Management of Obesity free essay sample

Taking this into consideration I have sourced my information with the use of secondary research methods, thus meaning the summary and synthesis of existing research already available to me via published articles, books and other relevant resources. As you will see as you read on the value of knowledge and evidence to professional practise is critical. The main reason why you need to base your professional practice on the best available evidence is explained by Aveyard and Sharp (2009, p6), â€Å" t enables us to deliver the best possible patient/client care rather than out of date practice’’. Aveyard and Sharp (2009, p7) goes on to say that â€Å"evidence based practice is practice that is supported by clear reasoning, taking into account the patient or clients preferences using your own judgement†. This description is backed up by Sackett et al (1996, p71-72) who described EBP as, â€Å"the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patient/clients†. Gray (1997,p9) emphasized a focus on patient values describing EBP as , â€Å"an approach to decision making in which the clinician uses the best evidence available in consultation with the patient, to decide upon the option which suits the patient best. The NMC code of Conduct (2008) foregrounds the importance of evidence based practice in professional development and requires that all nurses should be accomplished in practicing evidence based care. After reading various journal articles and books on EBP I have discovered that it is about integrating individual clinical expertise, for example your own proficiency and expertise, along with the best external evidence and also taking in mind the best interests for the patient. It is of high importance to use current best evidence, according to Greenhalgh and Donald (2000) without current best evidence, â€Å"practise risks becoming rapidly out of date, to the detriment of the patients†. Ultimately EBP is the formalization of the care process that the best clinicians have practiced for generations. The contribution of EBP to clinical practice is the delivery of high quality, cost effective and quality care (Aveyard and Sharp, 2009). Challenges surrounding EBP are a nurses experience, for example new nurses may be a little anxious of their new surroundings and unable to utilize all their newly learnt skills. According to Ferguson and Day (2007), â€Å"access to evidence in nursing practice is often challenging due to time constraints, difficulties in interpreting the disparate research reports on particular issues, or lack of up-to-date print-based resources or Internet connections on nursing units†. The main tool applied during my research process was Library Gateway which can be accessed via Shu space. Library Gateway enables you to access a large number of information resources and search tools. The main resource I used is Library Search, which can find results from books, full text journals and many other sources, and return them in one integrated list. The other Gateway tools include Subject Guides, help pages for referencing, the Video, Images and Audio guide and a list of subject databases. Textbooks provide good background information and offer an excellent starting point for more in-depth research, the information provided is not normally rapidly changing and it must be remembered that it may be out of date. Journal articles contain current information and research. They provide detailed reports of the methodology and results of laboratory research, case series reports, clinical trials, program evaluation, and other kinds of research studies. Journal articles focus on finding solutions to specific health care problems. The Internet is not always the best place to look for professional-level information. While it can be easily searched and you get a lot of what you find in full-text, the quality of the health care information found can be questionable. It is important to look at trusted authorities online, however the internet can be useful for looking into a patient’s perspective, for example a patient may explain their worries and experiences in an online chat forum which is always an interesting insight. The tables that follow details the databases used and the search criteria applied. Each database offers a different value of evidence. It is important to consider the following factors when looking t text documents regardless whether it a book, journal, article or online.. Who wrote it, why it was written and when it was produced (SHU 2012). Once you have found a source that is deemed suitable it is then important to consider if the study was original, was the design of the study sensible, has systematic bias been avoided or minimised, was assessment ‘blind’, w ere preliminary statistical questions addressed (Greenhalgh, 2010). After summing up these points the methodological quality will have been accurately assessed and providing no flaws or faults are found it can be deemed accurate and reliable information. Table 1. Databases used; Database| Details| SHU Library Search| SHU Library Search searches for academic journal and newspaper articles, books,videos, maps and much more from a single search bar. It searches the SHU library catalogue, full text journals and other linked databases. It is limited to content subscribed to by SHU. | Internurse| Internurse is the online archive of peer reviewed nursing articles published by MA healthcare Ltd. It draws together articles from 13 high quality journals. | Table 2. Search Strategy; Database| Keywords| Rationale| Criteria| No. of results| Search terms used in Library Search and Internurse| Nurs* AND manag* AND obes*| The word nurse/nurses/nursing and manage/managing/management and obese/obesity| 2008 to 2012English languageNo country specified. Type of publication: Peer reviewed journals and books | 32| You can search as far back as 2004 using Inter-nurse. For the chosen subject area I decided to concentrate my research more specifically on more recent research as I found I was bombarded with information when I looked as far back as 2004. This has allowed me to look at more recent publications which I feel is highly important in a profession where health care routines are often being changed and improved. Once I had narrowed down the search I was able to pick journals, articles and books which I felt where most appropriate by reading the abstract to get a more in depth overview of what would be best for my topic. Obesity can lead to the onset of several complications, which with the intervention of nurses could be prevented, these complications are highlighted in appendix 2. Maggi Banning (2005) states that there is an ever increasing need for the evolvement of a nursing role as an obesity nurse specialist. She claims the nursing profession needs to step up and prepare for obesity management. The National Obesity Forum provides an ‘Obesity Care Pathway Toolkit’. It strengthens the need for the use of EBP by claiming weight management should ‘. be based on best evidence, where ever possible’. It also states the following, â€Å"It is essential that services be developed in consultation with the users and people who will be delivering them, working together as a multi-disciplinary group. Training on weight management control, healthy eating and increasing physical activity to health professionals is necessary to ensure consistent, accurate and up to date messages are given to patients at all times. Currently, very few NHS weight management services are monitored or audited, this will be a must in the future and needs to be built in at the planning stage. The feedback will result in improved services to patients. † Changes in eating habits and activity levels are thought to lie at the heart of obesity (Wadden et al, 2002). As a nurse will get to see their patients everyday it is the ideal opportunity for them to advise patients on healthy eating and provide encouragement for increased levels of activity. Drummond (2002) identified that communication between the nurse and patient is important as some patients may be self conscious or body-conscious. For example certain terms should be avoided such as ‘sport’ or ‘exercise’ which may have negative associations for patients, a higher level of activity and ‘avoiding sedentary pursuits should be emphasised’. Body weight is considered a sensitive issue for most people so it is vital that healthcare professionals handle the subject of weight loss with sensitivity. Crogan (2006) emphasized that it is important that nurses establish an open approach to communication when addressing issues relating to obesity. I feel a multi-component intervention would be the best way for nurses to manage obesity. It should include behaviour change strategies to increase peoples physical activity levels or to decrease inactivity levels, improve eating behaviour and the quality of the persons diet and aim to reduce energy intake. According to (Sheehan and Yin, 2006) nurses constitute a political force in health policy, because they are situated in a wide range of settings. This is backed up by Bennett 2007 who states, ‘Nurses in the primary care setting are uniquely placed to support patients to make the necessary changes’. Nurses need to have an understanding of the patients multiple needs and to collaborate with other members of the health team to discuss personalized holistic care issues. Chrystalleni and Christiana (2010) have recognised that â€Å"the aetiology of obesity is multi-factorial, and dietary factors that relate or are responsible for the development of obesity are complex and still not understood†. As they define development of obesity to not be understood I feel this is a large limitation and therefore requires constant comparison of current techniques used in managing obesity along with any current evidence that has arisen through trustworthy practice research. In conclusion, the role of a nurse in managing an obese patient should involve discussing the weight issues and the severity on the patient’s health. As supported by Green et al (2000) this will enable the nurse to gain insight into the magnitude of the problem and to negotiate realistic goals in terms of weight loss and to support and provide dietary advice which is acceptable for the individual. Nurses should consider each patient holistically and use appropriate language in order to encourage and not offend. As encouraged by the national obesity forum patient selection should be active rather than passive, with opportunistic screening rather than reliance exclusively on self-referral.

The Effects of the Black Plage Essay Example For Students

The Effects of the Black Plage Essay Plague, was a term that was applied in the Middle Ages to all fatal epidemic diseases,but now it is only applied to an acute, infectious, contagious disease of rodents and humans,caused by a short, thin, gram-negative bacillus. In humans, plague occurs in three forms:bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, and septicemic plague. The best known form is the bubonicplague and it is named after buboes, or enlarged, inflamed lymph nodes, which arecharacteristics of the plague in the groin or neck or armpit. Bubonic plague can only betransmitted by the bite of any of numerous insects that are normally parasitic on rodents and thatseek new hosts when the original host dies. If the plague is left untreated it is fatal in thirty toseventy five percent of all cases. Mortality in treated cases is only five to ten percent. We will write a custom essay on The Effects of the Black Plage specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now The origin of the bubonic plague is unknown but it may have started in Africa or India. Colonies of infected rats were established in Northern India, many years ago. Some of theserodents had infected traders on the route between the Middle East and China. After 1330 theplague had invaded China. From China it was transferred westward by traders and Mongolarmies in the 14th century. While these traders were travelling westward they followed a morenortherly route through the grasslands of what is now Russia, thus establishing a vast infectedIn 1346 the disease reached Crimea and found its way to Europe in 1347. Theoutbreak in Europe was a devastating one, which resulted in more than 25 million deaths-abouttwenty five percent of the continents whole population. After that the plague reappearedirregularly in many European cities until the early 18th century, when it suddenly stopped there. No explanation has ever been given for the plagues rapid disappearance. The first symptoms of the bubonic plague are headache, vomiting, nausea, aching jointsand a feeling of ill health. The lymph nodes of the groin or of the armpit or neck suddenly start tobecome swollen and painful. The pulse and respiration rate of a bubonic plague victim isincreased, and the victim will become listless and exhausted. The buboes will swell until they areapproximately the size of a chicken egg. If a case is nonfatal than the temperature will begin tofall in about five days, and approaches normal in about two weeks, but in fatal cases death willYersinia Pestis, an infectious agent is the cause of the Bubonic Plague. Yersina Pestis isa bacteria, which means the cells lack the internal organization of eukaryotic cells. Thesebacteria cells would contain the membrane but they would not be able to subdivide the inside ofthe cell. These bacteria cells do not have a nucleus so instead they have a nucleiod that containsgenetic material. The two types of bacteria cells are gram- negative and gram-positive. YersinaPestis is gram negative and that means that antibiotics are less effective on the plague because ofa lipopolysaccharide layer over their walls that adds extra protection. The bubonic plague has a major impact on the lymphatic system. The lymphatic systemis made up of lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, lymphoid organs and circulating lymphocytes. Plague victims tend to have large bumps on their bodies which are called buboes. These areactually swollen lymph nodes filled with puss. The spread of the infection causes the lymphThe lymph nodes are heavily concentrated in the neck, armpits, and groin. When aperson becomes ill these areas will begin to swell because the body needs to make a vastamount of white blood cells to fight off whatever pathogen has entered the body. .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c , .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .postImageUrl , .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c , .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c:hover , .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c:visited , .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c:active { border:0!important; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c:active , .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uf91fe44df78e37f1937b78158d15576c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Computers Not the greatest invention of the 20 th EssayTo make all parts of the body function properly the electron transport chain is needed. Yersina pestis releases a toxin into the body that obstructs this function from occurring. Many preventive measures can be used to reduce the spread of the plague (sanitation,killing of rats, prevention in transport of rats). Individuals who contract the disease are isolated,fed fluids and put to bed. During World War II, scientists using sulfa drugs were able toSince it is a bacteria, the bubonic plague can be treated with antibiotics. Tetracyline,Streptomycin, and Chloramphenicol are three of the antibiotics used to prevent plague. Sometimes, they are even mixed together to form an antibiotic cocktail. The plague can almostalways be cured when it is recognized fast enough. Since the late 19th century bubonic plague vaccinations have been in use. There is avaccine that can be taken in a six to month installment period, but there is a element of risk tothis vaccination. This vaccination has been proven to be ineffective with people younger thaneighteen and older than sixty. The side effects of this vaccination can sometimes result in deathand therefore it is not a good idea to use it. During the Middle Ages, people did not have a clue as to why the plague was spreadingso quickly. But now we know that the bubonic plague is spread by fleas. YersinaPestis(bacteria) moves its way up to the upper digestive tract of the flea where it breeds andmultiplies. The flea must find a new host and when it does the flea drinks its blood andregurgitates the bacteria into the host. This also infects the host. Therefore, the plague can bespread by any rodent or animal who could get fleas. As soon as the bacteria is regurgitated into the new host, it begins to multiply inlymphatic system and the blood stream. The bacteria attacks the whole body at once bytravelling to the spleen, liver, brain, lungs and kidneys. How was the plague transmitted into England? There is much controversy concerningthe exact method by which the plague arrived in England. But it is certain that it arrived via theports, carried on merchant and Naval ships. However, were the infected fleas carried by therats in the grain or bales of cloth and cotton, or on the backs of the crew, passengers orreturning soldiers? Furthermore, how did the disease spread from the ports to the town andcountry? Via wild rodents in the countryside, by the rats and fleas in transported freight, or byAlthough the evidence is mixed and debatable, it is suggested they all played a role. There is evidence to support that plague was caught from baggage and bales of clothes andcloth, as in Eyam in Derbyshire in 1665. There is also existing evidence that human transmissionis solely responsible. The spread of the plague across the country was far too rapid to beaccounted for by wild rodents in the countryside, and it is human transport which explains itsmovement along the major trade routes, usually by ship(British port to port), or on main roadsand navigable rivers. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to assume that rodent transmission played apart in local village to village contamination. The bubonic plague struck England in 1665. Since, the occurrence of the plague was sounexpected only 14th century preventive measures could be taken. The homeless people werethe first to feel the great effects of the plague. They did not have any money and so when theplague struck them they were basically in a hopeless situation. Even the top physicians wereaffected by the bubonic plague. Many doctors had to take care of the plague victims andbecause the plague was contagious, the doctors also caught it. The disease spread rapidlyTo try to prevent the outbreak of the plague the people began to burn fires in the streetsto keep the air clean. Fires were also struck in sickrooms to destroy the clothing of deceasedvictims. They were also killing cats and dogs, because they were believed to be the cause ofMost doctors, during the outbreak of the plague were afraid to visit the patients becausethey did not want to risk the chance of themselves becoming infected by the disease. Manydoctors fled the medical houses, while others were accused of killing their patients for money, orcharging outrageous fees. The doctors believed that these accusations were based onThe doctors also thought it was the rats tail which were the cause of the plague but theystill did not have solid preventive measures. The doctors even suggested that standing over thelatrine with an empty stomach and smelling it for hours was a good remedy to cure the plague. Bibliography:

Similarities Between The Two Political Parties †Political Science Essay

Similarities Between The Two Political Parties – Political Science Essay Free Online Research Papers Similarities Between The Two Political Parties Political Science Essay The way our nation mourned the death of Ronald Reagan has not been seen since Kennedy’s untimely death. The number of people which paid their respects was astonishing and unforeseen. When we reflect on Reagan’s time in office, one word comes to mind. That word is â€Å"conviction†. It does not matter to us today if we agreed with Reagan’s policies. What mattered was he was the last president that stood for something. This is what we remember and respect. Since his tenure, we have had a president that wanted Americans to read his lips not his actions. Then he lost to a man which won the election with less than fifty percent of the vote and four years later, the man was re-elected with less than fifty percent. Then there was the 2000 election. Most people saw Florida as a fiasco, but the real fiasco was the candidates themselves. We had a compassionate conservative running against a moderate liberal, and their shared indecisiveness made Florida and the general election a fiasco. The Democrats and the Republicans presented candidates to entice moderates and the outcome was indecisive voting. Americans do not want to admit it, but mos t of us are moderate. People lean to the left on some issues and to the right on other issues. Any excessive opinions are usually rhetoric that is used to get attention. Even though Democrats and Republicans have many differences, they do not act their differences for fear of alienating voters resulting in indistinguishable candidates and a low voter turnout. There are vast differences between Democrats and Republicans in ideology, but they both lack confidence to act. In the article, â€Å"Public Participation and the Erosion of Democracy† Ralph Nader writes, â€Å" In eight years under Clinton/Gore, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration didn’t issue one chemical toxin control standard†¦.They gave a free ride to the nuclear industry, including not proposing any fuel efficiency standards improvements in eight years† (Public). The lack of toxin control, a free ride to the nuclear industry, and no fuel standards are what a Republican would do. The Democratic platform is pro-environment and pro-labor, but Clinton did not have the fortitude to enforce his party’s platform. The possibility of alienating a section of the voting public fueled his reluctance. In an interview with Steve Kopp, a reporter for The Plain Dealer’s Washington Bureau, he talks about tort reform and how Republicans in th e House got a bill on tort reform passed. Unfortunately, the Senate Republicans will not push this bill instead they have their own bill that has a lot of extras tacked on giving it no chance of passing. They do not want to upset any of their colleagues in the private sector which might be able to sue McDonalds when people spill coffee on their lap. Tort reform laws have been a major issue for the Republican Party; in addition, labor and the environment issues has been the same for Democrats, but their lack of action is a self-preserving tactic for re-election. In an attempt to expand their electorate, candidates modify their positions. Merill J. Adams writes, â€Å"As the Democratic candidate moves in the positive direction (to the right), he draws support away from the Republican candidate in the region near the midpoint between the two candidates† (Journal).This approach is used on both sides to centralize a candidate. According to Martin P. Wattenberg’s findings in his book The Decline of American Political Parties, from 1952- 1980, â€Å"The proportion of voters reporting that hey have voted for different parties in presidential elections has risen from 29 to 57 percent† (20). This strategy works, but the title of his book hints at the result. Wattenberg writes, â€Å"The growth in proportion of the ‘no preference’ response can be most plausibly interpreted as another indication of the declining salience of political parties in the American political process†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Decline 49). When a candidat e centralizes his or her views, he or she loses distinction. Consequentially, voters are left with candidates with no conviction towards any issue, and voters have less enthusiasm for voting. Because candidates are indecisive in their political idealism, the outcome is a lower voter turnout. In his book, Where Have All the Voters Gone? Wattenberg writes, â€Å"The psychological approach has further identified the problem to be primarily one of a lack of motivation to vote, particularly stemming from party decline† (67). When political incumbents and challengers centralize their message, potential voters see this as voting for the lesser of two evils. Our recent presidential elections show that the candidates’ indecisiveness was reflected on the election results. When Bob Dole spoke at the 1996 Republican convention, he only mentioned his party twice, he did not mention the Democrats, and he made only a slight reference to his career as a Republican Senator. When Bill Clinton spoke at the Democrat’s convention, he used a similar strategy (Decline 221). Dole and Clinton down-played their party affiliations to further their centralized message, and as a result, a low turnout and minority vote won the election for Clinton. The first two presidential elections in 1960 had a turnout percentage of 62.4 percent; conversely, the two most recent elections had a turnout of 50.1 percent (Where 28). Wattenberg gathered the voter turnout data from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and it illustrates the percentage of people that actually want to vote has declined. There is evidence to support that a low voter turnout can be linked to how hard it is to vote. Wattenberg writes, â€Å"It is reasonable, I believe, to infer that if voting is difficult for some of those who manage to vote that others must be discouraged from casting a ballot due to the complexity of the task† (Where 142). Regardless of the candidate’s message there is still stanch partisanship, and it is the driving force behind our democratic process. To deny it would be futile. From an article in the New York Times, John Tierney writes, â€Å"As moderates have become an endangered species in Congress and in state legislatures, the parties’ ideological divisions have deepened, and voters have realigned in response† (4.11) Those of us from working class families remember our parents view on political parties, and they were always distinctive. During the 1970’s, the general consensus was that Republicans were for the rich, and Democrats were for eve rybody else. This view has not changed a great deal, and party leaders are wise to these ideals. The tendency to be indecisive has taken a turn recently, and partisan attitudes have increased. It is an election year, so members of Congress need to strengthen their allegiance to their parties in order to maintain their campaign support. Steve Kopp says, â€Å"Most members of congress are moderates [but] there is no bipartisanship today†. Although he believes the majority in Congress is moderate, he acknowledges they have drawn proverbial lines in the sand to insure their position. John Tierney explains Congressional strategy he writes, â€Å"The only threat to incumbents comes from within the party, forcing them to appeal to partisan voters who dominate primaries† (4.11). They need to show their loyalty to insure campaign support in primary elections. The major issues of the day like the Iraq war have polarized the nation and its leaders. As a result, this upcoming elec tion will be a decision on decisive ideals and issues more than the recent past, but what will the winner of this election actually do? The two major parties in American politics have distinct differences, yet they do not decisively employ their diversity for significant change. They would rather use a self-preserving approach, or try to appeal to the broadest range of the electorate. The effect is they become impossible to differentiate, which has a negative consequence. The decline of voter turnout in recent times is the result of similar candidates representing each party. People have been voting for the lesser of two evils until this election year, and the promise of diversity between the candidates is a positive step. It is about time we have something we can truly stand behind or completely oppose. Those of us that promote voting and see it as a civic duty finally have solid issues that they can use to entice the voting public. All we need now is a leader that will follow up on the ideals that wins the election. Someone that stands up for his or her beliefs, bravely conveys those beliefs, and calls out adversity. Imagine going to vote without it feeling like a burden of some kind, but a chance to really feel like you are making a difference instead of an agonizing status quo. Work Cited Adams, J. Merill. â€Å"Voter Turnout and Candidate Strategies in American Elections.† Journal of Politics 65.1 (2003) Kopp, Steve. Telephone interview. 7 July 2004 Nader, Ralph. â€Å"Public Participation and the Erosion of Democracy.† Humanist 64.1 (2004) 20-25 Tierney, John. â€Å"A Nation Divided? Who Says?† New York Times 13 June 2004, late ed.:4.11 Wattenberg, Martin P. The Decline of American Political Parties, 1952-1996. Cambridge: Harvard United Press, 1999 Where Have All The Voters Gone. Cambridge: Harvard United Press, 2002 Research Papers on Similarities Between The Two Political Parties - Political Science EssayQuebec and CanadaMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New Employees19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraPETSTEL analysis of IndiaNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceCapital PunishmentTwilight of the UAWAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Bringing Democracy to AfricaThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Marketing Communication Plan for Green and Black Organic Essay

Marketing Communication Plan for Green and Black Organic - Essay Example The intention of this study is Green and Black organic as basically a premium priced chocolate manufacturing company founded in 1991 in United Kingdom by a couple named: Craig Sams and Josephine Fairley. The name of the brand Green and Black Organic is very meaningful. The Green in the brand name represents the organic quality of the brand and Black represents the dark chocolate which is basically the specialty and core product of the brand. The brand expanded and added Maya Gold to its product range in the year 1994 when the two founders of the Green and Black Organic met up with some Mayan smallholder farmers who planted cocoa trees and agreed to buy at a fair price. These cocoa beans were used to create the traditional flavor of Mayan chocolate drink. Green and Black Organic earned the UK’s first Fair-trade mark as a result of Maya Gold. In the year 2005, Green and Black Organic was bought by Cadbury Plc. Kraft foods finally got hold of the company in the year 2010. The com petition of the Green and Black Organic includes; Toblerone, Lindt and Thorntons. Green and Black Organic has asked the A team agency to come up with a Marketing Communication Plan to help it to not only sustain its market share but also work to increase it. The marketing plan will aim to create increased awareness about the brand so that consumers do not mind paying the extra pound. The A team agency has been provided with a budget of 750,000 pounds to develop a marketing plan for Green and Black Organic.... This paper will focus on marketing communication strategies, objectives and finally the plan proposed for Green and Black organic chocolate that aims to convert dark into rainbow. This proposal is prepared to be presented before an agency by Green and Black organic for illustrating their communication strategies they are thinking to opt. Company’s Brief- Green and Black Organic Green and black organic is now owned by Cadbury, which has 30% of the total market share in London. The company was initially carrying out its operations individually, but later it came under the control of Cadbury. SWOT analysis: In order to assess the current and past performance of the company, SWOT analysis was carried out for the purpose of analyzing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strength Following are the factors that made Green and Black organic a successful company in confectionary industry. Manufacturing chocolates from organic food. Dark chocolates prepared from 70% of coco a beans. Operating under the name of Cadbury. Regarded as first manufacturers of chocolate from organic substance. Employment of good marketing activities as compared to those conducted by small brands. Weaknesses Following are the weaknesses of Green and Black organic Most of the people do not prefer eating dark chocolates so this can result in reduction in sales volume. The size of the company is too small and so, it cannot extend its operation in areas outside the borders of London. As the name of the company does not specify anything related to chocolate, so people can misunderstand the name green and black organic. Opportunities Green and black can earn huge revenues if it focuses and avail following opportunities Manufacturing of chocolate butters and chocolate

Optical parameter Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Optical parameter - Research Paper Example This vital optics simplification does not account for the effects of optics like interference and diffraction. This paper seeks to explore the characteristics of different optical parameters. The first optical parameter is known as reflection. Different surfaces like those of mirrors reflect light in a predictable, easy way. This gives room for the production of images that are reflected which can be linked to real or virtual space location (Erik, 2004). In surfaces of this kind, the direction of the ray that is reflected is dependent to the ray that is incident to the normal surface and a line perpendicular towards the surface at exactly the same position that is hit by the ray (Francos, 2002). The reflected, and the incident ray lie in a same plane, and the angle of incidence is the same as the angle of reflection. This is referred as the reflection laws. Diagram 1 represents the incident and the reflected ray. Diagram 1. In a mirror that is flat, the reflection law means that the object’s images are upright and at an equal distance behind the given mirror (Francos, 2002). The size of the image is equal to that of an object. Apart from this, the images of mirrors would be laterally inverted. The mirrors having surfaces that are curved could be modeled through tracing of the ray and the use of the reflection law at all the points on the surface. Different surfaces that are curved could focus the light having aberrations because of the shape that is diverging leading to a smeared focus in the space (Hanrahan and Krueger, 2008). For instance, mirrors that are spherical will display spherical aberrations. Mirrors that are curved produce images having a magnification either less than or greater than one. These images could be either inverted or upright. An image that is upright is considered to be virtual, and images that are inverted are real and projected on the screen. Refraction, on the other hand, happens whenever light moves through a special region w ith refraction index that is changing. One easy situation of refraction happens whenever a uniform medium with refractive index ?1 interface with another medium with a different refraction index ?2 (Duarte, 2009). In this respect, the deflection of the light ray is described by Snell’s law which is given by; ?1sin ?1=?2 sin ?2, where ?1 and ?2 are angles formed between the reflected and the incident ray and the normal. From the given definition of the refractive index, the speed of light would also be changing from one medium to another (Francos, 2002). This implies that v1 sin ?2= v2sin?1, where v1 and v2 are the velocities of the waves the different media. In this regard, as the rays of light travel from a material with a high refractive index to that having a low refractive index, the interface interaction could lead to a zero transmission. This is referred to as the internal reflection. Snell’s law could also be used in the prediction of the rays of light passing t hrough media that is linear whenever there exist a refraction index and the media geometry. Absorption is a manner in which photon energy is obtained by matter. During the propagation of a wave, absorption is referred to as attenuation (Francos, 2003). The waves of absorption do not rely on the linear absorption. In some cases, the medium may change its dependently transparency in respect to the wave intensity and saturated absorption (Duarte, 2009). The

Issues of Mineral Based Economies: Nigeria and Botswana

Issues of Mineral Based Economies: Nigeria and Botswana Why do Mineral-Based Developing Economies Face Economic Problems? The Case Study of Nigeria and Botswana 1. Introduction. Mineral-based economies have been defined as â€Å"those developing countries which generate at least 8 percent of their GDP and 40 percent of their export earnings from the mineral sector†. (Auty, 1993: p. 3). Two main categories of mineral-based economies have been identified. These include hydrocarbon producers and hard mineral exporters (producers of ores such as copper and tin). (Auty, 1993). Although one may reasonably expect developing mineral-based economies to witness tremendous economic development owing to their rich mineral resources, this has hardly been the case. According to Davis (1995: p. 1766) â€Å"mineral-based economies rather have development problems than development advantages†. In addition, Davis (1998) notes that economists and political scientists have recently proposed that mineral economies’ growth is below par, despite the mineral windfalls (rents) generated from mineral extraction. The mineral sector has even been classified as a ‘loser’ sector in the economic development race. (Shafer, 1994) cited by Davis (1998). Citing from a recent World Bank conference on mining and economic development, Davis (1995: p. 1765) states that several invited experts noted with concern the historical poor per capita economic growth of the mineral-exporting nations. In particular, participants from mineral-based developing economies were justly anxious about their fate. (Davis, 1995: p. 1765). In addition to fears of the â€Å"Dutch disease† and the â€Å"resource curse thesis† (explanations of these terms follow in subsequent sections), delegates were also concern about the appropriate policy response measures to these issues. (Davis, 1995). This paper aims at explaining why mineral-based developing economies rather face economic problems rather than economic development as one would expect. In meeting with this objective, the paper makes use of two case studies of mineral-based developing economies which include Nigeria (A hydrocarbon exporter) and Botswana (a hard mineral exporter). The rest of the paper is organized as follows: section two presents a literature review on why mineral-based economies rather face economic problems rather than economic development with particular emphasis on the Dutch Disease and the resource curse thesis; section 3 presents a discussion of the case studies making reference to their GDP growth, export revenue from mineral resources and per capita GDP; and section 4 presents some conclusions and recommendations. 2. Literature Review. Much of the literature has attributed underdevelopment of mineral-based developing economies to the Dutch disease. (Roemer, 1985) cited by Davis (1998) The Dutch disease is defined as a situation where an economy highly dependent on natural resources witnesses a decline in economic development as a result of a depletion of the natural resource or a sudden drop in the price of the resource. (Auty, 1993: p. 3). According to Davis (1995: p. 1768), the Dutch disease is a ‘morbid’ term that denotes the coexistence of booming and lagging sectors in an economy due to temporary or sustained increase in earnings. Mineral economies have been identified to generate an ideal environment for the disease given their notable minerals booming sector. (Davis, 1995). Mineral-based economies are characterized by a booming minerals sector at the expense of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. (Davis, 1995). Ross (2003) suggests that mineral exports may cause economic volatility, inco me inequality, and crowding out of productivity growth in the manufacturing sector, which effects could increase poverty and reduce social welfare. Cordon and Neary (1982) cited in Auty (2001) explain the role of the Dutch disease on the deterioration of mineral-based economies using a three-sector model composed of a resource sector such as oil or other primary product exporting industry, a sector of tradeables, such as the manufacturing and agricultural sectors and non-tradeables. According to the model, a boom in the resource sector has three effects: a spending effect; a relative price effect and a resource movement effect. Looking at the spending effect, Auty (2001) suggests that the increased export revenues increases the demand for both tradables and non-tradables although spending on tradables fails to raise their domestic prices because prices in an open economy are determined in international markets. Consequently, any excess demand is met by imports. (Auty, 2001). Looking at the relative price effect, Auty (2001) suggests that failure to sterilize the increase in foreign exchange will result to an appreciation of the currency, which will in turn reduce the domestic prices of exports as well as those of imports competing with domestic products. In addition, a currency appreciation will lead to a reduction of the rents of the booming sector but may not be sufficient to reduce the sector’s output. (Auty, 2001). Domestic prices of non-tradables will rise with the rise in demand and these prices will neither be affected by the currency appreciation nor competitive imports. This will therefore result to an increase in the prices of non-tradables relative to the prices of tradables, as well as a reduction in exports and an increase in imports. (Auty, 2001). Macroeconomic theory suggests that the national income of a country is positively related to exports and negatively related to imports. The net increase in imports therefore leads to a reduction in the national income of the mineral-based State, which in turn hurts its economic development. Finally, as concerns the resource movement effect, Auty (2001) suggests that the movement of resources between sectors will also affect capital accumulation. Assuming a relatively labour-intensive non-tradable sector and a capital-intensive tradable sector, the movement in favour of the non-tradable sector will tend to raise wages and lower returns to capital thereby reducing capital accumulation. (Auty, 2001). In addition, assuming manufacturing is favourable to growth and that mineral resource booms cause it to decline, the mineral-based economy could experience slower long-term growth than the case would be if it had no mineral resources. (Auty, 2001). To support this view, Auty (2001) cites a number of studies that argue in favour of the fact that mineral resource booms tend to limit the growth of developing mineral based economies. For example, Matsuyama (1993It has also been sugges ted that mineral windfall facilitate irresponsible fiscal and trade policies. (e.g., Gelb, 1988; Ranis, 1991; Ranis and Mahmood, 1992) cited by Davis (1988). The issue as to why mineral-based economies remain underdeveloped is somehow controversial. (Auty, 2001). On the one hand, Mainstream economists have argued that primary commodity exports are the only way that countries in the early stages of development can generate the foreign exchange necessary to pay for essential imports and to service foreign debt. (Auty, 2001). On the other hand, Structurist economists (e.g., Presbish, 1950) cited by Auty (2001) argued that a long-run decline in prices for primary exports is an inevitable result of the increasing use of synthetics, shrinking raw material content of finished products and low elasticity of demand for raw materials. In addition Auty (2001) argues that oligopolistic markets in developed countries indicated that productivities increases there were captured in the form of higher income by workers and owners, while in the developing countries productivity gains were passed on to (northern) consumers in the form of lower prices. What the structurists economists are saying in effect is that mineral-rich developing countries because they lack the capacity to transform their raw materials into finished products often supply these products to developed or industrialized countries at very low prices. Industrialised countries in turn transform these raw materials into finished products and sell them to developing countries at very high prices, which do not match the prices for which they supplied their raw materials. By so doing mineral-rich developing countries continue to face declining levels of economic developing at the expense of developed countries. This idea is consistent with dependency theory[1]. For example, Presbish (1950) cited by Auty (2001) projected a downward trend in the terms of trade for primary products in relation to manufactured goods imported by developing countries from developed countries. In addition, Abubakar (1989: p. 19) describes Africa as a continent locked in an unequal exchange with t he developed world. Being perhaps the richest continent in the world, Africa has been transformed into undeniably the poorest continent. The following is a quote from Julius Nyerere, a prominent leader in Africa: â€Å"Every morning I listen to the B.B.C. to learn the price of the cotton and coffee with which Tanzania earns its foreign exchange. The prices of tractors and other goods we need to buy are not announced; they are fixed by the manufacturers in the Developed World, and we learn what they are when we go to buy†. (Abubakar, 1989: p. 19) quoting Julius Nyerere. 3. Case Studies of Nigeria and Botswana 3.1 Nigeria Nigeria falls in the first category of mineral-based economies identified by Auty (1993) as hydrocarbon producers. Minerals constitute 62.3% of the country’s merchandise exports and 9.6% of GDP and its mineral dependence index is 36 (the mineral dependence index is defined as the mean percentage contribution of minerals to GDP, merchandise exports, and government revenues). (Davis, 1995) citing Kuburshi (1984); United Nations (1974, 1976, 1987, 1993a, 1993c); World Bank (1993). Nigeria’s mineral dependence index of 36 indicates that it is highly dependent on minerals. This is following from Auty (1993) who considers a mineral dependence index of 20% or more to indicate mineral dependence. Nigeria was ranked 19th among developing countries that depended on minerals in 1970. This was based on the ranking of countries according to mineral dependence index in 1970. Based on 1991 rankings, Nigeria still maintained the 19th position and its minerals as a percentage of merchan dise exports had increased to 86.0 percent, minerals as a percentage of GDP stood at 7.6 percent and its mineral dependence index was 46.8 percent. (Davis, 1995). According to Eifert et al. (2002) oil represents an estimated 37 percent of GDP in Nigeria, and 63 percent of consolidated government revenues. The political economy of Nigeria has had an important role to play on how oil resources are managed in Nigeria. The public sector is the principal controller of these resources, which has fuelled the functioning of an extensive machinery of rent seeking a political patronage. (Eifert et al., 2002). Nigeria is characterised by a fragile ‘political coalition’ of diverse ethnic and religious groups with diverse interests. Eifert et al. (2002) asserts that public expenditures in Nigeria are always ratcheted out of control during oil booms, leading to macroeconomic instability owing to the diverse number of ethnic and religious interests that characterise the country. For e xample Eifert et al. (2002) suggest that an estimated amount of $300billion constituting oil revenues has enriched a small group politically and socially influential elite during the last 2 to 3 decades at the expense of the majority of Nigerians who have become impoverished. This indicates that Nigeria has failed to benefit from a general economic welfare from its oil boom because of the selfish desires of a small political influential minority. This situation is consistent with Gelb (1988); Ranis (1991); Ranis and Mahmood (1992) cited by Davis (1998) who attribute poor economic development of mineral-based developing economies to mineral windfalls’ facilitation of irresponsible fiscal and trade policies. Nigeria’s case is also consistent with Karl (1997); Mahon (1992); and Shafer (1994) cited by Davis (1998) who attribute mineral-based economies’ failure to achieve substantial economic development to the entrenched socio-political rigidity and rent-seeking ass ociated with an extended period of mineral extraction. According to Eifert et al. (2002) Nigeria’s economic growth has been stagnant and it is estimated that its per capita income has fallen from approximately $800 in the early 1980s to approximately $300 as at 2002. Nigeria’s failure to grow can be attributed to its government structure. Throughout the military regime described by Eifert et al. (2002) as a period of military dictatorship, the manner in which the oil cycle was managed was solely determined by the federal executive. Government spending was so high that in 1976 it accounted for more than the entire increase in oil revenue. (Eifert et al., 2002). Nigeria therefore faced rising fiscal and current account deficits following a failure of the 1975 oil price rise to bring the budget back into a surplus. By 1981, Nigeria had accumulated huge amounts of external debt, accompanied by capital flight. (Eifert et al., 2002). Increase government spending therefore fa iled to accelerate growth and there was little evidence of an increase in overall welfare that would have been expected during the sharp real appreciation that followed the spending binge. (Eifert et al., 2002). Eifert et al. (2002) attribute Nigeria’s failure to develop to the fact that its potential gains were rather absorbed in the sharply growing inefficiency of a corrupt and progressively more wasteful and distorted economy. Nigeria has made some efforts to adopt a democratic State but Eifert et al. (2002) conclude that the outcomes in the management of Nigeria’s oil cycle in the new democracy are thus so far not very different from the past pattern. This indicates that Political institutions in Nigeria are therefore shaped by a longer history than the current political regime. There is still an excessive an unsustainable increase in public expenditure, with considerable macroeconomic instability, and little to show in the growth and economic development. (Eifert, 2002). 3.2 Botswana. Botswana was ranked 35th in the mineral dependence index for developing countries in 1970. It had 0 percent for minerals as a percentage of merchandise exports, 19.6 percent for minerals as a percentage of GDP and 9.8 for mineral dependence index. (Davis, 1995). Following the ranking based on the minerals dependence index for developing economies in 1991, Botswana was ranked 8th with an 83.0 percent of minerals as a percentage of merchandise exports. Its minerals as a percentage of GDP had also increased to 41 percent and its mineral dependence index was 62.0. (Davis, 1995). Unlike Nigeria, Botswana falls in the second category of mineral-based economies with diamond, copper, nickel and coal constituting the principal hard minerals that it exported. (Curry, 1985). According to Curry (1985), Botswana, unlike other mineral-based economies in Africa that suffer from economic stagnation and political turmoil, Botswana has recorded an economic growth and political stability as a result of its fortuitous endowment of mineral wealth and sound macroeconomic management. Despite this development, Curry (1985) suggests that this growth strategy has produced underdevelopment and economic stagnation in rural agriculture, as well as increasing economic dependency on the republic of South Africa. Increases in mineral revenue has enriched the elite who have joined white farming families as the country’s large scale cattle owners, purchasing land and cattle from savings of relatively high salaries in the mining and public sectors. This situation has created two factions in Botswana. One rich and the other poor and there is an emerging clash between the rich and the poor that could destabilise and threaten an African success story as described by Curry (1985). In effect, mineral revenue in Botswana while it has helped to fuel economic development is threatening the growth of the agricultural sector and has also helped to widen the gap between the rich and the poor. Botswa na’s case is consistent with the Dutch disease which is consistent with the idea that a boom in one sector threatens a recession of other important sectors of the economy. The boom in the mineral sector has helped to fuel a recession in the agricultural sector in Botswana. 4. Conclusions and Recommendations This paper aimed at studying why mineral-based developing economies have witnessed more of economic problems than economic development. Nigeria’s case indicates that the country has suffered from autocratic and fractional democracies that have resulted to a poor management of the revenues from oil booms. As a consequence, mineral revenue has been spent without any fiscal discipline. This has led to the satisfaction of the desires of an influential minority at the expense of the welfare of the greater majority. Nigeria has basically not witnessed any economic development throughout boom in its oil sector. On its part, Botswana has witnessed growth and development as a result of its mineral resources. However, the boom in the mineral sector is hurting the agricultural sector and the situation has only benefited the rich who are using the mineral revenue to take over all land in Botswana for cattle rearing. Like Nigeria, Botswana’s mineral revenue has to some extent benefi t an influential minority. Based on the above, this paper recommends a more democratic regimes in mineral-based economies as well as an emphasis of the importance of all sectors in the economy. Governments in developing countries need to understand the importance of the manufacturing industry. Nigeria for example should be more concern about building its own oil refineries so as to boost its manufacturing industries. In Botswana, the government should implement high taxes on the rich elite so as to help redistribute the mineral income to the poor. Subsidies should be provided to the poor farmers. By so doing, there can be an equitable distribution of land, which will in turn boost the agricultural sector. Bibliography Abubakar A. (1989). Africa and the Challenge of Development: Acquiescence and Dependency Versus Freedom and Development. Praeger Publishers. New York. Auty R. M. (2001). Sustaining Development in Mineral Economies: The Resource Curse Thesis. Routledge. Auty R. M. (2001). The Underperformance of resource-abundant economies. Resource Abundance and Economic Development. Edited by R.M Auty. UNU/WIDER studies in Development Economics. Oxford. Curry R. L (1985). Mineral-based growth and development-generated socioeconomic problems in Botswana: Rural Inequality, Water scarcity, food insecurity, and foreign dependence challenge governing class. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 319-336. Davis G. A. (1998). The minerals sector, sectoral analysis, and economic development. Resource Policy, vol. 24, No. 4, pp 217-228. Davis G. A. (1995). Learning to Love the Dutch Disease: Evidence from the Mineral Economies. World Development, vol. 23, No. 10, pp. 1765-1779. Eifert B., Gelb A., Tallroth N. B. (2002). The Political Economy of Fiscal Policy and Economic Management in Oil-Exporting Countries. Policy Research Working Paper, No. 2899. The World Bank, Africa Regional Office. Lievesley G. (2003).DependencyThe Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. Ed. Iain McLean and Alistair McMillan. Oxford University Press, Oxford Reference Online. Tà ©treaul M. A., Abel C. F. (1986). Dependency Theory And The Return Of High Politics. Greenwood Press. New York. Footnotes [1] Dependency theory built upon the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) which characterized the world as divided into centre (the developed, inudstrialised North) and periphery (the underdeveloped agricultural South). (Tà ©treaul and Abel, 1986; Lievesley, 2003). Dependency theory tries to explain the external mechanisms of control exerted by the centre on the periphery. The centre maintained the periphery in a state of underdevelopment for purposes of super exploitation. (Tà ©treaul and Abel, 1986; Lievesley, 2003). Dependency theory therefore indicates that underdevelopment was not an original or inherent condition, it could rather be explained by the historical relationship between the developed and developing world.

The Change of Baseball Over the Years Essay -- Baseball Sports Athleti

From the sandlot to stadiums seating over fifty thousand people, the game of baseball has provided people of all ages with a common foundation; a sport we can all call our national pastime. Though its concept sounds simple, a game using a ball and a bat, millions of people all over the world have sought involvement in it by either playing at some level, or just sitting back and watching a game. With professional baseball attracting more and more fans each season, no one knows what limits this sport can reach. For the time being though, it has been a real "home run." Like any other sport, baseball developed over an extended period of time spanning way back to the 1600’s. The first evidence of the sport was a game called rounders, which was played in England (Lewine 27). Players hit a ball with a bat, which is parallel to today’s game, but the method’s to how the defense put the runners out was the big difference. Similar to dodge ball, an infielder or outfielder had to throw the ball at the runners. If the ball hit a runner who was off base, he was out. This formula was called plugging and soon after, its popularity ceased as did the game’s (29). Soon after, a transition occurred and the name rounders changed to town ball and then to Massachusetts’s game, and finally the name baseball, developed by American colonists, stuck. Rules did change over the period of them the names did, such as the number of players, distance between bases and etc. Around 1840, the Americans solidified the rules and rounders had become baseball. Even with evidence that baseball developed from rounders, it is believed that a United States Army general named Abner Doubleday invented the sport in Cooperstown, New York, current home of the Hall of Fame (30). After many disputes, Albert Spalding, a sporting-goods manufacturer and player of baseball, decided to have a commission decide who originated the game. In 1908, the commission credited Doubleday with creating the game and it was based on a letter from Abner Graves, a friend of Doubleday’s. In this document, Graves stated that he had been present as Doubleday conceptualized the game in 1839 (30). As a result of this decision, historians research concluded that Doubleday had little to do with the discovery of baseball and his friend Graves described plugging in the letter, that being a major fundamental in rou... ...ood as a record for 38 years until these two men belted 70 and 66 home runs respectively. Can this major record-breaking predict what professional baseball players have to offer us in the future? Well, we can safely assume that baseball into the new millenium can only bring us the same excitement that it has for the past hundred or so years. After all, it is still designated as our national pastime. For centuries, baseball has changed drastically whether it be the players, teams, records, and all the like. While all things change though, and as it is stated "the only thing that is constant is change," one thing has remained the same throughout its duration as one of the major sports (McCarver 209). It has united people in times of good and bad, and for that reason was coined our national pastime. You can find thousands of kids each Saturday during the spring at little league games. You can see a stickball game proceeding at a local park. You can even sit in an air-conditioned room in front of the television watching the "Game of the Week." With the millions of people involved in baseball in some way or another, there is no wonder why it is called our national pastime.