Different ways of keeping fit Essays - Health Promotion, Behavior

Different ways of keeping fit Different ways of keeping fit. Our health depends on our life. Most people are busy working, pupils are busy studying, but they always find time to relax and enjoy themselves. Physical culture and sports in our country are part of our cultural and public life. It is very popular with young people. Sport is also paid great attention in schools, colleges and universities. Every city and town has a few stadiums, swimming pools, amateur clubs and keep-fit centers where people go aerobics, yoga, body-building, swimming, skating and jogging. Sports help people to maintain good health and enjoy life, but some boys and girls do not want to take an active part in them. They do not believe that sport is very necessary and also they think that sport may stand in the way of other important things. Everyone knows that getting fit is good for health buy why it is good and what are the ways to be fit? There are some unusual ways of keeping fit: -First way is that you can practice korfball. Korfball is a mixture between handball and basketball, it is a fast exciting game. The main difference is that men and women play on the same team. It is also a good way to keep fit - The second way is to practice Tai-Chi. It is a Chinese martial art which goes back thousands of years. Tai-Chi is very gentle and consists of slow movements which it is important to do carefully. The big advantage is that you can do it anywhere and it is an excellent way of getting rid of stress. - The third way is gaming for fitness. Most people do not see playing video games as a way of keeping fit. You sit on the floor, look at the screen and the only part of your body that moves is your thumb. Thanks to brand new game Dance Revolution, games are now getting on exercise floor and it is an easy and exciting way of getting fit for everyone. Getting in shape has never been more popular. For millions of people around the world, regular exercise is now part of their daily lives. Some people jog, cycle and swim, while others prefer to work out in gyms or play team sports. Another reason for fitness boom is youth and beauty, because men and women try their best to look as young and attractive as possible. Fit people not only feel good-they look good too. There are some advantages of being fit: -Firstly it reduces the risk of heart attacks -Secondly it increases strength, stamina, and suppleness -Thirdly it helps people to lose weight - Fourthly it means that people sleep better and do not get tired so better - Finally it makes people feel healthier, happier and more positive. As for me, I do sport regularly. I am not a professional. I play badminton with my friends,but my favorite sport is swimming and I go to the swimming-pool twice a week. This helps me feel fit and healthy. Keeping fit doesn't mean only doing sport. It also includes the right way of eating. Nowadays it is very popular to go on a diet. On the one hand, it makes people feel better because they avoid eating fatty and unhealthy food, but on the other hand, some people start eating very little and they lose weight and do not look healthy at all. It is necessary to get all types of vitamins to keep body healthy. It is recommended to eat fruit and vegetable because they contain a lot of important vitamins and one of them is vitamin C. A lot of people like spending most of their spare time watching TV or working at computers. Such people ruin their eyes and their muscles do not work well. This way of life is not healthy. There are also bad habits that can damage health of people. They include smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs. A lot of young people prefer smoking to going in for sport and this is not good. As for me, I try to lead a healthy life, because I like feeling happy

All New People By Anne Lamott Essays - Guggenheim Fellows

All New People By Anne Lamott Essays - Guggenheim Fellows All New People By Anne Lamott I believe All New People by Ann Lamott was chosen for the Independent Thinkers Ser Sex, drugs, presidential scandals, all this and more is to be found in the magnificently written novel All New People by Anne Lamott. Probing into a timeless array of chaos and personal tragedy, Lamott manages to tie the story together with a mixture of personal experiences and documented historical references creating an almost nostalgic, dreamy tone. As Naddy Goodman, the narrator and main character of the saga is introduced, she is undergoing a series of hypnosis sessions which reveal many painful childhood memories. While none too extreme, the sheer simplicity of her emotional problems is ironic. After a lifetime of longing for emotional and physical acceptance from others, she has come full-circle to the realization that she must first accept and love herself. I especially enjoyed the way the author expresses her feelings about the breakdown of morals in society. This, to me, was best exemplified when the neighborhood fathers, including Naddys, decided the world held more fascinating things for them than they could find within the boundaries of their own, settled lives. Before this time it was almost unheard of for a father to leave his family because he was tired of it. Lamott clearly and loudly states the meaning of her book in the title, All New People. This book was written for anyone who has ever looked back on his or her life with regret. Whether a pessimist or an optimist, In a hundred years? -All new people.

International Human Resources Management Strategies Essay

International Human Resources Management Strategies - Essay Example Some companies tend to lack the knowledge that globalization is closing the gap on how we relate to others. This paper on International HRM aims to assess various key issues associated with the management of human resources in a global environment, such as the key strategies or challenges faced by companies operating in international locations; the most effective approach recommended for global companies to operate successfully in an international environment; etc. For the purpose of this study, Nike Inc., is chosen for discussion and analysis. International HRM strategies: Nike Inc. Nike Inc., is an international footwear, sportswear and equipment supplier headquartered in Washington, U.S.A, and having branches all over the globe. The company truly reflects the characteristics of a truly global multinational brand, due to its successful operations in international markets. Nike’s international HRM strategies involve introduction of market driven policies aimed at profit maxim ization. Led by visionary Phil Knight, Nike Inc.'s phenomenal success in international markets was achieved by outsourcing majority of its manufacturing operations to low-wage countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and China. The company received flak for its outrageous HRM policies whereby young children and other workers in the Nike factories were made to work for long durations in unsafe work environments, raising alarm in the international community (Aswathappa & Dash, 2007). However, ever since the company has focused on improving its working conditions and rewired its approach to human resource management by introducing polices focusing on an integrated and multi-disciplinary team to support and monitor its outsourcing operations. The company today focuses on worker safety and sustainable business as its core business strategy and vision (Nike Inc., 2012). Global challenges of IHRM: A significant number of organizations have internationalized their operations over the past coupl e of decades. This new trend has given rise to global challenges with regard to the management of human resources across international borders. The key challenges faced by managers today, with regard to International HRM include aligning its resources and work practices with those of the host nations; increasing risk of global terrorism; change in patterns of hiring and staffing; ethical and CSR challenges; strategic challenges etc (Dowling, Festing, and Engle, 2008). However one of the most pressing issues faced by multinational companies today is to monitor and supervise the code of conduct and HRM practices in the host countries. Various multinational companies such as Nike, Benetton, Levi Strauss, Reebok, Adidas etc., among many others have faced severe criticism in their home country for their unethical work practices. These companies have been accused of child labor and violation of human rights thus resulting in a serious negative impact on its brand image. Similar challenges were faced by companies like Google for its questionable ethical practices in China; Coca Cola for its CSR practices; Allure Cruise Lines' strategic challenges etc (Dowling, Festing and Engle, 2008; Deresky, 2007). Some of the other key challenges faced by the multinational related to international HRM include those associated with ethnocentric, polycentric, geocentric and/ or region centric approaches. Ethnocentricity refers to

The cell by john miller, micheal stone with chris mitchell Research Paper

The cell by john miller, micheal stone with chris mitchell - Research Paper Example The intelligence agencies presented include FBI and other departmental police agencies. The Intelligence agencies ensure safety of every American citizen. In an ideal situation, the agencies are to keep the valid information of every person residing on American soil. They need to prevent cases of terrorist attacks affecting innocent individuals in the society of America. Negligence of the roles of intelligence agencies played a prominent role in facilitating terrorism cases in America. The intelligence agencies failed to get vital information on the plans and execution of the attack although terrorist in this case were residing in America. The terrorists took advantage of this to harm innocent Americans. Different agencies focus much on protocols rather than taking terrorism preventive measures. All citizens enjoy the freedom right provided by American constitution. It becomes difficult for terrorists to be isolated from the innocent civilians within the society. The previous cases of terrorism happened under the watch of FBI, Police agencies, CIA and the federal government. Constant immigration cases have made the works of intelligence agencies in performing their roles in ensuring the safety of American citizens. Previous terrorists like Ranzi Yousef, located to America before executing the terrorist attack of 1993. Intelligence agencies had limited information of this immigrant. These kinds of situations provide room for terrorist attacks in America. Lack of proper communication techniques within and between intelligence agencies limited their capacity to prevent the attacks. This lack of communication is still happening in America. Although killing of Osama bin Laden has indicated an enhanced way of handling the known terrorists, numerous terrorists are still in existence among the innocent members of the society. The intelligence agencies are reluctant to act appropriately despite the fact that they know

Indirect thermometric Titration Essay Example for Free

Indirect thermometric Titration Essay * School Name: Al Mashrek International School * School Code: 2108 * Subject: Chemistry * Topic: Indirect A thermometric Titration. * Assessment: Data Collection, Data Processing Presenting, Conclusion Evaluation. * Candidate Name: Bassam Al-Nawaiseh * Date: 20/5/2007 * Aim: The aim of this experiment is to determine the concentrations of two acids. The two acids are Hydrochloric acid, HCl, and Ethanoic acid, CH3CO2H. This will be done by thermometric titration, by calculating the enthalpy change for each reaction, enthalpy of neutralization. * Data Collection: Table 1: the temperature change for the HCl solution and CH3CO2H solution after adding 5 cmà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ portions of 1M NaOH on each acid. * Data Processing Presenting: Graph 1: represents the temperature change in the solution when titrated with HCl after extrapolation. Graph 2: Represents the temperature change of the solution titrated against Ethanoic Acid after extrapolation. * From graph 1, it is shown that after extrapolating the final temperature of the solution are 38 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C instead of being 34 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C from the normal graph. * From graph 2, it is shown that after extrapolating the graph, the final temperature of the solution is about 34 à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½C instead of being 32 from the normal graph. * Amount of NaOH = c x v = 2 x 0.05 = 0.1 mol NaOH * Amount of Heat Energy for HCL solution = m x s x ?T = (100/1000) x 4.18 x (38 23) = 6.27 KJ * Molar Heat Energy for HCL solution = 6.27 x (1 / 0.1) = 62.7 KJ/mol * Amount of Heat Energy for Ethanoic Acid Solution = m x s x ?T = (100/1000) x 4.18 x (34 23) = 4.56 KJ * Molar Heat Energy for Ethanoic Acid solution =- 4.56 x (1 / 0.1) = -45.6 KJ/mol. (Negative sign was added to both the heat energies because the reaction is exothermic due to the rise in temperature of the solution.) * Conclusion Evaluation: * ?H neutralization for Ethanoic Acid (-45.6 KJ/mol) is lower than that for Hydrochloric Acid (-62.7 KJ/mol). This is because HCL is a strong acid which completely ionizes and dissociates. On the other hand, CH3COOH is a weak acid which partially ionizes in water. * Percentage Uncertainties is: * Pipette (Volume of NaOH): (0.1/50) x100 = 0.20% * Burette (Volume of HCL): (0.05/50) x 100 = 0.10% * Burette (Volume of CH3COOH): (0.05/50) x100 = 0.10% * Thermometer (Temperature of HCL): (0.5/61) x 100 = 0.81 % * Thermometer (Temperature of CH3COOH): (0.5/57) x 100 = 0.87 % * Total Percentage Uncertainty = 0.20+0.10+0.10+0.81+0.87 = 2.08 % * Absolute Uncertainty for ?H HCL = 62.7 x (2.08/100) = 1.3 * Absolute Uncertainty for ?H CH3COOH = 45.6 x (2.08/100) = 0.94 * ?H Hydration for HCL is -62.7 KJ/mol (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 1.3) * ?H Hydration for CH3COOH is -45.6 KJ/mol (à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ 0.95) * Percentage Error: 1. Literature value for HCL is -57.6 KJ/mol = (57.6 62.7)/57.6 = 0.0885 x 100 = 8.85 % 2. Literature value for CH3COOH is -36.8 KJ/mol = (36.8 45.6)/45.6 = 0.193 x 100 = 19.3 % * Errors: 1. Some heat was lost to the surrounding during the reaction. Water temperature decreased as a result from the heat loss, which caused a decrease in the final temperature. 2. The polystyrene cup was not covered with a lid, which also caused heat to be lost to the surrounding. 3. While stirring, the thermometer hit the bottom of the polystyrene cup which caused the thermometer to take the temperature of the cup instead of the water. This affected the readings of temperatures in different intervals which caused an error in drawing the graph. 4. Stirring of the solution was not constant all over the reaction, which caused a partial gain of heat. * Improvements: 1. The polystyrene cup should be covered with a lid, which will increase its insulation and will decrease the amount of heat lost to the surrounding. 2. The thermometer should not hit the bottom of the cup when stirring and friction should be reduced to maximum. This can be done by either holding the thermometer accurately up from the bottom. Or by adjusting it into a clamp embedding it in the solution, while using a glass rod for stirring. 3. Stirring the solution should be constant all over the reaction in order to have accurate readings during all time intervals, which will make the graph and its extrapolating more accurate.

Experiment to Explore the Rate of Fermentation

Experiment to Explore the Rate of Fermentation Biology: Respiration, fermentation GLX setup file: grape juice.glx Qty Equipment and Materials Part Number 1 PASPORT Xplorer GLX PS-2002 1 PASPORT CO2 Gas Sensor PS-2110 1 PASPORT Extension Cable PS-2500 1 PASPORT Fast-Response Temperature Probe (included with GLX) PS-2135 1 Sampling Bottle (included with sensor) 1 Balance SE-8723 1 Beaker, 1 L SE-7288 1 Beaker. 250 mL 1 Graduated Cylinder SE-7289 1 Hot Plate SE-8767 1 Magnetic stirrer with stir bar 5 mL Mineral oil 1 Pipette 1 g Sodium fluoride, solid 1 pkg. Yeast, dry 1 L Water 1 Weighing paper Purpose The purpose of the activity is to explore the rate of fermentation. Measure the production of carbon dioxide gas in a sampling bottle containing yeast and grape juice and then measure the gas production when a chemical inhibitor is added to the grape juice/yeast mixture. Background All organisms require a source of energy to maintain cell physiology and growth. Cellular respiration is the process utilized to oxidize food molecules and release the energy to fuel life processes. There are two types of cellular respiration aerobic and anaerobic and both begin with glycolysis. Glycolysis is a biochemical process utilized by most microorganisms (yeast, bacteria) and higher animals to convert glucose to pyruvate and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Prior to glycolysis, enzymes break down starch into complex sugars (such as sucrose) and then simple sugars (such as fructose and glucose). During glycolysis, the glucose breaks down into pyruvate. Animal cells and some unicellular organisms convert the pyruvate to lactic acid (lactic acid fermentation). Some plant cells and unicellular organisms convert the pyruvate to ethanol and carbon dioxide gas (alcoholic fermentation). Yeasts are versatile organisms. Unlike most other organisms that obtain their cellular energy either through aerobic respiration (requiring gaseous oxygen) or through anaerobic respiration fermentation (requiring the absence of oxygen), yeast cells respire in either condition, depending upon the availability of gaseous oxygen. During fermentation, enzymes break down complex carbohydrates into simpler ones. The loss of structural integrity, which can result from changes in pH or high temperatures, usually leads to a loss of enzyme activity. In this activity, the yeast cells use fermentation(also known as anaerobic respiration) to transform the sugars in grape juice into carbon dioxide gas, ATP molecules, and ethanol. Pre-lab Questions Measure carbon dioxide gas production during the metabolism of yeast in grape juice. How would a chemical inhibitor that stops enzyme actions affect the carbon dioxide gas production? How would a change in temperature (either very cold or very hot) affect the carbon dioxide gas production? How will the gas production change over time? Safety Precautions Follow all directions for using the equipment. Wear protective gear (e.g., safety goggles, gloves, apron). Procedure Yeast and Grape Juice Preparation   Ã‚   Connect a Fast-Response Temperature Probe (included with the GLX) into Port 1 on the left side of the Xplorer GLX. The Graph Screen will automatically open with Temperature (ËÅ ¡C) versus Time (s). Press the Home key () to go to the Home Screen. Select Digits and press the Activate key (). Pour 450 mL of grape juice into a beaker. Put the end of the temperature probe into the juice. Press the Start key () on the GLX so you can watch the temperature of the grape juice. Place the beaker on a hot plate and slowly warm the juice to a temperature of 30 to 35à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C (yeast will die above 40 °C). When the temperature is between 30 and 35 °C, adjust the hot plate so the grape juice remains warm, but does not get any hotter. While the juice is warming, add 100 mL of warm tap water to another beaker. [Remember to keep the temperature below 40à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ °C use the temperature probe to make sure.] Add a package of dry yeast to the beaker and stir well. The yeast will become active in 15 to 20 min. GLX Setup Stop recording temperature data. Remove the Fast-Response Temperature Probe from the GLX. Connect a PASPORT Extension Cable into Port 1 on the top of the Xplorer GLX. Connect the other end of the Extension Cable to the PASPORT CO2 Sensor. The Graph Screen will automatically open with CO2 Concentration (ppm) versus Time (s). Open the GLX setup file labeled grape juice.glx (check the appendix at the end of this activity). The file is set to record data once per second. Sensor Calibration (Optional) See the appendix at the end of this activity. Equipment Setup Transfer 150 ml of warmed grape juice to the sampling bottle. Add a stir bar. Mix the yeast suspension well and add 10 mL to the juice. Use a dropper to add a layer of mineral oil to the surface of the grape juice/yeast mixture so the yeast will have anaerobic conditions. Put the end of the CO2 Gas Sensor into the sampling bottle loosely. (You do not want gas pressure to build up too high in the sampling bottle.) Do not push the rubber stopper down into the end of the sampling bottle. Note: Avoid bumping the CO2 Gas Sensor during data collection because it may record erratically. Put the sampling bottle on the magnetic stirrer. Turn on the stirrer. Record Data: Grape Juice and Yeast Press the Start key on the GLX. Record data for 30 minutes and then stop. Carefully remove the CO2 Gas Sensor from the sampling bottle. Dispose of the contents as directed and rinse the inside of the bottle. Record Data: Grape Juice, Yeast, and Inhibitor Transfer another 150 mL of warm grape juice to the sampling bottle and add 1.0 g of sodium fluoride. Stir the yeast suspension again and add 10 mL to the grape juice. Add a layer of mineral oil on top of the grape juice as before. Return the CO2 Gas Sensor to the sampling bottle so that the rubber stopper rests loosely in the end of the bottle. Press the Start key on the GLX, record data for 30 minutes and then stop. Carefully remove the CO2 Gas Sensor from the sampling bottle. Dispose of the contents as directed and rinse the inside of the bottle. Record Data: Warm Grape Juice and Yeast Disconnect the CO2 Gas Sensor and reconnect the Fast-Response Temperature Probe. Select Digits as before and put the end of the probe in the remaining grape juice. Use the hot plate to warm the grape juice to between 45 and 50ËÅ ¡C. Transfer the warmed grape juice to the sampling bottle. Stir the yeast suspension again and add 10 mL to the warmed grape juice. Add a layer of mineral oil on top of the grape juice as before. Disconnect the temperature probe and re-connect the CO2 Gas Sensor. Return the CO2 Gas Sensor to the sampling bottle so that the rubber stopper rests loosely in the end of the bottle. Press the Start key on the GLX, record data for 30 minutes and then stop. Carefully remove the CO2 Gas Sensor from the sampling bottle. Dispose of the contents as directed and rinse the inside of the bottle. How do your results compare with others in your class? Analysis Draw a sketch of your CO2 concentration versus time graph as requested in the Lab Report section. Use your recorded data to find the change in CO2 concentration for the grape juice and yeast, the grape juice, yeast, and inhibitor, and the warmed grape juice (optional). In the Graph Screen, press F3 to open the Tools menu. Select Statistics and press Activate. The Statistics show the minimum and maximum values. Calculate the rate of change of CO2 concentration versus time, or the ratio of CO2 concentration (in ppm) divided by the time (in minutes), for each run of data. Record your results in the Lab Report. Appendix: To open a specific GLX file, go to the Home Screen (press ). In the Home Screen, select Data Files and press the Activate () key. Use the cursor keys to navigate to the file you want. Press F1 () to open the file. Optional: To calibrate the PS-2110 CO2 Gas Sensor, see the instructions provided by the instructor. Name ________________________________ Date ___________ Pre-Lab Questions Measure carbon dioxide gas production during the metabolism of yeast in grape juice. How would a chemical inhibitor that stops enzyme actions affect the carbon dioxide gas production? How would a change in temperature (either very cold or very hot) affect the carbon dioxide gas production? How will the gas production change over time? Data Make a sketch of one run of CO2 concentration versus time, including labels for the y- and x-axes. Data Table Run Initial CO2 (ppm) Final CO2 (ppm) Total time (min) CO2 production (ppm/min) Grape juice + yeast Grape juice, yeast, inhibitor Warm grape juice + yeast Questions What is the overall rate of CO2 production for grape juice and yeast and how does it change over time? How does the rate of CO2 production for grape juice, yeast, and the chemical inhibitor compare to the rate for the grape juice and yeast alone? How does the rate of CO2 production for the heated grape juice and yeast compare to the rate for the grape juice and yeast? What can you conclude about the affect of the chemical inhibitor on the yeast suspension? What can you conclude about the affect high temperature on the yeast suspension?  

The Dream Act: Development, Relief

The Dream Act was first introduced to the US Congress in August 2001 under President George W. Bush's first term. This act which stands for Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors has become a major stepping stone for the long debated issue of immigration reform. It wasn't until mid-2012 under President Barack Obama's first term that legislature similar to The Dream Act actually came to fruition.Legislation known as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) grants those persons who were brought to this country illegally while they were under the age of 6 and who were under age 31 when the policy took place, have no criminal record, and are willing to go to college or serve the US military the right stay in this country without the fear of facing deportation during the next two years. The issue of immigration in particular illegal immigration has been a controversial topic our government has argued on a variety of perspectives.This issue has been long debated from the p erspective of national security to Jobs, economy as well as human rights violations. The reality is that this country was built upon the hard work and edication of immigrants, and while it continues to remain welcoming to immigrants from around the world the issue of illegal immigration in particular after the terrorist attacks of September 1 lth 2001 have only made the debate on immigration reform that much more difficult.While advocates of The Dream Act and other legislation such as DACA argue that those who arrived to this country illegally while still a minor should not be penalized for their parents actions and/or decisions to bring them to the US, those who oppose the act claim that allowing those very same minors the pportunity to study and serve the US military are taking those same opportunities away from current US citizens. Regardless of which side you find yourself standing on the issue of illegal immigration is a very real one, and one that must continue to be addressed .Throughout this report I will highlight some of the social service and human rights needs currently facing this demographic group within our communities. It is my plan of action as a social worker and concerned community member to become an active advocate alongside state representatives and law akers to ensure that comprehensive immigration reform is passed while addressing the social service and human rights needs highlighted. Without advocates getting involved in the process true positive change can not be had especially when it comes to this complicated subject of immigration reform.According to the article The American Dream by Barbara Krasner currently there are approximately 11 million illegal or undocumented immigrants in the US. This figure continues to grow as US border patrol agents miss approximately 1,000 people daily who cross the border illegally. While personally I agree that our country must secure our borders in the interest of national security, I also believe th at comprehensive immigration reform legislation should be passed to address the social complex needs facing those that are currently here.Legislation such as DACA only helps provide a temporary solution to a much greater problem facing our society. Out of the approximate 11 million illegal immigrants currently in the US it is expected that only 2 million will qualify for the DACA policy leaving 8 million illegal immigrants unaddressed. Without the proper implementation of a plan to better secure our orders the issues regarding illegal immigration will continue to act as a revolving door for generations to come. Once a minority population the US Hispanic/Latino population has grown to what is projected to become the US majority group by 2015.As can be seen during the past few presidential elections this demographic group highly persuaded campaigns and election results. When it comes to the issue of immigration reform the US Hispanic/Latino population has been a driving force behind l egislation such as DACA and the current bipartisan committee working on the issue at hand. The reality is that the issue of illegal immigration has been an issue primarily focused on Hispanics and Latinos as the security of the border in question has been the US/Mexico border.Many of the undocumented or illegal immigrants that arrive to this country on a daily basis tend to be of Hispanic or Latino descent. However it must remain clear that other nationalities that arrive at Latin American countries can and do cross the border illegally as well. Since there is an ability to have multiple nationalities and persons with all different intentions cross he border illegally the issue of national security becomes a very valid issue. Securing the border is a must for any comprehensive immigration reform legislation that may be passed.As a social worker my concern goes far beyond the issue of national security. I am also highly concerned about the social handicaps and human rights issues the demographic groups of illegal immigrants face once they are in this country. Being of Hispanic descent myself it has become much easier for me to identify with many illegal immigrants from a variety of backgrounds as growing up I oo was considered a minority. Many arrive in hopes of seeking better quality of life consisting of better employment opportunities, living conditions and educational resources for their children.Others are given false promises of a better life as they are trafficked into this country and enslaved into prostitution or a life of drug trafficking. Both groups end up becoming a part of our communities, schools and churches. We encounter how they are constantly living in fear of being deported back to their countries often times tearing families apart all while facing abuse by mployers who exploit their labor, discrimination by other demographic groups who may isolate them or become hostile towards them Just for being here.We also face children who arrived here illegally who have no recollection of their native country and grow up as Americans without anything to prove or say that they are. As you can see the issues regarding illegal immigration are very complex and encompass a variety of social needs that people such as me must advocate for. Those of us who see the faces and know the names behind the stories must become active articipants alongside our legislators and state representatives to help ensure that adequate laws and policies are put into place to help address the basic social and human rights needs we are all too familiar with.Besides the needs I already mentioned there are many more this group encounters on a daily basis. Illegal immigrants can be found among our homeless populations, at our soup kitchens, facing language barriers as well as financial barriers. Many are exploited for their labor often being paid very little for long hours of work. Depression is also an issue ha a c this demographic group as many miss their na tive country and tind themselves at a loss belonging to neither their home country nor the country they currently reside in.Others find themselves in an abusive relationship unable to seek help as they fear that law enforcement will deport them rather than help them address their current situation. As social workers these are only some of the needs we are confronted with and we must take proactive measures to help ensure they are addressed. Unfortunately I find that sometimes we are limited with the resources for which we are able to help the undocumented population. Many times we end up providing band aid solutions rather than a long term one to the problems we address.Although the federal government has not been successful over the past several decades in passing comprehensive immigration reform I do believe we are getting closer each day to seeing something come to pass. The growing minority populations along with pressure from states have caused the wheels of progress to maintai n themselves in constant movement towards a solution. Many states such as Massachusetts and Maryland have already passed their own form of a Dream Act rimarily addressing the secondary educational opportunities available to undocumented immigrants.As Dr. Loh the president of the University of Maryland put it â€Å"the U. S. Supreme Court upheld the values of education when it ruled in 1982 that undocumented children are entitled toa public school education†. It is based on that premise that the argument was made in Maryland as in Massachusetts and other states that it would make no sense to pay for the public school education for undocumented children while denying them the right to further pursue their education as would any other child.The Dream Acts in those states now treat undocumented children who graduate high school as residents of the state allowing them to apply to colleges while paying the in-state tuition rates. Just as DACA legislations like those I Just mentione d do help provide some relief to the illegal immigrant population however it is not enough. As states comes to the realization that only addressing the educational needs of this demographic group isn't enough we find that more pressure is placed on the federal government to come up with a solution.On the other side of the spectrum there are states in particular those losest to the US/Mexico border who have attempted to pass legislation that only further burdens the undocumented immigrant population. States such as Arizona have attempted to pass legislation that would allow law enforcement the ability to stop any vehicle for practically any reason to demand proof of citizenship of those within the vehicle. Legislation such as this one only creates greater fear among the immigrant population and often times causes them to move to another state creating a social/ human rights burden on the other states communities and resources.Just s professors and advocates united and lobbied in stat es like Massachusetts and Maryland to ensure undocumented children were given the right to further their education; other advocates united to oppose the civil rights violations created in states such as Arizona and others by legislation such as the one previously mentioned. Without the help of advocates law makers will address the problem of illegal immigration as a statistics problem rather than a human problem. It is important for them to hear the social and human rights ramifications the lack of comprehensive reform has on our communities across the country.

Sarbanesâ€Oxley Act

01. [pic]Sarbanes–Oxley Act Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D–MD) and Rep. Michael G. Oxley (R–OH-4), the co-sponsors of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act. The Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-204, 116  Stat. 745, enacted July  30, 2002), also known as the ‘Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act' (in the Senate) and ‘Corporate and Auditing Accountability and Responsibility Act' (in the House) and commonly called Sarbanes–Oxley, Sarbox or SOX, is a United States federal law enacted on July 30, 2002, which set new or enhanced standards for all U. S. public company boards, management and public accounting firms. It is named after sponsors U. S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) and U. S. Representative Michael G. Oxley (R-OH). The act was approved by the House by a vote of  Ã‚  423 in favor, 3 opposed, and 8 abstaining and by the Senate with a vote of  Ã‚  99 in favor, 1 abstaining. President George W. Bush signed it into law, stating it included â€Å"the most far-reaching reforms of American business practices of Franklin D. Roosevelt. † Outliness Sarbanes–Oxley contains 11 titles that describe specific mandates and requirements for financial reporting. Each title consists of several sections, summarized below. . Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) 2. Auditor Independence 3. Corporate Responsibility 4. Enhanced Financial Disclosures 5. Analyst Conflicts of Interest 6. Commission Resources and Authority 7. Studies and Reports 8. Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability 9. White Collar Crime Penalty Enhancement 10. Corporate Tax Returns 11. Corporate Fraud Accou ntability Criticism Congressman Ron Paul and others such as former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee have contended that SOX was an unnecessary and costly government intrusion into corporate management that places U. S. orporations at a competitive disadvantage with foreign firms, driving businesses out of the United States. In an April 14, 2005 speech before the U. S. House of Representatives, Paul stated, â€Å"These regulations are damaging American capital markets by providing an incentive for small US firms and foreign firms to deregister from US stock exchanges. According to a study by a researcher at the Wharton Business School, the number of American companies deregistering from public stock exchanges nearly tripled during the year after Sarbanes–Oxley became law, while the New York Stock Exchange had only 10 new foreign listings in all of 2004. The reluctance of small businesses and foreign firms to register on American stock exchange is easily understood when one considers the costs Sarbanes–Oxley imposes on businesses. According to a survey by Korn/Ferry International, Sarbanes–Oxley cost Fortune 500 companies an average of $5. 1 million in compliance expenses in 2004, while a study by the law firm of Foley and Lardner found the Act increased costs associated with being a publicly held company by 130 percent. † During the financial crisis of 2007-2010, critics blamed Sarbanes–Oxley for the low number of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) on American stock exchanges during 2008. In November 2008, Newt Gingrich and co-author David W. Kralik called on Congress to repeal Sarbanes–Oxley. Praise Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan praised the Sarbanes–Oxley Act: â€Å"I am surprised that the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, so rapidly developed and enacted, has functioned as well as it has†¦ the act importantly reinforced the principle that shareholders own our corporations and that corporate managers should be working on behalf of shareholders to allocate business resources to their optimum use. SOX has been praised by a cross-section of financial industry experts, citing improved investor confidence and more accurate, reliable financial statements. The CEO and CFO are now required to unequivocally take ownership for their financial statements under Section 302, which was not the case prior to SOX. Further, auditor conflicts of interest have been addressed, by prohibiting auditors from also having lucrative consulting agreements with the firms they audit under Section 201. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox stated in 2007: â€Å"Sarbanes–Oxley helped restore trust in U. S. markets by increasing accountability, speeding up reporting, and making audits more independent. One fraud uncovered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in November 2009 may be directly credited to Sarbanes-Oxley. The fraud which spanned nearly 20 years and involved over $24 million was committed by Value Line (NASDAQ:  VALU) against its mutual fund shareholders. The fraud was first reported to the SEC in 2004 by the Value Line Fund (NASDAQ:  VLIFX) portfolio manager who was asked to sign a Code of Business Ethics as part of SOX. Restitution totaling $34 million will be placed in a fair fund and returned to the affected Value Line mutual fund investors. No criminal charges have been filed. Legal challenges A lawsuit (Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) was filed in 2006 challenging the constitutionality (legality) of the PCAOB. The complaint argues that because the PCAOB has regulatory powers over the accounting industry, its officers should be appointed by the President, rather than the SEC. Further, because the law lacks a â€Å"severability clause,† if part of the law is judged unconstitutional, so is the remainder. If the plaintiff prevails, the U. S. Congress may have to devise a different method of officer appointment. 02. [pic]Generally Accepted Accounting Principles Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a term used to refer to the standard framework of guidelines for financial accounting used in any given jurisdiction which are generally known as Accounting Standards. GAAP includes the standards, conventions, and rules accountants follow in recording and summarizing transactions, and in the preparation of financial statements. Principles derive from tradition, such as the concept of matching. In any report of financial statements (audit, compilation, review, etc. ), the preparer/auditor must indicate to the reader whether or not the information contained within the statements complies with GAAP. †¢ Principle of regularity: Regularity can be defined as conformity to enforced rules and laws. †¢ Principle of consistency: This principle states that when a business has once fixed a method for the accounting treatment of an item, it will enter all similar items that follow in exactly the same way. Principle of sincerity: According to this principle, the accounting unit should reflect in good faith the reality of the company's financial status. †¢ Principle of the permanence of methods: This principle aims at allowing the coherence and comparison of the financial information published by the company. †¢ Principle of non-compensation: One should show the full details of the financial informatio n and not seek to compensate a debt with an asset, revenue with an expense, etc. see convention of conservatism) †¢ Principle of prudence: This principle aims at showing the reality â€Å"as is†: one should not try to make things look prettier than they are. Typically, revenue should be recorded only when it is certain and a provision should be entered for an expense which is probable. †¢ Principle of continuity: When stating financial information, one should assume that the business will not be interrupted. This principle mitigates the principle of prudence: assets do not have to be accounted at their disposable value, but it is accepted that they are at their historical value (see depreciation and going concern). Principle of periodicity: Each accounting entry should be allocated to a given period, and split accordingly if it covers several periods. If a client pre-pays a subscription (or lease, etc. ), the given revenue should be split to the entire time-span and not counted for entirely on the date of the transaction. †¢ Principle of Full Disclosure/Materiality: All information and values pertaining to the financial position of a business must be disclosed in the records. Principle of Utmost Good Faith: All the information regarding to the firm should be disclosed to the insurer before the insurance policy is taken. 03. The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Many countries use or are converging on the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), established and maintained by the International Accounting Standards Board. In some countries, local accounting principles are applied for regular companies but listed or large companies must conforms to IFRS, so statutory reporting is comparable internationally, across jurisdictions. International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are principles-based Standards, Interpretations and the Framework (1989) adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Many of the standards forming part of IFRS are known by the older name of International Accounting Standards (IAS). IAS was issued between 1973 and 2001 by the Board of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC). On 1 April 2001, the new IASB took over from the IASC the responsibility for setting International Accounting Standards. During its first meeting the new Board adopted existing IAS and SICs. The IASB has continued to develop standards calling the new standards IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards comprise: †¢ International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)—standards issued after 2001 †¢ International Accounting Standards (IAS)—standards issued before 2001 †¢ Interpretations originated from the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC)—issued after 2001 †¢ Standing Interpretations Committee (SIC)—issued before 2001 †¢ Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements (1989) Requirements of IFRS IFRS financial statements consist of (IAS1. 8) †¢ a Statement of Financial Position †¢ a Statement of Comprehensive Income or two separate statements comprising an Income Statement and separately a Statement of Comprehensive Income, which reconciles Profit or Loss on the Income statement to total comprehensive income †¢ a Statement of Changes in Equity (SOCE) †¢ a Cash Flow Statement or Statement of Cash Flows List of IFRS statements with full text link The following IFRS statements are currently issued: †¢ IFRS 1 First time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards †¢ IFRS 2 Share-based Payment †¢ IFRS 3 Business Combinations †¢ IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts †¢ IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations †¢ IFRS 6 Exploration for and Evaluation of Mineral Resources †¢ IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures †¢ IFRS 8 Operating Segments †¢ IFRS 9 Financial Instruments †¢ IAS 1: Presentation of Financial Statements. †¢ IAS 2: Inventories IAS 3: Consolidated Financial Statements Originally issued 1976, effective 1 Jan 1977. Superseded in 1989 by IAS 27 and IAS 28 †¢ IAS 4: Depreciation Accounting Withdrawn in 1999, replaced by IAS 16, 22, and 38, all of which were issued or revised in 1998 †¢ IAS 5: Information to Be Disclosed in Financial Statements Originally issued October 1976, effective 1 January 1997. Superseded by IAS 1 in 1997 †¢ IAS 6: Accounting Responses to Changing PricesSuperseded by IAS 15, which was withdrawn December 2003 †¢ IAS 7: Cash Flow Statements IAS 8: Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors †¢ IAS 9: Accounting for Research and Development Activities – Superseded by IAS 38 effective 1. 7. 99 †¢ IAS 10: Events After the Balance Sheet Date †¢ IAS 11: Construction Contracts †¢ IAS 12: Income Taxes †¢ IAS 13: Presentation of Current Assets and Current Liabilities – Superseded by IAS 1. †¢ IAS 14: Segment Reporting (superseded by IFRS 8 on 1 January 2008) †¢ IAS 15: Information Reflecting the Effects of Changing Prices – Withdrawn December 2003 †¢ IAS 16: Property, Plant and Equipment IAS 17: Leases †¢ IAS 18: Revenue †¢ IAS 19: Employee Benefits †¢ IAS 20: Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance †¢ IAS 21: The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchang e Rates †¢ IAS 22:Business Combinations – Superseded by IFRS 3 effective 31 March 2004 †¢ IAS 23: Borrowing Costs †¢ IAS 24: Related Party Disclosures †¢ IAS 25: Accounting for Investments – Superseded by IAS 39 and IAS 40 effective 2001 †¢ IAS 26: Accounting and Reporting by Retirement Benefit Plans †¢ IAS 27: Consolidated Financial Statements IAS 28: Investments in Associates †¢ IAS 29: Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies †¢ IAS 30: Disclosures in the Financial Statements of Banks and Similar Financial Institutions – Superseded by IFRS 7 effective 2007 †¢ IAS 31: Interests in Joint Ventures †¢ IAS 32: Financial Instruments: Presentation (Financial instruments disclosures are in IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures, and no longer in IAS 32) †¢ IAS 33: Earnings Per Share †¢ IAS 34: Interim Financial Reporting IAS 35: Discontinuing Operations – Superseded by IFRS 5 effective 20 05 †¢ IAS 36: Impairment of Assets †¢ IAS 37: Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets †¢ IAS 38: Intangible Assets †¢ IAS 39: Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement †¢ IAS 40: Investment Property †¢ IAS 41: Agriculture List of Interpretations with full text link †¢ Preface to International Financial Reporting Interpretations (Updated to January 2006 †¢ IFRIC 1 Changes in Existing Decommissioning, Restoration and Similar Liabilities (Updated to January 2006) †¢ IFRIC 7 Approach under IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies (Issued February 2006) †¢ IFRIC 8 Scope of IFRS 2 (Issued February 2006)—has been eliminated with Amendments issued to IFRS 2 †¢ IFRIC 9 Reassessment of Embedded Derivatives (Issued April 2006) †¢ IFRIC 10 Interim Financial Reporting and Impairment (Issued November 2006) †¢ IFRIC 11 IFRS 2-Group and Treasury Share Transactions (Issued November 2006)—has been eliminated with Amendments issued to IFRS 2 †¢ IFRIC 12 Service Concession Arrangements (Issued November 2006) †¢ IFRIC 13 Customer Loyalty Programmes (Issued in June 2007) †¢ IFRIC 14 IAS 19 – The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction (issued in July 2007) †¢ IFRIC 15 Agreements for the Construction of Real Estate (issued in July 2008) †¢ IFRIC 16 Hedges of a Net Invest ment in a Foreign Operation (issued in July 2008) †¢ IFRIC 17 Distributions of Non-cash Assets (issued in November 2008) †¢ IFRIC 18 Transfers of Assets from Customers (issued in January 2009) †¢ SIC 7 Introduction of the Euro (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 10 Government Assistance-No Specific Relation to Operating Activities (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 12 Consolidation-Special Purpose Entities (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 13 Jointly Controlled Entities-Non-Monetary Contributions by Venturers (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 15 Operating Leases-Incentives (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 21 Income Taxes-Recovery of Revalued Non-Depreciable Assets (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 25 Income Taxes-Changes in the Tax Status of an Entity or its Shareholders (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 27 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the Legal Form of a Lease (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 29 Disclosure-Service Concession Arrangements (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 31 Revenue-Barter Transactions Involving Advertising Services (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 32 Intangible Assets-Web Site Costs (Updated to January 2006) †¢ SIC 33 Consolidation and equity method – Potential voting rights and allocation of ownership interests 04. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is an independent, privately-funded accounting standard-setter based in London, England. The IASB was founded on April 1, 2001 as the successor to the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC). It is responsible for developing International Financial Reporting Standards (the new name for International Accounting Standards issued after 2001), and promoting the use and application of these standards. Foundation of the IASB In April 2001, the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation (IASCF), since renamed as the IFRS Foundation, was formed as a not-for-profit corporation incorporated in the US state of Delaware. The IFRS Foundation is the parent entity of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), an independent accounting standard-setter based in London, England. On 1 March 2001, the IASB assumed accounting standard-setting responsibilities from its predecessor body, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC). This was the culmination of a restructuring based on the recommendations of the report Recommendations on Shaping IASC for the Future. The IASB structure has the following main features: the IFRS Foundation is an independent organization having two main bodies, the Trustees and the IASB, as well as a IFRS Advisory Council and the IFRS Interpretations Committee (formerly the IFRIC). The IASC Foundation Trustees appoint the IASB members, exercise oversight and raise the funds needed, but the IASB has responsibility for setting International Financial Reporting Standards (international accounting standards). IASB Members The IASB has 15 Board members, each with one vote. They are selected as a group of experts with a mix of experience of standard-setting, preparing and using accounts, and academic work. [2] At their January 2009 meeting the Trustees of the Foundation concluded the first part of the second Constitution Review, announcing the creation of a Monitoring Board and the expansion of the IASB to 16 members and giving more consideration to the geographical composition of the IASB. The IFRS Interpretations OF Committee has 14 members. Its brief is to provide timely guidance on issues that arise in practice. A unanimous vote is not necessary in order for the publication of a Standard, exposure draft, or final â€Å"IFRIC† Interpretation. The Board's 2008 Due Process manual stated that approval by nine of the members is required. Funding The IFRS Foundation raises funds for the operation of the IASB. [7] Most contributors are banks and other companies which use or have an interest in promoting international standards. In 2008, American companies gave ? 2. 4m, more than those of any other country. However, contributions fell in the wake of the financial crisis of 2007–2010, and a shortfall was reported in 2010. 05. The Basel Committee The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision provides a forum for regular cooperation on banking supervisory matters. Its objective is to enhance understanding of key supervisory issues and improve the quality of banking supervision worldwide. It seeks to do so by exchanging information on national supervisory issues, approaches and techniques, with a view to promoting common understanding. At times, the Committee uses this common understanding to develop guidelines and supervisory standards in areas where they are considered desirable. In this regard, the Committee is best known for its international standards on capital adequacy; the Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision; and the Concordat on cross-border banking supervision. The Committee's members come from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. The present Chairman of the Committee is Mr Nout Wellink, President of the Netherlands Bank. The Committee encourages contacts and cooperation among its members and other banking supervisory authorities. It circulates to supervisors throughout the world both published and unpublished papers providing guidance on banking supervisory matters. Contacts have been further strengthened by an International Conference of Banking Supervisors (ICBS) which takes place every two years. The Committee's Secretariat is located at the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland, and is staffed mainly by professional supervisors on temporary secondment from member institutions. In addition to undertaking the secretarial work for the Committee and its many expert sub-committees, it stands ready to give advice to supervisory authorities in all countries. Mr Stefan Walter is the Secretary General of the Basel Committee. Main Expert Sub-Committees The Committee's work is organised under four main sub-committees: †¢ The Standards Implementation Group †¢ The Policy Development Group †¢ The Accounting Task Force †¢ The Basel Consultative Group Basel II is the second of the Basel Accords, which are recommendations on banking laws and regulations issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The purpose of Basel II, which was initially published in June 2004, is to create an international standard that banking regulators can use when creating regulations about how much capital banks need to put aside to guard against the types of financial and operational risks banks face. Advocates of Basel II believe that such an international standard can help protect the international financial system from the types of problems that might arise should a major bank or a series of banks collapse. In theory, Basel II attempted to accomplish this by setting up risk and capital management requirements designed to ensure that a bank holds capital reserves appropriate to the risk the bank exposes itself to through its lending and investment practices. Generally speaking, these rules mean that the greater risk to which the bank is exposed, the greater the amount of capital the bank needs to hold to safeguard its solvency and overall economic stability. Objective The final version aims at: 1. Ensuring that capital allocation is more risk sensitive; 2. Separating operational risk from credit risk, and quantifying both; 3. Attempting to align economic and regulatory capital more closely to reduce the scope for regulatory arbitrage. The Accord in operation Basel II uses a â€Å"three pillars† concept – (1) minimum capital requirements (addressing risk), (2) supervisory review and (3) market discipline. The Basel I accord dealt with only parts of each of these pillars. For example: with respect to the first Basel II pillar, only one risk, credit risk, was dealt with in a simple manner while market risk was an afterthought; operational risk was not dealt with at all. The first pillar The first pillar deals with maintenance of regulatory capital calculated for three major components of risk that a bank faces: credit risk, operational risk, and market risk. Other risks are not considered fully quantifiable at this stage. The credit risk component can be calculated in three different ways of varying degree of sophistication, namely standardized approach, Foundation IRB and Advanced IRB. IRB stands for â€Å"Internal Rating-Based Approach†. For operational risk, there are three different approaches – basic indicator approach or BIA, standardized approach or TSA, and the internal measurement approach (an advanced form of which is the advanced measurement approach or AMA). For market risk the preferred approach is VaR (value at risk). As the Basel 2 recommendations are phased in by the banking industry it will move from standardised requirements to more refined and specific requirements that have been developed for each risk category by each individual bank. The upside for banks that do develop their own bespoke risk measurement systems is that they will be rewarded with potentially lower risk capital requirements. In future there will be closer links between the concepts of economic profit and regulatory capital. Credit Risk can be calculated by using one of three approaches: 1. Standardised Approach 2. Foundation IRB (Internal Ratings Based) Approach 3. Advanced IRB Approach The standardised approach sets out specific risk weights for certain types of credit risk. The standard risk weight categories are used under Basel 1 and are 0% for short term government bonds, 20% for exposures to OECD Banks, 50% for residential mortgages and 100% weighting on unsecured commercial loans. A new 150% rating comes in for borrowers with poor credit ratings. The minimum capital requirement (the percentage of risk weighted assets to be held as capital) remains at 8%. For those Banks that decide to adopt the standardised ratings approach they will be forced to rely on the ratings generated by external agencies. Certain Banks are developing the IRB approach as a result. The second pillar The second pillar deals with the regulatory response to the first pillar, giving regulators much improved ‘tools' over those available to them under Basel I. It also provides a framework for dealing with all the other risks a bank may face, such as systemic risk, pension risk, concentration risk, strategic risk, reputational risk, liquidity risk and legal risk, which the accord combines under the title of residual risk. It gives banks a power to review their risk management system. The third pillar This pillar aims to promote greater stability in the financial system Market discipline supplements regulation as sharing of information facilitates assessment of the bank by others including investors, analysts, customers, other banks and rating agencies. It leads to good corporate governance. The aim of pillar 3 is to allow market discipline to operate by requiring lenders to publicly provide details of their risk management activities, risk rating processes and risk distributions. It sets out the public disclosures that banks must make that lend greater insight into the adequacy of their capitalization. When marketplace participants have a sufficient nderstanding of a bank’s activities and the controls it has in place to manage its exposures, they are better able to distinguish between banking organizations so that they can reward those that manage their risks prudently and penalize those that do not. 06. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) The Financial Account ing Standards Board (FASB) is a private, not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to develop generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) within the United States in the public's interest. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) designated the FASB as the organization responsible for setting accounting standards for public companies in the U. S. It was created in 1973, replacing the Committee on Accounting Procedure (CAP) and the Accounting Principles Board (APB) of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Mission statement The FASB's mission is â€Å"to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information. † To achieve this, FASB has five goals: †¢ Improve the usefulness of financial reporting by focusing on the primary characteristics of relevance and reliability, and on the qualities of comparability and consistency. †¢ Keep standards current to reflect changes in methods of doing business and in the economy. Consider promptly any significant areas of deficiency in financial reporting that might be improved through standard setting. †¢ Promote international convergence of accounting standards concurrent with improving the quality of financial reporting. †¢ Improve common understanding of the nature and purposes of information in financial reports. FASB pronouncements In order to establish accounting principles, the FASB issues pronouncements publicly, each addressing general or specific accounting issues. These pronouncements are: †¢ Statements of Financial Accounting Standards †¢ Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts †¢ FASB Interpretations FASB Technical Bulletins †¢ EITF Abstracts FASB 11 Concepts 1. Money measurement 2. Entity 3. Going concern 4. Cost 5. Dual aspect 6. Accounting period 7. Conservation 8. Realization 9. Matching 10. Consistency 11. Materiality 07. Committee on Accounting Procedure (CAP) In 1939, encouraged by the SEC, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) formed the Committee on Accounting Procedure (CAP). From 1939 to 1959, CAP issued 51 Accounting Research Bulletins that dealt with issues as they arose. CAP had only limited success because it did not develop an overall accounting framework, but rather, acted upon specific problems as they arose. Accounting Principles Board (APB) In 1959, the AICPA replaced CAP with the Accounting Principles Board (APB), which issued 31 opinions and 4 statements until it was dissolved in 1973. GAAP essentially arose from the opinions of the APB. The APB was criticized for its structure and for several of its positions on controversial topics. In 1971 the Wheat Committee (chaired by Francis Wheat) was formed to evaluate the APB and propose changes. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) The Wheat Committee recommended the replacement of the Accounting Principles Board with a new standards-setting structure. This new structure was implemented in 1973 and was made up of three organizations: Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council (FASAC). Of these organizations, FASB (pronounced â€Å"FAS-B†) is the primary operating organization. Unlike the APB, FASB was designed to be an independent board comprised of members who have severed their ties with their employers and private firms. FASB issues statements of financial accounting standards, which define GAAP. The AICPA issues audit guides. When a conflict occurs, FASB rules. International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) The International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) was formed in 1973 to encourage international cooperation in developing consistent worldwide accounting principles. In 2001, the IASC was succeeded by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), an independent private sector body that is structured similar to FASB. Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) The financial reports of state and local goverment entities are not directly comparable to those of businesses. In 1984, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) was formed to set standards for the financial reports of state and local government. GASB was modeled after FASB.

Free Essays on King Lear And Moll Flanders

The definition of power used in literature can be interpreted as a character employing their ability to act or produce an effect on a particular physical or emotional faculty. Power is ambiguous, and the different ways a person can exercise power are infinite. However, particular kinds of power can only be brought into action by a person of the legitimate authority, for example, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Literature does not only focus on people of this certain authoritative power because average people play an important role in society. A Prime Minister must be voted into government power by individuals with different levels of power; recognised and unrecognised. This reality gives any human being extreme power in itself and proves ultimately that, to some extent, each person holds the power to influence their lives and the lives of others. The play King Lear was written and performed in 1605, during the first years of the reign of King James I. King James succeeded Queen Elizabeth so the public had striven to accept a Queen and felt the dramatic change in the monarchy similar to the disruption in King Lear. Edward Spenser’s allegorical poem The Faire Queene (1590 – 1596) was a celebration of the Queen. King James watched a performance of King Lear at Whitehall on 26 December 1606. To a certain extent King Lear was a warning to King James, telling him how not to rule and how to wisely distribute power. In Renaissance drama, especially Shakespearean tragedy, the authoritative rulers are typically placed at the centre of stage. As a King, King Lear must represent established, hierarchy power, initially he embodies this, basking in the realm of flattery and the feeling of absolute power. However, he abhors the underlying power of opposition and the challenges against him and therefore decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. Essentially he still wishes to be treated as a king, retain his title but ... Free Essays on King Lear And Moll Flanders Free Essays on King Lear And Moll Flanders The definition of power used in literature can be interpreted as a character employing their ability to act or produce an effect on a particular physical or emotional faculty. Power is ambiguous, and the different ways a person can exercise power are infinite. However, particular kinds of power can only be brought into action by a person of the legitimate authority, for example, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Literature does not only focus on people of this certain authoritative power because average people play an important role in society. A Prime Minister must be voted into government power by individuals with different levels of power; recognised and unrecognised. This reality gives any human being extreme power in itself and proves ultimately that, to some extent, each person holds the power to influence their lives and the lives of others. The play King Lear was written and performed in 1605, during the first years of the reign of King James I. King James succeeded Queen Elizabeth so the public had striven to accept a Queen and felt the dramatic change in the monarchy similar to the disruption in King Lear. Edward Spenser’s allegorical poem The Faire Queene (1590 – 1596) was a celebration of the Queen. King James watched a performance of King Lear at Whitehall on 26 December 1606. To a certain extent King Lear was a warning to King James, telling him how not to rule and how to wisely distribute power. In Renaissance drama, especially Shakespearean tragedy, the authoritative rulers are typically placed at the centre of stage. As a King, King Lear must represent established, hierarchy power, initially he embodies this, basking in the realm of flattery and the feeling of absolute power. However, he abhors the underlying power of opposition and the challenges against him and therefore decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters. Essentially he still wishes to be treated as a king, retain his title but ...

Amen in Dynasty XVIII essays

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Medtronic Case Study Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Medtronic Case Study - Assignment Example All these factors accounted for overall failure of the company and eventually reduced dynamic growth of the company to zero. On the contrary, the newly appointed CEO of the firm, Omar Ishrak witnessed major challenges in terms of retrieving the position of the company in the market place. During the first 18 months, the new CEO was able to plan for company’s future growth prospect through R&D investment in order to develop innovative medical therapies. To facilitate short term prospect of the company, Omar Ishrak had always favored business model innovations and creative product development. However the major focus of the newly appointed CEO was to overcome all possible adoption barriers prevalent in emerging economies. The CEO even restructured his organization so that all the team members are aligned with the innovative goals and objectives of the firm. There was proper restructuring done of the entire executive team as well as their respective responsibilities. The heads of global operating regions of Medtronic now directly reported to the CEO instead of head of International. Many non-Americans were even appointed for executive committee. The company’s one of the biggest achievement was acquisition of a Chinese orthopedic company. However this case study reveals that Omar Ishrak is in a dilemma as to whether the steps taken to transform Medtronic into a global firm is sufficient or it requires more innovative strategies for sustaining growth. The objective of the case study is to put across different dimensions of international business. It has been observed that in international expansion strategy organizations need to adopt innovative business models. In this study strategic dimensions will be aligned with the success or failure of international business. The entire study will be conducted from a consultant’s perspective so as to evaluate the expansion strategies undertaken by the firm. There would be even suggestions

The relationship between HRM and business performance Literature review

The relationship between HRM and business performance - Literature review Example First, the review suggests that human resource practices have synergistic and performance enhancing influences when used in conjunction with empowerment-enhancing practices that boost employee responsibility and autonomy. Secondly, study attempts to explore the link between HRM and firm performance by studying frameworks that link HRM to financial performance despite the various studies that claim there is no link between HRM and Firm performance. The literature offers overview on research regarding HRM and Businesses performance and subsequently shows the relation between HRM and performance in organizations. Business strategy and the integration of HRM practices form an essential factor in organizational effectiveness because the use of business strategy as a contingent factor moderates the relation between human resources practices as el as firm performance. Therefore, business strategies paired together with proper HRM activities have positive influences on the firm’s perf ormance. According to Ahmad and Schroeder(2003) and their counterparts Youndt and Snell(2004), the impact of HRM to organizational outcomes became an essential topic in early 1990s because it attaches significance to motivational aspects of organizational practices in developing and utilizing human capital. HRM involves development of people’s abilities and attitudes in way that the individual can develop personally and contribute toward the organization’s goals. According to Youndt and Snell(2004), other studies consider HRM practices to be pay and reward, recruitment and selection, training and development, health and safety as well as work expansion or reduction. However, various studies suggest that six essential HRM practices that are likely to positively influence a firm’s performance include training and development, teamwork, incentives, HR planning, performance appraisal as well as employment security (Sels, Winne, Delmotte, Maes, Faems and Forrier, 200 6; Seibert,Silver and Randolph, 2004). According to Sels et al (2006), training and development involves the amount of formal training offered to employees, although organizations can offer extensive training, organizations also rely on acquired skills through selection and socialization. Training in businesses influence performance in two key ways the first one being, that training improves on the relevant skills, capabilities, and secondly training compliments employees’ satisfaction in their prevailing job and workplace. Teamwork in businesses contributes to business performance because it results in effective achievement, facilitates flow of ideas resulting in innovative solution and helps in saving administrative costs associated with paying specialists in order to watch people (Sels et al 2006). Incentives in businesses rely on performance and remain one of the usual means for organizations to enhance employee motivation through provision of performance-contingent incen tive in order to align employee and shareholder interests. According to Chiang(2004), although compensation is categorised into financial and non-financial incentives, some incentives like pay incentives in form of bonuses and profit sharing or even indirect compensation like health insurance and vacation all influence the performance of firms. According to Gill and Meyer(2008), HR planning in enterprises involves forecasting