Environmental Groups Essay Example for Free

Environmental Groups Essay Environmental Groups Tiffany Tremaine May 2, 2011 Environmental Policies 310 Instructor: David Monda Environmental Working Group known as EWG is an Environmental interest group working to protect kids from toxic chemicals in our food, water, air, and other products we use every day. The mission of the Environmental Working Group is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. EWG is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, founded in 1993 by Ken Cook and Richard Wiles. In 2002, we founded the EWG Action Fund, a 501(c) (4) organization that advocates on Capitol Hill for health-protective and subsidy-shifting policies. EWG specializes in providing useful resources (like Skin Deep and the EWGs Shoppers Guide to Pesticidesâ„ ¢) to consumers while simultaneously pushing for national policy change. EWG two main goals are to protect the most vulnerable segments of the human population—children, babies, and infants in the womb—from health problems attributed to a wide array of toxic contaminants and to replace federal policies, including government subsidies that damage the environment and natural resources, with policies that invest in conservation and sustainable development. Their research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know. It shames and shakes up polluters and their lobbyists. It rattles politicians and shapes policy. It persuades bureaucracies to rethink science and strengthen regulation. It provides practical information you can use to protect your family and community. And because our investigations and interactive websites tend to make news, youve probably heard about them. EWG primary funding is donations, grants, corporations backing, as well as interest and support from every day people. The cost is whatever the member (supporter) would like to donate. There are many different ways to donate and the donations can either be tax right offs or not. EWG gives many ways to donate, credit card or check, and their supporters can either make a one-time contribution or pay monthly. The donation helps support EWG Action Funds Kid-Safe Chemicals Campaign fight for organic produce, get dangerous chemicals out of your food and water, and protect your favorite national parks from mining destruction. In 2009 and 2010 EWG have accomplished Toxic chemical reform, Energy policy, Banning BPA, Highlighting cell phone radiation risks, Shedding light on secret chemicals, Pushing for more effective sunscreens, Banning phthalates, Phasing out Deca, Protecting ground water from gas-drilling chemicals, Saving the Grand Canyon, and Fighting for safer tap water. EWG motives, viewpoints, and organizational features make them successful in the public policy arena. This Environmental Working Group is successful in the public policy arena. After researching just a couple of their accomplishments are in the public arena. References Z. Smith, 2009, The Environmental Policy Paradox, 5th Edition 1993, http://www. ewg. org/

Trouble Down South Essay -- US-Mexico Border

Early in our school years we are taught the importance of staying away from drugs and their harmful effects. We live in a nation surrounded by drugs and the culture that surrounds them. Drugs inhabit our everyday lives through the mediums we come in contact with on a daily basis. Most people cannot go through their day without running into a drug reference of some sort on their phones or televisions. However, with all the drugs in our nation, many Americans do not take the time to wonder where they came from or how they got here. The most common answer is the U.S.-Mexico border (Gootenberg 2). As officials worry about the number of illegal immigrants that sneak into the nation, they seem less concerned about the amount of drug content that is smuggled in as well. With high-powered groups such as Los Zetas and the Sinaloans controlling Mexico’s drug world with violence and terrorism, our southern neighbor has a problem that has remained uncontrollable for the past twenty years (Gootenberg 4). Mexico has not always been infested with drugs. The current drug problems stem back to the cocaine boom of the 1980s in Columbia and U.S. efforts to eliminate trades in the 80s and 90s (Gootenberg 1, 2). During the boom, Columbian drug systems were organized in major cities such as Miami and New York. As the mid-80s approached, there were an approximated 22 million cocaine users in the United States (Gootenberg 2). With such success came a rapid expansion of the cocaine market, and it also led to more competition. As this competition rose, the Columbians were forced to insert hit men into the U.S to fight off their Cuban rivals (2). The violence caused by the Columbian markets forced the U.S. president to get involved. Presidents such as Rea... ...iven a broader base in the U.S. President Calderon is visibly unable to control the cartels in his own country, and is in dire need of some assistance. It is a responsibility of the United States to help its’ neighbor before it is too late. Mexican drug cartels have been rising to power since the demise of the Medellin cartel in 1980. They came to power thanks to the blowback effect caused by the United States (Gootenberg 3). With recent U.S. presidential decisions, our nation is doing little to help its neighbor (Kellner and Pipitone 37). Mexico has been left to find its own solution; it will be up to the minds of president Calderon and his fellow governors to find a peaceful way to eliminate the terror that has gripped their nation by the throat. That is, if the competition and hunger for territory and power don’t cause the cartels to destroy each other first.

Employment and Absenteeism Problem Essay

Absenteeism refers to unauthorised absence of the worker from his job. According to Benefits Interface (Edited 2010: 1 of 4) absenteeism can be defined as ‘failure of employees to report for work when they are scheduled to work’. Employees who are away from work on recognized holidays, vacations, approved leaves of absence allowed for under the collective agreement provisions are not included. In South Africa, managers consider absenteeism their most serious discipline problem (Nadlangisa, 2003). Absenteeism is not unique to any particular geographical area or industry. It is a major problem for every organisation, particularly since downsizing and other lean changes have left employers with a smaller workforce (Grobler, Warnich, et al, 2006: 123) According to a recent study conducted by AIC Insurance, companies and the country’s economy are losing more than R12 billion annually due to absenteeism in South Africa. In 2000, 0. 7 million workers were absent from work, which is a fraction compared to the 397% leap it took up until 2012 (Goldberg, 2012). Employees are often considered to be a company’s most valuable asset and according to Hamilton-Atwell (2003: 56-61) one of the best ways to increase profitably is by increasing the returns on this asset. Reducing absenteeism is one of the most overlooked methods of reducing costs According to Goldberg (2012) managing absence is critical for all organisations, as the negative impact that they feel with regards to efficiency, operations and cost- effectiveness is enormous. Whatever the causes, absenteeism is costing the country and its businesses heavily and therefore needs to be addressed. Many employers, however, choose to disregard the possibility that there may be issues in the workplace causing poor performance and absenteeism. It makes sound economic sense to address any such issues and pro-actively encourage improved employee performance. This research framework focuses on a medium-sized local organisation, which has asked to not be mentioned. Therefore it shall be referred to as Organisation X. 3 2. Problem identification The failure to show up for work creates problems of varying degrees for managers and administrators. Excessive employee absenteeism can decrease productivity and profits significantly, creating numerous problems for supervisors and the employees who work regularly (Carrell & Kuzmits, 1992: 735). 2. 1. Problem Statement The motivation for this research will be discussed by highlighting problems related to employee absenteeism as experienced within Organisation X Main Problem Unauthorized employee absenteeism from Organisation X and the actions that might be implemented to reduce this due to the fact that absenteeism causes a liability to the company. Sub-Problems The unauthorised employee absenteeism is leading to an overall decrease in: i. Cost- effectiveness – Profitability ii. Operations – Production iii. Efficiency – Competitiveness 2. 2. Explanation of problems: Financial Costs Overtime and agency costs for replacing workers are incurred. Administrative Costs Staff time required to secure replacement employees and to re-assign the remaining employees. Staff time is required to maintain and control absenteeism. 4 Decrease in Productivity The employees that come to work daily carry an extra workload and support new or replacement staff. Also they are required to train and orient new or replacement workers, which cause them to neglect and disregard their own work. The work group itself has a considerable stake in absenteeism, particularly with respect to morale. People in work groups are very sensitive to equity. If one member takes excessive and perceived inappropriate absences without some equitable cost to that individual, other group members are often affected. They take revenge by going absent themselves, o lowering the productivity of the group as a whole (Furham, 2000: 377). Possible reasons for the absenteeism rate in Organisation X Lack of commitment Employees are simply not interested in their work or concerned about the success of the organization. This can stem from low wages or low employee morale, which might be caused by poor treatment by management or an unpleasant working environment. Also the length of service within the company will determine the commitment to the work and the workplace. Lack of consequence The lack of consequences, e. g. no incentives for strong attendance or no punishment for poor attendance leads to increased absenteeism of the employees. Also employee packages that allow for a lot of absence can lead to workers abusing this. Poor working conditions Employees might feel that they receive poor treatment from managers, work in an unpleasant or stressful working environment, have long working hours a lack of breaks, are given an excessive workload or there is too much strict supervision. Personal factors Although there is a fair bit of absenteeism that could have been avoided, employees are often away from work for ‘valid’ reasons. Examples may include domestic 5 problems (bad housing conditions, family issues) and consequent worries, social and religious causes, problems with transport facilities or accidents/ illnesses (Hamilton-Atwell, 2003: 82-95) 2. 3. Research questions I. What are the main factors causing employees to be absent from work? II. Is one specific group of people more absent than another (e. g. male/female, old/young)? III. What are the current disciplinary actions within Organisation X’s Human Resource Department? IV. What is the behaviour of the employees towards these disciplinary actions? V. What are the possible and most suitable solutions for Organisation X? 2. 4. Possible solutions for the absenteeism problem include, but are not limited to the following: Consequences To avoid absenteeism as much as possible the company should implement positive/ negative consequences for strong/ weak attendance. Examples may include offering rewards and incentives, e. g. monetary bonuses, simple raise or recognition (Employee of the month) for strong attendance and punish employees with poor records and unexcused absence (Gitman & McDaniel, 2008: 248). Work-Life Balance According to Chick (2004: 67) managers should allow employees to be able to have or create a work-life balance, as this can reduce the stress levels they are exposed to. Dual income households have increased over the last decades and longer working hours are expected. Managers need to help their employees to manage the numerous and sometimes competing demands in their lives. Employees need to achieve a balance between their work responsibilities and their personal life (Gitman & McDaniel, 2008: 251). Follow-ups The Supervisors need to sit down with the employees when they return from an absence to discuss the reason for absence, if the absence could have been 6 prevented and the implications of absenteeism on the company (if it is a common occurrence for this employee). 3. Hypotheses I. Females are more absent from work then men II. Individuals in any relationship are more absent than singles III. Employees with children are more absent than those without children IV. Employees below 40 are absent from work more frequently V. Current disciplinary actions are not perceived as a reason for employees to reduce the absenteeism VI. Implementing other stricter disciplinary actions will reduce the rate of employee absenteeism 4. Objectives The Objectives of the project are: To understand and analyze: I. The main causes of absenteeism in Organisation X. II. The current disciplinary actions taken by the HR department for reducing absenteeism. III. The attitude of employees towards these disciplinary actions. IV. The factors to be considered in order to reduce absenteeism. V. Suggestions that can be given to the management to improve the regular attendance of the employees in the company.

Exceptionalities in a classroom Essay

In any teaching-learning activity, there are major challenges that arise and must be addressed with a lot of concern if the success of the learners is to be achieved. In any given learning environment, which narrows down to a school setting, there must be a classroom whereby learning process takes place. A classroom consists of quite a number of learners who are from different ethic groups, different cultures and also different races. This therefore calls the teacher to understand that in every given population of learners there are diverse attributes among the learners and hence treat each learner according to his/her needs. In working with students with exceptionalities in my classroom, my main concern will be identification of the factor that makes such a student be an exceptional student. In the first place, I will be concerned with identifying the students who are physically challenged by simply using observation (Schulte, Villwock, Whichard & Stallings, 2001). Through close observation, those students who are visually impaired, hard–of hearing and those who are dumb are easily identified. It is very important to identify such group of students since they have special needs to be attended to as opposed to the other normal students. In many learning institutions, these students tend to be overlooked since the relevant learning aids are not provided to them. As a result, poor performance by an able student or even a high achiever is witnessed and if this persists, the morale of the student declines and it may even result to dropping out of school. My physically challenged students must therefore be having learning aids such as braille for those who are visually impaired, hearing aids and translators for those with hearing problems. (Schulte, Villwock, Whichard & Stallings, 2001). My concern will be on ensuring that these students are not side lined in any way and that their performance rhymes with the effort that they put in their class work. I would as well encourage them to always sit in front whereby I can constantly monitor them and give the necessary assistance. There is another group of exceptional students that have been overlooked in many learning institutions. In a classroom of slow learners who are also treated to be exceptional students and low achievers, my concern will be to identify them through assigning regular exercises and continuous assessment test. Schulte, Villwock, Whichard & Stallings, 2001). Most of these students have lagged behind with great work load to cover, most of which they never accomplish. This then leads to failure and lack of self esteem among these students. I would address in full, every question that they ask and at their pace, give them remedial hours and more exercises so that they can perfect on them at their own time. This particular group of students needs a lot of encouragement since they may take a quite a lot of time before realizing that they are slow learners. There is also another exceptional group of students referred to as the high achievers or the gifted students. These are the students who are highly determined to know everything and grasp everything taught in class very fast. They might even at times challenge the teacher with questions. These particular students should be encouraged by assigning them much involving tasks that will seek to keep them busy. This breaks the boredom that they might experience when the teacher tries to assist the other students. They should be helped to set their realistic goals in their lives and also in ways of achieving them.

The Dos and Donts of Writing a Dissertation Conclusion

The Dos and Donts of Writing a Dissertation Conclusion The Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Dissertation Conclusion After years of hard work, dedicated research and sleepless nights, you’re finally close to finishing your dissertation. You’ve reviewed the literature, gathered and analyzed data, and reflected on the results. Well done. But what does it all mean? This is where the conclusion becomes crucial, as it allows you to summarize your work and its significance. Its therefore important that the conclusion to your dissertation is clear, concise and compelling. Here are a few â€Å"dos† and â€Å"don’ts† to keep in mind when writing your conclusion! DO†¦ 1. Summarize Your Argument A good conclusion will briefly restate your hypothesis, key findings and the implications of your research. This will help the reader to follow your argument as a whole, bringing together various elements raised during the discussion. 2. Put Your Work in Context The conclusion of your dissertation is a good place to restate the significance of your work. This might include how it contributes to existing knowledge in your field or its importance outside of academia. 3. Assess Limitations No study is perfect, not even yours! Sorry to break the bad news! On the plus side, you can discuss the limitations of your work at the end of your dissertation. Doing this will demonstrate your understanding of the research process. Issues you may want to consider include sample size and time constraints. 4. Identify Implications for Future Research Most dissertation conclusions include suggestions for how your work could inform future research. This could be a refinement of your own investigation, though it might also be a radical new idea suggested by your results! DON’T†¦ 1. Introduce New Material Although it’s fine to offer an opinion or reflection at the end of your dissertation, introducing new arguments or evidence at this point is forbidden. If something is important enough to include in the conclusion, it should be part of the main body of your paper. 2. Write Too Much Your conclusion should include a summary of what precedes it, but it isn’t necessary to go back over everything in depth. Try to make this chapter fairly snappy, relating what you have already read in an easily digestible way. 3. Keep Your Reader in Suspense Unlike an episode of Game of Thrones, you can’t finish your dissertation on a cliffhanger! In your research, you will have set out to answer certain questions. Make sure that you address these explicitly in your conclusion so that nothing is overlooked. If you follow these tips you should hopefully find writing that allimportant concluding chapter a much simpler process. But if you need any more support, the experts at Proofed will be happy to look over your work!

Advance vs. Advanced

Advance vs. Advanced Advance vs. Advanced Advance vs. Advanced By Maeve Maddox A reader has asked for a post on the incorrect use of advanced in the sense of advance. Both words are used with an assortment of meanings. This post will focus on only two: advance (adjective): provided or carried out in advance; prior. advanced (adjective): far on or ahead. The adjective advance is properly used in the following expressions: advance booking advance ticket sales advance publicity advance notice advance warning The adjective advanced is properly used in the following contexts: The king, who was advanced in years, busied himself with works of charity. (The king was old.) By the mid-5th century, it had become more common for  advanced thinkers  to reject traditional explanations of the world of nature. (The thinking of these people was more like that of thinkers farther on in history than that of 5th century contemporaries.) George is taking advanced classes in English and history this year. (The classes are more challenging [i.e., farther ahead] than regular classes in those subjects.) Junior’s vocabulary is more advanced than that of other six-year-olds. (Junior knows more words than most other children his age.) Here are some typical examples of the way in which advanced is used incorrectly in place of advance: ‘Divergent’ Heats up With Advanced Ticket Sales–headline, Variety. Correct: â€Å"Advance Ticket Sales† Advanced Ticket Sales for Seth Rogen’s ‘Neighbors’ Soar –headline, Hollywood Reporter. Correct: â€Å"Advance Ticket Sales† Hardy Considering Advanced Warning Flooding System –KAIT television station. Correct: â€Å"Advance Warning Flooding System.† Note: in the story that follows the headline, the system is referred to as â€Å"an early warning flooding system.† Clapper had advanced warning of data collection question –Daily Kos Correct: â€Å"advance warning† Most reservations are then confirmed with a 50% advanced deposit. – A vacation resort. Correct: â€Å"advance deposit† Give us at least 2 months advanced notice, full refund, less a $40 administrative fee. –A vacation resort. Correct: â€Å"advance notice† If you’re not sure if the word should be advance or advanced, test the meaning by substituting prior. If prior makes sense, advance is probably the word that fits the context. On the other hand, you can just use prior. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Fly, Flew, (has) FlownFlied?Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs and Heteronyms7 Proofreading Steps

Climate Change and Deforestation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 12500 words

Climate Change and Deforestation - Essay Example The forests with the huge abundance of trees play a major role in maintaining the carbon cycle in the earth’s environmental system. Tress effectively maintains the carbon cycle through the conversion of carbon present in the atmosphere to form its body and operate its respiratory system. Henceforth the trees, which are large storehouses of natural carbon, emit such vehemently into the atmosphere on being cut down or being burnt (Forests Forever). The practice of deforestation in several countries at increasing level led to the growth of temperature of the climate in several regions like Canada, United States and Australia to name a few. During the period ranging from 1990 to 2010 huge changes in climatic temperatures were recorded in these countries, which would be compared to the deforestation activities taken place in these regions during the stated period. However a range of recent findings conducted by environmentalists reflect that the event of deforestation tends to have an inverse impact on the climatic temperatures. The large number of studies conducted show that from the prehistoric times till date a large number of forest reserves have been cut or burned down amounting to large scale deforestation. Still in comparison to the magnitude of deforestation the climatic temperature has risen insignificantly. On the contrary, the large amount of deforestation has culminated to the cooling of the surface temperature of the earth. ... However a range of recent findings conducted by environmentalists reflect that the event of deforestation tends to have an inverse impact on the climatic temperatures. The large number of studies conducted show that from the prehistoric times till date a large number of forest reserves have been cut or burned down amounting to large scale deforestation. Still in comparison to the magnitude of deforestation the climatic temperature has risen insignificantly. On the contrary, the large amount of deforestation has culminated to the cooling of the surface temperature of the earth. Studies made suggest that owing to deforestation the reflective index of the earth’s surface has increased which radiates the solar heat to the atmosphere. This effect is mainly responsible for the cooling of the earth’s surface. Further owing to the large amounts of deforestation activities the earth’s upper crust has considerably cooled which caused the emergence of the northern and south ern hemisphere. These regions because of the cool surface temperatures have become too cold to be totally covered by ice. Again the progress of the earth’s cooling activities made the ice packed regions to become denser by the event of their joining up to form a unified mass (Renssen, Goosse and Fichefet). Background Impact of Climate Change The phenomenon of climate change is expected to produce a diversified base of different factors, which would tend to alter the ecological balance of the earth’s natural atmosphere. Observation shows that a rise in the temperature of the global climate can contribute heavily in altering the events of rainfall or snowfall in the world. This in turn would affect the moisture contents of the soil textures important for plant growth. Further, a rise in the