This house believes international sporting events are beneficial to Essay

This house believes international sporting events are beneficial to the host country - Essay Example The most obvious appeal of hosting a large scale sporting event is that it creates a suitable platform for the host destination to market its facilities and culture to the world. The image portrayed during the event creates an influential impression on the viewers, which determines future visits to the destination (Solaf, 1998, p. 44). Since the inception of Olympic Games, the number of participants and viewers has been increasing. In 1984, only 140 countries participated in 221 events at the games. In the 2000 Olympic Games, the number of participating countries increased to 199 while the events rose to 300 (Shaffer, Alan and Celine 2003, p. 83). During the 2008 summer Olympic Games in Beijing, a record 204 nations who are members of National Olympic Committee participated in 302 events (Liauw, 2010, p. 28). These figures show that hosting Olympic Games is one of the largest tourism advertising opportunities that the host country and city can ever have. The wide media coverage of th e event promoted the image of the city in the international market by displaying the good infrastructural framework, diverse Chinese cultures and the excellent living conditions in the city (Campanella, 2008). Analysts explain that this effect occurs through the enhancement of both pull and push tourist factors (Hinch, and Higham, 2001, p. 70). According to Kearns and Philo (1993, p. 75), pull factors are the positive and tangible attributes of the host destinations. They include cultural and historical attractions, good infrastructure, security, facilities for leisure activities and other opportunities including favourable shopping amenities, accommodation and other supporting services. China has a rich historical and cultural background that includes the Chinese Great Wall. The media coverage during the event provided a valuable opportunity for marketing such scenic sites to the world. Push factors are intangible tourist motives, associated with stimulating the desire of people to travel to a particular destination for leisure activities (Solaf, 1998, p. 247). Six years before hosting the Olympic Games in 2008, the number of tourists arriving in China increased by about 6 percent annually (ETOA, 2010). In 2007, a year before the event, 132 million foreign tourists visited the country. Moreover, the event stimulated domestic tourism from 644 million in 1997 to over 1 billion tourists in 2007 (Zhang and Zhao 2007, p. 79). Hosting the Olympics games require heavy capital investment and critics argue that the anticipated benefits do not justify the cost. Construction of infrastructure associated with hosting of the event contributes the largest proportion of the costs (Preuss, 2000). There is hard evidence, however, which proves that hosting the Olympic Games does have a lasting and positive effect on the economy of the host region. In 2009, the number of tourist arrivals in Beijing increased and exceeded the 2008 arrivals (ETOA, 2010). The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona stimulated tourism industry in the city profoundly. Before the Olympics, tourism accounted less than 2 percent of the city’s gross domestic product (GDP). After conclusion of the event, tourism in Barcelona has been on an increasing trend and currently, it

Victims Of Society Essay Example for Free

Victims Of Society Essay Often literature is used to underline some social problems, to criticize and to some extent eliminate certain defects of social system. For example, fictional characters may be depicted as victims of society. Thus, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen focuses upon this dilemma in society during Victorian epoch. Ibsen raises much controversy on the roles of males and females in society and tires to attract attention to hypocrisy and use of public opinion to suppress individuality. A number of literary critics treated Ibsen’s play as a means for infringing social norms and rules, for instance, Bjorn Hemmer, literary critic and researcher, in his article in The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen, observed: â€Å"The people who live in such a society know the weight of ‘public opinion’ and of all those agencies which keep watch over society’s ‘law and order’: the norms, the conventions and the traditions which in essence belong to the past but which continue into the present and there thwart individual liberty in a variety of ways† (Hemmer, 83). Almost every key personage of A Dolls’ House is presented as a victim of society. Torvald is a victim of society, because he is forced by the need to fit into society’s standards and to be treated as a representative of a high social status. Torvald knows very well about the pressures, produced by the society upon him and shows his willingness to get adjusted to them. Though Torvald is a victim of social circumstances, Ibsen makes it absolutely clear that he is quite comfortable and satisfied with the idea. Torvald has reached everything he may have wanted, and everything he may have been expected by society to have, in life. He established a family, with a beautiful wife and three children, a big comfortable house, a respectable job, which provided him with a higher status in society, he supervises other people in his business, and enough money so that he can spoil his pet, Nora. Probably, due to all these achievements Torvald does not want to do anything such as â€Å"touch any case that isn’t well nice† if it can affect his image and make him bad reputation. Torvald is ready to do whatever is required to prevent the need to â€Å"cut costs to an absolute minimum† and â€Å"save every cent† again, in other words he is not ready to lose what he has earned at any cost. The last scene makes it apparent when he wants to conceal Nora’s misdeeds, only to prevent it leaving a bad mark on his name: â€Å"I must try to buy him off somehow. This thing must be hushed up at any price. † (Ibsen, Act 3) Torvald would do everything to keep up to any expectation set by society for people. He created his own social image as someone who must maintain an important and influential role in the family. He is confident that maintaining such an image will make him become similar to everybody else, in society. Being the male and husband Torvald believes that it is his responsibility to be the family supporter the head of the household: â€Å"you will not find me lacking in strength or courage. I am a man enough to bear the burden for us both. † (Ibsen, Act 2) The implications of social impact on Torvalds moral convictions appear in Act 3. The realization that society may get to know about Nora’s actions almost kills Torvald. He cannot go through the fact that his wife tried to give support to him and save his life: â€Å"he’s so proud of being a man- it’d be so painful and humiliating for him to know that he owed anything to me (Nora). † (Ibsen, Act 1) Social tradition claims the opposite the man is to support the family and to protect them. Another critic of Ibsen’s works Gail Finney in the same book The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen says that in the notes for A Doll’s House, Ibsen comments that a mother in modern society is â€Å"like certain insects who go away and die when she has done her duty in the propagation of the race. † (Finney, 91) The evidence for this opinion one can find in Torvald’s rejection of his wife as soon as he discovers her secret; he insists that she is not good for bringing up their children if her good name is disgraced. The importance for being accepted into society for Torvald is also evident when Torvald reveals about Nora’s agreement with Krogstad. It becomes obvious that Nora and Torvald’s ideal marriage had been a falsification made for society’s sake. Torvald introduces society’s views and destroys Nora’s belief that he truly loved her: â€Å"As regards to our relationship- we must appear to be living together just as before. Only appear of course. † (Ibsen, Act 3) He appears as an absolute hypocrite and cares how her actions may harm his reputation. Torvald’s wife Nora is also a victim of society because of Torvald’s wish for being a perfect family, in order to fit in into social stereotype. As a consequence, Nora is convinced that it is her responsibility as a wife to live up to Torvald’s expectations and play the established role, in order to satisfy the society. At the beginning of A Doll’s House a reader perceives Nora as a doll controlled by her husband. She relies on him in everything. At first Nora enjoys playing the role of Torvald’s obedient wife. She finds it appropriate to be comfortable in society. The Christmas presents bought for the children prove that she follows the stereotypical views of society. She makes her children to respond to the different treatment by feeling different and behaving differently. She reinforces the stereotypical gender roles that keep her in subordination to her husband. Nora treats her daughter the same way she seems to be treated all of her life – that is, as a doll: â€Å"A trumpet for Bob. And a doll and a cradle for Emmy. ’ (Ibsen, Act 1) Nora protests against society’s morals that â€Å"a wife can’t borrow money without the husband consent. † (Ibsen, Act 1) but as she realizes it is not proper and wrong thing to do, nevertheless, she finds it â€Å"great fun, though, sitting there working and earning money. Almost like being a man. † (Ibsen, Act 1) As the play proceeds Nora becomes aware that she has been disillusioned that it is her duty to act as the ornament and prize to her husband, the role which society has given to her. The moment in A Dolls’ House where Nora takes off her fancy dress, symbolizes her refusal to remain the same person as she was: â€Å"Taking off my fancy dress†¦I’ve changed. † (Ibsen, Act3). Finally she finds courage to reject playing the role to please society. The example of a person who once being a victim of society changes as soon as the whole situation changes is Mrs. Linde. The social circumstances made her marry the man who she did not love, but could support her ill mother and two brothers. But after her husband’s death she behaves as an independent woman. She must work to support herself and become self-sufficient. Torvald in this case again reveals his biases in relation to women’s proper roles in society: â€Å"Well, it is not altogether impossible. I presume you are a widow, Mrs. Linde? †¦ Ah! well, its very likely I may be able to find something for you† (Ibsen, Act 1) The analysis of the choices the characters from the play make in society, either to follow the social convention or be a social outcast, like Dr. Rank, reveals characters readiness to be a victim of society. Dr Rank while being a respectable man with important profession of doctor and supposed to be an important and honorable member of society he is a victim of both his father’s mistake and social conviction that he deserved such fate. Through Torvald’s words it becomes evident that Dr. Rank was always an eyesore for perfect social circle: â€Å"He with his sufferings and loneliness was like a cloudy background to our sunlit happiness. Well, perhaps it is best so. † (Ibsen, Act 3) No matter, whether major or minor, most of the characters throughout the whole play are presented as victims because of their wish to be accepted into society. A Doll’s House openly declares the need for a renewed society’s understanding of males and females role. Works Cited list: Goldman, Emma, The Social Significance of the Modern Drama.The Gorham Press, Boston, 1914 Retrieved on 18 Nov. 2005 from http://sunsite3. berkeley. edu/Goldman/Writings/Drama/doll. html Hemmer, Bjorn. Ibsen and the Realistic Problem Drama. The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen. Ed. James McFarlane, Cambridge University Press, 1994, 68-88. Ibsen, Henrik. A Dolls House. 1879. Trans. James McFarlane and Jens Arup. 1981. Retrieved on 07 Nov. 2005 http://www. classicreader. com/booktoc. php/sid. 7/bookid. 2011/ Finney, Gail. Ibsen and Feminism. The Cambridge Companion to Ibsen. Ed. James McFarlane, Cambridge University Press, 1994, 89-105.

Coca Cola Analysis | SWOT and PESTLE

Coca Cola Analysis | SWOT and PESTLE Organisations face massive challenges everyday ranging from human resources to production which apparently declines productivity. Coca Cola is one of the biggest multinational companies with presence in about 200 countries however, intend to adopt Coca Cola as my case study. The invention of Coca Cola can be traced back to 1886 in new york Habour, workers were constructing the statue of liberty. Eight hundred miles away, another great America symbol was about to be unveiled. Like many people who change history, John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, was inspired by simple curiosity. one afternoon, he stirred up a fragrant caramel-coloured liquid and when it was done, he carried it a few doors down to Jacobs pharmacy put it on sale for five cents about 3p a glass. Pembertons bookmaker, frank Robinson, named the mixture Coca Cola, and wrote it out in his distinctive script. To this day, Coca Cola is written the same way. In the first year, Pemberton sold just nine glasses of Coca Cola a day. A century later, the Coca Cola company has produced more than 10 billion gallons of syrup. Over the course of three years, which is between 1888-1891, Atlanta business Asa Griggs Candler secured rights to the business for a total of about 12 300 about 1500pounds. Candler would become Coca Cola first president, and thec first to bring real vision to the business and the brand. Until the 1960s both small town and big city dwellers enjoyed carbonated beverages at the local soda fountain drug store on April 23, 1985, the trade secret New coke formula was released, today products of the Coca Cola company sell than one billion drinks per day. However, even with the above achievements of Coca Cola and the foundation of Coca Cola which has been since years back, the company has its own strength, weakness, opportunity and threats SWOT which are to be considered to be able to compete with the market and adapt to changes. SWOT analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It invades specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favourable and unfavourable to achieve that objective. The technique is credited to Albert Humphrey, who ked a convention at Stanford University in the 1960s and 1970s using data from fortune 500 companies. S Strengths; attributes if the person or company that are helpful to achieving the objectives. W Weakness; attributes of the person or company that are harmful to achieving the objectives. O Opportunities; external condition that are helpful to achieving the objectives. T Threats; external condition which could do damage to the objectives. Identification of SWOTs are essential because subsequent steps in the process of planning for achievement of the selected objectives may be derived from the SWOTs. The SWOT analysis is particularly helpful in identifying areas for development. The aim of any SWOT analysis is to identify the key internal and external factors that are important to achieving the objective. The usefulness of SWOT analysis is not limited to profit-seeking organizations. SWOT analysis maybe used in any decision making situation when a desired end-state (objective) has been defined. SWOT analysis may be also used in pre-crisis planning and preventive crisis management. SWOT analysis may also be used in creating a recommendation during a viability study/survey. . The purpose of SWOT analysis is to gather, analyze and evaluate information and identify strategic options facing a community/organization or individual at a given time. SWOT Analysis is a very effective way of identifying strengths and weaknesses, and of examining the opportunities and threats one tends to face-carrying out a analysis using the SWOT framework helps to focus activities into areas where one is strong and where the greatest opportunities lies. This knowledge id then used to develop a plan of action. The analysis can be performed on product, on a service, a company or even an individual. if doneProperly SWOT will give the big picture of the most important factors that influence survival an prosperity as well as a plan to act on. SWOT Analysis is a tool which guides one to see where one stand in terms of job prospects and career growth. In many competitor analysis, markets build detailed profiles of each competitor in the market, focussing especially on their relative competitive strengths and weakness using SWOT analysis. Porters reffered to these forces as the micro environment, he said SWOT consist of those forces close to a company that affects its ability to serve its customers and make a profit. A change in any of the forces normally requires a business unit to re assess the market place given the overall change in industry information. The overall industry attractiveness does not imply that every firm in the industry will return the same profitability. Firms are able to apply their core competencies, business model or network to achieve a profit above the industry average. Porters five forces include three forces from horizontal competition threat of substitute products, threat of established rivals and the threat of new entrants and two forces from vertical competition, the bargaining power ofcustomers. Profitable market that yield high returns will attract new firmsThis result in many new entrants, which eventually decrease profitability for all firms in the industry. unless the entry of new firms can be blocked by incumbent, the profit rate will fall towards zero. Rivalry is likely to be based on dimension such as price, quality, and innovation, technology advances protect companies from competition. This applies to products and services. companies that are successful with introducing new technology are able to change high prices and achieve higher profits. While PESTEL analysis is the macro environment or external environment, they are the factors which are external that will affect the organisation it can be new laws, trade barriers, demographic change and government policy changes, etc. The following can be categories using PESTEL model which are as follows POLITICAL FACTORS: these can be said to be government policy such as the degree of intervention in the economy, for example what goods and services does a government want a particular organisation to [provide?what are the piorities in terms of business support?political decision can impact on many vital areas for business such as the workforce, the health of the nation and the quality of the infrastructure of the economy such as the road and rail system. ECONOMIC FACTORS: these can include interest rates, taxation changes, economic growth, inflation and exchange rates. economic change can have a major impact on a firms behaviour for example, higher tax rate may deter investment because it cost more to borrow, inflation may provoke higher wage demands from employes and raise costs and also a strong currency may make exporting more difficult because it may raise the price in terms of foreign currency. SOCIAL FACTORS: any changes which occur in social trends can impacts on the demand for a firms product or any organisation services and also the availability and willingness of people to work. for example demand for sheltered accommodation and medicines has increased where as demand for toys is falling because in the United kingdom now we have alot of older people. TECHNOLOGY FACTORS: new technology creat new products and new process, mp3 players, ipods, ipad, online gambling and high definition television are all new markets created by technology advances, online shopping, bar coding and computer added design are all improvements to the way we do business as a result of better technology. Technology can reduce cost, improve quality and to innovation. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:these includes weather and climate change. changes in temperature can impact on many industries including farming, tourism andinsurance. with major climate changes occurring due to global warming and with greater environmental awearness this external factor is becoming a significant issue for various firms to consider. LEGAL FACTORS: these factors are related to the legal environment in which firms operate. legal changes can influce the decision of an organisation and even the costs of their products and servicesthey different categories of law which falls under legal which are as follows. consumers law, employment law, health and safety law. By using PESTEL framework we can analyse the many different factors in an organisation external environment, in some cases particular issues may fit in several categories for example the categoriesexample the creation of monetary policy committee by tye labour government in 1997 as a body that was independent of government but had the ability to set interest rates was a political decision buthas economic consequencies, if such occursmanagers have tomake decision of where they think it best belongs. Using PESTEL managers needs to think about which factors are mostlikely to change and which ones will have the greatest impact on them which means each firm must identify the key factors in their own environment. It is also important when using PESTEL analysis to consider the level at which it is applied especially with the big companies who produces different goods and servicessuch organisation like COCA-COLA, may also want to differentiate between factors which are very local, other which are National and those which are global. Coca Cola company is been affected by so many external factors(PESTEL)like economic, social factors, technological factors, environmental factors, and it is also been affected by legal factor to some extents. THE ECONOMIC FACTORS: when any country economic is poor maybe due to inflation, credit crunch etc, it can affects the price of Coca Cola products because during this period people will not be abl to affor it, they will preffr to put their money on some more important needs, like food, clothing, accommodation, etc. and this will affects the return of the company because they would not be earning as much as they use to. Technological factors, this can affect the companys decision because there are different technology i the bussiness world now for example the design on the can or bottle of the different Coca Cola products may need to be changed due to new technology so as to make the packaging attractive to the consumers of the product and also potential consumers that even if they are not thirsty they will still be attracted to the product in such a way that they are ready and willing to buy so this improvement in technology in the area of packaging can affect the decision of the comp any and so also social factors which really affects the selling of the products, reaonable number of people in the country population right now falls under the age where by beverages drinks like coke are no more good for their health and people who usually buy the products are advice by their doctors not to consume goods like that again which can really affect the sales of the company. Environmental factors or climatic conditions for example during winter so many people do not consume anything cold so as not to affect their health and vis visa during summer which is mostly hot people consume alot of drinks and this help increase the sales the sales of the products, so the weather condition of various countriescan determine the level at which people take cold drinks like Coca Cola. Legal factors which can be said to be laws of a particular country cant the sales of Coca Cola for example tax payments in the united kingdom, the Coca Cola fo example pay tax in the country and this tax some times affect the price of the product, and some times before you can sell a product in the uk is sometimes different from the way its been package in other country that Coca Cola erxist in sothis affect the packaging of Coca Cola products for example some flavours of the different products of the company which is sold in the uk may not be found in other countries which Coca Cola exist in, and also the law of the country can affect the decision making of the company in some specific areas. Apart from the above external factors that affects the decision making of the company they are also the internal factors which affects the company, some of the internal factors or micro environment which can affect the company(Coca Cola)or which the company operates on can also be categories under external. The internal factors which is the SWOT analysis as to dowith the strength, weakness, opportunity,, threats. The Coca Cola company which have been in existence since decades ago have its own strength, weakness, opportunity and threahich affect the decision making process of the company. Strength:Â  Coca Cola company is a multinational company which have over two hundred company in different part of the world, they are the largest maker of beverages around the world today, the company have been able to achieve a customer base with different kind of products and they produce for every one, the company produce different products which any body of any age can take from coke, fanta, ginger coke, eva water, juice, etc they are existing in countries that some of their major competitors are not existing in countries that some of their major competitors are not existing in. Apart from the above strength they also have their own opportunity which they also use againts their competitors one of which is that they have been producing a lot and have been creative no matter your health difficulties there is at least a brand of Coca Cola that you will be able to take, and also this company make their bottle them selves which gives them a edge over other companies who produce similar products like the company. Threats of the company is that the company have massive competition, the market today is filled with product of similar brand, and little mistake by Coca Cola company will be seen as opportunity for their competitor which will affect their status in the market, the weakness of Coca Cola company is more of internal that is within the organisation which can late payments of staffs or employees salary, conflicts among employees of the company which can affect the productivity of the company and if their is no team work in any organisation it will be difficult to achieve what the organisation as set out to achieve on time. In conclusion, carrying out a SWOT and PESTEL analysis of a particular organisation no matter how big or small the company, is very important because it helps company to know the status of their company in the market and it also enables companies to work on the area of their weakness and it helps in the decision making of the organisation so that they would not make decision that will have negative effect on both the organisation and the customers or consumers of such organisation. SUMMARY By using SWOT and PESTEL framework, the organisation is able to analyse the many different factor in organisation micro and macro environment. and it is not limited to just profit making organisation, SWOT and PESTEL analyses can be used in any decision making situation when a desired end state has been defined. Company like Coca Cola need to do both SWOT and PESTEL analysis to help in decision making and to help to compete with the mass competitors that the company has

The Diverse Roles of Women in Movies Essay -- Film Essays

The Diverse Roles of Women in Movies In society we have a lot of women actresses. Some tend to play the motherly type, some play the manipulator type and some even play the victims of abusive relationships. No matter what women seem to be coming up in the industry of movies in more ways than before. The three movies I have chosen to analyze in my critique are Heartbreakers, Baby Boy and Stepmom. These three movies all have women in them that either play a major role or the main role. All their roles are very different in character and none of the women in these three movies play a similar role. In the movie Heartbreakers the two main women are Jennifer Love Hewitt (the daughter) and Sigourney Weaver (the mother). These two women act as â€Å"manipulators or conartists† the whole time. The whole point of the movie is for them to make different men (of age and class) to believe that they (as attractive as they are) actually love them for who they are. Throughout the movie they scam all different types of men to basically get them for their money. At one point in time Sigourney Weaver even marries a man who is madly in love with her just for his money and then she divorces him shortly after. The story continues as they use and abuse these men. Then Jennifer Love Hewitt starts to actually like one of the guys she is suppose to be scamming and her mother gives him a test to see if he actually likes her back. She tries to seduce him and she even gives him some sort of intoxicant to make him more susceptible to her. He ends up kissing her mom because he is under the influence and Jennifer sees the whole scene. She later on finds out that her mom was trying to make it seem like this was not the right one for her, but in a... ...s ex-husband. She is such a wonderful lady and the audience feels for her when watching this movie because she faces so many problems with her new step-children. Almost throughout the whole movie they are very cruel to her and sometimes even their own father. The kids cannot grasp the whole divorce situation and they have a lot of anger towards their parents for breaking up their happy home. Most of the anger is taken out on Julia Roberts because the kids see her as the â€Å"other woman† in their Dad’s life. They eventually come to realize she is a very sweet lady and all she wants to do is to get along with them. They accept her as a part of their family and they live happily ever after. Moral of the story: With a little love and understanding any relationship whether between a man and a woman or between a woman and children can eventually work out for the best.

America’s rising white collar crime Essay

Senior citizens especially, have proved to be particular targets of identity theft and credit card fraud. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation web site, senior citizens are often targeted for five common reasons. The first is because older citizens usually have a â€Å"nest egg† hidden away or excellent credit ratings that the thieves may tap into. Second, people born in the 30’s or 40’s particularly the women, are generally used to being polite and trusting of whatever they are told. Third is that senior citizens generally do not recognize fraud in its earlier stages and even if they did, would not know who to report it to. Usually, they also feel hesitant at admitting the fraud for fear that relatives will just chalk it up to diminished mental capacity and incapability to handle their own finances. ( â€Å"Fraud Target: Senior Citizens,† para. 1-6. ) Fraudsters also count on the elderly citizens making poor witnesses even if the fraud is discovered and the perpetrator caught. The elderly are also susceptible to scams and often end up giving credit card and financial information in the belief that they are purchasing health aids and the like. 15. Some credit card transactions issue carbon copies of the charges along with the sales receipt. Destroy these carbon copies as they also carry credit card information that fraudsters and counterfeiters may use. 16. Never write credit card information in public places especially where there is glass. The glass or mirror may very well reflect what you are writing down to the person standing behind you. 17. Never lend your credit or identification cards to anyone not even family. They may not cheat you but you never know how careful they will be of your cards. It takes just a few minutes to copy information off of a card and a few seconds to take photos of these for duplication. 18. In shopping online, make sure that you are dealing with legitimate companies only. Check their privacy and security policies. When possible, do a research on the company’s background through the Better Business Bureau of well-known consumer protection offices. Make sure that there is an email or working phone number for a customer service department that you can contact for any issues that may arise. Customers may also want to check the site’s browser security. Check the URL address on pages where you are required to give personal or financial information. Secure browsers will start wit https:// rather that the usual http://. (Jackson) The ease by which unscrupulous identity thieves and credit card fraudsters can ruin their victim’s reputation and credit line can be horrifying. It is a crime that does not discriminate and has targeted victims both from all classes. In a May 2001 congressional hearing on the joint investigation done by the Secret Service and the New York Police Department (NYPD), the US Secret Service revealed that even wealth and influence does not deter thievery and fraud. The well-protected financial and credit card accounts of some of the nation’s richest and most influential men have been compromised by identity thieves and credit card fraudsters. (Dutta 290) With the use of mobile technology such as mobile phones and the Internet, the fraudsters were able to obtain their victims’ credit card numbers and by creating fictitious addresses and bank accounts, attempted to transfer around $22million from brokerage firms and banks handling their victim’s finances. (290) One such fraudster was caught in October 2002. The 32-year old restaurant workers confessed to obtaining and breaking into the â€Å"bank, brokerage and credit card accounts belonging to the richest Americans, including billionaire Warren Buffet, in his scheme to steal over $80million. † (290) Identity theft is not limited to purposes of financial gain either. Illegal immigrants have been known to use fraudulent and stolen identification cards and documents so they may obtain work and residency. The past years of terrorist threats reveal that this ease in stealing and counterfeiting identification papers and financial documents have been employed by terrorists as well. One of the defendants for the World Trade Center bombing was found with a number of counterfeit identification documents that included among which â€Å"†bank documents, medical histories and education records from which numerous false identities could have been created. â€Å"† (290) Even the FBI admits that the stolen credit cards may well be used in funding terrorist activities. Today’s modern and computerized lifestyles and services have made everything so convenient. People would well be guided however in remembering that this convenience comes with a price. No matter how many consumer help lines, specialized police agencies or consumer advocacy groups there are, taking care of one’s self and possessions still rest largely on individuals themselves. How often is it that pure carelessness can amount to a multitude of troubles? It is easy enough to think that â€Å"that sort of thing will never happen to me† until the next moment when you’re kicking yourself for not having taken more care and diligence in safeguarding your identification papers and financial documents. To believe that it is â€Å"better to be safe than sorry† is not a bad thing. In fact, it can very well be the most sensible thing to remember in everyday life. Bankruptcy and credit cards are expensive. Common sense is free. Bankruptcy and the sorrows and problems of being victimized by unscrupulous people may very well have been avoided and forestalled if people would apply a measure of old-fashioned common sense and careful judgment in their daily lives and transactions. In a bid to protect the citizenry from the relatively new spate of cyber based crimes the U. S. Congress has passed several laws meant to prevent identity theft. One of these laws is the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which compels credit reporting agencies to disclose to people the contents of their own records and to correct mistakes if any. Another law meant to prevent credit card fraud is the Fair Credit Billing Act which grants cardholders the right to dispute credit card charges. Under this law, cardholders cannot be compelled to pay any portion of a disputed amount till the matter has been resolved within 30 days. The only requirement is for cardholders to notify the card issuer in writing within 60 days. Another protective law is the Federal electronic fund transfer act, which regulates the use of plastic cards and other access devices such as credit cards and ATMs. The act also gives the Federal Reserve Board the power to regulate the liability of customers for unauthorized transfer of funds. Directly hitting the problem of Identity Theft is the law Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act. This law punishes the act of â€Å"‘knowingly transfer[ing], possess[ing] or us[ing], without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, †¦ any unlawful activity'†(Howard).

Delights Nursing Care Home Essay

Here is an induction document explaining any risks or hazards that could potentially result in residents, visitors, and staff being harmed or abused within the nursing home. Physical Within the care home there will be some residents and visitors that may require to use a wheelchair or walking frame, this means that hallways can become very crowded and doorways can be awkward to get through. As well as physically disabled people, people with visual or hearing impairments can equally be at risk as if the hallways are blocked and a visually impaired resident has no knowledge of this it could lead them to be confused and potentially end up falling. A hearing impaired resident may not be able to hear if there is an emergency meaning that people have to leave the building quickly this could fault in them being pushed over or them bumping into objects. Hallways should be widened for easy wheelchair access and should be kept clear of furniture and objects making it efficient for all residents. If there is object restricting the residents to move and there was an emergency that requires first aid or a member of staff to assist they would be slowed down in attempt to help them. This is why staff, residents and visitors should be able to move freely, for both comfort and easy. Equipment The Care Homes equipment (hoists, lifting equipment) are stored on the second floor next to the fire exit. This could be a serious risk as if their was to be an accident requiring the residents to evacuate the building quickly this is unlikely to happen as staff would have to go up stairs and possible bring equipment down for the residents. Also if equipment is not sided properly this means that it could be blocking the fire exit meaning no one can exit the building as quickly as possible. The bedrooms are located on two different floors meaning some residents can access the kitchen which is located on the ground floor, this could potentially lead to appliances being turned on accidentally if a resident gets confused or falls switching them on, if a member of staff is not present. Infections With the Care Home looking after many residents infections can spread quite easily, the staff will have to make sure that they put in place any rules to stop infections from spreading. For example; all dirty laundry should be taken straight to the laundry room be washed, all infected wasted should be disposed of correctly by a member of staff, any medical waste MUST be disposed of immediately after use as this is one of the main ways infections can spread. If precautions are not taken seriously infections can begin to spread meaning the visitors and staff could pick up the infect and take it home. The care home needs to keep all equipment and areas of the home disinfected as elderly people have low immune systems meaning their body does not fight infections of like someone of a younger age. Substances All of our residents take medication for their disorders. It is vital that these medications are locked up safely in the office and are not left lying around to avoid the risk of someone accidentally taking them and doing themselves harm. Staff must also write down the time and dosage of which medication was dispensed to a resident. If not staff may give too much or too little medication which could seriously affect the resident. Medication must also be labelled with the name of the resident it is intended for. If not, strong medications could be given to the wrong resident which could be fatal. Working Practices Every member of staff should have the appropriate training for each resident in the home to avoid mistakes being made. If staff fail to have correct training the residents could be at harm as the staff member might not be able to calm certain residents down in times when they are stressed or be able to handle certain aspects of a resident, like lifting or medication. It could also affect the residents ability to trust staff if they do not know what they are doing as well as making other staff having to undo mistakes being made putting strain of the bond of the staff. The number of staff working in the care home should be efficient with the number of residents present in the care home. Currently Delights Care Home has a manager, a  senior nurse, several care assistants, who all work shift patterns of morning, afternoons and nights as well as two cleaners, a cook, a kitchen assistant and a handy man. All staff should make sure shifts are planed accordingly to decrease the chance of being short staffed, this will reduce the chance of some residents being slightly neglected or left out. Being short staffed could mean residents may not receive their medication on time or wound dressings might not be changed as often leading to infections. Security Systems As the care home is situated near the main road it is important to keep security to a maximum. If a resident was to leave the building without a staff member or carer, they could be at risk of being knocked down trying to cross the road or getting lost because their confused. The Delights care home have a double entry door with a key code for staff which must be kept confidential as anybody could come in off the streets and cause harm to the residents, staff or visitors and a bell for any visitors, when the visitors enter the building there is a book they must write in to say they are here this is for health and safety. If there was a fire, this means that everyone in the building could be accounted for. We have a safe where residents can keep their money and valuables. This must be locked as to not tempt theft. This is also where the computer system holding the medical records is. If not kept secure this could breech the confidentiality rights of the residents.