Formal essay Essay Example for Free

Formal essay Essay The therapeutic relationship is an important component of nursing. Nurses use their own awareness of self as a valuable tool to build rapport with patients and develop the therapeutic relationship. This essay will demonstrate the importance of self awareness by discussing how it can be developed, the advantages of self awareness, and the consequences of not practising self awareness in nursing contexts. There are a number of ways that a nurse can develop self awareness. Smith and Jones (2012) suggested that self awareness can be developed by †¦ Johns and Harrison (2009) agreed, but also suggested that †¦ would be useful. However, there was some disagreement with these findings. A research study conducted by Marks and Spencer (2010) found that †¦ Although some of these authors disagreed on the methods of developing self awareness, what they did agree on was the advantages for patients if nurses are self aware. When nurses are self aware, benefits for the patient include †¦ The benefit to communication was stated emphatically by Lewis and Carroll (2008) who found that †¦ Similarly, other authors have noted that †¦ (Brown, Green, 2009; Butcher, Baker, 2011). There are also benefits for the nurse who is self aware. For example, †¦ Similarly, healthcare organisations can benefit when their staff are more self aware because †¦ The benefits of self awareness have been clearly demonstrated, but consideration must also be given to what might happen to a therapeutic relationship if nurses are not self aware. If a nurse is not self aware, the ramifications for the therapeutic relationship can be severe. Smith and Jones (2012) reported on an instance where a lack of self awareness on the part of a nurse resulted in †¦ They suggested that greater self awareness on the part of the nurse would have †¦ Other possible results of a lack of self awareness on the part of a nurse include †¦ (Brown, Green, 2009). It is therefore clear that poor self awareness on the part of a nurse can severely influence the development of a therapeutic relationship which can adversely affect the outcomes for the patient. In conclusion, this essay has demonstrated the importance of nurses having good self awareness if they are to develop effective therapeutic relationships with their patients. The main methods for developing self awareness were reviewed, including †¦ When nurses have developed good self awareness, there are benefits for patients, nurses and health organisations, including †¦ However, if nurses do not have good self awareness, possible adverse influences on the therapeutic relationship and on patient outcomes can include †¦ Thus, it is undeniable that self awareness is a significant skill that nurses need to acquire. Reflection (200 words) There has been an enormous change in my perception of the role and function of nurses since I started university. I initially regarded registered nurses as mainly providers of medication who comfort patients in pain. Moreover, I always thought that patients would be cordial to nurses. The idea that nurses could face violent patients was totally new to me. However, I now comprehend that nurses need to employ effective communication strategies to  coordinate the care of patients and also deal with the possible threat of aggressive patients. As a result of this learning, I have realised that I do not know how to deal with aggressive patients, so I will attend a workshop to start developing skills in this area. I was always under the impression that nurses went into hospital wards and directly commenced treatment. On the contrary, from readings that I have done, I understand that it is important to obtain patient permission before commencing treatment. Some patients make decisions about treatments themselves, while others might consult with family members. This could be for cultural reasons, but I have realised that I lack knowledge about other cultures. Therefore, I will try to learn more about the different cultures of the people with whom I work and study. Andre, K., Heartfield, M. (2011). Nursing and Midwifery Portfolios: Evidence of Continuing Competence. Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier. Bulman, C., Schutz, S. (2013). Reflective Practice in Nursing. Chichester, UK: WileyBlackwell. Dempsey, J., Wilson, V. (2009). Thoughtful Practice: Self-awareness and reflection. In J. Dempsey, J. French, S. Hillege, V. Wilson (Eds.) Fundamentals of Nursing and Midwifery. Broadway, NSW: Wolters Kluwer. Johns, C. (2009). Becoming a Reflective Practitioner. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Timmins, F. (2008). Making Sense of Portfolios: A Guide for Nursing Students,Nursing Students. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press. Usher, K., Holmes, C. (2010). Reflective practice: what, why and how. In J. Daly, S. Speedy, D. Jackson (Eds.) Contexts of Nursing. Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier

Study On The Importance Of Mahatma Gandhi

Study On The Importance Of Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi also known as father of Nation- helped throw out white rule and gain independence to India. He followed the path of Ahimsa which was non violence concept and Sathyagrahas which strikes to gain freedom for the people of India. He did all this yet was a lawyer by profession. Gandhi was born into the Hindu Modh family in Porbandar, in 1869. He was the son of Karamchand Gandhi, the diwan (Prime Minister) of Porbandar, and Putlibai. While living with a devout mother and surrounded by the Jain influences of Gujarat, Gandhi learned from an early age the tenets of pacifist to living beings, vegetarianism, fasting for self-purification, and mutual tolerance between members of various creeds and sects. He was born into the vaishya, or business, caste. Yet wanted fight for fair rights amongst his fellow Indians. Gandhi was responsible for many influential attributes during his years. In his younger days he studied to become a lawyer and in South Africa around the early 1880s he become employed by a Muslim firm in Pretoria. Through this firm he became engrossed in several great efforts against the authorities. During this time it peaked his interest for the communitys struggle for civil rights and Indias desire to stand on its own. Around 1915 when he returned to India he instantly joined the Indian National Congress as a large movement. While doing so he began to wear a simple quite simple which consisted of a white loin cloth, white shawl and sandals. This style appeals too many Indians in the rural areas who then gave him the name Mahatma meaning great saint. Gandhi philosophy revolved around three central notions: sawaraj meaning home rule, sarvodaya meaning welfare of all, and satyagraha meaning non-violence. Whereas Satyagraha was the key component for accomplishing political goals while using non- violent tactics. And sarvodaya and sawararja were used to support ideas of individual and overall improvement and renewal. With this renewal Gandhi was adamant in the belief that this necessary for India to revive itself of its history and culture and get rid of the British hovering over them. One major accomplishment held by Gandhi led a 200 mile Salt March so that the people of India could make and gather their own salt. His goal was for the people of India not to buy salt from the British. This march is called the Salt Satyagraha which started with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, which was a key part of the Indian Independence Movement. This crusade was entirely nonviolent against the British salt tax in India. This protest prompted a larger Civil Movement. This movement was the most momentous organized attempt to confront the British government since Non-cooperation movement of 1920-22, and was directly followed the Purna Swaraj declaration of independence by the Indian National Congress in January of 1930. Gandhi also led the Dandi march near Ahmedabad, to the sea coast near the village of Dandi. This imspiring man continued on his mile march to make salt without paying the tax the British wanted while still expanding the number of Indians joined him along his jour ney. Eventually Gandhi broke the salt laws in Dandi at the end of the march on April 6, 1930, thus sparking large scale acts of civil disobedience against the British Raj salt laws by millions of Indians. Gandhi 1906 the Transval government cultivated a new Act to force registration of the colonys population At a enormous protest in Johannesburg on September 11th that year, Gandhi went on views evolving the devotion of truth. At this time involving his followers for the first time to defy the new law and suffer the consequences for doing so. Through this act thousands of people were imprisoned include Gandhi himself. Also beaten or shot. This was all because they were refusing to register, striking , or setting their registration cards on fire. Although these were all non violent means the government was still very violent towards them. While the government was successful in suppressing the Indians protesters, the public outlook the technique of how the government handled the peaceful protester finally forced the South African general at the time to negotiate a deal with Gandhi. A second attribute by Gandhi was made when he went on a 21 day fast to protest against the war between the Muslims and the Hindus and also to protest against Great Britain for not allowing India to be free. In March 1922, Gandhi was jailed for treason and after his trial he was sentenced to six years in prison. After about two years, Gandhi was released due to his declining health following surgery to treat his appendicitis. After his release, Gandhi found his country involved in serious violent attacks between Hindus and Muslims. As compensation for the violence, Gandhi decided to begin a 21-day fast, known as the Great Fast of 1924. At the time he was still ill from his recent surgery, many thought he would die anytime after day twelve, but he pulled through and held on for this passionate cause. This fast created a temporary peace. Another impact created by him was when he was arrested by the police of the charge of creating a unrest and was told to leave the area. Due to this, thousands of people protested and gathered followers to stand outside the police station and courts insisting his release. Which eventually the courts unenthusiastic allowed. After his release he helped arrange strikes against the landlords, who with the help of the government signed an agreement granting the poor farmers of that area more money and control over farming and also cancel the inflation until the famine ended. It was then Gandhi was looked at by the people as Batu meaning father and Mahatma meaning great soul. And lastly the greatest accomplishment of Gandhi was his life-long fight for the independence of India. Which fulfill his dream for his countrys independence which finally became reality on August 15, 1947. His life goal was to free India of the Britishs tight hold. To even get to that point Gandhi and his devoted follow struggle to rise to the top. Gandhi played a big role in order for India to achieve independence. He encouraged Indians to do the ahimsa and the satyagraha or simply truth-force. In which they purposely shows civil insubordination against the authorities. Indians had also established parties to gain freedom and eventually independence from Britain. Instances of these parties are the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. Even though thats true, there were many hardships on their way to top. During the great effort to self-government about 200,000 people were killed while fighting for their liberty in which they finally succeeded because they were able to gai n independence at August 15, 1947. Gandhi was the most outstanding political and spiritual leader of India especially during the Indian independence movement. He had many followers, and taught many how to protest peacefully, instead of using violence and war. Although many know who Gandhi is numerous people do not know the greatness he has achieved. I believe he is very influential with everything he did. Gandhi stood up against the British Empire and got civil right for India while protest peacefully even thought the British hurt and killed many innocent Indians. Although imprisoned for his heroic work he never gave up. He was responsible for popularizing the concept of non violence and truth through struggle. The usefulness of these two ideas can be showed how the India used this implement to single handedly brought down the British and attempt to colonize Gandhis nation. I think this is incredible seeing though the British ruled several colonies for centuries yet Gandhi helped India rise and force them to leave them alone in just about thirty years. This proved that the use of non violent protest is very powerful. Most importantly a government can rule peoples bodies yet have no control over their minds. Due to these events I believe G andhi is forever remembered in history to this day .For how he stood up for Indian civil rights, and has made a big difference for people in India today. Even after his death Gandhi is still remembered.

Difference Between Role of Treasurer and Controller

Difference Between Role of Treasurer and Controller Difference between Role of treasurer and controller with respect to Financial Corporate Governance Organization Chart of the Financial Management The chief finance executive works directly under the president or the managing director of the company. Besides routine network, the person in charge keeps the Board of Directors informed about all the phases of business activity, including economics, social and political developments affecting the business behavior. He also furnishes information about the financial status of the company by reviewing it from time to time. The chief finance executive may have many officers under him to carry out his function. Broadly his functions are divided into two types: Treasury function Control functions An illustrative organization chart of finance function of management in a big organization is shown below: Organization of the Financial Management Function Role of Treasurer The main role of Treasurer is that he refers to the financial officer and then looks at the task of financing and its related activities. Treasury always deals with liquid assets and so the main role of treasurer is to look at the cash and its other liquid assets. Some important tasks of Treasurer are as follows: He formulate the whole capital structure of the organization in accordance to goals of the organization and then to implement it to the organization. He also manages the amount of liquid assets and all type of cash. He basically acts as a cashier. He plays the role of an authority signatory on payment cheques including the authority to approve such cheques. Reconciliation in bank accounts. He manages the overall credit function of the firm. He also has the authority to utilize the surplus cash of the company whenever there is any type of short term beneficial investments. He also makes the companies policies according to decision on trade discounts and vendor payment. He also maintains relationships with bankers and vendors. All of the above mentioned functions of treasurer are implemented with the help of cash manger, finance manager and credit manager. Role of controller As we have already seen that the treasurer deals with liquid assets, the controller of the organization has to record the transactions of these liquid assets. It is the combined and effective working of both the departments that give rise to an effective system of internal controls. Controller is a financial officer responsible for accounting and control. He does the following functions: Records all the transactions in the general ledger, the accounts receivables and the accounts payables, sub-ledger, transaction with respect to fixed assets such as depreciation, inventory control, etc. He looks into the aspects of taxes and insurance. He also keeps track of companys short term investments by recording and reconciling the transaction with those of the brokerage firms. He carefully looks into the regulatory aspects and implementation of the companys policy on trade discounts and recievables aging. He always acts as the planning director. He keeps a record of the attendance of the employees, their movement timings so as to facilitate in preparing the payroll. He reports information to the management. The office bearer who assists the controller in accomplishing the above tasks is: tax manager, data processing manager, cost accounting manager and accounting manager. Thus the functions of financial accounting, internal audit, taxation, management accountings and control, budget-planning and control are accomplished in this manner. Controllers and Treasurers functions in the Indian Context The controller and the treasurer are essentially American terms. Basically the American pattern of dividing the financial executives functions is not being widely followed in India. We do have a number of copies having officers with the designation of the controller. The controller or the financial controller in India, by and large performs the function of a chief accountant or management accountant. The officer with the title of treasurer can also be found in a few companies in India. The controllership functions can prove to be useful under the Indian context, but presently some of these duties are performed by the company secretary in India. His duties, for example includes asset control and protection, maintaining records and preparing reports and government reporting. The economic appraisal function is generally performed at the top level in India. Some other functions, such as internal audit, can be brought within the fold of the controllership functions, if this concept is developed in the Indian context. It should be realized that the financial controller does not control finances; he or she develops, uses and interpret information- some of which will be financial for management control and planning. For this reason, the financial controller may simply be called as controller. Management of finance or money is a separate and important activity. Traditionally, the accountants have been involved in managing money in India. But the difference in managing money resources should be appreciated. In the American business, the management of finance is treated as a separate activity and is being performed by the treasurer. The title of treasurer has not found favor in India to the extent the controller has. Some of the functions performed by the treasurer in the American context are again discharged by the company secretary in India. Insurance coverage is an example in this regard. The function of maintaining relations with investors may now assume significance in India because of the development in the Indian capital markets and the increasing awareness among investors. The general title, financial manager, seems to more popular in India. This title is also better than the title of treasurer since it conveys the functions involved. The main function of the financial manager in India should be the managements of companys funds. The financial duties may often be combined with others. But the significance of not combining the financial managers duties with others should be realized. The managing of funds- a very valuable resource- is a business activity requiring extraordinary skill on the part of financial manager. He should ensure the optimum use of money under various constraints. He should, therefore be allowed to devote his full energy and time in managing the money resources only. Functions of Treasurer and the Controller CASE STUDY The role of the corporate treasurers has changed from a traditional one of securing funds and managing financial risk to a strategic one of driving overall business initiatives. In this new role, treasures have the prime responsibility of advocating better corporate governance principles in the company, both as a means to improve the shareholder value and to enhance investor confidence. This has become very important because the corporate governance practices of the companies are being placed under heavy scrutiny from the regulators and investors following revelations of corporate malfeasance, deception and fraud. This article discusses the role of the treasurers in building a sound governance structure in the companies. Description The debacle in Satyam Computers Limited, Indias fourth largest software company, has brought the issue of corporate governance in limelight more particularly in India. It is however unfortunate that such important issues gain prominence only after incidents of corporate frauds. The issue of corporate governance was earlier debated when the developments at Enron and WorldCom rocked the world. As India is on a growth trajectory and is having ambitions of being ranked in the counters of the developed economies, the issue of corporate governance only being surfaced after the Satyam scam is a grave concern. We may claim that the Satyam scam is an isolated case in corporate India, but it is more important to see how the rest of world assesses our seriousness towards the ethics of corporate governance. Do we take the ethics of corporate governance seriously and deeply and drift it away from its ornamental value to run an enterprise towards the principal goal for which the corporate governance term was coined? Largely the practice is to decorate the board, which is at the helm of affairs of corporate governance, with people whom the promoters of the company believe will add some ornamental value to the enterprise. Many a times the promoters induct known people onto the board. Having said that companies prefer the decorative value of the board over its usefulness. Thus one can ea sily conclude that the Satyam fiasco is nothing but a true reflection of what routinely and pervasively passes for corporate governance. The role of treasurer is crucial to todays business especially in ensuring that the company has the cash that it needs to operate the business, adequate risk management systems are in place and finally ensuring that the company complies with the various international standards. The treasurer and cash have a consanguineous relationship and the recent fiasco of Satyam Computers reveals a story of siphoning the cash from the companys balance sheet which puts the role of the treasurer or CFO nothing but on dubious distinction. By the mere definition of a treasurer one understands that wherever there is cash in the company, the treasurer has to be present there. Though the Satyam fraud appears to be a systemic fraud by the senior management, nevertheless such frauds can be mitigated to some extent if corporate governance is compiled by the treasurer. In such a scenario it becomes altogether more important for corporate treasurers to revisit the basics of corporate governance and their rol e in inculcating the principles of corporate governance in a company. This article highlights and revisits the role played by the treasurers or CFO in the compliance of corporate governance. Treasurer in Detail The Treasurers role is the second most important function on the Board after that of the Chair. Financial accountability is fundamental to not-for-profit organisations. If your members have no confidence in your ability to control and account for finances, they will have no confidence in the organisation as a whole. The Treasurer may find a reluctance amongst non-financially trained board members to take any responsibility for finance. As a Board or governing committee however, the group as a whole has to share responsibility and decision-making and it will therefore be an important part of the Treasurers role to ensure that others understand the information that is being presented and the implications thereof. It is particularly important that the Treasurer attends meetings regularly in order that others can ask questions and be sure that they have a full understanding of the associations financial position. Purpose To manage and report on the associations finances. Responsibilities To carry out the responsibilities of a member of the Board of Directors. To lead budget planning and preparations. To monitor the budget and inform the Board as to whether projections are turning out as predicted in order that joint decisions can be made on appropriate adjustments. To ensure the Boards financial policies are being followed. To report to the Board of Directors and the general membership on finances. To prepare any required financial reporting forms. To ensure tax regulations are complied with VAT. To manage and maintain bank accounts, ensuring the association is getting the best rate of return for funds held and moving money between accounts as To oversee all financial transactions. To sign cheques (with a second signatory from the Board or staff). To chair finance sub-committee, if one exists. TREASURER WORKING WITH A BOOKKEEPER. Most treasures do not have bookkeeping expertise, and they need not and ideally should not spend their time on day-to-day financial administration. Wherever possible, a suitably experienced/qualified paid (or volunteer) bookkeeper should be responsible for banking, for processing payments, for keeping full and accurate accounts of all receipts and expenditure and for producing financial reports. This leaves the Treasurers time for the more strategic and managerial aspects of the role, in particular budgeting and planning. The Treasurer does however need to monitor the work of the bookkeeper as ultimate responsibility for the accuracy of records lies with his or her role. If your association needs to submit formal annual statements to tax or other government authorities, these may be prepared by your bookkeeper or by external accountants. Requirements will vary in different countries. In the UK, all limited companies must have their final accounts prepared by a chartered accountant. Becoming a Good Treasurer A treasurer does not have to study accounting or business in order to do well at this position. A good treasurer will be characterized by the following traits: 1.  Honesty and Integrity:  As treasurer you are not given free liberty to do whatever you like. Rather, you are accountable to God, the fellowship and the committee. Therefore, perform your task properly and professionally. 2.  Carefulness:  This characteristic will help you maintain accurate and up-to-date records. Be careful to record all transactions. Be careful when handling money because ultimately this money belongs to God. 3.  Common sense:  Common sense is necessary in order to catch errors early. 4.  Open books:  It is good to maintain an open book policy concerning financial matters. Any member of the fellowship, after consultation with the committee, should be able to see the financial state of the fellowship. This will help build accountability and credibility for the entire fellowship. 5.  Watchful eye:  The treasurer needs to be vigilant in tracking income and expenses. These amounts should be compared with the current budget. 6.  Faithfulness to God:  Ultimately, the treasurer brings honor to God by the proper exercise of his/her task. Therefore, view your position of treasurer as a way to show your faithfulness to God. Heres an excellent maxim: Gods work done in Gods time will receive Gods provision. Controller Vs Treasurer While the term Controller is used differently in Sweden than in America, there is reason for a clear explanation of the differences between Controller and Treasurer. The fact that a Controller in Sweden has a broader role than the Controller in America can be explained largely by the function of the treasurer that has those duties overlapping those of the Swedish Controller. In large firms, the financial operations overseen by the CFO will split into two branches, with one headed by the treasurer and the other by the controller. The Controllers responsibility are primarily accounting in nature. Costs accounting as well as budgets and forecast concerning internal consumptions, lies within the area of the Controller. The treasurers responsibility fall into the decision areas most commonly associated with financial management, invest financing and asset management. The organization chart may give you false impression that a clear splits exists between controller and treasurer responsibilities. In a well-functioning firm, information will flow easily back and forth between both branches. In small firms the treasurer and controller functions may be combined into one position with a resulting commingling of activities. Traditionally the role of controller has been that of a number cruncher, computing financial data in order to prepare reports. The assignment associated with the controller role is in no way set in stone, different organizations have different duties attached to the Controller. The final statement where the controller should be seen as a long range developer of executives, hints at a prominent role when it comes to developing human resources within organizations. In order for the controllers department to become developers of accounting and operating executives they have to have an intimate relation to the personnel of the organization.

Giving Back To My Community :: Contribution to My Community

My plan after college is to become a Sociologist or a Social Worker. With a college degree in one of these areas, I hope to impact my community in various ways. First, with the knowledge obtained from college, I hope to counsel with young people who are on the verge of going astray. In today's society, there are so many negative factors that influence young people. I want to help them understand the importance of setting goals and striving to become productive citizens. I also want to give them a sense of hope that with perseverance, they can become great role models for other young people. Secondly, I have been a community volunteer worker for several years. Being a community volunteer has helped me to understand that by obtaining a college degree, I can help impact the lives of many homeless individuals. Recently, as a volunteer of United Methodist Metro Ministries, many of the homeless individuals were amazed that I am almost finished with high school and plan to go to college. One man that I had the opportunity of meeting saddened me because he could not even write his own name. I thought about how his life is forever impaired by his inability to read and write. Perhaps that is one reason he is economically poor. My relationships to persons such as this man have inspired me to want to continue my formal education so that I can help people who have somehow seemed to have lost their way. Also, a college degree as a Sociologist or a Social Worker will require me to become engaged in the lives of people, many who are socially, mentally and economically disadvantaged.

John Proctor and Elizabeths Relationship Essay -- The Crucible John P

John Proctor and Elizabeth's Relationship In the beginning of the play John speaks about Elizabeth once to Abigail. Abby has said that Elizabeth was a cold and sickly wife. John says to her that she has no right to speak of his wife in such a manner and renounces the comment about her being sickly. He does not, although, dismiss Abby's charge that Elizabeth is a cold wife. But, he means it is because of him that she is this way. In the beginning of Act 2 there was a great feeling of detachment and tension in the Proctor household. We see John trying to start a conversation with Elizabeth and she only gives him short answers to please him. Then the tide turns to her questioning him and he is the one that becomes short with her because she is requesting that he go to Salem and confess that Abigail is liar. To do that, though he must confess his sin. During most of the scene they're not sure of each other. She doesn't quite trust him, but she loves him. Proctor believes himself to be an abomination in his own eyes and according to his own high standards and especiall...

Child marriage Essay

Throughout the world, marriage is considered to be a happy moment in everyone’s life and is a moment of celebration but sadly, the practice of child marriage gives no such reason for celebration. Many young boys and girls get married before they can reach the age of 18. This shocking act takes place for a number of reasons. In order to get benefitted socially, physically and to decrease financial burdens, many parents and families throughout the world, promote the marriage of their young sons and daughters. Throughout the years, we have seen that child marriage targets more girls than boys. Boys are affected as well but in totality, the number of victims and the intensity of their sufferings are way higher for girls. After their marriage, girls live an exclusive life where they do not receive any kind of education, they are forced for performing huge amounts of household works, are impregnated without their approval and are forced to take the big responsibility of raising and taking care of a child when they themselves are not mature enough and are still kids. What problems can child marriage lead to? Read more:  Child Marriages Essay Child marriage is caused when two young or one young and one adult individuals are forced into the institution of marriage without their consent. According to researches by PBS, â€Å"Although the definition of child marriage includes boys, most children married under the age of 18 years are girls.† The kid or kids getting married are totally unaware of its significance and consequences it can lead to in future years. Usually when a child, commonly girl, is married and brought into the husband’s family in such a young age, they think they can design and built up her personality into anything and everything they want her to be. The girl child is then forced into various activities which harms her both physically and mentally. (PBS, II). Health problems After getting married, the girl child is then pressurized by her new family to do things that she doesn’t want to. She is forced by her husband to get into sexual activities and to have kids soon after. As she is not mentally prepared and physically mature, she faces various complications and health issues in the future and sometimes it also leads to death. The connection  between the maternal death and the age of the mother is very strong as the child bride is highly likely to get pregnant in a little while after her marriage causing their pregnancy to be premature. According to the digest by UNICEF, â€Å"Girls ages 10-14 are five times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than women aged 20-24. Girls ages 15-19 are twice as likely to die.† Such young mothers also face a very high chance of getting into complications such as heavy bleeding, various infections, diseases like anemia etc. which can lead to death. As first time mothers, girls also face a high r isk of a disease called Obstructed Fistula, which is lead by obstructed labor. Obstructed labor is when a it is hard for a mother to give birth to a child and push it out of her body. This causes great pain and ofter results in death of the mother. According to PBS, â€Å"There are approximately 2 million girls living with fistula, and 100,000 new cases every year.† Girls suffering from this disease are usually neglected by their husbands and kept away from the society. There is this myth, according to which a lot of people around the world think that by marrying the child early, they can reduce the chances of their kid getting HIV aids but the opposite is true. Married girls are more likely to get HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases compared to the ones who aren’t married. This is mostly because they are not enough educated about sex, its consequences and the use of contraceptive and if by any chance they are aware about this, they are not able to obtain the sa me as because of limited autonomy or freedom of movement. They are also abused by their family, which is a form of domestic violence, and this makes them mentally ill leading to depression.(UNICEF). Domestic violence There is a very close relation between child marriage and Domestic violence. Most of the cases about domestic violence are of people who were married early ore were married forcefully. According to studies, â€Å"Girl child is usually married by a man who is much more older than her† thus proving that her in laws and husband is much more stronger than her and she possesses less control. Sometimes the young bride thinks that it is justified that she s getting beaten up by her husband as she is too young to differentiate between right and wrong. Studies by UNICEF say that, â€Å"women who marry early are more likely to be beaten or threatened, and more likely to believe that  husbands might sometimes be justified in beating his wife.† Also in Kenya, 36 percent of girls married before 18 believe that a man is sometimes justified in beating his wife, compared to 20 percent of married women .Girls who get proper education and are married later take more mature decisions an d raise their voices against such abuses. According to research by ICRW, â€Å"Girls who were married before 18 were twice as likely to report being beaten, slapped or threatened by their husbands as girls who married later. They were three times as likely to report being forced to have sex without their consent in the previous six months.† This indicates how girls have less power compared to the men in such kind of marriage. Girls who get into the institution of marriage after the age of 18 are much more knowledgeable compared to the young ones and they have a health husband-wife relationship as they use contraceptives and contains the strength to go and talk to their husbands about the future and their likes and dislikes. This creates a better understanding between them making them have a happy life ahead. While on the other hand, the child bride is like a puppet for their husbands as they can use them whenever they want and the child bride is too shy to go and talk to him about her life and her needs. (ICRW). What are the socio-cultural and economic reasons that lead to child marriage? There are a lot of reasons that lead to Child marriage. An integration of various cultural, regional, economical, social and religious causes makes up the roots of this act. Poverty Poverty is considered to be one of the most basic reasons for a girl getting married off in an early age. According to a fact sheet released by UNFPA, â€Å"The practice of child marriage has decreased globally over the last 30 years, it remains common in rural areas and among the poor.† There are a number of poor men who are not able to feed and run their family well. In order to feed their other children, clear debts or in exchange of some money, they decide to marry off their child, usually a girl to a man who is way older than her hoping for a better future. Such a decision just makes the life of the girl child difficult like hell and satisfies the needs of the bride’s family just for a short term but in no way helps anyone have a well settled life. (McGluain). Protection of Family’s honor Some parents and families also think that it is a good way to save their family’s honor by marrying their girl child in an early age. There are various cultures where there is a belief that if a girl loses her virginity before she marries someone, then it is very shameful for the family and thus spoils its reputation and honor. Therefore by marrying a girl in an early age presume the girl’s sexuality and that she is being married as a virgin protecting the family’s honor. This is very discouraging for the girls as by imposing family’s respect and honor on them; there family doubts her nature and this harms her self-respect and dignity. Girls are also expected to marry older man as they are more knowledgeable and sensible and can take care of the girl child as a parent but this is not the truth for almost all the cases in fact the opposite happens breaking the girl’s morals and leading her into depression.(UNFPA). Discrimination based on gender Another main reason for child marriage is discrimination based on gender. In various cultures and society, people regard girls as the week ones or the one who holds less or no power and devaluates and discriminates against them. According to a research by UNICEF, â€Å"often manifests itself in the form of domestic violence, marital rape, and deprivation of food, lack of access to information, education, healthcare, and general impediments to mobility.† In many cases of child marriage, the family gives the child bride less value and restricts her from doing things she want. The child is usually not enough educated to fight for her rights so she stays quiet and takes goes through the troubles her husband and in laws put her through. They are also disrespected by the society if they do a small mistake. They are not able to live a normal life and are forced into various unacceptable activities. They are also beaten up by their husbands and they use the girl the way they want. Thi s way either the girl ends up being destroyed mentally or sometime even dying. (UNICEF). Violation of laws In various countries there are various laws which restrict child marriage and are against them for example Pakistan and India. Even though such laws exist, the constitutions of these countries don’t take any strict actions if people violate them. The legal age for marriage in India is 18 years for girls and 21 for boys. Under the Child Marriage Prevention Act, 1929, any marriage before these ages is banned. Despite in presence of such laws, a huge number of child marriages take place everywhere and no one tries to stop it. According to the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) â€Å"100 million girls will be married before the age of 18 in the coming decade.†(ICRW). What are the similarities and dissimilarities between present day child marriage and the ones in the past? There is not much difference between present day child marriage and the one that took place years back. People follow the footsteps of their ancestors and blindly believe them. In the past, people were married off early as they were unaware about the fact that it is a harmful practice and causes various problems. Year after year, as the time passed, people followed the same rules without changing or checking whether it is legit or not. In some places, people got educated and they studied about it. They understood about its good and bad points and on based on that they started changing the rules. Still in various parts of the world, there exists a lot of places where people, mainly the girls, are being married at a really young age. This is happening as these places are very backwards and lack education. According to UNFPA, â€Å" more than 100 million young girls will be marrie d off in the next decade†. (UNFPA). How does child marriage differ in different parts of world? Child Marriage is common in various places throughout the globe and is much more common with girls than boys. According to a survey by UNICEF, â€Å"One of every seven girls gets married before they turn fifteen and one of every three girls gets married under age, that is before they turn eighteen. The Highest rate of child marriage is in West Africa. It is followed by southern Asia, the Middle East and then the Latin America. The condition of some countries are so poor that they more than a half of the under aged female population f the country are married or are about to get married. According to UNFPA fact sheet, â€Å"76 percent of girls in Nigeria , 74 per cent of girls in Democratic Republic of Congo, 54 per cent of girls in Afghanistan , 50 per cent of girls in India and 51 per cent of girls in Bangladesh are married under age, that is before turning 18.† These countries lack  education and schools in rural areas so the most of the crowd is illiterate and are also la gging economically. Hence, it is proved that poverty and education is inversely proportional. There are customs in India which allow people to give away the kids on the auspicious day and event of ‘Akha Teej’. Families use this to get money and property. A lot of kids under the age of 10 are involved in it and some are toddlers of age 3 or 4. When it comes to Nigeria, studies by UNICEF shows that â€Å"44 percent of 20-24 year old women in Niger were married under the age of 15†. These people follow the idiosyncratic and traditional laws setup by their ancestors. Even in Bangladesh, girls are married as soon as they hit puberty just to save their family’s honor and to release financial burdens form the parents. As education increases, people get aware of the problems caused by such acts and they emphasize on learning which in return makes them prosperous and ensures a secure life ahead. Studies also shows that countries in East Asia like Taiwan, South Kore a, Japan etc. have almost removed the tradition of child marriage their prosperity is increasing rapidly day by day. These places are characterized by economic growth, opportunities, declines in death and birth rates, Increase in employment and educational options for girls etc. (UNICEF). How can it affect the lives of the future generations? One of the most essential and basic reasons because of which child marriage still exists is education. Studies have shown the important role that education plays in child marriage. Research by UNICEF shows that â€Å"the more education a girl receives, the less likely she is to be married as a child. Improving access to education and eliminating gender gaps in education are therefore important strategies for ending the practice of child marriage.† It is clear that if more and more girls will be educated, the will be more aware about the things going on around them and can have the power to stand for themselves and judge between right and wrong. (UNFPA). To conclude, child marriage is generally seen as one of the easiest ways established by poor to lower middle class families to make their and their child’s future safe but in almost all the cases, it is not true. It only  secures the family from poverty for a short time period but destroys the life of the girl child forever. With the marriage comes various issues and problems which the young brides go through and in most of the cases they end up dying as they are not strong enough mentally or physically to go through such pain. It also affects the future generations. The babies born to girls under 16 years of age are more likely to die during their first year of life and if they survive, they aren’t healthy like a child who is born from a 20 year old woman, and goes through various deformities in future. As the girls are being married in an early age, they are not able to get educated and this makes a big difference. Works Cited â€Å"Childinfo.org: Statistics by Area – Child Marriage – The Challenge.† Childinfo.org: Statistics by Area – Child Marriage – The Challenge. Web. 13 May 2013. â€Å"Child Marriage.† Forward. Web. 13 May 2013. Child Marriage â€Å"Child Marriage Factsheet: State of World Population 2005 – UNFPA.† Child Marriage Factsheet: State of World Population 2005 – UNFPA.Web. 14 May 2013. . â€Å"Child Marriage a Cultural Problem, Educational Access a Race Issue? Deconstructing Uni-Dimensional Understanding of Romani Oppression.† – ERRC.org. Web. 13 May 2013. â€Å"Child Marriage: Facts, Causes and Consequences.†Child Marriage-Facts Causes and consequences.Web. 13 May 2013. â€Å"Early Teen Marriage and Future Poverty.† Early Teen Marriage and Future Poverty. Web. 13 May 2013. â€Å"Early marriage, a harmful traditional practice†Early marriage. 13 May 2013. Web. McLaughlin, John. â€Å"Medieval child marriage:abuse or wardship?†Untitled Document. Web. 13 May 2013. â€Å"Marriage, Child Spouses.† Early marriage, child Spouses. Web. 13 May 2013 â€Å"Preventing Child Marriages: First International Day of the Girl Child â€Å"My Life, My Right, End Child Marriage†.† Reproductive Health. Web. 13 May 2013.

Australia vs. China: An Economic Comparison Essay

Australia and China adopt very different economic systems in order to cater the best for their society. However, Australia’s economic system is more successful than China’s and, due to the writer’s right-wing value system, will be measured in terms of environmental efficiency, labour and entrepreneurial resource efficiency and the standard of living. The basic economic problem for any country is that resources are scarce while wants are infinite. This means that countries must decide what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce in the most efficient and equitable way possible. Australia and China both take different approaches to solving this economic problem, even though both can technically be classified as a mixed economy (Year 11 Economics, 2007). Australia approaches the problem from the perspective of ‘what is best for the individual’ however China believes in doing ‘what is best for the country’ (Year 11 Economics 2007). These ideals are more clearly shown in the importance of market forces to each country. Australia and China allow different degrees of market forces and government interference in order to best solve the basic economic problem. Australia allows a lot more market-based forces to determine what, how and for whom things are to be produced. This means that the competitiveness of the market combined with the need for profit allows Australia to have high quality products at competitive prices (Mixed Economies, 2007). However, market forces also determine for whom things are to be produced, which means people with little or no income can be forgotten and this is where the government interferes. The government works to protect the rights of workers so that they are not abused by large companies and tries to be more equitable by providing welfare to the disadvantaged (Mixed Economies, 2007). China believes in a lot more government interference due to its communist ideals. The government has the most control over what, how and for whom things are to be produced although market forces still play a huge part for the minority of Chinese people who have money. China tries to spread its wealth over its huge population however due to its numbers it is hard to keep track of and provide for its entire population (An Introduction to Economics, 2007). These ideals are both effective in theory however in practice Australia’s economic system is more equitable than China’s. Equity can be determined by two things; equity in comparison to the world and equity within their own country. This is measured with the global living standards and the safety net within the country. The safety net is made up of health, education and welfare; three essential things for each person to have in case they fall ill, have a low income or wish to be educated. The standard of living includes the safety net as well as life expectancy and economic growth and therefore determines equity amongst people in comparison to the rest of the world. This is measured with a single number called the Human Development Index (HDI). Australia ranks very highly in the HDI achieving 0.957 in 2005 making it third in the world (Hamel, 2006). In terms of a safety net, Australia provides free health, education and an efficient welfare program. The government uses programs like Medicare, Centrelink and public school facilities to provide lower income workers, the disabled and disadvantaged ‘a fair go’ (Australian Department of Health and Ageing, 2007). China still has a safety net but it is a very poor one. Health, education and welfare are provided but they are not up to the standards of Australia. In fact, these services do very little to help its incredibly large population. This results in a very low HDI of 0.768, making it 81st in the world (Hamel, 2006) Therefore, as Australia has a more effective safety net and a higher HDI, Australia has a more successful economic system in terms of equity. Australia is also able to use its environmental resources more efficiently than China. Environmental efficiency can be determined by power distribution, the resources used and the social costs. Australia’s power distribution is very effective with very few blackouts and 24 hour assistance in case of emergencies (Metcalfe, 2007). Like any other country, Australia has environmental issues however it is trying to become more environmentally friendly and efficient. Australia is building more infrastructure and becoming more environmentally friendly. China on the other hand does not have effective energy distribution. Blackouts are a common thing in China due to the overwhelming demand for energy (Xinzhang, 2007). Right now China faces the problem that there is not enough  transmission capacity to provide additional supplies which results in poor distribution. Coal is the main resource used for energy supply in China by a staggering 63.4% compared to 6.9% hydroelectricity (China Today, 2005). Coal use in Australia is significantly less than this with only 42% of its energy source being coal (Metcalfe, 2007). China has overwhelming carbon dioxide emissions, so overwhelming that China is accountable for 15% of the world’s emissions (World Fact book, 2007). This has very negative social costs with acid rain being a frequent problem for China. 5% of China’s GDP is spent on trying to fix the social costs of pollution (China Today, 2007). Not only is this not statically efficient, but it is not dynamically efficient either. Therefore, even though both countries have environmental issues, Australia is able to provide a better power supply with less social costs and so its economic system is more environmentally efficient than China’s. As well as environmental efficiency, Australia’s economic system uses its labour and entrepreneurial resources more efficiently than China. The effectiveness of labour and entrepreneurial resources can be measured by unemployment and the degree of allowance of privately owned businesses. Australia had an unemployment rate of 5.6% in 2004 and a 4.9% unemployment rate in 2006 (ABS, 2006). This shows unemployment decreasing and more people entering the workforce. This increase in workforce allows more resources to be given to the business sector and therefore speeds up the economy. As well as this, Australia allows more private businesses than China. In 2004, there were over 3 million privately owned businesses in Australia (ABS, 2004). Not only does this create employment but it promotes consumer sovereignty, giving consumers competitive prices and choice between products. The government only interferes in the case of market failure i.e. national defence and public schools. This is to ensure that the needs of the country are met and to try and create equity amongst those who cannot afford the necessities. Therefore, Australia uses its workforce and entrepreneurial resources more efficiently. China however had a 9.9% unemployment rate in 2004 which shows that a lot of labour is not being used effectively (World Tax Inc, 2007). For many of the people who are employed, they are underpaid and overworked which can lead to poor goods and is not very equitable. Also, China does not utilise its entrepreneurial resources as well as Australia  does. Private business is increasing in China but the state-owned and collective enterprises still out number them significantly. In 2004, China’s first economic census showed that private enterprise had gone up 49% while state-owned enterprise had gone down 48% (Xinhua News Agency, 2005). The government still rules the majority of business which does not promote competitive quality or give people a choice of goods. The government often interferes even in cases where there is no market failure and unfortunately what consumers demand may not necessarily be acknowledged and supplied by the government. Therefore, due to better employment rates and better use of entrepreneurial resources, Australia’s economic system is more successful than China’s. An effective safety net, high standard of living, environmental efficiency and an efficient workforce are key components in any successful economic system. Australia manages to maintain these components making its economic system highly successful. China on the other hand is still developing and trying to improve these components. It is almost unfair to compare the two as they are at different stages of economic growth. Perhaps in years to come China will become more efficient and equitable and be able to compete with the best economic systems in the world. For now, Australia’s economic system is more successful than China’s and only time will tell as to whether it will stay that way. Bibliography Hamel, J.(2006): Human Development Report 2006. http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/Xinzhang, L. (2007): City Faces Prospect of Electricity Blackouts. http://www.zoomchina.com.cn/content/view/25880/138/Metcalfe, L. (2007): Nation Master: Energy Facts. http://www.nationmaster.com/country/as-australia/ene-energyCIA World Factbook (2007)https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.htmlAustralian Government: Department of Health and Ageing (2007)http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/HomeAustr alian Beaureau of Statistics (2007)http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/home/Home?opendocumentChina Today (2005)http://www.china.org.cn/english/2005/Jan/117227.htmXinhua News Agency (2005): China Publishes Results of 1st National Economic Censushttp://www.china.org.cn/english/2005/Dec/151159.htmWorld Tax Inc (2007): China’s Unemployment Rateshttp://www.worldwide-tax.com/china/chi_unemployment.aspMarland, G., T.A. Boden, and R.J. Andres(2006): Global, Regional, and National CO2 Emissions. http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_prc.htmHandouts-Year 11 Economics (2007): Tim Riley Publications. -Unit 43: Mixed Economies (2007)-The Market Economy: How Economies Differ (2006)-Introduction To Economics: Chapter 1