ShantanuT01/DACTYL-Pretraining huggingface dataset:
Civil Society is made up of the sum of voluntary socio-civic organizations that are the backbone of society together with the coercion-backed structures of the state and the commercial institutions. Globalization has made it possible for civil society groups to have branches abroad. It is not, however, straightforward to transpose the concept of civil society into the concept of global civil society since the key to understanding what is new about contemporary meanings of civil society is precisely its global character (Kaldor, 2003: 7). Sakamoto (1997: 209-211) outlines various conceptualizations of ‘civil society’ as put forth by Hobbes, Rousseau, Hegel, Marx, and Gramsci. His definition emerged during the 1970s and its concomitant struggle against state socialism. His definition is relevant to the contemporary world (Sakamoto, 1997: 211-212) because of the rising importance of civil society vis-à-vis the power of government and major transnational corporations in the modern world. Civil society has also been defined as a political space where voluntary associations explicitly seek to shape the rules (in terms of specific policies, wider norms, and deeper social structures) that govern one or other aspect of social life’ (Foster, 2005: 209). As movements have mobilized across borders, a transnational civil society is emerging in which activists and citizens are developing common grievances, organization, and identities of resistance’ (Bandy & Smith, 2005: 246-247). One notable example of this Globalised discontent is Greenpeace. In recent years we have observed the emergence of an increasing number of areas that attract civil society organizations and active citizens to express concern about capitalist globalization’(Teivainen, 2002: 622). Greenpeace is perhaps one of the first precursors of this movement. Founded in the turbulent 1970s Greenpeace advocates environmental conservation. In the past it has used direct action, leading to the arrest of its members, lobbying, and research to promote its agenda. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Greenpeace has regional offices in 46 countries and claims up to 3 million financial supporters. The first recorded act of Greenpeace direct action was on 15 September 1971 when they sent the boat Phyllis Cormack from Vancouver to oppose the United States’ use of Amchitka, Alaska as a nuclear testing site. Even though the boat was turned back this was hailed as the first action of Green Peace. The organization’s current priorities are whaling, bottom trawling, global warming, old-growth, nuclear power, and genetically modified organisms (Weyler, 2009.). Green Peace was widely considered a radical organization in its early years. Its radical methods have resulted in the arrest of many members. Some of its radical acts include shadowing, traveling very close, fishing or whaling boats, spray painting baby seals to make their fur worthless, and obstructing oil tankers from entering harbors. They have also allegedly exag
Introduction Floods are the most common natural disasters that New Zealand has been experiencing for centuries. Given that New Zealand is an island, it experiences floods such as coastal floods, flash floods, rainfall floods, and riverine floods. These floods have catastrophic impact on human settlements and the environment, and thus cause huge economic losses. Rouse (2012) states that, about two-third of population in New Zealand live in areas that are susceptible to flooding. This means that over a million of people experience floods in New Zealand. Hence, there is a need to design appropriate solution that would mitigate the impact of floods or control them so that they could have minimal impact on human settlements and the environment. Evidently, the government of New Zealand has employed a number of strategies to control floods or mitigate their impact, which include creation of dams, afforestation, and construction of dikes. Therefore, this report examines structural interventions and modifications as effective solutions to the perennial floods that cause havoc in New Zealand. Structural Interventions Construction of the embankments is a structural intervention that is effective in controlling and mitigating the impacts of floods. The embankments are suitable in preventing riverine floods, which usually occur due to overspill of the water that flow in rivers (Smart & McKerchar 2010). When it rains, water flow into rivers, and hence, make them swell and flood their banks. Since rivers are small, excess floods from highlands make rivers to overflow and consequently cause floods in their banks and surrounding environments. Moreover, in rivers that flow through plains, excess water overflow and cause floods in the plains. Human settlements that are around the banks and plains usually experience floods that overflow from swollen rivers due to flash floods. In this view, to control such flooding, construction of embankments is an effective solution. Attz and Marchand (2005) recommend that the height of embankments constructed along rivers should be greater than the maximum level of water to prevent water from overflowing and flooding riverbanks. Therefore, construction of embankments is necessary to control floods that emanate from rivers and cause havoc on human settle
Introduction: The Art of Teaching Literacy Teaching students the English language is one of the demands of the Australian curriculum, which is relatively hard to meet. The students should not only display keen abilities to read and write in English (Winch, 2002), but also to be able to make a conscious choice between their skills when solving a particular problem (Australian Curriculum, 2013a). By combining both theory and practice, teachers can help their students develop the required skills, such as the skill of communicating their ideas clearly, as demanded by the Australian Curriculum (Australian Curriculum, 2013b). However, to integrate reading and writing, teachers will have to solve a number of issues regarding phonetics, grammar and syntax, especially when it comes
Introduction Consumer culture is regarded to be one of the most essential components of the marketing strategy. It is generally shaped all through the history of a brand, and seriously impacts the marketing strategy and advertisement policy. In the case of Pepsi, it has more than a century-long history, and the consumer culture, which had been forming for this period, is unique among all the other similar brands. Pepsi-Cola is a famous multi-billion dollar brand. The struggle between Pepsi and its rival Coke has been lasting for years, and the struggle of the colas has been expanded into other product spheres. But still, Pepsi cola is a global giant, with worldwide trades of around $15bn. Brand History The history of Pepsi started in 1893 when a young pharmacist Caleb Bradham invented a refreshing drink by experimenting with spices, syrups, and juices aiming to create something new. In 1902, he started the Pepsi-Cola Company in one of the rooms of his drug store and addressed the U.S. Patent Office for a brand name. Originally, he mixed the syrup himself and sold it only out of his soda fountains. Soon, Caleb found out that a greater chance existed to bottle Pepsi so that people could buy and drink it anywhere they wished. Since that moment consumer culture started shaping, as the product had been positioned as a refreshing drink, which may be bought anywhere. Moreover, in 1902 the first commercial advertisement appeared in New Bern Weekly Journal. The advertising strategy had been changed essentially since that, as Pepsi brand conquered international markets, and the campaign should be planned by the contemporary trends and cultures. Any company can not deal without a website nowadays. Pepsi cola is not an exception, and the official site, which is also a retail one, is regarded to be rather a successful one, as it is colorful, attractive and perfectly created from the point of view of navigation simplicity and data availability. Theoretical background From the consumerist point of view, it is necessary to highlight, that the website does not fully correspond to all the requirements of consumerism, as it is oriented only for those, who have access to the global net. These may be the people from the developing countries, who do not have constant access to World Wide Web. The website also does not shape the consumer culture, as it is necessary to dictate the way of life and the manner of behavior. Surely, there are some options for particular Pepsi activities, but these activities are not advertised broadly, and most of them are mentioned only on the retail website. It may be stated, that the entire campaign is oriented for youth, as it promotes an active way of life, sports, parties, e
In each Shakespearian tragedy, there is at least one riddle, without having solved it, the character suffers and defeats. Generally, Hamlet’s riddles remain not only unsolved but, alas, even not noticed. And though many researchers speak about the “mysteriousness” of this play by Shakespeare, they simply do not see the riddles in the text as a rule. The main secret of hell (where Hamlet appeared) is the name of its winner. That is Christ. It also is “the easiest word,” capable of changing Hamlet’s soul. Alas, Hamlet does not understand this. And if so, the words told by Hamlet to his father become clear also: Do not look upon me; Lest with this piteous action you convert My stern effects: then what I have to do Will want true color; tears perchance for blood (III, 4). It is worth mentioning that poison plays a special role in “Hamlet”. It is obvious that Hamlet is the representative of the new world. His new world is based on the principles of humanism. So, to my mind, poison is the so-called ‘bridge’ to this world. Hamlet brings a new era to his kingdom. Klavdy, for four months, has ruined three generations of the Danish monarchs: old Hamlet, Prince Hamlet, and its successor. Two queens are also killed: one last, another – that could become the future. Certainly, after that, there should be a change of a dynasty. Everybody is punished, except for pragmatist Horatio who should become Polonium at Fortinbrace but will be worse than Polonium. Horatio has no soul, no children, and no friends. He is the person-function, the person-official, the newest person of the newest time attacking Europe. Poison in the play has more than just the meaning of substance used to kill a person. But it
Organic restaurant has of late been popular, due to the fact that the world is turning green. This type of restaurant prepares foods that have been grown using organic products. They also bear in mind using environment friendly commodity and equipment. The restaurant blends in the perfect delicious organically prepared dishes as well as juices for detoxification (Vileisis, 2007). The social benefits of organic restaurant include, providing ready made food for majority of citizens in the country. Coming into the market would enable us to ease up the high demand of organic food products. Most families who opt to eat out during special occasion such as birthdays and national holidays, this will be the perfect spot for them since the food will be much nutritious for the whole family. The restaurant will capture the social environment and provide the necessary menu for this field. In the cultural environment, the chefs employed in this restaurant have been highly trained to produce several ethnic dishes to cater the diverse market of the different cultures. The chefs have a wide collection of ethnic recipes which will cater for the consumers with authentic menu. The restaurant will instill the sense of venturing into different cultural food (Akinyemi, O.M 2007). The restaurants will also boost local community farmers by purchasing organic farm produce. In addition, the restaurant also has political benefits. The different bills passed by our legislatures on conservation and utilizing the organic agricultural produce in the market, binds organic restaurant to implement this. This restaurant seeks to implement the political policies of agricultural sustainability in the 21 st century. It will also go along way in advocating for environment conservation (Seaman & McEachern, 2005). This sensitive political issue of environment conservation will be well tackled with introduction of organic restaurant. With the increase in number of consumers who are venturing into organic food products, I intend to open up an organi
Introduction Organizational performance is a concept that cannot be understood without examining a company’s strategic focus, value creation, and business model. In recent, information technology (IT) strategy has become a critical aspect of every business firm. This paper uses the case of Google Incorporation to describe how organizational technology can be combined with value creation and strategy. Technologies in an Organization Three major kinds of technology are needed in every organization. The first one is that of an inventory control system (ICS). This technology is used to track services and goods. The second one is a Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) and is used to monitor the experiences and expectations of different customers (Yang, Hong, Song, & Hong, 2017). Accounting Software is the third technology that is used to manage the financial aspects of an organization. Creating Different Competencies Google uses different technologies to create unique competencies. The company’s CRM system is used to monitor the changing needs of Internet users across the globe. The acquired information is used to produce superior apps and services that can meet their customers’ needs. The approach creates a powerful competency. Google uses inventory control systems to track its services. The technology also supports the company’s income management strategy. The approach results in appropriate market projections. Technology is also used to complete various accounting activities (Yang et al., 2017). This competency makes it possible for Google to make accurate investment decisions and engage in research and development (R&D). Another competency is the ability to support different disaster response strategies (Finazzo, 2017). For instance, modern technologies can ensure fire disasters are mitigated using timely response systems. Impacting Organizational Culture The case of Google can be used to describe how technology can impact organizational culture. At Google, employees are encouraged to share ideas using online platforms. They can undertake numerous projects to support t
Executive Summary The European continent and the world at large are nursing the effects of one of the worst financial downturns in recent history. In efforts to avert such scenarios in the future, European nations are in need of a risk management framework that should not overly depend on the results of external assessments and risk models from rating agencies. Europe has learnt the hard way that risks are interrelated and the correlation may result in an effect that had not been detected earlier. Consequently, the EU members have adopted frameworks of managing organisational risks that are firm- wide and which addresses the different forms of potential risks that firms may encounter. Central banks have a very essential role to play in risk management during such crises. However, they have to operate in a way such that they are able to strike a balance between their policy making duties and still maintain credibility and independence from other arms of the government or other agencies. The EU has learnt that risks do not become obsolete with time. Most of the risks that financial institutions ignored or had “forgotten” about were the same as those that crashed financial systems. Nonetheless, the crisis has reminded nations and institutions to focus more on how to effectively manage risks from an internal perspective that is informed by expert judgement. Introduction Most of the firms which were severely hit by the effects of the credit crisis in Europe had put in place various systems of risk management. However, it is important to note that huge losses are not incurred as a result of failed risk management systems only. The amount of losses incurred by corporations and organisations in the western nations has left a mark that will not be forgotten easily in the history of finance and economics. There are many theories which have been put forth to explain or put into perspective the European credit crisis. Some of them include the various inconsistencies both in the governments and in the private sectors. However, one of the most obvious causes of the crisis is the inadequate risk management measures in the various organisations. With the crisis is out of the scene- at least momentarily- it is essential to find out what can be learnt from the horrific financial and economic experience and determine how risk management systems can be used to avert future downturns (Higdon & Busch 2010). In this report, the author makes an attempt to outline the failures in risk management initiatives just before and during the crisis. This is in addition to a critical analysis of the efforts made by the European Union (herein referred to as EU) to reinforce proper management of risks in the future. Causes and Dynami
Smoking belongs to one of the greatest burdens of modern society both in healthcare and expense sectors. Many serious diseases are related to this dangerous habit, and many people die due to the outcomes of smoking tobacco. Still, the prevalence of this habit is very high in the US. The present paper overviews the statistics associated with this health issue and its cost to the government. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco smoking is the greatest preventable cause of death in the US (“Burden of tobacco use,” 2018). Each year, over 480,000 Americans die due to cigarette smoking. The shocking fact is that over 41,000 of all lethal cases occur because people are exposed to second-hand smoke (“Burden of tobacco use,” 2018). Statistics indicate that tobacco kills more people that several major factors combined, such as car accidents, murders, AIDS, illegal drugs, and suicides (“The toll of tobacco,” 2018). Researchers note that there is a tendency towards the reduction in tobacco use among US adults, the numbers are still dramatic. According to the CDC, there were 38 million smokers recorded in the US in 2016 (“Smoking is down,” 2018). Thus, despite the decline, the number of smokers is still very alarming. Cigarette smoking is particularly prevalent in some population groups. Males are more likely to engage in smoking than females. People that are below poverty level, uninsured, disabled, and have low education are most likely to be smokers. Specific populations also include Alaska Natives and American Indians, citizens from the South and Midwest, and adults aged 25-64 (“Smoking is down,” 2018). Finally, smoking is very popular with individuals in serious psychological distress. Prevalence by ethnicity is the following: Alaska Natives and American Indians ─ 31.8%, multiple races ─ 25.2%, non-Hispanic whites ― 16.6%, non-Hispanic Blacks ─ 16.5%, Hispanics ― 10%, and non-Hispanic Asians ― 9%. Prevalence by gender is 17.5% among men and 13.5% among women (“Burden of tobacco use,” 2018). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals (LGBT) smoke more frequently than the general population does. This fact is associated with risk factors, such as stress because of stigma. Military men smoke more often than civilians: as of 2011, 24% of military men reported smoking compared to 19% of the civil population (“Burden of tobacco use,” 2018). Some alarming data concern pregnant women and those that plan to become pregnant. As of 2010, nearly 23% of women with live births reported smoking in three months before pregnancy. Out of them, 54.3% said they had quit smoking by the last trimester (“Burden of tobacco use,” 2018). It is crucial to decrease these numbers since tobacco smoking can affect not only the women’s health but also the health and even the lives of their unborn children. To reduce the prevalence of smoking among this and other populations, a variety of ideas are suggested. Such options and mass media anti
Introduction The case represents the issue of using psychological tests in the employer’s decision-making process of promoting its employees. Rent-A-Center conducted the APT Management Trainee-Executive Profile test on its employees to evaluate some of the personal traits of workers as well as their skills in language and math. The 502 questions for the test were taken from the MMPI. Three Karrakker brothers performed poorly on the test and were not promoted as a result. Hence, they sued Rent-A-Center, claiming that the questions from the MMPI test violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Issues Does the use of MMPI by the employer violate the ADA? Can MMPI be claimed as a medical test in the case of APT Management Trainee-Executive Profile? Can job-related tests made out of business necessity be viewed as violations of ADA? Decisions First, the Karrakker brothers went to the district court, which ruled that the use of MMPI questions by the employer did not violate the ADA. However, when they further went to the United States Court of Appeals, the decision was changed (Mulvihill, 2005). The court found that the use of MMPI by the employer could potentially hurt the employment or promotion prospects of a person with mental impairment; hence, it is considered a violation of ADA. Reasoning  1. The MMPI test can be used both as a medical examination, and as a psychological test to identify certain personality traits.  2. Although Rent-A-Center claimed that the test was not evaluated by the professional psychologist and was scored by using a vocational protocol, the court ruled that such use did not exclude a negative effect it had on employees with mental illnesses.  3. Regardless of whether the psychologists’ interpretation was involved, the use of the MMPI was considered a medical test and a violation of ADA as it harmed mentally disabled employees.  4. The ruling helps employers to ensure that the tests that they give to their employees are job related.  5. Employers also have to ensure that the personality tests they conduct do not elicit information about applicant’s mental condition. Opinion According to ADA, the employer has to make his decision solely based on the job-