The Aspect of Violence in the World of The Hunger Games Assignment

The Aspect of Violence in the World of The Hunger Games - Assignment Example The Hunger Games conceals the issue of violence by using a form of language that deters the audience to know the real meaning of it. Orwell defines this as â€Å"staleness of imagery† or â€Å"the lack of precision† (2). Seneca Crane, the game-maker, has been presented with such a vague language that mitigates the level of tension despite its nature. The film commences without tackling the mechanics of the game, neither how it is being played nor how it continued that long in their nation. As a matter of fact, the film itself is a paradigm of a dying metaphor. According to Orwell, there are modern metaphors that are â€Å"technically dead,† concealed â€Å"being an ordinary word,† which can â€Å"generally be used without loss of vividness† (2). The Hunger Games, as an example, is by far presenting a metaphor about the aspect of hunger, but the mere fact that the plot offers only two pathways, death or survival, it has to be something vague but is v ivid. Therefore, even if the audience sees the violence of the movie, they are moved along the side of temporal unconsciousness. However, as they went through viewing the movie, they will realize the issue of violence that is concealed in the title of the movie, may it be a game of death. In the lens of the â€Å"verbal false limbs or operators,† some contemporary works have â€Å"trouble of picking out appropriate verbs and nouns,† simultaneously providing â€Å"each sentence with extra syllables† resulting it to appear symmetric (Orwell 3). For instance, Katniss and Peeta, as the protagonists in the movie, have been portrayed with such an ineffective and unsoundly utterances, such that their moves in every act posit a very interesting motion, but their lines pose no strong connection with it. This is a clear manifestation that their roles have been presented with an utterance that consolidates the â€Å"elimination of key verbs† (Orwell 3). Eliminating key verbs by replacing or complementing with another word in a sentence will deter the strong meaning of the word. Selena Crane’s role is also depicted as one with an utterance that replaces â€Å"simple conjunctions and prepositions,† which Orwell described as a tool to appear symmetric (3).

Respones paper Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Respones paper - Movie Review Example The fiction in the movie or novel finds itself in the fact that all main heroes gathered by the author in The Yacoubian Building (a luxury apartment building which was built in Cairo)  are invented by him. Nevertheless, the borders between reality and fiction are blurred for these people, only with different names, can be among the audience of readers or viewers right now, as they â€Å"†¦are people of our world†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hamid). One of the outrageous themes raised in the work is the false Islamic piety. The main characters including an impoverished aristocrat and a self-proclaimed expert on women, a godly student, a newspaper editor and a corrupt politician, all of them perceive themselves as Allah-fearing citizens who honor their religion and lead a righteous way of life. Still there is a small remark that must be underlined – our heroes go on about their desires and feelings which are inconsistent with the concepts of their faith. In such a case they simply interpret the commandments of the Koran in a favorable for them light to justify their actions and not to be sinners in their own eyes as well as in the eyes of God. The strong belief of almost every Muslim is that â€Å"†¦God bless him and grant him peace†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Aswany 4) and our characters are not the exception. Another important feature of contemporary Egyptian social life is its injustice and inequality of people of different classes. In this respect the Yacoubian Building itself serves as the symbol of the division of the poor and the rich, according to their situation in the edifice, that is, the poor are in the upper and almost unsuitable rooms and the elite is on the lower floors with large comfortable apartments. Nevertheless men of every social class are the same in one question – relations with women. As it shown in the novel and film, different people have different love affairs with representatives of different sex. However, the place of a woman is still the central one in the lives of

NEITHER PROFESSIONALS AMATEURS NOR BEGINNERS SHOULD PLAY ANYTHING BUT Essay

NEITHER PROFESSIONALS AMATEURS NOR BEGINNERS SHOULD PLAY ANYTHING BUT THE MUSIC OF THE GREAT MASTERS AND THEN SHOULD NOT ADD THE SLIGHEST OF THEIR OWN TO IT - Essay Example Originality, in this respect, is an important word. Originality may be described as a phenomenon that caters to the personal sense of creation that an artist indulges in. This sense of creation is something that is an outcome of the artist’s sense of aesthetics and what he or she feels will have a wide acceptance and appeal in the long run. In this regard, artists generally regard qualities like timelessness and mass appeal in the creation of work that will be demonstrated before people. Originality is an important concept for this paper due to the nature of the topic. Is it possible to remain original by playing classics – that too without adding a touch of your own to a piece of work? The role of originality here is in the creation. A musician may create a classic on his own and it will be called recreation. Most people might argue that it is important to render your own elements even when playing classics so as to ensure that there is a demonstration of how a person can improvise. In this regard, the counter argument is that the listener is usually not concerned with the technicalities. It very often happens that a recreation of a certain piece of work is not taken to well in its â€Å"improvised† form as there are constant comparisons with the original. This works against the musician in question, therefore making his work ‘a cheap imitation’.

Euthanasia Essay Example for Free

Euthanasia Essay In his accounts, Gay-Williams raised important arguments with regard to euthanasia. Being a serious point of debate for many decades now, there are people who approve of it claiming it provides humane death for someone otherwise not capable of living a normal life anymore. On the other hand, there are others who stay conservative and disapprove of euthanasia believing that in no way can people decide should another person is already bound for death or not. One point of contention is the differentiation between active and passive euthanasia, which further segments the population. Gay-Williams assert that active euthanasia is illegal yet passive euthanasia can be morally favored. Some do not believe on the differentiation and say that whether it is active or passive, euthanasia should be regarded as illegal. Gay-Williams also argued that euthanasia takes out the hope in a patient. This further proves the negative notion on euthanasia. This along with the argument that euthanasia is a practical choice for medical practitioners is raised by the author and was explained in detail. This paper aims to discuss these arguments and evaluate their strength, which may prove or otherwise disprove the motions of Gay-Williams. In developing the paper, it hopes to evaluate euthanasia in light of its moral viability; the distinction cited between active and passive euthanasia and their moral statures, and two arguments that embody mercy killing: the argument that states how euthanasia affects the will to live and survive as well as how it may be used for practical applications—rather surprising conclusions that were taken by Gay-Williams which are worth a lengthy point of discussion, evaluation, and comparison. Passive and active euthanasia Gay-Williams stated that there is a big difference between passive and active euthanasia. In phrases, passive euthanasia is letting die while active euthanasia is killing. It should be noted that passive euthanasia happens when a person was not given relief from a certainly fatal situation which is otherwise medically alterable. For instance, a person with extreme difficulty in breathing who can still be resuscitated but was not given an apparatus or aid for the purpose may die under the circumstance of passive euthanasia. This is often done when there is an order by the patient or the family that the patient should not be resuscitated. Alternatively, the situation can be the other way around. The patient may be in a dying situation, but still technically alive. For some circumstance such as the thought that the patient is constantly in pain, hopeless, or if the patient himself can no longer bear the pain, there may become a request or a suggestion for the pain to be stopped—rather permanently. At this point poison may be intravenously given to end the suffering of the patient. According to Gay-Williams, this big difference between the two is obvious in light of their moral statures. The first one which let the patient die without medical intervention is acceptable as there was no effort in ending the life of the patient. Divinely, the patient may still be saved. On the other hand, the latter-described procedure deliberately put an effort in ending the suffering and the life of the patient. The author stated that this is killing even if the purpose of the act is to save someone from a lengthy and costly suffering. The thought of euthanasia Every one of us is gifted with survival instincts. When the going gets tough, they say the tough gets going. And so when an illness hits someone and he is tough enough, he finds hope rather than despair. He focuses on the positive rather than the negative and strives to find a way to battle the sickness and eventually win it. Thus, when the mind says that it wants to live, the body and the person will most likely follow. (How to live a longer and healthier life, 2007) This is the same argument raised by Gay-Williams as an issue of euthanasia. He states: knowing that we can take out our life at anytime (or ask another to take it) might well incline us to give up too easily. The will to live is strong in all of us, but it can be weakened by pain and suffering and feelings of hopelessness. This will to live is essential as many doctors have proven. Gay-Williams himself stated that there are many miraculous survivals that occur which even medicine cannot fully explain. Many shows, testimonials, and books have discussed how people in the brink of death were able to miraculously survive. Some were from serious illnesses or were declared in comatose. Some claimed to be back from dying. This relationship between the will to live and getting well has been the premise of many studies. Doctors started incorporating psychological therapies to their patients’ treatment plans hoping to get better results. Often, the results even exceed their expectations. This led many doctors to adapt the concept, to the relief and advantage of thousands and maybe even millions of patients around the world. As Gay-Williams says: The very presence of the possibility of euthanasia may keep us from surviving when we might. Euthanasia and practical effects Gay-Williams state that doctors and nurses’ main thrust and aim in their professions is to save lives, and that when a patient dies in their care it becomes a personal failure which may not be too easy to accept. Thus it is not surprising if the author argued that euthanasia is a practical way for practitioners to avoid this quicksand. If they endorse or support euthanasia, any impending deaths in their care can be pre-empted—no one will ever die in their responsibility again. Euthanasia is a product of free will. It takes the patient and/or his family into a higher level of decision-making whereby they choose whether to prolong the patient’s illness and let live or end the suffering and let the patient die in peace. Its proponents agree that approving euthanasia as a social policy lets the people exercise the freedom of will that was given to them by the divine and the constitution. This is true in that even if euthanasia becomes a social policy, it still boils down to the decision of the person if euthanasia should be chosen or not as a way of getting out of one’s suffering. If a patient or his family does not want to exercise it, it is also for them to decline. However, Gay-Williams claim that euthanasia will bring an all new low in the quality of healthcare where euthanasia is acceptable. The quality will be sacrificed because if practitioners know an easier way out of an untreatable disease rather than letting the patient die naturally in their hands, the process may be taken in non-serious cases as well. In connection, Gay-Williams stress that as a social policy euthanasia will bring worse concerns. For one, it can permit authorities to eliminate those who are hopelessly ill, the way those who are mentally ill are sent in mental hospitals—a comparison Gay-Williams was clever in making. Conclusion So did Gay-Williams’ argument win or lose? The argument revolved around the innate willingness to live by people, especially the sick. It played up the fact that the will to live is a fragile characteristic inherent to everyone. It further stated that euthanasia blotted onto this inherent character; that the provision of a choice to end life gave people the reason to end life; that giving patients, their families, and the doctors an easy route out of the situation gave them the authority to take this easy route out as well. With these arguments, Gay-Williams reiterated that whether as a social policy or an open option for patients, families, and medical practitioners, euthanasia is a slippery slope where no one wins. Gay-Williams, theoretically speaking, was able to deliver his points well. It is true that euthanasia is an exercise of free will, but the fact that free will is given and thus the idea of euthanasia is suggested to a patient is already initially detrimental to the patient. It entails responsible choices to be made by the patient, the family, and the doctors. It requires a full understanding of life, and the willingness to allow life to take its course. The doctors can suggest this graceful exit option to the patient or the family but if the patient or the family’s will to live or let live is stronger than the will to end everything, euthanasia becomes out of the options and medication can continue. But if the patient or the doctors already have the way out it will be too tempting to resist. (A plea for beneficent euthanasia, n. d. ) Even if euthanasia is unwise for conservatives, it is a matter of choice and conscience. For the unbelievers, they can go through life without considering it. For modernists, it is an available choice. In the end, one should never and can never decide for another. Gay-Williams failed to include this in his distinctions. It is true that it can be used by doctors as a practical way out of a medical case, or disillusion patients, but it should still be a choice given for all.

Construction Industry Benchmark Report

Construction Industry Benchmark Report Construction Industry Benchmark The Review of the UK Construction Industry Benchmark Reports The first and foremost major report that reviewed the performance of the UK construction industry was enacted in 1929 and several other reports had followed suite up till the present time (Cain, 2003). Due to the multitudes of problems plaguing the UK construction industry, the UK government had at different times assembled teams of expert to bestow a panacea and impeccable modus operandi on the UK construction industry. Consequently, the UK government keeps reviewing each reports year after years for an up to date solutions for the UK construction industry by learning from the limitations of each report and re-examining the non-conforming of the industry to the findings and recommendations of the reports. Cain (2003) notes that the inspiration behind all the reports were the client concerns about the impact on their commercial performance of the inefficiency and waste in the UK construction industry. This chapter presents the review of various benchmark reports and initiatives of the UK government and construction industry as a response and panacea to the problems and imbroglio prevalent in the UK construction industry. Fragmentation, inefficiency and adversarialism had led to unnecessary high construction cost and poor functionality (Cain, 2003). Preceding chapters have elucidated on these problems and succinctly explored the benchmark reports in emphasizing the need for the UK construction industry to shift from its adversarial position and embrace a more integrated approach. The reports also charged the construction client to embrace co-operation and teamwork for an enhanced relationship among the supply chain members. This chapter reviews different reports that had shaped and are still shaping the direction of the UK construction industry. The recommendations of the reports which are regarded as a universal remedy for the adversarial make up of the UK construction industry are well highlighted. The BDB initiative will be left out since it has been discussed in earlier chapters. Major reports will be dilated more upon such as the Latham report, Egan Report and the Strategic Forum for Construction (SFC) report. CONSTRUCTING THE TEAM (The Latham Report of 1994) One of the earliest reports was Alfred Bossom Reaching for the Skies report of 1934 and different other reports such as Simon report of 1944 and Barnwell report of 1967 came afterwards before the Latham report of 1994 (Cain, 2003). In 1994, Sir Michael Latham report came into being with audacious recommendations to provide panacea to the quandary besmirching the UK construction industry. The Latham report vital message was that the client should be at the core of the construction process (NAO, 2001). It recommended more standardised construction contracts, better guidance on best practice and legislative changes to simplify dispute resolution (NAO, 2001). Cain (2003) notes that various reports before the Latham report all failed to have any impacts on the performance of the UK construction industry because of the industry continued sightlessness to its shortcomings. The UK construction industry had long been fraught with adversarial relationships, process fragmentation and ineffective planning. The continued reliance on the aforementioned failings had made the UK construction industry to still be enmeshed in its precarious state. It was however surmised by Cain in 2003 that the Latham report came as a catalyst in dissuading the construction clients from their unfavoured disposition and charged them to lead the reform movement. The Latham report Constructing the Team wished-for an understandable action plan with timescales, scheduled people to implement its recommendations and consequently sought the views of contractors and key private and public sector clients (NAO, 2001). It charged both the private construction client and the UK government that its recommendations implementation onus is on them and recommended that the latter should commit itself to becoming a best practice client (NAO, 2001). The Latham report identified inefficiencies which indicated the need for partnering and collaboration among the players in the construction industry. Teamwork was also identified and the report acted as a precursor for more initiatives. The Latham report led to the creation of the Construction Industry Board (CIB). Government benchmark reports and initiatives such as the Levene Efficiency Scrutiny report of 1995; the Egan report Rethinking Construction of 1998; the National Audit Office (NAO) report Modernising Construction of 2001; the SFC report; Accelerating Change of 2002; the Guide to the Construction Best Practice Programme (CBPP) of 1998; The Construction Client Charter; and The Movement for Innovation (M4i) were all designed to move the UK construction industry in the right direction. In its conclusion it affirms that if all its recommendations were put into practice, the potential for the achievement of efficiency savings of 30 per cent over five years in total construction costs is highly discernible and realizable (NAO, 2001). While the whole of this chapter is devoted to the review of the key UK construction industry benchmark reports, this section succinctly outline the key recommendations of the Latham report of 1994. As earlier noted at the beginning of the chapter, the first key recommendation of the Latham report is the need for the construction client to accept the onus of the reforms in the UK construction industry. It specifically emphasized that government being one of the biggest procurer of projects should commit itself and be acknowledged as a best practice client. It charged government to improve the training of its workforce for the achievement of the industrys goal of value for money and establish benchmarking arrangements to provide pressure for continuing improvements in performance. The report also noted that the private sector construction client is the biggest procurer of project and they thus need a unison voice to effect changes and improve standards. It was noticed that there was no single focus for the private sector construction client and a need was however identified. The setting up of an organisation called the Construction Clients Forum was recommended to represent the private sector client and provide influential voice, with responsibility for promoting forward thinking on key issues. The creation of the organisation was considered a priority. The report recommended that the Construction Sponsorship Directorate of the Department of the Environment be designated by Ministers as the lead Department for the implementation of the reports recommendations. Secondly, adjudication was acknowledged as the impeccable way of dispute resolution which must be introduced within all the Standard Forms of Contract and be underpinned by legislation. It emphasized that the impeccable solution is the avoidance of disputes. However, dispute can still abound despite concerted efforts of prevention. The report reckons that if procurement and tendering procedures are improved therefore there will be reduction in the causes of conflict. Mediation/conciliation was also acknowledged as another route of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Thirdly, the report recommended that the CIC should provide a guide to briefing that would assist the clients. It was also recommended that it should be part of the contractual process that the client should approve the design brief by signing it off. Also it was recommended that DOE should coordinate and publish a Construction Strategy Code of Practice (CSCP) to inform and advise the client. The CSCP should be legible and decipherable and circulated through all the government agencies. Fourthly, the report recommends the inclusion of detailed advice in the CSCP to all public clients on the specific requirements for selective tendering of EU directives. NJCC code of procedure was recommended as the focal point for the numbers of tenders for single stage tendering. It advised that clients that are subject to EU regulation must do away with open tendering procedures. It also advocated that client that procures their project through design and build approach should proceed by the following tender routes (1) On a single stage basis, not more than three firms should be invited with one other name in reserve (2) When a project is of complex nature and substantial, a two stage tender should be employed subject to EU considerations (3) When it is envisaged that ground investigation cost would be incurred by tenderers, they should be allowed to pool such cost by the retainment of single firm of consultants acting on behalf of them all (4) It should be made known in advance w hen a very large and expensive scheme is to be undertaken that a reasonable proportion of expense incurred by unsuccessful tenderers will be paid back to them (5) Based on quality and price basis assurance should be sought from the contractors that their own professional consultants will be retained. It recommends the creation of a more standardisation and effectual forms of contract, which tackle matters of simplicity, justice, roles and responsibilities, risks allocation, dispute resolution and payment (NAO, 2001). Fifthly, partnering was advocated by Latham for fostering long term relationship. It emphasizes that competitive tendering process should be used in seeking the partnering arrangement for a specific period of time. The partnering arrangement should be based on mutually agreed and measurable targets for productivity improvements. Training was however not well considered by the Latham review but it advised that the issue should be examined as a matter of urgency by the industry and the government. It also recommends that the industry should move away from the established structure that the industry handles contracts and works with designers and equal opportunity should be given greater consideration. It recommends the creation of a single central public sector register of consultants and contractors (NAO, 2001). This has led to the creation of ConstructionLine which is a central qualification database of contractors and consultants run by a public/private partnership with a Government steering group (NAO, 2001). Lastly, the report notes that the industry has invested little in research and development and that the DOE should take urgent step and involves clients in its research strategy programme which should be properly monitored. It also recommends the acceptance of 30% real cost reduction by minister and the industry. It recommends that clear definition should be given to the roles and responsibilities of the project manager. RETHINKING CONSTRUCTION (The Egan Report of 1998) In 1998, the Sir John Egan report came into being. The Sir John Egans construction task force presented it to the then deputy prime minister. The former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott commissioned the report in July, 1998 with the central message that the UK construction industry and its client can jointly act to improve their performance by applying best practices to improve the quality and efficiency of the service provided by the industry to its clients (AZoBuild, 2008; Construction Excellence, 2006). Cain (2003) notes that the basic distinction of the Egan report in comparison with other reports is its insistence on the extraction of best practice in supply chain management from other sector. It was commissioned as part of the Governments effort to improve the quality and efficiency of the service provided by the industry to its clients. The Egan report advocates the creation of a Movement for Change which would be a vibrant, motivating and non-institutionalised body of people who are an advocate of the upliftment of the UK construction industry (AZoBuild, 2008). It was also noticed that the report acted as a harbinger for cultural changes with outcomes such as the launch of M4i in November 1998 (AZoBuild, 2008). The report also emphasize that the industry needs to improve on their activities but it however believe the industry is capable of doing that (AZoBuild, 2008). Several demonstration projects were undertaken to exemplify the innovations advocated by the report which to public astonishment exceeded the reports targets in productivity, profits, defects and reduced accidents (AZoBuild, 2008). Demonstration projects are regarded as live construction projects that are either innovating or imbibing an element of best practice (Construction Excellence, 2008a). Lesson learnt from these projects are used in influencing the UK construction industry change (Construction Excellence, 2008a). The report stoutly consolidated the apprehension of clients at the high level of inefficiency and waste and similarly powerfully consolidated the earlier message of the call for integration (Cain, 2003). The report lucidly admitted that total integration of processes (design and construction) and the application of supply chain management are key to better value for end user client (Cain, 2003). Cain (2003) in his review of the Egan report averred that the report was highly critical of the UK construction industrys disinclination to the grapple of the benefits of greater commonality and standardisation of components and materials. It was revealed in the report that the industry had low profitability, too little investment in capital, research, development and training and that too many of the construction clients in the industry were not satisfied with what they are getting (Construction Excellence, 2006). Consequently, 5 drivers for change were identified by the report with 4 project process improvements and 7 targets for improvement, which are summarized in Fig.3.5 in the previous chapter. Egan recommendations also include the attainment of the UK construction industrys potential. The report notes that for this to be achieved the industry needs to shift from its present culture and structure of competitive tendering and replace it with long term relationships based on clear measurements of performance and sustained improvements in quality and efficiency (Construction Excellence, 2006). MODERNISING CONSTRUCTION (The NAO report of 2001) In 2001, NAO Modernising Construction report came into being with brave recommendations by summarising previous reports that had recently set the tone for the eradication of the quandary besmirching the UK construction industry. The reports provision includes an analytical appraisal of the factual effectiveness of the industry and the barriers that hamper improvement (Cain, 2003). The report is about how to modernise the procurement and delivery of construction projects in the United Kingdom that benefits the construction clients and the UK construction industry in general (NAO, 2001). It critically chastises the UK construction industry for its poor performance and the consequences this poses (Cain, 2003). The report is seen to be very influential in dissuading the construction clients and the construction industry to discard their old adversarial ways and imbibe the Egan best practice (NAO, 2001). In Cains review of the report, it was identified that the major impediments to improvement of the performance of the UK construction industry are (1) the separate appointment of the designers from the rest of the supply chain (2) limited application of value management (3) opposition to supply chain integration (4) inconsideration of the factual cost of construction processes and components (5) little single point responsibility in one hand of design and construction process (6) limited regards to end users needs and inconsideration of fitness for purpose of the construction (7) use by client of narrow and rigid specifications, which stifle innovation and limit the scope for value for money; and (8) less inputs of buildability. According to NAO (2001), the report is seen to be forward looking and underscores good practice being espoused by the industry which if widely applied could achieve much considerable improvements in construction performance achieving better value for money. It was noted within the larger spending departments and agencies estimate that by adopting new approach to procurement and management of construction, efficiency gains of over ÂÂ £600 million annually and improvement in the quality of construction was achieved (NAO, 2001). It was established that there is greater potential in the application of best practice that leads to improved profitability when comparison is made with the current industry average of one per cent of turnover (NAO, 2001). Furthermore, the report also shows that there is no provision of value for money in the acceptance of the lowest price bid in both the final cost of construction or the through life and operational costs (NAO, 2001). It was also noted that conflict and distrust which have contributed to poor performance have severed the relationship between the public sector client and the construction industry (NAO, 2001). The report emphasises the need for integration of the clients, professional advisers, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers of materials in order to better manage risk and apply value management and engineering techniques for the improvement of buildability and the elimination of waste from the process (NAO, 2001). This integration will be bring greater concentration to achieving a better construction which meets end users needs at a lower through life costs (NAO, 2001). Integration has the propensity of reducing through life and operational costs which consequently leads to greater certainty of time and budgeted costs of project (NAO, 2001). The report also charged the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) to develop more sophisticated performance measures and provide more co-ordinated direction to initiatives to promote better performance by the construction industry (NAO, 2001). The report acknowledged the department collaboration with the construction industry in developing and promoting key performance indicators to measure construction performance such as (1) the operational and running costs of completed buildings (2) the cost effectiveness of the construction process (3) indicators for health and safety; and (4) quality of the completed construction. Lastly, the report emphasises the training of more staff for the effectiveness of the construction clients and the importance of partnering for the adversarial relationship that abounds in the UK construction industry (NAO, 2001). ACCELERATING CHANGE (The SFC Report of 2002) The first act of the then minister of construction, Brian Wilson MP were to announce the arrangement for the SFC and consequently the elongation of the Rethinking Construction programme for another two years which led to the publication of Accelerating Change in the year 2002 (SFC, 2002). In the ministers foreword for the publication, he was more impressed with the reports emphasis on creating a sustainable, customer focussed industry (SFC, 2002). He noted the best in the industry, with particular references to the Rethinking Construction demonstration projects, which showed that Rethinking Construction principles hold good in practice and deliver real tangible returns for clients, consultants, contractors, suppliers, and communities (SFC, 2002). The minister acknowledge that clients of the UK construction industry all want projects that exemplify superior whole life value and performance, excellent design and functionality, that are devoid of defect, delivered within budget and within the stipulated time (SFC, 2002). It was seen that the report did not come with something alien to the industry but it rather builds on and reaffirm the rethinking construction principles (SFC, 2002). The report presents better ways to tackle the hurdle to progress and identify ways to accelerate the rate of change (SFC, 2002). The chairman of the report Sir John Egan also emphasize his wish for the extinction of profligate and erratic process of lowest cost tendering as the main procurement route with its replacement with one where clients procurement is based on value for money against world class benchmarks and projects delivery by integrated teams of experts involved in continuous improvement in customer satisfaction, productivity, safety and value for money (SFC, 2002). Bruntland (1987) defines sustainability as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sir Egan further stressed that the inability of the rethinking construction report to fully explore sustainability as a core issue was deliberate (SFC, 2002). He noted that concept of pre-planning must come before planning for sustainability and that the ability of pre-planning a project through from start to finish is a pre-requisite to the design in sustainability (SFC, 2002). Our vision is for the UK construction industry to realise maximum value for all clients, end users and stakeholders and exceed their expectations through the consistent delivery of world class products and services (SFC, 2002). The Forum reckons that for change to be accelerated, three key drivers were identified to secure a culture of continuous improvement namely: (1) the need for client leadership; (2) the need for integrated teams; and (3) the need to address people issues, especially health and safety (SFC, 2002). However, integration is the key theme of accelerating change (SFC, 2002). All the following were accentuated by the forum as discussed below. Accelerating Client Leadership The report indicates that most construction clients in the UK construction industry have access to independent, expert advice for meeting their business or project needs. For clients to receive better solutions in meeting their needs, advices covering such as a range of procurement and management options, including environmental performance, operating and whole life costs are vital. Irrespective of the procurement option, the achievement of maximum integration of the team at the most favourable time should be considered as indispensable in order to make the impeccably explore all available expertise, and central to the delivery of best whole life performance and maximising client value from construction. The report notes that the construction clients should make use of integrated teams and long term supply chains and keenly participate in their creation. The report affirms that to ensure the adequacy, consistency and independence of the service, clients can expect a list of basic com petencies and a code of conduct should be made available. The construction industry has various codes of practice and codes of conduct that can assist in bringing about output in this regard. Accelerating Integrated Teams A study to be coordinated by the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group in consultation with the industry and Government was recommended by the forum. This should be carried out to examine the impact of insolvency law and practice on construction supply chains and make recommendations for change by July 2003. The proposals are designed to provide the trust necessary to reinforce collaborative working. The report emphasize that the UK construction industry must espouse supply chain management techniques presently in use in the manufacturing industry to increase productivity, reduce time, increase cash-flow efficiency and thus minimise risk. Accelerating Culture Change in People Issues It was noted that the construction industry engages 1.5 million people. The report reckons that for the UK construction industry to flourish, it needs excellent quality staff with skill, integrity, reliability and safety too carry out their defined roles. The report also notes that one of the challenges facing the UK construction industry is attracting able personnel and training and retaining them. It was also seen that the employment of wide range of people is imperative over the next five years with skills in design, engineering and all construction crafts with figures placed at around 370,000. Moreover, due to the besmirched public image of the industry attracting brightest people to the industry is seen to be harder since they do not see the activity in the construction industry to be fulfilling and rewarding. Consequently, the forum identified five areas for particular attention namely: (1) Health and safety; (2) Pay and conditions; (3) Recruitment; (4) Training and competence; and (5) Image. Cross-Cutting Issues While the report notes client leadership, integrated teams and tackling people issues as drivers for change, the report further notes several other issues that can act as enabling vessels or impediments to change (SFC, 2002). Cross-cutting issues such as (1) Design Quality: For a successful realisation of any construction project the investment in high quality design by an integrated team is considered vital. By the integration of design and construction at the front end of a project, majority of value can easily be created. Safety, reduction in defects and lower operating cost of a structure can be realised through integrated, high quality design; (2) Information Technology (IT) and the Internet: The introductions of IT and electronic business (e-business), as enablers into the construction sector have brought about a lucid transformation of many operations in the construction sector with greater propensity for more. Its benefits are significant for designers, constructors and building operators. It tends not to be that easier in deriving maximum benefits from its introduction. Through the wider use of the internet and electronic procurement (e-procurement) greater potential exists for the reduction of infrastructure cost. The extensive adoption of e-business and virtual prototyping involve the construction industry transforming its traditional methods of working and its business relationships. The most vital impediments to this transformation include organisational and cultural inertia, scale, awareness of the potential and knowledge of the benefits, skills, perceptions of cost and risk, legal issues and standards. However, considerable potential benefits still abounds such as efficiencies and skills development from knowledge management, economy and speed of construction, improved business relationships, product and process improvement and technology and entrepreneurship; (3) Research and Development (RD) and Innovation: Investment in RD is essential to innovation and continuous improvement. It provides value to clients and improves profitability; (4) Sustainability: Sustainability can be considered as a driver for change. Its embracement in the construction industry can lead to a safer and less lavish sector; and (5) Planning System:Â   A government reform in the planning system is well supported by the report. It considers a fair, transparent, timely and consistent planning system will help to eliminate waste promote responsible development. The forum reckons that if all these cross-cutting issues are properly managed and developed, they offer considerable opportunity of impacting on the pace of change (SFC, 2002). Charter Handbook (Confederation of Construction Client) Charter handbook was published by the construction clients forum. The charter handbook sets out the obligations that define a best practice client (Jones and Saad, 2003). It emphasizes the leadership role which the construction client needs to play for a rapid radical change in the UK construction industry (Jones and Saad, 2003). The handbook requires charter client to be at the front end of the drive for continuous improvement of cultural relationships throughout the supply chain with performance measurement used to provide proof of improvement (Cain, 2003). According to Cain (2003) the obligations of the charter client was listed by the handbook as follows: (1) yearly review and amendment as necessary their cultural change programme based on what has been experienced; (2) measure their respective performance in achieving their cultural change programme; (3) prepare a cultural change programme with targets for its achievements; and (4) monitor the effects of implementing their cultural change programme using key performance indicator (KPI) that suites the project. Jones and Saad (2003) note that it also requires the charter client to engage procurement processes that delivers the following improvements namely: (1) considerable reductions in whole-life costs; (2) significant improvements in functional efficiency; (3) a quality environment for end users; (4) reduced construction time; (5) improved predictability on time and budget; (5) reduction in defects; and (6) elimination of inefficiency and waste. Moreover, the handbook charged the construction client to consistently procure through integrated teams preferably in long term relationship (Jones and Saad, 2003). The handbook also emphasizes the importance of supply change management (Cain, 2003). Lastly, the handbook made it clear that consultants must be an integral part of both UK construction industry and the integrated supply chain (Cain, 2003). Movement for Innovation (M4i) In November 1998, the M4i came into being to implement, across the whole of the industry, the recommendations contained in the rethinking construction report (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The report came up with the proposition for the creation of a movement for change which would be made up of group of dynamic people inspired by the need for change (Construction Excellence, 2008b). Since the start of year 2004, it has been a part of the construction excellence (Construction Excellence, 2008b). Radical improvement in construction in value for money, profitability, reliability and respect for people, through demonstration of best practices and innovation was the main aims of the movement (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The report notes that benchmarking against M4i demonstration projects can considerably leads to excellent output or result (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The M4i demonstration projects have shown real benefits of best practice measures and innovations with over 180 demonstration projects being submitted by construction clients and contractors (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The report seeks to facilitate performance efficiencies to achieve sustained annual improvements of (1) 10% reduction in cost and construction time; (2) 20% reduction in defects and accidents; (3) 10% increase in productivity and profitability; and (4) 20% increase in predictability of project performance (Construction Excellence, 2008). All these are expected to be achieved through the following avenues namely: (1) product development; (2) project implementation; (3) partnering the supply chain; and (4) production of components (Construction Excellence, 2008b). The movement is involved in a range of services which include namely: (1) clusters; (2) working groups; (3) M4i board; (4) M4i teams; and (5) M4i clubs (Construction Excellence, 2008b). CONCLUSION There is no system or perhaps industry without its teething problems. Problems are encountered to be experienced and solved. Identifying areas of improvement is the first step in moving in the right direction. UK government and the industry have shown great concerns which have been yielding fruit even if it has not been of great measures. Subsequent chapters have deliberated on the besmirching situation of the industry which needs to be repa

Walter Dean Myers’ Monster - Guilty Until Proven Innocent Essay

Walter Dean Myers’ Monster - Guilty Until Proven Innocent Monster is an example of what Patty Campbell would call a â€Å"landmark book.† Texts such as these â€Å"encourage readers to interact with the text and with one another by employing a variety of devices, among them ambiguity† (Campbell 1) Because it is told through the eyes of Steve himself, the plot can be difficult to decipher. It is ambiguous whether he is innocent or guilty of being involved with the crime. Steve learned to make things unpredictable from his film teacher Mr. Sawicki who teaches him, â€Å"If you make your film predictable, they’ll make up their minds about it long before it’s over† (19). Steve took his teacher’s advice and made this film script entirely unpredictable, even after it is over. His lawyer, O’Brien, says in her closing statement, â€Å"What can we trace as to the guilt or innocence of my client, Steve Harmon?† (245) This leaves the jury with an undoubtedly difficult decision, as well as the rea der, because there are clues to both guilt and innocence in Steve’s case. What we do know is that many people think Steve is guilty. One of the guards describes the case, â€Å"Six days – maybe seven. It’s a motion case. They go through the motions; then they lock them up† (14). The judicial system has many flaws, one of which being that they assume guilt before proof when it comes to people like Steve. The phrase â€Å"innocent until proven guilty† does not apply to cases like his. As prosecutor Petrocelli states in reference to people like Steve, â€Å"There are also monsters in our communities – people who are willing to steal and to kill, people who disregard the rights of others† (21). O’Brien succinctly sums this up for Steve, â€Å"You’re young, you’re Black, and you’re on ... ... to jail. He moved away, and the distance between us seemed to grow bigger and bigger† (280). The reader is left pondering the good character of Steve, the bad friends he spent time with, the doctoring of his testimony, and the information that Steve provided us hinting both at his guilt and at his innocence. We are comfortable with the fact that he has been let free, but has been warned. If he were involved in the crime, at least he may have learned his lesson through his time in prison and on trial. If he were not involved in the crime, at least he is free to start over and move on from the experience. Works Cited Campbell, Patty. â€Å"Radical Monster.† The Horn Book Magazine. Boston: Nov/Dec 1999. Vol. 75, Iss. 6; pg. 769. Dean Myers, Walter. Monster. New York: Harper Tempest, 1999. Kus, Jonathan. â€Å"Monster: A critical look from the outside.† April 13, 2004.

Dogs as Best Pet Essay

Dogs as best pets have been contentious argument among scholars with center of debate consistently shifting from basic roles of dogs in homes to scientific roles they play in research. It is not fallacious to argue for instance, that in recent decades, there has been social, economic and cultural changes that have brought fundamental shift in the attitude and values of people to an extent that dogs are not only reared as best pets but fulfill a given vacuum left due to a sense of isolation. Scholars such as Tapper (2007) have provided evidence-based researches showing that dogs as pets provide unconditional companionship which equates effective therapeutic options that improve quality of life. However, what Tapper presents in his study should not be considered as the pinnacle in this argument. That is, debate on dogs as the best pet is so rich that argument as made by Tapper is admittedly an introductory one and only represents a research that is clearly in progress. Looking at recen t studies such as Serpell and Paul (2010), it is clear that there are still a number of avenues which beg this assessment to explore regarding benefits of gods as pets and such cannot be explored in the confines of what Tapper argues about. In support of studies that have looked at dogs in a wider perspective, this argument begins, as all proper researches should, that dogs are not only the best pets but work animal. As pets, they are not just fawning but seem to live with people and take their work outside seriously —they are to be found at table and at the gate watching steadily for any intruder. This is not to forget the fact that families use dog as ‘guide dogs for the blind’ or ‘hearing dogs for the blind.’ Though some arguments such as Vivian (2001) have postulated that as pets, dogs can sometime tear their best friends asunder, it is possible to counter this claim in the sense that these pets could only attack their master in situations psychologist term as ‘fight or flight.’ That is, dogs as pets are have feelings and when cornered or threatened, they either fight back or run away from the danger. In fact, close study of these animals as pets brings a number of such contradictions (that dogs can aimlessly attack their masters) (Lloyd-Jones, 2003). Arguments on whether dogs are the best pet stretches back to the early times of Greek civilization where it was, at the very best, liminal, human’s best friend compared to other animals that were domesticated (Tapper, 2007). Contrariwise, this statement remains uncertain owing to the fact that the animal is just a few steps from the wolf. In addition to this, in a confined argument, the theory continues, that dogs as pets are not as important as other animals reared as pets. The thesis statement of this school of thought lies on the premise that the animal contributes nothing to the common good compared to other pets. In as much as there may be truth in this theoretical framework, comparative studies as cited above have succinctly indicated that such a view is fraught with inherent dangers especially if they are pursued overly simplistically. The reason as to why this argument refutes opposing arguments that is strongly is due to the fact that the obvious relationship existing between people and dogs as pets is rarely that simple, regardless of the level of society the dog is reared as a pet. To argue that dogs as pets are economically worthless is fallacious in the sense that young people in the house and dogs as pets are categorized as creatures put near or in the house, fed but with return or meaningless economic services the owner. References Lloyd-Jones, H. (2003), ‘Females of the species and dogs rearing in the upper families.’ ParkRidge, NJ 2003. Serpell, T. & Paul, E. (2010), ‘Pets and the development of positive attitudes towards dogs’, inAnimals and society. Changing perspectives, eds. A. Manning & James Serpell,Routledge, NY 2010, 127-156.Tapper, R. (2007), ‘Animality, humanity, morality, society’, in What is an animal? Ed. T. Ingold,Routledge, NY 2010, 42-72. Vivian, K. (2001), ‘In the company of animal. A study of human-animals relationship.’Routledge, NY 2001, 390-412. Source document