Publix Case Essay

Identify the relevant marcroenvironmental factors. What impact do these issues have on the focal organization? Level I: The Global Business Community The macroenvironment consists of the global business community, focusing more on the external environment of an organization. The macroenvironmental factors that are relevant to Publix and its industry includes society, demographics, economic, natural, political/legal, and technological. I.Society: Publix serves over 1 million customers every day. This consists of individuals being influenced by others, organizations, society, and the subcultures, which they identify with. Publix is based in the United States, initially being founded in Florida. In places such as Atlanta, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, where Publix has presence, consist of a melting pot of cultures that have come to the â€Å"land of the free† for convenience and freedom of choice. Due to this, there are many subcultures that have their own preferences. Some only eat Kosher, organic, or specialty products, that may only be found in certain supermarkets; alternatively, consumers may just be looking for the best deal they can get their hands on. Customers, both men and women, are becoming more knowledgeable about products and are more demanding on quality in the goods they purchase, therefore being more involved in company’s decision making process. â€Å"Nutritional conscious supermarket shoppers are checking labels as never before†(Mujtaba et al, 2012). II.Demographics: The growth rate of the population, the age distribution, and household patterns all account for many of Publix’s’ innovative ideas. In Florida, Atlanta, South Carolina, and Tennessee, all have a strong student population, as well as dual employed family homes. In such a fast paced society, a majority of this population can be categorized as time impoverished customers. They opt for already pre-cut food and prepared cooked dinners. Studies show that 37% of households buy prepared products at least once a week, a major increase from 27% in the previous year(Mujtaba et al, 2012).This is the reason why Publix was one the first to incorporate self-checkout within their stores to cater to this market. Similarly, Publix tried to penetrate the online market due to the trends of customer behaviors  to buying goods online. â€Å"By 2007, 20 million households in the United States will purchase groceries, goods, and other household items online†(Mujtaba et al, 2012). This is an approximate expenditure of $85 million dollars for mainly good items. The pattern of most household shows that individuals, families, and any other consumers in the supermarket industry, on average, live in a geographical area for about 10 years. This means that the average revenue spent by consumers every year have a lifetime value of ten years, and that relationship needs to be nurtured. Despite educational level, since the recession of 2008, many individuals have felt the effects not only in their bank account, but also within their daily lives. Therefore, in general, the United States has shifted to a â€Å"bargain shopping† way of purchasing goods. However, those living in the United States also seek the full package, and want to be taken care of [customer service], at a reasonable price. Therefore, there has been a trend showing cost- conscious customers turning away from premium brands towards individual store brands. III.Economic: Fortunately for all in the food industry, US food spending is on the rise. However, unfortunately for Publix and other supermarket retailers, they are not capturing their fare share of that market. Instead those penetrating the available market are alternatives to supermarkets, such as supercenters, warehouse clubs, and drug stores. When regarding the food industry in the United States it is a market-based economy, where there is currently an oversupply in choices available to the consumer. It has been 5 years since the recession hit consumers, thus companies all over the United States, and the average customer now spends $50,000 dollars as a lifetime value over ten years. However, due to recent trends, the average income of online target customers would deliver a higher profit those regular shoppers. IV.Natural: Over the last decade, there has been a lengthy move toward environmentalism. In the past, environmentalism would not have much to do with the food industry, but this view is incorrect. Generally speaking, most companies are expected to have a corporate social responsibility towards the environment, its well being, and the well being of its stakeholders. According to the food industry, across the board, consumers believe that corporations should  have their best interest in mind and provide foods that are of quality and are not detrimental to the human body. Global activists group have arisen such as Greenpeace, who have formed two other coalitions, including True Good Now and GE free Markets. V.Political/ legal: As mentioned, as customers obtain more knowledge and want a voice ion what is in the goods that they purchase, food safety is becoming a major issue in the grocery industry. Therefore, there have been many laws and regulations that have been enforced to ensure this. For example, seven of the nations largest grocery stores have admitted to re-dating meats and fish that had already reached their original sell by date. VI.Technological: Due to technology, 20000 new items are hitting the market every year across the board. The on-going innovations brought forth by technology are bringing changes and new procedures in all industries, not just food retailers. Therefore, the value of understanding and anticipating changes in consumer preference cannot be overestimated. Technology is a major success factor in the food industry and plays a major role in efforts to offer more value for the customers needs. It’s a new force in the environment that should not be reckoned with. It enhances the competitive position offering better service to the time- impoverished customer, and even those customers seeking convenience. Level III: The Focal Organization Each successive level is part of the preceding one. This is why macroenvironmental factors affect the focal organizations.   The fact that Publix serves over 1 million customers in America, does not mean that all of these consumers are similar in behavior, values, or associated subcultures. America has become a melting pot of cultures with various beliefs and household patterns. Due to the fact that these customers are becoming more demanding, it is important to have an environment that takes care of their employees, customers, suppliers and community that they serve, to bring increased value to the customer. This results in better quality and more needs that are satisfied. Their mission is to become the premier quality food retailer in the world. Customers are delighted with their shopping experience because Publix is responsive to the wants and  needs of customers, such as already prepared food, due to their Customer Intimacy Programs. To cater to the wide range of subcultures and demographics, Publix had to employ the Deliver plus 1% philosophy. You must meet the customers shopping needs, plus exceed it by 1%.   Despite the cost- conscious consumers, they get the full package they seek at Publix, that they would not find at another competitor such as Wal-Mart. Publix supermarkets are ranked third among 46 chains, nationwide. As their prices are slightly higher than some of its competitors, Publix received neutral ratings on prices but excelled in checkout speed, service, and cleanliness. This shows that the customer perceived value was higher than the customer perceived cost of paying slightly higher prices for high quality goods. Consumers do not mind spending a little extra to shop at Publix, once their ‘full package’ service is satisfied, with clean stores staffed with trained and friendly front line employees. Environmentally, Publix does their part. They are a caring employer, and are known for being socially responsible in the community. By adhering to the needs of consumers and abiding by safe and clean environments, this becomes a major strength of the Publix brand. Last but not least, technology is a major force that has aided Publix get to where it is today. They were one of the first companies to have water fountains, self- service shopping, shopping carts, and computerized scanning technology. These are all innovations that add to the Publix brand, where shopping can truly be a pleasure. Self-service checkouts cater to the time- impoverished customers, and the computerized scanning technology that assists in keeping shelves stocked. Technology has also allowed Publix to explore the online market, founding PublixDirect. Even though they did not do well, it is a start to discovering a whole new market, where opportunities for major profit exists. All Macroenvironmental factors have had a direct influence on Publix’s operations, as described above, especially technology. 2.Discuss the market factors. How do collaboration, competition, supplier, and regulators affect the performance of the focal  organization? Level II: The Market The market consists of the microenvironment. This includes all factors such as collaboration, competition, suppliers, and regulators. I.Collaboration: At Publix, †where shopping is a pleasure†, everything revolves around pleasing the customer. This philosophy does not change, and should never be compromised. To do this associates are encouraged to interact with their customer on a daily basis, resulting in immediate and local feedback. The advantage of this information is that Publix can better determine customers needs, wants and desires. To allow customers to enjoy shopping at Publix’s clean facility, management believes employees should also conduct work in a place â€Å"where working is a pleasure†. Publix offers their employees world class training programs, especially for their perishables department like the deli, bakery, produce and seafood. With over 1,000 stores, Publix has retained the largest employee- owned supermarket chain in the United States because it has a loyalty and commitment to employee training. In an industry that can be categorized with having high turnover, most of their employees have been working with them for 10 or more years. Associates are taught to understand that they are not just in the grocery business, but also in the people business. Through this world class training program, Publix has created its Publix Customer Intimacy Program that enables managers to keep their fingers on the pulse of the customer on a daily basis (Mujtaba et al, 2012). This is not only a phrase, but has turned into a philosophy. This allows Publix to get both information from their own consumers, and also from their competitors. Another program implemented in its stores is called the Associate Voice Survey (AVS), and Quality Improvement Process (QIP). The focus is not on the customer, but instead their associates. The fact that Publix is constantly rewarded for 100 Best Companies to Work For, Employers of Older Workers, and Employers of Choice, speaks a lot to the way they treat their employees, results in quality improvements and assures that front line employees carry out Publix’s philosophy. II.Competition: Despite the strong competition in the supermarket industry, Publix has no immediate plans to expand internationally at this time. Whether Publix is being undercut or imitated, they are not willing to concede its customers to  the competition. The idea is that â€Å"only [they] can give [their] customers a reason to shop elsewhere. As long as [they] take care of [their] customers better than anyone else, [they] will defeat [their] competition†( Mujtaba et al, 2012). Wal-Mart is one of their top competitor, similarly challenging other industries across the globe. They are number one retail grocer in the world and opened major supercenters throughout Florida, and in many other countries(Mujtaba et al, 2012). Due to economies of scale, they are able to successfully compete on price by undercutting almost all of their competitors. Therefore focus is beginning to shift to differentiation and performance improvement versus pricing, as no profits come from matching Wal-Mart prices. Within the food Industry, Safeway and Kroger Co. take second and first place as competitors, doubling and almost tripling their revenues, respectively, in 2009. Other companies such as Lacklusters financial performance has plagued some supermarket players in recent years, and also Walgreens, a food and drug store is one of the most admired companies. Whole foods, is a close runner up, which has achieved one third of Publix’s sales, and should be considered competition. Publix is still small relative to other giants in the food industry. However, it consistently ranks highest among its competitors. To stay among these ranks, Publix retains their customers by benchmarking by studying the best practices of their competition; find gaps between customer needs and availability, thus, trying to fill them. Despite major profit possibilities, none of the major grocery chains have mastered the online arena. III.Suppliers As with most companies, the suppliers that distribute to Publix are not noted in the case. However, Publix prides itself on a corporate culture of an organization that creates superior value, but also high quality goods. Suppliers are likely to have a relationship with Publix, such as the one they have with their employees. Its about quality products at good prices, with a good shopping experience. Offering â€Å"functional foods† that are fortified with popular herbs, vitamins, and healthy additives implies that Publix must have a healthy relationship with their suppliers to supply this. Also, with the rise of cost- conscious consumers, Publix offers their own brand to cater and retain them. With private label branding continuing to  grow, Publix must have their own supplier, which differs from all others, which supply their individual local brand. Private label branding grew 10.2% from 2007, and accounts for 25%( Mujtaba et al, 2012). 64% of shoppers said they often or always buy a store brand versus a national brand (Mujtaba et al, 2012), which has major implications for supermarkets and their own suppliers. IV.Regulators Mentioned previously, food safety has become a major concern. Therefore, in the food industry, leaders are paying more attention to ensure that the food products are in a safe and clean environment. They are required to constantly look at all risks that are associated with providing good quality as well as good safety, while attempting to get rid of them. Level III- Focal organization: Embedded in Publix’s business culture is that everything revolves around the customer, and servicing them with a smile. Their value proposition for customers clearly states that its customers want more than just groceries. Customers must be satisfied, delighted, and excited every time they visit or shop at your store. Some try to copy Wal-Marts style of providing low cost goods to customers, and almost guarantee a re-purchase. However, studies show that this is not an easy task, and is not likely favorable to those retailers. Hence the reason Publix strives for differentiation. How do they maintain this competitive advantage whole competing with supermarket giants? Through the different programs at Publix, such as the Customer Intimacy Program and the AVS, employers are able to provide customers with value. They have created cross-functional and ad hoc teams to discuss opportunities for improvement that prove the fact that â€Å"two heads are better than one†. That is a competitive advantage in itself, being equipped with front line employees committed to making the arena a better place for the company’s consumers. They are committed to satisfying the needs of its customers better than their competition. This is why they passionately focus on customer service, because only they can give their customers a reason to leave, and attracting  new customers is about five to six times more costly than retaining the ones they. Service is what Publix built its reputation on. As a result, Publix is ranked third among 46 chains, nationwide. Collaboration and Competition are the major factors regarding the microenvironment that affect their focal organization.

Human Relations Bad/ Good Experience

On Tuesday Sept. 5 I signed my daughter up for cheerleading at Jefferson elementary school. Upon arriving you are required to pay $60.00 for sign up and also a $7.00 registration fee, pom poms are $25.00 and the uniform is $50.00. According to the flier there is a team for girls between the ages 5-7 and another for the ages 8 and over. During practice I noticed that the other girls were much younger and also shorter then my daughter and I felt it would be a better fit for my daughter to cheer with the older girls. I asked the coach since my daughter will be turning 8 years old next month if she could join the team with the older girls, The coach â€Å"said no , I was very upset, so I requested my money back. My money was returned and I found a new cheerleading program for my daughter with a more understanding coach. Good experience On Wednesday Sept.6 I went to the Taco Bell located in Alhambra Ca just off Fremont street. I ordered several taco’s with no tomatoes and 2 small drinks to go. When I arrived home and begun to eat my food I noticed the tacos had tomatoes. I called the taco bell to inform them a mistake was made on my order. The manager was very apologetic and asked if I could come back to the restaurant to replace my order, â€Å"I agreed. When I arrived I asked for the manager he replaced my order and gave me 3 free tacos and a coupon for a free meal. I was very thankful and will continue to shop there.

General General Questions Essay

Post-Lab Questions: 1. Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know? 1. What affects did each of the contaminants have on the water in the experiment? Which contaminant seemed to have the most potent effect on the water? 1. On a larger scale, what type of affects would these contaminants have on a town’s water source and the people who drank the water? 1. What type of human activity would cause contaminants like oil, acid and detergents to flow into the water supply? 1. What other items within your house do you believe could contaminate the water supply if you were to dump them into the ground? Try using your knowledge to earn extra money while at school. Tutoring high school students or other college students can be a great opportunity. It is important to promote yourself as much as possible to bring in business. You can find local tutors on the Internet. This paperwork of SCI 207 Week 2 Laboratory 1 shows the solutions to the following problems: The purpose of this lab is to learn more about how connected you are to the ecosystems and biosphere that you inhabit. You will learn how your everyday choices contribute to the human impacts on our environment you General Questions – General General Questions Lab 2 – Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination Post-Lab Questions: 1. Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do y†¦ To download this material Click this link – https://bitly.com/1xpzVt4 Try using your knowledge to earn extra money while at school. Tutoring high school students or other college students can be a great opportunity. It is important to promote yourself as much as possible to bring in business. You can find local tutors on the Internet. General Questions – General General Questions Lab 2 – Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination Post-Lab Questions: 1. Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know? 1. What affects did each of the contaminants have on the water in the experiment? Which contaminant seemed to have the most potent effect on the water? 1. On a larger scale, what type of affects would these contaminants have on a town’s water source and the people who drank the water? 1. What type of human activity would cause contaminants like oil, acid and detergents to flow into the water supply? 1. What other items within your house do you believe could contaminate the water supply if you were to dump them into the ground? †¦

Research Methods in the Social Sciences Assignment - 5

Research Methods in the Social Sciences - Assignment Example every society, and are certainly committed in every region of the globe, though the proportion and number of its occurring varies from one culture to the other. The research reveals that the adult diagnostic training center (ADTC), in the wake of premeditated legislation, looks for treating only those offenders, who are determined to surrender this condemnable habit for good for the welfare of the society at large. The research shows that 20% to 30% young females become victim to sexual attempts and assaults, which is committed to women belonging to divergent groups and communities without discrimination, and same commonalty is found among male offenders. Sex offence is the most repeated one, as an overwhelming majority of the offenders repeats it again and again soon after their release from the jail, though percentage of recidivism is far lower among those who are treated through therapy than other offenders. Zgoba et al. point out many obstacles while estimating sex offences recid ivism rates which include absence of the determination of the newly devised term i.e. sex recidivism, underreporting of the offences, unavailability of similar research population and sample, unavailability of competitive group and long gap between the conducting of researches on this topic. All these reasons serve as imperative impediments in the assessment of sex offence recidivism. The research views that authorities and public considers sex offences as untreatable crime; consequently, the offenders must be treated very harshly so that the society could be protected from their nefarious activities. Even the medical specialists and psychologists recommend cruel punishments to be inflicted upon them to teach them remarkable lesson for violating the statutes of law on the one hand, and hurting the innocent victims of their criminal assaults on the other. Hence, instead of launching the futile and useless rehabilitation health programs for them, the sex offenders must be punished in

Law, Government and Politics in Canada exam Essay

Law, Government and Politics in Canada exam - Essay Example The Governor General also signs bills into law. He/she also commands the armed forces, calls for elections, appoints judges and hosts other relevant tasks. However, in practice, the Governor General’s duties are symbolic in nature. In approving the laws presented to him by the PM, his /her signature is referred to as royal assent, which is simply ceremonial. In the past 80 years, the Governor General has never failed to assent to a bill and has never removed PM from office. In addition, he/she has never denied appointment and never has he vetoed a law. These laws are not written; hence subject to discussions. In conclusion, I believe that the Governor General does not have significant political power since his/her powers are symbolic and are indeed delegated to him/her by the Queen. The powers are not significant because he/she follows what has already been decided upon by either the Queen, the PM, or the Cabinet. Being a symbolic post, I think Canada can still make it without the Governor General. However, being a royal country, this symbolic figure means a lot to the country; hence the relevance. In addition, the above duties entrusted to the Governor General are relevant, and they need someone to perform them (Bogart, 2005). Question 2 I agree with the Supreme Court’s response to question on whether Under the Constitution of Canada, the National Assembly, legislature or government of Quebec can affect the secession of Quebec from Canada unilaterally. In fact, this was the best answer to that question that the constitution is more than what is written there. It contains global rules and principles that govern the authority of the constitution. The Supreme Court ruled out that the constitution contains a few provisions that can be misleading if interpreted without considering underlying principles of federalism, rule of law, democracy, respect for minorities, as well as the principle of constitutionalism. The Supreme Court argued that the constit ution is based upon these principles and that democracy does not simply mean ‘simple majority rule’. Indeed, it exists in other values, given that province people and those who live in the territories live interdependently. The court argued that that would be illegal and would only be possible if the majority of Quebecers votes favored secession, which would be followed by negotiations. This would mean that all parties would be satisfied because negotiations mean that each party gives out on something in order to reach a concession (Bogart, 2005). Overall, the court’s response to the reference questions does not harm Canadian national unity. On the contrary, it supports it when it declares that the people of Canada are closely interdependent through economically, culturally, socially and politically and that a decision that would favor secession would put the strong ties at risk. To preserve national unity, the Supreme Court rule that province secession could not be come up unilaterally, under the constitution and that negotiations were necessary to reach a conclusion. The decision put into consideration, the fact that all participants have a right to contribute to constitution change through continuous discussions. In that decision, the Supreme Court added that rights of others must be respected by Quebec, and vice versa. Negotiation results would be final,

Philosophy Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Philosophy Ethics - Essay Example Mill explained this rule with the aid of the principle of utility. According to this principle which is also sometimes referred to as the principle of happiness, for a person to be happy himself he should consider the happiness of others to be as important as his own happiness (Mills 1867). This philosophy of happiness was further explained by John Stuart Mill with the assistance of his theories by putting forward the rules of thumb. The reason for presenting these rules was that Mill argued that a person should not misunderstand the meaning of happiness. These rules were used by him to support the theory of maximizing happiness and provide an insight into the meaning of this principle. These rules encompass the aspects of this principle to cover the features and the characteristics which should be understood about it. The rules of thumb were to be always considered to reach to a proper conclusion as to what happiness actually is. According to these rules, it is through knowledge and learning that a person actually gets to know that what act will bring about the maximum happiness. The reason behind this is that it is through awareness of the developing of humans and human nature that one can understand that what act is morally correct and will actually bring about the maximum happiness for the maximum number of people. These rules also present that a person should increase his level when thinking about happiness. That is happiness should not be restricted to certain things. A person should search for happiness in everything that surrounds him. These things can range from nature to music to history and art. That is a person should be learned and it is through his knowledge that he will be able to find happiness in all these things. An example of education can be considered here as to how much educated an individual is to know about certain facts about life. Being educated would help an individual to distinguish between the higher and lower pleasures in terms of happiness. He would understand as to which pleasures are attainable and which are not. With appropriate education the individuals are able to experience both the lower and higher forms of pleasure through which they can decide as to what they would prefer. With enough education one can know about different things existing in the world and thus individuals can then decide as to which happiness they really want. (Mills 1867; Steward & Blocker 2005). To make his theory even better understood Mill clearly presented the exceptions that implied to this rule of happiness. He explained that though acts like lying and murder are considered to be wrong under normal circumstances but these acts become acceptable under certain conditions. An example to this can be that when a person has to protect himself from a murderer he has a right to act in self defense. Another example which can be considered is a person can lie when the person has to conceal some information from someone who might misuse it and cause great harm. Mill is quoted as â€Å"Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness; wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain† (Mill 1986 ii). According to the utilitarian position, it is the consequences of an act that matter the most. In this regard, John Stuart Mill who was a

Aging population in Japan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Aging population in Japan - Research Paper Example Despite the challenges, the aging population seems to create new opportunities because people will have longer healthier lives hence extended working years besides different capacities and needs (Lutz 34). The key to survival depends on adaptation on individual, organisational and societal levels. Japan is facing the population-aging crisis now. It is a resource-poor island hence changes in population size and structure tends to present a serious problem. Japan faced a problem of a large not-working population until the 1950s. From 1600-1868, the Edo period, Japan opted to hold down its population through extremely desperate means such as infanticide as well as negligence of the old people (Coulmas 5). Towards late 19 century, the population rose and it was unlikely that japan would ever face a shortage of births. However, that is what Japan is experiencing and has experienced over a couple of past decades. Over the last half century, death rates have reduced and the life span has increased by about 30 years. For women, life expectancy is currently at 82 whereas for men it is 76 (Uhlenberg 134). The number of those aged 65 and above was 14% of the population in 1994 and by the 2010; Japan was among the leading in the world in this measure. In Japan, people in their seventies and eighties are prevalent and even centenarians have increased in number. The difference in population structure is due to factors such as fertility and mortality(Coulmas 25).Women in Japan are no longer in a hurry to get married like in previous generations and when they marry, they sire fewer children. In Japan, unmarried women rarely have babies hence the slow rate of marriages contributes to the decreased young population. Women in japan have also opted on continuing with their education to get better job opportunities compared to those of earlier years. In addition, unmarried men are more than unmarried women hence

Summary An Economic way of looking at life by Gary Becker Essay

Summary An Economic way of looking at life by Gary Becker - Essay Example Economic way of looking at life helps individuals to know moral pathways and how to be ethical in economics. In chapter 7, social issues that are discussed are termed as labor supply, which in it you find household production, the family, and the life cycle which can be well analyzed by economic way of looking at life. In making household decisions, certain factors have to be in mind. Some of these factors are, the economy, time, income and individuals involved. In household decision making, one of the key attribute is the size. For instance the size of the family and number of children dictate the economic way of living of that family. Often, women in society have a role in bearing and raising a certain number of children and carrying out farm works as opposed to men who work in outside jobs in various offices. Economic analysis of this kind of decision shows that the labor force is low compared to the size of the family. This is because, the income from the couple would be more compared to when only the male individual is working. If the latter is used it would mean poor living standards as the family is growing. As regards to whether families uses more by consuming purchased goods as opposed to home made goods also differs if we analyze using our knowledge on economic way of looking at life. Although there is no such a big difference between the two, if things such as labor and the time spent to produce the home made goods are considered, economic wise consuming household good will carry the day since leisure is achieved and no supervision when producing them. In a later age, household decision on when to retire comes in. The topic about taking care of yet grown up children and on the other hand, older children taking care of the aged parents is dominant. These two are interconnected and each of them is crucial and important. Analysis of this economically

An eclectic slant towards a functional education Essay

An eclectic slant towards a functional education - Essay Example Viewed on a micro level, there seems to be nothing wrong with it; however, when it is seen on a much larger scale, many problems begin to surface out. Although it might be a sweeping generalization to claim that most high schools in the United States exist in order to prepare their students for higher education, it still remains a fact that the existing curricula in the Unites States are mainly geared towards making them smart â€Å"test takers.† According to sociologists, educators definitely have their own reasons for designing their respective programs of study; and undeniably, each state or even district has its own set of curricula. Nevertheless, it still cannot be categorically denied that most high schools in the United States exist in order to prepare their students for tertiary education. This can be clearly seen in the curricula of most public and private learning institutions wherein math, science, and humanities take up a large chunk of their learning time. What do es this tell us? Simple. They are being molded to the kind of citizens they expect them to be without thoroughly considering the existing needs and demands of the society. The bandwagon still wins. Medicine, law, business management, banking and finance, and other related courses still rank (and perhaps perceived) as the most desirable fields of endeavor. As a result, high school graduates dream of becoming one; and they cannot be blamed for aiming to become one due to the glamour, prestige and financial rewards that such professions provide. However, for the society to function well, it needs to have different kinds of people with different skills and discipline that can help towards the realization of its goal: dynamic growth and development.

Catcher in the Rye chapter 14 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Catcher in the Rye chapter 14 - Essay Example That, and if he really had been shot in the stomach, instead of punched. This falls under Holden’s views of what is, or is not, phony. The whole scene he imagined was phony. There was not even the slimmest chance that it could happen, even if he did have what it took to follow through with it. He found the perfect definition of phony within himself; he thought of a complete scenario, played it through in his mind, and then came back to reality again. â€Å"What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. I felt like jumping out the window. I probably would’ve done it, too, if I’d been sure somebody’d cover me up as soon as I landed. I didn’t want a bunch of stupid rubbernecks looking at me when I was all gory.† This quote shows a bit of a reflection on how Holden views himself, though it can be interpreted in two ways. One, his overall feelings are that he would feel ashamed for committing suicide, and not wanting others to know how weak he is. Two, he could feel that he is too high above those that would be interested in his committing suicide. Either way, he does not want the involvement of others in his extremely personal affairs. Holden’s character grows a little bit more in this chapter. The opening scene of the chapter shows Holden thinking about and talking out loud to his deceased younger brother Allie. Holden’s sense of guilt towards his younger brother is obvious is this section. While Holden says that he sometimes talks to Allie when he feels depressed, it seems that by doing this it only feeds his depression. Holden seems even more vulnerable in this chapter, by the way he reacts to Maurice and Sunny, and by his thoughts regarding suicide towards the end of the chapter. He lets his weakness show by crying during his encounter with Maurice, and then by showing that Maurice intimidates

News brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

News brief - Essay Example In the past two years, the small businesses have increased steadily by 16%. This is attributable to the laws and regulations in the economic sectors. The government is awarding loans at exceptionally low interest rates to encourage investment in the small and medium enterprises. In the state of the nation address by the president, there were assurances to reduce the cost of doing business so that more individuals can venture into small businesses. The performance of small businesses in America is incredibly excellent. This is because of the affordability and availability of goods and services by the entrepreneurs. The impact of these businesses is exceedingly significantly on the entire Americas economy. Along with the above point, the small businesses are doing exceedingly well because of their capacity to acclimatize to the varying trends in the market. In America, most of the exporters are the small and medium businesses. The businesses provide massive employment opportunities and offer affordable goods and services to the customers. The quality of goods and services produced by the small businesses is high vis a vee those produced by the large firms. This explains why the products are doing excellent in the market. The government has reduced the cost of licensing the small businesses so that they can motivate people and make it an alternative means of employment and investment. Small and medium enterprises in America accounts for 52% of the work force in the country. The small businesses are increasing by 2%, and the employment rate is increasing by 6%. In 2012, 56% of the net export in America was accounted for by the small and medium enterprises. This is because they produce goods that are affordable by most people outside America. 38% of America’s gross domestic product is contributed by small businesses. According to small business administration, it

Tata Motors Essay Example for Free

Tata Motors Essay Tata Motors Limited SWOT Analysis Description: The Tata Motors Limited SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Tata Motors Limited SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy. Tata Motors (or the company) is one of the leading automotive vehicle manufacturing companies in India. The company is engaged in the development, design, manufacture, assembly, and sale of vehicles including financing, as well as sale of related parts and accessories. The company primarily operates India, South Korea, South Africa, Thailand, Bangladesh, Singapore, Spain, and the UK. It is headquartered in Mumbai, India and employs about 49,856 people. The company recorded revenues of INR925,192.5 million ($19,530.8 million) during the financial year ended March 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 30.5% over FY2009. The operating profit of the company was INR42,288.3 million ($892.7 million) during FY2010, as compared to the operating loss of INR6,580 million ($138.9 million) in FY2009. The net profit was INR25,710.6 million ($542.8 million) in FY2010, as compared to the net loss of INR25,052.5 million ($528.8 million) in FY2009. Scope of the Report Provides all the crucial information on Tata Motors Limited required for business and competitor intelligence needs Contains a study of the major internal and external factors affecting Tata Motors Limited in the form of a SWOT analysis as well as a breakdown and examination of leading product revenue streams of Tata Motors Limited -Data is supplemented with details on Tata Motors Limited history, key executives, business description, locations and subsidiaries as well as a list of products and services and the latest available statement from Tata Motors Limited Reasons to Purchase Support sales activities by understanding your customers’ b usinesses better Qualify prospective partners and suppliers Keep fully up to date on your competitors’ business structure, strategy and prospects Obtain the most up to date company information available Contents: SWOT COMPANY PROFILE: Tata Motors Limited Key Facts: Tata Motors Limited Company Overview: Tata Motors Limited Business Description: Tata Motors Limited Company History: Tata Motors Limited Key Employees: Tata Motors Limited Key Employee Biographies: Tata Motors Limited Products Services Listing: Tata Motors Limited Products Services Analysis: Tata Motors Limited SWOT analysis: Tata Motors Limited -Strengths: Tata Motors Limited -Weaknesses: Tata Motors Limited -Opportunities: Tata Motors Limited -Threats: Tata Motors Limited Company View: Tata Motors Limited Top Competitors: Tata Motors Limited Location and Subsidiary: Tata Motors Limited -Head Office: Tata Motors Limited -Other Locations and Subsidiaries: Tata Motors Limited Ordering: Order Online http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/554957/ Order by Fax using the form below Order by Post print the order form below and send to Research and Markets, Guinness Centre, Taylors Lane, Dublin 8, Ireland. 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Impact of Industrialisation of Wales

Impact of Industrialisation of Wales The industrialisation of Wales has been described as acting as a cauldron of rebirth for the Welsh language. Discuss this statement. Industrialisation in Wales made a large impact on many different parts of Welsh life and culture. The Welsh language, which throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries faced many challenges, was not excluded from this; it is clear to many that industrialisation had a large impact on the Welsh language as a whole during this period. The question that remains, however, is whether the Welsh language was positively affected by industrialisation or not. While it would be best to look at individual provenances along with Wales as a whole, by looking at the country as a whole it is argued that the Welsh language faced hardships. This was due to the fact that overall the number of native Welsh speakers rapidly declined between 1800 and 1911. In 1891, 54.5 percent of the Welsh population could speak Welsh, however this percentage dropped to 44.6 per cent by 1911.[1] This essay shall debate whether industrialisation was indeed a cauldron of rebirth for the Welsh language or whether it d amaged the Welsh language instead, as well as look at other factors that could, in a way, be described as acting as a cauldron of rebirth. It is debated amongst historians whether industrialisation helped the Welsh language flourish during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries or whether it contributed to the gradual decline in native Welsh speakers. Brinley Thomas argues that a large number of people migrated to the south to work in coal mines, though they brought up Welsh-speaking families.[2] Due to this it can be proposed that to some extent industrialisation did, in fact, help the Welsh-language, acting as a cauldron of rebirth. Geraint Jenkins counter-argues this view by stating that as people migrated to the south to work in coal mines, many communities lost thousands of Welsh-speaking people.[3] From this is can be assumed that Jenkins says that as many communities lost so many Welsh-speakers, it therefore means that the Welsh language began to decline, meaning that the industrialisation of Wales was not acting as a cauldron of rebirth for the Welsh language. Regardless, it appears that to many historians that industrialisation had some effect on the Welsh language, though it remains unclear whether this effect was predominantly good or bad. Industrialisation played a key role in the development and modernisation of Great Britain throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Wales was no exception to this, and saw a large surge in industry, especially in the south. Many raw materials such as coal were seen as an important resource that would help the British empire and British economy grow and flourish. Due to this, migration to the south and other industrialised areas on Wales was fairly common. Thomas proposes that the Welsh language was saved by industrialisation during this period rather than damaged by it.[4] This is due to the fact that many families who had migrated to the industrialised areas brought up their children to speak Welsh. Thomas also notes that nearly 900,000 Welsh-speaking people were recorded in the 1891 census. 70 per cent of these people were living in the five counties that were the most deeply affected by industrialization Carmarthenshire, Flintshire, Glamorgan, Caernarfonshire, and Denbi ghshire.[5] Despite this, it is important to note that each town in the south and other industrialised areas had different percentages of those who could speak Welsh. Pontardawe saw 67 per cent of its population speaking only Welsh, no English, whilst Cardiff saw only 1.9 per cent of its population being able to speak Welsh.[6] With this in mind, there appears to be a distinct pattern; town that were closer to the coast and could be used as ports appeared to have less Welsh-speakers inhabiting it than in areas further away, such as areas with coal. Gwenfair and Williams support this point by stating that Cardiff focused mainly on exports.[7] Therefore it can be argued that while industrialisation helped the Welsh language in some areas, in others it continued to struggle, meaning that it cannot rightfully be described as an acting cauldron of rebirth. Continuing from the previous point, the industrialisation of Wales saw an influx of many foreigners. While many of these foreigners came from England in the search for work, others travelled from Ireland and even Italy in order to live and work in Wales.[8] When people migrate many of them bring their language and culture with them, meaning that it is highly probable that Welsh towns that saw a large amount of migrants had to adapt to accommodate these new languages and cultures. Merthyr had 12 per cent of its population migrate from outside Wales in the 1840s, with Pontypool seeing more than 30 per cent of its population coming from outside Wales.[9] Looking at Pontypool in particular, 89.7 per cent of its population could speak English but no Welsh; this indicates that migrants had quite the influence over Pontypool as English became the predominant language in that region, especially the English. As well as this, many Welsh-born people migrated outside of Wales, including America, due to industrialization. The 1891 American census revealed that 100,079 Welsh people lived in the United States.[10] With these people moving to an English-speaking nation, it is logical that they would learn and speak English in order to get the best opportunities; this would mean that the number of Welsh-speaking people most likely declined as parents saw no need to teach their children Welsh in a foreign country. This view is contradicted by Thomas, however, who states that a vast majority of immigration during this period was Welshmen moving to the north or south in order to look for work in coalmines or factories.[11] With industrialisation having an impact on migration as a whole, it is safe to say that migration did not necessarily help the Welsh language, instead making the numbers of those who spoke it decline. Welsh education saw many changes, some of them quite dramatic, and did have an overall effect on the Welsh language in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As education in Wales was controlled by the English government at the time, the English language was push in many schools throughout Wales. This issue was brought up in the Treachery of the Blue Books in 1847 along with other problems the Welsh education system was facing at the time. The Education Act of 1870 made matters worse, especially in weak Welsh-speaking areas, as English was further pushed in schools. Children could no longer learn Welsh in schools, instead having to rely on parents as well as Sunday schools in order to learn the language properly. In some areas, this meant that Welsh quickly became a minority language. As Welsh was no longer taught in schools, this meant that the survival of the Welsh language depended on parents, Sunday schools and preachers who passed the language on to younger generations.[12] Th e Education Act of 1870 had an impact on the whole of Wales, especially in the south. This can be seen by how in Cardiff in 1847, there were ninety-three schools that taught in English; none taught in only Welsh.[13] Attitudes towards education in Wales did not help either. In his book Welsh Political and Educational Leaders in the Victorian Era, Morgan stated that Lord Aberdareà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ in 1885, declared thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ he had come to the conclusion that the teaching of Welsh should not be made compulsory.[14] This attitude towards education in Wales would therefore mean that, to some, the Welsh language should survive through family rather than education. This suggests that the change in education did not have a positive effect on the Welsh language, and that it cannot be described as acting as a cauldron of rebirth like industrialisation and migration can. As previously mentioned, the Welsh language appeared to rely on parents and religion in order to survive in predominantly English-speaking areas. As services were carried out in Welsh and Sunday schools taught Welsh children how to speak and read Welsh, it can be argued that religion in Wales can therefore be described as acting as a cauldron of rebirth for the Welsh language. Nonconformity was the main religion in Wales, meaning that a vast majority of services were in Welsh. However, it was rumoured that Nonconformist meetings practiced illicit sex, which presented the idea that Welsh women were therefore unchaste.[15] This meant that Welsh-speakers would face much prejudice from English-speakers, which may have prompted some to change religion and therefore slowly stop speaking Welsh. Despite this, it can be proposed that the Welsh language survived due to Sunday schools, which is stated by D. Yorath. Yorath states that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the influence of the Welsh pulpit and Sunday schools will certainly prevent it becoming extinct in a letter to the editor of the South Wales Daily News, October 1897. From this it is somewhat clear how much of an influence religion had on the Welsh language, which arguably gives it the right to be described as acting as a cauldron of rebirth for the Welsh language. Prejudice towards Welsh-speakers, however, appeared to be quite common, especially in industrial areas were English tended to be the preferred language by many. This therefore created a stigma surrounding the Welsh language, which negatively impacted it. It can be argued that this stigma is what caused some areas of Welsh society to almost neglect the Welsh language. Much like with many factors, the attitude that society has towards a particular area impacts greatly how well it does or not. Many parents appeared to be put off by the idea of their child speaking Welsh due to how it was seen as a lazy language. This led to many middle-class families mainly speaking English, only choosing to speak Welsh when it was deemed necessary.[16] Welsh was seen as the language for the working class and the lower-middle class, with Davies pointing out that upper-class Welsh-speaking families were non-existent in the nineteenth century.[17] English was seen as the language of business by many, which meant that in order to receive a good paying job speaking English was necessary. Many middle-class families therefore saw no need to teach their children Welsh; there was no need to learn a language that appeared to have very little importance in the wider world. Interestingly, Morgan states that it was in fact middle-class Welshmen who pushed for the compulsory tea ching of Welsh in schools.[18] This is most likely due to the increase in Welsh nationalism during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Some Welshmen felt as though an identity for Wales was needed, one that would be separate from England, which resulted in the revival of the Eisteddfodau in the late eighteenth century; Morgan even states that The Victorian Era is canonised because it is the era in which the glory of modern Welsh Nationality began to shine.[19] Therefore, from this it can be assumed that the demand for Welsh to be taught in schools was due to nationalism in Wales during this period. Although society did play a key role in ensuring the survival of the Welsh language, it cannot be rightfully described as acting as a cauldron for rebirth due to the fact that society did appear to be torn during this period on whether or not the Welsh language was still important. Whilst many nationalists wanted the Welsh language to continue to thrive, others preferred to speak Eng lish as it meant that they had many more opportunities in the wider world. The statement that industrialisation can be described as acting as a cauldron of rebirth for the Welsh language is true to come extent. It is important to note that while it can be argued that the Welsh language declined due to industrialisation, the Welsh language has still survived to this day and, in some areas, even grew stronger due to industrialisation. However, it should be recognised that not only industrialisation had a positive impact on the Welsh language. Migration, which increased mainly due to industrialisation in south Wales, and religion also played a key role in helping the Welsh language survive. Due to this it is safe to assume that these three factors can all be described as acting as a cauldron of rebirth. Some historians, such as Thomas, support this statement and believe that industrialisation as a whole had a positive effect on the Welsh language. Not one factor helped revive the Welsh language; it would be better to say that many different factors contributed to the survival of the Welsh language. Therefore, due to the fact that the Welsh language still thrives in many Welsh communities today, industrialisation was one factor that was a cauldron of rebirth for the Welsh language. Bibliography: Primary sources: Jones, Dot. Statistical Evidence Relating to the Welsh Language 1801-1911. Cardiff, 1998. Morgan, J. Vyrnwy. Welsh Political and Educational Leaders in the Victorian Era. London 1908. Yorath, D. Writing to the Editor of the South Wales Daily News, 27th October 1897. (http://newspapers.library.wales) Secondary Sources: Brinley, Thomas. The Industrial Revolution and the Atlantic Economy. USA and Canada, 1993. Davies, Cennard. The Welsh Language: The story of Britains oldest living language. Talybont, 2006. Davies, Janet. The Welsh Language. Cardiff, 1988. Davies, Janet. The Welsh Language: A History. Cardiff, 2014. Davies, Russell. Hope and Heartbreak. Cardiff, 2005. Davies, Russell. People, Places Passion. Cardiff, 2015. Jenkins, Geraint H. Language and Community in the Nineteenth Century. Cardiff, 1998. Jenkins, Geraint H. The Welsh Language before the Industrial Revolution. Cardiff, 1997. Parry, Gwenfair and Williams, Mari A. The Welsh Language and the 1891 Census. Cardiff, 1999. [1] Jones, Dot. Statistical Evidence Relating to the Welsh Language 1801-1911, p. 225. [2] Thomas, Brinley. The Industrial Revolution and the Atlantic Economy, p. 208. [3] Jenkins, Geraint. The Welsh Language and its Social Domains. p. 2. [4] Thomas, Brinley. The Industrial Revolution and the Atlantic Economy, p 209. [5] Thomas, Brinley. The Industrial Revolution and the Atlantic Economy, p. [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] [6] Jones, Dot. Statistical Evidence Relating to the Welsh Language 1801-1911, p. 226. [7] Parry, Gwenfair and Williams, Mari A. The Welsh Language and the 1891 Census, p.p. 54-55. [8] Davies, Russell. People, Places Passions, p. 25. [9] Davies, Janet. The Welsh Language: A History, p. 57. [10] Davies, Russell. People, Places Passions, p. 25. [11] Thomas, Brinley. The Welsh Language and the Atlantic Economy, p. 208. [12] Morgan, J. Vyrnwy. Welsh Political and Educational Leaders in the Victorian Era, p. 18. [13] Jones, Dot. Statistical Evidence Relating to the Welsh Language, p. 359. [14] Morgan, J. Vyrnwy. Welsh Political and Educational Leaders in the Victorian Era, p.p. 18-19. [15] Davies, Janet. The Welsh Language, p. 43. [16] Morgan, J. Vrynwy. Welsh Political and Educational Leaders in the Victorian Era, p. 16. [17] Davies, Janet. The Welsh Language, p. 41. [18] Morgan, J. Vrynwy. Welsh Political and Educational Leaders in the Victorian Era, p. 16. [19] Morgan, J Vrynwy. Welsh Political and Educational Leaders in the Victorian Era, p. 11.

Types of Tonsillitis: An Overview of Causes and Treatments

Types of Tonsillitis: An Overview of Causes and Treatments There are 2 main types of tonsillitis: acute and chronic. Acute tonsillitis can either be bacterial or viral in origin. Subacute tonsillitis is caused by the bacterium Actinomyces. Chronic tonsillitis can last for long periods of time if not treated, and is mostly caused by bacterial infection. Symptoms of tonsillitis include a severe sore throat, (which may be experienced as referred pain to the ears), painful/difficult swallowing, coughing, headache, myalgia (muscle aches), fever and chills. Tonsillitis is characterized by signs of red, swollen tonsils which may have a purulent exudative coating of white patches (i.e. pus). Swelling of the eyes, face, and neck may occur. In some cases, symptoms of tonsillitis may be confused with symptoms for EBV infectious mononucleosis, known colloquially as mono(US) or Glandular Fever (elsewhere). Common symptoms of Glandular Fever include fatigue, loss of appetite, an enlarged spleen, enlarged lymph nodes, and a severe sore throat, sometimes accompanied by exudative patches of pus. It is also important to understand that symptoms will be experienced differently for each person. Cases that are caused by bacteria are often followed by skin rash and a flushed face. Tonsillitis that is caused by a virus will develop symptoms that are flu-like such as runny nose or aches and pains throughout the body. Even though the infection will not cure immediately, tonsillitis symptoms usually improve 2 or 3 days after treatment starts. Acute tonsillitis is caused by both bacteria and viruses and will be accompanied by symptoms of ear pain when swallowing, bad breath, and drooling along with sore throat and fever. In this case, the surface of the tonsil may be bright red or have a grayish-white coating, while the lymph nodes in the neck may be swollen. The most common form of acute tonsillitis is strep throat, which can be followed by symptoms of skin rash, pneumonia, and ear infection. This particular strand of tonsillitis can lead to damage to the heart valves and kidneys if not treated. Extreme tiredness and malaise are also experienced with this condition with the enlargement of the lymph nodes and adenoids. Chronic tonsillitis is a persistent infection in the tonsils. Since this infection is repetitive, crypts or pockets can form in the tonsils where bacteria can store. Frequently, small, foul smelling stones (tonsilloliths) are found within these crypts that are made of high quantities of sulfur. These stones cause a symptom of a full throat or a throat that has something caught in the back. A foul breath that is characterized by the smell of rotten eggs (because of the sulfur) is also a symptom of this condition. Other symptoms that can be caused by tonsillitis that are not normally associated with it include snoring and disturbed sleep patterns. These conditions develop as the tonsils enlarge and begin to obstruct other areas of the throat. A persons voice is generally affected by this type of illness and changes in the tone of voice a person normally has. While a person may only become hoarse, it is possible for laryngitis to develop if the throat is used too much while the tonsils are swollen or inflamed. Other uncommon symptoms that can be experienced with tonsillitis include vomiting, constipation, a tongue that feels furry or fuzzy, difficulty opening the mouth, headaches and a feeling of dry or cotton mouth. Causes Under normal circumstances, as viruses and bacteria enter the body through the nose and mouth, they are filtered in the tonsils. The tonsils work by surrounding them with white blood cells which causes the body to develop a fever that can become extremely high in children. Should the infection become serious, the tonsils will inflame and become painful. The infection may also be present in the throat and surrounding areas, causing inflammation of the pharynx. [2] This is the area in the back of the throat that lies between the voice box and the tonsils. Tonsillitis may be caused by Group A streptococcal bacteria, resulting in strep throat. Viral tonsillitis may be caused by numerous viruses such as the Epstein-Barr virus (the cause of infectious mononucleosis) or adenovirus. Sometimes, tonsillitis is caused by a infection of spirochaeta and treponema, in this case called Vincents angina or Plaut-Vincent angina.[5] Although tonsillitis is associated with infection, it is currently unknown whether the swelling and other symptoms are caused by the infectious agents themselves, or by the host immune response to these agents. Tonsillitis may be a result of aberrant immune responses to the normal bacterial flora of the nasopharynx. The viruses that cause tonsillitis are often the ones that frequently affect the respiratory system or breathing. Most cases are caused by a virus and will only require treatment of sore throat remedies that can be bought over the counter. Bacteria-caused tonsillitis, however, is treated with prescribed antibiotic medication to reduce the risk for further complications. Tonsillitis most often affects children whose tonsils are responsible for fighting infections. This is also true because as we age, our tonsils become less active. Rare cases have been diagnosed with fungi or parasites being the cause. This generally takes place in persons with weakened immune systems. There is no research to state that smoking cigarettes causes tonsillitis, however it is widely accepted that smoking weakens the immune system. Also, children and adults who live in a smoke-prone environment may be exposed to factors that could result in a tonsillectomy. Treatment Treatments of tonsillitis consist of pain management medications and lozenges. If the tonsillitis is caused by bacteria, then antibiotics are prescribed, with penicillin being most commonly used. Erythromycin and Clarithromycin are used for patients allergic to penicillin. In many cases of tonsillitis, the pain caused by the inflamed tonsils warrants the prescription of topical anesthetics for temporary relief. Viscous lidocaine solutions are often prescribed for this purpose, and anaesthetic throat lozenges containing benzocaine, lignocaine, benzydamine and flubiprofen are widely avaliable without prescription. Ibuprofen or other analgesics such as aspirin or paracetamol can help to decrease the edema and inflammation, which will ease the pain and allow the patient to swallow liquids sooner.[6] When tonsillitis is caused by a virus, the length of illness depends on which virus is involved. Usually, a complete recovery is made within one week; however, some rare infections may last for up to two weeks. Chronic cases may indicate tonsillectomy (surgical removal of tonsils) as a choice for treatment. Additionally, gargling with a solution of warm water and salt may reduce pain and swelling. If you are suffering from tonsilloliths (Tonsil stones) try to avoid dairy products like milk, ice cream, yogurt etc. Complications An abscess may develop lateral to the tonsil during an infection, typically several days after the onset of tonsillitis. This is termed a peritonsillar abscess (or quinsy). Rarely, the infection may spread beyond the tonsil resulting in inflammation and infection of the internal jugular vein giving rise to a spreading septicaemia infection (Lemierres syndrome). In chronic/recurrent cases (generally defined as seven episodes of tonsillitis in the preceding year, five episodes in each of the preceding two years or three episodes in each of the preceding three years), or in acute cases where the palatine tonsils become so swollen that swallowing is impaired, a tonsillectomy can be performed to remove the tonsils. Patients whose tonsils have been removed are certainly still protected from infection by the rest of their immune system. Bacteria feeding on mucus which accumulates in pits (referred to as crypts) in the tonsils may produce whitish-yellow deposits known as tonsilloliths. These may emit an odour due to the presence of volatile sulfur compounds. Hypertrophy of the tonsils can result in snoring, mouth breathing, disturbed sleep, and obstructive sleep apnea, during which the patient stops breathing and experiences a drop in the oxygen content in the bloodstream. A tonsillectomy can be curative. In very rare cases, diseases like rheumatic fever or glomerulonephritis can occur. These complications are extremely rare in developed nations but remain a significant problem in poorer nations Bronchitis Bronchitis is an obstructive respiratory disease that may occur in both acute and chronic forms. Acute bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchial passages most commonly caused by infection with bacteria or viruses. Acute bronchitis is generally a self-limiting condition in healthy individuals but can have much more severe consequences in individuals who are weakened with other illness or who are immunocompromised. Symptoms of acute bronchitis often include productive cough, dyspnea and possible fever. Chronic bronchitis: Chronic bronchitis is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that is most frequently associated with cigarette smoking (approximately 90% of cases). Chronic bronchitis may also be caused by prolonged exposure to inhaled particulates such as coal dust or other pollutants. The disease is characterized by excess mucus production in the lower respiratory tract. This mucus accumulation can impair function of the ciliated epithelium and lining of the respiratory tract and prevent the clearing of debris and organisms. As a result, patients with chronic bronchitis often suffer repeated bouts of respiratory infection. Chronic bronchitis sufferers are often referred to as blue bloaters as a result of the cyanosis and peripheral edema that is often present. Manifestations of chronic bronchitis Productive, chronic cough Production of purulent sputum Frequent respiratory infections Dyspnea Hypoxia, cyanosis Symptoms of cor pulmonale Fluid accumulation in later stages Treatment of chronic bronchitis Cessation of smoking or exposure to irritants Bronchodilators to open airway passages Expectorants to loosen mucus Anti-inflammatories to relieve airway inflammation and reduce mucus secretion Prophylactic antibiotics for respiratory infections Oxygen therapy Bronchial asthma Asthma is a condition characterized by reversible bronchospasm and chronic inflammation of airway passages. The incidence of asthma has been steadily increasing in recent years. Although the exact etiology is still uncertain, there appears to be a definite genetic predisposition to the development of asthma. A key component of asthma appears to be airway hyper reactivity in affected individuals. Exposure to certain triggers can induce marked bronchospasm and airway inflammation in susceptible patients. Individuals with asthma appear to produce large amounts of the antibody IgE that attach to the mast cells present in many tissues. Exposure to a trigger such as pollen will result in the allergen-binding mast cell-bound IgE, which in turn causes the release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine, leukotrienes and eosinophilic chemotactic factor. Some Potential Asthma Triggers Allergens Pollen, pet dander, fungi, dust mites Cold air Pollutants Cigarette smoke Strong emotions Exercise Respiratory tract infections Clinical Classification of Asthma Mild intermittent Attacks occur 2 times per week or less Mild persistent Attacks occur more than 2 times per week Moderate persistent Attacks occur daily or almost daily and are severe enough to affect activity Severe persistent Attacks are very frequent and persist for a long period of time; attacks severely limit activity The response of a patient with asthma to these triggers can be divided into an early phase and a late phase. Early phase of asthma: The early phase of asthma is characterized by marked constriction of bronchial airways and bronchospasm that is accompanied by edema of the airways and the production of excess mucus. The bronchospasm that occurs may be the result of the increased release of certain inflammatory mediators such as histamine, prostaglandins and bradykinin that, in the early stages of asthmatic response, promote bronchoconstriction rather than inflammation. Late phase of asthma: The late phase of asthma can occur several hours after the initial onset of symptoms and manifests mainly as an inflammatory response. The primary mediators of inflammation during the asthmatic response are the white blood cells eosinophils that stimulate mast cell degranulation and release substances that attract other white cells to the area. Subsequent infiltration of the airway tissues with white blood cells such as neutrophils and lymphocytes also contributes to the overall inflammatory response of the late phase of asthma. Manifestations of asthma Coughing, wheezing Difficulty breathing Rapid, shallow breathing Increased respiratory rate Excess mucus production Barrel chest due to trapping of air in the lungs Significant anxiety Staging of the Severity of an Acute Asthma Attack Stage I (mild) Mild dyspnea Diffuse wheezing Adequate air exchange Stage II (moderate) Respiratory distress at rest Marked wheezing Stage III (severe) Marked respiratory distress Cyanosis Marked wheezing or absence of breath sounds Stage IV (respiratory failure) Severe respiratory distress, lethargy, confusion, prominent pulsus paradoxus Complications of asthma Possible complications of asthma can include the occurrence of status asthmaticus, which is a life-threatening condition of prolonged bronchospasm that is often not responsive to drug therapy. Pneumothorax is also a possible consequence as a result of lung pressure increases that can result from the extreme difficulty involved in expiration during a prolonged asthma attack. Marked hypoxemia and acidosis might also occur and can result in overall respiratory failure. Treatment of asthma The appropriate drug treatment regimen for asthma is based on the frequency and severity of the asthma attacks and may include the following: Avoidance of triggers, and allergens. Improved ventilation of the living spaces, use of air conditioning. 2. Bronchodilators (Examples: albuterol, terbutaline) Short acting Î’-adrenergic receptor activators. May be administered as needed in the form of a nebulizer solution using a metered dispenser or may be given subcutaneously. These drugs block bronchoconstriction but do not prevent the inflammatory response. 3. Xanthine drugs (Example: theophylline) Cause bronchodilation but may also inhibit the late phase of asthma. These drugs are often used orally as second-line agents in combination with other asthma therapies such as steroids. Drug like theophylline can have significant central nervous system, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal side effects that limit their overall usefulness. 4. Anti-inflammatory drugs (Corticosteroids) Used orally or by inhalation to blunt the inflammatory response of asthma. The most significant unwanted effects occur with long-term oral use of corticosteroids and may include immunosuppression, increased susceptibility to infection, osteoporosis and effects on other hormones such as the glucocorticoids. 5. Cromolyn sodium Anti-inflammatory agent that blocks both the early and late phase of asthma. The mechanism of action is unclear but may involve mast cell function or responsiveness to allergens. 6. Leukotriene modifiers (Example: Zafirlukast) New class of agents that blocks the synthesis of the key inflammatory mediators, leukotrienes. Emphysema Emphysema is a respiratory disease that is characterized by destruction and permanent enlargement of terminal bronchioles and alveolar air sacs. Well over 95% of all patients with emphysema were chronic cigarette smokers. Although the exact etiology of emphysema is still uncertain, it appears that chronic exposure to cigarette smoke causes chronic inflammation of the alveolar airways, which results in infiltration by lymphocytes and macrophages. Excess release of protease enzymes such as trypsin from lung tissues and leukocytes can digest and destroy the elastic walls of the alveoli. Alveolar air sacs become enlarged and distended as their structure is affected and their elasticity lost. Levels of a protective enzyme ÃŽÂ ±-1-antitrypsin have been shown to be lacking in certain individuals who are chronic cigarette smokers. This enzyme inactivates destructive protease enzymes in lung tissue. In fact, a rare form of emphysema occurs in individuals who are not cigarette smokers but who have a genetic lack of ÃŽÂ ±-1-antitrypsin. Manifestations of emphysema: The major physiologic changes seen in emphysema are a loss of alveolar (lung) elasticity and a decrease in the overall surface area for gas exchange within the lungs. Manifestations include the following: Tachypnea (increased respiratory rate): Because the increased respiratory rate in these individuals is effective in maintaining arterial blood gases, one does not usually see hypoxia or cyanosis until the end stages of the disease. Patients with emphysema are often referred to as pink puffers because of their high respiratory rates and lack of obvious cyanosis. Dyspnea Barrel chest from prolonged expiration Lack of purulent sputum Possible long-term consequences, including cor pulmonale, respiratory failure Chronic bronchitis Emphysema Mild dyspnea Dyspnea that may be severe Productive cough Dry or no cough Cyanosis common Cyanosis rare Respiratory infection common Infrequent infections Onset usually after 40 years of age Onset usually after 50 years of age History of cigarette smoking History of cigarette smoking Cor pulmonale common Cor pulmonale in terminal stages Types of Emphysema Cough Reflex The bronchi and trachea are so sensitive to light touch that very slight amount of foreign matter or other causes of irritation initiate the cough reflex. The larynx and carina (the point where the trachea divides into the bronchi) are especially sensitive, and the terminal bronchioles and even the alveoli are sensitive to corrosive chemical stimuli such as sulphur dioxide gas or chlorine gas. Afferent nerve impulses pass from the respiratory passages mainly through the vagus nerves to the medulla of the brain. There, an automatic sequence of events is triggered by the neuronal circuits of the medulla, causing the following effect. First, up to 2.5 liters of air are rapidly inspired. Second, the epiglottis closes, and the vocal cords shut tightly to entrap the air within the lungs. Third, the abdominal muscles contract forcefully, pushing against the diaphragm while other expiratory muscles, such as the internal intercostals, also contract forcefully. Consequently, the pressure in the lungs rises rapidly to as much as 100 mm Hg or more. Fourth, the vocal cords and the epiglottis suddenly open widely, so that air under this high pressure in the lungs explodes outward. Indeed, sometimes this air is expelled at velocities ranging from 75 to 100 miles per hour. Importantly, the strong compression of the lungs collapses the bronchi and trachea by causing their non-cartilaginous parts to invaginate inward, so that the exploding air actually passes through bronchial and tracheal slits. The rapidly moving air usually carries with it any foreign matter that is present in the bronchi or trachea. CO Poisoning Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced during the combustion of fuels such as gasoline, coal, oil, and wood. As you know, CO is a poison that may cause death if inhaled in more than very small quantities or for more than a short period of time. The reason CO is so toxic is that it forms a very strong and stable bond with the hemoglobin in RBCs (carboxyhemoglobin). Hemoglobin with CO bonded to it cannot bond to and transport oxygen. The effect of CO, therefore, is to drastically decrease the amount of oxygen carried in the blood. As little as 0.1% CO in inhaled air can saturate half the total hemoglobin with CO. Lack of oxygen is often apparent in people with light skin as cyanosis, a bluish cast to the skin, lips, and nail beds. This is because hemoglobin is dark red unless something (usually oxygen) is bonded to it. When hemoglobin bonds to CO, however, it becomes a bright, cherry red. This color may be seen in light skin and may be very misleading; the person with CO poisoning is in a severely hypoxic state. Although CO is found in cigarette smoke, it is present in such minute quantities that it is not lethal. Heavy smokers, however, may be in a mild but chronic hypoxic state because much of their hemoglobin is firmly bonded to CO. As compensation, RBC production may increase, and a heavy smoker may have a hematocrit over 50%.

Violent Literature of the 1960s Essays -- Violence Vietnam War Litera

Violent Literature of the 1960's Like any idealistic movement of the 1960’s the anti war movement began as an impassioned protest. Peaceful rhetoric dictated by the emerging counter culture lined its foundations, propelling it into existence and giving it such hope and fervor it was impossible to ignore. Causes such as this were the catalyst for togetherness and comradery within and around communities. The Free Speech Movement set the stage for this national awakening, forcing the public to open their eyes to the issues at hand. Mario Savio’s cries for action rung out in the ears of the country, sparking an uprising of young idealistic believers; they had to put a stop to a war already reeking of death. Some of the most honest literature was created during the anti war movement, narrating the course of emotional attachment and dedication individuals felt. As Andrew Gordon wrote: â€Å"The time was ripe, America was ours, and we were going to change the world: Paradise Now or Apocalypse Now† (Por table Sixties Reader 231). The Free Speech Movement (FSM) began as a simple protest of the unjust enforcement of laws by school officials. Peaceful civil disobedience bled into more direct action as the cause grew, drawing increasing support from students and the surrounding community. Mario Savio sat in the center of this whirlwind transfer of power and emotion, summoning from within himself a passion that soon took hold of the Berkeley campus. The FSM became more than just a movement to gain rights; it became a national anthem of student progress and the ability to truly change an institution. Prior to entering Sproul Hall, student demonstrators listened as Savio fervently called them into action: There is a time when the op... ...both literally as well as through literature. Peace was born of idealistic individuals willing to fight with their words and diplomatic actions. This peace then mutated into a revolutionary society filled with radical leaders calling for violence to stop the war; a proverbial situation where fire was being used to fight fire. This flourish of harmony that existed throughout the country was inevitably weak, equipped to break at any moment. Thompson writes of this disintegration: â€Å"†¦with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark—that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back† (Thompson 68). Literature from the 1960’s stands today as some of the most powerful narration of the domestic struggle out country witnessed. It documents the rocky movements of students and communities alike and paints an amazing picture of the battle to end the war.

Napoleanic reign :: Napoleon Bonaparte

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Jason fish Napoleon Bonaparte was a genius, but above that he was a ruthless tyrant, who sought global conquest through waging wars against all of Europe, starting with the smaller European countries.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Born in 1769 to a family of nobles, he was in a position of power since birth. Perhaps one of the deciding factors in his thirst for military conquest was the fact that his father placed him in a military academy at the ripe age of 10, and received his officer’s commission. At roughly the age of 20 he was an officer in the French revolution. As the revolution came to a close, he was an acknowledged officer, and held much authority over the population of France. By giving the church more power he gained much prestige with the people of France.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once he attained enough power he appointed himself the emperor. Under his rule all authority would be placed in the hands of paid officials. He also implemented a merit based payment system for the people. His rule of the Napoleon Code is well known for the many changes that it implemented. The Napoleon Code brought the recognition of marriages that were not preformed in the church, as well as divorces. It removed political rights of women that they had worked for over the last few centuries. Finally the code set a policy for the judicial system that convicts were guilty until proven innocent, which is the contrary of the stance in our current government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Up until this point he had the general public’s approval and was embraced by the majority of its citizens. His popularity fell as he began waging war after war on Frances neighboring countries. At the battle of Cape Trafalgar he attacked Britain with the aide of the Spanish forces. This was the first major loss for Napoleon as both the French and Spanish militaries were defeated by Heratio Nelson, the commander of the British army. This did not stop Napoleon from continuing his ongoing war with the rest of Europe. After his defeat at Cape Trafalgar, he began winning several wars against such European countries as Sweden, Germany, and Russia. While continuing to move his army throughout the eastern continent, he imposed his beliefs amongst all those he conquered, by abolishing serfdom in all areas which he had defeated. After years of war, even his faithful followers were becoming tired of the constant battles which he waged.

Maternal Mortality in Somalia

II. Global Public Health Issue Somalia is a country that has suffered from many issues since the collapse of any sort of centralized government. The Somali people have suffered from countless diseases, poverty, conflict, environmental disasters, and constant displacement. For almost an entire generation the country has been without an effective central government, which in turn had major effects on the country’s health system. The Somali health system consists primarily of fragmented and privatized services that are insufficient and unequally distributed. The country’s public health system has very little central governance or management.Due to these factors most of the population do not have access to the most basic health services and definitely do not have access to higher level of services if needs arises. The lack of an overall adequate health system that is controlled by a centralized government has crippled the progress of reproductive health. Giving birth in Som alia is extremely dangerous and very unpredictable. Somali woman are among the highest risk women in the world with a Maternal Mortality (MMR) of 1,044-1,400 per 100,000 live births compared to a 12 per 100,000 in the United States. Even after a mother survives all these risks and delivers her baby, both mother and child continue to face constant risks. The under-five infant mortality rate is 225 per 1,000 live births2 compared to 8 per 1,000 live births in the US3, putting infants in Somalia in the highest risk category worldwide. A woman’s health and behavior during pregnancy affects the health of her unborn baby. A poor diet, certain environmental exposures, illnesses, medication, and other factors affect the baby’s development. Prenatal and antenatal care is extremely important in order to ensure the health of the baby and the mother.In Somalia only one out of every four pregnant woman gets antenatal care and for those lucky few that do, the service isn’t ev en good enough and they do not receive vital interventions. 4This missed opportunity to catch any complications that would arise contributes to the high MMR and IMR in Somalia. The lack of adequate antenatal care also increases the chances of pregnant women developing eclampsia during their pregnancy, a complication that is one of the major causes of maternal mortality in the country and could be easily prevented with a simple blood or urine test.Interestingly the amount of women that receive antenatal care differs across the region. Somaliland, a northwestern region of Somalia that has declared itself a sovereign state and enjoys a higher level of stability and governance, has the highest antenatal care coverage percentage according to the last survey done by MICS in 2006. Somaliland had 32% of its population receiving at least four antenatal visits, followed by Puntland that has 26% of antenatal care coverage. The lowest coverage in the country was recorded in the central south re gion, a pattern that is the same for most other health disparities in the country. Aside from the lack of proper antenatal care during pregnancy, traditional beliefs that are held by the Somali population affects the maternal mortality rate in the country. Most Somali mothers do not believe in prenatal health precautions, such as taking vitamins and attending checkups. They take on the motto of, â€Å"if one isn’t experiencing pain or bleeding there is no need to see a doctor until birth. The rest should be left to god†. This type of behavior greatly contributes to the high MMR. Infections due to unattended and unhygienic deliveries also contribute to the high maternal mortality rate in the country.For all the births that take place in Somalia only a mere 2% of births take place in a health care facility that is attended by skilled staff6. Most rural women do not have the resources or access to deliver in facilities with staff that are trained in child delivery. By the time they go into labor most are alone or with untrained family members and neighbors. They resort to unsafe traditional methods of delivery, using equipment that is unsanitary or harmful to the mother and child. These methods mostly result in postpartum hemorrhaging; a major cause of maternal mortality in Somalia.Also with the high number of deliveries outside of maternal facilities, the attentions that mothers would have received if complications arise are not available. Prolonged and obstructed labor leads to the death of the mother or infant, and in some cases the death of both. Aside from those mothers who do not deliver in health facilities, the few that do are not that much better off. Due to the high personal risk in Somalia aggravated by the violence, most hospital staff do not come to work in fear for their own personal safety. The health care system in the country uffers from poor healthcare workers retention, lack of medical supplies, lack of neonatal facilities, and ex treme lack of trained personnel on duty. For those mothers that do give birth at a facility most do not have access to an emergency obstetric referral care. A pregnancy complication called postpartum hemorrhaging is treated in emergency obstetric referral care. Most mothers that are suffering from this excessive bleeding only have a one to two hour window to be treated or else they die due to blood loss. Unfortunately many mothers lose their life in this timeframe in Somalia.Some other factors that also contribute to maternal mortality is a custom practiced by many Somali woman in the country. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is the process of partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for whatever purpose that is not a medically prescribed surgery. It is a painful process that many young girls go through and most experience infections and in some worse cases death. During pregnancy women that went through FGM experience complications and have to go through a de-infibu lation process in order for her to even deliver vaginally.If this process of infibulation is not done properly and the woman attempts to do it without specific precaution, the death of the baby and the mother can easily results. Many young mothers, especially those that live in rural and nomadic areas, do not have access to health care facilities that can do this procedure and they are forced to do this procedure with unsanitary equipment and methods. Moving beyond the pregnancy and birth, mothers and children that survive this risky situation, have to deal with a lot more.According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) that was taken in 2006 the infant mortality rate (IMR) is at 86 per 1,000 live births. A survey collected by UNICEF in 2008 calculated the under five child mortality rate (U-5MR) to be at 135 per 1,000 live births. The lack of proper supplies and vaccination contributes to infants passing away due to polio or malaria. Subsequently since most mothers do not give birth in facilities and opt to delivering at home, infants do not receive postnatal care at all, exposing them to a deadly world with no defense mechanisms.Diarrhoea, disease-related dehydration, and respiratory infections are also the highest reason for more than half of infant death. The major reason for the contraction of Diarrhoea being the lack of safe water and poor food hygiene a child experiences during pregnancy or after birth. The countries harsh weather conditions and natural disasters in Somalia also affect maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rates in the country. Harsh famines that occur leave pregnant mothers and infants extremely malnourished with no access to food, clean water, or medication.Pregnant woman sometimes have to deal with no food or water for many days while they walked in the harsh weather to the nearest shelter. This results in miscarriages and stillbirths. Infants that are born into these situations mostly die of malnutrition and disease since they have no access to food, water, or medicine. Subsequently environmental health in Somalia is extremely lacking and services are concentrated in small towns and wherever security conditions allow. After the collapse of a centralized government, public health and environmental health services became almost non-existent.Due to the lack of regulation and monitoring by a strong government, the environmental and public health situation has declined tremendously. Somaliland and Puntland seem to have at least some adequate levels of public health and environmental services, but they too are only focused on small densely populated areas. As you travel out into the rural parts of these regions, any sort of health services becomes minimal. South and Central Somalia seems to be suffering the most, with large populations going without much health care and environmental services.One of the biggest environmental risks in Somalia is access to safe drinkable water. Only 29% of the populat ion has access to safe drinking water7. In the urban areas people depend on wells that are located on private property and are dependent on the purchase of water. In the villages people and animals use the same water source, sometimes causing the water to become contaminated. The situation has been worsened with the constant and massive movement of the population from rural areas to more stable cities, cities that do not have the capacity to provide safe water for their steady population rise.To aggravate the situation even more, due to the lack of national environmental services, most Somali households live in a situation where they do not have proper means to dispose of waste and excreta. This is felt more in places where people live close to one another and have their waste near where they dwell. Due to the poor hygiene and sanitary precautions, outbreaks such as cholera between woman and children become extremely common. Lack of a garbage collection system also affects environme ntal health and contributes to water pollution.Since there is not regulation to where garbage is dumped or any garbage collection system, it is normal to see trash everywhere. Whether it is the streets, inside buildings, or even in bodies of water, it is not uncommon to see garbage lying around. The smell that neglected garbage emits and the health risk it brings, not to mention the unsafe animals it attracts, is something that the population is left to deal with. III. Public Health Impact and Policy Reducing maternal mortality rates in Somalia has had a global affect on the public health world. Many campaigns were launched in order to reduce this staggering high MMR in the country.Whether big or small, each campaign primarily focuses on ways to support the pregnant women during pregnancy and transition her and her newborn into the world. One of the larger and more global campaigns Somalia is a part of is the launch of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At a sit down that occu rred at the end of he 20th century, governments from across the world came up with a set of goals for all developing countries known as the MDGs. These goals, which would be completed by the year 2015, would help cut world poverty in half, improve health standards across the world, and save millions of lives.The MDGs are time sensitive and have a set and pre-determined outcome. With connection to the MDGs pertaining to Somalia’s maternal issues, MDG1, 2,3,and 7 are closely related to reproductive health. While some progress has been made with some of the goals, most of the goals pertaining to maternal and infant health have seen little to no progress thus far. Somalia has shown a commitment to achieve all the MDGs, and has submitted the first report this year on the status of the MDGs since the campaign was launched.Although it is recognized that the progress reached is not as high as expected, with a country like Somalia that is extremely suffering in all categories, any pro gress is welcomed. In order to fully reach all the goals set by the MDGs, a commitment by the government to create a strong national health system with strong policies that will lead stakeholders in providing quality services is needed. Globally the MDGs pertaining to maternal health are showing a positive result. According to a report produced by the United Nations, the number of woman dying during pregnancy or childbirth has halved in the twenty years this program was launched.The report they submitted, called Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2010, show that between 1990 and 2010 the number of maternal deaths decline 47% annually. Even though progress has been made, many countries that are mostly in sub-Saharan Africa will not make the MDG goal of minimizing maternal death by 75% at the end of 2015. Thirty-six of the forty countries that have the highest maternal death rate are in sub-Saharan Africa. Ten countries have already reached the MDG goal of 75% reduction in maternal mortality. Those countries are Belarus, Bhutan, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Iran, Lithuania, Maldives, Nepal, Romania, and Viet Nam. Recently in 2010 at a UN Leaders Summit for the Millennium Development Goals, a Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health was launched with a total of US 40 billion for funding. The MDGs that are at target are MDGs 4 & 5; those that are aimed to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. In Somalia the National Reproductive Health Strategy is aimed to reach the highest possible reproductive health for Somalis and reduce the amount of women and children that die from easily preventable diseases and complications. With just three years left till 2015, initiatives have to intensify in order to reach satisfactory progress.Malaysia and Sri Lanka are an example of successful implementation of the policies set by the MDGs. Both countries have succeeded in reducing maternal mortality to levels that are comparable to industrial c ountries. In Sri Lanka female literacy was expanded and with Malaysia’s strong economic performance, both succeeded in a steady decline of their MMR. All it took from them was a steady and modest investment in poverty reduction, providing maternal health services that were accessible, and improving access to quality emergency obstetric care. Both countries took step to remove inancial obstacles that pregnant woman face in order to receive maternal care. Both countries success was also aided with their increased skilled birth attendants that were vigorously trained in the art of child delivery. The more accessible skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care that a country has, the more chances for pregnant woman to have successful deliveries. Culture can either take on a role of aiding or impeding the implementation of public health practices. In the case of Somalia, the widespread practice of FGM in the past has caused great harms to public health practices.The repe rcussion FGM has caused to woman health is immeasurable. Even though FGM is so deeply woven into the Somali culture and has been practiced almost since the establishment of the Somali people, Somali woman have been working hard to eradicate it as early as 1977. The Somali Women’s Democratic Organization (SWDO) was formed in 1977, to become the implementation agency for the eradication of FGM. In 1988 a campaign was launched to eliminate the practice of FGM under the premise that it was unhealthy and completely unreligious.Shortly after a research center was opened solely to focus on the harmful affects of FGM and ways to eradicate this practice. Unfortunately, the fall of Siad Barre’s regime and the countries collapse in 1991 halted all progress made. Since 1996 UNICEF in Somalia funded series of awareness seminars attended by women organizations, religious leaders, government officials, and health professionals. In 1997, Somaliland’s government with the help of UNICEF organized a national seminar on FGM and established committee to develop policies in order to eliminate this practice.UNICEF also sponsored workshops in Mogadishu, Galgaddud, and Mudug regions in 1999-2000. Religious leaders have also been doing their own work informing the public that FGM is not a religious practice and is in fact prohibited by Islam. On November 1999, the Parliament of the Puntland administration approved legislation making the practice of FGM completely illegal. Since then there is no real evidence that this law is being enforced 9. Through many campaigns and initiative people across Somalia are actively talking about the discontinuation of FGM. More and more women are joining he fight against this practice, a feat that in of itself is huge. Talking about this topic publicly was a taboo for such a long time, and it is a huge progress for people to just be talking about it. Changes are gradually being seen in the Somali community. Recently, with the collab oration of an NGO called TOSTAN, UNICEF, and Somali community leaders, an awareness programme was launched in Somalia. This programme is aimed to create community awareness around many issues including FGM. So far a total of eighty-four communities already have been engaged and of those eighty-four, twenty-eight have declared abandonment of FGM10.IV. Costs: Economic and Societal â€Å"There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women. † This quote was said by the former General Secretary of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. In this simple sentence Kofi Annan explained the importance of women in our society. Women play a key role in improving the health, education, and economic productivities of their families and communities. Yet strangely, even though the health of woman is so essential to the wellbeing our society, they are the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. out of every 10 women dies in childbirth. All public health professionals and frankly everyone around the world should be very concerned about maternal mortality. When a mother dies she most likely leaves behind children. Those children become neglected because it is the mother who really takes care of the kids, ensures they are fed, well educated, and medically well. If those children lose their mother they either pass away themselves, or become unfit members of their community. A child that could have become a positive asset to his or her community is now part of the chain of poverty.Keeping mothers alive is essential part of helping end the chain of poverty. Most mothers that die during pregnancy or childbirth die due to an easily preventable disease or complication. In the case of Somalia where maternal mortality rate is at an all time high, most complications could have been easily preventable. Mothers face economic hardship, no access to healthcare services, and face harsh environmental risks. Also due to the lack of stability and a strong central government that has equally strong public health policies and procedures, their chances of survival while pregnant or giving birth is very slim.Major stakeholders on this public health issue in Somalia are: private sectors, NGOs, United Nations, Ministry of Health of Somalia, and Regional Ministry of Health in Puntland and Somaliland. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Health of Somalia has no real power due to lack of financing and resources. Its regional counterparts (Somaliland & Puntland) may fare a little better by they too have no major resources. That leaves this issue to heavily depend on private sector and Non Governmental Organizations. Groups such as UNICEF and WHO have launched many great campaigns, but the greatest challenge they face is in security.Due to the threat posed by Al-Shabaab and its terroristic activities, aid worker’s lives are at a constant risk when performing within the country. This forces these organizations to either work outside the country or wai t until conditions become more favorable. Working outside the country entails using local leaders an workers to implement projects, and due to the chaos in governance, corruption is inevitable. V. Proposed Resolutions In order to reduce MMR in Somalia there has to be many steps taken.Somalia must first develop and maintain a strong healthcare system that supports maternal health. There must be universal access to antenatal and prenatal care by every pregnant woman, with consistent checkups. These facilities should also be created in rural and urban areas where there is little to none in order to ensure the health of pregnant woman in those areas. Abundant supply of Trained Birthing Attendants need to be established that are skilled and have gone through training in safe and sanity birthing, and are equipped with all the supplies they need to carry out this procedure.Emergency Obstetric Referral Care must be developed and made accessible. Programme in family planning, use of contrace ptives, and reproductive health should be developed for woman and families to go through. Policies should be implemented for families that cannot afford maternal care, through free services or vouchers. Vaccinations and other preventatives measure must be taken during and after pregnancy to ensure the health of both mother and child. Campaign to eliminate cultural practices that bring harm to mothers must be created and advanced.Sexual health education programme should be provided to young girls in order to prevent young pregnancies. Somalia is a war torn country with little no to none stable governmental structure, and lacking in a strong health care system. All proposed solutions require a functioning government to implement and monitor these solutions. Until Somalia can develop this, it will be extremely hard to lower the maternal mortality rate. 1 http://www. unicef. org/somalia/health_53. html 2 http://www. unicef. org/infobycountry/somalia_865. html 3 http://www. unicef. rg/in fobycountry/usa_statistics. html 4 http://www. unicef. org/somalia/SOM_ReproductiveHealthReport-WEB. pdf 5 http://www. childinfo. org/mics/mics3/archives/somalia/survey0/outputInformation/reports. html 6 http://ethnomed. org/clinical/mother-and-infant-care/perinatal-profile-for-patients-from-somalia 7 http://intersos. org/en/countries/africa/somalia/somalia? page=1 8 http://www. un. org/apps/news/story. asp? NewsID=42013&Cr=maternal&Cr1= 9 http://www. asylumlaw. org/docs/somalia/usdos01_fgm_Somalia. pdf 10 http://www. unicef. org/somalia/reallives_7723. html