Issues of grandparents raising grandchildren Essay

Abstract This paper explores research regarding the impacts on grandparents and grandchildren when the grandparent assumes the parental role because of some type of parental fall through. The articles find that the financial aspect of raising grandchildren in your later years is quite costly as well is the negative health problems the stress of the situation can cause. This paper mainly looks at Baldock’s (2007) research on the affects of every aspect of the new situation on the grandparents and grandchildren. Baldock (2007) and the other research used for this paper all suggest that there are multiple struggles that the grandparents will endure when raising their grandchildren. Issues of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren The clichà © life of a grandparent is usually thought of as taking the grandchildren to the zoo, baking cookies, and making crafts. Grandparents are also around to share their wisdom and experiences with the younger generation, however in today’s society the amount of grandparents having to take in their grandchildren due to an issue in the biological parents’ lives has been on the increase for years (Baldock, 2007, p. 70). This change of role for the grandparents can have various affects on not only the grandparents but the grandchildren as well. There are many reasons as to why grandparents come into the situation where they need to take their grandchildren into their care such as teenage pregnancy, parental abuse, and parental drug and alcohol abuse. No matter how the grandparents come into obtaining their grandchildren each family have their own types of struggles they will have to deal with. Both the grandparents and grandchildren can go through multiple financial, health, and behavioral issues that can either bring the family out on top or hurt them, but many are choosing to overcome the difficulties and persevere through them. Literature Review There are many troubles in today’s society with drugs, alcohol, and violence, all which are just a few of the reasons that many parents become unable to properly care for their children. These and many other circumstances are which have led to â€Å"approximately 2.4 million grandparents [being] responsible for raising their grandchildren, many in households without the parents present.† (Poehlmann et al., 2008, 165) The decision to undertake the responsibility of raising your grandchildren is a big one to make, however many times there is no decision to make because the children would end up in the foster care system if it weren’t for the grandparents. In a study completed in Australia about grandparent run homes, â€Å"of the 31,000 children living with their grandparents, 28,700 children’s biological parents lived elsewhere.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 71) This can make the strain of raising your grandchild even more difficult because of the emotional and financial burdens it may cause. Health Quality of Custodial Grandparents There have been various studies in which they have found that grandparents who take care of their grandchildren have mental and physical aspects of themselves that are in a disarray (Neely-Barnes, Graft, & Washington, 2010, p. 87). The role of being a custodial grandparent is difficult not only because it is a new situation which they need to adjust to, but it can also cause physical and mental problems. The situation cause a lot of new emotions and stressors that â€Å"numerous studies have documented elevated rates of depression, parenting stress, health problem, and economic hardship among custodial grandparents.† (Poehlmann et al., 2008, p. 168) Many grandparents are well in their sixty’s and so â€Å"when the children arrive, grandparents are unlikely to be prepared for the dramatic and often sudden changes caused by unplanned parenthood.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 73) The grandparents generally see an increase in health related problems because they are put into a situation where they need to focus on the care of their grandchildren which leads to the grandparents’ health and well-being coming second and in which â€Å"custodial grandparents report worse self-assessed health than noncaregiving grandparents, particularly in the areas of physical functioning, bodily pain, role functioning, social functioning, and general health perception.† (Neely-Barn es et al., 2010, p. 88) Not only are the grandparents not being able to properly maintain their own health, but â€Å"among custodial grandparents, higher levels of depression have been found among unmarried grandparents who were not working.† (p. 88) This new parenting role that the grandparents are put into also effects their social life; â€Å"in one study, half of custodial grandparents reported that they felt isolated from friends in their age group due to their caregiving responsibilities.† (p. 88) Grandparents usually feel worn out by the amount of extra responsibilities they have come to take on which can make them feel worried when they think about having many more years of having to take care of their grandchildren. This type of constant worrying and stress can become quite a negative thing both for the grandparent and grandchild because â€Å"grandparents who are stressed are more likely to become depressed.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 73) Financials When grandparents are put into the situation of bringing their grandchildren into their care, one of the most difficult issues they have to deal with is the financial aspect of raising the children. The financial aspect of raising the grandchildren can be so hard to handle because many of the grandparents are older and even retired which means limited income. â€Å"In around one third of grandparent families (34%), one of both grandparents were employed, while 62% received a government pension, allowance or other benefit as their primary income.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 71) Children are expensive to raise because of the extra clothing, food, and home resources that are used. The grandparents are used to and comfortable with their current lifestyle and then when the unexpected young grandchildren are brought into the picture this can make the once sufficient income turn into financial instability. Grandparents going through legal proceedings can also be another reason finances are put into a bind when the need to take in your grandchildren is needed because â€Å"grandparents are commonly ineligible for legal aid and consequently face disadvantage in proceedings† (Baldock, 2007, p. 72). One way that is used to try to gain some type of extra income for the grandchildren is by â€Å"formalising their parenting role through legal proceedings [which] can be the only way grandparents are able to access financial support.† (p. 72) The cost of providing for their grandchildren and all of the court related procedures needed to be done becomes such a burden that â€Å"some grandparents have mortgaged their homes to undertake legal proceedings.† (p. 72) Impacts on the Family The result of custodial grandparents not only effects just the grandparents and grandchildren, but the whole family. The strain of raising grandchildren can be felt in the children of the grandparents â€Å"some felt resentful that their parent’s energy was going into raising their grandchildren and their own children missed out on a relationship with their grandparents.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 72) In many families the reason that the grandparents need to raise their grandchildren is due to some type of addiction from the birth parents. This drug use can cause emotional and social problems in the grandparents and grandchildren which can make the â€Å"grandparents†¦feel blamed or express a sense of responsibility for their own children’s drug use.†(p. 73) Grandparents often feel as though there was something they could have done to prevent their children’s drug abuse which in turn would have prevented the need for them to raise their grandchildren. This feeling of â€Å"blame and shame exacerbate social isolation and increase psychological anxiety experienced by grandparents and their grandchildren.† (p. 73) The effects on the grandchildren of not having their parent or parents around is difficult to for them to cope with because â€Å"children separated from their parents because of alcohol and other drugs frequently face psychological, emotional and sometimes physical problems.† (Baldock, 2007, p. 71) According to Day and Bazemore (2011: children living without their biological parents typically present with high rates of psychological problems. Yet, by comparison, adolescents living with grandparent caregivers have the lowest levels of both ‘internalizing problems’ (i.e. depressive symptoms, negative outlook, low self-esteem), and ‘externalizing problems’ (i.e. nonviolent delinquency, general violent tendencies, and substance abuse.† (p. 103) Position I have first hand experience in the struggles and issues that can arise from a grandparent having to put their lives on hold and take in their grandchildren in order to provide them a loving and stable home. My parents are currently in the process of adopting my two nephews whom they, as well as myself, have taken care of since they were born. My sister is in a rehabilitation program in Northern New Jersey for addiction to pills, cocaine, and heroin and has been in and out of trouble since her early teens. Growing up the way I did because of the situations and conditions that my sister made my family endure has shown me just how difficult and numerous the issues are when raising your grandchildren. My mother is sixty years old and my father is sixty-two, both having some health problems. Health problems associated with age can have a significant affect on how the grandparents are going to be able to act in their new role as caregivers because many grandparents are older and their health is declining. Taking care of a six and a nine year old can be mentally and physically exhausting. My nephews have many psychological issues because their mother is gone and father is hardly around, these emotional troubles of my nephews also effect me and parents too. My nephews have ADHD and are quite sensitive which makes it even more difficult to calm them down if they are feeling upset or angry because they are missing their mother. I find the emotional impact it has on the children and family to be the greatest because of my experience in knowing how difficult is to cope with the entire situation. The financial responsibility for taking grandchildren in can be quite detrimental to the grandparents because many are retired or only working part-time in order to make a little extra money. My father is retired which has made the raising of two new children quite difficult before they received any assistance from the state. While most families receive financial assistance through state and federal aid, there may be certain circumstances in which a family has to come up with the money themselves. Grandparents know how expensive children are because of their past experience in raising their own children, however times have changed and the cost of raising children has significantly increased. This financial burden put onto the grandparents is not a choice they make, but rather something they just have to endure because there is no other option for the grandchildren. Afterthoughts It is obvious that grandparents who have to bring their grandchildren into their home and raise them because of varying circumstances will inevitably face numerous amount of hardships and issues. The grandparents being older makes the task of raising their grandchildren difficult, along with the cost involved in raising them and the legal proceedings that are done in order to protect the children. While the hardships of custodial grandparents is plenty, many â€Å"who have attended support groups say that it has made a positive difference in their lives† (Baldock, 2007, p.73), which can help them to cope with the new situations they are being placed in. Even though raising grandchildren comes with multiple and varying issues that make it difficult to do, â€Å"grandparents who are raising their grandchildren consistently report that the experience adds joy and meaning to their lives and provides them with companionship and a purposeful social and familial role.† (Kropf ; Burnette, 2003, p. 363)

Similar Themes but Dissimilar Fate

Parallel incidents that can be found in â€Å"Pyramus and Thisbe† and Shakespeare’s â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† demonstrate Shakespeare’s adaptation of the tragic myth. The mere mention of the myth in Act 5, confirms the playwright’s attempt to imitate the theme of the story. However, in contrast to the other, â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream† being a comedy, offers a happy ending, where lovers are united and blessed by fate. The story of Pyramus and Thisbe occurs as a play within â€Å"A Midsummer Night’s Dream. † It is presented in Theseus’s wedding, supposedly to satirize the love between Lysander and Hermia. However, a twist occurs in the end, giving the play a happy ending, thus departing from the real context of the myth. Parallelism between the two can be recognized in the theme, characterization, and plot. Both use the theme of forbidden love and disobedience. The beginning of the play suggests a close thematic resemblance to the myth. Egeus, the father of Hermia, seeks Theseus’s judgment regarding his disobedient daughter. Hermia, the daughter, is arranged to marry Demetrius, but she loves another man named Lysander, who also occurs in the scene. The lovers are very much in love but Egeus refuses to have them marry because of a promise he has given Demetrius. From this, we can see parallelism in the theme of forbidden love and disobedience of children to their parents. However, the presence of Demetrius is an addition, because in the myth, there is no mention of a third party. As such, Demetrius’s character is one element that suggests Shakespeare’s intention of dissuading from the old lovers’ myth. Like Pyramus and Thisbe, Lysander and Hermia are blinded by their love. That night, they profess their love for one another. Like the lovers in the myth, they seem unable to live without each other. Therefore, they plan to elope to Lysander’s aunt’s house to get married in secrecy. In doing so, they need to trod a forest where they meet a different fate. Similarly, Pyramus and Thisbe, being forbidden to continue with their love, decide to elope the next night and see each other at a monument, where they meet a tragic ending. This event in the plot makes a good resemblance with that of the myth, where lovers decide to take full control of their fate. However, just like the old myth goes, the lovers are doomed not to have everything going according to their plans. In Act 3 of the play, we see Shakespeare’s intention to make a twisted ending with the decision Lysander makes. As Lysander and Hermia lose each other in the forest, we find another parallelism where Pyramus fails to see Thisbe in the designated place. According to the myth, Pyramus does not find Thisbe and thinks that she is slain by a lion. In thinking so, he kills himself, and when Thisbe sees him dying, she does the same. Taking resemblance to the myth, Lysander is supposed to meet his death in the forest. This should happen in the hands of Demetrius who decides to take revenge over him for losing Hermia. However, the death of Lysander that the audience expects does not happen. Instead of dying like Pyramus, Lysander confesses his change of heart to Demetrius, â€Å"Content with Hermia! No; I do repent The tedious minutes I with her have spent. Not Hermia but Helena I love: Who will not change a raven for a dove? (Act 3, Scene 2) He confesses that he has had a change of heart and does not love Hermia anymore. Instead, he loves Helena, the girl who loves Demetrius. Because of this twist, Lysander is saved from potential death. Similarities in characterization can be recognized in the two literary texts. In the myth, the characters are too overcome by love, as in the play. Specifically, we see Thisbe and Hermia with great similarity in their intentions. In her dialogue with Demetrius, Hermia shows characteristics of Thisbe of being passionate to her love and willing to die. She pleads to Demetrius, â€Å"For thou, I fear, hast given me cause to curse, If thou hast slain Lysander in his sleep, Being o'er shoes in blood, plunge in the deep, And kill me too. † (Act 3, Scene 3) This shows the discernment of Hermia to die instead of living without Lysander. Like Thisbe, Hermia feels there is no tomorrow if she will not be reunited with Lysander. More than the characterization, we see a similarity in the portrayal of women in the two plots. Both assign women martyr roles of being true to their lovers. Not only do we see Hermia deeply in love with Lysander, but Helena with Demetrius as well. As such we see that the centuries that passed between the myth foretold and the writing of the play did not effect the way women are perceived in the society. As both literary texts contain, they are pictured as martyrs who await their lovers, willing to give up their life for the sake of the other. The theme, characterization, and some parts of the plot demonstrate similarities between the two works. This only shows that the theme of forbidden love among youths is very recurrent in literature. Specifically, the theme of disobedience to one’s parents reveal imitation of the myth. In addition, the characterization which suggests the theme of loyalty despite death as seen in Hermia clearly resembles that of myth. The readiness to die just to escape suffering, and follow a lover till death are also elements taken from â€Å"Pyramus and Thisbe. † Overall, while the play shares similarities with the myth, Shakespeare’s disposition to end his play in a more romantic way provides the characters with a different fate.

Tenancy Agreement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Tenancy Agreement - Essay Example The Express terms are those clauses which are exclusive to the pertinent agreement, either in the written form or in the verbal form. In the Great Britain, tenants, by law, usually do not have a right in this arrangement. Nevertheless, owners dealing with the public sector normally provide an agreement on paper. This should be mutually attested, and after that it becomes imperative that the owner gives his contact information and a copy of the arrangement to each tenant. It is advisable that the written agreement includes the names and contact information of both the parties, the date, details of the payment and any time durations that may be set regarding the tenancy. The implied terms are all those clauses that are specified by law and are binding on both the parties regardless of the express terms. These include the duty of the tenant to care for the property and their right to live in peace without any disturbance from the owner, and the duty of the owner to supply basic amenitie s and perform repairs up to a level set by the law. There are three documents concerning the agreement that a tenant is entitled to, and by withholding which the owner would be committing a criminal offence. If the period of the tenancy is not fixed, but weekly, the tenant is entitled to receive a rent book by the owner. In case the name of the owner is unknown, any intermediate party between the tenant and the owner should provide the tenant with the full name and the contact information of the owner before 21 days, starting from the date of the agreement. ... that a tenant is entitled to, and by withholding which the owner would be committing a criminal offence. If the period of the tenancy is not fixed, but weekly, the tenant is entitled to receive a rent book by the owner. In case the name of the owner is unknown, any intermediate party between the tenant and the owner should provide the tenant with the full name and the contact information of the owner before 21 days, starting from the date of the agreement. For all tenancy agreements formulated on or after 28 February 1997, the tenant must get a written form of the express terms of the agreement within a period of 28 days after such a request, in written form, is made by the tenant. 3) Major types/divisions of Tenancies: Tenancies are divided into two basic divisions: public sector tenancies, and private sector tenancies: a) Public Sector Tenancy: A tenant is a public sector tenant if he is under the jurisdiction of the district and London borough councils, also known as the local authorities, a Housing Action Trust, a housing association or a housing co- operative. The tenants of the local authority and the Housing Action Trust, together with those tenants of the housing association and co-operative whose agreement started before 15 January 1989, are 'secure' tenants. The tenants of the housing association and co-operative whose agreement started on or after 15 January 1989 are 'assured' tenants. i) Payment: By right, both the

Martin luther king Jr Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Martin luther king Jr - Essay Example According to the prescribed reading it was postulated by King that there are two types of laws which are the 'Just' and the 'Unjust'. King stated that he was in fact an advocate of obeying 'Just' laws, even going so far as to imply that all people have a moral responsibility to obey such laws, conversely it was argued that people also have a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. The example that King gave was that an unjust law was one in which a majority imposes laws that a minority must obey but does not make binding on itself, and from the opposite perspective a just law is one in which a majority is willing to impose on a minority but would also apply to themselves. In regards to a specific example, King believed that segregationist ordinances were morally unjust and as such people should not obey, and any law that forbade segregationist was inherently just. Building on this previous point King illustrated that he had been arrested for holding a rally without having a para de permit, and (In simplistic terms) he would have been breaking a 'just' law, however because the parade law was enacted to discourage freedom of assembly it then became an unjust law. From a personal perspective, I am also of the opinion that segregationist laws are by their nature morally unjust.

Speech Code Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Speech Code - Essay Example The speech code of University of Pennsylvania, for instance, is created with an aim to protect the wider student community on the campus. The code clearly places limitation on the speech and conduct when it comes to the rights of other students. No student is allowed to use threats, violence and hostility against the other. The university provides strict rules against such events and protects students from the discrimination and biases that prevail in the modern globalized world. The disciplining habits and codes of the university mentioned are aimed at preparing students for their future lives. The code of University of Pennyslvania can undergo a constitutional test and may be pronounced unconstitutional because it does not allow the students to freely speak (Lewin 2003). My current workplace has a speech code and it is adopted to avoid any kind of hate crimes occurring within the workplace. Before the speech code was implemented the workplace saw many fights happening between the w orkers. The workplace without a speech code can have several problems because of the minorities participating in the jobs. Blacks are the most targeted in the workplaces because of their lower ranks.

Fast food Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fast food - Essay Example The contemporary world has seen the emergence of a new consumption behavior where the major aspects include up scaling of lifestyle norms, competition for acquiring goods, and disconnect between the consumer desires and incomes. The modern mode of consumption can be referred to as consumer culture where income and wealth determine what people eat. This is because of â€Å"an up-scaling of lifestyle norms, the pervasiveness of conspicuous, status goods and of competition for acquiring them; and the growing disconnect between consumer desires and incomes† (Schor 412). The major reason behind the fast food problem in the U.S is social comparison or competitive consumption. This implies that individuals strain to consume according to the norms of a specific social group with which they identify. In particular, the lifestyles adopted by the rich and the upper middle class individuals have become a prominent point of reference all through the income distribution. From an economic pe rspective, American neighborhoods are homogenous groupings as opposed to the past when individuals used to compare themselves with other individuals of similar income. Such practices reduced the gap between aspirations and means. The opposite of this is usually known as the upscale emulation, which is prevalent in the modern American society. The problems resulting from such lifestyles are magnified further for the low-income households because their income sources are becoming inadequate and erratic. This is because of employment instability and limitations on welfare payments. Research suggests that this can be resolved through psychological independence. However, this might not be the solution since individuals changed due to structural changes that include decline in social connection, growing impact of social media, and intensification of inequality. Therefore, the solution lays both on practical and psychological dimensions. This

Marketing report (Strategic analysis of Primark Stores Ltd.) Assignment

Marketing report (Strategic analysis of Primark Stores Ltd.) - Assignment Example Data gathering as a methodology of research is done in an exploratory manner. Sources of data come from secondary information from published statistics, journals and company website. Result of the situation analysis provides Primark vital information as to changes of objectives, strategies and marketing plan in order to attain profitability of the company. Proposal for new objectives, strategies and marketing plan is recommended. Part 1 showed that economic factors slows down growth of the industry, thus limiting potentials of Primark in UK; their leadership in the market is threatened by stiff competition, and that the image created by their â€Å"cheap† product does not augurs well for the company. In view of these findings, part 2 shows changes in the marketing objectives, strategies and marketing plan in order to correspond with the findings. Situation analysis has been done in order to provide information as to decisions for changes and improvement of the company. Title: Strategic Analysis of Primark Stores Ltd. From: To: Date: Strategic analysis of Primark Stores Ltd. Introduction This report comes in two parts. First part reports on the situational analysis of the environmental factors that influences strategic decision of Primark Stores Ltd. Second part details the strategic choices company should undertake in response to the major issues identified in the situation analysis. ... Part 2 includes recommendation for new marketing objectives, targeting and positioning, growth strategies, competitive advantage and a marketing mix program. Method of research. This will be an exploratory research wherein secondary data is gathered from published journals, company website, books and internet sources. Data is collated to form a concrete opinion and findings. Findings will be relevant to the company in forming strategic marketing decisions to improve strategies and approaches in Primark’s operation. Findings and discussion . Part 1. Report begins with the internal analysis of the company, and the external analysis of customers, competitors, and climate. Company. The Primark Stores Ltd. Started operations in Dublin, Ireland in June 1969. Today, it has expanded operations in other places; has increased the total number of its stores from 191 in 2009 to 204 in 2010 and plans to enlarge the number of their stores thru expansion by region. Their stores are located i n Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Iberia, Spain and in other places Its product line includes women’s wear, lingerie, children’s wear, men’s wear, footwear, accessories, hosiery and home ware. Image created in the market is the cheapest clothing retailer. Primark has become a fashion sensation through its high quality, high fashion basics culture. Immediate goal is to achieve profitability through expansion into new countries, arrive at new products that will excite customers and staff alike. Primark has established its leadership in the market through low cost and differentiation strategies to get the loyalty of its customers. Primark, in its annual report, has reported a 35% increase in income and is considered as an

Organization Analysis For UNEP ( United Nation Environment Program ) Research Paper

Organization Analysis For UNEP ( United Nation Environment Program ) - Research Paper Example Employees being a part of UNEP’s prosperity have been mentioned on several occasions. Not much will be mentioned without addressing the organizational theories that have been applied in UNEP since it came into existence. It is easy to understand managerial theories, and identify how they are applied in daily operation of UNEP. UNEP is a thriving organization with so many achievements that have seen the environment being conserved and sustainable development achieved. The information has been gathered from the UNEP website, its documentaries, and from textbooks with relevant information on organization theories and environmental issues. Introduction and Background of the Organization (UNEP) It was until after the UN Conference concerning the Human Environment of 1972 that UNEP was established. The Conference took place in Stockholm, Sweden, and suggested the initiation of a global body to serve as the UN’s environmental conscience system. The UN General Assembly responde d by adopting Resolution 2997, which created the following: The UNEP Secretariat, whose headquarters was placed in Nairobi, Kenya, to offer a central point for environmental coordination and activities in the UN system, led by an Executive Director, ranked as the UN Under-Secretary-General. UNEP Governing Council, which comprised of 58 countries designated for four-year terms by the General Assembly of the UN. This was accorded the task of reviewing the state of the global environment, creating UNEP’S programme precedence, and budget approval. A voluntary Environment Fund was also set up to finance the initiatives of the organization, to be complemented by trust funds and money assigned by the regular budget of the UN. From 1972 down to the 1990s, global governments had declared their pledges to the sustainable development principles. In May 2000, the first Worldwide Ministerial Environment Forum was convened by UNEP in Malmo, Sweden. The forum’s main aim was to send a strong note to the UN General Assembly meant to revisit the sustainable development discussion at the millennium meeting in September 2000. Although the millennium presented many opportunities to UNEP, several challenges also came up. In 2005, the organization’s task was further strengthened when the UNEP Governing Council endorsed the Ball Strategic Plan to apply capacity development and technology support programmes nationally. The critical final years of the world’s commitment to meet the Millennium Development Goals will ensure that UNEP goes on providing vital information, practical support, and policy advice to the UN member nations as they collectively work to achieve UN Charter’s promise of a globe of social progress and better living conditions in a wider freedom. UNEP as an organization concerned with environmental matters is large enough to look into the issues at a global point of view. Its Governing Council meets this task appropriately by reportin g to the UN General assembly via the Social and Economic Council. There is equitable representation in each region, where the 58-members elected for the four-year terms represent each state as follows: African States have 16 seats, Asian States have 13 seats, Eastern Europe has 6, Caribbean and Latin American States have 10, while Western Europe and the remaining States have 13 se

What Is The Globalization Essay Example for Free

What Is The Globalization Essay Foreword    The Economist has called   ‘globalisation’   the most abused word of the 21st century. Ironically, its clichà © status does not contribute much to common understanding of the term. The more extensively it is used by both scientists and popular media, the more ambiguous it appears. That is why the first and foremost task of the current report is to consider the term’s definitions and the scope of phenomena it covers. Besides, I would like to focus on the main challenges globalisation presents to public policy-making, paying attention especially to   the ones which affect states’ sovereignty and at the same time cause a number of other issues. What is Globalisation? Definitions of Globalisation First, let us dwell upon some of the possible definitions of the word ‘globalisation’. â€Å"Globalization (or globalisation) in its literal sense is a social change, an increased connectivity among societies, and their elements due to transculturation, the explosive evolution of transport, and communication technologies to facilitate international cultural and economic exchange. The term is applied in various social, cultural, commercial and economic contexts. Globalization can mean 1)The formation of a global village- closer contact between different parts of the world, with increasing possibilities of personal exchange, mutual understanding and friendship between world citizens; 2) Economic globalization more freedom of trade and increasing relations among members of an industry in different parts of the world (globalization of an industry); 3) The negative effects of for-profit multinational corporations- the use of substantial and sophisticated legal and financial means to circumvent the bounds of local laws and standards, in order to leverage the labor and services of unequally-developed regions against each other. ( Globalization,2004 ) Thus, the notion is viewed predominantly from the social angle in its core meaning, and the scope of further implications is determined by the specific field or context of its concrete application. In   Globalization and Its Discontents   a few different definitions are provided.  Ã‚   â€Å"Globalization can be defined as the unfolding resolution of the contradiction between ever expanding capital and its national political and social formation†¦ Globalization can also be grasped as the triumph of capitalism, that is, as the ascendancy of economics over politics, of corporate demands over public policy, of the private over the public interest, of the TNC ( transnational corporations) over the national state †¦.Globalization can further be defined as the arrival of self-generating capital at the global level: that is, capital as capital, capital in the form of the TNC, free of national loyalties, controls, and interests†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( McBride 2000, pp.8- 9). These definitions   are confined to one nucleus understanding that globalisation should be viewed   in terms of correlation between economy and politics. It is economy that takes over the purely national institutions in the course of globalisation. The two following phenomena are of special importance for the current report,   since   they generate the main challenges to public policy, which will be considered in the next part. 1) Increase in the share of the world economy controlled by multinational corporations 2) Erosion of national sovereignty through establishment of transnational institutions, quasi governments. It is necessary to note, that these two phenomena are closely interrelated, transnational institutions forming a kind of legal basis for corporations’ power implementation. The increasing role of TNCs and transborder institutions naturally confront the status quo intra- and international relations. What challenges globalisation presents to states’ public policy and what new way of thinking and policy-making can evolve as a result of such confrontation is discussed in the next part. III. Globalisation and Public Policy The main trends of globalisation: which of them can present a challenge? In his article Democracy, globalization, and the problem of the state Michael Goodhart focuses on the trends of globalisation. I will try to make out , which problem the government faces to handle each of them. One of such trends consists in the so-called interpenetration of markets as a result of their expansion. The trend definitely puts policy-makers in front of a dilemma: how to keep the balance between fair competition of free market and the necessity to protect home industry Another one refers to the rapid development in information and communication technologies such as Internet and satellite communication.   This is definitely one of the main benefits of globalisation, though it can cause some problems as well, particularly the one of security, and, I am afraid, not only information security â€Å"Fragmentation or localization: the trend toward ethnic revivalism, reinvigorated nationalism, religious fundamentalism, and other local patterns of identification and organization† (Goodhart 2002) is a logical counteraction to unification and standardization globalisation can bring. This is a form of resistance, which can be abused by manipulators of public consciousness. The next two trends are of extreme importance for the current report, and they do challenge policy-makers around the globe. I will give an exact quotation from M. Goodhart’s research article:   The first of them is â€Å"expanding power of TNCs and other non-state institutions of governance: the growing prominence of TNCs both as economic entities eager to elude the direct control and regulation of states and as actors and agents in international governance. Many observers note the parallel expansion of other quasi-public and private institutions of governance† (Goodhart 2002) Another strong trend can be described as â€Å"declining policy and regulatory role of the state: the diminishing policy autonomy of states and their inability to remain effective actors in international political and economic affairs. The claim is that markets constrain or dictate state policy; rapid capital flows and speculation against currencies can destabilize and even wreck national economies.† (Goodhart 2002) Further on, I will give them consideration from a slightly different angle The Global World vs. Sovereignty.    â€Å"A more interesting and, from a policy perspective, more promising question is how states and governments might react to the phenomenon of globalization and any potential challenge to their sovereignty arising from it. Just how does globalization challenge a governments sovereignty?† (Reinicke 1998, p. 53) To answer this question a distinction between external an internal sovereignty should be drawn   . â€Å"Both are relational concepts. But whereas the former focuses on a states external environment and characterizes relations among states within the international system, the latter depicts a states setting within its own territory, characterizing, for example, relations between a government and its citizens, the economy, or other, more narrowly defined groups and institutions. From the perspective of this study, public policy is defined as the principal instrument by which governments operationalize internal sovereignty both in a constitutive and in an executive sense.   (Reinicke1998, pp.53-4) What is usually meant by public policy? What is the scope of policy-makers’ activity? This is a typical encyclopaedia definition: â€Å"Public policy is the study of policy making by governments. . A governments public policy is the set of policies (laws, plans, actions, behaviors) that it chooses. Birkland offers up these common traits of all definitions of public policy (p. 20): The policy is made in the publics name. Policy is generally made or initiated by government. Policy is interpreted and implemented by public and private actors. Policy is what the government intends to do. Policy is what the government chooses not to do† (Globalization,2004)   Traditionally, state policy is strictly divided into domestic and foreign, which becomes impossible in the global world. The distinction is blurred; political and economic management is thus challenged. The distinction between internal and external sovereignty is to facilitate a more profound understanding of the nature of this challenge and to give the answer to the question whether globalization violates states sovereignty. So, we can speak of internal and external instead of domestic and foreign, and in their turn these two dimensions are correlated with globalization and interdependence correspondingly.   The term   Ã¢â‚¬Ëœcomplex interdependence’   was first coined to describe a condition in which autonomous states are related by a growing number of channelspolitical, social, economic, cultural, and others. So interdependence, or mutual dependence â€Å"implies sensitivity or vulnerability to an external force. The units to be studied when examining and measuring interdependence are territorially bound, sovereign nation-states. International interdependence thus denotes a condition of mutual sensitivity and vulnerability among states in the international system. From the perspective of each state, the source of this sensitivity and vulnerability is external† (Reinicke1998, p.55) The main feature of economic interdependence is   an increased cross-border flow of goods , services and capitals . It defines the division of labour among national economies. All the factors form the framework of international finance and trade.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   â€Å"However, despite this expanded flow of goods, services, and capital across borders, national frameworks for policymaking under conditions of interdependence remain for the most part separate from the international arena. In other words, the increased interaction of national economies due to rising specialization leads to heightened interdependence, or, as is often argued, simply dependence, yet national governments remain the principal center of political and economic power as well as the locus of decision-making. Economic events in other countries do not have a direct and immediate impact on the domestic economy but are filtered through a set of policy boundaries, the effectiveness of which begins at, but does not reach beyond, the territory of the domestic economy.†( Reinicke,1998, p.55) Reinicke also points out that it is not de jure legal sovereignty but de facto operational sovereignty which is challenged by interdependence. â€Å"In operational terms, internal sovereignty in todays modern democracy means the ability of a government to formulate, implement, and manage public policy t and society at large†¦A threat to a countrys operational internal sovereignty implies a threat to its ability to conduct public policy. With respect to the economy, the legal dimension of internal sovereignty becomes operational when governments collect taxes or regulate private sector activities, assuming that the boundaries that define the relationship between the public and the private sector are both stable and symmetric. †¦In contrast to internal sovereignty, external sovereignty implies the absence of a supreme authority and therefore the independence of states in the international system.† (Reinicke1998, p.57) The two concepts of sovereignty are closely interrelated, one giving basis or rational to the existence of another. It is quite clear that a state’s sovereignty cannot possibly be implemented through its external element because it is internal regularities and legal and public patterns   that hold a state together. According to what has been previously said about interdependence and challenges it presents to sovereignty, it is crucial to focus on the impact of globalisation. A few definitions of globalisation have already been given in previous parts of the current report. Another one is necessary within the given context. â€Å"According to one definition, globalization in its pure form is a process that subsumes and rearticulates national economies into the global economy through cross-national processes and transactions. These processes and transactions take on an autonomous role in a consolidated global marketplace for production, distribution, and consumption. According to this view, the global economy dominates national economies existing within it.† (Reinicke1998, p. 63) Hence, the attention should be drawn to the fact that while interdependence is, so to speak, cross- or transeconomical, being coherent element, connecting national economies,   globalisation is something that lies within the economy, i.e. it is intrinsic, inherent to them. â€Å"As national borders no longer encompass sufficient territory to function as self-contained markets for global companies, the spatial structure and dynamics that delineate the geography of private sector economic activities are becoming decoupled from the territorial structure and dynamics that define political geography, that is, the territorially bound nation-state and its power of decision-making within the economy†¦ Qualitatively, this disjuncture, or mismatch, between political and economic geography does not challenge the external sovereignty of states. It cannot. Rather, by altering the spatial relationship between the private and the public sector, global corporate networks challenge the internal sovereignty of states. Specifically, since the organizational logic of globalization induces corporations to seek the fusion of multiple, formerly segmented national markets into a single whole, it generates an economic geography that subsumes multiple political geographies. As a result, a government no longer has a monopoly of legitimate power over the territory within which corporations organize themselves. The greater the mismatch between political and economic geography, the more difficult it will be for national governments to act in an inclusive manner, allowing individuals to coexist and interact in a relatively predictable environment. This leads to the heightened perception of risk and insecurity widely observed in our societies† (Reinicke1998, p.64-65) Globalisation world is the world of information. The ability to conduct public policy properly depends on the governments’ access to information. The challenge is, their authorities spread only to a geographically national territories, not to the spheres of actual influence. To provide security, they need to obtain   operational information about economic actors, which do not necessarily perform their businesses within a   geographically restricted territory. Thus, the so-called information asymmetries arise. These asymmetries have always been the case in the modern world but the more globalised it gets, the more dramatic these gaps appear. The governments sometimes face the challenge of the most crucial information’s absence, which leads to not   at all unfounded anxiety of whether they are able to ensure national and global security. For example, it may present a huge difficulty for tax-assessing and collecting. But the information gaps may lie not only in the sphere of economy. A tragic evidence of traditional institutions’ inconsistency was September 11. â€Å"It needs to be recognised that globalisation is not just about increased flows between territorially distinct units, but also represents a more fundamental challenge to the spatial logic of international relations. The weapons systems of 11 September were launched from the eastern seaboard of the USA, not from across its borders. The perpetrators and their supporters were citizens of numerous countries. Most of the perpetrators had been educated in the USA and some were even US citizens. The target was not the military capacity of the USA but the symbols of its global hegemony. The fact that so many victims were non-American also reminds us that US power is embedded in transnational networks that transcend national boundaries. A new security politics needs to recognise the increasingly meaningless separation of the domestic and the international that informs so much conventional security thinking† (Beeson, Bellamy 2003 ). What happened is partially a result of the disjuncture between traditional governance, bounded spatially, and the global world following the new logics â€Å"Given the expansive nature of globalization, the spatial symmetry between the public and the private is disappearing†¦Like interdependence, globalization does not and cannot in any way challenge the legal internal sovereignty of a government. Globalization challenges internal operational sovereignty, and it is important for the subsequent discussion to keep this distinction in mind. Thus, just as states became increasingly sensitive and vulnerable to the actions of other states as increasing interdependence weakened their external operational sovereignty, so their internal operational sovereignty is being undermined by globalization, as territorially bounded governments can no longer project their power and policymaking capacity over the territory within which a global industry operates† (Reinicke1998, p.66) The problem does not only refer to global security and   global economy but to civil cociety and its citizens rights. â€Å"Although individuals may exercise their legal right to vote, the power or influence of that vote in shaping public policy has decreased with the decline in operational internal sovereignty and will continue to do so. Ultimately, a persistent weakness and failure of internal sovereignty, therefore, will lead to a questioning of the institutions and processes of democracy itself†Ã‚   (   Reinicke1998 , p.69) To sum up, â€Å"the globalization of industry presents a challenge to the capacity of governments to govern. But this challenge to their ability to conduct public policy is not an external challenge. It does not emanate from another state, as usually conceptualized in the standard approaches to the study of international relations, and in particular of international interdependence, which focuses on external sovereignty. Rather, the challenge comes from within each country, as economic networks (legal and illegal alike) increasingly operate in a nonterritorial functional space that defies individual territorialities and thus internal sovereignties† (Reinicke1998, p.69) Governments response In the light of the challenges,   which were considered above the question arises, in what way should governments react to globalisation and its consequences.   W.Reinicke   suggests three possible ways to deal with the issue, namely defensive intervention, offensive intervention and global public policy. â€Å"Policymakers can intervene defensively or offensively in globalization. By maintaining or resurrecting barriers to globalization through protective economic measures such as tariff and nontariff barriers, capital controls, or other national regulatory measures in the domains of transport, communications, and information, defensive intervention would in principle return internal sovereignty to the national government. This, in turn, would force companies to reorganize along national lines, much as they did before they adopted global strategies†¦ An alternative strategy to defensive intervention is offensive intervention. Here countries themselves become global competitors, striving to provide the most attractive environment possible for the strategies of global companies within their own territorial boundaries, or to lobby other countries on behalf of their domestic corporations in support of their overseas strategies† (Reinicke1998, p. 83)   A number of measures can be of use   with the latter type   such as   cutting taxes to attract I capitals flow, subsidies, aggressive export promotion campaigns. Corruption , bribery are not   underestimated in this case. Finally, Reinicke suggests   in his opinion the most   effective strategy, that of a global public policy. â€Å"Global public policy differs from both interventionist strategies in that it reverses the adjustment path between the two geographies by realigning the political with the economic geography. Rather than trying to force the economic geography of globalization to adjust to the political geography of interdependence, global public policy alters the political geography in a way that can both accommodate economic globalization and at the same time allow countries to continue to exercise internal sovereignty. Under these circumstances, the reach and management of internal sovereignty are no longer defined by territoriality, but rather by the spatial extension of globalization, that is, on a functional or sectoral basis† (Reinicke1998, p.87). It is global public policy that need governance but does not need a global government. III. Conclusion In the modern world to ignore the phenomenon of globalisation   would not only be impossible but also dangerous. Elaboration of   the efficient strategies is necessary   to cope with the information gap, which is the main challenge to public policy conduction. Transnational corporations increasingly   take over the intranational legitimate organs and reduce the role of democracy and civil rights’ influence upon the course of events. Under these conditions a few approaches are possible, some of them presupposing artificial intervention and oppression to the current circumstances. The most productive way , however, is to eliminate the problematic disjuncture between political and economic geography is not by trying to update it but to create an entirely new system of governance, which can be called global public policy. Bibliography    Beeson, M.,Bellamy, A. 2003. ‘Globalisation, Security and International Order after 11 September’,The Australian Journal of Politics and History, vol. 49, no. 3, pp.339-340 Chanda, N. 2003, Coming Together: Globalisation means reconnecting the human community, Available at: http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/about/essay.jsp Ellwood, D.2002, ‘Americanisation or Globalisation? David Ellwood Argues That the Attempts of British Politicians to Copy an American Role Model Are Likely to Fail’,History Today, vol.52, no. 9 Globalization,2004, Available at: encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/globalization Goodhart, M.2002, ‘Democracy, Globalization and the Problem of the State’,Polity,vol.33,no.4, pp.527-528 Jhunjhunwala , B. 2004, ‘Alternative Globalization’, Addis Tribune, Available at:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=870 Kearney, A.T..2003, ‘Measuring Globalization: Whos Up, Whos Down’,Foreign Policy,60-61 McBride, S.(ed.).2000,Globalization and Its Discontents, Macmillan, Basingstoke Mittelman, J.2002, ‘Making Globalization Work for the Have Nots’,   International Journal on World Peace, vol. 19, no. 2, pp.3-4 Reinicke, W.1998,Global Public Policy: Governing without Government? The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC Shuja, S.2001, ‘Coping with Globalisation’,Contemporary Review, 279, no.1630, pp.257-258

Starbucks Corporation Essay Example for Free

Starbucks Corporation Essay Problem:The problem is anti-globalization which makes more difficult for Starbucks to enter in new markets. Symptoms:1. Protests from anti-globalization activists. 2. If those activists have enough media power it leads to international scandals sometimes even involvement of celebrities (who also might be activists of anti-globalization). And finally the worst situation for Starbucks:3. They receive push-backs in new markets. That is why Starbucks needs to establish some systematic method or decision process which would work equally around the world by helping to say: To open new shop in certain place or not!?Alternatives:I. To try to solve problems with anti-globalization activists. +/- If Starbucks could solve this worldwide conflict they would go in the history, but by my mind it is impossible to speak with those people by continuing to go globally. It is in what they believe and they will not change their mind. II. To work with the media of regions they want to go in. Everybody knows that big power is in hands of people who have good relationships with the biggest media. Starbucks has to use it:†¢Maybe they has to involve in requirements for their next foreign partners that they need to be in good relations with mass media (like biggest newspapers and TV channels):+ They could overpower anti-globalization activists. + They could make better PR of themselves. Then it could start some media wars, because they can not be sure that some of media companies also are not anti-globalists. It could be quite a hard for Starbucks to find such a partner with the required contacts. III. To promote loudly and more active that they have very friendly Environmental Mission Statement. Spend money that this message would go globally. + Nowadays, when there is so much pollution and foodstuffs becomes modified Starbucks should make global marketing campaign where they would tell everybody that how their work is to: instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value and that they uses environmental products.- It will require big money. IV. For each market to work out the strategy that they uses the coffee from the best coffee fields of this particular country where they are planning to go in. + It means that they can show in the numbers how many working places they will give and that coffee growers in this country will not gong to suffer, but at the same time in the coffee shops for those who want it they also offers coffees from different regions around the world. Of course it is not 100% diminishing the possibility of anti-globalist activities. V. In place of searching partnerships in the new place to sell franchises. Franchise vs. Partnership:+ This person would be more interested that there would not be push-backs because he will be 100% owner of Starbucks coffee shop/s.- For the person who buys franchise it would be more difficult to open Starbucks because opening costs for one coffee shop is high. + He will know better the ethical things which Starbucks can not step over. It will be harder for franchiser to catch up this know-how which Starbucks has and he can loose the Starbucks identity. + It is always more acceptable for the locals if it is international but belongs to the local guy and even more better if it is well known person or this fact is nicely showed in the media.- For the franchiser it will be more complicated to follow the statements of the employment policys benefits packages, shares for employees est. Partnership vs. Franchise:+ Starbucks owns its coffee shops and has to pay to his partner 20 to 50%.- Starbucks it is not local they are Americans. + Starbucks has very good and well established know-how of everything starting from choosing coffee and ending with their employee polices. + Starbucks can make one and united mission statement and goals and what are the most important they can control it. + By giving franchise Starbucks can not control the brand is it made correctly, even Starbucks has not standardized places, but they adapt their coffee shop to each place and culture. + Starbucks cant be 100% sure that their partner will be the right person and will bring the best ideas and outcomes. Recommendations:I would choose to implement Alternative # III and # IV. To make louder marketing campaigns, to make better and louder PR that is what is needed for Starbucs. To become more local they need to support locals. I would suggest doing it because Starbucks are very profitable company which means that they can spend more money for good PR and many charity activities in the country they are or want to go in. Implementation:Global marketing campaigns:1st step:To come together and to decide what kind of activities they could support in each country whether it would be one system for all or case by case decision. My suggestions would be:It would be better that all society in each country  they come in would feel that they bring not only American coffee shops but also something to their nation or community. That is why I would choose to implement case by case decision what kind of charity support it will be. ~ For Example: Also as I mentioned to make some Coffee Planters Associations in each country where they come in and in which country can be planted coffee. It would make better relationships with society and also they will gain the opportunity to get good coffee (they can also educate planters). ~ For Example: They can open in each country some Starbucks Rio (as example) Interests Organization where they could for example support youngster graffiti contests (it is only as example, because in Rio they had vandalism cases (but this example is only in case if this is the real problem), so, the main thing is that they need to find core of the problem points when they will come in new place and by smart and intelligent ways to solve it. It means that: 1st they have to find out what problems they will facing in this new place and 2nd only after finding some interesting and socially responsible way to solve this problem to go publicly with the announcement that they will open Starbucks in this place. That will help to make good PR for Starbucks before entering the market. 2nd step:To decide how to promote globally that they are very friendly to the environment?My suggestions would be:As I told it is very important that company is friendly to the environment. Starbucks has to show it and best way is to show with the help of promotions. They have to hire the best and most creative promotion agency and together think about the strategy they can show their attitude to the environment. In general:I can suggest improving the relationships with mass media and try to find out why they are writing or showing what they do and creating bad PR for Starbucks. I can suggest working more with governments of the places where they want to go in because we know that governments have an access to mass media. I would suggest never overstepping ethical issues of countries. But more of everything I would suggest to stay as friendly as they are and try to conquer societys hearts by building that they are not Americans but they are cosmopolitans and their Starbucks in particular country is not any more American Starbucs but completely adapted to the country they come in. stategic managemet 7th edition. charles w.hill and gareth r.jones

Illegal logging

Illegal logging Introduction Illegal logging is one of the many causes of deforestation and is one of the worlds most pressing environmental problems (Chatham House, 2009; EIA, 2008). It is fuelled substantially by a large and indiscriminate international market demand for cheap timber and timber products (EIA, 2008). While poverty, economic collapse, provincial autonomy and many other factors also contribute to this form of rainforest destruction, corruption is at the core of the problem (Plate 1) (EIA Telapak, 2005). Previously, for the most part, within the international community there has been ambivalence regarding illegal logging and trade and destruction of tropical rainforests (Cock, 2008). This unlawful practice has only come to the attention of the global community in the past few decades (Cock, 2008; EIA, 2008). Efforts to combat illegal logging and trade have started to become a policy priority across the globe and international initiatives have been established (EIA, 2008; Glastra, 1999). Outline This paper will consider the international response to illegal logging and trade and whether that response has been successful. The discussion will commence by defining illegal logging and other related terms. The analysis will then focus on a brief overview of the occurrence of this illicit practice and the environmental, social and economic issues associated. The next part of the essay will discuss what the international response to illegal logging and trade is and its effectiveness using some key examples. Finally, limitations on data and recommendations for future actions will be discussed and the main arguments of this account summarised. Definitions Illegal logging is the practice in which loggers, millers, and transporters go against national laws to harvest, mill, and transport timber and wood products illegally, or through corrupt practices (Rhodes, Allen Callahan, 2006). The illegal trade of timber can involve exporting or importing: tree species prohibited under national or international law; timber or timber products in violation of national bans; the unauthorized movement of timber across borders and the movement of illegally logged timber from forest to market (Callister, 1999). International initiatives are a response to the growing concern of non-governmental agencies, the public, the scientific community and governments about important issues and can include the formation or alteration to organizations, official forums, action plans and conventions (Glastra, 1999). An international organisation attempts to govern the global political economy in relation to some key issue and imposes order through pressures and restra ints (Emadi-Coffin, 2002). An international convention is a legally binding agreement to any country that signs it, in which the implementation of national policy or legislation is required to achieve the objectives of the convention (Glastra, 1999). Overview of Illegal Logging and Trade Illegal logging involves the removal of large and valuable trees from primary forests, which, creates secondary forests, can make forests more susceptible to fires, and facilitates the exploitation of the forests for other uses (Dauvergne, 2001). Factors which aid illegal logging and trade can include: undue political influence, poor government policies, and poor enforcement systems (Glastra, 1999). The causes of illegal logging can encompass: misguided community views that illegal logging is not a criminal or harmful activity, over-complex regulatory government frameworks, lack of government willingness or capacity to enforce the law, and corruption (Table 1) (Tacconi, 2007). Illegal logging is driven largely by the profit it generates (Tacconi, 2007). Occurrence Illegal logging occurs across the globe and is estimated to affect approximately seventy countries (Tacconi, 2007). It has contributed to an increase in the rate of deforestation worldwide, particularly in the globes most densely forested areas, such as Asia, South America, and Central and West Africa (Rhodes, Allen Callahan, 2006). Illegal timber is also exported from Laos, the Philippines, India, and Thailand (Glastra, 1999). Table 2, below, shows estimates of illegal logging and trade in various countries. Impacts and Issues Illegal logging and trade can result in a range of negative ecological, economic and social impacts (Callister, 1999). Environmental costs may comprise of accelerated soil erosion, and illegal logging in protected areas (Callister, 1999). The practice also drives global forest degradation, deforestation and the loss of biodiversity (Dauvergne, 2001; EIA, 2008). Social issues that are caused by this illegal activity can include: land use conflicts, restricted access to food and on local use of timber and large scale job losses (Callister, 1999). Additionally, it is a threat to governments regulatory mechanisms, undermines legislation, and can lead to a climate of lawlessness and corruption (Glastra, 1999). It can also provide the financial resources to support rogue regimes, help finance civil wars and undermine democratic reforms (Rhodes, Allen Callahan, 2006). Associated economic impacts can include vast economic loss for the producer country, reduction of resource capacity and mar ginalisation other stakeholders (Glastra, 1999). Illegal logging and trade can also depress the market value of timber, and disadvantage those companies and countries that engage in legal logging and trade (Rhodes, Allen Callahan, 2006). The International Response In the 1970s and 1980s, numerous international initiatives and organisations were proposed which funded projects aimed at promoting reforms to forest governance in response to growing public awareness of logging and deforestation (Cock, 2008). During the late 1980s and 1990s the international agenda was focused on issues such as conservation and reforestation (Cock, 2008). More recently, however, following the international communitys struggle to slow forest loss ,the focus has shifted to market-based instruments, environmental protection, public policy, pricing to reflect the scarcity of timber resources, promotion of efficient use and international monitoring systems (Cock, 2008; EIA, 2008; Geist Lambin, 2002). Climate change and the worries about increased carbon in the atmosphere have also led to greater concern, as forests sequester 45% of terrestrial carbon (EIA, 2008). Western consumer societies create a market for the trade of illegally logged timber, which in turn causes fu rther degradation (Geist Lambin, 2002). Table 3 reveals estimates of the illegal proportion of wood products imported by many countries, even in those countries who have adopted legislation or formal agreements to exclude illegal material. There are a wide variety of international initiatives that target illegal logging and which will be discussed below. International Law Currently, there is no one international instrument designed to suppress the trade of illegal timber (Schloenhardt, 2008). For the most part, current instruments under international law are agreements that are designed to protect the environment and promote sustainable use of resources (Schloenhardt, 2008). At present, there is an absence of legal liability for private businesses that cause environmental damage, no offence of illegal logging in international law, and the trafficking and sale of illegally obtained timber is not criminalised in any treaty (Glastra, 1999; Schloenhardt, 2008). There is a need to strengthen legislation that protects forests and increase penalties for infractions (Glastra, 1999). Many international treaties and organisations have developed frameworks that partially regulate, control and limit to some extent, the international trade of timber (Schloenhardt, 2008). International Initiatives In relation to illegal logging and trade, there are numerous international agreements, treaties, organisations and conventions that exist under international law. They can be concerned with: the conservation and protection of individual species, the preservation of specific areas or habitats, protection of biodiversity, and may focus on sustainable development (Schloenhardt, 2008). Glastra (1999) offered the opinion that generally, international conventions appear to act as an excuse. Cock (2008) claims that the applications of policy, reforms or other international initiatives have had little effect in slowing forest loss. The following examples demonstrate the general lack of effectiveness of many international response mechanisms. The Convention on Biological Diversity was established in 1992, with 168 signatories (Fisher, 2003). Signatories are required to limit activities that threaten extinction of species or degradation of ecosystems, such as forests, within their territory, and are expected to rehabilitate and restore damaged ecosystems as well as create and enforce laws and regulations (Glastra, 1999). Schloenhardt (2008) comments that the convention has been criticised for being largely ambitious, achieving little practical outcomes, that it does not effectively contribute to suppressing the illicit timber trade. Glastra (1999) notes that the convention fails to deal with some elements that are specific for forests, and as such, additional protocols should be added. Little progress has also been made to implement national policy and legislation for this convention and this poor implementation as well as lacking enforcement needs to be addressed (Glastra, 1999). Conversely, Sayer and Maginnis (2005) argu e that the convention has contributed to the development of current strategies for sustainable forest management and that it has promoted two key principles, that forest management must be a matter of societal choice and that it must be developed as far as possible to local stakeholders. Overall, this response mechanism appears to have negligible effectiveness. The Forestry Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG) conference was held in Bali in 2001, and focused particularly on how to combat illegal logging (Tacconi, 2007). The responding EU FLEG and Trade action plan is said to be a positive step forward (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). However, the progress is slow, there is still no timber on the market that is EU FLEGT approved, and some countries pursing EU FLEGT Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VAP) are making negligible progress (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). The effectiveness of many of these agreements is questionable, such as in Indonesia, since there has been inconsiderable subsequent implementation or follow-up and they do not include sufficient sanctions for countries not taking part or not making adequate progress (Chatham House, 2009; House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). These voluntary agreements do not address trade through third party countries, do not cover a ll timber producing countries; and may legitimise destructive practises and will not be sufficient alone to reduce illegal logging significantly at a global level. (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009) Cameroon, however, has demonstrated a political commitment to tacking illegal logging and trade through negotiating a FLEGT VPA with the EU and respondents to a Chatham House survey were positive regarding the level of international co-operation shown by the government with more than half agreeing that the level of Cameroons international cooperation was good (Chatham House, 2009). The FLEGT VAP programme seems to be having some effect in selected countries. The International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) and Agreement (ITTA) were introduced in the late 1980s (Cock, 2008). The ITTA was originally designed as a commodity agreement with an environmental clause that allowed it to address the issue of sustainable logging (Cock, 2008). Its ability to address illegal logging has been restricted by a lack of authority and resources (Cock, 2008). Additionally, the ITTOs budget has generally been small and based on voluntary contributions with disagreements frequently occurring between its temperate and tropical members (Cock, 2008). Glastra (1999) states that the ITTO debilitates its target to ensure that all internationally traded tropical timber originates from forests that are sustainably managed by not supporting or accepting import bans on illegally exported or sourced timber. Some non-governmental organisations consider association with the ITTO pointless as it has neither successfully reformed the timber trade, nor established any m echanism to accomplish reform (Glastra, 1999). Schloenhardt (2008) points out that a number of documents, such as guidelines regarding sustainable forest management, have been produced but the organisation has failed to do anything considerable in relation to illegal timber trade. Forest certification and the promotion of sustainable logging have been suggested as alternatives to conventions and organisations (Cock, 2008). However, while the idea is good in theory, it is not as effective in the real world as it does not deliver on the ground (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). Documents of certification can be forged and corruption in some countries can allow certification to be given when the timber has not come from legal or sustainable logging practices (EIA, 2008). In 2008 in the UK, the EIA conducted an experiment in which sixteen random retailers selling merbau (a timber which is associated with a high degree of illegality) were called and researchers who posed as customers found that none could provide any evidence that their timber was legal (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). However, these schemes do increase awareness of and generate an interest in the issue of illegal logging, highlighting to companies that t hey need to take action on illegal timber (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). Schloenhardt (2008) states that certification would assist in identifying legal products and that electronic certification systems would facilitate this certification effectively. This response may be effective if there were highly developed monitoring systems in place. Strengths, Limitations and Recommendations Strengths and Limitations There are some limitations with the current data regarding the extent and occurrence of illegal logging and trade. Data provided by many producer countries may be misleading as it is subject to corruption, lack of resources, weak identification of illegal products, difficulty with monitoring remote areas and a lack of transparency (Schloenhardt, 2008). Also, much of the data available is in the form of estimates, as the majority of research is limited to examining the process of the licit timber trade, legislative frameworks and environmental issues (Schloenhardt, 2008). The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (2009) supports this claim, insisting that reliable statistics on illegal activities, such as illegal logging and trade are difficult to gather and quantify. The available information on illegal logging is mostly limited to sources of non-governmental and some intergovernmental organisations, and not from academic research (Schloenhardt, 2008). Discrepancies with the data were also found between sources and there are issues with the definitions of illegal timber varying between countries (Schloenhardt, 2008). Another limitation is regarding international law as conventions and agreements are usually based on good faith, with enforcement in the form of pressure from the international community, naming and shaming and on rare occasions, economic sanctions (Fisher, 2003). Present international responses to illegal logging and trade have had some success in a few countries, such as in Madagascar and Cameroon (Chatham House, 2009). The pressure exerted by the international community and the growing awareness that is promoted by international actions can, as in the case of Madagascar, persuade governments in producing and consuming nations to adopt beneficial policy and legislation (Butler, 2010). Some progress has been made with producer countries, with major consumer countries of timber and timber products failing to close their markets to illicit wood (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). Recommendations There are a number of recommendations available regarding the reduction of illegal logging and trade. Further research is required into the trade and trade paths of illegal logging (Schloenhardt, 2008). However as Geist Lambdin (2002) have shown, illegal logging on its own is not as significant a cause of deforestation, compared to agricultural expansion or technological factors. It may be more appropriate to address significant forest loss issues and target the underlying and proximate causes of deforestation, rather than signalling out illegal logging. Alternatively, instead of trying to curb the trade of illegal timber, it may be more prudent to directly address the causes of illegal logging, which will in turn reduce the trade of illicit timber. The EIA (2008) states that to successfully combat this illegal practice, there must be in-country forest governance and international trade policies that are consistent with the goal of reducing drivers of deforestation. Other alternativ es may include payment incentives to reward reforestation, afforestation and avoided deforestation (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). Additionally, clearing external debt of countries that are major producers of illegal timber may provide a pathway to eliminate concessions and subsidies related to timber and timber products (McCarthy, 2002). Another solution may be to make it an explicit offence to import, sell or possess illegal wood. International agreements should have their statuses raised to protect them from being weakened by global trade agreements, the environment should be given precedence over free trade and an international system should be implemented that can restrict, control and make transnational and private operators legally accountable for their illegal operations (Glastra, 1999). Importing countries should be encouraged to implement measures and processing countries, such as China and Malaysia, need to establish agreements and enter into legally binding mechanisms (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). Not all major consumer countries have agreements in place. The US implemented an amendment to the Lacey Act only recently in 2008 which prohibits the import of illegal timber and allows for prosecution of violations either through civil, criminal or forfeiture provisions (Chatham House, 2009). While the UK and Australian governments have been proactive in supporting measures agains t illegal logging and trade, there has been no tangible progress in implementation of any measures (House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2009). Glastra (1999) concludes that as long as there is illegal logging, sustainable forestry management cannot occur and that the unwillingness of some governments to address key underlying causes, will prevent strategies to combat illegal logging and trade from being effective. Conclusions Illegal logging and trade occurs across the globe and has numerous economic, environmental and social impacts. International response to this illicit practice has occurred only recently, from the 1970s onward. Currently, this response is not sufficient enough to properly address, prevent and suppress illegal logging and trade. Some measures are having positive impacts in selective countries, however on the larger scale, more needs to be done. Further research and alternate actions are required to achieve significant reductions in illegal logging and trade. There isnt and never will be a ‘quick fix to illegal logging and trade. Successful solutions will undoubtedly be complex, and will need to target multiple levels of issues and have long term application.

The Leadership Lessons of Jesus Christ Essay -- Business Management

The Leadership Lessons of Jesus Christ When we talk about Jesus as a leader, we may imply two different forms: Jesus as the only Son of God, God of the universe, or the risen Christ as being one with God; or Jesus as the 1 st century flesh and blood human being, the historical figure. Since the purpose of studying leadership is to improve one's own leadership skills, it makes sense to analyze Jesus' applicable traits, actions, and accomplishments as a good leader—in his historical role—so his leadership skills can be feasibly related to ourselves as human beings. I will attempt to analyze, using modern leadership criteria, how Jesus of Nazareth, the Jew and carpenter's son, was an effective spiritual leader of his time. Let us first examine the leadership attitude Jesus showed in his ministry. According to the address Thomas Cronin delivered at the Western Academy of Management in 1982, part of what makes leaders appealing is their confidence and faith: Leaders have those indispensable qualities of contagious self-confidence, unwarranted optimism, and incurable idealism that allow them to attract and mobilize others to undertake tasks these people never dreamed they could undertake. (To Lead or Not to Lead, Unit One 36) Jesus had infectious self-confidence that attracted all types of people to his cause. A teacher of the law said to Jesus, â€Å"Teacher, I will follow your wherever you go† (Matt. 8:19). He was also an optimist: Jesus said, â€Å"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well† (Matt. 6:33). He was an idealist; his mission commanded his followers to be spiritually perfect (Matt. 5:48). Although Jesus' ethical standard was incredibly high, his faith in God was... ...human characteristics. But his weakness contributed to his character as a man. Essentially, Jesus' leadership abilities were perfect for his time. Works Cited Borg, Marcus J. Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994. Borg, Marcus J., and N.T. Wright. The Meaning of Jesus. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2000. To Lead or Not to Lead, Phi Theta Kappa Leadership Development Studies. Jackson, MS: Phi Theta Kappa, Inc., 2001. Porter, J.R. Jesus Christ: The Jesus of History, the Christ of Faith. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Schure, Edouard. Jesus: The Last Great Initiate. Kila, MT: Kessinger Publishing Company, 1995. Stafford, Tim and Philip Yancey. The Student Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986. Yancey, Philip. The Jesus I Never Knew. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995.

How the Media Affects the Self Esteem and Body Image of Young Girls Ess

The misconception of what is beautiful can be detrimental to young girls. In a television industry attempt to sell goods, they are depicted as sexy. Creating a need for parents to intervene and present a more realistic and normal view of physical beauty. Today, TV presents sexually based images crafted to appeal to young girls. Unfortunately, they are led to believe that their value is only skin deep, causing flawed expectations, illusions, and wrong information about the truth of the physical body in the real world. In an attempt to look the part some have fallen victim to eating disorders, while others have exchanged childhood innocence for an Adult view of what is sexy. When girls are disheartened over their inability to look like some media idol or doll, then it is time to pay attention and ask why. Psychologist Levine and Kilbourne, emphasize a need to stay more connected, and finding out why children feel they have to compete with the images of people they see in the media (So Sexy So Soon 27). The idea of looking sexy may be fine for adults, but the notion of sexy little girls is somehow disturbing. TV is setting the agenda and succeeding as it paints the perfect girl, as tall, skinny, tan, pretty, and rich. TV commercials sell sexy because sexy sells, and is now targeting younger audiences. A preteen viewing a Bratz Dolls commercial will be prompted to visit their web site, where she will be greeted with attractive dolls dressed in sexy outfits. The dolls portray an image of teenage girls with large attractive eyes, lush glossy lips, and dressed in the latest fashion. Psychologists Lamb and Brown make the following observation â€Å"Dressing for fashion a’la Barbie or Lil’ Bratz dolls and dressing for physical ... ...ldren is the objective. All commerce works on supply and demand if consumers continue to buy into selling sexy to kids, then these negative outcomes will continue. Works Cited Crow, Scott J. et al. "Increased mortality in bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders." American Journal of Psychiatry. 166. 12. (2009): 1342+. General OneFile. Web. 25 Nov. 2010. Hibberd, James "Tuned-in kids get turned on earlier; study links adult-aimed TV to sex at younger age." Hollywood Reporter 409.35 (2009): 6+. General OneFile. Web. 4 Nov. 2010. Lamb, Sharon, Lyn Mikel Brown. Packaging Girlhood. â€Å"Rescuing Our Daughters From Marketers’ Schemes.† New York. St Martin’s Press, 2006: 303. Print. Levine, Diane E, Jean Kilbourne. So Sexy So Soon. Ballantine Books, 2009: 209. Print. "Did You Know That?" Skipping Stones. May-Aug. 2009: 29. General OneFile. Web. 4 Nov. 2010.

Lennie and George in Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Essay

Lennie and George are considerably different from the other ranch workers mainly unlike the workers who are all shown to be lonely, George and Lennie have each other. They relay on each other and their dreams together. There is a bond of trust and friendship between the two main characters which is tragically highlighted in the closing lines of the novel. The novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ by John Steinbeck is set in the early 1930’s following the collapse of the New York wall street market known as the depression years. In this time there was heavy unemployment; migrant workers from all over America came to California where the novel is set in the Salinas valley in search of prospects of work. The ranch itself is a microcosm of the life for migrant workers in that time, their insecurities are shown through the characters such as Curley, Candy, Curley’s wife and also the life of Black people through Crooks. All the characters are lonely except for Lennie and George who have each other and this is shown through their hopes and dreams. Lennie and Georges history together opens up when George talks to Slim a character that everyone respects, even Curley. George openly speaks to Slim about the incident when George tells Lennie to jump into the river jokingly, but to everyone’s surprise Lennie jumps in without questioning George not realising he cannot swim and almost drowns if George didn’t rescue him, even then Lennie thanks George for saving him even though it was George who told him to do it in the first place. At this point George’s fear is shown at Leannie’s inability to comprehend logical and illogical things, George realises at that moment that if he is not careful Lennie could do the wrong thing again. George’s other fears are also shown in the incident at weed, while talking about it to slim he describes Lennie being ‘slow’ as he likes to touch everything he likes, just wants to feel it. So he reaches to feel a girls red dress and the girl screams, Lennie gets scared all he can think to do is hold on and that George had to hit him with a fence picket to make him let go. Again Lennie’s strength becomes an issue and the writer almost foretelling the future. George is afraid of Lennie not understanding right from wrong and his strength scares George making him think that he might to  what he did at weed again. Lennie is shown to be a child in a mans body . throughout the book he wants to be told their dream almost like a bed time story and doesn’t feel closure until he has been told it. And again like a child he likes soft and fury things relating to the reason why he likes to touch dresses. Lennie’s greatest fear of the all is that he won’t be able to tend the rabbits if he did something wrong like the incident at weed again, he is also afraid of his own strength and not being able to let go. Lennie and George’s dream of having a place of their own ‘living of the fat of the land’ and Lennie and his alfalfa patch and tending the rabbits, keep’s them going and hoping that they won’t have to worry about Lennie doing the wrong things again, and George being able to do what he wants do and not think about what will happen to Lennie. Their dreams create hope for other characters like Candy and Crooks even for a short while. On the face of it, it appears that Lennie, because of his mental immaturity, is totally reliant upon George for his survival and for obtaining work at various ranches. Equally important however, is the extent to which George relies on Lennie for companionship in the generally unfriendly and lonely environment of the migrant labourer. As George admits to Slim when discussing himself and Lennie ‘it’s a lot nicer to go around with a guy you know’. It can be seen; therefore that George might not be with Lennie purely out of a sense of pity or duty to Lennie’s aunt Clara. From the start of the novel Steinbeck raises the questions in the minds of the reader about why these characters should be involved in such an unlikely partnership: George is short of stature, intelligent and projects self-confidence, Lennie on the other hand, is a giant of a man, ponderous in his gait and his mind of a young child. The course of events that unfold are tragic, most of it starts with Curley and his insecurity about his height and his always willing to pick a fight with bigger men to prove he is not weak. Steinbeck calls him calculating and  pugnacious and gives him reptilian animal like qualities representing his behaviour to a crocodile while Lennie is shown to have bear and horse like qualities compared to animals with admirable traits. Ch 3 begins when Curley busts in looking for Slim who he thinks is with his wife. When Slim re-enters the room telling Curley that he’s sick of Curley asking him about his wife. Curley can’t fight with Slim so he moves to Carlson who warns him not to pick a fight with him, as they all join in Curley feels defenceless and so turns on to Lennie given any excuse to fight with him. As Curley begins to fight him, Lennie gives out a cry of terror and turns to George for help as he was too frightened to defend himself. George immediately gets onto his feet yelling ‘Give it to him Lennie, don’t let him do it’. George was afraid of Lennie’s strength but he wouldn’t let Lennie go down like that he was protective over him. As Curley goes for another blow to the blood covered face, Lennie grabs his fist. Curley is described to be flopping as a fish. Then just like in weed Lennie held on to the closed fist being crushed by Lennie’s hand. It took both George and Slim to make Lennie let go. Curley was warned not to say a word about what happened. After this Curley’s wife became very interested in what happened actually happened to Curley’s hand but nobody spoke to her. When Lennie kills the pup in the barn, while wondering what to do Curley’s wife comes in. even though he shouldn’t talk to her he does, she tells him how she is lonely and just wants someone to talk too, also how unhappy she is in her marriage to Curley, this is the only point in the novel where her story comes out, how she was never loved at home, how she married Curley to get away from her life, her dreams of becoming famous in movies. As Lennie feels her hair vents repeat themselves he can’t let go and in her struggle to get free and Lennie’s fear that she will call George he breaks her neck in attempt to silence her again his inability to control his strength has taken a turn for the worst. He realises what he has done and remembers that if he did anything bad George said to go to the brush where he’d find him there, so Lennie quickly and quietly leaves. Candy is the first to find her in the barn and gets George who knows instantly what has  happened he tells candy to let him go to the bunk house first then tell the rest of them so he doesn’t look involved. There dream is destroyed and candy blames Curley’s wife, when he tells the rest of them Curley shows no sign of remorse all he can do is think about getting Lennie back. As they all take off to find Lennie, George manages to find him first by the lake; even now he is still afraid he won’t be able to tend the rabbits. George knows that there is no way out for them, knowing Curley he would just want to kill him he wouldn’t put him in jail, and if he let him go the Lennie couldn’t look after himself he would die without food, shelter and someone to look after him. George knew that he would have to kill him when he found Lennie. Just like Candy’s dog to put him out of his misery for the sake of Lennie. Also he couldn’t let someone else do it he told Lennie about their dream one last time as he told it he quietly put the gun to the back of Lennie’s head without him realising and shot him, it was a sympathy kill. At the end it is Slim who comforts him in telling George that he had to do it. Bibliography: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Monomyth

The Little Mermaid â€Å"Up where they walk, up where they run, up where they stay all day in the sun. Wandering free, wish I could be, part of that world. † Ariel sings this in the beginning of The Little Mermaid after an adventure with Flounder. She wishes to be a human with legs and live the way the humans do. The Little Mermaid is an example of a monomyth, also called a heroic adventure. Ariel may not seem like a so-called-typical-hero throughout the majority of the movie, but she has her own heroic ways.Three characteristics of a hero are a remarkable birth, troubled childhood, and being able to rely on ones natural strength. Ariel grows up with several sisters, no mother and a father who is the king of the sea, King Triton. She was miserable being a mermaid and knew that she had to find her own way to escape the sea. Ariel’s call to adventure began when one night, Ariel, Flounder and an unwilling Sebastian travel to the ocean surface to watch a celebration for the birthday of Prince Eric on a ship, with whom Ariel falls in love with.In the ensuing storm the ship is destroyed and Ariel saves the unconscious Eric from drowning. Ariel sings to him, but quickly leaves as soon as he regains consciousness to avoid being discovered. Fascinated by the memory of her voice, Eric vows to find who saved and sung to him and Ariel vows to find a way to join him and his world. Her option then comes along and is given to her by the sea hag, Ursula’s, electric eels, Flotsam and Jetsam. They give her the option to come with them to Ursula who can change Ariel into a human, or she can stay and be miserable her whole life.In every heroic adventure the main hero needs to receive help along his/her journey. Ursula makes a deal with Ariel to transform her into a human for three days in exchange for Ariel's voice When Ursula used her magic to turn Ariel into a human and take away her voice that was Ariel’s supernatural aid because it caused her to be able to go and win Eric’s heart. But it’s also bittersweet because Ariel must receive the â€Å"kiss of true love† from Eric; otherwise, she will transform back into a mermaid and belong to Ursula. Ariel’s quest is now in motion and she must find Eric.Instead Eric finds Ariel on the beach and takes her to his castle. Ariel spends time with Eric, and at the end of the second day, they almost kiss but Flotsam and Jetsam flip their boat and ruin it. That was Ariel’s first obstacle. Ursula then disguises herself as a beautiful young woman named Vanessa and appears onshore singing with Ariel's voice. Eric recognizes the song and, in her disguise, Ursula casts a hypnotic enchantment on Eric to make him forget about Ariel. The next day, Ariel finds out that Eric will be married to the disguised Ursula.Scuttle discovers that Vanessa is Ursula in disguise, and informs Ariel who immediately goes after the wedding barge. This is Ariel’s second obstacle . Sebastian informs Triton, and Scuttle disrupts the wedding with the help of various animals. In the chaos, the nautilus shell around Ursula's neck is broken, restoring Ariel's voice and breaking Ursula's enchantment over Eric. Eric rushes to kiss her, but the sun sets and Ariel transforms back into a mermaid. Ursula reveals herself and kidnaps Ariel. Ariel now faces her final test.Triton confronts Ursula and demands Ariel's release, but the deal is inviolable. At Ursula's urging, the king agrees to take Ariel's place as Ursula's prisoner. Ariel is released as Triton transforms into a polyp and loses his authority over Atlantica. Ursula declares herself the new ruler and a struggle ensues in which Ursula accidentally kills Flotsam and Jetsam. In her rage, Ursula uses the trident to grow to monstrous proportions. Ariel and Eric reunite on the surface just before Ursula grows past and towers the two.She then gains full control of the entire ocean, creating a storm with a maelstrom an d shipwrecks, one of which Eric commandeers. As Ursula attempts to destroy a trapped Ariel in the maelstrom, Eric runs Ursula through the abdomen with the ship's splintered bowsprit killing her. Ursula's power breaks, causing Triton and all the other polyps in Ursula's garden to revert back into their original forms. Realizing that Ariel truly loves Eric, Triton willingly changes her from a mermaid into a human. Ariel and Eric marry on a ship and depart.