Epsteins Essay Example for Free

Epsteins Essay We must all acknowledge and adhere to the feeling of boredom, as we have all felt its distinct dampness in some form or another. Epstein’s essay â€Å"Duh, Bor-ing† is able to capture and enforce its ideologies through direct references and quotations; with a little education and perseverance you are able to decipher and put meaning behind the unique examples he portrays in his writing. Epstein starts his essay with â€Å"Somewhere I have read that boredom is the torment of hell that Dante Forgot† (Epstein 1). In using this quote from Albert Speer we really get the feeling that boredom is unbeneficial and in fact tormenting at times. As many will agree with that statement, Epstein further goes on to say â€Å"When bored, time slows drastically, the world seems logy and without promise, and reality itself can grow shadowy and vague† (Epstein 2). There again giving you the feeling that boredom can cause you to perceive time differently and cause life to become dark and gloomy at times. He does a great job incorporating these quotes into his writing to really back the feeling that we carry towards boredom. We have all felt the negative vibes portrayed from boredom and many of us try to avoid them at all costs. Being able to form my own opinions, judgments and thoughts on the subject allows Epstein’s essay to be easily relatable and interesting to read. Epstein further allows you to connect with the text by particularizing on the different types of boredom perceived. Situational Boredom, in which he relates to a â€Å"dull sermon† (Epstein 1) and existential boredom caused by modern culture. Epstein lets us ponder the thought that maybe our own modern culture is to blame for boredom. He elaborates that boredom is often less pervasive in simpler cultures â€Å"One hears little of boredom among the pygmies or the Trobriand Islanders, whose energies are taken up with the problems of mere existence† (Epstein 2). With everything becoming increasingly more technological and people able to live easier, longer and healthier lives maybe we create our own boredom through modern society. He also refutes existential boredom in saying â€Å"Even animals know boredom, we are told, though they are deprived of the ability to complain directly about it† (Epstein 1). An animal at most represents the closest thing to be at its core un-modernized. Although deprived from the ability to complain about it, animals symbolize pure primal instinct and yet are affected by boredom just alike. Naturally boredom has a negative stigma wrapped around it but as Toohey suggests â€Å"Boredom is good for us Boredom can function as a warning sign†¦telling those who suffer unduly from it that they need to change their lives† (Epstein 5). Epstein’s allowing that negative stigma to be refuted upon and replaced with that of a greater self-perception. That maybe boredom is a self-defense mechanism or a symptom in reaction to your own life struggles and yet curable. Epstein constant analytical approach to the advantages and disadvantages of boredom helps make this essay work in building credibility to the fact that he’s not one-sided or condensed. He capitalizes on the indifferences boredom promotes and truly tries to look at the subject from all angles and sides drawing power and reason from multiple sources and references. Overall with the use of distinct wordy visuals and references Epstein able to make his writing work in that of capturing his readers and allowing them to form their own interpretation on the matter.

The effects of globalisation on women

The effects of globalisation on women Although the term globalisation was only known to me from items on TV and in newspapers, I have tried to make a thorough analysis in this paper for my English course. I am not an economist, so the subject was rather new to me. In the different media, globalisation is usually dealt covered from an anti-globalisation angle. This raises the first very important question: is globalisation all negative or does a global economy also have merits? Unfortunately, because the subject is so extensive I have to narrow it down. I therefore choose to describe the participation of women in the process of globalisation. The paper is constructed around the following themes: à ¢-  What is globalisation? à ¢-  How does globalisation affect women? An introduction à ¢-  Participation of women in the economy Effects of export, economic foundation The Infant Industry Argument à ¢-  Womens representation in the political process à ¢-  Women and education à ¢-  Women and health à ¢-  Modern Day Slavery à ¢-  Violence against women à ¢-  The rise of NGOs à ¢-  An interview with an Usbek girl à ¢-  Conclusion à ¢-  What is globalisation? Being spread all over the world, that would be the literal definition of globalisation. With the means of modern technology and communication, used all over the world these days, we know almost immediately what is happening on the other side of the world. We get more connected with each other and, as a consequence, we become evermore dependant on one another. Our world has increasingly become a unity, because globalisation establishes itself on a political, economic, social and cultural level and these four groups are related. The term globalisation is not new, some say that the process started in the 15th century when the Europeans or more specific the Portuguese and Spanish wanted to expand and travelled oversees, thus conquering the South and Middle-American continent. Also bear in mind the battle between the English, French and Belgians over Africa. Other sources state that globalisation began in the early eighties thanks to new information technologies such as the Internet. As a result of this globalisation, the economies of different countries met and were forced to cooperate, necessitating the construction of one system so all economies could merge. In order to realise globalisation as we know it at present it is critical that some companies and less powerful concerns are gradually replaced by big and powerful multinationals and big monetary companies. But globalisation is a much bigger process than the mere increase of international trade and foreign investments. When we take a look at companies in Belgium, we notice a strong mobility of capital and workers. Globalisation is a global realisation of a world economy; custom houses are no longer needed and therefore abolished, prices increase so the returns of companies grow bigger. We aim for as much privatisation as possible where companies part of the public sector are transferred to the private sector. à ¢-  How does globalisation affect women? An introduction. The United Nations watches over the rights of all people, including women. It estimates that over 58 million primary-school-aged girls worldwide are not enrolled in school, more than two-thirds of the worlds births occur outside health facilities. Many countries, among which the United States of America have not signed or ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). It is not very difficult to see that the life of women has greatly improved since globalisation, particularly in third world countries where women had a lot of catching up to do. Nevertheless, the development of women in areas of life such as education, health and civil rights is still very limited. According to the United States Agency for International Development and the World Bank, 55% (of a total of 72 million) of female primary-school-aged children do not attend school. Furthermore, when they do receive the opportunity to get an education, it is less likely that they complete their primary school compared to boys. International communities, such as the United Nations, use and monitor indicators of gender equality. In 2010 the United Nations wrote their UNs Millennium Development Goals in which they verify gender equality and the empowerment of women. Some of the indicators of gender equality used by the United Nations are levels of female enrolment at school, participation in the workplace and representation in decision-making positions and political institutions. Many international conferences have discussed the various and unique problems women have to face. The UN have created a new identity: United Nations Women. It controls gender equality and the implementation of laws regarding female rights. à ¢-  Participation of women in the economy Effect of export, economic foundation A close inspection of a few economic principles reveals that a country benefits from trade with other countries. We can safely say that a countrys welfare increases as soon as it becomes an exporting country. If the world price for a product is higher than the domestic price, a country will export its goods. By doing so, the total surplus increases. On the other hand, when the world price is lower than the domestic price, the country must import goods to have an increase in total surplus. Either way, a countrys welfare will always increase by setting up trade. The Infant Industry Argument Many third world countries are convinced they should follow the theory described in economic literature as The Infant Industry Argument, stating that trade restrictions will help a developing industry to get started. These countries think that their industry will be able to compete with foreign competitors after a period of protection. However, there are many reasons why economists are sceptical about this protectionalism. First of all, these restrictions are difficult to put into practice. Some questions the government will be faced with are: which industry will be profitable? and will the benefit of establishing these industries exceed the cost for consumers? Dont forget the problem of protection mostly going to those companies that are politically powerful. Also, it is very hard to remove this temporary policy. In addition, many economists are sceptical about the infant industry argument, even in principle. When the industry is unable to compete, but can prove profitable in the long run, the owners of the firms should be willing to incur losses. After a while, they can obtain possible profit. So, by being an exporting country, a quicker economic grow is more likely and consequently, a country that wants to expand its economy, has to be able to put many people at work. In that hypothesis, women have to be part of the working class. Closer inspection of different third world countries shows that womens employment varies greatly. In some countries in the Middle East participation of women in the local economy is the greatest of the world. In East-Asia 67 % of all women is working while the global average is 53%. On the other hand we find very few women being part of the working population in some Arab countries, for example only 15 % in Saudi-Arabia. When we look at the reasons why there are so many and great differences in employment of women, we finally discover a difference in social-cultural factors. For example, many Maghreb countries believe that women cannot work. Likewise women are being tightly politically controlled in many Arabic countries, with laws describing what a woman should and should not do. Mostly, they have to stay at home and take care of the children and the household. Having said that, women are obviously called upon to contribute to the family earnings by going out to work when the family grows and the household increases. Yet, on the other hand, she is the first to give up her career and stay home as soon as she has children. This is not the only problem women face; in most countries, even in so-called developed ones, women are worse off than men. They earn less money for the same work and will not easily make it to decision-making jobs. More often than not women are to be found in such sectors as education and sanitation. So, what is the effect of globalisation on these issues? We can see that globalisation improves womens economic achievements; they will be able to earn and control their income and as such, empower themselves to negotiate their role and status in their household as well as in society. Countries must change their way on women because women are essential for the increase of the national economy. Employing only men will not be sufficient to reach that goal. The gains for women who work are double: womens employment does not only increase the economy, it also appears to improve child survival rate, family health and to reduce fertility rates. Unfortunately, the situation is not always positive. Even though a number of these countries are able to put women to work, the job is often dangerous or the working conditions are very bad. They even have to carry out jobs men turn down. Additionally, women have little rights concerning working hours, health care, privacy protection à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ These gender-related problems arent restricted to underdeveloped countries, though. When looking at Europe, for instance, it is women who are most likely to be discharged in times of recession. Also, in most European countries, women still do not earn the same wages as men. It is less likely to find a woman in an important job than a man. Mostly, the reason is that men have the positions to hire people and often they think that a man is a safer choice. In some companies it is customary not to employ women in their fertile years, because of the cost of having to employ a substitute during the womans maternity leave. Organisations such as Human Rights Watch zealously battle for legal protection of women labourers. They also want to strengthen their legal protection and ensure easy access to legal resources. By doing so, they aim to increase participation in work as a positive development for women, when the law is on their side, men will give them the opportunity to work outside the household. Still, every beginning is hard. Underlying factors have to be changed before serious progress can be made. As the United Nations stated: Women have entered the labour force in unprecedented numbers, increasing the potential for their ability to participate in economic decision making at various levels, starting with the household. à ¢-  Womens representation in the Political Process Many international agreements discuss the goal of gender equality, yet many local governments lack female participation. Nevertheless, increased representation of women in decision making is crucial for the empowerment of women. World conferences like the Beijing Fourth World Conference and the Millennium Development Goals recommend several programs for this purpose. However, when we investigate recent data we notice that the process is slow and the outcome around the world is very different. Many organisations such as the Women Leaders Initiative, created by the World Economic Forum tried to up the participation of women in global economy, by increasing the representation of women leaders at global summits. The target internationally agreed upon is a female representation of 30 %. In 2010, 26 countries, among which Belgium and the Netherlands, reached this target. Some governments pulled through by introducing quotas for womens political participation. But increasing womens representation is not the only issue governments have to deal with. When women arrive in decision-making jobs by quota, they do not only have to be present, but they also have to be genuinely involved in the actual decision making process. Unfortunately, not all women are fully prepared for the job. In the new Bulgarian parliament, for example, women secured 26% of the votes (40% of the eligible positions were occupied by women as a result of campaigns by NGOs). But after the election a study showed that women were not fully prepared for their career. They apparently did not want to represent womens rights or interests. Currently, only 9 countries around the world have a female leader. à ¢-  Women and education Where education is concerned, research yields very different results in different places. In a number of African countries, women cant go to primary school, for instance. This situation is completely the opposite in some Asian countries where there are more women than men in secondary schools. Generally speaking, girls in the poorest countries have the lowest chance of getting an education. Yet school attendance is not the only issue we have to measure; illiteracy is an extremely important problem, seeing that 64% of all illiterate adults worldwide are women. Illiteracy is one of the indicators used by the UN Millennium Development Goal to progress gender equality. The international community hopes, and I quote the Levin Institute, to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education in all levels of education no later than 2015. We know that education is very important, educated women stand a slimmer chance of living in poverty, hence alleviating poverty in general. Non-governmental organisations such as the UNESCO also state that female education has positive effects on child health and provides other members of the household the chance to educate themselves. Furthermore, women who have enjoyed an education participate more in the economy. When looking at extremely poor countries which are mostly rural, women are not likely to complete any type of schooling. Yet, education is a basic human right and as such defined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The World Education Forum hopes to see changes in attitudes, values and practices to end gender inequality. The UNESCO noted that, especially in poor African countries, it is not the policy that holds women back. A Girls education is not valued in many societies because women have to take care of the household. Therefore only boys can receive an education, because they have to learn skills to work outside the home. In some countries it is very difficult to go to school because of the distance. Primary schools are usually near the home, but because secondary schools are at a considerable distance, they are often not attended because if they do attend the children have to leave home. Exposing girls to the outside world seems not important . Their place is at home, doing the household. The only knowledge they need for cooking and caring for others, they learn from their mothers and older sisters. Another problem is that schools do not provide with adjusted sanitary facilities for girls. So governments have to fund schools to build lavatories for males and females. In some countries, families are offered a small fee if they send their girls to school. To eliminate fraud, the salary will only be given to the family after the children have passed their exams. By doing so, parents are also affected in the process of change. Globalisation provides the world with the opportunity to make changes. Global organisation can monitor all countries and set up rules so that women get the power they need. By giving them an education they are also given the opportunity to speak for themselves. à ¢-  Women and health Poor health is a problem numerous developing countries have to face. Reasons are limited services or access to them, lack of education and too little information about health issues. When looking at the situation of women, it is evident that they are also affected by other problems concerning health. For example, mal nutrition, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy complications. Although in many cultures women are the first to take care of others who are in need, they are often the last to receive medical treatment themselves. Organisations such as the World Bank try to educate women by teaching them how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. In some countries in Africa and Asia the contamination with HIV has taken the form of an epidemic among women. Studies show that women are twice as likely to be infected with contagious diseases than men, especially due to a lack of information and education. The reason that women are more affected is to be explained by gender inequality. Women are not in the position to refuse sex or to demand the use of a condom. By promoting gender equality, womens rights organisations try to improve the bad position of girls and women. Women have to be taught to speak up for themselves and control their own lives, they have to show resistance to the often very dominating males. Educational programs developed by organisations such as the UNIFEM provide them with information about nutrition in order to have a healthier life. This is not only useful for the women themselves, but the whole household will benefit by it. One of the most important issues non- governmental organisations have to deal with is maternal health, especially when realising that the majority of maternal deaths can be prevented. In many cultures the life of a woman is worth less than the time necessary to bring her to a health centre. Often the family waits too long to seek medical help so that the woman dies before even getting to a hospital. Only by giving women proper health care and information, the number of deaths during child birth can be reduced. Via special programs women are pointed out the dangers of breast feeding when the mother is HIV positive. Along with the information regarding the risks for the baby, the mothers are offered milk powder and bottles to feed the little ones. Another very delicate problem is that of abortion. In many cultures pregnancy termination is prohibited and women have no rights to argue. Birth control methods are not used and in some religions even forbidden so that women are almost always pregnant. This way the pressure on the household is enormous, frequently with poverty as a result. Also women who have many children to look after have no time left to go out. They have nowhere for a little bit of privacy or tranquillity. The issue of birth control brings us to another problem women in poor countries have to deal with. Because abortion is not debatable, some women seek refuge in unsafe abortions as last resort when they want to terminate a pregnancy without the family knowing. These issues remain controversial, not only in third world countries but in all countries with religious societies such as Catholic and Muslim countries. Nevertheless, scientific studies show a connection between poverty and the number of children a woman has. When the poverty of women decreases, the fertility rate increases. Also, a woman who has less children to take care of is able to give these children a better education and development. The Human Rights Commission identifies the practices most threatening to women as (I quote): Female circumcision, known as female genital mutilation to its opponents, which involves the excision of a womans external sexual organs; Other forms of mutilation, such as facial scarring; Various nutritional taboos; Traditional practices associated with childbirth; The problem of dowries in some parts of the world; Honor killing The consequences of preference for male babies, such as parental neglect and infanticide of female babies. In some countries women have to face genital mutilation on religious grounds. That practice has been described by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an insult to human rights. It shows a lack of dignity from the part of men and a lack of equality between men and women. à ¢-  Modern Day slavery Some women who lead a bad life in poverty believe they can find a better life in a developed country. They are sometimes exploited by organisations who trick them into forced labour or sexual exploitation. Globalisation made it easier to move people around the world and people get in touch with organisations who promise a better life faster. Often they are taken to a developed country with the promise of a job as a nanny or housekeeper, but when they arrive they end up in prostitution. These women do not have the opportunity to react because they depend on the person who brought them there. The traffickers hold on to the necessary papers to keep these victims in the country. Seeing they cannot get in touch with the authorities, they are forced to live an illegal life. We often see that especially women of lower class groups are vulnerable. Also the political and economic crisis in some countries contributes to the trafficking of women, as it turns out to be a very lucrative business. When talking of human trafficking we are in fact dealing with international criminal organisations, meaning, highly mobile structures that are difficult to prosecute. In some countries we find members of the local government involved in this illegal business. Also, when a certain suspect is caught and brought to justice, it is very difficult to find witnesses or victims willing to testify against these traffickers. Because of the international character of the organisations, many people fear for their lives and those of their family members. In some Asian countries children often end up in the sex industry. Non-governmental organisations try to inform the parents about the potential dangers of illegal sex trade, the risks of HIV and the legal penalties involving the issue. Not only non-governmental organisations take action, also some governments state it is illegal to travel for the purpose of sex tourism. By discouraging people to take part of the sex industry, the government can diminish the problems. à ¢-  Violence against women (VAW) NGOs provide for rules to combat VAW. In Egypt, for example, women who were treated violently can receive legal advice and counselling on the one hand and help with other issues such as divorce and housing on the other hand. NGOs also control the implementation of laws and policies, which is a big challenge because some informants underreport or are biased (do not want to report family or friends). Another problem is the wrong interpretation of the laws.could you provide an example? It is not entirely clear as such There is also bureaucracy; in some countries, even developed ones like the US, VAW programs are diffused across different political tendencies. The government does not want to take part for a determinate side. This is not clear In poor countries in the developing world, there is not enough money to spend on programs to inform on violence against women. They often do not have the financial infrastructure to combat VAW. Because of the intervention of NGOs, people have become aware of the problem and pressure coming from the community increases. However, when violent behaviour is met with punishment, support from the community is lacking. Abuse still occurs, but when all members of society are involved to fight the problem, the number of incidents of abuse will decrease. à ¢-  The rise of NGOs As a result of globalisation, various organisations defend the rights of women around the world. In the last 50 years, many non-governmental organisations defending women and womens rights were founded. They work on different themes such as education, medical aid, development and so forth. As a result of their work, we will now find great female political leaders, even in underdeveloped countries like Benin. Those women inspire a lot of other women to educate themselves and fight for their equality. à ¢-  An interview with an Usbek girl Nastaya Buchok is an Usbek girl of 13 years old. She participated in a girls project that provides encouragement, support and training to select a group of young computer-orientated girls, sponsored by the International Research and Exchanges Board. This is what globalisation has done for her: Globalisation has really affected her life and that of other women too. Thanks to the program she learned that women can also be leaders and can build a future for themselves. When she has completed the program, she wants to cooperate with Youth Organisations. She says that technology can improve the status of women so they can become leaders in their community and be on the same level as men. à ¢-  Conclusion While reading about the subject of globalisation I found many pros and contras. The study on which I based my paper, mostly talks about positive results of globalisation, where women are concerned. Globalisation provides them with the opportunity to get an education and offers them the chance to stand up for themselves. Many non-governmental organisations which are zealously fighting for womens rights have been founded as a result of globalisation. In many underdeveloped countries women think that leading a life that is dominated by men is normal. They do not know what freedom means or that they have as many rights regarding education, health, politics and so on as men do. Now they are given a voice, the chance to develop. They get the opportunity to make a difference. By training, education, providing services and support the NGOs offer help to suppressed women. There are people who are lobbying with governments and international organisations for better policies. The process of change is very slow, but every result, even a tiny one, can make a big difference later. Because women are the ones who educate the children, the results can be seen after one generation already. If we are able to give the women of today a proper education, they will see the importance of going to school and then they will send their children to school. By doing so their children do not have to struggle to get an education, it will be the normal thing to do. If women are informed on how to build a healthy life, everyone in the family will benefit from it. Children have less chance to be undernourished and so less children will die. We can turn the tide so that mortality among children decreases. When women know how to protect themselves against diseases like HIV, the number of orphans will decrease as well as the number of children who are born with HIV or who will get contaminated by their mother because she is ignorant of the consequences of breastfeeding a child while being HIV positive. Working women have their own income, which will make them less dependent of their husbands. It also gives them a chance to build up a social network outside the home and away from the influence of the family. In every way, being in contact with other partners in adversity, they can widen their horizon. However, going outside is not self-evident for women in many societies and some religions speak negatively of women who are working. If a woman can secure a job in politics, they can fight the battle for their female population, because not every woman has the ability or the nerve to stand up for her rights. So, having strong women in politics who speak up and fight their battles for womens rights zealously, all womens situation can improve. In order to get more women to occupy important political mandates, NGOs set quota for the countries. As a result of this positive discrimination some countries already succeeded in having one-third of female politicians. A lot of woman are oppressed by their husband or his family. When we have politicians who know the problems women have to face and want to defend womens rights, laws can be made to help the weaker ones. The UN offers guidelines to countries to develop themselves and set rules to prevent atrocities like human mutilation. In the last paragraph I have given my personal conclusion on the subject globalisation and women. But I must admit that globalisation is a much more complex matter. I did not speak about the economic, environmental and cultural aspects of it. When I discussed the effect of globalisation on women, it all seemed positive. But the fact that we can travel all over the world in only 24 hours and that we in Belgium, for example, know that there has been an earthquake in Japan within a second also has negative consequences. Through globalisation many local cultures disappear and a new, multicultural society comes into existence. Because there is no break (what do you mean by this?) on economic globalisation, some natural sources are overexploited. In the early days, people only took what their society needed, now big companies reclaim without thinking of the consequences for the environment or without looking at the future. The only thing of importance is profit. Also, big companies grind down the population by putting people at work for starvation wages. They often are not averse to child labour. Another disadvantage of companies going abroad for the production of goods is that people in the rich countries are unemployed because factories are closing. When we put all the pros and contras together, globalisation is in many ways a blessing, especially in third world countries and for people who are discriminated or suffer disadvantages. Both mens and womens lives have improved and will continue to do so. Also it is thanks to globalisation that organisations like the United Nations, Unicef the WHO and other non- governmental organisation have been founded and that, as a consequence, the rights of the weak participants in all societies are defended. Those organisations take a look at the whole picture and every individual in it. NGOs watch that the Human Rights are being observed and take action if they are violated.

Essay --

Educational theory that is relevant to change management would be the social learning theory. In this theory the leader or educator has a responsibility to act as a role model. Social learning theory has been applied to education in nursing to maximise the use of support groups and to address psycho social problems. As an example from research it has shown that nurse managers who understand their responsibilities and roles in promoting a positive work environment leads to enhances competence, learning and satisfaction (Kane-Urrabazo, C. 2006) Bandura states that people do not need to experience things directly to learn and that substantial learning happens by observing other people’s behaviour and what happens to them. Learning can be seen as a social process and other individuals provide compelling examples for how to act feel and think. The principle of Role Modelling is to enable the student to observe a well-trained nurse work and therefore allows the student to foster the professional role. This does not only involve the learning of clinical skills but learning about professional attitudes and interactions with patients and other members of healthcare staff (Quinn 1991). For this theory Role Modelling is a central concept and as an example a nurse with little experience would usually be mentored by a nurse with more experience who shows desirable behaviours and professional attitudes. In relation to nurse education the advantage of social learning theory is its focus on the social aspect of learning which occurs in a social environment, recognising the complexity of the person and the environment. Callery 1990 states that the same complexity makes interaction challenging and intervention complicated. The environment woul... .... Set of principles of adult education centred on the political fact that there are fundamental differences in the legal rights of adults & children. Educational philosophy defined in terms of self-directed learning, student centred teaching & lifelong learning. Self-directedness & individual development is consistent with humanism. Advocates autonomy by giving the learner responsibility for learning. Andragogy encourages individual learning diversity Andragogical consistency mirrors the nurse patient- relationship Andragogy can be understood as a means that adult education must focus more on the method compared than to the lessons. Self-evaluation, simulations, role playing and case studies are the most useful of these types of education, Instructors take on the function of a resource person or facilitator instead of assuming the usual role of a grader or lecturer.

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Groom -- Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeche

Wedding Speech Delivered by the Groom Well , what can I say, Thankyou for those kind words Alan and I hope $20 was enough. I recently read somewhere that a survey had been conducted of things that people fear most, and top of the list above things like spiders and heights, was the fear of standing up and making a speech in public. I'm no different, suffice to say that this isn't the first time today I've risen from a warm seat with a piece of paper in my hand. MANY PEOPLE Many people thought this day would never come. That I'd be standing here making the speech of a Newly Married man, myself included. Many people have also told me how lucky I am to be marrying Jo, including Jo in fact. But I would like everybody here, especially my new bride, to know how lucky and proud I am to be standing here speaking to you as her husband. WIFE & I And so, for the very first time, I'd like to say, 'On behalf of my Wife and I' I would like to thank you all for coming today and sharing Our special day. I know this is meant to be our day, but of course it wouldn't be as special a day if it wasn't for our family and friends being here with us, and I'm sure you'll all agree that we found the ideal setting for this memorable occasion. We would also like to thank you all for your cards, kind thoughts and wonderful gifts. TRADITION Tradition dictates that I now tell you an amusing stor... ...would like to thank our little Bridesmaids, Charlotte and Lucy for doing such a great job today. I'm sure you'll all agree they look beautiful, especially in their bridesmaids dresses, which once again Daphne was kind enough to make. Gift Now, ladies and gentlemen please be upstanding and raise your glasses in a toast to Charlotte and Lucy 'The Bridesmaids' Finish Before I sit down I'd like to finish by reading a quotation I came across a couple of days ago, that I found very apt. "Happy marriages begin when we marry the one we love, And they blossom when we love the one we married" With that thought in mind, I look forward to a wonderful married life together. Thankyou!!!

Amway Essay 9

Amway summary Introduction Amway is one of the world’s largest direct sales companies. It was founded in 1959 and is still owned by the families that founded it. It employs 14,000 people worldwide and markets over 450 product lines. A key part of its success is its three million ABOs (Amway Business Owners) spread round 80 countries. Amway enables these people to have a business of their own. Amway recognises that it has other responsibilities, for example, to the communities in which it works. Its global vision is to help people lead better lives. Stakeholders Stakeholders are groups or individuals who have an interest in the decisions of the company and its business. Stakeholders can be external, like suppliers, customers or the public or internal, such as employees, or shareholders. Different types of stakeholders may have different priorities or interests. Amway has to balance out the different priorities. The families that own Amway are its only shareholders. Amway communicates regularly with stakeholders through websites, email, events, publications and membership of trade bodies. How stakeholders affect Amway Amway is a direct selling company, cutting out retail outlets and selling straight to consumers. It has its own supply chain through ABOs. Amway needs feedback from ABOs and customers to know how well it is doing and to improve service. ABOs are independent small businesses, but rely on Amway suppliers to produce quality goods. How Amway affects stakeholders Amway’s vision to ‘help people lead better lives’ explains how it works with communities. It promotes corporate social responsibility (CSR) around the globe. This means that it meets its wider duties to the communities in which it works. This involves supporting good causes and acting in an ethical way. Amway supports its stakeholders in a number of ways. These include making good products and giving support to social programmes. It has a partnership with the children’s charity UNICEF. It helps provide vaccinations to combat the world’s six most deadly diseases. It has chosen this charity because its ABOs were most concerned about families. Ethical business Ethical businesses act to improve the communities where they work. Amway’s business ethics give it a clear framework in which to work. Acting in an ethical way, however, also gives it a positive business advantage. Its ‘One by One’ programme is good for the environment and also good for business. This programme supports organic farming, aims to reduce waste and packaging and aims to switch to renewable energy sources. These actions carry a cost, but this can be balanced against the benefits to both the business and the community. Conclusion Amway has to balance the needs of its many different stakeholders. It sets high standards of ethical behaviour and codes of conduct to make sure these are upheld. Its CSR programme helps the environment, its own employees and disadvantaged children all around the world.

A Case Analysis: Integra and Intex’s Problem Project

Marketing and promoting new technology has always been undemanding due to the growing trend in business and commerce of going electronic. However, not all technology is successful in their entry into the world of business.One very good example of this incident is that of Integra and Intex’s Banking and Loan Insurance Software System (BLISS) project. Although the software was completed, it was never introduced to credit unions. What happened then? How come such a very innovative project became a wasted product?   What were the mistakes made? Most significantly, what can the two businesses do to cope with the damaging effects the project has brought about?Case BackgroundThe BLISS project was spearheaded by two firms, namely, Integra Financial Corporation and Intex Consulting. Integra Financial Corporation, a life insurance company based in Quebec, Canada, is active in insurance, trust services, securities brokerage and asset and portfolio management (Roy, 2003, p. 445). The co rporation is responsible for approximately 8 billion dollars of assets while the work force consists of more than 2,200 permanent employees (Roy, 2003, p. 445).On the other hand, the partner company, Intex Consulting is a firm that specializes in the installation and design of information systems. It is actually a Canadian branch of a large international information system integration firm who wishes to gain its prominent place in Canadian banking business (Roy, 2003, p. 445). The firm is widely known for its expertise in the U.S. banking industry concerning system integration and development (Roy, 2003, p. 447).Although Integra has a competitive share in the insurance banking business, it does not have the whole of Canada. The company only emerges in Quebec due to one of its unique insurance plan. This plan is the Loan and Mortgage Insurance plan, also called the corporation’s â€Å"cash cow† (Roy, 2003, p. 446).What makes it different from plans of other insurance co rporations is its special software that enables a customized calculation of the expenses per client and directly links Integra’s database with the participating banking institutions. However, the software is limited for use only in Quebec where the banking institutions have somewhat similar structures. When it comes to the national market, Integra cannot venture into it since the different banking structures and institutions are diverging and dissimilar. Thus, the loan insurance plan was inapplicable.This very challenge has allowed the search for a way to penetrate the loan insurance business in the national network. It is in this situation that contact was made with Intex Consulting regarding Integra’s dream software. Thus, after the meeting of the two business establishments, the BLISS project was born and launched in the beginning of 1996 (Roy, 2003, p. 448).The primary goal of the joint project was to develop an appropriate technology solution to connect Integraâ⠂¬â„¢s loan insurance systems with its prospective clients’ banking and loan systems, particularly, a software system that can bridge the differences of the different structures of the diverse banking institutions and loan systems (Roy, 2003, p. 447).Key persons in both companies were then appointed for the project’s completion. Everyone was eager to see the results and was very optimistic because at that time, the project was a major endeavor and a promising success.Everyone saw the proposal as a means to expand the company. In addition, everyone was confident with the decision of pursuing the project. One would actually ask why but why not? Everyone believed that Integra is capable of doing so, due to its very long and successful experience in loan insurance business and that Intex has the guts of designing and developing an error-free software system since the firm is known for its competitiveness (Roy, 2003, p. 448).

The Servant Leadership Theory Best Exemplifies My...

A.2 – The Servant Leadership Theory I believe that the Servant Leadership Theory best exemplifies my leadership style. According to Greenleaf.org, the servant leadership theory is a â€Å"philosophy and set of practices that enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organizations, and ultimately creates a more just and caring world† (2015). I believe this theory applies to me because I try to practice its principles both personally and professionally. I believe the individual’s needs come before the needs of the business. Individuals that are happy and healthy make both the team and the overall organization strong and successful. A.2.A – Strengths I feel that I have several qualities that help me be a great leader. One of my strengths is the ability to create relationships with my employees and coworkers. I see them as a people—not just an employee or resource. I celebrate and encourage their individuality and the experiences that each one brings to the team. This creates a cohesive and productive work environment because they are confident and happy. I make a concerted effort to get to know each team member. I always try to make them feel welcome and comfortable. I foster an open door policy that allows the team to express any concerns and ask questions. This creates a transparent work environment. It also helps to establish credibility, â€Å"the foundation of leadership† (Boone Makhani, 2005). Another strength is the ability to coach and mentor my employees. IShow MoreRelatedThe Core Essence Of Servant Leadership From A Biblical Perspective1605 Words   |  7 Pagesessence of â₠¬ËœServant Leadership’ from a Biblical perspective, which might be able to provide practical, theological, and hermeneutical insights in order to develop leadership competency and a healthy prosperous ministry, as oppose to the current secular ‘leadership’ myths and fascination in our church, culture and society. 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Comparing Individuality and Transcendence in Wordsworth,...

Individuality and Transcendence in Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Joyce The development of the scientific method started a revolution in thought that changed how people viewed the world. Scientists tested theories by creating experiments and carefully observing the results. The importance of scientific discoveries raised questions about the role of the observer. According to Ralph Koster, the importance of observation in science led to the rise of the individual and an awareness of subjectivity. Society realized that the individual could determine the outcome of an experiment and that people could interpret events differently depending on†¦show more content†¦As people began to experience reality as subjective, they became more isolated, and they longed to connect with others. Transcendence shifted away from grace to a process of joining with something outside of the self (Koster). In order to experience God, people had to break through their own individuality. Transcending the self became a central question for writers in the Romantic, Victorian, and Modern eras. As they worked, their writing did not advance in a linear progression, but more like a loop, traveling forward and backward. As the loop traveled in reverse, writers drew from the past, and as it went forward writers incorporated new ideas. New ideas were needed, for as time progressed society became more complex. During the Romantic era science and technology were expanding rapidly, but did not dominate. Discoveries in electricity and mechanics made it possible for the Industrial Revolution to begin in England around 1750, but it was not in full swing until the Victorian era. In addition, the French Revolution promoted individual freedom and filled people with the idea of unlimited possibilities. Hence, the failure of the French Revolution was disappointing to many English writers, including