Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 93

Assignment Example The story reveals to the reader just how unfair identity prejudice restricted on women choices during the time period. The theme of gendered identity and roles gets illuminated throughout the book. This can be revealed when the author states that she liked to work outside while she noted that her mother worked inside. As a young girl, the narrator tells of how happy she was to work outside with her father who was a fox farmer. She liked being a hired hand that helped to bring water to the foxes, cutting grass, and watering plants. She notes that her mother worked inside the house concerning herself with housekeeping and particularly in the kitchen where she prepared foods such as jam, jelly, and preserves. The narrator notes of how her mother would on a number of occasions constantly try to negotiate with her father on getting her to work in the house more. This gendered view presented in the story is quite telling as it shows the place of the woman in the society back in the time period. Women got resigned to housekeeping and the kitchen as their traditional roles. The story is also interesting given the narrator persistence at trying to break down the social view on gendered roles at the time. As a young girl, she dreams of herself rescuing people from a building that got bombed. As an oldest child, she takes it upon herself to help her father with her pelting business which was traditionally a male chore. Through various descriptions in the book, the reader notes of the young girl’s adventurous nature, physical strength, courage, and her imaginativeness. As a young girl, she is clearly impervious to the concept of gendered roles. She happily dreams of opportunities that call for boldness, courage, and self-sacrifice. This illustrates her free spirit as a young girl that later becomes curtailed by societal conceptions of

Public participation in Guelph landfill search process Essay

Public participation in Guelph landfill search process - Essay Example Anyone can play a role in rebuilding the environment† (par. 7). This sounds like a lovely idea, and a very creative way to turn what is essentially a controversial garbage dump into something more positive†¦something the public can enjoy and be proud of. The City’s choice not to relocate the landfill and go with a more environmentally sound decision was a wise one, helped enormously by public input. The Implication: Social Risk vs Economics The City of Guelph had for some time known it would have to deal with the issue of a needed landfill. In fact from 1987 discussions had been sporadically on-going with little progress, the reality being that no one wants a landfill in their backyard for all of the obvious reasons. In January of 1993 a proposed dump site north of Guelp was eliminated from further consideration after opponents managed to convince city council to throw out almost three years of work that had cost nearly $3 million. It was the beginning of a back and forth battle that would discourage county involvement and place the onus of burden on the city of Guelph. The search, beginning in 1994, would be controversial, intense and difficult. Based on records the intension of including public opinion and that and of others was, at least at first, well meaning. Ali (1999) in his study of the project writes, â€Å"In order to avoid the pitting of the public against the technical consultants that had occurred in a previously unsuccessful search, Guelph City Council wished to adopt a more inclusive process in which all members of the community could voluntarily participate† (p. 1). To this end the Landfill Search Group (LSG), a Community Advisory Subcommittee of varied professionals and the (CASC), or Neighbourhood Liaison Groups made up of volunteers from all walks of life from the community and ostensibly representing the public. It would seem that things would go smoothly, but that was not the case and the public, suspicious of how t he groups were selected and would perform, formed their own counter groups who, at the outset, were set against the landfill. After the LSG announcement of five potential sites, other neighbourhood groups were formed against the landfill for environmental reasons and surprisingly, on the basis that the sites which were being considered were all in lower economic areas. In essence, the latter complaints were â€Å"primarily on the basis of social equity† (Ali, 1999, p. 1) and the fact that the area was already home of a good share of the industry of the city. All of the groups came up with a list of 48 criteria on which the selection would be based, prioritized by the public which, in the end, promoted a site considerate of public health and the environment. From the beginning much of the controversy centered upon the components of priority ranking of the various aspects of the decision making process concern acceptable tradeoffs â€Å"between economic and environmental impac ts†¦to both the community and to the City† (Ali, 1999, p. 1). The business community favored sacrificing environmental concerns [groundwater contamination] for business interests, while other groups set on protecting the environment held fast. In the end, site selection was placed in the precarious position of a quid pro quo. As Ali (1999) quoting officials

Myki Project Boundary Essay Example for Free

Myki Project Boundary Essay Changes to the boundaries occurred during the development of MYKI project: * More than 350 changes were made to the specifications by the TTA, increasing the complexity, time and cost of the project. * Example of alteration made during development phase is the removal of city saver fare option that has been applied in Metcard system. * Change in relationship/management issues between TTA, vendor and sub-contractors. The continuous modifications of the project specifications and outcomes were mainly caused by the project’s ambiguous initial contractual precedence and specifications, such as the consideration of which necessities are within or outside the contractual boundaries, leading to disagreement on priorities and costs in later phases of the project. The impact of undefined boundaries and constant amendments to the contracts and requirements: Project Delay Initially, the MYKI project was scheduled to be completed in July 2007, but full operation has been behind the schedule by approximately 5 years * The optimistic 2-year deadline could not be achieved due to subsequent changes carried out by TTA to the original scope of the project, causing technical difficulties to re-surface and complexity to increase. Internal Audit was conducted in 2010 to evaluate whether MYKI project is still worth pursuing after the long overdue, indicating the government’s loss of trust to the project and vendor. As the results of the audit shows that cost of scraping MYKI will be higher than completing it, the Government decided to continue the project. Over Budgeting * The overall cost has increased by 35% from initial estimation of $999 million to $ 1. 35 million. * It is forecasted that additional cost is required for project completion and complete replacement of Metcard. * $ 50 million cost will be required annually to keep operating the MYKI system. * As the delay was prolonged, Metcard must be kept in operation for a longer period of time, requiring additional operating cost, which was accounted in the MYKI project funding. The funding of a project is an important part of project boundaries and significant over-budgeting by at least 35% indicated the breach of the set boundaries Fractured relationship between TTA and Kamco The relationship between TTA and Kamco has worsened due to the inability to meet deadlines and continuous amendments to the project’s requirements. Mistrust was developed, as more deliverables and contractual obligations were not achieved. However, the vendor cannot receive all the blame because TTA also kept changing the specifications and targets. Preventing Breach of Boundary  The main problem is that TTA selected vendor that has limited experience in developing smart card ticketing system. Kamco, as the project vendor, followed the correct procedure of agreeing and committing to all changes made by TAA throughout the project. However, it will be difficult for a company Kamco to come up with the most effective method to resolve any modifications to the contracts due to their limited experience and knowledge in this project type. Their ways to tackle these issues may be inefficient, leading to excessive use of their budget. TTA should realises this and must ensure that the initial project boundaries and scope is well defined, preventing any major change during the development phase. TTA should have given the project to proven and experienced vendor because MYKI itself is a new and unproven project that requires innovative and effective problem solving skill through experience in this type of project. The thought that the vendor can learn as they are conducting the project entails high risks which can lead to possible over-budget and delays. On the other hand, the vendor must also be able to refuse any changes made to the initial contractual agreements. They should be able to say â€Å"no† to any amendments during the negotiation as these may risk the project itself. Kamco neglected one of their role to refuse any agreement that may risk the project and ruin their future reputation. The project manager should take his role in convincing the project authority, TTA, that any changes would delay the projects and consult the best solution to meet the most of TTA’s expectations without significantly increasing the cost and time of the project. In this MYKI project, communication issue has also been one of the factors that caused boundary breach.

A Model For Recovery The Tidal Model Social Work Essay

A Model For Recovery The Tidal Model Social Work Essay My family have used mental health services for three generations. I experienced my first hypo-manic episode in 1981 when I was writing up my doctoral thesis. During the past twenty-four years I have had sixteen episodes that have led to hospitalisation. I first met Professor Phil Barker in 1983 when he had just taken up the Chair of Psychiatric Nursing Practice at Newcastle University and I had just launched myself as a User Consultant under the name of Section 36. During his ten years in Newcastle we worked on several projects and spent many hours sharing our views on user empowerment, self-management and recovery. I felt privileged when he asked me to comment on the Tidal Model in its early stages. I feel equally privileged and delighted to speak about the Model today. Phil and Poppy Buchanan-Barker co-wrote this Guide on the Tidal Model for Mental Health Professionals. They have asked me to consider whether or not the Tidal Model helps service users on their recovery journey. I will do this largely by reading quotations taken directly from the book. Before we can do this I feel it necessary to look at the meanings of recovery. Elements of Recovery The Chambers 20th Century Dictionary definition of recover is to cure. In the context of mental health recovery is generally not accepted as being synonymous with cure. From her work with service users Repper observed that: Recovery does not mean that all suffering has disappeared, or that all symptoms have been removed, or that functioning has been restored. Pat Deegan, a clinical psychologist with a late childhood-diagnosis of schizophrenia recognized recovery is not a cure but sees no reason for despair. Being in recovery means I know I have certain limitations and things I cant do. But rather than letting these limitations be an occasion for despair and giving up, I have learned that in knowing what I cant do, I also open up all the possibilities of all I can do. Acceptance is a key factor in the recovery process. Again, Pat Deegan notes: †¦ an ever-deepening acceptance of our limitations. But now, rather than being an occasion for despair, we find our personal limitations are the ground from which spring our own unique possibilities. This is the paradox of recovery†¦that in accepting what we cannot do or be we discover what we can be and what we can do †¦ recovery is a process. It is a way of life. It is an attitude and a way of approaching the days challenges. Simon Champ, a prominent Australian mental health activist, also views recovery as a lifelong process which requires important changes in self : I have come to see that you do not simply patch up the self you were before developing schizophrenia, but that you have to actually recreate a concept of who you are that integrates the experience of schizophrenia. Real recovery is far from a simple matter of accepting diagnosis and learning facts about the illness and medication. Instead, it is a deep searching and questioning. A journey through unfamiliar feelings, to embrace new concepts and a wider view of self. It is not an event but a process. For many, I believe it is a lifelong journey. Despite painful times Anthony believes that we should always be hopeful as the recovery period brings with it periods of personal growth. Recovery is described as a deeply personal, unique process of changing ones attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills, and/or roles. It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful and contributing life, even with limitations caused by the illness. Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in ones life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness. The Tidal Model In my view, hospitalisation is a form of containment rather than a therapeutic process. Service users are expected to entertain themselves by talking amongst themselves, watching television, sitting in the smoking room, playing pool or attending occupational therapy. Mental health nurses need to break out of the mechanistic routine, which restricts their dialogue with service users. When the Tidal Model is in use, each service user undergoes a holistic assessment with a specially trained mental health nurse. All experiences are accepted as true and not dismissed as hallucinations (for example). The mental health nurse discusses with the service user what the person feels may have caused their admission and what they feel they need to do to address these problems. Every service user receives a copy of their assessment, which is recorded in their own words. This process helps to build up trust between the service user and the mental health nurse. They form a partnership whereby the nurse supports the service user through the recovery process. The emphasis is on caring with rather than caring for. The attitudes, beliefs and expressed needs of the service user are accepted at each stage of the recovery process. The user knows that the advice of the nurse may not necessarily be accepted. The persons story lies at the heart of the Tidal Model†¦..The Tidal Model is a philosophical approach to the recovery or discovery of mental health. It is not a treatment model, which implies that something needs to be done to change the person. Instead the Tidal Model assumes that the person is already changing, albeit in small and subtle ways†¦.In the Tidal Model water is used as the core metaphor. Following the Holistic Assessment the service user enters into a period of Individual Care and Group Care. One to one Individual Care sessions are arranged on a daily basis. , The process of Individual Care involves developing a collaborative relationship within which the person can begin to develop awareness of the resources that (s)he currently possesses, which might be used to address the problem of living; what additional resources (support) might be needed; and what needs to happen next, to begin to move off on the recovery journey. Three forms of group work provide a supportive social structure for the Individual Care: The Discovery Group The Information Group The Solutions Group The Discovery Group brings together service users to discuss a set of pre-prepared questions that aim to generate simple reflection and light-hearted as well as meaningful conversation. Two members of the professional team normally lead the Discovery Group, but over time group participants may take turns in leading the session. The Discovery Group therefore aims to provide a setting within which people might experience a boost to their self-esteem, reclaiming in the process some of the personhood that has been lost, either as a function of the experience of mental ill-health, or of the experience of psychiatric care and treatment, or both. The Discovery Group provides an opportunity within which members may reclaim and develop further their ability to share with others, on a simple yet mutually rewarding basis, through simple question and answer sessions. The Information Group aims to provide practical advice to people about services they are presently using, or services that they might consider using. This advice is delivered in plain language, preferably in an entertaining, interesting or otherwise accessible way. Francis Bacons dictum that knowledge itself is power is the primary motivation behind the Information Group. Without knowledge we are not only ignorant, but also powerless. The people who lead the Information Group should have in-depth knowledge of specific topic areas who can comfortably answer intelligent and searching questions from people in care and perhaps also staff members. There are an infinite number of possible topics for the Information Group, but experience of the Tidal Model projects around the world suggests that the following are most popular: Medication Current care and treatment Psychotherapy and counselling Nutrition and well-being Social security benefits Community supports Specialist mutual support groups Housing and supported accommodation. The potential contribution to Information Groups that might be made by user/consumer-advocates, psychiatric survivors, or others who have navigated the recovery journey, is inestimable. Apart from special knowledge of the recovery journey, such people come carrying a huge beacon of hope. Their very presence signals the possibility of recovery, but also frames this within a realistic storyline. The Tidal Model emphasises the necessary search for solutions. Given that the problems of living which people experience determines the need for help, both lay and professional, it follows that we should be focused on solutions to these problems. However, unlike some other therapy models or treatment systems, we do not believe that the professionals have the answers to the persons problems†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦the Tidal Model needs to be tailored to suit every person in the programme. Everyone needs a theory of their own to explain how they got there, and how they might move off again, back onto the ocean of experience. So the pragmatic focus on finding solutions is carried over into the work of the Solutions Group. The Solutions Group is part of the heavy work of care-helping people to learn more about themselves and their problems and instilling hope in the recovery process. The Solutions Group is highly practical and focuses on conversations about change that is already taking place within individual members. What subtle examples of change is the person already becoming aware of? Alternatively the group will focus on conversations about what change might be like; how participants will know change when they encounter it. The Tidal Model focuses upon the unison between the service user and the professional helper. However †¦..the Tidal Model is an anti-professional approach to mental health care . It does not believe that there is special knowledge concerning mental health, known only to the professional, that can bring about the resolution of serious problems of human living, or speed the persons recovery. The Tidal Model proposes that only the person can ever own such knowledge†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..However, the person needs the sophisticated support to plan and execute the process of recovery. Finally the book offers us Ten Commitments which distil the essence of the practice of the Tidal Model. Value the voice: the persons story is the beginning and endpoint of the whole helping encounter. The persons story embraces not only the account of the persons distress, but also the hope for its resolution. This is the voice of experience. We need to guard it well, as the voice begins to help the person to make her or himself anew. There is no doubt in my mind that the Tidal Model promotes the process of recovery. The key features that set it aside from other models are: It is based on the personal stories of service users. It is based on caring with rather than caring for. It is a holistic model of care. It recognises that knowledge is power. It focuses upon solutions rather than problems. It promotes self-management and empowerment. It promotes the concept of therapeutic experience rather than containment. In this sense, the Tidal Model is truly groundbreaking.

Somatic Gene Therapy Essay -- Genetics Science Ethics Essays

Somatic Gene Therapy To a parent, the thought of their child having a severe, yet rare genetic disease brings guilt, sadness, and responsibility to an aching heart. Parents who see their child pass through life with the weight of a terminal illness often wish in their hearts that the curse had been placed upon them rather than their child. To some, the thought of the old clichà © "no parent ought to see their child die" seems to swim endlessly in their mind. The hope for a cure fills the hearts of many waiting on the edge of their seats in hopes for a better quality of life for themselves, loved ones, and human kind. The news of success with a novel technology in putting to rest these diseases brings a purpose in life. Such is the case with Ashanti DeSilva, a four-year-old girl diagnosed with severe combined immune deficiency (Human Gene Therapy). Ashanti hardly lived what would be call a normal life, confined to her sterile home where she battled common childhood diseases, like the cold, with massive amounts of antibiotics. She lived a life of separation, avoiding contact with the public and even those she loved. With a compromised immune system due to a missing gene in her genome, she was vulnerable to every passing germ. On September 14, 1990, Ashanti received a life changing treatment as the first approved gene therapy. In the procedure the researchers removed white blood cells from Ashanti, which were then grown in a lab. These cells were then spliced with the missing gene and infused back into Ashanti. Although this is a treatment and not a cure, Ashanti can now live a life she and her parents dreamed of. She can now attend school and play with friends and family without fear of contact, thereby living a more... ...lt;http://www.wiley.co.uk/genmed/clinical/> Human Gene Therapy (2000). National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/scopenotes/sn24htm>. Questions and Answers About Gene Therapy (1993). National Cancer Institute. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov/clinpdq/therapy/Questions_and_Answers_About_Gene_Therapy.htm>. Rubanyi, G. (2001). The Future of Human Gene Therapy. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 22,3, pp. 113-142. Walters, LeRoy, and Julie Gage Palmer. Ethics of Human Gene Therapy. Oxford University Press, New York. 1997. Williams, D. (2003). Gene Therapy-New Challenges Ahead. Science. 302, 5644, pp. 400. Wilson, J. (1997) What Is Gene Therapy? The Institute for Human Gene Therapy. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.med.upenn.edu/ihgt/info/whatisgt.html>.

jimhf Huck and Jim’s Relationship :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

Huckleberry Finn and Jim’s Relationship Throughout The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain illustrates the bond formed between Huck, the young white protagonist, and Jim, Huck's black companion. Huck's father Pap, while he was still alive, had beaten Huck repeatedly, kidnapped and scared his son to the extent, that Huck, out of fear, feigns his own death to escape Pap's grasp. While Huck and Jim travel down the river it becomes apparent that Jim is more of a father figure to Huck than his biological father. Pap teaches the virtues of a life not worth living, while Jim gives Huck the proper fatherly support, compassion, and knowledge for Huck to become a man. Although Huck and Jim come from separate racial backgrounds their time together allows them to surpass their ethnic segregation and become true friends, and family. A father's attributes are meant to be examples for which his offspring can base their own lives. Pap attains non-of these attributes. Pap is an ignorant drunkard who attempts to swindle and scam any possible person. He goes so far as to even filch from his-own son. Pap views Huck as someone upon whom he can assert himself. He attempts to drain Huck of all characteristics that would make Huck superior to himself. "You're educated, too, they say; can read and write. You think you're better'n your father, now, don't you, because he can't? I'll take it out of you... Ain't you a sweet-scented dandy, though? A bed; and bed-clothes... and your own father got to sleep with the hogs... I bet I'll take some o' these frills out o' you before I'm done with you."(21-23) Pap is no father to Huck, he berates, kidnaps, and beats his own son with no remorse. The only lessons that Huck learns from Pap are what not to do with his life. He's seen the draw-backs of alcohol, stealing, and other such elicit actions that his father has performed. Pap is a low down dirty scoundrel who wishes nothing but the worst for his-own son. While Pap acts as an anchor on Huck's heel, Jim opens up a new world for Huck, and becomes his companion and a resource of knowledge.

Being A Teenager Essay

Is hard, harder than some can imagine, harder than some can even remember. It’s those years you’ll never forget, though sometimes you wish you could wipe away. They seem to last forever, but when you look back, they went by so fast. Being a teenager is falling in love too fast, and too hard, talking for hours on the phone to your best friends, being talked about and talking about others. It’s being guilty when you’re innocent, it’s standing out and fitting in, it’s when you have a million questions that will N-E-V-E-R be answered. Being a teenager isn’t something you can really describe, unless you’re living it at the same time. It’s dealing with life when it crashes down on you, and trying your hardest to live through it. Everyone has their tough times, everyone goes through something, but being a teenager, that’s when you feel everything at once. When you’re in love you’re R-E-A-L-L-Y in love, when you hate someone you â€Å"despise† them, when you’re lonely, you’re miserable. Being a teenager is something you always have to go through, and it the best and worst years of your life. Being a teenager isn’t anything- it’s everything. It isn’t a big deal- it’s a HUGE deal. And while you’re being a teenager, you ought to live it up, because this is the one chance, the one time, you’ll fall in love for real, you’ll be really and truly happy. You’ll be young, and free, and careless, as teenagers usually are†¦When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us n a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief , who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face us with reality of powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.