Essay --

Within the body of this paper, readers will find an analysis of the motor development, visual-perceptual, fine motor development, communication, social behavior and play, attention, emotions and self- regulations, attachment and development of the self, and hearing and vision of children aging between 0 and 6 months. The continuation of this essay will include identified values and/or belief systems of the 0-6 month culture that could possibly present changes in social worker’s abilities to develop culturally responsive therapeutic relationships. There will also be a distinguishing of recommended tools for identifying problems within this developmental stage including a visual reference for the identified tools. Resources regarding the tools will include what the tool assesses, the age it is designed for, who is to use the assessment tool, how long the assessment typically takes, and the scoring of the results. Motor development In these early stages of life, there is little motor development in comparison to older children, however many of the developments of their later years begin in these tender times ("Occupational therapy," 2002) Between the ages of 0-2 months, some of the motor developments that are present at this time include sparing kicks and what seems like stretching of the arms ("Occupational therapy," 2002). When lying on their backs, the infants head is usually laid to one side or the other based on how they were laid, as they are not yet able to hold the weight of their own head yet ("Occupational therapy," 2002). These activities later on grown into more frequent arm stretches and kicks between the ages of 3 and 6 months. By this time, the baby will have a much greater ability to hold the weight of their o... ...erience is more so focused on the parent(s) of that child in hopes to best serve the child in their home context ("Touch therapy with," 2014). This is a very important consideration in regards to the therapeutic experience of the infant because without parent involvement there is an almost guaranteed failure rate of change or development for that child. Because the infant is not able to fend or express for themselves at this age, it is a necessity for the parent(s) of an infant in therapy to be invested in therapeutic process and dedicated to the implementation of what was discussed in therapy outside of the therapy sessions. With lacking parental involvement, it would make it almost impossible for a clinician to be able to develop a therapeutic relationship with a child reaping positive change of any kind ("Touch therapy with," 2014). Instruments See Attachment

History of La Cosa Nostra

Running Header: {History of La Cosa Nostra} History of La Cosa Nostra UNK Dr. Neal CJ 380 12. 01. 2011 Envision a world where crime is king; a world where mobsters were more influential than political figures, controlled law enforcement, and ran cities to line their own pockets. They stole from whom they wanted and murdered those that got in their way. While it sounds like something out of a movie, it actually happened here in the United States in the first half of the 20th century. The American Mafia has evolved over the years as various gangs assumed and lost dominance: the Black Hand gangs around 1900; the Five Points Gang in the 1910s and ‘20s in New York City; Al Capone’s Syndicate in Chicago in the 1920s. Since the 1900s, thousands of Italian organized crime figures, mostly Sicilian Mafiosi, have come illegally to this country. The Italian Immigrants crowded into older lower class neighborhoods of American cities, sometimes given names such as â€Å"Little Italy†. These neighborhoods suffered from overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions. Living together in such closed communities created little more than a microcosm of the society they had left in Europe (par. 3, Black Hand). Some criminals exploited this fact, and began to extort the more prosperous Italian’s in their neighborhood creating a crime that would eventually snow-ball into an epidemic known as ‘The Black Hand’ (par. 3, Black Hand). The extortions were done anonymously by delivering threatening letters demanding money, signed with crudely drawn symbols, such as a knife or a skull. People paid the Black Hand extortionists in the fear that American law had no understanding, or power, to help them (par. , Black Hand). Many who fled here in the early 1920’s helped establish what is known today as La Cosa Nostra or the American Mafia (par. 10, FBI). La Cosa Nostra, or the LCN as it is known by the FBI, consists of different â€Å"families† or groups that are generally arranged geographically and engaged in significant and organ ized racketeering activity (par. 30, FBI). The LCN is most active in the New York metropolitan area, parts of New Jersey, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, and New England. It has members in other major cities and is involved in international crimes (par. 1, FBI). During the 1920s Prohibition era, when the 18th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution banned the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcoholic beverages, Italian-American gangs along with other ethnic gangs entered the booming bootleg liquor business and transformed themselves into sophisticated criminal enterprises, skilled at smuggling, money laundering and bribing police and other public officials (par 2, History Channel). By the end of the ‘20s, two primary factions had emerged, leading to a war for control of organized crime in New York City. The murder of faction leader Joseph Masseria brought an end to the gang warfare and in 1931 Sicilian-born crime boss Salvatore Maranzano crowned himself the â€Å"capo di tutti capi,† or boss of all bosses, in New York (par 3, History Channel). Two of the most powerful La Cosa Nostra families, known today as the Genovese and Gambino families emerged from Maranzano’s restructuring efforts. Maranzano named Luciano the first boss of what would later be known as the Genovese family. Unhappy with Maranzano’s power grab, Lucky Luciano had him murdered that same year (par 3, History Channel). Charles â€Å"Lucky† Luciano became the new leader. Luciano then masterminded the formation of a central organization called the Commission to serve as a sort of national board of directors for the American Mafia, which by then consisted of at least 20 crime families across the country (par 3, History Channel). New York, which had become America’s organized-crime capital, had been divided into five main Mafia families; everywhere else the Mafia operated, there was just one crime family per city. The Commission’s role was to set policies and mediate disagreements among the families (par 3, History Channel). In 1936, Luciano was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison. Ten years later, he was released from prison and deported to Italy, never to return. When he was convicted, Frank Costello became acting boss (par. 49, FBI). Costello led the family for approximately 20 years until May of 1957 when Genovese took control by sending soldier Vincent â€Å"the Chin† Gigante to murder him. Costello survived the attack but relinquished control of the family to Genovese. Attempted murder charges against Gigante were dismissed when Costello refused to identify him as the shooter (par. 50, FBI). In 1959, it was Genovese’s turn to go to prison following a conviction of conspiracy to violate narcotics laws. He received a 15-year sentence but continued to run the family through his underlings from his prison cell in Atlanta, Georgia (par. 51, FBI). The Genovese family went through a succession of bosses until Lombardo, his two captains in prison and his health failing, turned full control of the Genovese family over to Gigante, the man who tried to kill Costello 30 years earlier (par. 56, FBI). Gigante ran the family from behind the scenes while pretending to be mentally ill until he was convicted of racketeering and murder conspiracy in December 1997. Gigante’s odd behavior and mumbling while he walked around New York’s East Village in a bathrobe earned him the nickname â€Å"the Odd Father† (par. 58, FBI). The other powerful New York mafia family was the Gambino Family. The Gambino family was named for its most powerful boss, Carlo Gambino, a smart, cunning individual with a fascination for the works of Prince Machiavelli. His sharp business sense, and traditional values, earned him the respect of his allies. Don Carlo was never arrested during his career as boss, and he died of natural causes in 1976, leaving brother-in-law Paul Castellano in charge of operations. From 1976 until his assassination by John Gotti in 1985, Castellano would come to be known as the â€Å"Boss of Bosses†. Big Paulie Castellano was never a mobster in the classic sense, but rather a racketeer. He didn't even hang out with other gangsters, preferring the company of businessmen, and other â€Å"important† individuals. Castellano had few enemies, but John Gotti believed Aniello Dellacroce should have been made boss, and he had often been chastised by Castellano for dealing drugs and conducting operations without prior consultation. When Big Paulie was arrested by the FBI after bugs planted in the mobsters home had provided several hours of recorded evidence, rumors began to circulate as to whether he would rat out fellow Gambino Family members, John Gotti, now acting in lieu of Dellacroce who had recently died of brain cancer, decided it was time to plan Big Paulie's retirement (par. 1, Gambino Family/Paul Castellano). Castellano was gunned down outside Sparks Steakhouse in Manhatten as Gottie and Sammy the Bull Gravano watched from a nearby car. Throughout the 80s, Gotti earned the nickname, the â€Å"Teflon Don†; for none of the charges brought against him would stick†¦ At least until the early 90s, when he was indicted and tried on a RICO (Racketeer Influenced, and Corrupt Organizations) case; this time facing a prosecution armed with mobster turned informant Sammy â€Å"The Bull† Gravano, who had been Gotti's own underboss, and who provided damning testimony against his former boss, particularly about about the Castellano murder. Gotti was sentenced to life imprisonment, and later made several attempts at a second trial, all of which were denied. John Gotti died of cancer in the Springfield, Missouri federal prison hospital, on June 10th, 2002 (par. 1, Gambino Family/ John Gotti). Another of the five families is the Bonanno crime family, originally headed by then twenty-six-year-old Joseph â€Å"Joe Bananas† Bonanno, Sicilian-born and one of the youngest bosses of all time. The Bonanno War or â€Å"Banana Split† occurred when the Commission demoted Bonanno to underboss, sparking fervent family in-fighting among those who sided with Bonanno and those who sided with the new boss, Paul Sciacca. The fighting continued until 1968, when Bonanno suffered a heart attack and retired, though by this point the Commission had stripped the Bonanno family of its seat (par. 3, Investigation and Discovery). Troubles with the law have plagued the family, leading one newspaper to report that 75 of its 150 members have been indicted on various charges (par. 5, Investigation and Discovery/ Bonanno). The Columbo Family is the fourth of the five families. Following the Castellamarese War of 1929-1931, the family emerged as the Profaci family. It was headed by Joseph Profaci, without much threat to his leadership, until the 1950s. After Profaci’s death, Joseph Magliocco took over for a short time before the family was handed over to Joe Colombo, and the family bears his namesake to this day (par. , Investigation and Discovery/ Columbo). The family has been greatly depleted from its heyday, and continues to be ruled by Carmine Persico, now 73 years old, from prison with help from those family members who remain on the ground (par. 6, Investigation and Discovery/ Columbo). The Fifth Family, the Lucchese crime family, as it is known today, emerged out of the Castellamarese War of 1929-1931 , with Gaetano â€Å"Tommy† Gagliano serving as the appointed boss and Gaetano â€Å"Tommy† Lucchese as the appointed underboss. The family was known for its successful forays into industries such as trucking and clothing. Following Gagliano’s death in 1953, Lucchese took over and successfully ran the organization for many years with an excellent reputation. He never received a criminal conviction in his 44 years in the Mafia (par. 1, Investigation and Discovery/ Lucchese). By the mid-20th century, there were 24 known crime families in America, comprised of an estimated 5,000 full-fledged members and thousands of associates across the country. Prior to the 1960s, some government leaders, including FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, voiced skepticism about the existence of a national Italian-American organized crime network and suggested instead that crime gangs operated strictly on a local level. As a result, law enforcement agencies made few inroads in stopping the Mafia’s rise during this period (par. 6, History Channel). Since its beginnings La Cosa Nostra has been involved in a variety of rackets including gambling, loan sharking, labor union corruption, prostitution, and drug trafficking to name a few. Labor unions provide a rich source for organized criminal groups to exploit: their pension, welfare, and health funds. There are approximately 75,000 union locals in the U. S. , and many of them maintain their own benefit funds. In the mid-1980s, the Teamsters controlled more than 1,000 funds with total assets of more than $9 billion (par. 66, FBI). Labor racketeers attempt to control health, welfare, and pension plans by offering â€Å"sweetheart† contracts, peaceful labor relations, and relaxed work rules to companies, or by rigging union elections (par. 67, FBI). Labor law violations occur primarily in large cities with both a strong industrial base and strong labor unions, like New York, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. Senator Estes Kefauver’s Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime did not out rightly expose the complete, brutal reality of the Mafia to the American public. Nor did the Appalachian incident ignite immediate action on the part of the federal government. However, something changed when dozens of Mafia bosses met one 1957 November day at Joseph Barbara’s estate to select Vito Genovese as the boss of bosses. The response by law enforcement of the past had been to try to take down the bosses. But what became evident with the realization of the existence of such a â€Å"syndicate† was that even if Mr. Big were removed, his family would remain intact; it would simply transfer hands, usually resulting in the family being renamed. New legislation would have to be of an entirely different mold in order to be of any use to law enforcement, and such a campaign wouldn’t come into play until after the death of FBI Director Edgar J. Hoover (par. 9, The Mafia and American Law). In 1970, Congress passed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, this proved to be a powerful tool in the government’s war on the Mafia, as it allowed prosecutors to go after crime families and their sources of revenue, both legal and illegal. During the 1980s and 1990s, RICO laws were used to convict numerous high-level mobsters. Some Mafiosi, faced with long prison sentences, broke the once-sacred code of omerta and testified against their fellow mobsters in exchange for a place in the federal witness-protection program. At the same time, Mafia membership declined as insular Italian-American neighborhoods, once a traditional recruiting ground for mobsters, underwent demographic shifts and became more assimilated into society at large (par. 7, History Channel). References GangRule. com, The Black Hand. (2011). Retrieved 6:52, December 7, 2011, from http://www. gangrule. com/gangs/the-black-hand Italian Organized Crime, (2011). The Federal Bureau of Investigation website. Retrieved 2:32, December 7, 2011, from http://www. fbi. ov/aboutus/investigate/organizedcrime/italian_mafia Mafia in the United States. (2011). The History Channel website. Retrieved 5:25, December 7, 2011, from http://www. history. com/topics/mafia-in-the-united-states. The Five Families. (2011). The Investigation Discovery website. Retrieved 2:32, December 7, 2011, from http://investigation. discovery. com/investigation/mobs-gangsters/five-families-03. html The Gambino Family. (2002). The Gambino Family website. Retrieved 6:52, Dece mber 7, 2011, from http://www. gambinofamily. com/carlo_gambino. htm

Apush: the Enduring Vision Ch 27 Notes

The Cold War (continued) Chapter 27 to page 837, plus 863-64 in Chapter 28 The Eisenhower Presidency 1. Eisenhower – What type of chief executive was he? He gave peace and stability. He gave a sense of unity, inspired confidence and even Democratic liberalism and republican like him . With McCarthyism and desegregation of schools, he had a hand off approach. 2. â€Å"Dynamic Conservatism† – How did it differ from conventional conservatism? – Reduce taxes, contain inflation, and govern efficiently without surrendering the fundamentals of the New Deal. 3. William F. Buckley, National Review, John Birch Society – A young conservative yale graduate who founded the National Review in 1955 -> claimed that domestic communism was a major subversive threat. John Birch Society was at the top of this belief, it also denounced Eisenhower as a communist conspiracy. 4. Joseph McCarthy and the Army-McCarthy Hearings – THE DOWNFALL OF McCarthy. He was made that one of his aides had not received a draft deferment, so that senator accused the army in 1954 of harboring communists.Army countered saying that he had tried to get preferential treatment for the aide who had been drafted. ON NATIONAL TV. Died 1957 from alcoholism -> fear still lingered of communists HUAC still alive.5. Interstate Highway Act ( 830) – what effects did it have? – In 1954 Eisenhower set up a high powered commission to recommend a highway program that would cost as much as the war. – over 100 billion spent- largest and most expensive public works scheme in American history. – freeway helped unify Americans by increasing the accessibility of once distant regions. FAST FOOD CHAINS MICKEY D’s26.Earl Warren – new chief justice in 19537. Jencks v. U. S. – Court held that the accused had the right to inspect government files us ed by the prosecution8. Yates v. U. S. -The justices overturned the convictions of Communist Party officials under the Smith act. Essentially ended further prosecutions of communists. -> opposition to warren from the right wing9. Brown v. Board of Education, â€Å" all deliberate speed,† – End of segregated schools.10. Orval Faubus – Arkansas governor mobilized the state’s national Guard to bar nine AA students from entering the school .11. Southern Manifesto – In 1956, more than a hundred members of Congress signed this, denouncing Brown as â€Å" a clear abuse of judicial power. †12. Civil Rights Acts of 1957 and 1960 – 1957 : the first since Reconstruction, est a permanent commission on civil rights, but did little for black votes. 1960 strengthened it. Neither act empowered fed officials to register AA to vote. The Cold War Continues13. Korean war armistice – July 1953 established 38th parallel b/n North and South Korea. Ei senhower veiled nuclear weapons right before the armistice was signed.14.John Foster Dulles and â€Å"brinksmanship† – Secretary of State for Eisenhower, a Presbyerian, crazy religious -> wanted holy war against atheist. Brinksmanship, the art of never back down in a crisis, even if it meant risking war ( opinion against communism)15. Atmospheric Test suspension – In 1958, as a first step toward a test-ban treaty, both the U. S. and Soviet Union temporarily suspended nuclear testing. This informal moratorium on nuclear testing was ended in September 1961 by the Soviet Union. Two weeks later, the U. S. responded by conducting its own test series.The resumption of nuclear testing produced much radioactive and political fallout. The public concern about the fallout danger finally produced enough political pressure to force negotiations of a test-ban treaty.16. Emphasis on nuclear weapons as â€Å"more bang for the buck† – instead of traditional force, now the new look defense program promised more bang for the buck, NUKE EM for def.17. Shooting down of US spy plane –18. Allen Dulles – CIA commander chosen by Eisenhower, a veteran of wartime operations (brother is SoS)19. CIA & Iran – 1953, CIA organized coup to overthrow government of Iran in fear of oil fields to Soviets. Replaced prime minister with pro-American Shah Reza Pahlavi. -> Iran hatrid20. CIA & Guatemala – 1953 overthrew leftist elected government in Guatemala because took took United Fruit Company land, and then we took em back.21. Indochina (Vietnam) – Most extensive CIA operations happened here in the 1950s. With the outbreak of war in Korea, and Communist MAo Zedong – > Indochina key battleground. U. S aids 75% of French forces. But they still lost. French wanted their help! What shall they do?22. the Geneva Peace Accords US rejection of the Geneva Peace ACcords – international conference hich arranged a cease-fire and temporarily divided Vietnam. United States never agreed to this. United States created SEATO.23. Division of Vietnam – 17th parallel.24. the National Liberation Front – Diem’s opponents created the NLF, backed by North Vietnam, the insurgency attracted broad support and soon controlled half of South Vietnam. DIEM cOST 1 billion. (DEAN SHUDA BEEN IN NAM)25. Ngo Dinh Diem – U. S made this anti communist Catholic man the premier, then president of an independent South Vietnam. CIA agents helped Diem train his armed forces and block the 1956 election to unify Vietnam. They did this because if there was an election, likely 80% of the population would have voted for communism. NO DOMINO.26. â€Å"domino theory – If one country falls to communist, more will follow. Do not let Vietnam fall. If it did, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, and the rest of Asia would eventually fall.27. The Suez crisis- In 1954 when Gamal Abdel Nasser came to power in Egypt, he canceled a previous loan from the United States to finance the government, which followed the nationalization of the British-owned Suez Canal. British believed the Canal to be the lifeline of their empire -> take it back by force! British supported by France (fear Arab nationalism in their Algerian colony) & Israel ( fear of Egyptian Army). – Egypt attacked 1956 –> Ike was mad because war could drive Arabs to Russia. –> Eisenhower Doctrine28. Eisenhower Doctrine – 1957, proclaiming that the UNited States would send military aid and, if necessary, troops to any Middle eastern nation threatened by â€Å"communist aggression. † –> 14k troops in Lebanon in July 1958 to quell a threatened Muslim revolt against its pro-western regime.29. Military industrial complex. Cold War Activism30. Space race/ Sputnik/ NASA / NDEA / ICBM – NOtes31. Kennedy Tapes -Secret tapes recorded inside the white house that only the president and two secret CIA ag ents knew about.32. Peace Corps – created in 1961, exemplified the New Frontier’s liberal anticommunism. By 1963, there were 5k volunteers in Third World countries including teachers, sanitation engineers, crop specialists, and health workers.33. Fidel Castro & Che, Cuban Revolution (1959) -From US supported Dictatorship to Communist run dictatorship. At first people liked Fidel Castro Overthrowing the previous president and promoting democracy but that didn’t last long†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.34. Bay of Pigs fiasco. Any conflict with Good Neighbor Policy- JFK really messed up. he deprived the 15k anti-Castro exiles of air support. JFK accepted the blame.35. The Berlin Crisis and the Berlin Wall. – Notes 36. The Cuban Missile Crisis / how started? / major players? / Options? / Deal? – USSR set up missile bases in Cuba, US spy planes find out. Khrushchev lied straight to JFK face. Options: Airstrike, Invasion, Blockade, Negotiation. (ask for more? )37. Nikita Khrushchev – Premier of USSR38. Robert Kennedy / Robert McNamara – Attorney General, and Secretary of Defense.39 . he â€Å"hotline† – Two months after signing an agreement to establish a 24-hour-a-day â€Å"hot line† between Moscow and Washington, the system goes into effect. The hot line was supposed to help speed communication between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union and help prevent the possibility of an accidental war. In June 1963, American and Russian representatives agreed to establish a so-called â€Å"hot line† between Moscow and Washington. The agreement came just months after the October 1962 Cuban missile crisis, in which the United States and Soviet Union came to the brink of nuclear conflict.It was hoped that speedier and more secure communications between the two nuclear superpowers would forestall such crises in the future. In August 1963, the system was ready to be tested.40. Atmospheric and unders ea test ban treaty – In 1958, as a first step toward a test-ban treaty, both the U. S. and Soviet Union temporarily suspended nuclear testing. This informal moratorium on nuclear testing was ended in September 1961 by the Soviet Union. Two weeks later, the U. S. responded by conducting its own test series. The resumption of nuclear testing produced much radioactive and political fallout.

Enron Financial Statement Case Essay

Accounting is all about financial information —capturing it, recording it, configuring it, analyzing it, and reporting it to persons who use it. The financial statements : The final product of financial accounting is in the form of financial statements that are packaged with other information in a financial report. †¢Financial statements are prepared at the end of each accounting period. A period maybe one month, one quarter, or one year. †¢Financial statements report summary amounts, or totals. There are three main financial statements: –The balance sheet: containing Assets and source of Assets at a specific date –The income statement representing : is the all-important financial statement that summarizes the profit-making activities of a business over a period of time. –The Cash flow statement: presents a summary of the business’s sources and uses of cash during the income statement period. Financial Report : Financial Report Form: Financial Report must be prepared according to the Standards of GAAP : generally accepted accounting principles for preparing the financial statements, these rules permit alternative accounting methods for some transactions. Furthermore, accountants have to interpret the rules as they apply GAAP in actual situations. The devil is in the details. The point is that interpreting GAAP is not cut-and-dried. Many accounting standards leave a lot of wiggle room for interpretation. Deciding how to account for certain transactions and situations requires seasoned judgment and careful analysis of the rules. Furthermore, many estimates have to be made. Financial Report main components: The three basic financial statements: income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. A statement of changes in owners’ equity (if needed). Disclosures: mainly containing Footnotes: and the most important footnote is the one which identify the major accounting policies and methods that the business uses and justifying any change in the policy used. Independent auditor’s report: must be done by independent (from the firm) licensed auditor and give the business a clean bill of health, or that the report is misleading and should not be relied upon. This negative, disapproving audit report is called an adverse opinion.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay

Often people are traumatized by traumatic events that take place their lives. We seldom expect these events to happen so we often do not know how to react when it does happen, this can lead to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In this assignment is the definition of PTSD, the reason why South Africa has such a high prevalence of PTSD and also the methods of prevention of PTSD will be discussed. DEFINITION OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be defined as a response people have to traumatic events in life and can arise as an immediate, delayed and/or protracted response (Seedat, 2011). These events can be natural disasters, such as a tsunami or earthquake, or it can be ‘human-made’ like a hijacking or an assault, and even things like apartheid and xenophobia (Austin, et. al. , 2011:111) (Seedat, 2011). PTSD can lead to a person feeling helpless and having an intense fear (Austin, et. al. , 2011:111). To diagnose a person with PTSD, three main criteria of symptoms must be visible in the person namely the person must be re-experiencing the traumatic event, the person must have an avoidance associated stimilu, and the person must have a hypervigilance and chronic arousal (like having anger issues or not being able to sleep) (Austin, et. al. , 2011:111) (Seedat, 2011). These three symptoms can be in a minimum state, but all three need to be visible before a person can be diagnosed with PTSD (Austin, et. al. , 2011:111). All symptoms must be shown for a month or more and cause signifcant distress or impairment in social or occupational areas of functioning and if these symptoms carry on for more than three months it can be seen as chronic PTSD (Seedat, 2011). Different psychological factors can play a role in the development and maintanence of PTSD. These factors were identified by Edwards (2005c) as emotionally distressing and problematic processes of guilt, shame, grief, anxiety, dysfunctional and/or distorted cognitions, and various cognitive, affective, and behavioural avoidance mechanisms (Austin, et. al. , 2011:111). WHY SOUTH AFRICA HAS SUCH A HIGH PREVALENCE OF PTSD PTSD is fairly common as approximately eight out of 100 people will develop PTSD (Seedat, 2011). Women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD (Seedat, 2011). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is very common in South Africa because of various reasons (Seedat, 2011). In 1997, the World Health Organization issued a study on the Global Burden of Disease. They found that mental disorders are second in burden to infectious diseases (Burke, Unknown). There have not been much studies of trauma disorders in SA, but the existing research suggests that South Africans, especially black South Africans, are still struggling with SA’s past, this being the apartheid which started in 1948 and lasted until 1994 (Burke, Unknown). In 1997, Market Research Africa and the Community Agency for Social Equality issued a study of face-to-face interviews with 3,870 adults who grew up during this time and the results were that 17% of people who had been exposed to trauma described their mental health as poor. There were 2 % of people who were exposed to violent events and 78 % of this 23% had one or more symptoms of PTSD (Burke, Unknown). Most peo ple who lived through apartheid do not suffer any symptoms of PTSD, but there are those people who are still so undone by the atrocities of the apartheid era that they still suffer the symptoms of PTSD. The symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder have many different consequences for different people. PTSD can sometimes lead to drug and alcohol abuse. According to a report from the Health Department released recently, South Africa has the highest rates of alcoholism in the world (Burke, Unknown). METHODS OF PREVENTION OF PTSD Some evidence suggests that intervening with medications or psychotherapy within a short time after the traumatic event may prevent PTSD to develop (Seedat, 2011). One possible method for the prevention of PTSD is the Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI). The purpose of this method is to prevent the development of PTSD within a 30 day range after experiencing a potentially traumatic event. In a study, a number of 7 to 17 year old children were randomly assigned to the intervention or to a four-session supportive Comparison condition. The results were that the children part of the CFTSI had less and less symptoms of PTSD which suggests that a caregiver-youth and early intervention for children exposed to a potentially traumatic event is a promising method to prevent chronic PTSD (Berkowitz, Stover, and Marans, 2010). Another possible method for the prevention of PTSD is memory structuring intervention (MSI). Studies have been made on how trauma is processed which lead to the creating of MSI. In a randomised-controlled study, traffic accident victims who were at risk for PTSD were assigned to two MSI or two supportive-listening control sessions and the MSI patients reported a significantly less frequent arousal and PTSD symptoms than the controls (Gersons, Carlier, Lamberts & Kolk, 2001). CONCLUSION PTSD can come forth when people are exposed to a traumatic event, and it can become a chronic disorder if it lasts for longer than 3months. In South Africa we have a high prevalence for PTSD. We think that there are more people who were part of the apartheid era, that have PTSD than what studies have shown. Not every person understands the severity of PTSD or knows the symptoms of PTSD so they don’t realize that they have it. PTSD is not only treatable but possibly preventable too. There is no definite prevention method as different people handle different situations in different ways. Thus it would be good if people were more aware of the symptoms more could be done to prevent PTSD. Biblography Austin, TL., et al., (2011). Schizophrenia. In TL. Austin, et. Al. Abnormal Psychology: A South African Perspective (pp. 160-193). Cape Town: Oxford University Press South Africa. Burke, L. (Unknown). The consequences of truth: Post-traumatic stress in new South Africa (continued). Retrieved April 20, 2012, from South Africa in Transition: http://journalism.berkeley.edu/projects/southafrica/news/traumapart2.html Gersons, Carlier, Lamberts & Kolk. (2001). Translating Research Findings to PTSD Preventionl: Results of a Randomized-Controlled Pilot Study. Retrieved April 21, 2012, from Spingerlink: http://www.springerlink.com/content/w18292635382q182/ Seedat, S. (2011, 03 01). Depression – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved April 20, 2012, from Health 24: http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-807-1650,11960.asp

Shipbuilding industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Shipbuilding industry - Essay Example South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is watching China’s growth with lot of concerns. It should be noted that China is using indigenous technology for shipbuilding whereas South Korea is importing such technologies from overseas countries. Moreover, cheap labor is another major asset of China in promoting shipbuilding industry. In any case, South East Asia (Japan, China and South Korea) dominates the present global shipbuilding industry. These three nations accounted for more than 78% of global ship production in 2005. â€Å"In the same year, Korean shipbuilders received 21,960,000 GT, 37% of world shipbuilding orders, while Japanese shipbuilders secured 14,230,000 GT, 24.5% of the world total, and Chinese firms received 9,640,000 GT, 16.6% of the world total†(Shin & Ciccantell, 2009, p.184). These statistics clearly suggest that South Korea is the current leader in global shipbuilding industry even though Japan and China are not far behind. Shipbuilding history i n Korea has started even in the 16 th century. After getting independence in 1948, Korean government established a national company; Korea Shipbuilding and Engineering Corporation (KESC), to promote shipbuilding. Since then Korea witnessed huge growth in shipbuilding industry. ... It should be noted that all the big three are well known companies in the world at present. In the Korean shipbuilding industry, the number of workers has been increasing, which reflects the high performance of the industry. The number of workers in the industry in 1995 was 77,330, and it increased to 97,323 by 2004. Korean shipbuilders enlarged the labor force of unskilled workers of subcontracting companies in order to reduce labor costs. Furthermore, Korean shipbuilders worry about the possibility of a shortage of young technicians, an aging labor force, and the general trend among young people to avoid working in the local areas where most dockyards are located (Shin & Ciccantell, 2009, p.182). Shipbuilding requires huge manpower. The role of machines in manufacturing ships is minimum compared to the role of manpower. As in the case of other industries, shipbuilding industry is also facing strong competition in international market. The emergence of China as the cheapest labor or iented country is causing problems to Korean Shipbuilding industry. The success of Korean shipbuilding industry can be attributed to three factors; First, major shipbuilders started to reduce production at a time when the demand for new ships increases. Second, South Korean government implemented meaningful strategies to exploit the opportunities. Third, South Korea managed to continuously develop and upgrade its production processes, sustaining its initial cost advantages through rationalization and innovation (Bruno & Tenold, N.d., p.21). In short, South Korea’s current leading position in shipbuilding was obtained due to the favorable trends in the market and the visionary policies implemented by the government. One of the major raw materials required for ship manufacturing is steel.

Toyota Brand Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Toyota Brand Analysis - Essay Example Fortification - the brand should carry a consistent image over time to reinforce its place in the consumer's mind and develop a special relationship with the consumer. Brand extensions can further fortify the brand, but only with related products having a perceived fit in the mind of the consumer. A company may have many brand names, but each group should fit well together. When Toyota wanted to compete in the luxury car market, a new brand called Lexus was created. This avoided muddying the established Toyota brand name, which represents value and economy, and removed any possible negative preconceptions about the Lexus name being cheap. The divergent fortunes of two automobiles made by the same manufacturer offer an unintended study of the power of brand strategy to alter behavior. Since 1989, both the Toyota Corolla and the Geo Prizm have been made by New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI), a joint venture of General Motors and Toyota. While the two cars are virtual twins, the Corolla has had consistently stronger sales despite a higher price. How come "The strength of Toyota's brand allowed it to charge more," says The Economist. "Buyers thought a Toyota would be superior to a GM car in the same class, and so happily paid more." The effect of brand equity on profit and growth is striking. ... "Buyers thought a Toyota would be superior to a GM car in the same class, and so happily paid more." The effect of brand equity on profit and growth is striking. While both cars cost the same to make-about $10,300-Toyota sold 200,000 Corollas to dealers at $11,000 each, while GM managed to move only 80,000 Geo Prizms at $10,700 between 1990 and 1994, The Economist notes. The result: "Toyota made $128 million more than GM in operating profits from NUMMI, while its dealers made $107 million more than those of GM from the plant's products." Toyota Motor Corp. (TM ) is on pace to be the world's No. 1 auto maker by 2008. It produces nearly one of every six cars sold in the U.S., including nine models in the South and Midwest, where it employs 32,000 Americans. Even New York livery cab fleets, once largely made up of leathery Lincolns, now feature Toyota's Prius, the hit hybrid taking coastal cities by storm. Toyota largely remains "terra incognita" to American investors, while GM can still attract buyers even as it flirts with bankruptcy. "Toyota stock doesn't have the 'mind share' of GM or Ford," says John M. Novak, an auto analyst at Chicago's Morningstar Inc. "There's a perception that you can't invest in it [because] it's a Japanese company -- that you would require a special account." ( Business week) Toyota Strengths: In 2003 Toyota knocked its rivals Ford into third spot, to become the World's second largest carmaker with 6.78 million units. The company is still behind rivals General Motors with 8.59 million units in the same period. Its strong industry position is based upon a number of factors including a diversified product range, highly targeted marketing and a commitment to lean manufacturing and quality. The company makes a large range of