Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Digital Divide Essays -- essays papers

The Digital Divide Abstract: Around the world 429 million people are connected to the Internet. Forty-one percent of those people can be found in North America. Although 429 million seems like a large number it is only 6 percent of the global population (Fact Sheet, 2004). Numbers like this reflect the digital divide that has grown since the creation of the computer and more recently, the ‘Information Super Highway’ called, the Internet. The digital divide describes the issue that some people have access to and use computers and the Internet while others do not. There are several factors that play into those that do not have access and there are programs that have been created to close the gap between these people and those that have access. Full Text: Bridges.org (2003) describes the digital divide as â€Å"the wide division between those who have access to ICT [information and communications technologies] and are using it effectively and those who do not.† These groups are labeled the â€Å"have† and the â€Å"have-nots.† As technology increases the importance of having access to it grows also. Those who do not have access to technology lag behind and end up in the ‘gap’ of the digital divide. Usually the majority of people that fall in the ‘have-nots† category are in developing countries around the world, but a large number can be found right in the United States. Several factors seem to play a part in who becomes a victim of the digital divide. These include race, socioeconomic status, education, location, age and gender. The statistics for race and access to Internet access in the home show that 46.1% of white households are online and 56.8% of Asian American and Pacific Islanders have access to the Internet in th... ...e Network. (2004). Digital Divide Basics Fact Sheet. Retrieved April 18, 2004 from http://www.digitaldividenetwork.org/content/stories/index.cfm?key=168 6.) Hillebrand, M. (1999). US Government Attempts to Bridge Digital Divide. E-Commerce Times. Retrieved April 12, 2004 from http://www.ecommercetimes.com/perl/story/1086.html. 7.)Holmes, S. (2000). NMSU project aims to bridge ‘digital divide.’ Retrieved April 24, 2004 from http://www.amarillonet.com/stories/070600/usn_nmsu.shtml. 8.) PBS.org. (2001). Outreach Activities. Retrieved April 18, 2004 from http://www.pbs.org/digitaldivide/news.html. 9.) Steele-Carrin, S. (2000). Caught in the Digital Divide. Education World. Retrieved April 27, 2004 from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech041.shtml. 10.) Vail, K. (2003). Next Generation Divide. American School Board Journal, 190, 23-25.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

A Christian Perspective on Nudity in Art Essay

The Association of Classical & Christian Schools John is a Christian who enjoys the arts and finds them edifying. He is particularly fond of the art of painting. Desiring to expand his art history knowledge, he visits the best, closest art museum he can find. Going from gallery to gallery, John begins to become discouraged and more than a little embarrassed because of all the nudity shown in the paintings. He finds himself wondering if he should leave the museum in a state of disillusioned protest. As a Christian, John understands the need to shun pornography; but what he is seeing is not Hollywood at its X-rated worst, it is Western Civilization. These are the paintings that make up the canon of art. What is he . what are Christians . to do with nudity as it is often shown in art? To answer the overriding question, one must first understand the difference between nudity and pornography. Nudity is nothing more than a human figure without clothing. There is no overt intention of sexual arousal. When nudity is used in art, it is often (but not always) with the goal of eliciting an admiration on the part of the viewer for the handy-work of his Creator. The Greeks believed that man was the measure of all things; as such they sought to find the perfect human form and show it in their art. The resulting nudes are not pornographic; rather, they are the outworking of the Greek ideal. As Christians, we rightly reject their philosophy, but we should not make the mistake of mislabeling their art. There has been much written on the beauty of the human body and it does not need be rehearsed here. It is clear that we are, indeed, fearfully and wonderfully made. When an artist shows nudity with this in mind, he is showing it to the praise and glory of the Creator. Pornography, on the other hand, has sexual arousal as its sole intention. It seeks to debase and lower both its subject, the person being looked at, and its object, the person doing the looking, to the level of mere animals. It is meant to feed our lusts, with the full understanding that they can never be sated. Sexual lust . like all other lusts . perates according to the Law of Diminishing Returns; the more a person feeds his lust, the harder it is to get even temporary satisfaction. This forces him to go back for increasingly more and more stimulation until it is almost impossible to derive any pleasure from his vice, no matter how much he indulges. It would be irresponsible to say that no part of Western Art leans to the pornographic side of things; for some of it does (much of Klimt, Schiele, some Courbet, etc. ); however, the difference is usually reasonably obvious with sober thought (if it. s not, then the artist has not done his job! ). There is also art that is quite charged with erotic content that doesn. t show so much as an exposed ankle. These paintings rely on context and subtlety to convey the true meaning of the work. For example, Gustave Courbet. s painting, Demoiselles on the Banks of the Seine of 1856, is widely understood to be a depiction of two lesbians in post-coital sleep . an obviously unacceptable situation for the Christian. There is no crass sexual imagery to suggest this relationship; however, when viewed in light of some of his other paintings, and when the painting is looked at carefully the relationship between the two women becomes clear. This is far from the only example of subtle erotic imagery, but it is illustrative of the issue. Like so many situations in life, context is the key to making a decision about whether or not to show or look at imagery like this. Song of Solomon (among other passages in scripture) is very explicit in its description of a sexual relationship between a man and a woman. It speaks quite openly of physical desire. We know from the context of the whole book that this is not a sinful desire and that it is proper for us to read about it and learn from it. So it is with art; when we properly understand the context of a picture we can make decisions on whether it is sinful to look at or not. We have to decide what our aim is in looking at it: are we indulging in an unlawful desire, or are we confronting an opposing worldview? If it is the former, then by no means should the image be viewed; however, if our education is to have any value we must confront opposing worldviews. To what are we objecting in pictures like this? It is obviously not the depiction of an unclothed human body. It is the representation and the implicit approval of promiscuity. This is what breaks the Law of God in Scripture . the sin does not necessarily occur when we look at such material, it happens when we approve of it. Things are rarely one dimensional; there are many reasons for showing nudity in art. We do a disservice to our students (and ourselves) when we teach them to be reactionary instead of thoughtful and discerning. There is a long tradition of depicting the nude human form in Western Art. I mentioned above that appreciation of the human form is one reason for showing nudity in art. However, it is not the only reason. Realism is another; nudity in varying degrees is a part of life, even public life at many times in the past and in different parts of the world. Many times artists were showing only what they saw as a part of everyday life. In the past there were public baths and public toilets that did not afford the same privacy that we, as 21st century Americans, have come to take for granted. There were even times when public nudity was accepted (for example, Peter worked in the nude while he fished (John 21:7). As such, people would have come to understand the concept of modesty as opposed to prudishness. Modesty reserves the exposure of the body to appropriate times and places, whereas prudishness sees the body as sinful in and of itself. As Christians, we must reject prudishness in light of the fact that God has given us many good gifts that are to be enjoyed in their proper context, our bodies being one of them. Since the Fall, nakedness in many situations has become shameful to us. Artists throughout history have recognized this fact and have used it in their art. For example, there are many depictions of the Last Judgment in art history (Rogier Van der Weyden, Hieronymous Bosch, Petrus Christus, the van Eycks, etc. ), many of which show those to be judged completely naked; the blessed are usually given a robe while the damned are sent into hell naked. This is done to emphasize their state before God; they have no covering, either physical or metaphorical to shield them from their Creator. The image of nakedness is used in the Scriptures to highlight our condition before God (Hebrews 4:13). God describes Israel as having been naked before He found her (Ezekiel 16, Hosea 2:1-5). He also uses literal nakedness when he commands Isaiah to go without clothing for three years as a sign of impending judgment (Isaiah 20:1-6). Whether in Scripture or elsewhere, a literary image of nudity is not really that much different from a literal image; both give the mind pictures of naked bodies to think about. It is the intended goal of depicting nudity (whether in words or pictures) that carries the weight of moral responsibility. If e take into account the Scriptures. use of nudity, it seems that it is proper . even edifying . at times to show nudity in art if it is done for the same reasons as the Scriptures. Many times in art the baby Jesus is shown quite openly nude. This is done for a very serious reason. His genitals were shown so that the artist might emphasize the very real human nature of the Christ. The artists wished to refute various Christological heresies (Nestorianism, Mo nophysitism, various forms of Gnosticism, etc. ) by showing that Jesus was both God and man. The attributes of Divinity are obvious and well known (the halo, lamb, and cross) but the tradition of depicting Jesus. humanity through showing His genitals is often misunderstood. At the other end of the spectrum of representing Jesus during His life on Earth is the cross. He would have been completely naked on the cross. The loincloth that we commonly see in paintings is a piece of pure fiction. Would it have been sinful for Him to be naked in public? Of course not, this was not a sexual context, nor was it meant to be. Was it sinful for Jesus. emale followers to be there and see Him in such a state? No. Again, context is the key. A common example of public exposure (albeit mild exposure) that many of us will encounter is breastfeeding. This is a context in which a woman’s breasts are not meant to be seen as sexual, but as motherly. If a man is aroused by the sight of this, does that not point to the sin in him and not in the act of breastfeeding? God ordained this method o f nourishment for children and alludes to it many times in Scripture as a good and proper thing. Again, context is the key to discerning the nature of this situation. Likewise, it is exceedingly rare for a medical doctor to be accused of being a pornography addict for giving physical exams to members of the opposite sex. The context of the examination room is not a sexual one. However, if a doctor mistreats his position and does look at a woman in a lecherous manner, does that mean that all physicals are pornographic and we should stop having them? There are other examples where images of nudity do not and should not elicit sexual arousal: childbirth, war pictures, anatomical charts and books, images from other (often indigenous) cultures, etc. The age at which it is acceptable for children to begin seeing paintings with nudity in them is a matter of debate. It seems that children should be exposed to nudity in art from an early age with the understanding that it is proper in some contexts and improper in others (many of which have been discussed above). If this is done, many aspects of the question of pornography will have been answered at an early age. Furthermore, if this approach is taken, children will gain an understanding of modesty and prudishness and know the difference between the two before it becomes an issue of practice for them (e. . skirt length, bathing suits, movies, etc. ). Of course there are many things that are perfectly good and right in and of themselves that are inappropriate for children. It is the responsibility of the parents to know their children and use their discernment in this question. The above arguments show that things are rarely as simple as nude = bad, clothed = good. This is not an exh austive treatment of the issue by any means; however, it should shed light on different perspectives on how a Christian is supposed to view nudity in art.

Monday, January 6, 2020

Impact of Party Drugs on the Youth Culture Essay - 1507 Words

Adolescence refers to the age group from 14 to 26 years. Ten percent of this age group use party drugs (Bennett, 2003). According to Arnett (2004) , this period of development is distinguished by five characteristics: identity exploration, instability, self-focus, a feeling of in-between and possibilities (Arnett, 2004, pg. 14). It is against these five characteristics that the impact of party drugs on the youth culture will be assessed. This essay will explore how the characteristics of adolescence place teenagers at risk from drug experimentation and how the perception of policy makers will influence the community’s response to the problem. The exploration of identity involves having a range of experiences that provides the†¦show more content†¦What then are adolescences escaping from? The very nature of adolescence: the sense of being without identity, the lack of a mental framework to manage the adult world and the pressures of identity construction, create tensions in the person. This escapism is not confined to adolescences as many adults abuse alcohol and amphetamines as a means of escaping the pressures of the adult world. For many users, taking the drug is part of the risk behaviour of adolescence that has the pay-off of feelings of well-being. They do not se themselves as drug users as they do not view their use of party drugs as being a problem. This normalises drug use and makes it difficult for agencies to intervene (Duff, 2003). It is wrong however to assume that all users are escaping from something. One of the features of adolescence is the search for identity and self meaning. This search behaviour creates a heightened sense of curiosity in adolescents as they seek to make sense of self. This curiosity can evolve unconsciously to drug abuse through prolonged use as a result of the uplifting effects of the first experience. The need to fund the regular purchase of the drug can lead into dealing. Bad experiences often will not cause a rejection of the drug as these pale against the many pleasures that the individual has experienced. The chain of events can have dire consequences for the individual as a health problem becomes a criminal problem.Show MoreRelatedBad Influence of Hip Hop on Youth1009 Words   |  5 PagesMusic producers have an influence on the music that today’s youth listen to that many are affected by even though the producers are unaware of it. Today there’s a lot of drug abu se, violence, and sex all on the rise even though hip hop itself is not to blame. Imagine our youth all over the country being exposed to this explicit kind of language. There is no need to imagine, because it is already happening. Ever since the rise of Rap and Hip Hop music, teens have been turning to them to help solveRead MoreHow Alcohol Consumption Is Culture1237 Words   |  5 Pages Furthermore, another area that relates to alcohol consumption is culture. What is culture?. 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A genre and culture that stemmed in a way of healing and release in the black and latinoRead MoreChapter 4 Was A Great Read, I Feel As Though This World1099 Words   |  5 Pagesa great read, I feel as though this world often creates many stereotypes about illnesses such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, clinical Depression, and many other mental afflictions within the youth. Another that seems to remain controversial and misunderstood is sexual compulsive behavior that the youth have. Many see it as an excuse to act a certain way, or think a certain way; in reality it is a serious mental disorder that can cause devastating effects on the people that are consumed by themRead MoreEssay about T he Impact of Globalization on Young People in Saudi Arabia1457 Words   |  6 Pagessocieties, and cultures through communication, transportation and trade. It is mainly driven by a combination of economic, technological, social-cultural, biological and political factors. 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Hip-hopRead MoreCulture and Music Essay921 Words   |  4 PagesCulture and Music George Gershwin once said, â€Å"True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time. My people are Americans and my time is today.† Over the years, no form of art has attached itself to humanity more than music. Music has been creating and destroying cultures in the Twentieth Century at a very rapid rate. Fads come and go, but true music and the heart behind it never dies. The story of subcultures in and through modern music has to start in theRead MoreAlcohol Consumption Among Youth Is Not A New Issue Essay1085 Words   |  5 Pages1. Introduction Alcohol consumption amongst youth is not a new issue – New Zealand has a long standing history of alcohol consumption both good and bad. In New Zealand, as is also around the world, the consumption of alcohol has baggage both good and bad. It is seen on a positive note as a social enabler, it allows oneself to let their guard down a bit and feel at ease in situations out of their normal comfort zones, however to every story there is also a flip-side, and this is the idea that alcoholRead MoreHow Society Perpetuates Overcoming Adolescents875 Words   |  4 PagesHow Society Perpetuates Obstacles in Adolescents Adolescents are faced daily with the temptations of using/abusing drugs and/or alcohol. Even with parents and schools trying to steer our youth today away from using they get sucked in by all forms of advertising that lead them to believe that by saying â€Å"yes† to using a controlled substance they will be much more ‘lively.’ If advertising didn’t have such an impacted and work, these companies wouldn’t be spending the billions of dollars that theyRead MoreDrugs And Its Effects On Society1462 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Certain drugs have become very popular among teens at dance clubs, parties, raves, and other crowded social gatherings. These drugs are known as â€Å"club drugs†. The most commonly used substances amongst teens are MDMA (ecstasy, or molly), GHB, and Methamphetamine (meth). The effects of these different drugs vary. Stimulant drugs such as ecstasy and meth affects the hormone in your body, known as serotonin; which controls sleep cycles and the feeling of happiness. Teens often mix ecstasy

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Review of the Relevant Literature and Industry Specific...

Review of the Relevant Literature After briefly reviewing the basic aforementioned barriers, as follows, the researcher will proceed to discuss industry specific barriers, intertwined with the review of relevant literature; and the use a combination of analysis described in the Program Outcome section of this project. Introduction Pilots take an active and important role in the aviation industry and are expected to possess critical thinking and technological skills. Schools of aviation are required to provide students with both theory and technical opportunities relative to the scope of aviation. Training institutions who teach 141/142 training programs foster critical thinking and technological skills through ground based instruction as†¦show more content†¦Background and Significance Simulation was initially used by the airlines and military personnel for training purposes. The first ground-based flight simulator, named the Link trainer, was invented in 1929 by Ed Link (Nickerson Pollard, 2010). Edwin Albert Link can be said to be the pioneer of simulation implementation. He is most remembered for inventing the flight simulator, which was then commercialized in 1929 and called the Blue Box or Link Trainer. Using simulators for training maximizes a students learning without real life threats. Simulators are able to replicate scenarios that could damage an actual aircraft and cause significant injury or even death. The replication of actual flight in simulation would not be complete without motion. Disputes towards efficiency of motion versus non-motion platforms have been debated within the aviation training community for many years. Many studies have been made regarding the importance of motion versus non-motion. Motion platforms can provide motion for roll, pi tch, heave, surge, yaw, and sway. Motion platforms also can provide crucial over-controlling feel characteristics and play a crucial role in takeoff andShow MoreRelatedThe Content For Elearning Environments1547 Words   |  7 PagesThis is a critique of â€Å"Dose Culture Matter? A qualitative and comparison study on eLearning in Germany and China†. I am attracted to this article because I work in the eLearning industry doing visual content for eLearning environments. This study is relevant to my career path and is a topic of interest for me. Although my current work does not transcend the boundaries of Canada, I think as national boundaries become less significant to information products that making culturally sensitive eLearningRead MoreAdoption and Implementation of BIM by Small and Medium Enterprises2013 Words   |  8 PagesSTRUCTURE This research paper looks to investigate the adoption and implementation of BIM by SMEs. The following is a brief look at how this research paper will be structured: †¢ Chapter 2 provides a methodical review of relevant literature in the field of BIM, the perceived barriers with its adoption and implementation by SMEs and an analysis of the data found. †¢ Chapter 3 sets out the research strategy inclusive of the challenges found alternative methods, and scope of this research paper. Read MoreDeterminants of Survival of Newly Created SMEs in the Brazilian Manufacturing Industry: an Econometric Study1081 Words   |  5 PagesThe empirical literature, focused on developed countries, and has triggered controversies associated with size measurement and estimation issues [see e.g. Davis et al. (1996) and Davidsson et al.(1998)]. Evidence seems to indicate, as expected, that the net job creation effect is likely to be stronger in service industries. Nevertheless, more recent studies provide appealing evidence on particularly high net job creation by small firms also in the context of the manufacturing industry as suggestedRead MoreThe Effects Of Climate Change On The Earth3752 Words   |  16 Pagesand WD Re-Thinking Ltd. (2010) made a briefing note for Willmott Dixon Group which explained that one of the least sustainable industries in the world is the construction industry because they use up ‘around half of all the non-renewable resources that are consumed b y mankind’. Due to the construction industry using up around half of all non-renewable resources, the industry must develop new ideas of how the figures can be lowered through the use of sustainability. It was also alleged in the sameRead MoreUsing The Conventional Shopping Processes1267 Words   |  6 Pageswith available products that suit them with respect to their previous purchases (Data Mining) and will also make them aware of the seasonal offers that are available at the store. . Literature review 1. Relevant Background NFC is an emerging technology that can be seen as a one stop solution to retail industries. Near field communication is based on RFID system which enables two electronics devices to establish contact at a proximate distance typically 10cm from each other. Integration of thisRead MoreCritique Of The Global Arena1583 Words   |  7 Pages(Krueger Nandan, 2008) the significance of culture in formulating and maintaining an effective global strategy is discussed. This study by Krueger and Nandan examine branding in the global context, cultural dimensions that affect branding including specific examples from China and India, and key issues for global companies. The purpose of this critique is examinee Krueger and Nandan’s study, by examining the articles key components listed above and identifying strengths and weaknesses of the following;Read MoreCorrelation between Cost Reduction and Manufacturing Perishable Food Reduction Items1077 Words   |  4 Pages2. LITERATURE REVIEW (Manoj Dora, 2014)[1] Encountered â€Å"The key barriers by Food SMEs in the implementation of lean manufacturing practices result from the special characteristics of food sector, such as highly perishable products, complicated processing, extremely variable raw material, recipes and unpredictable demand. In addition, lack of knowledge and resources makes it difficult for food processing SMEs to embark on the lean journey† One of the research studies in 2010 has found that the editorialRead MoreEhr Database Data Management1488 Words   |  6 Pagesschool grade or daycare attendance; date of the last visit with the PCP; names and dates of visits to any other specialists; dates of any visits to the emergency room (ER); history of any hospital admissions; related and unrelated medical conditions; a review of any familial (mother, father, siblings) medical histories; list of current medications; living situation (type of housing, exposures in home, pets in home, incense, smokers , fireplace/heat source; carpets vs. wood/tile flooring, etc.). The unstructuredRead MoreMarriott International Brand Management Performance Essay1547 Words   |  7 Pagescontinue to evolve, some hotels are finding it a challenge to keep up with brand standards. Improving business performance is a difficult task and managers have a responsibility to maximize the wealth of their principles – equity owners daily. The hotel industry is a competitive environment therefore value creation process implies mobilization of all tangible and intangible resources. Raising the value of owners’ equity, financial and business performance can be done by creating a customer-based brand. Read MoreElectronic Health Records ( Ehrs ) Systems1995 Words   |  8 Pagesregularization of other health systems will speed up the process of integration and creation of EHRs. When developing an EHR, the process is not an easy job and contains many barriers that will make accomplishing goals even harder. Before, the EHR is adopted, technical problems must be re cognized and solved. The main barriers to the progression and adoption of EHRs include low amounts of national information exchange, not enough human and technical issues, problems about the adjustment of the process

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Introduction.The Etiology Of Autism Is As Yet Unknown And

Introduction The etiology of autism is as yet unknown and the phrase Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is used to encompasses a range of autistic disorders (Cheslack-Postava and Jordan-Young, 2012). ASD is a common neurodevelopmental syndrome and an umbrella term for a group of heterogeneous disorders, differentiated by pervasive difficulties, and impaired development, with area such as social communication, flexibility, social reciprocity and sensory processing (American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Bargiela et al., 2016; Cheslack-Postava and Jordan-Young, 2012; Haney, 2015; Maenner et al., 2014). Recent research into ASD has emphasised, how women with autism, are at higher risk of being misdiagnosed, receiving a late diagnosis, or not†¦show more content†¦Due to the suggested gender bias within autism diagnosis, and the associated underrepresentation of females within the literature, the review also asks to what extent findings, within past and current research, can be used to characte rise the female ASD population. As the term ‘gender’ is widely used within this review it is important to outline this term. For the purposes of this essay, gender is used to describe culturally determined factors, roles, and attributes which relate to the masculine and feminine; this differs from the term ‘sex’ which refers to biological and physiological differences (Torgrimson, 2005; Lai et al., 2015; Jordan-Young, 2010). Alongside the review of ASD presentation in females, there is also a critical examination into research with people with learning difficulties and ASD, this pays particular reference to the specific ethical and methodological issues affecting these populations and how these can be addressed by researchers. Additionally, the issue of positionality, and the process of reflexivity are considered, and in what ways these concepts are intertwined with the epistemological and ontological assumptions researchers bring to the research process. Conducting Research with People who have ASD and/or Learning Disabilities. Historically, research into the lived experiences of the

Friday, December 13, 2019

Assess the Corporate Social Responsibility of Telecommunication Industries Free Essays

Mobile telecommunication industries in this country with time have increasingly played major roles in not only the lives of the people within the community in which they are situated but also in the total economic well being of the country as a whole through their social responsibility activities. The Mobile telecommunication industry in this country has increased tremendously within the past couple of years, and have increasingly played major roles in not only the lives of the people within the community in which they are situated but also in the total economic well being of the country as a whole through their social responsibility activities. The idea of Social Responsibility has developed differently around the world because of different histories, culture and institution. We will write a custom essay sample on Assess the Corporate Social Responsibility of Telecommunication Industries or any similar topic only for you Order Now Steiner George 2000) In the past years, the multi-faceted problems made it almost impossible for indigenous industries to undertake social activities in developing countries. However, corporate social responsibility (CSR) research has blossomed in this new millennium. This is due to the increasing concern expressed by policy makers and individual bodies about corporate social responsibility and the pressure exerted on organizations to demonstrate high ethical standards. This project is very important because Ghana may need a new code of conduct, laws and regulations and multi-stakeholder agreements and private voluntary initiatives as new businesses are beginning to emerge into our system. Telecommunication industry is a typical example of a fast growing industry within our system. It is therefore imperative that we acknowledge the significance of their corporate contribution to the societies and the nation, for this foresight to be smart and articulate. 1. 2 BACKGROUND STUDY The precise concept of CSR is understood in different ways, having different representations of the concept relatable to different paradigms and concerns. Aside all the differences pertaining to the nature and content of CSR, a number of the concepts includes human rights, environmental responsibility, diversity management, sustainability, and philanthropy, meaning that it is a complex area with an interdisciplinary focus. It is generally agreed that CSR involves corporations voluntarily exceeding their legal duties to take account of social, economic and environmental impacts of their operations. For example, the European Commission defines CSR as: â€Å"A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interactions with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis† (European Multistakeholder Forum on CSR, 2004: 3) Corporate Social Responsibility also relates to those management philosophies, policies, procedure and act that have advancement of social welfare as one of their primary objectives (By Boone and Kurtz 1987) CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society. Its concern is related to certain aspects of the company’s operations such as the quality of their management – both in terms of people and processes, and the nature of, and quantity of their impact on society in the various areas. The term â€Å"CSR† came in to common use in the early 1970s, after many multinational corporations were formed. The term stakeholder, meaning those on whom an organization’s activities have an impact, was used to describe corporate owners beyond shareholders as a result of an influential book by R Freeman in 1984. 2] ISO 26000 is the recognized international standard for CSR Public sector organizations. It is widely accepted that CSR adheres to similar principles but with no formal act of legislation. The UN has developed the Principles for Responsible Investment as guidelines for investing entities. Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate conscience, corporate citizenship, respo nsible business, sustainable responsible business (SRB), or corporate social performance,[1] is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure its support to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Consequently, business would embrace responsibility for the impact of its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, CSR-focused businesses would proactively promote the public interest by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. Essentially, CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making, and the honoring of a triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. Stakeholders are taking an increasing interest in the activity of the company. Most look to the outer circle, that is, what the company has actually done, good or bad, in terms of its products and services, in terms of its impact on the environment and on local communities, or in how it treats and develops its workforce. Out of the various stakeholders, it is financial analysts who are predominantly focused – as well as past financial performance – on quality of management as an indicator of likely future performance. Developed countries have worked out a way around ensuring that local and international businesses or companies make contributions towards community development. Sainsbury’s and Tesco for instance are typical examples of companies that have contributed towards every community they operate. The contrast however in Africa is that the key people within the community are just contented to accept a bottle of Scottish Whiskey or Schnapps or local spirit over a businessdeal. Ghana needs to get a grip of how best our laws would work for us if we involve businesses co-operation into helping with our community developments. Understanding how international law works and how it can be used to further both national and international CSR objectives. 1. 3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The mobile telecommunication industry in this country has increased tremendously and continuously growing at a very high speed over the past ten years. The researcher’s aim is to throw more light on the real impact of this industry on the economy through their social activities. The research also works towards assessing whether or not the individual activities are achieving their desired impact on society. The view of the public is also a major concern to the researcher. This research is to find out the level of recognition the mobile telecommunication industries receive for their social activities and also to identify the level of benefits they receive in terms of increasing customer base and overall image of the industry upon undertaking such corporate social responsibility. 1. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The significance and contribution of the mobile telecommunication industry in this country cannot be over emphasized. The main aim of this study was to assess the level of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices by the Mobile Telecommunication Industry in the country. * This study sought to ascertain and document the extent of recognition and appreciation, nature and content of socially responsible actions by mobile telecommunication firms located in Ghana. * Based on this study the researcher anticipates that the information they have provided will be beneficial to the government and policy makers. Another motive for this research is to helping the industry be more aware of their CSR and acknowledge its importance to not only their image and customer base, but also as a major contributing factor towards economic development. * This study will interest students, academics and practitioners who might be undertaking further research on issues relating to the topic. | 1. 5 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY * To outline the social, economic and political factors driving the development and implementation of CSR of the mobile telecommunication industry Ghana. The study is to identify the contributions of mobile telecommunication network towards social and economic development with specific reference to MTN. * To assess the challenges they go through in complying with the expectation of the society * To address the contested nature of CSR, in particular in terms of its instrumental or normative value. * To assess individuals notions of the role and nature of corporations with respect to corporate social responsibility. 1. 6 RESEARCH QUESTINE * What are the corporate social responsibility activities undertaken by mobile telecommunication agencies? To what extent, and in what way can or should mobile corporations be held mo rally responsible? * Is there a significant contribution of CSR towards economic development? * Are their CSR activities a strategy for distinguishing and protecting their image and creating trust, and to attract and retain both potential employees and consumers? * Are the benefits of their contributions worth the harm they may be causing to the societies? * Are they giving back enough to the society relative to what they are receiving? * Are the people satisfied with their services and contributions? . 7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY Primary and secondary data was used as a source of information. The researchers also had to design proposed questionnaires to access information from the users of the mobile industry concerning their opinions, this was however done randomly. The research is aimed at assessing the nature and content of the corporate social responsibility activities undertaken by the various organizations within the telecommunication industry and its contribution to the society and in turn the economy of the nation. . 8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY Some of the limitations of this study included; * Lack of sufficient information; This was as a result of the reluctance of officers within the industry to give out all the information required for the research. * Time factor; The combination of academic demands i. e. Lectures and exams with the working on this project made the period of submission quiet short for undertaking all the requirements for assessing information for the study. 1. 9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY This research is presented in 5 chapters with subdivisions. * Chapter 1 begins with an introduction to the topic stating its relevance, the background study, statement of the problem, research question, and objective of the study, significance of the study and scope and limitation. * Chapter 2 outlines the literature review :definition and explanation of terms, nature of Social responsibility, levels and dimensions of social responsibility, problems associated with social responsibilities, Chapter 3 tackle the Theoretical Review of the research, which comprises of the population, sample and sampling procedures, Research instrument , Administration of instrument and method of data Analysis. * Chapter 4 relates to the Empirical Review, which contains a brief historical background of the individual mobile telecommunication industries in Ghana, types of social responsibility activities in which they engage themselves into, effects of such activities on their customer base and profitability, problems encountered while undertaking/for filing their social responsibility Chapter 5 deals with presentation of findings, this consists of findings and summary, and conclusion of findings and recommendations. 1. 10 DEFINITION OF TERMS Ten CSR Themes Social Responsibility Agreements, Ghana Drivers of and Constraints to PRIVATE Sector Engagement How to cite Assess the Corporate Social Responsibility of Telecommunication Industries, Papers

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Economics for Global Financial Crisis

Question: Discuss about the Economics for Global Financial Crisis. Answer: Introduction: The term global financial crisis inferred the fact that it is an economic difficulty through the period of worldwide which is experienced by the consumers and markets. In the words of Shiller (2012), this type of financial crisis is a barrier for achieving foster growth of the country in terms of business environment as the potential consumers want to minimize their purchasing power until the situation improves. In the year 2008, due to the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the financial services of world economy go into depression. As a result, suddenly the banks, Wall Street, stock markets and important financial firms are stopped and plummeted. According to Taylor (2013), this sudden shock increases the unemployment level along with the collapsing of trade volumes and stickiness of the liquidity market. Both developed and developing countries are badly affected in this case, and Australia implements the G20 policy which is an injection of reducing the global crisis (Lowy Institute for International Policy. 2016). In this essay, the impact of GFC on Australian economy has been analyzed critically. Furthermore, the roles of the Federal government and the Reserve Bank of Australia have been discussed in this context along with the proper economic analysis. Apart from this, the impact on foreign trade and the current condition of unemployment rate are also critically discussed here. Discussion: In the global economy market, Australia exports its goods and services to the other countries. The current survey of WTO statistics inferred the information that the trade value of Australia is just half of the national income of this country (ABC News. 2009). In this context, during the time of GFC crisis, the world trade affected severely which drags down to the main trading partners of Australia namely Japan and the US. Moreover, due to the crisis of global finance, China also recorded the slowest growth which is the root cause of falling down the demand of its products. As a result, the export amount of Australia falls in a huge amount along with the negative impact on trade value. Apart from this, the Australian economy is well known as a member of the group of the highest amount of debt in respect to income ratios throughout the world. The nature of the Australian people is to save more amount of money today for using in the future time. These people get into fear of losing their job which would lead to increase the saving amount of their earning part. Moreover, the Australian people lower their consumption and borrow less amount of money for minimizing their debt. According to Sirkeci, Cohen and Ratha (2012), the incidence of cuts the budget of production along with an increase in the unemployment rate would lead to move downward fall of the Australian economy in the recession market. The global financial crisis severely damaged the credit markets and prospective growth of the Australian economy. In this perspective, the Federal government of Australia takes suitable measures in terms of providing the guarantee in wholesale funding and deposits of the bank and the economic security of $10.4 billion by which improvement is done in the recession market (ABC News. 2009). In this perspective, to generate and boost up the economy of Australia, the Federal government wants to increase the investment amount in the market through selling the bonds to the people. In the words of Fratzscher (2012), as per the Loanable Funds theory, the government of this country wants to boost up the economy through money flow and to lower the interest rate. This strategy would help to move forward the economy from the slow down conditions. Figure 1: Loanable Funds theory Source: (As created by author) According to the above figure, in this current condition the Federal Government of Australia sells more amount of bonds but due to the slowdown of market growth demand also falls which ensures to drastically fall the price level of the economy (Gal 2013). In this perspective, the concerned government implements a monetary policy such as OMO, RAR, Target CR and money growth for improving the current monetary condition of the economy. Moreover, the Australian government wants to fulfill the inflation gap and out gap by applying the above-stated strategy. Furthermore, as commented by Mavroeidis, Plagborg-Mller and Stock (2014), as per the Phillips curve theory; there exists an inverse relationship between the unemployment rate and inflation rate. To maintain stability in the economy from recession situation, the government needs to lower the unemployment rate by increasing the rate of inflation (Coibion and Gorodnichenko 2015). The deflationary monetary policy moves the economy in a positive way by controlling the unemployment rate through the leftward shifts of the PC. Figure 2: Phillip curve showing the fall of PC Source: (As created by author) Apart from this, the Federal Government of Australia provides a guarantee in deposits to support the confidence level of this country. In addition, the deposited amount below to the threshold is not considered as a chargeable amount. This strategy of Australian government provides certainty to the banks, credit markets, and building societies along with adding positive strength to the financial institutions (Rao 2016). On the other hand, it would help to raise the confidence level of the customer in this consequence. Moreover, in this current scenario, the concerned government offers the wholesale funding deposit which helps to normalize the depression market situations. With the help of this process, the financial institutions of Australia can be able to increase the amount of funds overseas. In this procedure, the foreign funds and financial institutions also support them to acquire the stability of the depression economy (Budget.gov.au. 2016). Moreover, by following this strategy suggested by the Australian government, the financial sectors of this country can be able to lend the corporations, banks, businesses and households for boost up the economy. In this current scenario, the Financial Management of Australian Office gets a message by the Treasure of purchasing $8 billion amount of residential securities of mortgagebacked from the wide range of lenders belongs from Australia. As a result, it would help to expand the quantity of assets along with high quality by which the AOFM can be able to invest more in the market (Budget.gov.au. 2016). In this context, the strategy related to Economic Security is considered as the discretionary fiscal policy which enhances the GDP rate of the country. The implementation of this strategy by Australian government would accelerate the investment prospect of the country by controlling the budget deficit of the nation. This economic strategy boosts up the level of consumption through the payment to careers and pensioners in a lump sum amount (Corsetti et al. 2016). This procedure would help the home owners to achieve the courage of more investment in the real estate market. Moreover, the development in infrastructure sector stimulates the economy to restore from the situation of recession. This procedure would help to increase the production capacity of the country by which the unemployment rate can be diminished (Wisman 2013). Apart from this, the above factors implemented by the Federal government of Australia accomplish the aggregate demand of the economy through which the amount of strategic investment can be increased. This also restores the future surpluses of this country. In short, with the help of implementing the strategy of Economic Security by this government in this current scenario, the country can be able to move up from the slow down condition of the economy by improving the GDP growth rate of the economy along with raise in consumption level and investment portion (Budget.gov.au. 2016). In this perspective, the Reserve Bank of Australia has taken a suitable measure in order to mitigate the issues of the recession of the economy which is acceptable and profitable for this country. The RBA provides a sufficient amount of loans so that the citizens of the nation can make direct purchases that will help to support the market. The government induced the Australian office of financial management to make a purchase of either a mortgage for the residential purpose or an amount of $8 billion that will act as securities (rba.gov.au. 2016). The government of Australia further uses strategies that help to provide the guarantees for stabilizing the internal market raise the debt of the banks and reduce the chances of running on the banking system. The investors are able to withdraw the funds from the bank as the liabilities are of short-term nature, and there are risk factors for the holders of the toxic assets. In the words of Eichengreen (2015), the financial crisis of an economy ensures the reduction of the negative amount of credit flows towards the business and consumers which enhance the significant amount of diminishing house prices and share indexes. As a result, due to loss of the wealth and properties, the desperate want to invest more amount of money and consume more by the business person and consumers falling severely. This situation would lead to further falls the economy along with a stagnant condition of the market. In this perspective, to mitigate this issue and improve the current economic condition, the Reserve Bank of Australia applies an appropriate strategy such as lowering the rate of interest which may boost up the economy (rba.gov.au. 2016). As opined by Nielsen (2016), by lowering the interest rate in the economy, the reserve bank of any concerned country can boost up the market as the investors are intended to invest more amount of money for acquiring more profit and revenue. In this context, the RBA has done the same procedure which helps to recover the nation from the slow down growth rate position. Figure 3: Aggregate demand and supply curve showing the stagnation of the economy Source: (As created by author) As commented by Eichengreen (2015), as per the Keynesian theory, the above figure depicts the fact of stagnation of the economy. Due to the stagnation of the economy for existing depression, the aggregate supply curve shifts leftward for which output has drastically fallen along with the higher rate of unemployment and increase in prices of the goods and services (Shiller 2012). In this context, RBA accomplishes the strict monetary policy as well as suitable fiscal measures to control the unemployment rate. The RBA cut the cash rate of 3% and lowers the interest rate on 425 bases of the point. This would lead to reducing the cost amount of borrowing and increase the planned aggregate of expenditure. As a result, the equilibrium point of the short run can be recovered by increasing the output, discretionary income of the household and increased the amount of spending (Fratzscher 2012). Conclusion: By referring to the above analysis, it can be concluded that the global financial crisis has severely affected the world economy along with the Australian economy. The entire world faces recession in the market by which the rate of unemployment increases and lowers the output level of the nation. Moreover, the foreign trade has affected badly. Due to market recession in the economy, the aggregate demand for goods and services fall and the trading partners of the Australia lower their demand for importable goods. As a result, net exports fall and the condition of balance of trade is not so much significant. Apart from this, to correct the situation and boost up the economy, the Federal government of Australia and RBA has taken appropriate measures. In this context, RBA cuts the interest rate which ensures to invest more in the market. It would help to increase the aggregate demand of the market along with raising the power of borrowing and spending. On the other hand, the Australian g overnment has taken the strict monetary and fiscal policy such as economic security, improvement in a financial institution and lowers the unemployment rate. In short, the taken strategies of RBA and the Australian government will help to increase the GDP of the country. Reference list: ABC News. (2009).Making sense of the global downturn. [online] Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-07/making-sense-of-the-global-downturn/1675556 [Accessed 13 Sep. 2016]. Budget.gov.au. (2016).2008-09/content. [online] Available at: https://www.budget.gov.au/2008-09/content/myefo/html/part_2.htm [Accessed 14 Sep. 2016]. Coibion, O., and Gorodnichenko, Y., 2015. Is the Phillips curve alive and well after all? Inflation expectations and the missing disinflation.American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics,7(1), pp.197-232. Corsetti, G., Mavroeidi, E., Thwaites, G. and Wolf, M., 2016.Step away from the zero lower bound: Small open economies in a world of secular stagnation(No. 1645). Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge. Eichengreen, B., 2015. Secular stagnation: the long view.The American Economic Review,105(5), pp.66-70. Fratzscher, M., 2012. Capital flows, push versus pull factors and the global financial crisis.Journal of International Economics,88(2), pp.341-356. Gal, J., 2013. Notes for a new guide to Keynes (I): wages, aggregate demand, and employment.Journal of the European Economic Association,11(5), pp.973-1003. Lowy Institute for International Policy. (2016).The Global Financial Crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/issues/global-financial-crisis [Accessed 13 Sep. 2016]. Mavroeidis, S., Plagborg-Mller, M., and Stock, J.H., 2014. Empirical evidence on inflation expectations in the New Keynesian Phillips Curve.Journal of Economic Literature,52(1), pp.124-188. Nielsen, R.W., 2016. The growth of the world population in the past 12,000 years and its link to the economic growth.Journal of Economics Bibliography,3(1), pp.1-12. Rao, B.B. ed., 2016.Aggregate demand and supply: a critique of orthodox macroeconomic modeling. Springer. rba.gov.au. (2016).education/economics-competition/2009/pdf/first-year. [online] Available at: https://www.rba.gov.au/education/economics-competition/2009/pdf/first-year.pdf [Accessed 14 Sep. 2016]. Shiller, R.J., 2012.The subprime solution: how today's global financial crisis happened, and what to do about it. Princeton University Press. Sirkeci, I., Cohen, J.H. and Ratha, D. eds., 2012.Migration and remittances during the global financial crisis and beyond. World Bank Publications. Taylor, J.B., 2013.Getting off track: How government actions and interventions caused, prolonged, and worsened the financial crisis. Hoover Press. Wisman, J.D., 2013. Wage stagnation, rising inequality and the financial crisis of 2008.Cambridge Journal of Economics,37(4), pp.921-945.