years resolutions to keep. The Community College of Allegheny County offers a wide variety of lifelong learning courses, and local YMCAs offer great recreational training for beginners of all ages. Most local colleges and universities offer distance and adult education programs. Or if the arts are more your thing, places such as the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts offer adult studio classes. Lifelong Learning in Pittsburgh 9. Help Others A popular, non-selfish New Years resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help. The Pittsburgh Cares organization makes it easy by connecting volunteers with projects to fit practically any schedule. Or if your time is really in short supply, maybe you can at least find it in you to donate the furniture, clothing and other household items that you no longer need, rather than leaving them out by the curb to fill up our landfills. More: Volunteer Opportunities in Pittsburgh 10. Get Organized On just about every New Year resolution top ten list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim, or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and resources should get you started on the way to a more organized life. Pittsburgh has quite a few professional organizers who can help you reduce the clutter in your life and find peace in your home. Professional Pittsburgh organizer Patty Kreamer even offers a a six-month But I Might Need it Somday! ecourse.

Role of the Genes COLEC11 and MASP1 in Embryonic Development

Role of the Genes COLEC11 and MASP1 in Embryonic Development Vigneshwaree Sabapathy Mutations in the genes COLEC11 and MASP1 which code for lectin complement pathway proteins have been found responsible for a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting in abnormal development. This proposes that other constituent proteins may play a role in embryonic development. To this day, the genetic aspects of the stages involved in embryonic development that leads to certain congenital disorders are still not fully understood. As a result, researchers start off with identifying the genes that play a part in causing a congenital disorder before determining how these genes bring about the disorder. This approach was adopted by Rooryck et al.1 to help prove that mutations in the genes COLEC11 and MASP1, involved in the lectin complement pathway were responsible for 3MC syndrome. The 3MC syndrome is an abbreviation of Michels, Mingarelli, Malpuech and Carnevale syndrome. These four syndromes are rare autosomal disorder that follows a recessive order of inheritance. The 3MC syndrome is characterised by blepharophimosis, ptosis of the eyelids, cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis, hypertelorism and in some cases renal anomalies and umbilical hernia1,2. Furthermore, growth retardation, mental retardation and urogenital anomalies are also common features in all four syndromes2,3. After much research, it was found that the overlapping similarities in phenotype and Gestalt between these four syndromes are more significant than the differences between them2. Therefore, these evidence lead to the assumption that the syndromes are allelic variations of one another and belong to the same spectrum2. Rooryck and colleagues started off their study by first collecting DNA samples from individuals diagnosed with Michels, Mingarelli, Malpuech and Carnevale syndromes and all their available family members. Their genomes were then screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms which are homozygous in all affected individuals but absent in unaffected individuals. From the individuals tested, there were four consanguineous families. The genotyping results from members of these families showed a homozygous region of 2.2 MB at 2p25.3 in affected individuals1. Moreover, a region of homozygosity was found in two other families at 3q27.31,4. These findings suggest that the 3MC syndrome could be caused by multiple genes. From the sequencing of the open reading frames at the 2p25.3 region, 15 candidate genes were found, of which 9 were sequenced. Sequencing of these transcripts in affected individuals revealed three homozygous missense mutations and a single base deletion in COLEC11 that may be linked to the inheritance of the 3MC syndrome. Furthermore, the single base deletion in COLEC11 was found to play a role in the premature termination of the gene product CL-K1. CL-K1 is a C-type lectin that acts as a host defence by binding to carbohydrate antigens on microorganisms and activating the innate immune system5,6. Due to its function, it tends to circulate in the serum. In addition, being highly conserved in various species means that a mutation would be damaging to the function of the protein. Hence, to ensure that this mutation is an underlying cause of the 3MC syndrome, a protein blot assay was conducted to detect CL-K1 in the serum from two affected individuals. However, none was detected, indic ating a connection between the syndrome and the loss of function mutation in COLEC11. At the same time, the expression of CL-K1 was observed in certain mouse tissues that have been known to be affected by the disorder in humans1. In the same way, sequencing at the 3q27.3 region found 16 candidate genes potentially linked to the 3MC syndrome. One of these genes is the MASP1 gene which encodes for mannan-binding lectin serine protease 1 (MASP-1), a serine protease that is important in the lectin complement pathway4. Rooryck et al.1 then sequenced this gene in the two affected families and discovered two homozygous single base substitutions in exon 12. As predicted, the loss of function of this gene is consistent with the inheritance of 3MC syndrome. To study the effect of the loss-of-function of these proteins as well as to ensure that both the COLEC11 and MASP1 genes are accountable for the abnormalities witnessed in 3MC syndrome, knockdown studies were conducted using zebrafish. In these studies, two antisense morpholinos for COLEC11 were injected into one-cell stage embryos of zebrafish so as to imitate the loss-of-function of the gene. The same was done for the MASP1 gene. Based on the results from these studies, COLEC11 and MASP1 genes were found to cause similar phenotypes. The zebrafish morphants subjected to both these treatments displayed morphological abnormalities such as pigmentation and craniofacial cartilage defect similar to the symptoms of 3MC syndrome. Interestingly, when co-injected with a fully functional COLEC11 mRNA, the observed abnormalities in the zebrafish are reversed. Additionally, injecting a low dosage of both colec11 and masp1 morpholinos into the zebrafish embryos at the same time gave rise to simi lar deformities observed when injected separately, suggesting an interaction between the two genes5. Thanks to the pigmentation and craniofacial cartilage defects noted in zebrafish morphants, further studies were carried out to determine whether the CL-K1 and MASP-1 proteins are involved in the migration of cranial neural crest cells (NCCs) during embryonic development. Findings by Rooryck et al.1 in this part of the study revealed that beads coated with CL-K1 attracted NCCs when placed in the head region of zebrafish embryo. On the other hand, control beads implanted in the same region did not display the same attraction to NCCs. This proves the possibility that CL-K1 play a role in guiding the migration of neural crest cells. Similar results were also seen in a test using CL-K1 agarose disk and HeLa cells. At present, since the roles of both the COLEC11 and MASP1 genes in embryonic development have been discovered, more focus is required in investigating how the lectin complement pathway regulates embryonic development in addition to the role of the gene product, CL-K1 in early developmental processes. Likewise, the possibility of other constituent proteins and complement systems being involved in embryogenesis should also be considered. Therefore, further research on these aspects can help in the management of other congenital genetic disorders. (996 words) References: Rooryck, C. et al. Mutations in lectin complement pathway genes COLEC11 and MASP1 cause 3MC syndrome. Nat. Genet. 43, 197-203 (2011). Titomanlio, L. et al. Michels Syndrome, Carnevale Syndrome, OSA Syndrome, and Malpuech Syndrome: Variable Expression of a Single Disorder (3MC Syndrome)? Am. J. Med. Genet. 137A, 332–335 (2005). Kerstjens-Frederikse, W.S., Brunner, H.G., van Dael, C.M.L. van Essen, A.J. Malpuech Syndrome: Three Patients and a Review. Am. J. Med. Genet. 134A, 450–453 (2005). Sirmaci et al. MASP1 Mutations in Patients with Facial, Umbilical, Coccygeal, and Auditory Findings of Carnevale, Malpuech, OSA, and Michels Syndromes. Am. J. Human Genet. 87, 679–686 (2010). Hansen, S. et al. Collectin 11 (CL-11, CL-K1) Is a MASP-1/3–Associated Plasma Collectin with Microbial-Binding Activity. J. Immunol. 185, 6096–6104 (2010). Keshi, H et al. Identification and characterization of a novel human collectin CL-K1. Microbiol Immunol. 50, 1001-1013 (2006).

How to Tell Someone Off :: essays research papers

I usually do not respond to such letters, but I will do an exception this time. And this because I believe that in your arrogance you must have posted this idiotic letter in your forums, so that you look a tough guy to your friends. I apologise for not being an intelligent player, its obvious we cannot all be smart in this world. To make a miserable point if your ex-majesty allows me : 1) I did not try to accomplice anything rather than have fun with the war. It was not my choice if everyone attacked me, what does it mean 'what did you try to accomplice' do you really think I invited everyone aboard ? 2) Generally speaking Orcs do not go 'for honour', is this your first day in the game ? 3) I have never lost acres, sorry. Despite the battering I always ended up with more than I started with, in every single war. I have only been broken once this age, and this by a province 1,000 acres bigger than me. Pure luck of course, I don't have the brains to be good. 4) Sorry you cannot see my point in playing, it is only to have fun. I guess yours is... honour ? Nah... land ? Hmmm†¦ good try. 5) Your judgment is excellent and you perception magnificent - yes I always try to get beaten down to use this as an excuse for aid - how did you find out Since my plans are all clear now, yes I become monarch because my provinces also like to see me beaten down to pulp and then help me back; *sigh* I thought none would ever realise†¦ As for declaring to a kingdom 700k smaller than us - sorry about that - someone whispered to me that going into war with kingdoms 85% of your networth is legal. As for the attack on us, sorry it drew our attention - its fair to attack provinces who war others but not declaring on another kingdom - my apologies As for you not being organised, I never said that, you kingdom fights well, apart from you who's presence I just noticed by this letter. That’s probably besides the questionable tactical approach of hitting only one and leaving the rest untouched, but we shall see who will come on top it in the following days won’t we ?

Reproductive Cloning Technology Essays -- Biology Clone

Reproductive Cloning Cloning has become a major issue in our modern world, from moral, ethical, and religious concerns, to the problem of financial and government support. Human cloning is one of the most controversial topics, and because of this, many of the new important discoveries and beneficial technologies have been overlooked and ignored. Reproductive cloning technology may offer many new possibilities, including hope for endangered species, resources for human organ transplants, and answers to questions concerning cancer, inherited diseases, and aging. The research that led up to the ability to clone mammals started more than a century ago. From frogs to mice to sheep to humans, reproductive cloning promises many possibilities. Ever since the successful birth of Dolly on July 5, 1996, the scientific community as well as the public have been engulfed in the idea of reproductive cloning, its benefits, and its potential threats. This well-publicized event was a giant steppingstone in understanding and using the techniques of gene cloning and reproductive cloning. By using a technique known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, scientists at the Roslin Institute removed the nucleus from an oocyte (unfertilized egg), and then fused this newly enucleated cell with a donor cell (with complete nucleus). This new embryo was then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother ewe. In total, out of 277 fused cells, 29 successfully developed into embryos, while only one of these resulted in a successful live birth (a total success rate of 0.4%) (Wong, 202). Dolly was the first living mammal to be cloned by this fast and accurate process of somatic cell nuclear transfer, but was by no means the first animal to be cloned. The first... ...s, Mark. â€Å"Gene Cloning,† 11 June, 2004 , Holmgrem Lab, 27 July, 2007, 7. â€Å"History Of Cloning,† John’s Cloning Page , 22 July, 2007, 8. Pellegrino, Edmund D., â€Å"Human Cloning and Human Dignity.† The President’s Council on Bioethics. 22 July 2007 9. "Cloning Fact Sheet." Human Genome Project Information. 29 Aug. 2006. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Human Genome Program. 27 July 2007 10. Love, Jamie, â€Å"The Cloning of Dolly.† Science Explained 27 November, 1997; 18 July, 2007 Reproductive Cloning Technology Essays -- Biology Clone Reproductive Cloning Cloning has become a major issue in our modern world, from moral, ethical, and religious concerns, to the problem of financial and government support. Human cloning is one of the most controversial topics, and because of this, many of the new important discoveries and beneficial technologies have been overlooked and ignored. Reproductive cloning technology may offer many new possibilities, including hope for endangered species, resources for human organ transplants, and answers to questions concerning cancer, inherited diseases, and aging. The research that led up to the ability to clone mammals started more than a century ago. From frogs to mice to sheep to humans, reproductive cloning promises many possibilities. Ever since the successful birth of Dolly on July 5, 1996, the scientific community as well as the public have been engulfed in the idea of reproductive cloning, its benefits, and its potential threats. This well-publicized event was a giant steppingstone in understanding and using the techniques of gene cloning and reproductive cloning. By using a technique known as Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, scientists at the Roslin Institute removed the nucleus from an oocyte (unfertilized egg), and then fused this newly enucleated cell with a donor cell (with complete nucleus). This new embryo was then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother ewe. In total, out of 277 fused cells, 29 successfully developed into embryos, while only one of these resulted in a successful live birth (a total success rate of 0.4%) (Wong, 202). Dolly was the first living mammal to be cloned by this fast and accurate process of somatic cell nuclear transfer, but was by no means the first animal to be cloned. The first... ...s, Mark. â€Å"Gene Cloning,† 11 June, 2004 , Holmgrem Lab, 27 July, 2007, 7. â€Å"History Of Cloning,† John’s Cloning Page , 22 July, 2007, 8. Pellegrino, Edmund D., â€Å"Human Cloning and Human Dignity.† The President’s Council on Bioethics. 22 July 2007 9. "Cloning Fact Sheet." Human Genome Project Information. 29 Aug. 2006. U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, Human Genome Program. 27 July 2007 10. Love, Jamie, â€Å"The Cloning of Dolly.† Science Explained 27 November, 1997; 18 July, 2007

Chaim Potok’s My Name Is Asher Lev Novel Analysis

Chaim Potok's Asher Lev is a dual being trapped inside a little boy. On one side there is the family's beliefs, the religious traditions and his great ancestor role-model, who Asher is expected to take after, if not surpass. On the other, there is art encompassing the artist's emotions and portraying them in form more beautiful than anything else Asher has access to. These sides clash almost throughout â€Å"My Name is Asher Lev†, but even though those close to him teach, reinforce and often force religion and traditions on to him, art eventually prevails.Asher does not make the inevitable choice alone and even then there is no single choice to make. Instead, he squirms around the issue until his personality is fully formed with the help of the people around him, specifically, his mother and father, his mentor Jacob Kahn. The personality that he does form seems to be the best of both worlds in a world where dualism rules all. The first agent of change in Asher was his mother. Throughout the novel, she did her best to stay between her husband and her son, but still enforce Asher's abilities.If not for her interest and love towards Asher's drawings as well as their trips to the museum and her buying most of the art supplies, Asher would not have had the support he needed to go on instead of giving in to his heritage. Not only that, but Rivkeh was also Asher's muse. She was often the focus of most of his artwork, even being the centerpiece in his (for now) magnum opus – the two paintings of the crucifixion. In addition, she also gave Asher something to reach for: â€Å"You should make the world pretty, Asher† (Potok, 30), because at that time, Asher's drawings were the only beauty Rivkeh saw in life.Possibly the most obvious push for Asher was Jacob Kahn. Not only an art mentor, Kahn also shared his philosophy and views of religion. However, Asher took only the techniques to heart. He understood and acknowledged Kahn's viewpoint, but his silen ce during most of their discussions did not seem to be of a thoughtful nature. In the long run, Kahn did not seem to have much impact on the boy's morality and he soon started focusing more and more on producing art instead of religious meditation.Asher was not only influenced by Kahn's philosophy, but was also exposed to a world previously unknown to him: â€Å"Asher Lev, you are entering the wrong world† (Potok, 184). Asher did not take to the new world. He was a spirit, existing in the artists' world, but not being part of it. He was his own man, the same as his philosophy was his own, if a mix of the ones he's been exposed to and the ones which he acknowledged as being true. An unlikely force of change was Asher's father – Aryeh. Throughout the novel, he was nothing short of an impenetrable wall for Asher's ambition.Only a few glimmers of hope came up, when it seemed like he would be willing to accept his son's gift or, at least tolerate it, but something always ca me up between them and their relationship fell back to where it was or often even further. At the beginning of the story, it seemed like Aryeh's distaste and disapproval of Asher's drawings would be a forbidden fruit for the boy and actually make him want to evolve his gift further, but that was not the case. Every time his father scolded him, Asher compared his abilities with something that he perceived to come from the Other side, or abhorrent.However, Aryeh has a special role in the novel and that is comparison with a hint of hypocrisy. The reader first found out that Aryeh worked in an office arranging something on the telephone, often in another language. It later became apparent that Aryeh hated what he did and wished he could be out there, physically talking to people and helping them that way, instead of crammed up in an office building: â€Å"I should be there, not here. How can I spend my life talking on the telephone? Who can sit like this all day? (Potok, 29). It was al so made clear that he took the job upon request from the Rebbe. In fact, most of the family's important future decisions were made by the Rebbe. Where Aryeh's and Asher's situations start to seem familiar is that both men were doing something they loathed on the account of the Rebbe (as well as most people, in Asher's case). They both were expected to serve the Ribono Shel Olom in the way they were prescribed to and they both disliked it, wishing they could act upon their true calling.The difference lies in the fact that Aryeh was eventually allowed to act on his wish at the price of hurting his family by being so far away, while Asher hurt his family by disobeying their wishes and in most cases, being near. Asher does not make a complete transformation. Unlike what Aryeh believes, Asher does not seem like he will ever hang his kippah as he does still holds on to the traditions he has grown up with. His conflict was never with his beliefs but with what the ones closest to him percei ved a proper Jewish boy to be.Therefore, Asher does not leave his home without any regard to his faith. He accepts the Rebbe's wishes and does not hold any grudges; he simply does what the hierarchy demands, once more, not unlike when he was a child, leading to question whether Asher transformed at all. Asher Lev in Potok's novel My Name is Asher Lev does the impossible – he fused his religious beliefs and familial values with the artistic world of the Other side. He lives his life through his art by producing his deepest feelings onto canvas from the childish drawings of flowers, to his mother, to his painting of the crucifixion.The way he was taught and treated by those around him eventually shaped who he was, but instead of religion being a choice, it became an integral part and instead of art being a choice either, it turned into a goal. Asher never had a crippling choice to make, nor did he transform. He simply grew up with the values he was instill either by his family or by God and even though there were the few who pointed him in certain directions, he would never have turned out any different than he was.

National security Essay

After the occurrence of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush signed a law, the PATRIOT Act. The PATRIOT Act made it easier for the law enforcement officials to use certain techniques such as wiretapping and other surveillance technologies to aid in the war against terrorism. The reason why this topic needs to be addressed is located in the following quote: â€Å"The probability that people are terrorists given that NSA’s system of surveillance identifies them as terrorists is only p=0.2308, which is far from one and well below flipping a coin. NSA’s [National Security Agency’s] domestic monitoring of everyone’s email and phone calls is useless for finding terrorists†(Rudmin, Alston P29). Many people argue that the government has gone too far with allowing violations of the Bill of Rights in the name of protecting the country from terrorists. Although some people argue that the government should use all means to fight against terrorism, the government should not be engaged in the surveillance of their citizens in the interests of national security because people expect privacy in their communications, travel and personal records and activities. Some people argue that the government should use all means to fight against terrorism. Alexander Hamilton, one of our nation’s founding fathers, believed that the government needed to have a free hand in protecting the people. â€Å"The power to protect the nation ought to exist without limitation, it is impossible to foresee or define the extend and variety of national exigencies, or the correspondent extent and variety of the means which may be necessary to satisfy them† (Yoo P7). Hamilton believed that the presidents power to protect the nation as commander in chief should not be limited. Many people and even parts of the government have adopted a slogan meant to ease worries over surveillance. â€Å"If you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to fear† (Solove P4). The intent of this is that you should not be afraid of the government examining every aspect of your life if you have done nothing wrong in the first place. The arguments present ed to support unlimited government powers of surveillance lend themselves to the end justifying any means. Many believe the best way to fight terrorism is to monitor everything passing through communications channels regardless of the source or destination. â€Å"The best way to find an al Qaeda operative is to look at all email, text and phone traffic between Afghanistan and Pakistan and the U.S. This might involve the filtering of innocent traffic, just as roadblocks and airport screenings do† (Yoo P5). In 2008, The United States Senate determined to do just that. The Protect America Act (PAA) expanded upon the FISA Act of 1978 (Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act) to allow more flexibility in monitoring internal communication for intelligence purposes. The Protect America Act substantially changes the intent and protections included in the original FISA Act. â€Å"The FISA Act was originally passed to prevent abuse, not allow for more of it†¦ conclusion that the Protect America Act is intended to reduce the ability of the original FISA legislation to preclude abuse† (Alston P35). The PAA allows for monitoring of communications without judicial warrant within the United States. The PAA also allows government agencies to compel telecommunications companies to provide access and information while at the same time protecting them from prosecution for violating privacy laws. â€Å"Failure to obey an order of the FISA Court may be punished as a contempt of court† (Alston P11). â€Å"The Act compels an action and simultaneously removes all responsibility for that action† (Alston P13). The FISA Court is not a judicial court, and meets in secrecy. Communications within the United States can now be monitored at the direction of a secret court without oversight from judicial courts and without recourse from those being monitored. Since the government wanted to inhibit the ability of terrorists to attack using commercial aircraft, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) added new airport security measures. The terrorist attacks resulted in many cases of racial and ethnic profiling. The victims of these accusations were mostly of a Middle Eastern descent. These people were subject to searches and interrogations, often without probable cause (ProQuest P1). In order to avoid claims of profiling, airport security checks include whole-body imagers, full pat-downs, and other screening measures for all travelers. Some of these measures violate the right to be secure in our person, while not necessarily improving safety. â€Å"Yet screeners routinely fail to discern the guns, knives, and other contraband their monitors show†¦ the distractions of whole-body imaging are considerably greater than anything in the average carry-on† (Akers P3). These new security measures do not inherently make our transportation more secure, and the distractions caused by some may actually make them less secure. In addition, these systems themselves may not be secure or exactly what they are represented to be. â€Å"The TSA has long denied that its gadgets retain the pictures they snap of us†¦ ‘have zero storage capability’, so the images cannot be stored transmitted or printed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Kudwa). â€Å"We know from the website of one of the vendors that these machines can indeed store images† (Rotenberg). Indeed, images from these systems were subsequently published on the Internet, leading many to question the honesty of the TSA representatives and their vendors. While the government does indeed need to be able to protect the nation, they should do so without violating constitutional rights. Amendment 4 of the Constitution provides that, â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, an no warrants issued, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be s eized† (US Constitution, A4). This basic guaranteed right is violated by intelligence monitoring of personal communications of citizens within the United States borders without a warrant. The PATRIOT Act also allows for search and seizure of private records without a judicial warrant under specific rules. â€Å"An FBI agent came to my office and handed me a letter. It demanded that I turn over information about one of my clients and forbade me from telling ‘any person’ that the government had approached me†¦ National security letters are issued by the FBI, not a judge, to obtain information† (Merrill P1-2). â€Å"This information is especially important since internal Justice Department investigations have found widespread violations of NSL rules by the FBI† (Merrill P7). This statement reveals that governmental agencies are pursuing private, protected information without obtaining a judicial warrant, hiding their actions behind gag orders with threats of imprisonment, and violatin g PATRIOT Act provisions for National Security Letters. The books Matched and Crossed, by Ally Condie, in many ways mirror what is happening in our country today with the use of surveillance of citizens by government. In the books, all personal communication, spoken or written, is monitored by Officials. These Officials are responsible for monitoring the morals and directing the future of their society. These Officials are similar to the many government agencies using surveillance to monitor the daily lives of citizens for â€Å"counter-terrorist† purposes. Every facet of daily life is monitored by the Officials and perceived wrongdoing subjects a citizen to social status change and removal from society. In America today, anyone can be searched without probable cause, and to be even suspected as a terrorist or sympathizer can result in imprisonment. In an even greater invasion of privacy, the Officials in the books monitor the very dreams of their citizens. We can only hope medical technology does not grant this capability to our government. Although some people argue that the government should fight terrorism with all methods, the government should not be violating the Bill of Rights. Government agencies, mostly working in secret and immune from warrants and judicial review, have been granted the ability to violate rights of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution in order to ensure our safety. â€Å"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety† (Benjamin Franklin). United States citizens do not need to relinquish our freedom or rights for safety against terrorists. â€Å"Perhaps the best way to ensure that the act remains faithful to fundamental American values is to insist on greater transparency and oversight† (Sales P17). The government should work to protect us from terrorists and other threats, but can do so without violating the rights of citizens granted by the Constitution. Works Cited Akers, Becky. â€Å"Whole-Body Imaging: Intrusion Without Security.† Freeman Vol. 60, No. 4 May 2010: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. . Condie, Ally. Crossed. New York: Dutton Books, 2011. Print. – – -. Matched. New York: Dutton Books, 2010. Print. Merrill, Nicholas. â€Å"The Patriot Act’s War on Free Speech.† Washington Post 26 Oct. 2011: A. 19. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. ProQuest Staff. â€Å"At Issue: National Security and Privacy.† ProQuest LLC. SIRS Issues Researcher, 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. . Sales, Nathan A. â€Å"The Patriot Act Isn’t Broken.† Christian Science Monitor 6 Mar. 2009: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. . Solove, Daniel J. â€Å"Why Privasy Metter Even if You Have ‘Nothing to Hide.’† Chronicle of Higher Education 15 May 2011: n. pag. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. Yoo, John. â€Å"Why We Endorsed Warrantless Wiretraps.† Wall Street Journal 16 July 2009: A. 13. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 5 Dec. 2011. .

Motivation Factors at Tesco Essay

The history of labour relations in the UK is a story of the gradual empowerment of the working classes. The system of industrial relations in the United Kingdom (UK) is traditionally characterised by voluntary relations between the social partners, with a minimal level of interference from the state. In the context of very early industrialisation and a liberal political culture in which the state seldom intervened in the affairs of private actors, trade unions gradually consolidated their membership and power base throughout the 19th century. Various legislative developments also allowed trade unions the right to organise workers and engage in industrial action. In 1868, the UK Trades Union Congress (TUC), the confederal umbrella body for UK trade unions, was formed. The 1871 Trade Union Act recognised trade unions as legal entities as corporations and granted them the right to strike. Subsequently, the 1875 Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act allowed the right to peaceful picketing, while the 1906 Trade Disputes Act allowed UK trade unions to engage in industrial action without the threat of being sued for damages. In addition to this body of legislation, a minimal level of legal regulation that stipulated basic health and safety conditions in workplaces was also built up during the 19th century. The economic context throughout this time was also favourable to the development of trade unionism. Owing to the pace of industrialisation and the existence of substantial colonial markets for UK industry, the 19th century and early 20th century were characterised by extensive economic growth. This economic climate facilitated the development of a system in which some of the fruits of economic development could be designated for collectively bargained wage increases. In terms of the role of the law, collective bargaining was far more important than the influence of legal regulation. For employers and trade unions, the role of statute law was to support and extend collective bargaining rather than to comprehensively regulate the system. Notably, the law provided trade unions with a series of ‘immunities’ from UK common law. These immunities covered the right of trade unions to engage in industrial action with employers, which would otherwise have been illegal under UK common law. The membership of UK trade unions grew markedly in the post-war years. The era also represented the golden age of British ‘pluralism’, where the role of trade unions in securing industrial peace and efficiency was emphasised. In the private and public sectors, sectoral level collective agreements were also typically reached that covered whole industries. By the late 1960s, however, concerns emerged about the efficacy of a system in which shop floor industrial unrest appeared to be rising. This led to the Donovan Commission, a government commission that attempted to investigate the causes of workplace disputes. Industrial conflict grew markedly in the 1970s, partly as a result of the economic crisis that affected western countries after the 1973 ‘oil shock’. The era was characterised by trade union militancy and high levels of industrial action, and attempts by successive left-wing and right-wing governments to regulate the system largely met with failure. The period culminated in the 1978–1979 ‘winter of discontent’, where public sector trade unions engaged in regular and lengthy industrial action over the incumbent Labour government’s policy of public sector pay restraint. A conservative government, led by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was elected in 1979 on an anti-trade union, neo-liberal platform. Successive governments of this political stripe pursued a legislative programme that placed legal restrictions on trade unions’ ability to engage in industrial action, and that privatised many areas of the public sector, while managing the public sector in an anti-union fashion. During this period, trade union membership also declined markedly, and the majority of sectoral collective agreements in the private sector were dismantled as companies abandoned them. A ‘New Labour’ government, led by Prime Minister Tony Blair, was elected in 1997, offering a moderately conciliatory approach to the trade unions. The cornerstone of the Blair government’s approach to employment relations was the use of legal individual employment rights to protect workers. Most notably, a national minimum wage was introduced. Many of these legal rights emanated from the level of European Union, and the post-1997 period saw a marked increase in the influence of legal regulation in the employment relationship. Nonetheless, trade union membership continued to decline, and in 2008 trade union density stood at 28%. As of 2009, the UK system of industrial relations would appear to exhibit a mixture of  characteristics. While the old tradition of the state not intervening in relations between the social partners is still manifest in the non-legally binding nature of collective agreements and in the fact that trade unions and employer organisations have little statutory involvement in public policy and little recourse to bipartite or tripartite forums at the national level, legally established employment rights would now appear to be a permanent feature of the UK system. The global 2008 economic crisis has particularly affected the UK. Unemployment rates have increased markedly, and several financial institutions have had to be rescued by the UK government. As of 2009, the effect of the crisis on the development of the UK system of industrial relations is unclear. Trade unions have responded to the crisis by calling for greater government intervention to support employment levels. At the same time, collective agreements have been concluded by the UK social partners at company level with the aim of reducing working time in order to preserve employment levels (UK0811029I). However, as of 2009, it is too early to identify any concrete trends. Main actors Trade unions Trade union density has fallen markedly in the UK since a peak of 56.3% in 1980. Despite occasional small rises in membership since 1997, statistics over the past decade would suggest that union density has reached one of its lowest levels at just under 30%. A large difference in trade union density rates is evident between the private and public sectors. As of 2008, trade union density in the private sector was 16.1%, while it reached 59% in the public sector (Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform, 2008). Trade unions in the UK are organised both horizontally and vertically, with some organising particular occupations, such as teachers; others organise in particular industries, while a few operate in particular companies. The sole trade union confederation in the UK is the TUC. There are 6, 471,030 members in TUC affiliated unions, down from a peak of 12,172,508 members in 1980. However, the TUC does not conclude or have the power to conclude collective agreements at any level. In response to declining membership figures, UK trade unions have engaged in many mergers in recent years. In 2008, there were 167 trade unions in the UK – this was down from 238 unions in 1998 and 326 in 1988. In 2007, the UK trade unions Amicus and the Transport and General Workers’ Union (TGWU) merged to form Unite the Union (Unite). This is the UK’s largest union, with a membership of about 1,900,000 workers. The largest public sector trade union is Unison, which has a membership of 1,344,000 persons and organises workers in all areas of the public sector. Employer organisations The TUC is paralleled on the employers’ side by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Like the TUC, the CBI has no mandate to collectively bargain and bind its affiliates. In general, the CBI represents large companies in the private sector and is regarded by the government as its main interlocutor with business. Its members comprise individual companies (currently about 3,000) and trade associations (around 150). Owing to the largely decentralised nature of employment relations in the UK, the role of employer organisations in the country’s industrial relations is not overtly prominent. Their role in collective bargaining declined notably during the 1980s, when many existing national sectoral level agreements ceased to function and companies began to negotiate with trade unions at lower levels. Some organisations have disbanded, while others have stopped trying to regulate employment conditions. Current employer organisations that do engage in social and employment affairs are the Engineering Employers’ Federation (EEF) and the Local Government Association (LGA). Employer organisation density in the UK is approximately 40%. Industrial relations Collective bargaining In the UK, the dominant level for the setting of pay and working time is the company or plant level in the private sector. In areas of the public sector – and in a small section of the private sector – sectoral level agreements are concluded. There are no national intersectoral agreements in the UK, nor  is there any tradition of this, aside from a very brief period in the 1970s. In 2008, the coverage rate of collective agreements in the UK was 34.6%. There is a large discrepancy between figures for the public and private sectors, with collective bargaining coverage for the public sector reaching 72% in 2008, compared with 20% for the private sector (Department for Business, Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform, 2008). Compared with other west European countries, the UK is notable for the disorganised nature of its levels of collective bargaining and the lack of legal backing and promotion that collective agreements are subject to. In line with the UK voluntarist tradition, collective agreements are voluntary instruments that are ‘binding in honour only’. However, the terms of collective agreements are normally incorporated into individual contracts of employment that are then legally enforceable. Collective agreements are subsequently never extended by legislation, and there are no voluntary mechanisms for the extension of collective agreements. Moreover, no formal mechanisms exist for the coordination of wage bargaining levels in the UK. However, in practice, trade unions in different companies and sectors often share information with one another, and agreements in certain companies and sectors often act as informal ‘benchmarks’ for negotiators in other areas. Collective bargaining in the UK has become far more decentralised since the 1970s and 1980s. In this period, many companies in the private sector left sectoral agreements and, in the public sector, collective bargaining also became more decentralised. According to one study (Visser, 2004), the degree of bargaining centralisation in the UK stands at just 13%. Other issues in collective agreements Collective agreements on issues besides pay and working time are not widespread. While vocational education and training is strong in some professional and technical sectors, it has been historically weak in others. Recent attempts have been made to regularise vocational training through National Vocational Qualifications, and these have been supplemented by further moves to establish lifelong learning routes – especially through the  Ã¢â‚¬Ëœuniversity for industry’ initiative. However, much of the provision of skills training is decentralised to the newly formed Sector Skills Councils (SSC). Currently, there are 25 SSCs in the UK; all of the councils are employer-led, independent organisations, each covering a specific area of the UK. Industrial conflict The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is the main body involved in conciliation and arbitration in the UK. It is an autonomous, tripartite body established by statute and its task is to improve industrial relations. The largest part of ACAS’s work is individual conciliation. The amount of individual litigations and employment tribunal cases has increased considerably within the UK in the past decade or so. Arbitration is a relatively small part of its work, mainly because it has no powers to arbitrate without the consent of both sides. Arbitration is neither compulsory nor legally binding. The latest available official statistics show that, in a 12-month period to October 2008, some 147 work stoppages were recorded, in which 677,000 workers took part and 837,700 working days were lost. This marked a decline from the figures for the 12 months until October 2007, where 210 stoppages were recorded, involving 878,000 workers and resulting in 989,000 lost working days. These figures are also historically very low. In 1988, for example, there were 781 stoppages recorded, in which 790,000 workers were involved and 3,702,000 working days were lost. The figures for this year also represent a typical year for this period. The general decline in labour disputes in the UK is likely to be attributable to falling trade union density rates, and to the anti-union laws of the 1980s and 1990s. In 2008, large industrial actions occurred in the UK public sector over the government’s policy on public sector pay restraint. More complete statistics are available for 2007 regarding the sectors involved in strikes. In 2007, of the 142 stoppages recorded, 55 occurred in the transport, storage and communication sector, while 21 took place in the education sector, and 20  were recorded in public administration, defence and the compulsory social security sector, making these the three sectors most affected by strikes during the year. These sectors were also the most adversely affected in terms of working days lost and workers involved (Office for National Statistics, 2008a). Tripartite concertation Owing to the UK voluntarist tradition, policy concertation has been uncommon, and there are currently few formal mechanisms or forums for tripartite concertation in this country. From 1962, a tripartite National Economic Development Council existed, in which the government and UK social partners discussed economic policy; however, this was abolished in 1992. In the late 1970s, consultation between government, employers and trade unions was also growing in importance. However, the Thatcher government, which was elected in 1979, sought to eradicate any forms of corporatism. Since then, tripartism or corporatism has not been re-introduced on a comprehensive or formal basis. However, the UK social partners are regularly consulted by the public authorities on the direction of public policy in the country on an ad hoc basis; they are also represented in a series of committees that are of a tripartite nature. For example, the social partners are represented on the Low Pay Commission (LPC), an independent UK body that issues recommendations for increases in the national minimum wage. The LPC board consists of nine members – three trade union representatives, three employers and three labour market relations experts. At the sectoral level, the UK social partners are involved in the aforementioned SSCs, which seek to improve the skills of workers in the UK. Workplace representation Traditionally, there have been no statutory works councils in the UK. In line with the voluntarist tradition, workplace representation was solely achieved through trade union presence in the workplace and was not enshrined through the law. As previously mentioned, a considerable decline in trade union presence and power has occurred in the UK over the last 25 years. In 2008,  46.6% of workplaces had some sort of trade union representation (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, 2008). The EU information and consultation Directive of 2002 (Directive 2002/14/EC) was implemented in the UK in 2004 as the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations. The regulations lay down statutory procedures for workplace representation, and stipulate that workplaces with 50 or more employees must have a body for the information and consultation of employees in place. Employee rights Employee rights are enforced in the UK through a variety of mechanisms. Firstly, employees have access to employment tribunals that determine whether the rights of employees have been infringed. Trade unions are responsible for the monitoring of collective agreements, and the right of trade unions to engage in strike action is decided by the UK civil courts. Health and safety conditions in workplaces are monitored by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), while compliance with the national minimum wage is monitored by the country’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) department. Pay and working time developments Minimum wage A national minimum wage has been in place in the UK since 1997. The rate is set by the LPC, which advises the government on low pay and recommends appropriate rates. The current minimum wage in the UK – as set in October 2008 – for adults aged 22 years or older is GBP 5.52 (about â‚ ¬6.38 as at 7 July 2009) an hour. For workers aged between 18 and 21 years, the minimum wage is GBP 4.77 (â‚ ¬5.52) an hour. The minimum hourly wage for all workers under 18 years of age – who are, in addition, no longer of compulsory school age – is GBP 3.53 (â‚ ¬4.08). Some workers undertaking apprenticeships or accredited training may not be considered eligible to receive the national minimum wage for a certain period of time, which varies according to their age and length of time in employment. Other categories of workers who are exempt include au pairs, share fishermen, members of the clergy, those in the armed forces, prisoners and some people working in family businesses.  Moreover, the rate payable under the national minimum wage can, in all cases, be reduced where accommodation is provided to the worker. Pay developments In April 2008, the average gross annual earnings in the UK were GBP 25,100. In April 2007, the equivalent figure was GBP 24,020 (Income Data Services, 2008). An increase of 4.5% was therefore recorded. In November 2008, the percentage annual rise in collectively agreed average weekly earnings was 3.8%. In November 2007, this figure amounted to 3.4% (Labour Research Department, 2009). In terms of gender, the average gender pay gap in the UK in 2008 was 12.8%. This gap is measured in the UK on the basis of median hourly earnings, excluding overtime. In 2008, median hourly earnings excluding overtime for men was GBP 12.50, and for women GBP 10.91. Between 2007 and 2008, the gender pay gap in the UK rose by 0.3 percentage points from 12.5% to 12.8%. However, the gender pay gap stood at 17.4% in 1998, so the figure has substantially fallen over the last decade.