Importance of Law to Different People Essay

Various schools of law define law from different angles and this is done by mainly looking at the purpose that is to be achieved. The meaning of law maybe different to a lawyer, a law enforcement agency, a law breaker and even a business man. If defined simply then law is a system, a set of rules and guidelines that are enforced/implemented through a set of different government institutions. It helps to shape politics, economics, and most importantly, society by serving as a mediator of relations between people and different groups (Various, 2011). They are considered to be the basic of behavior, and at the same time, orders established by the Government of a country. These guidelines are applicable to anyone and everyone, with the expectations that are followed rather than broken, without any discrimination. Law is the command of the sovereign. It imposes a duty and is supported by a sanction, which will be looked at further in this writing. Law is made of three elements: command, duty and sanction. To implement and enforce law and provide services to the public, a government’s bureaucracy, the military and police are vital. With all these organs of the state are creatures created and bound by law, an independent legal profession and vibrant civil society inform and support their progress (Various, 2011). Law is a fair means of keeping everyone equal in the eyes of the state, and rid out crimes which are the cancer of society. Law is a generic term which is further divided into categories so no walks of life isn’t out of the reach of the law enforcers. Law is not a man made phenomena as we can see law in effect in nature too. It is something that keeps things in balance. Some might argue that law isn’t required, but man in its nature is inclined to sway from the right code of conduct. Law doesn’t enforce something un-natural but kosher ways of doing things. The need of Law is fundamental, it sets up guidelines for appropriate behavior that has been perfected over time and based on moral beliefs. And also Law is a divine quality given to man to controls mans sinful nature for centuries. When can see the importance of Law in man life by the example of Adam and Eve, they had guidelines they had to follow, no matter how limited it was, and when they were broken they were punished for it. This shows that the need of Law or guidelines is something as natural to mankind as breathing. Law has a different meaning to a lawyer, a law enforcement agency, a law breaker and a businessman. A lawyer assists others in understanding the rule of law and provides his help to those who want to enforce the law for a particular purpose. The objective of a law enforcement agency is to promote law and ensure that it is being followed in an organized manner. A law breaker is not try to understand the rule of law and just wants to disrupt the society by breaking it. A business man has to follow the law in his day to day dealings and to a business man, law is mainly a set of rules and regulations that have to be followed in order to carry out the business. The objective of this paper is to highlight how various individuals perceive law and the meaning that law has to them. Law is there to serve different purposes and law can only be easily defined if this purpose is apparent. The aim of this paper is to show what perception different individuals have of law. It is very important to know the differences in perception of various segments regarding law to be able to understand how it would be defined by them. This would help us analyze and interpret the way they look at law and might help us in forming a mutual definition of law. It is necessary to shed light upon what law means to different segments in order to create a linkage among the common elements exist so it becomes easier for us to understand the actual meaning of law. Methodology The topic that has been covered in this paper can have a legal as well as a social impact. It can have a social impact because it highlights the different meanings that law can have to different individuals in the society which can assist the members of the society to understand how various individuals perceive law. Law is importance to all the individual but the degree of importance surely varies. The paper sheds light on the importance that different individuals attach to law hence having a society wide impact. The paper can have a legal impact because it shows us how the various segments of the legal system including the lawyers and law enforcement agencies perceive law and how essential law is to them. This can help us interpret their reaction towards various aspects and also help us understand how different segments within the legal system might work. What does law mean to a lawyer? Law has a great deal of significance to a lawyer. Law is needed to resolve these disputes and lawyers use these laws a valid ground for resolving such disputes, as exemplified by the famous story of the Judgment of Solomon. It was thought even from classical times that law performed a very important function – that of encouraging and helping people to do the right thing. For example, Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) argued that people needed the discipline of law to habituate them into doing the right thing, from which standpoint they could then appreciate why doing the right thing was the right thing to do and lawyers set examples for others through use of laws. Up until the 20th century, this view of law was accepted by law makers, with the result that the legal system contained a large number of ‘morals laws’ – that is, laws that were designed purely and simply to stop people acting immorally, according to the lights of Christian teaching on what counted as immoral behavior. For the lawyer law is formulated to improve the system of legal representation, ensure that lawyers conduct their business in accordance with the law, standardize lawyers’ behavior, protect the legitimate rights and interests of litigants, safeguard the correct enforcement of laws and bring into full play the positive role of lawyers in establishing a socialist legal system. Lawyer refers to personnel who have obtained a business license for setting up a lawyer’s practice in accordance with the law and who are providing legal services for the public. When setting up a practice, lawyers must abide by the Constitution and the law, and must scrupulously observe professional ethics and discipline. Lawyers who set up in practice must use facts as a basis and the law as criteria. Lawyers who set up in practice must accept supervision by the state, the public and litigants. Lawyers who set up in practice in accordance the law are protected by the law.

An Analysis of the Social Gradient of Health Essay

â€Å"The demonstration of a social gradient of health predicts that reducing inequality itself has health benefits for all, not simply for the impoverished or deprived minorities within populations. † (Devitt, Hall & Tsey 2001) The above quote from Devitt, Hall and Tsey’s paper is a relatively well grounded and well researched statement which draws on contemporary theoretical sociological concepts to support the assertion that reducing inequality is the key to improving health for all. However the assertion that the demonstration of a social gradient of health predicts that a reduction in inequality will lead to health benefits for all is a rather broad statement and requires closer examination. The intention of this essay is to examine the social gradient of health, whose existence has been well established by the Whitehall Studies (Marmot 1991), and, by focusing on those groups at the lower end of the social gradient, determine whether initiatives to address inequalities between social classes will lead to health benefits for those classes at the lower end of the social scale. The effectiveness of past initiatives to address these social and health inequalities will be examined and recommendations made as to how these initiatives might be more effective. The social gradient described by Marmot and others is interrelated with a variety of environmental, sociopolitical and socioeconomic factors which have been identified as key determinants of health. These determinants interact with each other at a very complex level to impact directly and indirectly on the health status of individuals and groups at all levels of society; â€Å"Poor social and economic circumstances affect health throughout life. People further down the social ladder usually run at least twice the risk of serious illness and premature death of those near the top. Between the top and bottom health standards show a continual social gradient. † (Wilkinson & Marmot 1998) In Australian society it is readily apparent that the lower social classes are at greater disadvantage than those in the upper echelons of society; this has been discussed at length in several separate papers on the social gradient of health and its effects on disadvantaged Australian groups (Devitt, Hall & Tsey 2001, Robinson 2002, Caldwell & Caldwell 1995). Within the context of the social gradient of health it can be inferred that Indigenous groups, for example, are particularly susceptible to ill health and poor health outcomes as they suffer inordinately from the negative effects of the key determinants of health. A simple example of this is the inequality in distribution of economic resources: â€Å"Average Indigenous household income is 38% less than that of non-Indigenous households. † (AHREOC 2004). The stress and anxiety caused by insufficient economic resources leads to increased risk of depression, hypertension and heart disease (Brunner 1997 cited in Henry 2001). Higher social status and greater access to economic resources is concomitant with a reduction in stress and anxiety levels, as individuals in these groups have more control over economic pressures which create this stress. This simple comparison proves that the social gradient of health accurately reflects how socioeconomic determinants affect the health of specific social classes at the physiological level. An extension of the research into the social gradient and the determinants of health is the examination of the pathways through which specific social groups experience and respond to these determinants. These ‘psychosocial pathways’ incorporate psychological, behavioural and environmental constraints and are closely linked to the determinants of health; â€Å"Many of the socio-economic determinants of health have their effects through psychosocial pathways. † (Wilkinson 2001 cited in Robinson 2002). These pathways have been demonstrated by Henry (2001) in the conceptual model of resource influences (Appendix A), a model which illustrates the interaction between the constraints mentioned above and their impact on health outcomes. Henry states that a central differentiator between classes is the amount of control an individual feels they have over their environment. Whereas an individual from a lower class group holds a limited sense of control over their well being and consequently adopts a fatalistic approach to health, those in higher classes with a stronger sense of control over their health are more likely to take proactive steps in ensuring their future wellbeing. This means that both individuals will cope differently with the same health problem. This is partly as a result of socioeconomic or environmental determinants relative to their situation, but it is also a result of behavioural/physical constraints and, most importantly, the modes of thought employed in rationalising their situation and actions. In essence these psychosocial pathways occupy an intermediate role between the social determinants of health and class related health behaviours. This suggests that, while the social gradient of health is a good predictor of predisposition to ill health among specific classes, it cannot predict how reducing inequality in itself will affect health outcomes or how a specific social class will respond to these changes. An examination of some initiatives aimed at reducing inequality in the indicators of health outcomes reveals this problem; â€Å"In 1996 only between 5% and 6% of NT Aboriginal adults had any kind of post secondary school qualification compared with 40% of non-Aboriginal Territorians. † (ABS 1998). Within the context of the social gradient of health, education is an important indicator of health outcomes. It is evident from the quote above that there exists huge inequality within the Northern Territory education system; this suggests an increased likelihood of ill health for Aboriginal people in later life. Even though there have been initiatives to address this inequality in one of the indicators of health outcomes (Colman 1997, Lawnham 2001, Colman & Colman 2003), they have had only a minimal impact on Indigenous second level education rates (ABS 2003). This is partly due to the inappropriateness of these initiatives (Valadian 1999), but it is also due to the disempowerment and psychosocial malaise (Flick & Nelson 1994 cited in Devitt, Hall & Tsey 2001) which are a feature of Indigenous interaction and responses to the social determinants of health. Research has also been carried out into how effecting change in the inequalities in other indicators of health might affect health outcomes. Mayer (1997) cited in Henry (2001) examined the effects of doubling the income of low income families and concluded it would produce only modest effects. Henry believes that this points to the strong influence of the psychological domain in influencing health behaviours. This suggests that the key to better health for all lies not just in reducing inequality between the classes but also in changing those elements of the psychological domain which influence health behaviour. Another example of the gap between initiatives to reduce inequality and their impact on those inequalities is evident in an examination of economic constraints experienced by Indigenous Australians on social welfare. Price and McComb (1998) found that those in Indigenous communities would spend 35% of their weekly income on a basket of food, compared to just 23% of weekly income for those living in a capital city for the same basket of food. To combat this inequality it would seem logical to reduce the price of food in Indigenous communities or else increase the amount of money available to those living in remote communities, i. e. a socioeconomic approach. It has already been established that increasing income has only modest effects and in combination with the fact that smoking, gambling and alcohol account for up to 25% of expenditure in remote communities (Robinson 2002), how can it be guaranteed that the extra funds made available through either of the two suggestions above would be employed in achieving a desirable level of health? One possible suggestion is that a socioeconomic approach must be complemented by a psychosocial approach which addresses those abstract modes of thought, cultural norms and habits and health related behavioural intentions which dictate healthful behaviours. â€Å"Culture and culture conflict are factors in Aboriginal health. But instead of the emphasis being placed on Aboriginal failure to assimilate to our norms, it should rather be put on our failure to devise strategies that accommodate to their folkways. † (Tatz 1972 cited in Humphrey & Japanangka 1998) Any initiative which hopes to resolve inequality in health must incorporate a sound understanding of the influence of the psychosocial pathways relative to the class level and cultural orientation of that group, otherwise its success will be modest at best. Using Henry’s model of resource influences provides a framework for understanding how addressing these psychosocial pathways can lead to greater uptake of initiatives designed to address these inequalities. An analysis of the National Tobacco Campaign (NTC 1999) reveals how this initiative failed to impact significantly on Indigenous smoking rates. This was a purely educational initiative which aimed to raise awareness of the effects of smoking on health. One of the primary flaws of its design was its failure to even acknowledge those Indigenous groups at the lower end of the social scale; it also failed to communicate the relevance of its message to Indigenous people; â€Å"The only thing is that when it comes to Aboriginal people, they will not relate to Quit television advertisements because they don’t see a black face†¦. I’ve heard the kids say ‘Oh yeah, but that’s only white fellas’. They do. † (NTC 1999) Not only did this initiative fail to connect with Indigenous people, it also failed to influence the elements of the psychological domain which legitimate such high rates of smoking. Within Indigenous culture smoking has become somewhat of a social practice, with the emphasis on sharing and borrowing of cigarettes (Gilchrist 1998). It is ineffectual to put across messages about the ill effects of smoking if the underlying motivation of relating to others is not addressed. In a report conducted on Indigenous smoking (AMA & APMA 2000 cited in Ivers 2001), it was suggested that one of the key themes of an initiative aimed at reducing indigenous smoking rates should be that smoking is not a part of Indigenous culture. The ‘Jabby Don’t Smoke’ (Dale 1999) is an example of an initiative whose design attempted to influence accepted social norms. Its focus was primarily on children, thereby acknowledging the importance of socialization and the instillation of cultural norms at an early age. Unfortunately no data is available detailing its impact on smoking rates. As mentioned earlier in this essay, another feature of the psychological domain which has an effect through the psychosocial pathways is the modes of thought employed in rationalising actions and responses to various determinants and constraints. Self efficacy or the amount of perceived control over one’s situation is an important contributor to health status; â€Å"Empowered individuals are more likely to take proactive steps in terms of personal health, whilst disempowered individuals are more likely to take a fatalistic approach† (Henry 2001) Examples of initiatives which have strived to empower Indigenous people in being responsible for their own health include ‘The Lung Story’ (Gill 1999) and various health promotion messages conveyed through song in traditional language ( Castro 2000 cited in Ivers 2001, Nganampa Health Council 2005). By encouraging Indigenous people to address these issues in their own way, the amount of perceived control over their own health is increased thereby facilitating a greater degree of self efficacy. The intention of this essay has not been to deny that the social gradient of health does not exist or that it is not an effective tool in creating understanding of where social and health inequalities lie. Unfortunately programs and initiatives which have been guided by the social gradient of health and have been purely socioeconomic in their approach have failed to have a significant, sustainable effect on health inequalities. In the US, despite socioeconomic initiatives to resolve inequality, the gap between upper and lower class groups has actually widened in recent times (Pamuk et al 1998 cited in Henry 2001). The scale of the intervention required to ensure a sustained impact on health inequalities has been discussed by Henry (2001), he also highlights the need to garner substantial political will in order for these changes to happen and makes the point that those in the upper classes are relatively content with the present status quo. This essay has attempted to demonstrate that in an environment where well grounded, evidence based socioeconomic initiatives are failing to have the desired out comes, it is perhaps time to focus more on altering those strongly held health beliefs which not only dictate responses to social determinants of health but also dictate responses to initiatives designed to address these inequalities; â€Å"Healthful behaviours are due to more than just an inability to pay. A mix of psychological characteristics combines to form distinctive behavioural intentions†. (Henry 2001) In the current environment of insufficient political will and finite resources it would be prudent to use every tool available to ensure initiatives aimed at reducing inequality between the classes will have the maximum amount of benefit. This approach is not a long term solution, but until it is possible to achieve the large scale social remodelling necessary to truly remove social inequality, and consequently health inequality, it is the most viable solution available. REFERENCES. ABS, 2003. ‘Indigenous Education and Training’, Version 1301. 0, A Statistical Overview, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, viewed 22nd August 2005, http://www. abs. gov. au/Ausstats/abs@. nsf/Lookup/FC7C3062F9C55495CA256CAE000FF0D6 A statistical overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia 2004, Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (AHREOC), Sydney, viewed 20th August 2005, http://www. hreoc. gov. au/social_justice/statistics/. Brunner, E. 1997. ‘Stress and the Biology of Inequality’. British Medical Journal. No. 314, pp 1472-1476. Castro, A. 2000. ‘Personal Communication’. No other details available. Caldwell, J. & Caldwell, P. 1995. ‘The cultural, social and behavioural component of health improvement: the evidence from health transition studies’, Aboriginal Health: Social and Cultural transitions: Proceedings of a Conference at the Northern Territory University, Darwin 28-30th September. Colman, A. 1997. ‘Anti-racism Course’, Youth Studies Australia, Vol. 16, Issue 3, p. 9, viewed 22nd August 2005, EBSCOhost Database Academic Search Premier, item: AN 12878155. Colman, A. & Colman, R. 2003. ‘Education Agreement’, Youth Studies Australia, Vol. 22, Issue 1, p. 9, viewed 22nd August 2005, EBSCOhost Database Academic Search Premier, item: AN 9398334. Dale, G. 1999. ‘Jabby Don’t Smoke, Developing Resources to Address Tobacco Consumption in Remote Aboriginal Communities’, Paper presented to the Eleventh National Health Promotion Conference, Perth. 23-26th May. Devitt, J. , Hall, G. , Tsey, K. 2001. ‘An Introduction to the Social Determinants of Health in Relation to the Northern Territory Indigenous Population’, Occasional Paper. Co-operative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health. Darwin. Flick, B. , Nelson, B. 1994. ‘Land and Indigenous Health’, Paper No. 3, Native Titles Research Unit, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra. Gilchrist, D. 1998. ‘Smoking Prevalence among Aboriginal Women’, Aboriginal and Islander Health Worker Journal, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 4-6. Henry, P. 2001. ‘An Examination of the Pathways through Which Social Class Impacts Health Outcomes’. Academy of Marketing Science Review, vol. 3, pp 1-26. Humphery, K. , Japanangka, M. D. , Marrawal, J. 1998. â€Å"From the Bush to the Store: Diabetes, Everyday Life and the Critique of Health Service in Two Remote Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities. † Diabetes Australia Research Trust and Territory Health Services, Darwin. Ivers, R. 2001. ‘Indigenous Australians and Tobacco; A Literature Review’, Menzies School of Health Research and the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health, Darwin. pp. 67-80, 93-107. Lawnham, P. 2001. ‘Indigenous Push at UWS’, The Australian, 27th June, 2001. p. 34, viewed 22nd August 2005, EBSCOhost Database Academic Search Premier, item: AN 200106061025662941. Marmot, M. G. , Davey Smith, G. , Stansfield, S. , Patel, C. , North, F. , Head, J. , White, I. , Brunner, E. and Feeney, A. 1991. ‘Health Inequalities among British Civil Servants: the Whitehall II Study’, Lancet, 337, 1387. reading 1. 5. Mayer, S. 2001. What Money Can’t Buy: Family Income and Children’s Life Chances. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. National Tobacco Campaign. 1999. ‘Australia’s National Tobacco Campaign: Evaluation report Volume 1’. Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra. Nganampa Health Council. 2005. Nganampa Health Council, Alice Springs. Viewed 23rd August 2005, http://www. nganampahealth. com. au/products. php Pamuk, E. , Makuc, D. , Heck, K. , Reubin, C. , Lochner, K. 1998. ‘Socioeconomic Status and Health Chartbook’. Health, United States. National Centre for Health Statistics, Maryland. Price, R. , & McComb, J. 1998. ‘NT and Australian Capital Cities Market Basket Survey 1998’. Food and Nutrition Update, THS, Vol. 6, pp. 4-5. Robinson, G. 2002. ‘Social Determinants of Indigenous Health’, Seminar Series, Menzies School of Health Research. Co-operative Centre for Aboriginal Health. Valadian, M. 1999. ‘Distance Education for Indigenous Minorities in Developing Communities’, Higher Education in Europe, Vol. 24, Issue 2, p. 233, viewed 22nd August 2005, EBSCOhost Database Academic Search Premier, item: AN 6693114. APPENDIX A. CCONCEPTUAL MODEL OF RESOURCE INFLUENCES. [pic] Henry, 2001. .

Illiteracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Illiteracy - Essay Example The U.S. does not have this capability which many have argued has led to a great increase in the levels of illiteracy in the country. According to a US government report, The State of Literacy in America, released in 1998 by the National Institute for Literacy (NIL) (cited in Roberts, 1998), there has been a significant growth in illiteracy in America. â€Å"Over 90 million US adults, nearly one out of two, are functionally illiterate or near illiterate, without the minimum skills required in a modern society† (Roberts, 1998). Many experts have blamed this failing on an educational system that focuses almost exclusively upon a sight-based reading program that has proven to be ineffective for the majority of learners (Hoerl, 1997). Not surprisingly, there is a very high rate of illiteracy among children and young adults in the juvenile justice system according to a study revealed in the book Retarding America the Imprisonment of Potential. It has been shown that these kids who learn to read while incarcerated have a strikingly lower recidivism rate than those who do not. Despite these findings, the majority of juvenile and adult prisons, as well as many schools and adult assistance institutions, teach the sight-based reading system (Brunner, 1993). Unquestionably, the debate regarding reading education methods have brought about emotional responses from all those affected for over a century. Why Johnny Can’t Read, written by Rudolph Flesch in 1955, sparked a nationwide discussion. Flesch suggested that practically all reading problems experienced by children in the U.S. were caused from educators and publishers who had banned together in an effort to deny phonics instruction. Following the publication of Learning to Read: The Great Debate (Chall, 1967), an evaluation of all published research to date on the effects of various approaches to beginning

Medievel Glass at Corning Museum of Glass Assignment

Medievel Glass at Corning Museum of Glass - Assignment Example . People who do not normally see glass as an artwork will be surprised to know that a museum of glass exists. The medieval glass collection of the Corning Museum of Glass (CMG, 2012a) displays a wide range of glass objects that had decorative and functional purposes during medieval times. After conducting a virtual visit of this museum’s â€Å"Medieval Glass for Popes, Princes and Peasants,† this writer realized how much glass can depict cultural and social beliefs, divisions, and struggles. Glass signifies cultural values and social divisions because its transformation across time depicts social stratification and social transformation. Medieval glass begins somewhere, and its humble beginnings reflect the practical needs and social concerns of its users. A 425-dated olive green glass, a Byzantine Cone Beaker, demonstrates a simple design that reflects its functional purpose (see Figure 1). After the Roman Empire disintegrated, tastes in glass varied. In locations where the Franks lived, simpler shapes and decorative styles were the norm. This Byzantine Cone Beaker is designed for convenience, which suggests how this glass expresses the pragmatic needs of its users. Glass art can be used as a â€Å"medium of learning† of another time and culture (Diffey, 1997, p.27). One can only imagine the working-class drinking their wine in pubs or homes and relaxing enough to forget their troubles. This glass stands for the practical demands of people making a living for survival. Nothing is simple with this simple glass. It is simple because life is hard. Figure 1: A Byzantine Cone Beaker, dating 425-599 Source: Corning Museum of Glass (2012b) The latest example of medieval glass in the exhibit is impressive because of its intricate design that depicts strong social changes and inequalities. A Baroque Ewer (see figure 2), a colorless glass with green tinge and numerous bubbles in color combinations, suggests aesthetic beauty and creativity. The top of the handle has a thumb rest, which is an innovation (CMG, 2012b). It signifies the changing society that demands creativity in its products. Moreover, this ewer has evolved a great deal from initial glass designs because it is multi-colored and intricately formed. Even when these things have simple functions, people craved for more beauty in their everyday objects. This beauty essentially represents their social identity. Their demand for more beautiful things in their lives connotes their need for asserting their social importance. Bourdieu talks about social and economic capital that reinforces social inequality (Dillon, 2010). Only the rich can afford this ewer, and design that is important to them becomes something coveted, and yet to the masses it is unimportant. Nevertheless, glass becomes a unique differentiating tool of their social status. Figure 2: A Baroque Ewer, dating 1550-1600 Source: Corning Museum of Glass (2012b) Glass objects represent a groups’ social status and identities. For instance, figure 3 shows a Behaim Beaker that might have been specifically made for a rich merchant’s daughter’s wedding. The wedding took place on July 7, 1495; it was the nuptial of Michael Behaim and Katerina Lochnerin, the daughter of a rich merchant, whose company monopolized the trade between Nuremberg and Venice (CMG, 2012b). This object shows that even the simplest things say something about the owner and his/her culture and society. The name Behaim Beaker belongs to a prominent family and its drawings of saints, birds, and helmets signify pow er. These are objects that help conceive self-identity with â€Å"images [that] shape an individual self-concept† (Freedman, 2003, p.2). It demonstrates power and majesty in

Food additives used in the meat industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Food additives used in the meat industry - Essay Example n food, clothing, and other facets of living, then there grew the effort not just to ban those harmful ingredients, but also to scrutinize any manmade products that altered the natural composition of things, especially food products. This has lead to the food industry, and especially the meat industry, which is already coming under fire from vegetarians and naturalists, to consider alternatives to food additives whenever possible. It is not, however, always possible to eliminate entirely food additives, because, first, they are necessary, and, secondly, they are not necessarily harmful to human consumption. Still, the controversy goes on. Food additives, including those added to meat products, and are used for the purpose of preserving the food or meat product in order that it might retain its flavor while being transported to destinations, which are often long distances from the point of production (Goldstein Chandler, Myrna and Goldstein, Mark A., M.D., 2002, 1). In the United States, since 1958, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve all food additives (Goldstein and Goldstein, 2). There is a list of five reasons that the Center for Food and Safety and Applied Nutrition lists as justifying the of meat additives (Goldstein and Goldstein, 2). 1. â€Å"To maintain product consistency. Emulsifiers give products a consistent texture and prevent them from separating. Stabilizers and thickeners give smooth uniform texture. Anti-caking agents help substances such as salt to flow freely. 2. To improve or maintain nutritional value. Vitamins and minerals are added to many common foods, such as milk, flour, cereal and margarine to make up for those likely to be lacking in a person’s diet or lost in processing. Such fortification and enrichment has helped reduce malnutrition among the U.S. population. All products containing added nutrients must be appropriately labeled. 3. To maintain palatability and wholesomeness. Preservatives retard product

Methodology Review Form Section 2 and 3 Research Paper

Methodology Review Form Section 2 and 3 - Research Paper Example Generic qualitative studies are among the most common forms of qualitative research, and they draw from established concepts, theories or models in the area of study. This approach seeks to identify recurring patterns, factors and categories in order to further enhance the theoretical frame (Caelli, Ray & Mill, 2003, p. 6). The methods to be used shall include face-to-face interviews for respondents with whom a meeting may be set, written responses for respondents who could not be personally met, and a search of documents, news, and reports pertaining to the respondent firms, which may be found in the public domain. The qualitative relational model shown above is deemed suitable for investigating the crisis management systems of the gas and oil industry since various studies have identified the same general stages of pre-crisis mitigation and prevention, and crisis event management and post-crisis recovery (Kyhn, 2008; Bergstrom, Petersen & Dahlstrom, 2008; Wright, 2009). However, the above relational model details the components of each stage more specifically, many of which aspects were applied in a study investigating the adequacy of crisis management in the Exxon oil spill (Boin, 2008). The theoretical framework of this study is situated within Crisis Management Theory. The main constructs of the framework involve preparation, mitigation, response and recovery, which are provided for in greater detail in the model presented in Section 2. This study is expected to advance the scientific knowledge base by providing additional application and validation for the issue and crisis management relational model, which from a scan of related literature appears to display the most detailed taxonomy of crisis management activities. The study is grounded in the field of organization and management because it seeks to find commonalities among the prominent business organizations in the oil and gas industry.

Retailing and Wholesaling MBA (Masters Level) Essay

Retailing and Wholesaling MBA (Masters Level) - Essay Example Value-added resellers normally have a disadvantage in cost structure compared to channel members that compete mainly on the basis of price or convenience, such as discount stores or mail-order firms. This means that the value-added reseller in a diverse multiple channel context must either (1) charge a higher price than other channel members based on the provision of valued services or (2) live with a relatively small gross margin (Dunne and Lusch 2007). Professor Leo Aspinwall advanced the depot theory to explain some of the reasons for the changes that have occurred in the physical handling and storing of goods, the growth of manufacturers' wholesale branches, and the changing position of general-line wholesaling. The depot theory of distribution states that goods tend to move toward the point of final consumption at a rate established by the ultimate consumer. The theory views depots as places that move rather than store goods -- that get goods to retailers at the lowest handling and transportation costs (Dunne and Lusch 2007). Accordingly, a steady flow of goods is envisaged from production to final consumption. The intermediaries facilitating the flow are in essence depots that perform a largely service function on the basis of costs of services performed, and so tend to eliminate merchandising profits. For example, backward integration of retail food chains and cost-plus wholesalers illustrate the performance of the depot func tion and the elimination of merchandising costs (Dunne and Lusch 2007). If the retailer links with independent channel members in one or several of its multiple channels (e.g., it uses independent sales representatives), the same basic challenges faced by the manufacturer in utilizing multiple channels could be faced by the retailer as well. Intrabrand or intratype competition could be heightened in the territories served by the retailer's multiple channels, prices and margins could be reduced, conflicts and alienation could arise, and support and control could wane (at least in the independent channels) (Dunne and Lusch 2007). The functions of retailers in the channel have been to assemble merchandise, maintain an inventory, price, promote, advertise, sell, and account for the merchandise, again as a service to the manufacturer and the ultimate consumer. Further, retailers have also provided a place for consumers to shop and find other services that might assist them in obtaining or using the available goods. The channel systems that have developed and, granted, have been improved over the years, have been built on some very basic beliefs about consumers, their needs and wants, and what they are willing to accept from channel members. It is these basic marketplace assumptions that are being challenged by direct and database marketers (Dunne and Lusch 2007). As was discussed earlier, technology and communication allow consumers to learn about and demand increasingly differentiated and even personalized products. As this occurs, the traditional economies of scale that have accrued to those manufacturers and retailers with extensive facilities and large sales volumes are no longer important in the marketplace. Smaller companies, using technology and direct and database marketing approaches, can compete not only effectively, but in many cases more efficiently than can large companies. As technology expands and sales-driven inventorying become