Change and Culture Case Study II Part TWO Essay

Change and Culture Case Study II Part TWO - Essay Example As appeared in the authoritative outline in the past task, departmental heads have been delegated so that portrayal from both the combined associations is similarly appropriated. So as to keep away from any sense of self issues; the CEO of ABC Healthcare was a productive and an outside individual who was recently utilized as a VP of a notable wellbeing specialist co-op in the nation. A half year after the merger, it was seen essential by the administration to execute some significant changes inside the association so as to be increasingly serious as far as cost of administration. One of the highlights of this hierarchical change was decrease in the quantity of representatives and the presentation of the idea of ‘universal workers’ who will be prepared to play out various errands. This idea will include significant changes in work structure over a few classes of representatives particularly among the nursing and regulatory staff. Aside from the abovementioned, it was chosen to execute the idea of authoritative learning inside the association as a piece of its system. The procedure includes the idea of ‘learning organization’s conceptualized by Peter Senge which was first distributed (and generally acknowledged) in his smash hit book The Fifth Discipline. This paper surveys the usage of the ideas of all inclusive laborer and hierarchical c hange in ABC Healthcare so as to stay productive as far as costs, assets, administration, and the executives. Workers are a necessary piece of any association and are regularly alluded to as one of its most significant resources. The administration of any association must have a harmony between worker productivity and representative fulfillment. It could be said, there is an inborn logical inconsistency between the points of workers and the administration. Workers are worried about ideas like employer stability, and satisfactory remuneration while the administration is worried about augmentation of effectiveness and benefits. This difference needs

Human Rights vs. Sovereignty :: Human Rights Essays

The enormous, extended shelling of Serbia was "the first hostile activity for NATO, and the first occasion when that Allied military were released against a sovereign country with which the United States was not officially at war or without express approval by the United Nations Security Council," watches Stephen Presser, teacher of law at Northwestern University. "What we were doing in the Balkans is a piece of the post-Vietnam production of another arrangement of tenets of global law. These principles need plainly characterized limits," he cautions. "We might be seeing the initial moves in the producing of a New Global request that on a very basic level disables national sway and permits holders of better military power than direct the fundamental terms of local life to different countries without even the conventions of conquest." In the ebb and flow issue of Orbis, a quarterly production of the Foreign Policy Research Institute (fpri.org), Presser contends that the genuine purpose behind NATO's shelling of a sovereign country "appears to have been to constrain Belgrade to surrender self-sufficiency, if not region, to a minority ethnic gathering. What is there, at that point, in the United Nations contract or in universal law that would approve our activity in the Balkans," he asks, "and what, assuming any, are the range and the restrictions of our new convention of Humanitarian Intervention? The UN Charter tries to make sure about both the insurance of 'crucial human rights' and the 'equivalent privileges' of 'countries huge and small,'" Presser notes. "The Charter unmistakably attempts to ensure the regional uprightness and the power of individual countries, and appears to block obstruction in a country's local issues except if the Security Council pronounces a ci rcumstance a danger to 'universal harmony and security' and explicitly approves intercession. While the UN and its offices communicated official worry about what went on in the Balkans," he avows, "the Security Council didn't approve intercession in Kosovo by UN or NATO forces." Presser calls attention to that "a arrangement of worldwide law conventions completely outside the UN Charter approve impedance by one state in another's undertakings. These have included military activities to ensure one's own residents who are inside another's fringes, and there have been a few outfitted intercessions by individual or gatherings of countries purportedly to secure the privileges of minorities specifically or human rights when all is said in done, regardless of whether the people to be secured were residents of the mediating countries.

How to Cope With a Sense of a Foreshortened Future

How to Cope With a Sense of a Foreshortened Future PTSD Coping Print How to Cope With a Sense of a Foreshortened Future By Matthew Tull, PhD twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Tull, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 19, 2020 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children PhotoAlto / Odilon Dimier / Getty Images Following a traumatic event, a person may develop a sense of a foreshortened future, which is currently considered an avoidance symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People who experience this symptom feel as though their life will somehow be cut short without any real explanation as to why. They may also feel as though they wont be able to reach milestones in their life, such as a career, marriage, or children. A sense of a foreshortened future can vary in terms of severity. Some people may have just a mild sense that their life will be cut short, whereas others may have a specific prediction regarding the length of their lifespan and are completely convinced of their premature death. This symptom can be very difficult to cope with and may lead to isolation, hopelessness, helplessness, and depression. Tips for Coping With a Sense of a Foreshortened Future However, there are some steps you can take to reduce the severity of this symptom. A number of potential coping strategies are described below. Practice Mindfulness of Thoughts Believing that your life will be cut short following a traumatic event makes sense. You may have feared for your life or even come close to death as a result of your traumatic event. Furthermore, following a traumatic event, our assumptions about the world as a safe and secure place are shattered. People are forced to come to terms with their own mortality. As a result, the belief that your life will be cut short likely feels very true; however, there is really no way to determine your lifespan. Consequently, it can be helpful to be mindful of those thoughts about your premature death. Notice your thoughts as simply objects in your mind, as opposed to the truth. Doing so will prevent you from connecting with those thoughts, thus reducing the likelihood of hopelessness and helplessness. How to Use Mindfulness for PTSD Identify and Engage in More Positive Activities A sense of a foreshortened future can increase the risk of depression. Therefore, it is very important to identify and increase the extent to which you take part in positive activities. It may be particularly useful to engage in activities that you used to enjoy before the traumatic event occurred. You may not notice an immediate change in your emotions or thoughts. That is normal. Keep at it. Being more active, especially in positive activities, will eventually improve your mood and can prevent depression. Pay Attention to the Choices You Make   We often make choices based on our emotions. Anxiety may tell us to avoid something. Sadness may tell us to isolate. Anger may tell us to retaliate. Although it is definitely important to listen to our emotions, they may not always lead us down the best path. Instead, it is important to think about what kind of life you want to live and make choices that are based on that idea. For example, if you want to live a life where you are a compassionate and caring person, make choices each and every day to engage in a behavior that is consistent with those values. Doing so will create a sense of agency and purpose as well as increase the feeling that you are living a fulfilling life. Connect With Others   A sense of a foreshortened future can cause people to isolate themselves from others. Given this, the best thing you can do to counter this is to connect with others and establish social support. The more meaningful relationships you have in your life, the more fulfilling your life may begin to feel. Reduce Avoidance   Following a traumatic event, it is very natural to avoid certain activities or places. The problem with avoidance is that avoidance often leads to more avoidance. When we avoid something, we are delivering the message to our brain that a situation is not safe. The more we avoid, the more our world feels unsafe, which will then lead to us avoiding more and more situations. Therefore, it can be important to take steps to approach situations or activities that you want to avoid. Of course, you dont want to approach situations that may be objectively unsafe (like running alone in a park at night, for example). You do, however, want to engage in activities that you used to feel comfortable doing before the traumatic event occurred. This practice can be difficult, as you may experience anxiety and fear, but these feelings will eventually dissipate. When you start this process, it may be helpful to bring along a trusted and supportive friend. Take Care of Yourself   Another way to combat the sense of a foreshortened future is to engage in behaviors that are about valuing your life. Schedule time to pamper yourself or engage in self-soothing and compassionate activities. Exercise. Eat well. Taking care of yourself can have a tremendous impact on your emotions and thoughts. How to Increase Your Chances of Success Many of the coping strategies listed above are easier said than done. Be patient and take your time. Reward yourself for any small amount of progress that you make in reducing your sense of foreshortened future. It may also be helpful to seek treatment for your PTSD. By reducing your symptoms of PTSD in general, you will likely notice that your sense of foreshortened future also reduces in intensity. A therapist can also provide you with support as you use the coping skills described above. There are a number of effective treatments for PTSD; however, finding a mental health provider can be an overwhelming and stressful task if you do not know where to look. Fortunately, there are several websites that provide free searches to help you find appropriate mental health providers in your area.

Security Nuclear Bombs and Terrorism Attack Preparedness - 1375 Words

Homeland Security: Nuclear Bombs and Terrorism Attack Preparedness (Essay Sample) Content: Nuclear Bombs and Terrorism Attack PreparednessNameInstitutional affiliationNuclear bombs and terrorism attacksIntroductionCBRN events have been a number of times around the world. The events may be accidental, natural, or terrorist acts. In this work, the terrorist types of CBRN events are looked at. Many terrorist attacks have occurred in many courtiers and some of the weapons used are usually of the CBRN type. These attacks usually cause a lot of damage to the environment and many lives are usually lost. With security training, agents and strategies advancing across the world due to improvement in technology, there is always these security agents can prevent a way such attacks. Terrorism is a threat to every country in the world and that is why every country has its own ways of dealing with it and trying to prevent it. There are a number of CBRN gents that may be used in such an attack including chemical, radiological, biological, or even nuclear. Though these agen ts are useful in many different ways, their effects are adverse when used in the wrong way (Bodansky, 2004).Selected CBRN agent backgroundNuclear energy is a type energy that is found in the core (nucleus) of the atom. Atoms are known to be the building blocks of and form of matter. These atoms usually have bonds that connect them to each other and the bonds contain enormous amounts of energy. The nuclear energy can be used in the making of electricity but the energy has to be released first. The nuclear energy can be released from the atoms in two different ways, which are nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. When nuclear fusion occurs, the energy in the atoms is released through the combination or fusion of the atoms to form a large atom. Nuclear fusion is the process by which the sun produces its energy. The process of nuclear fission involves the splitting of atoms to form other smaller atoms. Those nuclear power plants that produce electricity use this method (Murray, Holbert, 2015).There are nuclear reactions that usually occur in the nucleus. The reaction process usually takes place when changes occur in the nucleus of the atom thus causing a change in the atom. When normal reactions e.g. chemical reactions occur, molecules are created. This is not the same for nuclear reactions. When they occur, nuclear reactions cause a transmutation on the specific element turning it into an isotope that is different or a completely new element that is different from the original. Two types of nuclear reactions exist. The first one is where a radioactive decay of the bonds that exist in the nucleus takes place leading to emitting of radiation as the decay occurs or as the atom transforms into a version that is more stable. The other type of reaction is one that occurs when a nuclear particle e.g. a proton or the nucleus slams into another nuclear particle or nucleus (Murray, Holbert, 2015).There are different types of mass destruction weapons that can be created fro m the nuclear energy. Many weapons are built to have the second type of reaction that is mentioned above. These weapons are usually introduced into the environment and mostly accompanied by large explosions in a way that cause the killing or injury of very many people. The casualties that are usually reported range from tens of people to tens of thousands or even more. The terrorist groups usually create different types of weapons from the nuclear energy, which include nuclear bombs that are usually smuggled in to the targeted area. They are either stolen bombs that were originally owned by the state or those that were made by specialized members of the terror group. Other ways in which nuclear energy can be used as a weapon, is when the terror group carries out an attack on a nuclear plant, which includes the reactors at the plant, or the fuel used at the reactor sites.The magnitude of damage because of the detonation a nuclear bomb is unimaginable. The bomb may be smuggled into a country either when it is intact or in pieces. The terrorists may choose to assemble it at the targeted area or set it up when already assembled. The threat is so big that an explosion of the 10-kt magnitude would create a destruction circle of diameter that covers up to two miles. Even a small nuclear bomb of 1-kt from an attack that was not properly executed can cause a destruction circle of up to one-mile diameter. The destruction caused by such bombs will highly depend on the bombs size and the location that is targeted. It also depends on the fraction of material that has been used in the fission of the bomb. An example that could give the measure of destruction that can be caused by a nuclear bomb is that of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima attacks in which more than one hundred thousand were reported to have lost their lives.Proposed terrorist scenarioIf I was a terrorist and wanted to use a nuclear weapon to cause destruction, I would first asses my target to see how my weapon wou ld get in. I would look for ways in which to get into the targeted area without raising any suspicion. This would be done some time before the actual attack occurs to maximize the chances of success. My ways of getting into the targeted area would be through employment or being a supplier of goods or services needed at the place. My conduct would be carried out in such a way that no one has any negative thoughts about me. I would opt to carry the device piece by piece to the place other than the whole of it when assemble. This would help in lowering suspicion and ease of transportation.Assembly of the device would take place after all the pieces are available and I would make sure that my weapon is that which can be detonated from far maybe by use of a timer or a detonation device. A day before the attack I would make sure that my device is ready and that no one has any suspicion especially the security personnel. On the day of the attack, I would absent myself from work to effectiv ely carry out the plan. After the attack, I would clear out of my house anything that can implicate me to having cause the explosion and then leave the country or state to start a new life somewhere else.Strategies for preventionEvery institution is at a risk of a terrorist attack. It may be by the use of a nuclear bomb or other devices of mass destruction. All organizations need to have security measures to prevent attacks or a reaction and emergency plan in case an attack occurs. Such measures include a detailed background or knowledge on all employees. This is done before the company takes up a person. ...

The theme of Fear in Macbeth - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1763 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/02/20 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: Macbeth Essay Did you like this example? What is fear? Why is it so impactful? Fear can be defined as â€Å"an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat† (Google). Fear is one of the most powerful emotions; it creates a paranoid, vulnerable state of mind which often leads people to making decisions that they normally would not. Many literary works incorporate fear into their themes to demonstrate how it can corrupt the way a person thinks and compel them to make irrational decisions. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The theme of Fear in Macbeth" essay for you Create order William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Macbeth reveals that fear is the most powerful motivating force in existence through Lady Macbeth’s use of fear to manipulate Macbeth, and the dynamic change in each of their characters throughout the course of the play. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth receives news from three witches, who claim he will be the new Thane of Cawdor and become King of Scotland. Shortly after, Macbeth indeed becomes Thane of Cawdor, which makes him confident that the witches predictions are true. After Duncan decides to make his son Malcolm heir to the throne, Macbeth questions whether or not the witches are right about him becoming the future king of Scotland and considers the fact that he could technically still be the next king if Duncan were executed. It doesn’t take long before Lady Macbeth finds out about the meeting with the witches. She sees an opportunity for Macbeth to take the throne by murdering king Duncan, but fears that he will not be man enough to actually do it. â€Å"Yet I do fear thy nature: it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it† (1.5.16- 20). Lady Macbeth knows her husband is afraid of her disapproval. She uses this to her advantage by telling Macbeth she doubts his ability to go through with the plan to murder King Duncan. The last thing Macbeth wants to do is disappoint his wife; he might be afraid of killing the king, but he’s even more afraid of what Lady Macbeth thinks of him. As if questioning Macbeth’s manhood wasn’t enough to convince him to get the deed done, Lady Macbeth goes on to tell Macbeth he should act like the innocent man he his to conceal his true intentions. â€Å"Look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t† (1.5.56-58). At this point, it is obvious that Lady Macbeth knows murder is not in Macbeth’s nature. Rather than considering her husband’s morals, she continues to encourage him to go through with the plan. Further into Act 1, Macbeth approaches his wife to tell her he’s having second thoughts about killing Duncan and questions what will happen if their plan fails; this doesn’t sit right with Lady Macbeth. â€Å"We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail.† (1.7.59-61). Once again, Lady Macbeth makes Macbeth question his manliness for not wanting to murder Duncan which makes him doubt the way he’s feeling. Macbeth doesn’t want to betray his cousin who trusts him and cares about him but he feels pressured to prove himself as a man. When Macbeth thinks he’s seeing a dagger which leads him to Duncans bedroom, he feels compelled to kill him. Lady Macbeth’s plan seems to have been executed practically perfectly, besides a few details that she takes into her own hands. This sequence of events shows how Lady Macbeth uses Macbeth’s fear of her disapproval to manipulate him into murdering King Duncan, which proves that fear can influence people to make decisions which are not in their true nature. After murdering King Duncan, Macbeth’s paranoia sets in almost immediately. He tells Lady Macbeth about the dagger he saw before going into the king’s room and the voices he thought he heard. Lady Macbeth warns her husband that if he thinks too much about what he has done, he will go crazy, but Macbeth is already struggling to think and act normally. When Duncan’s death is revealed to the rest of the characters, Macbeth kills the guards that him and Lady Macbeth framed as the killers to make himself appear loyal to the king and to ensure that the guards could not attempt to prove their innocence. Duncan’s two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flea to England and Ireland in fear that they may be killed next, but this makes them look guilty. For now, Macbeth is in the clear and he is named the new King of Scotland. Banquo becomes suspicious of the witches’ prophecies and starts to wonder if Macbeth had anything to do with them coming true. Macbeth, already paranoid, begins to fear that Banquo may know what he has done. â€Å"Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared.† (3.1.50-55). Macbeth remembers the witches saying he would become king but that Banquo’s descendants would follow after him. He understands that this means his future children would not inherit the throne, but the children of Banquo would. Macbeth becomes terrified at the thought of having murdered the king just to have someone else’s children take the throne after him; he decides to take matters into his own hands once again, and have Banquo and his son killed. Macbeth convinces two murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance in secret. The murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes. Macbeth is ecstatic to hear that Banquo has been executed, but the thought of Fleance still being alive makes him feel trapped by the fear of losing his crown. Determined to get more information, Macbeth goes back to the wi tches and demands answers. First Apparition says, â€Å"Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife† (4.1.77). After hearing this, Macbeth becomes even more fearful of Macduff; he is convinced that he needs to kill him immediately to get rid of his troubles and fears. Macbeth soon discovers that Macduff ran away to England and decides to kill his family instead. At this point, Macbeth is desperately trying to secure his title as king. His actions clearly show that his morals have completely changed. In the beginning, Macbeth was hesitant about murdering Duncan; he did not want to betray his leader. Once the evil deed was done, the evil within Macbeth only grew. He has become a tyrant leader who no longer feels ashamed of his actions. Macbeth’s fear of losing power controls his thoughts and actions; he is now willing to murder anyone who stands in the way of his power. This drastic change in Macbeth’s character shows how fear can corrupt a person’s mind and motivate them to do the unthinkable. In England, Malcolm and Macduff discuss the disastrous state of Scotland. After Ross informs Macduff that his wife and children have been killed under the orders of Macbeth, he is even more prepared to get his revenge. Malcolm agrees to help Macduff save his country and tells him he has already arranged for England to help them. The leader of the English army and 10,000 of their soldiers follow Malcolm and Macduff to Scotland in hopes of defeating the evil Macbeth. Back at Macbeth’s castle in Dunsinane, Lady Macbeth has been seen acting suspiciously by a gentlewoman who works for her. Unsure of what to do, the gentlewoman reports Lady Macbeth’s strange behavior to a doctor, â€Å"Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.† (5.1.5-9). Lady Macb eth is beginning to feel guilty for the murder of Duncan and the murders that followed; after all, she did push Macbeth to kill Duncan knowing it was not in his nature. As Lady Macbeth realizes that she is responsible for most of her husband’s wrong-doings, she becomes overwhelmed with paranoia and guilt. The woman who once thought her and Macbeth were untouchable, has been driven to insanity. â€Å"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.† (5.1.32-35). Lady Macbeth has gone mad to the point that her mind is creating visuals which do not exist. She imagines the blood of King Duncan on her hands and is incapable of washing it off. The fear of living with the guilt that she’s been carrying around for the rest of her days begins to consume her thoughts and control her life. Right before Macbeth goes to battle he is informed that his wife, the Queen, is dead. Shakespeare does not specify the cause of Lady Macbeth’s death, but it appears as if she has taken her own life. At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is the more evil of the two Macbeths. She pressures Macbeth into murdering the king and encourages his sinful behavior. Eventually, she realizes the severity of her actions and loses her sanity. The way Lady Macbeth’s character shifts from being manipulative and ill-intentioned to fearful of her own thoughts proves how powerful fear can be. William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Macbeth demonstrates the theme that fear is a powerful motivator which can lead people to making unimaginable decisions. Lady Macbeth utilizes fear to make her husband go against his morals and murder King Duncan. As the play progresses, Macbeth faces some obstacles which make him fearful of losing power. Macbeth’s character undergoes drastic change; he goes from being a noble, well-respected man, to being the most evil tyrant leader Scotland has ever seen. As Macbeth becomes a different man, his wife soon realizes that she is the one to blame for the poor choices he has made since taking the throne. The fear that Lady Macbeth faces after coming to realization that she would have to live with her guilt forever affects her everyday behavior and permanently scars her. Shakespeare’s play reveals that fear leads to corruption, irrational thinking and even insanity.

Islamic accounting - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 2938 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Question 01 What distinguishes Islamic accounting and conventional accounting? Briefly discuss the additional objectives of Islamic accounting. Answer 01 It could be stated that both Islamic accounting as well as conventional accounting are both in the business of providing information to end customers. The main differences lie in the following factors: Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Islamic accounting" essay for you Create order Objective of providing information Islamic accounting enables users to ensure that Islamic organizations abide by the principles of the Shariah in all of its dealings and enables the assessment of whether the objectives of the organization are being met. Type of information The type of information which Islamic accounting identifies, measures is different. Conventional accounting concentrates on identifying economic events and transactions, while Islamic accounting must identify socio-economic and religious events and transactions. Islamic accounting is more holistic in its approach as both financial and non-financial measures regarding the economic, social, environmental and religious events and transactions are measured and reported. Different statements Islamic accounting requires totally different statements altogether from that of conventional accounting. This is to de-emphasize the focus on profits by the income statement provided by conventional accounting. Users of reports Islamic accounting recognizes that all including the society are the users of the reports. The reason being that society as a whole can make corporations accountable for their actions and ensure that they comply with Shariah principles and do not harm others while making money ethically and achieve a equitable allocation and distribution of wealth among members of society especially the stakeholders of the concerned corporation. The importance of establishing objectives Accounting scholars and practitioners alike have found that the process of developing financial accounting standards without establishing objectives leads to inconsistent standards which may not be suitable for the environment in which they are expected to be applied. Agreement on the objectives of financial accounting for Islamic banks would achieve many benefits: The objectives will be used as a guide by the Financial Accounting Standards Board for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions when developing financial accounting standards. This should assure consistency in developing standards. The objectives will assist Islamic banks, in the absence of accepted accounting standards, in making choices among alternative accounting treatments. The objectives will be available as a guide and a regulator of subjective judgment made by management when preparing the financial statements and other financial reports. The objectives, when properly defined, should increase users confidence and understanding of accounting information and, in turn, their confidence in Islamic banks. Establishing objectives should lead to the development of accounting standards which are likely to be consistent with each other. This should increase users confidence in the financial reports of Islamic banks. Financial accounting is mainly concerned with providing information to assist users in making decisions. Those who deal with Islamic banks are concerned, in the first place, with obeying and satisfying Allah in their financial and other dealings. It is natural, therefore, that there should be differences between objectives established for other banks and those to be established for Islamic banks. Those differences stem mainly from differences in the objectives of those who need accounting information and, therefore, in the information they need. This does not mean, however, that we should reject all the results of contemporary accounting thought in non-Islamic countries. This is so because there are common objectives between Muslim and non-Muslim users of accounting information. In addition to the above, there are other reasons why different objectives of financial accounting should be established for Islamic banks. Those are: Islamic banks must comply with the principles and rules of Shariah in all their financial and other dealings. The functions of Islamic banks are significantly different from those of traditional banks who have adopted the Western model of banking. The relationship between Islamic banks and the parties that deal with them differs from the relationship of those who deal with traditional banks. Two approaches to establishing objectives have emerged through the discussion which took place at different meetings of the committees established by the Board. These are: Establish objectives based on the principles of Islam and its teachings and then consider these established objectives in relation to contemporary accounting thought. Start with objectives established in contemporary accounting thought, test them against Islamic Shariah, accept those that are consistent with Shariah and reject those that are not. In order to test each approach and select an appropriate one, various efforts were put in by various Shariah scholars. Subsequent to all their efforts it was decided that the second approach be chosen to establish objectives of financial accounting for Islamic banks and financial institutions. The main categories of users of external financial reports for Islamic banks whose information needs are addressed in this statement include: Current and saving account holders. Equity holders. Holders of investment accounts. Other depositors. Others who transact business with the Islamic bank, who are not equity or account holders. Regulatory agencies. Zakah agencies. It is possible to summarize the common information needs of users as follows: Information which can assist in evaluating the banks compliance with the principles of Shariah in all of its financial and other dealings. Information which can assist in evaluating the banks ability in: Using the economic resources available to it in a manner that safeguards these resources while increasing their value, at reasonable rates. Carrying out its social responsibilities and in particular those that have been specified by Islam, including the good use of available resources, the protection of the rights of others and the prevention of corruption on earth. Providing for the economic needs of those who deal with the bank. Maintaining liquidity at appropriate levels. Information which can assist those employed by the bank in evaluating their relationship and future with the Islamic bank, including the banks ability to safeguard and develop their rights and develop their managerial and productive skills and capabilities. It is assumed that the types of information described above represent the minimum required to satisfy the common information needs of external users of financial reports. In conclusion, the following could be stated as the objectives of Islamic accounting: To determine the rights and obligations of all interested parties, including those rights and obligations resulting from incomplete transactions and other events, in accordance with the principles of Islamic Shariah and its concepts of fairness, charity and compliance with Islamic business values. To contribute to the safeguarding of the Islamic banks assets, its rights and the rights of others in an adequate manner. To contribute to the enhancement of the managerial and productive capabilities of the Islamic bank and encourage compliance with its established goals and policies and, above all, compliance with Islamic Shariah in all transactions and events. To provide, through financial reports, useful information to users of these reports, to enable them to make legitimate decisions in their dealings with Islamic banks. Question 02 Discuss the Shariah audit issues and their importance in relation to financial statements of Islamic banks. Answer 02 There are various issues in a Shariah audit that could face an Islamic financial institution. The following discussion pertains to those issues and their high relevance to the financial statements of such institutions. First and foremost, any Islamic bank that is found to have breached any of their fiduciary duties or have contravened the covenants of Shariah could be in a serious and potentially harmful situation by litigation from its investors and other third parties. Hence, to make certain Islamic banks comply properly with the requirements of Shariah principles as well as their performance of fiduciary duties and obligations, there should be very close cooperation between the Shariah Boards and the external auditors. This process will help to ensure compliance in all these respects. The term or rather the concept now commonly known as Shariah audit is now understood that the ensuring of Shariah compliance, fiduciary compliance and further the assigning of the formal resp onsibility to ensure all such compliances are in order. The Shariah audit of an Islamic financial institution is not necessarily limited to the performance by an external auditor. It could be performed by the Islamic financial institutions very own Shariah Board or by external auditors as well. If the Shariah audit is being done by the Shariah Board, they should be capable of doing the task. On one perspective, it should clearly be noted that when the Shariah audit is performed by the banks external auditors they will undoubtedly ensure adequate independence to be maintained. Further, these auditors would most definitely require knowledge, competence and expertise to cope with Shariah compliance issues and fiduciary compliance issues. On another perspective, if the Shariah audit is being carried out by the Shariah Board of the Islamic bank, they will have to ensure sufficiently or maximum independence in order to carry out a thorough and an effective audit. Like in the previou s situation, the Shariah Board will have to have knowledge, competence and expertise to cope with and solve issues relating to accounting issues and their implications. Some contemporary Islamic financial institutions have now a group of scholars known as Shariah internal auditors. These individuals are also members of the institutions Shariah Board. They on a continuous basis monitor Shariah and fiduciary compliance and report findings to the main Shariah Board. Therefore, based on the above two scenarios the Shariah Board as well the external auditors will require close liaising with each other on a continuous basis to ensure that all potential Shariah and fiduciary compliance issues, which the Islamic bank may be exposed to, are addressed and resolved on a timely and accurate basis. Finally, in order to ensure that all Islamic banks comply with all the covenants of the Shariah and perform their fiduciary duties and obligations as well towards their depositors, it is high ly important that there are proper rules and regulations established. These are important with regard to general and additional disclosure requirements in the Islamic banks financial statements, such as disclosure requirements of the: Accounting policies Disposal of non-Shariah compliance earnings Profit distribution policy Shariah advisors Zakat obligations Auditors are responsible for forming and expressing opinions on financial statements. It is also their responsibility for preparing and presenting financial statements in compliance with all Shariah rules and principles. The relevant legislation and regulations is that of the management of the financial institution. Hence, it should clearly be understood that the audit of the financial statements does not relieve the management of the financial institution of this responsibility. Thereby, indicating the importance of Shariah audit issues and their importance to the preparation of financial statements of Islamic banks. Question 03 Why is taxation an important issue for Islamic banking products? Answer 03 A common misperception created in the minds of most people nowadays is the perception of unfair taxation. Islamic banks, other than in Malaysia have developed in a relatively tax free milieu. Even countries such as Pakistan, general provisions were made to exempt from taxation for Islamic finance arranged on a cross border basis, but no specific provisions were made for within the country. It was the UK government that took a lead in the west in revising its taxation law to include specific provisions for Islamic products and services. The following is a discussion about a key taxation issue that arose in UK and how it was resolved. In fact had this issue not been properly resolved it would have derailed any plans to establish Islamic banks in the UK. The key issue relates to the tax treatment of Islamic deposit accounts that in theory paid a profit share to the depositor. Deposit accounts offered by the Islamic Bank of Britain were based on the principle of Mudharabah. Gener ally, any interest payments made by banks to its depositors is deductible from gross income before tax is calculated. However, in accordance with anti-avoidance rules in UK, any interest payments made on deposits that were linked to the profit made by a bank was not allowed to be deducted from gross income but was considered as distribution of profit after tax. In other words, these were considered as dividend payments. Example: Suppose a bank paid pound;100 on normal deposit accounts. This amount was deducted from its gross income, say pound;300. Hence, tax paid on the net amount of pound;200. If on the other hand, the pound;100 payment was linked to profit made by the bank, tax would be deducted on the gross income of pound;300 and the pound;100 was considered as distribution after tax. This of course results in much higher tax charge for the bank. The profit payment on the Islamic deposit accounts was at first considered to be linked to the profit made by the Islamic Bank of B ritain and therefore was not allowed to be deducted as an expense against gross income. This high incidence of tax charge made the Bank economically unviable. To overcome the above issue, the UK government established a special Inland Revenue task force to review the taxation of Islamic products so as to ensure that there was a level playing field with the conventional market. In the government paper, Regulatory Impact Assessment for Shariah Compliant Products that accompanied the Budget for 2005 it was stated that the key policy objective for taxation of Shariah compliant products is to ensure that such products are: ..taxed in a way that is neither more nor less advantageous than equivalent banking products. The intended effect of the proposals is to allow providers to offer Shariah compliant products without facing commercial disadvantage and to enable customers to take up these products without encountering uncertainty or disadvantage over tax treatment. The solution that emerged from the task force and included in the Finance Act 2005 was to define Islamic products as Alternative Financial Arrangements and to set out the key structures of the arrangements in the legislation. The profit payment on the deposits was termed as Profit Share Return. Islamic products are not specially mentioned in the Finance Act but only in the explanatory notes. Furthermore, the Act is concerned not with principles but the specific structures of the products. This was done to mitigate the risk of these structures being used to avoid taxation. In the explanatory notes it was clearly stated that the relevant legislative clauses relate to arrangements: that involves profits and losses on sales of assets or profit share agreements that are economically equivalent to conventional banking products, but are not interest or speculative returns. The measure ensures that such arrangements are taxed no more or less favourably than equivalent finance arrangements involving interest. In other words, profit payments made for Islamic deposits that conformed to those arrangements were deemed to be interest and hence treated for tax purposes as any interest payments. This ensured that Islamic deposits were taxed on the same basis as conventional deposits. In our above example, Islamic banks paid tax on the net pound;200 rather than the gross amount. For sake of clarity, in case of Islamic deposit the Finance Act defines the following arrangements that give rise to profit share return: The depositor deposits money with a financial institution. The money, together with money deposited with the institution by other persons, is used by the institution with a view to producing a profit. From time to time the institution makes or credits a payment to the depositor, in proportion to the amount deposited by him, out of any profit resulting from the use of the money. The payments made or credited by the institution equate, in substance, to the return on an investment of money at interest. Other than (d) above, the structure described is a Mudharabah. Similarly the Finance Act 2005 also defined an Islamic finance arrangement based on Murabahah principle and termed the equivalent profit amount charged to customers as Alternative Finance Return. Prior to 2005, the government had already resolved the issue of double incidence of Stamp Duty on property financed using Islamic structures. Normally whenever property is purchased, the buyer has to pay a Stamp Duty. In case of Islamic finance where banks buy the property and then sell to the customer, there were two Stamp Duties payable, first by the bank and then by the customer. In 2003, the government had amended the Stamp Duty rules to charge only one Stamp Duty on such finance arrangements. These rules were further refined in the Finance Act 2005. Since 2005, UK government has continued to add to the tax legislation for Islamic products. Islamic mortgages using Diminishing Musharakah arrangements, Islamic agency ac counts and recently in the Finance Bill 2006, Islamic bonds (Sukuks) have been covered. The other issue relating to tax was VAT. This has been more difficult to resolve since VAT is a European wide legislation and requires any major change at the European level. Despite this, the UK government has issued guidelines on the application of VAT to Islamic products. These guidelines have ensured that Islamic products are treated in the same way as conventional products. It is important to emphasize that the significant development outlined above in respect of taxation of Islamic products could not have been achieved had there not been commitment from Chancellor and his Treasury ministers. Importance has continued to be given to the success of Islamic finance in the UK and concerns that hinder a level playing field for the Islamic finance market are being carefully reviewed and resolved. The lead taken by UK authorities to tax Islamic products is now being considered by other author ities as possible solution to help the Islamic markets to flourish. References https://basiccollegeaccounting.com/basic-understanding-of-islamic-accounting-its-objectives-and-the-differences-between-convention-accounting/ https://www.aaoifi.com/objectives-acc.html https://www.bta.kz/files/about_fin_iconf_Session_10-taxation_2.pdf

Damaging Air Pollution - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1341 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/04/15 Category Ecology Essay Level High school Tags: Air Pollution Essay Pollution Essay Did you like this example? Introduction A survey of the available literature shows just how damaging air pollution can be to the flora and fauna that inhabit the natural world. The leading pollutants include tropospheric ozone and carbon monoxide from automobile exhaust, the burning of diesel fuel in combustion engines and coal ash from electric power plants that creates particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide from agricultural manure and fertilizers as well as the combustion of fossil fuels. These airborne pollutants can eventually fall out of the atmosphere and deposit onto the land and bodies of water. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Damaging Air Pollution" essay for you Create order The uptake, inhalation or consumption of these pollutants can be harmful to many plant and animal species such as the birch, pine, and maple trees of the temperate forest, the mice, birds, and fish of the urban ecosystem, and the fish, insects, and crayfish of the aquatic ecosystem. The role of air pollution in biodiversity, local habitat modification, and climate change are also examined. A survey of the worlds biomes Several of the Earths biomes will be referred to in the pages to come. It is therefore important to have an understanding of the biomes as it pertains to what makes a biome and why they are where they are. Climate, topography, and soil and parallel influences in aquatic environments- determine the changing character of plant and animal life over the surface of Earth. Although no two locations harbor exactly the same assemblage of species, we can group biological communities in categories based on their dominant plant forms, which give communities their overall character. These categories are referred to as biomes (Ricklefs 99). Contributions of Heinrich Walter German ecologist Heinrich Walter devised a terrestrial classification system which he termed ?climate zones. These zones were broken down by annual precipitation and temperature trends across the globe. He was careful to note signature plant and or animal traits that seemed to occupy these zones (Ricklefs). Contributions of Robert H. Whitaker Robert H. Whitaker, an ecologist from Cornell University, would devise his own classification system with a slight twist. He first established the vegetative structure of biome, then developed a diagram on which he plotted the annual precipitation and temperature norms. It should be noted that in the intermediaries between forest and desert, he took into account soil type, seasonal climate patterns, and fire to determine woodlands, shrublands, and grassland locations (Ricklefs). Courtesy of The Economy of Nature by Robert E. Ricklefs It is important to note the following when it comes to the animals and plants that share a biome: (1) animals and plants adapt to match their environments, (2) some fauna and flora overlap at the boundaries between neighboring biomes in response to local climate feedback loops, (3) while climate is the key factor in determining plant distribution, soil types and changes in topography are also influences, and (4) aquatic biomes are classified by salinity, water flow rate and water depth rather than temperature, precipitation and vegetation structure (Ricklefs). A biome map of the world courtesy of The Economy of Nature by Robert E. Ricklefs. The demarcations more or less follow Heinrich Walters biome structure. Walter noted the boreal and polar zones have annual average temperatures below 5, the temperate regions experience annual average temperatures between 5 and 20(central Ohio is located in the Temperate seasonal forest), and the tropical and equatorial biomes exceed 20 as an annual average temperature. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 or Nitrite) Pollution In the aquatic ecosystem The three major pollutants of freshwater ecosystems are sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The most common non-point sources of airborne NO2 pollution are the volatilization of manure and fertilizers and the combustion of fossil fuels. Airborne NO2 can enter the aquatic ecosystem by depositing on lakes, streams, and rivers. If introduced, nitrite can exhibit lethal toxicity of fish and invertebrates in doses of 3 mg NO2-N/L in a 96-hour exposure time (Camargo and Alonzo, 2006). This is mainly achieved by rendering oxygen-carrying cells incapable of transporting oxygen. This results in hypoxia and death in fish and crayfish. Nitrite can also be toxic in the following ways: reduction of Cl- ions in and outside of cells causing an imbalance of electrolytes, reduced function of cardiac and skeletal muscles and decreased neurotransmission from imbalance of K+ , formation of mutagenic and carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds, acute damage to mitochondria in liver cells contributing to free oxygen shortage in the tissue, and a compromised immune system leading to increased susceptibility to parasites and infections diseases (Camargo and Alonzo, 2006). Nitrite can, through chemical reactions with other materials in the water, produce compounds that have lasting, disruptive effects. Nitrite lowers the pH of lakes and streams making them more acidic. According to Bobbink et al., fresh waters are among the most sensitive ecosystems with respect to atmospheric acidification (1998, p.718). Acidification of water that has low turnover rates, specifically lakes, can upset the delicate balance of nutrient cycles (and therefore food chain) required for the ecosystem to function properly. Low pH can also encourage the development of toxic algae which starves the other organisms of dissolved oxygen in a process called eutrophication. With low availability of food and oxygen, reproductive rates of aquatic animals suffer. Eutrophication reduces water clarity and light availability which can negatively impact photosynthesis rates in aquatic plant life (Hernandez et al., 2016). According to Camargo and Alonzo, Anthropogenic discharges containing elevated nitrite concentrations have been associated with fish kills in aquatic ecosystems (Camargo and Alonzo, 2006, p. 840). The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) lists vertebrate species impacted by reactive nitrogen. In the FWS Great Lakes Big River region there are five (5) such species. The Jollyville plateau salamander and the Smalleye shiner are listed as ?potentially endangered due to direct toxicity or lethal effects of N and eutrophication causing algal blooms that alter habitat by covering up substrate, respectively. The other three (3) species are listed as ?threatened by the FWS: the Arkansas River shiner and the Neosho Madtom for eutrophication lowering dissolved oxygen levels, and the Desert Tortoise (Sonoran population) for N pollution increasing non-native plant species that kill off the tortoises food sources (Hernandez et al., 2016). In species-rich grasslands Some nitrogen deposition studies have been conducted in western and central Europe concerning pH neutral grasslands which are moist to semi arid (Bobbink et al., 1998). This biome type tends to have soil that is nitrogen-poor hence the need for fertilization. In the UK, the Park Grass experiment has been ongoing since 1856 (Williams, 1978 and Dodd et al., 1994 as cited by Bobbink et al., 1998). Enrichment of nitrogen as sodium nitrate fertilizer is applied to select plots of neutral grassland in the amount of 48 kg N per hectare per year. This has resulted in a population explosion of a few, nitrophilic grasses such as the Meadow foxtail grass (Alopecurus pratensis) and Tall oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius). These have crowded out the abundance of smaller, more regular perennials (Bobbink et al., 1998). Additional land management is necessary to reintroduce and maintain biodiversity. In forest ground vegetation Drastic changes in ground flora have been noted in many studies over the years due to acidification of nutrient-poor soil by airborne nitrogen deposition. In their 1989 study of a central Netherlands forest, Dirkse Van Dobben observed a disappearance of all lichen species when nitrogen deposition increased from around 20 kg N per hectare per year in 1958 to near 40 kg N per hectare per year by 1981 (Bobbink et al., 1998). In a semi-natural forest in northeastern France, a large increase in nitrophilic plants was observed on 50 permanent vegetation plots when nitrogen deposition of 15-20 kg N per hectare per year raised soil pH to 6.9 (Thimonier et al., 1994). Coniferous forests have also been impacted by increased nitrogen inputs. The shoot density of Wavy hair-grass (D. flexousa) showed significant increase in a central Sweden coniferous forest where experimental ammonium nitrate enrichment reached 10 kg N per hectare per year (Kellner Redbo-Torstensson, 1995). This along with s imilar results in Finland seems to point to decreased biomass of shrubs and mosses that thrive in nutrient-poor areas. Competitive exclusion modifies the local, vegetative landscape to favor grasses and mosses that prosper in nutrient-rich soils. (Bobbink et al., 1998).