Negotiation styles & strategies

The teachers were very un-collaborative in their approach towards the negotiation and seemed quite unwilling to bend in their resolve not to accept the proposal offered by the board of Education. The teachers basically attempted to force the hand of the board by deciding to go on a strike. Considering that the area had only recently suffered from the effects of the September 11 strike on the Twin Towers and that there was some amount of adjusting to be done, the teachers seem to have manipulated the situation in order to achieve their objectives.The strike commenced only a few hours after the end of an agreed moratorium period according to Hanley (2001a). This is suggesting that little or inadequate attempt was made to pursue peaceful negotiations prior to decide to enter into an industrial strike. Furthermore the teachers made no attempt to relent or relax their position but were willing, even under punishment of imprisonment, to hold firm to their original position without any or l ittle adjustments or compromise. The board wanted to increase the teachers’ maximum contributions to the health insurance scheme from $250 to $860 (Hanley & Jacobs, 2001). The teachers were adamant in refusing any sort of increasing wanting the figure to remain as was.So determined was their resolve that at the time of the unsuccessful conclusion of the negotiations 225 teachers, secretaries and other union members had being jailed because of their refusal to obey the court order to return to work (Hanley, 2001c). Had the union leaders not decided on the 29th of November to instruct its members to obey the court order to return to work, the impasse would have probably continued with even more teachers being jailed.The union however, seemed at one point willing to relax the teachers’ position on the issue of the proposed increase in teachers’ contributions to the health fund. The teachers relaxed their positions partially when they agreed to a set of settlement r ecommendations proposed by the mediators which would have seen them compromising their position significantly. However the position of the board was even more adamant and thus no solution was arrived on the issue.The teachers attempted to justify their rejection of the proposal put forward to them. The proposal put forward by the board sought to increase maximum payments by about thirty per cent in one instant. This amount appears to be very unreasonable. Of course the board could not accept the teachers’ proposition that the fees stay as they were before. In their opinion, payments for teachers’ health benefits was costing the district much too much, approximately $8 million (Hanley & Jacobs, 2001). On the extreme though the proposed level of increase in itself appeared exorbitant and too great a percentage increase.Additionally the teachers felt that their proposal was a lot more reasonable. They suggested helping the board to cut costs by no longer requiring reimbur sements on prescriptions (Hanley, 2001b). This proposal would lead to saving on the part of the board and would also ensure that the teachers do not have to pay increased premiums. This alternative seems like a very feasible position but the board was not willing to negotiate on this issue.On the 29th of November the teachers were instructed by their union leaders to return to work even though the negotiations had not concluded and there was no decision on the issue. It would seem in this regard that the teachers were the ones to have lost because, aside from being imprisoned for a few days, they have to suffer the embarrassment of returning to work without their original demands being met.It would therefore seem that the teachers did not carry out the negotiations as best as they could since they did not end up reaching a reasonable solution. A number of factors could have contributed to this failure suggesting of course, that the teachers erred in a few areas. First the teachers d id not choose an appropriate time to commence the industrial strike. While, in their view the matter seemed to be urgent, they did not consider the psychological environment at the time. The area had only recently been affected by the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Centers. The district was still recovering from the effects of this national disaster and therefore it was not appropriate for the teachers to strike at this particular time.In addition the teachers did not garner enough support from the community. Hanley & Jacobs (2001) point out that â€Å"it was hard to find support for the teachers among Middletown residents.† The members of the community were upset that the teachers chose such an inappropriate time to strike. They were also concerned about the welfare of the students who would be without instruction until the issue was resolved.Probably a meeting with the parents of students prior to going on a strike could have explained the seriousness of the teachersà ¢â‚¬â„¢ position to them and asked for support. In addition many parents did not agree that in that economic climate that the proposed increase was as terrible as the teachers were making it out to be. The fact that there was not widespread support for the teachers’ strike may have pushed the union to demand its teachers back in the classroom even though negotiations were not finalized.Finally the teachers themselves seemed not to have entered the negotiation with a correct mindset. They seemed only to be heading for a win/win decision and were not willing to lose not even a little bit. The option they proposed to the board, though it sounded reasonable, did not see them compromising as significantly as they expected the board to compromise to meet their demands. The teachers were unwilling to collaborate effectively to come to a decision feasible and acceptable to both sides.REFERENCESHanley, R. (2001a, Nov 30). Abrupt Walkout by Teachers Closes Schools in Middletown, N.J. T he New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)), D5.Hanley, R. (2001b, Dec 4). New Jersey Teachers Jailed for Continuing to Strike. The New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)), D1.Hanley, R. (2001c, Dec 8). In Middletown, A Strike Ends Without a Deal For Teachers. The New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)), D1.Hanley, R. & Jacobs, A. (2001, Dec 6). Teachers' Strike Grows Angrier, But Support of Residents Is Elusive. The New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)), D1.

Challenges of the Lgbt Population on College Campuses

Challenges of the LGBT Population on College Campuses A review of the Literature Challenges of the LGBT population on College Campuses A Review of the Literature The need for institutions of higher education to stay relevant dictates that change is necessary. For most, it will require a concerted effort to embrace diversity. Racial and ethnic diversity have historically been the most widely addressed dimensions of diversity. However, as institutions continue to advance their efforts, they create a more welcoming campus climate for all individuals and groups.A current focus of diversity efforts includes the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population. This review will look at the issues and challenges of the LGBT population on college campuses; mainly covering the need to ease the levels violence and harassment on campuses and the desire for inclusion and social justice, and suggesting strategies to address these issues. Due to the nature of the coming out process, there are fundamental challenges to learning the experiences of the LGBT population.The labels lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender as sexual identity labels present particular problems: A student may be able to articulate feelings of attraction to the same-sex, though are reluctant to adopt the label of lesbian, gay and/or bisexual (Rankin 2003). The challenges that the LGBT population face are neither new nor surprising but the need to address them is certainly relevant (Thiel, 2010). In fact, it appears that for as much progress that has been made on some campuses, there has been no progress on others.The presence of violence and harassment, as well as the desire for inclusion and justice, indicates the need for attention and research as a chilly campus climate can make for a distressing experience for LGBT students, faculty, and staff. As might be expected, LGBT students’ perceptions of the campus climate and their experiences differ from those of other members of the campus community (Rankin, 2003; Liang & Alimo, 2005). Some LGBT students feel that they are treated different because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.They have difficulty achieving their full academic potential and trouble fully participating in the campus community (Rankin, 2003; Brown, Clarke, Gortmaker, & Robinson-Keilig, 2004). In a study by Liang & Alimo (2005), students shared that they had been discriminated against, physically assaulted and harassed in residence halls, and marginalized in their classes. Physical and verbal anti-gay and lesbian harassment has been documented on all campuses where research on the LGBT population has been conducted, and these behaviors seem to be on the rise nationwide (National Lesbian and Gay Task Force, n. . ). This homonegativity affects LGBT individuals’ physical as well as psychological health (Liang & Alimo, 2005). The LGBT campus experience is at best benign and at worst hostile (Rankin, 2003). Among these challenges, Ran kin (2003) states are mental health issues, discrimination, relationship issues, and harassment/abuse. Likewise, LGBT faculty, staff, and administrators may suffer because of the same prejudices, limiting their ability to achieve their career goals and to mentor or support students.Because the LGBT population is an invisible minority, LGBT individuals may experience anxiety about who knows their sexual orientation or gender identity and who they can safely share that information with (Rankin, 2003). In addition, individuals who identify as LGBT are often at higher risk for substance abuse and suicide because of these issues and the lack of a positive support system. LGBT individuals do not share the same protections as other minorities groups in the United States.While it is no longer legal to discriminate based on race, skin color, ethnicity, disability, age, sex, or veteran’s status, it is still legal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Relations hips may also suffer. A LGBT’s social network may ebb and flow drastically as they come out to individuals they consider â€Å"friends. † LGBT individuals may lose some friends and gain others as they come out. This could drastically change their social network.Similarly, LGBT individuals often face rejection from their families. This can manifest as a loss of financial assistance, being â€Å"kicked-out† of the home, or being completely cutting off from all communication and ties to their families. Harassment and abuse can also be a problem. LGBT individuals may face harassment in many different forms. LGBT individuals may encounter increased negative attitudes, jokes, verbal taunting, or bullying because of their sexual orientation or gender identity (National Lesbian and Gay Task Force, n. d. ).In addition, LGBT individuals may be intimidated or blackmailed by others who threaten to â€Å"out† them if they do not do something. This population may also be targets of violence. They could be targeted because they may be seen as â€Å"weaker† or less likely to either fight back or report the crime/incident (Thiel & Diehl, 2010; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, n. d. ). LGBT individuals are less likely to report these incidents because they do not want to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity to authorities for fear of further repercussions from colleagues, friends, or family.Research shows that involvement in college life positively affects the LGBT experience (Rankin 2003). In addition, there are indications that the campus climate affects students’ social and emotional development, as well as their academic performance (National Lesbian and Gay Task Force, n. d. ). It also appears that there is much more in the way of student support on college campuses than there is faculty support. It is no surprise then, that the student experiences are somewhat better while the faculty experiences a chillie r climate (Brown et al. 2004). These findings suggest that an effective strategy for improving the campus climate for LGBT students needs to include system-wide efforts and involves promoting the acknowledgement, acceptance, and affirmation of all people. Campus diversity leaders and student affairs professionals will likely to be the most receptive, while some faculty and administrators will be more supportive than others will be (Brown et al. , 2004).Other recommendations to improve the campus climate for LGBT students include recruiting and retaining LGBT faculty, staff, and students, demonstrating institutional commitment to LGBT issues and concerns, integrating LGBT issues and concerns into the curriculum, providing educational programming on LGBT issues, and creating safe spaces for dialogue and interaction (Rankin, 2003; Liang & Alimo, 2005; University of Wisconsin Madison, 2008).Incorporating sexual orientation and gender identity topics into student, parent, faculty, and st aff orientation courses is important, as is informing parents of LGBT students about resources and services available on campus for their child (Angeli, 2009). Freshmen seminars and other first-year courses could be important venues for discussions of LGBT-related topics. Residence hall assistants (RAs) are also an important target group for training, as RAs are often a first esource for LGBT students dealing with coming out issues (Brown et al. , 2004). Other recommendations for improving student recruitment are as follows: Improve accessibility to LGBT information on college web sites (create one if there is not), attend national LGBT recruitment fairs, and work with the LGBT Campus Center to create a recruiting pamphlet on LGBT life on campus. For campuses without an LGBT Campus Center, the school should work to create one.LGBT Centers exist to reduce violence and harassment, and aid in the effort to promote inclusion and social justice (University of Wisconsin Madison, 2008). To ensure fair and equal treatment in the classroom, the main priority for faculty is to involve the students in the process of teaching/learning. With the many races, cultures, and groups that make up classes, having a continually engaged classroom is a challenging proposition at best and no one wants to feel marginalized.Additionally, when discussing current events, include LGBT issues as one of the topics, and be very clear with your students that homophobic and heterosexist comments and actions are not acceptable (Lock Haven University, 2000). Another initiative that could help support the LGBT student population while at the same time demonstrate institutional commitment to would to create â€Å"safe spaces† or â€Å"safe zones† where faculty/staff/students can choose to make their office or department a place for mentoring, peer counseling, dialogue, and interaction with LGBT students, faculty, and staff (Angeli, 2009).Faculty/staff leaders should work closely with campus diversity leaders (and the LGBT Campus Organization, if there is one) to ensure the inclusion of LGBT faculty and staff in the campus’ various recruitment efforts and to provide programs and services important to LGBT faculty and staff retention. This would include working to achieve domestic partner benefits for LGBT and other unmarried campus faculty and staff, and the creation and funding of an LGBT faculty/staff mentoring program (University of Wisconsin Madison, 2008).Such initiatives should be the combined efforts of administrative, faculty and staff representatives (University of Wisconsin Madison, 2008). Encouraging openly LGBT students, faculty, and staff to join and lead university committees and organizations without fear of repercussion is also a step in the right direction (Angeli, 2009). Campus administrators should enforce local anti-discrimination laws and policies on campus, ban discrimination in instructional materials and textbooks, and encourage th e use of materials that reflect gender diversity.Angeli (2009) reported that not all campuses have established such inclusive policies, and this leaves LGBT students without many options for repercussion when they experience discrimination. For example, hateful graffiti on campus should be removed quickly and those who did it punished appropriately. Sexual orientation and gender identity could be considered its own demographic and colleges should collect and report LGBT data in the same manner as gender, race, ethnicity, and disability data (Angeli, 2009).As more surveys and forms include questions on sexual orientation and gender identity, and, as campuses provide assurance that students’ privacy will be protected, it is likely that data that are more complete will become available. In other words, as the climate becomes â€Å"less chilly,† more students, faculty, and staff will feel more welcomed and, thus, more likely to share more about themselves (Angeli, 2009). P ositive attitudes of heterosexual peers can help to provide a campus climate that is welcoming and more supportive of the LGBT population, which may facilitate the development of a positive identity (Liang & Alimo, 2005).Heterosexuals have a large role in perpetuating this climate, as they have been the source for much of the homonegative behavior (Liang & Alimo, 2005). If the campus promotes itself an advocate for justice, it is not enough just to change a policy or to use ‘buzzwords;’ a new culture/atmosphere has to be created. Implementing such a campus-wide approach will necessitate support from top campus administrators (Rankin, 2003; Tierney, 1992).In addition, just because an anti-discrimination statement has been updated to include sexual orientation & gender identity, this does not mean inclusion, or even a consistent welcoming climate (University of Wisconsin Madison, 2008). Not seeing any progress in any of the areas discussed above is an indication that the campus has not yet integrated LGBT issues into the university’s understanding of its responsibilities to create a diverse and inclusive climate (Lock Haven University, 2000; University of Wisconsin Madison, 2008).The right thing to do is to create a more welcoming campus climate for all individuals and groups by reducing violence and harassment, and advancing social justice and inclusion efforts. All groups deserve this consideration because they matter. References Angeli, M. California Postsecondary Commission at its meeting on June 9, 2009. Access and equity for all students: Meeting the needs of LGBT students. Retrieved online on March 24, 2010 from http://www. cpec. ca. gov /completereports/2009reports/09-14. pdf Brown, R. D. , Clarke, B. Gortmaker, V. , & Robinson-Keilig, R. (2004). Assessing the campus climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students using a multiple perspectives approach. Journal of College Student Development, 45(1), 8-26. Liang, C. T. H. & Alimo, C. (2005). The impact of white heterosexual students’ interactions on attitudes toward lesbian, gay and bisexual people: A longitudinal study. Journal of College Student Development, 46(3), 237-250. Lock Haven University Safe Zone. (n. d. ). Originally written by Troy Gilbert of StanfordUniversity, then modified by Martha Ann Spruill (Jan 14, 2000), then modified again for the LHU community. Retrieved online on March 24, 2010 from http://www. lhup. edu/safezone/support. html National Lesbian and Gay Task Force. (n. d. ). Retrieved March 23, 2010 from www. thetaskforce. org /issues/hate_crimes_main_page/overview. Rankin, S. R. (2003). Campus climate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people: A national perspective. New York: The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute. www. ngltf. org Thiel, M. J. , & Diehl, S. (2010).Campus gay and lesbian issues in the new millennium. Retrieved on 3/20/2010 from http://www. gvsu. edu/allies/index. cfm ? id=80B3F0D0-A5DC-ECEE-44313D44883F471B University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. (n. d. ). Issues/concerns for the LGBTQ Population. Retrieved March 23, 2010 from http://safezone. uncc. edu/allies /ally-manual/issues. University of Wisconsin Madison Faculty Document 2056. (2008). Report of the committee on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. Retrieved onlineMarch 23, 2010 from http://acstaff. wisc. edu/FacDoc2056LGBT-AR07. pdf

Particularities of Starting a Small Business Assignment

Particularities of Starting a Small Business - Assignment Example In addition, business financial statements are existent to assist the owners of businesses and decision makers and are the leading business planning function (Drucker 83). For a business to grow, the business financial statements should establish the finest forms of costs, benefits of every form of finance, available finance, the responsibility of financial markets in providing finance, and the risk connected to finance. These financial statements are employed to give insight into a business’ debts and asset at a given time. Apart from that, the information on the shareholder’s equity in the business is also incorporated. A balance sheet also indicates the abilities and strengths of a business. Moreover, the balance sheet evaluates the decrease or increase in the business value from time to time. The balance sheet appraises the asset and liability composition, the value of retained earnings, and the relative equity financing and proportion of debt (Drucker 84). Income statement provides information that concerns the business income earned in a given time. In addition, income statements illustrate the expenses of the business in acquiring the shareholder earnings and income per share. More often than not, income statements give a record of incomes after a year (Drucker 86). Every expense in the income statement should be equal to the business and its functions. Cash flow statements grant an evaluation of money movement in and out of business. Cash flow statements are essential in deciding whether or not a business has the adequate finance to handle expenses, acquire assets, and pay bills (Drucker 87). The cash flow statements entail information from financial activities, operating and investing. Various entrepreneurs find fault in building forecast with the perception that it takes too much time; time that could be used for business transactions instead of planning.  

Events Marketing Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Events Marketing Management - Assignment Example The main purpose of this paper is to write a Marketing Plan and Plan Report for a launch event of a new Master programme in Events Marketing Management. The event shall take place on London Metropolitan University premises in June 2006. The underlying assumption is that there will be launch of the programme in June 2006, and the main goal of promotion marketing plan is to make positive public opinion and awareness towards Programme launch by this date. The London Metropolitan University needs to implement an integrated marketing plan to achieve a level of 100% enrolment at the Course during its first year, in order to do this it need to strategically categorise the potential students into various segmented areas. Consideration also needs to be given to the large number of students who have not decided on whether they want to join the Course. The plan advises what methods need to be used along will how they need to be implemented to obtain the overall objectives of the plan. The theoretical part or this paper will analyse the plan written in terms of academic marketing theory. Following are the key terms and concepts explained; they could be found over marketing plan in order of appearance. The main distinction of this marketing plan is in its core objective - promotion and marketing of new Master's programme. Since it is not a tangible product or service, some characteristic points will be considered further. Context Analysis determines the overall strategic direction, it must be a "comprehensive and through analysis of the background situation"1, therefore consideration must be given to the market, customer, company (internal) and general environment (external) contexts. 2 It examines the 'marketplace and the company's preferred overall approach to achieving its objectives in the light of market conditions and competitor behaviour"3. . Promotional Objectives These are specific 'goals' that need to be achieved during the timescale of the overall plan. It is important that these 'goals' are clearly understood and accepted by everybody involved. All of these 'goals' need to be measurable in order for the organisation to establish whether they have achieved the overall goal. The 'SMART' objectives are a set of guidelines to assist in measuring goals.4 (Appendix 1) Corporate Objectives The corporate objective is normally included within the mission -statement and normally stems from the purpose of the organisation. Marketing Objectives "Marketing communication objectives are specific communications tasks to be achieved among a defined audience to a defined extent and within a specific time frame" Communication Objectives should "Enhance the image or reputation of a product or where promotional efforts are seen as a

Home Automation Lightning Motion Sensor and Zigbee Wireless Essay

Home Automation Lightning Motion Sensor and Zigbee Wireless - Essay Example Most presence detectors have an inbuilt light sensor (lux) that will turn off the lights if there is sufficient natural light. Regulating lights with a presence detector may save up to 65% of the total cost spent on lighting energy (CP Electronics, 2013). How the system works Presence detectors also known as PIR (Passive Infra-Red) work on a principle similar to that applied in motion detectors. These devices log the thermal radiations of their environments or area under detection. When thermal radiation in the area is detected, for example, in the case of a person coming close to the sensor, the detector will convert these vibrations into measurable electrical signals which will then turn on the lights. Presence detectors utilised in controlling lighting assist in the continuous adjustment of the output of faint lighting systems. This functionality facilitates management of energy saves costs over the conventional switching systems. Presence detectors provide an automatic hands-off lighting system that combines user comfort with an optimum energy consumption (Theben, 2011). Belkin's new device called WeMo makes home automation simpler. According to the company manufacturers, the device allows the user to control home-entertainment and other applications using iOS devices. Belkin's WeMo system incorporates a number of devices that are linked to the users Wi-Fi network. The system can then be managed by an iPad app or WeMo iPhone. Unlike other home automation systems, WeMo is entirely modular, and the user can add more nodes to increase its effectiveness (Linked in, 2013). How WeMo works The WeMo Switch and WeMo Motion are the present WeMo devices that exist today. The WeMo Switch is plugged into a wall outlet and serves as a remote-controlled socket that turns connected devices on or off according to the user’s command. The WeMo Motion device is also plugged into a wall socket, and has a 6-foot power cord which links to a motion sensor. Both the WeMo Mot ion and WeMo Switch are linked to the wireless network of the user, and the WeMo iOS app detects these components automatically. Various home appliances can be connected by plugging them into the WeMo Switch. The appliances connected to the WeMo Switch can then be turned on or off using iOS app available in the system. Therefore, the WeMo Switch allows the user to check if certain household appliances have been turned off in order to avoid the requirement of running an entire home check. The WeMo Switches have power buttons that replace the switch on the wall socket. WeMo Switch Setup The WeMo is not available officially, but its setup is a breeze. Once turned on, the isolated WeMo device creates a wireless network named as WeMo-XXX, where XXX is the device’s ID number. The next step involves connecting the iPad or iPhone to the network, and a free WeMo app is initiated. The WeMo app will then detect the primary Wi-Fi network and pull the required data configuration automatic ally. The WeMo app will also ask for a Wi-Fi password to ensure the user’s network is secured. The device collects additional configuration information necessary for its operations and then links to the wireless network. In addition to the ability to remotely switch domestic devices on and off, the principal selling point of the WeMo system is its simplicity of deployment. The WeMo Switch will also come at an affordable cost of about $50, according to the company reports (Honeywell, 2013).  

Developing a Public Relations Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Developing a Public Relations Plan - Essay Example The American Red Cross is the US affiliate to International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The organization does not have business profits as its motive of operation. On the other hand, the mission of American Red Cross is to help and save the people of the society by providing them shelter, food, education and basic amenities of life during the conditions of emergency. The purpose of the American Red Cross is to lend a helping hand as life support to the destitute and people affected because of disasters. The disasters may be natural as well as man-made. American Red Cross serves the noble cause of supporting the section of the society who are helpless and are in need of basic amenities for existence. Facts and rationale: the event that created negative publicity The American Red Cross elected its seventh CEO, Gail. J. McGovern amidst scandals involving their former CEO in 2007. Post-election of the seventh president, the American Red Cross lay off around one thousand employe es from its operational work force. The job cuts imposed by the senior management was brought about in order to restore a balance in the financial condition of the non-profit organization in a situation of crunch in the fund raising activities. The squeeze in the donation receipt in the denominations of the dollar as sources of funds for the organization led to the job cuts of around one thousand workers. ... The public relation between the organization and the society is extremely important for carrying out their welfare activities. Thus negative publicity due to this event laid to the public relations crisis. Goals of campaign: rationale behind choosing these goals The goals of the campaign are to reduce the caused damages due to the occurrence of public relations crisis. The specific goals include sustaining the public image of the organization that has developed over the years, maintain the confidence level of the public on the operations of the organization and also maintain a continuous flow of donations to the organization as a major source of fund for its operations. The reason behind choosing these goals is to maintain a healthy public relation with the society which is the key to effective operations of the organization. The organization provides relief, shelter, food, education and other basic amenities of life to the helpless people of the society and to the victims of disaste rs. These are funded majorly from the donations of the public. The organization conducts fund raising campaign in order to raise money from the people. Thus, healthy public relations are required to be maintained by the organization with the people of the society. In order to restrict the damage due to the situation of public relations crisis from the job cuts imposed, these goals have been chosen as a part of the damage control campaign. Steps to achieve the goals The steps to be taken in order to achieve the goals are to be designed in a calculated manner. A crisis communication plan needs to be set up by the organization. As a part of the crisis communication plan, the content of communication with the public needs to be prepared

Chemicals and Nanotechnology in Water Purification Essay

Chemicals and Nanotechnology in Water Purification - Essay Example As a result, various industries and other interest groups have hugely invested in nanotechnology researchers as this technology is predicted to be a better alternative to the existing chemical treatments. One of the major issues is that the world has been facing severe water pollution and paucity issues over the last two decades. The existing chemical treatments for water purification have been outdated due to their complexity and higher cost. This paper identifies that nanotechnology is a better alternative to the existing chemical treatments as this technology is more cost efficient and eco-friendly. Contents Abstract Introduction 1 1. Chemical treatments for water purification 2 1.1 Advantages 2 1.2 Disadvantages 3 2. Nanotechnology for water purification 5 2.1 Advantages 6 2.2 Disadvantages 8 3. Discussion 8 Conclusion 10 Reference 11 Introduction Freshwater is essential for human survival and it is a crucial component in many key industries such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, and food. The world is facing potential challenges in meeting the mounting demands of freshwater due to population growth, extended droughts, increased consumption, environmental pollution, and stringent health-based regulations. Hence, in order to meet the growing freshwater needs of a huge global population, new methods of water purification have to be invented. Traditionally, industries have been using a variety of chemical treatments to purify water. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as an alternative to the traditional way of water purification. To define, â€Å"nanotechnology is the systematic manipulation, production or alteration of structures, systems, materials, or components in the range of atomic or molecular dimensions with/into nanoscale dimensions between 1 nm and 100 nm† (Sepeur 2008, p.14). In addition to water purification, the nanotechnology has a wide variety of applications. Major applications of nanotechnology include diagnostics, drug delivery, cryon ics, reduction of energy consumption, efficient energy production, nuclear accident cleanup, information and communication applications, aerospace technologies, construction, foods, household, optics agriculture, and sports. While evaluating the nanotechnology developments to date, it seems that this technology will be widely used for water purification in the near future as this method has numerous competitive advantages over traditional chemical treatments.This paper will critically compare the efficiency of chemical methods and nanotechnology in water purification with specific reference to advantages and disadvantages of both the techniques. This paper will also explore the future scope of nanotechnology in water purification. 1. Chemical treatments for water purification Various industries have been using different methods with different degrees of effectiveness to purify water. Main chemical treatments for water purification are coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation, slu dge storage and removal, dissolved air flotation, filtration, and disinfection.

Relationships and Expectations of Older Hispanic Adults Essay

Relationships and Expectations of Older Hispanic Adults - Essay Example The health expectations of older Hispanic adults tend to diminish with aging, but this is not always realistic. There are also cultural issues that result from the aging process, which affects the healthcare expectations of older Hispanics. Some older Hispanics might even unknowingly assume the stereotypical expectations of old age, and may not even take medications or treatment for serious health conditions. This is because they tend to dismiss the symptoms, which are most treatable and attributing them to being an inevitable part of the aging process. The results of recent studies suggest that mortality rate among older Hispanics are significantly lower than that of non-Hispanic whites, both for men and for women. Cultural factors, expectations, and relationships are critical for the provision of information about healthcare services to older Hispanic adults. Older Hispanics adults might also beliefs deeply rooted in seeking God’s help for their minor health problems, thereb y leading to a situation where they only go to healthcare providers when there is a serious medical problem. Some older Hispanics may also not have a good understanding of the technical terms.The issue of personal touch is very important in the relationship between older Hispanics adults and their health care providers. It is imperative that older Hispanics endeavor to share their feelings with their doctors, in order to ensure that these older Hispanics get a feeling of actually being listened to and cared for.

OB Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

OB - Assignment Example Initially, when one is trying to influence others, resistance occurs. This was obviously demonstrated in the film when Juror number 8 stated the reasons why he voted for the â€Å"not guilty† verdict against the boy who was accused of killing his father. Given the responsibility to weigh the facts presented during the trial, Fonda’s character in the movie questioned these facts that were presented during the trial. He tried to make sense of the various situations that were probably not given as much argument in the courtroom by demonstration. There was also the pressure tactic that Fonda’s character used in the film when he made the other men realize the weight of the â€Å"not guilty† verdict to the boy. Should the law execute the boy for a crime he did not commit since the jury decided to deliver a guilty verdict, his precious life would be wasted. Although some of the jurors remain oblivious of this horrible fate that the boy would end up with when they give a guilty verdict, there were still a few who could not afford to have a young man be put on an electric chair especially when during trial, there exists a reasonable doubt about the testimonies and evidences that were presented. On the basis of the rational persuasion tactic that was evidently used by Fonda’s character to influence the other members of the jury, his subtle way of disagreeing to the rest of the jury’s decision of the verdict has greatly affected their opinion of him in the application of reason in decision-making. His character did not show any aggressive behavior in making the others understand his judgment on the case, particularly with the accused. Only when there were several members of the jury believed in his reasons did he start to become aggressive in influencing the rest of the jury who thought the boy was guilty of killing his father. Unlike other members of the jury who were influenced by their own personal judgments and prejudices, Fonda’s

Media Hype, Racial Profiling, and Good Science Essay Example for Free

Media Hype, Racial Profiling, and Good Science Essay Summary: Gold begins his essay right away, without any sort of formality. The essay begins with Gold laying a foundation for the requirements of â€Å"good science. † After which Gold spells out the requirements of articles to sell large volumes of newspapers. This latter generates the term anecdotes. The term anecdote is analyzed, scrutinized and concluded as unacceptable due to the evidence relying more on beliefs than facts. Thus creating a vicious circle. Gold than highlights the fact that there exists large numbers or web pages, lawsuits, publications and presentations specifically directed at the issue. Varying levels of government in the United States has passed legislation about the issue. Individuals known as experts of have been successful writing books and employed as expert witnesses or consultants on the matter. Departments of been created to address the issue and conferences devoted to the topic. The American experience has been deemed applicable in Canada. Gold delves into the high social costs involved in the existence and beliefs of the racial profiling anecdotes. The solution is more important than the conception. Gold offers that communication, building trust, transparency and any inappropriate behavior dealt with seriously by the government are requirements to the solution. Gold then goes on to say that the community must also realize that the guilty may use any method to escape punishment. Gold comments that racial profiling is a phenomenon that is supposed to exist in Policing. The Toronto Star claims to have proved this phenomenon by evidence. This evidence needs to be examined by science. Gold then begins to explore the definition of racial profiling. Sometimes the term is used when a handful of officers are bigots. Sometimes it is applied when it seems that the police service promotes racism through its training materials. There is no evidence that American policing material is connected to Toronto Police. Profiling is the activity and racial a subspecies of profiling. Criminal law literature hosts a variety of profiles. As well, police profilers generate ad hoc profiles. Profiling is a â€Å"junk science† involving vague and non-specific characteristics that can be manipulated. There is no scientific merit to profiling. Racial profiling is one-dimensional profiling where the race replaces all other characteristics. Profiling implies to tell us something about an unknown suspect by identifying characteristics. Racial profiling claims to predict the race of a suspect. Claims should recognize the difference between reactive and proactive policing. Reactive policing is when police seek out a specific gender and race because witnesses described the culprit as such. Reactive policing is irrelevant to profiling. Proactive police activity should be the only data used. Statistics on police-minority interactions need to take into consideration the demographics of a given area. Also, are police targeting specific activity due to community concerns in a certain area? It may surprise people to know how much police activity is reactive and how little is proactive. The Toronto Star fails to recognize such issues. The data collected by the Toronto Star also fails to make the distinction. Gold then moves into to the claims and conclusions aspect of the essay. Stating that data collected needs something to be compared to or measured against, some sort of baseline. The Toronto Star used general population figures from the last available census. Apparently, using uses such as a baseline in unacceptable in the expert statistical analysis. Gold attempts to illustrate that fact that the Toronto Star blundered their way from the statistical analysis without using any accepted criteria. After which Gold suggests that data collection needs to be done under comparable conditions. Gold then moves onto another publication â€Å"Wortley and Tanner,† and the definition used by them. The term greater levels are brought up, and Gold asks â€Å"compared to what? † Wortley and Tanner utilized surveys to collect their data, which results in an opinions and claims survey. Gold calls such data collection, â€Å"Anecdotes in bulk. † After this, Gold goes on for some time about assumptions and making the leap from report to reality based on anecdotal evidence. Gold implies that the Toronto Star failed to take into consideration population distribution and population concentration of identifiable groups. The Toronto Star assumes that all groups are even distributed amongst throughout the general population. The Toronto Star compares data of an ethnic population to number of arrests for violent crimes in higher. Violent crimes will be a reactive policing perspective with witnesses identifying physical traits of the culprits. Such data cannot be used for profiling. This was mentioned earlier on in Gold’s essay. Gold then gives an example of a specific case in the United States where profiling failed the Police investigation. Constant failure to identify criminals using a profile would become apparent with an increase in unsuccessful outcomes. For the conclusion, Gold regurgitates the term â€Å"junk science† and how it is unsuccessful. Then applauds Wortley and Tanner for their cautionary note to have such figures scrutinized by experts and peers before releasing results to the public and that quality control needs to be applied to media discussions on the topic. Strengths: Gold does a good job comparing â€Å"good science† with â€Å"junk science,† and how inaccurate the use of â€Å"junk science† will be. Gold quickly defines terms that he continually uses throughout the rest of his essay to assist the reader in following his train of thought. At the beginning of the essay Gold lays the groundwork for what he will discuss throughout the essay. He, quickly lays down his assumption of what racial profiling is and how unlikely that it is used by police. Gold lies out his essay with sections with subtle conclusions being drawn by the end of each. This helps to keep the reader on track as he attempts to dispel the phenomenon known as racial profiling. Hold spends most of his time attacking the foundation of each group or agencies bases for profiling. He uses references and his knowledge of statistical analysis to debunk each idea. Also, Gold uses various examples of how ineffective the outcome would be given each scenario. Gold illustrates how some groups confuse proactive and reactive policing as the same thing, when in fact they are not. He does his best bring that idea several time throughout the essay. Gold is forthcoming with the fact that he was retained by Toronto Police to make submissions on this same very topic. That mention shows that Gold is trying to be honest with the reader. Also, I believe that it aids the read into recognizing that Gold would have had to do a far amount of research to make such submissions. The fact that Gold is privately employed and not a government employee may make the reader feel that he is less-biased on this particular topic. Weaknesses: At some points during the essay Gold seem to gone off on a tangent. At one point he offers solutions to bridge the gap between government agencies and communities. This is done more than once, and was not relevant to the topic being discussed in the essay. There are a few points where Gold appears to be talking in circles with verbal jargon. I didn’t feel those points in his essay resulted in any valid point to validate his argument. It was almost as though Gold digressed or lost focus for a moment. There are points within the essay where Gold appears to put his personal thoughts in brackets, thereby taking away from his credibility. For most of the essay Gold is trying to prove that the Toronto Star wrote an article without merit or proper research. Near the end of the essay he brings up another writer â€Å"Wortley and Tanner. † I believe that it would have been more effective he had integrated both writings earlier on in the essay. It appears as though â€Å"Wortley and Tanner,† are almost an afterthought. Conclusion: I think Gold effectively made his point with this essay. He is credible and knowledgeable, proving his point with examples, scenarios and data. He shows an appreciation for other points of view and illustrates how they may be incorrect based on their data collection. He affectively dissects the definition of the issue and how come groups confuse racism with racial profiling. As well his recognizes the differences between proactive and reactive policing. Gold shows how reactive policing gets generalized by most groups when in fact the investigation is driven by information from independent sources. I believe the weak points in Gold’s essay are overshadowed by his strong points, resulting in a fair and reasonable conclusion to his argument.

Physical Education In Schools | Essay

Physical Education In Schools | Essay Education, in the broad sense, can be considered as any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character, or physical ability of an individual. Formal education is the process by which society, through schools, colleges, universities and other institutions, deliberately transmits its cultural heritage, accumulated knowledge, values, and skills from one generation to another. It involves planned programs and distinct methods for the purpose of accomplishing educational objectives. No doubt education has been a state subject, but the centre has always kept a keen vigil over its development (Naik, 1974). Physical education is one of the elements of education; which through physical activity can transform knowledge, values and skills-as a result of participation in muscular activities. Much can be learned about environment, others, and ownselves through this form of participation. Furthermore, it can significantly influence the development of ones personality and ability to function effectively (Ali, 2005). The central advisory board of physical education and recreation (1964) emphasized that physical education is an integral part of the education- education through physical activity to develop the total personality of the child to its fulfillment and perfection in body, mind and spirit. It is concerned with the development of physical fitness. In driving for such fitness, however, physical education has to train the children mentally, morally with social qualities, arouse its awareness about environment and develop alertness, presence of mind, resourcefulness, discipline, co-ordination and the spirit of respect, sympathy and generosity towards others-qualities that are essential for making congruence with the environment to live a happy and well adjusted life in a free and democratic world. Physical education can thus make a very valuable contribution to our national life. UNESCO (1999) asserted that everything that influences behaviour and personality is education. By encouraging development of the childs abilities, physical education and sport constitute the very foundation of education, a veritable schooling for life in society. Instead of the mind-body dichotomy it would seem preferable to adopt the principles of unity and parity. It is desirable in any case that in the first instance children, and especially adolescents, should be helped to gain awareness of their bodies and the psycho-physical unity of their being, because physical learning is not only physical activity, but also knowledge. It emphasizes that physical education has a fixed place in the school timetable and it is seen one of the only subjects which offers the opportunity for students to improve their physical fitness, develop physical and social skills, and gain knowledge which is not included in other areas of the curriculum. It has further emphasized that the physical education has a major role to play in the development of young people. It is closely linked to other creative learning experiences and skill acquisition. The history of physical education reflects peoples attitudes about physical activity from prehistoric times, because the phenomenon survival of fittest was directly related to physical prowess to find food. Gradually, ancient societies in China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome adopted physical education as part of military training. As the more developed societies came to value the scholarly life, physical education lost favor. In the 11th five year plan (2007-2012) the working group on sports and physical education has suggested that accentuated sports and Games as a vital component of social and cultural life are embedded in the Indian heritage, and can be found in the archaeological excavations of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, the Vedic literature, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Puranas, the literary works of eminent scholars such as Kautilya, Kalidasa, Panini and Dandin, as well as in Buddhist and Jain literature. Physical activities had been seen as an intrinsic component of education and valuable and effective means for the development of human personality in the philosophical texts of ancient Greece, the progenitor of the Olympic movement. Every civilization has evolved and developed its own indigenous modes of physical endeavor and healthy social interaction through a variety of games and sports. Apart from being a means of physical exercise and fitness, sports and games have been a medium of entertai nment, the generation of a spirit of healthy competition, bonding and pride in the community, and an avenue of constructive preoccupation for active young generation. Physical education and sport, although closely linked, are not synonymous. Sport is formalised physical activity involving competition or challenges against oneself, others or the environment, with an emphasis on winning. It begins in play and develops through games and challenges. The focus in the physical education curriculum is on the childs holistic development, stressing personal and social development, physical growth, and motor development. Goal-setting, within the curriculum, focuses on individual improvement and not on winning or being the best Primary School Curriculum, (1999). Participation in physical education and sport programs provide students with an opportunity to develop their decision-making, problem solving and social skills through a health enhancing environment which contributes to enjoyment, increased mental alertness and an understanding about the importance of physical activity for life long benefits. Therefore, the planning and management of the physical education curriculum in schools should always have to be child-centered, mainly focusing on their overall development and providing rich and varied experiences physical education sports policy for schools, Saint Lucia, (2002). It has been found that after the independence of the country numerous commissions have been appointed by the Central and State governments to study various aspects of education, point out the pit-falls and to suggest the appropriate measures for over-coming them. Some of the pioneer education commissions and their specific significant recommendations with special reference to physical education and sports have been presented here under for reference in view of their relevance in the context of the present empirical research work: Sri Ramaswamy Mudaliar Commision (1952-53) The Mudaliar Commission Secondary Education Commission (1952-53) recommended that in physical education group games and individual physical exercises should be given in the schools under the supervision of Director of physical education. It also recommend that, all teachers or at least those below the age of 40 should actively participate in many of the activities of physical education and thus make it a living part of total school program instead of being a side issue entrusted to an isolated member of the staff. It placed special value on group games as they help to mould charter of students in addition to affording recreational facilities and contributing to their physical well being. The All India Council of Sports (1954) This council was constituted by Union Ministry of Education to advise Government on all matters related to sports and games including financial assistance to sports organizations. It acted as liaison between various sports bodies and the government. It advised sports organizations, suggested steps for development of playgrounds etc., adopted suitable measures to improve sports standards, ensured proper use of funds and facilitated National teams to go abroad for participation in sports competitions. Ad hoc Inquiry Committee for Games and Sports (1958) This committee was appointed by the central government under the chairmanship of Maharaja of Patiala. It investigated the persistently low standards of Indian teams in sports and games at Olympics and other international competitions. The committee recommended that better facilities should be made available, credits should be given to players for achievements in sports and talented players should be provided with nutrition. Kunzuru Committee (1959) It was appointed to examine the report on the schemes of physical education, sports and character building programs in educational institutions. It recommended the measures for effective co-ordination of different schemes as well as the graded syllabus in physical education for the first time in the country. Dr CD Deshmukh Committee (1963) It was appointed by University grant Commission to examine the facilities of physical education and standards of sports and games in the Indian Universities and Colleges. It was also to recommend measures to be taken to improve standards. It recommended that highest priority should be given to physical education in Universities and colleges. The recommendations emphasized on provisions of basic facilities on the basis of grant-in-aid and need of coaching of talented students. Education Ministers Conference (1964) The conference of Education Ministers of the states in 1956, 1959 and 1964 recommended that greater attention should be given to the provision of playgrounds in educational institutions and adequate funds should be provided for this purpose and also that physical exercises, sports and games must be provided for every student. The conferences recommended that physical education is an integral part of the education- education through physical activity to develop the total personality of the child to its fulfillment and perfection in body, mind and spirit, immediately. It is concerned with the development of physical fitness. In driving for such fitness, however, physical education has necessarily to train the children mentally, morally and social qualities, arouse its awareness of environment and develop alertness, presence of mind, resourcefulness, discipline, co-ordination and the spirit of respect, sympathy and generosity towards other qualities that are essential for a happy and we ll adjusted life in a free and democratic world. Physical education can thus make a very valuable contribution to our national life. The report of the Education Commission (1966) The report observes that there has been a tendency in recent Government schemes of physical education to emphasize only the physical fitness values. The report has laid down the following principles upon which a satisfactory programme of physical education should be based: a) Physical education programmes should be planned for desirable outcomes keeping in mind the interest and capacity of the participant. b) Special Instruction and coaching should be provided to students with talent and special aptitude. Kothari Commission (1966) The Kothari Commission (Education Commission) 1964-66 recommended that it must be emphasized that physical education contributes not only to physical fitness but also to physical efficiency, mental alertness, and development of certain qualities like perseverance, team spirit, leadership and obedience to rules, moderation in victory and balance in defeat. Physical education should include development exercises, rhythmic activity, sports and games, outing activities and group handling activities. Simpler activities should be introduced in the early classes more advanced ones should be gradually provided as boys and girls become more and more mature. Ishwarbhai Patel Committee (1981-82) This committee had laid special emphasis on physical education and sports in school education and has pointed out the need for adequate time provision for this area of school work. The Committee has suggested that physical education at the primary stage should include: (a) dance (b) games including training; (c) yoga; (d) gymnastics and (e) swimming. The Report of The All India Seminar on Problems of Physical Education and Sports for School and Non-school Going Youth (1981-82) The report has came to the following conclusions: a) That physical education and sports have not yet become a mass movement in the life of the people of India. b) There is absence of a workable programme, lack of facilities, equipment and properly trained personnel to implement the programmes of physical education and sports in educational institutions; c) There is a large out of school youth population for which there is particularly no provision for sports activities; d) Special efforts must be made to popularize physical education and sports among women and girls. Sports Authority of India: Sports Authority of India was established in 1984, with the aim to develop the sports infrastructure in various parts of the country on one hand and thus to produce elite sports persons for International participation on the other hand. One of the progressive steps was the re-organization of the departments under the Union Ministry of Education and the creation of Ministry of human Resource Development. So far as physical education, sports and youth development are concurred, this new ministry has created the Sports Authority of India in 1984 to look after all aspects relating to physical education, sports, adventure sports and other youth development programmes. This organization (SAI) has been trying hard to co-ordinate all schemes relating to training and coaching of physical education and sports, developing infrastructure facilities in the country and rendering useful advise to the government in matters relating to sports and games. However, it is the Sports Authority of India (SAI), which has been responsible for promotion of sports in the country. Many of the countrys leading sports persons are products of SAI system. Over the years SAI has initiated various schemes to spot talent and nurture them. N.C.E.R.T. Curriculum (1988) The NCERT developed the national curriculum for elementary and secondary in 1988 to reflect the postulates of the National Policy of Education and the Programmes of action, 1986. The main thrust of this exercise was to provide for the national core-curriculum in the school syllabi as postulated in the National Policy and to integrate physical education with the academic program in the schools. The core-curriculum states that health and physical education and sports should be an integral part of the learning process and be included in the evaluation of performance. It underlines the important place of mental and emotional health in addition to physical health. It also states that amongst the sports and games activities due stress should be made on the indigenous traditional games. As a system which promotes integral development of the body and mind. The core-curriculum envisages 10% of the time in the school time table for health and physical education at primary stage, 10% at upper primary stage and 9% at secondary stage. Annual Plan (1999-2000) An outlay of Rs 190 crore had been approved for the Department of Youth Affair Sports for the Annual Plan 1999-2000. The thrust was on harnessing Yuva Shakti and Development of Sports Infrastructure and promotion of Sports and games in the following ways:- Integration of various schemes of youth implemented by the Department of Youth Affairs Sports was emphasized with a view to develop linkage between programmes and to make available more funds for programme contents rather than administrative cost. There was need to take wider perspective and integrate sports as part of education system. For that purpose, department of education is to earmarked funds for sports promotion, upkeep of playgrounds, sports infrastructure under Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodya Vidyalayas, training of physical education instructors etc. Similarly, the state Governments were also provided additive provision for sports in their education Budgets so that improved sports facilities would become available to youth. Special attention was given to the promotion of sports and games among the special children by providing specially designed equipment, playgrounds and instructors and by holding of tournaments. Need was felt to formulate a scheme for the promotion of sports among the special population. In order to implement the recommendations of these commissions and committees regarding physical education and sports, ministry of youth affairs and sports has been created by centre government in 1982. For ensuring mass participation in games and sports and to create sporting environment in the country, Sports Authority of India came into being in 1984. Besides above, the government of India has formulated national policies for education as well as sports time to time wherein for the promotion of games and sports, specific objectives have been spelled out. National Policy on Education (1968) Soon after the report of the Kothari Commission, National Policy on Education was enunciated in (1968) and was specified that games and sports should be developed on a large scale with the object of improving the physical fitness and sportsmanship of the average students as well as those who excel in the institution. Where playing fields and other facilities for developing a nationwide programme of physical education did not exist, those had to be provided on priority basis. The Draft National Sports Policy (1980) It has laid down the enlisted aims and objectives of the three-fold new sports policy (a) to inculcate sports and health consciousness among the masses for regular participation in sports and to make the nation healthy and strong (b) to raise the standards in sports and in the process earn a place of pride in international sports competitions; (c) to provide all the necessary facilities and infrastructure which are essential for creating sports consciousness and promotion of the standards of performance in sports. National Policy on Education (1986) As modified in (1992) with National Policy on Education, (1968), Sports and physical education is an integral part of the learning process, and will be included in the evaluation of performance. A nation-wide infrastructure for physical education, sports and games will be built into the educational edifice. The infrastructure will consist of playfields, equipment, coaches and teachers of physical education as part of the school improvement programme. Available open spaces in urban areas will be reserved for playgrounds, if necessary by legislation. Efforts will be made to establish sports institutions and hostels where specialized attention will be given to sports activities and sports-related studies, along with normal education. Appropriate encouragement will be given to those talented in sports and games. Due stress will be laid on indigenous traditional games. Efforts will be made to introduce Yoga in all schools. To this end, it will be introduced in teacher training courses. National Sports Policy (2001) The National Sports Policy, 1984 was formulated with the objective of raising the standard of sports in the country. The National Education Policy, 1986 also incorporated the objectives of the policy in so far as the Education Sector was concerned. In terms of the National Sports Policy, 2001, the Central Government, in conjunction with the State Government, the Olympic Association (IOA) and the National Sports Federation will concertedly pursue the twin objectives of Broad-basing of Sports and Achieving Excellence in Sports at the National and International level. While the broad-basing of Sports will, primarily remain a responsibility of State Governments. The Union Government and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), in association with the Indian Olympic Association and the National Sports Federations, will focus specific attention on the objective of achieving excellence at the National and International levels. The integration of Sports and Physical Education with the Educational Curriculum, making it a compulsory subject of learning up to the Secondary School level and incorporating the same in the evaluation system of the student, will be actively persuaded. A National Fitness Programme would be introduced in all Schools in the Country, steps initiated to augment the availability of infrastructure, including play fields sports equipment and action taken to provide Physical Education Teachers in educational institutions through, inter-alia, the training of selected teachers in these disciplines. Specialized Sports Schools may also be set up. An appropriate inter-school and inter-college/university competition. National Youth Policy (2003) The earlier National Youth Policy was formulated in(1988). Its objectives were to help develop in youth qualities of discipline, self- reliance, justice and fair-play. It emphasized that physical fitness will be promoted through mass participation in yoga, indigenous games and modern sports will be made an integral part of all youth programmes, together with adventure activities calculated to develop the spirit of risk taking, team work and endurance. The socio-economic conditions in the country have since undergone a significant change and have been shaped by wide-ranging technological advancement. The National Youth Policy-2003 is designed to galvanize the youth to rise up to the new challenges, keeping in view the global scenario, and aims at motivating them to be active and committed participants in the exciting task of National Development. The Policy, accordingly enunciates that: Sports and games be promoted as a mass movement by making it a way of life; Sports, Games and Physical Education including Yoga, should be compulsory in all Educational Institutions; Every educational institution should have adequate facilities for recreation, adventure and sports activities, including playgrounds; At least one-fifth of the time spent by a student in an educational institution should be earmarked for outdoor activities; Geographically disadvantaged areas would be extended additional support for the promotion of Sports and Games; Rural, traditional and indigenous sports would be accorded special attention and it would be the responsibility of the Panchayat institutions with the help of local youth organizations to develop and maintain infrastructure for this purpose. This involvement of organized youth bodies such as youth clubs under the NYKS, the volunteers of the NSS and the Scouts and Guides in the creation and maintenance of sports infrastructure will go a long way in reducing the high cost of such infrastructure; A National Youth Festival will be held each year, starting at the Block level and culminating at the National level; Youth Hostels would be constructed in as many places of historical and cultural interest as possible, to promote youth tourism; Youth Organizations devoted to such activities will be encouraged; Adventure activities among the youth be promoted to inculcate qualities of leadership, resilience, courage, discipline and love for nature and the environment. In addition to the efforts made by the Central government, various state governments have also formulated sports policies for their respective states for the upliftment of games and sports as well as to involve youth in sporting activities. In addition to the efforts made by the Central Government, various state governments have formulated sports policies for their respective states for the upliftment of games and sports as well as to involve youth in sporting activities. These are as follows: State Sports Policy Meghalaya (2008) State Level Excellence (2008) Madhya Pradesh Sports Policy (2005) Haryana Sports Policy (2009) Punjab Sports Policy (2009) Draft State Policy of Assam (2010) The Jammu and Kashmir Draft State Sports Policy (2006) The aim and objectives of the sports policy can be broadly defined as under:- To provide opportunity to all individuals of the state to engage themselves in constructive, healthy physical activity for personality development irrespective of caste, creed, color, region and religion. To provide reasonable and adequate facilities to all individuals of the state in pursuing the sports activity of their choice depending upon the socio-economic and climatic conditions. To create infrastructure in every nook and corner of the state over a period of time so that every individual can pursue the game of his choice at his door step. To broad-base and strengthen the sports and allied activities carried out by various organizations in order to provide opportunity to every individual to participate in competitive sports. To encourage the people living in remote and inaccessible areas to involve themselves in various activities carried out by various organizations. To promote and encourage rural and indigenous sports and allied activities specific to the area. To provide adequate opportunities in terms of infrastructure, coaching, specialized training for achieving excellence in sports. To encourage, promote and patronage the activities of various Autonomous bodies like State Sports Associations for bringing about perceptible qualitative improvement in various sports and games. To provide incentives to the outstanding sports persons of the State by providing scholarships, reservation in professional colleges and job opportunities in Government/Private sector so as to encourage them to achieve higher landmarks in their respective games. To provide specialized coaching along the scientific lines to promising persons in the State for better performance at National/International level. To provide necessary infrastructure and financial support for popularizing and promoting various adventure sports in the State. To provide reasonable and adequate scientific back up to the sports persons and the persons associated with the promotion of sports in order to keep up with the latest technology and methodologies for excellence in different disciplines. To provide patronage and requisite financial assistance and infrastructure support to various Non-Governmental organizations like Nehru Yuva Kendra, Bharat Scouts and Guides Association etc; in order help them in promoting their activities throughout the State. The present work is a sincere effort of the researcher to critically evaluate the policies and programmes of physical education and sports being run in the schools of Jammu and Kashmir. Definitions of the Terms Physical Education Physical Education is an integral part of total education process; it is a field of endeavour which has its aim the development of physically fit citizens through the medium of physical activities which have been selected with a view of realizing these out comes. According to Williams (1964) Physical education is the sum of mans physical activities as to kind and conducted as to outcomes. The term Education when used in conjunction with physical, refers to a process of education that develops the human body especially fitness and movement skills (Pestolesi Baker, 1990). Programme Programme is an enlisted plan of events, performed at a public function. It is related to those activities which have distinctive mission and time schedule. Programmes is thus a means of achieving same desired results within the scheduled time. Policy Policy is a definite course or method of action selected by government, institution, group or individual from among alternatives and in the light of given conditions to guide and, usually, to determine present and future decisions.  · It is a specific decision or set of decisions designed to carry out such a course of action. Evaluation Neilson and Jensen (1972) have defined evaluation as a process of determining the status of something and of relating that status to some standard in order to make a value judgment. According to Chelladuri (1985) Evaluation is the process of assessing the degree to which the organization as a whole and various units and individuals have accomplished what they set out to do. The present study deals with critical evaluation of policies and programs of physical education and sports in Jammu and Kashmir. Physical education has been made compulsory by the Government in all Middle, High and Higher Secondary Schools but still needs special attention to find its rightful place in the general education. The researcher has undertaken this study keeping in view the intricacies and inadequacies of physical education and sports in the country in general and Jammu and Kashmir in particular. The review of literature has revealed that numerous researches have been conducted by the investigators regarding policies and programmes of physical education and sports in the states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, etc. but no sincere effort by any researcher has so far been made to examine the status of physical education and sports in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in general and its schools in particular. Hence, the present researcher has made an attempt to evaluate the policies and programmes of physical education and sports in the schools of Jammu and Kashmir. Hence the present survey type study has been designed. Statement of the Problem The study has been stated as Critical evaluation of policies and programmes of physical education in the schools of Jammu and Kashmir. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study was to critically analyze the present state of policies and programmes of physical education and sports in the schools of Jammu and Kashmir, and thus to findout the existing shortcomings and inadequacies regarding these policies and programmes. Delimitations The study was delimited to high and higher secondary schools of Jammu and Kashmir regions. The study was delimited to the evaluation of programmes and policies regarding physical education and sports only at the level of high and higher secondary schools of Jammu and Kashmir regions. Only questionnaire methods were employed for collecting data regarding the present work which may also be a delimitation of the study. The study was further delimited to the government high and higher secondary schools of Jammu and Kashmir regions. Limitations As the present study was a status study and the method used for collecting data was survey method and the informations were gathered on a self designed questionnaire, it may be possible that some of the important informations might have left unaddressed. Biased approach of the respondents especially on some of the important matters may be considered as one of the limitations of the study. Casual attitude of the respondents has also been considered as the limitation of the study. Variations in climatic conditions of two regions of the state can also be considered as a limitation of the study. As the data was collected only from the physical education teachers and principals of the schools this may also be considered as a limitation. Hypotheses Keeping in view the objectives of the study, the following null hypotheses were formulated: There would be no proper implementation of policies and programmes of physical education and sports in the schools What is teamwork? What is teamwork? INTRODUCTION: TEAMWORK Teamwork is about galvanizing a group of people towards a common objective while simultaneously addressing the head yet appealing to the heart. Teamwork is also about bringing the best out of each individual in the pursuit of a collective goal deemed worthy of being realized. Therefore, according to Jon Katzenbach (a published author and consultant who is best known for his work on theinformal organisation.), ‘a teamis a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable. IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK IN ORGANISATION A challenging business climate needs to be engaged by effective teamwork. It provides an opportunity to come together and establish a common ground for the fulfillment of specific objectives. Empathy, appreciation and encouragement are some of the critical ingredients of effective teamwork. The vision must be bold, stir the intellect and yet move the heart. What is at stake needs to be clearly spelled out. Alcorn (2006) provides a definition of a team from 1886, which defines a team as work done by several associates, with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole. In a simple context, this means that a team is a collective whole of people that work together so that they are more productive. The key for any organisation is to possess a team that can be defined using Alcorns provided definition. A team isnt a team simply because a company pulls a group of workers together and calls them a team, but instead as a result of careful planning, hard work, and constant tweaking of team processes on a continuous basis. In todays competitive world where every organisation is striving to gain the best position in the market the concept of Group Development and Teamwork are steadily gaining importance. Individual decision making has taken a back stage and paved the way for team management approach for problem solving and decision making which has been productive for the organisations. This strategy not only benefits the organisation but also the individual employee, hence its been rapidly adopted by businesses. Management Professor Tracy McDonald states that The teamwork push probably started in business in the late 1970s or early 80s with the advent of quality circles [employee problem-solving teams],she says innovation, creativity and change have been some of the main drivers of team success and since the past 30 years, organisations have embraced this concept with welcoming hands. Yuki Funo the Chairman and CEO of Toyota motor, states that the â€Å"Toyota way is the way to number 1†. One of the principles of the Toyota way is to ‘add value to the organisation by developing your people and people can be developed by molding them into exceptional individuals and teams to work within the corporate philosophy. Nippard B. creator a Facebook group (teamwork ladder) on teamwork states that â€Å"more than 80% of fortune 500 companies subscribe to teamwork. Teamwork brings success no matter how you define victory.† Groups and Teams facilitate the organisation to achieve a competitive advantage because groups increase responsiveness to the organisations customers, employee motivation, increase creativity and they have also been capable of helping the members of organisation to enhance task performance and experience more satisfaction with their work. Team Responsiveness to Customers: It has been a priority for organisations to be elastic and readily responsible for the continuously changing needs, behavior and desires of customers. Being reactive to customers often requires different levels of the hierarchy departments to combine their skills and knowledge. For example, at the lower hierarchy the employees such as sales representatives of a car company, they are the people who are closest to the customers and are aware of the customer needs. But their job in the organisation is to just make sales of the cars and they cannot instill the desired changes into the car, which is in the field of the research and development department. For making the change a higher level of hierarchy is required such as research and development experts and other members who can come together and create a group or a cross- functional team who with its diverse skills and capability will enhance the responsiveness to customer needs. It is important for managers to understand the need and set up the appropriate cross-functional team who will carefully determine what type of expertise and capabilities are required to be responsive to the customers. This information is very vital for forming teams. A cross-functional team is the best solution thats aligned to any business needs can help you improve your efficiency and respond to customers more quickly. The needs of a customer are focused forming such cross functional teams and a satisfied customer is always an asset for any organisation. Employee Motivation: Kreitner R. (1995) has defined motivation as ‘the psychological process that gives behavior purpose and direction. ‘Groups and teams are formed to increase the productivity and efficiency of an organisation. To do so Managers have learnt that increasing employee motivation and satisfying team members is the best way to achieve an organisations strategic objectives. It is also about the motivation of members of the group to stick with each other and oppose leaving it. Being motivating to the team members and giving them the experience of working with other creative members in the organisation is very inspiring and leads the team members to be more creative in their work and helps them to be more productive and increases their work effort. All the ideas generated are directly contributed in the final result and in the success of the organisational goals, and hence the members of the team feel personally responsible for the outcomes or results of their work. This satisfies the statement by Dwight D. Eisenhower thatMotivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it. Enhanced Performance and Synergy: ‘Synergy is the effect that the combined return â€Å"whole† is greater than the sum of the individual parts. (Sebastian Knoll, Cross-Business Synergies, page 14). The phenomenon of Synergy within a Group or Team has become one of the most vital parts for an organisation. People who work in groups are able to produce more efficiently and they confer greater quality of output than that produced by an individual and their productivity combined. Joint problem solving, variety in ideas and knowledge, different views towards an issue and accomplishing difficult tasks are some of the factors added by synergy in groups. To make utilize of synergy in groups managers need to make sure that, the group they put together comprise a variety of skills and talents which are diverse and corresponding but still relevant to the task, and being certain that these skills are coordinated efficiently. Managers should make sure that the groups achieve goals for the organisation in their own way and enough independence is provided to solve problems. Innovation: Organisations constantly strive to develop new products, services, new technologies and deliver them to the market. Innovation provides organisations with competitive advantage. An individual working alone might possess an innovative idea, but it takes a team with skills and expertise to execute it. For this reason, Managers create teams with different individuals, with diverse skills, knowledge, and a variety of talents so they can turn an individuals innovative idea to a successful one. Managers give maximum freedom to their teams to perform their tasks without interfering much and full responsibility is given to execute the innovation. Required guidance, training, and resources are provided by the Managers but the rest is in the hands of the team. Its therefore important to have skillful team mates and everyone should be specialized in their own work, to be more creative and quick which all lies as additional advantage to the team and organisation. Team Conflicts Teams do not work in isolation and are often highly dependent on other groups or teams within the organisation to complete their goals. Conflicts can arise due to several reasons but its often due to lack of agreement on the goals of different groups. Sometimes it also arises due to direct competition. The consequences of conflict can take two forms, positive and negative. Positive also known asconstructive conflicthelps teams work towards goals through healthy debate on the decision in question. Conflicts helps the team reduce conformity and unhealthy agreement, solve problems better and overcome obstacles to group progress. It also helps teams achieve goals outside the box through continuous feedback from both internal and external sources. Negative which is also known asdestructive conflicton the other hand can result in lack of cooperation within teams and this may prove disastrous to the final goal if not managed well at its early stages. There are following conflicts in groups which are causes of destructive conflicts. Relationship Conflict Task Conflicts Value Conflict It is therefore very important for managers to take control of all the problems right from their roots. Teams that face problems such as conflicts, risky shifts, groupthink and social loafing are a treat to the organisation and should be resolved at the earliest. Conclusion: Team oriented approach is the order of the day when it comes to successful organisations who have empowered their employees, motivated them and involved them in such a way that the existence of the organisation wouldnt have been possible without the existence of teams of such highly motivated individuals. Teamwork has bought the employee and the organisation closer than ever. Problem solving, creativity, innovation and shared vision are as synonymous to teamwork as teamwork is to success. Although team building is a complex process and there are many challenges that hinder a teams success. The effectiveness of teams is dependent upon a number of psychological factors that can inhibit or improve performance. Subtle processes such as social loafing, hierarchical effects, and personality differences can dramatically inhibit team performance. Within organisational settings, teams are usually put together and allowed to function without attempts being made to ensure effective functioning. The most important elements of team management are specifying individual and team goals and the design of the team task. At the same time there must be regular clear and accurate feedback to the team on its performance over time in order to promote effectiveness. The Future of Food: Seeds of Resilience The Future of Food: Seeds of Resilience Agriculture: Food for Life Number of words: 537 Writers name: Kush Upadhyay Address: 1127 Meredith Way, Folsom, CA 95630 Phone number: 9165009613 Date of birth: 04/21/1999 School name: Vista Del Lago High School Grade: 4.0 I referred to a paper titled The Future of Food: Seeds of Resilience published by Global Alliance for the Future of Food in September 2016. The publication for focused on several aspects of improving the agro industry. Global Alliance believes that diverse and robust seed systems are central to sustainable food systems that are renewable, healthy and interconnected. They understand the urgency for supporting farmer managed seed systems in order to enhance seed diversity. Bettina Haussmann, who works across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger with the Collaborative Crop Research Program, talks about womens important role in agricultural biodiversity and the link to nutrition: Working specifically with women farmers to cultivate and maintain local crop and varietal diversity could be a chance to (re-) link agriculture with nutrition, to improve dietary diversity in rural families and to achieve desired nutritional results and the reduction of malnutrition and hidden hunger. Bettina Haussmann discuss about the link between daily value of agricultural biodiversity and its preservation: By valuing specific crops and varieties as healthy food and possibly creating a local value chain and local markets, farmers can be encouraged to add these crops and varieties to their existing portfolio, for improving family nutrition and also for income generation purposes. Jean-Louis Pham of Agropolis Fondation describes how community based seed systems are diverse and complex entities: There is a diversity of seed systems because of the diversity of eco-geographical and economic conditions, of the crop reproductive biology, of cultural factors, etc. Between yam seed systems in Benin and the rice seed systems in the Philippines, differences are huge, even though one can reasonably attempt to describe them with a single theoretical framework. It results from this diversity and complexity over space and time that ways to sustain, protect, and strengthen community based seed systems will have to be diverse, tailored and adaptive. In a sense, there is no best way to protect and strengthen community based seed systems-there are ways which are appropriate or not depending on the situation. Bettina Haussmann suggests we move to a more systems-oriented approach to breeding, where the different functions of a crop or cultivar in the production system are considered and improved/optimized. She writes: Such an approach actually includes a paradigm shift from promoting just a few best-bet varieties to promotion of functional diversity via the development of a portfolio of best-fit' varieties (varieties that are specifically adapted to different contexts, functions and needs). To enable this, a paradigm shift is needed from considering farmers just as beneficiaries and passive adopters to considering farmers as real partners who inform and advise the crop improvement process. I would like to conclude the information gained through the publication by referring to the idea that emerges from the compendium, strengthening agricultural biodiversity requires action at the local, regional, national and international levels. The earnestness is clear. Horticultural biodiversity is the key to the eventual fate of food and our planet. The contributors boost upon the significance of supporting group based seed system, and suggest that contributors, governments, analysts, and common society associations adjust their needs to this objective. The Global Alliance for the Future of Food is stressing the significance of farming biodiversity to sustainable food frameworks. Referring the Authors BETTINA HAUSSMANN is the West Africa Liaison Scientist to the McKnight Foundation Collaborative Crop Research Program, and is based at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. Haussmanns past work at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Sahelian Centre in Niamey, Niger, resulted in a regionally coordinated strategy for pearl millet improvement in West Africa. JEAN-LOUIS PHAM is a plant geneticist with Institut de recherche pour le dà ©veloppement (IRD), a French interdisciplinary research organization focused on rural issues in Africa, the Mediterranean, Latin America and Asia. Pham has a wealth of field experience in West Africa and the Philippines and is the author of dozens of peer reviewed research papers. He is