Security of Social Networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Security of Social Networks - Essay Example The explosion in social networking marks a new stage in the global evolution of technologies and media. Social networking is merely about technologies but about human interactions. For thousands of young people, creating and updating social network content is an important part of their daily routines and a driver of their identity formation (Livingstone 2008). It is through social networks that people create and reconstruct their identities and invite convergence among their daily activities and social networking technologies. The most popular social networks, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace attract millions of new users every day. Social networking is often believed to be a technological embodiment of the twenty-first century’s lifelogging. In this sense, social networking can be legally defined as â€Å"the practice of using a web site or other interactive computer service to expand one’s business or social network†. These web-based applications and solutions ar e used by individuals and groups to construct a public or semi-public profile, create and articulate connections with other users of the same network, and view and manage their own and their friends’ connections within the given social network. The uniqueness of social networks is not only in that they allow for creating productive social connection but also that they make other social networks and connections visible to users. Social networks enhance public connectivity and impose new social expectations on users. Needless to say, not all social network users are fair and honest. Social networking has far-reaching legal implications. Apart from unprecedented self-expression and community engagement opportunities, social networking enables and facilitates the main dangers of the Internet age. More specifically, social networks attract those who use them to download malware, spam, steal private information and use it in criminal schemes (Nelson, Simek & Foltin 2009). Therefore , social networking is equally a remarkable achievement and a serious threat to the future of Internet technologies. Nonetheless, most, if not all, these threats can be easily tackled by means of wise social network policies, sophisticated security protection, regularly updated software and hardware, and perfect understanding of the risks posed by social networks in the global online reality. Legal controversies. Social networking is surrounded by much legal controversy. At once, the concept of social networking lacks a single legal definition (Terry 2010). Most of what is currently known about social networks and their legal features is due to the hard work of

Strategic Role of Information Systems in Contemporary Business Essay

Strategic Role of Information Systems in Contemporary Business Organisations - Essay Example Behind the Google search engine IT infrastructure are huge server farms and storage databases that enable the production of significantly high computational processing power. There is speculation about Google’s server farms, terabytes of storage disks packaged into shipping containers in order to allow for more set-ups of server farms around the world (Spencer 2011:35). These infrastructures are then distributed across numerous independent, which further provide resources for parallel computing. The arrangement has enabled Google to expand its market worldwide, surpassing the 100 billion dollars market capital as well as gaining admiration and respect all over the globe. Additionally, the paper uses Porter’s 5-forces approach to elaborate the competitive environment of the company as well as highlights its competitive advantages. Introduction The Google search engine is among the most widely used search engines in the globe. The firm has captured the hearts of informati on-craving individuals searching the web for everything and anything in their imagination. The growth of the company has been tremendous, dominating the search engine market by more than 60% worldwide (Scott 2008:162). Additionally, the firm currently has a market capital approaching the 200 billion dollars mark, which economically suggests that the company is doing great. The company capitalizes on information technology strategies to expand its market share, including improvement of its unique search engine algorithm as well as knowledge management techniques (Dalkir 2005:122). This paper seeks to analyze the conceptual framework of Google’s strategies and the application of knowledge management concept in developing and sustaining the strategic capabilities and the competitive edge of the company. The research strategy focuses on the recent adoption of knowledge management techniques in the search engine, as well as other application like the new social network Google Plus . The paper utilizes materials from educative and scholarly articles, journals, and books. Conceptual Framework The success of Google in the web-based search engine industry is attributed to the adoption of knowledge management principles in its search technology. Knowledge management is a powerful tool that Google has incorporated at the centre of its search paradigm (Fernandez and Leidner 2008:81). The search technology design is in such a manner that it polls the collective judgment of many web creators to optimize its search results. Consequently, the company has created a multi-billion dollar business empire from super-targeted advertisements that give magazines and newspaper classified a run for their money. Google was a first-mover in the many/ordinary business model, leaving most of the other competitors on the few/expert model (Bottletree Books 2011:23). The company capitalizes on the fact that search results be ranked based on collective judgment. The search results improv e as more people conduct web search using their application, enabling Google to associate relevant contents with keywords. Findings and Analysis The development of search engines began in early 1990s with aims of facilitating

The Consumer Decision Process Essay Example for Free

The Consumer Decision Process Essay 1.Explain the actions and considerations that relate to five stages of the consumer purchase decision process? The action and considerations that related to the five stages of the consumer purchase decision process are (a) Problem Recognition: This is frequently distinguished as the first and most vital advance in the clients choice procedure. A buy cant occur without the acknowledgment of the need. (b) Information search: Having perceived an issue or need, the subsequent stage a client may take is the data look arrange, keeping in mind the end goal to discover what they feel is the best arrangement. This is the purchasers push to look inside and outside business conditions, to recognize and assess data sources identified with the focal purchasing choice. (c) Evaluation of alternatives: As you may expect, people will assess diverse items or brands at this phase on the premise of option item properties – those which can convey the advantages the client is looking for. A factor that vigorously impacts this stage is the clients state of mind. (d) Purchase Decision: The penultimate stage is the place the buy happens. The two components: negative criticism from different clients and the level of inspiration to acknowledge the input. (e) Post-purchase behavior: In brief, clients will contrast items and their past desires and will be either fulfilled or disappointed. In this manner, these stages are basic in holding clients. 2.You will be graduating soon and have been offered what you offered what you consider the job of your dreams. The new position, however, requires some traveling so you will need a car. You currently do not have one. What decision process will you go through to purchase an automobile? Consumer purchase decision process 3.What are the five stages of the organizational buying process? Describe at least three differences from the consumer buying process. (a) Awareness, (b) Specification, (c) Proposals, (d) Evaluation, (e) Order: the three differences between organizational buying process and consumer buying process are (a)Planning: Most buys made by a business are arranged ahead of time, where similar buys may be spur of the moment purchases for a buyer. For instance, a business will design a worker lunch, pick the menu ahead of time and have the request set up to be provided food on a specific day. (b) Decision-making: As a rule, the buyer leader is the individual that at last purchases the item. For instance, the mother of a family may choose to purchase another sandbox for the kids, so she is either the one that goes out to make the buy or is close by with the father to settle on the last decision. (c) Support: Numerous organizations need help contracts when buying certain sorts of things. For instance, if a business buys a copier then the copier may need no less than a three-year guarantee on the item before the organization can finish the buy. 4.Global marketing is affected by economic considerations. Identify the three-step that should be performed when scanning the global marketplace. A sweep of the worldwide commercial center ought to incorporate (1) an appraisal of the monetary foundation in various nations, (2) estimation of buyer salary in various nations, and (3) acknowledgment of a nations cash trade rates. 5.Marketing information consists of secondary and primary data. Define each of these types of marketing information. Give examples of secondary and primary data. Primary data: is valuable data that you uncover and gather yourself through unique research. Expansive organizations ordinarily spend a lot of cash to direct this exploration, procuring claim to fame look into firms or advertising offices. Studies are well known unique research apparatuses and there are a few sorts: phone, mail, Internet and in-person are a few illustrations. Online review instruments give entrepreneurs a reasonable alternative, as long as you comprehend the impediments. Example: researching the internet, newspaper articles and company reports. Secondary Data: is data that another person has just led, however, the outcomes are accessible for others to utilize. A typical case of auxiliary information will be data gathered from the administration statistics. As an entrepreneur, exploit accessible auxiliary data; its more affordable as far as both cash and time, and its measurably solid as long as it isnt excessively old and is from a dependable source, for example, an administration office or significant college. Example: research reports, government reports, censuses, weather reports, interviews, the Internet, reference books, organizational reports and accounting documents. 6.Define product positioning. What are two approaches to product positioning? Give an example of each approach. Product positioning is the process marketers use to determine how to best communicate their products attributes to their target customers based on customer needs, competitive pressures, available communication channels and carefully crafted key messages. Example of product positioning: (a) Head-to-head Positioning; Here and there an item needs to contend specifically with focused brands for a similar target shopper. Normally this is on account of the items are comparable in qualities and benefits, and a great many people need basically similar things. For instance, a pizza eatery may contend no holds barred by touting the freshness of its fixings or the estimation of its cost. It would not bode well for the pizzeria to offer Chinese nourishment in an offer to bait an alternate demographic. (b) Differentiation Positioning; Separation situating is the quest for these new purchasers by presenting highlights or capacities unmistakable from a rivalry. For instance, some fast food advertis ers separate their menus by offering low-fat choices. Shoreline lodgings endeavor to draw in business explorers by including gathering focuses and official administrations. In the event that an organization offers a few brands of one item like oat or cleanser, it might utilize separation situating just to guarantee that its own particular offerings dont contend with each other. 7.Describe the decline stage of the product lifecycle. Explain the two strategies a company might employ if its product were in the decline stage of its product lifecycle. On the off chance that the attributes of the item life cycle stages and their showcasing suggestions are seen legitimately, the item may have made it to the last stage in the PLC: the decline stage. More often than not, the firm will have endeavored to keep the item to the extent that this would be possible in the development arrange. Nonetheless, once the offers of an item begin to fall or benefit can no further be kept up, the decay organize is come to. This does frequently occur because of the market passage of substitute items which fulfill client needs superior to the last item. Example: (a) Contracting out or Selling: Loyal clients of an item can be held when the brand or the rights to create and offer the item are given on to a specialty administrator or by subcontracting. Numerous little firms utilize this procedure since they are sufficiently adaptable to offer the items market a palatable return. Each gathering engaged with this procedure profits by the arrangement: the beg inning firm can arrange gainfully of an item it never again needs, customers can continue purchasing items they want, and the subcontractor or purchaser can pick up the advantages of a brand they would never have set up individually. (b) Milking or Harvesting: When this system is utilized, the item gets just next to zero showcasing support. The firm plans to expand the life of the item while creating the money and the time required to set up new items. Whats more, the moderate decay of the item furnishes the firm with adequate time to change in accordance with the declining income and to discover elective methods for producing pay.

Analysis Of The Cuban Missile Crisis History Essay

Analysis Of The Cuban Missile Crisis History Essay Introduction The Cuban Missile Crisis was an event occurred in October 1962 when the USA detected that the USSR had deployed medium range missiles in Cuba, which was ninety miles away from Florida. It was the period that the cold war reached its peak because of the possible confrontation between the two superpowers, the US and the USSR, at the time. The Cuban Missiles Crisis was a very important part of the world history because of the risk of nuclear war that could lead to the destruction of the world. Therefore, it is very fascinating to identify what happen before the crisis, the causes, the actual events in the crisis, and the impacts of the crisis (Rich 2003, 416-428). Prior to the Crisis The Cuban Revolution, began in 1956, was the outcome of extensive economic oppression of Cuba by the USA. During Batistas, the ruthless ruler of Cuba, regime, Cuba per capita income was twice greater than other countries in general. The Cuban economy was controlled by the USA, which owned 90% of Cubas telephone and electronic services, 50% of Cubas railway, and 40% of Cubas sugar production (Johnson 1965,p 443). Furthermore, the USA put a very strict controlled on Cuban sugar production. The USA also controlled Cuban import quota, divided lands in to estates, and forced the Cuban farmers to grow monoculture crop, which was sugar (Dye Sicotte 2011, p.674). These USAs investments in Cuba were massive. By the end of Batistas rule, Cuba had the highest investment from the USA than any other countries in Latin America at that time; thus, Cubas per capital income was the highest in Latin America (Johnson 1965, p. 445). However, the distribution of wealth was not equally distributed. The ma jority of people were illiterate, and the mortality rate was very high because the health care system was not extended to the poor in the rural areas, who remained in poverty (Mabry 2003). Furthermore, Batista was a corrupted dictator, and a pro western ruler. These political and economic oppressions from Batiste and the USA inspired Fidel Castro, the charismatic revolution leader, to revolt for reforms (Rich 2003, p. 417). Between 1956 to 1959, Fidel Castro, Ernesto Che Guevera, and his younger brother Rual used the tactic Guerilla warfare to fight against Batistas army at Mount Sierra Maestra in Cuba where he gained support from the local framers. The guerrilla warfare proved to be successful. On January 1959, Castro and his troops were able to overthrown Batista and his government. After the overthrown of Batista government, Fidel Castro set up a shadow government consisted of major Cuban political figures. Still, the majority of power was in the hand of Castro. When the shadow government failed to put forward his reforms, he dismissed them, and took control of the government as he appointed himself Cubas prime minister (Rich 2003, p 418). Two months after the victory of the Guerrilla force, Castro paid his first visit to the USA where his story was romanticized by the media. He was supposed to have a meeting with Eisenhower; however, the President refused to have a meeting with him, and went to the golf court. He was accommodated by Nixon, who was the vice president at that time. During the meeting, he refused to accept USA financial support because he believed that it would continue the USA influence in Cuba. After Castro visited the USA, the relation between the USA and Cuba began to decline (Rich 2003, 419). One month after the visit, Fidel Castro began his reforms. He nationalized Cuban lands, cattle ranch, bank, railroads, oil, and other utilities, which were once owned by the USA (Perez 2011, p. 230-231). On the other hands, the relation between the Cuba and the USSR had become more dynamic. In order to reach economic independency from the USA, Castro turned to the USSR for support. As a result, in 1960, Cuba trade with the USA declined to 0%; while, trade with the USSR increased to 43% (Leogrande Thomas 2002, p 325-363). The Bay of Pig Invasion The Bay of Pig Invasion, January 3, 1961, was the CIAs plan to overthrown Castro government by launching thousand of Cuban exiles on Cubas Bay of Pigs believing that only thousand of trained exiles would be able to overthrown Castro government. However, the mission was a total failure because the Cuban army was already waiting for the Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs. As a result, one hundred people were killed and thousands of people were taken as political prisoners. The Bay of Pigs invasion was the last Eisenhower administration plan, which took action during Kennedy presidency (Rich 2003,p. 420). There were several reasons for the causes of the Bay of Pigs Invasion. However, the main reason was the US insecurity of its decline in Latin America domination. The USA based their policy on Latin America policy accordingly to the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the USA must contain its influence in the Latin America (Perez 2011, P.233). In other words, the idea that the communist Cub a could influence other Latin America countries to transform their political systems to communism was intolerable for the USAs standard (Ferguson 1961, 288-290). Causes The Soviet Unions Hidden Agendas There were several reasons for the USSR to installed missile in Cuba. According to Khrushchev, his two main motives were to balance the missile gap between the USA and the USSR, and to prevent any further America invasion on Cuba (Cimbala 1999, p. 199). Khrushchev believed that the only way to prevent Cuba from the USA invasion was to install missiles in Cuba (Allyn et al 1989-1990, p.138). He believed that it would protect the Cuban national pride. Moreover, in 1959, the US installed Jupiter and Thor missiles, intermediate-range ballistic missiles, in Turkey, which pointed directly at the USSR. Furthermore, during the 50s and the 60s the US had advanced the USSR in terms of the arm race, therefore, Khrushchev decided to deploy missiles in Cuba as a mean to for the USSR to reach symmetry with the USA, which would provide him with negotiation power for the missile trade. He wanted to propose to US that the USSR would remove missiles from Cuba if the USA would remove missiles from Turk ey (Allyn, Blight Welch 1989-1990, p.139). His motive to reach symmetry in terms of arm race with the USA could be seen as a mean for the USSR to boost its nation prestige. If the USA could deploy missiles in Turkey and Italy, the USSR could also deploy missiles in Cuba, which was ninety miles away from the USA (ibid). Nevertheless, President John F. Kennedy already planned to remove the Jupiter missiles from Turkey. (Berstein 1980, p. 120-121). Thus, there should be hidden agendas under Khrushchevs actions. According to many American scholars, the deployment of missiles in Cuba were Khrushchevs plans to test USA reaction for future war, to demonstrate the USSR nuclear superiority to the Soviet and Chinese governments, to persuade the USA that the arm race was useless, and to increase Khrushchev popularity at home and in the Communist bloc, so that he could have freedom to reduce USSR arm built (Cimbala 1999, p. 199). Cuban insecurity The main reason for Cuba agreement on the installation of missile with the USSR was its insecurity. After the Bay of Pig Invasion in 1961, the CIA planed many assassin plots on Fidel Castro. According to the BBC, the CIA and the Cuban exiles came up with more than 600 plots to assassinate him. The plots varied from poisoning, car bombs, to massive underwater explosion. The suspects involved in the plot varied from the mafias to one of Castros ex lovers (Campbell 2009, n.d.). One of the assassination plots that actually took place was a strafe in Havana hotel by Alpha 66, which killed several Cubans and Soviet technicians (Brenner 1990, p.121). On the same hand, the USA began a serious trade embargo against Cuba. If other countries trade with Cuba, they would not receive financial aids from the USA. The Cuban government viewed the USs policy as a mean to weakening the Castro government by weakening Cubas economy (Brenner 1990, p. 188). Moreover, the Cuban intelligent discovered that t he CIA planed another invasion on Cuba, Operation Mongoose, which would be more substantial than the previous invasion. In order for the Cuban government to protect Cuba sovereignty, they believed that they need military aids from the USSR (Brenner 1990, p. 189). Therefore, Castro decided to let the USSR installed missiles on their island. The Crisis and the Resolution In 1962, the USSR sent a cargo ship to Cuba. The ship carried sixty missiles with forty launchers, and 40,000 Soviet technicians for the deployment of middle range missiles in Cuba (Kozak 2009, p. 19). On October 14, the U-2, USA spy plane, spotted missiles in Cuba, which pointed directly to the US. The US intelligent informed the President on October 17 (Berstein 1980, p.9). After the President was informed, there was a meeting between President John F. Kennedy and the EXCOMM, the Committee of the national Security. Many plans were proposed during the meeting. One of the most obvious plans was the scheme to use air strike to remove missiles from Cuba. However, Robert Kennedy, John F. Kennedys younger brother, advised the President not to use air strike because there was no way to guarantee that the air strike could remove all of the missiles from Cuba. If the air strike could not remove all missiles from Cuba, it would give the Cubans time to deploy missiles against the USA. Similar ly to the air strike, any military strikes against the Cuban could lead the Cubans to deploy missiles against the USA. Therefore, President Kennedy and his advisors came up with the naval blockade method as a way to deal with the Cubans (Rich 2003, p. 422). On October 22 John F. Kennedy announced to the media that the Cubans had deployed missiles against the USA with the aid from the USSR. He informed the media of the quarantine, naval blockade, as a mean to bloc USSR ship that carried missile to Cuba, and if the USSR did not turn or stop its cargo ships from entering Cuba, there would be consequences (Weimasma, Larson 1997, p. 13). However, the USSRs cargo ships did not turn back, but its cargo ships did not break the USA quarantine. It seemed that the confrontation between the USSR and the US could happen anytime (Weimasma, Larson 1997, p. 13). Nevertheless, from October 22 to 28, President JFK and Chairman Khrushchev exchanged several letters. Kennedy received Khrushchevs second letter on October 26. The letter proposed that the USSR would remove missiles from Cuba if the USA removed the Jupiter missiles from Turkey and, and that JFK must make a promise in front of the public that the USA would never invade Cuba (Thinkquest Cuban m issile crisis: letters, 1997). On October 27, one day after Khrushchev second letter was sent, the USs U-2 plane was shot down in Cuba. This act was seen by some of American politician as an invitation to start war. This is the quote from Secretary of Defense McNamara `This means war with the Soviet Union. However, because of the secret meeting between Robert Kennedy and Soviet ambassador Dobrynin, the situation was able to cool down. Robert Kennedy assured that the President would remove the missiles in Turkey (Weimasma, Larson 1997, p. 21) On October 28, JFK sent Khrushchev another letter proposed that in exchange for the USSR to uninstall missiles from Cuban soil within the UN inspection, the USA would never invade Cuba, and secretly uninstall missiles from Turkey. Khrushchev accepted the proposal from President Kenndy; thus, both countries were able to resolve their conflicts. In essence, the Cuban Missile Crisis was able to resolve because the USA accepted the USSR proposal. I t removed missiles from Turkey, and made a public announcement that it would never invade Cuba. On the same hand, Khrushchev accepted the USA proposal, and uninstalled missiles from Cuba within inspectors from UN observation (Thinkquest Cuban missile crisis: letters, 1997). Nevertheless, JFKs motives to secretly remove of the missiles in Turkey and Italy should be emphasized. Why would he need to do it secretly? According to many scholars, he was afraid of national resistance from the government and the American citizens as well as losing support from them (Weimasma, Larson 1997, p. 23). Impacts The Cuban Missiles Crisis left several impacts on the USA and the USSR foreign policy. The first impact was the increase in communication between the US and the USSR. Because of the crisis, both superpowers had realized that they needed to improve communication between the two countries to prevent any forms of crisis from occurring again (Rich 2003, p.425). As a result, a hotline was installed between the USAs president and the USSRs chairman (ibid). Moreover, because of the potential confrontation between the two superpowers, which could lead to nuclear war, President Kennedy began to favor the idea of coexistence (Billingsley, p.6). Therefore, after the crisis, there was a temporary period of dà ©tente, the period that the cold war heat cools down (Billingsley p.7). In addition, in August 5, 1963, the USA and the USSR both signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The treaty forbidden the testing of nuclear weapons on the earth surface, space, and underwater (Rich 2003, p.427). However, the treaty itself was futile because it did not stop the built up of nuclear weapons, and prevent China from obtaining the nuclear weapons on the following year (Rich 2003, p. 428). Subsequently, the USA and the USSR continue the arm race for another twenty five years. They also competed in terms of strategic gaining (Billingsley p.6). Furthermore, the treaty caused the relation between the USSR and China to decline. Because of the treaty, China concluded that the USSR was being weak, and more importantly, sold its soul to the capitalist camp. Hence, China broke out from the USSRs spear of influence and gained the status of superpower by itself. This caused the balance of power to become imbalance (Rich 2003, p. 428). After the Cuban Missile Crisis, most of the USs oversea policy was focused on the Americanization of Vietnam and the Vietnam War, which required full attention from the USA military resources (Rich 2003, p. 423). Conclusion In conclusion, the major events prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis were the Cuban Revolution, and the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The main causes of the crisis were the Soviet Union hidden agendas and the Cuban insecurity, which was caused by the United States of America. During the crisis, President John F. Kennedy and Chairman Khrushchev exchanged many letters before the resolution could be made. The period of the crisis was the period that the cold war reached its peak because both superpowers almost confront each other. If they had confronted each other, the use of nuclear weapons could have happened. After the crisis, the USSR removed missiles from Cuba under the UN supervision in exchanged for the USA to remove the Jupiter missiles in Turkey, and to never invade Cuba. The impacts of the Cuban Missile Crisis were the improvement in communication between the USA and the USSR. A hot line was established between both countries leaders. Moreover, President Kennedy began to view the USA rel ationship with the USSR in terms of coexistence. As a result, there was a period of detente, and agreement of the Nuclear Test Treaty Ban, which was signed by the USA and the USSR. However, the nuclear competition still continued for the next 25 years. Furthermore, both countries began the competition in the new area, which was the strategic competition.

An Indian Woman In Guatemala Essay -- Guatemala India History Historic

An Indian Woman In Guatemala Guatemala is the land of Eternal Springs and the home of the richly cultured and historic Mayan people. It it also the country of Rigoberta Menchu, an illiterate farm worker, turned voice of oppressed people everywhere. Guatemala also has the sad distinction of being home to Latin America's oldest civil war. "For more than three decades, left-wing guerrillas have fought a series of rightist governments in Guatemala. The war has killed an estimated 140,000 in the country, which has 11 million people." (N.Y. Times June 14, 1996 pA4 col 2) This is a story of a people in crisis, and one woman's struggle to use truth, as a means of setting her people free. The majority of the population are Indians, and much of the struggles arise out of the ashes of the past. Spain conquered Guatemala in 1524, which was the start of the oppression of the native people of Guatemala. Since this time the native people have been ruled by the Spanish speaking minority, the Ladinos, many of which are descended from the Spanish colonists. Beginning in 1954, when Guatemala's elected government was overthrown by the army, the military began a brutal war against the Indian people. This type of torture and oppression continued, and during the 1970's the repression was especially harsh; during this time more and more Indians began to resist. It was during this time that Rigoberta Menchu's family became involved in the resistance. The situation in Guatemala is similar to South Africa, where the black majority are ruled with absolute power by the white minority. Like South Africa, the Indians in Guatemala are lacking in even the most basic of human rights. "Indeed the so-called forest Indians are being systematically exterminated in the name of progress. But unlike the Indian rebels of the past, who wanted to go back to pre-Columbian times, Rigoberta Menchu is not fighting in the name of an idealized or mythical past." (Menchu xiii) Rigoberta is working toward drawing attention to the plight of native people around the globe. Once an illiterate farm worker, she has taught herself to read and write Spanish, the language of her oppressor, as a means of relating her story to the world. She tells the story of her life with honesty and integrity in hopes of impressing upon the world the indignation of the oppressed. In additi... ...She has been accused of supporting the country's leftist actions and harming Guatemala's image abroad. In awarding the prize, the Nobel committee wanted to draw attention to the plight of Guatemala's Indians in the hope that it would lead to improved conditions. Recently, Guatemalans have found cause for that hope, as a peace accord is due to be signed in January 1997, ending the fighting between the rebels and the government. In addition, a truth commission has been formed to help families of disappeared members find answers relating to their deaths, by uncovering the country's many unmarked mass graves. Rigoberta Menchu continues to live in exile under death threghts upon her return to Guatemala. She is well adapted to the life which has been handed down to her, by generations of poor and oppressed Indians. Yet when she speaks, she speaks of her beautiful culture, and of the many joys that her family had over the years, all without a trace of bitterness in her voice. Works Cited Menchu, Rigoberta. I, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman In Guatemala. London: Verso, 1984. "Guatemalans Take New Step Toward Peace." The New York Times 14 June 1996, pA4 col 2

Mass Media :: Violence Technology Papers

Mass Media Part I: The Problem. In the aftermath of the Columbine school shootings, parents were eager to find someone or something to take the blame for the tragedy. We as Americans are a culture that has to be able to control the outcome of our everyday lives. When something happens that catches us off guard, we get frightened and jump to conclusions. With no closure in sight from the columbine shootings, parents across the country wanted answers. Instead of evaluating their own parenting, people began to say that video games, movie and television were the problem. The idea was that by eliminating the violence on TV and that will stop kids from being violent. The news media, fearing for its ratings took this idea and ran with it doing in depth stories and all types of special reports. The goal of this newsletter is not to place blame on anyone, but to bring to the realization that the only way to help our youth is to not blame outside factors for behavior but approach the problem directly, in the home, face to face with the child. Columbine: The tragedy On a sunny spring day in April 1999, a suburban high school in Jefferson County, Colorado, found itself under attack by two of its own. In less than fifteen minutes of the first-lunch period on that Tuesday, two student gunmen killed 13 and wounded 21 before they turned the guns on themselves in the most devastating school shooting in U.S. history. Columbine High School is one of three in the unincorporated southeast portion of Jefferson County. The county itself lies on the west side of the Denver metropolitan area and is the most populated county in the state. The large unincorporated region along the county’s southern plains and foothills has a population of nearly 100,000 residents - 1,945 of who attended Columbine High School. The two student gunmen were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Their plans for attacking the school, recovered by investigators after the tragedy had taken place, evolved over one year’s time. In those plans, Klebold and Harris outlined a mission to kill as many students and faculty as possible. They would set off destructive bombs inside the school and then shoot any survivors trying to run out. Bombs inside their cars would explode later, killing law enforcement, fire or medical personnel responding to the scene.

Basic Ethics Essay

According to Michael Boylan’s book Basic Ethics the study of ethics concerns itself with â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong, judgments that assign praise or blame. In the case of ethics, these judgments are usually assigned to people or to actions (Boylan, 2009). This essay will discuss three major ethical theories, virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. It will also provide a personal experience to help explain the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts as it relates to utilitarianism. The three ethics theories discussed herein are the virtue ethics theory that examines a person’s character over a long period of time and is forgiving of an occasional mistake that is not consistent with a person’s past character. Deontological ethics or duty-based morality is a theory based on a â€Å"nonconsequentialist† view of people and moral decision-making. Deontological ethics supports that actions are not justified by their cons equences. Rather, factors other than good outcomes determine the â€Å"rightness† of actions (Deontological Ethics, 2014). Utilitarianism in the most basic term is based on measuring â€Å"good† in terms of usefulness. Utilitarianism is often defined as an effort to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. Also this principle advocates that the ends justify the means in other words if a negative action must be used to reach a greater good then its justified (What Is Utilitarianism?, 2014). There are marked differences between the three ethics theories. Unlike deontic or action based theories of morality that focus on the actions a person performs, the virtue theory, aka character ethics focuses on helping people develop good character traits, like kindness and generosity, â€Å"The deontological ethics is grounded in the â€Å"Categorical Imperative,† The Categorical Imperative simply declares, â€Å"Act as if the maxim of thy action  were to become by thy will a universal law of nature.† The Categorical Imperative is very similar to the â€Å"Golden Rule† of Chri stianity, and other religions (â€Å"do unto others as you would have them do unto you†)† (Deontological Ethics, 2014). On the other hand utilitarianism revolves around the concept that the end justifies the means. A personal example I have of utilitarianism being practiced was when my Father was in hospice with terminal throat cancer. He ordered a DNR, do not resuscitate. My family and I did not like his wish but it is what he chose for himself and we all accepted his final wish. Although many feel this is not right to just let someone die without trying to help the person dying the attitude on these decisions is purely determined by the person dying. The utilitarian approach can be selfish in nature because the judgments is strictly that of the person thinking of his own truth in my Fathers case his last dying wish. So depending on what kind of person you are, how you were raised, the environment you live in, your faith, the influences you may have from the social circle you belong to you all these factors could influence your ethics and depending on the situation on hand you may find yourself moving towards one or the other of these ethic theories. Morally or ethically, I would never let my Dad die without making some attempt to resuscitate him but on the other hand I set aside my moral belief and my ethics to allow my Dad his last and final wish. References Boylan, M. (2009). Basic Ethics (2nd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Deontological Ethics. (2014, February 17). Retrieved from allaboutphilosophy .org: http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/deontological-ethics.htm What Is Utilitarianism? (2014, February 17). Retrieved from wisegeek.org: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-utilitarianism.htm