The Effect of Opening Scenes on Plot Setting and Characters :: Art

The Effect of Opening Scenes on Plot Setting and Characters The opening scenes of a feature film can play a major role in establishing key elements that parallel throughout the rest of the film. The three key elements are settings, characters and plot. The film "Dead Poet's Society" shall be used as an example throughout this essay. The first scene in "Dead Poet's Society" is in a dim room with a candle being lit by boys in school uniform. Although very brief, this scene is symbolic of many things. The candle being lit symbolises knowledge, which is backed up by the boys' school uniform. The boys with their college uniforms straight away state that they are in a school. The darkness of the room is also symbolic of the boys' unhappiness. The candle may also be symbolic of the light to guide them out of their misery, which is Mr Keating who appears in the following scene, which incorporates symbolic, technical and audio codes to establish setting and characters. Scene two is situated in a large assembly area much set out similar to a church with hundreds of boys in uniform seated in rows with the room quite brightly lit. One of the cameras is set so that it is positioned high above the front stage, looking down on all the boys in the assembly area. This implies that all the boys are small and easy to conquer or squash. It is symbolic of their overall weakness, even as a large group. There is a murmur of talking that is symbolic of all the boys being merged into one unit and their lack of individuality. The boys are all wearing identical uniform which again is symbolic of the boys having no individuality and their likeness to an army which is usually thought of with a negative feeling. In this scene there is no sign of any females or any female symbols such as flowers, which indicates that the school is strictly for boys. When the boys' come down the aisle playing instruments and holding flags up high, this is also somewhat representative of an army soldier blowing a beagle introducing the sergeant or whoever is in charge. In this instance, it is introducing the principal of the school who is portrayed in a negative light. The flags carried are symbolic of ancient times, which along with it carries tradition. This is also backed up by the fact that bagpipes are being played which symbolise the very religious and traditional Scotsmen and Irishmen.

The Price of Freedom Essay -- Immigration Immigrants Equality Essays

The Price of Freedom In one’s lifetime they will see millions of advertisements claiming â€Å"this is free or that is free†, yet by the age of ten one can tell it’s all normally just a gimmick to get someone to buy more than they really need. In reality nothing is truly free, even the water that is drank everyday is not free. What is really strange is that all of this is experienced within â€Å"The Land of the Free†. Nothing in America is free, from what we buy in the stores all the way to how religions are practiced. Even worse than that, basic freedoms are stripped from American citizens on a daily basis by those corrupt political leaders and various other people in power. The worst of all is when innocent people are hurt by a system that is meant to protect them; when what is supposed to help them be free or enjoy freedoms for a short time is taken away. In both The Terminal a movie directed by Steven Spielberg and â€Å"The Border Patrol State† by Leslie Marmon Si lko basic freedoms are infringed upon by a society that is supposed to be protective and free for all to enjoy. Both works use personal experiences, paralleled with the society’s responses to demonstrate that freedom does not always happen in the land of he free to foreigners and citizens alike. In The Terminal, a man (Viktor Navorski) is not simply stuck in the airport, but rather is faced with the hardships of a cruel society that is unwelcoming or even unsupportive to someone who has just endured the loss of his own country and the privileges to enter the United States. Although this movie contains various subplots, the work focuses mainly on Viktor Navorski, an immigrant from Eastern Europe, as he struggles to get out of New York City’s airport. As his adventure unfo... ...o things as they once they could. The desire to move freely within the United States is held by all, but not necessarily something that all can do. This is demonstrated through the participant’s eagerness and willingness to follow the laws, yet desire to find a change within a country that is supposed to be â€Å"The land of the free†. For Viktor Navorski and Leslie Silko this became all too real as they tried their hands at enjoying what we all take for granted in our everyday lives. Being American is having your freedom and traveling into America should encompass the same, freedoms. Yet, it is hard when even those who are free or wish to experience freedom can’t actually do that, sad but true. Just a child learns the truth behind the gimmick of buy this and get that free, those in American are all learning that there are freedoms, but they certainly come at a price.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Essay

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) belongs to a class of autoimmune disorders that cause chronic joint inflammation as well as inflammation of the tissues surrounding the joints (Goronzy & Weyand, 2001, p. 55). Other organs in the body are also affected when the cells fail to differentiate self from non-self. The failure of the immune cells to differentiate the body’s own cells from the foreign or intruding cells leads to autoimmunity where the immune cells attack the body’s own cells. Usually, the immune system is organized in a way that it seeks and destroys the body’s invaders particular the pathogens. The antibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases always target the body’s own tissues and cause inflammation. The effects resulting from the self-attack spreads to multiple body organs and this condition is commonly referred to as rheumatic arthritis (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). Epidemiology Rheumatoid arthritis is perhaps the commonest of all rheumatoid diseases and it affects about 1. 3 million people in the U. S alone (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). Women are three times as riskier than men to be afflicted by the disease although the disease is common among all races in equal magnitude (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 1). The numbers of women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are currently on the increase despite the recorded decline in numbers a few decades ago. The use of contraceptive pills containing insufficient estrogen as birth control measures has been blamed for the reduced immunity among women thus the increased cases of RA (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 5). Environmental factors such as cigarette smoking are also to blame for the increase in disease cases among women. Although the general smoking rates have declined in the United States, the rates of women smokers, separately considered, have not declined though. While genetic factors such as the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 alleles have for long been suspected to cause aberrations in proteins in immune cells, this has not been proved yet (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 5). The risk among women has also been linked to the deficiency of vitamin D. Rheumatoid arthritis usually afflicts individuals of a wide range of ages although it is commonly begins after one has attained the age of 40 although it is rare beyond the age of 60 (Silman & Pearson, 2002, p. 267). It has also been shown that rheumatoid arthritis can occur in multiple members of the same family. This observation suggests the propensity that the disease is inheritable (Goronzy & Weyand, 2001, p. 55). A specific gene is suspected to be the underlying reason for the strange behavior of the immune cells attacking the body’s own cells. Pathophysiology and Pathogenesis Arthritis refers to some form of inflammation that occurs at the joints. Joints are points where two bones join each other and are critical for locomotion process. Rheumatoid arthritis results to the inflammation of the joint which is accompanied with severe pain, swelling, redness and stiffness in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to severe inflammation in tissues surrounding the joints such as ligaments, tendons and muscles. Chronic inflammation in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis can result into complete destruction of the bones, cartilage and ligaments thus leading to serious joint deformities. Usually, destruction of the joints can occur in early stages if development but gets worse as one advances in age (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). The main cause of RA is not well known although bacteria, viruses and fungi have for long been in the suspect list without any of the biological agents been proved. As for this reason, intensive research efforts are being invested in the identification of the causal agents for RA. Genetic causes and environmental infectious agents have been associated with the deranged immune system which goes out of control and attacks the body’s own cells (Goronzy & Weyand, 2001, p. 55). The deranged immune system results into massive joint and organ inflammation which leads to rheumatoid arthritis. The common organs affected include the eyes and the lungs. Specifically, the activation of lymphocytes marks the start of the process of inflammation. In the inflamed cells, a number of chemical messengers are expressed including the interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (Gupta & Fomberstein, 2002, p. 3). Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis experience episodic inflammatory symptoms depending on the extent of individual tissue inflammation. The disease is overly active following extensive tissue inflammation and becomes inactive after inflammation has subsided. The condition undergoes remission following treatment or spontaneously and this can last for several days to years. In remission stage, patients feel well again until the conditions flares (return of symptoms and course of the disease). Active symptoms of RA include energy loss, lack of appetite, fatigue, joint and muscle pain, stiffness and low-grade fever. The reddening and swelling of the joints at the point of inflammation is indicative of RA. The joints also become tender and overly painful and the synovium, which is the tissue lining the joints, gets inflamed leading to overproduction of joint fluids or synovial fluid (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 26). The inflammation of the synovium (synovitis) results mainly from its thickening. A number of organs and other body parts are affected in rheumatoid arthritis because the disease is a systemic condition. Specifically, the disease affects several body joints which are inflamed in a symmetrical manner mainly involving the small joints of the wrist and the hands (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 12). The wrists and the hands are affected and the patients afflicted by the disease get it difficult to even open jars and turn door knobs. RA also affects a number of small joints of the feet. However, when a single joint is affected, the arthritis presents as joint infection or gout. Damage to tissues, bones and cartilages results from chromic inflammation and this can eventually lead to a complete cartilage loss and bone and muscle weaknesses and erosion. Joints will become deformed, destroyed or may completely lose function. The vocal cords can be affected to a level of influencing the voice tone. The effect to the cricoarytenoid joint has been suggested to influence the voice tone and cause voice hoarseness of the afflicted individuals. Inflammation of the glands located in the mouth and eyes often cause dryness, a condition known as Sjogren’s syndrome. Chest pain associated with shortness of breath, deep breathing or coughing results from pleuritis or the inflammation of the linings of the lungs (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 18). Lungs tissues may become scarred, inflamed or rheumatoid nodules may form in the lungs. The pericardium or the tissues that surround the heart may become inflamed (pericarditis) and lead to massive chest pain especially when afflicted individuals lean forward or lie down (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 19). The total erythrocytes and leucocytes count immensely reduces and a reduction in red blood cells leads to anemia while a decrease in leucocytes results to the enlargement of the spleen, a condition known as the Felty’s syndrome (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 17). The region around the fingers and elbows may experience firm lumps known as the rheumatoid nodules (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 16). While rheumatoid nodules do not lead to any significant symptoms, they can be infected occasionally. In RA patients, the nerves may become pinched around the wrist area and result to carpal tunnel syndrome. While it is rare for patients to suffer from vasculitis, the condition is one of the serious complications associated with RA and can totally impair the supply of blood to the tissues and lead to necrosis or tissue death. In vasculitis, tiny black spots around the beds of nails or ulcerations of the legs are commonly visible. Treatments To date, there is no specific known treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. However, modern interventions have been directed towards reducing pain and inflammation of the joints and maximizing the functioning of the joints. With proper management such as X-ray monitoring, the damage to joints and improvement of joint functions can be achieved. A combination of medication, sufficient rest, joint protection, patient education and exercise to strengthen the joints has been proved effective (Clair, Pisetsky, & Haynes, 2001, p. 146). The treatment plan is not uniform among all patients but depends on the disease activity, general health of the patient, the age and occupation of the patient and the type of joints affected by RA. In all the treatment plans, there should be total cooperation between the patient, doctor and the family members. There are two main classes of drugs used in the management of RA: the first-line drugs or the fast-acting drugs and the second-line or the slow acting drugs. Among the first-line drugs include aspirin and corticosteroids such as cortisone which are used in the management of joint inflation and pain. Second-line or slow acting medications, also known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) include agents such as methotrexate, hydroxycholoroquine and gold (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). These agents increase the chances for disease remission and prevent any progressive destruction of the joints but do not act as anti-inflammatory agents (Arthritis Foundation, 2010). Since the level of destructiveness from RA varies with individuals, treatment options also differ among individuals. For instance, patients with less destructive forms of RA can be advised to have sufficient rest or given analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs to manage the condition. Second-line medications can be administered in a timely manner to improve the function and minimize joint destruction and disability within a short period following disease diagnosis. However, a great percentage of individuals suffering from aggressive form of RA require second-line drugs like methotrexate as well as the anti-inflammatory drugs. Different second-line drugs can also be given in combination regiment. In severe deformities of the joints, surgical procedure may be recommended to correct the deformities (Arthritis Foundation, 2010).

Dance, Girl, Dance Essay

Dance, Girl, Dance is a film from the Classical Hollywood period that presents a complicated reading when viewed through a feminist lens. The 1940 film was directed by Dorothy Arzner, one of the most notable female directors and the only prominent woman in Hollywood at that time. Arzner presents her audience with an array of female characters, the main characters being Judy O’brien and Bubbles/Tiger Lily White. Judy is a dedicated dancer, honing her talents as a ballerina. Bubbles, on the other hand, uses her looks and sexuality to land jobs as a burlesque dancer. Dance, Girl, Dance reveals these characters’ experience in a dance troupe with several other girls. When the troupe disbands, Bubbles comes to offer Judy a humiliating job as her stooge. As tensions rise, the two eventually come to blows, quite literally, when both fall for the same man, Jimmy Harris. Through their relationship with each other and with men, a dynamic is defined that gives insight into the power of the male gaze and sexual politics, not only in the film but also in society at large in the context of 1930s America. This can be seen in the analysis of a particular scene near the beginning of the film. Judy and one of her roommates, Sally, are preparing for bed after their performance at the nightclub in the opening scene. Bubbles, their third roommate, arrives at home after a disappointing outing with Jimmy. This scene specifically highlights the contrast between the personalities of Judy and Bubbles, and speaks to the many ways female characters are coded based on their sexuality and appearance. The analysis of the scene begins at the moment Bubbles enters the room. She comes into the frame through the doorway in a medium shot. It is important to note her costume, as it speaks to her character. She is wearing makeup, jewelry, a fox fur stole around her shoulders and a feathered hat. One may get the impression that she is trying to look as glamorous or ostentatious as possible on her limited budget. At this point, Bubbles has already been partly established as a brash woman who does not shy away from her ability to attract men. This can be contrasted with Judy’s costume during this scene, modest button-up pajamas. The scene continues as Bubbles enters the tiny apartment. She turns on the light, when Judy whispers that Sally is asleep from off camera. Bubbles leaves the light on, looks down at Sally in the bed, and proceeds to loudly close the door while muttering â€Å"So, what? † As she delivers her dialogue, the camera follows her as she walks to her bed, panning over to include Judy in a two shot. One key element in this simple interaction is the difference of attitude toward female solidarity between Bubbles and Judy. Judy obviously cares to not disturb Sally, while Bubbles seems disappointed and only concerned with her own problems at this point. Then, the camera cuts to a close shot of Sally lying in bed, smiling and clearly awake. She then closes her eyes and continues to try and sleep, rendering her unimportant to the rest of the scene. The next cut brings us back to a long, two shot of Bubbles and Judy as they discuss what happened to Bubbles that evening. Bubbles is explaining how she had gone out with Jimmy, but he suddenly left her at the bar after giving her a little stuffed bull. In this shot, Bubbles is in the foreground, a little closer to the camera than Judy, making her appear slightly larger. This could be interpreted as signifying her social dominance over Judy, and the fact that she â€Å"stole† Jimmy from Judy earlier that evening. Bubbles dismissively tosses the bull onto a chair in front of Judy. Judy picks it up, stating â€Å"It’s cute. † Bubbles tells her that she can have it. The audience is clearly meant to get the impression that the token of the night has no significance to Bubbles, and she is merely disappointed that she could not add Jimmy to her list of men to dote on her occasionally. The camera stays stationary as Bubble walks to the background of the shot and sits on her bed. Judy gently places the bull back on the chair, already showing signs of her eventual fetishization of the bull and Jimmy. Then, she continues to bend and stretch her legs, as Bubbles pouts behind her. It is interesting to point out that as Judy resumes her exercises, she has gained the â€Å"high ground† of the shot. The reminder of her status as a dancer, a more artful and talented dancer than Bubbles, means she is the larger, more significant character in the frame now. The focus has moved from Bubbles proficiency as a female spectacle, completely at home under the male gaze, to Judy’s proficiency as a ballerina, with no real concern for superficial male attention. Then, this is reinforced when there is a cut to a medium shot of Bubbles, looking at Judy. The camera follows Bubbles line of sight and there is a quick cut to a medium shot of Judy, then it reverses back to the shot of Bubbles on her bed, shaking her head. She says, â€Å"I’ll say one thing for you, Pavlova. You’ve certainly got ambition, even if it’s dumb. As she says this, Judy’s foot briefly enters from the side of the frame as she kicks her leg. Once again, Bubbles is coded as having no passion for her craft as a dancer, seeing it as a means to an end of attracting men and/or making money, while Judy genuinely loves to dance. One way of reading the film is through the suggestion that Judy’s ballet is high art, while Bubbles’ burlesque is low art. In the world of the Dance, Girl, Dance, women utilizing their sexuality for physical and financial gratification given by men is deemed less valuable than artistic expression. What follows is a short series of counter shots between the two, as Bubbles ponders how she will get back to New York, going through her list of male suitors to find a solution to her dilemma. On a surface level, this shows that Bubbles needs men to get where she is going, whether it is for a trip to New York or a trip to stardom as they buy tickets to her shows later in the film. The scene comes to a close as Bubbles decides on Sam, the traveling salesman that is â€Å"sweet on her. As this line is delivered, there is a quick cut to Judy whipping her head around to look back at Bubbles. Judy has an expression on her face that is hard to describe, but it gets across the fact that her reality is very different from that of Bubbles’. Judy goes on to ask if there will be room for Sally, as the camera tracks Bubbles while she walks to the bathroom. As the camera stops tracking, it stops in a medium shot of Bubbles as she eventually replies, â€Å"†¦ All right, she can go, b ut don’t blame me. That guy’s got more arms than an octopus. † There is a cut to a close shot of Sally in bed with a wide-eyed, nervous expression as she quickly lifts up her head and plops back down. Like Judy, her reality is very different from the reality of the dynamic Bubbles, and the possibility of encountering a man from that reality seems to frighten her. After the last cut of the scene, it ends on a medium shot of Judy picking up the stuffed bull once again and smiling at it fondly. This emphasizes the fact Judy is not asexual and clearly is developing feelings for Jimmy. Although, Judy seems to have a more deep, emotional connection to Jimmy than Bubbles has for her various men. Judy only became interested in Jimmy after he helped the girls at the nightclub and talked with her earlier in the film. Her interest is not based solely on what he can provide to her. The differences in costume, behavior and motivation between Bubbles and Judy are relevant to a larger scope of the film involving sex and gender politics. For all of the above reasons found in the formal elements of the film’s visual and narrative composition, Bubbles is coded as superficial, purely physical and vapid. On the other hand, Judy is given much more value and depth. While Bubbles goes on to find success by exploiting her good looks, Judy is the winner in the end, when she lands her position in the ballet company and achieves her dreams. In this way, the film is sending a message that female self-worth is not derived from male approval or reaffirming of beauty, but from accomplishment of what are considered to be more substantial goals.

Water Imbalance

Phu Pham 002815421 Water Imbalance When we talk about water imbalance, it is necessary to first know of water’s tendency to move from high concentration to low concentration. This property of water is influenced by three conditions: isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic. Isotonic condition exists when the concentration of the solute is the same as the concentration inside the cell. Because the concentrations are the same on both sides, there is no movement of water.In hypertonic, however, the concentration of solute is greater on the outside than on the inside, water moves outside of the cell until concentration on both sides reach equilibrium. Because water moves outside, this causes the cell to shrink. In hypotonic solution, the concentration of solute is greater on the inside than on the outside, water is drawn inside the cell to reach equilibrium while busting the cell opened.Inside the human body, there are many solutes that together make up blood and other solution necessa ry for life such as sodium, calcium, potassium, water†¦ These ions are called electrolytes, a vital key in maintaining the homeostasis. Serious electrolytes usually associated with sodium, potassium, and calcium. Other electrolytes disturbances are less common. A sodium imbalance occurs when there is too little or too much sodium in the bloodstream. Hyponatremia happens when there is too little sodium, and hypernatremia occurs when there is too much sodium.In normal activity, sodium is absorbed by the kidney to regulate water levels in the body. But when there is a water imbalance, such that of too much or too little of water, the body either gets rid of or absorbs too much sodium. Regular symptoms includes: muscle cramps, confusion, restlessness, agitation, tissue swelling, depression, lack of coordination, seizures, and more seriously coma. Hypernatremia, a condition when there is more sodium ions on the outside than the inside of the cells, causes fluid to be pulled from the cells of the brain resulting in cell shrinkage. This is the primary cause of neurological symptoms.Hyponatremia is a condition when there is more sodium ion on the inside than the outside of the cells. Osmotic movement of water into the brain cell may increase the brain size above normal. This can lead to seizures and other severe neurological effects. Therefore, the maintaining of electrolytes is very important in order for the cells to last. Any imbalance in the concentration of water inside the body will directly affect the concentration of solutes (electrolytes) in the blood and cause severe damage. http://rnbob. tripod. com/sodiumimbalance. htm http://www. medscape. com/medline/abstract/15982544? src=emed_ckb_ref_0

buy custom Healthcare Technologies essay

buy custom Healthcare Technologies essay Introduction The use of technologies in our day-to-day practices has made our operations simpler than even what we thought it could be. This has applied in various fields of study and the healthcare departments are not exceptions. This paper discusses the eMAR Technology innovation that is not only new but has had great impacts on the health sector where it performs high valued roles in the health communications. What Led To The Innovation Of This Technology? Many patients prefer to take their treatments while at home rather than to travel to the hospitals and lie in the wards. Most of them have jobs to do that require them to be at all the time attending meaning that they have their time to spend on the working place rather than in hospital beds. The work from home jobs are easily done at home while at the hospitals there could be restrictions on the patiences activities. This doesnt apply to jobs only. Some patients just prefer to take medication from home. Some have the reason to maintain close contacts with their families while others love the home environment. The other reason is that home medication is cheap and preferable as compared to the inpatient medication. What Is It and Its Impact on the Healthcare Systems The eMAR (Electronic Medical Administrative Record) is a point of clinical care that deploys the barcode reader technology to monitor the bedside medication processes. It uses the Wi-Fi and the Bluetooth technologies, which in turn use the Adaptive Frequency Hoping (AFH) to reduce the interference between the contending signals and prevent it from degradation. The devices are connected to the computer system for further information processing. The implementation of the web based version makes the eMAR more effective for use in the healthcare systems. It enables the physicians to arrive at a quality care more efficiently thereby improving on the quality of services and the quality of life. The access to the healthcare at any time has been enhanced by the system therefore allowing for a shared patient database, Internet based anytime access electronic medical record and a disease information database. These advancements have improved the quality of services and enhanced the medical inf ormation consultancy. The system is effective in that the textual, video andaudio messages can be sent and received through it. This capability is enhanced by the wireless scanner capability which allows for remote access to the computer and has a replaceable battery. The cable use can only be enforced by the prices. The scanner collectively works easily with the software environments and has the capability to alert on the range effects if it jeopardizes the whole situation. To top up these advantages is the lightweight of the scanner. The privacy in the case of a web enabled eMAR can be achieved through authentication services. The information entered is encrypted in both sides of communication. Another advantage of using this device is the joint forces achieved by the physicians to attend their patients. The patients can be put under medication with a maintained record that can be a guide to another physician assigned to attend. This is enhanced by the systems performance in ensuring that the medical records are well organized in the system. A nurse reporting late to work for some reasons could simply text a college to help on giving the medications to patients. Its Advantages, Impacts on Consumers and Positive Impacts on Organization The system works in several platforms making it usable in the many environments of need. It could be as well deployed in the areas of limited technological activities since it does not consume too much of the required resources. Moreover, it can be used by practicing physicians to learn since it promotes an error-free medication and has a good reporting system. The long term advantages of a cost effective medical system is realized by the organization. The system allows for a feedback mechanism to the organization through which the organization can improve the approaches to treating patients. Financial Impacts The system has reduced the costs and extraneous medical processes involved in the organization. Users of the system can easily gain access through the Internet and work with it to meet their needs. It has also advocated on the maintenance of the medical records allowing for cross-consultancy among the health field specialists. The Disadvantages on the Organization Despite all these advantages, the system has its own limitations. For this reason, the organization could have a difficult time to implement its usage. The cost of introduction and maintenance of the eMAR system is not friendly especially at the beginning. The requirements are that new computer systems, software, scanners, network and the Internet hardware is to be bought and installed, all done at a cost. The cost of doing this also requires that experts are employed to take on these processes. Another cost needed is that to train the users and the systems failure is to be witnessed. The databases used in the system are human controlled and could be subjected to errors thereby ruining the whole system. It is important to note that the whole system primarily depends on the availability and persistence of the electrical power and the Internet to some extent. On failure the system also fails. It is platform reliable and therefore the interoperability problem exists. The system also seems to be promoting laziness since some physicians will assume their roles are already solved technologically and relax. Technological Improvements There are many technological improvements that can be done on the eMAR to enhance its efficiency. The records can be extended to capture the doctors credentials as well as billing for the medical purposes through the integration of the Automated Billing System. This could help make the operations of the system better. It should as well be able to make scheduling alerts by taking in the information provided by the doctors, enhancing prescriptions for the resisting viruses by intelligently realizing when the viruses have adapted to resist drugs. Recommendations The electronic medical records system will be a benefit to the organization if properly used. Implementations to enable the realization of patients past treatments should be put into focus. The system should be made clear and simple for its Internet usage to enable the efficiency in the utilization by the users from various locations and at all time. It should reduce the health cost greatly with the diagnostic cost reduced as well. Conclusion The innovations in the technological field have enhanced the efficiency of work in various dimensions of practice. One such enhancement to improve the medication operations is the electronic medical record system. Buy custom Healthcare Technologies essay

Role of Individual Communication and Complain

Role of Individual Communication and Complain Introduction A number of states are faced with the challenge of balancing state sovereignty with human rights since they are incompatible in practice meaning it is a global issue that many societies face, but the best way of addressing it is still unclear, as state and non-state actors are yet to come up with a comprehensive solution.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Individual Communication and Complain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After the Second World War, Universal Declaration on Human Rights was ratified with the main purpose of fulfilling the interests of the minorities and checking the excesses of governments, as the world had witnessed the most horrifying situation whereby many people lost their lives and quite a number was physically and psychological tortured (Roth 2004, p. 65). Currently, the actions of various state and non-state actors amount to gross violation of human rights. Events, such a s racial hatred, media suppression, distortion, and bias are rampant in various parts of the world, yet they are instances of human rights violations. The global society is concerned with how the situation could be improved. The United Nations Human Rights Council is an international organization charged with the role of ensuring individuals enjoy their rights and freedoms. However, various studies indicate that the body is impotent given its inability to prevent governments and belligerent actors from taking people through inhuman conditions (Smith Pagnucco 1998, p. 380). Apart from the United Nations agency, several human rights organizations operating regionally exist, but they lack the capacity to handle the situation leading to continued suffering. In this article, it is argued that the UN and other regional human rights organizations have failed to carry out their mandates.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The main reason for failure is the structure, which does not support the leadership style that characterizes human rights organizations. It is suggested that the situation could be improved through facilitating individual communication and reporting of complaints. An Overview Some people sacrifice their lives to fight for democracy in many parts of the world. It is unfortunate that such individuals end up living miserable lives because of inadequate measures to support their activities. In developed countries, minorities are faced with the major challenge of racism given the fact their culture is never appreciated and they are always urged to join the mainstream society. In fact, racism is a tool of discrimination and domination that is employed effectively to subjugate a section of society (Meyer 1996, p. 372). Women are considered a special group. However, studies show that they have never enjoyed their freedoms and rights since time immemorial. Based on this, it is noted that the major challenge to their survival is a rigid social structure, defective culture, and male chauvinism. A few years ago, world leaders from various states ratified a treaty that would see the protection of the rights of women. Surprisingly, the situation is still the same since women face traditional problems, especially in the educational system and the labor market. For instance, studies prove that women work for longer hours as compared to men although they end up receiving minimal wages. Indigenous communities are rarely protected from the emerging Multinational Corporations that influence national governments to institute unfavorable land reforms, which end up interfering with the lives of the locals. Mining companies are known to support evacuation programs to pave way for exploration.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Individual Communication and Complain specifically for you for only $16.0 5 $11/page Learn More The process is always done in an inhumane way leading to conflicts (Shelton Wright-Carozza 2013, p. 54). A recent study sponsored by the human rights organizations has revealed that the aboriginals in various parts of the world, such as Canada and Australia, are the most disadvantaged people in the world. Records show further that the discriminated aboriginals are close to three-hundred and seventy million spanning over seventy countries (Shestack 2014, p. 10). Large conglomerates have enormous economic and political power. The UN, as well as other regional human rights organizations, is unwilling to engage them in talks to end inhuman conditions because of their enormous influence (Megret 2008, p. 510). These companies always participate in activities that could not be sustained in development, which ends up in damaging the environment leading to global warming. Additionally, in both developed and developing countries, multinational companies lobby the government to enter into unfavorable trade agreements that make life difficult for the locals, but the UN does not have mechanisms to challenge this behavior. In countries depending on agriculture and production as the major economic pillars, child labor has always been an issue of concern. Unfortunately, the UN simply gives a report and expects other agencies to act meaning it does not have the power to deal with the problem. After the 9/11 attack, the US and other powerful countries have been interfering with the lives of people with claims that they are trying to prevent terrorism (Lindgre 2000, p. 486).Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, the US established an entire department named homeland defense to monitor the situation and advise the government accordingly on issues related to terrorism. In June 2013, wiki leaks revealed critical information and it was evident that the US government has been spying on individuals without their knowledge. The whistle-blower, Edward Snowden, confirmed that the US is one of the threats to individual rights and freedoms, as it engages in unethical and unprofessional behavior, such as intercepting emails, phone calls, and other forms of the internet communication. This shows that the UN and other regional human rights bodies are impotent since they know the problems that people face, but they lack strategies on how to deal with insincere actors, such as the US. The human rights organizations are impotent given the fact they lack the power to act unilaterally or multilaterally meaning creation of a new system based on individual communication and complaints would be hel pful in resolving the soaring cases of human rights violations (Weissbrodt 2006, p. 150). Without adequate communication and reporting of these injustices, the global society would not achieve the much-needed objectives related to gender equality, environmental conservation, democracy, and lasting peace. Status of the United Nations Human Rights Council and other Regional Organizations Failures of the UNHC Just as the United Nations Humans Rights Council, the regional human rights bodies face similar challenges that are mainly the result of the defective structure. The UN human rights body was established during the Bush administration and the US kept off from the leadership of the body because the majority members in the UN General Assembly would control it. The new body is not any different from the defunct commission on human rights that had failed to control the rogue states from committing the worst crimes in the human history (Tobin 2010, p. 47). The current structure of the o rganization allows the notorious human rights abusers to manipulate the system since Burma, Syria, Libya, China, Cuba, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Saudi Arabia are strong members, something that the US is opposed to. Unfortunately, North Korea, which is one of the rogue states in the current international system, endorsed the organization upon its inception meaning it never poses any threat to its national interests. The new council is in fact expected to perform dismally just as the previous one. The US tried vehemently to reform the non-operational human rights commission without much success something that allowed the opponents of human rights to carry the day in the general assembly. First, the council lacks criteria for membership inclusion since those seeking ascension would be admitted through a simple majority vote (Weissbrodt 2010, p. 16). Additionally, each state is allowed to request for membership without necessarily showing any progress as far as human rights violation is conc erned. Even though the proponents of human rights, such as the US, the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and Spain would be interested in blocking the membership of rogue states, they would not have sufficient votes to influence the results. One of the resolutions of the council calls on members to review the conduct of one of the partners suspected to be going against the rules. Unfortunately, this evaluation does not have any effect on the membership status of any state meaning it is irrelevant. A state found to have violated the human rights would not be censured, as any suspension or expulsion is only supported by a two-third majority vote in the general assembly (Arsalan 2006, p. 260). In 2005, at least fifty percent of members voted to stop the membership of Sudan. However, this was not sufficient to confirm that the state was guilty of human rights violations. The commission on human rights had fifty-three members and the current one has forty-seven meaning the reduced number was insignificant to facilitate efficiency, something that continues to affect the quality of decisions made. Instead of aiming at strengthening the body by encouraging participative membership, the council was formed with the major objective of shifting the balance of power from the West to the Asia, Africa, and South America. Consequently, the Asian and African states dominate the council with a total vote of fifty-five percent. With time, the number of western countries in the council has been in the decline while African and Asian countries are being represented in large numbers, which is an issue of concern given the fact that the states are known for violating individual rights and freedoms (Ruggie 2007, p. 47). The western countries are believed to uphold individual rights since they are democratic states and the quality of decisions they are expected to make would favor representation and survival. The council has the power to call for special sessions, but only a one-third vote would grant this meaning the western countries would be less represented and what will be discussed in the meeting will be irrelevant, as far as respect for human rights is concerned. The idea of following up goals and commitments as suggested by the UN conferences and summits is uncalled since it lacks the support of the majority of powerful states, as well as legal standings. Lastly, the council resolution tends to erode a well-established standard of freedom of speech since a clause was sneaked in at the last minute following the cartoon affair in Denmark (Voeten 2008, p. 423). Weaknesses of Regional Human Rights Organizations Regional human rights organizations in various continents differ significantly pertaining to their history, structure, and objectives. The only similarity is that they lack the capacity to promote human rights, as they do not have sufficient instruments. A number of these organizations are created to respond to the legal issues meaning they are a resul t of the local law societies even though some are simply bar associations. Those originating from religious organizations tend to be strong in engaging the government in dialogue to provide an enabling environment for individual fulfillment even though their scope is limited. One of the greatest weaknesses of local and regional human rights organizations is the lack of coordination and collaboration. Each organization wishes to operate independently making it difficult to realize the main goals. Studies show that the human rights organizations operating in Africa, South America, and Asia are more of a dream rather than reality, as their members rarely contact each other, exchange ideas, or materials (Lauren 2011, p. 57). Insufficient articulation of ideas and resources among these entities is a threat to the provision of individual privileges since states have always explored this opportunity to weaken them further (Steiner Goodman 2008, p. 38). Such organizations fail to consult e xtensively before devising policies, yet they could be better off if they coordinate with other segments of society, such as the media and the legal fraternity, which are known to champion for human rights. In Africa, the demands of francophone human rights groups are different from those of the Anglophone and this has made it difficult to achieve the desired results. In West African region, a strong human rights organization referred to as the Inter-African Union for Human Rights based in Burkina Faso, exists but its major weakness is political and personal differences among its members. The organizations fighting for the rights of the underprivileged in society have unclear goals and objectives since they are spread too thinly, yet there are many the human rights issues facing individuals. While some are established based on the ideas of pan-Africanism, the reality is that they operate in their state borders with limited operational methods that are inapplicable elsewhere. The org anizations lack planning structures to an extent that the decisions they formulate are reactionary in nature (Reif 2004, p. 113). For these organizations to improve they have to conceptualize and execute educational programs, as this would allow sustainability of programs instead of trying to claim they are relevant in society yet the results are negative. The human rights groups in Africa, Asia, and South America are focused on political rights, such as the freedom of expression, association, political participation, and the right of protection from the law whereby detention is made in the proper way and the conditions leading to torture are eliminated. This means those engaged in the fight for human rights are lawyers, journalists, and other professionals, as the governments always infringe on their rights (Mutua 2009, p. 28). The human rights organizations could only improve if they extend their mandate to include a fight for economic and social rights. Unfortunately, the organiz ations depend on donors for funding while studies show western governments are reluctant to finance organizations focusing on economic and social rights. As mentioned earlier, the organizations do not have proper coordination and collaboration mechanisms leading to duplication and overlapping of roles. In the industrialized states, the human organizations are faced with the major predicament of urban-rural division since majorities of the groups conduct their activities in municipalities and metropolis, particularly in the capital cities, yet many people are found in the rural areas. Research shows further that the city life has its own dynamics and it does not represent the views of those living in the rural areas. The human rights groups have attempted to establish branches to resolve this issue, but still poor communication from the center affect the operations leading to underperformance. However, the human rights groups linked to the modern religions have succeeded in achieving the common goal since they have a readymade structure nationally (Calnan 2008, p. 65). In South Africa, the United States, and other countries suffering from racism and ethnic conflicts, social divisions have been a big issue, as far as realization of the goal and the set objective is concerned since the white race utilizes the political power granted to it to subjugate the rest of the races leading to additional tensions. The performance of such regional groups would be strengthened by involving the minorities in the leadership structures. In some cases, human rights groups are viewed as representing the ideas of a certain dominant ethnic group, particularly when the human rights issue at hand is violence (Bob 2009, p. 76). A majority of human rights organizations in various regions are one-man show meaning they lack internal democratic structures whereby attorneys, researchers, and journalists, are given an opportunity to participate. This might be occasioned by funding issues, w hich allows the head of the organization to dominate the decision-making process. Another problem is gender imbalance whereby women are not given sufficient positions in the organization. It is surprising to note that men control even those organizations dedicated to solving feminine problems. Because of poor structural organization and ineffectiveness in policy formulation, the organizations suffer from funding, which makes them underperform (Bayefsky 2002, p. 17). Only those organizations affiliated to churches and the international organizations have stable funding, but most of them have been forced to shut down their operations because of funding issues. The regional human rights bodies have poor relations with global organizations that are known to support human rights organizations. System of Individual Communication and Complaints The United Nations council in charge of human rights and other regional human rights bodies could improve their performance through a system of ind ividual communication and complaints. Through the new system, individuals would be given an opportunity to protest directly regarding the violation of their rights, which would go a long way in bringing out the real meaning of the rights as contained in the various treaties (Ochoa 2013, p. 71). First, individuals should be familiar with the procedure of problem escalation whereby the offices concerned with the preservation of individual rights should set reporting desks that will facilitate inquiries. Through this, individuals will be in a position to communicate easily with the agencies and if the problem is complex, the neighboring state will have the chance of intervening in what is referred to as state-to-state complaints. In the current system, nine treaties exist, which facilitate individual communication. Each of the treaties has a monitoring body that is concerned with ensuring the law is followed in carrying out key state functions. The Human Rights Committee is one of the treaties that take into consideration individual complaints whenever the international law is broken. The committee is mainly concerned with the provision of political and civil rights. If a candidate feels that his or her political rights have been denied in society and the state organs are unable to resolve them, he or she should feel free to seek guidance from the committee. The committee will move in to analyze the situation and in case the political process is inconsistent with the national and international law, action will be taken against the state or its actors. This plays a critical role in resolving political problems that always result in mass killings and forceful transfer of populations through ethnic wars (MacFarlane Khong 2007, p. 32). The committee on the elimination of discrimination against women (CEDEW) is another treaty that was formulated to protect the interests of women in society and it mainly accepts individual complaints from the affected members. The com mittee bases its authority on the previous treaty that bars all forms of discriminations directed towards women. The committee against torture is commended for the work it does to eliminate all forms of cruelty, degrading mistreatment, and unnecessary punishment (Normand Zaidi 2008, p. 90). Recently, states has employed unwanted methods of information extraction, such as torture, which is applicable even in developed countries. Since individuals are taken through pain, they might end up admitting doing something while in reality they are innocent. Under such circumstances, the individual has to be given an opportunity to report directly to the committee for proper action to be taken. Again, people living with disabilities suffer a lot when it comes to interacting with other members of society because they are not provided with adequate facilities to ease their movement. In many societies, such members are instructed to accept their conditions, but the case is different internationa lly because they have to be provided with all necessary equipments to help them interact and interrelate freely. Since the groups might not have the ability to fight for their rights, they must be given an opportunity to report directly to the existing human rights organizations for their cases to be heard and resolved. Either the affected individuals or their legal representatives might launch complaints. If one state violates the existing treaties on human rights, the international law allows other states to launch complaints with the human rights groups, including the one under the United Nations. Some states are known to extend their aggression to peaceful states demanding for things that do not belong to them. For instance, some might want to alter the boundaries with claims that the land belonged to them traditionally, which might lead to wars and armed conflicts (United Nations 2008, p. 110). Border conflicts are better handled through peaceful negotiations instead of engagin g in war. However, some states have never considered utilizing this option. Therefore, the peaceful state is allowed to raise complain with the world body in charge of human rights, which will go on to initiate a peaceful process of conflict resolution (Hitchens 2001, p. 110). Conclusion The United Nations and several regional bodies are doing everything under their control to prevent states and other global actors from violating the human rights. However, they have failed to execute their mandates because of poor systems of operation that do not support reporting of problems and clear communication. It is noted that the UN council on human rights is as ineffective as its predecessor and only a clear communication and complain reporting system could improve the situation. Regional human rights organizations are trying to protect people, but their focus is narrow and this would not resolve all problems. In fact, without a clear communication and complaint reporting, the entire proces s of defending the rights of people is impotent. 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