Sustainability Assessment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Sustainability Assessment - Research Paper Example Marriott’s operations have to meet the standards and specifications set for the hotel and tourism sector in environmental conservation. The organization accomplishes this by taking several initiatives that include; educating guests and associates on ways to conserve the environment and managing water and energy consumption through limiting the energy and water consumed per room in the hotels and efficient waste management, such as water treatment. Additionally, Marriott has developed innovative initiatives for water conservation and protection of rain forests. Another initiative includes encouraging the supply of organic natural foods from local farmers, and training farmers on increasing on their harvests as well as conserving the environment (Sheldon & Yoxon, 2002). Over the recent years, Marriott has expanded to more regions such as Asia. The expansion of Marriott is welcome in most regions because it plays large roles in creating employment, increasing the countries’ income, enhancing tourism and encouraging international travel and

The Environmental Aspect of Pocahontas Essay Example for Free

The Environmental Aspect of Pocahontas Essay â€Å" Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect. † This is a quote said by a Native American chief, shows the attitudes of the Native American people as a whole and Pocahontas’ Mattaponi tribe. Disney’s highly acclaimed movie, Pocahontas, is about a female Indians battle to be with an Englishman named John Smith; even against her tribes culture and traditions. Throughout this story, we find that there are huge gaps in the way that the Englishmen and the Native Americans treat and view nature; through their culture and religion, the ways they acted towards earth, and the songs that they sang in the movie. One can tell a lot about a person or people by the culture they come from, ranging from: the way they dress, the way they talk etc. In Pocahontas, that could not be truer; we first have the Native Americans. Their culture was solely based on nature and nature alone. They believe they are one with the earth, that earth is their mother; everyone should respect it because we do not own it, but rather that we are borrowing it. Native Americans look to the spirits and the forces of Nature to guide them through life and help make important decisions and sort out dilemmas they will encounter in life. For example, Grandmother Willow, who in fact is not really a human but an actual willow tree who has the face and wisdom that one would find in their grandmother; as she also is Pocahontas’ guiding force and wisdom provider. Now on the other hand we have the Englishmen’s culture: their culture was very self-centered based due to their religion of Catholicism/Christianity; which to them are human-centered religions. Basically saying that their world view of their religion makes them think that everything in this world was created for them and that they can do what ever they choose to do with it, regardless of how it is come about acquiring what they want. Another difference between the two groups is their distinguished appearance. The Englishmen for example are pompous and actually very fat, showing how they gorge themselves into the luxuries of food and self-centered living. As for the Native Americans, only take what they need and no more, as they look healthy and strong. These examples give a glimpse of their true attitudes towards the earth, and Mother Nature. The attitudes of both the Englishman and the Native Americans towards Mother Earth are very obvious and different in this film as from their culture. â€Å"The gold of Cortez, the jewels of Pizarro / Will seem like mere trinkets by this time tomorrow. The gold we find here will dwarf them by far. / Oh, with all you got in ya, boys / Dig up Virginia, boys. † This quote was said by Governor Ratcliffe, the leader of the Englishmen, showing the English’s self-centered, egotistical way of thinking when it comes to the earth. They do not care for nature or the creatures, even the other people of the world; the world and everything in it, is solely theirs for the taking and no one person, people or thing can stop them. However, the Native Americans attitude towards the earth and in general is more humble and nurturing. Since their belief system is that they are one with the earth; in order to take care of ones self they must take of the earth. So this caring way of living in turn makes them a humble people. One can also tell how the attitudes of the two groups through the songs that they sing throughout the movie. â€Å"And dig, boys, dig ‘til ya drop. Grab a pick, boys. Quick, boys, shove in a shovel†¦It’s gold and it’s mine, mine, mine†¦Make this land, My Land,† this is one of the lyrics sang by Governor Ratcliffe in the song called, â€Å"Mine, Mine, Mine. The name of the song in itself shows the Englishmen’s view of earth, which is very greedy and narcissistic of him and his men. Another quote from the song showing this selfish way of thinking was at the end of the song where all the Englishmen sing in unison, â€Å"This land and what’s in it is Mine! † They only view the land as theirs and not the Native Americans even though the Native Americans were the native people! On top of that they refer to the Native Americans as savages, â€Å"What can you expect, from filthy little heathens? Their whole disgusting race is like a curse. Their skin’s a hellish red. They’re only good when dead. They’re vermin, as I said. And worse, they’re Savages! Savages! † Even though this one lyric does not have to do with nature directly they are disrespecting the people of mother nature completely, degrading not only their land with their actions, but the people of the land with their words and hatred. â€Å"Drive them from our shore. They’re not like you and me. Which means they must be evil. † The Englishmen in this song show the lust of power to kill anyone and anything who isn’t ike them only to get gold and riches. Now on the other hand, the songs that Pocahontas sings are not so harsh and self indulged. â€Å"You think you own whatever land you land on. The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim. But I know every rock and tree and creature; has a life, has a spirit, has a name,† she sings to John Smith explaining, that the earth is more than just something to dig up and take from. The Earth and everything in it, like her and Smith, have the same qualities that the humans do. She also sings in that song , â€Å"Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest. Come taste the sun sweet berries of the earth. Come roll in all the riches all around you. And for once, never wonder what they’re worth,† she tells Smith to bask in the earth and all its resources without thinking about how much money or the worth it could be sold at. Also another aspect of that lyric is when she says riches, she is not referring to money but rather the richness of beauty and quality the Earth gives us. Another song that reflects the Native American culture to nature is, Just Around the River Bend. † This is a song where Pocahontas compares life to the river and asks the Spirits a question regarding whether she should marry Kocoum or not. â€Å"Should I choose the smoothest course, steady as the beating drum? Should I marry Kocoum? Is all my dreaming at an end? Or do you still wait for me, Dream Giver; Just around the River Bend? † Pocahontas does not know whether she should take the path chosen for her or to continue on the path of her free spirit. She asks the Dream Giver is she should the safe path and do as her customs say or is the Spirit waiting for her just around the river bend. These are just a few examples of the many through the music in this movie. One can now see how both the Englishmen and Native Americans way of thinking environmentally are polar opposites. Through their culture, attitudes, actions and musical numbers, we view the sanctity of Mother Earth to both the groups. But this movie did show that the humbler the attitude towards the earth did in fact become the victors in the situation.

Character Exploration Of Fifth Business

Character Exploration Of Fifth Business Robertson Davies Fifth Business portrays the progress of a lost man, Dunstan Ramsay. A snowball thrown by Percy Staunton misses Dunstan and hits Mary Dempster, forces Dunstan to carry the responsibility of causing the premature birth of Paul and the insanity of Mary on his shoulders his entire life. Guilt follows and threatens to swallow Dunstan whole, as Dunstan struggles in his quest for his role as fifth business, Liesl enters into Dunstans life, important for the development of Dunstan as a person. While Liesl may not be good according to society, she plays a significant role in Dunstans development and psychological rebirth and allows Dunstan to understand his role as fifth business. The development of Dunstans character in the novel begins when Dunstan falls in love with Faustina. But it is Liesl that allows Dunstan to understand his function as Fifth Business., and shows him through physicality and illogical wonders. Liesl is an intelligent woman with a deformed body, which cautions the readers to be more concern into the many differences of beauty. Liesl appears only near the end of Fifth Business but she plays an important role in the novel and affects the end of the novel, where she brings out the conscious part of Dunstans personality. Liesl knows that Dunstan is a hagiographer, and she praises Dunstan to draw confidences out of him, she was a woman who could draw our confidences(Davies, 207). With Liesl, they began to have conversations Dunstan had never have before. Dunstan is able to share some of his secrets he kept for fifth year and unload some of the burden. Though Dunstan ask Liesl not to share his secrets to anyone else, but she refuses, because one pays a high price for secrecy and secrecy makes him look grim-mouthed and buttoned-up and hard-eyed and cruel, because [he is] cruel to [himself] (Davies, 208). Dunstan learns from Liesl that his bottled-up feelings have burst their bottl e and splashed glass and acid everywhere (Davies, 211) Dunstan at first is in obsession with the beautiful Faustina, who he mistaken his lust for Faustina as love. The beginning of a change for Dunstans character is when he loses his love when he walks into a dressing room where he is shocked to surprisingly find Faustina and Liesl in a lesbian embrace while having passionate kisses. Dunstan was stunned by this and is reduced to bitterness because it ended his little boys dream of having Faustina. He tries to make sense of what he just saw, I never knew such a collapse of the spirit even in the worst of the war. And this time there was no Little Madonna to offer me courage or ease me into oblivion. (Davies, 211) Dunstan finds himself in rage because his morals gets twisted when he saw Faustina and Liesl, but he is quickly confronted by Liesl. Liesl replaces the Little Madonna, and she starts to console Dunstan in her own ways. Liesl questions Dunstan, asking him why, if he loves Faustina so much, he never gives her anything? That is you privilege, watching life from the sidelines and knowing were all the players go wrong. Life is a spectator sport to you. Now you have taken a tumble and found yourself in the middle of the fight, and you are whimpering because it is rough. (Davies, 212) After Liesl was done talking to Dunstan, Dunstan has a fistfight with Liesl, which leads to having a great burden being lifted off of Dunstan and he gains courage and further develops his character. After Liesl timidly reenters Dunstans bedroom later that night, the two talk for hours. Dunstan finally understands from Liesl that with all the guilt he carries with him throughout his life, he is not very human. I wanted to tell you that you are human, like other peopleYou make yourself responsible for other peoples troubles. (Davies, 216) But every man has a devil, and a man of unusual quality, like yourself, Ramsay, has an unusual devil. You must get to know your personal devil. (Davies, 217). Liesl poses the question, Who are you? Where you you fit into poetry and myth? Do you know who I think you are, Ramsay? I think you are Fifth Business, the one who knows the secret of the heros birth and whose career often outlasts the golden voices (Davies, 217). At the end, Liesl and Dunstan fall asleep happily after they make love, With such a gargoyle! And yet never have I known such deep delight or such an aftermath of healing tenderness! (Davies, 218). Dunstan then finds his morals back because of Liesl. With Liesl telling Dunstan the truth about life and on his role as a fifth business, it causes Dunstan to fill his emotional emptiness. This results in letting Dunstan finish his role by bringing Boy and Paul together and concluding their story. Liesl has shown to play an important role in the novel because she helped Dunstan to develop into his character at the end and he was able to conclude the story of Boy and Paul. Dunstan leads a double life that seems to be outwardly ordinary and normal. It is Liesl that makes Dunstan realize his flaws, and it is Liesl that gives him the initial push which ultimately helps finally complete his journey to search his inner self. As a result, Dunstan was quickly pointed out to his problems, and given a little nudge in the right direction of his fate as his character, and becomes Fifth Business. Thus making Liesls job complete because as a result of Liesl bringing forth these truths about life, it brought Dunstan to the last stage of his characters development. Even though Dunstans character development bean with Faustina, this also shows that Dunstan plays a vital role in bringing forth the characters repressed guilt that brings Boys death as well as the end of the novel.

The Roman Legacy Essay -- Ancient Rome

With the decline and fall of the western empire, the classical age of Rome came to a close as disease, warfare and corruption conspired to bring about the downfall of an ailing empire that had once conquered the known world. Where once enlightened despots had ruled a debauched and unwieldy polity, now barbarians stood over the ruins of a once thriving metropolis. In its absence a new world would arise with new values and ideals. Turning their back on a pagan past the Christian children of these wild men from the north would spawn the greatest houses of future European nobility, and when they looked back for a legacy, they would not see their ancestors as pillagers picking at the bones of a defiled Rome, but instead as its trusted guardians, partnering with the Church to carry her legacy through the â€Å"Dark Ages†. Greece, which had endured its own dark ages millennia beforehand, became the cradle of the western artistic ideal. It’s society was like none other. Organizationally, it preferred a unique form of government called democracy, when other societies around god-kings and despotic strong men. Its ambitions asserted the perfection of man, his unique place in the world. As stories became myth and myths became legends, humans (or human like) gods began to appear in the religious centres of worship. Unlike the gods of Egypt, who almost always have some animalistic component to their physiology, the Greek gods were human-like. Zeus had a human body, hands and feet; for all intents and purposes, he was the first super-man. This was an epic reversal. Where once man relegated himself to the animals, now the Greeks had placed man above the merely natural and into the realm of the supernatural. The human form was exemplified in sculptur... ...prayer books, we get illustrations of the peasant farmer at work in his fields throughout the seasons, alluding to the year round labor required to feed a near starving passel of half a dozen children. In the illuminated Bibles, we see fabulous illustrations off the fabled kingdoms of the east and wild bestiaries of exotic man-imals and creatures said to dwell in terras ingonito, daring men to venture into the unknown again and call at the courts of Pryster John, lord of all the Indias. In the Cathedrals, some of the most dramatic mathematical aspirations were envisioned in stone as towns and masons set out to trump one another with brilliant feats of engineering not attempted since the heights of Rome. This was a world trying to right itself again after the fall of the greatest empire the world had ever seen, a world many wanted to see gain a new purchase on earth.

Learning Team Deliverable Essay

The assignment for this week focuses on the team’s understanding of the goals and objectives of training program development and delivery. Team C summarizes the following highlights of this week’s discussions: determining organizational development theories and applications; differentiating between mentoring and executive coaching; identifying the major components of employee training; and comparing career development strategies. Organizational Development Theories and Applications Organizational development (OD) focuses on the research, theory, and practices committed to increasing the knowledge and effectiveness of individuals to achieve positive and successful organizational transformations. OD is the continuous process of planning, implementing, and evaluating the goals of the company by the way of â€Å"transferring knowledge and skills to organizations to improve their capacity for solving problems and managing future change† (Organizational development theory, n.d.). The beginning of OD came from studies from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s where the realization arisen about how the structure of the organization and its processes helped shape an employee’s performance and drive. In recent years, OD is helping companies align with the changes occurring in the new business environment. Key to organizational development theories and applications is the organization’s climate, culture, and strategies. The Difference between Mentoring and Executive Coaching Many companies are now beginning to grasp the significance of mentoring and coaching their employees. Although many entry-level jobs do require a college education and a few years’ experience, it is crucial to provide the necessary tools and training to those employees interested in climbing the corporate ladder into managerial or supervisory positions. Now more than ever, companies are realizing the need to provide leadership advancement opportunities to its employees so as to motivate them, stay competitive and productive, which in turn positively impacts the bottom line of the business. Mentoring and coaching programs are now habitually used in many organizations to improve leadership qualities (Watt, 2004). The Major Components of Employee Training Employee training is essential to the both individual and companywide success. Training improves productivity and profitability, promotes a safe and healthy work environment, ensures compliance with laws and regulations, and creates opportunities for career development. There are several major components that should be included in an effective training program, and those components include performing a job analysis and needs assessment, establishing training objectives, conducting a training program, and evaluating training outcomes. Performing a job analysis involves formatting a detailed study of necessary job requirements including skills needed to complete the job and required employee qualifications. A needs assessment identifies training activities that are required in order to achieve company objectives. Before training, an employer must determine what will be accomplished as a result of the training. Training objectives are terms that describe the intended outcome of a training program. The objectives allow for the measurement of success as there are predetermined skill levels and conditions that should be achieved. In order to meet company objectives, the employer must conduct a training program. Training can be carried out through on-the-job training, job rotation, apprenticeship training, classroom training, and many other methods. Regardless of the method(s) of training implemented meeting training objectives should be the focus. It may be necessary to use more than one method of training or revise training if results are not being achieved. In order to determine the effectiveness,  the training outcome must be evaluated. The evaluation of training consists of a reaction, learning, behavior, and results. Results determine how much the trainee liked the program. Learning outlines what facts and concepts were learned. Behavior determines if the program had an effect on the behavior(s) of the trainees. And results highlight what was accomplished as a result of the program, i.e. reduction of turnover or cost. Evaluating a training program allows for an employer to identify and correct areas in which improvement is needed. In order accomplish company goals employees must be trained effectively. Training cannot be an afterthought; it should be planned and implemented correctly. Career Development Strategies Career development is comprised of three main objectives. The first objective is to meet human resource needs in a timely manner throughout the life of the business. The second objective is to provide information about open positions and opportunity for growth to the organization’s employees. The last objective is to use existing programs to develop and manage employee careers to match organizational plans and goals. Three different parties are responsible for professional development within the organization: the employee, the employee’s manager, and the organization itself. Various strategies exist to succeed in the development process. One strategy human resources may use is career pathing. For example, an existing employee would like to apply for a higher position within the company. To acquire the required skills, the employee may work with management and the human resource department to develop a blueprint of the steps required to achieve the necessary skill set or certification. Some organizations offer specialized education or training classes to their employees. Another strategy tool in career development is career counseling. Through career counseling, human resource managers can communication with the employee and the organization’s managers, while â€Å"employees explore career goals and opportunities in the organization† (ExploreHR.org, 2014). Conclusion Organizational development is an essential component in the success of an organization. As discussed above there are various OD theories and  applications that can be utilize to improve the overall effectiveness of company processes and operation. Mentoring and executive coaching are similar methods both used to improve employee performance or correct damaging behaviors. Employee training includes a number of components including, performing a job analysis and needs assessment, establishing training objectives, conducting a training program, and evaluating training outcomes. The primary strategies for career development are meeting human resource needs, providing information about opportunity for growth, and developing and managing employee careers. The above mentioned strategies and methods can be used in conjunction to improve company success. References Elements of Career Planning Programs. (2014). Retrieved on November 30, 2014 from http://www.explorehr.org/articles/Career_Management/Elements_of_Career_Planning_Programs.html Organizational development theory. Retrieved from http://www.med.upenn.edu/hbhe4/part4-ch15-organizational-development-theory.shtml Watt, L. (2004). Mentoring and coaching in the workplace: an insight into two leading leadership development programs in organizations. Canadian Manager.

Economics of Competitive Advantage Essay

A globalized economy in its theory entails opening up of the local economy of a certain country towards internationalization, creating a â€Å"borderless world economy†. Thus, ideally, it should pave the way for economic interdependence and promote economic fair play amongst participating countries. Globalization shall surely expose an economy towards the world market due to increased amount of global trade and exchanges in products and services and by encouraging application for an open-economy. Globalization has imposed too many changes on the international monetary policies. On the other hand, international monetary has seriously influenced trade and investment policies, finance, tourism and many other aspects that are coincided with the modernity imposed by globalization. Moreover, open-economy principles have profoundly affected exchange rate policies on the macro level. Thus, international economic migration has increased exposure towards international financial changes and commercial flows. (Frieden, p. 1) Moreover, according to Betts and Kehoe (2004), the aggregate real exchange rate movements are believed to be influenced by inter-country movements with regards to the relative prices of their traded goods within countries. Also, the currency denomination of international trade widely influences the trade prices of goods and services. Thus, it also turns out that changes or fluctuation in the on currency will decrease the buying power of a particular currency if compared to other currencies that have less amount of fluctuations in their market. In addition, the strong market competitors in this case, are those who are believed to have strong economic relations with participating countries, thus they carry an edge towards their trade practices. Nevertheless, they don’t act to stabilize world exchange rates, rather they only work to provide balance of trades and multi-lateral interaction amongst participating nations. There are several factors that affect the bilateral rate movements which have significant economic effects. According to the Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin (RBAB) (1998, p. 2) These are: (1) divergences between export and import and aggregated trade-weighted exchange rates; (2) role of US dollar as currency for international trade; (3) longer-term pricing of commodity exports in terms of other major currencies; and (4) importance of bilateral rates vis-a vis competitor countries with relatively little direct trade. These changes however, the depreciation or appreciation can create effects on international competitiveness. Moreover, aside from purely economic reasons of rate fluctuations, the political side behind changes in the market activity is also significant. This political-economic aspect is important most especially amongst developing nations. The emergence of developing countries and the continuing influence of strong countries amongst less empowered countries create domestic and international political pressures that are integral to the competitiveness of the participating countries (Freiden, p. 12) Thus, economically speaking, exchange rate fluctuations have impacts on the country’s competitiveness. Stability or non-stability of their currency has adverse effects on the currency’s buying and trading power. On the political aspect, excluding the changes and fluctuations in the currency rates, powerful groups and powerful consumers affect international economic integration. And thus the openness of world economy therefore pushes more politicized movements and political pressures in the economic arena.