Identify a lobbying group and critically evaluate the impact they have Essay

Identify a lobbying group and critically evaluate the impact they have had on either a specific tourism initiative or general tourism policy - Essay Example association also aims at providing best quality travel and accommodation services to the customers at an affordable price through maintaining sustainability. Apart from sustainability policy, ABTA is also aiming at creating awareness among the tourists regarding the welfare of wildlife, as tourism and wildlife are closely interlinked with each other for the betterment of the nation. Thus, ABTA has been playing a major role in promoting travel and tourism of the United Kingdom and thereby helping in the growth of the economy (1ABTA, 2014; International Centre for Responsible Tourism, 2014; Elliott, 1997). ABTA is an association, which works for the benefit of the tourism industry by maintaining certain ethical considerations. ABTA provides support, expertise as well as protection to their members and tourists. It helps in providing greater experiences to the tourists in a cost effective manner by maintaining ethics and good practices. The impact of the ABTA has been critically evaluated below stating its importance in the tourism industry. ABTA follows a sustainable tourism policy along with providing proper services to the consumers. The aim of the association is to create a better place to live and to visit without harming the environment much. In order to adopt this policy, it is vital to reduce the harmful impacts on the environment through tourism. It ensures that the economies of the locality as well as the local communities are being benefited by the tourism to a considerable extent. Contextually, in the present day context tourism industries are adopting policies to promote eco-friendly tourism in order to protect the environment by providing a green environment. ABTA highly focuses on providing a sustainable holiday destinations for the people. Holidays are now a day considered as an important part of life and it is believed by ABTA that in order to make these holidays more enjoyable and pleasurable for the people, it is required to concern for the nature

Masafi Was Established In 1976 Commerce Essay

Masafi Was Established In 1976 Commerce Essay The assurance of quality is an essential aspect for any organization wherein stringent measures are implemented for the processes as well as the products of the company. The quality standards for the respective industry are constantly being updated in keeping with environmental changes and the availability of the latest facilities on a global scenario. TQM provides the means for analyzing the effectiveness of the current quality control measures implemented by an organization. Subsequently it also enables the identification of the best possible alternatives for achieving the desired quality standards. Consumer satisfaction is one of the main aspects which is given due emphasis while managing quality at the various levels in the organization. This adherence to the preferences of the consumers is termed as consumer defined quality and this plays a crucial role in the establishment of the quality standards as the needs of the consumers have to be incorporated into the quality modules ( Total Quality Management). Moreover, the consumers have their own perspective of quality which may depend on their income levels or other relevant factors. Organizations are faced with the challenge of identifying and analyzing these changes so as to be able to comply with the current trends in quality perception. Another significant component of quality perception is the presence of consumer services and after-sales services which determine the extent to which the quality of the product or service is retained post sales. This also reflects the efforts of the organization to ensure that the consumers are duly communicated about any queries which they may present. Hence it may be deduced that TQM is a highly significant aspect of any organization by means of which it is provided with the means of managing the highly competitive scenario existing today (Total Quality Management). Company Background: Masafi is one of the leading brands in the UAEs FMCG sector and has been identified with being a leader in the growing range of its innovative product offerings. With respect to bottled mineral water, Masafi has been the most sought after brand in the Gulf and the Middle East for more than 35 years. Even since its establishment, Masafi has always maintained strict emphasis on innovation and business excellence while determining its growth strategy. The adherence to high quality global standards has been the primary reason behind the immense success of the organization. This has also enabled the organization to retain its existing consumer groups while generating new consumers in keeping with its wide range of product offerings (Masafi: The Place). Company History: Masafi was established in 1976 with initial investments being made by a paid up capital of $ 5.5 Million. Further investments made by the company have been in line with the communitys benefit with adequate importance being made on the maintenance of relationship with all the stakeholders of the company, including partners and associates. Over the years, the company has been able to establish a highly effective distribution network by means of which it has been able to ensure adequate supply of its products in keeping with the demands generated in the market. It has also strived to keep its equipments and technological infrastructure updated as per current standards and this has enabled the company to always meet the current expectations of the target consumer segments (Masafi). Vision: The vision of Masafi reflects its adherence to offering premium products for the achievement of better living standards (Masafi). Mission: Masafi strives to provide premium utility products by means of continuous innovation and continual product development, and in turn strengthening its leadership in the FMCG sector (Masafi). Strategic Objectives of the Company: Masafi has defined the following strategic objectives with respect to its performance in the FMCG sector: Becoming a leader in the FMCG industry both domestically as well as globally. Generating adequate awareness about the quality of Masafis products and its CSR initiatives. Emphasizing on the expansion of the product range and being a completely FMCG oriented organization. Gaining access into new markets both domestically as well as globally. Maintaining adequate focus on the communication of the product innovations undertaken by the organization (Masafi). SWOT Analysis: The following is the SWOT analysis of Masafi which presents the strength of its internal and external environment: Strengths: The company has a well established brand in the UAE as well as in the GCC region. The current export of Masafis products stand at 30% to 40% of the companys overall trade. Masafi has gained a massive share of 42% in UAEs bottled water sector which has made it a major player in this region. The company has innovated flavored mineral water which provides a completely new product offering to the consumers (Masafi). Weaknesses: The company has not been able to generate preferences towards the brand in the regions of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The product offering is limited in terms of food items. The Masafi brand has a greater degree of association with being a mineral water brand rather than being a comprehensive FMCG company (Masafi). Opportunities: There is a huge scope for the expansion of the companys product offerings in keeping with the immense potential in the global FMCG industry. The company could also enter into strategic alliances with other organizations that are in compliance with the business strategy of the company. There is also a scope for obtaining sponsorships for the companys products which would be helpful in creating greater awareness and exposure of the Masafi brand. The stable and viable economic conditions in the target regions provide the company with significant growth possibilities (Masafi). Threats: The FMCG sector is characterized by the presence of various levels of organizations and this has resulted in the increase in the already high competition in the market. The fixed prices of product lines in the FMCG sector prevents any possible attempts from being undertaken to gain leverage in the market with respect to the pricing strategies of the firms. There is a significant possibility of the company being subjected to negative publicity owing to poor output levels. The presence of substitutes has also provided a significant risk to the performance of Masafis products in the market (Masafi). Competitors of the Company: The competitors of Masafi span though the domestic as well as the global scenario with respect to the FMCG products, especially the bottled water segment. Main Local Competitors (Bottled Water Segment): Al Ain Water Company Arwa Oasis Main Global Competitors (Bottled Water Segment): Nestle Volvic Acqua Panna Aquafina Evian Competitors in Other Product Lines: Frito Lays Lacnor Fine Competitive Strategy: The primary competitive strategy of Masafi is to build strong relationships with the consumers as well as the stakeholders to the company. By ensuring the acquisition of feedback from the consumers, the organization strives to develop and maintain a consumer friendly environment in the company. In this regard, Masafi assures the provision of prompt service to the consumers with the presence of a dedicated staff of sales executives (Masafi). Masafi also makes use of the promotional strategy for the consumers of the companys products so as to maximize the scope of awareness in the market. However the companys decision to diversify into flavored mineral water has been the most effective competitive strategy undertaken by the company in order to introduce innovative products in the market (Masafi). Competitive Advantage: Masafis competitive edge has been defined with the introduction of the flavored mineral water products by the company which has broadened this product line to include a wide variety of flavors including jasmine, strawberry, lemon and peach. Also the adherence to high quality standards, latest equipment and effective consumer relations has been beneficial for Masafi with respect to the definition of its competitive advantage (Masafi). Overview of Current TQM Systems: Masafi has been known to adhere to high quality standards and it implements strict quality controls to ensure that only the best products reach the consumers. The TQM currently being practices at Masafi is as follows: Masafi follows a best practice approach in its quality management efforts. It emphasizes on the identification of potential mistakes before they occur in the process and this is highly beneficial in reducing as well as preventing the presence of errors. As part of these measures, the company emphasizes the use of proper documentation of all the processes along with revision control to maintain the accuracy of the data associated with the processes. Such measures are quintessential in cost savings and implementing overall quality control. For this, the company was awarded the ISO 9001:2008 quality certification on 22nd July, 2008 (Quality). The company strives to ensure that the identification, prioritization and management of environmental risks so as to comply with the global standards for environmental good practice. For this, the company was awarded the 14001:2004 quality certifications (Masafi honored with Environmental Performance Certificate 2011, 2012). Masafi has implemented adequate controls for controlling food safety hazards by ensuring that the levels identified are maintained within the acceptable risk limits. Due to this measure, Masafi has been quality certified with HACCP since 15ht February, 2001 (Quality). With respect to the beverage product lines, the company has assured quality in its products by complying with the NSF beverage quality certification programs. This certification is an international accreditation which is recognized by NSF International (Quality). Masafi is a certified member of the Asia Middle East Bottled Water Association (ABWA) which conducts routine tests on the quality of the products, services and systems in accordance with its own model code, FDA, WHO, Codex Alimentarius Standards, and other applicable national norms (Quality). TQM Principles and Quality Philosophies Adopted: Masafi has exhibited a stark adherence to the philosophies of the three gurus of TQM and this is reflected in the high quality levels that have been achieved by the company. The influence of Deeming is seen in the Companys Quality Philosophies pertaining to its products which bear a significant degree of correlation to the needs and preferences of the consumers. Another area where this influence is seen is in the management of relationships with the shareholders which the company maintains at highly effective levels. The evidence of the adoption of Deemings quality philosophies is the provision of prompt service to the consumers with the presence of a dedicated staff of sales executives. This dedication to the consumers and the importance given to their feedback forms an integral component of the practices adopted by Masafi (Quality Gurus). Source: The above diagram depicts the chain reaction process as propounded by Deeming and this reflects fundamental structure behind the processes being undertaken by Masafi (Quality Gurus). Jurans quality philosophy highlights the inception of the Juran Trilogy which comprises of quality planning, quality control and quality improvements. Masafi has been known to effectively adapt to the environmental changes by integrating its technical as well as non technical framework in keeping with the current developments being made in the environment. Moreover the company focuses largely on the utilization of innovation in the processes as well as its products which is a direct outcome of quality control and planning efforts. An apt example of this is the identification, prioritization and management of environmental risks which is done by Masafi to comply with the global standards for environmental good practice. The introduction of the flavored mineral water products by the company has helped the company to broaden its product offerings and has also enabled the company to reach new consumer segments (U.). Crosby highlighted the nonconformance nature of quality measurement where the assurance of quality in the products and / or services should be maintained at zero. There is no scope for minimal defects in Crosbys philosophy. The company strives to achieve this ambitious quality target but it has not been able to achieve zero defects in its processes (Quality Gurus). Masafi has benefited immensely by the adoption of the philosophies and this can be seen in the fact that it had been acknowledged as the top most brands in the beverage segment and the second most popular brand in the non food FMCG category. This accreditation was received in 2010 which further exemplifies the efforts of the organization to maintain high degree of relevancy with the current best practices and standards. It is the adherence to high quality standards and continual innovation which has enabled the company to become a leader in the FMCG sector in the region (Quality Gurus). The barriers faced by Masafi while implementing TQM was the determination of the quality perception of the consumers which is very difficult to comply with on a frequent basis. Moreover the green initiatives undertaken by the Emirati government requires that the products are made in compliance with environmental protection standards. The companys products make use of plastic for their packaging and the minimization of plastic usage was a significant challenge for the implementation of TQM standards. In order to resolve this challenge, Masafi had to establish new standards for environmental sustainability by initiating recycling campaigns and ensuring minimal wastage of packaging material used for its products (Masafi; Quality Gurus). Leadership Status: Masafis leaders have their own leadership style for leading employees and organization towards the growth of enterprise. The company implemented transformational leadership style wherein the leadership was able to influence its employees for the attainment of goals and nurture them by encouraging positive behaviors by the means of sharing organizational vision. The vision and mission of the company has been effectively communicated to all the stakeholders of the company as well as the employees which has enabled them to maintain the required drive for innovating processes and product developments. By inculcating innovative thinking and aligning the processes in keeping with ecological preservation efforts, Masafi has been able to achieve the desired levels of corporate social responsibility and adoption of sustainable business practices. Then impact of the leadership can also be seen in the continual product developments and incorporation of the change elements of the environment whi ch are undertaken in the company. This is not only beneficial for assuring the maintenance and achievement of high performance levels by the organization in the respective market. The leadership has also enabled the company to manage the stiff competition in the market which is a common occurrence in the hugely populated FMCG sector (Masafi). Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair is the chairman of Masafi and he emphasis on the development of the human resources along with the processes of the organization by means of which high levels of excellence may be achieved by the organization. The product mix is also continually updated in keeping with the changes in consumer preferences and the dynamics of the respective target market. The leadership principles of driving change through innovation and sustainable business practices is in line with the principles defined by quality leadership principles. By adhering to strict control measures and quality levels, Masafi has been able to maintain effective relationships with the consumers and this has enabled them to accurately identify the needs of the consumers which in turn has been beneficial in the identification of the current market trends. Hence the efforts of the leadership undertaken by Masafi are reflective of the principles established by quality leaders (Chairmans Message). Masafis leadership is indicative of the following aspects: There is adequate level of awareness with respect to the roles and professional obligations of the employees and this helps the management to devise better strategies. New trends are identified for enabling the organization to achieve new heights in business excellence. A sense of ownership, accountability and ownership is inculcated in the workforce. Adequate training and development measures are provided to the employees by means of which they are enabled to comply with the constantly changing external as well as internal environment of the organization (Chairmans Message). Employee Involvement Status: Masafi exhibits a high level of employee involvement which has enabled the reduction in long term costs being achieved over environmental cost mechanisms. The involvement has also been beneficial in facilitating consistent, effective and efficient internal operations in the company. This adherence to the environmental standards has also enabled the company to sustain favorable working environment which is quintessential in assuring the presence of the required drive in its human resource. This is reflective of the concepts adopted by Masafi for ensuring a highly motivated workforce. The needs of the employees are duly addressed and the policies as well as the changes are duly communicated to the employees, by means of which the employees are able to dedicate their efforts in alignment with the objectives and vision of the company (Masafi). Masafi has employee strength of 1000 employees who are dedicated completely towards the achievement of the desired levels of achievement. The company continuously conducts an evaluation of the needs of the employees by obtaining feedback from the employees by conducting discussions with the employees. The discussions also enable the employees to express their needs in a better manner and this is highly beneficial in designing training and development modules at the organization (Masafi). Based on the findings obtained in the discussion rounds, the company ensures that the employees are provided with adequate opportunities for undertaking training and development with respect to their roles and responsibilities in the organization. The most appropriate evidence of this measure is the adaptation of the company to environmental changes with enhanced performance levels being achieved after every adaptation. Moreover the involvement of the employees in the green campaigns and initiatives is a direct outcome of the companys consideration for the needs of the employees pertaining to empowerment and involvement in the activities of the organization (Masafi). The companys focus on the needs of the employees has a direct impact on the decision process wherein the employees are encouraged to provide their contribution by means of which a comprehensive outcome may be achieved in an effective manner. Given the short time duration for incorporating the environmental changes into the processes of the company, Masafi ensures that these implementations are done in a highly effective manner so as to prevent the loss of leverage in the highly competitive FMCG market (Masafi: The Place). Customer Satisfaction Status: Being an FMCG company, Masafis consumers comprise of all population levels with specific segments being target separately with the companys consumer oriented offerings. The main emphasis made by the company is in the bottled water segment wherein it has differentiated its target segments on the basis of their requirements. For example, people associated with sports and intense physical activity requires more than just plain water to be provided to them. In keeping with this need, the company has devised vitamin enriched water products so as to provide this consumer segment with the require characteristics that are expected from them from a water product (Masafi). For obtaining consumer feedback, Masafi has implemented various communication mechanisms. By ensuring the acquisition of feedback from the consumers, the organization strives to develop and maintain a consumer friendly environment in the company. In this regard, Masafi assures the provision of prompt service to the consumers with the presence of a dedicated staff of sales executives. Apart from this, the company has also provided a toll free number which can be accessed by consumers 24 x 7 for any enquiries or correspondence which they desire to communicate to the company. This number is displayed on the companys website as well. In keeping with the growing ICT infrastructure and capabilities in the region, the company has established a feedback gateway in the form of an email id which can be used by consumers to communicate with the organization. The customers feedback is obtained with different techniques such as On-Line Survey, Social Media and Feedback Forms. (The copy of the fee dback medium is provided in Appendix A) These feedbacks are highly beneficial in implementing changes in the products so that they may be aligned with the needs and preferences of the consumers. It would also enable the company to eliminate possible bottlenecks in the process which would be beneficial in reducing delivery times and ensuring higher quality levels to be maintained in the companys processes (Masafi). Masafi ensures the acquisition of consumer trends by conducting market analyses and evaluating the feedback obtained from the consumers for ensuring that they are in compliance with current standards and practices. Moreover they evaluate new technologies which can be used in the companys infrastructure (Masafi). ISO Certification: ISO ensures the state of art specification for goods practices, services and products which facilitates effective and efficient working environment to industries. Masafi has been provided with ISO certification in keeping with its processes and products. It has been accredited with the following ISO certifications: ISO 9001:2008 quality certifications awarded on 22nd July, 2008. 14001:2004 quality certifications The steps for obtaining and ISO certification are as follows: Establish Implementation Team Start ISO awareness Programs Provide Training Conduct Initial Status Survey Create a Documented Implementation Plan Develop Quality Management System Documentation Document Control Implementation Internal Quality Audit Management Review Continual Improvement Certification and Registration Pre-Assessment Audit Source: (14 Steps to Implementing ISO 9001 Quality Management System) The following are the benefits gained from ISO 9001 certification: The needs of the consumers are met effectively and in keeping with current standards. Adequate opportunities are provided for increasing revenue generation. Quality of the products / services is enhanced. Customer satisfaction levels with products are increased. It offers adequate possibilities to understand, document and communicate company process. It enhances the development and maintenance of professional culture in the organization and also develops employees morale. The uniformity of organizational operations is enhanced substantially. Emphasis is maintained on the recognition of quality at international level and the achievement of business excellence. It enables cost savings due to minimization of waste, optimization of the resources and increase in the efficiency of the overall processes (Top 10 Reasons Why You Need ISO 9001 Certification). Continuous Process Involvement: Continual process improvement is the key to ensuring the survival of an organization in the competitive market. Products and services change with time in order to successfully meet the needs of the consumers and to be in compliance with the market dynamics. Masafi applies three tools of quality management tools: Six Sigma: The six sigma tool provides the means to minimize errors in the production process by ensuring the existence of 1 defect per million units produced by the company. By using this tool, the company has been able achieve greater market share and has been able to achieve higher quality standards in the products. It is this aspect that has enabled the company to achieve the top most position among the organizations in the FMCG sector. This tool also enabled the introduction and maintenance of green concepts in the production process (Lean Six Sigma: An Overview). The following diagram represents the six sigma process adopted by Masafi: http://csqa.info/files/six-sigma-dmaic.gif Source: http://csqa.info/files/six-sigma-dmaic.gif Statistical Process Control: Statistical Process Control is the quality control method which uses a statistical method for the monitoring and controlling process. These ensure that minimal wastage is incurred in the process. The benefit obtained by the company from this tool can be seen in the recycling efforts of the company by means of which the packaging material of its products are retrieved from the market and reused to prepare new packaging utilities. This has enabled continuous process improvement in keeping with the quality specifications required to be adhered (Introduction to Statistical Process Control Techniques). The following is a representation of the SPC process followed by Masafi: http://www.moresteam.com/toolbox/pics/28.gif Source: http://www.moresteam.com/toolbox/pics/28.gif Total Quality Management Guide: Total Quality Management is a set of practices put in place throughout a company that are geared to ensure the organization consistently meets or exceeds customer requirements. It enables the company to implement quality measures not only in the processes but it are also applied to the management of productivity in the workplace. The benefit of this tool can be seen in the manner in which the human resources are provided with adequate involvement opportunities which not only serve as a viable motivation tool but it also enables better quality to be maintained (Total Quality Management). The following is a representation of the TQM followed by Masafi: http://www.transtutors.com/Uploadfile/CMS_Images/24944_Quality%20Improvement%20Flowchart%20in%20TQM.JPG Source: http://www.transtutors.com/Uploadfile/CMS_Images/24944_Quality%20Improvement%20Flowchart%20in%20TQM.JPG Masafi uses SPC as the quality measurement tool to reduce the wastage of packaging materials and for ensuring optimal utilization of the available resources, and in turn contributing to ecological preservation. It uses statistical methods for the monitoring and controlling process (Introduction to Statistical Process Control Techniques). The barriers faced with respect to the implementation of this tool are: The lack of availability of adequate information on quality is one of the main barriers to the implementation of the tool. The tracking of the packaging material and the extent of recycling of the materials is an exhaustive process marked by the possibility of errors in the data obtained (Introduction to Statistical Process Control Techniques). Conclusion: Masafis adherence to high quality global standards has been the primary reason behind the immense success of the organization. This has also enabled the organization to retain its existing consumer groups while generating new consumers in keeping with its wide range of product offerings. The efforts of the company to continually develop and improve its processes is one of the most significant undertakings of the company to ensure the maintenance of high levels of quality not only in its products but also in its services. Recommendations: Masafi should adopt new programs for the improvement of quality with utilization of existing tools, system, terms and conditions. There should be a provision for the sustenance of an improvement framework for the sustainability of which would inculcate the continuous processes and encourage new ideas. Data collection should be done by an exclusive team developed by the management of the company for ensuring that the quality measures are monitored in an effective manner. Employee participation should be encouraged in order to assure that the productivity levels are maintained relatively high as this would enable high quality standards to be implemented. The quality should also be implemented in the supply chain network so as to ensure faster delivery times of the products to the market. The company should devise new standards when introducing innovative products in the market in keeping with the exact specifications of the product. The company should ensure the maintenance of an unbiased feedback mechanism as these feedbacks are crucial for the improvement process undertaken Masafi. The data collection, evaluation and monitoring system should be automated in order to minimize the incurrence of human errors in the quality verification process. The strategies pertaining to the quality implementations should be revised in such a manner so that the current policies are not drastically affected by it. The company should ensure that the quality inspections are conducted by third part accreditation units as it would reveal a clearer perspective of the scenario.

Brain Transplant :: essays research papers

Brain Transplant Medical technology has seemed to advance enough so that doctors are able to perform brain transplants. So far this procedure has only been successfully performed on animals, and now doctors hope to perform this procedure on humans. I believe brain transplants should not be performed at all, and especially not on humans because of the numerous problems and side effects that could arise. Even though brain transplants can be successfully performed on animals, this does not mean that it will be successful with humans. The human brain is much more complex than the brain of animals, so there will be many more complications during surgery. For example, the healthy brain that was removed could have been damaged in some way without the doctors knowing it. It would also be very difficult to attach a person's brain in a different body because of the millions of neurons that send and receive messages to and from all over the body. It would be almost impossible to reconnect every single neuron, and without them a person could not function normally. Many psychological effects are also possible because the human brain is so complex. Our brain makes us who we are, and with a different brain we would no longer be unique. A person with a different brain would seem to be a total stranger and in many ways they would be. Hopefully these dangerous side effects will convince doctors not to perform this procedure on humans. The advancement of technology can be very beneficial to everyone, but I do not believe that this medical technology of brain transplants will help anyone. We were all born with one brain and through childhood to adolescence our mind developed into who we are. No one should steal our identity from us, even if we are seriously injured, and change it to a completely new one. Also for the people who have died with healthy brains, that was their identity and it should not be given to anyone else. Another problem with brain transplants is how can doctors choose what are "healthy" or "normal" brains. An elderly person who has died would have an aged brain that would not be as efficient as a younger person's brain. Then would doctors have to find healthy brains of the same age as the person who Brain Transplant :: essays research papers Brain Transplant Medical technology has seemed to advance enough so that doctors are able to perform brain transplants. So far this procedure has only been successfully performed on animals, and now doctors hope to perform this procedure on humans. I believe brain transplants should not be performed at all, and especially not on humans because of the numerous problems and side effects that could arise. Even though brain transplants can be successfully performed on animals, this does not mean that it will be successful with humans. The human brain is much more complex than the brain of animals, so there will be many more complications during surgery. For example, the healthy brain that was removed could have been damaged in some way without the doctors knowing it. It would also be very difficult to attach a person's brain in a different body because of the millions of neurons that send and receive messages to and from all over the body. It would be almost impossible to reconnect every single neuron, and without them a person could not function normally. Many psychological effects are also possible because the human brain is so complex. Our brain makes us who we are, and with a different brain we would no longer be unique. A person with a different brain would seem to be a total stranger and in many ways they would be. Hopefully these dangerous side effects will convince doctors not to perform this procedure on humans. The advancement of technology can be very beneficial to everyone, but I do not believe that this medical technology of brain transplants will help anyone. We were all born with one brain and through childhood to adolescence our mind developed into who we are. No one should steal our identity from us, even if we are seriously injured, and change it to a completely new one. Also for the people who have died with healthy brains, that was their identity and it should not be given to anyone else. Another problem with brain transplants is how can doctors choose what are "healthy" or "normal" brains. An elderly person who has died would have an aged brain that would not be as efficient as a younger person's brain. Then would doctors have to find healthy brains of the same age as the person who

The Return: Midnight Chapter 4

â€Å"First,†Meredith asked, â€Å"is Damon right? If you go back to animal blood, wil you be seriously weakened?† Stefan smiled. â€Å"I'l be the way I was when I first met you,†he said. â€Å"Strong enough to do this.†He bent toward the fire irons right below Damon's elbow, murmuring absently, â€Å"Scusilo per favore† and removed the poker. Damon rol ed his eyes. But when Stefan, in one fluid motion, bent the poker into a shape and then straightened it immediately back and replaced it, Matt could swear that there was ice-cold envy in Damon's usual poker-player expression. â€Å"And that was iron, which is resistant to al eldritch forces,†Meredith said evenly, as Stefan stepped away from the fireplace. â€Å"But of course he's been imbibing from you three charming girls for the past few days – not to mention the nuclear powerhouse that dear Elena has become,†Damon said, clapping his hands three times slowly. â€Å"Oh†¦Mutt. Sono spiacente – I mean, I didn't mean to add you in with the girls. No offense meant.† â€Å"None taken,†Matt said through his teeth. If he could, just once, wipe that flashing, there-and-gone smile off Damon's face, he would die happy, he thought. â€Å"But, the truth is that you have become a very†¦wil ing†¦ donor for Dear Brother, haven't you?†Damon added, his lips twitching slightly, as if only the strictest control kept him from smiling. Matt took two steps toward Damon. It was al he could do not to get right up in Damon's face, even though something in his brain always screamed suicide when he had thoughts like that. â€Å"You're right,†he said as evenly as possible. â€Å"I've been donating blood to Stefan just like the girls. He's my friend, and a couple of days ago he looked like he'd just gotten out of a concentration camp.† â€Å"Of course,†Damon murmured, as if chastened, but then he went on in even softer tones, â€Å"My little brother has always been popular with both – wel , with ladies present, I wil say genders. Even with male kitsune; which of course is why I am in this mess.† Matt literal y saw red as if he were looking through a haze of blood at Damon. â€Å"Speaking of which, what happened to Sage, Damon? He was a vampire. If we could find him, your problem would be over, right?†Meredith asked. It was a good riposte, just as al Meredith's cool responses were. But Damon spoke with his fathomless black eyes fixed on Meredith's face. â€Å"The less you know and say about Sage, the better. I wouldn't speak of him lightly – he has friends in low places. But to answer your question: No, I would not let Sage make me into a vampire. It would just complicate things.† â€Å"Shinichi said good luck on finding out who he is,†Meredith said, stil calm. â€Å"Do you know what he meant by that?† Damon shrugged fluidly. â€Å"What I know is my own business. He spends time in the lowest and darkest of the Dark Dimensions.† Bonnie burst out, â€Å"Why did Sage go? Oh, Damon, did he go because of us? Why did he leave Talon and Saber to watch over us, then? And, oh – oh – oh, Damon, I'm so sorry! So, so sorry! â€Å"She slid off the love seat and bent her head so that only strawberry curls were visible. With her smal pale hands on the floor to brace her, she looked as if she were about to bow her head to the ground at his feet. â€Å"This is al my fault and everyone's angry – but it was just so horrible I had to believe the worst things I could think of!† It was a tension-breaker. Nearly everyone laughed. It was so Bonnie, and so true of al of them. So human. Matt wanted to pick her up and put her back on the love seat. Meredith was always the best medicine for Bonnie. But as Matt found himself reaching for her, he was confounded by two other pairs of hands doing the same thing. One was Meredith's own long, slender olive-skinned hands, and the other pair were male, with even longer tapering fingers. Matt's hand clenched into a fist. Let Meredith take her, he thought, and his clumsy fist – somehow – got in the way of Damon's reaching fingers. Meredith lifted Bonnie easily and sat back on the love seat. Damon lifted his dark eyes to Matt's and Matt saw perfect comprehension there. â€Å"You real y ought to forgive her, Damon,†Meredith, ever the impartial referee, said bluntly. â€Å"I don't think she'l be able to sleep tonight otherwise.† Damon shrugged, cold as an iceberg. â€Å"Maybe†¦someday.† Matt could feel his muscles clench. What kind of bastard said that to little Bonnie? Because of course she was listening. â€Å"Damn you,†Matt said under his breath. â€Å"Excuse me?†Damon's voice was no longer languid and falsely polite, but suddenly a whiplash. â€Å"You heard me,†Matt growled. â€Å"And if you didn't, maybe we'd better go outside so I can say it louder,†he added, soaring on the wings of bravado. He left behind a wail of â€Å"No!†from Bonnie, and a gentle â€Å"Sh,†from Meredith. Stefan said, â€Å"Both of you – â€Å"in a commanding voice, but then he faltered and coughed, which both Matt and Damon took as a chance to sprint for the door. It was stil very warm outside on the boardinghouse porch. â€Å"Is this the kil ing ground?†Damon asked lazily when they had descended the steps and stood beside the gravel path. â€Å"It's fine by me,†Matt said briefly, knowing in his bones that Damon would fight dirty. â€Å"Yes, this is definitely close enough,†Damon said, flashing an unnecessarily bril iant smile in Matt's direction. â€Å"You can yel for help while little brother is in the parlor, and he'l have plenty of time to rescue you. And now we're going to solve the problems of what you're doing in my business and why you are – â€Å" Matt punched him in the nose. He had no idea what Damon was trying to do. If you asked a guy to step outside, then you asked him to step outside. Then you went for the guy. You didn't stand around talking. If you tried that, you'd be stuck with the label of â€Å"coward†or worse. Damon didn't seem like the type who needed to be told that. But then, Damon had always been able to repel any attack on him while he got as many insults as he liked†¦before. Before, he'd have just broken every bone in my hand and gone on baiting me, Matt guessed. But now†¦I'm almost as fast as him, and he simply got taken by surprise. Matt flexed his hand gingerly. It always hurt, of course, but if Meredith could do it to Caroline, then he could do it to†¦ Damon? Damn, did I just take down Damon? Run, Honeycutt, he seemed to hear the voice of his old coach tel ing him. Run. Get out of town. Change your name. Tried that. Didn't work. Never even got a T-shirt, Matt thought sourly. But Damon wasn't leaping up like a flaming demon from hel , with the eyes of a dragon and the strength of a raging bul to annihilate Matt. It looked and sounded more as if he were shocked and indignant from his disheveled hair to his earth-stained boots. â€Å"You†¦ignorant†¦childish†¦Ã¢â‚¬ He lapsed into Italian. â€Å"Look,†Matt said. â€Å"I'm here to fight, okay? And the smartest guy I ever knew said: ‘If you're gonna fight, don't talk. If you're gonna talk, don't fight.'† Damon tried to snarl as he knelt up and pul ed spiny teasel and prickly sida out of his distressed black jeans. But the snarl didn't come out quite right. Maybe it was the new shape of his canines. Maybe it just didn't have enough conviction behind it. Matt had seen enough defeated guys to know that this fight was over. A strange exaltation came over him. He was going to keep al his limbs and organs! It was a precious, precious moment. Al right, then, should I offer him a hand? Matt wondered, to be answered instantaneously by, Sure, if you'd offer a hand to a temporarily stunned crocodile. What do you really need ten whole fingers for, anyway? Oh, wel , he thought, turning to go back into the front door. As long as he lived – which, conceded, might not be too long – he would remember this moment. As he went in, he bumped into Bonnie, who was rushing out. â€Å"Oh, Matt, oh, Matt,†she cried. She was looking wildly around. â€Å"Did you hurt him? Did he hurt you?† Matt smacked his fist into the palm of his hand, once. â€Å"He's stil sitting down back there,†he added helpful y. â€Å"Oh, no!†Bonnie gasped, and she hurried out the door. Okay. Less spectacular of a night. But stil a pretty good one. â€Å"They did what?†Elena asked Stefan. Cold poultices anchored by tight bandages were wrapped around her arm, hand, and thigh – Mrs. Flowers had cut her jeans off short – and Mrs. Flowers was wiping away the dried blood on her neck with herbs. Her heart was pounding with more than pain. Even she hadn't realized that Stefan was tuned in to the entire house when he was awake. Al she could do was to shakily thank God that he'd been asleep while she and Damon – no! She had to stop thinking about it, and right now! â€Å"They went outside to fight,†Stefan said. â€Å"It's idiotic, of course. But it's a matter of honor, too. I can't interfere.† â€Å"Wel , I can – if you're done, Mrs. Flowers.† â€Å"Yes, dear Elena,†Mrs. Flowers said, winding a bandage around Elena's throat. â€Å"Now you shouldn't get tetanus.† Elena stopped in mid-motion. â€Å"I thought you got tetanus from rusty blades,†she said. â€Å"Da – this one looked brand-new.† â€Å"Tetanus comes from dirty blades, my dear,†Mrs. Flowers corrected her. â€Å"But this† – she held up a bottle – â€Å"is Grand mama's own personal recipe that has kept many a wound disease-free down the cen – down the years.† â€Å"Wow,†Elena said. â€Å"I never even heard of Grand mama before. Was she a – healer?† â€Å"Oh, yes,†Mrs. Flowers said earnestly. â€Å"She was actual y accused of being a witch. But at her trial they could prove nothing. Her accusers seemed not even to be capable of coherent speech.† Elena looked at Stefan only to find that he was looking at her. Matt was in danger of being dragged off to a kangaroo court – for al egedly assaulting Caroline Forbes while under the influence of some unknown and terrible drug. Anything to do with courts was interesting to both of them. But looking at Stefan's concerned face, Elena decided not to pursue the subject. She squeezed his hand. â€Å"We have to go now – but let's talk about Grand mama later. I think she sounds fascinating.† â€Å"I just remember her as a crotchety old recluse, who didn't suffer fools gladly and thought just about everyone was a fool,†Mrs. Flowers said. â€Å"I suppose I was going down the same path until you children came and made me sit up and take notice. Thank you.† â€Å"We're the ones who should thank you,†Elena began, hugging the old woman, feeling her heart stop pounding. Stefan was looking at her with open love. It was al going to be al right – for her. I'm worried about Matt, she thought to Stefan, testing the waters more vigorously. Damon's still so fast – and you know he doesn't like Matt a bit. I think, Stefan returned with a wry smile, that that is a rather stunning understatement. But I also think you shouldn't worry until we see who comes back injured. Elena eyed that smile, and thought for a moment about impulsive, athletic Matt. After a moment, she smiled back. She was feeling both guilty and protective – and safe. Stefan always made her feel safe. And right now, she wanted to spoil him. In the front yard, Bonnie was abasing herself. She couldn't help thinking, even now, about how handsome Damon looked, how wild and dark and ferocious and gorgeous. She couldn't help thinking about the times he'd smiled at her, laughed at her, come to save her at her urgent cal . She had honestly thought that someday†¦But now she felt as if her heart were breaking in two. â€Å"I just want to bite my tongue out,†she said. â€Å"I should never have assumed anything from what I saw.† â€Å"How could you possibly have known that I wasn't stealing Elena away from Stefan?†Damon said wearily. â€Å"It's just the kind of thing I'd do.† â€Å"No, it isn't! You did so much to free Stefan from prison – you always faced the most danger yourself – and you kept us al from being hurt. You did al that for other people – â€Å" Suddenly Bonnie's upper arms were being held by hands that were so strong that her mind was flooded with cliches. A grasp of iron. Strong as steel bands. An inescapable grip. And a voice like an icy torrent was coming at her. â€Å"You don't know anything about me, or what I want, or what I do. For al you know I could be plotting right now. So don't ever let me hear you talk again about such things, or imagine that I won't kil you if you get in my way,†Damon said. He got up and left Bonnie sitting there, staring after him. And she'd been wrong. She wasn't out of tears at al .

Corrections Purpose and History Essay

The history of punishment is a unique one, since the dawn of man human kind has punished one another. Man did not merely throw someone in a chamber and let them contemplate their crimes such as we do in today’s society; rather, during those early times, punishment was harsh and swift. Criminals were not drawn through the litigation processes; instead, they were found immediately guilty of a crime and brought forth to be punished in an open forum, serving to the masses as an example of the consequences of crime. The early forms of punishment in Europe varied greatly but all forms were meant to inflict unimaginable pain upon the recipient, and it is from the European methods of imprisonment from which the U.S. drew inspiration. Punishment such as crucifixion, burning on pyres, guillotines, and gauntlets are but a few examples of what methods were utilized as early methods of punishment in early Europe. This illustrates the underlying ideology that punishment should be administer ed with two principles in mind, deterrence and retribution. Purpose and History Methods of imprisonment introduced near the turn of the eighteenth century England inspired and revolutionized the way we punish and house inmates. In England during the fifteenth and sixteenth century’s corporal punishment reined supreme. Public beatings were carried out in the streets with whips; beheadings and torture were the norm for serious crimes; and enslavement was common for petty offenders. During the seventeenth century in England and other European countries, imprisonment for lesser offenses started to occur but conditions were less than desirable or humane. These facilities were overcrowded, unsanitary, and, worst of all, gender/age neutral, which meant that male felons frequently took liberties with incarcerated women and children (â€Å"Incarcerated: The History of the Penitentiary from 1776-Present†, 1997). The American Colonies quickly embraced the idea of imprisonment, because of the religious freedoms English settlers sought when they colonized this nation. The Quakers were a religious group that settled in the northeast United States and they developed new laws to govern punishment and incarcerations that focused on prolonged imprisonment to serve as retribution for crimes committed. The Quakers belief system focused on of morality, peace, non-violence, and humanity. As such they showed mercy on offenders by allowing them to shed their anti-social behaviors through long term incarceration and a penance of hard labor. It is from this that modern the concept of reformation was established. Since this form of incarceration gained popularity, it has held onto two core principles: that a criminal can make restitutions for his/her crimes and that a convict can be eventually reintegrated back into society. The new form of punishment provided an alternative to the implemented punishments of yesteryear. Auburn versus Cherry Hill Pennsylvania System This reformation of how society punished criminals served as the foundation for new and competing theories on incarceration and punishment. In America around the early 1800’s, two prison systems were the dominant models of confinement: the Pennsylvania and the Auburn State. The first model was the Pennsylvania model, which was first used at Cherry Hill prison. This model used solitary confinement as its primary tool: convicts were perpetually detained without interactions with other individuals or time outside of confinement. The idea was that solitary confinement would lead to inward reflection and religious motivation and result in a penitent convict. In fact the word penitentiary actually comes from the Pennsylvania model of perpetual confinement because it had religious implications. At first, particularly in Cherry Hill, a Bible would be left in the solitary confinement cells in the hopes it would help prisoners repent. The second model was the Auburn State prison system, which supported the labor penance model. It operated under the assumption that hard, physical labor could not only serve as restitution but as a means of helping a convicted criminal reintegrate into society fully reformed. Often, prisoners worked during the day in total silence and would be hosed down them at night. A main criticism of the Auburn system was that prisoners were being used essentially as slave labor. Inmates were being farmed out to private business owners, who had contracts with the state, which in turn lined the pockets of the private businesses and cut costs for the state. As such, the Auburn model became the popular model, because states faced significantly less prison and prisoner care costs. Businesses paid a fee in order to use the prisoners and the prisoners acted as unpaid labor for the businesses. The state prisons pocketed the fees thus creating a revenue stream that could be used to support the prisons, rather than tapping into state funds, i.e. tax payer dollars (Colvin, 1997). Around the 1920’s to 1930’s many changes occurred due to the state of the economy and activists pressing the government for prison reform. One of the main changes occurred when Congress enacted the Hawes Cooper Act, which effectively stymied the sale of prison-made goods or the us e of prison-labor by making such goods subject to state punitive laws. This act was passed in no small part due to the jobs that were needed by good upstanding citizens—jobs that were being taken away during extremely tough financial times by cheap prison labor. Congress had the authority to pass such a law thanks to its power to control and tax interstate commerce. The Ashurst-Sumners Act was the final nail in the coffin by prohibiting transport companies from accepting prison-made products (McShane & Williams,1996). The changes that stemmed from the Depression helped shape the correctional system into the rehabilitation-oriented program we have today. Prisoners are now classified into the likelihood of rehabilitation and the type of crimes that were committed, and this determines what type of facility an offender is incarcerated. Since 1935, the government made it clear that prisons must separate prisoners on the basis of gender and age. Now, facilities specifically for juvenile offenders have been established and the handling procedures for yo unger offenders have been defined. Furthermore, there are programs to rehabilitate all types of offenders whether their needs are as simple as talking to someone during counseling sessions or educational opportunities. In some ways this system has been detrimental to corrections as a whole because it arguably results in overcrowding and a more lenient attitude: if you commit a crime then you will only have to contend with years off your life rather than hard labor and making reparations for the crime (Seiter, 2011). Over-population has resulted in more money taken from the taxpayers because if there are more people in the correctional system, more facilities and care are needed. Crime levels have dissipated over the years but not dramatically enough to really prove that this system is the true solution to our problems. Conclusion Modern principles of rehabilitation and reform have brought about the institution of facilities to incarcerate convicted individuals; these structures are called penitentiaries, jails, and prisons. Current prisons are more aptly concerned with long-term detention rather than a temporary housing prior to punishment like it was used as in the past. Today’s Prisons are a shell of the former institutions. Inmates in facilities today would never allow themselves to be used for labor outside prison walls it would be considered cruel and unusual punishment. For now the correctional system work, but soon it could be on the verge of collapse and any moment the flood gates could burst and the concept of rehabilitation could come to an end. References: Mcshane, M. D., & Williams, F. P. (1996). Encyclopedia of American Prisons (2nd ed.). Taylor and Francis. INCARCERATED: THE HISTORY OF THE PENITENTIARY FROM 1776- PRESENT. (1997). Retrieved from http://www.richeast.org/htwm/jails/Jails.html Colvin, M. (1997). Penitentiaries, Reformatories, and Chain Gangs: Social Theory and the History of Punishment in Nineteenth Century America. : St. Martin’s Press. Seiter, R. (2011). Corrections an Introduction (3rd ed.). Upper saddle Hall, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.