The business of water consumption Essay Example

The business of water consumption Essay In terms of the scholarly discussion on corporate social responsibility please outline the key arguments that may support the actions of the firms given in the case. Furthermore, discuss the main arguments against corporate social responsibility considering these firms’ actions. Use scholarly literature and examples from the case study to illustrate. Though water is considered as essential to survival of all life forms, getting access to quality water is increasingly becoming difficult in the under-developed world. While privatization is promoted as the solution for this crisis, previous examples of such a move have resulted in adverse results, especially for the poor. Where privatization of water has been implemented in the last 10 years, contentious debates and protestations have risen in the communities affected by the project. In the case study titled ‘The Business of Water’, we read about the activities of some of the major water and beverage companies in the world like Suez, Coca-Cola, Vivendi, etc. These companies have installed several plants in developing countries such as India, Philippines, Bolivia, Brazil, etc in the last 10-15 years. Though there are some benefits to the society, in terms of the availability of safe bottled drinking water and a better range of beverages, the communities surrounding the p lants have largely suffered as a result. In their defense, MNCs who’ve setup these plants cite various reasons behind their efforts. They point out how they bail-out financially stapped local administrative and public works bodies by putting forward a substantial amount of capital and investments. This in turn helps local municipalities to We will write a custom essay sample on The business of water consumption specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The business of water consumption specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The business of water consumption specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer â€Å"update the obsolete and decaying infrastructure of municipal water and sewer systems. By one federal estimate, it will require one trillion dollars over the next 20 years to replace aging sewer pipes and treatment plants. Second, many economists argue that private businesses are more cost-efficient and effective in providing services than the public sector. And third, in some quarters ideology favors downsizing government and outsourcing things to the private sector.† (Hale, 2006) Despite these advantages that are held up by pro-privatization lobbyists, the ground realities have not changed for much of the population in which these MNC’s operate. MNC’s are seen to be driven purely on profit motive and are accused of failing in Corporate Social Responsibility measure. The most publicized case in this respect is the conflict between Coca-Cola and local communities surrounding its plant in Palchimada, Kerala. The village of Palchimada is located in the South Indian state of Kerala and is chosen for its impressive groundwater reservoirs and healthy annual rainfalls. But, as it turned out, within a few years of the plant’s operation the water table fell by several tens of feet and it became very difficult for local farmers and villagers to fetch water. This is a clear case of an MNC undermining the interests of the society for the sake of its private gain. It is also an illustration of how vapid and meaningless claims of Corporate Social Respon sibility by MNCs turn out in reality. For progressive political leaders, incidents such as these across the Third World point to certain undeniable facts. They claim that MNCs exploit the dire economic situation of poor people. (Guislain, 1997) Joining ranks with MNCs are government officials, who pay scant respect to public welfare. These episodes have led some opponents of privatization, such as Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke, to draw a line in the sand, stating that â€Å"the move to commodify depleting global water supplies is wrong-ethically, environmentally, and socially. They think privatization of water resources allows allocation decisions to be made by corporations that desire to maximize profits and ignores the environmental and social consequences of water allocation policies. These companies, focused only on the bottom line, are unlikely to invest in new technology or water conservation. To Barlow and Clarke, privatization interferes with citizens’ ability to allocate and manage their own water, concentrates power in the hands of monopolist corporations, and makes it difficult for local governments to reclaim control over the water system.† (Luoma, 2005) References †¢ Glennon, R. (2005). Water Scarcity, Marketing, and Privatization. Texas Law Review, 83(7), 1873+. †¢ Guislain, P. (1997). The Privatization Challenge: A Strategic, Legal, and Institutional Analysis of International Experience (World Bank Regional and Sectoral Studies). Washington, DC: World Bank. †¢ Hale, S. I. (2006). Water Privatization in the Philippines: The Need to Implement the Human Right to Water. Pacific Rim Law Policy Journal, 15(3), 765+. †¢ Luoma, J. (2005, June). THE WATER THIEVES: Privatization of Global Water Services Benefits Only Business. CCPA Monitor, 12(2), 32+. †¢ Megginson, W. L. (Ed.). (2005). The Financial Economics of Privatization. New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://www.questia.comPrivatization: A Global Perspective. New York: Routledge. †¢ Sitaraman, S. (2008). Privatization, Efficiency, Gender, Development, and Inequality-Transnational Conflicts over Access to Water and Sanitation. Human Rights Human Welfare, 8, 91.

Senior Project Essay - How to Write a Sample Senior Project

Senior Project Essay - How to Write a Sample Senior ProjectA sample senior reflection essay should give you a taste of the kind of essay that will be required. A lot of time and attention is required when writing a senior project. Sometimes a lot of people do not have the skills or the confidence to write something with a deadline. These essays help you get your feet wet and to know what kind of materials you should use.A lot of senior projects are passed in class for the joy of learning. Writing has its own rewards, too. There is nothing wrong with your senior project being taken on by an outside party, if it is for higher education. The professor or committee may accept it, but for many it is a win-win situation.It gives them their first shot at a paper. They can work out their problems and just work and get feedback from others. Writing a senior project has to be unique to help with the judges' understanding of the individual's talent and expertise. This is why most of these essay s have essays included to help identify that talent and expertise. You do not have to worry about plagiarism issues.The other problem, many new writers face is the deadline for the paper. There are essays that you need to send out the day before the due date. There are essay samples that you need to prepare by a certain time, or you can prepare one that you send out as soon as you have completed it. Make sure you let your audience know this so they can do their own research and make an informed decision about your project. They should be able to tell if your essay is due the day before or if it is due later that same day.It is also good to do some brainstorming so you can identify your own objectives and then write about the topics that interest you. You should also be able to use some kind of graphic image to make your essay more eye-catching. Sample senior reflection essays can help you with that. Some of the topics in essays can include the nature of the economy, things that are hard to change, how students can take ownership of their projects, and your opinion on the best way to do things.Some other sections of the senior project you may want to include are personal experiences and then see how long it takes you to talk about them. At times, the people in the audience are not going to be able to relate to you if you do not discuss things that they already know. The same goes for the people who are judging your project. Being able to talk about things that they cannot relate to will help you stand out from the crowd.Also, talking about personal experiences will help you connect with people. They will feel comfortable talking about how they relate to what you are writing about. It is a common practice to include people of different backgrounds in a project. Most people do not know anyone who is a non-techie, so a lot of times that is an added asset. Writing about things that are personal to you will make the people reading it more sympathetic towards your pe rspective.As you start to write your own senior project, be sure to follow the sample instructions carefully. It is better to be safe than sorry. It can be painful to say the least to your audience if you do not come through on your promise to present a well-written senior project. If you are fortunate enough to get a thumbs up from the audience, well done!

The Ancient Myths about Athena

The Ancient Myths about Athena In his mythology (The Age of Fable: Vols. I II: Stories of Gods and Heroes. 1913), Thomas Bulfinch uses the Roman name Minerva for the Greek goddess Athena. Chapters from Bulfinch that Feature Athena: Chapter 14Arachne and the Weaving Contest With AthenaThe beginning of this chapter details Athenas skills, her special connection with Athens, and her birth from the head of her father Zeus. The chapter goes on to describe a contest between a mortal woman, Arachne, and Athena. It follows with another challenge made by a mortal against a goddess, but the goddess is not Athena.Chapter 15MedusaBulfinch has already identified Athena in the previous chapter, so in this one, Athena is introduced as the goddess challenged by Medusa to a beauty contest. Regardless of who was more beautiful, Athena had to punish Medusa, which she did by turning her into a monster. Then, when the hero Perseus goes off to slay the monster, Athena comes to his assistance by lending him her shield the one he uses as a mirror so he can decapitate without being turned to stoneChapter 30Odysseus and AthenaIn this chapter, Bulfinch is describing the adventures of Odysseus. Odysseus has returned to Ithaca but doesnt recognize it until Athena in disguise tells him where he is. The chapter describes Odysseus return to his home where he finds and eventually slays the suitors who have been harassing his wife. Elsewhere in Bulfinch, Athena plays minor roles: Chapter 16Athena invents thunderbolts and deals with the winged horse Pegasus.Chapter 20Theseus blames Athena for abandoning Ariadne and sets up the Panathenaea to honor her.Chapter 2Here Athena helps Prometheus steal fire to give to mankind.Chapter 19Athena and Hermes accompany Hercules to the Underworld.Chapter 7In this chapter, Bulfinch invents a conversation between Aphrodite and her son in which she names Athena as one who defies her.

Contract Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Contract Assignment - Essay Example With at least two forms –the vendors and the purchasers—vying for legal standing the courts find themselves adjudicating a battle of the forms. They must determine what form applies, if any, or, alternately, that neither form applies and by default, a given contractual dispute must be resolved by recourse to the Sale of Goods Act rather than by the terms and conditions set out by either firm. (â€Å"Sale of Goods Act C. 54† 1979) his was the judgement that the court arrived at in â€Å"GHSP INC v. AB ELECTRONIC LTD† [2010] EWHC 1828 (Comm) Case No: 2008 Folio 1353. Neither the form of the seller AB Electronic Ltd. nor that of the purchaser, GHSP Inc. was held to be valid In lieu of a specific contract the court relied on the â€Å"Sale of Goods Act, 1979†. This issue is of considerable importance for both buyers and sellers. Understandably, the sellers standard form will contain terms that are beneficial to the seller while the purchasers form will favour the purchasers interests. Often the determination of which contract is applicable will resolve the dispute, implicitly, in favour of the party whose contract is accepted by the courts. It is for this reason that a battle of the forms can have such great importance. For more than thirty years the courts have relied on Butler Machine Tool Company Ltd. v. EX-CELL-O Corporation (England) Limited† [1977] EWCA Civ 9 Case No. 172 B. No. 234 when confronted with a battle of the forms. Briefly, Butler contracted to produce a production machine for EX-CELL-O Corp. They produced a contract for production of said machine with a price, terms and delivery details. EX-CELL-O responded with acceptance of the price on their own form that contained different details, particularly as they related to additional costs incurred prior to their receipt of the machine. Butlers contract contained a clause allowing them to charge any price increases

Describe one social work method and how you could use it in practice Essay

Describe one social work method and how you could use it in practice - Essay Example Social case work is identified as a form of ‘one to one relationship’ based on which social workers make efforts in terms of understanding the factors resulting to complications within human lives (Sajid, 2012; Schwartz & et. al., 1975; Richmond, 1922). In this context, to adopt social case work in practice, I would perform social case work with the assistance of social workers in the community. The practice of social case work would be based on certain procedure that include assessment, study, evaluation and application of appropriate procedures based on which social case work activities are to be conducted. Additionally, the practice of social case work should be conducted in accordance with guiding principles and standards that include ethical values and knowledge among others (National Association of Social Workers, 2013; Perlman, 1957; NCBI, n.d.). It can be comprehended that social case work acts as a comprehensive tool in terms of developing the overall situation of individuals having difficulties in aligning with surrounding environment both in terms of physical and social perspective. In this regard, the practice of social case work is required to be conducted on the basis of certain procedure, so that care and treatment is offered appropriately. LinkedIn Corporation, 2014. Social Case Work. Celebrating the Dignity & Worth of Every Individual. [Online] Available at: http://www.slideshare.net/srengasamy/social-case-work-main [Accessed September 22, 2014]. Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2014. End of Life - Ideas for Practice: Case Study the Importance of Social Work Support. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.scie.org.uk/adults/endoflifecare/ideasforpractice/socialworksupport.asp [Accessed September 22,

National Health Care Spending Essay Example for Free

National Health Care Spending Essay Introduction Health care in the United States is provided by many distinct organizations. Accordingly, the US Census Bureau (2010) reported that health care facilities are largely owned and operated by private sector businesses. While sixty-two percent of hospitals are non-profit, 20% are government owned, and 18% are for-profit. Furthermore, 60–65% of healthcare provision and spending comes from programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, the Childrens Health Insurance Program, and the Veterans Health Administration. Most of the population under 67 is either insured by themselves or a family members employer, buy health insurance on their own, and the remainder are uninsured. Health insurance for public sector employees is primarily provided by the government. Still, the United States has a life expectancy of 78.4 years at birth, up from 75.2 years in 1990, and is ranked 50th among 221 nations, and 27th out of the 34 industrialized countries, down from 20th in 1990. Of 17 high-income countries studied by the National Institutes of Health in 2013, the United States had the highest or near-highest prevalence of infant mortality, heart and lung disease, sexually transmitted infections, adolescent pregnancies, injuries, homicides, and disability. Together, such issues place the U.S. at the bottom of the list for life expectancy. On average, a U.S. male can be expected to live almost four fewer years than those in the top-ranked country (NIH, 2013). Thesis Statement As dismal as the statistics are, in recent years, policy makers as well as leading economists have focused a considerable amount of attention on  aggregate spending increases in health care and how health care spending impacts the United States economy. Thereby, specific emphasis has been given to identifying and examining distinctive factors that have contributed to spending growth, and proposing solutions for reduction. Seemingly, factors that have contributed to spending growth encompass changes in health care utilization, population demographics, price inflation, and advances in medical technology. Thus, as more and more advanced scientific technology is developed the costs associated with providing quality health care increases. With that said, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States spent more on health care per capita ($8,608), and more on health care as percentage of its GDP (17.2%), than any other nation in 2011. Yet, the United States ranked last in the quality of health care among similar countries, and notes United States care costs the most. Similarly, in a 2013 Bloomberg ranking of nations with the most efficient health care systems, the United States ranks 46th among the 48 countries included in the study. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 49.9 million residents, 16.3% of the population, were uninsured in 2010 (up from 49.0 million residents, 16.1% of the population, in 2009). In addition, a 2004 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report said: The United States is among the few industrialized nations in the world that does not guarantee access to health care for its population.† Further, with the exception of Mexico, Turkey, and the United States, all of the other countries had achieved universal or near-universal (at least 98.4% insured) coverage of their populations by 1990; and recent evidence demonstrates that lack of health insurance causes some 45,000 to 48,000 unnecessary deaths every year in the United States. In 2007, 62.1% of filers for bankruptcies claimed high medical expenses, and 25% of all senior citizens declare bankruptcy due to medical expenses, and 43% are forced to mortgage or sell their primary residence. On March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) became law, providing for major changes in health insurance. The medical system has been forced to change normal procedures to meet federal regulations. The law includes a large number of health-related provisions  to take effect over the next four years, including expanding Medicaid eligibility for people making up to 133% of FPL, subsidizing insurance premiums for peoples making up to 400% of FPL ($88,000 for family of 4) so their maximum out-of-pocket pay will be from 2% to 9.8% of income for annual premium, providing incentives for businesses to provide health care benefits, prohibiting denial of coverage and denial of claims based on pre-existing conditions, establishing health insurance exchanges, prohibiting insurers from establishing annual spending caps and support for medical research. The costs of these provisions are offset by a variety of taxes, fees, and cost-saving measures, such as new Medicare taxes for high-income brackets, taxes on indoor tanning, cuts to the Medicare Advantage program in favor of traditional Medicare, and fees on medical devices and pharmaceutical companies; there is also a tax penalty for citizens who do not obtain health insurance (unless they are exempt due to low income or other reasons). The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the net effect (including the reconciliation act) will be a reduction in the federal deficit by $143 billion over the first decade. Conclusion In conclusion, in contrast to the argument that rising health care spending at the Federal and State level decreases economic growth, and employee health care costs decreases job growth, a reasonable argument, could also be made that rising health care spending has important benefits, often outweighing the increased costs. I submit that improvements in quality may produce a cause and effect whereby, the cost of medical care is decreased. Subsequently, increased health care spending improves increases in access to new technologies, providing both new options of treatment and treatment for a greater number of individuals; which provides for healthier employees. Moreover, health care spending growth is more likely to create health care jobs, increases wages for health care workers, expands local tax revenues, and increases demand for related goods and services. We, as Americans, profess to be the richest, strongest, and greatest country, yet we stand by and watch homeless citizens sleeping on the streets, children going to bed at night hungry, and citizens dying because they lack health insurance. The Affordable Care Act is a good start, however we must keep legislators who oppose the bill from chipping away at it. Health care should be a human  right, not a privilege. For example, in May 2011, the state of Vermont became the first state to pass legislation establishing a Single-Payer health care system. The legislation, known as Act 48, establishes health care in the state as a human right and lays the responsibility on the state to provide a health care system which best meets the needs of the citizens of Vermont. The state is currently in the studying phase of how best to implement this system. Of the 26.2 million foreign immigrants living in the US in 1998, 62.9% were non-U.S. citizens. In 1997, 34.3% of non-U.S. citizens living in America did not have health insurance coverage as opposed to the 14.2% of native-born Americans who do not have health insurance coverage. Among those immigrants who became citizens, 18.5% were uninsured, as opposed to noncitizens, who are 43.6% uninsured. In each age and income group, immigrants are less likely to have health insurance. With the recent healthcare changes, many legal immigrants with various immigration statuses now are able to qualify for affordable health insurance. We need to push for more. The cost for individuals that use emergency rooms as port of entry to medical care far exceeds obtaining a primary care provider. References Institute of Medicine (2004). Retrieved from http://.www.institutesofmedicine, May 09, 2014. National Institute of Health (2013). Retrieved from http://.www.nationalinstituteofhealth, May 10, 2014. U. S. Census Bureau (2010). Retrieved from http://.www.uscensusbureau, May 10, 2014. World Health Organization (2014). Retrieved from http://.www.worldhealthorganization, May 10, 2014. www.healthcare.gov (2014). Retrieved from http://.www.healthcare.gov. May 10, 2014

Karl Marx :: Biographies Philosophy Papers

Karl Marx Karl Heinrich Marx was born on May 5, 1818, in the city of Trier in Prussia, now, Germany. He was one of seven children of Jewish Parents. His father was fairly liberal, taking part in demonstrations for a constitution for Prussia and reading such authors as Voltaire and Kant, known for their social commentary. His mother, Henrietta, was originally from Holland and never became a German at heart, not even learning to speak the language properly. Shortly before Karl Marx was born, his father converted the family to the Evangelical Established Church, Karl being baptized at the age of six. Marx attended high school in his home town (1830-1835) where several teachers and pupils were under suspicion of harboring liberal ideals. Marx himself seemed to be a devoted Christian with a "longing for self-sacrifice on behalf of humanity." In October of 1835, he started attendance at the University of Bonn, enrolling in non-socialistic-related classes like Greek and Roman mythology and the history of art. During this time, he spent a day in jail for being "drunk and disorderly-the only imprisonment he suffered" in the course of his life. The student culture at Bonn included, as a major part, being politically rebellious and Marx was involved, presiding over the Tavern Club and joining a club for poets that included some politically active students. However, he left Bonn after a year and enrolled at the University of Berlin to study law and philosophy. Marx's experience in Berlin was crucial to his introduction to Hegel's philosophy and to his "adherence to the Young Hegelians." Hegel's philosophy was crucial to the development of his own ideas and theories. Upon his first introduction to Hegel's beliefs, Marx felt a repugnance and wrote his father that when he felt sick, it was partially "from intense vexation at having to make an idol of a view [he] detested." The Hegelian doctrines exerted considerable pressure in the "revolutionary student culture" that Marx was immersed in, however, and Marx eventually joined a society called the Doctor Club, involved mainly in the "new literary and philosophical movement" who's chief figure was Bruno Bauer, a lecturer in theology who thought that the Gospels were not a record of History but that they came from "human fantasies arising from man's emotional needs" and he also hypothesized that Jesus had not existed as a person. Bauer was later dismissed from his position by the Prussian government. By 1841, Marx's studies were lacking and, at the suggestion of a friend, he submitted a