Barclays Bank CSR

Introduction Barclay’s Corporate Social Report centres on community support, growth contribution and carrying out business using sound principles. The company focuses on improving its customer’s lives as well as the well being of its communities.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Barclays Bank CSR specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More CSR Summary Growth contribution is one of the key areas that Barclays addresses in its corporate social report. The need to establish a strong and viable business, which creates job opportunities and participates in corporate citizenship, perpetuates this aspect. One way of achieving these gaols is through direct economic contribution (Idowu Filho, 2008). The company employs approximately one hundred and forty seven thousand, five hundred employees; these individuals come from over fifty countries. Additionally, in 2010, the company paid approximately 6.1 billion pounds in taxes. The company also supports growth through individual and business support. It recognises that individuals need help to acquire loans, so the company responds by giving families mortgages. Besides this, Barclays also partners with businesses in order to facilitate job creation and boost economic growth. In this area of the CSR, the Bank also invests in the future through education, healthcare and social housing. It accomplishes this through partnerships with the social housing sector in the United Kingdom. The organisation also contributes to growth through clean technologies and carbon solutions. One of the ways, that the corporation achieves this is through clean technology initiatives. It also engages in emissions trading. Climate change is another key area in the Barclays corporate social report. The organisation first deals with its own environmental impact before tackling others’ impacts. Barclays has launched a Climate Action Program that focuses on three key goal s. The first one is the management of the company’s carbon footprint and the reduction of its absolute carbon emissions. The second goal is the development of services and products to facilitate a low carbon economy. The third one is the management of risks linked to its clients; operations and its own activities. In addition to the Climate Action Program, Barclays also has a carbon offsetting initiative. In this area, the company buys carbon credits to neutralise its carbon emissions. It has also implemented environmental management systems in all its respective branches. Lastly, Barclays works hand in hand with different kinds of partners.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some of them include Solar Aid, WWF as well as Barclays International Challenge. The organisation believes that certain daily operations can alter its carbon footprint. Therefore, the bank has made a commitment to reductions in travel emissions, and reductions in transport (Barclays Bank Plc, 2011a). The organisation’s CSR also centres on community investment as a key area of concern. It believes in dedicating its time, skills and financial resources to support its communities. In the previous year, Barclays invested approximately 55.3 million pounds in community programmes. Audits indicate that approximately 62,118 employees participated in these programmes. Together, they touched about one point five million people. In this segment, Barclays invests on sports, young people and future innovations. The firm often ensures that it aligns its investments with sound community changes in order to create a significant impact. Furthermore, the company requires its employees to engage in certain programs that support community causes. In this regard, it has established a fundraising programme, volunteering opportunities and days that allow employees to make a difference in the lives of other people in the community. A similar night program also exists. Furthermore, the organisation has an Awards initiative that recognises the most useful employees in their company. It also encourages staff members to contribute regularly towards tangible community causes. Barclays believes that the manner in which it does business has a tremendous effect on its image as well as it corporate social obligations. As a result, the company has clearly defined business principles. Barclays achieves this through customer service improvements; customer engagements are key success indicators. Furthermore, the organisation meets its citizenship obligations through implementation of environmental and social impacts. The company ensures that its key resource (Human resource) can deliver on its corporate responsibility commitments by investing on its employees through corporate responsibility training. Furthermore, the bank works together with key stakeholders, such as shareholders, customers, businesses, and government bodies, in aid oriented and profit oriented industries to serve them well. It is only through stakeholder engagement that the company can address the needs of the people that it serves (Idowu, 2004). Lastly, the company’s CSR also acknowledges the need for diversity in its organisation. Barclays is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of their race, gender, social background, sexual orientation or disability. Furthermore, the company believes that by harnessing the power of diversity in its institution, then it can reap the benefits of multiple perspectives in business.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Barclays Bank CSR specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More How the company deals with climate change and the extent to which the company addresses these concerns Since climate change is such a wide area, Barclays s elected only some key areas in its corporate social report so as to harness its potential for causing change; one of this is a climate action program. Three priorities govern this program; carbon footprint management, service and product development and climate change risk management. The firm has a target to reduce carbon emissions by four percent in 2013, in its carbon footprint management goal. The company collects and analyses its environmental data on a continual basis to achieve this. Barclays collaborates with external auditors such as Ernst and Young to increase the validity of this data. However, there is room for improvement in this area. The company is yet to meet its targets. It must, therefore, increase its robustness in that sector. Service and product development help to transition businesses and people to low carbon use. This issue relates to consumers who have ideas that relate to carbon reduction. If a business or entrepreneur seeks financing for such an investment opportunity, Barclays will provide that individual with unique risk management and financial solutions. This means that Barclays is contributing towards lower carbon use in its environments through a corporate outlook. The bank has done fairly well in this area because its treatment of such entrepreneurs is quite commendable. However, it must also realise that unless potential partners know about the company’s offering, then it will not realise this goal as soon as it would like. Reductions of emission from buildings are a priority area for the company. The company has made a lot of progress in South Africa and the United Kingdom to illustrate its commitment to this goal. First, the bank has innovative technology in green buildings. It started by constructing pilot plants in five branches, in 2008. Here, the organisation instated a device that perfects power use. In 2009, the Bank added nine more branches in the initiative. Each participating site led to 13% reductions in en ergy use. Therefore, the organisation saved approximately thirty thousand pounds in those branches. The firm plans on adding thirty branches to the project by the end of 2011. This is a step in the right direction. The South African Absa Capital manifests Barclays’ commitment to reduction of carbon emissions in buildings. Absa Capital is a green building in South Africa. It is one of the most environmentally friendly structures in that country. The building has highly efficient lighting; it possesses motion detectors to minimise wastage. Furthermore, it utilises solar water heating and harvests rainwater in its grounds. Estimates indicate that the complex has achieved a 34.2% decrease in energy use. These actions are quite positive; however, the institution must try to replicate such an initiative in different branches, as well. The returns on investment are quite clear.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More South Africa is a backbone in this development because of its Energy centre. The company generates electricity through the use of gas and is in Johannesburg. Its intention is to power 8 buildings; estimates indicate that the organisation will save 19,000 tonnes worth of carbon dioxide emissions. Emission reduction through technology use is another method that the company employs in saving energy use. The banking industry’s backbone is information technology. The firm has dense servers that manage its data centres. These servers contribute to the technology problem by emitting excessive heat. They also use up a lot of energy. Introduction of green data centres demonstrates Barclays’ commitment towards carbon emission reduction. These centres focus on using less power and space, using low polluting sources and still let the corporation meet its business needs efficiently. In one of the company’s data centres, the organisation has an ice-based cooling system that h as contributed to a 10 per cent reduction in carbon emissions or minimisation of 600 tonnes worth of carbon dioxide. In fact, environmental organisations such as leadership in Energy and Environmental design gave the company awards for these initiatives. The Bank does not just focus on the UK; it has put up programs in the United States and Singapore so as to achieve reductions in technology emissions too. In the US, the company has 4 data centres that have minimised energy use by approximately 4.4%. Furthermore, Singapore’s data centre has a 37% reduction in energy use after instalment of data centre coolers. The bank realises that several personal computers consume a lot of energy. When employees forget to switch them off in the evenings, then this increases energy use and carbon emissions. In the UK, the bank has instated a night-watchman technical system that automatically switches off personal computers when they are idle. Analyses indicate that this approach has saved 1 0 % of the company’s energy. Lastly, the organisation has a system in Spain which uses the same technology. However, the bank is yet to do assessments of its cost effectiveness because the system was only recently launched (Barclays Bank Plc, 2011b). Reduction of emissions in car, air and road travels exemplifies Barclays’ commitment to carbon reductions. In air travel, the firm has a project dubbed Icarus that it designed to develop best practice environmental management. The initiative aims at establishing baseline carbon emissions for this mode of travel. It also focuses on emission measurement and strategy management. The establishment has an objective of minimising carbon emissions per traveller by 2.11 percent. In order to accomplish this, Barclays has introduced virtual meetings. Video conferencing is getting popular in the institution. It has the latest technologies for conferencing in four key UK locations. Furthermore, the organisation has built a video confe rencing network for its international staff. Approximately 10,000 staff members communicate with one another through this platform. The firm bought hybrid cars that use modest fuel and have batteries that are rechargeable to reduce carbon emissions from car trips. Such an initiative is yet to reach other branches, but this is a step in the right direction. Lastly, Barclays has a Bike2Work initiative, where employees get to ride company sponsored bikes to work in order to lessen carbon emissions (Barclays Bank Plc, 2011a). Lastly, the organisation has a carbon offsetting scheme in place. It buys carbon credits in order to counterbalance its footprints. Offsetting works well for the organisation because it assists in financing environmentally friendly projects. In one scenario, the organisation purchased carbon credits from a company in Brazil. Through this effort, the establishment supported job creation and environmental sustainability attempts in that country. The firm has also inv ested in other nations like South Korea, India, China, Kenya and Tanzania through carbon credit purchases. As of 2010, Barclays contributed towards 1,191,956 credits. Conclusion The Barclays Bank Corporate Social Report is indicative of an organisation that is not afraid to ‘walk the talk.† Barclays has clear and straight forward corporate social responsibility goals and has used creative methods to meet them. Its various projects and initiatives testify to this commitment. References Barclays Bank Plc. (2011a). Barclays Annual CSR report. Retrieved from https://home.barclays/investor-relations/reports-and-events/annual-reports/?pageid=96 Barclays Bank Plc. (2011b). Citizenship. Retrieved from http://www.ethicalperformance.com/reports Idowu, S. (2004). A comparative study of the contents of corporate social responsibility reports of UK companies. Management of Environmental Quality, 4(15), 420-437. Idowu, S. Filho, W. (2008). Global practices of corporate social respons ibility. London: Springer. This report on Barclays Bank CSR was written and submitted by user Brielle L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Imagery in One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest Essays

Imagery in One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest Essays Imagery in One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest Paper Imagery in One Flew Over the Cuckoo s Nest Paper The Image of Insanity In a world of technology and cities of massive population, in which strangers abound and close relationships are limited, society itself appears to be one large, emotionless machine, chi guying along with no care whatsoever for the individuals that make up the huge entity. A proponent of rebellion against conformity himself, Ken Keyes expresses his views on the demutualization of society in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest through vivid imagery. More than a novel about the struggles of the individual characters or a representation of the dilemma of insane versus sane, One Flew is a statement about the cause f insanity. Through the imagery in Chief Bromides narration, Keyes reveals that the demutualization and conformity Of society is the true cause Of insanity. The patients of the mental hospital are constantly seen as an entity separate from the rest of society. The ward is isolated, and initially the only mention of the outside world is in a figurative sense. The Public Relation man and the women who he takes on tours of the hospital and the entrance of Big Nurse from the outside both reveal that the world continues moving outside, but Chief can see out the windows for the first half of the novel. Because Nurse Ratchet must unlock the door to enter, it gives the ward a further feeling of separation from the rest of society. This distinct difference marks the reason that these men are in the ward to begin with: they do not fit in to their roles in society. As Harding says to McCarthy at one point, All of us in here are rabbits of varying ages and degrees, hippy-hopping through our Walt Disney world. Oh, dont misunderstand me, iv?re not in here because were rabbits Were all here because we can adjust to our arbitrator (Keyes 61 Here Harding is revealing both the separation between the ward and the rest f the world, and that the reason the patients are in the ward to begin with is that they cant integrate With society properly. A common vein of Keyess works is the alienated and nonconformist individuals, who attempt To overcome their limitations and to retain their sanity (Ken Keyes). In One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest, the nonconformists are already labeled insane and are struggling to find a place and retain some sense of individuality while the Combine attempts to turn them into effective parts of society. Nurse Ratchet is the face of the Combine in this endeavor, a perfect representative f a standardized, conformist, correct outside world, whose elemental desire is to protect itself against non-conformity or incorrectness (Wieldier). In this strictly regimented world of the ward the nonconformist patients have already given up for the most part, and the only thing preventing them from becoming just another part Of society is their own personalities, which are seemingly out of control. Into this attempt to make the patients fit into conventional society, where Ratchet is trying to build A little world Inside that is a made-to-scale prototype of the big world Outside (Keyes 48-49), tepees McCarthy, the embodiment of individuality and nonconformity. McCarthy is the architect of the patients rebellion against Big Nurse Ratchet and the obedient and unquestioning society she represents. He begins the fight against Big Nurses mechanized world. McCarthy represents individuality and self-reliance. He is the wild-west good guy who is a figure of the untamed natural world itself (Swallowing 124-125). In contrast, the Combine and society are euthanized, described in very mechanical terms. The term Combine itself implies the mechanical nature. The unification of society as one, the combining every person into one mass, without any identification of the individual, and also a combine, or a harvester, a machine that gathers crops, or in this case, people. According to Broaden, the bastards who work for the Combine Slip one of their machines in on you (Keyes 12). He also describes a nighttime scene in which the dorm sinks down into the basement where robot-like workers move in repetitive motions in a furnace-like room, and a patient named Plastic is hooked by his heel and treated like a side of meat (78-81 In these Ways the Combine harvests the people who cannot fit in with the structure and rules of society. Everything about the ward is described in a mechanical way. The imagery rev eals that this made-to-scale copy of the Outside has become completely euthanized. All of the workers, and especially Big Nurse, appear robotic. She carries wheels and gears, needles, pliers and copper wire (10) and makes precise, always calculated movements and gestures. Even her facial expressions are calculated and cold. The imagery of the black boys is slightly more humankind, as they are described as having emotions, but the Hum of lack machinery, humming hate and death and other hospital secrets (10) still provides mechanical imagery. Even the ward itself is managed in a strict manner, with a very repetitive routine. As Tanner describes, The phantom machines Broaden describes in the walls and in the people are part of a significant pattern of imagery used to develop the central theme concerning technological manipulation (22). Titles like Vegetables, Wheelers, Chronics, Acutest, and even the black boys are another sign of how the ward suppresses individuality and dehumidifies the patients in order to mold hem into proper members of society, because society itself is euthanized. Therefore, Macarthur first acts of rebellion occur when he first enters the ward. He goes against procedure by refusing to shower, and then he crosses the line between the segregated groups. Despite [knowing] right away hes not a Chronic (Keyes 22), he goes around the room and shakes the hands of not only the Acutest, but also the Chronics and even the Vegetables. As unconsciously as this he begins his rebellion against the ward, against the Combine, and against accepted society. As the representative Of individuality, McCarthy is the key fighter in the small scale war. Far from being euthanized, the imagery Keyes uses to portray McCarthy is very natural, rough and untamed. Beat up and rough, with a palm that was callused, and the calluses were cracked, and dirt was worked into the cracks. A road map of his travels up and down the West (27), McCarthy held the spirit of untamed nature and the West, the very epitome of individual work and self-reliance. Once the Keeps imagery set the stage in the readers mind, the contrasting imagery of Machine and Nature is identified, [and] the battle lines for the entrap conflict are readily apparent (Tanner 28). The patients rebellion progresses the conflict between nature and euthanized society. [T]he symbolic rebellion of these characters is transformed into a full-scale political protest directed specifically at the existing power structure (Lieberman). This existing structure being the mechanized, technological society represented by the Combine. Keyes was using the attitude of his time period to add to the realization that One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest was a parallel to the events of the real world. He gave he readers something more to think about, critiquing an American society that was portrayed in the serious media of the sass as consisting of a lonely crowd Of organization men, Offered affluence only if willing to pay the price Of conformity (Tanner 18). It was the distressed and tense feelings that were prevalent in this style of society that led to the activism and rebellion of the sis (Ken Kef). As a representation of that rebellious attitude, One Flew utilizes the same tensions and mind-sets to promote the patients rebellion. Although the rebellion starts off with a somewhat political appearance, including the sit-down strike that the men go on when Ratchet, despite us poised encouraging a democratic-style ward, refuses to let them watch the World Series despite having voted to be able to (Keyes 127-128), as it continues, it becomes associated with nature in some ways as well. As the exact opposite of machinery and technology, nature became the sign of the patients successes in the covert war. As the rebellion scene most associated with nature, the fishing trip that McCarthy organized for the patients represented the peak of their success. In fighting standardized society, the men are fighting the very thing which isolated them and cast them aside. Because they could not or would not conform, they were sometimes driven or sometimes simply labeled as insane. The machines and other images he sees are the product of [his] fear- distorted imagination Fear, paranoia, weakness, and disorientation from nature (Tanner 27). In some ways the patients of the mental hospital are no less sane than the people out of it, but they are unable to adjust to the reality of society. Lieberman interprets the patients insanity in a similar way, stating that many of them are not mad at all, unless they have been unhinged by the craziness in the world at large. This logic is supported by the fact that most of the men were voluntarily committed, and it is revealed that many of them got worse within the hospital. Chief Broaden is such a character. Harding implies that it was the treatments the doctors used that actually did the most damage. He says, Ive heard that the Chief, years ago, received more than two hundred shock treatments. Imagine what this could do to a mind that was already slipping (Keyes 65). In the past, mental illnesses were often wrongly diagnosed or completely ignored, and treatment id little more than chain or cage the patient, while actual treatments often comprised of medication, electroshock therapy, or cryosurgery that could do more damage than good (Historical Context). In addition, it has been questioned whether mental hospitals dont actually cause people to appear insane or act insane in response to a bizarre setting (Hornlike 113). Keyes, along with many other modern writers, presents madness more as a moral condition that stands as an indictment of modern society, simply a product of social corruption (Lieberman). As McCarthy says, You boys dont kook so crazy to me' (Keyes 22). Although a large percentage of the patients clearly have some mental problems, he sees some issues as being simply a part of being human, and therefore imperfect. To him insanity is not an explanation of anything A dead-end label, an excuse. To be crazy is not to be without sense (Hornlike 114). Even some Of the more insane men seem to have a deep meaning behind their insanity. During a dream-like sequence, Broaden comes across Colonel Matters, a Chronic patient who makes bizarre metaphors such as Mexico is The wall-nut, and Broaden alkalizes Hes been saying this sort of thing for the whole six years hes been here, but never paid him any mind, figured he Didnt make a lick of sense. Now, at last, I see what hes saying (Keyes 120). As Broaden explains, the man was making his own sort of sense, even if no one else understood. McCarthy also understands this type of logic, and teaches the inmates of the insane asylum to create their own truths (Pick), which is, in a way, what Broaden has done in his creation of the mechanical underworld that no one else can see. The relationship between nature and machinery in the conflict f the rebellion also reveals the affects that the demutualization of society has on people. There is a correlation throughout the novel between the imagery used (mechanical or natural) and the mental health of the patients, and especially the Chief. Although it is hard to pinpoint a time where Chief can be declared completely sane, his perception of reality definitely improves throughout the novel. He continues to think of things in terms of the Combine and the machines, but he no longer sees things that arent really there, he is just interpreting what he sees in strange ways. His improvement can be edged by the imagery he presents in his narration. The first event that reveals his improvement is when the fog machine supposedly breaks. Before this the fog was almost a defense mechanism for Broaden, one he used to shield himself from other people and from reality. When McCarthy argues with Big Nurse about watching the World Series, the fog rolls in heavy and surrounds Broaden, but one of the things he sees in the fog is his father, who he tends to associate with nature because his childhood was surrounded by the natural world. After this, Chief continues through a dream-sequence tit the fog all around, but when McCarthy calls for a vote, he manages to push through the fog and raise his hand, connecting him back to reality. This meeting supposedly causes the fog machine to break, and Broaden remains in touch with his own version of reality for quite some time after this. The next big step for Broaden is when he wakes up to reality in the middle of the night, walks to the window, and is actually able to see outside. Here he begins to recapture some of his former feelings about nature (Madden 1 55), but the power of the machine is reinforced when a dog he sees is run over by car in the same scene. Despite this reminder, the Chief continues to regain his sanity. He begins to remember more of his childhood memories, most of which are associated with nature (Madden 155-156). In this way, the more he sees and remembers nature, and the more vivid his imagery of nature is, the more sane he is, as well. In contrast to Broaden, McCarthy begins to lose touch with nature and, eventually, with sanity. He enters the novel and the hospital bigger than life and restores the inmates power, [but] ends as a clockwork version Of his former self* (Pick). At the end of the novel, just before Broaden executes him and then escapes, McCarthy is described as a crummy sideshow fake (270), by the patients who dont believe he could ever become less than the Wild West style hero he was to them. His face is empty, like a dummy. He has finally been caught and euthanized by the Combine. After killing the fake McCarthy, Broaden escapes from the hospital by tearing out a control panel and tossing it through the safety-glass window. He heard the wires and connections tearing out of the floor. The glass splashed out in the moon, like a bright cold water baptizing the sleeping art (Keyes 271-272). This imagery shows nature escaping from the machine, just as Broaden is finally escaping from the control of the Combine. He is finally able to get away and reaffirm his connection with nature, and by doing so he IS able to reinforce his recovered sanity. The fact that his escape from depredations and euthanized society is so closely linked with his sanity confirms Keyes belief that society causes insanity. Keyes uses imagery through One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest to present to the reader the idea that the focus on technology, machinery and diversification in our society s associated with insanity, while nature is, in contrast, connected to sanity.

Self Career Planning Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 1

Self Career Planning Report - Essay Example As a graduate student, I believe that in today’s competitive world, it is very imperative for individuals to understand and evaluate themselves personally, as one cannot survive in this globalized world by applying ostrich’s approach that results in career plateau (Allen, Russell, Poteet, & Dobbins, 1999). Thus, this paper will focus on my explorations about my own self and aspects of my personality that will play a considerable role in decision-making process during my life. The following section of this paper will include results of Myers’ Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test (Bayne, 1997) and analysis on its different indications about my personality. I will put efforts in presenting the results of the test in such a manner that the reader will be able to create a general picture of my personality. Furthermore, it will be my aim to relate results of MBTI test with different aspects of my life that have already happened in the past. The next section of the paper will focus more on identification of my career goal on the basis of analysis of the test results, as well as my personal observations. This section will include brief description and discussion about the field in which I intend to have my career and its correlation with the results. The following section will shed light on requirements, information, specifications of the particular job, as well as its field and/or industry that will be helpful in understanding the probability of my highest achievement in that specific career. The fifth section will include discussion on challenges or barriers related to the identified job and field/industry, and the gaps that exist between my current profile and the identified job. More importantly, it will include the steps that will help me in reaching closer to my vision and target achievement in life. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test is an outcome of efforts of Isabel Myers

Recombinant DNA tech, RNA tech, Protein Expression, Protein tech Assignment

Recombinant DNA tech, RNA tech, Protein Expression, Protein tech - Assignment Example Question Two For a plasmid to act as an effective cloning vector that can transfer the gene of interest into the target cells, it must exhibit the ability to replicate upon entry into the target cells. Moreover, it must have several cloning sites that allow the insertion of the gene of interest. The plasmid must have a defined origin of replication and effective promoters that ensure successful expression of the foreign gene. Question Three Polymerase chain reaction is one of the ways in which the 1kb gene may be quantified. This process yields many copies of the gene of interest, making other analytical processes possible. The modern Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) exhibits a high level of automation, and yields multiple copies of the gene. The second way of yielding great amounts would involve insertion of the gene into bacteria. After replication of the plasmid in the bacteria, the gene of interest multiplies. Question Four In order to identify the genes in the human liver whose e xpression occurs only when under pressure, a cDNA library would be the most effective. This library would focus on the fragments that undergo transcription and expression. Construction of such a library would require the sequencing of the genes of interest and inserting them into a plasmid vector. The library would also have reverse transcribed messenger RNAs for the genes, and this would involve the use of reverse transcriptase to yield DNA complementary to the messenger RNA. Question Five Type II Restriction Endonucleases do not degrade bacterial chromosomal DNA because they exhibit specificity for foreign DNA. It would be irrational for these endonucleases to cleave the host DNA. Therefore, they limit their activity to breaking down foreign DNA into fragments but preserving host DNA. Such specificity has enabled geneticists to develop DNA fragmentation techniques using restriction enzymes found in bacteria. Question 6 A double stranded circular DNA with four recognition sites for the HindIII, would be fragmented into four fragments after digestion. The restriction would cleave the circular DNA at the four recognition sites yielding four independent fragments, contrary to the five that would result after linearization of the DNA. The difference would emerge because of the evident practical observation made by geneticists who have highlighted that circular DNA yields one less fragment after digestion with restriction enzyme, compared to linear DNA with the same restriction sites. Question 7 In order to screen a cDNA library, the high-density screening method would prove to be highly effective. This method requires the use of high concentrations plating. The choice of this screening factor would be motivated by the fact that it presents a platform for the geneticist to analyze the different fragments through the visualization on a single plate. The technique also proves effective when the gene under study codes for a specific protein. Part 2 Question 1 In orde r to separate cells obtained from tissues of normal mice compared to those obtained from mice engineered with highly active muscle cells, a specific method of analysis is required. The first step would involve isolation of cells from both tissues. After isolation of those cells, effective culture would follow to prepare the cells for effective analysis. It would be necessary to isolate the mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA from both types of cells. Muscle cells have

Critical Thinking Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critical Thinking Reflection - Essay Example Decline in SNAP benefits will translate to the government focusing on other essential economic projects meant to cushion favorable living standards instead of taxing citizens heavily in order to cater for supplementary issues. Mainly, this involves both exploring as well as thinking in such a way the predicament or situation facing a person normally appears different than how it would have had an initial pose. This is encompasses seeking alternatives in a move to obtain solutions after analyzing varied assumptions without hastily resulting to ungrounded judgments. In this case, assumption recognition usually entails lodging adequate scrutiny of varied beliefs, which underlie preferred choices meant to resolve a certain problem. Its application is extremely essential in both practical life and in resolving scholarly matters. Thinking skills such as creative and critical approach usually are helpful in aiding one express idea in a logical manner and contrary to what numerous people may be assuming is the best alternative in resolving a certain issue. Hence, bring about mental inquiry essential in being creative as well as innovative. However, these skills are not bound to one subject or field because one is able to think and solve problems in any way encountered. To ensure my use of critical thinking in future I need to focus on enhancing own critical approach in each aspect without accepting the ordinary way of perceiving situations. Therefore, I must at least get used to working out different problems during the days. Steenland, Sally. Faith in Values: How to Reduce Poverty and Save Taxpayers $4.6 Billion Per Year. Center for American Progress. 19Th March 2014. Web. 21St September 2014.

Is Community Policing Effective?

Is Community Policing Effective? AN ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY POLICING: IS COMMUNITY POLICING AN EFFECTIVE PRACTICE? ABSTRACT Community Policing is a relatively new policing practice that focuses on reducing the crime rate in an area by creating cooperation and trust between citizens and police. The question that comes into play regarding this is whether or not community policing is an effective practice. To answer this question, a study will be conducted where community policing is implemented in a big city for a span of 2 years. All of the citizens and police officers of all ages and both sex’s will be the research participants. Data will be collected by comparing the crime rates from the beginning of the study to the end of the study, along with comparison between the data every 2 months as well. The results will be analyzed by looking at whether or not there were any changes in the crime rates as well as the amount of cooperation by citizens. If there was a decrease in the crime rate then that will determine that community policing is in fact an effective community policing practice that is worth its extra cost. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION LITERATURE REVIEW STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS DISCUSSION CONCLUSION REFERENCES INTRODUCTION The criminal Justice field is currently in a time where new and innovative policing practices are being used in police departments across America. One of these practices being implemented nationwide is community policing. Community policing spans a broad range of programs from neighborhood newsletters and neighborhood substations to foot patrol and neighborhood watch (Welsburd, Lum, 2013). Community Policing’s main focus is to create stronger alliances between police and the community. The goals of community policing are to help reduce citizen fear of crime, improve police-community relations, facilitate more effective responses to community problems, and lower the overall amount of crimes committed (â€Å"Community Policing,† n.d., para. 1). When evaluating the community policing practices there is always the question of whether or not the practice is effective and should continue to be implemented in police departments. Community Policing is an effective practice that is supported by different studies and statistics that have been conducted and released regarding this police practice. (Telep, Weisburd, 2011) The effectiveness of community policing is measured by examining a collection of strategies that are implemented in the practice. (Owusu-Bempah, 2010) Community Policing practices has had great results in cities such as Chicago where the practice has been implemented in several neighborhoods (Eig, 2002). By determining the effectiveness of community policing it determines whether or not this practice is worth being implemented by police departments throughout America. LITERATURE REVIEW Welsburd and Lum (2013) describe how Charlotte Gill and colleagues conducted a study on the impact of community policing. The study showed how community policing led to significant positive benefits for citizen satisfaction, perceived disorder, and police legitimacy. In the end of the article Bennett and colleagues looked at the effectiveness of neighborhood watch programs, which is related to community policing. They found that a neighborhood watch program does in fact lead to a substantial â€Å"crime reduction.† (Para. 10) These authors focus more on the positive aspects of community policing and do not describe much in the way of negatives regarding this policing practice. Community policing involves strengthening the relationship between police officers and citizens in the community. â€Å"Community Policing† (n.d) describes how Goldstein describes that officers working closely with members in the community have greater independence with making decisions, have positive feelings toward citizens, and have greater job satisfaction. One survey conducted on patrol officers showed 98 percent of officers agreed that â€Å"assisting citizens† is just as essential as â€Å"enforcing law.† (Para. 6) The authors focused on describing officer opinion on community policing and positive affects it has had. Community Service is an essential aspect of community policing that strengthens Citizens Corporation and trust. â€Å"The Bureau of Justice Statistics† (n.d) describes how Offering youth education and coordinating community outreach efforts are effective methods in community policing that have been utilized. The study focused on implementing a greater use of foot and bicycle patrols and frequent meetings with community groups. The LEMAS survey conducted in 2003 revealed 58% of all departments, employing 82% of officers, and utilized full-time community policing officers during 2003. All Together, there were about 54,800 local police officers assigned as community police officers. These authors provide data on how community policing is becoming a more widespread policing practice due to its effectiveness. Community Policing has proved to be effective in communities throughout America such as Chicago. Jonathon Eig (2002) describes the community policing practice in Chicago which focuses on more than just foot patrols. Citizens form a positive relationship with police officers which make them believe they have a role in solving the neighborhoods problems. The study describes how in Chicago when a suspect resisted arrest and began punching the officer, neighborhood gang members rushed to her defense and helped subdue the man. (2002) after the implementation of community policing Chicago communities have experienced falling crime rates and a growing sense of safety in many neighborhoods. Fayetteville Minneapolis implemented a community policing strategy to reduce violent crime plaguing the city. Greg Barnes (2014) describes that violent crime among juveniles has fallen dramatically after using community policing. The study showed from 2006 to 2012 gun crimes involving youth dropped by 57 percent and gun crimes dropped by 67 percent. Youths were 39 percent less likely to be shot and 60 percent less likely to be murdered. Fayetteville Police departments hired more police officers to patrol streets and the department upgraded crime-fighting-technology. The study stated that in 2013 there were about 600 fewer home breaks ins. Fayetteville shows how community policing is effective at reducing crime and violence in the community. Community policing is implemented to help curb the rise in violence throughout communities. Akwasi Owusu-Bempah (2010) describes how officers must be actively engaged in efforts to enhance the community safety themselves while using assistance from citizens. Through knowledge-sharing with members of the community, patrol officers become most knowledgeable about the needs and strengths of their communities. The study showed during the six years after the project began (from 1995 through 2000) the number of homicides in Atlanta decreased by 27 per cent. The author describes the positives of community policing and the data that supports this. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM Authors have stated that Community Policing is a relatively new practice in law enforcement that involves a variety of programs which can vary depending on the police department. ( Telep, Weisburd, 2011; â€Å"Community Policing,† n.d., para. 1; Welsburd, Lum, 2013; Owusu-Bempah, 2010) However there is a limited amount of data that determine if community policing practice is worth for departments to utilize. This means it is unclear whether community policing is an effective practice in regards to reducing crime. METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS The methodology is broken down into separate main focuses, the research participants, research design, and the procedure. The research that will be conducted is study of how a community policing program is an effective policing practice. The study will involve implementing a community policing program in a high crime city and seeing what effect it has over a 2 year span. The study’s participants will be split up into two separate groups. The first group will be composed of any citizen living in the city that has implemented a community policing policy. The city for this study is in New Haven Connecticut, which means everyone living in the city limits of New Haven will be the research participants. Their demographic will involve citizens of all ages and both male and females. The second group is composed of all the New Haven police officers assigned to areas throughout New Haven where they will utilize a community policing strategy. Their demographic will involve police officers of all ages and both male and female officers. My design/procedure involves experimentation which will show if community policing is an effective practice. The experiment will involve implementing a community policing practice in New Haven for 2 years. The city will need to hire more officers to actively patrol one specific neighborhood their entire shift. To determine if the practice was successful it will be measured by, whether or not the crime rate decreased with a community policing practice in place. The initial crime rate will be determined by the numbers of various major crimes committed the year before community policing was implemented such as murders, homicides, robbery’s, larceny’s, assaults, and grand theft auto. Next the study will involve increasing the number of cops on patrol and their interaction with citizens in the specific areas they are assigned too. Things that will be measured are whether or not corporation between police and citizens of the city has gone up. Another aspect measured is the ri se in annual police department costs since the community policing practice was put into place. Lastly to measure the practices success during the 2 year span you compare the number of crimes committed every 2 months throughout the duration of the study. Then once the two years is finally done compare the number of crimes that occurred before the start of the study to the number of crimes that occurred at the end of the study to see if the policing practice was in fact effective. For community policing to be deemed effective the data compared will show a drop in the crime rate. Lastly effectiveness will also be based on the cost of the practice compared to the results of the implementation of community policing. DISCUSSION Law enforcement agencies throughout the country are always looking for a solution to lower the rise in number of crimes committed. In the past law enforcement typically involved a disconnect between citizen’s and police officers. However with new policing practices like community policing the disconnect is able to be reduced by police advocating cooperation between citizens and police. Citizens are given the opportunity to be directly involved with keeping their own neighborhood safe by working with police by providing information such as witness statements and possible leads. This also leads to police getting to know people in the community on a personal level and for citizens to view a cop as more than just a person with a badge and a gun. What this means is that community policing provides reasons for citizens to speak with police which will help deter criminals from committing crimes due to knowing that witnesses will cooperate. The importance of the study conducted is that it allows for other police departments to determine whether community policing might work well in their city. There is also a chance for departments already implementing the practice to determine whether they should continue or discontinue community policing. Implementing community policing comes at a rather high cost due to an increase in officers on patrol at once. By the study only being two years long it allows for a city to see first-hand results of the policing practice which will help determine if the effect on the crime rate outweighs the extra costs. Similar studies to this one have shown results that provide support for community policing being an effective policing practice. Chicago is a city that has already implemented community policing in their neighborhoods. One major is that the Chicago study involves community policing in specific neighborhoods with the most crime and poverty which is different from how the New Haven study involves the entire city. In the Chicago study neighborhoods saw a decrease in crimes especially those involved with drugs and gang violence. There was also increased police and citizen cooperation which led to citizens sharing a lot more valuable information to the police, due to how the police showed citizens they were in the community to help them keep the neighborhoods they live in safer. The Chicago study is able to provide support of how community policing will be able to help with reducing the similar issues of gang violence and drug related violence in New Haven which has in recent years seen a major rise in these issues. Even though the study in New Haven shows effective results there are limitations and problems that could possibly occur. A limitation is that realistically not all officers will be able to get citizens in their patrol area to cooperate with them. If this is the case the question that arises is whether it’s worth the extra costs to continue with community policing in the neighborhood for the full duration of the study. Also with a study over a 2 year span a lot can change, if an officer assigned to a neighborhood has to leave midway through the study, could lead to citizens no longer cooperating with the newly assigned officer in the same way they did with the prior officer. In order for the experiment to have validity it would require that every neighborhood has the same officer patrolling it the entire 2 yearlong study which is unrealistic in a large city like New Haven. The last possible problem is that community policing involves a variety of programs which means programs t hat led to successful a community policing outcome in one city might not have the same results in another city. CONCLUSION Community policing is one of the most recent law enforcement innovations with recent research suggesting that close to 100 percent of larger police agencies have implemented this practice. (Welsburd, Lum, 2013) The problem regarding community policing is determining whether or not it can be called an effective policing practice. The overall goals associated with this practice are fear reduction, increased citizen satisfaction with police, and the development of techniques which address the issues in the community. Community Policing’s overall concern is to create stronger alliances between police and the community which are a major factor in seeing crime rates in an area decrease. (â€Å"Community Policing,† n.d., para. 1). (Quire, 1993) While community policing has its benefits there are also some issues with it such as the rise in police spending and an increased need for more officers on patrol at the same time. In the end the New Haven community policing study is ju st one of the many studies that provide support that it is in fact an effective policing practice. REFERENCES Welsburd, David, and Cynthia Lum. Community Policing and Procedural Justice.Center for EvidenceBased Crime Policy. 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://cebcp.org/evidence-based-policing/what-works-in-policing/research- evidence-review/community-policing/ Police: Community Policing The Theory And Practice Of Community Policing. Officers, Crime, Local, and Neighborhood. Web. 27 Nov. 2014. http://law.jrank.org/pages/1650/Police-Community-Policing-theory-practice- community-policing.html Telep, Cody, and David Weisburd. What Is Known about the Effectiveness of Police Practices? 1 Sept. 2011. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/Telep_Weisburd.pdf Eig, Jonathan. Eyes on the Street: Community Policing in Chicago.The American Prospect. 17 May 2002. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://prospect.org/article/eyes-street- community-policing-chicago Owusu-Bempah, Akwasi. Review of the Roots of Youth Violence: Literature Reviews. Community Policing Strategie. 27 Apr. 2010. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthandthelaw/roots/volu me5/preventing03_community_polcing.aspx Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tptid=81 Barnes, Greg. Seeking Safety: A Blueprint for Reducing Youth Crime That Works :: WRAL.com.WRAL.com. 26 Oct. 2014. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. http://www.wral.com/seeking-safety-a-blueprint-for-reducing-youth-crime-that- works/14117413/ Quire, Donald. Models for Community Policing Evaluation: The St. Petersburg Experience. 1 Jan. 1993. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/50e19742-07dd-4813-a850- 3248a9db71b5/Quire.aspx

depression :: essays research papers

Om depression Psykiska tecken pà ¥ depression Mà ¥nga personer tror att de aldrig kommer drabbas av depression, men sà ¥ à ¤r det inte, vem som helst i vilken som helst à ¥lder kan drabbas av depression. Denna sjukdom à ¤r inget som de flesta egentligen vill prata om, utan det à ¤r kanske nà ¥got som man skà ¤ms à ¶ver. Psykiska sjukdomar har dessvà ¤rre i alla tider varit en negativ stà ¤mpel. Men en viktig sak att veta à ¤r att depression à ¤r en av de vanligaste sjukdomarna i Sverige och det gà ¥r att bli frisk. Ungefà ¤r 4 - 5 % av Sveriges befolkning har i vuxen à ¥lder, idag en depression som behà ¶ver behandling. Det finns olika typer av depressioner. Egentlig depression, melankoli, dystymi, och manodepressiv sjukdom à ¤r de vanligaste depressionsdiagnoserna. Alla mà ¤nniskor kan ibland kà ¤nna sig ledsna och nere, men detta à ¤r inte depression, detta à ¤r nà ¥got som drabbar alla i và ¥rt dagliga liv. Nà ¤r man à ¤r sà ¥ deprimerad sà ¥ att man inte ser nà ¥gon utvà ¤g och allt kà ¤nns svart och meningslà ¶st, dà ¥ det pà ¥verkar và ¥ra kà ¤nslor tankar och handlingar. Dà ¥ har man en depression. Depressioner kan kà ¤nnetecknas av nedstà ¤mdhet, hopplà ¶shet, trà ¶tthet, glà ¤djelà ¶shet, allmà ¤nt ointresse, hà ¤mning av olika aktiviteter, sjà ¤lvmordstankar och i svà ¥ra fall sjà ¤lvmord. Den allvarligaste depressionen à ¤r den djupa depressionen eller melankoli. Normal nedstà ¤mdhet brukar alla mà ¤nniskor klara av, hantera och bearbeta. Ärftliga faktorer och tidigare erfarenheter pà ¥verkar dock và ¥rat sà ¤tt att reagera och hur sà ¥rbara vi à ¤r. Det finns emellertid ett antal depressionstillstà ¥nd som à ¤r svà ¥rare och krà ¤ver bà ¥de medicinsk och psykologisk behandling. De vanligaste symtomen vid depression à ¤r: Nedstà ¤mdhet Avsaknad av glà ¤dje och intresse fà ¶r vanliga aktiviteter Aptit- och viktfà ¶rà ¤ndringar Sà ¶mnstà ¶rningar Fà ¶rà ¤ndrad motorik Trà ¶tthet och kà ¤nslomà ¤ssig frusenhet Nedvà ¤rderande sjà ¤lvbild Koncentrationssvà ¥righeter och beslutsvà ¥nda Tankar pà ¥ dà ¶den, sjà ¤lvmordstankar och sjà ¤lvmordsfà ¶rsà ¶k Sexuella stà ¶rningar, à ¥ngest och à ¶verdriven misstà ¤nksamhet mot omgivningen Depressiva sjukdomar à ¤r mycket vanliga och kan drabba vem som helst och i alla à ¥ldrar. Enligt WHO à ¤r depression pà ¥ và ¤g att bli en av và ¤rldens stà ¶rsta folksjukdomar. Cirka 500 000 svenskar berà ¤knas just nu ha en depression som krà ¤ver medicinsk behandling. Fyra olika diagnoser pà ¥ depression Fà ¶rstà ¤mningssyndrom kallas ibland ocksà ¥ fà ¶r affektiva sjukdomar och à ¤r den sammanfattade benà ¤mningen fà ¶r de tillstà ¥nd som à ¤r kopplade till fà ¶rà ¤ndringar i stà ¤mningslà ¤get. Hit rà ¤knas t.ex. egentlig depression, dystymi, och manodepressiv sjukdom. Là ¤kare delar in depressionen after dess svà ¥righetsgrad och hur den yttrar sig. Hà ¤r nedanfà ¶r à ¤r de vanligaste depressionsdiagnoserna. Egentlig depression Är det som beskriver bà ¤st det man menar nà ¤r man pratar om depression. Fà ¶r att stà ¤lla denna diagnos krà ¤vs det att symtomen nedstà ¤mdhet och/eller minskat intresse fà ¶r omgivningen skall finnas under stà ¶rre delen av dagen, sà ¥ gott som varje dag under minst tvà ¥ veckor. Sjukdomen kan vara av là ¤tt, mà ¥ttlig eller av svà ¥r karaktà ¤r, och vid de svà ¥rare depressionerna sà ¥ anvà ¤nds begreppet melankoli. En del personer som drabbats av depressioner varar det under mycket là ¥ng