Computer Ethics Essay - 895 Words

As of September 2003, there were approximately 70 million Americans or about 62 percent of the American population had at least one home computer. Another statistic is that about 55% of people also have internet on there home computers. In everyday life it is important for a person to have good ethics; this is also true about computer usage. Due to the fact that more then half of the American population owns computers, computer ethics are a growing concern in a rapidly changing society. Computer ethics can be broken down in to many topics including piracy, hacking, viruses, spam, phishing, and responsibility of use of software, cyber porn, and invasion of privacy and the use of the computer in the work place. Also there are many issues†¦show more content†¦Many hackers who break into commercial Web sites are looking for customers private financial data including bank account and credit card numbers. A hacker who causes a network to crash can cost a company hundreds of th ousands of dollars in lost productivity. Also because we are a society that relies on computers so heavily there is also the potential for loss of life is say the police or air traffic control computers were to get hacked. A topic that goes hand in hand with hacking is viruses. A computer virus is a small program that impairs-or simply destroys-a computers ability to function properly. Most viruses are designed to spread themselves over the Internet often via email programs before they inflict harm on their host computers. Frequently, hackers use viruses to create problems with in a persons computer to get in deeper and cause more problems. Two more computer ethic topics that go hand in hand are spam and phishing. Spam which is an inappropriate attempt to use email, or another networked communications facility by sending the same message to numerous people who didnt ask for it, can lead to many problems in both a work and non-work environment. Another consequence of spam is phishing which is the act of tricking someone into giving them confidential information or tricking them into doing something that they normally wouldnt do or shouldnt do. An example of this is sending anShow MoreRelatedThe Ethics Of Computer Ethics Essay978 Words   |  4 PagesComputer Ethics â€Å"Computer ethics is a branch of applied ethics that considers ethical issues raised or significantly amplified by computer technology.† Moor (2006). Its been stated in several works that computers give people power, which means people have the choice to use this wisely and ethically. While society has benefited from this â€Å"power†, there are still ethical concerns that need attention such as privacy of data, security, reliability of data, intellectual property, and accessibility.Read MoreComputers and Ethics in the Workplace1919 Words   |  8 PagesComputers and Ethics in the Workplace Executive Summary This paper discusses issues with ethics that have derived in the workplace as a result of the use of business computers. The definition of computer ethics is simple; they are a set of moral principles that intend to help with the regulation of the use of computers. Some common problems with computer ethics consist of privacy concerns, intellectual property rights, and the way computers have an effect on people. In other words, computer ethicsRead More Computer Ethics Essay1361 Words   |  6 PagesComputer Ethics A Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics (see Appendix A) was first presented by Dr. Ramon C. Barquins in his paper for the Computer Ethics Institute of the Brookings Institution entitled, In Pursuit of a Ten Commandments for Computer Ethics in May of 1992. Computer ethics is about principles related to behavior and decisions made by computer professionals and users, including software engineers, operators, managers, policy makers, as well as educators and students. This meansRead MoreThe Ethics Of Computers With Ai1093 Words   |  5 Pagesand vacuuming to advanced tasks like self-driving vehicles. Many of these robots are given artificial intelligence (AI). Development of AI has recently become a major topic among philosophers and engineers. One major concern is the ethics of computers with AI. Robot ethics (roboethics) is an area of study about rules that should be created to ensure that robots behave ethically. Humans are morally obligated to ensure that machines with artificial intelligence behave ethically. In the 1940s, science-fictionRead MoreThe Problem Of Computer Ethics951 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscussed about the difference between the computers from other technologies and how this difference makes a difference in ethical considerations. The concerns listed by the author are related to software, hardware, networks connecting computers and computers themselves. The main problem in computer ethics occurs because of policy vacuum about how computer technology should be used. Social and personal policies play an important role in ethical use of computer technology. Conceptual vacuum adds to policyRead MoreComputer Engineering Ethics4002 Words   |  17 Pagesways of credentialing a person to practice computer engineering ï‚ · Describe issues that contrast risk issues with safety issues ï‚ · Identify some issues in computer engineering that address privacy ï‚ · Describe whistle blowing and the conflicts between ethics and practice that may result from doing so ï‚ · Describe how computer engineering uses or benefits from social and professional issues. 2.2 Reasons for Studying Social and Professional Issues Computers have a central and growing role in commerceRead MoreComputer Ethics : Code Of Ethic1873 Words   |  8 Pages Computer Ethics Whitney Nelson Hampton University Introduction Philosophy and computers do not seen like they would have much relevance to each other but in actuality they coincide with one another through ethics. Ethics are the general principles that outlines the basic standard of what is right and what is wrong. They are the moral philosophy that people live and abide by in their everyday lives. Computer ethics are a more specific realm of ethics. They are theRead MoreInformation Systems : Computer Ethics1525 Words   |  7 Pages COMPUTER ETHICS Submitted by Lakshmi Gajjarapu Student id: 665584 Global Id: gajja1l Email:gajja1l@cmich.edu INTRODUCTION: As the use of Computers have increased now-a-days with improvements in the technology which brings both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages comes with technological developments and disadvantages are like frauds happening using technology. These frauds using technology are called â€Å"Cyber-attacks† where intruders or hackers break into others computers withoutRead MoreComputer Hackers and Ethics Essay1582 Words   |  7 Pagesdisruptive behavior using a computer. The subject of hacking is no secret to the general public. Many people have been exposed to it by a bad experience or through the news and media. The idea of hacking that is stuck in the minds of people is that of which they have seen in the movies. The movies portray hackers as young and devious criminals. However, in reality these individuals are, talented people who use their abilities to find new and challenging ways to change how computers work. According to theRead MoreCode of Ethics for Computer Profess ionals1134 Words   |  4 PagesMost professions have codes of ethics and for the same reasons computer professionals need a code of ethics. Professions that have been in existence for many more years than the information profession have had time to recognise their ethical responsibilities. In the information field it can be more difficult to immediately recognise who is affected by the actions of an individual or organisation. This does not mean that information professionals have no moral responsibilities. It is common across

Producer Protection, Prior Market Structure and the...

Producer Protection, Prior Market Structure and the Effects of Government Regulation Assignment on Regulatory Economics 1/5/2012 INTRODUCTION The direct economic regulation of business by independent government commissions has a one-hundred year history on the North American continent. It is generally asserted that the purpose of such commissions is to protect consumers from exploitation by limiting the economic powers of certain firms having pervasive effects on the public interest (for example, transportation companies and public utilities). . However, the findings of the relatively few em-pirical studies of the economic effects of regulation indicate that important differences actually do exist in these effects. The†¦show more content†¦One group should include those industries whose prior market structure was a natural monopoly. This group would include electric utilities, natural gas pipelines, local gas distribution companies, telephone companies, etc. The second group should consist of industries having oligopolistic or competitive market structures prior to the implementation of regulation, for example, ai rlines, motor carriers, railroads, and water carriers. If the producer-protection hypothesis is descriptive of the fundamental effects of regulation, one would expect to find regulation having little or no effect on the first group, whereas the second group would experience substantial changes following the effective implementation of regulation. NATURAL MONOPOLY INDUSTRIES Among other things, effective monopolies are characterized by relatively high price levels, by extensive price discrimination, and by rates of return on investment exceeding those attainable if the firm operated in a competitive market structure. Thus, the producer-protection hypothesis implies that following the implementation of regulation over natural monopolies, the price level will be essentially unchanged and will be above marginal costs, price discrimination will continue to be widely practiced, and rates of return will remain above those which would exist under competition. Price level At least three studies have been made regarding the effects of regulation on electric utility priceShow MoreRelatedThe Entangled Political Economy Of Copyright1933 Words   |  8 Pagesentangled political economy framework developed by Wagner (2014) to analyze the effects that copyright legislation has on content producers and pirate communities. I identify Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies as part of the superfluous discovery process that results when politically enforced copyright legislation works to subsidize the cost of creating property rights in creative goods. I also analyze the effects that criminal sanctions against copyright infringement have on how pirate communitiesRead MoreImport quota analysis8051 Words   |  33 Pagesrestrictions, are used to benefit the producers of a good in a domestic economy at the expense of all consumers of the good in that economy. Import Quotas are a type of Non- Tariff Barrier to trade. Non-tariff barriers to trade  (NTBs) are  trade barriers  that restrict  imports  but are not in the usual form of a  tariff. Some common examples of NTB s are anti-dumping  measures and  countervailing duties, which, although called non-tariff barriers, have the effect of tariffs once they are enacted. TheirRead MoreTariff Reform Program17357 Words   |  70 PagesTariff Reform Program The Tariff Reform Program (TRP) is the review or restructuring of the Philippine tariff system that the government undertakes on a continuing basis to make the tariff structure responsive to the needs of the economy, taking into consideration the changing patterns in trade and advancements in technology. So far, four (4) Tariff Reform Programs have been undertaken since the 1980’s. Appeals are available to parties interested in requesting modifications of tariffs. PetitionsRead MorePfizer Industry Review4318 Words   |  18 Pageslong-term global expansion into emerging markets while focusing research and development efforts in the biotech sector. Market Structure Since the 1950s, the global pharmaceutical industry has evolved from â€Å"†¦a collection of several hundred, small, barely profitable firms to as small group of large, highly profitable firms† (Younkin, 2008, para. 1). This evolution has resulted in an oligopoly market structure with a few large firms, and significant barriers to market entry. In the last 20 years, pharmaceuticalRead MoreThe Constitutionality Of The Affordable Care Act2997 Words   |  12 Pages Every year consumers spend billions of dollars on insurance coverage in the United States. According to Webster’s Dictionary, â€Å"insurance is a practice or arrangement by which a company or government agency provides a guarantee of compensation for specified loss, damage, illness, or death in return for payment of a premium.† The statutory power to regulate the business of insurance comes from a 1945 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that prompts Congress to enact the McCarron-Ferguson Law givingRead MoreEffects on Trends in Trade Policy Essay1434 Words   |  6 PagesEffects on Trends in Trade Policy The modernizing world of 1850-1870 belonged to an age of remarkable growth in international trade, stimulating the largest free market the world had ever seen. Yet by 1914, only 30 years later, the trend towards liberal trade policies had mostly ended, replaced by a revival of the protectionist system. A study of the variation in trade policies over time shows a remarkable growth in the power of interest groups to influence the institutional rules and regulationsRead MoreAccounting Standard Setting4104 Words   |  17 PagesACCOUNTING STANDARD SETTING Chapter 7 SHD Learning Outcomes At the At the end of this lecture, students should be able to explain: âÅ"“ The three theories proposed to understand the process of regulation – public interest, regulatory capture and private-interest theory âÅ"“ a comparison of the free market and regulatory approaches to standard setting âÅ"“ International standard setting âÅ"“ Standard setting in Malaysia Introduction †¢ Since 1960s, accounting profession has been criticized forRead MoreThe World Trade Organization ( Wto )1741 Words   |  7 PagesThe World Trade Organization (WTO) is a global organization that helps countries and producers of goods deal fairly and smoothly with conducting their business across international borders. It mainly does this through WTO agreements, which are negotiated and signed by a large majority of the trading nations in the world. The purpose of the WTO is to ensure that global trade commences freely, smoothly and predictably while also aiming to create economic peace and stability in the world through a multilateralRead MoreCharging Regulations for Cellular Phone Companies in the Philippines8087 Words   |  33 PagesIncentives of Charging Regulations to Cellphone Mobile Telephone Companies in the Philippines In partial fulfillment of the requirements in SPECTO 3 Submitted by: Cameron Cabanlig on April 08, 2010 De La Salle University- Manila I. INTRODUCTION In the Philippines, there are different businesses, industries and companies that are mainly regulated by the government to at least make the market fair for both the consumers and producers. For a market to function fairly and competitivelyRead MoreState Control and Public Control of Business2476 Words   |  10 Pagespolitical, legal etc.) which are uncontrollable in the nature and affects the business decisions of the firm. Public policy †¢ In simple words it is a plan of action undertaken by a government to achieve some broad public purposes. †¢ However, in the words of senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan: â€Å" public policy is what the government chooses to do and not to do†. †¢ It may deal with a wide variety of issues both vital or trivial. †¢ It may also deal with important areas as defense, education, public health

Letters of Credit in International Business Autonomy, Strict Compliance and Other Solutions Essay Example For Students

Letters of Credit in International Business: Autonomy, Strict Compliance and Other Solutions Essay Introduction The rises in international trade over the last few decades lead to the boost in popularity of Letters of credit as a payment instrument. The considerable time lag between when the goods leave the country of the seller and reach the country of the buyer meant that the traditional methods of payment used in the case of domestic transactions were unsuitable. Two critical features of the letters of credit, resulted in it being considered as the best alternative. 1. The principle of Autonomy of the Letter of Credit 2. The doctrine of Strict compliance Doctrine of Strict Compliance According to the doctrine of strict compliance, banks are bound to pay the beneficiary the amount due under the credit upon the presentation of documents as mentioned in the letter of credit. Autonomy of the Letter of Credit According to the principle of autonomy of credit, the letter of credit which is a contract entered into between the applicant and the issuing bank is a separate and independent transaction from the underlying contract of sale entered into between the buyer and the seller. This principle was first recognized in common law. For example it was stated by Jenkins L. J. in Hamzeh Malas Sons v British Imex Industries Ltd. that, â€Å"the opening of a confirmed letter of credit constitutes a bargain between the banker and the vendor of the goods, which imposes upon the banker an absolute obligation to pay, irrespective of any dispute there may be between the parties as to whether the goods ( conform ) are up to contract or not. † Parties to a letter of credit often regard the principle of Autonomy of credit as a term of the credit, by expressly indicating in the text of the credit that it is subject to the rules of the UCP 600. The principle of Autonomy of Credit is confirmed by Article 4 of the UCP, which provides that, â€Å"a credit by its nature is a separate transaction from the sale or other contract on which it may be based†. The efficacy of letters of credit relies on the combination of the doctrine of strict compliance and the principle of autonomy of credit for the purpose of providing security to the beneficiary of the instrument against default by its counterparty under contract and for the purpose of protecting a beneficiary from carrying credit risk during the course of a dispute under the underlying contract, or in order to support the obligation of the account party to pay a sum of money to the beneficiary. Exception to the Principle of Autonomy of Credit Fraud as an exception to the principle of autonomy of credit, although has been considered by the judicial systems of various jurisdictions, the Judges have been reluctant to intrude on the working of the instrument on any basis. The perspective of the Judiciary has been that any interference would hamper the efficacy of the process, and as a result sole purpose the letters of credit was designed to serve would be lost. This is seen in the first English case to consider fraud as an exception to the principle of autonomy, which was Discount Records Ltd v Barclays Bank Ltd Lloyd’s Rep 444 where it was held that a mere allegation of fraud was insufficient to issue an injunction. However, with time Judicial systems have attempted to strike a balance between on the one hand safeguarding the efficient working of letters of credit as an instrument of payment, and on the other ensuring that no one benefits at a cost to another, through the commission of acts of fraud, or engaging in conduct which is considered to be unconscionable by the wider society, and/or provisions of statute in some jurisdictions. Following is an analysis of the changing attitudes of Judges and the legislatures of a few key territories. Position in the United States The position in the United States is laid down in Article 5-109 of the Uniform Commercial Code, which provides that: 1. If a required document is forged or materially fraudulent, or honor of the presentation would facilitate a material fraud by the beneficiary on the issuer or applicant: the issuer, acting in good faith, may honor or dishonor the presentation. 2. If an applicant claims that a required document is forged or materially fraudulent or that honor of the presentation would facilitate a material fraud by the beneficiary on the issuer or applicant, a court of competent jurisdiction may temporarily or permanently enjoin the issuer from honoring a presentation or grant similar relief against the issuer or other persons. The UCC has not provided an answer to the question, as to how the word ‘material’ should be interpreted or when n a particular transaction would be regarded as â€Å"materially fraudulent†. Therefore the key in attempting to obtain an injunction against a beneficiary of a letter of credit would be to examine the point of view of the Judges. It was held in the case of Ground Air Transfer v. Westates Airlines (1990) that: â€Å"Westates, the beneficiary, can truthfully say that it satisfied the letter of credits express conditions; it mailed a ten day notice to Charter One . More importantly, since Westates has at least a â€Å"colorable† claim that it acted lawfully under the contract in doing so, Westates’ call would not fall within the traditional exception for forgery or fraud. † The courts further went on to lay down certain circumstances in which granting an injunction would be justified, such as where the fraud is, â€Å"so serious as to make it obviously pointless and unjust to permit the beneficiary to obtain the money, . . . Where the circumstances plainly show that the underlying contract forbids the beneficiary to call a letter of credit, . . . where they show that the contract deprives the beneficiary of even a colorable right to do so, . . . where the contract and circumstances reveal that the beneficiarys demand for payment has absolutely no basis in fact, . . where the beneficiarys conduct has so vitiated the entire transaction that the legitimate purpose of the independence of the issuers obligation would no longer be served . . . † In the case of Mid-America Tire v. PTZ Trading Ltd Import and Export Agents , the courts held that the statement must be narrowly limited to situations of fraud in which the wrongdoing of the beneficiary has vi tiated the entire transaction and/or the demand for payment under the letter of credit has absolutely no basis in fact. Following a thorough examination of the UCC and a string of cases decided by the US courts, one may arrive at a conclusion that the decision of Justice Shientag in the case of Sztejn v J. Henry Schroeder Banking Corp. is continued to be applied as the standard. In this case Justice Shientag stated : This is not a controversy between the buyer and seller concerning a mere breach of warranty regarding the quality of the merchandise; on the present motion, it must be assumed that the seller has intentionally failed to ship any goods ordered by the buyer. In such a situation, where the sellers fraud has been called to the banks attention before the drafts and documents have been presented for payment, the principle of the independence of the banks obligation under the letter of credit should not be extended to protect the unscrupulous seller. A close evaluation of Justice Shientag’s decision in the context of the UCC would lead one to the conclusion that the standard applied in that case is synonymous to the standard the UCC has laid down, as interpreted by the Judges of the present day. The Alchemist EssayThe principle followed in Olex Focas was endorsed by the New South Wales Supreme Courts in Boral Formwork. It was held by Austin J that it was unconscionable under the TPA, for the beneficiary to demand an amount over and above the amount due to be paid. Both parties to the underlying contract had agreed that the buyers had to incur rectification expenses on the subject matter of the contract amounting to $174,065. 39. Thus injunction was granted on the basis that it was unconscionable under the TPA to claim an amount over and above what was due under the underlying contract. Striking a Balance Having considered the approaches adopted by various legal systems as to the exceptions applicable to the fraud principle, the most important issue which needs to be addressed is, whether the original objective of the use of letter of credit still being served? Does it provide adequate security to the seller against default by the buyer? Does it protect a beneficiary from carrying credit risk during the course of a dispute under the underlying contract? It was stated by Kerr J referring to documentary credit as a payment instrument, in Harbottle (RD) (Mercantile) Ltd v National Westminister Bank : â€Å"They are the life blood of international commerce†¦ They must allow to be honoured, free from interference by the courts. Otherwise trust in international commerce could be irreparably damaged. † In the case of Wood Hall Ltd v Pipeline Authority it was held that performance guarantees were to be â€Å"as good as cash† . Therefore it is evident that the level of reliability and efficacy expected of payment instruments such as performance bonds and letters of credit is relatively high in that they are presumed to be â€Å"as good as cash†. The question that seems to persist is whether letters of credit continues to remain as a stimulant to international trade, considering the apparent restriction to the autonomy principle through the formulation of various novel principles as valid grounds upon which courts have thought it justifiable to grant an injunction. On the contrary, one may argue that it is important that a balance is struck between on the one hand safeguarding the original purpose of Letter of Credits as payment instruments, while at the same time ensuring that it is not used by certain persons, especially fraudsters for the purpose of making profits at a cost to another, in turn causing injustice to them. Conclusion It may be stated that the shift towards the recognition of a few novel methods as exceptions to the autonomy principle is justifiable. As stated before, in order for a payment instrument to work efficiently, it is important that it operates in such a manner that it draws the faith of all parties to the transaction. Therefore although the strict approach adopted by the British courts before may not be justified, the inclination to recognize exceptions more readily and grant an injunction against the beneficiary is commendable. The necessity of the latest developments in Australia with the developments of the principle of unconscionability under the TPA as an exception to the autonomy of credit is justifiable to the extent that a strict approach and a high standard of proof is adopted ensuring that the efficient working of the payment instrument is not hindered. One may argue that, a further move towards adopting a lower standard of proof is necessary because, although the buyer of the goods may be able to enforce his/her rights through a separate cause of action for breach of the underlying contract, often the fraudster disappears once he has obtained the money. However, it is important to understand that any further risk which the applicant of the letter of credit (the buyer of the goods) may be subject to would be a risk he/she is required to take in the usual course of trade, and any further changes would hamper the whole process, and the purpose the letter of credit in international business would be lost. The best balance seems to be stricken by the approach adopted by the US system. However there is a lack of certainty as to what the status of the law is with regard to the particular matter. Therefore it is important that a set of rules are laid down as to when a particular transaction would be regarded as fraudulent and when it would not be regarded so. This would in my opinion act as a further stimulant to international trade as the parties to a contract would be informed of the status of the law with regard to the principle of autonomy and it’s exceptions prior to committing to a contract. Therefore let us hope that the abovementioned issues with regard to the principle of autonomy are addressed in the next revision of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits. Finally may I emphasize the fact that it is of immense importance that the parties take all practical steps within their limits to ensure the avoidance of any complications which may arise later on. Bibliography 1. International Business Law by Bryan Mercurio, Leon Trakman, Meredith Kolsky Bruno Zeller. 2. Hamzeh Malas Sons V British Imex Industries Ltd 2 QB 3. ICC Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits 2007 Revision. 4. Matthew Bisley and James Mok, Unconscionable demands under letters of credit, performance bonds and bank guarantees (2005) JBFLP 5. International Trade Law (2010) by Indira Carr and Peter Stone, 6. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) 7. Ground Air Transfer v Weststates Airlines 899 F. 2d 1269 (1990). 8. United City Merchants (Investments) Ltd v Royal Bank of Canada 1 Lloyds Rep 267, 1 Lloyds Rep 604, AC 168 9. Mahonia Ltd v JP Morgan Bank EWHC 1938 (Comm) 10. Montrod Ltd v Grundkotter Fleischvertriebs GmbH 1 All ER (Comm) 257 11. UNSW Law Journal (2001) 24(1) The Identity of the Fraudulent Party under the Law of Letter of Credit by Xiang Gao. 12. Sirius International Insurance Corp (Publ) v FAI General Insurance Co Ltd EWCA 470 13. RD) (Mercantile) Ltd v National Westminister Bank Ltd 2 All ER 862. 14. Journal of International Maritime Law (2003) 9 (6) ‘Documentary Credits and illegality in the underlying transaction’ by Jason Chuah. 15. Robin Burnett Vivienne Bath, Law of International Business in Australasia (2009). 16. Xiang Gao* and Ross P Buckley, ‘A Comparative Analysis of the Standard of Fraud Required Under the Fraud Rule in Letter of Credit Lawâ €™ (2003) Oxford U Comparative L Forum 3 at ouclf. iuscomp. org. 17. Dixon, William M, As good as cash? ‘The diminution of the autonomy principle’(2004) 32(6): Australian Business Law Review at 391-406.

Statistics and Business Challenges Research Methods

Question: Discuss about the Statistics and Business Challenges Research Methods. Answer: Introduction Tesco is a popular multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer located in Britain. The workforce of Tesco ranges across different cultures and different education levels. The diversities in the workforce of Tesco are given utmost importance in the organisation to have an effective business of the organisation (Snell et al., 2015). The HR management of the company faces various issues for this workforce diversity in their organisation. Difference in race, culture and background demystify the challenges for the management of Tesco Plc, which affects the working structure of the organisation (Epstein Buhovac, 2014). In this assignment, the challenges faced by Tesco Plc due to workforce diversity would be explored. The management of this workforce diversity by the Tesco Plc would also be explored in this assignment. The study of the impact of workforce diversity management on the organisation would also be studied in this assignment. The methods of collection of the data for this research, analysis of the collected data and the expected outcome of the research would be mentioned in this assignment. Problem statement The problem statement of this research is the challenges faced Tesco Plc due to diversity in workforce of the company and management of this workforce diversity by the organisation and the impact of the workforce diversity management on the organisation. Research aim The aim of the research is to identify the challenges faced Tesco Plc due to diversity in workforce of the company and management of this workforce diversity by the organisation. The aim also includes finding the impact of the workforce diversity management on the organisation. Research objective The objective of the research is as follows: To find the importance of the workforce diversity management To identify the primary challenges faced by the organisation due to management of diversity in workforce To understand the impact on Tesco Plc for the challenges in workforce diversity management faced by the organisation To provide suggestions to Tesco Plc regarding the improvement of workforce diversity management Research questions The questions of this research are given below: What are the importances of the workforce diversity management? What are the primary challenges faced by the organisation due to management of diversity in workforce? How is the impact on Tesco Plc for the challenges in workforce diversity management faced by the organisation? What are the suggestions to Tesco Plc regarding the improvement of workforce diversity management? Literature review As per the viewpoint of Nica (2013), it was seen that diversity of workforce is one of the major subject of contemporary human resource department of any organisation. It is seen the topic of workforce diversity management is gathering importance because effective management of workforce diversity helps the organisation to have a better growth and creates a positive impact on the business (Berman et al., 2015). Tesco Plc, being a retail company in Britain, has diversity in the workforce. The employees, ranging from workers to higher authorities belong to different places across the globes (Sabharwal, 2014). These workforces have different cultural background and they belong to different races, class and creeds. This makes the working environment of Tesco Plc an interesting subject as it has different ethnic groups in the workplace. According to the viewpoint of Kulik et al. (2014), it was found that the workforce diversity of the employees of Tesco Plc had helped in the development of the company over the years. There was various negative and positive impact of the workforce diversity management on Tesco Plc. As per the viewpoint of Kirton Greene (2015), it was seen that the current era is the era of globalisation. This implements the world to mix with various workforces across the world. Mix of different cultural and educational backgrounds, beliefs, races, creeds and others makes the society and working environment a multicultural environment (Kulik 2014). It is seen that globalisation improves the efficiency of a workplace and helps the co-workers gather knowledge regarding different cultural background, beliefs, traditions and customs. Tesco Plc, being a retail company, has their business spread worldwide. They had to frame their business policies accordingly so that they can ensure unbiased business policies at various outlets across the globe (Podsiadlowsk et al., 2013). They have international customers who travel across the globe and purchase the products from various outlets of Tesco Plc worldwide. As per the viewpoint of Daft (2012), it was seen that workforce diversity sometimes creates differences among the co-workers due to the difference in their background, culture, race and beliefs. These affect the smooth functioning of the company, Tesco Plc., and affect the business of the company. It is seen that the success and failures of the business of this retail industry mainly depend on the attitudes of the diverse workforce of the company and the effective management of the company (Martn et al., 2013). As per the viewpoint of Stone (2013), it was seen that the management of this diversity in the workforce of the Tesco Plc is important for the human resource management of the company. They frame effective policies for the smooth functioning of the company and performing important functions of the organisations. Smooth functioning of the employees is related to the healthy relationship between the co-workers and higher management (Barak, 2013). Disrespecting the co-workers and creating an unhealthy environment among the workplace would hamper their work and would affect the smooth functioning of the company. The challenges faced by the company, Tesco Plc, due to their workforce diversity management and the impact of this management on the functioning of the organisation would be studied, thereby providing an idea about the management of workforce diversity in Tesco Plc. Research methodology Type of investigation There are various methods of investigation of data which includes exploratory, explanatory and descriptive. In this research, the explanatory methods would be used to investigate the collected data. The approach of this research would be deductive as it would help in the discussion of the collected data. Research Strategy The strategy of the research includes interviewing the managers and employees of Tesco Plc to collect the data regarding the research. The collected data would help the researcher to cover up all the objective of the research and would help to frame the report of the research. Sampling and Sample Size The sample size of this research would be 60 which include 5 managers and 55 employees of the company, Tesco Plc. The sampling method that will be used in this research is the methods of random sampling. 5 managers of the company and 55 employees of the company would be chosen randomly to form the sample of the research. Techniques used for analysis The methods of descriptive statistics, methods of frequency and Pearsons correlation coefficient would be used to analyze the collected data and interpretation of these analysis would satisfy the aim of the research. Data collection The data that would be used for the research is the primary data. It would be collected by surveying 5 managers of Tesco Plc and 55 employees of the organisation. They would be provided a set of questionnaire, which would provide the sample of the research. Both qualitative and quantitative data would be used in this research. Data on Likerts scale would be used for quantitative measures. 60 samples would be used for this research. Statistical methods of descriptive statistics, frequency and Pearsons correlation coefficient would be used for analysis of the collected data. Data analysis The managers were asked about the importance of the workforce diversity management, the average value of the variable was found to be 2.8, and the standard deviation was found to be 1.30. This shows that on an average the importance of workforce diversity management was found to be variety of viewpoints. The value of standard deviation is not high and it can be interpreted that the managers feel that the diversity in the viewpoints is important for workforce diversity. The average value for the challenges faced by workforce diversity management was found to be 2.4 and the standard deviation 1.14. This shows that the resistance to change is the average problem faced by the managers of the company on this variable. The variable impact on Tesco Plc for the challenges in workforce diversity management has the average value of 2.2 and the standard deviation of the variable is 0.8366. This suggests that on an average the managers of the company feel that the impact on Tesco Plc due to the challenges in workforce diversity management is provides opportunity of creativity. They feel that it provides the employees an opportunity to show their innovative attitudes and put forward their creativity, which would help the company in their business in the end. The average value of the variable suggestions to improve workforce diversity management is found to be 2.4 and the standard deviation is found to be 1.14. This shows that the managers feel address diversity in every aspect of talent management is the best option to improve workforce diversity management. The value of standard deviation is not high, which suggests that the addressing the diversity would result to better workforce diversity management. On surveying the employees regarding the workforce diversity management, 17 of them had said that the management of workforce diversity is highly important, 16 of them said that they are important while 9 of them remained neutral about it. 7 of the employees said that it is less important while 6 of them said it is least important. The Pearsons correlation coefficient between importance of workforce diversity management and degree of challenges faced was found to be 0.088. This shows that the importance of workforce diversity management and degree of challenges faced is positively correlated with each other and the strength of association between the two variables is weak. 33 employees said that they face challenges regarding the workforce diversity management while 22 of them said that they do not face any challenges. Survey result shows that the 17 employees face higher degree of challenges regarding workforce diversity management, 11 of them face high challenges regarding workforce diversity management and 8 of them gave neutral views regarding it. 12 employees said that they face less challenges while 7 of them said they face least challenges. It is seen that 15 employees had higher impact of workforce diversity management challenges, 19 of them had high impact on the of workforce diversity management challenges and 10 of them gave their views as neutral. 7 of them said that they had low impact of workforce diversity management challenges while 4 of them had least impact of workforce diversity management challenges. It was also seen that the 9 employees suggested the method of identifying new talents as a suggestion to improve workforce diversity management, 15 employees suggested the methods of address diversity in every aspect of talent management, 23 of them suggested the method of create ways to connect like people and 8 of them said that look beyond compliances. This shows that the employees prefer to create ways to connect with the people so that they can know their co-workers properly and can understand them for better performance in the workplace. The Pearsons correlation coefficient shows that the correlation coefficient of how important is the workforce diversity management with the variables degree of impact of workforce diversity management challenges and suggestions to improve workforce diversity management is -0.103112436 and 0.262749078 respectively. This shows that the degree of impact of workforce diversity management on its importance is negatively related with each other and the degree of association is weak in this case. The importances of workforce diversity management challenges are weakly and positively correlated with suggestions of its improvement, which shows that its importance is dependent on the suggestions of improvement. The Pearsons correlation coefficient between degrees of challenges faced and degree of impact of workforce diversity management challenges and suggestions to improve workforce diversity management was found to be 0.24 and -0.104 respectively. It can be interpreted that the degree of the challenges faced is weakly, positively correlated with degree of impact of the challenges, and negatively correlated with the suggestions provided for improvement. The Pearsons correlation coefficient between degree of impact of workforce diversity management challenges and suggestions to improve workforce diversity management was found to be 0.089, which is a weak and positive correlation coefficient. This shows that the impact of the challenges is positive when the suggestions regarding the improvement of challenges are positive. Ethical consideration The respondents must be informed about the aim of the research and they should not be forced to answer the questionnaire. Consents must be taken from the respondents prior to the use of their responses in the survey. The researcher must not alter any responses of the respondents and he should keep the identity of the respondents confidential. The researcher must not for the respondents to respond to the questions and he shall be easily approachable by the respondents. Gantt chart Week 1 Week 6 Week 10 Week 13 Week 14 Introduction Literature review Data collection Data analysis Expected outcome Table 1: Gantt chart of the research (Source: created by author) Expected outcome It is expected that the managers would prefer variety of viewpoints as the importance of the workforce diversity management. They might also think that resistance to change is the major challenge that they would face during workforce diversity management. The managers are expected to agree that providing better opportunity for the creativity would be the impact of the challenges on Tesco Plc and they would prefer to create ways to connect like people to improve workforce diversity management. It is also expected that the workforce diversity management is important for the employees. The employees are expected to face challenges regarding the workforce diversity management and the degrees of challenges are expected to be of higher level. The degree of impact of workforce diversity management challenges are expected to be high and the employees are expected to suggest the method of create ways to connect like people for the improvement of workforce diversity management. References Barak, M. E. M. (2013). Managing diversity: Toward a globally inclusive workplace. Sage Publications. Berman, E. M., Bowman, J. S., West, J. P., Van Wart, M. R. (2015). Human resource management in public service: Paradoxes, processes, and problems. Sage Publications. Daft, R. (2012). Organization theory and design. Nelson Education. Epstein, M. J., Buhovac, A. R. (2014). Making sustainability work: Best practices in managing and measuring corporate social, environmental, and economic impacts. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Kirton, G., Greene, A. M. (2015). The dynamics of managing diversity: A critical approach. Routledge. Kulik, C. T. (2014). Working below and above the line: The researchpractice gap in diversity management. Human Resource Management Journal, 24(2), 129-144. Kulik, C. T., Ryan, S., Harper, S., George, G. (2014). Aging populations and management. Academy of Management Journal, 57(4), 929-935. Martn Alczar, F., Miguel Romero Fernndez, P., Snchez Gardey, G. (2013). Workforce diversity in strategic human resource management models: A critical review of the literature and implications for future research. Cross Cultural Management: An International Journal, 20(1), 39-49. Nica, E. (2013). Organizational culture in the public sector. Economics, Management and Financial Markets, 8(2), 179. Podsiadlowski, A., Grschke, D., Kogler, M., Springer, C., Van Der Zee, K. (2013). Managing a culturally diverse workforce: Diversity perspectives in organizations. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 37(2), 159-175. Sabharwal, M. (2014). Is diversity management sufficient? Organizational inclusion to further performance. Public Personnel Management, 0091026014522202. Snell, S. A., Morris, S. S., Bohlander, G. W. (2015). Managing human resources. Nelson Education. Stone, R. J. (2013). Managing human resources. John Wiley and Sons. Thomas, K. M. (Ed.). (2012). Diversity resistance in organizations. Psychology Press.

Health Care and Affordable Care Act free essay sample

Formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), â€Å"ObamaCare† has many functions that are unknown to the public and because of this ignorance many people do not approve of it. As you continue reading, the facts about ObamaCare will be presented and then you can make an informed decision on whether or not you agree with the public policy. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010 by President Barack Obama to reform the health care industry. It was later upheld by the Supreme Court on June 28, 2012; however, the court held that states cannot be forced to participate in the ACA’s Medicaid expansion under penalty of losing their current Medicaid funding. It represents the most significant regulatory overhaul of the U. S. health care system since the passage of Medicaid and Medicare. The purpose of this act is to give more Americans access to affordable, quality health insurance while reducing the growth in health care spending in the United States. We will write a custom essay sample on Health Care and Affordable Care Act or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Affordable Care Act does so by expanding the affordability, quality and availability of private and public health insurance through consumer protections, regulations subsidies, taxes, etc. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has continued to be implemented around the United States over the past year now. There are many people who benefit from this recent reform but many see it as giving Americans another safety net to fall back on without having to do much work. Where do you stand? Is ObamaCare worth the money that’s being spent on it or is it just another easy way out?

Theme - Definition and Examples in Composition

Theme s in Composition Definitions (1) In literature and composition, a  theme is the main idea of a text, expressed directly or indirectly. Adjective: thematic. (2) In composition studies, a theme is a short essay or  composition assigned as a writing exercise. See also: Composing My First College Essay, by Sandy KlemFive-Paragraph EssayModels of CompositionTheme WritingWhats Wrong With the Five-Paragraph Essay? See Examples and Observations below. Also, see: EpiphanyMotifPlotThesis Etymology From the Greek, placed or laid down Examples and Observations (definition #1): Simply put, a storys theme is its idea or point (formulated as a generalization). The theme of a fable is its moral; the theme of a parable is its teaching; the theme of a short story is its implied view of life and conduct. Unlike the fable and parable, however, most fiction is not designed primarily to teach or preach. Its theme, thus, is more obliquely presented. In fact, theme in fiction is rarely presented at all; readers abstract it from the details of characters and action that compose the story.(Robert DiYanni, Literature. McGraw-Hill, 2002) Orwells Theme(s) in the Essay A Hanging- A Hanging is [George] Orwells first distinctive work. It gives an apparently objective account of a ritualistic executionfrom fixed bayonets to a bag over the head of the condemnedin which the narrator officially and actively participates. . . . At this halfway point Orwell states his theme: till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man. When I saw the pris oner step aside to avoid the puddle, I saw the mystery, the unspeakable wrongness, of cutting a life short when it is in full tide. Instead of invoking religion, he asserts a quasi-religious sense of lifes sacrednessthe first expression of the instinctive humanism that characterizes all his work.(Jeffrey Meyers, Orwell: Wintry Conscience of a Generation. Norton, 2000)- A variation on this theme occurs in several of Orwells most famous texts containing epiphanies, moments of illumination in which the humanity of people he has hitherto viewed in terms of dehumanizing generalizations suddenly breaks through, and Orwells perception is jarred as he understands, with a shock, that these are people like himself. . . . In the early sketch entitled A Hanging (1931), Orwell describes how his idea of what it means to kill a man is altered by the Hindu prisoners gesture of stepping aside to avoid a puddle on the way to the gallows. What the text reveals, however, is that the prisoner at first l ooks to Orwell like a mere insignificant object. Into this scene, well defined in terms of the prisoners already marginal existence, breaks the unexpected gesture, making Orwell (or the Orwellian narrative persona) realize that the prisoner is alive, just as he is . . . . This chronicle is generally interpreted along the lines Orwell lays down, as the revelation of the barbarity of execution, but its primary meaning, I believe, is another. An inferiorized human being has for an instant become a genuine person in the eyes of one of the masters.(Daphne Patai,The Orwell Mystique: A Study in Male Ideology. University of Massachusetts Press, 1984) The Themes of the Novel Charlottes Web- Themes are subject to readers interpretation, so different individuals may identify different themes in the same book; the dominant idea or theme, however, should be apparent to readers.Charlottes Web offers many layers of meaning to readers. Younger children are apt to understand this book as an animal fantasy. Older children are ready to apprehend the cycle of life and death, while adults recognize the irony in a situation that gives one character credit for the creativity of another. This is why we recommend using Charlottes Web in the third or fourth grade, when children are ready to understand its major theme.(Barbara Stoodt et al., Childrens Literature:Discovery for a Lifetime. Macmillan, 1996)- Identifying theme is typically a bit more difficult perhaps because theme is often confused with plot summary or motif. . . . Charlottes Web (White, 1952) is a story about a pig whose life is saved by a spider is not a theme statement! It is a pl ot statement. Charlottes Web is a story about friendship is also not a theme statement! Rather, it is a statement identifying one of the most important motifs in the storyfriendship. A theme in Charlottes Web is that true friendship involves responsibilities as well as privileges is a theme statement!(R. Craig Roney, The Story Performance Handbook. Lawrence Erlbaum, 2001)- Besides mortality itself, throughout many idyllic scenes [in Charlottes Web] Andy [White] dabbed colorful spots of melancholy. He translated the song sparrows aria as sweet, sweet, sweet interlude and informed the reader that it referred to lifes brevity. Crickets harped on the same theme. But overall Andys theme was the joy of being alive, of reveling in the moment with visceral attention. What seemed like two themes were really one.(Michael Sims, The Story of Charlottes Web. Walker, 2011) The Difference Between Plot and ThemeIf you sometimes confuse plot with theme, keep the two elements separate by thinking of theme as what the story is about, and plot as the situation that brings it into focus. You might think of theme as the message of the storythe lesson to be learned, the question that is asked, or what it is the author is trying to tell us about life and the human condition. Plot is the action by which this truth will be demonstrated.(Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, quoted by Kenneth John Atchity and Chi-Li Wong in Writing Treatments That Sell, rev. ed. Henry Holt, 2003) Thesis and ThemeThe thesis is the main point you are trying to argue [in a composition]: for instance, that abortion is every womans right or that housing discrimination is wrong. The theme, on the other hand, is a motif established by orchestrated connotative language that reinforces the thesis. Theme differs from thesis in that theme relies on inference and suggested meaning rather than on direct st atement.(Kristin R. Woolever, About Writing: A Rhetoric for Advanced Writers. Wadsworth, 1991) Pronunciation: THEEM

Human Resources Management of Kwik-Fit Financial Services Term Paper

Human Resources Management of Kwik-Fit Financial Services - Term Paper Example The call center contacted the highly probable people in the list and sold the insurance policies and other financial services to these people. This model was successful initially and continued to improve until the time when the company was taken over by Ford. Though the value of the company went up when this was again subsequently taken over by another venture capital group, there was no change in the downward trend that has started. This has arisen primarily because, the call centers are human-centric and a dissatisfied and unhappy staff does not augur well for the company. The number of people who work in the company for a longer stint slowly comes down as the company started to lose ground. The company was on the verge of growth. As a matter of fact, the company was one of the call centers established in the region and had about 850 employees on its rolls. The employees found themselves de-motivated due to a number of take-overs that has been happening in the company and a number of grievances that were not given a hearing. The annual staff turnover in the company was at around 52% and a vacancy rate that was well over 21%. Naturally, with such large turnover and vacancy rates the company had started doing badly and the company was financially falling down2. The business model of the company was simple. The probable leads list come from their own company Kwik-Fit Auto center from which the best of the probe are picked up and they are followed up from the call center. The large scale vacancy and the large turnover of the staff both compounded the problem at the call center and started to bring the company down to the red. The human resource turn over in the company happens because of large scale unhappiness over the working of the company and the people do not fancy working in the company anymore. Of course, the pay does matter. But it is more often the working methods and the environment that compounds the issue and accelerates human turnovers in the company.  

Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall Research Paper

Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall - Research Paper Example Thurgood Marshall was a strong supporter of Martin Luther King and his efforts to liberate the black community from suppression. He has supported the anti-colonial struggles in Asia and Africa. In fact he has travelled the African countries in order to extend his support to the anti-colonial movements. At the same time he supported America’s involvement in the military conflicts with North Korea and Vietnam. Even though many of the Americans opposed the Vietnam War, Marshall was a strong supporter of Vietnam War as the Solicitor General and as a Supreme Court Justice. Many people believe that Marshall supported Vietnam War in order to avoid a possible clash between American judiciary and Executive or Legislative branches. Moreover, he was a strong opponent of communism which was another reason for the his support to Vietnam War. â€Å"Justice Marshall was an unyielding opponent of capital punishment, and voted to overturn every death sentence that came before the Court. He proved as strong a champion of freedom of expression as he had been for civil rights† (The Legacy of Thurgood Marshall, p11). Marshall’s effort to stop capital punishment has not been succeeded. Even then he has expressed his strong protest against capital punishment many times. In his opinion, human has no authority to take the life of a person even though it is necessary to punish the criminals. In his opinion, only the creator has the sole right over the life of his creations. At the same time he was a strong advocate of freedom of expression and civil rights. It was Marshall’s belief that government and society must permit each individual to achieve the limits of his or her intellectual and creative ability; to eliminate artificial barriers of bias, prejudice, arbitrary authority or paternalism and to the proposition that the ordinary person, whatever his or her color or sex, needs the protection of law (Shah) He has witnessed many incidents in American society itself with

The Environmental Impact Assessment Process Essay

The Environmental Impact Assessment Process - Essay Example EIA has the potential of cutting down on costs involved in an unanticipated environmental impact (PADC, 2007, pg.7). The costs involved in facilitating the changes that have to be made upon completion of the project, due to environmental effects, will be more than the costs involved in trying to avoid the harmful ramifications (EIA, 2015). The processes involved in coming up with an EIA report may not necessarily translate to a delay in the planning of the project. However, experience has shown that delays experienced in the planning of projects can be significantly reduced with an effective EIA that will lead to saving time and costs. The exact period of coming up with an EIA may range from anywhere between three months to two years. The time depends on factors such as the nature of the project, its location and availability of research data. It is highly recommended that the process of EIA be integrated with other project planning activities so that it can be carried out at the same time with the rest of the project. The integration will enable saving of time, thus avoiding delays as a result of the EIA planning. The EIA process raises environmental issues that have to be put into consideration when carrying out the planning of any project. The EIA has the potential of necessitating the redesigning or delaying of a project. It can also offer suggestions that can be made on the project once it has been found out that the project can cause significant impacts on the environment. An effective EIA will have the effect of cutting down on costs and delays that otherwise would have affected the planning of the project. Therefore, EIA makes a significant difference to projects and decision-making once it has been approved. 2. Critically review the role of consultation and public participation (CPP) in the EIA process. Indicate the benefits and difficulties associated with undertaking CPP at various stages and in involving various types of stakeholders, and discuss the main methods of achieving effective CPP. Use examples as appropriate in your answer.

Development of the ECCE Sector in Ireland

Development of the ECCE Sector in Ireland Anne-Marie Keegan Historical development the role of the government of the ECCE sector in Ireland from the 1960’s up to and including the present day. I am going to explain the historical development of the ECCE sector in Ireland from the 1960’s up to and including the present day. I will also cover the following points: Historical development of the ECCE. Equal opportunity legislation. Historical development of the ECCE. Over the past 50 years Ireland has changed completely regarding the government, childcare and its families. Ireland conventionally had a laissez-faire policy approach with regarding the children. Laissez-faire means† the policy of leaving things to take their own course, without interfering. A laissez-faire attitude to life (Oxford dictionaries, 2014). The government have now come up with the idea of funding a free preschool year; this was aimed at families that could not afford to send their children to preschool, so therefore this is an advantage for the children aged 3-4 years as they are getting the education they need. As seen in the 1960’s it was quite a tradition for the men to work on the likes of farms and for the women to stay at home and mind their children. The women were not allowed in the work place in the 1960’s. All of this change so much during the ‘Celtic Tiger’. Nowadays you would rarely see as tradition was before, a housewife and a working father. This has also changed family structure over the past 60 years. Whereas nowadays it would be more natural for children to be raised by a one parent family or even step parents. Also now divorce has become more acceptance than before in the 1960’s where it would have been frown upon. Childcare has been more about mothers than fathers, whereas now the childcare settings are trying to introduce the fathers into this setting as part of diversity. From this setting there are more groups which have been set up to help the children like the following: special needs assistant, childcare committees and after school groups which is a one on one session. Equal opportunity legislation During the past 50 years there has been a major change to equal opportunity in Ireland. The government has brought in the employment equality act 1998. This is based on the 9 grounds of discrimination, which are: Gender Family status Marital status Age Disability Sexual orientation Religion Race Membership of the traveller community. So from the above 9 grounds the childcare setting will abide by these for example there will be no judgement on the children who attend the crà ¨che for example their race or even religion. So I think that the government had the right idea bringing in this legislation as in the 1960’s they would have discriminated against many people, but now its quite right and fair how people are been treated. There are many different types of discrimination for example: â€Å"Direct Discrimination: Happens where a person is treated less favourably specifically on one of the nine discriminatory grounds. Indirect Discrimination: Happens where there is less favourable treatment in effect e.g. where people are refused a service or employment not explicitly on account of a discriminatory reason but because of a practice or requirement which they find harder to satisfy – resident’s association for example. Discrimination by Association: Happens where a person associated with another person is treated less favourably because of that association.† (Equal at work) Other important legislation which the government have brought in regarding the ecce setting is: White paper on early childhood education. Ready to learn (1999) Q2. Discuss two pieces of statutory legislation that the ECCE settings must adhere to protect the welfare of children. I will discuss the following two: 1. Equal Opportunity Act (2000) This act is based on the 9 grounds of discrimination, which are as follows: Marital Status Family Status Race Religion Age Disability Sexual Orientation Gender Membership of the Traveller Community The above 9 grounds of discrimination allow for everybody to receive the same opportunity’s, without been discriminated for example their sexuality or nationality. My understanding of this act is that everyone is entitled to be treated with the same amount of respect as any other person. It also promotes equality and diversity, which is an excellent thing. Childcare Act 1991. From my understanding of this that it has the best interests of the child at heart. It also has high quality standards, for example, the childcare setting should be fully staffed to the national ratios and also to the space provided. The act has now been implemented and basic rights of the children should be met. There has been great measures been met daily to protect children from danger, for example, â€Å"no one waits until a child has been burned by fire or run down by a car to teach them about fires and road safety. â€Å" Donohue and Gaynor. Q3. Discuss and evaluate the children first guidelines for the protection and welfare of children in Ireland. Discuss: This Act came about in 2011, by the minister for children and youth affairs, Ms. Frances Fitzgerald TD. The guidance it’s self-deals with recognising, reporting and the management of child safety concerns. It sets out a number of key points in relation to the protection of children. Some of the key points are the safety and welfare of children, children’s wellbeing, saver lives for children and also the reporting of concerns and co-operation with statutory bodies. Children first is national guidance that promotes the protection of children from abuse and neglect. It also states what organisations need to do to keep children safe, and what the general public should do if they have a query about a child’s safety and welfare. The guidelines are set out specifically for the HSE social workers, Gardaà ­ and other forms of professionals working with suspected abuse and neglect. It’s very important that the different agencies share the information that they have as, as it is in the best interest of the children, which is what the guidance is all about to ensure better outcomes in the future. Anybody can read the children’s first document, but it is especially for the HSE social workers, Gardaà ­ and children first staff working directly with the children for example teachers, the health sector and clubs. All organisations have responsibilities, including the likes of schools, Government Departments, public sector agencies, funded organisations and health services. They all have the responsibility to safeguard the children by: Raising awareness within the organisation about potential risks to childrens safety and welfare. Promoting the general welfare, health, development and safety of children. Adopting and consistently applying a safe and clearly defined method of recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers. Developing effective procedures for responding to accidents and complaints. If organisations have concerns for children they should contact the HSE as they will deal with them effectively. Children first was first published in 1999. The principle and substance of the document (2011) are unchanged. The guidance has been updated to reflect new policy, legislation and organisation (HSE, HIQA, DoCYA). The document reflects the ongoing of bullying as a feature of abuse. The guidance will make children safer as the guidance is made fit for purpose. If the public need information on this guidance they can get it in each Garda station, general practioner, primary schools and secondary schools as one hard copy has been provided. People can also get their information off the following sites: www.dcya.ie and www.hse.ie . Evaluation: From reading about the Children First National Guidance 2011, I myself have come up with the following conclusion. It focuses on the child needs, which is quite important. The child is always the Centre, meaning the child always comes first in any of the situations which occur. A person apply to work in the childcare sector, now needs to be fully garda vetted as to the child’s protection is the main priority. The guidance is focused on a saver life for the children and all agencies working together to achieve this. Q4. Outline two pieces of social policy one national and one international. Discuss the impact on the wellbeing of children and families. International: UN Convention. This policy consists of 54 different articles regarding to the rights of a child. It basically gives everyone under the age of 18 the following rights: The right to a name. The right to an education. The right to know their rights and responsibilities. The right to clean water. The right to live and develop. The right to be safe from harm and neglect. The right to privacy. The right to heath care. The right to a nationality. The right to be treated equally and fairly. So as you can see from the above points, the UN Convention is all about focusing on the rights of the child. A from some of the articles which I will mention below, they focus on the wellbeing of the children and their families. Article 2 All children have these rights, no matter who they are, where they live, what their parents do, what language they speak, what their religion is, whether they are a boy or girl, what their culture is, whether they have a disability, whether they are rich or poor. No child should be treated unfairly on any basis. I think this article explains itself really as not one person should feel any different, and everyone should be treated the same so that the families and their children all feel the same and no different from other people. Article 7 You have the right to a name, and this should be officially recognised by the government. You have the right to a nationality (to belong to a country). This means that all is welcome in to a country without feeling left out. Article 9 You have the right to live with your parent(s), unless it is bad for you. You have the right to live with a family who cares for you. All children and their families have the right to live a happy life of their own without any interference from others. This is necessary for their wellbeing. Article 11 You have the right to be protected from kidnapping. All children should be safe from any kind of kidnapping no matter where they live. Article 12 You have the right to give your opinion, and for adults to listen and take it seriously. I really like this article a lot as I believe that if each and every child spoke out about their problems, that it could save lives in later years. It would definitely create a bond with the child and their parents, which is great for both of their wellbeing’s. Article 13 You have the right to find out things and share what you think with others, by talking, drawing, and writing or in any other way unless it harms or offends other people. All children and adults are and should be allowed to express their feelings in whichever way they like, as it’s not a good idea to hold it all inside, As said above its alright unless it harms or offends others. Article 14 You have the right to choose your own religion and beliefs. Your parents should help you decide what is right and wrong, and what is best for you. I believe that everyone should choose their own religion, as there is too much fighting over what religion people are. People should feel safe in which religion they wish to choose, as it is their own choice and they should not be bullied into it. Article 17 You have the right to get information that is important to your well-being, from radio, newspaper, books, computers and other sources. Adults should make sure that the information you are getting is not harmful, and help you find and understand the information you need. Article 20 You have the right to special care and help if you cannot live with your parents. This is necessary in some situations, and sometimes it is for the wellbeing of the child. So therefore it is alright. Article 21 You have the right to care and protection if you were adopted or are in foster care. Article 23 You have the right to special education and care if you have a disability, as well as all the rights in this Convention, so that you can live a full life. I really agree with this article as I believe no matter what all children even with a disability should be entitled to a fair education. An everyone should be treated the same. Article 26 You have the right to help from the government if you are poor or in need. This is very well needed, as some families need help and have nowhere to get it from. This could cause the child to get bullied in school and could lead to low self-esteem, which is not good for their health or well-being. So yes the government should help out. Article 27 You have the right to food, clothing, and a safe place to live and to have your basic needs met. You should not be disadvantaged so that you can’t do many of the things other kids can do. Again this is similar to the above article. Article 29 Your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities. It should also help you learn to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people. If this is done the right way without the child been forced to develop their skills, the child will be amazing at their talent. This will give them a huge confidence boost and make them happy. Article 33 You have the right to protection from harmful drugs and from the drug trade. Each and every child is entitled to live a drug free life; this should not be forced upon them in anyway. Article 34 You have the right to be free from sexual abuse. Article 42 You have the right to know your rights! Adults should know about these rights and help you learn about them, too. All adults should explain the rights of a child to their children, as its good for the adult to learn them too. Articles 43 to 54 These articles explain how governments and international organisations like UNICEF will work to ensure children are protected with their rights. The above articles (italic only) were cited on: http://www.oco.ie/education-and-human-rights/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child.html So from reading the above and finding out about them, I have learned that the UN Convention is definitely well and truly needed for the safety and well-being of the child and also their families. An each and every person is entitled to these no matter what their circumstances are. An also it’s good that the government will help out those who are in need. People dont actually realise this, but this is actually saving some peoples life’s knowing that there is help out there, in which is excellent for their health and well-being in a way. National Constitution of Ireland The constitution is a document in which recognises and declares that the people living in Ireland have certain fundamental rights. These are natural human rights and are protected by the constitution. Not every fundamental right which we have is set out by the constitution, only the rights which are specifically stated in the constitution. Fundamental rights can be limited or even restricted by the oireachtas on the grounds, for example, public order or for the common good. Some of the main constitution rights are: Equality before the law Right to life Freedom of expression Freedom of association Bodily integrity Trial by jury The right to privacy The right to earn a livelihood Freedom to travel The rights of the family All of the above are in relation to the wellbeing of children and their families as they were made to give or make their lives happier. The constitution is all about giving children and their families their basic rights, as one of the above rights is, â€Å"right to life†, every single human should be entitled to this and live it in which way they possibly feel like, without any interference from others. The constitution was made so that everyone including children and their families can live a life of their own, without and interference and to which happiness they would like. This increases their confidence knowing that they have these rights. It was also set up for their protection for example, no person can working the childcare sector without being garda vetted first. This is needed as you need to feel save leave your children a childcare setting, and also the child needs to feel safe and secure. So to sum all of this up the constitution has an extremely important part in a child’s and family’s health and wellbeing. It is there to help all, an people need to know and learn more about their rights. References Oxford dictionaries. (2014). ‘oxford dictionaries’. Oxford university press. UK. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/laissez-faire [assessed 20/02/2014]. Equal at work. ‘Equality legislation-a summary’. Ireland: equal at work. Cited on: www.dublinpact.ie/word/equalitylegislation-irl.doc‎. Accessed on: 21/02/2104. The Ombudsman for children (2110). UN Convention on the rights of the child. The Ombudsman for children. Ireland. Cited on:http://www.oco.ie/education-and-human-rights/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child.html accessed on: 25/02/2014. Donohue,J and Gaynor, f. (2011). EDUCATION AND CARE 4TH EDITION in the early years. Spain. Gill and McMillan. Page 162. Word count: 2735. Anne-Marie KeeganPage 1 Development of the ECCE Sector in Ireland Development of the ECCE Sector in Ireland Contents (Jump to) Introduction Historical development of the ECCE sector in Ireland Provisions for ECCE ECCE Scheme DAI Child benefit welfare Public Health Nurses Health Equal opportunity legislation and mention at least three items of legislation and relevant to children Show how you maintain a quality ECCE environment that complies with relevant regulations and standards. First aid Behaviour management Sà ­olta Conclusion Bibliography Introduction This report will research and discuss the historical development of the ECCE sector in Ireland with relation to the Child Care Act 1991, equal opportunity act and more legislation that set up the grounds in developing the ecce sector. Next it will look at two ECCE provisions set up by the state such as public health nurses and child benefit. Then it will have a look at one health and welfare provision set up by the state. Then it will have a look at the equal opportunity legislation with legislation and policy that affect children in the ECCE sector. Lastly it will show how to maintain a quality ECCE environment that complies with current ECCE regulation and standers with relation to the pre-school regulations and the equal opportunity act. Historical development of the ECCE sector in Ireland In early Ireland most childcare was done at home by the mother or the grandparents. This is because the father in the family main role was to provide for the family and the mothers main role was a home carer. Only a limited few mothers worked outside the home. From the 1960-1990 Ireland was changing immensely with Ireland opening up to European and international ideas and technology base economy urbanizing Ireland causing families to move to cities and towns away from their extended family. More women were joining the workforce by the 1990s because the Celtic tiger, this made advocate support services to start such as Early Childhood Ireland. The Child Care Act 1991 and preschool regulations started the improvement of childcare in Ireland. The 1991 act gave the HSE the duty to promote the welfare of the child but this act was largely unregulated because an inspection system wasn’t established until 1997. The preschool regulation act improved the structure and the process of ch ildcare in Ireland and also set up an inspection system. In 2000 the government came in with the equal Opportunities Childcare Programme for a national development plan was established to improve the quality of childcare and also increased participation. In September 2007 the updated pre-school regulations 2006 came into effect, these regulation gave the childcare practitioners very specific requirements on how their childcare service should be ran such as child to adult ratio, suitable nutritious foods, and register for the children and many more regulations. These are set to improve the quality of all ECCE sectors. The ECCE set up a scheme called the free year programme. This programme is set up to give children a pre-school year to get them ready for primary school and give them the first learning experiences and becomes the start of their social and learning development Provisions for ECCE ECCE Scheme The Early Childhood Care and Education scheme gives parents the choice to put their children into a free year of early childhood care an education if they are aged between 3 years and 3 months and 4 years and 6 months on the first of September in which the service starts. Exceptions can be made if a child is verified as having a special need making a later starting date acceptable. The normal pattern for the free pre-school year is three hours a day over a 38 week period, if you go over these three hours you will be charged extra. Children over the age limit due to special needs might be able to be exempt from the age limit on the ECCE scheme if parents write to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs asking for an exemption from the age limit .Children with a disability are allowed to spread their free year programme over a two year period if they would benefit from this. There is no charge for parents availing this service. The state capitation fee pays these childcare service s to provide the ECCE hours. Parents might be asked to pay for extra activities but these have to be optional and there must be other appropriate activities set up for the children not taking part. DAI The dyslexia association of Ireland (DAI) was founded in 1972 to work with and for people that are affected by dyslexia. The DAI provides information, offers suitable support services and help in representing and raising awareness about dyslexia. Their vision is for a society that is dyslexia friendly where they are able to reach their maximum potential. Everyone with dyslexia has appropriate support and identification to achieve their maximum potential in all aspects in life. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects reading and spelling skills with around 10% of Ireland affected. There are a lot of services the DAI provide such as information services through every form of communication. They have an assessment service that has a team of educational psychologists that work with children young people and adults. They also have other services like tuition for both adults and children who have been diagnosed with dyslexia. For people with dyslexia the dyslexia associatio n website has every single bit of information that someone with dyslexia would need even putting a feature on their page so people with dyslexia who struggle reading black on white can change the background colour of the page to make is easier for them to read Child benefit welfare Parents or guardians can claim child benefit for a child under the age of 16 or under 18 if that child is in a youth reach programme, full time education or has a disability. Child benefit is not eligible for children age 18 of over because in the eyes of the law they are now an adult Child benefit for twins is paid at one and half of the monthly rate for each individual child, other multiple births is double the rate. To apply for child benefit you need to apply within the first month of your childs birth. The month you became guardian of the child or the month you family came to live in Ireland. To keep on child benefit after age 16 for a child with a disability you have to apply a month before the childs 16th birthday. For children in full time education child benefit will continue until the month of June stop and resume that September when they start back at education. EU citizens living in Ireland can claim child benefit even if your child is not in the country, but if he is living in an EU country where regulations apply you should claim for family benefit that you are entitled to there. The child benefit monthly rate is â‚ ¬140 per child it increased by â‚ ¬5 in January of 2015 Public Health Nurses Health Public Health Nurses are usually based in a towns local health centre and they are each assigned to different places and geographical areas all over Ireland. These public health nurses are employed by the health service executive to provide the community with a range of health care services. These services are provided in a range of different places such as community centres, day care centres, schools, health centres and in peoples homes they provide basic nursing care, advice and assistance to all their patients. For terminally ill patients they can provide weekend nursing and twilight nursing. Sometimes public health nurses sometimes visit mothers and their new-born babies. They also visit primary schools in arrangements with the school health services. Public health nurses keep a register for old people and people with a disability and visit them in some areas in Ireland. For people in Ireland with communication difficulties or disorders public health nurses can provide a speech a nd language therapy. Equal opportunity legislation and mention at least three items of legislation and relevant to children The main principles behind the equal status acts are that everyone equally has the right to live and participate in society’s services without being discriminated against. The people who provide these public services cannot discriminate against the nine grounds of discrimination that are: Race Religion Age Gender Sexuality Disabilities Travelling community Marital status The civil partnership ground In relation to a child care setting all these grounds have to be followed, for example. A member of the travelling community has to be allowed to use all ECCE services and that child cannot be bullied or discriminated against in that service because of the family they come from where they live. A childcare worker has to treat that child the same as any other in their service Another example is for children with a disability such as a child in a wheel chair. Public services must have the facilities to be able to cater for the child’s needs such as wheel care ramps and elevators so the child can freely move around the building Another example is sex; a young boy cannot be discriminated against if he wants to do an activity such as ballet. Just because the majority of people who do ballet are female does not mean the young child should be discriminated against and also girls who want to do activities such as a physically sport such as rugby, this child’s decisions should be respected Show how you maintain a quality ECCE environment that complies with relevant regulations and standards. The preschool regulations are set to improve the standards in child care and to ensure the health, welfare and safety of pre-school children in promoting their development First aid In a childcare building there should always be a first aid box in the building. Should also be a person who has a qualification in first aid in the building at all times. On days outside the building with the children a first aid box should be brought along and the person with the first aid qualification should also come along with the children. This is to make sure if anything happened the child the child-minder is able to help the child. This links with the pre-school regulations 2006 regulation 6 Behaviour management In the 2006 pre-school regulations it clearly states in regulation 9 that: â€Å"A person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that no corporal punishment is inflicted on a pre-school child attending the service† (Anon., 2008) Therefore in the childcare setting every child should be respected there should be no practices that are neglectful emotionally or physically harmful, intimidating, degrading or disrespectful. Sà ­olta Sà ­olta is the national quality framework for early childhood education, sà ­olta is made to asses, define and support the improvement of the quality of practice in all ECCE sectors with children in their service ages 0-6 years. The16 standards give all childcare practitioners’ a vision to apply to all aspects of the ECCE practice; some examples of these are standards are: Each child in the service has the right to make their own choices and decisions and all their own choices made should be respected, this is stated in the 4th standards of Sà ­olta Each child is allowed to take their own initiate in the activities that they do giving them the appropriately level of independence and support in the child problem solving, this is stated in the 1st standard of Sà ­olta These 12 standards give early childhood and care practitioners a standard of quality in which all sectors of the ECCE must apply in their services. Conclusion In this report it has looked at the historical development of the ECCE sector in Ireland talking about the roles of the family before the Celtic tiger, the childcare act 1991 the pre-school regulations 1996 and 2006, the equal opportunity act 2000 and the ECCE scheme 2010. The report then looks at two state provisions set up by the state, talking about the ECCE scheme set up to help people in disadvantaged and disabled children in Ireland, and the DAI (Dyslexia association of Ireland) set up to help and give people with dyslexia the information needed. Next the report looks at one health and welfare provision state up by the state that are, child benefit for welfare, set up to help parents with children in full time education or children with disabilities and public health nurses as health, set up to provide the community with range of health care services. The report then has a look at the equal opportunity legislation and mentions three items of policy and legislation that are rele vant to children in the ECCE sector. Lastly, the report shows you how to maintain a quality ECCE setting with relevant regulations and standards talking about sà ­olta and the preschool rights. Bibliography Anon., 2008. northtipperarychild.ie. [Online] Available at: http://www.northtipperarychildcare.ie/docs/Guideline-on-Developing-a-Behaviour-Management-Policy-for-pre-school-services.pdf [Accessed 29 5 2015]. Anon., 2015. [Online] Available at: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/social_welfare_payments_to_families_and_children/child_benefit.html [Accessed 29 may 2015]. Anon., n.d. gillmacmillan.ie. [Online] Available at: http://www.gillmacmillan.ie/AcuCustom/Sitename/DAM/058/Early_Care_and_Education_Practice_-_Look_Inside_Sample.pdf [Accessed 29 may 2015]. Anon., n.d. siolta.ie. [Online] Available at: http://siolta.ie/ [Accessed 1 june 2015]. Anon., n.d. www.hse.ie. [Online] Available at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/LHO/CavanMonaghan/Public_Health_Nurse/ [Accessed 30 may 2015]. dyslexia.ie, n.d. www.dyslexia.ie. [Online] Available at: http://www.dyslexia.ie/

Demise of the Permian- Triassic Period Essay examples -- Exploratory E

Demise of the Permian- Triassic Period It is well known that there was a mass extinction killing the dinosaurs. However 185 million years before their demise, almost all life on earth was destroyed.1[1] There has long been theories that meteorites are the cause the of the mass extinctions and professor Asish Basu believes he may have found clues that point to space as the cause of the extinction in the Permian- Triassic period.2[2] The Triassic period is during a time when the earth was divided in a giant land mass: pangea, and water. Here there was no separation of continents. The Triassic is when the dinosaurs first started to appear, but long before the notorious Tyrannosaurus Rex dominated the terrain. At this time the dinosaurs were just a small part of the many animals that wandered the earth and were by no means, the large dominant, creatures that come to ones mind today. However the marker of this period is an extinction of the animals in the Permian period. The Permian period is known for the abundance of flora and the major changes in landscape including the formation of the Appalachian Mountains.3[3] Most notably is the giant fern: glossopteris. However at the end of the period, during the time of the extinction, it too disappeared.4[4] Professor Basu and his colleagues found fragments of chondritic minerals with mineral compositions that do not occur on earth, in Antarictica. These minerals have very similar chemical composition to minerals found in Meishan China. Because such similar extra-terrestrial minerals have been discovered in two geographically distant places, there is evidence that a meteor struck the earth and the dust that covered the land was significant enough to co... ... If it was a meteor it could give new insight to what kind of meteor it was and how it killed almost an entire planet’s living organisms. Either way, this evidence should not be taken lightly and is a crucial to the world of science. Notes: 1[1] Basu, Asish; Petaev, Michail I.; Poreda, Robert J.; Jacobsen, Stein B.; Becker, Luann, Science: â€Å"Chondritic Meteorite Fragments Associated with the Permian-Triassic Boundary in Antarctica†, Vol 302, Issue 5649, 1388-1392 , 21 November 2003 2[2] Basu 3[3] Encyclopedia. http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/Permianp_HistoricalGeologyofthePeriod.asp 4[4] Associate Press. CNN: â€Å"Ancient Meteorite Wiped Out Life† Washington, Nov. 20, 2003 5[5] Basu, 6[6] Associated Press 7[7] Basu, 8[8] Britt, Robert Roy, Science: â€Å"Controversial New Claim in Death-by-Meteor Case†, 20 November 2003 9[9] Britt 10[10] Britt

Equality of conditions according to Tocqueville? Essay

In his Democracy in America, Toqueville states that equality of conditions â€Å"exercising domination over civil society as much as over the government it creates opinions, gives birth to feelings, suggests customs, and modifies whatever it does not create.† (p. 9) Clearly, to understand Tocqueville, one must understand what he means by equality of conditions. These conditions are common circumstances, origins, education, and mores. The settlers of America came primarily from England. They faced the same uncertainty with one another of what they would find upon arriving in the New World. They all had to deal with the harsh landscape and with doing without all the comforts of living in the developed countries they left behind. They came, not in search of greater political or financial opportunities, but for a place to freely exercise their religion. They shared religious beliefs (within each of the colonies). Therefore, they shared mores, which is reflected in the harsh penal codes they developed by vote of majority. They shared a common language, common goals. Most were well-educated and left behind comfortable lifestyles. There were no landowners when they arrived in the New World. There was no expectation of superiority, which always come with landed gentry. Freedom and equality are the very reasons most came to the New World. Each citizen was also equally responsible for social obligations. As a consequence American political and legal systems developed to protect freedom and equality. The result was more equality. This equality manifests itself, according to Tocqueville in a society where generations face greater and greater equality. As Tocqueville writes America’s equality in conditions creates â€Å"[a] nation as a body [which] would be less brilliant, less glorious, and perhaps less strong, but the majority of the citizens would enjoy a more prosperous lot, and the people would be pacific not from despair of anything better but from knowing itself to be well-off.†

The truth cookie by Fiona Dunbar Essays - Operas, Free Essays

The truth cookie by Fiona Dunbar Essays - Operas, Free Essays The truth cookie by Fiona Dunbar Imagine a magical, unusual recipe to make all your dreams come true! First imagine at the age of 5 you lost your mum and your dad decides to marry an evil girlfriend who has an evil son and becomes your stepmother? Well the first thing that comes to your mind is Cinderella. But this book will absolutely surprise you! This book isnt like Cinderella; its more unusual and magical! Losing her mum at the age of 5 Lulu Baker is now 12 years old. She lived 7 years without her mum but with her dad and housekeeper, Aileen and her wodge of stuff (a tin where she keeps all her pictures and cards from her mum) Lulu is happy until her dad decides to hook up with an ex-model, author of How To Be As Thin As Me!, Varaminta Le Bone, who is 2-faced and is more like a hard boiled and twisted cough candy and she has a son, Torquil who is more a fish mouth and hot cinnamon flavoured jellybean, once eaten it will burn the roof top of your mouth. Lulus dad and Varaminta decided to marry in a few weeks. Lulu doesnt want this and she wants to show her dad that Varaminta is using him but how can she show him who Varaminta really is? For Lulu, seriously there is no way for that. Lulu has experienced varamintas 2-faced actions when shes around Lulu and when shes around Lulus dad. Lulu finds it hard to live with Varaminta and Torquil in the house alone after her dad is on a long trip and when Aileen suddenly disappears. Until the day, after Lulu runs away from the beauty salon Varaminta forced her to go, as a birthday gift, Lulu steps inside a strange looking book store and meets Mister O. Lulu accidentally knocks over a tower of books. Frustrated, she begins to stack them up again until a golden coloured book caught Lulus eyes, in faded handwriting it says For my lovely Lulu Happy birthday! Lots of love, Mum Then Mister O says It found you! Confused Lulu goes back home and secretly reads the book called the The Apple Star by Ambrosia May, a book filled with unusual recipes, with very strange ingredients, used to solve problems. This book deals in with fixing bodily problems, problems of the character and matters of the heart, but the recipes can only be used once, and in the wrong hands it may be harmful. In this book Lulu finds a recipe she was waiting for The Truth Cookie but Lulu struggles on the ingredients for the recipe but as she searches for the ingredients, Lulu meets Cassandra, a very mysterious woman who just might have the answers for her problem Lulu only has one chance, will Lulu get the cookies perfectly done before her dad and Varaminta marry? And will she get Varaminta and Torquil reveal their true inner selves to her dad? With a little bit of help from her friends might just do the trick I highly recommend this book to people, especially girls, who are interested in magic and cooking and fairy-tales. I like to give it a 5-star rate! Once you start reading you cant stop!!