Monday, September 30, 2019

Diversity in Faith and the Health Care Provider

A comparative review of four religions: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity. This paper examines the belief systems and how diversity in faith affects the care givers philosophy of providing care. The importance of nurses to seek spiritual awareness is growing as the population becomes more diverse and health care facilities increase their efforts to create healing environments and meet the needs of every patient’s body, mind and spirit. Diversity in Faith and the Health Care Provider. Understanding the diversity in faith within the health care setting helps maximize the healing care provided. Faith influences coping strategies, health behaviors and attitudes about seeking health care. The purpose of this paper is to compare the philosophy of providing care from the perspective of Buddhist, Judaism, and Islam faith with that of Christianity. As the population becomes more diverse, so does the need to become spiritual competent. Buddhist Faith Buddhism is based on the teachings of Buddha and focuses on finding inner peace. The goal of a Buddhist is to find â€Å"enlightenment† or a perfect peace through which will end his suffering. If enlightenment is not obtained a Buddhist will be reborn and continue to suffer another life (Chan, et al. 2011). The core beliefs are there is a right and noble path which leads to enlightenment, Karma: for every action there is an equal or opposite reaction, and Samsara which is the continued cycle of life and death that continues because of karma (Wilkins, et al. 2010). Buddhist exercises faith with prayers, mantras, mudras, prayer wheels and use of other objects to practice their faith. Being respectful of belongings and asking before touching or moving is important (Wilkins, et al. 2010). Death and Dying is a very important experience for Buddhist: Therefore a care giver will need to adjust what is typically known palliative care and have open discussion of expectations to meet their spiritual needs. Allowing for uninterrupted prayer and meditation as a Buddhist reflects on his life. Having a clear mind is important and they may decline pain medication or sedatives. A Buddhist’s perspective of a nurses who understands the importance of this belief and uses non-narcotic methods to reduce pain and provide comfort is also providing a â€Å"true expression of loving kindness and compassion in helping to relieve the suffering of others† (Chan, et al. 2011). Some other aspects to Buddhism is the care of a monk or nun require the care taker to be of the same sex, since they took an oath of celibacy. Additionally, the practice of Buddhism does not require a person to be a vegetarian and monks general only eat once a day and do not eat after lunch time. Since there are many cultures within the Buddhist faith it is important to ask (Chan, et al. 2011). Jewish Faith Judaism exists mainly in Israel, Europe and the USA. Judaism is the belief of one God and that Moses was the greatest prophet and Jesus was a false prophet. They read from the first five books of the bible which is called the Torah and pray to God only. Their religious leader is called a Rabbi who will recite scripture to the ill, perform ceremonies, sermons in a synagogue on Saturdays. The way Judi live their life is the most important aspect of their religion. The Jewish faith has a heighten awareness of health and consider health a mortal responsibility. As far back as two thousand years ago Jewish people practiced frequent hand washing and cleansing before meals. Furthermore, Jewish laws prohibit eating shellfish and pork to prevent trichinosis, which is still practiced today. Therefore asking about dietary restrictions is necessary. Islamic Faith Muslims believe in one God who has no son. Jesus is considered a prophet, but Muhammad was the last prophet sent by God. Muslims read from the Koran or Qur’an and worship in Mosques on Fridays. Islam is indigenous of African Americans, South Asians and Arabians. Religious leaders are referred to as Imams and have diverse qualifications and expertise. Imams pray with the ill and help patients to cope by helping them to maintain hope in God or Allah. Additionally Imams encourage healthy lifestyles, advocating for patient needs, and assisting in healthcare decisions. Women may not lead men into prayer and therefore cannot be Imams (Padela, et al. 2011). Islam practices of involve praying, fasting and religious rituals, such as the pilgrimage to Mecca. Islam main perspective on health and illness is that â€Å"Health and illness become part of the continuum of being, and prayer remains the salvation in both health and in sickness† (Rassool, 2000). Therefore allowing time for prayer is essential. Since 9/11 misconceptions, discrimination and abusive behaviors towards Muslims have resulted in a delay of care in the U. S. therefore they may not be forth coming about their faith or spiritual needs, leading to sicker patients with stifled spiritual care (Padela, et al. 2011). Christian Faith The writer of this paper is of Christian Faith, a protestant, a believer in God who is a holy trinity of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is his son and incarnate of God himself. Religious leaders are called pastors or ministers and in the Catholi c religion leaders are referred to as priests or nuns. Faith is practice through prayer, reading the bible, and attending church on Sunday. Fellowship with other Christians, reaching out to non-believers to spread the word of Christ and living a righteously are encouraged. However, it is the belief that Jesus Christ is the savior of man and only through this faith will a person live eternally in paradise with God. Comparative Analysis While some faiths embrace death as a new beginning into the afterlife or next life, Judaism does not emphasize the afterlife and survivors are instructed to only grieve for a limited time and not excessively. However, Buddhism discusses death and dying openly and wants to maintain consciousness for as long as possible to mediate and reflect. Visualization and relaxation techniques are a large part of their meditation. Judaism, Islam and Christianity all believe in one God and prayer helps to the body, mind and spirit. Buddhist believes that the collection of ones â€Å"physical body, sensations, perceptions, mental formation, and consciousness†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"Will dissolve at the time of death, although some stream of consciousness undergoes rebirth† (Chan, et al. 2011). Although Buddhism is the least practiced among the religions discussed, it is Islamic that is the most misunderstood and is met with inequalities. Providing a safe place and building trust is required to meet the spiritual needs of American Muslims. Conclusion All religions teach love, compassion, and righteousness. Therefore, respecting ones spirituality and assessing for spiritual needs is an important aspect of all patient interactions. Understanding why other faiths believe what they do help nurses to facilitate and accommodate practices and honor sacred rituals, prayers and meditation.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

End of Life Issues Essay

Euthanasia means â€Å"good death† but today the term is deemed as a merciful action to rid someone of suffering. In many cases we have seen terminally ill patients euthanized active or passive, yet for the sake of my essay I will discuss active euthanasia. End of life issues is a topic many families are faced with everyday more than one likes to imagine; however, imagine that you were a significant other who has a loved one in the hospital suffering from a terminal illness and their pain is unbearable that your loved one has decided to end his life and the subject of euthanasia comes up. What would you do? The first thought that would come to mind is that this is morally wrong and unacceptable in our society. I will talk about euthanasia and how three ethical theories presented in this course would better help answer your question of euthanasia being morally wrong. The moral theory of Immanuel Kant’s Deontology helps ethically with the views of euthanasia and the stren gths and weakness of egoism and Utilitarianism will also be presented. This is where the deontological approach might help a family understand that it’s morally acceptable to comfort their loved one as he or she accepts active euthanasia as a means to end their life. Deontology argues that an action is right or wrong in itself irrespective of the consequences and it is our duty our good will as Kant puts it to do the right thing. I ask the question what determines that right thing. Might it be religion and the word of god for those that believe in God or might it be for you several universal principles. Kant’s categorical says to Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of any other, always at the same time as an end and never merely as a means to an end. In other words, all people—including you—deserve respect. It would always be wrong to treat people as objects, or as a way of achieving some goal, or in another way that does not show respect. (Kant 1997, 1998)  that we treat people as ends in themselves and not means to our ends. In other words we must respect the wishes of the patient. The strengths of Deontology as it relates to euthanasia is that the deontology argument is based on rules and an action is good if it follows the rule. The results doesn’t matter the only thing that matters is that we treat others with respect and love for that is something we should want for ourselves. The right to choose euthanasia is a right in its own and to also appeal to some natural laws when you say that a person â€Å"should be able to choose whether they live or die.† These are both rules. Your argument is that euthanasia is consistent with these rules and is therefore ethical. This is a deontological argument. Although, Kant held that if one commits suicide because one believes that the remainder of one’s life will be filled with more discomfort than pleasure, then one fails to treat oneself as an end and so long as one retains the capacities that would make you a person than one should always r espect that life. Critics of deontology stated that the Kantian version seems too sterile and fails to capture some of the complex issues that arise when we confront ethical problems in real life (moser, 2013). The weakness to my argument as it relates to deontology and euthanasia is that taking your own life will not be morally acceptable in today’s society. With that being said, Kant did not believe in the outcome of an action or whether or not it’s ethical. When considering euthanasia, then, Kant will not be interested in the level of suffering of the patient or relatives. He would not agree that we should do the loving thing. He would work out what the right thing to do was. With Kant’s categorical imperative Kant assumes that being a moral person is a requirement and Universalizing the maxim â€Å"I helping a love one to die† would give a universal law that everyone should be helped to die – a self-contradiction. If you took the maxim â€Å"I should help that love one, who is terminally ill, suffering unbearably and desperate to die, to die† you might create a more acceptable universal rule such as â€Å"Anyone who is terminally and incurably ill, suffering greatly and has freely chosen to die, should be helped to die†( rsrevision ). Also, some may say that deontology may require one to act in a way that seems obviously wrong and unethical. The deontologist maintains that some or all actions are right or wrong in themselves because of the type of action they are whether or not they produce the greater good.  This type of view is less easy to systematize than the Consequentiality view. The second ethical theory The Eg oist believes that the right action is always that which has the best consequences for the doer of the action, or agent. As with Utilitarianism, there are different versions of this doctrine according to whether the good consequences are seen in terms of maximum pleasure, minimum pain (Hedonistic Egoism) or in terms of other good consequences for the agent, such as his or her self- development or flourishing. At first sight, Hedonistic Egoism seems to prescribe a life spent trampling on anyone who gets in one’s way, and so to be ruled out as contrary to everything that is normally thought of as right. But ever since Plato philosophers have realized that in general human beings cannot maximize pleasure in that way. Most people are not strong enough to do this with impunity, and in any case most people need friendship and cooperation with others for their own happiness. So Hedonistic Egoism cannot be dismissed quite so hastily. However, occasions would arise where Hedonistic Egoism, like Hedonistic Utilitarianism, demands ruthless action. For example, it would prescribe involuntary euthanasia to a doctor or caregiver who would gain a good deal from someone’s death, did not care enough about the victim to miss him personally and could conceal his deed from anyone who did. Such people, if rational, would not even feel guilty, for they would by their creed have done the right thing. A doctrine which prescribes this, even if on rare occasions, is too much at variance with our ordinary ideas of morality to be persuasive. However, Higher Egoism is another matter. For example, Aristotle’s doctrine is that the right policy in life is not to pursue our own pleasure but to develop our own fl ourishing or foster our best selves. And the best self is a non-egoistic self, who cultivates the kind of friendship in which friends are second selves and possesses all the moral virtues, including other-regarding ones such as generosity and justice. This kind of Egoism, instead of telling us always to pursue our own welfare, in a sense breaks down the distinction between self and others; we could not readily criticize it on the ground that it was obviously at variance with our ordinary moral views. On the other hand, it is not much use as a guide to action. We first need to know what kinds of action are virtuous in order to cultivate the virtues Aristotle speaks of. The appeal of the Aristotelian approach today is not as a guide, but as a general  framework in which one may set the moral life, and indeed all aspects of life. Aristotle thinks we cannot but pursue our own good as we see it, and perhaps he is right. But he aims to win us to a noble view of that good, in which our own true welfare is to be the best we can be. He lays stress on the distinctive nature of man and on the best life as one in which rational faculties are well exercised. The idea of a death with dignity, one in which these values are preserved, fits well with his outlook (Dr. Elizabeth Telfer, 2013). John’s Stuart Mill Utilitarianism is my third ethical theory that will be discussed here in our focus of euthanasia and whether or not it’s morally acceptable. One would consider when making a decision about euthanasia for an ill family member that according to Mill The utilitarian doctrine is, that happiness is desirable, and the only thing desirable, as an en d; all other things being only desirable as means to that end. My interpretation is that in other words, we are to treat others and ourselves as a means to an end, and it would be immoral to use people and ourselves as a mere means. Happiness is something that can be experienced so far as we understand when we are alive. Mill also states that â€Å"†¦ there is in reality nothing desired except happiness. Whatever is desired otherwise than as a means to some end beyond itself, and ultimately to happiness, is desired as itself a part of happiness, and is not desired for itself until it has become so.†Utilitarianism seeks to find an answer to why people behave the way that they do, and according to Mill our actions derive from the pursuit of happiness. I would argue that according to utilitarianism that one does not commit suicide in order to seek happiness as an end. In conclusion, no one wants to be put in a situation where a loved one who’s terminally ill and is in unthinkable pain and therefore, has to makes up his or her mind to end their life through active euthanasia. I used deontology because the approach is very popular form of problem solving in ethical situations and egoism but Utilitarianism because it would give me comfort to know that I’m making the right decision morally for the patient and for selfish reasons. The three ethical theories are clear and easy to understand and frequently non ambiguous; however, right or wrong whether or not end of life decisions will be debated if not it’s morally accepted. I hope after analyzing these theories that I’m able to give comfort to someone that has to consider euthanasia for a loved one but I’m quite sure the debate will continue until  as a society we come to accept that your life is your life and yours to do what you wish with it.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Management Consultancy Essay

Ingram found out about this relationship when Scott’s new client, Barber Distributing, sold to one of Ingram’s customers at a price 10 percent under normal list price to get the DIS project. Ingram places pressure on Scott to get him the best price for the bid or lose his business. 2. What would you do if you were Scott Paterson? * If I were Scott Patterson, I will tell the truth to Ingram that the one truck load of the Bond-do-Perm is not available within two months and I cannot delivered within a few weeks, and once the one truck is already available I will deliver on time. It’s better to be honest than lied to the distributors because the truth will reveal. And after that I will make it up for him to stay to distribute the product to his company. And I will do a lot of explanation for him to understand why I signed up to Barber distribution. 3. What would you do if you were Larry Ingram? * If I were Larry Ingram, same him, I was upset because he signed up to his own competitors which is the Barber Distribution and I cannot understand until he will not explained clearly of what are the reasons why Scott do that to my company. All I have to do is to find another strategy for me to bid the price of Barber Distribution, and I will tell Scott that I cannot promise that I can stay longer on his company because I have to make my sales up and how can I do that if my own competitor are also distributing to the Perfect Solution. 4. What are the ethical considerations, if any, in this case? * The salesman signed the Barber distribution which is the competitor of Ingram’s company, he decided himself without knowing a possibility that he can lose his one of the best distributors.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Advantages and disadvantages of Owning a Gun Essay - 6

Advantages and disadvantages of Owning a Gun - Essay Example Hence, this paper will answer the question â€Å"should gun control laws be made stricter in order to reduce ownership?† This will be done by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of having a large number of gun owners in the community with the aim of showing the number of gun owners should not increase. The key benefit of owning a gun is security and mainly self protection against violence (Peters 2013, p. 1). This could mean that when a potential attacker becomes aware that a potential victim has a gun, they might be deterred from committing the intended crime. Therefore, owning a gun contributes towards thwarting crime as they protect people against armed attackers. It may be argued that high gun prevalence contributes to decreasing burglaries and makes individuals more independent rather than depending on the support of the government. When homes do not own guns, it implies that an increased population will be powerless against criminal activities directed towards the m and strictly rely on federal, state or local authorities. When a population is disarmed, there is increased responsibility placed on the authorities to ensure the people are free from oppression. On the other hand, common knowledge shows that when more guns are given to law-abiding citizens who are trained in safe use and storage, the community would be less vulnerable to violent crime. Basically, the use or misuse of guns will be determined by the personal responsibility and individual choice of those who own guns (Collier 2013, p. 83).

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Energy sources and the interchangeability of energy, propose a Essay

Energy sources and the interchangeability of energy, propose a replacement for fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas), as - Essay Example Each source has its own characteristic significance and one needs to identify its suitability based on local possibilities and circumstances (Renewable energy sources in the United States 2011). Hydropower Hydropower means using water to produce electricity. This is a clean way of producing electricity. Small and big dams both can be used to turn turbines. Hydropower is suitable where ever flowing waters from rivers are available. Currently, around 7% of the electricity in the US is produced by hydropower sources. Major hydropower projects in the US are located on the Colorado River, the Tennessee Valley. Solar Energy Sun is the most potent source of renewable energy. Efficient solar technologies can give the most viable solution to the world energy needs. Technologies to harness this particular source are advancing rapidly. In the US, summer is the most appropriate season to harness solar energy due to longer daylight hours and a high angle. California State in the US boasts several solar installations and solar energy so harnessed is clean and nonpolluting. Wind Power Wind is yet another renewable source of energy that is clean and available most part of the year. Coastal regions where wind velocity is greater than normal are most suitable for Wind turbine installations. The western part of the US is the most potential region where winds velocity is high. Wind turbines are usually installed at higher altitudes to harness continuous but less turbulent stream of winds. Currently, wind energy meets only 1 percent of the total energy needs of the country but its use has been rising rapidly. Geothermal Power Geothermal source of energy uses Earth's heat to produce electricity. Geothermal source of energy is available continually in certain regions of the US and it is based on the premise that temperature inside our earth is fairly constant throughout the year. The various technologies are in use and those can be described as geothermal heat pumps, deep reservoirs and direct-use systems. Geothermal power plants recover heat from water or steam to convert it into electricity. Heat pumps are used for heating purposes at residential and commercial buildings. Binary-cycle geothermal power plants can use water with even moderate temperatures – in the range of 38 to 149 degree centigrade; thus, it has been economical to harness this clean source of energy. Nevada, Hawaii, Utah and California in the US are known to have geothermal power plants in operations. Biomass Power Biomass or Biopower is the second largest source of energy among renewable in the US. Available biomass such as grassy or woody plants, food crops, residues from farms, organic wastes obtained from municipalities and industries are used as direct heating or to produce electricity. Since Biopower is available from plant sources, it can be produced in any part of the country. Biomass self-balances carbon release in the environment hence is nonpolluting. A Clear Case of Respons ible Stewardship and Integrity While buying fossil fuels, one is paying only for a commodity and does not compensate for environmental degradation and health damages caused to fellow citizens. Using any of the renewable sources of energy and discarding the use of fossil fuels firmly establishes that we not only respect our environment but are deeply concerned with preserving the same for our future

Critically assess the mV and digital policyain elements of the EU Essay

Critically assess the mV and digital policyain elements of the EU policy on HDT - Essay Example Through television, a lot of telecommunication companies has been put up which provides work for millions of people. It is where product commercials are aired. It is also where public concerns and responsibilities were discussed. While each and every national government has set up its own rules with regards to telecommunication, the European Union has also set its guidelines and policies to maintain and level the playing fields of the telecommunication competition. In this era where digital technologies were making its way to communication highways and prospectively play a much bigger role in the future, the European Union has identified the needs of introducing digital technologies harmoniously into the market. By means of a consensus process involving all the relevant economic agents, this aim can be easily achieved. There are 6 different areas of audiovisual activities which are covered by the commission. According to the Principles and guidelines for the Communitys audiovisual policy in the digital age (2005), On the basis of these principles, the Commission intends to take action in the following fields: the new "Media plus" programme, considered to be of crucial importance for the future of the European audiovisual industry. In all areas of action (training, development, distribution, promotion) this new programme will take account of the new digital environment. The external dimension of Community audiovisual policy will necessarily hinge around two central elements: the enlargement of the European Union and the new round of multilateral trade negotiations in the framework of the World Trade Organisation. This Directive which was adopted in 1989 and revised in 1997, based from Television broadcasting activities: "Television without Frontiers" (TVWF) Directive(2006) is the cornerstone of the European Unions audiovisual policy. Its two basic principles

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Global Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Global Economy - Essay Example support by the International Monetary is a debt relief to developing nations that result to an increased flow of direct financial investments and technology by the private sectors. Globalization is viewed as key force that would promote worldwide economic development while unrestricted regime trade serves to increase the inequality between developing and developed nations. When there is globalized trade, the developing countries are able to acquire skilled labor and modern technology that will aid in economic growth by dealing with problems such as unskilled labor and poverty. Integral of International Monetary and trade regimes in supporting a globalized capitalist economy ensured that consumption and production were not confined within national borders any longer. It also private sectors to increase production since good and services had gained local and foreign market. Globalization of capitalist economy made the developed countries experience so-called ’Golden Age of Capit alism’ between 1953- 1973 as per capital income growth rate in Europe rose from 1.3% to 4.1% while that of U.S rose from 1.8% to 2.5%. They had a spectacular economic growth performance (Jaffe 367). Exchange rate regimes are the main regime managed by the international monetary and world trade organization. The International Monetary Fund has classified exchange rate regimes on the bases of the degree of flexibility of the arrangement or a formal or informal commitment to a given path of exchange rate into eight categories. Exchange Arrangement with No Separate Legal Tender, currency board arrangements, Conventional Fixed Pegs Arrangements, Pegged Exchange Rates within Horizontal Bands, Crawling Pegs, Exchange Rate within Crawling Bands, Managed Floating with No Predetermined Path for the Exchange and Independent Floating. This foreign exchange regime emphasizes the implications on the exchange rate regimes to the independence of monetary policy. However, monetary policy does not

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Decision Making using Critical Thinking Techniques Part 3 Essay

Decision Making using Critical Thinking Techniques Part 3 - Essay Example In the establishment of a store, an even greater amount will be needed to execute the plan. Another company resource that will affect the implementation of the decisions chosen is the human resources. People are needed to put into action the health program for coffee farmers. People need to be hired to handle the operations of new stores. Aside from the company resources, another factor which will affect the decision implementation are the laws and regulations of Kava. Initiating a health program for coffee farmers might require some permits from the government. Furthermore, it would be better if the program is done in coordination with government agencies. In the case of the putting of new branches in Kava, the company will have to get business permits and the other requirements needed to do business in Kava. The geographical, economic, cultural and political aspects have some influence too in the strategy implementation. Being disaster prone, the health program envisioned by the company will be affected by diseases that are brought about by calamities. The company should then be prepared for this. The decision to put a store is also affected by the geography of Kava. They should know which parts of Kava are typhoon belts and earthquake prone areas. The diverse culture of Kava plays an important role in the decision implementation. It is possible that some coffee farmers still stick to traditional tribal healing practices; thus, may not welcome the idea of having health assistance from Western medicine. The culture will also determine the product offerings of the store. The economic and political situation of Kava will influence the strategies to be implemented in relation to the decisions to develop a health program and to increase the company’s branches. The economy will dictate the purchasing power of the Kava people. The peace and order situation will also affect the amount of investment which the company will

Monday, September 23, 2019

Business Article from NY times, Economist, Bloomberg

Business from NY times, Economist, Bloomberg - Article Example The poor performance of the stock market has reduced the returns of investors on their savings and the declining interest rates mean that a large pension pot would be required to generate a certain retirement income. The cost of providing pensions to employees has increased thus the shift to defined contribution plans. According to the article, most employees have a problem with deferred gratifications and only few have the self-control to delay their pensions. Employees have to wait for long period up to 40 years for the pension to pay-off, but the pension pot may not be worth their contributions (Buttonwood 73). According to the author, British Institute and Faculty of Actuaries has examined whether there are possibilities of offering guaranteed pensions in the Defined Contributions market. The article offers a simple method of offering (virtually) guaranteed pension if investors buy the index-linked government bonds since savings are protected against any inflation and government cannot default (Buttonwood 73). However, the returns are low, and thus why most government pension and corporate funds have invested heavily in equities hoping excess returns in equity market will make them make lower contributions. Accordingly, one can hedge against the equity risk by buying derivatives such as a put option that guarantees the derivative holder the option of selling the shares at a set price but over the long term put options will be more expensive that short-term contracts (Buttonwood 73). Other approached of offering the guaranteed pensions in DC market include using complex hedging strategies that rebalance the portfolio to eliminate any substantial losses. This involves using the high returns of equities in a low-risk manner thus reducing the costs of purchasing a guarantee (Buttonwood 73). However, the actuaries have failed in calculating the costs of guarantee, and protection against inflation. From this perspective, pensions are long term

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Huckleberry finn Essay Example for Free

Huckleberry finn Essay Huckleberry Finn is a boy about thirteen or fourteen. He has been brought up by his father, the town drunk, and has a hard time fitting into society. Tom Sawyer and his friends occasionally call him Huck Finn. Widow Douglas is the kind old lady who has taken Huck in after he and Tom come into some money. She tries her best to civilize Huck, believing it is her Christian duty. Miss Watson is the widows sister, a tough old spinster who also lives with them. She is fairly hard on Huck, causing him to resent her a good deal. Samuel Clemens may have drawn inspiration for her from several people he knew in his life. [4] Jim is Miss Watsons big, mild-mannered slave to whom Huck becomes very close in the novel, when they reunite after Jim flees Miss Watson to seek refuge from slavery, and Huck and Jim become fellow travelers on the Mississippi River. Tom Sawyer is Hucks friend and peer, the main character of other Twain novels and the leader of the town boys in adventures, is the best fighter and the smartest kid in town. [4] Pap Finn, Hucks father, is the town drunk. He is often angry at Huck and resents him getting any kind of education. He also returns to Huck whenever he needs more money for alcohol. Judith Loftus plays a small part in the novel — being the kind and perceptive woman whom Huck talks to in order to find out about the search for Jim — but many critics believe her to be the best female character in the novel. [4] The Grangerfords, an aristocratic Kentuckian family headed by the sextagenarian Colonel Saul Grangerford, take Huck in after he is separated from Jim on the Mississippi. Huck becomes close friends with the youngest male of the family, Buck Grangerford, who is Hucks age. By the time Huck meets them, the Grangerfords have been engaged in an age-old blood feud with another local family, the Shepherdsons. The duke and the king are two otherwise unnamed con artists whom Huck and Jim take aboard their raft just before the start of their Arkansas adventures. They are featured prominently throughout the novel, duping many local townspeople with their various get-rich-quick schemes. The middle-aged duke claims to be the long-lost Duke of Bridgewater (though he mistakenly says Bilgewater and is sometimes called this by the king), while the elderly king claims to be the long-lost Dauphin of France, and so is sometimes called Capet by the duke. Mary Jane, Joanna, and Susan Wilks are the three young nieces of their wealthy guardian, Peter Wilks, who has recently died. The duke and the king try to steal the inheritance left by Peter Wilks, by posing as Peters estranged brothers from England. Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas Phelps, are the two people whose nephew Huck poses as, after he abandons the duke and king. She is a loving, but high-strung lady, and he a plodding old man, both farmer and preacher. Many other characters play important but minimal roles in the many episodes that make up the novel. They include slaves owned by the various families they meet, supporting townspeople, rafts-men, a doctor and a steamboat captain. Plot summary[edit] Huckleberry Finn, as depicted by E. W. Kemble in the original 1884 edition of the book In Missouri[edit] The story begins in fictional St.  Petersburg, Missouri (based on the actual town of Hannibal, Missouri), on the shore of the Mississippi River, sometime between 1835 (when the first steamboat sailed down the Mississippi)[5] and 1845. Huckleberry Huck Finn (the protagonist and first-person narrator) and his friend, Thomas Tom Sawyer, have each come into a considerable sum of money as a result of their earlier adventures (detailed in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer). Huck explains how he is placed under the guardianship of the Widow Douglas, who, together with her stringent sister, Miss Watson, are attempting to civilize him and teach him religion. Finding civilized life confining, his spirits are raised somewhat when Tom Sawyer helps him to escape one night past Miss Watsons slave Jim, to meet up with Toms gang of self-proclaimed robbers. Just as the gangs activities begin to bore Huck, he is suddenly interrupted by the reappearance of his shiftless father, Pap, an abusive alcoholic. Knowing that Pap would only spend the money on alcohol, Huck is successful in preventing Pap from acquiring his fortune; however, Pap still gains custody of Huck and leaves town with him. In Illinois and on Jacksons Island[edit] Pap forcibly moves Huck to his isolated cabin in the woods on the Illinois shoreline. Due to Paps drunken violence and habit of keeping Huck locked inside the cabin, Huck, during one of his fathers absences, elaborately fakes his own death, escapes the cabin, and sets off down river. He settles comfortably, on Jacksons Island on the Mississippi. Here, Huck reunites with Jim, Miss Watsons slave. Jim has also run away after he overheard Miss Watson planning to sell him down the river (to presumably more brutal owners). Jim plans to make his way to the town of Cairo in Illinois, a free state, so that he can later buy the rest of his enslaved familys freedom. At first, Huck is conflicted about the sin and crime of supporting a runaway slave, but as the two talk in depth and bond over their mutually held superstitions, Huck emotionally connects with Jim, who increasingly becomes Hucks close friend and guardian. After heavy flooding on the river, the two find a raft (which they keep) as well as an entire house floating on the river. Entering the house to seek loot, Jim finds the naked body of a dead man lying on the floor, shot in the back. He prevents Huck from seeing the corpse. To find out the latest news in town, Huck dresses as a girl and enters the house of Judith Loftus, a woman new to the area, thinking she will not recognize him as a boy. Huck learns from her about the news of his own supposed murder; Pap was initially blamed, but since Jim ran away he is also a suspect. A reward for Jims capture has initiated a manhunt. Mrs. Loftus becomes increasingly suspicious that Huck is a boy, finally proving it by a series of tests, such as noticing how well he throws and catches various items, and how he is terrible at sewing. Once he is exposed, she nevertheless allows him to leave her home without commotion, not realizing that he is the allegedly murdered boy they have just been discussing. Huck returns to Jim to tell him the news and that a party is coming to Jacksons Island that very night, so the two hastily load up the raft and depart. After a while, Huck and Jim come across a grounded steamship. Searching it, they stumble upon two thieves discussing murdering a third, but they flee before being noticed. They are later separated in a fog, making Jim intensely anxious, and when they reunite, Huck tricks Jim into thinking he dreamed the entire incident. Jim is not deceived for long, and is deeply hurt that his friend should have teased him so mercilessly. Huck becomes remorseful and apologizes to Jim, though his conscience troubles him about humbling himself to a black man. In Kentucky: the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons[edit] Travelling onward, Huck and Jims raft is struck by a passing steamship, separating the two. Huck is given shelter on the Kentucky side of the river by the Grangerfords, an aristocratic family. He befriends Buck Grangerford, a boy about his age, and learns that the Grangerfords are engaged in a 30-year blood feud against another family, the Shepherdsons. The Grangerfords and Shepherdsons go to the same church and act peaceably inside, though both families bring guns, despite the churchs preachings on brotherly love. The vendetta finally comes to a head when Bucks older sister elopes with a member of the Shepherdson clan. In the resulting conflict, all the Grangerford males from this branch of the family are shot and killed. Huck is particularly devastated by the brutality of Bucks murder, which he witnesses, but declines to describe. He is immensely relieved to be reunited with Jim, who has recovered and repaired the raft. In Arkansas: the duke and the king[edit] Near the Arkansas-Missouri-Tennessee border, Jim and Huck take two on-the-run grifters aboard the raft. The younger man, who is about thirty, introduces himself as the long-lost son of an English duke (the Duke of Bridgewater). The older one, about seventy, then trumps this outrageous claim by alleging that he himself is the Lost Dauphin, the son of Louis XVI and rightful King of France. The duke and king then become permanent passengers on Jim and Hucks raft, committing a series of confidence schemes upon unsuspecting locals all along their journey. To allow for Jims presence, they first print fake bills for an escaped slave that will divert suspicions, but later paint him up entirely blue and call him the Sick Arab so that he can move about the raft without being tied up when in public view. On one occasion, the swindlers advertise a three-night engagement of a play called The Royal Nonesuch. The play turns out to be only a couple of minutes worth of an absurd, bawdy sham. On the afternoon of the first performance, a drunk called Boggs is shot dead by a gentleman named Colonel Sherburn; a lynch mob forms to retaliate against Sherburn; and Sherburn, surrounded at his home, disperses the mob by making a defiant speech describing how true lynching should be done. By the third night of The Royal Nonesuch, the townspeople prepare for their revenge on the duke and king for their money-making scam, but the two cleverly skip town together with Huck and Jim just before the performance begins. In the next town, the two swindlers then impersonate two brothers of Peter Wilks, a recently deceased man of property. To match accounts of Wilkss brothers, the king attempts an English accent and the duke pretends to be a deaf-mute, while starting to collect Wilkss inheritance. Huck decides that Wilkss three orphaned nieces, who treat Huck with kindness, do not deserve to be cheated thus and so he tries to retrieve the nieces stolen inheritance. In a desperate moment, Huck is forced to hide the money in Wilkss coffin, which is buried the next morning. The arrival of two new men who seem to be the real brothers throws everything into confusion, so that the townspeople decide to dig up the coffin in order to determine which are the true brothers, but, with everyone else distracted, Huck leaves for the raft, hoping never to see the duke and king again. Suddenly, though, the two villains return, to Hucks despair. When Huck is finally able to get away a second time to return to his raft to flee with Jim, he finds to his horror that the swindlers have sold Jim to a family that intends to return him to his proper owner for the reward. Defying his conscience and accepting the negative religious consequences he expects for his actions—All right, then, Ill go to hell! —Huck resolves to free Jim once and for all. On the Phelps farm[edit] Huck learns that Jim is being held at the plantation of Silas and Sally Phelps. The familys nephew, Tom, is expected for a visit at the same time as Hucks arrival, so Huck is mistaken for Tom and welcomed into their home. He plays along, hoping to find Jims location and free him; in a surprising plot twist, it is revealed that the expected nephew is in fact Tom Sawyer. When Huck intercepts the real Tom Sawyer on the road and tells him everything, Tom decides to join Hucks scheme, pretending to be his own younger half-brother, Sid, while Huck continues to pretend to be Tom. In the meantime, Jim has told the family about the two grifters and the new plan for The Royal Nonesuch, and so the townspeople capture the King and the Duke, who are then tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail. Rather than simply sneaking Jim out of the shed where he is being held, Tom develops an elaborate plan to free him, involving secret messages, a hidden

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Ethics of Human Trafficking

Ethics of Human Trafficking The problem of trafficking of humans is widespread and it is estimated that annually, approximately 14,500 and 17,500 individuals are victims of trafficking into the United States. This is a hidden population involving factories, restaurant businesses, agriculture, the commercial sex industry, agriculture, domestic workers, some adoption firms and marriage brokers. 80% of individuals who are trafficked individuals are female; therefore, those who provide health care for women can best serve this diverse patient population with increased awareness to the problem. Exploiting persons of any sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender, is not acceptable at any place or time. After applying the utilitarian and deontological perspectives and the egoism and emotivism theories to the question of human trafficking, it is evident that the ethical response to this is that is that it is one the most unethical practices any person can engage in. Human trafficking is a complex, multi-faceted crime with no single solution. Many countries are affected by it in some way, and Australia, as a destination country for trafficking victims, is no exception (Healey, 2012). Human trafficking is one of the most heinous and degrading thing that can happen to anyone and for those unfortunate enough to be caught in this web, it is a life of living hell. Slavery exists today and its called Human Trafficking. Nothing stirs the emotions or drives the passions, specifically in the US, more than the bone chilling stories of modern day human slavery. Whether it is labor, domestic or sexual, the terror that human trafficking victims have endured is so horrendous that it leaves us gasping for breath. For people who work in human and health service fields, they have heard the firsthand accounts of survivors. We have heard of the dedicated law enforcement officers and health care practitioners and who are involved in the apprehension and prosecution of traffickers, and are the advocators for victims in these complex cases. Realizing that this could be taking place in our neighborhoods and towns and, unseen as we go about our daily comfortable lives, is unimaginable. It is no surprise to anyone that when we hear these stories, there is a huge outcry by the citizens to our legislators to pass laws where none exists or for stricter laws and more enforcement. Since 1999 when this issue was first addressed by congress, the United States have spent over 150 million dollars to help in the fight against human trafficking. Human traffickers tend to look for vulnerability when searching for their victims. There is not one single type of person that they prey upon so victims tend to be from all walks of life and social status does not exclude someone from being potentially trafficked (McNamara, 2015). Trafficking in persons is the illegal sale or trade of human beings for labor through abduction, the use or threat of force, deception and fraud or for sexual exploitation. Societys most vulnerable members such as those burdened by disabilities, discrimination and poverty, are preyed upon by traffickers. Human Trafficking doesnt only occur in the US, it is manifested globally in the form of organ trafficking, bonded labor, and sex trafficking. In sex trafficking, women and children is a commodity used purely for paid sexual gratification. With the globalization of human trafficking, forged documents, financial and legal assistance and transportation are services that are provided allowing it to become an organized billion dollar industry. Victims are lured with false promises of a better life and their broken, unsure environment is easily exploited. Sexual exploitation is the most common form of human trafficking. Initially, they may travel with their traffickers of their own free wi ll under the guise of a better life. Once they have been lured into a false sense of safety, these victims are then isolated, beaten, restrained, threatened, and coerced. In cases involving international human trafficking, the victims identification papers or passports are often withheld or destroyed by traffickers and since they have been illegally brought into the host country, these victims are programmed to fear the countrys law enforcement agencies. Imprisonment in extreme isolation is par for the course for these victims who then become dependent upon their captors for simple necessities as shelter and food. Violence against their family members at home is also another way traffickers control their victims. Many are aware that this is widespread problem but most of them think it is happening somewhere else, not in our backyards, therefore out of our reach and not our problem. This type of rationalization causes major problems because it is happening everywhere; and yes sometimes in our very backyards, right under our noses. Victims are hiding in plain sight, seeking help by their furtive glances or skittish movements, yet we remain blind, content to live our lives without a care in the world. The trafficking of human beings is not easily detected and is both a national and international crisis that everyone should be aware of. It is a major world crisis that needs to have a spot light aimed directly at it, one that shines brightly give hope to these hopeless victims. Some tips that we can all benefit from knowing about are: where to look, what to look for, when to question and when to not to question. For example, law enforcement has seen a pattern in businesses such as restaurants empl oying workers to bus tables and wash dishes, strip clubs, sweatshops where garments are manufactured , massage parlors, and brothels to name a few. Legitimate businesses such as nail shops may also offer commercial sex. Trafficking victims are guarded by other employees or family members of the traffickers, receive very little to no pay, work long, grueling hours, restricted movement and scared of their employers. Signs that are visible are bruises, malnutrition, and fatigue, withdrawn workers who are afraid of unsolicited contact with others, or who are not allowed to speak for themselves. Forms of domestic slavery can be found in recreational areas or parks where babysitters or nannies take the children and pets. Look for the signs stated above with an extra precaution, are the women older, if they are younger do they look healthy or scared? All things that we never give a second thought to, while the victims suffer in silence. If you suspect Human Trafficking, dont confront the s uspected trafficker, take pictures of those who you suspect if possible and pictures of the location where you suspect criminal activities are taking place then contact the police or FBI. Give any and all information you have gathered and let them decide if the case meets the requirements of human trafficking. We all need to be aware and know what we can do to prevent this cancer from spreading and prevent the global destruction families. If the problem of Human Trafficking was widely understood and the consequences to those who are trafficked, it would no longer be the second fastest and largest growing crime in the world. A drug can only be sold once, but a human being can be sold multiple times until they are no longer useful and if they are lucky, they get to die in peace. I will discuss human trafficking from an ethical point of view starting with the utilitarianism perspective. A natural way to see whether an act is the right thing to do (or the wrong thing to do) is to look at its results, or consequences. Utilitarianism argues that, given a set of choices, the act we should choose is that which produces the best results for the greatest number affected by that choice (Mosser, 2013). According to this perspective, promotion of happiness for the greatest number is ideal, but however looking at human traffic from this standpoint is very easy. Utilitarianism is the natural way to look at something to decide if it is wring or right. It argues that we should choose the result which best serves the needs of the greatest number affected by the choice (Mosser, 2013). Looking at human trafficking from this point of view is rather easy. The only people who benefit from human trafficking are the traffickers who will stop at nothing to get their victims. Due to the fact that many are looking for a better way of life, they become easy prey for those who are up to no good. According to (Smith, 2014), human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry which is estimated to bring in about $32 billion worldwide, however the people who are in charge are the ones who benefit the most from the misery of those who are trapped in this trade (Smith, 2014). Corrupt public officials, unscrupulous recruiters and investors are principal participants and are the very core of this horrible practice. There are more victims than there are trafficke rs, so this perspective doesnt fill the goal of happiness for the greatest number. The other perspective I will discuss is deontology. The deontology perspective places focus on the reasons why an act is done rather than focusing on the consequences (Mosser, 2013). When it comes to human trafficking, those involved do so purely greed for monetary gain. The definition of human trafficking is when someone consents or agrees to pay someone to take an individual somewhere else, either across state lines, another country or simply smuggling them away from their general living area. These individuals are now caught in the web of trafficking whether its labor, domestic or sexual, the terror that human trafficking victims have endured is so horrendous that it leaves us gasping for breath. Deontologists argue that we have a duty, or some would call it an obligation to treat others with respect, and we must take that dignity into consideration when dealing with them (Mosser, 2013). Human trafficking goes against every basic human right and in that aspect can be viewed as imm oral and wrong. When a victim is taken, often against their will they lose the basic freedoms we take for granted. . The law enforcement framework is excessively prosecution focused, with little focus on prevention and is dependent on the innocent victim. (Bravo, 2008) Ethical egoism argues that moral evaluations should be made based on our desires and goals. Quite simply put if it benefits me its right, if it hinders me its wrong (Mosser, 2013). The offenders in human trafficking fall under this perspective. They are in the business solely for their own personal gain and do not care who is hurt and destroyed in the process. Emotivism is a view that quite simply is based upon if we do or do not like something. It is often referred to as the Boo Hurrah theory of ethics (Mosser, 2013). They have a fast way to make often quite a substantial amount of money at little to no cost for them. They sniff out and prey upon a victims vulnerability regardless of where they find their victims. CONCLUSION To exploit a race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity is not acceptable in respectable society. The cost on both the citizens and the nation is untold. It is going to take the collective efforts of law enforcement, government agencies, and the public to defeat a problem of this magnitude. Things that stand in the way to getting a grip of Human Trafficking is fear, lack of public awareness, secretive nature of trafficking, limited resources for training those working in that field for what signs to look for when there is a suspicion of human trafficking, and limited legal assistance. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the primary care givers of female Human Trafficking should strive to assist anyone has been identified as a victim or at the very least recognize females who may have fallen prey to trafficking. This may not be the only option available; however, as those with first contact, they may be able to develop tools that can help in the fight of Human Trafficking. Human trafficking from a Utilitarianism standpoint isnt moral or prudent; and from a Deontology perspective the fiscal additions for the traffickers for offering their victims into servitude is not a righteous or moral act. A victim losing their opportunities and personality just so the guilty parties can profit is not virtuous or ethical on any level we have discussed. References Karen E. Bravo, Toward a Labor Liberalization Solution to Modern Trafficking in Humans, 102  Am. Socy Intl L. Proc. 66, 66 (2008) Justin Healey, Human Trafficking and Slavery, vol 347, Balmain, NSW, Australia] : Spinney  Press. 2012 McNamara, P. (2015). Trading Lives. Girls Life, vol. 21 Issue 6, p74 Retrieved from  http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/102324348/trading-lives Mosser, K. (2013) Ethics and Social Responsibility, (2nd ed.) [Electronic version]. Retrieved  from https://content.ashford.edu/ Smith, R. (2014). Selling Lives Seeking a Unified Solution to Human Trafficking. Policy   Practice (19426828), 72(6), 5.

Friday, September 20, 2019

MasterCard CEO: Ajay Banga

MasterCard CEO: Ajay Banga Ajay Banga was born, raised, and educated in India. He received his bachelors degree in economics from Delhi University (Diversity leadership: Ajay Banga, MasterCard worldwide, n.d.). Banga has had a very diverse career where he held many senior management roles simultaneously. He began his career with Nestle in India. During his thirteen years with the company, he worked on assignments to expand sales, marketing and general management (Banga, BIO: Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and CEO, 2013). Afterwards, he worked with Citigroup where he had the opportunity to be the CEO and to travel to London, Brussels, Hong Kong, and New York (Diversity leadership: Ajay Banga, MasterCard worldwide, n.d.). Banga was appointed CEO of MasterCard in 2009 where he currently remains. (Banga, BIO: Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and CEO, 2013). He has served as a member of the U.S. Presidents Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations as well as a member on the Commission on Enhancing Nati onal Cybersecurity under the Obama administration (Our people, n.d.). Banga has had the pleasure to have a very diverse and distinguished career and continues to share his experiences and knowledge with others. As leader of a top ten most diverse company, Banga says that being different helps to build a global workforce (Banga, What does global mean for MasterCard?, 2015). His passion for diversity came from the fact that he himself is diverse, in the sense that he is of Indian decent, runs a global company, and wears a beard and turban; something that is not common in his position (Groysberg Connolly, 2013). Status1 MasterCard has continually been considered a diverse company. This can be contributed to the fact that MasterCard is a global company that operates in more than 210 different countries and employs over 7,500 employees. The company believes that having diversity will allow a better understanding and greater access to new markets (Our Story, n.d.). In 2001, the company had launched the Supplier Diversity Program so that businesses that were owned by women, veterans, and minorities would have more of an equal opportunity to participate in the procurement process (Our Story, n.d.). However, the roles of diversity and inclusion would not be a main focus for a few years, until the appointment of Ajay Banga. The proof can be seen in the ranking of MasterCard by Diversity Inc. Magazine where MasterCard didnt hit the top 50 until 2005 at rank #49 (DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001, n.d.). Celebration, however, would be premature for the company, as it took an additional four years until it would reach the top 50 again in 2009 at rank #41. It wasnt until 2011 that the company would see momentum taking them up the list where it went from rank #31 on the list in 2011, to rank #15 in 2012, and then to the top ten in 2013 at rank #5 (DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001, n.d.). Much of the success could be associated with the introduction of MasterCards innovative creation of its Business Resource Groups (BRG) (Leading our diveristy efforts, n.d.). Philosophy       Ajay Banga has a philosophy of global diversity and inclusion. His passion for diversity comes from the fact that he himself is diverse as an Indian immigrant. Banga promotes his vision of a world beyond cash (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). This means that his workings of diversity and inclusion go beyond the simple fact of making money, and spread farther to helping others grow as well. The company has been involved in philanthropy as well as programs that assist others in personal and professional growth (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). He has a passion to inform others of the importance of diversity in multiple aspects of the global market. This is seen in his speeches at IIM-A class of 2015 (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015) and to the NYU Stern graduates (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). Here he speaks about doing well and doing good as the highest form of leadership (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). He feels that a company that is successful has a responsibility to help others succeed as well. Banga said, As a company, we believe diversity sits at the root of innovation. Diversity of culture, experience, and thought all drive innovative thinking. Thats why we encourage employees to express their diverse opinions and ideas. (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). During his speech to NYU Stern graduates, Banga pokes fun at himself by saying that one of his hobbies is to be randomly searched by TSA in airports (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). This goes along with his philosophy that people should not be focused on where they come from or what they look like and more on what they do and how they do it.   That acceptance of all cultures and development of those cultures can benefit business. Banga has said many times that a group of similar people tend to think in similar ways, reach similar conclusions, and have similar blind spots. (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). Banga suggests that a company should try to increase its connectivity to the rest of the world by looking outside its own boarders and to get involved in other organizations, but also with the ones that connect back to it (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). This is what gives MasterCard its success as a global company. Banga tells of four important attributes that defines a great leadership culture of diversity. The first is a sense of urgency to solve problems and implement solutions that can be solved easier from having a diverse culture. Second is a sense of balance, third is to have the courage to take thoughtful risks. To explain this, Ajay takes a quote from Winston Churchill, Success is not final, failure is not fatal, its the courage to continue, that really counts. (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). This means that a person must be willing to take a chance to change for the better and innovate solutions to be better. One of his attributes is to be competitively paranoid, where a person must constantly ask themselves if they are missing anything to the problem, if there is something else that can be done, or a better way to do it. We must harness the collective uniqueness of people to widen your field of vision. (Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates, n.d.). The bigger the window is that you have to view the world, the more you can see what works and what doesnt. This boils down to having a diverse culture in multiple locations around the world that will allow insight as to how to conduct smart business decisions. Strategy Banga has implemented his philosophy of diversity and inclusion to grow the company even stronger as a global competitor by creating innovative solutions. He states that, Diversity of thought is at the heart of innovation. (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). To accomplish this, Banga had to be able to tap into the diverse cultures of the world and to gain their involvement so that the information can be collected and used. This was done by creating Business Resource Groups (BRG). These are similar to Affinity groups that other companies have, except for that they are more than just focused on the business of things. Each of the eight BRGs that MasterCard has focuses on a specific part of the global culture to gain valuable insight as well as to be able to assist in the development of these groups. These groups include Salute, which assists active military and veterans in transitioning to MasterCards culture, WLN (Womens Leadership Network), where help in advancing the careers of women through mentoring and coaching is available, Pride, where a culture of inclusiveness and acceptance regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or expression is accepted, and YoPros, where the company utilizes innovative skills of young professionals to aid in the advancement of the new world of technology such as teaching the ropes of social media (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). The Center for Inclusive Growth was created to advance more sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion globally (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). Its focus is in two areas, research and global philanthropy, where multiple programs are in place to help the worlds poor and financially excluded to gain more control over their financial future (MasterCard diversity and inclusion, n.d.). One of the most important strategies that has been implemented would be the EDGE program. Employees Driving the Global Edge follows the philosophy that MasterCard is a company that exists beyond boundaries and must think beyond them as well (Johnson, n.d.). The EDGE allows employees of all levels and from all over the globe to connect, communicate, and socialize on an intellectual level that enables them to share their experiences on what they have learned and essentially become advocates for MasterCard (Johnson, n.d.). It has become part of one of the cornerstones of MasterCard which is education and as such has now set the foundation for education on payments and products desired by the diverse cultures around the world (Johnson, n.d.). Goals Bangas goals were to create a diverse environment with diverse people in a diverse world culture. Often referred to as a world beyond cash in the MasterCard family. This goal was the platform for many of the innovations that were created. For Banga, owning a global company meant looking past what was only good for his company, and beyond where it was centrally located. By helping other businesses succeed, Banga knew that MasterCard would succeed with them. Banga said, Its only lonely at the top when you dont bring other people along with you. (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). He has put forward an increased focus on the companies eight resource groups to help extend relationships with current and potential partnerships. In doing so, BRG chapters have expanded worldwide with the addition of twelve new chapters created in 2015. MasterCard has also made further commitments with support to the LGBT community and with the help of other firms has created the Open for Business coalition (No. 7 / MasterCard/ DiversityInc Top 50, n.d.). Bangas future goals are to continue to be diverse and to continue MasterCards innovative culture and to help other businesses succeed. He has succeeded in bringing the company to the forefront of diversity leadership. Going along with his lessons on leadership, being competitively paranoid means to keep questioning the ways things are being done and to challenge yourself to do them better (Banga, MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015, 2015). He believes that being different helps in building a global workforce (Banga, What does global mean for MasterCard?, 2015). Current Status MasterCard currently holds onto its position in the top ten most diverse companies (DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001, n.d.). The company has been in the top ten for four years in a row. A major factor that many companies face in the fight for diversity is the amount of diversity in leadership positions. A company can be diverse, but if there arent any diverse leaders, then the message gets lost. MasterCard has accepted this challenge and has 80.6% more Asians in senior leadership than the rest of the top ten companies, and 25.4% more blacks, Latinos, and Asians total than that of the top ten, which is 76.7% higher than the national average (No. 7 / MasterCard/ DiversityInc Top 50, n.d.). Critical Claim My original idea of diversity was that it mainly involved the direct culture of businesses. I understood the value of having a diverse workforce to further the thinking of a business in regards to growth and marketing strategies and even to the point of social acceptance. After researching and learning more about Ajay Banga, I feel that I had much more to learn than I thought. Diversity on a global level means that a company must have the capability to understand different economic and social cultures. Only then, can the company be able to involve itself to benefit not only itself, but also everyone they do business with. MasterCard has taken upon itself to help these companies gain control over their financial future so that they can grow with the rest of the world. Business operations need to be just as diverse as the company performing them. We see today a more diverse society than ever before as it has grown far beyond the demographics of age, sex, race, and religion. Today we ha ve identities that people claim, races have become intertwined. References   Ã‚   Banga, A. (2013, November 20). BIO: Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and CEO. Retrieved from mastercard.com: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/documents/ajay-banga-bio/ Banga, A. (2015, April 8). MasterCard CEO Ajay Bangas six lessons on leadership as told to the IIM-A class of 2015. Retrieved from Quartz Media LLC.: https://qz.com/377104/ajay-bangas-six-lessons-on-leadership-as-told-to-the-iim-a-class-of-2015/ Banga, A. (2015, June 24). What does global mean for MasterCard? Retrieved from Yale Insights: http://insights.som.yale.edu/insights/what-does-global-mean-for-mastercard Diversity leadership: Ajay Banga, MasterCard worldwide. (n.d.). Retrieved from DiversityInc: http://www.diversityinc.com/ajay-banga/ DiversityInc top 50 list since 2001. (n.d.). Retrieved from DiversityInc : http://www.diversityinc.com/all-diversityinc-top-50-lists/ Equality, diversity anchore MasterCard CEO message to NYU Stern gradates. (n.d.). Retrieved from MasterCard Engagement Bureau Video Gallery: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/videos/equality-diversity-anchor-mastercard-ceo-message-to-nyu-stern-graduates/ Groysberg, B., Connolly, K. (2013, September). Great leaders who make the mix work. Retrieved from Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2013/09/great-leaders-who-make-the-mix-work Johnson, D. (n.d.). MasterCard diversity: leading on the EDGE of innovation. Retrieved from newsroom.mastrecard.com: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Diversity-white-paper-final.pdf Leading our diveristy efforts. (n.d.). Retrieved from mastercard.us: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/about-mastercard/who-we-are/diversity-inclusion.html MasterCard diversity and inclusion. (n.d.). Retrieved from mastercard.us: file:///C:/Users/vmostul/Downloads/MCUS-14012_Diversity_Brochure_v1_July23%20(14).pdf No. 7 / MasterCard/ DiversityInc Top 50. (n.d.). Retrieved from DiversityInc: http://www.diversityinc.com/mastercard/ Our people. (n.d.). Retrieved from mastercard.com: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/people/abanga/ Our Story. (n.d.). Retrieved from MasterCard Newsroom: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/MasterStory_Our_Story.pdf Perspectives on Ageing | Essay Perspectives on Ageing | Essay Lachlan Donnet-Jones Ageing is a term used to describe the physical, psychological and social changes that occur to an individual over time. While most individuals possess their own interpretation of ageing, the issues and challenges faced by the older population is a topic commonly misunderstood. This can be due to generational differences in morals, values, beliefs and a lack of understanding, leading to various stereotypes, prejudices and assumptions of the elderly. This paper will explore my own personal understanding of the issues and challenges faced by the elderly and how my assumptions compare to current evidence based research and the information obtained through a conversation with an elderly person. Prior to the conversation with my 71 year old grandfather, who will be referred to as George, I had formed various assumptions from my attitudes and existing knowledge about what Georges’ primary concerns and issues were at this stage in his life. To better understand George’s situation it was helpful to think about myself in 50 years’ time, and what would be primary concerns for me if I were 70 years old. The topics I thought about in relation to the issues and challenges of ageing included deteriorating health, cognitive function, physical ability, and family and relationships. I chose to focus on the issues which I would consider to be most concerning if I were an elderly person, which primarily pertained to mental and physical health and the social aspects of ageing. Given that I am technically still classified as a teenager, my experience with ageing is rather limited. This leads me to believe that many of my attitudes and beliefs about ageing may have been heavily influenced by popular stereotypes. As Kim Vickers of the University of California explores in her research article ‘Ageing and the Media’, the media can heavily influence the opinions of young person’s, such as myself, by portraying ageing in a negative light (Vickers, 2007). I believe that when you age your cognitive function and ability declines, for example, the ability to accurately memorise and recall information becomes less ‘sharp’ and reliable. I also believe that along with cognitive function, you become frail and your ability to be physically active becomes more difficult, which includes anything from walking the dog, going to the supermarket, to engaging in sexual activities. Respect is one thing that I think can be positive with ageing. I b elieve that when you become older and wiser your opinion and knowledge will be increasingly respected, especially by those who are not as wise and knowledgeable. In summary, looking at my initial attitudes toward ageing, it is quite apparent that I have formed, through my minimal life experience, a relatively limited and negative view of ageing, which is most likely due to my lack of understanding, and that our society as a whole places greater value on youth, than on ageing (Oregon Department of Human Services, 2012). During the interview with George, I discovered that a number of the assumptions I held about the elderly were not as accurate as I had thought. The first and most surprising answer I received from George was in regards to having more respect from others. George stated that he did not believe he was treated with any more respect, as he aged. This was a direct contradiction to what I had considered to be one of the positives of growing old, and I found this to be most surprising. This made me think of why George may feel that way. Perhaps it is due to the changing attitudes of youth toward the elderly, they do not recognise respecting an elderly person, as much as previous generations have done. It may also be an individual thing, where George has simply not noticed any change in the way people regard and respect him. There may be a number of reasons for this, however it appears evident that one of the primary contributing factors is the change in generational attitudes, particularly those of the young toward the elderly. Professor Jared Diamond noted that one of the reasons for the shifting generational attitudes may be due to the rapid changes in technology (Diamond, 2011). Predating the use of written records, the repositories of knowledge the elderly members of society possessed in their memories were once considered vital to pass onto future generations, for example, the telling of stories to children. However, with advancement in technology new resources have become available, that previously did not exist, such as; television, the internet, and mass media. The ease of access and availability to this endless source of information and knowledge has, in a sense, replaced the role of the elderly within some societies and, therefore, may have led to less respect by the young towards the old. Another aspect of the newer generations of elderly people is the increasing life expectancy which can be viewed as a positive thing, however, increased age correlates with increased susceptibility to chronic diseases, especially those which affect the brain and cognitive function, such as dementia (Buttrose, 2011). One of the expectations I had of old age is that of declining cognitive function. When asked about day to day life George stated that he did not particularly feel old, however, he had noticed himself slowing down. George explained that he is aware of his physical and mental capabilities not being as sharp, as perhaps they once were, however he does not feel or think of himself as ‘old’. In an attempt to further my understanding on the effects ageing has on cognitive function, I investigated the work of Melissa Lee Phillips regarding her research into cognitive ability in the elderly. Melissa Lee Phillips published an article in the American Psychological Associations (APA) ‘Monitor on Psychology’ segment that compares the cognitive function of the brain in youth and the elderly (Phillips, 2011). The adult brain has long been thought to be most efficient during youth, however in Phillips’ article she points to research that contradicts that information. The research shows that the maturing mind actually retains many of the skills learnt during youth, and continues to develop new strengths. The ageing brain is also capable of ‘rewiring’ itself and has proven to improve in various areas, such as being less neurotic, calmer, and better at sorting through social situations (Phillips, 2011). Cognitive neuroscientist, Patricia Reuter-Lorenz, PhD, of the University of Michigan stated that â€Å"there is an enduring potential for plasticity, reorganization and preservation of capacities†, providing further evidence to support this n ew theory (Reuter-Lorenz, 2012). This new evidence helps disprove the stereotypes of ageing, such as the common proverb, ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. Another study titled the ‘Seattle Longitudinal Study’ conducted at the University of Washington in Seattle, uncovered a large amount of new data on ageing and it’s effective on the brain. The research team leader Sherry Willis, PhD, states that the results show that while memory and recall skills begin to decline, skills such as verbal abilities, spatial reasoning, simple math and abstract reasoning showed marked improvement (Schaie, 2013). Relating the influx of new research back to my perspective on ageing, it would appear that whilst there are some undesirable effects on cognitive ability, there are also positives aspects to the ageing brain. I believe the way ageing is portrayed by the media in society is a narrow view which primarily focuses on the negatives of ageing. This view is supported by the findings of Doctor Jeanne Holmes in her paper ‘Successful Ageing: A Critical Analysis’, published in the Journal of the American Society of Ageing (Ho lmes, 2009). Similar to cognitive function, I had assumed that due to elderly people having increased fragility, decreased physical strength and the body ‘slowing down’ due to ageing organ systems, it would cause the libido of elderly persons to significantly decrease, if not cease to exist at all. Although I did not ask my grandfather about his sexual activities, I did do my own further research into the topic. Judith Horstman provides insight on sex and the elderly in her book ‘The Scientific American Healthy Ageing Brain’, in which she states â€Å"Recent studies and surveys show the brains of those well over 60 years old want and enjoy sex† (Horstman, 2012). This information directly contradicts what I had previously believed. In the United States, a national survey was conducted on men and women aged between the ages 75 and 85 to determine the level of sexual activity in the elderly population. The results showed that three-quarters of male participants and a pproximately half of female participants said they were still interested in sex, and were still sexually active (Pew Research Center, 2010). Growing old is an inevitable and natural process, and I think it is important to keep in mind that we will all be considered ‘old’ one day. Some may define ageing as the changes that increase the likelihood of death, which may be true, however after the conversation with my grandfather I can see that ageing is not necessarily a negative thing. I now understand how my own opinions have been influenced by popular culture, the media and society. Ageing can change many aspects of a person, and contrary to what may be portrayed in the media, these changes are not necessarily negative. Attributes such as physical agility may decline with age, others such as knowledge and wisdom continue to expand. It is my understanding, that by leading a healthy lifestyle and actively participating in all that life has to offer, one can live a fulfilled and worthwhile life well into old age. I believe that, much like fine wine, quality of life can increase with age. References Buttrose, Ita (2011).Dementia Across Australia: 2011-2050. Sydney: Deloitte Access Economics Pty Ltd. Diamond, J. (2011). DOCUMENT 163: Jared Diamond on Consumption, Population, and Sustainability, Credo Reference Collections, EBSCOhost, viewed 4th August 2014. Holmes, J. (2009). Successful ageing: a critical analysis: a dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Sociology, Social Policy, and Social Work at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Horstman, J. (2012).The Scientific American healthy ageing brain. 1st ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Oregon Department of Human Services, (2012).Myths and Stereotypes of Ageing. Oregon: Oregon Department of Human Services. Available at: http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/apd-dd-training/EQC Training Documents/Myths and Stereotypes of Aging.pdf Pew Research Center, (2010).Growing Old in America: Expectations vs. Reality. A Social Demographic Trends Report. Washington, DC. Phillips, M. (2011). The mind at midlife.American Psychological Association (APA), 42(4), p.38. Reuter-Lorenz, PhD, P. (2012). Cognitive neuropsychology of the ageing brain.American Psychological Association (APA), 17(3), pp.177-182. Schaie, K. (2013).Developmental influences on adult Intelligence. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. Vickers, K. (2007). Ageing and the media: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 5(3), pp.100105. Appendix Appendix 1 – Expectations Prior to Conversation Appendix 2 – Conversation Questions and Answers George. Grandfather. 71 years old. White/Caucasian. Married. Appendix 2 – Conversation Questions and Answers Cont. Page 1 of 9

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Abuse of Power Reflected in the Politics and Drama of Ancient Greece Es

Individual Abuse of Power Reflected in the Politics and Drama of Ancient Greece The Greeks believed that too much power entrusted in one person was dangerous. They were the first democratic society in a tumultuous world of kings and emperors, and they were proud of their ideology. Considering their fervent belief in rule by many, its not surprising that many Greek dramas revolve around an individual hero or a king's fall from power because of pride or some other personality flaw. Well-known characters in some of the greatest Greek tragedians' plays illustrate this idea. In Aeschylus's Agamemnon, the title character is a returning king who behaves arrogantly and thoughtlessly. He is murdered by his wife and his kingdom falls apart. Sophocles's character Oedipus ends up killing his father, losing his kingdom and his wife and mother, and becoming a blind, wandering outcast for the rest of his life. Jason in Euripides's Medea deserts his family for a new marriage which he hopes will further his station, but his old wife kills his new wife and his children, ending hi s hopes for a shining future. The evolving theme of an individual's weakness and subsequent downfall supports the Greek's democratic system, where no individual becomes too powerful. Agamemnon is a great warrior, but not a great family man. On his way to the Trojan war, he sacrificed his daughter to the gods so that his ships would be able to arrive safely and swiftly. This is an especially rotten thing to do because the war is being waged to reclaim just one woman, Helen. It is hard to justify killing one’s own daughter so that somebody else can get his wife back. However, war is what he is good at, and if he didn’t sacrifice his daughter he would be letting down ... ...ach fall from their power into death or despair. They had become too powerful, too arrogant, and too ambitious, and so the gods cut them down. This pattern of kings falling from power because of weaknesses and character flaws is very common in Greek dramas. The Greeks were proud of their democratic system, and their dramas reflected their belief that their society, ruled jointly by representatives of the people, was best in a world full of unstable and dangerous monarchies. The gods despise men who rise too high and seek to become too great. So do the Greeks. Works Cited Aeschylus. Agamemnon. Greek Tragedy. Eds. A. Cook and E. Dolin. Dallas: Spring Publishing, Inc., 1992. Euripedes; Medea; Trans. Rex Warner. The Harcourt Brace Anthology of Drama: Third Edition. Orlando: Harcourt, 2000. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1991.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Free College Essays - Plot Sequence of Melville’s Moby Dick :: Moby Dick Essays

Moby-Dick, like any other novel, is complete with a plot sequence which essentially â€Å"maps† the layout of the story line.   In the plot sequence, there are five major groups.   Those five groups are the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and finally the resolution.   Melville does an outstanding job of describing and conveying these in a flowing matter that is intense at some points, but surpassingly boring at others. The plot sequence of Moby-Dick can be summarized easily when it is broken up and analyzed.   While the exposition and rising action may be a little lengthy and at some times rather monotonous, the climax is very intense.   But the reader will probably gain the most insight into what the novel means overall from the falling action and resolution.    During the exposition, Ishmael describes himself and why he plans on joining a whaling voyage at sea so as to sort of introduce us to him and to set the stage for other characters to be introduced such as Queequeg at the Spouter Inn.    As for the rising action, this takes up most of the novel, at least three fourths of it anyway.   Many adventures are described to us from Ishmael as the story progresses.   Some of the more notable events that take place include when Ishmael and Ahab first meet and the almost frightened feeling that takes over Ishmael, when Ahab describes the purpose of his voyage, when various ships are encountered such as the Enderby and the Rachel, and when the Pequod is overtaken by a typhoon.   All these events and a few others not mentioned help to build the rising action and gain more and more interest from the reader.      The climax is definitely one of the most intense sections of the book, however not one of the longer. It lasts for a good three chapters, and keeps the reader focussed in on every detail, unlike other parts of the book that can get so repetitive and boring it’s unbelievable.   The climax consists of the main chase and battle with Moby-Dick himself.   In this part of the novel, each of three days are discussed.   On the first day of the chase, the men spear the whale with their harpoons, but without success.   Also, Ahab’s boat is crushed by the white whale.   The second day proves to be a bit more successful.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Cultural Adaptation and Career

How cultural adaptation influence professional belief and career development of Chinese students in UMN?Introduction The influence of cultural diversity is some of the most critical issues facing the United States today. Census data show that the non-white population is rapidly increasing – this is a huge reserve of human potential, which makes the multicultural focus a top priority for vocational education and development. These diverse cultural groups include some international students coming to the United States to take advantage of higher education opportunities. After completing their studies, many of these students choose to stay in the United States in order to pursue work and build family. The career development and consulting needs of this multicultural workforce are very different from the established norms. It is important to understand and solve their needs for the country's cultural and psychological adjustment. Therefore, counselors and professional professionals in universities and workplaces need to have specific cultural information and skills that contribute to effective vocational education/consulting. Most of the differences between cultures come from various worldviews that people hold. Lee and Rice (2007) and Dee and Henkin (1999) point out that in this society, the worldview of racial and ethnic minorities is different from that of European Americans. The worldview contains all cultural norms, customs, folk cultures and cultural adaptation behaviors that are passed on to future generations in an identifiable group. Values, interests, family and interpersonal relationships largely depend on these worldviews, and these worldviews are assumed to influence career choices. The worldview of ethnic minority customers will influence their career decisions in ways that may differ from most people. In order to provide culturally appropriate services, professional professionals in universities and workplaces must have a keen understanding of the team's worldview. In order to understand more about the concept of worldview related to career development, Marsella and Leong (1995) suggest positioning individual clients in the continuum of national cultural identity and determining the relative importance of individual or cultural characteristics to individuals. For example, when a person is fully integrated into society, interest/preference may be more relevant to career development. However, for a more traditional individual, cultural influence may play a more important role in career development. Marsella and Leong (1995) suggest that career counseling for different customers should consider three factors: cross-cultural similarities, and culturally unique aspects that influence members and personal characteristics. Another way to better understand the worldview is to study the individual's level of cultural adaptation. Marsella and Leong (1995) pointed out that cultural adaptation has become an important variable in psychological research because it helps to highlight and explain the huge heterogeneity existing in ethnic/ethnic immigrant groups. Cultural adaptation levels have been found to influence psychological and physical health variables, including work values, career orientation, and career choices (Kubat ; Kuruuzum, 2009).In short, with the increase in the multicultural nature of the U.S. labor force, it has become imperative to appropriately address the unique career development needs of customers from different ethnicities. Marasella and Leong (1995) indicate that by understanding the customer's worldview, unique career development needs can be met. Research on ethnic identity and cultural adaptation can help to learn a worldview.Many international students are looking for jobs in the United States, which is a factor in increasing the multicultural workforce. For this reason, using this population for world outlook (cultural adaptation and ethnic identity) and career development studies will be particularly useful. Therefore, this study examines the relationship between professional beliefs and cultural adaptation levels of international students from China. It has been found that cultural adaptation and career development may be related to several other important factors, for example,People's specific nationality: Even if they come from the same continent, the cultural adaptability of people from different countries is also different (Jacob ; Greggo, 2001);People's age: Age is positively related to professional identity (ie older people may have stronger professional identity). The negative correlation between age and cultural adaptation indicates that it is difficult for older people to adhere to the norms of the new culture (Suinn, Ahuna ; Khoo, 1992, 1995; Shufen ; Brown, 2001);Level of education: Interestingly, studies by Shu Fen and Brown (2001) show that education levels are negatively correlated with cultural adaptation. This suggests that better-educated individuals may not be comfortable, and vice versa.Term of residence in the United States: There is a negative correlation between the length of residence in the United States and cultural adaptability, indicating that people with shorter residence periods tend to have less culture. There is a positive correlation between living time and professional identity, which means that people who live longer in the United States have stronger professional identities (Suinn, Ahuna ; Khoo, 1992, 1995; Shu-fen ; Brown, 2001);Gender: There seems to be a conflict regarding the influence of gender on cultural adaptation. Although there was no significant relationship between gender and cultural adaptation and professional identity and gender, the study (Lopez ; Ann-Yi, 2006) also showed that the process of cultural adaptation was affected by gender.In this study, information on nationality, age, US resident status and gender will be collected. It also will study the influence of the above factors on cultural adaptation and professional beliefs, with particular emphasis on the influence of gender.Propose of the studyThe main purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between cultural adaptation and factors that influence the professional beliefs of international students from China. The adaptation of a cultural group to another cultural group can be demonstrated by changing language preferences, adopting common attitudes and values, joining common social groups and institutions, and losing individual political or ethnic identity. Professional beliefs are people's assumptions about themselves and what they must do to succeed in the world of work. Specifically, this study will examine whether these international student's cultural adaptation will affect current employment status, career planning, acceptance of uncertainty, openness, university education, sense of control, sense of responsibility, career path flexibility, after training. The attitude of transition, relocation and other occupational beliefs are perseverance and hard work.The study will examine whether the relationship between cultural adaptation and professional beliefs is influenced or mitigated by gender. Research questions Are there any influence from cultural adaption on professional beliefs and career development of Chinese students in UMN? How cultural adaption influence professional beliefs and career development of Chinese students in UMN?MethodsParticipants are Chinese students in UMN. The questionnaire will be delivered through university email. There are also potential follow-up interview.Two scales will be used in this study:First one is Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA). Suinn, et al have developed SL-ASIA as a self-reported measurement of cultural adaption (Suinn, et al, 1987). There are 26 options including language, behavior, generation/geography history and attitude in this scale. In the score, the total value is obtained by summing the answers to all items. The final cultural fitness score is then calculated by dividing the total by 26. The conservation level on SL-ASIA ranged from 1 to 5, the low range was 1 to 2.33 (Asian mark), the medium range was 2.34 In order to obtain a structural validity assessment, Suinn, Ahuna and Khoo (1992) used 324 Asian students from Colorado (137 first generation, 76 second generation, 31 third generation, 26 fourth generation and 14 fifth generation participants who performed factor analysis on SL-ASIA. Their results showed that five interpretable factors accounted for 69.7% of the variance between different variables. The other one is Career Beliefs Inventory (CBI). The Occupational Belief Scale (CBI) (Krumboltz ; Jackson,1993) is built based on data collected from 7,500 people, ranging in age from 12 to 75 years. The original 122 items has been separated into 25 scales consisting of 96 projects. Grades. These projects were written in the eighth grade. Participants stated their agreement to a statement based on the 5-point Likert scale, strongly agreeing that the active wording project scored 5 points, and strongly disagreed with a score of 1 point. The negative wording items are reverse scores, so strong opposition will get scores of 5 points, and strong opposition scores of 1. These scores are then converted into proportional scores ranging from 10 to 50. The difference factor between them and the project score is 10, so the proportional score is ten times that of the time average score.(After collecting data, I will use SPSS or R to build a model and do some simple analysis between SL-ASIA factors – language, behavior, generation/geography history and attitude – and professional beliefs. Based on this conclusion, I will give some recommendations about career development of Chinese students in US.)Reference:Dee, J., ; Henkin, A. (1999). Challenges to Adjustment to College Life in the United States: Experiences of Korean Students. International Education, 29(1), 54-70.Jacob, E. J, ; Greggo, J.W., (2001). Using counselor training and collaborative programming strategies in working with international students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 29 (l),73-88.Kubat, U., ; Kuruuzum, A. (2009) . An Examination of the Relationship between Work Values and Personality Traits in Manufacturing Industry. International Journal of Business and Management Studies, 1(1), 37-48.Krumboltz, J. D., ; Jackson, M. A. (1993). Career assessment as a learning tool. Journal of Career Assessment, I, 393-409.Lee, J., ; Rice, J. (2007). Welcome to America? International student perceptions of discrimination. Higher Education, 53(3), 381-409.Lopez, F. G., ; Ann-Yi, S. (2006). Predictors of Career Indecision in Three Racial/Ethnic Groups of College Women. Journal of Career Development, 33(1), 29-46.Marsella, A., ; Leong, F. (1995). Cross-Cultural Issues in Personality and Career Assessment. Journal of Career Assessment, 3(2), 202-218.Suinn, R., Rickard-Figueroa, K., Lew, S., ; Vigil, P. (1987). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: An Initial Report. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 47(2), 401-407.Suinn, R. M. Ahuna, C, ; Khoo, G. (1992). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale: Concurrent and factorial validation. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 52, 1041-1046.Suinn, R. M., Ahuna, C, ; Khoo, G. (1995). The Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identify Acculturation Scale: Cross-cultural information. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 23, 139-148.Shih, S., ; Brown, C. (2000). Taiwanese International Students: Acculturation Level and Vocational Identity. Journal of Career Development, 27(1), 35-47.