Globalization Positive Effects

University American College Skopje School of Business Administration Final paper Spring Semester 2011 International Management & Globalisation Instructor:Student: Professor Dimitrios E. Akrivoulis Vlatko Bogoevski ID: 9243 Skopje, April, 2011 Table of content: Globalization Impact of the globalization Positive effects of the globalization †¢ Increased Competition †¢ Employment †¢ Investment and Capital Flows †¢ Foreign Trade †¢ Spread of Technical Know-How †¢ Spread of Culture †¢ Spread of Education †¢ Legal and Ethical Effects Negative impact of the globalization †¢ Employment issues Safety and security concerns †¢ Environmental issues †¢ Other negative effects What is the influence of the globalization process in India Globalization effect to the Indian women What are the main players in the process of Globalizations †¢ Transnational Corporations †¢ Investors †¢ World Trade Organization †¢ World Bank and IMF †¢ U. S. Treasury Department †¢ NGO’s Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the topic of Globalization. Specifically it will discuss the positive and negative effects of the Globalizations, and how it reflected to the Indian market.In addition, it will provide information of the main players in the globalization process and which organizations played the most important rule in setting up the international law and regulations. Summary: It is clear that globalization is something more than a purely economic phenomenon manifesting itself on a global scale. Based on my broader research of the topic of globalization and its effects, we may conclude that the process has had many positive and negative aspects. Some countries gained more benefits than others; some people lost their jobs while some of them get employment using the benefits of the globalization.Taking the positive side in the process, I believe that international organizat ions and governments have to support the phenomenon of globalization by implementing fair rules and regulations equal for all players and countries. International organization like WTO, World Bank, IMF have to foreseen the countries especially developing countries to change the criteria of attracting foreign companies in which the resources, safety and country stability will be the main criteria of attracting foreign capital, rather than exploitation labor force or neglecting the main safety and environmental standards.By creating a fair competition the trend of multi nationals companies will slow down and will provide room for development and maintain of small and medium companies. Strict law and regulations has to be foreseen from the international organizations to the governments and main players (multinational companies) in the process of globalization in which they will monitor the effects and take the right actions that will boost only the positive and beneficial aspects. Glob alization People in the world are much more connected than ever before.Goods and services produced in Asia or Africa short after are available on the other continents in the world. Travelers moving in other countries more frequent. International communication based on last technology achievements, (the internet) make people to communicate in much easier way than ever before. Information, data, and money flow are trade all around the world quickly than ever. This phenomenon has been named as Globalization. In the modern world globalizations has been identified as system of communications and relations among the countries that will help to develop the global economy and people living standard.It mostly refers to the integration of trade and industry, political and cultural exchanges all over the world. [1] Joseph Stiglitz, an economist and winner of the Nobel Prize defines globalization as the closer integration of the countries and peoples of the world †¦ brought about by the en ormous reduction of costs of transportation and communication, and the breaking down of artificial barriers to the flows of goods, services, capital, knowledge, and people across borders. [2] Impact of the globalizationSome argue that globalization is a positive development as it will help to develop new industries and will create more jobs in developing countries, while other says that the globalization is negative. They believe that it may force poorer countries of the world to do whatever the big developed countries tell them to do. Another viewpoint is that developed countries, like USA, Canada, are the ones who may lose out because they are involved in outsourcing many of the manufacturing jobs that used to be done by their own citizens.Positive effects of the globalization: The positive effects are numerous and extremely beneficial for everyone in all countries. The following effects have been identified as the major benefits of the Globalization: Increased Competition It†™s more than obvious if the market is bigger and more companies could offer the products at the same market and under same conditions the final consumers would feel the benefic in terms of financial and quality. Customer service approaches to production have led to improved quality of products and services.As the domestic companies have to fight out foreign competition, they are compelled to raise their standards and customer satisfaction levels in order to survive in the market. Employment Many companies like NIKE, Mercedes, Procter&Gamble, have transferred the production into developing countries having the opportunity to use the benefits of it, like reducing the unemployment rate, higher government revenue expectation due to different taxes etc. However, the employment benefit of the globalization may have negative effect.Due to global nature of the businesses, people of developing countries can obtain employment opportunities, but the developed countries have lost jobs on acco unt of this movement of jobs to the developing world. Investment and Capital Flows One of the most positive impacts of globalization in China is the flow of foreign capital. Many companies have directly invested in China by starting the production factories there. Chinese companies which have been performing well, both in China and abroad, will attract a lot of foreign investment, and pushes up the reserve of foreign exchange available in China.This is also one of the positive effects of globalization in US and other developed countries as developing countries give them a good investment proposition. Foreign Trade Foreign trade has had positive impact records in the history. Globalization process through different organization like World Trade Organization, IMF and others have been established with a view to control and regulate the trade activities of the countries. [3] Spread of Technical Know-How It is generally assumed that all the innovations happen in the developed countries.D ue to globalization the know-how comes into developing countries that help them to use the benefits of it and speed up the developing process. Without globalization the knowledge of new inventions, medicines would remain in the countries that came up, and no one else would benefit. But due to improved political ties, there is a flow of information both ways. Spread of technical know how may be counted as one of the most positive aspect of the globalization. [4] Spread of Culture This effect of globalization has many positive impacts but also we may find it as reason of intolerance between different nationalities that leads to wars.Societies have become larger as they have welcomed people of other civilizations and backgrounds and created a whole new culture of their own. Cooking styles, languages and customs have spread all due to globalization. The same can be said about movies, musical styles and other art forms. They too have moved from one country to another, leaving an impressi on on a culture which has adopted them. Spread of Education One of the most powerful positive effects of globalization to the people is the spread of education. People from different continents may study abroad and gaining the positive experience may not find in their own country.A good example of that is how the American managers went to Japan to learn the best practices in the field of mass production and incorporated that knowledge in their own production units. Legal and Ethical Effects Gone are the days where the limited jurisdiction became a barrier in the prosecution of criminals. These days due to international courts of justice, these criminals can no longer seek protection in a foreign country. Due to globalization, there is also an understanding between the security agencies and the police of two or more different countries who will come together to curb  global terrorism.This is undoubtedly one of the greatest positive effects of globalization on society. [5] Negative impact of the globalization Globalization has the negative side as well. Opponents of the globalization point out to the following negative effects: Employment issues Many companies have transferred the manufacturing work in developing countries like China where the cost of the production goods are lower. That means fewer jobs for the people in developed countries. Programmers, accountant and others in developed countries lost their job due to outsourcing to cheaper location like Pakistan, India. Etc.In additional, globalization has led to exploitation of labor. P Prisoners and child workers are used to work in inhumane conditions while safety standards are ignored to produce cheap goods. Job insecurity seems to be real problem of globalization. While in the past people had stable and permanent jobs, today they live in constant dread of losing their jobs to competition. Increased job competition has led to salary reduction and lower standards of living. Safety and security concerns Advanced technology does not mean that always will be used in a proper way, like to improve the people life or to benefit the global economy.Terrorists use the internet to communicate between themselves and also they have access to sophisticated weapons that increase their ability to inflict damages. This is undoubtedly the negative effects of the globalization. [6] Environmental issues Many companies in the developing countries have set up the industries causing pollution due to the poor environmental regulation. Other negative effects: †¢ Bad aspects of foreign cultures are affecting the local cultures through TV and the Internet. †¢ Enemy nations and organization can spread propaganda through the Internet.The domino effect in the Egypt and Libya come as the result of fast and easy channels of transferring information. †¢ Deadly diseases are being spread by travelers to the remotest corners of the globe. †¢ The increase in prices has reduced the government†™s ability to sustain social welfare schemes in developed countries. †¢ Multinational companies and corporations which were previously restricted to commercial activities are increasingly influencing political decisions. [7] What is the influence of the globalization process in IndiaIndia opened up the economy for foreign investors in the early nineties. The new government has implemented law, regulations, and globalization strategy that will be in favor of international businesses and radically pushed forward market oriented economy. The government of India made changes in its economic policy in 1991 by which it allowed direct foreign investments in the country. As a result of this, globalization of the Indian Industry took place on a major scale. Liberalization that was established in the 1990’s included the following major changes: Modifying of the industrial licensing regime, †¢ Reduction in the number of areas reserved for the public sector, †¢ Amendment of the monopolies and the restrictive trade practices, †¢ Start of the privatization programme, †¢ Reduction in tariff rates and change over to market determined exchange rates. [8] Over the years the liberalization of the Indian market become reality, more and more sectors opened up for foreign direct investments facilitating the entry of industries like steel, pharmaceutical, petroleum, chemical, textile, cement, retail and etc.One of the great changes, the sharply reduction of the tariffs rates contributed to speed up the process of foreign investment. â€Å"The Indian tariff rates reduced from average of 72. 5% in 1991-92 to 24. 6 in 1996-97. Though tariff rates went up slowly in the late nineties it touched 35. 1% in 2001-02. India is committed to reduced tariff rates. Peak tariff rates are to be reduced to be reduced to the minimum with a peak rate of 20%, in another 2 years most non-tariff barriers have been dismantled by March 2002, including almost all quantitat ive restrictions. [9] One of the major impacts of the globalization in Indian industry is that many international companies have decided to invest there particularly in the pharmaceutical, petroleum, and manufacturing industries. It helped Indian economy to develop significantly. Those investments has reduced the unemployment rate in country and brought highly advanced technology that helped to make the Indian Industry more technologically advanced. The various negative effects of Globalization on Indian Industry are that it increased competition between the foreign and domestic companies.Goods produced by the foreign companies were cheaper and better to the one produced by the domestic companies. It reduced the profit of the domestic companies and many people lost the jobs. This happened mainly in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, chemical, and steel industries. The negative effects of Globalization on Indian Industry are that with the coming of technology the number of labor requ ired decreased and this resulted with higher unemployment rate. [10] Globalization effect to the Indian women: Globalization has had negative implications for Indian women.According to estimates from World Development Indicators, â€Å"Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours, produce half of the world’s food, but earn only ten percent of the world’s income, and own less than one percent of the world’s property. †[11] In India most of the women work two full time jobs. One in a factory where they are paid almost nothing, the  other is in home where they are paid nothing. One example of women’s labor being exploited would be the Noida Export Processing Zone, which is 24 km from  New Delhi. These â€Å"zones† prefer to hire women because they are more docile and more productive in men.In short they are easier to control and less likely to retaliate against less than ideal working conditions, which are exactly what thousand s of women encounter 12 hours a day. The zone is dangerous, hot, and unsanitary. Unnecessary body searches are routine. There are no maternity benefits and minimum wage is never enforced. Women who become pregnant or marry are immediately fired. Overtime is compulsory but women are paid lower rates than men. In order to avoid being fired, women turn to unsafe abortions performed by unqualified â€Å"doctors. In the zone â€Å"respiratory problems, pelvic inflammatory disease, and sever cases of dehydration and anemia are common. †[12] What are the main players in the process of Globalizations Transnational Corporations: Large corporations (such as Nike, Hanes, Dole, Exxon, etc. ) that operate mostly in developing countries, are not regulated by any international body and because making a profit is their main responsibility, they often move factories in nations that offer the lowest wages, environmental standards, taxes, etc. with aim to maximize the profit and lower the prod uction costs.Of the world’s primary economic financial powers (with the largest revenue), 49 are countries— and 51 are corporations. [13] Investors: Investment firms, banks, mutual funds and hedge funds, etc. , who â€Å"move† money around constantly, buying and selling internationally. World Trade Organization: â€Å"The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and international trade agreement which developed at the Bretton Woods Conference. This conference also created WTO the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.The WTO develops and enforces trade rules for all member nations; for example it can decide that certain country’s environmental standards are unfair barriers to trade. World Bank and IMF: The World Bank and IMF make loans for development purposes (roads, power plants, etc. ) to developing countries to move people out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. When poor countries fall behind in loan payments (they canno t seek bankruptcy protection like corporations such as Enron can), the Bank makes additional loans that dictate the poor country’s economic system so it can pay back the growing interest.These structural adjustment policies (SAPs) have meant countries in Africa, for example, have had to cut back funding for health care, education, and social services. People in these counties must now grow food for export to pay off loans rather than for feeding their own people. U. S. Treasury Department: U. S. Treasury department controls 17% of the World Bank and IMF decision-making power by giving it a larger share of power than any other country in decisions. It also plays a dominant role in the WTO. Many of its decisions in these bodies are shaped by the U. S.Treasury Department which handles financial and currency matters for U. S. Government. NGO’s: Non-governmental organizations are a wide range of non-profit groups representing different communities and segments of civil soci ety. Such groups are increasingly working together through growing networks to bring positive change and economic justice to people in poverty and without power. †[14] List of references: http://global_india1. tripod. com/negative. htm http://www. scribd. com/doc/49266417/Effects-of-Globalization-on-Indian-Industry http://www. buzzle. com/articles/negative-effects-of-globalization. tml http://iecblogs. org/informational/globlisation-its-impact-on-india http://usforeignpolicy. about. com/od/trade/a/whatisgz. htm http://mindtools. net/GlobCourse/gdef. shtml http://ezinearticles. com/? The-Positive-Effects-of-Globalization&id=1126427 http://www. buzzle. com/articles/negative-effects-of-globalization. html http://iecblogs. org/informational/globlisation-its-impact-on-india Business Organisation And Management (For Delhi University B. Com Hons. Course http://www. scribd. com/doc/49266417/Effects-of-Globalization-on-Indian-Industry by Phillip Tomlinson; http://www. simulconference. om/clients/sowf/dispatches/dispatch22. html http://www. ramveena. com/p/ramveena-india-is-one-of-few-countries. html http://juan-globalization. blogspot. com/ http://members. iimetro. com. au/~hubbca/globalisation. htm http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization http://riskreport. weforum. org/ Words: 2779 ———————– [1] http://usforeignpolicy. about. com/od/trade/a/whatisgz. htm [2] http://mindtools. net/GlobCourse/gdef. shtml [3] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization [4] http://members. iimetro. com. au/~hubbca/globalisation. htm [5] http://ezinearticles. com/?The-Positive-Effects-of-Globalization&id=1126427 [6] http://riskreport. weforum. org/ [7] http://www. buzzle. com/articles/negative-effects-of-globalization. html [8] http://iecblogs. org/informational/globlisation-its-impact-on-india [9] Business Organisation And Management (For Delhi University B. Com Hons. Course [10] http://www. scribd. c om/doc/49266417/Effects-of-Globalization-on-Indian-Industry [11] by Phillip Tomlinson; http://www. simulconference. com/clients/sowf/dispatches/dispatch22. html [12] http://www. ramveena. com/p/ramveena-india-is-one-of-few-countries. html [13] http://juan-globalization. blogspot. com/ [14]

Culture and Anthropologists Essay

The problems that faced by anthropologists in the fieldwork are adaptation to new culture, maintain objectivism and get access to all information from their subjects. Adaptation to new culture is hard, since they have to stay for a period of time and try to live in the way their subjects’ do. Adaptation that done by anthropologists is not only adapt new lifestyle, but also learning their cultural norms and language in order to be accepeted by their subjects as a part of them, not only as a foreigner. For instance, M. N. Srinivas was got disapproval for shaving before bath since in that community, people are shaving after bath (Srinivas, 2002). However, by adapting the culture, anthropologists not only gain knowledge about how the culture is, but they will have better understanding on the culture. Knowing why do people in certain culture do certain activity, how the culture has impacted the people on that community and the historical of the culture as well. On top of that, a better understanding of the culture may assist the anthropologists to produce an unbiased ethnography by avoiding ethnocentrism. Having different cultures, people tend to make a comparison among the culture. It could be inevitable when living with people with different cultures in which values, norms and behavioural acceptance are in different manner. This objectivism is needed when anthropologists faced problem with what they observe. Remain objective could be a bit hard when the anthropologists have an emotional involvement on problems that their subjects’ face. For example, when Claire did the observation on prostitutes lifestyle and have emotional pressure, at some point she need to out from the field, so that her objectivism is remain stable (Sterk, 2009). Other than avoiding ethnocentrism, maintaining objectivism is also required to build a good relationship with their subjects. By the example on what Claire done, the thing that can be learned is anthropologists should not interfere too much on their subjects’ life, and also anthropologists should be able to set a boundaries to limit to what extend they can emotionally interfere with their subjects (Sterk, 2009). The other problem that faced the most by anthropologists is get access to all information from their subjects. In order to find the respondents, anthropologists need to show their respects to gain trust from the leader of that community. The importance of key respondents is to open a path to ommunicate with other members in that community to get more perception of how the norms and culture affect their life. However, the problem is, sometimes anthropologists wrongly identify the key repondents. According to Calire E. Sterk (2009), anthropologists need to be able to find the right person as their key respondents, if not, then the access to information is too narrow, which could cause misinterp retation on the data. For instance, during fieldwork in Rampura village, M. N. Srinivas observed a community that led by a headman that very strict on cultural rules(Srinivas 2009). The headman always watch whatever Srinivas did and limited the access to the members of that community , till the time when he realize that there are two faction and apparently the second faction is more open to foreigners than the first faction (Srinivas, 2009). By reading this case, there is something that can be a learning experience which is before anthropologists do participant observation, they need to know how is the structure of that society, what are the cultural values, norms and belief that they believe in and the most important thing is to know what are motivations to do such a cultural activities and how they do it.

Can Human-Animal Chimeras Aid Medical Researches

Can Human-Animal Chimeras Aid Medical Researches Chapter 1 The Science behind the Biotechnology Chimeras rely on stem cells and their ability to differentiate into the necessary cells needed by the body. It is this feature of stem cells that allow scientist to culture tissue samples and eventually produce transplantable organs. The procuration of stem cells is the subject of a controversial argument as the methodologies of some variations raises several moral and ethical issues. Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) As the name suggests, this form of stem cells are derived from human embryos. Contrary to popular belief, these cells are not obtained from eggs fertilised inside a womans body; the embryos are usually donated for research purposes by In Vitro Fertilisation Clinics, with the consent of the donors. The embryos are then suspended in a culture medium ,mirroring similar conditions to that of a mothers womb, allowing the embryo to divide into a mass of cells known as the blastocyst. The cells within the blastocyst are usually referred to as totipotent stem cells. It is here that the first ethical issue arises. The beginning of life is said to be conception or fertilisation therefore this method of obtaining stem cells can be considered as taking a life without its consent. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016) Another limitation of hESCs includes carcinogenic risk when the culture medium is altered in order to induce differentiation of stem cells to form specialised cells such as: heart cells, lungs cells, liver cells and nerve cells. If the wrong mix of proteins or hormones are added to the stem cells theres a potential risk of mutation of DNA resulting in the production of cancerous or faulty cells. Conversely, hESCs are more accepted in the scientific community as the production of it can be done at lower cost with much more efficient differentiation and the cells produced are within a suitable HLA spectrum. [1] (Pappas, 2008) Parthenote Stem Cells It is possible however to bypass the ethical and moral issues that hESCs present, as these issues only arise if the cell is post-fertilisation. Therefore, if stem cells are extracted from an unfertilised egg, then arguably life which begins at conception or fertilisation, has not yet begun, making the use of the stem cells less controversial. However, the ethical implications have not been bypassed altogether, as it can still be argued that stem cells from unfertilised eggs do still have the potential to make a living individual. Parthenogenesis[2] allows for the egg cell to be activated without the need for a sperm. Parthenogenetic embryos will develop to the blastocyst stage and so can serve as a source of embryonic stem cells. Parthenogenetic Embryonic Stem Cells (pESCs) have been shown to have the properties of self-renewal and the capacity to generate cell derivatives from the three germ layers, confirmed by contributions to chimeric animals (Department of Animal Science, Michig an State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA, 2006) Induced Pluripotent stem cells The process behind iPSCs was a big medical breakthrough as it allowed somatic (body) cells to be reprogrammed into regenerative cells. The formation of iPSCs require the donor to undergo shave or punch biopsies, this procedure can be done under local anesthetic and is minimally invasive so the procuration of the adult cells poses no moral or ethical predicaments. The induction of pluripotency in adult somatic cells via proteins, will produce genetical and immune-histocompatibility matches thus, lowering the chance of rejection (if used for transplantation), this also reduces the need for the patient to take immunosuppressant which can result in a compromised immune response. But this form of stem cells comes with its disadvantages, as it is a new concept the cost of production is high. Therefore this process in its current state of development is economically viable for a large population size. Furthermore, the mechanisms behind how the reprogramming factors work are unknown, this pr esents the chances of mutagenesis[3], oncogene activation risk[4], and retroviral gene delivery[5] (Pappas, 2008) Chapter 2 Potential Uses of Animal-Human Chimeras in Therapeutics Vaccinations As of 2015, there are 36.7 million people living with HIV as per WHO and UNAIDS. (WHO, 2016). The field of vaccines for diseases such as Hepatitis-B and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) have taken a heavy toll in developing countries and have faced major failures. In the hopes of improving the current situation. Human-animal chimeras, developed with a humanized immune system could be useful to study infectious diseases, including many neglected diseases. These would also serve as an important tool for the efficient testing of new vaccine candidates to streamline promising candidates for further trials in humans. (Bhan, et al., 2010). Human hematopoietic stem cells, or in laymans terms, bone marrow cells, have the unique capacity of engrafting, greatly expanding, and repopulating immunodeficient mice, with virtually all different types of human immune cells; as shown by the image above. Humanized mouse models are produced via transplantation of CD34+ stem cells and/or implantation of human tissue into immunodeficient mice. Depending on whether tissue or CD34+ cells are used and the strain of mouse, this results in mice which have a part or a complete human immune system. (Garcia, 2016) This xenografted[6] mouse is then used as a disease model[7]. This allows scientists to better understand the mechanisms behind the disease, which results in a more efficient treatment plan for those who suffer from. Hepatitis-B. Another disease model being used are primates, these are considered to be the most accurate as we share a common ancestor. Additionally, primates have the closest metabolic conditions to humans. When this model was injected with HIV-1 (via IV), HIV-2 (via vagina) and SIV (via rectum) the results were advantageous as they provided useful information for vaccine and therapeutic studies. However, the cost of producing this model is very high and raises many moral and ethical concerns; furthermore, despite having some genetic similarities, primates do have different cellular and molecular markers and the time and course of infection could vary. Chimeras are also benefiting the treatment of Japanese encephalitis. This disease is a type of viral brain infection thats spread through mosquito bites, commonly found in South-East Asia. Although theres no cure for Japanese encephalitis, it can be prevented through vaccination, which is usually only available privately (NHS, 2016). A recently developed vaccine, which is an animal-human chimera which is a mouse brain-derived, inactivated JE vaccine (MBV). In order to evaluate its efficacy case controlled studies were carried out. A randomized double-blinded study conducted in northern Thailand, using JE MBV produced in Thailand, yielded an overall effectiveness of 91%. Another trial in Taiwan revealed an effectiveness of approximately 85% when two or more doses were administered. The effectiveness of the JE vaccine in Northern Vietnam was 92.9% efficacious. (Marks, et al., 2012). Control disease progression Another therapeutic use of animal-human chimeras is the development of drugs to aid in the treatment of known diseases.The drug called Rituximab, is a chimeric antibody which means it contains portions of both human and mouse antibodies mixed together. The drug was licensed in 1997 for the treatment of NHL (Non-Hodgkins lymphoma)-a form of cancer which causes B-cells to mutate and divide abnormally. The drug targets the CD20 receptor on B-cells as this receptor is located on the surface of the cell and it doesnt mutate, move inside the cell or fall off in the life cycle of the B-cell. The drug contains the variable domain of the mouse antibody, the portion that specifically binds CD20, along with the constant domain of human antibody, the portion that recruits other components of the immune system to the target-the B-cells and so after it is administered, and a large number of tumour cells are immediately destroyed and eliminated from the body. Rituximab is also used to treat advanced rheumatoid arthritis and it has also been part of anti-rejection treatments for kidney transplants (both involve B cells). The disadvantage only that the mouse antibody was unsuitable for direct use in humans and clinical trial results varied, likely due to the differing sizes of tumors between the patients, (Speaking of Research, 2017) Chapter 3 Potential Uses of Animal-Human Chimeras in Surgery The demand for organ transplantation has rapidly increased all over the world due to the increased incidence of vital organ failure. However, the unavailability of adequate organs for transplantation procedures to meet this growing demand has resulted in a major organ crisis. In 2014, 429 patients died while on the waiting list for an organ transplant- thats up to 3 patients a day. (Knapton, 2015). Currently, the government plan on changing the organ donation system to an opt out system, which hopes to promote organ donation and increase the availability of organs. The opt-out system presumes the donors consent unless the individual expresses a refusal to become a potential donor- allowing the donor to make a free choice (Abouna, 2008). As well as increasing obtainability of organs, it also increases the likelihood of more organs found within a suitable HLA spectrum. (Department of Health and Social Care and Cabinet Office, 2017). But it can be argued that this system of obtaining organs is seen as unfair as majority of organ donors must be recently deceased (excluding kidney donors) therefore the longevity of one persons life is at the cause of anothers death. (World Health Organisation, 2005) To prevent this choice being made, alternative solutions are being developed in order to aid the organ crisis-one of them being animal-human chimeras. Current research on stem cells have shown that they can differentiate into different cell types but cannot effectively produce usable tissues and organs as a culture medium cannot replicate the growth of an organ in a body. A recent breakthrough by the (Salk Institute of Biological Research, 2017) shows a pig-human chimera, which would be capable of making human organs. The research began by creating an interspecies chimera[8] consisting of a rat and mouse. They used a gene editing technology known as CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) to turn off the gene that makes the pancreas. They then inserted rat iPSCs which contained a pancreas gene into the mouse embryo. The result, when implanted into surrogate mouse mothers, was a fully developed mouse with a growing rat pancreas. This concept was then mirrored using pigs embryos and human stem cells; as pigs have similar organ sizes and developmental timescales as humans. Although this experiment had to be halted at 4 weeks of development due to ethical issues and the lack of consent- as the experiment was designed to prove it was possible, not to produce a human organ-we can safely assume that, if the development of the pig was allowed to continue, the pig would have a whole human organ inside it. Theoretically, this concept can then be implemented, producing specific human organs, eliminating the wait for a human donor and reducing the risk of organ rejection. Chapter 4 Potential Uses of Animal-Human Chimeras in Disease Modelling Scientific research is not always accepted as they require the use of controversial methods to obtain the necessary results. The methodologies behind creating chimeras have ethical and moral dilemmas primarily due to the use of animals. There is a large emphasis on animal welfare, although the use of animals as chimeras or in general medical research is considered very valuable as they help the medical community to better under the effects of treatments (drugs or otherwise) on living organisms. The matter still finds itself to be the subject of a very heated debate; as those opposing the use of animals animal rights extremists and anti-vivisectionist groups-believe that animal experimentation is unnecessary and cruel regardless of its benefits ergo the opposition want total abolition of animal research and if the majority supports this view then there will be severe consequences for scientific research. (Festing Wilkinson, 2007) On the other hand, the UK has gone further than most countries in regards to the ethical framework by introducing the Animals (Scientific Procedure) Act 1986 which regulates the use of animal research. Along with this, there is more and more public awareness as polls run by Ipsos MORI state that in 2005 64% of the population agreed with the use of animals in research if the research objectives are important and the animals experience minimal suffering and all alternatives are considered. (Department for Business Freeman, 2014) Another bioethical view that must be considered is `whether we treat the chimeras as animals or human? this arises as some chimeras require the altering of cognitive capacities. The chimeras are to be used to develop a better understanding of diseases such as Parkinsons and Dementia which affect 850 000 people every year (Anon., 2014) Unfortunately, the research is very slow due to moral views as some people regard this form experimentation a violation of human dignity and the order of nature as well as, the initial disagreement of using chimeras in the first place. (Hermern, 2015) Opportunely, there is some support for the use of animal-human chimeras as previous medical techniques that are widely accepted today allow the use of porcine, bovine and equine biological heart valves are implanted in those with cardiac valve dysfunction. Moreover, insulin extracted from porcine pancreas is routinely used with those with diabetes. And so, the prospect of a pig carrying a pancreas or liver of human origin should be justifiable. (Bourret, et al., 2016) Alternatives A lesser conventional view is the alternatives to chimeras, these methods do not require the use of animals to carry out medical research, which hopefully, should eliminate bioethical arguments. The issue that arises with this is the efficiency and viability of the results. The alternatives to chimeras include cell cultures, human tissues and computer models. Almost all cell types can be recreated in laboratory conditions and these can be coaxed to grow into 3D structures- miniature organs. Cell cultures have also been used to create `organs-on-chips which can be used to study disease mechanisms, as well as, drug metabolism. This form biotechnology has already managed to mimic the heart, lungs and kidneys. The goal is to be able to this for all organ systems. The idea is already aided in the development in the production of vaccines, and drug testing on top of aided research in the study of cancers, sepsis and AIDS. Human tissues can be donated by both healthy and diseased volunteers through surgeries such as biopsies, cosmetic surgery and transplants or via post mortem- such as brain tissue from a patient with Multiple Sclerosis to help better understand a large variety of diseases furthermore the tissues can make more effective models than through chimeras as they will contain only human DNA thus providing a more relevant way of studying human biology. Finally, computer models can be used to create virtual experiments based on existing information. Models of the musculoskeletal systems, heart, lungs etc. already exist. Inopportunely, this method isnt as effective as testing in vivo as the concept is very theoretical. (Anon., n.d.)

The Gulf Cooperation Council Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Gulf Cooperation Council - Assignment Example However, other studies have found a stronger relationship between oil prices and stock market performance in GCC. Therefore, evidence shows a strong long-run relationship in Bahrain between oil price fluctuation and stock market performance that took the cue from oil prices. Other evidence also justifies that shocks attributable to volatility attract many concerns in GCC than shocks attached to oil price returns. In the subsequent discussion of this article, I, therefore, expand on the short and long-term relationship between stock market performance and oil price movement in the GCC countries. Â  The analysis of the relationships between stock market performance and oil price fluctuations is executed both at country and industry levels. The evidence shows that at the country level, with the exception of Kuwait, stock markets have great positive exposures to oil prices shocks. However, at the industry level, the reactions of industry-specific returns to oil price movements are greatly positive for 12 of the 20 countries studied. Therefore, oil price alterations indicate the asymmetric impact on stock market returns in the country alongside the industry level. Â  

Culture and International Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Culture and International Business - Essay Example Yet, McDonalds own brand also gave the company problem that is more pronounced than any other american brands. Perhaps there are no other American brands which had been patently labeled and stereotyped as a symbol of American imperialism than that of McDonalds. This issue is magnified by the fact McDonalds typically becomes a target (usually by vandalism) everytime there are protests against the American government abroad. The irony of it is that perhaps there are no other fast food chain in the market that exerts that much effort than McDonalds to assimilate with the local culture where it operates. Its franchises outside of North America are not even run by Americans but by the locals who took pains to customize its offerings just to cater to the local preference. But no matter what it does, McDonalds will always be associated with American imperialism. This misconception about McDonalds is not only limited to cultural labeling but extends to social status as well. Section II: McDo nalds, cheap yet classy? McDonalds is also having a social stratification issue on how it should position itself in the market. Shall it serve the mid section and upper section or the upper section of the market? Market response is ambivalent that it proves difficult to categorize which market should McDonals concentrate. In emerging markets such as Russia, China, even including South Asia, McDonalds is considered to be a restaurant that is a class above the rest and highly esteemed as a brand. Eating at McDonalds can even be considered as a status symbol. Yet in its major market in the United States and Europe where it derives two thirds of its revenue, the fast food chain is considered to be a cheap food, something to be eaten just to survive not to mention unhealthy. As a food, McDonalds does not have the respect in its major market compared to the esteemed it have in emerging markets. In UK, it even came to a point that McDonalds will be taxed alleging that it is damaging people ’s health and costs the health care substantial amount. In the United States, parents are even suing the company for misleading them over its nutritional value. These ambivalence of market’s reaction towards McDonalds makes it difficult for the company to adopt a universal market strategy to penetrate the global market. What it does is to constantly adapt to the eccentricities of its local market whose magnitude of its assimilation may have already changed the company itself. Section 3. Who influences who with McDonalds? In its effort to assimilate with the preferences of its local markets, McDonalds customizes its menu in a myriad of ways to the point of departure to its original menu. In Germany, McDonalds can be served with beer. In Israel, McDonald’s burgers does not have cheese. In India, its patties are not made of beef. In UK, traditional supersize meals are no longer welcome and is replaced by healthy offerings. The list goes on and on with the changes M cDonalds have implemented just to cater to the differing taste preference of its local market. These change is not only limited to McDonald’s food offerings but also extends to its suppliers. Along with the changing menu is also the change of suppliers to make such change in menu possible. These change in suppliers makes it patently un-McDonald because a

Nuisances Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Nuisances - Essay Example   Secondly, the plaintiff must also prove that the act of nuisance constituted unreasonable and unlawful conduct. In arriving at a determination of whether the defendant’s actions can be held to be unlawful and unreasonable and thereby constitute the private nuisance, the Courts will take into account the locality of the land, because actions in areas may constitute nuisance while they would not in others. The Courts will also consider whether the nuisance action would have affected the sensitivity of a normal, everyday person.   For example, in the case of McKinnon Industries v, Walker fumes from a neighboring factory destroyed delicate orchids.   But the Courts held that since the smoke would have affected even ordinary flowers, the act constituted the private nuisance.  An act will not be construed as the private nuisance if its general outcome is to be of some use to the community, after taking into account the location and the time of the activities.   For examp le, in the case of Harrison v Southwark Water Company building work that was carried out during the day was not deemed to be a nuisance because it was carried out at a reasonable time during the day and was likely to improve the value of the surrounding property when completed.  An act will be held to be a nuisance if it can be demonstrated that the defendant had a malicious intent because this will serve to establish that the defendant's actions were unreasonable and thereby constitute the nuisance.

Treatment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Treatment - Essay Example Which self-help groups (12-step and non-12-step groups) discussed in the textbook is available in your community or neighboring community? How many meetings of each group are offered per week and what are the venues? If a group is not available, state that. Most of the groups are the 12-step groups and majority of them meet three times in a week while others meet twice in a week. Since there are three groups, they each have their own venue to avoid clash of the days of the meeting but all these areas are in halls. One has the social hall, the other the gymnasium in the high school and the last one meets in the elementary school’s hall. Given your response to the above two questions, which groups’ meetings are feasible for a person to attend? That is, are all the self-help groups mentioned in the textbook represented in your community neighboring community? The most feasible for an addict that is still working is the 12-step group since daily presence is not needed, but if the addict is truly not-functional, then they can try the non 12-step program even if not available in the neighborhood as most are in-house like the St. Jude Retreat mentioned above. Not all the groups are available and only the 12-step group is but not the

Microeconomics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Microeconomics - Essay Example There is a huge demand for Australian iron ore in China due to the high quality of the ore. The high Chinese demand for iron ore has also led to the hike in prices of iron ore in the world market (Rutkowski, 2010). All these have benefited the export of iron ore from Australia especially the Western provinces. According to reports China serves the biggest market for Australian export and the value of export of iron ore from west Australia was $13.82 billion in 2007. This was almost 60% of the net export of Australia (Zpryme: Emerging Markets Group, 2008). The wage rate has also increased steadily in Australia with mining being the highest paying occupation. A study of the regional developments in Australia shows that West Australia is the second state with the highest average annual wage at $70,101. The surge of export is expected to continue in the future. As a result it paints a bright picture for the forecasts about GDP growth. Australia has an unemployment rate of 5.2% which is v ery close to full employment and in the mining regions of Western Australia it is 4.7% (Australian Regional Labor Market, March Quarter 2011). Impact of increasing demand for iron-ore The high demand for steel by China has led to a rise in the global price. The global iron market uses an annual benchmark system for pricing. By this system the iron mills enter into a contract with the producers of iron ore for a period of one year and that price is followed for all transactions till the next year when the prices are revised. Iron is a very important component in all the manufacturing goods. So the iron mills want to ensure that there is no random fluctuation in prices that destabilizes the market. However in the rise in iron ore prices at a fast rate from $37 per ton in 2004 to $101 per ton in 2009 has led the major iron ore manufacturing countries like Australia, Brazil, and China to lobby for a shorter period of contract. This will allow the companies to revise the prices sooner an d thus make higher profit. The Chinese demand for iron ore is exogenous and depends on the global demand of steel. In other words the demand for iron ore in China does not depend on the price of the iron ore but on the global demand for steel. This is evident from the fact that in the previous years we have seen a simultaneous rise in the price of iron ore as well as demand for the ore in China. Therefore, though a short term contract will lead to an increase in the cost of production it will not necessarily reduce the demand for the Chinese steel (Rutkowski, 2011). For this reason, though Chinese steel mills are trying to negotiate the short term contracts, but their high demand for steel to continue operations has made them unable to have advantageous ground in these negotiations. We shall explain the logic with the help of a diagram. d d’ s’ P’ P s d’ s’ d O q q’’ q’ In the above diagram, we have tried to show the effect on the price of iron ore for a shift from short term to long term contracts. A long term contract fixed the price at a level p for any quantity. As a result the supply curve PS becomes inelastic. An exogenous rise in demand for goods shifted the demand curve from dd to d’d’. Since the price remains fixed, the equilibrium quantity rises from Oq to Oq’. However a short term contract would make the supply curve more elastic. Regular revision of

Human Resource Management Process Research Paper

Human Resource Management Process - Research Paper Example Human resource, as the name implies, refers to the workforce, and the management of the human resource is essentially the management of the workforce. The workforce is one of the most fundamental resources of an organization because all work is conducted through the workforce. Management of human resource includes addressing the individualistic and collective needs of the workers and keeping a check on their daily performance so that their salaries or other organizational benefits can be adjusted to suit their performance. Planning is the first phase of human resource management process. In this phase, managers assess the specific skills required to accomplish the tasks that need to be done in the project at hand. Different tasks require people with different sets of abilities. Some tasks require more physical input, so they need to be assigned to physically strong employees. Other kinds of tasks that require more mental input need to be assigned to employees that are mentally sharp and have a good academic record. Once the required sets of skills have been identified, the managers assess the various options for recruiting the employees. There is a whole range of methods that can be used to recruit the workforce. These methods include but are not limited to a face-to-face interview, interview over phone or skype, physical test, and tests directed at checking the intelligence quotient (IQ). Interviews can also be classified according to types in addition to the means of conversation. There are behavior-based interviews that tend to estimate an individual’s personality by listening to the individual’s behavioral response to a situation that he/she is likely to experience in the kind of job he/she is applying for. Interviews may be structured or unstructured depending upon the choice of the manager. In structured interviews, the manager assesses the responses of individual candidates against a particular set of questions. There is no addition or subt raction to these questions. The questions are chosen with the mutual consensus of expert professionals. In unstructured interviews, there is no definite set of questions that are to be asked to the candidate. The conversation can take any route but it ultimately leads the manager to make a rational assessment of the skills of the candidate. Interviews may be conducted individually or in the group. In the individual interviews, candidates are called into the office one by one for interview whereas, in group interviews, candidates are called in in groups. Big companies usually recruit the employees by conducting panel interviews of each candidate individually. In such interviews, the candidate is supposed to satisfy a whole group of experts, that tend to analyze the candidate’s abilities in their own ways. The candidate is first given a brief demonstration of the organization, it works, and its culture, and then each professional avails his/her turn to ask the question.

Literature and Ideals Essay Example for Free

Literature and Ideals Essay Definition: Literature is a term used to describe written or spoken material. Broadly speaking, literature is used to describe anything from creative writing to more technical or scientific works, but the term is most commonly used to refer to works of the creative imagination, including works of poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction. Why do we read literature? Literature represents a language or a people: culture and tradition. But, literature is more important than just a historical or cultural artifact. Literature introduces us to new worlds of experience. We learn about books and literature; we enjoy the comedies and the tragedies of poems, stories, and plays; and we may even grow and evolve through our literary journey with books. Ultimately, we may discover meaning in literature by looking at what the author says and how he/she says it. We may interpret the authors message. In academic circles, this decoding of the text is often carried out through the use of literary theory, using a mythological, sociological, psychological, historical, or other approach. Whatever critical paradigm we use to discuss and analyze literature, there is still an artistic quality to the works. Literature is important to us because it speaks to us, it is universal, and it affects us. Even when it is ugly, literature is beautiful. Importance of Literature. It is a curious and prevalent opinion that literature, like all art, is a mere play of imagination, pleasing enough, like a new novel, but without any serious or practical importance. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Literature preserves the ideals of a people; and idealslove, faith, duty, friendship, freedom, reverenceare the part of human life most worthy of preservation. The Greeks were a marvelous people; yet of all their mighty works we cherish only a few ideals,ideals of beauty in perishable stone, and ideals of truth in imperishable prose and poetry. It was simply the ideals of the Greeks and Hebrews and Romans, preserved in their literature, which made them what they were, and which determined their value to future generations. Our democracy, the boast of all English-speaking nations, is a dream; not the doubtful and sometimes disheartening spectacle presented in our legislative halls, but the lovely and immortal ideal of a free and equal manhood, preserved as a most precious heritage in every great literature from the Greeks to the Anglo-Saxons. All our arts, our sciences, even our inventions are founded squarely upon ideals; for under every invention is still the dream of Beowulf, that man may overcome the forces of nature; and the foundation of all our sciences and discoveries is the immortal dream that men shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. In a word, our whole civilization, our freedom, our progress, our homes, our religion, rest solidly upon ideals for their foundation. Nothing but an ideal ever endures upon earth. It is therefore impossible to overestimate the practical importance of literature, which preserves these ideals from fathers to sons, while men, cities, governments, civilizations, vanish from the face of the earth. It is only when we remember this that we appreciate the action of the devout Mussulman, who picks up and carefully preserves every scrap of paper on which words are written, because the scrap may perchance contain the name of Allah, and the ideal is too enormously important to be neglected or lost.

Sexualized Dual Relationships In Therapy Social Work Essay

Sexualized Dual Relationships In Therapy Social Work Essay The main concern as a counselor is creating and managing professional limits, which must always center on the best interests of the client. However, except for behaviors of an illegal nature, ethical concerns can negatively interfere with ones work because there are no straightforward answers. The detrimental effect of sexual intimacies within a professional counseling relationship makes it apparent that it is always inappropriate to have a sexual relationship with a client. In the first part of this paper, a case study of a client who engaged in a sexual relationship with her former psychologist is illustrated. Main ethical concerns, application of specific ethical codes, techniques to address the issue, and an ethical decision-making process are analyzed to resolve the case. In the second part of this paper, an interview is conducted with a clinical psychologist, which highlights the issues relating to ethical standards and practices, transference, multicultural concerns, boundary violations, and supervision. Introduction The structure within which a therapist and client relationship occurs is beneficial for adequate counseling. Healthy limits create a relationship that is proficient, trusting, and demonstrates an environment for competent psychological counseling. Therapists must know that ethical violations can relate to the gray areas between transference and countertransference (Redlich, 1990). Corey, Corey, Callanan, (2011) state that sexual relationships between therapists and clients continue to receive substantial research in the professional literature. Sexual relationships with clients are undoubtedly unethical, and all of the main professional ethics codes have explicit prohibitions against these violations. Furthermore, such relationships are a violation of the law. The power imbalances may continue to sway the client well after the end of the counseling relationship, and professional standards forbid a therapist from engaging in any sexual relationship with a past client in which counsel ing service was provided in the past five years (Bouhoutsos Greenberg, 1999). Therapists must know that any dating relationship is considered a form of inappropriate behavior that could fall within the classification of sexual abuse. The harmful effects of sexual abuse within the professional standards makes it obvious that it is inappropriate to have a sexual relationship with a client. The Dilemma Rachel, a 24-year-old client, comes into her counselors office and states that she feels suicidal because she engaged in a sexual relationship with her former psychologist. Because the assessment and management of a suicidal client is extremely serious, the counselor addresses this issue immediately. As she approaches the suicide assessment, the counselor keeps three things in mind: consult with a colleague for another opinion, document the process, and evaluate the clients risk for harming herself (Corey, Corey, Callanan, 2011). The counselor asks Rachel to sign a no-suicide contract. In the contract, she agrees to avoid harming herself, but if she feels she cannot control herself, she would call 911, or another person who is close to her and she can trust. The counselor also asks her to talk with her family about her feelings. Rachel states that she disclosed to them that she is very depressed and is feeling suicidal. The counselor explains to Rachel at length about dual relationships. Usually when there is an ethical infringement such as a psychologist having a sexual relationship with a client, the relationship begins with a non-sexual relationship (Brown, 2002). Rachel says the relationship began in good faith and as time passed, the boundaries between her and the psychologist began to weaken. The risk of harm occurring to Rachel increased as the psychologist and client became more intimate, and there is a greater power differential just as there exists between men and women in general. The counselor explains about how these professionals may exploit and seduce female clients intentionally for their own satisfactions. Rachel proceeds to tell her counselor about the symptoms and feelings she is experiencing: a sense of guilt; emptiness and isolation; sexual confusion; trust issues; role confusion in therapy; severe depression and acute anxiety; suppressed anger; and cognitive dysfunction involving flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts. The counselor concludes that the client is indeed experiencing almost all of the symptoms described as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Main Ethical Concerns A professional counseling relationship, which involves sexual relations, is against the law. Sexual exploitation in a professional counseling relationship is described as, sexual involvement or additional forms of physical relations between a practitioner and a client (Brown, 2002, pg. 79). Situations involving sexual actions between a counselor and client are never acceptable. According to Moustacalis (1998), sexual activity between a client and counselor is always damaging to client well-being, despite of what reason or beliefs the counselor chooses to justify it. However, client consent and compliance to participate in a sexual relationship does not diminish the practitioner of his duties and responsibilities for adhering to ethical standards. Failure to take responsibility for the professional relationship and permitting a sexual relationship to develop is a mistreatment of authority and confidence, which are exclusive and fundamental to the therapist and client relationship. In any professional counseling relationship, there is an innate power inequity. In this case study, the former therapists power arises through the clients belief that the therapist has the proficiency to help with her problems, and the clients confession of personal information, which is usually kept secret. The reality that counseling services cannot be successful unless clients are willing to open up does not change the main power imbalance (Moustacalis, 1998). Therefore, the psychologist has an important responsibility to take action, do no harm, and is ultimately liable for managing boundary issues if violations occur. Ironically, the former therapist in this case failed to maintain appropriate professional ethical standards and caused psychological damage to his client instead of promoting a trusting and healthy professional relationship. Because of the seriousness and complexity of these sexual boundary violations, Rachel currently suffers from suicidal thoughts, depression, an xiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The power difference that is in the therapist-client relationship causes Rachel to find it complicated to discuss boundaries or to recognize and defend herself against ethical violations. In addition, clients may at times prompt a sexual relationship and their behavior could promote violations (Marmor, 2000). Application of Specific Ethical Codes Techniques to Address Dilemma According to the 2005 American Counseling Associations (ACA) Code of Ethical Standards, Sexual or romantic counselor-client interactions or relationships with current clients, their romantic partners, or their family members are prohibited (A.5.a). Relating to former clients, Sexual or romantic counselor-client interactions or relationships with former clients, their romantic partners, or their family members are prohibited for a period of 5 years following the last professional contact. Counselors, before engaging in sexual or romantic interactions or relationships with clients, their romantic partners, or client family members after 5 years following the last professional contact, demonstrate forethought and document (in written form) whether the interactions or relationship can be viewed as exploitive in some way and/or whether there is still potential to harm the former client; in cases of potential exploitation and/or harm, the counselor avoids entering such an interaction or re lationship (A.5.b). In this case, Rachels emotional intensity and stress generated due to difficult or conflicted personal relational situations may override her understanding of healthy therapeutic and relational processes. In addition, it suggests clients, such as Rachel, who possess little therapeutic knowledge relating to boundary violations, or with limited understanding of therapy, are particularly vulnerable (Marmor, 2000). The ACA Code of Ethical Standards also states that counselors act to avoid harming their clients (A.4.a). During their sexual relationship, Rachels former practitioner may assume she is responsible in the relationship and can sustain herself emotionally and psychologically. However, not all clients have this ability and look to their therapist for support. Engaging in a dual sexualized relationship is destructive to client welfare and is a dysfunctional means to offer security to a vulnerable client (Robinson, Reid, 2000). Techniques to address this case are complex, yet imperative to consider. First, Rachels former therapist needs to be reported to the state licensing board for ethical complaints of sexual intimacies with a client (Hall, 2001). During this process, Rachel should know that a breach of client confidentiality will occur as a part of the reporting process. Next, Rachel must find a reputable attorney because there is a good possibility that the former therapist may deny the accusation or blame Rachel by saying she is making false claims. The former therapist could be the subject of a lawsuit. Malpractice is a serious legal concept involving the failure of a professional to provide the level of services or to implement the skill that is normally expected of other professionals (Hall, 2001). He risks having his license taken away or suspended as well as losing his insurance coverage and his credibility as a therapist. This ethical violation could have been avoided if the therapist carefully considered the dynamics of a healthy therapeutic relationship and put the clients needs before his own. Decision-Making Process The ethical decision making process used for the case of Rachel would be to first define the problem. Rachel is in search of counseling because she engaged in an intimate, sexual relationship with her former psychologist. Rachel currently feels guilty and resentful toward her former psychologist and is experiencing suicidal thoughts. The next vital step in ethical decision making is evaluating moral principles (Corey, Corey, Callanan, 2011). In this case, the moral principle that would take priority is non-maleficence. Rachel expressed her need to talk with a counselor and feels she has a limited number of people she can trust. Since the former therapist violated the sense of non-maleficence, it may cause Rachel harm if the current therapist were to defy her trust because Rachel could panic and hurt herself if she feels she has no other option. Rachel must form a trusting relationship with her current counselor, and the counselor must maintain that sense of trust. The next step woul d be to talk with a supervisor or colleague to hear other perspectives or ideas. The fourth step is to make sure as her current therapist, decisions are not influenced by emotions (Corey, Corey, Callanan, 2011). Having emotional awareness can ensure an accurate assessment of the situation. Therefore, encouraging Rachel and building up her sense of self-worth is essential. By creating a plan that includes psychological help along with legal action, Rachel will likely feel as though she has some control when assessing each option. The final step is implementation, and the therapist should help Rachel follow through with her plan. Interview Dr. Jennifer Lambert is a clinical psychologist and received her Psy.D from the University of Illinois. During the 45-minute interview, she provided thoughtful insight into the issues relating to ethical standards and practices, transference, multicultural concerns, boundary violations, and supervision. First, making ethical decisions involves developing an acceptance for dealing with gray areas and coping with uncertainty. Even though awareness of the ethical standards of ones profession is significant, this knowledge is not enough. Ethical codes provide direction in assisting one in making the best informed-decisions for the benefit of clients and the practitioner. These standards may differ among agencies, and it is vital that every human service professional becomes aware of the exact policies of the agency. Secondly, Dr. Lambert discussed an example of transference. She is a supervisor for an adolescent mental health clinic and works with many great colleagues. One of her colleagues is an excellent therapist, but often she asks Dr. Lambert for marital advice. She does her best not to sway her colleague because Dr. Lambert knows the harm it could cause to their relationship. Instead, she encourages her colleague to inspect her own beliefs and values without imposing or giving direct advice. This story is an example of colleague transference and possible dependency if Dr. Lambert is not cautious when discussing these issues. Next, Dr. Lambert spoke about multicultural concerns and boundary violations in therapy. As a therapist, it is key to know and appreciate ones own cultural background, yet not push values onto clients. To be effective with diverse clients, therapists must accept and celebrate cultural differences and view them as a positive learning experience. By practicing acceptance while being curious, it will bring understanding between cultures and assist in expanding trust in the therapeutic relationship. Maintaining professional and personal boundaries is a necessity in the therapeutic process. If a therapist becomes emotionally over-involved with a client, counselors will likely lose their objectivity and ultimately cannot exercise proper judgment in the helping process. When counseling adolescents, maintaining appropriate boundaries can be complicated. Often, an adolescent sees the therapist as a friend to confide in, but if the young client becomes too dependent, relationship boundaries ma y be crossed. This can also violate boundaries if the therapist does not address the dependency. Lastly, a vital element in the licensing process is supervision. Dr. Lambert believes the role played by the supervisor is important for the appropriate development of the trainee. The supervisee should be open to the ideas and leadership style of the supervisor. Above all, supervision was developed to help future therapists enhance their competency and during this process, the trainee will learn the necessary skills that will assist them in their entire professional career. One challenge to supervision is the continuous shortage of qualified professionals and the incapability to supply sufficient hours for proper competency development. When choosing a supervisor, an individual with a good moral and ethical approach is an area of concern. This factor would assist in developing a proper personal approach, and a supervisor must teach by example the importance of understanding transference/counter-transference, diversity, and rapport. Supervision is a support system, which gives the op portunity to present challenges that one may not be prepared to deal with when they occur. Summary Ethical decision making in the counseling field is a continuing assessment with no simple answers. In order to encourage the well-being of clients, counselors must always balance the professional ethical codes with their own life experiences and personal values to make critical decisions about how to assist their clients successfully (Redlich, 1990). Therefore, understanding the ethical codes and the effect of inadequate counseling practices are helpful for counselors as they maintain therapeutic relationships with clients. Nonetheless, even though professional codes of ethics offer guidelines for how counselors should act with clients, they do not give complete answers for how counselors must act in every circumstance. Ideally, counselors should integrate their knowledge of professional ethics with good judgment to facilitate the best interests of their clients. It is imperative for counselors to create personal and professional boundaries with their clients in order to avoid proble ms such as unethical counseling, favoritism, exploitation, harm, etc (Corey, Corey, Callanan, 2011). Counselors must treat all clients respectfully, compassionately, and responsibly, while not compromising the professional relationship established with them.

Night :: essays research papers

Night Religion has always explained the unknown in knowable terms. It has created symbols for that which could not be known. This symbolism is so deeply imbedded in our minds, cultures, and cosmology that it is rarely questioned from inside the religious paradigms. From outside that paradigm, the religious imagery loses its impact, its subliminal meaning. Religion functions to relieve the anxiety of the absolute fact for each of us that we will die, that our family will die, that our friends will die. Religion promises us that although we may die, we will continue. And, if we believe, then our afterlife will be glorious. Spirituality offers another perspective to this 'man-made' solution. The spiritualistic belief is that of love for the fellow man instead of god; hospitals instead of churches; deeds done rather than prayers said. Spirituality, although bordering on atheism, seeks to understand and love, to find an ethical way of life rather than turning to a higher being for the easy way out. In "Night" by Elie Wiesel we see death of religion in a child because of absolute evil and consequently, the embrace of spirituality. Separated from man made institutions, the core of religion and spirituality must be preserved, if one is to survive in the midst of horror. The Jewish religion was a key motivation to the citizens of Sighet. To Jews religion is not only a method to achieve immortality, but a way of life that must be holistically embraced. This all-consuming religion demands total obedience and is a key motivation in the Jewish deportation and personal surrender to Germany . Analyzing history, one sees the pattern of a Jewish nomad lifestyle ,so deep is their faith, and moving on. "Night" is the first episode where this blind faith could not save them. Spawning from this failure of God is the genocide of millions at the hands of the Nazis. As young Eliezer visits Auschwitz and witnesses this genocide first hand, his blind faith is quickly revoked and in its place remains doubt, question and bitterness. "Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into a wreath of smoke beneath a silent blue sky.

Herman Melville :: essays research papers

Herman Melville created many characters in his writing that had a mysterious nature to them. Melville himself had a bit of mystery in his own personal character and this quality is shown through many characters such as Claggart and Bartleby. Besides having a mysterious side to him, this author was stubborn. Even though his work wasn’t always praised he remained determined and pretty much always wrote what he wanted to write. This stubbornness was shown through his characters Captain Veere in Billy Budd and Bartleby in the story "Bartleby the Scrivener." Melville was also passively resistant and he shows this through his characters Billy Budd and Bartleby. Herman Melville portrayed himself in his writing by giving personality traits to his literary characters that were similar to the ones he himself possessed. Melville had a strong desire to reveal the complexities of human life, so mystery was often a trait of his characters. An example of this would be his character Bartleby. Throughout the story, the reader has no clue what Bartleby is thinking, so Melville creates an air of mystery about this character. Another of Melville’s characters that show this quality is Claggart in the book Billy Budd. Claggart is constantly referred to as being mysterious, "†¦a nut not to be cracked by the top of a ladies fan (Billy Budd). Besides being mysterious, Melville is stubborn and this comes out through his characters Captain Veere and Bartleby. Like most writers, Melville’s career had its ups and downs, and his work was not always praised. Even though readers didn’t always appreciate his writing or writing style, he continued to write the books that he wanted to write. He quotes "What I feel most moved to write, that is banned- it will not pay, yet, altogether write the other way I cannot."(P. 8 Cliffs). The author shows his stubbornness through the character of Bartleby. To every request directed at him he replies, "I’d prefer not to", which suggests the authors own obstinacy. Another of Herman’s characters that has a stubborn nature is captain Veere. He does not let his own feelings of those of the crew interfere with the strict facts of the case, which eventually resulted in Billy’s death. He remains stubborn with his decision and makes no exceptio ns in any case. Another personality trait Melville portrays in his writing is passive resistance. By Melville not changing his writing style to please society he is passively resisting.

Essay on The Greater Sin in Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter

The Greater Sin in The Scarlet Letter    In essence, there were three main sins committed in The Scarlet Letter, the sins of Hester, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth. Roger Chillingworth committed the greatest sin because he let himself be ruled by hatred and the consuming desire for vengeance.   The overpowering vengeance and hatred felt by Chillingworth caused his life to be centered on demeaning Dimmesdale and tormenting him until the end of time.   Both Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale committed sins for which they were deeply remorseful, Roger Chillingworth, however, committed the greater sin because he felt no guilt.   Unknowingly, Hester Prynne sailed from Europe to the Americas betrayed and tricked.   Waiting for the arrival of her husband, Roger Chillingworth, she lost hope in him ever arriving or even still being alive.   After enduring two years of tortured loneliness and lost love, Hester wished to feel the warmth of love again.   She tried to fill this emptiness by making love with the Reverend Dimmesdale.   When her child Pearl was born, Hester's adulterous sin was discovered and she was cast out from their society and required to wear an embroidered â€Å"A† on her bosom in punishment.   Hester felt guilt for her sin the rest of her life and sought repentance and absolution until the time she died.   Hester never had true love for Chillingworth, but was tricked into marriage.   She later told him this while speaking in her jail cell saying to him, â€Å"... thou knowest that I was frank with thee, I felt no love, nor feigned any† (Hawthorne, page #). Hester was betrayed, tricked and allowed herself to become caught up in the evil desires of another.   She then allowed herself to be trapped by sin, cau... ...me year as a result of this.   Roger Chillingworth's sin was the greatest committed because it ruled his life even until his death. Comparing between the sins of Hester Prynne, the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth, the reader can easily establish that Roger Chillingworth committed the greatest sin.   He did this by being ruled by hatred and the feeling of vengeance.    1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In your conclusion it would have been good practice to restate the conditions of Prynne and Dimmesdale as well. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Always cite your quote with the name of the author and the page number on which the quote can be found.   For example, a correct citation would be (Hawthorne 60). 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also in quotes, the punctuation should come after the parentheses.   For example, â€Å"My folly and weakness.† (Pg. 52)   should read â€Å"my folly and weakness† (Hawthorne 52).   

Deception Point Page 111

Rachel blushed, her skin tingling. â€Å"Thanks.† The agent led Rachel down the impeccably appointed hallway to a plain-looking doorway nearby. â€Å"The Lincoln Bedroom,† the agent said. â€Å"And as I am always supposed to say outside this door, ‘Sleep well, and beware of ghosts.'† Rachel nodded. The legends of ghosts in the Lincoln Bedroom were as old as the White House itself. It was said that Winston Churchill had seen Lincoln's ghost here, as had countless others, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Amy Carter, actor Richard Dreyfuss, and decades of maids and butlers. President Reagan's dog was said to bark outside this door for hours at a time. The thoughts of historical spirits suddenly made Rachel realize what a sacred place this room was. She felt suddenly embarrassed, standing there in her long football jersey, bare-legged, like some college coed sneaking into a boy's room. â€Å"Is this kosher?† she whispered to the agent. â€Å"I mean this is the Lincoln Bedroom.† The agent winked. â€Å"Our policy on this floor is ‘Don't ask, don't tell.'† Rachel smiled. â€Å"Thanks.† She reached for the door-knob, already feeling the anticipation of what lay beyond. â€Å"Rachel!† The nasal voice carried down the hallway like a buzz saw. Rachel and the agent turned. Corky Marlinson was hobbling toward them on crutches, his leg now professionally bandaged. â€Å"I couldn't sleep either!† Rachel slumped, sensing her romantic tryst about to disintegrate. Corky's eyes inspected the cute Secret Service agent. He flashed her a broad smile. â€Å"I love women in uniform.† The agent pulled aside her blazer to reveal a lethal-looking sidearm. Corky backed off. â€Å"Point taken.† He turned to Rachel. â€Å"Is Mike awake, too? You going in?† Corky looked eager to join the party. Rachel groaned. â€Å"Actually, Corky†¦ â€Å" â€Å"Dr. Marlinson,† the Secret Service agent intervened, pulling a note from her blazer. â€Å"According to this note, which was given to me by Mr. Tolland, I have explicit orders to escort you down to the kitchen, have our chef make you anything you want, and ask you to explain to me in vivid detail how you saved yourself from certain death by†¦ † the agent hesitated, grimacing as she read the note again. â€Å"†¦ by urinating on yourself?† Apparently, the agent had said the magic words. Corky dropped his crutches on the spot and put an arm around the woman's shoulders for support, and said, â€Å"To the kitchen, love!† As the indisposed agent helped Corky hobble off down the hall, Rachel had no doubt Corky Marlinson was in heaven. â€Å"The urine is the key,† she heard him saying, â€Å"because those damned telencephalon olfactory lobes can smell everything!† The Lincoln Bedroom was dark when Rachel entered. She was surprised to see the bed empty and untouched. Michael Tolland was nowhere to be seen. An antique oil lamp burned near the bed, and in the soft radiance, she could barely make out the Brussels carpet†¦ the famous carved rosewood bed†¦ the portrait of Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd†¦ even the desk where Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. As Rachel closed the door behind her, she felt a clammy draft on her bare legs. Where is he? Across the room, a window was open, the white organza curtains billowing. She walked over to close the window, and an eerie whisper murmured from the closet. â€Å"Maaaarrrrrrrry†¦ â€Å" Rachel wheeled. â€Å"Maaaaaarrrrrrrry?† the voice whispered again. â€Å"Is that you?†¦ Mary Todd Liiiiiincoln?† Rachel quickly closed the window and turned back toward the closet. Her heart was racing, although she knew it was foolish. â€Å"Mike, I know that's you.† â€Å"Noooooo†¦ † the voice continued. â€Å"I am not Mike†¦ I am†¦ Aaaaabe.† Rachel put her hands on her hips. â€Å"Oh, really? Honest Abe?† A muffled laugh. â€Å"Moderately honest Abe†¦ yes.† Rachel was laughing now too. â€Å"Be afraaaaaaid,† the voice from the closet moaned. â€Å"Be veeeeeery afraid.† â€Å"I'm not afraid.† â€Å"Please be afraid†¦ † the voice moaned. â€Å"In the human species, the emotions of fear and sexual arousal are closely linked.† Rachel burst out laughing. â€Å"Is this your idea of a turn-on?† â€Å"Forgiiiive me†¦ † the voice moaned. â€Å"It's been yeeeeeeears since I've been with a woman.† â€Å"Evidently,† Rachel said, yanking the door open. Michael Tolland stood before her with his roguish, lopsided grin. He looked irresistible wearing a pair of navy blue satin pajamas. Rachel did a double take when she saw the presidential seal emblazoned on his chest. â€Å"Presidential pajamas?† He shrugged. â€Å"They were in the drawer.† â€Å"And all I had was this football jersey?† â€Å"You should have chosen the Lincoln Bedroom.† â€Å"You should have offered!† â€Å"I heard the mattress was bad. Antique horsehair.† Tolland winked, motioning to a gift-wrapped package on a marble-topped table. â€Å"This'll make it up to you.† Rachel was touched. â€Å"For me?† â€Å"I had one of the presidential aides go out and find this for you. Just arrived. Don't shake it.† She carefully opened the package, extracting the heavy contents. Inside was a large crystal bowl in which were swimming two ugly orange goldfish. Rachel stared in confused disappointment. â€Å"You're joking, right?† â€Å"Helostoma temmincki,† Tolland said proudly. â€Å"You bought me fish?† â€Å"Rare Chinese kissing fish. Very romantic.† â€Å"Fish are not romantic, Mike.† â€Å"Tell that to these guys. They'll kiss for hours.† â€Å"Is this supposed to be another turn-on?† â€Å"I'm rusty on the romance. Can you grade me on effort?† â€Å"For future reference, Mike, fish are definitely not a turn-on. Try flowers.† Tolland pulled a bouquet of white lilies from behind his back. â€Å"I tried for red roses,† he said, â€Å"but I almost got shot sneaking into the Rose Garden.† As Tolland pulled Rachel's body against his and inhaled the soft fragrance of her hair, he felt years of quiet isolation dissolving inside him. He kissed her deeply, feeling her body rise against him. The white lilies fell to their feet, and barriers Tolland had never known he'd built were suddenly melting away. The ghosts are gone. He felt Rachel inching him toward the bed now, her whisper soft in his ear. â€Å"You don't really think fish are romantic, do you?† â€Å"I do,† he said, kissing her again. â€Å"You should see the jellyfish mating ritual. Incredibly erotic.† Rachel maneuvered him onto his back on the horsehair mattress, easing her slender body down on top of his. â€Å"And seahorses†¦,† Tolland said, breathless as he savored her touch through the thin satin of his pajamas. â€Å"Seahorses perform†¦ an unbelievably sensual dance of love.† â€Å"Enough fish talk,† she whispered, unbuttoning his pajamas. â€Å"What can you tell me about the mating rituals of advanced primates?† Tolland sighed. â€Å"I'm afraid I don't really do primates.† Rachel shed her football jersey. â€Å"Well, nature boy, I suggest you learn fast.† Epilogue The NASA transport jet banked high over the Atlantic. Onboard, Administrator Lawrence Ekstrom took a last look at the huge charred rock in the cargo hold. Back to the sea, he thought. Where they found you. On Ekstrom's command, the pilot opened the cargo doors and released the rock. They watched as the mammoth stone plummeted downward behind the plane, arcing across the sunlit ocean sky and disappearing beneath the waves in a pillar of silver spray.

Prejudice in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee Essay

Throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, many different prejudices are revealed. The most prominent being the racial prejudice between the white people and black people in Maycomb, Alabama during the 1930’s. However, there are many more subtle and discreet prejudices against other people in Maycomb, also. One of the first prejudices to become known is against the Cunninghams. The Cunninghams are a very poor farming family who were hit hard by the Great Depression. â€Å"†¦The Cunninghams never took anything they can’t pay back – no church baskets and no scrimp stamps. They never took anything off anybody, they get along on what they have. They don’t have much, but they get along on it.† Scout explains to Miss Caroline, their first grade teacher, on page 20. The Cunninghams were hit hardest by the Depression and because of their level of poverty the Cunninghams are discriminated against. â€Å"The thing is, you can scrub Walter Cunningham till he shines, you can put him in shoes and a new suit, but he’ll never be like Jem.† Aunt Alexandra explains to Scout on page 224. Aunt Alexandra does not want Scout associating with Walter Cunningham simply because of his class. Aunt Alexandra is discriminating against the Cunninghams because they are below the Finches on the social strata. Probably the most prominent prejudice in the novel is the racial prejudice. Tom Robinson was a black man who was accused of raping Mayella Ewell, a white girl. When Tom was put in jail awaiting trial, Atticus, his lawyer, went down one night and sat outside the jailhouse. A mob showed up that night with the intent to beat Tom Robinson but with Atticus there, the mob was stalled and eventually left. This mob was consumed with racial prejudice against the black people. Even Calpurnia, the black housekeeper for the Finches, is discriminated against. Although Calpurnia is treated fairly, it is obvious Calpurnia is considered to be on a lower social level than the Finches. Calpurnia calls Scout ma’am and Jem sir, although these are titles usually reserved for elders. An example of this is on page 207. Calpurnia addresses Jem after they have been missing at the trial all day with â€Å"Hush your mouth, sir! When you oughta be hangin’ your head in shame you go along laughin’. If Mr. Finch don’t wear you out, I will – get in that house, sir!† Though it seems that the blacks are the ones who are prejudiced against, when Jem and Scout are taken to Calpurnia’s church, (their black house-keeper) the black people show hostility towards Jem and Scout. Lula, a black woman at the church confronts Calpurnia on page 119. â€Å"You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n.† Because the whites shun the blacks the blacks are prejudiced in return. Another prejudice that comes to light is the prejudice against Dolphus Raymond. Dolphus is a wealthy white man but is a victim of isolation because of his relationship with a woman who is black. When Scout meets Mr. Dolphus Raymond during the trial Scout becomes aware that Dolphus is a victim of prejudice and has become an outcast. Dolphus pretended to be a drunk so he didn’t have to explain the fact that he was simply in love with a black woman. The alcohol, Dolphus said, gave the people an excuse to say that Dolphus didn’t know what he was doing. On page 200, Dolphus says to Dill and Scout â€Å"When I come to this town, which is seldom, if I weave a little and drink out of this sack, folks can say Dolphus Raymond’s in the clutches of whisky—that’s why he won’t change his ways. He can’t help himself, that’s why he lives like he does.† The people of Maycomb are intolerant of the way Dolphus chooses to live. Dolphus is discriminated against because he lives his life with a black woman. This is thought to be wrong in society in Maycomb. Yet another prejudice in Maycomb was that against Arthur Radley. Arthur Radley could see the segregation of the people of Maycomb and the prejudice. Therefore Arthur isolated himself; Arthur didn’t want to be a part of Maycomb’s intolerance. By doing this Arthur became one of the outsiders and was still a victim of the prejudice, as Arthur was different. There were wild rumors circulating the town and the children made up stories and games about Arthur. Because he was virtually unknown, Arthur Radley was discriminated against. The theme of prejudice is explored many ways throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The different kinds of prejudice explore how deep people’s  hatred of each other can go. It gives the reader good insight as to what makes people intolerant and why people shouldn’t be prejudiced just because others are different. From discriminating against the poor to racial prejudice to silly rumors fueling intolerance, very few realize that everyone is different but also equal.

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 21

The next morning, Damon left with the brief explanation that he was helping the militia at the camp. I wasn't sure I believed his excuse, but the house was decidedly more peaceful in his absence. Katherine came over each night to play cribbage with Father. Occasionally I'd join her as a two-against-one team. While playing, Katherine would tell Father stories from her past: about her father's shipping business; about her Italian mother; about Wheat, the Scottish terrier she'd had as a girl. I wondered if any of them were true, or if it was Katherine's plan to act as a modern- day Scheherazade, spinning stories that would eventually persuade Father to spare her. Katherine would always make a show of going back to the carriage house, and it was agony waiting for the moment when Father went to bed so that I could follow her. She never talked about her past–or her plans–with me. She didn't tell me how she got her nourishment, and I didn't ask. I didn't want to know. It was far easier to pretend she was just a normal girl. One afternoon, when Father was in town with Robert, discussing business with the Cartwrights, Katherine and I decided to spend an entire day together, instead of a few stolen, dark hours. It was nearing October, but no one would know it from the high temperatures and the daily late- afternoon thunderstorms. I hadn't gone swimming all summer, and I couldn't wait to feel the water of the pond on my skin–and Katherine in my arms in the daylight. I stripped down and jumped in immediately. â€Å"Don't splash!† yelled Katherine. She lifted her simple blue skirt up to her ankles and cautiously stepped toward the edge of the pond. She'd already left her muslin flats beneath the willow tree, and I couldn't stop staring at the delicate white of her ankles. â€Å"Come in! The water's fine!† I yelled, even though my teeth were chattering. Katherine continued to tiptoe toward the edge of the pond until she was standing on the muddy strip between the grass and the water. â€Å"It's dirty.† She wrinkled her nose, shielding her eyes from the sun. â€Å"That's why you have to get in. To wash off all the mud,† I said, using my fingers to flick water toward Katherine. A few droplets landed on the bodice of her dress, and I felt desire course through me. I dunked under the water to cool my head. â€Å"You're not afraid of a little splashing,† I said as I emerged, my hair dripping on my shoulders. â€Å"Or, shall I say, you're not afraid of splashing Stefan?† I felt a little bit ridiculous saying it, because such comments didn't sound nearly as clever on my lips. Still, she did me the favor of laughing. I carefully sidestepped the rocks on the bottom of the pond to walk closer toward her, then flicked more water in her direction. â€Å"No!† Katherine shrieked, but she made no move to run away as I walked out of the pond, grabbed her around the waist, and carried her into the water. â€Å"Stefan! Stop!† she screamed as she clung to my neck. â€Å"At least let me take off my dress!† At that, I immediately let her go. She lifted her hands over her head, allowing me to easily pull off her dress. There she stood in her little white slip. I gaped in amazement. Of course I'd seen her body before, but it had always been in shadows and half-light. Now I saw the sun on her shoulders, and the way her stomach curved inward and I knew, for the millionth time, that I was in love. Katherine dove underwater, reemerging right next to me. â€Å"And now, revenge!† She leaned down and splashed cool water on me with all her might. â€Å"If you weren't so beautiful, I might fight back,† I said, pulling her toward me. I kissed her. â€Å"The neighbors will talk,† murmured Katherine against my lips. â€Å"Let them talk,† I whispered. â€Å"I want everyone to know how much I love you.† Katherine kissed me harder, with more passion than I'd ever felt. I sucked my breath in, feeling so much desire that I stepped away. I loved Katherine so much that it almost hurt; it made it harder to breathe, harder to talk, harder to think. It was as if my desire was a force larger than myself, and I was simultaneously frightened and overjoyed to follow wherever it led me. I took a shaky breath and looked up at the sky. Large thunderclouds had rolled in, obscuring the sky, which had been a pure cerulean just moments before. â€Å"We should go,† I said, heading toward shore. Sure enough, as soon as we stepped onto dry land, a clap of thunder rolled off in the distance. â€Å"The storm came in fast,† Katherine observed as she wrung out her curls. She didn't seem at all self-conscious even though her soaking-wet white slip left nothing to the imagination. Somehow, it seemed almost more illicit and erotic to see her scantily dressed than to see her naked. â€Å"One could think that it was almost a sign that our relationship is not meant to be.† Her voice was teasing, but I felt a shiver of dread go up my spine. â€Å"No,† I said loudly, to reassure myself. â€Å"I'm just teasing you!† Katherine kissed my cheek before leaning down to pick up her dress. As she stole behind the weeping willow tree, I yanked up my breeches and put on my shirt. Katherine emerged from behind the tree a moment later, her cotton dress clinging to her curves, the damp tendrils of her hair sticking to her curves, the damp tendrils of her hair sticking to her back. Her skin had a bluish quality to it. I put my arms around her and rubbed her arms vigorously, trying to warm her up, though I knew that was impossible. â€Å"I have something to tell you,† Katherine said as she tilted her face up to the open sky. â€Å"What?† I asked. â€Å"I would be honored to attend the Founders Ball with you,† she said, and then, before I could kiss her again, she broke from my embrace and ran back to the carriage house.