Medical Tourism in South India

MEDICAL TOURISM IN SOUTH INDIA – A SWOT PERSPECTIVE OF INDIAN MEDICINE SYSTEM J. Swaminathan AVCCE Health is wealth! (Ayurveda To Yoga) ABSTRACT The Indian Systems of Medicine include Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy is ancient and has the roots in traditional system of medical treatments in tune with the Mother Nature. Medical Tourism is the emerging industry next to the IT boom and India is the second best destination as of now. Especially the Indian Systems of Medicine, in South India can become the leader in medical Tourism Industry. This paper tries to appraise the facts and future possibilities based on a SWOT perspective. Introduction Without sound health we cannot achieve anything in our life, nor enjoy what ever we have. In service sector the concept of Medical Tourism is catching up at lightning speed across the world. The act of traveling to other countries for medical, surgical and other forms of healthcare along with recreation is called Medical Tourism. People from advanced countries, including the United States and Europe, see a benefit in traveling to developing third world countries, like India, Thailand, Philippines, South Africa, and etc. hile combining medical treatments with inexpensive vacation. According to a study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Mc Kinsey consultants (2004), 1,50,000 foreigners visited India for treatment, with the number rising by 15 percent a year. The number has increased to 2, 72,000 in 2007 and has crossed the 3 lakhs mark in 2008. ASSOCHAM has predi cted that this will grow by 22 to 25% in the coming years. Scope The main demand for medical tourism is generated from millions of Indians who live abroad, though a growing number of foreigners are also keen on speedy and in expensive treatment. They are influenced by two important facts: India now has many world-class private hospitals and the alternative medicines are available in abundance. Foreigners are visiting India for serious medical help as well as rejuvenation therapies and other specific purposes. Medical Tourism has been a popular concept in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Costa Rica, Hungary, India, Israel, Jordan, and Lithuania. South Africa specializes in medical Safaris-visit the country for a safari, with a stock over for plastic surgery. Due to liberalization of our economy and internalization of health care profession, India has entered the industry in only recent times. India’s corporate hospitals are fully equipped with up market and efficiency. The Indian Systems of Medicine also has become a valid reason for them especially in preventive cure and alternative medicines. Medical Tourism is poised to be the next Indian success story after Information Technology. According to recent study of ASSOCHAM, in 2008 the size of industry was estimated Rs 1500 crore and it would grow into Rs. 9500 crores by 2015 with an annual growth rate of 30 %. The Indian government has predicted that India’s $ 17 billion –a-year health care industry would grow by 13% in next four years. Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) The Indian Systems of Medicine include Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy together characterized under the department of AYUSH in the union health and family welfare ministry. During the ninth plan, with an expenditure of more than Rs. 1,000 crore, a quantum jump in outlays on schemes for development and promotion of AYUSH system of medicine has been achieved during Tenth and Eleventh Plan. Indians are known for their hospitality and warmth. India has an incomparably rich heritage in ancient systems of medicine that make up a veritable treasure house of knowledge for both preventive and curative health care. Around 1000 BC when Indian Systems of Medicine (ISM) were fully documented in Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Thus, ISM is considered to be one of the oldest organized systems of medicine for positive health and cure of human sickness. The most important and massive ancient compilation of the school of medicine is known as Charaka Samhita. It contains several chapters dealing at length with internal medicine. About six hundred drugs of plant, animal and mineral origin are described in it. But traditional medicine was ignored when western medical knowledge and procedures were introduced into the country. Once again the same has regained its limelight. Ayurveda : Ayurveda means the â€Å"science of life† in Sanskrit. It is one of oldest and the best documented among the ancient systems of medicine. From the Charaka Samhita (600 B. C) and the Susruta samhita. Yoga & Naturopathy : Yoga is not really a system of medicine. Its objectives are self- realization and spiritual union with all –pervasive divine cosmic power. But certain intermediary practices and yogic attitudes have proved beneficial for reducing stress, preventing many lifestyle-related diseases, and promoting general health and well being. Naturopathy is based on the fundamental principles of airbed. The basic tenet of Naturopathy is to live according to the laws of nature: disease occurs due to the accumulation of toxins in the body, and to cure the ailment, the body is purified with the use of natural methods, dietary regulations and exercise. Unani : The Unani system originated in the fourth and fifth century BC in Greece under the patronage of Hippocrates (460BC-377)and Galen. The system is based on the humoural theory that good health depends on the balance of the four humours: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. Siddha : Siddha means a â€Å"master† thus the name denoted the mastery of such practices. The most famous of the siddha was Nagarjuna, whose rasatantra forms the basis of this system. The distinctive features of siddha are its reliance on minerals and metallic compounds, and its emphasis on rejuvenation therapies. Homeopathy : The term homeopathy comes from the Greek word ‘ homios’ means like and ‘pathos’ means suffering. Homeopathy works by looking at the symptoms, will take into account the individual’s mental, physical, emotional,and spiritual health before deciding the treatment. Homeopathy is based on the principles that ‘like cures like’. Current State of Affairs The American Medical Association (AMA) has conducted a cost comparison study of health care in different countries. The surgical procedures and the dental treatment procedures have a cost advantage – approximately 1/6th of the cost in USA. Also the waiting period for even a simple surgery is minimum 6 months and specialty treatments are 9-12 months in USA / UK which is almost instant in India. AMA has proved though there are many countries less expensive than USA, India is the least expensive compared to European and Asian countries. Table 1: Summary of Medical care, Medical Manpower facilities available under Indian Systems of Medicine Facilities |Ayurveda |Unani |Siddha |Yoga |Naturopathy |Homeopathy | | | | | | | | | |Total | |Hospitals |2398 |268 |231 |8 |18 |230 |3203 | |Beds |42963 |4489 |2401 |135 |722 |10851 |61561 | |Dispensaries |13914 |1010 |464 |71 |56 |5836 |21351 | |Registered |453661 |46558 |6381 |0 |888 |217850 |725338 | |Practitioners | | | | | | | | Source: Department of Ayush, —- Health & Family welfare, Government of India. The Indian Systems of Medicine is given more importance in southern India. The state like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and other states in India plays a key role in medical tourism. Kerala-The Pioneer State Kerala has pioneered health tourisim in India. Kerala has strongly focused on Ayurveda and its wide array of treatments and medications, good facilities are also available in other traditional forms of medicine as well as in modern medical treatment. Kerala is Capitalizing on its Rich Cultural Heritage and alternate Medical Therapies. Karnataka’s Foray The government of Karnataka has ambitious plans to make Karnataka the top health tourism destination not only in India but internationally. In fact, the government is setting up a Bangalore International Health City Corporation for provision of a wide variety health care products and treatments. Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu has multi speciality hospitals that offer the best medical treatment at surprisingly low rates. In the state various other forms of medicine, viz, Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Nature Therapy and Yoga are also practiced, which the foreigners are inclined to patronize. The Tourism Department is taking steps to promote the â€Å"illness to wellness† concept by developing tourism with health care. Andhra Pradesh The famous Nizamia General Hospital is the one of its kind probably in the whole world to use Unani system of medicine, since 1938 and treating almost 1500 outpatients every day. The state made rejuvenation theraphy , alternative medicine, yoga and traditional healing systems as its main tourist attraction. Maharastra’s Unlimited Potential This state, as a gateway to India, offers tremendous potential to develop medical tourism. The latest addition in Mumbai is the Asian Heart Institute at Bandra-Kurla complex, which offers state-of-the art facilities for all types of heart complications and even preventive cardiological treatment to avoid heart alignments and keep under control a host of heart problems. This institute in collaborating with the Cleveland Institute, U. S. A offers ‘Five Star’ services at reasonable prices. Medical Infrastructure In India, it is estimated that there are 15,000 hospitals, 8,75,000 hospital beds, 5,00,000 doctors, 7,37,000 Nurses, 170 medical colleges, 3, 50,000 retail chemist outlets. Around 18,000 new doctors are added every year. Almost 80,000 additional beds are still required. Given below is a SWOT Analysis of the Indian Systems of Medicine and Medical Tourism Industry in its current state: |STRENGTHS |WEAKNESS | |Quality Service at Affordable Cost |No strong government support / initiative to promote medical | |Vast supply of qualified doctors |tourism | |International Reputation of ospitals and Doctors |Low Coordination between the various players in the industry– | |Diversity of tourism destinations and Experiences |airline operators, hotels and hospitals | |Traditional and Ancient systems of Medicine |Customer Perception as an unhygienic country | | |No proper accreditation and regulation system for hospitals | | |Lack of uniform pricing policies across Hospitals | |OPPORTUN ITIES |THREATS | |Fast-paced life style increases demand for wellness tourism and |†¢ Strong competition from countries like Thailand, Malaysia and | |alternative cures. |Singapore. |Increased demand and Shortage of supply in National Health |†¢ Lack of international accreditation – a major inhibitor. | |Systems in countries like UK, Canada. |†¢ Overseas medical care not covered by insurance providers. | |Demand from countries with underdeveloped healthcare facilities. |†¢ Under – investment in health infrastructure. | |Demand for retirement homes for elderly people especially |†¢ Identifying a real and ideal practitioner is a major problem in| |Japanese. |India. | |Personal touch by the doctors in India. |†¢ Exploitation of tourists | |Traffic system is well developed and easy to go from one country | | |to another country. | |Medicines and labour cost is low as compared to developed | | |countries. | | Role of Government The role of Indian Government for success in medical tourism in Indian Systems of Medicines are †¢ To Regulate functioning of hospitals to build consumers’ trust. †¢ To encourage private investment and FDI in medical infrastructure and policymaking for improving medical tourism. †¢ To provide conducive fiscal policies – providing low interest rate loans, reducing import/excise duty for medical equipment. To Facilitate hassle free visa process and institute visa-on-arrival for patients. The government should 1. Build the ISM Brand Abroad based on – high quality service, value for money and destination diversity. 2. Promote Inter-Sectoral Coordination like aligning the activities of various players – Tourism Department, Transport Operators, Hotel Associations, Escorts personnel etc. 3. Information Dissemination using Technology about ISMI and enabling online transactions. 4. Standardization of Services like pricing, hygiene and quality standards. Role o f Private Sector 1. Increased participation in building infrastructure 2. Integrate Horizontally by providing end-to-end healthcare solutions to consumers. 3. Joint Ventures / Alliances: Tie ups with foreign institutions MEDICITIES – A self-sustained healthcare hub with super specialty hospitals of international standards, ancillary facilities, research institutions, health resort, rehabilitation centers and residential apartments may be floated through a public-private partnership. Conclusion : India’s growing economy and the world’s high cost medical treatments are the bright opportunities for promoting Medical Tourism. To gain an competitive advantage over other countries the government may use our unique, ancient and traditional Indian Systems of Medicine as a USP and can participate in developing the needed infrastructure facilities, creating network and connectivity with health, tourism and other related industries, tie-ups with other countries. The sky is open for ISM Medical Tourism.

Reactions to Patriarchal Oppression in Jane Eyre

In Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, the characters Jane Eyre and Bertha Mason are both oppressed by the patriarchal system of the nineteenth century Britain. Each woman refuses to conform to a patriarchal society, but the manner by which each rebel against culture determine a very different future. By depicting opposing reactions to the oppression, Bronte successfully depicts the plight of women in the nineteenth century. By the time Jane Eyre is nine years old, she has built up a great deal of resentment of the injustice she receives at Gateshead Hall. She decides to rebel against the harsh treatment that she receives from her family. They consider her desire to learn and her independent thoughts to be disobedient and her punishment becomes so intolerable that she could no longer restrain herself. She attacks the rich and spoiled John Reed, behaving â€Å"like a mad cat† (475) and is locked away in a remote, haunting chamber known as the red room. At Lowood Institution, under strict rules and regulations, and with the help of another orphan, Helen Burns, Jane learns that it is wrong to rebel against society. Helen states, â€Å"It is weak and silly to say you cannot bear what it is your fate to be required to bear (506)†¦. It is not violence that best overcomes hate-nor vengeance that most certainly heals injury†(508). Jane learns to conform to society's rules while still maintaining her sense of independence. In the nineteenth century, women do not have a great deal of personal freedom. There are few options available for them other than marrying and having children. Jane's occupation as a governess represents one of the only ways a respectable woman could support herself. As an educated and employed woman, she uses her intelligence to earn a living for herself, rather than relying on a man. She is independent and does not need a man to survive. Even after Rochester proposes to Jane, she still demands that she continue to be Adele's governess, earn her own boarding, and pay for her own clothing. The entire novel portrays some women as strong, intelligent, and yet still feminine. Jane is ultimately convinced that strictly adhering to the rules will assist her in achieving what she wants. Bertha is depicted in a totally different manner. She has no interest in social acceptance or self-respect. Unlike Jane, she has not learned the consequences of disobedience and ultimately the value of conforming to the expectations of others. She is brought up in extravagance, as her family is wealthy. By adulthood, her father realizes that her behavior is not acceptable and cannot be tolerated in a woman. Although he has reared her, he now realizes that she is beginning to show tendencies exhibited by her mother, who was locked up in an insane asylum. He quickly decides that she must be married off as soon as possible. Rochester's own family rushes the marriage as well, for their own financial gain. Bertha is hurriedly wed to Rochester, and it is not until after the wedding that Rochester learns of his mother-in-law's â€Å"illness† and of his wife's â€Å"appetite. † Bronte reinforces the restrictive sexual values of Victorian society through Bertha being confined for her display of excess passion. In the nineteenth century, excesses in sexuality, especially those of females, are considered signs of insanity. Bertha is therefore hidden away. Her very existence is deemed a threat. Rochester considers Bertha's lusty sexual appetites improper and deviant. Her tastes were obnoxious to Rochester, her â€Å"cast of mind common, low, narrow, and singularly incapable of being led to anything higher†¦ whatever topic I started immediately received from her a turn at once course and trite, perverse and imbecile†¦ er excesses had prematurely developed into germs of insanity†¦ no professed harlot ever had a fouler vocabulary than she. † It is obvious that Bertha does not have intent to operate within the arrangement of a traditional marriage or to conform to the expectations of her husband, much less society. Rochester ultimately decides to confine her, as a member of the patriarchy he has the power and authority to judge and punish her. He imprisons her for unladylike, aggressive sexuality and the refusal to kowtow to the patriarchal expectations of women. After being locked up for ten years, Rochester admits, â€Å"she [Bertha] had lucid intervals of days, sometimes weeks. † This confinement aggravates Bertha's condition, and she attempts to escape from her prison. On separate occasions, she stabs her brother, attempts to burn Rochester in his bed, and visits Jane in her room while she is sleeping, destroying Jane's wedding veil. Rochester's confinement of Bertha ultimately becomes the motivation for her final escape, resulting in the destruction of everything that symbolized her oppression, including her prison within Thornfield Hall. Because she refuses to submit to her husband and the oppression of a patriarchal society, the only way for Bertha to escape is in death; she kills herself by jumping off the roof of Thornfield Hall. To the end, Bertha refuses to be controlled by her husband or to submit to society's opinion of proper female behavior. â€Å"We heard him call ‘Bertha! ‘ We saw him approach her; and then ma'am, she yelled, and gave a spring, and the next minute she lay smashed on the pavement. † Bertha's death allows Jane to marry Rochester. As long as Bertha was still alive, Jane refused to deviate from what society deemed right by living with Rochester as his mistress. Jane effectively uses her conformity not only to maintain her own self-respect, but her compliance with society's rules for a woman allows her to achieve her most desired goal. Jane was a model for women readers in the Victorian period. She encouraged them to make their own choices in living their lives, to develop respect for themselves, and to become individuals. Bronte allows Jane to remain acceptable to society as well as true to her own self. As an orphan left with a family who did not really love her, her survival depended upon her complying with the wishes of those in charge. However, even in an oppressed state, she was able to take advantage of the benefits of living with people who were privileged, like reading available books and learning social graces. Bertha, on the other hand, was not subjected to restrictions as a child and has not learned to channel her energies into more conforming ways. She was oppressed due to the social customs of the time; however, she was also without direction or instructions as to how to act like a responsible adult. In conclusion, by presenting two opposing reactions to oppression, Bronte is more effectively able to detail the plight of women in the nineteenth century. She states that strong, directed women can make the most of their situations, even in an oppressed society, if they remain focused. No doubt such a mindset contributed to women eventually becoming more purpose-driven and educated, which empowered them to have some control over their own lives.

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Multiple Intelligences profile and teaching style Research Paper

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Cultural Diversity in the Workplace - Essay Example Issues of diversity have gained prominence and they have been forecast to become very important in the future; this is because of the increase in diversity in different demographics across many countries. Many organizations have realized the importance diversity, they are considering different options that will make such workplaces to be all-inclusive, and this is because diversity can bring positive results in terms of productivity and competition. Effective management of people encompass implies proper management of diversity and correct valuation of the same. Understanding the concept of diversity People in a group can choose to identify and categorize themselves using factors, which seem similar or different to them, and thus the term diversity becomes a very subjective intonation. Mazur (2010) defines diversity to be those features, which differentiate one category of people from another, and these features are based on two different dimensions, which are identified as either pr imary or secondary. Primary dimensions of diversity implies those that people identify with and include primal influences such as disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, age or ethnicity. These primal influences have been found to have a lot of influence on the different categories in not only the workplace but to the whole society. Secondary dimensions on the other hand, are not very discernible and the influence they exert in the workplace is variable, and only relevant to the extent of personal identity. They may include such factors such as family status, educational background, geographic location, work experience, role in the organization, style of work, religion, income, style of communication and first language (Mazur, 2010). The latter dimension has been found to have a lot of impact in an individual’s self-esteem and personal definition and realization. The concept of diversity is not limited to these examples above; it manifests itself differently to a given environment. Arredondo (2004) includes language, culture and social class to the first dimension, the primary dimension while he adds healthcare beliefs and leisure benefits to the secondary proportions. Other writers have further added the third category of dimension to the first two dimensions, the tertiary dimension (Bolton, 2007). This has frequently been identified as the central feature of an individual’s identity and it is at the base of the surface. It is the most important, because if it is uncovered it can propel both the individual and the organizations to higher echelons. Understanding cultural diversity in the workplace Cultural diversity in the workplace is the situation where people with diverse behaviors and worldviews come as one in the workplace. The depiction of people, in one social system who are a distinct group with diverse associations of cultural importance aptly summarizes the definition of cultural diversity. Empirical studies and analysis on cultur al diversity in the workplaces with emphasis on the value of such diversity have revealed that effectiveness is always realized. Consequently, empirical studies that have focused their research on such issues as social identity and other self-categorization concepts have revealed that

Japanese tie dye Essay Example for Free

Japanese tie dye Essay Contrary to what most people believe, tie-dying is something that was not invented in America during the 1960s. The beginnings of tie-dying go back to pre-history as many countries have experiment the use of bindings in creating patterns on cloth dipped in extensive dye. Several types of tie-dye have been practiced in Africa, India, and Japan for many centuries. Tie-dye was first used back in the ancient times. Together with shells, beads, and other fancy ornamentations, tie-dye was done by the early ancestors. It became fully developed during the T’ang dynasty in China around 618-906 A.  D. In Japan, it was introduced in 552-794 A. D. during the Nara period (Wada, 124). Since hemp and silk are very responsive to the resist technique, tie-dying art became outstanding. Early tribes from Central America, South East Asia, and Western China, tied and dyed their threads before weaving the cloth. The woven material showed exquisite designs as the white lines of the tie blended uniquely together with the colored dyes. The early dyes that were used were extracted from different leaves, flowers, roots, and berries. The selection of the early people included safflower, onion, marigold, lichen, blackberries, red cabbage, indigo, and sage. These dyes can still be found and used at present; however synthetic dyes have become more developed and are widely used. Synthetic dyes are permanent, efficient, and quick-setting. In 1568 to 1603, tsujigahana was a popular art. It was an art combining the ornamental drawings out of sumi (Chinese ink) plus tie-dye (Kafka, 87). Tie-dying can be used as a total design or it can be used in creating large part where trees, flowers or even landscapes are drawn and made into designs. During these times, Japan was split into kingdoms. Tie-dyed kosode or kimonos were the most prized gifts of recognition given to those officers who have exemplified bravery during the battles. Kimonos exhibit appealing alternatives in using tie-dyes. Tie-dye also has other forms and can be found all over the world. Different forms of tie-dye have emerged and distinguished the various nations of Africa. The Bandhani, also known as Bandhej, Bandhni or Plangi which is the Malay-Indonesian name, is an Indian tie-dye technique which is recognized as the oldest tie-dye tradition still practiced in the world. This technique engages in designs made of dots in which tiny points are tied with thread prior to immersion dyeing. During the Roaring ‘20’s, pamphlets were printed that contains instructions on how to decorate homes with tie-dyed throw-pillows and curtains in the United States. Then during the Depression, girls cut up cotton flour sacks then tied-dyed and sewed them into clothing, tablecloths and curtains – showing that when times become tough, tie-dyeing has been a contributing agent in brightening peoples’ lives. When the 1960’s â€Å"do your own thing† movement that promotes individuality emerged among the young people, tie-dyeing became an instant hit once again. That time, each person would make a statement by means of personal touch to tie-dyeing clothes. Silk and cotton banners were the in style backdrops for rock and roll concerts, tie-dyed sheets were transformed into wall hangings and room dividers. Later in the 1980’s, the art of tie-dyeing reemerged as an art form which needed highly-skilled and labor intensive artists. The quality of the tie-dye had never been better with the emergence of a wider array of design and colors of different tone. The old dyes that used to fade so badly was replaced with a permanent and easy to use dyes. Pastel colors became a favorite for the more conservative artists. However, the colors became widely available in bright rainbow colors, purples, earth tones, toned down blues – creating limitless number of designs that are at the same time completely unique.

The Crucible Essay Example for Free

The Crucible Essay The title the â€Å"crucible† by Author Miller is a metaphor for the witch trial in Salem that manipulates the impure hearts just as the crucible melts impure metal. The crucible was set in the Puritan society where religion was strict and everything; everyone was either belong to god or the devil. People in the Puritan society used that as a tool to gain power and wealth. Throughout the witch trial, many people with impure hearts were manipulated by the overwhelming power of being connected to god and tried to benefit from it but eventually it led to their own destruction such as Abigail, Thomas Putnam and Paris. On the other hand many people with pure hearts were willing to be hanged than named other people such as Giles Corey and John Proctor. Abigail, Paris and Thomas Putnam hearts were blacken by the power of god but granted by the devil. They accused other of witchcraft in order to benefit from it. Thomas Putnam accused other as witchcraft so he could by off the land while Paris accused other who against him to protect his fame. Unlike Paris and Putnam, Abigail purpose was different. At first she accused other because she was offered a chance to get away with her sin but then she was overwhelm with the new found power ,the power that she never had before, the power that bring her out of the misery life of a Puritan girl who was only a little more than a slave. Abigail’s hatred against Elizabeth filled heart with vengeance which made it vulnerable and easy to be manipulated by the Devil. Giles Corey, an elderly who had many experience in lawsuits. Unfortunately his wife Martha Corey was accused for witchcraft by reading books. Giles Corey tried to safe his wife but he was arrested in a lawsuit against Putnam. The Judge tried to break him in many ways but he refused to name anyone. He was then tortured with a large rock on top of his chest until death but still not a name came out of his mouth except two words â€Å"more weight†. With no stain in the heart, Giles Corey and others who did not name other people to die in their place were like the pure steel that won’t melt under high temperature of the crucible. Difference from Abigail and Giles Corey, John Proctor was neither pure white nor black. He could be considered as a tragic hero, who had been upright for most of his life and the only his only sin was the lust with Abigail. His lust for Abigail Williams led to their affair and created Abigail’s hatred of his wife which sets the entire witch hysteria in motion. John was a dynamic character that changed through the plays. At the beginning he tried to hide his sin to keep his reputation but as things got worse he confessed himself. The judge nearly able to convinced him to name someone else but in the end he did not. He refused to give such false confession because such confession would dishonor his fellow prisoners, who are brave enough to die as testimony to the truth. The witch trial was like a burning flame that feed on the darkness in one heart. The witch trial only happen because people allowed to. If it weren’t for people like Abigail, Paris and Putnam the witch trial would never start and if it weren’t for people like Giles and John the witch trial would never end. Authur Miller used such fine metaphor for the title because the value of a heart can only by judge in such circumstance just as the value of an metal can only be tested by extreme temperature.

Does Managing An Organizations Culture Replace Bureaucracy Management Essay

Does Managing An Organizations Culture Replace Bureaucracy Management Essay Bureaucracy is concerned with the imposition of rules and the attitude that management knows the best. There is a strong hierarchy, and no involvement of lower level employees; work-to-rule principle, there is division of labour and impersonality (see Fincham and Rhodes,2005). Weber argued it to be the absolute necessity in modern times since it is the most technically efficient model the decisive reason for the advancement of bureaucratic organizations has been purely its technical superiority over any other forms of organizations (Weber:1964). Therefore, the question arises as to which is the best way to achieve the coordination and control of an organization, Webers claimed technically efficient model bureaucracy, culture management using Peter and Waterman claims for Human Relations or post bureaucratic approaches and so on , which will be argued upon in this essay, and giving a conclusion in the end. Bureaucratic organizations develop a culture of the master knows all and is always right. This was facilitated by unskilled work requirements and hence, managers were able to keep important information to themselves, with no discussion with those down the hierarchy. Due to low skill levels, employees were easily replaceable, obedience to rules was fairly easy to achieve, and employees themselves were reluctant to participate due to lack of knowledge. Such a system is easily maintainable in a situation of unskilled workers, who are just required to work along the machinery pace, controlled by top management (see Charlie Chaplin- Modern times). However, employees are now more educated than ever before, they want to be appreciated for the higher level efforts they place and the greater knowledge they posses. Peter and Waterman in their book In search for excellence argue that the workers have more to give and managers have more to gain if they are willing to listen and understand employ ees feelings. This point is further justified by the issue of job security. Managers deliberately restricted individual autonomy since they feared the loss of their own positions if workers know more. They deliberately used technology to deskill work as they feared their seats being at risk. Lane(1988) argues that higher education has made managers less insecure and more willing to delegate work to those below them. The Japanese success (Clarke and Newman:1993) featuring introduction of new cost effective means of production, teamworking, and continuous production (Kaizen): someone who work daily on an issue understands the problem more than those who have virtually no practical experience about it, and small contributions by every worker leads to continuous improvement in productivity, whereas technology gives only a one off improvement, accelerated the establishment of formal culture in which employee contributions could be formally encouraged. Teamworking was giving boost to the productivity in Japan, with American firms losing out, led to the culture establishment using Mayos claim for human relations theory, and away from Webers ideal bureaucratic model. A movement from standardized mass market products to niche marketing; concentration on each individual market segment requiring flexible specialization(Piore and Sabel: 1984), increased globalization and competition(Lash and Urry:1987) and emergence of complicated technology giving power to people who possessed knowledge about it, trade unions pushing for more employment rights and shift towards demand driven economies(Moody:1987) emphasizing the inflexibility of large scale organizations, led to the emergence of Post bureaucratic Organizations(PBO), reinforcing that bureaucracy is not perfect. However, more power to those down the line may lead to chaos as everyone will be pushing forward their own ideas, PBO no longer remain stable since more worker autonomy may lead to confusion, as Willmott places it Autonomy is slavery, Bureaucracy is freedom(Willmott:1993). This may also lead to jealousy and rivalry amongst employees, and groups will be concerned about their own productivity rather than moving towards the corporate goal. Issue of inequality may arise if views of a certain person or group are given more importance than others, leading to conflicts, and deviation from the corporate mission. Decentralized culture would mean that there is a quick response to market changes, in competitive environment decentralization will help the business to keep its competitive edge and avoid time wasting in decision making. However, what will happen in situations that put the corporate image at risk? In this case, decentralization might lead to chaos and conflict only; bureaucratic organizations which are centralized maybe preferred more. Network firm arise as organization grows complex and global rather than a hierarchy: a set line of accountability and authority, free from confusion. Again, stability is at risk, as control and command in a bureaucracy are taken over by employee empowerment and participation; chaos and conflicts are inevitable(see Thompson and McHugh: 2002). Therefore, I believe managing a culture based on Post-bureaucracy doesnot completely undermine the need for bureaucracy. Bureaucracy Dysfunctions and work definition Peter and Waterman argue that bureaucratic organizations: deskilling of work, strict division of labour and strong hierarchy, may lead to monotonous, fatigue and skill rottening, which leads to workers losing interest and adverse productivity. The solution to this was provided by Dickson and Roethlisberger in their human relations theory in which they argued that management should develop a culture which is concerned towards workers needs, soul, believes, and values. Work, as defined by Watson certain effort and commitment offered by the employee to the employer in return for monetary and other rewards(Watson: 2006): these other rewards are clearly the autonomy and empowerment, being appreciated for a work well done and so on, as recognized by Mayo also. Therefore a change in the work definition from Webers work-to-rule, to Watsons commitment and effort require the establishment of a more understanding culture. Burawoy(1980) argue that workers have a moral commitment to work ; work p rovides identity, as opposed to Foucault who believes that the instrument of discipline and punishment should be used; where a normal behaviour is described and there is control depending upon the power of individual. Keeping the issue of fatigue and interest in mind, I believe that managers should concentrate on selecting the right person for the right job (see Blau and Schoenherr:1971). Whether a bureaucratic culture is preferred or a lose control one, the right employee type should be chosen to fit in. Perhaps the greatest argument made in favour of bureaucracy is by Weber that it creates an iron cage of rationality; all decisions made are free from sentiments, emotional bias and error, and every action is carried to amplify business success. The question arises, whether it is practical or just an ideology? To be rational one must possess knowledge and understanding of all the relevant information, but no ones knowledge is perfect, so can a rational decision be taken. Simon addressed this as bounded rationality. Bauman(1989) argued that too much concentration on cost effectiveness is dangerous as it may undo value (ethical) judgments. Merton(1949) argued that it might be the case that rules become more important than result, which may lead to inefficiency, as thought by Blau(1955), who feared that trade unions may set up an agreement of work to rule only. Ritzer(2000) argued that bureaucracy has dehumanizing effect (see The McDonaldization of Society), which is unethical. However, all of these arguments are ignored by Du Gay(2000) who says that bureaucracy protects against unfairness. Although bureaucratic organizations may set up strict obedience to rule and formal communication channels but Whyte(1943) argues who can stop informal channels from existing? These grapevines are disruptive and may cause revolts against management. Weber argues that trust is installed in bureaucratic organizations since everything is known, where as in case of Post bureaucracies a sudden change of attitude maybe seen with suspicion contradicting Morgan and Sayers views(1988), who believe in the opposite. Management attitude and relevance to Taylorism McGregor argued that how culture is managed depends to a large extend on what is expected of the employees: management perceptions about their employees. If managers believe that workers are loyal, see work as natural and use their own initiative(Theory Y), then he might set a loose culture with more autonomy. If however, managers believe workers are lazy and need to be urged and pushed to work then a work to rule(Theory X) atmosphere may be preferred. Child(1984) thought bureaucratic organizations have close relevance to Taylorism: dehumanizing work, economic man and master knows all, but, the important point to note is that it was only successful in old less competitive times. With the emergence of flexible firms (Atkinson: 1984) and networks this becomes more of an ideology. New management styles and normative control Peter and Waterman in their literature argue that managers should move from being bureaucrats to more creative and flexible. Clarke and Newman (see Clarke, John and Newman: 1993) further suggest that managers should : Have a visionary quality : inspiration for staff Be peoples centered: encourage employee contributions Be customer centered: dynamic to adapt to market changes Manage culture: not by creating rule focused/bureaucratic organizations that inhibit flexibility but creating loose tight organizations, giving way to centralization and decentralization as argued by Peter: an essential factor in leadership à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.is to influence and organize meaning for the members of organization(Bennis and Nanus:1985). Kunda High Technologies studies and Etzionis work argues about normative control, where employees character should be taken over rather than his work; shape behaviour in purposive way( Lammers :1981). Creation of a family culture will encourage worker to give his every effort for the success of the work; culture fosters success(Deal and Kennedy:1982). By creating a playful environment, managers can control the personal life of employees and mold their actions to obtain desired work behaviour. However there are sinister and aggressive sides of normative control: marriage failures and poor health may drag down the productivity and image of the company (see culture control and culture management: 2000). Conclusion Bureaucracy has certain advantages interms of stability, rationality and planning, and so does the development of a strong formal culture based on worker autonomy and entrepreneurship. Fletcher Byrom argued make sure you generate a reasonable number of mistakes, which is considered to very important by Peter and Waterman, who argue that successful companies need to innovate , carry out research and develop loose tight properties. I believe that much depends on the type and size of business: a large firm comprising of several thousands of employees, it would be time consuming and disruptive to give autonomy and might cause rivalry and conflict: preferring bureaucracy. Incase of delayered globalised firms like multinationals, networks and flexible firms, culture management and empowerment is required. Furthermore, due to variation in human nature who can be sure which factor is a motivator? Whether autonomy and establishment of a strong culture actually facilitates motivation or causes disparity between formal and informal culture as in Disney. Whether employees take pride in empowerment, as thought by Berggen or are too shy, afraid and lazy to take responsibility? Some argue that PBO is not a new concept but merely a redefinition of old bureaucracy: it has driven out of bureaucracy. As Smiricich argues organization is a culture, I believe that bureaucracy and culture management are not the alternatives for each other, but, should be used simultaneously and interchangeably to boost progress, depending upon the situation; Peter and watermans claim for simultaneous loose-tight properties.

Can cell phones cause cancer? :: essays research papers

Technology has always made an impact on our society. Over the last few decades, there have been many inventions that have changed our lifestyles. Cellular Telephony has, by all accounts, modified how we interact with others; but at what cost? Are there health issues associated with this technology? More explicitly can cell phones cause cancer? This question is the basis of this review. The researcher has compiled articles that cover this topic from diverse scholarly sources, and diverse countries. It is undeniable that cellular technology has become main stream. â€Å"It was estimated that there were 92 million cell phone users in the US, a number growing by one million every month.† (Frumkin, Jacobson, Gansler & Thun 2001). The arrival and widespread use of cell phones has peaked interest of the health effects of radiofrequencies in the human body. Cell phones use radio frequencies to transmit signals. Radio Frequencies (RF) are a form of electrical waves similar to those used in radios, microwaves, radars or satellite stations. They are emitted from a transmitter, and received using an antenna. This telephony technology is restricted geographically to small zones called â€Å"Cells†. Every cell has a base station capable of sending and receiving radio waves. When a call is started a signal leaves the handheld unit headed to the closest base station. This station answers by allocating a specific channel to the unit. When this â€Å"channel† is established, modulated radio frequency signals are both received and transmitted. The head of the user is in the near field of use because the distance from the antenna to the head is a few centimeters. (Blettner & Berg 2000) If the antenna is inside the body of the phone, the exposure to Radio Frequencies is greater. The antenna might be requesting a stronger signal to cont est with the interference of the battery or the actual shell of the phone’s body. The level of RF a person receives is related to many factors, not only the placement of the antenna. Factors that can increase the level of RF are the number of â€Å"cells†, the distance to the â€Å"base station†, or the obstacles between the caller and the station. The number of cell zones depends on the user population. Heavily populated areas have more cells allowing for more telecommunication traffic. Being close to a cell site lowers the power needed to sustain a call, hence reduces the exposure to RF.

Sigmund Freud’s Interpretation of Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus Essay exa

Sigmund Freud’s Interpretation of Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus Throughout the years, there have been many interpretations of Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus. However, one of the most interesting interpretations of the play would have to be one that uses the theories of Sigmund Freud to analyze the actions of the characters. The use of various aspects of Freudian theory such as the id, ego, superego, and the Oedipus Complex reveals Oedipus and his behaviors throughout the course of the play. In order to completely understand Oedipus and his actions, we must first understand the basics of Freud’s theories. One of the most well known aspects of Freudian theory is the Oedipus Complex. We can already see a relationship between the Oedipus Complex and the play just by looking at the name of this particular theory. The Oedipus Complex is a characteristic of young boys in which they experience a strong attachment toward their mother and feelings of hatred and jealousy toward their father. "The ‘little man’ would like to have the mother all to himself. The father’s presence is disturbing [to the boy]. When the [father] shows tenderness toward the little boy’s mother, the little boy is irritated, and he expresses satisfaction when the father is away or on a journey" (Mullahay 25). The young child would like to have his mother’s attention at all times, and he would also like to have his father out of the picture. The Oedipus Complex theory also states that the boy may not only want his father out of the picture, but he may also want to be in his father’s place when it comes to having sexual relations with the mother. According to Freud, many boys have this strong desire to be sexually intimate with their mother. Another of Freud’s theo... ...known of his secret desires and wanted to castrate him. In this way, castration theory can be related to the Oedipus Complex and the theory of the id, ego, and superego. To many, Freud’s theories seem bizarre and eccentric. Once we learn and understand his ideas, we can see how these theories can be connected with Oedipus Tyrannus. Now that we understand Freud’s ideas, and his interpretation of Oedipus Tyrannus, we can make our own judgements and form our own thoughts and ideas of the play. Works Cited: Mullahay, Patrick. Oedipus Myth and Complex. A Review of Psychoanalytic Theory. New York: Hermitage Press, 1951. "Psychoanalytic Criticism." Assumptions College. Worcester, Massachusetts. October 11, 2000 http://www.aswsumption.edu/HTML/Academic/users/ady/HHGateway/Gateway/Psychapp.html. Rudnytski, Peter. Freud and Oedipus. New York: Columbia UP, 1987.

Jane Eyre Persuasive Essay

Junie Jeong Mrs. Mesdjian English 2 H 21 February 2013 Jane Eyre Persuasive Essay In the novel Jane Eyre, our protagonist Jane faces many difficult situations that can be solved by different solutions. In one specific situation, Jane is faced with a complicated problem that demands her to decide either to marry Mr. Rochester and live comfortably while feeling personally restricted or to leave Rochester and start a sudden life on her own. Jane eventually decides to leave Mr.Rochester and runs away from Thornsfield, going through many trials and tribulations and eventually marries Rochester in the end. Although many people may feel that Jane’s runaway was inconvenient and unnecessary because the end result was similar, I believe that Jane’s journey away from Thornsfield was important and significant to her. Many people believe that Jane would have saved time and energy if she had married Rochester instead of running away on their wedding day.This can hold to be very reaso nable because Jane’s runaway resulted in several bad omens such as the Thornsfield mansion burning, the struggles of her friends and relatives to try and find her, and the unhappiness of her acquaintances, such as Adele. In the book, Bronte even writes about Adele’s unhappiness while at school; â€Å"Her frantic joy at beholding me again moved me much. She looked pale and thin: she said she was not happy. (Bronte 173)† One can possibly argue that these events could have been avoided if Jane had not run away and married Mr. Rochester on the spot.It is true that Jane could have saved much time, energy, and heartbreak if she decided to go along with the marriage on her wedding day. But sometimes, wasting time, energy, and going through heartbreak is necessary in order for a certain outcome. When Jane left Thornsfield, she was in a fragile emotional state—confused, betrayed, and still not confident in herself and her status, both as a woman and economically. Her childhood had left her scarred, thinking she was a person who would and could not receive love from others, so she could not love others in return. You never felt jealousy, did you, Miss Eyre? Of course not: I need not ask you; because you never felt love. (Bronte 137)† Jane’s journey away from Thornsfield helped to slowly change that and build her confidence—the fact that she had people who loved her and had friends who enjoyed her company soon hit her with realization and helped her understand that she was a person who deserved love too. If Jane had married before she realized this, she would have felt uncomfortable and restricted living with Mr.Rochester, always thinking that she â€Å"owed† him for loving her, and that she was not deserving of his love. If this mindset were constantly to be in Jane’s mind, it would result in an unhappy atmosphere for Jane and eventually an unhappy Jane. Whereas, in the ending, Jane lives happily with Rochest er knowing that they are equals. From the moment Jane was born, she believed that there were no other relatives besides her—and that she was alone ever since Mrs. Reed had raised her.Jane had always wished for a family, someone else to be there other than her. When Jane runs away from Thornsfield, she quickly resorts to begging, and the Rivers take Jane in and care for her. Later on in the story, she finds out that the Rivers are Jane’s relatives—something Jane has wanted ever since she was a child. When Jane is brought with news that she has other family, she decides to split her new fortune into equal parts with all her new relatives, something she also treasured, which proved how thankful she was for her new family. †¦. cannot at all imagine the craving I have for fraternal and sisterly love. I never had a home, I never had brothers or sisters; I must and will have them now†¦ (Bronte 413)†. When it comes to making right decisions, I believe Ja ne made the correct one when she left Thornsfield. There may have been many difficult times she had to suffer through, but the end results all paid off when she lived the happy ending she had always wished for.Other people may disagree and mention that the end result was the same, and that Jane put herself and others through too much because of her decision, that may be true, but in return everyone found happiness and got something even better in return. If she had never left, she may not have been able to find her cousins, a real gift she had been yearning for ever since she was young. I believe the decision Jane made in the story helped her reach the best personal level she could reach, and she gained happiness she would not have been able to gain through her pains.

The Lost Symbol Chapter 22-23

CHAPTER 22 Pacing the library, Katherine Solomon pulled back the sleeve of her lab coat and checked her watch. She was not a woman accustomed to waiting, but at the moment, she felt as if her whole world were on hold. She was waiting for Trish's search-spider results, she was waiting for word from her brother, and also, she was waiting for a callback from the man who was responsible for this entire troubling situation. I wish he hadn't told me, she thought. Normally, Katherine was extremely careful about making new acquaintances, and although she had met this man for the first time only this afternoon, he had earned her trust in a matter of minutes. Completely. His call had come this afternoon while Katherine was at home enjoying her usual Sunday- afternoon pleasure of catching up on the week's scientific journals. â€Å"Ms. Solomon?† an unusually airy voice had said. â€Å"My name is Dr. Christopher Abaddon. I was hoping I might speak to you for a moment about your brother?† â€Å"I'm sorry, who is this?† she had demanded. And how did you get my private cell-phone number? â€Å"Dr. Christopher Abaddon?† Katherine did not recognize the name. The man cleared his throat, as if the situation had just become awkward. â€Å"I apologize, Ms. Solomon. I was under the impression your brother had told you about me. I'm his doctor. Your cell number was listed as his emergency contact.† Katherine's heart skipped. Emergency contact? â€Å"Is something wrong?† â€Å"No . . . I don't think so,† the man said. â€Å"Your brother missed an appointment this morning, and I can't reach him on any of his numbers. He never misses appointments without calling, and I'm just a little worried. I hesitated to phone you, but–â€Å" â€Å"No, no, not at all, I appreciate the concern.† Katherine was still trying to place the doctor's name. â€Å"I haven't spoken to my brother since yesterday morning, but he probably just forgot to turn on his cell.† Katherine had recently given him a new iPhone, and he still hadn't taken the time to figure out how to use it. â€Å"You say you're his doctor?† she asked. Does Peter have an illness he's keeping from me? There was a weighty pause on the line. â€Å"I'm terribly sorry, but I've obviously just made a rather serious professional error by calling you. Your brother told me you were aware of his visits to me, but now I see that's not the case.† My brother lied to his doctor? Katherine's concern was now growing steadily. â€Å"Is he sick?† â€Å"I'm sorry, Ms. Solomon, doctor-patient confidentiality precludes me from discussing your brother's condition, and I've already said too much by admitting he is my patient. I'm going to hang up now, but if you hear from him today, please ask him to call me so I know he's okay.† â€Å"Wait!† Katherine said. â€Å"Please tell me what's wrong with Peter!† Dr. Abaddon exhaled, sounding displeased with his mistake. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, I can hear you're upset, and I don't blame you. I'm sure your brother is fine. He was in my office just yesterday.† â€Å"Yesterday? And he's scheduled again today? This sounds urgent.† The man heaved a sigh. â€Å"I suggest we give him a little more time before we–â€Å" â€Å"I'm coming by your office right now,† Katherine said, heading for the door. â€Å"Where are you located?† Silence. â€Å"Dr. Christopher Abaddon?† Katherine said. â€Å"I can look up your address myself, or you can simply give it to me. Either way, I'm coming over.† The doctor paused. â€Å"If I meet with you, Ms. Solomon, would you please do me the courtesy of saying nothing to your brother until I've had a chance to explain my misstep?† â€Å"That's fine.† â€Å"Thank you. My office is in Kalorama Heights.† He gave her an address. Twenty minutes later, Katherine Solomon was navigating the stately streets of Kalorama Heights. She had phoned all of her brother's numbers with no reply. She did not feel overly concerned about her brother's whereabouts, and yet, the news that he was secretly seeing a doctor . . . was troubling. When Katherine finally located the address, she stared up at the building in confusion. This is a doctor's office? The opulent mansion before her had a wrought-iron security fence, electronic cameras, and lush grounds. As she slowed to double-check the address, one of the security cameras rotated toward her, and the gate swung open. Tentatively, Katherine drove up the driveway and parked next to a six-car garage and a stretch limo. What kind of doctor is this guy? As she got out of her car, the front door of the mansion opened, and an elegant figure drifted out onto the landing. He was handsome, exceptionally tall, and younger than she had imagined. Even so, he projected the sophistication and polish of an older man. He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit and tie, and his thick blond hair was immaculately coiffed. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, I'm Dr. Christopher Abaddon,† he said, his voice a breathy whisper. When they shook hands, his skin felt smooth and well tended. â€Å"Katherine Solomon,† she said, trying not to stare at his skin, which was unusually smooth and bronzed. Is he wearing makeup? Katherine felt a growing disquiet as she stepped into the home's beautifully appointed foyer. Classical music played softly in the background, and it smelled as if someone had burned incense. â€Å"This is lovely,† she said, â€Å"although I expected more of . . . an office.† â€Å"I'm fortunate to work out of my home.† The man led her into a living room, where there was a crackling fire. â€Å"Please make yourself comfortable. I'm just steeping some tea. I'll bring it out, and we can talk.† He strode toward the kitchen and disappeared. Katherine Solomon did not sit. Female intuition was a potent instinct that she had learned to trust, and something about this place was making her skin crawl. She saw nothing that looked anything like any doctor's office she had ever seen. The walls of this antique-adorned living room were covered with classical art, primarily paintings with strange mythical themes. She paused before a large canvas depicting the Three Graces, whose nude bodies were spectacularly rendered in vivid colors. â€Å"That's the original Michael Parkes oil.† Dr. Abaddon appeared without warning beside her, holding a tray of steaming tea. â€Å"I thought we'd sit by the fire?† He led her over to the living room and offered her a seat. â€Å"There's no reason to be nervous.† â€Å"I'm not nervous,† Katherine said entirely too quickly. He gave her a reassuring smile. â€Å"Actually, it is my business to know when people are nervous.† â€Å"I beg your pardon?† â€Å"I'm a practicing psychiatrist, Ms. Solomon. That is my profession. I've been seeing your brother for almost a year now. I'm his therapist.† Katherine could only stare. My brother is in therapy? â€Å"Patients often choose to keep their therapy to themselves,† the man said. â€Å"I made a mistake by calling you, although in my defense, your brother did mislead me.† â€Å"I . . . I had no idea.† â€Å"I apologize if I made you nervous,† he said, sounding embarrassed. â€Å"I noticed you studying my face when we met, and yes, I do wear makeup.† He touched his own cheek, looking self- conscious. â€Å"I have a dermatological condition, which I prefer to hide. My wife usually puts the makeup on for me, but when she's not here, I have to rely on my own heavy touch.† Katherine nodded, too embarrassed to speak. â€Å"And this lovely hair . . .† He touched his lush blond mane. â€Å"A wig. My skin condition affected my scalp follicles as well, and all my hair jumped ship.† He shrugged. â€Å"I'm afraid my one sin is vanity.† â€Å"Apparently mine is rudeness,† Katherine said. â€Å"Not at all.† Dr. Abaddon's smile was disarming. â€Å"Shall we start over? Perhaps with some tea?† They sat in front of the fire and Abaddon poured tea. â€Å"Your brother got me in the habit of serving tea during our sessions. He said the Solomons are tea drinkers.† â€Å"Family tradition,† Katherine said. â€Å"Black, please.† They sipped their tea and made small talk for a few minutes, but Katherine was eager for information about her brother. â€Å"Why was my brother coming to you?† she asked. And why didn't he tell me? Admittedly, Peter had endured more than his fair share of tragedy in his life–losing his father at a young age, and then, within a span of five years, burying his only son and then his mother. Even so, Peter had always found a way to cope. Dr. Abaddon took a sip of tea. â€Å"Your brother came to me because he trusts me. We have a bond beyond that of normal patient and doctor.† He motioned to a framed document near the fireplace. It looked like a diploma, until Katherine spied the double-headed phoenix. â€Å"You're a Mason?† The highest degree, no less. â€Å"Peter and I are brothers of sorts.† â€Å"You must have done something important to be invited into the thirty-third degree.† â€Å"Not really,† he said. â€Å"I have family money, and I give a lot of money to Masonic charities.† Katherine now realized why her brother trusted this young doctor. A Mason with family money, interested in philanthropy and ancient mythology? Dr. Abaddon had more in common with her brother than she had initially imagined. â€Å"When I asked why my brother came to you,† she said, â€Å"I didn't mean why did he choose you. I meant, why is he seeking the services of a psychiatrist?† Dr. Abaddon smiled. â€Å"Yes, I know. I was trying to sidestep the question politely. It's really not something I should be discussing.† He paused. â€Å"Although I must say I'm puzzled that your brother would keep our discussions from you, considering that they relate so directly to your research.† â€Å"My research?† Katherine said, taken totally off guard. My brother talks about my research? â€Å"Recently, your brother came to me looking for a professional opinion about the psychological impact of the breakthroughs you are making in your lab.† Katherine almost choked on the tea. â€Å"Really? I'm . . . surprised,† she managed. What is Peter thinking? He told his shrink about my work?! Their security protocol involved not discussing with anyone what Katherine was working on. Moreover, the confidentiality had been her brother's idea. â€Å"Certainly you are aware, Ms. Solomon, that your brother is deeply concerned about what will happen when your research goes public. He sees the potential for a significant philosophical shift in the world . . . and he came here to discuss the possible ramifications . . . from a psychological perspective.† â€Å"I see,† Katherine said, her teacup now shaking slightly. â€Å"The questions we discuss are challenging ones: What happens to the human condition if the great mysteries of life are finally revealed? What happens when those beliefs that we accept on faith . . . are suddenly categorically proven as fact? Or disproved as myth? One could argue that there exist certain questions that are best left unanswered.† Katherine could not believe what she was hearing, and yet she kept her emotions in check. â€Å"I hope you don't mind, Dr. Abaddon, but I'd prefer not to discuss the details of my work. I have no immediate plans to make anything public. For the time being, my discoveries will remain safely locked in my lab.† â€Å"Interesting.† Abaddon leaned back in his chair, lost in thought for a moment. â€Å"In any event, I asked your brother to come back today because yesterday he suffered a bit of a break. When that happens, I like to have clients–â€Å" â€Å"Break?† Katherine's heart was pounding. â€Å"As in breakdown?† She couldn't imagine her brother breaking down over anything. Abaddon reached out kindly. â€Å"Please, I can see I've upset you. I'm sorry. Considering these awkward circumstances, I can understand how you might feel entitled to answers.† â€Å"Whether I'm entitled or not,† Katherine said, â€Å"my brother is all I have left of my family. Nobody knows him better than I do, so if you tell me what the hell happened, maybe I can help you. We all want the same thing–what's best for Peter.† Dr. Abaddon fell silent for several long moments and then began slowly nodding as if Katherine might have a point. Finally, he spoke. â€Å"For the record, Ms. Solomon, if I decide to share this information with you, I would do so only because I think your insights might help me assist your brother.† â€Å"Of course.† Abaddon leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, as long as I've been seeing your brother, I've sensed in him a deep struggle with feelings of guilt. I've never pressed him on it because that's not why he comes to me. And yet yesterday, for a number of reasons, I finally asked him about it.† Abaddon locked eyes with her. â€Å"Your brother opened up, rather dramatically and unexpectedly. He told me things I had not expected to hear . . . including everything that happened the night your mother died.† Christmas Eve–almost exactly ten years ago. She died in my arms. â€Å"He told me your mother was murdered during a robbery attempt at your home? A man broke in looking for something he believed your brother was hiding?† â€Å"That's correct.† Abaddon's eyes were appraising her. â€Å"Your brother said he shot the man dead?† â€Å"Yes.† Abaddon stroked his chin. â€Å"Do you recall what the intruder was looking for when he broke into your home?† Katherine had tried in vain for ten years to block out the memory. â€Å"Yes, his demand was very specific. Unfortunately, none of us knew what he was talking about. His demand never made sense to any of us.† â€Å"Well, it made sense to your brother.† â€Å"What?† Katherine sat up. â€Å"At least according to the story he told me yesterday, Peter knew exactly what the intruder was looking for. And yet your brother did not want to hand it over, so he pretended not to understand.† â€Å"That's absurd. Peter couldn't possibly have known what the man wanted. His demands made no sense!† â€Å"Interesting.† Dr. Abaddon paused and took a few notes. â€Å"As I mentioned, however, Peter told me he did know. Your brother believes if he had only cooperated with the intruder, maybe your mother would be alive today. This decision is the source of all his guilt.† Katherine shook her head. â€Å"That's crazy . . .† Abaddon slumped, looking troubled. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, this has been useful feedback. As I feared, your brother seems to have had a little break with reality. I must admit, I was afraid this might be the case. That's why I asked him to come back today. These delusional episodes are not uncommon when they relate to traumatic memories.† Katherine shook her head again. â€Å"Peter is far from delusional, Dr. Abaddon.† â€Å"I would agree, except . . .† â€Å"Except what?† â€Å"Except that his recounting of the attack was just the beginning . . . a tiny fraction of the long and far-fetched tale he told me.† Katherine leaned forward in her seat. â€Å"What did Peter tell you?† Abaddon gave a sad smile. â€Å"Ms. Solomon, let me ask you this. Has your brother ever discussed with you what he believes is hidden here in Washington, D.C. . . . or the role he believes he plays in protecting a great treasure . . . of lost ancient wisdom?† Katherine's jaw fell open. â€Å"What in the world are you talking about?† Dr. Abaddon heaved a long sigh. â€Å"What I am about to tell you will be a bit shocking, Katherine.† He paused and locked eyes with her. â€Å"But it will be immeasurably helpful if you can tell me anything you may know about it.† He reached for her cup. â€Å"More tea?† CHAPTER 23 Another tattoo. Langdon crouched anxiously beside Peter's open palm and examined the seven tiny symbols that had been hidden beneath the lifeless clenched fingers. â€Å"They appear to be numbers,† Langdon said, surprised. â€Å"Although I don't recognize them.† â€Å"The first is a Roman numeral,† Anderson said. â€Å"Actually, I don't think so,† Langdon corrected. â€Å"The Roman numeral I-I-I-X doesn't exist. It would be written V-I-I.† â€Å"How about the rest of it?† Sato asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. It looks like eight-eight-five in Arabic numbers.† â€Å"Arabic?† Anderson asked. â€Å"They look like normal numbers.† â€Å"Our normal numbers are Arabic.† Langdon had become so accustomed to clarifying this point for his students that he'd actually prepared a lecture about the scientific advances made by early Middle Eastern cultures, one of them being our modern numbering system, whose advantages over Roman numerals included `positional notation' and the invention of the number zero. Of course, Langdon always ended this lecture with a reminder that Arab culture had also given mankind the word al-kuhl–the favorite beverage of Harvard freshmen–known as alcohol. Langdon scrutinized the tattoo, feeling puzzled. â€Å"And I'm not even sure about the eight-eight- five. The rectilinear writing looks unusual. Those may not be numbers.† â€Å"Then what are they? Sato asked. â€Å"I'm not sure. The whole tattoo looks almost . . . runic.† â€Å"Meaning?† Sato asked. â€Å"Runic alphabets are composed solely of straight lines. Their letters are called runes and were often used for carving in stone because curves were too difficult to chisel.† â€Å"If these are runes,† Sato said, â€Å"what is their meaning?† Langdon shook his head. His expertise extended only to the most rudimentary runic alphabet– Futhark–a third-century Teutonic system, and this was not Futhark. â€Å"To be honest, I'm not even sure these are runes. You'd need to ask a specialist. There are dozens of different forms– Hlsinge, Manx, the `dotted' Stungnar–â€Å" â€Å"Peter Solomon is a Mason, is he not?† Langdon did a double take. â€Å"Yes, but what does that have to do with this?† He stood up now, towering over the tiny woman. â€Å"You tell me. You just said that runic alphabets are used for stone carvings, and it is my understanding that the original Freemasons were stone craftsmen. I mention this only because when I asked my office to search for a connection between the Hand of the Mysteries and Peter Solomon, their search returned one link in particular.† She paused, as if to emphasize the importance of her finding. â€Å"The Masons.† Langdon exhaled, fighting the impulse to tell Sato the same thing he constantly told his students: â€Å"Google† is not a synonym for â€Å"research.† In these days of massive, worldwide keyword searches, it seemed everything was linked to everything. The world was becoming one big entangled web of information that was getting denser every day. Langdon maintained a patient tone. â€Å"I'm not surprised the Masons appeared in your staff's search. Masons are a very obvious link between Peter Solomon and any number of esoteric topics.† â€Å"Yes,† Sato said, â€Å"which is another reason I have been surprised this evening that you have not yet mentioned the Masons. After all, you've been talking about secret wisdom protected by an enlightened few. That sounds very Masonic, does it not?† â€Å"It does . . . and it also sounds very Rosicrucian, Kabbalistic, Alumbradian, and any number of other esoteric groups.† â€Å"But Peter Solomon is a Mason–a very powerful Mason, at that. It seems the Masons would come to mind if we were talking about secrets. Heaven knows the Masons love their secrets.† Langdon could hear the distrust in her voice, and he wanted no part of it. â€Å"If you want to know anything about the Masons, you would be far better served to ask a Mason.† â€Å"Actually,† Sato said, â€Å"I'd prefer to ask someone I can trust.† Langdon found the comment both ignorant and offensive. â€Å"For the record, ma'am, the entire Masonic philosophy is built on honesty and integrity. Masons are among the most trustworthy men you could ever hope to meet.† â€Å"I have seen persuasive evidence to the contrary.† Langdon was liking Director Sato less and less with each passing moment. He had spent years writing about the Masons' rich tradition of metaphorical iconography and symbols, and knew that Masons had always been one of the most unfairly maligned and misunderstood organizations in the world. Regularly accused of everything from devil worship to plotting a one- world government, the Masons also had a policy of never responding to their critics, which made them an easy target. â€Å"Regardless,† Sato said, her tone biting, â€Å"we are again at an impasse, Mr. Langdon. It seems to me there is either something you are missing . . . or something you are not telling me. The man we're dealing with said that Peter Solomon chose you specifically.† She leveled a cold stare at Langdon. â€Å"I think it's time we move this conversation to CIA headquarters. Maybe we'll have more luck there.† Sato's threat barely registered with Langdon. She had just said something that had lodged in his mind. Peter Solomon chose you. The comment, combined with the mention of Masons, had hit Langdon strangely. He looked down at the Masonic ring on Peter's finger. The ring was one of Peter's most prized possessions–a Solomon family heirloom that bore the symbol of the double- headed phoenix–the ultimate mystical icon of Masonic wisdom. The gold glinted in the light, sparking an unexpected memory. Langdon gasped, recalling the eerie whisper of Peter's captor: It really hasn't dawned on you yet, has it? Why you were chosen? Now, in one terrifying moment, Langdon's thoughts snapped into focus and the fog lifted. All at once, Langdon's purpose here was crystal clear. Ten miles away, driving south on Suitland Parkway, Mal'akh heard a distinctive vibration on the seat beside him. It was Peter Solomon's iPhone, which had proven a powerful tool today. The visual caller ID now displayed the image of an attractive middle-aged woman with long black hair. INCOMING CALL–KATHERINE SOLOMON Mal'akh smiled, ignoring the call. Destiny pulls me closer. He had lured Katherine Solomon to his home this afternoon for one reason only–to determine if she had information that could assist him . . . perhaps a family secret that might help Mal'akh locate what he sought. Clearly, however, Katherine's brother had told her nothing of what he had been guarding all these years. Even so, Mal'akh had learned something else from Katherine. Something that has earned her a few extra hours of life today. Katherine had confirmed for him that all of her research was in one location, safely locked inside her lab. I must destroy it. Katherine's research was poised to open a new door of understanding, and once the door was opened even a crack, others would follow. It would just be a matter of time before everything changed. I cannot let that happen. The world must stay as it is . . . adrift in ignorant darkness. The iPhone beeped, indicating Katherine had left a voice mail. Mal'akh retrieved it. â€Å"Peter, it's me again.† Katherine's voice sounded concerned. â€Å"Where are you? I'm still thinking about my conversation with Dr. Abaddon . . . and I'm worried. Is everything okay? Please call me. I'm at the lab.† The voice mail ended. Mal'akh smiled. Katherine should worry less about her brother, and more about herself. He turned off Suitland Parkway onto Silver Hill Road. Less than a mile later, in the darkness, he spotted the faint outline of the SMSC nestled in the trees off the highway to his right. The entire complex was surrounded by a high razor-wire fence. A secure building? Mal'akh chuckled to himself. I know someone who will open the door for me.

Drawing Funds from the European Union Essay

Drawing Funds from the European Union Introduction            European Union funds are an instrument for implementing its economic and social cohesion policies whose objective is to eliminate the disparities in development levels amongst the EU member states and the relative primitiveness of the most disadvantaged states. The EU funds provide funding for a wide range of projects covering areas such as urban and regional development, employment and social inclusion. The funds also cover agricultural and rural development, maritime developments, innovation and research ventures, and humanitarian aid. It means that municipalities, businesses, ministries, non-profit organizations, learning institutions, the transport industry, and research institutions are eligible to apply for the funds. Management of Funds            Funding, the sole purpose of the EU funds, is supervised in accordance with a set strict rules to ensure that there is total control over how to spend the funds; in a transparent and accountable manner. Twenty-Eight EU commissioners have the definitive responsibility of ensuring that beneficiaries use the funds accordingly. Nonetheless, performing checks and annual audits is a responsibility that lies with the national governments. It is because the funds are mostly managed within the beneficiary states. Management of seventy-six percent of the whole EU budget happens in collaboration with state and regional authorities via a system of shared management. Allotment of Funds The EU provides funds from five categories: The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). European Social Fund (ESF). Cohesion Fund (CF). European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).            These major funds are referred to as Structural Funds. There are other funds that the EU manages directly. These other funds are usually in the form of grants and contracts. There is a common fallacy that ‘money from Brussels’ is available for free and for any purpose. Reality check proves it otherwise because grants from the EU are usually made available for supporting specific objectives. A big chunk of the funds is not given to beneficiaries directly, but through state and regional authorities who are responsible for transparent management of the funds (Council, 2007).            The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): The aim of the ERDF is strengthening economic and social cohesion in the EU through adjusting imbalances amongst its regions. The ERDF usually centers its attention on some key priority areas known as ‘thematic concentration’: Low-carbon economy Research and innovation Assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and The digital agenda            The resource allocation to the priorities usually depends on the category of the region in question. More developed regions focus at least eighty percent of these funds on at least two of these priorities. Transition regions’ focus is for sixty percent of the funds and fifty percent for less developed regions. Additionally, some of the ERDF resources are directed specifically towards low-carbon economy projects; twenty percent for more developed regions, fifteen percent for transition regions and twelve percent for less developed regions. The ERDF also gives special attention to specific territorial attributes. Disadvantaged areas from a geographical point of view, for example, mountainous or sparsely populated areas, gain from this special treatment.            The European Social Fund (ESF): The most important focus of the ESF is improving the job market and education opportunities across member states of the European Union. Improving the social statuses of vulnerable people is also an important aim for the fund. The earmarking of more than â‚ ¬80 billion for investment in human capital in EU member states for the period 2014-2020 attests to it. Other objectives of the fund include: retraining unemployed people, starting special programmes for the disabled and other disadvantaged groups of citizens. In addition: supporting self-employed people who are just starting their businesses, developing employment service institutions and improving the quality of education in learning institutions.            Cohesion Fund (CF): The CF is mostly aimed at member states whose Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of that of EU’s average. Its main aim is to minimize social and economic disparities and promoting sustainable development. The CF is also subject to the same regulations as the ERDF and ESF via the Common Provisions Regulation. For the programming period, 2014-2020, the CF concerns states such as the Czech Republic, Croatia, Latvia, Malta, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. The CF allocates approximately â‚ ¬63.4 billion to various economic and social welfare projects. The Cohesion Fund is used to fund trans-European transport networks especially those identified as priorities by the EU. The funds can additionally be used to fund environment-friendly projects. These projects include those that benefit the environment in terms of renewable energy, supporting an inter-modality, and energy efficiency. If audits reveal that a member stat e has excessive public deficit and they are not taking steps to resolve the situation, the Cohesion Fund can be suspended by a Council Decision.            The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD): The EAFRD covers; bio-energy, organic farming, forest resources, food safety, animal welfare, plant health and rural development programmes (RDPs). The EU requires its member states to build their RDPs upon not less than six set EU priorities. They include: Advancing knowledge transfer and innovation in the agricultural sector, forestry and rural areas. Improving the viability of all types of agriculture, and endorsing innovative farming technologies and sustainable forest management. Encouraging food chain organization, management of risk in agriculture and animal welfare. Protecting and developing ecosystems allied to agriculture and forestry. Shifting towards a low-carbon and climate-conscious economy in the food and agriculture sectors.            Each RDP identifies focus areas to set quantified targets for funds needed. Measures to achieve these targets and their individual fund allocations are paramount. RDPs’ also gets funding from private sectors that share the same ideologies. The implementation of funds is monitored and evaluated in detail.            European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF): The EMFF, formerly European Fisheries Fund (EFF), is used to fund the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The EMFF gives funding for the fishing industry and communities in the coastal regions. The CFP endeavors to make sure that fishing and aquaculture are sustainable; environmentally, economically and socially. Healthy fish and seafood is also paramount. Though important to maximize catches for business purposes, limits must be put in place. The CFP stipulates that limits should be set such that fish stocks are sustainable in the long-term. The CFP allows EU member states access to its waters and fishing grounds.            To enhance transparency in funding, the European Transparency Initiative was set up. A central web portal was created to collect and show data from all beneficiaries of EU funding; funds received and how the funds are being used. There is also an inventory of EU funding that shows the evaluations done and released by the Evaluation Services of all Twenty-Five EU member states. Applying for Funding in Selected Areas            Enterprise: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can obtain funding via grants, loans and guarantees. It is mostly through financial intermediaries in their member states. Grants usually account for fifty percent of project costs. Loan guarantees are given to microcredit organizations for loans of up to â‚ ¬25,000.            Non-profit organizations: they include non-governmental and civil society organizations. These organizations are eligible for funding as long as they are active in EU policy regions and a strictly non-profit basis (Council, 2007).            Young people: they are eligible for two types of funding; education and training, and youth funding. The former includes study opportunities through Erasmus+, scholarships for high school graduates, and occupational training in other countries. The latter includes co-funding youth projects that encourage civic involvement, charity work and a wider multicultural outlook.            Researchers: individuals and institutions involved in innovation and research projects are qualified to request for the funds. The European Union will provide roughly â‚ ¬80 billion in its quest to fund research. The funding typically takes the form of grants to finance partly a wide range of research and innovation projects.            Agriculture and fisheries: acquiring funds for such projects involves giving a general introduction, presenting financial reports, and giving information on the planned use of the funds. Direct funding is the most important and common type of funding in the EU member states.            Cultural and audiovisual sector: the main programme in this segment is culture: it has three main goals. They include promoting cross-border mobility of people working in the cultural sector, encouraging circulation of cultural, artistic output, and fostering intercultural dialogue (Evans & Foord, 1999).            Energy: funding is available for a number of sectors including solar and wind energies, bioenergy, renewable energy, clean coal projects and energy efficiency. Funds are also available for Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E), whose aim is to enhance transportation networks for electricity and gas across the European member states.            The structural funds and grants from the European Union Funds have impacted the lives of the citizens of its member states immensely. The standards of living of many citizens have risen noticeably due to the array of new employment opportunities created by the funds’ projects. Some of the projects’ success stories are noteworthy and have had a great impact to states and individuals. We will take a look at some examples of projects carried out using the funds so as to take note of their effects to their beneficiaries. ESF in the Czech Republic            The Czech Republic is among the less wealthy nations in the European Union member states. According to regulations, Czech could have drawn approximately â‚ ¬26.7 billion from the ESF in the programming period 2007-2013 in order to raise the standards of living of its people. However, the amount received from the ESF for that period is â‚ ¬3.8 billion. Together with national funding, the tally adds up to over â‚ ¬4.4 billion.            ESF funds help in three activities. The first is advancing education at all levels and enhancing its relevance to the job market. Secondly, the funds are used to enable many people to get employment, especially the disadvantaged. Lastly, they have helped build competitiveness of the Prague region.            The Czech Republic is using the funds to do away with obstacles that; for one reason or another, prevent people from getting a job. These people include; mothers with young children, older people, and the disabled and disadvantaged groups, like those with little or no professional skills. Many ESF projects across the nation are making access to training facilities easier and reducing some practical obstacles to work. Consequently, this is bringing a positive impact by lifting its citizens out of poverty (Fagan, 2005).            ESF funding is also helping improve the quality of education by scrutinizing standards, employing more competent teachers, and teaching job seekers only the needed skills by employers. Events such as science documentary film festivals and meetings with top Czech scientists are being used as platforms to encourage students to consider careers in science and technology. Just like other member states, the Czech Republic is struggling with the unemployment crisis. The ESF fund, however, has gone a long way in helping Czech citizens find jobs attributed to the various employment and educational projects initiated by the funds. Saving Lives: EU Funded Cancer Research Project            Physicians mostly wait for several months to assess whether cancer treatments that they are administering to their patients are actually working. By discovering a new technique that quickly reveals a tumor by checking consumption of glucose, an EU-funded project has reduced the delay. This discovery enables doctors to get more ‘precious’ time to switch to more effective forms of treatment if crucial; potentially saving many lives.            All cancer treatments do not work in every patient’s case. A tumor might reduce rapidly after a treatment, yet its assessment is complex. Several therapies may eliminate the cancer without reducing the size of the tumor. A delay in confirmation by a doctor may mean that by the next treatment, the patient may be a lot weaker, and the cancer advanced further (Eckhouse & Sullivan, 2006). Physicians want to assess immediately if the cancer is affected by a treatment, not just by measuring its size but through metabolic indicators. The EU-funded project, Imaging Lymphoma, has developed such an assessment. The innovation will be important in future cancer treatments as it makes it easier for doctors to treat their patients. Turning Food Waste into Animal Feed            The European Union is the source of 18% of food exports worldwide and with it comes a huge chunk of agricultural waste. This waste costs farmers and taxpayers’ money (Kraemer, Wilkinson, Klasing & Homeyer, 2002). An EU-funded research project NOSHAN wants to convert food waste into animal feed. The objective of the research is to open up new opportunities for farmers and reducing Europe’s dependence on animal feed imports. Additionally, new green jobs in agricultural waste collection and feed manufacturing will be created.            The NOSHAN project aims particularly at turning fruits, vegetables and dairy wastes into animal feed, and at low energy costs. The project is expected to conclude its research in 2016, and by that time, the research team will be able to have the best waste extraction and upgrading techniques. The NOSHAN project presents Europe’s agricultural sector with a prospect of attaining greater agricultural sustainability. The project has been awarded just under â‚ ¬3 million in the programming period 2007-2013. It brings together a University, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutes and other industries. The NOSHAN project could also reduce the ever-increasing competition between food and feed sectors, both of which require water and land (Wolz, Hubbard, Mà ¶llers, Gorton & Buchenrieder, 2012). Revolutionizing the Transport Sector            EU-funded researchers have come up with groundbreaking proposals to prevent railway suicides and decrease disruption of services. If adopted, the proposals could save lives, money and time for railway companies and their passengers. Waiting for a train, and suddenly the service is called off or delayed indefinitely is something that train passengers have become accustomed to in the long run. Perhaps an accident; somebody fell onto the track, or they purposefully stepped in front of the track.            The EU-funded project, RESTRAIL, collected and analyzed the measures put in place by different EU member states to curb suicides and accidental deaths. The outcome of the research was that proposals that can save a lot of lives. Decision makers such as station managers or railway companies should have a set of the most efficient mitigation measures for every event. The tests they have conducted have created a toolbox for consultation on the best practices on each country. RESTRAIL guidelines could help reduce direct and indirect costs linked to railway suicides and accidents. ESF Fund in Slovakia            Slovakia is one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, but it faces several challenges such as high long-term unemployment levels. Nonetheless, Slovakia plans to increase the country’s employment rate to 72% by 2020. Slovakia has received â‚ ¬1.5 billion ESF funding for the period ended 2007-2013. In combination with national co-funding, they have raised a total of â‚ ¬1.76 billion. A variety of projects’ is being supported via the funding. Public employment facilities and services are being improved so as to reach as many slovaks as possible. Since 2007-2011, approximately 24,000 employment opportunities have been created and around 26,000 people have found employment via ESF supported measures.            Projects are also being implemented in the form of flood-dependence-programmes that offer up to 4,500 new jobs in 200 villages. ESF funding is helping reform the education system in Slovakia by ensuring that education is tailored to align with the evolving needs of the society. An example is a project that investigates the interests of young people and matches them to career guidance. ESF funded projects are facilitating the establishment of life-long-learning culture that natures skills of the Slovak citizens throughout their lives. For instance, a Slovak packaging company has used ESF funding to facilitate professional training of new skills, such as in quality and environmental standards, making them more adaptable and well equipped for their future careers.            The Roma people in Slovakia tend to live in segregated settlements and are more exposed to long-term unemployment compared to the average population, and also live in conditions of poverty. Thanks to ESF funding, social workers and assistants have been employed to work closely with them to help improve their circumstances (Guy & Kovats 2006). Setbacks and Doubts on the efficient use of EU Funds            One of the problems with EU funds is that in some cases, the money is allocated to projects that are neither necessary nor productive (Ã…  umpà ­kovà ¡, Pavel & Klazar, 2004). For instance, if a village wants to repair sidewalks in its region and would like to use EU funding for it, it is imperative that they formulate a supporting story. Let’s say, expansion of regional tourism. It means that, in addition to repairing the sidewalk, the money will also be spent to put up some signs with a map of village’s streets, which in the first place is not necessary. Some smart villages can even use the funds to renovate an old library and rename it to the Tourist Information Center, and stow some pamphlets there, in case some tourists do show up.            Another predicament is deformation of industrial and consumer environment. When a firm receives funding to build, say, a grocery store, its neighbors who have the similar business plans receive nothing.            A further problem is that national ministries of some states like say, Slovakia, are reluctant to delegate control of EU funds to lower governance levels. The central governments do not trust the ability of their municipalities and regional authorities to implement the funds timely and effectively. There have been cases where regional authorities have mixed implementation of policies, to say the least. Nevertheless, Slovakia has not been able to create any efficient mechanisms for decision-making and management of public funds (Guy & Kovats, 2006). Conclusion            Funds drawn from the European Union have increased employment opportunities, bolstered the education sectors of beneficiaries and led to the growth of economies. Additionally, funding the transport sector, research and innovation projects have led to groundbreaking discoveries in the agricultural, health and transport sectors among others. The number of lives saved and projected to save by some of these discoveries is amazing. Nonetheless, the funding has not been without a few controversies. Some parties have tried to take advantage of corrupt officials to leverage some money for themselves leading to misuse and undertaking of dubious projects. An honest culture should be created to ensure appropriate use of funds. The European Union funding goal is to ensure that beneficiaries spend money in a transparent, accountable manner. It is thus the duty of all beneficiaries to make it a reality. References Council, T. R. D. (2007). European Union Funding.Eckhouse, S., & Sullivan, R. (2006). A survey of public funding of cancer research in the European Union. PLoS Medicine, 3(7), e267. Evans, G., & Foord, J. (1999). European funding of culture: promoting common culture or regional growth?. Cultural Trends, 9(36), 53-87. Fagan, A. (2005). Taking stock of civil-society development in post-communist Europe: Evidence from the Czech Republic. Democratization, 12(4), 528-547. Guy, W., & Kovats, M. (2006). EU-funded Roma programmes: Lessons from Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. London: Minority Rights Group International. Kraemer, R. A., Wilkinson, D. G., Klasing, A., & von Homeyer, I. (2002). EU Environmental Governance: A Benchmark of Policy Instruments. With a focus on Agriculture, Energy and Transport. Study commissioned by the Belgian Federal Department of the Environment. No. ECOLOGIC, Berlin.Ã…  umpà ­kovà ¡, M., Pavel, J., & Klazar, S. (2004, May). EU funds: absorption capacity and effectiveness of their use, with focus on regional level in the Czech Republic. In Conference proceedings of the 12 th NISPAcee Conference. Wolz, A., Hubbard, C., Mà ¶llers, J., Gorton, M., & Buchenrieder, G. (2012). Patterns behind rural success stories in the European Union: Major lessons of former enlargements (No. 68). Studies on the agricultural and food sector in Central and Eastern Europe. Source document