How culture has influenced accounting

How culture has influenced accounting Many studies have demonstrated that culture diversity had influenced accounting practice within national and international borders. Accounting can therefore be said to have been influenced by its environment, which includes the culture of the country in which it is being operated (Nobes Parker, 2008) Mueller et al. (1994), cited in Alexander.et al, also stipulate that each accounting system is a product of its specific culture and environment, and that different patterns of accounting are associated with a range of cultural factors such as societal values, religion, political systems and historical values. It is however no thought that those countries with same or similar cultural values or background are practicing accounting similarly. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the extent to which these cultural values influence the practice of accounting and how the understanding of the role of culture in accounting can help us understand international accounting standards. The work of Hofstedes cultural value differences and Grays accounting values will be the major focal point of this paper. The relationship that exists between cultural values, accounting values and financial reporting will be examined as well. DIFFERENCES IN CULTURAL VALUES Culture is a way of life of a group of people, which includes the behaviours, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next. The position that the ideas, meanings, beliefs and values people learn as members of society determine human nature. To support this definition, Hofstede, one of the greatest researchers of culture differences, defined culture as the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes members of one human group from another,( cited in Nobes parker 2008. p 25) For the purpose of comparability, this paper will base its analysis on Hofstedes work on cultural value difference and grays work on accounting values to see their impact on accounting practice and reporting. (Hofstede, 1984 p. 83, 84) defined and summarized four Cultural dimensions as, individualism and Collectivism, Large versus small power distance, Strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance, masculinity versus femininity. He also stipulates that there exist specific relationship in these cultural dimensions. Individualism versus collectivism is how in a society one group will prefer a much closed family system while the other group prefer belonging to an expanded family system. This cultural dimension looks at how society handles interdependence among individuals. The second cultural dimension, large versus small power distance seeks to divide a society between those few powerful groups of people who prefer power to be distributed unequally through institutions and organizations and those who feel that power should be distributed equally. This dimension addressed how a society handles inequalities amongst a people when they occur. The third cultural dimension by Hofstede, is the strong versus weak uncertainty avoidance which is, the extent to which members of a society feel uncomfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity .This feelings leads them to believing in promising certainty and to maintain institutions protecting conformity. He explained that a society with strong uncertainty avoidance maintained rigid codes of belief and behaviour and are intolerant of deviant people and ideas. The weak uncertainty maintain a more relaxed atmosphere in which practice counts more than principles and deviance is more tolerated. Masculinity and femininity, which is the last but not the least of the four cultural dimensions, describes masculinity as the preference, in a Society for achievements, heroism, assertiveness, and material success. Femininity on the other hand was said to represent a society where preference for relationships, modesty, caring for the weak and the quality of life is high. ACCOUNTING VALUES AND CULTURAL VALUES It is based on these Hofstedes classification of cultural dimensional differences that Gray (1988) also proposed a connection between those cultural dimensions and accounting values by specifically identifying four accounting values which includes; professionalism(implies self-regulation by the accounting profession itself) versus statutory (implies control by the government), uniformity (adherence to consistency and detailed regulations) versus flexibility (implies able to amend or adjust to suite a situation), conservatism (implies the tendency to under state profit and assets) versus optimism and secrecy (implies a preference for confidentiality) versus transparency ( implies disclosure of true state of affairs). The first two relates to authority and enforcement of accounting practice at a country level while the second two relates to the measurement and disclosure of accounting information at a country level as (cited in Nobes and Parker, 2008). Grays accounting values and Hofstedes cultural difference can be group into two categories. This paper will like to refer to these two groups as the collectivism category and the individualism category. The individualism category is made up of Professionalism, flexibility, transparency, optimism, individualism, small power distance, weak uncertainty avoidance and femininity. This category has the characteristic of self-reliance or self-interest and therefore in a society where individualism, small power distance, weak uncertainty and femininity dominate, accounting practice and financial reporting is likely to be professional, flexible, transparent and optimistic. Secondly the individuals quest for information to make decision on investments to satisfy his/her personal needs will prefer detailed report of a financial statement. This paper will like to associate this category to that of a capitalist society where the accounting regulations are not part of the common law but rather are in the hands of professional organisations of the private sector as stipulated in Alexander et al. (2009 p. 28). For instance in the UK, accounting laws and regulations are control by professional bodies such as the ACCA, CA, CIMA, and IASB. It can again be said that countries that practice the common law are also likely to practice accounting the same way. They are considered to be capitalism countries since they raises funds from the capital. They include, United Kingdom, Ireland Canada, Australia and the United States of America The second category of Hofstede cultural value difference and that of grays accounting values The collectivism category is made up of collectivism, large power distance, strong uncertainty avoidance masculinity and grays accounting values of statutory control, uniformity, conservatism and secrecy. This category has the characteristics of being control from a common source or being centrally planned. Countries or societies found to be dominant with these cultural and accounting values are more likely to practice accounting in the same way. The practice of accounting in this society or country is control by statutory institutions with detailed rules and regulations. The practice of accounting and reporting in these societies or countries will be geared towards the dictates of those in powers or in control. No detailed accounting is required and secrecy and conservatism dominates in the financial reporting (Kosmala-Maclullich, 2003). Here again this paper will associate this category of a society or a country to that of a socialist country where accounting laws and regulations are enshrine in the coded laws of the country. Governments in these countries use financial reports for their own purpose. The Democratic Republic of Germany adopted the Soviet Unions socialist ideologies after the Second World War. This adaptation included a methodological guidance in designing accounting information systems (Berry, 1982: 1890). Bailey (1990) also stipulates that the Marxism Theoreticians view the western-style accounting as an instrument for the exploitation of workers by the capitalists, accounting and financial reporting was therefore geared towards the dictates of those in authority. Young and David (1999) argued that Accounting activities at the enterprise level were focused exclusively on the preparation of reports required by the planning bureaucracy, and during this period, accounting was only seen as a primary source of information for the provision of financial statistics for the use in the preparation of budget; it was therefore a list of quantities instead of values. Accounting was more or less reduced to a clerical job; there was no professionalism in the practice. Judgemen t of reports (true and fair) was not entertained; standardisation was non-existence and so was the concept of profit, in short accounting standards and procedures were not in existence. Accounting in China Another country worth looking at is china which has a long history of cultural value which is characterise with collectivism, high in power distance, strong uncertainty avoidance and femininity. The Chinese will not mind sacrificing himself for the good collectivism or country (Yao F. 2007). The practice of accounting and reporting is control by the state under the auspices of the ministry of finance and the aim of this control is to gear the practice towards the general benefit of the planned economy. The user of accounting information is mainly the government, because most enterprises in china are owed by the state. The few individual who try to do some investments do not know much about accounting and finance. (Yao F. 2007). Although the state had accounting standards for Business Enterprises, they were just mere basic rules which were issued in conjunction with basic standards, as argued by Lin et al. (2001). There where however restrictions on some important accounting principles such as making provision for bad debts and obsolete inventories, recognition of impairments of assets, disclosure of financial information and many more. Secrecy and conservatism was dominant in financial reporting. Professionalism, transparency and flexibility were non-existence. Accountin g profession was reduced to a very low status. The dynamics of cultural values brought about a change in financial reporting by these countries with strong cultural values. As a result of the world becoming a small village and the growing of Multinational companies across the world, there is the need for comparability of financial Reports since its purpose is to help investors make informed and sound decisions. Based on the fact that the world is becoming a small place and countries need each other for their survival, most of the socialists countries like the East Germany, Portugal, Poland, Italy, and France have all adopted the capitalism system of financial reporting. The Chinese government, also have realise the need for adopting the international financial reporting standard (IFRS) which is being champion by the International Accounting Standard Board (IASB), but yet it only talked about the convergence of the accounting standard and not a totally acceptance. (Yao F. 2001) Conclusion It is quite obvious that cultural values have influenced the practice and reporting of accounting and countries with similar cultural values practicing accounting similarly. With the world becoming a global village and the fast cultural changes across the world, the need for harmonization and convergence of accounting standards was given a serious consideration by centrally planned countries, but a country like China, although have made efforts to embrace international financial reporting system, is still holding on to some of its cultural accounting practices. This is an indication that so far as cultural values remain different, accounting practice will be affected and the only way out is the harmonization and convergence of accounting standards.

The Road Essay examples -- Literary Analysis, Cormac McCarthy

The Road Named one of the four major novelists of his time, Cormac McCarthy has won numerous awards such as the National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and the 2009 PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction, which places him in the highest rank of American literature. His tenth and latest novel, The Road (2006), known as his most traumatic yet intensely personal work, has won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature Award in 2007, as well as the James Tait Black Memorial Prize (2007,) and the Quill Book Award (2007.) The Road is one of three novels that have been made into a film and was featured in theaters in 2009. Nominated for various cinematography awards, and winner of the Pulitzer Award, The Road is a profoundly shocking in-depth way at looking at the flailing annihilation of the human civilization. The Road is a post-apocalyptic story of a journey taken by a father, the man, and his young son, the boy, â€Å"each the other’s world entire† (McCarthy, p. 6). The man and boy, sustained by love, travel through bleak and grim America some years after an immense unexplained cataclysm destroyed nearly all humanity, and environment. The land is covered in ash, is extremely dark, and cold with recurrent rain, gray snow, and earthquakes. Throughout the novel the boy calls the man â€Å"Papa,† and they both refer to themselves as the â€Å"good guys† who carry the fire; â€Å"the â€Å"bad guys† being other human survivors who have turned cannibalistic. The man, haunted by dreams and reminiscent due to flashbacks of his childhood and his wife who committed suicide at the time of the world-wide destruction, protects his son from starvation and attacks, even though he himself realizes that he is dying. Both father and son rumma... .... Looking at these effects, it is obvious that they revolve around how the intestate demise of the world affected humanity. The journey the man and the boy traveled through depressing America in truth unlocks the reality of a Judgment Day. All of us come from unpredictable societies, and unfortunately we poison all we come in contact with, and simply don’t care when it comes to our environment. â€Å"On this road there are no godspoke men. They are gone and I am left and they have taken with them the world. Query: How does the never to be differ from what never was† (McCarthy, p. 32)? This quote gives an idea of what kind of catastrophe might have struck the world, and that the prophets are gone, taking the world with them. Whatever happened to humankind in the novel, The Road, was completely destroyed along with the moral principles that man and the boy, even we value.

How HIPAA Violations Affect the Medical Billing Process Essay

When you hear HIV you always think of Aids are they the same or is there a difference. HIPAA Privacy Rule: HIPAA is a federal law that: †¢Protects the patients’ privacy with their medical records and other health information provided to health plans, hospital, doctors and all other health care providers. †¢Allows the patient access to their medical records. †¢It gives the patient rights to how their personal information is used and exposed. HIPAA has proven to be very successful in stopping discrimination against the people diagnosed with HIV and Aids by preventing anyone from knowing about their HIV and Aids status. In the year 2000 laboratories and doctors are required by law to report to their State Health Department all cases of HIV and Aids. They are reported to better measure the HIV and Aids epidemic, and how it is changing and to create programs for HIV and Aids prevention and offer medical which best serve affected people and their communities. All this information is protected by confidentiality laws. Under this law identifying information regarding who has HIV and Aids can only be used to help the State Health Department track the epidemic and for partner notification this information cannot be shared with immigration and naturalization Service (INS), police, welfare agencies, landlords, employers and insurance companies. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues guidelines influencing states to collect and report the data on HIV and Aids so they can track the epidemic on a national basis. The state health department will then remove all the personal information (name, address, etc.) from your test results and send the information to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over the next several years HIV and Aids data will become the basis for funding formulas which will allocate federal money for care & treatment under The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act.  This is the largest federally funded program in the United States for people living with HIV and AIDS. This act reaches hundreds of thousands of people every year with medical care, drugs, and support services. The program requires that health departments receiving money from the Ryan White program show â€Å"good faith† efforts to notify the marriage partners of a patient with HIV and AIDS. (www.Aids.gov) HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the T-cells in the immune system. This illness changes their immune system making people very vulnerable to diseases and infections. This condition worsens as it progresses corresponding to research the origins to this disease dates back to the late 19th or early 20th century in Western Central Africa. In 2008 worldwide there were †¢33.4 million People living with HIV and AIDS. †¢2.7 new HIV infections †¢2 million deaths from AIDS The disease was identified in the 1980s, and there is now known cure, but treatments and medicine can slow the course of the disease. The newest drug combination drug therapy can cost up to $20,000 in U.S. dollars a year. HIV is found in body fluids like semen and vaginal fluids, blood and breast mild. And can be passed through blood-to-blood and also sexual contact. Women can pass this to their babies through pregnancy, childbirth, and through breast milk. AIDS is (acquired immune deficiency syndrome or immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the disease caused by the HIV virus AIDS is the syndrome that appear in the advance stages of HIV infection, AIDS is a medical condition derived from HIV. HIV and AIDS are the same AIDS is the outdated name and HIV is the correct name. There are three recognized ethical principles that apply to clinical and research ethics: †¢Respect refers to respecting the decisions of autonomous people and protecting the ones who lack decision making capacity and therefore are not autonomous and imposes a positive obligation to treat people with respect by keeping this information confident and keeping promises. †¢Beneficence imposes a positive obligation of the best interest of the patient. †¢Justice requires people to be treated fairly and often requires that benefits and burdens to be distributed fairly within society. Privacy is critical  when it comes to HIV and AIDS, because of the sensitivity of HIV related information most patients don’t want to share this private and personal aspect of their life because it involves their sexual behavior or substance abuse. This information can lead to stigmatization this can cause patients to worry about their privacy being protected, and they may be hesitant to see a doctor or remain in the care of a physician. It is vital to have health care providers express that they are committed to securing patient privacy. The law gives certain protection to or conditions. Electronic systems need to be able to identify and manage this data appropriately. HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are a whole different category with special privacy concerns. When releasing HIV and AIDS records for other purposes it is necessary to identify testing and treatment for these conditions through the use of red flags or warning messages. The electronic system simplifies exclusion or segregation of HIV test results to protect against release without patients proper consent from the patient. Preferably a system will also flag treatment of HIV and Aids when producing copies of records. EHR systems must provide mechanisms that enable facilities that extra layer of protection for this information required under 42 CFR, Part 2 requires patient consent for disclosures of protected health information even for the purpose of treatment this consent must be in writing. When a health care provider providers care to an HIV and AIDS patient they seem to be walking and ethical tightrope even when they are aware of protocol about disclosing HIV status simple assumptions and carelessness can lead to devastating consequences for the patient and also legal ramifications. There are some things a health care worker can do on their own to protect private information while at work. †¢Turn off your computer when you walk away or not in use. †¢Set your computer with passwords to get access to confidential files. †¢Use a system that will trace who accesses confidential informatio n. †¢Become familiar with the law train employees in proper disclosure protocol. †¢Never discusses a patients HIV and AIDS status. Social ramifications exist if HIV and AIDS information is announced improperly. If a patients friends discover he or she has HIV and AIDS they won’t want to be around them due to the fear of catching the disease people  will start to gossip spreading this private information destructing the life of the infected person. They will undoubtedly be treated differently. He or she could have difficulty finding employment if the employer finds out about the disease because of inappropriate disclosure of medical information. If a person is living with HIV and Aids you are protected against discrimination under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Under these laws, discrimination means that you are not allowed to participate in a service that is offered to others or you are denied a benefit, because of your HIV disease. ( http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/just-diagnosed-with-hiv-aids/your-legal-rights/civil-rights/index.html ) HIV and AIDS in the workplace gets larger each year, because it affects people between ages 25 – 44 and they make up 50% of our 121% million workers. There are laws to protect people with HIV and AIDS in the workplace. †¢Americans with Disabilities act of 1990 (ADA) does not allow employment discrimination because of disability and covers businesses with 15 or more employees. †¢Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Federal and state governments work with more than 100 million working men and women and 6.5 million employers. †¢The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) this act to the private-sector of employers of 50 or more employees and within a 75 mile radius of their worksite. A person is entitled to a total of 12 weeks of job protected unpaid leave in a 12 month period. †¢The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Addresses obstacles to healthcare you can face if you are HIV and AIDs positive. Protecting you discriminatory treatment from your insurance company, and also protects your privacy rights. †¢The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation act of 1986 (COBRA). This law allows employees the option to keep their health insurance at their own expense after getting laid off, fired from a job. Allowing them to purchase health insurance for a period up to 36 months. HIV and AIDS not only hurt people with the disease but also their families and families. According to the International Labor Organization believes that by the year 2020 HIV and AIDS will lower the workforce by 24 million people. This will cost the workforce higher costs of medical insurance as well as work absences related to health, hiring and costs of retraining.

Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death Essay

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was a very talented poet. Her poems contained deep emotions and continue to amaze her readers. She was born in Amherst Massachusetts on December 10, 1830 to Attorney Edward Dickinson and Emily Norcross Dickinson. Her mother was very emotionally accessible. Dickinson was an energetic and outgoing child. She attended Amherst Academy and Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Her father took her out of school after a year at Mount Holyoke because he thought she had enough education. p During Dickinsons mid-20s she became reclusive. She spent the rest of her life in the house she was born in. She was just like the rest of the women around her town. She kept house, gardened, cooked, and wrote in her spare time. Some†¦show more content†¦She gives death a human form, which is the common theme of the poem. She does not describe death physically and permits the user to use their imagination to form a physical description of death. By doing so, Dickinson makes death understandable. When she says Because I could not stop for death Dickinson is making her readers ask why she should not stop for death. In the carriage that she rides in, she is accompanied by death and immortality. Death can represent the nature of self and immortality can represent her soul or spirit. In the end of the poem, Dickinson mentions a house; this reference could mean different things. It could mean the tombs the Romans built along their roads or her fear of being forgotten. In the final stanza Dickinson realizes that there is no escape from death. It is forever, like the carriage ride heading towards eternity. p Dickinson uses many ways to get her points and views on death across to her readers. In her poem she personifies death, like death was human as she says in this line; Because I could not stop for death, He kindly stopped for me. She makes death seem relaxing and somewhat serene. By personifying death she can make her readers believe that death is understandable. Dickinson also uses metaphors, vivid imagery, and rhythm. In her poem she states different things that she and death passes. When she mentions the school and the childrenShow MoreRelatedEmily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop For Death883 Words   |  4 PagesBecause I Could Not Stop for Death - Analysis One of Emily Dickinson’s most famous poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death, consists of Emily summarizing her journey through life, from the afterlife. The poem embraces death and its eternity. She begins by personifying death as a person who takes her on ‘date’ in which her life is calmly retold. To begin, Emily receives a visit from Death. Death is not scary or forceful, instead she perceives him as a gentleman caller, who puts her at ease throughRead MoreEmily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop For Death1249 Words   |  5 Pages Emily Dickinsons most famous work, Because I Could Not Stop for Death is generally considered to be one of the great masterpieces of American poetry (GALE). Dickinson experienced an emotional crisis of an undetermined nature in the early 1860s. Her traumatized state of mind is believed to have inspired her writing. In this particular poem, â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death,† the deceased narrator of the poem reminisces about that material day when Death came seeking for her. In stanza oneRead MoreEssay on Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death730 Words   |  3 PagesEmily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† is a remarkable masterpiece that exercises thought between the known and the unknown. In Dickinson’s poem, â€Å"Because I could not stop Death,† there is much impression in the tone, in symbols and in the use of imagery that over flow with creativity. One might undoubtedly agree to an eerie, haunting, if not frightening, tone and use of symbolism in Dickinson’s poem. Dickinson usesRead More Emily Dickinson’s Because I Could Not Stop For Death Essay894 Words   |  4 PagesEmily Dickinson’s â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† is a remarkable masterpiece that exercises thought between the known and the unknown. Critics call Emily Dickinson’s poem a masterpiece with strange â€Å"haunting power.† In Dickinson’s poem, â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death,† there is much impression in the tone, in symbols, and in the use of imagery that exudes creativity. One might undoubtedly agree to an eerie, haunting, if not frightening, tone in Dickinson’s poem. Dickinson uses controllingRead More Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death Essays839 Words   |  4 PagesEmily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death In Emily Dickinson’s â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death â€Å" (448), the speaker of the poem is a woman who relates about a situation after her death. The speaker personifies death as a polite and considerate gentleman who takes her in a carriage for a romantic journey; however, at the end of this poem, she finishes her expedition realizing that she has died many years ago. The poem contains six quatrains, and does not follow any consistentRead More Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death803 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis of Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death In regard to Emily Dickinson’s poem, â€Å"Because I Could Not Stop for Death,† Critic Eunice Glenn says: â€Å"In the first two lines Death, personified as a carriage driver, stops for one who could not stop for him. The word ‘kindly’ is particularly meaningful, for it instantly characterizes Death. This comes with surprise, too, since death is more often considered grim and terrible† (Glenn). Critic Charles R. Anderson says, â€Å"Death, usuallyRead More Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I could not stop for Death693 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I could not stop for Death The poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson expresses the speakers reflection on death. The poem focuses on the concept of life after death. This poems setting mirrors the circumstances by which death approaches, and death appears kind and compassionate. It is through the promise of immortality that fear is removed, and death not only becomes acceptable, but welcomed as well. As human beings,Read More An Analysis of Emily Dickinsons Poem, Because I Could Not Stop for Death626 Words   |  3 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Because I could not stop for Death† by Emily Dickinson refers to death as a gentlemen who unexpectedly visits Dickinson to take her on a journey â€Å"towards eternity† (I. 24). It is very ironic that she considers death as a gentleman, but as we all know it is the total opposite. On the second stanza they both start the slow and peaceful journey. â€Å"We slowly drove, he knew no haste† (I. 5). We can see the tranquility of the scene in which they are. Dickinson here understands the seriousnessRead MoreExplication of Emily Dickinsons Poem: Because I Could Not Stop for Death687 Words   |  3 PagesExplication of Because I could not stop for Death The poem Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson expresses the speakers reflection on death. The poem focuses on the concept of life after death. This poems setting mirrors the circumstances by which death approaches, and death appears kind and compassionate. It is through the promise of immortality that fear is removed, and death not only becomes acceptable, but welcomed as well. As human beings, we feel that death never comesRead MoreUnderstanding Relationships in Emily Dickinsons Because I Could Not Stop for Death and John Updikes Dogs Death1796 Words   |  7 PagesEmily Dickinsons Because I could not stop for death and John Updikes Dogs Death both trigger intense feelings in readers as a result of the concepts that they relate to. Through emphasizing feelings experienced by the main characters with regard to individuals they love, these two authors want readers to get a more complex understanding of relationships that develop between individuals who truly comprehe nd the importance of love. To a certain degree one might feel inclined to consider that

Energy Sources Of Renewable Energy - 1292 Words

1. Introduction. Nowadays, with the continuous increase in the demand for energy consumption resulted by both population and socioeconomic growth, making it a priority to satisfy such a demand for all developed countries. This report aims initially to focus on the energy situation in the United Kingdom, and then present two forms of energy conventional energy in specific coal, and renewable energy which is wind energy, and will finally recommend the most suitable one after comparing and contrasting them considering both the cost and environment in different aspects. 2. Background Information. Having relied on conventional energy sources for so many years which cannot renew themselves at a sufficient rate for sustainable economic extraction, as well as the growth of energy demand causing global energy crisis nowadays, it is becoming clearer than ever that all the countries have to look for other alternatives to try to tackle this issue. Therefore, renewable energy is considered to be a long term solution that might be able to replace the traditional forms of energy in the future. For instance, in the UK according to the Department of Energy and Climate Change, (2012), the primary consumption of electricity increased by 1.2% in 2012, at the same time the production of fuel dropped by 7.3%, additionally, the Office for National Statistics predicts a population growth of 1.3% by 2037. This illustrates that with the growth of demand for energy supplying as well as the predictedShow MoreRelatedRenewable Sources Of Energy And Energy1120 Words   |  5 PagesAlternate energies a re forms of energy that do not deplete natural resources or harm the earth. The sources of the energies are naturally found or generated or are part of a natural conversion from one source into another. Energy cannot be destroyed but can be converted into other forms, therefore there are many reactions occurring around us that allow us to harness these energies. Alternate sources of energy has been extensively researched as a result of the large energy crisis that is being experiencedRead MoreRenewable Energy Sources Of Energy2600 Words   |  11 PagesThe worldwide demand of energy has been increasing considerably. Up to 2030, it is supposed to be 60% higher than today (B. SCHMITZ, 2013). Currently, non-renewable energy sources, like coal and oil, are more commonly used, since they are cheaper than renewable energies. In the European Union, 80% of the energy consumption demands are covered by fossil sources (B. SCHMITZ, 2013). But, non-renewable energy sources are running out and they are also very harmful for the environment, since they generateRead MoreEnergy Of Renewable Energy Sources Essay1568 Words   |  7 PagesIn recent years many endeavors have been devoted to reduce the pollutant energy generation by increasing the utilization of clean energy sources. Actually, the power sector is responsible for roughly a quarter of anthropogenic CO2 emissions [1]. Thus, the widespread introduction of renewable energy sources is seen to be one of the major solutions. Meanwhile, fossil fuel based power plants will still be needed. In any case, fully abstaining from the use of fossil fuels is difficult. Nevertheless,Read MoreRenewable Sources Of Energy And Energy1983 Words   |  8 Pagesof all the energy used in the day-to-day lives and operations of the entire world population are nonrenewable. This energy is created from the fossil fuels: coal, petroleum and natural gas. Fossil fuels are still cheap and high in supply, but the rate at which we are consuming th em, which is only expected to increase, vastly exceeds the rate at which they regenerate. This creates the aforementioned problem of mankind running out of the required natural resources to fuel its own energy demands. TheRead MoreRenewable Energy Sources For Energy1540 Words   |  7 Pagesconcern over the growing demand for energy, and the lack of non-renewable energy resources to meet the demand in the future. In addition, the question of â€Å"sustainability†;the ability to balance social, economic, and environmental needs in energy production to meet both current and long-term requirements;has come to the forefront. It is clear that America must expand energy production quickly, and that we must develop renewable, sustainable energy sources to meet long-term demand and protectRead MoreThe Energy Source Of Renewable Energy3041 Words   |  13 Pagesis using fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable sources. Fossil fuels are cheap and limited. They will soon be depleted. The world needs to find a source of energy that is not only renewable but sustainable. Sustainable Energy is usually associated with renewable energy. This is because renewable energy is a continuous source. However, the sustainability of each of different types of renewable energy vary. Sustainable energy means that amount of energy that is used, is also generated. The idea of sustainabilityRead MoreSources Of Energy : Renewable Energy Essay2221 Words   |  9 Pages sources of energy 1- Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation. Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural processes that are continuously replenished. This includes sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water,Read MoreSources Of Energy : Renewable Energy Essay2238 Words   |  9 PagesSources of energy 1- Renewable energy Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation. Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural processes that are continuously replenished. This includes sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water, andRead MoreEnergy Sources Of Renewable Energy1944 Words   |  8 PagesExecutive Summary The development of renewable and alternative energy is becoming more and more necessary as the traditional fossil fuel energy is a non-renewable energy and can cause various environmental problems such as the global warming effect. However, the challenge today in generating alternative energy is to find a cost effective way while has the smallest harmful environmental impacts. Developing bioenergy have the advantage of reducing greenhouse gas emission while creating great economicRead MoreRenewable Sources Of Energy Sources1213 Words   |  5 PagesEnergy Sources Introduction Energy sources have been identified as being vital in running virtually all domestic and industrial operations. There are two types of energy sources; renewable energy sources and nonrenewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources refer to the kinds that are naturally replenished. These include sunlight, the wind, ocean tides, waves, geothermal heat and rain (Tiwari et al., 2012). Nonrenewable energy sources, on the other hand, are the kinds that do not renew themselves

Children Viewing Violence on Television Essay - 1412 Words

Children Viewing Violence on Television In virtually all American households, a television is present. Through this electronic device, the public receives different messages. The main use of the television is for entertainment purposes. The programs on television usually mirror and enhance the different aspects of American culture. People ranging from infants to elderly adults watch television, the subject matter that is appropriate for these different age groups varies. Yet, television is indiscriminate of age presenting any topic to whoever chooses to view it. The television of today contains various aspects of society and enhances it, creating an entertaining program. One of these aspects is violence. Young children learn†¦show more content†¦In 73 percent of violent scenes, the perpetrators go unpunished possibly leading children to assume violence is successful and acceptable. About half of the violent acts on television show no harm to the victim and more than half show no pain. Handguns are involved in one out of every four violent confrontations. Surprisingly, childrens programs often present violence as funny and rarely shows long-term consequences for violent actions. These programs viewed by children do not offer violence in an appropriate context (TV Violence and Kids 234). As noted on the National Coalition on Television Violences homepage one can see the effects of television violence on children simply by observing kids at any playground. These children are pretending to be Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Power Rangers. These are the heroes of todays children. These heroes are not chosen due to character, but by physical strength. The strongest and most violent are usually chosen by young people as the heroes to imitate. These characters usually portray violence as an effective, common, and acceptable response. The television is an instrument that teaches children about our culture. The programs reflect, create, and depict our society (Levine 15). This could be used as a valuable tool to teach tolerance, reinforce values, introduce different cultures and ideas, and overall educate children to become citizens ofShow MoreRelated Television Violences Effects on Children Essay1080 Words   |  5 PagesTelevision Violences Effects on Children Most people read statistics like â€Å"Before the average American child leaves elementary school, he or she will have witnessed more than 8,000 murders on television† ( â€Å"Does T.V. Kill?† ), and worry about the negative effect viewing violence on television will have on their children. Research into the effects of childhood exposure to violent television programming shows that there is cause for concern. Watching violence on television does have a negativeRead MoreThe Effects of Television Violence on Children Essay1338 Words   |  6 Pages Thesis Statement: Unsupervised children who watch violence on television exhibit violence in their everyday lives and develop into aggressive adults. â€Å"Research shows that television violence increases levels of aggression, fear, and desensitization among some who consume it† (Hamilton). This quotation by James Hamilton briefly summarizes the potentially negative effects of television on young minds. A child’s favorite television show can keep a child occupied while the mother preparesRead MoreMedia Violence and the Affects It Has On Children Essay1312 Words   |  6 PagesMedia Violence and the Affects It Has On Children The media clearly has an impact on our lives and especially the young, impressionable and weak-minded people in our society. Children become desensitized to violence when they see it everyday on TV, in theaters and even in video games. They are not becoming properly aquatinted with what is real, what is not, and the effects of it all. Even TV news deadens anyones perception of reality. People ofRead MoreThe Effects Of Television Violence On Children Essay1246 Words   |  5 PagesThis guest teaches your children to resolve conflicts through violence. The guest baby sits your kids and teaches them principles you don’t agree with. Does watching violence in TV is harmful for your children? Is it Ok to let the 2 year olds watch TV unsupervised? No says the American replacing baby sitters? Hypothesis: Extensive viewing of television violence causes children to behave in aggressive or harmful ways to others. Children model behavior they see in the media, she wrote in 1993. IfRead MoreThe Effects Of Television Violence On Children1735 Words   |  7 Pageswatches approximately 23 hours of television weekly. Children spend more time watching TV than doing any other leisure activity. By the time they finish high school, most have spent more time in front of the TV than in the classroom (Strasburger, 1995). On average, a child will see 18,000 murders, robberies, bombings, assaults, and beatings in their years of watching television (Liebowitz, 1997). Not to mention all the food commercials. In today s society, the television is used for more than just entertainmentRead MorePsychological Effects of Television on Children’s Behavior/Learning1519 Words   |  7 PagesDoes violence on television have a negative effect on children and teenagers? The violence seen on television has had surprising negative effect. Violence shown on television causes children and teenagers to develop behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Such behavioral and learning problems include; language development, school performance / learning, cognitive development and their general behavior to others (Kinnear 27). In a study on the correlation between violence and television doneRead MoreTo What Extent Is Media Violence Related to Aggressive and Violent Behavior?694 Words   |  3 PagesViolence is described in Webster’s dictionary as physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing. Violence on TV has been steadily increasing for the past few years. It’s not very often that you will find a TV show in prime time that doesn’t involve some type of violence. According to Hollywood sex and violence sells. The problem with this is that violent programs on television lead to aggressive behavior by children and teenagers who watch those programs. As adultsRead MoreThe Effects of Television Violence on Children1315 Words   |  6 Pages Shortly after a Boston television station showed a movie depicting teenagers dousing a derelict with gasoline and setting him afire, six youths attacked a woman and set her on fire in an identical manner. Several months later, NBC televised Born Innocent, a made-for-television- movie, which showed the sexual violation of a young girl with a broom handle. Three days after this program aired, a group of girls committed a similar attack on another 9-year-old girl (â€Å"Wild† A20). These are justRead MoreCause and Effect Essay: Tv1594 Words   |  7 Pageseverywhere one looks, violence is there rearing its ugly head. We see it in the streets, back alleys, school, and even at home. The last of these is a major source of violence. In many peoples living rooms there sits an outlet for violence that often goes unnoticed. It is the television, and many parents use it as a cheap babysitter for their children when there are busy doing chores or out running errands. Children who view it are often pulled into its realistic world of violence scenes with sometimesRead MoreThe Effects of Television on Young Children: A Review of Literature1314 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Television on Young Children: A Review of Literature It has become clear, in the past few decades, that the United States, and many other westernized societies around the world, are very dependent upon televisions, and the entertainment they provide. There has been an increasing trend in television viewership since the 1950s. However, it is only recently that a larger audience has noticed the various effects on television, often a result of the ways in which shows are now specifically

An Analysis of adaptation Strategy of Toula’s Father in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding free essay sample

Abstractï ¼Å¡Toula’s father firstly refused this marriage, but out of the love for daughter and the young man’s inclusion, he helped them hold a big weeding and bought a house as a gift to this couple. Key Wordsï ¼Å¡intercultural marriage, Greek culture, self-surrender, inclusive, religious Part 1: Introduction My Big Fat Greek Weeding is a romantic comedy film which is centered on Fotoulaâ€Å"Toula† Portokalos, a middle class Greek American woman who falls in love with a non-Greek upper class â€Å"White Anglo-Saxon Protestant† lan Miller. Toula is a dull girl, being a waitress in the restaurant. She desperately wants to throw the yoke of her family, and with the help of her mother and aunt, she is able to be educated in college. She begins to curl her hair, dress carefully, and get the job she wants in her aunt’s travel agency, where Miller meets her and fall in love with her. However, Toula’s father forbids this man to meet his daughter, just because the man is not a Greek. Toula’s father is an extreme patriot. He believes that there are only two kinds of people in the world: One part is someone who is Greek, the other part is someone who wants to be a Greek. Besides, he confirms that every word is generated from Greek. According to that, we can find out that Toula’s father is very strict, persistent and conservative. Part 2: Analysis To understand why Toula’s father strongly disapproves of this marriage at first, we had to be clear about her father’s background. He is a Turk. He married with Toula’s mother. In order to blend into this big Greek family, he gave up many habits and does a lot of self-surrender things. He studied Greek tradition and culture. He did all these things just because of Toula’s mother. He loves Toula very much, so he wants Toula to marry a Greek man and live an easy life, constantly beseeches her to get married to a Greek man, have Greek children and stay at home. Unfortunately, Toula has different plans: She wants to have a career and additionally, she is engaged to the American Ian Miller who she got to know recently. Toula didn’t stop meeting Lan, her father is so angry and hurt and regard his daughter’s behavior is insulting him. Toula’s mother is a woman with wisdom. She told Toula that in the house, the man is the head, but the woman is the neck, who  can decide where the head wants to turn. With the mediation of her mother, Toula’s father reluctantly agreed to that affair. Then Toula invited Lan’s family to have a dinner. Lan’s parents are typical bourgeois, who are not demonstrative enough, expect after they are drunken. To their surprise, Toula’s whole family came, around 30 people, and they are so noisy, enthusiastic, making a sharp contrast to them. When Toula’s father asked them to eat some roasted mutton, they said they are vegetarians. Toula’s father does not grasp English terms very well, so he is very kind and continued to add, â€Å"No matter, we still have roasted lamb.† Part 3: reasons and causes The most important factor that drives Toula’ father to adapt the intercultural marriage, I think, is the spirit of inclusion of Miller. The Greek nation are religious, united, and proud. Therefore, Toula feels ashamed about her family at first, because she is afraid Miller will be disgusted with her family. However, we can see from the movie that Miller is a gentleman indeed. He represents American culture which can tolerate all kinds of culture and keep itself unique. When Toula’s father shouted at him, â€Å"You can’t date my daughter. Just can’t!† He didn’t throw a fit, but just walked away quietly. To be more close to a Greek man, he received the percepts, and learn the Greek language. When Toula’s father saw this scene, he joked with his wife, â€Å"When he is running in the forests, we are learning the philosophy.† Toula’s cousin also likes to make fun of Miller, letting him embarrassed in the public. Miller never loses his temper, he is also happy for other families are happy. Toula’s father is touched by this easy-going man, and he treated him like a real relative. He taught him to use glass water to ease breakouts, which is traditionally a Grecian way. Miller also gives up an American country club wedding, to accomplish Toula’s father’s wish that marrying his daughter in a beautiful church. Part 4: conclusion The movie actually deals with cross-cultural misunderstandings, prejudices and problems between the generations. Furthermore, it is pointed out that cross-cultural problems can easily be avoided when both parties are ready to understand and accept each other opinion and cultural identity. Toula’s  father, for example, feels personally attacked by the decision of his daughter not to get married to a Greek man. But the fact that Ian even gets baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church for the sake of Toula and her family convinces Gus in the end that he deserves to get married to his beloved daughter. The Portokalos clan is portrayed as the stereotypical Greek family: They are loud, crazy, greedy, chaotic, chatty, old-fashioned, warm-hearted, proud of their origin and ancestors, caring, vivacious, fiery etc. Certain characters like the one of Gus are a caricature of stereotypical Greek people but nevertheless Joel Zwick achieves to create culturally informative characters. It seems as though these exaggerations are necessary in order to make the differences between the Greek and the American culture visible and understandable for the audience. When Ian’ s parents, for example, meet the Portokalos clan, the differences between the two cultures become obvious. Ian’s parents are the exact opposite of the Greek clan; they are extremely introverted, silent, conservative, reserved etc. Despite the problems at first, the two families learn to adapt very well to each other’s culture. My Big Fat Greek Wedding is highly recommendable since it provides interesting (cross-)cultural insights. Furthermore, the movie shows how misleading the misinterpretation of the values and the attitudes of a foreign culture can be. The message of the movie is to be tolerant when confronted with a foreign culture.