psychology and gender :: essays research papers

In a showdown of the sexes on Friday, Johnstone Professor of Psychology Steven Pinker and Professor of Psychology Elizabeth Spelke debated whether innate differences lead to the underrepresentation of tenured women in math and the sciences. In front of a packed Science Center B crowd, they analyzed the data behind University President Lawrence H. Summers’ controversial January comments on women in science. Pinker, whom Summers recruited to Harvard last year, cited evidence arguing that male superiority in skills like mental object rotation and problem solving provides a biological basis for the argument that men are more talented at math and science. Spelke countered, acknowledging the existence of differences between men and women, but arguing that the reason â€Å"women are as scarce as hen’s teeth† in academia is due to discrimination. â€Å"The debate is not, ‘are there sex differences,’ it’s, ‘do they add up to an advantage for one gender over the other,’† Spelke reminded the audience. Prefacing his comments by saying that he was a feminist, Pinker stressed the importance of distinguishing between the moral and empirical claims about gender differences. â€Å"The truth cannot be sexist,† he said. Though Spelke attacked his yardstick indicator—the SAT mathematics examinations—Pinker maintained that â€Å"the tests are very good. They have an enormous amount of predictive power.† Pinker also noted that men and women tend to have different priorities in life; men seek status and money, while women look more for interpersonal relationships. â€Å"What this means is that there are slightly more men than women who don’t care whether or not they have a life,† Pinker said. Spelke did not address the argument about motives directly, saying that she did not think there was evidence available to evaluate the claim that motives are biologically determined. She focused on proving the existence of covert discrimination by looking at how gender stereotypes influence the way men and women are perceived. She presented studies in which employers were given identical resumes—with only the candidate’s gender switched—that found that men were perceived as being more productive than women. She admitted, however, that â€Å"we’re not dealing with overt discrimination,† saying that in unambiguous situations, where one candidate is clearly superior to the other, there is no evidence of sex discrimination. Pinker later noted that women are not underrepresented everywhere, but only in the hard sciences. Several audience members said they thought the evening concluded in Spelke’s favor.

First Day of School Essay

Life is full of surprises and difficulties. A college can make your life are changing after you walked into the campus at first day in college. I used to think about the class in college which is different from in high school. Those people who are older than me, they have told me that college would be new life for me. That college would show me what is the differently between college and high school. I was really wondering about it, I didn’t know anything since the first year and first day. Everything I knew before I went to college that was I had to studied more harder, and I won’t have many friends like I did in high school. The most things that I was interesting is about the course class, the education, the campuses. They took me to a new look, and they show me what is real college life. see more:my first day at school paragraph I wasn’t thinking the differently from high school to college is big deal, but I have a bit scared when I went into the campus, and I have seen many students that I didn’t know anyone of them. First class were surprise me because that was about 20 to 30 students only, but they aren’t friend to each other. I went to my class early so that I can get a good seat close to teacher, and I can meet my classmate. That was lucky because I just met a old friend from high school in the first class. Therefore, the class is not so scaring anymore and everything is seemed to be better than before. After the first class, I just knew another things, that is college students didn’t like to make friends like we did in high school. They came to class to record the lecture then they left the class after the lecture done without any talk. College’s course classes are really differently. First, the college classes are taking more time than the high school, they are taking about two hour for each day. All I could do in class that was hearing the lecture from professor. That was not really for all class, there was some professors let us doing group works. The professors tried to help students had more time to knew each other, and they worked better in their works. The lecture is  taking about two hour, it made the students fall in sleep easy. Now is one another thing, I did not realize that college’s student could wear whatever they want; it doesn’t matter with the uniform. Students can’t talk to each other during lecture that is reason students are not so friendly when they tried to ask the other about homework or any assignment. However, students can leave early before class end 15 minutes or 20 minutes early, In high school, students would get their assignments and homework from the professors in class, but that was not for college. Everything are in online and website, assignments, homework, projects, including lecture summaries. All the assignment and homework had dude day, it really could help students have more time to do their work, and they will management their time life more easy. In high school, teacher always gave us homework before we left class, and turn them in next day. I knew sometime we won’t have enough time, but that is more helpful to students because they would catch up and learned more about what they learned in class that day. All the course class, they have a schedule for lecture, tests, quiz and the final. The professors did that because they didn’t want the students miss any test or final. There is no time to make up any test if we are absent and miss those test. College is having many campuses, those are really cool and bigger than the high school campus. I knew it is unfair compare but that is truth, there is some class have around 100 students in one lecture. Some college campuses are really big with 3 or 4 floors up, each one have more than 50 rooms to be laboratory, class rooms, computer labs. Students can have free internet to research and doing their homework without going home. The library have all the kind of books, it is helping students find their book easy, and students can use the desktop in library to do their project. I think college is a new world, and new life, that is giving me more option, surprises and difficulties. College is changing my angle personal life, it gave me the knowledge and the differently between high school and college. I sum up my College life as an impactful one, but I think I could’ve done better to be someone I hope to be. I’ve learnt to change my own view after I saw everything college in front of my eyes, it is not that difficult like  the other people told me before. All the things, The course class, the education, the campuses are totally changing my to new life.

Pakistani Art and Culture Essay

Culture and Components of Culture Culture Culture is the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group In the 20th century, â€Å"culture† emerged as a central concept in anthropology, encompassing the range of human phenomena that cannot be attributed to genetic inheritance. Specifically, the term â€Å"culture† in American anthropology had two meanings: the evolved human capacity to classify and represent experiences with symbols, and to act imaginatively and creatively; and (2) the distinct ways that people living in different parts of the world classified and represented their experiences, and acted creatively. Distinctions are currently made between the physical artifacts created by a society, its so-called material culture and everything else,[3] the intangibles such as language, customs, etc. that are the main referent of the term â€Å"culture†. Components of Culture Language. Language is a set of symbols used to assign and communicate meaning. It enables us to name or label the things in our world so we can think and communicate about them. Norms. Norms are humanly created rules for behavior. Norms are considered as rules and expectations eventually set by a particular society that serve as guides to the behavior of its members. It varies in the terms of the degrees of importance and might be change over a period of time. It is reinforced by sanctions in the forms or rewards and punishments. These are standards accepted by society culturally and serves as obligatory and expected behavior’s of the people in different situations in life. Types of norms * Folkways * Taboos * Rituals * Social Control * Ideologies, beliefs, and values. * Physical and verbal reactions. * Embarrassment and stigma. Values Values are anything members of a culture aspire to or hold in high esteem. Values are things to be achieved, things considered of great worth or value. Values are human creations. They are social products. Values can and do become reified. Values can be renegotiated and changed. While people and groups may disagree as to which are most important, Examples * Democracy, liberty, freedom, independence, autonomy, and individual rights. * Capitalism, competition, hard work, self-discipline, and success. * Wealth, prosperity, materialism, and consumerism. * Equity, fairness, and justice. * Equality of opportunity. * Love, compassion, humanitarianism, charity, service, and respect for others. * Tolerance, forgiveness, and acceptance. * Faith, religion, family, conformity, and tradition. * Nationalism, patriotism, civic responsibility, and loyalty. * Health, happiness, and life. * Education, knowledge, science, technology, and innovation. * Complimentary and conflicting values. A groups values tend to compliment and support one another. They tend to be in agreement and make sense when considered together. A careful look at the values above reveals â€Å"sets† of values that seem to go together. However, it is also possible for values to contradict and conflict with each other, especially in complex modern industrial societies. For example, competition and success can be seen as contradictory to humanitarianism, compassion, service and self-sacrafice; while equity and justice contradict forgiveness and conformity and tradition contradict tolerance and acceptance. In fact, many social and political problems can be seen as conflicts between groups emphasizing different values. Beliefs and ideologies Beliefs are the things members of a culture hold to be true. They are the â€Å"facts† accepted by all or most members. Beliefs are not limited to religious statements, but include all the things a people know and accept as  true, including common sense everyday knowledge. Like all other cultural elements, beliefs are humanly created and produced. They are collective social agreements produced during interaction and reified over time. What is â€Å"true† or â€Å"factual† for a given people is what they collectively agree to be true at that point in time. Beliefs can and do change, especially in modern industrial societies. Today we laugh at things our grandparents used to believe and chances are that our grandchildren will laugh at many of our beliefs as well. This suggests that their is no absolute knowledge or absolute truth. All knowledge and truth is relative. Ideologies are integrated and connected systems of beliefs. Sets of beliefs and assumptions connected by a common theme or focus. They are often are associated with specific social institutions or systems and serve to legitimize those systems. * Capitalism. * Christianity (Protestantism). * Individualism * Scientism * Sexism. * Racism. Ideologies are, themselves, often related and connected to each other in complex ideological systems, such that one ideology â€Å"makes sense† when considered with another. They also often serve to legitimize each other. Religious ideologies often encompass or subsume many of a culture’s ideologies, giving them added legitimacy. Statuses and Roles. Status, although related, is not a measure of a persons wealth, power, and prestige. To speak of â€Å"high† or â€Å"low† status is somewhat misleading. A status is a slot or position within a group or society. They tell us who people are and how they â€Å"fit† into the group. Master statuses–age, sex, race, class. Status, prestige, wealth, and power. Roles are norms specifying the rights and responsibilities associated with a particular status. The term role is often used to mean both a position in  society and role expectations associated with it. Roles define what a person in a given status can and should do, as well as what they can and should expect from others. Roles provide a degree of stability and predictability, telling how we should respond to others and giving us an idea of how others should respond to us. Roles are negotiated and produced during interaction, and often become reified over time. However, roles can be renegotiated and changed. Cultural Integration. Cultural integration refers to how interconnected, complimentary, and mutually supportive the various elements of culture are. Cultural heritage Cultural heritage (â€Å"national heritage or just â€Å"heritage†) is the legacy of physical artifacts (cultural property) and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations. Cultural heritage includes tangible culture (such as buildings, monuments, landscapes, books, works of art, and artifacts), intangible culture (such as folklore, traditions, language, and knowledge), and natural heritage (including culturally significant landscapes, and biodiversity). The deliberate act of keeping cultural heritage from the present for the future is known as Preservation (American English) or Conservation (British English), though these terms may have more specific or technical meaning in the same contexts in the other dialect. Cultural property (tangible) Cultural property includes the physical, or â€Å"tangible† cultural heritage, such as buildings and historic places, monuments, books, documents, works of art, machines, clothing, and other artifacts, that are considered worthy of preservation for the future. These include objects significant to the archaeology, architecture, science or technology of a specific culture. Intangible culture â€Å"Intangible cultural heritage† consists of non-physical aspects of a particular culture, often maintained by social customs during a specific period in history. The ways and means of behavior in a society, and the often formal rules for operating in a particular cultural climate. These  include social values and traditions, customs and practices, aesthetic and spiritual beliefs, artistic expression, language and other aspects of human activity. The significance of physical artifacts can be interpreted against the backdrop of socioeconomic, political, ethnic, religious and philosophical values of a particular group of people. Naturally, intangible cultural heritage is more difficult to preserve than physical objects. Folklore Oral history Language preservation Cultural Heritage of Pakistan PAKISTAN, LAND AND PEOPLE Pakistan, which means ‘land of the pure’, is the inheritor of a long and varied history, rich in cultural traditions. Its sands have been the playground and burial place for some of the greatest imperialists and adventurers. The land has attracted scholars and mystics, adventurers and missionaries. It is not easy to categorize Pakistanis. They belong to different tribes and ethnic groups and speak different languages. It has been shaped and united by a common faith for centuries, through the message of love, peace, dignity and support for the poor preached by the Sufis who came to the region centuries ago. THE LAND OF INDUS A young nation created in 1947, Pakistan is the inheritor of an ancient past. A country of dramatic landscapes, it is home to eight of the world’s highest peaks, including the breathtaking K2. From the Karakorams in the north, giant glaciers spill down the mountain slopes, melting as they reach lower altitudes to fill the gorges with racing torrents of water. This is the home of the spring known as the ‘Mouth of the Lion’, from where the Indus flows down, cutting its way through barren, forbidding terrain. The river twists through Pakistan for more than 2,800 kilometers. By the time it reaches the rich alluvial plain of the Punjab it has matured, flowing slower and slower as it meanders through Sindh before ending in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea near the port of Karachi. The Indus has been the lifeblood of this  predominantly agricultural economy through the millennia, instrumental in shaping the history and culture of the region. Center of the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the oldest river valley civilizations of the world, it was home to an advanced urban culture and a sophisticated trade network which included the Middle East and Egypt. By virtue of its accessibility through passes to the north and north-west, as well as via the coastline bordering the Arabian Sea, the land that became Pakistan has been the domain of adventurers and invaders, scholars and mystics. Invasions by the Greeks under Alexander, the Huns, the Arabs, and the Central Asian tribes who settled to form the Muslim Slave Dynasty and later the Mughal Empire left their mark on the culture, faith, language and physical appearance of its people. The region that is now Pakistan fostered Buddhism at Gandhara in the north, and Sikhism at Nankana in the Punjab. For several centuries, however, it has been predominantly Muslim. Muhammad bin Qasim, who secured the territory around Multan in the early eighth century, introduced Islam to the region with epic consequences, making it a defining force that unites the nation even today. Known for its breathtaking, dramatic landscapes, home to the highest range of mountains in the world, the Karakorams, and to the ‘Lion River’, the Indus, Pakistan has a rich history. Indus Civilization This land also witnessed the glorious era of Indus civilization about 8000 years B.C when the first village was found at Mehargarh in the Sibi District of Balochistan comparable with the earliest villages of Jericho in Palestine and Jarmo in Iraq. Here, during the last decade i.e., 1980’s, the French and Pakistani archaeologists have excavated mud built houses of the Mehargarh people and their agricultural land known for the cultivation of maize and wheat, together with polished stone tools, beads and other ornaments, painted jars and bowls, drinking glasses, dishes and plates. The archaeologists believe that by 7000 B.C., the Mehargarh people learnt to use the metal for the first time. From the first revolution of agricultural life the man moved to another great revolution in his social, cultural and economic life. He established trade relations with the people of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and the Arab world. He not only specialized  in painting different designs of po ttery, made varieties of pots and used cotton and wool but also made terracotta figurines and imported precious stones from Afghanistan and Central Asia. This early bronze age Culture spread out in the countryside of Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. This early beginning led to the concentration of population into the small towns, such as Kot Diji in Sindh and Rahman Dheri in Dera Ismail Khan District. It is this social and cultural exchange that led to the rise of the famous cities of Moenjodaro and Harappa, with largest concentration of population including artisans, craftsmen, businessmen and rulers. This culminated in the peak of the Indus Civilization which was primarily based on intensively irrigated agricultural land and overseas trade and contact with Iran, Gulf States, Mesopotamia and Egypt. Dames were built for storing river water, land was cultivated by means of bullock-harnessed plough – a system which still prevails in Pakistan, granaries for food storage were built, furnace was used for controlling temperature for making red pottery and various kinds of ornaments, beads of carnelian, agate, and terracotta were pierced through and above all they traded their finished goods with Central Asia and Arab world. It is these trade dividends that enriched the urban populace who developed a new sense of moral honesty, discipline and cleanliness combined with a social stratification in which the priests and the mercantile class dominated the society. The picture of high civilization can be gathered only by looking at the city of Moenjodaro, the First Planned City in the World, in which the streets are aligned straight, parallel to each other with cross streets cutting at right angles. It is through these wide streets that wheeled carriages, drawn by bulls or asses, moved about, carrying well-adorned persons seated on them appreciating the closely aligned houses made of pucca-bricks, all running straight along the streets. And then through the middle of the streets ran stone dressed drains covered with stone slabs – a practice of keeping the streets clean from polluted water, seen for the first time in the world. Gandhara Civilization Pakistan is the land which attracted Alexander the great from Macedonia in 326 B.C., with whom the influence of Greek culture came to this part of the  world. During the 2nd century B.C., it was here that Buddhism was adopted as the state religion which flourished and prevailed here for over 1000 years, starting from 2nd century B.C., until 10th century A.D. During this time Taxila, Swat and Charsaddah (old Pushkalavati) became three important centres for culture, trade and learning. Hundreds of monasteries and stupas were built together with Greek and Kushan towns such as Sirkap and Sirsukh both in Taxila. It was from these centres that a unique art of sculpture originated which is known as Gandhara Art all over the world. Today the Gandhara Sculptures occupy a prominent place in the museums of England, France, Germany, USA, Japan, Korea, China, India and Afghanistan together with many private collections world over, as well as in the museums of Pakistan. Nevertheless, the zenith of this Gandhara Art is one and only â€Å"Fasting Buddha† now on display in Lahore Museum, Lahore. Finally, the light of Islam penetrated in this part of the world as early as 7th century AD. from the west with the Arabs and during the 10th century AD from the north with the Turks. Islam replaced the early way of life of worshipping idols and introduced new philosophy of faith in one God. With Islam in came a new culture in this land from Arabia and Central Asia. Hence, a new type of architecture, hitherto unknown in this area, was introduced. Tens of thousands of Mosques, Madrassahs, tombs and gardens were created by the Muslim rulers all over the Sub-Continent. The new style of Islamic architecture prevailed and matured in this land for over a thousand years. The most important contribution of the Muslim rulers to this land, however, is a new language ‘Urdu’ which became the national language of Pakistan since its independence in 1947. Islamic Period The light of Islam penetrated in this part of the world as early as 712 A.D from the west with the Arab General Muhammad bin Qasim and during the 10th century A.D from the north with the Turk Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznah ( better known as Mahmud Ghaznavi). Islam replaced the early way of life of worshipping idols and introduced new philosophy of faith in one God. With Islam in came a new culture in this land from Arabia and Central Asia. Hence, a new type of architecture, hitherto unknown in this area, was introduced. Tens of thousands of Mosques, Madrasahs, tombs and gardens were created by the Muslim rulers all over the Sub-Continent. The new style of  Islamic architecture prevailed and matured in this land for over a thousand years. The direct influence of the Muslim Rulers was not only confined to the architecture; their food added a variety of new dishes in the Sub-Continental cuisine. The national dress of Pakistan, â€Å" Shalwar Qamiz† is also a direct gift of the Muslim Turks. Since the mother tongue of the Muslim Rulers was Arabic, Turkish and Farsi, it was only natural that the local languages of the Sub-Continent were greatly influenced and new language was introduced. Thus the most important contribution of the Muslim rulers to this land is a new language ‘Urdu’ which became the national language of Pakistan since its independence in 1947. British Period: 1857 – 1947 Just before the independence of Pakistan this land remained a part of the British Empire for almost a century. Hence the British culture also left an impact on the life of the people of Pakistan. Amongst the British legacy a new form of architecture which is a blend of Islamic and the Western Architecture emerged. This colonial architecture in the form of Residential Bungalows, Educational Institutions, Churches and Railway Stations is still very attrative and in a good condition. Examples of the British Architecture can be seen in all the major cities of Pakistan. The British patronage towards introducing Railways in the Sub-Continent is indeed a great gift and the operational railroad and railway stations in Pakistan today are the same laid and built by the British before 1947. Old Presidency in Rawalpindi, Rest house in Ziarat, Empress Market Karachi, Punjab University’s old Campus, Islamia College Peshawar, and Cathedrals in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Peshawar are jus t few examples of the British Heritage.The British Empire, however, ceased to exist in this part of the world after 14 August 1947. Lecture II Culture of Pakistan and Characteristics of Pakistani Culture The society and culture of Pakistan (Urdu: Ø «Ã™â€šÃ˜ §Ã™ Ã˜ ª Ù ¾Ã˜ §Ãš ©Ã˜ ³Ã˜ ªÃ˜ §Ã™â€ ) comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis in east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the  ancient Dardic, Wakhi, and Burusho communities in the north. These Pakistani cultures have been greatly influenced by many of the surrounding countries’ cultures, such as the Turkic peoples, Persian, Arab, and other South Asian ethnic groups of the Subcontinent, Central Asia and the Middle East. In ancient times, Pakistan was a major cultural hub. Many cultural practices and great monuments have been inherited from the time of the ancient rulers of the region. One of the greatest cultural influences was that of the Persian Empire, of which Pakistan was a part. In fact, the Pakistani satraps were at one time the richest and most productive of the massive Persian Empire. Other key influences include the Afghan Empire, Mughal Empire and later, the short-lived but influential, the British Empire. Pakistan has a cultural and ethnic background going back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from 2800–1800 B.C., and was remarkable for its ordered cities, advanced sanitation, excellent roads, and uniquely structured society. Pakistan has been invaded many times in the past, and has been occupied and settled by many different peoples, each of whom have left their imprint on the current inhabitants of the country. Some of the largest groups were the Proto-Indo-Aryans, of which Sindhis and Punjabis descend from and later Iranic peoples which the Baloch and Pashtuns descend from. Other less significant ones include the Greeks, Scythians, Persians, White Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Buddhists, and other Eurasian groups, up to and including the British, who left in the late 1940s. The region has formed a distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia from the earliest times, and is analogous to Turkey’s position in Eurasia. [1] There are differences in culture among the different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion, especially where pre-Islamic customs differ from Islamic practices. Their cultural origins also reveal influences from far afield, including Tibet, Nepal, India, and eastern Afghanistan. All groups show varying degrees of influence from Persia, Turkestan and Hellenistic Greece. Pakistan was the first region of South Asia to receive the full impact of Islam and has developed a distinct Islamic identity, historically different from areas further west.[1] Ancient sites in Pakistan include: Zoroastrian Fire temples, Islamic centres,  shi’a shrines/Sufi shrines, Buddhist temples, Sikh, Hindu, and pagan temples and shrines, gardens, tombs, palaces, monuments, and Mughal and Indo-Saracenic buildings. Sculpture is dominated by Greco-Buddhist friezes, and crafts by ceramics, jewellery, silk goods and engraved woodwork and metalwork. Pakistani society is largely multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural. Though cultures within the country differ to some extent, more similarities than differences can be found, as most Pakistanis are mainly of Aryan heritage or have coexisted side by side along the Indus River for several thousand years, or both. However, over 60 years of integration, a distinctive â€Å"Pakistani† culture has sprung up, especially in the urban areas where many of the diverse ethnic groups have coexisted and ithe country now having a literacy rate of 55%, up from 3% at the time of independence. Traditional family values are highly respected and considered sacred, although urban families increasingly form nuclear families, owing to socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional culture of the extended family. The past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Sialkot, Abbottabad, and Multan. Rural areas of Pakistan are regarded as more conservative, and are dominated by regional tribal customs dating back hundreds if not thousands of years. â€Å"Pakistan’s culture is again unique like the rest of the country. Pakistan’s geography is the meeting point of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia/Gulf. Its culture could be termed as a combination of sub continental, Islamic, Regional, English, and more recently global influences. Let us consider them piecemeal. The newly born Pakistan had to have a sub continental leaning, having been a part of for last 5000 years of its civilization. However, the Indus Valley, present day Pakistan, culture was different from the rest of North India or South India† Religious Uniformity Islam is the state religion of Pakistan. 97% of the population is Muslim. The minority community includes Hindus, Christians, Parsis, Ahmedis (Mirzais), Kalash, Sikhs, Bah’a’i, Buddhists and Jews. The Constitution guarantees equal rights to Muslims and non Muslims. Sufi traditions of love, peace, progress, perfection and support of the poor  have strongly influenced Islam in Pakistan. Islam arrived in Sindh in the eighth century, following which the Sufi movement multiplied all over the sub-continent. Pakistan came into existence to provide its people a system of life based on Islam. The people ,in spite of some differences of languages, customs and traditions commonly follow one religion of Islam. Language The national language of Pakistan is Urdu, while English is the official language of the country, widely spoken and understood. Urdu, meaning ‘language of the army camp/caravan,’ is a mixture of predominantly Turkish, Arabic, and Persian with languages of the sub-continent. Urdu is written in the Persian script. It was adopted as the court language during the latter period of the Mughal Empire. Urdu played a dominant role in the re-awakening of Muslim nationalism in the sub-continent, which culminated in the Pakistan Movement. Urdu was therefore adopted as the national language of the country. Besides Urdu, there are six major and over fifty regional languages. The major regional languages are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Baluchi, Saraiki and Hindko. Other widely spoken languages are Potohari, Shina and Broshishki. All these languages have their own literary tradition. Evolution and development of any language is dependent on the evolution and development of a society where that language is spoken. Various invasions and conquests on a place affect the development of its language. Pakistan is a land that attracted many foreign races and empires during the course of its long history. Such was the sponge like quality of the sub-continent of India that under every invasion it readily absorbed foreign traits yet, maintaining their own distinct individuality as well. Language was one such trait. The inhabitants of Indian subcontinent were the speakers of Sanskrit and eventually, words and dialects of the languages of each successive intruder intermingled with Sanskrit and gave birth to various dialects and languages. Most of the languages spoken in Pakistan are part of the Indo-European family of languages. The main language families in Pakistan are Indo-Aryan, Iranian, Dravidian and Dardic. Literature Pakistani literature originates from when Pakistan gained its nationhood as a  sovereign state in 1947. The common and shared tradition of Urdu literature and English literature of South Asia was inherited by the new state. Over a period of time, a body of literature unique to Pakistan has emerged in nearly all major Pakistani languages, including Urdu, English, Punjabi, Pashto, Seraiki, Balochi, and Sindhi. Poetry Poetry is a highly respected art and profession in Pakistan. The pre-eminent form of poetry in Pakistan almost always originates in Persian, due in part to the long standing affiliation the region had with the Persian Empire. The enthusiasm for poetry exists at a regional level as well, with nearly all of Pakistan’s provincial languages continuing the legacy. Since the independence of the country in 1947 and establishment of Urdu as the national language, poetry is written in that language as well. The Urdu language has a rich tradition of poetry and includes the famous poets Dr. Allama Iqbal (national poet), Mirza Ghalib, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Faraz, Jazib Qureshi, and Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi. Apart from Urdu poetry, Pakistani poetry also has blends of other regional languages. Balochi, Sindhi, Punjabi, Seraiki, and Pashto poetry have all incorporated and influenced Pakistani poetry. Poetry in the form of marsia salam and naath is also very popular among many Pakistanis. Performing arts * Music The variety of Pakistani music ranges from diverse provincial folk music and traditional styles such as Qawwali and Ghazal Gayaki to modern forms fusing traditional and western music, such as the synchronisation of Qawwali and western music by the world renowned Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In addition Pakistan is home to many famous folk singers such as the late Alam Lohar, who is also well known in Indian Punjab. Dances Kathak – classical dance developed in the Royal courts of the Mughals. Folk dances are still popular in Pakistan and vary according to region such as: Bhangra – Punjab Luddi – Punjab Sammi – Punjab Jhumar – Saraiki and Balochi folk dance Lewa – Baluch folk dance Chap – Baluch folk dance performed at weddings Jhumar – Saraiki and Balochi folk dance Attan – Folk dance of Pashtuns tribes of Pakistan including the unique styles of Quetta and Waziristan Khattak Dance – Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chitrali Dance – Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Dhammal – Performed at Sufi shrines/ dargahs in Punjab and Sindh Ho Jamalo – Sindhi dance Drama and theatre These are very similar to stage plays in theatres. They are performed by well-known actors and actresses in the Lollywood industry. The dramas and plays deal with many themes from life events, often with a humorous touch. Bollywood movies are also popular. Visual arts Painting Abdul Rehman Chughtai, Sughra Rababi, Ustad Allah Baksh, Ajaz Anwar, Ismail Gulgee, Jamil Naqsh, and Sadequain are prominent painters of Pakistan also known as the old masters. Pakistan is now producing a variety of contemporary art and Pakistani Artists have become world famous. Pakistani vehicle art is a popular folk art. Architecture The architecture of the areas now constituting Pakistan can be traced to four distinct periods: pre-Islamic, Hindu heritage, Buddhist culture, Islamic, colonial, and post-colonial. With the beginning of the Indus civilization around the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C., an advanced urban culture developed for the first time in the region, with large structural facilities, some of which survive to this day.[Mohenjo Daro, Harappa and Kot Diji belong to the pre-Islamic era settlements. The rise of Buddhism, Guptas, Mouryas, and the Persian and Greek influence led to the development of the Greco-Buddhist style, starting from the 1st century CE. The high point of this era was reached with the culmination of the Gandhara style. An example of Buddhist architecture is the ruins of the Buddhist monastery Takht-i-Bahi in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The arrival of Islam in today’s Pakistan introduced the classical Islamic construction techniques into Pakistan’s architectural landscape. However, a smooth transition to predominantly  picture-less Islamic architecture occurred. The town of Uch Sharif contains the tombs of Bibi Jawindi, Baha’al-Halim, and Jalaluddin Bukhari, which are considered some of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture in Pakistan and are on the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage Site list since 2004.[5] One of the most important of the few examples of the Persian style of architecture is the tomb of the Shah Rukn-i-Alam in Multan. During the Mughal era, design elements of Islamic-Persian architecture were fused with, and often produced playful forms of, Hindustani art. Lahore, occasional residence of Mughal rulers, exhibits a multiplicity of important buildings from the empire, among them the Badshahi mosque, the fortress of Lahore with the famous Alamgiri Gate, the colourful, still strongly Persian seeming Wazir Khan Mosque as well as numerous other mosques and mausoleums. The Shahjahan Mosque of Thatta in Sindh also originates from the epoch of the Mughals, as does the Mohabbat Khan Mosque in Peshawar. In the British colonial age, the buildings developed were predominantly of the Indo-European style, with a mixture of European and Indian-Islamic components. Post-colonial national identity is expressed in modern structures like the Faisal Mosque, the Minar-e-Pakistan and the Mazar-e-Quaid. Recreation and sports The official national sport of Pakistan is field hockey, but cricket and squash are the most popular sports. The Pakistan national field hockey team has won the Hockey World Cup a record four times. The Pakistan national cricket team has won the Cricket World Cup once (in 1992), were runners-up once (in 1999), and co-hosted the games twice (in 1987 and 1996). Additionally, they have also won the ICC World Twenty20 once (in 2009), and were runners-up (in 2007). The team has also won the Austral-Asia Cup in 1986, 1990, and 1994. At the international level, Pakistan has competed many times at the Summer Olympics in field hockey, boxing, athletics, swimming, and shooting. Hockey is the sport in which Pakistan has been most successful at the Olympics, winning three gold medals (1960, 1968, and 1984). Pakistan has also won the Hockey World Cup four times (1971, 1978, 1982, and 1994).[6] Pakistan has hosted several international competitions, including the South Asian Federation Games in 1989 and 2004. A1 Grand Prix racing is also becoming popular with the entry of a Pakistani team in the 2005 season.  The Tour de Pakistan, modelled on the Tour de France, is an annual cycling competition that covers the length and breadth of Pakistan. Recently, football has grown in popularity across the country, where traditionally it had been played almost exclusively in the western province of Balochistan. FIFA has recently teamed up with the government to bring football closer to the northern areas too. Cuisine Culinary art in Pakistan comprises a mix of Middle Eastern, Iranian, Afghan, Indian, and Turkish influences that reflect the country’s history as well as the variation of cooking practices from across the surrounding regions. Urban centres of the country offer an amalgamation of recipes from all parts of the country, while food with specific local ingredients and tastes is available in rural areas and villages. Besides the main dishes of salan, with or without meat and cooked with vegetables or lentils, there are a number of provincial specialties such as karahi, biryani, and tikka, in various forms and flavours, eaten alongside a variety of breads such as naan, chapati, and roti. There are also local forms of grilled meat or kebabs, desserts, and a variety of hot and cold drinks. Festivals Ramadan The holiest month of the Islamic Calendar, which is a month of fasting from sunrise to sunset and self-discipline, it is widely observed in Pakistan. Muslim Pakistanis (about 97% of the population) fast, attend mosques with increased frequency, and recite Qur’an. Special foods are cooked in greater quantities, parties are held, and special accommodation is made by workplaces and educational institutes. Chand Raat Occurs after the Islamic month of Ramadan. Chand Raat occurs the night before Eid day celebrations commence, marking the end of the month of Ramadan. In the night known as Chand Raat, people celebrate by various means, such as girls putting henna on their hands. People buy gifts and sweets that will be given to friends and families who come over to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Eid celebrations The two Eids, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, commemorate the passing of the month of fasting, Ramadan, and the willingness of Ibrahim A.S to sacrifice his son Ishmael for God. On these days, there are national holidays and many festival events that take place to celebrate Eid. As Pakistan is a Muslim state, there are three days off for all businesses and government offices. On the night before Eid, people search for the new moon to mark the end of Ramadan and arrival of Eid ul-Fitr. The day starts with morning prayers, then returning home for a large breakfast with family members. The day is spent visiting relatives and friends and sharing gifts and sweets with everyone. During the evening people hit the town for some partying, going to restaurants or relaxing in city parks. On Eid ul-Fitr, money is given for charity and as gifts to young children. On Eid ul-Adha, people may also distribute meat to relatives and neighbors and donate food for charity. Milaad un Nabi Milaad un Nabi is a known religious festival which is celebrated in many parts of Pakistan. The Milaad is the celebration for the birthday of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Muharram (Ashura)  In Pakistan, the first ten days of Muharram are observed officially. The 10th day of Muharram is marked in the memory of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Muhammad, who was a martyr, along with 72 family members, friends and followers during the Battle of Karbala. Jashn-e-Baharan Jashn-e-Baharan aometimes referred to as Basant, is a pre-Islamic Punjabi festival that marks the coming of spring. Celebrations in Pakistan are centered in Lahore, and people from all over the country and abroad come to the city for the annual festivities. Kite flying competitions take place all over the city’s rooftops during Basant (now prohibited).[7] The fertile province of Punjab was intimately tied via its agriculture to the different seasons of the year. The arrival of spring was an important event for all farmers and was welcomed with a celebration, hence the name Jashn (celebration) Baharan (spring). Christmas Christmas is usually celebrated by Pakistani Christians who account more than 3 percent of Pakistan and mostly reside in Punjab of Pakistan. Other Pakistanis also commemorate this event to promote inter-communal harmony. Holi Holi is celebrated by Pakistani Hindus. Other Pakistanis celebrate with them as well to promote communal harmony. Nowruz This festival is like Nowruz of Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. In Northern Pakistan (Chitral, Gilgit, Baltistan), and Northern Punjab, Nowruz is celebrated as a socio-religious festival. It is also celebrated with much fervour in Balochistan, and in almost all of Pakistan’s major urban centres. In Baltistan, the main features of Nowruz are the giving of coloured eggs to friends and polo matches. In Balochistan, the festival is marked with outdoor feasts, and the traditional jumping over a fire to wash away sins and usher in a fresh start. The origins of this festival are pre-Islamic and date back to when Pakistan was part of the Achaemenid and Sassanid Persian empires. Independence Day On August 14, the people of Pakistan celebrate the day when Pakistan gained its independence from British India, and formed an independent state for Muslims. There are many celebrations all over the country, with people singing and dancing in the streets. Concerts are held with many pop and classical singers. Parades are held in the capital city (Islamabad). Many people decorate their houses and fly the flag of Pakistan. At night, fireworks are used in many cities. Many people pray for the country and reflect on their pride in the country of Pakistan. Defence Day September 6 is another patriotic day, when the Army of Pakistan is put on display for the general public to show Pakistan arms. All Government officials attend the ceremony and recognitions are awarded to special people for their work. In March 2007, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) put on display the new joint manufactured Chinese-Pakistani aircraft called the JF-17 Thunder. Popular media Television Traditionally, the government-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) has been the dominant media player in Pakistan. The PTV channels are controlled  by the government and opposition views are not given much time. The past decade has seen the emergence of several private TV channels showing news and entertainment, such as GEO TV, AAJ TV, ARY Digital, HUM, MTV Pakistan, and others. Traditionally the bulk of TV shows have been plays or soap operas, some of them critically acclaimed. Various American, European, Asian TV channels, and movies are available to a majority of the population via Cable TV. Television accounted for almost half of the advertising expenditure in Pakistan in 2002. Radio The Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) was formed on 14 August 1947, the day of Pakistani independence. It was a direct descendant of the Indian Broadcasting Company, which later became All India Radio. At independence, Pakistan had radio stations in Dhaka, Lahore, and Peshawar. A major programme of expansion saw new stations open at Karachi and Rawalpindi in 1948, and a new broadcasting house at Karachi in 1950. This was followed by new radio stations at Hyderabad (1951), Quetta (1956), a second station at Rawalpindi (1960), and a receiving centre at Peshawar (1960). During the 1980s and 1990s, the corporation expanded its network to many cities and towns of Pakistan to provide greater service to the local people. Today, there are over a hundred radio stations due to more liberal media regulations. Cinema An indigenous movie industry exists in Pakistan and is known as â€Å"Lollywood†, as it is based in Lahore, producing over forty feature-length films a year. National Dress The national dress is Shalwar Qameez for both men and women. It consists of a long, loose fitting tunic with very baggy trousers. The dress is believed to be an amalgamation of the dresses worn by the ancient Persians, and Mughal Empire who have left their impression on the people and culture of Pakistan.[10] The men’s version consists of solid, masculine colours, and is almost always accompanied by a collar and buttons (similar to a polo shirt). Men often wear an outer waistcoat over the shalwar kameez. The women’s version almost never contains collar and buttons but is often embroidered and consists of feminine colors and may feature lace or flower patterns. In the summer, a light, cotton version is often worn, while during the winter,  a heavier, wool version is worn. The sherwani or achkan, with karakul hat is the recommended dress for male government employees and officials, as it is not specifically associated with any of the provinces. Most male government officials wear the formal black sherwani on state occasions. A large Pakistani diaspora exists in the Western world and the Middle East. Whereas Pakistanis in the United States, Canada and Australia tend to be professionals, the majority of them in the United Kingdom, Germany and Scandinavia originally came from a rural background belonging to the working class. These emigrants and their children influence Pakistan culturally and economically, keeping close ties with their roots by travelling to Pakistan and especially by returning or investing there. Cultural traditions Pakistanis have evolved an often distinct and unique set of culture, traditions and customs in the region. Shalwar Qameez is the dress commonly worn, both by men and women, and Kashmiru, etc. put and dances are distinctly unique with their own melodies, instruments, patterns and styles. Pakistani arts in metal work, tiles, furniture, rugs, designs/paintings, literature, calligraphy, and much more are diverse and renowned internationally. Pakistani architecture is unique with its infusion of Islamic, Persian, Turkish and Indigenous styles. The manners and lifestyles are guided by a blend of traditions as well as the culture. Food dishes are also attracting quite a lot of attention with its wide blend of flavours and spices. Ethnic groups The vast majority of Pakistanis are Caucasoid by race but many other distinct minority are also present. The majority of Pakistanis are of average to above average height. Pakistan is notable for having several individuals in the Guinness Book of World Records, such as Alam Channa for the tallest man in the world. Pakistanis are diverse, many possessing dark hair and eyes but light coloured eyes and light coloured hair do occur in significant portions of the population as well, notably in the North amongst the Dardic, Kalash, Burusho, Wakhi, and north western Pashtun tribes. The typical Pakistani can range from light to dark brown skin tones with a few exceptions in mountainous regions of the north. Many of the people inhabiting Pakistan’s  western regions share genetic affinities with ethnic groups in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. While the racial features of each ethnic group in Pakistan are not uniform, Chitralis and some of the Dardic tribes in the north are the most Caucasoid phenotypically, followed by the Pashtuns (also known as Pakhtuns), Kashmiris, Paharis/Potoharis, Balochis, Punjabis, and Sindhis, Muhajirs, and Seraikis. The Negroid people live along the Makran coast and are a small minority known as the Sheedi who came from East Africa in the 15th century. Panjabis, Seraiki and The Sindhis have considerable admixture and show a diverse phenotypic features representative of their multicultural history. The Mongoloid people also inhabit Pakistan are of Central Asian origin where oftentimes their racial elements are infused within the dominant Caucasoid genes of the vast majority of Pakistanis, however there are many instances in which some have retained their distinct racial characteristics. Pakistan’s genetic diversity is due to various factors including the numerous waves of migration from other regions and include Aryans mainly, in smaller amounts Greeks, Iranians, Arabs, Turks, Scythians, Afghans to name a few and also because of its geopolitical location straddling the Iranian Plateau, Central Asian, Tibetan, and South Asian genetic spheres and as a result, the phenotypic expression of its people is reflective of this diversity. Large influxes of refugees from the surrounding nations have further exacerbated this change.

Employment Law and Employee Relations Assignment

Introduction Employment relations between employers and employees are managed by several different sources. There are a variety of statutory provisions which govern the acceptability of certain behaviours by either party. Key legislative provisions that will be referred to throughout this case study include the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA) and the Equality Act (2010) EqA, amongst others. Each of the three situations here will be looked at individuals although it is noted that each of the three people in question are employees and there is no need to consider the tests of whether or not the individuals are self-employed or employed for the purposes of statutory protection (although this was not as clear with Sally, see below for analysis). Each employee has also been issued with a contract which is presumed to be compliant with the minimum statutory requirements. Each scenario will be looked at in turn. Jim The discussions associated with Jim and his recent civil partnership indicate that there is a prima facie argument being presented by Jim that he is being discriminated against by virtue of his sexual orientation. Jim has argued that he has been given a less favourable shift pattern and that this is due to his sexual orientation and his statement that he is likely to be seeking to take time off to raise a child in the near future. He has also indicated that he has been subject to abuse from a colleague by virtue of his sexual orientation. Jim is now off work ill and has suggested that he may wish to resign. The danger from the Council point of view is that Jim resigns and states that he was constructively unfairly dismissed by virtue of his treatment due to sexual orientation. Although he has only been employed for a period of 18 months and this would typically mean that he had not have the appropriate qualifying period for unfair dismissal. However in accordance with section 19 of EqA there is no qualifying period and this therefore presents a danger to the Council. In order to potentially argue this, Jim would have to show that he had suffered from discrimination, harassment or victimisation in the work place as a direct result of his sexual orientation. In accordance with the EqA 2010 direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation are all outlawed. Jim is seemingly arguing that he is being directly discriminated against as he is being given worse shifts than his counterparts who are heterosexual. In order to prove this there would need to be a comparator so that he could show that he has been treated comparatively worse than his counterpart, the comparator having circumstances that are not materially different to Jim (Shamoon, 2003). Therefore in this case it would be necessary to look at the treatment of someone who is in all ways similar to Jim with the exception of sexual orientation. The facts as indicated here are not sufficiently clear to show whether or not on balance Jim has been treated any differently than other colleagues with the revised shift patterns. There is also an additional concern faced by Malcolm in that in the case of Martin (2006). In this case it was held that the investigation of the grievance process was in itself discriminatory as the manager had failed to give the complainant the necessary time and a ttention, instead dismissing his grievance as petty. Malcolm’s response to Jim’s verbal statement is therefore a concern and although a formal grievance has not been raised the matter needs to be treated with greater concern in order to investigate the complaint fully. In relation to the investigation of victimisation and harassment, the full process needs to be followed in order to comply with the requirement of the EqA to protect Jim. Section 26 of the EqA deals with the conduct that has the effect of being discriminatory by virtue of victimisation and harassment. Again the full facts have not been ascertained as yet and although Jim feels the emails are coming from a colleague this would need to be investigated fully. The crucial aspect of this scenario however is to deal with the grievance in an appropriate manner. Malcolm’s previous brushing aside of Jim could in itself create allegations of discrimination and this needs to be rectified as a matter of urgency. A failure to do so could result in Jim bringing a claim for constructive, unfair dismissal with the possibly of the tribunal awarding compensation for injury to feelings. This is aimed at being compensatory and not punitive but nonetheless presents a real danger to the Council (Corus, 2005). Frank This scenario deals with an employee that is known for several misdemeanours over the two years of his employment, most notably going out during the week and weekend and attending work in a manner that is seen to be unacceptable. His latest error as a result of this activity has resulted in a potential substantial loss to the Council. There is no indication that his action with the transcription error happened when he was doing anything outside of his authority within work. It is also noted that he is paid a minimum wage or ?5.13 at 19 years of age which does not indicate that he is an apprentice. That said being 19 and recognised to have substantial weaknesses in his performance which do not seem to have been picked up previously places the Council in a weaker position. Despite this, it is evident that his error has caused a substantial loss and as such it is reasonable for the Council to look towards a disciplinary. The principles of fairness when conducting a disciplinary are contained in the ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Produces (2012) as well as the non-statutory guide that is also created by ACAS. More formally, S98 of ERA states that in order for an individual to be dismissed the employer is required to have acted reasonably and following a suitable disciplinary process would be a key component of this. In the event that the process is not followed and Frank then claims unfair dismissal the failure to follow the process could result in an uplift of any award by 25% (Section 207 of Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992). Firstly it is necessary for the employer to consider whether formal action is necessary. It is not clear whether previous misdemeanours or poor performance has been dealt with formally or informally and this should be looked at as a matter of priority. However for the purposes of this advice it is suggested that these have not been dealt with formally in any way. Where a discussion is to be recorded formally on the record of an employee, as is likely to be the case her section 11 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 will become relevant and the statutory right to be accompanied needs to be taken into account. It was confirmed in the case of Sarkar (2010) that where the disciplinary could result in dismissal it is not acceptable to use an informal process. The potential loss here is substantial and therefore it is possible that the Council could be looking at gross misconduct. Frank has the qualifying period of 2 years service and could therefore potentially claim unfair dismissal making it vital that the processes are followed correctly. The employer needs to act promptly as if it fails to indicate the severity of the situation to the employee there is a danger that it would be seen to have affirmed the contract and accepted the employees repudiatory breach (Cook, 2009). A full investigation is necessary which will then potentially lead to the disciplinary procedure. The position of the employer should however be reserved for the duration of the investigation. During the investigatory meeting and the disciplinary meeting (if there is one subsequent) the employee has the right to be accompanied. The level of investigation necessary is dependent on the severity of the accusation (A, 2003). Where an employee is at a serious risk of long term impact for example being dismissed and receiving a professional detriment a much more thorough investigation is required. Based on this and the underlying need to act reasonably Frank should be suspended in order for the investigation to take place. He should be informed of his rights and obligations during the period and also how long he is likely to be suspended for. As the conduct is sufficiently severe that it could result in dismissal this is a crucial step and the investigations should be very thorough. There are concerns that the Council has been aware of performance issues and has not yet dealt with the matter. Furthermore it would seem unreasonable that a junior individual was able to make such a costly error and this will have to be born in mind when determining the severity of the disciplinary process to be followed. Sally Sally’s contractual status is questioned initially as she is currently working various hours with a weekend on call every month. Sally has been located at the Council office for 3 years with a set desk and specific hours. This level of control is considered to be sufficient to comply with the definition of employee as per section 230 of the ERA 1996. This is a matter of fact and law and it is suggested that as she was required to personally preform the contract and the Council had a high level of control she would be deemed to be an employee (Carmichael, 2000). Based on this it would be the case that Sally is entitled to the statutory minimum holiday which is 20 days (excluding 8 bank holiday days). Sally has requested a change to her current working hours which is dealt with a flexible working request and secondly she is likely to be interviewed alongside others for the full time vacancies which have now arisen, should she wish to apply and would not want to be discriminated against by virtue of her caring role for her terminally ill mother. Since June 2014, employees with at least 6 months’ continuous service have been able to apply for flexible working for any reason. The employer is then under a duty to deal with the request in a reasonable manner and be fair in the way that they treat the application (Duncan, 2012). Crucially, in accordance with section 13 of the EqA it is possible for an employer to be directly discriminating against an individual who is treated less favourably due to the disability of an associated person (Coleman 2008). This situation is potentially difficult for the Council to manage and there is at least some argument that Sally is not in fact an employee. On balance however this is not a valid argument given the prescriptiveness of the hours of work and the physical base in the council as well as the personal nature of the services provided. The Council would therefore be required to provide paid holiday and to provide Sally with her contract of employment. Furthermore any requests for flexible working would need to be dealt with fairly and when looking to fill full time roles, Sharon would have to ensure that she did not discriminate against Sally as this could result in disability discrimination despite the fact that the disability is not suffered by her directly. Conclusions In summary, Jim should be offered a full and diligence grievance procedure to prevent him resigning and later claiming constructive unfair dismissal by virtue of sexual orientation discrimination. Frank should be dealt with formally through the use of the disciplinary procedure with a full investigation and if necessary a disciplinary that conforms with statutory requirements. Sally is, on balance, an employee and needs to be managed with due care to the disability discrimination rules and the need to be fair and reasonable when considering any flexible working requests. References ACAS (2012) Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures Available at: http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/k/b/Acas_Code_of_Practice_1_on_disciplinary_and_grievance_procedures-accessible-version-Jul-2012.pdf A v B [2003] IRLR 405 Carmichael v National Power plc [2000] IRLR 43, Coleman v Attridge Law and another [2008] ICR 1128 Cook v MSHK Limited and another [2009] EWCA Civ 624, Corus Hotels plc v Woodward and another UKEAT/0536/05, Duncan, N (2012) Employment Law in Practice, City Law School (London, England, Oxford University Press) p.216 Employment Relations Act 1999 Employment Rights Act 1996 Equality Act (2010) Martin v Parkam Foods Ltd ET/1800241/06 Sarkar v West London Mental Health NHS Trust [2010] IRLR 508 Shamoon v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary [2003] ICR 337 (HL) Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992

The Regulatory & Ethical Environment of Business

Incorporated In Wall or with a physical presence In Wall) to review in an original term paper. The student must cover at a minimum 3 of the following 7 topics: (2) What type of entity is this business (e. G. LLC, for-profit entity, nonprofit entity, etc. ) and why is that the best choice for this business? (1) How does the equines address ethical or moral issues? (5) What environmental issues does the business deal with? (3) If the business develops, sells or otherwise deals with consumer products, how does the business ensure product safety? (4) Does the business engage in advertising? If so, why? Further, how does it determine what type of advertising best suits Its purposes? (6) What employment Issues has the business faced? 7) What type of steps does the business undertake to Meltzer discrimination both within and outside the workplace? Papers will be graded on thoroughness and concepts covered in the textbooks. Students may conduct research of the business however they see fit, though it is strongly suggested that the student interview or otherwise correspond with a contact person or persons affiliated with the chosen business. Papers must be double spaced, typed in size 12 Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins. The paper must be a minimum of 10 pages and a maximum of 12 pages. MGM-6020-E, 6020?The Regulatory & Ethical Environment of Business Term Paper : Hallelujah Solar (http://www. Holidaymakers. Mom/) length of existence in Hawaii and a description of Hawaii-based activities (particularly f you are covering a national â€Å"chain† business) Hallelujah Solar named after a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maim. The story of the company is not what one would expect. It did not start with a massive research or a group or pro environmental scientist. It all started back in the ass's, Hallelujah Solar founder, Jim Whitlock,working as a plumber at a golf course, came home after a hard day of work, ready for a nice shower and realized he had no hot water. He called his landlord, and told him all the water he was getting was cold. Mr.. Toby, a long-time local, came over and pointed to a box on the roof and exclaimed in his broken English, â€Å"No more sun, no more hot water†. Mr..Toby went on to explain how the home-made device, copper tubes sandwiched between old window panes connected to a water tank sitting on a rotting wooden stand, used the sun to create hot water. Jim touched the tubes and pulled immediately back from the heat. The proverbial light bulb went off in his head. â€Å"Holy cow, this actually works†, he thought. And that was it. Jims solar energy Journey had begun. Keep in mind back then he was a long-haired hippie surfer, involved in environmental causes like Save Our Surf, a group dedicated to preserving reefs and pristine shorelines from unscrupulous developers. In a weird twist of fate, here he is years later, using inspiration he got from an amateur b ackyard inventor, still helping the environment and along with it, thousands of other lives as well.However, despite the free spirited image Jim was no slacker he was mechanically inclined and good with his hands. It took Jim 60 days to build a solar system prototype whilst working a day Job. This was no small feat considering this was before most people owned a computer let alone heard of the internet. He spent most of his extra time in the local library doing research and experimenting with different materials and products and eventually developed an efficient working solar hot water system. â€Å"The members of the corporation unlike the members of partnership or the proprietors of a business – are financially liable for the debts of the organization only up to the extent of their investments† (Pig 152 Shaw). 977, Jim officially started his solar company, Hallelujah Resources Inc. During the ass's, due to the oil embargo in the Middle East, crude prices rose dramati cally. Environmental awareness also emerged at this time and the ambition of the two triggered tremendous interest in alternative ways to create energy. Solar was a major recipient of this newfound interest and the whole industry took off. Due to the professionalism and integrity of Jim and his services, the now- named Hallelujah Solar quickly became the largest solar company in Maim, eventually other islands and soon they were installing systems all over the state. In the mid ass's, Jim started experimenting with solar cells, creating electricity.With fuel costs constantly rising, and photovoltaic technology prices dropping, he envisioned a true in which â€Å"people would set up their own small electric companies†. In observing the incredible growth of solar electric today, we can conclude he was right. Hallelujah Solar has been in business for over 35 years and has installed over ten thousand solar energy systems with satisfied customers all over the state of Hawaii. They believe servicing systems is Just as important as installing them. They are a one- stop shop and service anything solar energy related. Hallelujah Solar truly stands behind their work, and are one of the few solar companies in the state to have been round long enough to actually back up a 25 year warranty. What type of entity is this business (e. G.LLC, for-profit entity, nonprofit entity, etc. ) and why is that the best choice for this business? â€Å"When we think of corporation we naturally think of giants such as General Motors, Exxon Mobil, Microsoft or Walter, which exert enormous influence over our economy and society. But the local independently owned convenience store may be a corporation. † (pig 1 52 Shaw). Jim Whitlock knew that if he to have any kind of success he needed to create a corporation. Corporation has many advantages that suited this reticular situation. First of all the expansion factor a non-for-profit entity has harder time Justifying expansion since its goal is not revenue generation but rather its mission.Its not the fact that Non-For-Profit organization cannot generate revenue, actually a lot of them do (For example NCAA (National College Athletic Association)), it is the fact that it cannot use revenues to invest in itself. Revenues of non-for-profit organization usually distributed to shareholders as dividends or invested in projects. Non-for-profit cannot retain profits for self investment. Jim Whitlock had the sights et on expansion and needed the profits and revenues to be invested back into the corporation. So that he can weather downturns in business and have enough financial leverage to expand. Non-for-profit usually relies on donations as the main contribution, Corporations are relied on investors as the main source of contribution.Being an investor is more lucrative than being a donor. With corporation it is easier to get findings not only from people who want to succeed with you but also from financial institutions . If a corporation is generating revenue financial institutions are more inclined to give loan or become an investor. The idea of making money appeals more to the banks rather donations†¦ Go figure. Last but not least the Non-for-profit tax requirement for compliance are tedious and time consuming not to mention strict regulations code Jim Whitlock needed to focus on the company's development and its growth instead of trying to comply with government requirements.These are the biggest reasons why Corporation was the right path for Hallelujah corporation rather than the path of non for profit. One of the most important legal benefits is the proprietors and general partners in a partnership are personally and Jointly expansible for all the liabilities of a business such as loans, accounts payable, and legal Judgments. In a corporation, however, stockholders, directors and officers typically are not liable for the company's debts and obligations. There is this quote in the book â €Å"The problem, of course, is that they are not human beings. Or to quote Lord Thrown an eighteenth-century lawyer, how can you â€Å"expect a corporation to have a conscience, when it has no soul to be damned and no body to be kicked(pig 154 Shaw).The fact is that these types of corporations do have souls because it starts tit one man's idea and that man wants to see his idea come to fruition, to grow and to materialize. To start something from basically zero with Just an idea a person needs to invest time, a person needs to invest resources and most importantly his soul. The corporation is a shield for personal assets to minimize the already enormous risk a person is taking. Such shield allows the company to grow and maintain the work force knowing that the corporation Just like a person can be braised or blamed, even punished for the decisions management makes and the policies management undertakes. 1) How does the business address ethical or moral issues?The 1973 oil crisis s tarted in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OPEC (consisting of the Arab members of OPEC, plus Egypt, Syria and Tunisia) proclaimed an oil embargo. By the end of the embargo in March 1974, the price of oil had risen from US $3 per barrel to nearly $12. This was the wake up call to search for alternative energy source. A lot of articles was posted on the power of solar technology. Jim Whitlock recognized the niche need for solar powered heaters and decided to turn an idea into reality and in turn o profit. â€Å"Pollution and the depletion of natural resources are two aspects of the same problem: Both involve using up natural resources that are limited.Pollution uses up clean air and water, Just as extraction uses up the minerals or oil in the ground† (pig 244 Shaw). However, here we have something that is free and taken for granted – Sunlight. Hallelujah Corporation uses sunlight as its primary resource and conv erts it to heat and electricity the added bonus is no pollution created. In fact studies have confirmed that in the long run installing solar powered equipment reduces cost to he consumer in the long run. Those costs are not only monetary but also environmental since no additional pollution generated there is no additional cost to improve the environment. The cost of cleaning up pollution â€Å"Cost can include time, effort, discomfort, and lost opportunities† (pig 248 Shaw).Since solar industry does not generate extra pollution it saves everyone a lot of time, effort, discomfort and lost opportunities. The longer the solar technology is used the more indirect benefit it generates. Something that deserves to be mentioned a lot of government findings are spent falls into this category. The incentive for solar industry actually comes from two levels the State and The federal both offer tax credits if consumer or a company decides to take a â€Å"greener† route. Both the state of Hawaii and the US federal government offer generous tax credits for new solar photovoltaic system installations. The state of Hawaii also gives tax credits for solar hot water systems.These incentives dramatically lower the cost of purchasing and installing a solar system and have fueled the huge wave of interest in the last several years for solar energy in Hawaii. We thought we would explain how these tax credits work in order for you to start to understand how you can take advantage of them. Now lets get into the specifics the federal government gives a 30% tax credit on the cost of equipment and installation of a solar photovoltaic system and applies to all systems placed into service before December 31, 2016. The Hawaii Energy Tax Credit allows solar customers to claim an income tax credit of 35% of the cost of equipment and installation of a solar hot water system.So here we have a savings of 30% from federal and 35% from state on top of this we have a long term savin gs on the cost of electricity and indirect benefit of no pollution being generated. Utilitarianism is the moral doctrine that we should always act to produce the greatest possible balance of good over bad for everyone affected by our actions† (pig 48 Shaw). With so many reason for the use of solar technology there is no moral or ethical counter argument against it. So what is holding back ?. It is hard to get over the initial investment. Even with all the tax credits solar investment still has a hefty price tag. It is a big investment for a middle class person to shell out for a system that has tendency to be unreliable. That brings us to the next hurdle – unreliability.Even though in this day an age this is almost a non issue because of storage batteries and much more efficient ways to store energy which is being unused. Solar energy does heavily rely on the sun and some parts of the world (other than Hawaii) sun is seasonal and inconsistent so even with all the incent ives it is unpractical in some parts of the world. Last but not least, solar technology does require maintenance once in a while, the solar panels do get dusty and dirty and they need to be hosed off. Not everyone has the physical agility to climb the roof so additional expense is squired to maintain it. What environmental issues does the business deal with? The Hallelujah solar Inc is the futures answer to the present day pollution.We live in a time when its apparent that the use of energy that comes from the combustion of fossil fuels is something that needs to be left in the past, because these sources of energy are not endless and they have quite a negative impact on our Earth's delicate CEO-system. â€Å"William T. Blackstone, have gone further to argue that each of us has a right to a livable environment. In Blackstone view, this is a human right. Each person has the right qua being human and because a livable environment is essential for one to fulfill his human capacitiesâ €  This right has emerged as a result of well as the possibility of realizing other human rights† (page 245 Shaw). Solar power is an efficient, CEO-friendly, and endless source of energy that does not have the negative effects on our environment.Yet despite the availability of alternative sources most of the power used in the United States is made from dirty fossil fuels including coal, gas, and oil. Once fossil fuels are burned to generate energy, they Anton be reused and we have to find more to create more energy. The search for more fossil fuels is only going to become more dangerous and expensive. â€Å"Ecosystem which refers to a total ecological community, both living and nonliving. Webs of interdependence structure ecosystems. Predators and prey, producers and consumers, hosts and parasites are linked, creating interlocking mechanisms – checks and balances – that stabilize the system. â€Å"(page 243 Shaw).Pollution is a cancer that is slowly eating a way at the entire ecosystem. Slowly corroding the interlocking mechanism and destroying the checks and balances. Air pollution causes damage to crops, animals, forests, and bodies of water. It also contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the sun's UP rays. Another negative effect of air pollution is the formation of acid rain, which harms trees, soils, rivers, and wildlife. Some of the other environmental effects of air pollution are haze, transportation, and global climate change. Pollution also has a direct effect on human that becomes apparent and burdensome during our lifetime.Air pollution can cause long-term and short-term health effects. It's found that the elderly and nouns children are more affected by air pollution. Short-term health effects include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, allergic reactions, and upper respiratory infections. Some long-term health effects are lung cancer, brain damage, liver damage, kidney damage, heart disease, and respiratory disease. The sun is a huge source of free, natural and renewable power. Using solar power can help offset energy generated from fossil fuels. About half the electricity in the U. S. Comes from burning coal, which releases toxic emissions, such as nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and heavy metals like mercury.Using solar electricity reduces our dependence on coal, thus decreasing greenhouse gases and pollution. Energy produced from green sources, like solar, will help reduce our dependence on imported energy. Solar power can be generated cleanly and safely in the United States, where Jobs can be created in sales, installation, and engineering. In addition, home solar provides freedom from electricity rate increases and power outages. Here in Hawaii, this is even more critical as all of our oil is imported leaving us vulnerable to unstable worldwide fluctuations in the prices of crude oil. By going solar, you can edge the risk of fluctuating oil prices.H allelujah Solar helps fight against the ongoing pollution by offering a substitute energy source. Aside from the obvious benefit to the environment Solar company does offer something immediate to an individual such as tax credit. The government sees the benefit to not only get rid of dependence on foreign resources but also the need to take care of the environment. A lot of incentives were offered to the make money destroying the environment can there be a profitable business that benefits the environment. Apparently it can Solar industry has been gaining a lot of round people are looking to save money and governments are looking to reduce the cost of pollution and to reduce the indirect cost of foreign resource dependency. Social responsibility and environmental sustainability are core business competencies not a fringe activities† (page 245 Shaw) Conclusion and final thoughts, which may include a global view of what you've discovered about the business, what the future likel y holds for the business, etc A solar industry is finally getting its time in the sun. When I began the research I was curious in the industry and what it had to offer. With today's rising prices in oil and gas you are forced to look for alternatives. This year on may 9th president Obama stressed the need for US to find alternative energy source and pledged 2 billion dollars to solar industry. Executive actions that will drive investments in solar energy upgrades for government and private sector buildings, improve appliance efficiency standards, strengthen commercial building codes, encourage innovative financing, and create Jobs by developing a skilled solar workforce. † (Washington Post, may 9th). A lot of big corporations such as Apple and Kea are taking a chance on alarm energy and installing it at their locations. First of all there are incentives such as tax credits which save money for corporations in the short run. Second of all, there are saving incentives in the lon g run since the companies don't have to pay so much for traditional forms of energy. Third of all, it is a really great publicity stunt which can go a long way with investors. So the government is curious about the future of solar technology, the corporations are curious about yet the public remains blind.

A practical criticism of ‘For the Union Dead’ Essay

The aquarium is gone. Everywhere, giant finned cars nose forward like fish; a savage servility slides by on grease (For the Union Dead – Robert Lowell) In Lowell’s poem ‘For the Union Dead’ there is an underlying theme of the lost idealism which caused the American Civil War and its replacement with commercialism and materialism. â€Å"Giant finned cars nose forward like fish†, here Lowell reminds us of 20th century materialism by bringing about the image of the highly desired Cadillac (â€Å"finned cars†) whilst combining it with the comparison of a fish. This in my mind creates the idea of mankind following each other mindlessly to each material craze and status object. Moreover the image of men following each other (â€Å"nose forward†) alludes to the idea of slavery indicating that rather than liberating the African Americans from slavery we have in fact, all become slaves to our material needs. Also the aquatic references seen throughout the poem seem like references to Alan Tate’s poem ‘Ode to the Confederate Dead’: â€Å"Now that the salt of their blood stiffens the saltier oblivion of the sea, seals the malignant purity of the flood.† This could again be an indication that perhaps the North (and indeed all of ‘liberated’ America has in fact lost its war against slavery to materialism and are now in the â€Å"Oblivion of the sea†. Although this then creates a feeling of reliance on our objects as us fish are reliant on the oxygen in our ‘metaphoric sea of materialism’ which is also symbolized earlier in the poem by the image of Colonel Shaw’s monument in Boston Common being propped up to by planks so It can survive the building of an underground parking structure: â€Å"Propped up by a plank splint against the garage’s earthquake†. This not only shows this new found reliance on objects but represents the war Colonel Shaw was (and now again is) fighting against slavery. I pressed against the new and galvanized barbed fence on the Boston Common. Behind their cage, yellow dinosaur steam shovels were grunting as they cropped up tons of mush and grass to gouge their underworld garage (For the Union Dead – Robert Lowell) â€Å"Galvanised barbed fence [†¦] grunting [†¦] gouge† brings to mind the contrasting image that these new mechanical â€Å"Dinosaurs† are our slaves. Which is made to seem cruel not just by the use of â€Å"Grunting† but by the personification of the cranes: â€Å"They cropped up tons of mush and grass†. This suggests that the 20th century American has not just forgotten the Idealism of the North but has in fact taken up that of that South! This gives further meaning to the fact that the work these new ‘slaves’ are doing is knocking over and damaging Shaw’s monument which is close to falling into the hole in Boston Common (being dug for a new parking structure) which represents the killing of Shaw and his Idealism by Materialism. â€Å"The ditch where his sons body was thrown and lost with his Niggers† – Again.

Financial Management Fundamentals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Management Fundamentals - Essay Example The company may face problems in meeting its short term obligations. The company has not raised long term debts and its long term liability is only pension liability. Accordingly the company is very low geared. Earning per share and dividend per share are so attractive that company will get oversubscribed whenever the company will go public. The detailed financial analysis follows: Profitability of Nichols Plc. have been analyzed from three angles, namely, Net Margins, Return on Assets(ROA) , and Return on Equity (ROE). Financial statements for Nichols Plc. have presented the profitability for 2006 (and restated figures for 2005) before and after taking into account exceptional items. Accordingly the profitability analysis have been made from both angles, i.e., before and after the exceptional effects on profitability. The following ratio calculations have helped in reaching an investigative analysis: Net profit margin â€Å"also called the Return on sales ratio, it shows after tax profit(net income) generated by each sales dollar by measuring the percentage of sales revenue retained by the company after operating expenses, creditor interest expenses, and income taxed have been paid.†(BDC)1. Net Profit Margins have shown a tremendous jump from 7.37 % to 10.01 despite the fact the sales revenue has been reduced from 63.336m in 2005 to 52.296m in current year 2006. That means Nichols has worked on some strategic issues and kept the qualitative business alive that generates the real profits for the company. This fact is clearer when a reference is made net profit margins after the exceptional adjustments; the increase in net margin is by huge 5.54%. Also the Chairman’s Statement makes the issue of profitability absolutely clear when it states that, â€Å"the progress made in underlying profitability is actually much greater than the headline figures suggest, due to di storting effects of Balmorals disposals completed in January 2006.† As