Case Briefs for Law Students

First of all, let’s get some terminology clear: a brief that an attorney writes is not the same as a case brief by a law student. Attorneys write appellate briefs or briefs in support of motions or other court pleadings whereas law students’ case briefs concern one case and summarize everything important you need to know about a case to help them prepare for class. But briefing can be very frustrating as a new law student. Here are some tips for getting the most out of your briefing. Case briefs are tools for you to use to prepare for class. You will typically have hours of reading for a given class and you will need to recall many details about the case at a moments notice in class (especially if you get called on by your professor). Your brief is a tool to help you refresh your recollection about what you read and quickly be able to reference the main points of the case. There are two main types of briefs – a written brief and a book brief. The Written Brief Most law schools recommend that you start with a written brief. These are either typed or handwritten and have some pretty typical headers summarizing the main points of a given case. Here is the commonly accepted framework of a written brief: Facts: This should be a quick list of facts, but make sure to include any legally significant facts.Procedural history: These are notes about the journey the case has taken through the court system.Issue presented: What is the legal issue that the court is discussing? Note, there can be more than one issue.Holding: This is the ruling of the court. If the issue presented is a question for the court to answer, then the holding is the answer to that question.Legal reasoning: This is a quick summary of the thought process used by the court to reach their conclusion.Rule of law: If the court applied any rules of law that are important, you want to write that down too.Concurring or dissenting opinions (if any): If your casebook included a concurring or dissenting opinion in your reading, you will need to read it carefully. It is there for a reason. Sometimes you might find that your professors ask very specific questions about cases that you want to include in your brief. An example of this would be a professor who always asked what the Plaintiff’s arguments were. Make sure you have a section in your brief about Plaintiff’s arguments. (If your professor consistently brings something up, you should also make sure that is included in your class notes.)   A Warning About Written Briefs One word of warning: Students can start to spend too much time working on briefs by writing out too much information. No one is going to read these briefs except you. Remember, they are just notes to solidify your understanding of the case and help you be prepared for class.   The Book Brief Some students prefer book briefing to writing out a full written brief. This approach, made popular by Law School Confidential, involves simply highlighting different parts of the case in different colors, right there in your textbook (hence the name). If it helps, you can also draw a little picture at the top to remind you of the facts (this is a great tip for visual learners). Thus, instead of referencing your written brief during class, you would instead turn to your casebooks and your color-coded highlighting to find what you are looking for. Some students find this to be easier and more effective than written briefs. How do you know it is right for you? Well, you give it a go and see if it helps you navigate the Socratic dialogue in class. If it doesn’t work for you, go back to your written briefs. Try each method out and remember briefs are just a tool for you. Your brief doesn’t need to look like the person’s sitting next to you as long as it keeps you focused and engaged in the class discussion.

The American Dream - 1017 Words

I believe the American Dream is living in a house , having a stable job , enough money to do whatever you would like and lastly to live happy. The American Dream is also to go to school and have freedom of speech. America does not provide access to the American Dream for everyone because everyone does not have the same opportunities as others to go to school and have a good job, in America people discriminate others of different race and for being a woman. Through Yezierska and Noda , we come to understand how the American Dream is not possible. In America Immigrants are discriminated for being the race that they are and also are being taken advantage of because they do not know the language or their rights. In the story â€Å" Growing up†¦show more content†¦This connects to the idea that America does not provide access to the American Dream because people like Noda and Yezierska do not get equal opportunities to have a stable job that has a good pay. Instead they are look ed down on and not treated the same because they are an immigrant. In America women are not treated the same as men also, American men put aside the hard work women do and believe women are not capable. In the story â€Å"Growing up Asian in America† the author Noda is a woman as well as in the story â€Å" American and I â€Å" the author Yezierska is also a woman from their point of view you can see the American dream is not possible for women’s. Noda met a man that believed women shouldn’t work and they should stay home as many people in America believe. Noda says â€Å"He harassed the women..â€Å"Don’t go to the fields! Don’t even bother to go to the fields†(Noda , 5). This shows us that men thought women could not handle certain jobs and wants them to stay at home or do â€Å"Women Jobs† like cleaning and cooking. The American Dream is supposed to have equal pay, but in most jobs a white male will be paid more than a colored woman. In addition, Yezierska is a women that went to America be lieving in the â€Å"American Dream† but slowly started believing there was no such thing for an immigrant woman like her. She says â€Å" I would open up my eyes some day and suddenly find the America of my dreams. As a young girl hungry for love..†(Yezierska , 5) . This shows usShow MoreRelatedImmigrants And The American Dream1362 Words   |  6 PagesImmigrants and the American Dream In the article â€Å"The American Dream†, by James Truslow Adams in The Sundance Reader book, he stated that the American dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and highRead MoreThe American Dream By Kimberly Amadeo1637 Words   |  7 PagesNowadays, a large number of people migrate to the United States to work and achieve the American Dream. According to the Article â€Å"What is the American Dream?† by Kimberly Amadeo, â€Å"The American Dream was first publicly defined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in Epic of America. Adam’s often-repeated quote is, ‘The American Dream is that dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyon e, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.’† There are many peopleRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The American Dream 754 Words   |  4 Pages Nyreel Powell Ms. Jones American Literature 1 June 2015 The American dream in A Raisin in the Sun Have you ever had a dream and it didn’t come how you wanted it to be? Have you ever had accomplishments that you wanted to achieve but people were getting in the way of them? 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Although the main ideas of the American Dream remain the same to be educated, economically sound, healthy, to have a family, and equal rights. Many great films and works of literature were created to show case all the different ideas people have for their American Dream. The film â€Å"Grapes of Wrath† directed by John Ford and the poem â€Å"I Will Fight No More Forever† by Chief Joseph, both depictRead More Destruction of the American Dream Essay2145 Words   |  9 PagesDestruction of the American Dream I’ve talked about it in the past, the destruction of the American Dream. Always, there have been papers, writings, and thoughts that quantify a particular section of its ultimate demise, be it due to money, education, or sexuality. Maybe the destruction cannot be viewed as a singular event or cause. Perhaps instead it must be examined as a whole process, the decay and ultimate elimination of a dream. 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Pakistan State Oil Report free essay sample

We are committed to leadership in energy market through competitive advantage in providing the highest quality petroleum products and services to our customers, based | * Professionally trained, high quality, motivated workforce, working as a team in an environment, which recognizes and rewards performance, innovation and creativity, and provides for personal growth and development |   | | | * Lowest cost operations and assured access to long-term and cost effective supply sources|   | | | * Sustained growth in earnings in real terms| | | * Highly ethical, safe environment friendly and socially responsible business practice| Values Excellence We believe that excellence in our core activities emerges from a passion for satisfying our customers needs in terms of total quality management. Our foremost goal is to retain our corporate leadership. Cohesiveness We endeavor to achieve higher collective and individual goals through team. This is inculcated in the organization through effe ctive communication. Respect We are an Equal Opportunity Employer attracting and recruiting the finest people from around the country. We value contribution of individuals and teams. Individual contributions are recognized through our reward and recognition program. |   | Integrity We uphold our values and Business Ethics principles in every action and decision. Professional and personal honesty, dedication and commitment are the landmarks of our success. Open and transparent business practices are based on ethical values and respect for employees, communities and the environment. |   | Innovation We are committed to continuous improvement, both in New Product and Processes as well as those existing already. We encourage Creative Ideas from all stakeholders. | Corporate Responsibility We promote Health, Safety and Environment culture both internally and externally. We emphasize on Community Development and aspire to make society a better place to live in. History The creation of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) can be traced back to the year 1974, when on January 1st; the government took over and merged Pakistan National Oil (PNO) and Dawood Petroleum Limited (DPL) as Premiere Oil Company Limited (POCL). Soon after that, on 3rd June 1974, Petroleum Storage Development Corporation (PSDC) came into existence. PSDC was then renamed as State Oil Company Limited (SOCL) on August 23rd 1976. Following that, the ESSO undertakings were purchased on 15th September 1976 and control was vested in SOCL. The end of that year (30th December 1976) saw the merger of the Premier Oil Company Limited and State Oil Company Limited, giving way to Pakistan state Oil (PSO). After PSO’s inception, the corporate culture underwent a comprehensive renewal program which was fully implemented in 2004. This program over the years included the revamping of the organizational architecture, rationalization of staff, employee empowerment and transparency in decision making through cross functional teams. This new corporate renewal program has divided the company’s major operations into independent activities supported by legal, financial, informative and other services. In order to reinforce and monitor this structural change, related check and balances have been established by incorporating monitoring and control systems. Human Resource Development became one of the main priorities on the company’s agenda under this corporate reform. It is due to this effective implementation of corporate reform and consistent application of the best industrial practices and business development strategies, that PSO has been able to maintain its market leadership in a highly competitive business environment. PAKISTAN STATE OIL COMPANY Our Products Motor Gasoline Kerosene High Speed Diesel Light Diesel Oil Furnace Oil Lubricants Associated Companies Following are the details of PSOs associated Companies: NAME| SHARE HOLDING %| 1. ASIA PETROLEUM LIMITED| 49%| 2. PAK GREASE COMPANY LIMITED| 22%| Asia Petroleum Limited (APL) APL was incorporated in Pakistan as an unlisted public limited company on July 17, 1994. The Company has been principally established to transport â€Å"Residual Fuel Oil† (RFO) to the Hub Power Company Limited (HUBCO) at Hub, Balochistan. For this purpose, the Company laid an underground oil pipeline starting from Pakistan State Oil Company Limited’s (PSO) Zulfiqarabad terminal at Pipri to HUBCO at Hub. Pak Grease Manufacturing Company (Private) Limited (PGMCL) PGMCL was incorporated in Pakistan on March 10, 1965 as a private company. The principal activity of the Company is to manufacture and sell petroleum grease products. | | Code of conduct * Giving illegal/unreasonable direction to others| * Unjustified/Unauthorized absenteeism| * Using influence or external pressure for promotion, transfer or induction| * Unsatisfactory/negligent performance| * Conduct that violates decency and morality| * Smoking at non-designated areas | Theft of any of the properties/assets of Company| * Breaking of safety regulations| * Habitual resting/sleeping in office timings| * Breach of privacy and/or trust| * Bullying/intimidation/uncalled for behavior/mental and gender harassment| * Misusing confidential information/record| * Discrimination on basis of caste, creed, religion amp; gender | * Falsification of records| * Undue patronage/Nepotism (Favoritism)| * Offering/Accepting Bribes and Gifts| * U sing office timings and/or resources for personal use| * Intentional damage to Company property| Mishandling/misusing Company resources and property| * Reporting on duty drugged or intoxicated| * Hooliganism in inside/outside Criminal/Offensive activity| * Activities bringing disrepute to company| * Inappropriate public comment and/or rumour mongering| * Use or possession of arms and explosivesMarketing amp; Distribution| PSO possesses the largest distribution network in the country comprising of 3,689 outlets out of which 3,500 outlets serve the Retail sector and 189 outlets serve our bulk customers. Out of the total of 3,689 outlets, 1,691 Retail and 167 Consumer Business outlets have been upgraded with the most up-to-date facilities as per the visualization of the New Vision Retail Programme. PSO also operates 31 company-owned and company-operated (Co-Co) sites serving the retail sector. Co-Co sites are flagship stations which combine high levels of supervision and top quality products to maintain the highest level of efficiency, service and customer care. These sites act as benchmark for all other retail outlets. In addition to retail customers more than 2,000 industrial units, business houses, power plants and airlines are being fueled by PSO. Acquisition of Products|   The automotive sector is the main consumer of Motor Gasoline (Mogas) and High Speed Diesel (HSD) whereas Furnace Oil (FO) is marked for power plant usage. To meet the supply deficit of the country, PSO imports Mogas, HSD, JP 1 and FO as and when required. The total import of black and white oil in Pakistan last year was 12. 4 million metric tons and PSO had the lion’s share of this import with 11. million metric tons which came to over 90% of the total fuel imports of the country. Other than product imports, PSO acquired 1. 75 million metric tons from various refineries based in Pakistan in order to cater to our market needs. Storagepso possesses the largest storage capacity in the country. The company’s infrastructure stretches from Karachi to Gilgit. With 9 installations and 23 depots located across the coun try PSO’s storage capacity of approximately a million metric tons represents 74% of the total storage capacity owned by all the oil marketing companies. |   |   Product Movement| 😠 PSO uses three mechanisms for the movement of POL products namely, tank lorries (road), tank wagons (railways) and pipelines. We currently have a total fleet of 8,595 tank lorries out of which 2202 tank lorries are New Vision tank lorries which are complying with the latest ADR standards and are equipped with pilferage proof tracker systems. With the commencement of operations of the White Oil Pipeline Project (WOPP) from Karachi to Mehmood Kot via Shikarpur and the MFM (Mehmood Kot/Faisalabad/Machikey) pipeline, the supply pattern for white oil from Karachi has switched from tank lorries to pipelines. PSO is present as a partner in this project and holds a 12% equity share in this venture. | Lubes Manufacturing amp; Sales| PSO is steadily progressing in the field of lubricants. With state-of-the-art Lubricants Manufacturing Terminal (LMT) located in Korangi Industrial Area, Karachi we are catering to a number of sectors including automotive, Hi-street and industrial consumers through the provision of sectors including automotive, Hi-street and industrial consumers through the provision of products. PSO Quality Assurance Department comprises of the following PSO Quality Assurance PSO’s quality assurance system is there to give all its stakeholders the confidence in the quality of fuel through strict specifications and procedures. It’s a procedure under which we ensure that all products and services being offered are of quality Quality Management System The goal of Quality Management System (QMS) Support is to ensure that all the activities of departments come under the scope of QMS for their effective monitoring and continuous improvement and focusing the needs and requirements of our internal and external customers for successful business operations. In view of above PSO QA department provides technical and consultative support to various PSO departments in the company for the implementation and Monitoring of World class Quality Management System Standard ISO 9001:2008 QMS through development of documents, conducting Internal Quality Audits and arrange Training sessions for Employee awareness and development on QMS implementation sequentially to enhance the quality of work, functional practices and Customer Satisfaction Support on Quality Management System * | * Technical Support to departments for QMS. | * | * Gap Analysis for QMS| * | * QMS Internal Quality Audit| | * Training on ISO 9001 Standard amp; Internal Auditing| * | * Implementation for Certification| PSO and Ethical Practices; | Health Safety amp; Environment| Environment, Health and Safety management are at high priority for responsible companies and PSO is no exception. The company is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy and sustainable environment wherever we o perate – for our people, our customers, our partners and contractors and the community at large. † Beyond leadership in the provision of energy to the nation, PSO’s broader goals envision: * A cleaner, greener, healthier Pakistan Enabling a safer environment for the PSO family and those whom we serve. * Making a difference today for a secure tomorrow HSE Mission Statement Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd. is committed to manage health, safety and environmental (HSE) matters as an integral part of the business which includes employees, customers, business partners, contractors and the community at large. To assure the HSE integrity of our processes and facilities we will continue to strive for improvement by implementing the HSE Management System and further, by adhering to the following principles: Compliance We ensure that our stakeholders will comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards and implement programs and procedures. In order to progress from Good to Great, everyone working for the company is responsible to implement the HSE program, policy and procedures. Prevention We will further improve on our management systems with the intent to prevent activities and/or conditions that endanger the human health and safety and strive to minimize the impact of our business operations on the environment. Communication We will communicate our commitment to our employees, contractors and customers and seek their full cooperation in meeting our HSE goal through various events and programs. Continuous Improvement We will seek opportunities to continuously improve the effectiveness of our HSE Management System by not only planning, performing, measuring and improving it but also by identifying, assessing, managing hazards, impacts and risks from our activities and services. Moreover, we will identify areas for improvement through comprehensive HSE audits and effective analysis of near misses/incident reporting system 1. Prevention of Occupational Sickness Whenever a business like PSO involves certain issues of risky work conditions or the industry has some health issues, then it is legally required that protection or safety be offered by the organization to the employees who are working for them. The organization and the industry are bound to protect the employees working for them. The government requires these organizations to address these work conditions carefully. If for example an employee is injured when he was at work, or if the health of an employee is adversely affected by the working conditions; then the organization is bound to provide appropriate compensations as well as protection and safety elements to the employees at work. At PSO such issues are also dealt with diligently. For example for the managerial employees working at PSO’s headquarters, temperature of 21? C is maintained at all times throughout the year. The organization controls the temperature all the year round, irrespective of the prevailing weather. This helps the employees to feel more comfortable and increases their motivation, performance and drive to work better and achieve their goals. 2. Prevention of Accidents. No matter what the business environment is like, each and every business entity has to prepare and be proactive regarding any accidents that may or may not happen at work. They need to prepare and equip their employees working for them for the worst. They need to educate their employees regarding the hazardous working environment and conditions; so that they are mentally and physically fit to face the adverse situations at work. An example of this could be the fire extinguishers, buckets, water hoses and other fire extinguishing equipment provided to all the petrol pumps by PSO. All the employees of such facilities are given training to brush up their fire fightingskills. For example: A fire drill was arranged by the HSE Department at PSO House at 11:45 a. m. on Monday, December 11, 2006. Following the fire alarms, which were sounded on all floors, an announcement was made on the public address system to evacuate the PSO House. An orderly drill was executed and all PSO employees, including the top management, as a result 700 employees were evacuated within 4 minutes and were assembled outside the PSO House premises. The local fire brigade and ambulance promptly responded. Fire drills are part of health, safety and environment (HSE) measures that have been adopted by Pakistan State Oil and are conducted at periodically to keep the employees aware of the state of safety. . Prevention of Environmental Pollution: If the pollution produced by the business damages the external environment, then the government has the right to restrict its functioning or impose restrictions on the business. If the work pollution is spreading within the organizational facility, and it damages the health of the employees or an employee gets hurt due to it. Then, the employer will have to pay o r compensate the families of the employees, if the employees are injured or damaged during work hours. An excellent example of the prevention of environmental pollution would be that of Oil water separation PSO has become the first oil marketing company to embark upon a project to meet the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) and reduce the pollutant loads on the effluent discharged from PSO retail outlets. Servicing of motor vehicles generates contaminated effluent, which ultimately gets discharged in the sewerage system. This effluent is found non-compliant with NEQS, which stipulates criteria of the limits for liquid effluent parameter. The installation of oil water separation system would make the retail outlets environmentally compliant and will be helpful in reducing pollution. HSE Vision Environment, Health and Safety management are at high priority for responsible companies and PSO is no exception. The company is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy and sustainable environment wherever we operate – for our people, our customers, our partners and contractors and the community at large. â€Å"Safety is our priority and it is our belief that all accidents are preventable. Our first aim is excellence in HSE performance in all PSO businesses. † Beyond leadership in the provision of energy to the nation, PSO’s broader goals envision: * A cleaner, greener, healthier Pakistan * Enabling a safer environment for the PSO family and those whom we serve. * Making a difference today for a secure tomorrow. Characterization of HSE: HSE  is intangible in nature. It is an intangible asset of an organization like image and good will are. HSE lead to better image and goodwill of the organization. It creates a positive image of the organization and business. A company may have the maximum knowledge and hard work, yet it may lag behind just because it does not have the right attitude. This attitude comes from realizing what is important ethically, environmentally and morally. HSE is a part of this realization. A company’s behavior, attitude, safe occupational practices and procedures, and environment matters significantly. For example, if you are a good driver and you follow the traffic rules, then that is your positive behavior. You will not get into trouble because you will never break rules and chances are you will never get hurt due to any rash driving antics. Healthy and positive behavior and attitude always leads to a positive outcome. Changing HSE trends in the Industrial sector: * Quality Certification gaining importance, such as ISO 9000 amp; 14001 etc. * Legislative environmental pressures are increasing. * Financial losses resulting from accidents increased. HSE Policy of PSO: The HSE policy is as follows: The health of its employees, its contractors, its customers and the public is protected. All its activities are carried out safely. Environmental performance meets legislative requirements. To implement HSE Policy, Pakistan State Oil Company Limited will * Comply with relevant laws and regulations. *   Ensure that required Health, Safety and Environment Standards and Procedures are developed and established. Ensure that all its activities are carried out in accordance with Companys Health, Safety and Environment Standards and Procedures. Set demanding targets and measure progress to ensure continuous improvement in Health, Safety and Environment performance. Require every employee to exercise personal responsibility in preventing harm to themselves, to others and to the environment. Provide appropriate Health, Safety and Environment training / information to all employees, contractors and others who work with the company Ensure provision of safe working environment. Promote awareness and give due recognition to performance in the area of Health, Safety and Environment. HSE INITIATIVES * Being a responsible corporate citizen, PSO realizes that success of business financial performance and sustainability depends on the environment in which it operates. Accordingly we strive to strike an efficient balance between financial, social and ecological performance. Being a responsible corporate citizen, PSO realizes that success of business financial performance and sustainability depends on the environment in which it operates. Accordingly we strive to strike an efficient balance between financial, social and ecological performance. Health, safety and environment form our corporate objectives. * Today all our 3,700 retail outlets across the country dispense environmental efficient fuels at no additional cost to our customers. These fuels play a vital role in reduction of exhaust emissions that result in less pollution and greener environment. There are fifteen (15) Mobile Quality Testing Units in operation which ensure consistent quality of products being supplied to our consumers. Recently, PSO adopted water tool developed by World Business Council for Social Development (WBCSD) to optimize the use of water resources by PSO. | HSE Management System at PSO:The HSE and quality department work together and create policies that they maintain and control from time to time through regular audits. These two departments form HSE policies and practices and then dispatch them to each and every department to review and understand. Each department is then required to understand, implement and control these policies and practices in their respective departments. Internal audits are conducted by the HSE department to ensure that all the HSE policies are being adequately followed by all departments at PSO. | HSE Policies PSO is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy and sustainable environment wherever we operate – for our people, our customers, our partners and contractors and the community at large. † The company aims to protect people’s health, ensure zero injuries and avoid r minimize any environmental impact that can happen due to its products and processes. We are committed to achieving these goals through HSE Management System that are well in placed and being followed in true spirit and the compliances are done in relation with the relevant laws and regulations. Thus we strongly strive for continuous improvement. The commitment to HSE always comes from Top Management and thus Our Mana ging Director amp; CEO is responsible for enacting this policy and giving HSE equal priority with all other business issues Our commitments are to Seek zero harm to our people and minimal impact on the environment through our business operations and relevant activities * Conduct HSE Audit and reviews the safety implications of our activities in PSO facilities. | | * Minimize the consumption of energy and to dwell Alternative Energy Resources in the best interest of Nation. | | * Ensure the occupational health and Safety of our Employees and other allies during our Operational activities. | | * To achieve these commitments we have developed, implemented and maintained effective management systems and processes that enable us to:| * | | | * Identify, assess and manage hazards, impacts and risks from our activities and services. | * | | * | * Meet and, where appropriate, exceed applicable legal and other requirements| * | | * | * Set, achieve and report against objectives and targets t o demonstrate continual performance improvement| * | | * | * Identify areas for improvement through comprehensive HSE Audits and near miss / incident reporting system and then mitigation provided through investigation. HSE Steering Committee| Objective:| Provide clear directions for the improvement and sustainability of HSE Management System to promote HSE culture. Also monitoring HSE policy compliance and dealing with non-compliance issues. Review HSE performance of all company business entities and resource allocation where required. | Function: | To oversee HSE related matters arising out of the activities and operations of PSO and the impact of those activities and operations on employees, contractors and the communities in the area of operation. |   | | Composition:| The committee comprises of Managing Director, Deputy Managing Directors, General Manager (HSE amp; QA) and DGM (HSE). This ensures top management’s commitment towards HSamp;E. |   | | Methodology: | The Committee meets at least once in a quarter. Senior General Managers, General Managers and Deputy General Managers will be opted in committee for their relevant HSE matters on as and when need basis. It may also require any employee of the company to attend the meeting for the purpose of making presentations or participating in discussion on need basisProduct Stewardship| At PSO we recognize that as product manufacturers and marketers we must take on responsibilities to reduce the environmental footprint of our products. Environmental product stewardship at PSO fostered product and market innovation, and provided customers with more value at less environmental impact. These initiatives included the launch of Green-XL diesel which reduces black smoke dramatically due to special green additive, enables quick start ups and minimizes exhaust emissions that results in less pollution amp; greener environment. The reduction in black smoke translates into improved power amp; efficiency for the consumer. Apart from the environment friendly fuels, PSO also became the first and only OMC to introduce ethanol blended fuels at its COCO outlets in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. . Energy Conservation Measures * Environment Safety Measure| * Consumer Safety Measures| * Workplace Safety| * Employee Well Being| * Other Intiatives * Energy Conservative Measures| 1. Green Stations PSO has initiated â€Å"Green Stations† throughout the country. The purpose is to develop environmental friendly retail outlets. At green stations, the IN and OUT signs which were previously on KESC have now been replaced with reflective ones. Also the tube lights of blue bars are now being replaced with the light emitting diodes (LEDs). These initiatives resulted in 75% reduction in power consumption. |   | 2. Solar Energy System PSO believes in promoting projects based on renewable energy. In this regard PSO initiated a project of installing solar energy system at its retail outlet which is also declared as Green Station by PSO. The purpose of this project is to utilize natural resources to generate electrical energy without damaging the environment. The system generates 50 KWH energy every day, which caters to almost 37 % of the total lighting load of the outlet for 11 hours per day. The installation of solar system has resulted in saving 18 MWH of electrical energy in a year. |   | | 3. Windmill Windmill is another initiative of PSO for promoting renewable energy projects. The windmill is installed at Buffer Oil Terminal (BOT) that utilizes wind and generates electrical energy. This system caters office lighting load, which is 87 % of the total office lighting load, for 8 hours. After installation of windmill, PSO saves electrical energy of 7. 92 MWH in a year. | | Environment Safety Measures:| | Gas Leakage Detection System at CNG Stations As per Oil Gas Regulation Authority’s (OGRA) requirement, approximately all PSO (company and dealer operated) CNG stations have a gas leakage detection system installed. This ensures prevention of any fire or other related hazards on the respective stations. |   | Installation of Oil Water Separator at Retail Outlet PSO installed state of the art oil water separator at its company operated retail outlet. The purpose of this installation is to reduce the liquid affluent discharge from the car servicing area to the public drainage system. Prior to the installation of oil water separator, it was found from the test result that the sample of discharge contained 3530 mg/l of oil and grease which has been reduced to 10 mg/l which is 99 % reduction. PSO has further plan to install automatic car servicing facility along with the oil water separator to limit the effluent discharge from the cars to the drainage system which is another step of preventing environment. | | Consumer Safety Measure:| Brake Fluid Testing Failure of brake fluid can cause the failure of brake system, which could be a cause of accident resulting in threat to human lives and at the same time to the environment. Having consumer safety at the core of PSO’s operations, the company provides facility to its customers for brake fluid testing. This test is conducted free of cost at our retail outlets through our network of Mobile Quality Testing Units. Through the test results customers are informed about the status of the brake fluid and guided accordingly. | | Work place Safety Measure:| | Intelligent Fire Detection System PSO, being the company that gets to the future first remain abreast with the latest inventions not only in providing systems that ensure customer health but also in the systems that ensures the safety of PSO’s Assets and its Human Resource. Keeping this vision in consideration, PSO has opted for state of the start Intelligent Fire Detection System for the head office and for other PSO facilities. The purpose is to detect the fire at its early stage and the purpose is not confined with detection but it also identifies the exact location where fire has actually broken out. | Employee Wellbeing Measure:| Water Filter As mentioned earlier, PSO gives due importance to its employees at every level. A step towards the employees’ wellbeing is the installation of water filter plant at PSO facilities i. e. terminals, depots, aviation stations, LPG plants, blending plants and retail outlets. There are three main sources of drinking water supply at PSO facilities;|   | 1. Ground Water 2. Local Water Supply System 3. Tankers| | The drinking water sample is collected for testing at laboratory. Ground water is tested once a year for microbial amp; chemical constituents while piped amp; non-piped system of supply is checked bi-annually for microbial constituents and once in year for chemical constituents. | Other Intiatives:| | 1. HSE Champion A behavioral remodeling program by the name of HSE Champion had been developed and launched. 27 employees of PSO House has been hand picked by HSE Team and Managing Director distributed badges among them in the Ceremony. A behavioral remodeling program titled HSE Champion was launched on March 25, 2010 aiming to inculcate PSO’s commitment to health, safety and environment. As a first step, this program is being executed at PSO House and then will be replicated at other locations accordingly. 27 Employees stationed at PSO House have been hand picked by HSE Team as HSE Champions from management and non-management staff. The chief guest of the launching ceremony was Managing Director, Mr. Irfan K. Qureshi who presented HSE Champion Badges to the Champions. The Managing Director encouraged the Champions and all others to cooperate and add value to the project. DGM (HSE) and Manager (HSE) stressed on the importance of this program as a first step towards taking safety and health to the next level and urged every one to join hands together to make this program a success. HSE Champions shall be ambassadors for HSE. They shall promote HSE agenda and objectives among fellow employees. They shall also communicate unsafe conditions and unsafe acts to HSE Team on regular basis. HSE Team shall review performance of each HSE Champion and shall include new HSE Champions on as and when required basis|   | 2. HSE Session for Spouses of PSO Employees HSE Team took the initiative to impart HSE awareness among families of PSO employees to ensure safe and healthy homes. The session was aimed at being both interactive and informative and the objective was met through active participation of all. Knowledge was transferred both ways due to the interactive nature of the session. A detailed presentation was delivered by Manager (HSE) followed by Q/A sessions. |   | 3. Awareness Session on Ergonomics T amp; OD along with HSE Department organized a series of awareness sessions on ergonomics on 14th Dec 2010 for the employees. Dr. Tahir Baig Barlas (OHSE Consultant) renowned Occupational Health and Safety expert was the trainer. â€Å"Ergonomics is the science of studying how people interact with their working environment. At PSO House most employees are working on their workstations using computer and its accessories. Computers by default are an ergonomic challenge, with keyboards in particular being a major issue, and many people who work heavily on the computer experience repetitive stress injuries as part of their work. Reducing disability, discomfort, and pain as a result of such injuries is important in many workplaces†. |   | 4. Defensive Driving Training at PSO House Training for defensive driving was held at PSO house. Drivers were encouraged to share their experiences and concerns in this session. This session was very useful according to drivers. Executive HSE imparted the training to drivers. In total, 19 drivers participated in this training session. The purpose of conducting this session is to educate and inculcate the basic safety measures that have to be taken while drivingCUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT PSO has recently set up a dedicated service department that is major step towardscompany’s overall objective of becoming a customer-oriented company. Located at the company’s head office in Karachi the CSD is the first point of contact for the customers on day to day concerns and provides centralized customer service across PakistanTrained and professional staff attends to and solves the customers concerns andcomplaints quickly and effectivelyPUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT (PRD)The major function of the PRD is to ensure the projection of the company’s image as the country’s premier public sector organization and conscientious citizens. This is achieved by highlighting positive stories about the company in the media. Other functions of the department include event media management speech writing and keeping Managing Director and the company hierarchy informed. The department also tackles press queries and sets up interviews of the Managing Director with the media. It also coordinates with the brand management and other departments in the planning of events press conferences workshops seminars etc. The department is also involved in giving banners and tackling adds requests not related to advertisements campaign. The department personnel are also involved in the preparation of the annual report and writing of articlesPSO Loyalty CardPSO Loyalty Card is a novel concept that PSO had introduced in the fuel market. The PSO Loyalty Card is a mileage card enabling the customers to earn Loyalty Points every time they come for fuelling at PSO through their personalized PSO Loyalty Card. This is a unique offer from PSO to its customers in return for their trust and confidence in PSO, Pakistans largest Oil Marketing Company, for fuelling their vehicles. A major problem faced by PSO is the misconception in people’s mind that the oil used by shell is imported and of better quality, as shell is a foreign company in Pakistan. Although the sources are same but still shell is also aware of this fact and is exploiting it. PSO should do something about it like printing brochures that could explain people about the only sources available in Pakistan, emphasizing upon the fact that no oil is coming to Pak istan from any direct abroad sources. * Caltex basically has some control over the market because of the lubes it sells and the profit margin on lubes is much higher than on petrol. But as PSO and CASTROL have come together to make the right combination of â€Å"Top two together† they can overcome this problem as well. *   PSO has done very well in the financial sector, since its new vision period and will continue with the pace. Innovations and up to dating of the outlets in accordance with the needs of the changing world is a very important step towards both marketing and financial prosperity. * The other problem faced by PSO because of the competition is that the land acquiring at old or new places the bid gets too high that the land acquired becomes too expensive. PSO is becoming better day-by-day and after privatization the modifications   and changes they are expected to bring    SWOT Analysis A situation (SWOT) analysis is critical to the creation of any strategic plan. The SWOT analysis begins with a scan of the external environment. Organization must examine their situation in order to seek opportunities and monitor threats. Sources on info rmation include customers (internal or external), supplier, government (local, state, international) professional or trade association (convention and exhibition), journal and reports (scientific, professional and trade) Strengths . Market Share of 70% is one the main strength of PSO. 2. Company reputation in the industrial sectors adds the strengths for PSO. 3. Product quality is also strength especially in industrial sector. 4. Service quality like plastic cards and non-fuel activities adds the value. 5. Distribution amp; Fleet network, which covers 81% country retail network, is the key edge on PSO its competitors. 6. Promotional activities add value in brand awareness and attraction of new customers. 7. Innovation like Auto Car Wash helps PSO to differentiate with its main competitors. . Storage capacity, which holds 80% of total storage capacity of the country, is also key advantage over its competitors. 9. Technical skills in Fleet management are strength for PSO. 10. Visionar y, capable leadership adds value to PSO strength like their NVRO operations. 11. Financial Stability with strong reserves, paid-up capital adds the trust of stakeholders. 12. Product line width adds long range of products for more revenue opportunities. 13. Castrol brand affiliation with PSO adds strength in terms of brand awareness. 14. Relations with Government one of the key strength of PSO in order to get legal protections. Weaknesses 1. Lost amp; Dissatisfied customers are major weakness of PSO as they are causing the perception of inefficient PSO. 2. Old retail outlets are major weakness for PSO as they are not enough capable to compete the Shell, Caltex or Total outlets. 3. Untrained staff at outlets is causing inefficient services. 4. Quality assurance is not so effective to build the image of â€Å"Quality amp; Quantity†. Opportunities 1. Afghanistan’s Market is the biggest opportunity for OMCs in Pakistan. . De-regularities of Oil industry in Pakistan add the opportunity to fill the deficiency in few sectors of petrochemicals markets. 3. Export Opportunities of Black Oil Products is also adding the  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   opportunities by exporting Black Oil products, which is facing downfall due to the introduction Gas Oil. 4. Industrial amp; Trade growth in Pakistan is also the opportunity for P SO as they are adding revenues in Power sector that is the major customer of PSO. Threats 1. Risk of forward integration of Supplier is the key threat for PSO and other OMCs in Pakistan. As the example, the PARCO who is one of the main POL product suppliers to OMCs adopt the forward integration strategy by introducing its own OMC with its new business alliance TOTAL and named its OMC as TOTAL- PARCO. 2. Risk of Diversification in technology is also a key threat for PSO as due to new technology used in industrial sector is causing decline in particular POL products. 3. Substitutes in Black Oil Market are causing a solid reason for the declining trend in Black Oil Products, which is major threat for PSO CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS PSO has been the market leader ever since it started operating with number of products delivering to its customers and providing satisfaction at all levels. PSO has keen interest in maintaining its relationship with corporate clients and other stake holders. PSO is engaged in providing health and safety to its employees and their families ranging from top management to pump attendants. Making sure each customer is satisfied and returns to PSO outlets with a smile and keeping positive image in mind. Pakistan state oil (PSO) is the largest company of Pakistan not only in the field ofoil marketing but also otherwise. It has been included in Asia’s top 1000 companies and thus is surely a pride for Pakistan. Although up till now it is Govt owned but it is about to be privatized in a month or so. As expected after privatization the company would be further more prosperous and generative in terms of revenues. * PSO certainly has a competitive advantage over all it’s competitors because of thevast network of it’s outlets all over Pakistan but at the same time a great deal ofresponsibility is required by them as they are not only an oil marketing companybut they have some responsibilities towards the people of Pakistan. Take an example of a PSO outlet in Chitral, while deciding to undertake thisproject or not the feasibility report rejects the idea of building it but being a Pakistani socially responsible company if even one public transport bus goes there then they have to build a petrol station over their. * PSO has been very innovative and successful since it realized the compet ition has actually started after SHELL came and acquired the market share from PSO. But after coming up with all those â€Å"new vision† outlets, PSO has proved to be never far behind.

Woodrow Wilson Argumentative Essay Example For Students

Woodrow Wilson Argumentative Essay Thomas Woodrow Wilson, twenty-eighth president of the United States, mighthave suffered from dyslexia. He never could read easily, but developed a strongpower of concentration and a near-photographic memory. The outbreak of WorldWar I coincided with the death of Wilsons first wife Ellen Axson, who he waspassionately devoted to. Seven months after her death his friends introduced him toEdith Bolling Galt, a descendant of the Indian princess Pocahontas, they were marriednine months later. By 1912 times were good for most Americans. Farmers wereenjoying their most prosperous period in living memory, the cost of living roseslightly, unemployment was lower than it had been for several years, and workingconditions were improving. By 1913 when Wilson was inaugurated, American industrieswere in a flood of consumer goods, including automobiles, telephones, and movies. However, Wilson almost did not appear on the presidential ballot, the leadingcontender for the Democratic nomination was House Speaker Champ Clark. It took46 ballots before the delegates swung to Wilson. In the election, the Republicanswere split between Taft and Roosevelt, almost guaranteeing a Democratic, and Wilsonvictory. He sought ways to build patriotism and to reshape the federal governmentto govern the nation more effectively. Wilson was a conservative, in his books andarticles, he often displayed hostility to reformers and rebels. Although WoodrowWilson is mostly remembered for his success in foreign affairs, his domestic reformand leadership abilities are notable as well. Commemorated by the public mainly forhis success in guiding the nation during its first great modern war, World War I, forgetting out of the Mexico/Philippine muddle inherited from ex-president Taft, andfor his dream of ending the threat of future wars through the League of Nations,Wilson is also admired for his domestic successes, which represented the ProgressiveEra of reform. Diplomatically, as well as domestically these even ts illustrate Wilsonscompetent leadership skill. Woodrow Wilsons nomination was strongly opposed by the progressives but heeventually passed much of their domestic reforming legislation. The progressivemovement backed by Wilson called for some government control of industry and forregulation of railroad and public utilities. Among its other goals were the adoption ofprimary elections and the direct election of United States senators. Wilson calledCongress into special session to consider a new tariff bill, he personally delivered hislegislative request to Congress. Moved by Wilsons aggressive leadership, the Houseswiftly passed the first important reform measure, the Underwood Tariff Bill of1913, which significantly reduced the tariff for the first time in many years andreflected a new awareness that American businesses were now powerful enough tocompete in the markets of the world. In the end the Underwood Tariff had nothingto do with trade but the importance was the income tax pro vision (later the 16thamendment) which would replace the revenue lost when duties were reduced. It alsoshowed that America was powerful enough to compete without protection from thegovernment. We will write a custom essay on Woodrow Wilson Argumentative specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now As Congress debated the tariff bill, Wilson presented his program for reformof the banking and currency laws. The nations banking system was outdated,unmanageable, and chaotic. To fix this Wilson favored the establishment of aFederal Reserve Board with presidentally appointed financial experts. The Boardwould set national interest rates and manage a network of twelve major banks acrossthe country. These banks, which would issue currency, would in turn work with localbanks. Congress passed the Federal Reserve act basically in the form the Presidenthad recommended. Amendments also provided for exclusive governmental control ofthe Federal Reserve Board and for short term agricultural credit through thereserve banks. This was one of the most notable domestic achievements of theWilson administration which modernized the nations banking and currency systems,laying the basis for federal management of the economy and providing the legal basisfor an effective national banking system. The final major item on Wilsons domestic agenda was the reform of bigbusiness. Big businesses worked against the public by fixing prices and restrainingcompetition. Business and politics worked together, and Wilson sought to stop that. Determined to accept big business as an inevitable, but to control its abuses and tomaintain an open door of opportunity for the genius which springs up from the ranksof unknown men,1 Wilsons hoped to curb big business. He thought that governmentshould intervene in the regulation of business, and that it was essential to controlcorporate behavior to prevent corporations from stifling opportunities for creativeand ambitious people. Business consolidation was inevitable and might be beneficial,yet he insisted that great corporations behave in the public interest: These were thebalances Wilson sought to achieve and maintain. Our laws are still meant forbusiness done, by individuals that have not been satisfactorily adjusted to businessdone by great combin ations and we have got to adjust them,2in that big business wasunjust and somebody needed to watch out for the people, and Wilson was just theman to do that. First, the Federal Trade commission, authorized to order companiesto cease and desist3 from engaging in unfair competition. Later came the ClaytonAnti-trust Act which outlawed a number of widely practiced business tactics. Wilsons New Freedom domestic policies produced what turned out to be fourconstitutional amendments. The 16th amendment assembled a graduated income taxbeginning on incomes over $3,000. The 17th, achieved direct election of senators bythe people. The 18th, was prohibition (of the sales or manufacturing) of alcoholicliquors, and the 19th amendment, gave women the right to vote. Some of hisProgressive reforms include the Workingmens Compensation Act, which grantedassistance to federal civil service employees during periods of disabilities; TheAdamson Act established the eight hour day for all employees on trains in interstatecommerce, with extra pay for overtime, and The Federal Farm Loan Act, made creditavailable to farmers at low interest rates. Wilsons administration produced majorlegislation on tariffs, banks, business, and labor. It had been responsible for lawsthat restricted child-labor, promoted the welfare of seamen, and created a creditsystem for farmers. Although the administration demonstrated a new sensitivity tolabors interests, it did not generally win management over to its position. Businessesmade larger gains than labor as a result of the relaxation of the anti-trust laws, thegrowth of trade associations, and the businessmen of an effective and publiclyaccepted union-busting technique. Foreign affairs also demanded much of thepresidents attention. He persuaded Congress to repeal the Panama Tolls Act, whichhad allowed American ships to use the Panama Canal toll-free when sailing betweenU.S. coastal ports. Wilson believed that this new law violated a treaty with GreatBritai n. The President also refused to approve a bankers loan to China, and puthimself on record against dollar diplomacy. Wilson insisted that his party live up toits campaign promises of preparing the Philippines for independence. In 1916,Congress passed the Jones Bill, which greatly increased Philippine self-governmentand made many reforms in the administration of the islands. Convinced that freedomand democracy were universal aspirations, Wilson was determined that the UnitedStates would work to advance them. In Asia the United States lacked strength to domuch, but in the Western hemisphere it had the power to act; and so in Mexico,Haiti, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and elsewhere around the Caribbean basin itdid. Wilson was not materialistic and assumed that American assistance would bewelcomed, when he realized this was not true he tried to minimize Americaninvolvement. Wilson dismissed traditional American political isolationism, makingAmerica a world power, citizens of the world .4 Most people did agree that thenations increasing economic and military power obligated and permitted it to play alarger political role in the world. Wilson struggled constantly between isolationistsentiments and the necessity for American involvement in world affairs. Determined to avoid entering World War I, he rigorously pursued neutrality. At first Wilson merely proclaimed neutrality, even when German U-boats(submarines) sank a US tanker. Then he tried Peace without victory because herealized that the only lasting peace was one in which the conquered nations were notleft poverty-stricken, embittered and biding their time for revenge. Neither theAllies nor the Central powers responded. Keeping America out of the war proved tobe an extremely difficult, and eventually impossible, job. Wilsons greatest problemsconcerned shipping. Britain had a blockade against Germany, seizing any cargoesbound for Germany. The British paid for the goods confiscated but the UnitedStates thought the interference in its sea trade was a violation of both freedom ofthe seas and neutral rights. The United States problems with Britain were serious,but its troubles with Germany were worse. The Germans continued to sink ships withAmericans on board. After the Sussex, a French channel streamer was sunk, killing80 civilians, some American, Wilson declared that if these attacks did not stop theUnited States would have no choice but to sever diplomatic relations5 with Germany. In the end not even Woodrow Wilson could keep the United States out of World WarI. When the Germans declared unlimited submarine warfare, Wilson knew the UnitedStates would have to get involved. Still he hesitated, hoping for some event thatwould make an American declaration of war unnecessary. Instead two eventsoccurred destroying all hopes of neutrality. The first was the Zimmerman telegram. This was a message intercepted by Britain proposing a secret alliance betweenGermany and Mexico. The next event that pushed the US into the war was theRussian Revolution, in which Russia withdrew from the war, this meant the Allies losta major part of their team, and without the United States, Germany would havesurely won. In April 1917 Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany.Heappointed able men to mobilize the economy and to command the armed forces, neverinterfering with either. By September 1918 Germanys army was in retreat, itscivilians hungry and exhausted. .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 , .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .postImageUrl , .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 , .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73:hover , .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73:visited , .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73:active { border:0!important; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73:active , .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73 .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u21bc615a3a26de233232adecea42ad73:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: To Gain INSTANT access to our database of papers w EssayWilsons real heart was in peace. He insisted on going to the Paris Peaceconference himself, where he was greeted by European crowds cheering wildly. Heand three other men, known as the Big Four, including Premier Vittorio Orlando ofItaly, Prime Minister David Lloyd George of Britain, and Premier Georges Clemenceauof France drew up the Treaty of Versailles, based on Wilsons Fourteen Point address. Aspirations of world order were represented in his Fourteen Points: Open diplomacy,freedom of the seas, the removal of economic barriers among nations, reductions ofarmaments, the ending of imperialism, self-determination for national groups, theinclusion of Russia in the world community, and, most important to Wilson, thecreation of an association of nations to assume collective responsibility formaintaining peace (the League of Nations). Wilson passionately wanted his FourteenPoints implemented, he wanted a treaty that would be fair to fallen enemy as well asto the victors. After many compromises, the Treaty of Versailles was signed,including Wilsons League of Nations. Wilson formally got approval for his League ofNations, but when he returned home with the treaty, he found resistance to him andit. A group of senators refused to accept the treaty as a package, as Wilsondemanded. Frustrated, Wilson decided to appeal over the senators heads to thecountry. He set out on a tour that took him through 30 cities in 24 days, thisgrueling schedule caused him to he suffer two strokes, the second one leaving his leftside paralyzed. For the next few weeks Wilson was near death, nobody was allowedto see him except for his wife who would carry messages to his bedroom and thenemerge with an answer. When his mind finally cleared he was presented with SenatorLodges proposed fourteen reservations to his fourteen points. The treaty wasrejected because neither Wilson nor Lodge was willing to compromise. AlthoughWilson was partially paralyzed by the stroke and suffering from other disabilities, hewanted the honor of a third nomination. If he had received it, he may have ran again,so great was his devotion to the League of Nations, which was created without theparticipation of the United States. The League never took off without the supportof the United States behind it. Wilsons political leadership experience was limited to his two year stint asgovernor of New Jersey. Nevertheless, he had no doubts about his ability to lead thenation, as he said in his inaugural address, I summon all honest men, all patriotic, allforward looking men to my side God helping me I will not fail them, if they will butcou nsel and sustain me!6 Part of his effective leadership ability, was that Wilsonknew how to dramatize issues and to capture public attention. He did not thinkaverage citizens were qualified to lead. The leaders task was partly to sense thewishes of the people, but it was also to shape their ideas and to act where they wouldnot naturally act. The Presidents leadership of his party gave him more influenceover Congress, but more importantly his standing as the interpreter of the countriesinstinctive wishes and desires made him a unique national figure. He was the firstpresident since Thomas Jefferson to address Congress personally, which he didseveral times. The president, in Wilsons view, thus had extraordinary potentialpowers attained from his role as political leader and interpreter of the wishes of allpeople. In contrast to what the people had expected when they chose Wilson as thedemocratic nominee, he had proved that he could be a leader and that stategovernment could meet the cha llenges facing it. His academic work had shown thathe was not a profound thinker, but he had a rare ability to see the essentials ofissues and to delegate authority to others to handle details. While considering issueshe was open-minded and eager for practical suggestions about how to achieve a goal,and once he had made up his mind he was firm and consistent. Wilson adopted an approach to Congress that proved remarkably effective. Heoutlined the main objectives he wanted to achieve and left legislatures to draftspecial bills. He made use of public opinion to influence the legislative process bygoing personally to the capitol to address Congress and by making other publicspeeches. The significance of the Underwood tariff is debatable but the skill andflexibility Wilson showed in getting it through Congress were not. If one of hisreforms stalled in Congress, he would generate pressure on the lawmakers to act bycalling public attention to the delay. Through Wilsons aggressive leadershi p, hisadministration was responsible for four constitutional amendments. The eighteenthamendment, prohibiting the sales of alcoholic beverages, was controversial becausemany leading brewers were German, and this made the drive against alcohol all themore popular. However, the main cause was to conserve the food supplies for the wareffort. One of his greatest strengths as a leader was his ability to focus on a singleissue, identifying its essential points and dealing with it quickly and efficiently. Although the eighteenth amendment was eventually repealed by the twenty-firstamendment it was what the country need at the time and was effective in that sense. .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf , .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .postImageUrl , .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf , .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf:hover , .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf:visited , .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf:active { border:0!important; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf:active , .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ue11e10fad44231acf0f09f5eca3101bf:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Importance of Sex Education EssayWilson thought that it was the presidents job to understand the hopes anddreams of America, which he believed were centered on a peaceful, secure world. Establishing his Fourteen Points, and the League of Nations in particular, was Wilsonsmethod of keeping world peace. In his address, point number fourteen, was aninternational organization that Wilson hoped would provide a system of collectivesecurity.7 Wilson earnestly wanted this to guarantee the political independence ofall countries, big or small. During the first year of peace, Wilson focused on thetreaty fight. Wilsons diplomatic leadership was strong, keeping the United Statesout of the Great War and helping in the peace effort afterwards, and he stuck withit, trying to pass legislation that would not only benefit the United States, but thewhole world as well. Wilson, far more than any other world leader of his generation raised issuesthat needed to be confronted and set an agenda for future domestic andinternational policies. The Underwood Tariff shows successful domestic policybecause it inacted a favorable low tariff, in which the United States was open tocompete. It also showed mastery in leadership in the course that he used pushing itthrough Congress. Although his administration is often associated with World War I,Wilson sought world peace with his League of Nations. Faced with decisions andappointments and foreign conflicts, Wilson was admittedly ill-prepared. Because ofhis concentration on world peace he did not recognize hostility when it was aimedtoward the US Wilson, with a high sense of duty and destiny, administered a headydose of domestic reform, in his New Freedom progressive legislation; and foreignintervention, in the League of Nations. Through his strong leadership, bothdomestically and diplomatically, the nation came ou t stronger than it was before. Wilson tried to apply his own moral standards to international politics, he wasconvinced that the president should be the peoples leader, not merely the nationschief executive. BIBLIOGRAPHYBailey, Thomas A.: The American Pageant, DC Heath and Company, 1994. Very useful, it was an easy way to look up a fact quickly. Bailey, Thomas A.: Presidential Greatness, Thomas A. Bailey, 1966. Not very useful, hard to read. Clements, Kendrick A.: The Presidency of Woodrow Wilson, University Press ofKansas, 1939. I probably used this book the most. Hoover, Herbert: The Ordeal of Woodrow Wilson, McGraw-Hill Book Company,Inc., 1958. This book was long and drawn out. Leavell, Perry J.: World Leaders Past and Present, Wilson, Chelsea HousePublishers, 1987. This was a good easy to read book. Wilson, Woodrow: The New Freedom, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1961. Also very hard to read, but had a few good facts. Woodrow Wilson The World book Multimedia Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.,1996. This was a good overview of his presidency. Woodrow Wilson Infopedia, Future Vision Multimedia Inc., 1995. This was an okay source, not much information.

The International Trade Risks for Global Businesses

Free Essays on China U.s Relations

The main focus of this paper is to analyze the Sino-American relationship and the factors both past and present that make it a complicated and very important issue, as well as future expectations for the development of continued relations. American contact with China in the past has been less than positive and China is a country that values respect and honesty in its value system. China and the USA do not share the same view of the world. There has been much misunderstanding and even underhanded policy when it came to the USA, especially with the changing of our presidents. Clinton was a strong supporter of having Asia involved in the future of America. He urged that China become a part of the World Trade Organization to make the relationship that of a partnership. He had been quoted as referring to China as a strategic partner while Bush described China as a strategic competitor. (Tyler p1) Imagine the shock of China to be turned from favored friend to possible enemy within the period of less than a year. In my opinion this is a relationship that both sides can mutually benefit from however up until this point it has been clouded by great egos and failed policies. This is an extremely important issue to discuss because China is one of the largest nations in terms of billions of people, as well as an upcoming superpower. In the future China will become stronger in terms of production and business, and the USA would be wise not to cause permanent damage by ignoring treaties and past foreign policy. America must remember they cannot change the rules of the game in the middle of playing! America is a democratic nation that values human rights, and in that platform fights a moral war naturally which would put the USA at odds with China on more than one issue. My personal expectations for the future of China and America’s diplomatic relationship is that it will continue to deteriorate if the USA does not find a better way to d... Free Essays on China U.s Relations Free Essays on China U.s Relations The main focus of this paper is to analyze the Sino-American relationship and the factors both past and present that make it a complicated and very important issue, as well as future expectations for the development of continued relations. American contact with China in the past has been less than positive and China is a country that values respect and honesty in its value system. China and the USA do not share the same view of the world. There has been much misunderstanding and even underhanded policy when it came to the USA, especially with the changing of our presidents. Clinton was a strong supporter of having Asia involved in the future of America. He urged that China become a part of the World Trade Organization to make the relationship that of a partnership. He had been quoted as referring to China as a strategic partner while Bush described China as a strategic competitor. (Tyler p1) Imagine the shock of China to be turned from favored friend to possible enemy within the period of less than a year. In my opinion this is a relationship that both sides can mutually benefit from however up until this point it has been clouded by great egos and failed policies. This is an extremely important issue to discuss because China is one of the largest nations in terms of billions of people, as well as an upcoming superpower. In the future China will become stronger in terms of production and business, and the USA would be wise not to cause permanent damage by ignoring treaties and past foreign policy. America must remember they cannot change the rules of the game in the middle of playing! America is a democratic nation that values human rights, and in that platform fights a moral war naturally which would put the USA at odds with China on more than one issue. My personal expectations for the future of China and America’s diplomatic relationship is that it will continue to deteriorate if the USA does not find a better way to d...

Data Analysis Statistics Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Data Analysis - Statistics Project Example Average GDP per capita (2013) of the European Union is computed from the World Bank data and is compared with data for individual countries as reported by the Central Intelligence Agency data (based on purchasing power parity). GDP per capita for the region can, therefore, be computed as follows (The World Bank, 2015). GDP per capita= 17.96 trillion/507 million= $ 35424.06 Hypothesis HO:  µCIA= 35424.06; No significant difference between the two sources, sources are reliable HA:  µCIA≠  35424.06; A significant difference exist, one of the sources is not reliable  µ represents mean The data are on a ratio scale and represents an average output of a country per person per year. Data was collected through observation from existing sources, the World Bank and the Central Intelligence Agency (US), and with European Union countries as the population. The data is with respect to the year 2013 and may not represent the countries’ and the region’s current GDP per capita. Distribution of the countries’ GDP per capita is skewed, positively, and has an outlier in GDP of Luxembourg that was $ 91900. The countries GDP per capita also differed widely as the high values of range ($ 75100) and standard deviation (15237) shows. High concentration of countries occurred in the second and fourth stems. Mean of the countries’ GDP per capita, based on CIA data (34084) is statistically the same as the regional value that the World Bank reported for the same year.

Essay 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

3 - Essay Example â€Å"Liberalism also holds that international politics can be a non-zero-sum game, that it is possible to have win-win situations in which gains of one or more countries do not have to come at the expense of others† (Rourke & Boyer 20). For example, the establishment of the United Nations was meant for all countries to cooperate for mutual gain with each other. Liberalism believes humans have a mutual bond that they can draw on to identify with and forge ties with people around the world. Realism sees that international politics is moved by an ever competitive agenda of self-interest among nations. Realists believe that the decisive dynamic among countries is a struggle for power in an effort by each to preserve or, preferably, improve its military security and economic welfare in competition with other countries (Rourke & Boyer 16). Realism views human beings as naturally divided by a form of national allegiance to their nation or to another focus of national identity such as cultural heritage or religious beliefs. A good example is Chancellor Otto von Bismarcks’s unification of Germany during the 19th century. Bismarck unified the once shattered German nations not for the sake of the spirit of unity, but to form a single and powerful imperial nation as a great power in Western

Manifestation Music Essay Example for Free

Manifestation Music Essay Robert Allen Zimmerman, or Bob Dylan, was born to become a star. As a child he had dreamed of becoming a musical icon which he tried to achieve during his younger years. As part of his ambition to become a famous musician and icon, at age ten, Bob Dylan started to write poems and even taught himself to play the guitar and piano (Millar n. p). His musical style was primarily influenced by Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis which became apparent in the progression of his career. The drive and passion of Bob Dylan in pursuing his musical career escalated when he went to the University of Minnesota where he began to consider the folk and rock songs of artists such as Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie and Robert Johnson (Millar n. p). During his college years, he had a hard time attending schools because of his preoccupation in music. He finally dropped out of college to pursue his dreams. When Bob finally had his break in 1961, he first played folk songs instead of his own desired genre. His first album was not how he expected it to be because he really wanted to do his own songs. However, Bob Dylan turned his situation around in the next albums that he made. His succeeding songs were basically inspired by the profound â€Å"political activism† of the young people during the 1960s (Lemieux 1). The people were very empowered to make a stand and respond to the pressing problems of the society like gender, class, and race. This escalating emotion ultimately paved the way for mass protests and movements for social change. These situations during the 60s also influenced the music of Bob Dylan which is distinctively political in nature. Although Bob would assert that he is more of a social commentator, the people listening to his music are actually receiving a different vibe or perspective (Lemieux 1). Bob Dylans Music One of Bob Dylans most famous songs, â€Å"Blowin in the Wind,† became an anthem in Americas 1960 counterculture. He wrote it during the Vietnam War era as a response to the eventualities and casualties of that period in American history (Mason n. p). The song greatly depicts Bob Dylans observation of the political and social status of the society and how the people tends to shrug-off the escalating problem in the Vietnam crisis which eventually worsened. This is perceived in the second stanza of the song stating: Yes, n how many ears must one man have Before he can hear people cry? Yes, n how many deaths will it take till he knows That too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin in the wind, The answer is blowin in the wind. (Dylan n. p) Aside from the song â€Å"Blowin in the Wind,† Bob Dylan also created another politically inclined song entitled â€Å"The Times They Are A-Changin† (Mason n. p). The song, which was actually written after John F. Kennedy was assassinated also became significant as it expresses the confidence and the hope perceived in the political and social movements during the 60s. As observed in the song, the singer is inviting the people from different walks of life to come together and pursue the future with a glimmer of hope and unity. Moreover, in the latter part of the song, Bob Dylan gave a great amount of effort in creating a beautiful lyrical stanza which encourages the people never to give up and continue looking for the silver lining in their current social instability. Bob Dylan is indeed a great singer during his time. His passion for music and empowering lyrics really enabled the people to make a difference and stand firm for what they believe is right. It is also because of the socio-political awareness imparted by Bob Dylans songs that he was seen by the society as a great protest singer and an inspirational person as well. Works Cited Dylan, Bob. â€Å"Blowin in the Wind. † 1962. 16 May 2008 http://bobdylan. com/songs/blowin. html. Lemieux, Nicole. Bob Dylan and the Sixties: A Social Commentary Reflecting Politics and Existentialism. Diss. Pace University, 2006. Mason, Catharine. â€Å"Bob Dylan: A Biography. † March 2005. Bob Dylans Performance Artistry. 16 May 2008 http://www. unicaen. fr/musa/bob_dylan/bio. htm. Millar, BJ. â€Å"The Life of Bob Dylan. † n. d. 16 May 2008 http://www. angelfire. com/on/dylan/bio. html.

Substance Abuse Treatment Groups Analysis

Substance Abuse Treatment Groups Analysis Patty Stewart Introduction For my assessment, I attended three different substance abuse treatment groups in my local town of Port Huron, Michigan, in the county of St. Clair. The first meeting I attended is at the St. Martin Lutheran Church. The meeting is called the New Horizons Group Discussion and is held every Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Vision of Hope Group meets at the Grace Episcopal Church on Friday evenings where I attended at 7:30 p.m. The final meeting is called Narcotics Anonymous located at the United Methodist Church on Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. For the duration of these meetings I observed silently. Description of the New Horizons Group Discussion The New Horizons Group Discussion was held in the cafeteria area of the S. Martin Lutheran Church located on Chestnut Street in Port Huron. I attended this meeting on Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 7pm. There were folding chairs set out in a circular pattern. On one wall there was a chalkboard with the name of a guest speaker written on it. A table at the entrance to the cafeteria held a stack of flyers with names and locations of other Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for the Port Huron area. In the back of the room was a table with coffee, cookies, and donuts. There were 12 people attending this meeting consisting of nine males and three females. The ages of the members ranged from the mid-twenties to approximately mid to late sixties. Components of the New Horizons Group Discussion This was an open group and I was welcomed to join them without any discrimination. They began the meeting by bowing their heads and reciting the serenity prayer. When the prayer was complete the guest speaker was introduced and took the podium. The guest speaker was an older gentleman who appeared to be in his late sixties. He told the group a little bit about himself and proceeded to tell his story of alcohol addiction to finding his path to recovery. He often used humor which seemed helpful in keeping a calm and relaxing atmosphere. In his story of addiction he talked about the first time he turned to alcohol and that it felt like a spiritual awakening. He felt that it changed his outlook on everything, until he realized his drinking was a necessity and not a choice. He spoke of unity within the AA group and the strength it brought to them. The guest speaker described that they were all a part of something instead of being separate. The Big Book was mentioned while he discussed the concept of getting rid of old ideas to bring clarity. Feelings about the New Horizons Group Discussion I felt comfortable at the New Horizons Group Discussion. The guest speaker was engaging and hearing his story was enlightening. It was easy to see why the meeting was helpful to those who attended. There was a sense of acceptance without judgement. The members knew each other so I felt that they had all likely been attending for some time. There was no lack of support between members which encouraged recovery. When the meeting had ended the members remained there talking amongst each other while enjoying coffee and snacks. I left feeling as though I had just attended a family gathering. Thoughts about the New Horizons Group Discussion According to a study from 2003, group discussions empower individuals and give a sense of community (Linda Fisher, 2003). The guest speaker mentioned having felt a sense of unity within the group and within the community. This group felt very much like family members and, despite being new to the meeting and having no history of substance use, I was welcomed into the group as though I were family as well. There was always acknowledgement of social struggles that have been or need to be overcome. It was encouraged to know the twelve steps and let them guide each and every one of them throughout life. Interaction with the New Horizons Group Discussion I spent very little time interacting with others because I primarily wanted to observe. The little interaction that I did have was all very positive. I was initially concerned that the members would have some animosity towards me for fear they would think I was being judgmental of them but that was not at all the case. They welcomed me into their group and asked me if there was anything in particular that I would like to learn about. When I left they encouraged me to return if I would like to observe another meeting. Self-Reflection of the New Horizons Group Discussion The New Horizons Group Discussion was enjoyable to attend.I was grateful to them for allowing me into their circle and to observe them as they bared their souls to one another. The group had a very relaxed structure and I felt that if I was able to take comfort from that then it was certainly helpful to new incoming addicts. I got the sense that they were there for each other as much as they were there for themselves. No one wanted to let another down. This group was successful in encouraging each other and offering support and resources outside of the meetings as well as inside. Description of the Vision of Hope Group I attended the Vision of Hope Group on September 30, 2016 at 7:30pm. The group was held at the Grace Episcopal Church on 6th Street in Port Huron. This group was a little larger than the last one I had attended with 27 members in attendance. The majority of the members were male. This group had a large number of members over the age of thirty. The meeting was held in the congregation area of the church where the members sat in the pews facing the podium. Upon entering there was a table with refreshments and snacks. A smaller table on the left held brochures of the twelve steps. This meeting is held every Friday at 7:30pm and is an open meeting. The group lingered beforehand socializing amongst each other and welcoming people as they walked in. Components of the Vision of Hope Group The group all sat filling the first couple pews in the front and in close proximity of one another. They began by holding hands and reciting the serenity prayer. The group leader then took a moment to congratulate everyone for their arrival and thanked them for their attendance. She stressed the importance of attendance, and as a study in 2008 has shown, regular AA attendance is associated with improved effectiveness in sobriety (Gossop, 2008). The group leader then proceeded to read aloud the twelve steps, she spent a few minutes discussing the importance of acceptance of being powerless over alcohol is key to acknowledging the addiction. She continued to tell her story of addiction and road to recovery. When she finished her story she then opened the podium to others. One by one they took turns discussing their own journey and which of the twelve steps they are currently at. A few members opted to decline speaking which appeared to be ok with everyone. At the end of the meeting the group leader reminded everyone of outside sources available and offered her continued support. Feelings about the Vision of Hope Group The general feeling at the Vision of Hope Group meeting was that of acceptance. Everyone was friendly and outgoing. It could be felt from the moment I entered the building that I was entering a place of community. There was a lot of encouragement and support being given to one another. As an outsider, I was still treated with respect and they were all very generous to offer their time to answer any questions I might have. There was a lot of close interactions between them and I could see that some of them knew each other outside of the meeting. As stated in a recent study, individuals uniting around one common goal are stronger than individuals facing difficulties alone (Shealy White, 2013). Thoughts about the Vision of Hope Group I enjoyed the Vision of Hope Group meeting. Allowing everyone the opportunity to discuss their own daily struggles was encouraging to others and yet it never felt like an obligation for anyone to discuss anything if they didnt chose to. As an outsider, I appreciated hearing about the twelve steps from the perspective of the group. I really liked the amount of support that was offered to everyone from the group leader, but also between group members. I was able to see that although they all face similar struggles, they all came from very different backgrounds. It was clear to see that despite having overcome many obstacles they still face new challenges every day in regards to their addiction to alcohol. Interaction with the Vision of Hope Group The members of the Vision of Hope Group were all very open and honest about their struggles with alcohol. Despite being a new face in the crowd they continued to be open with me present. A few members approached me when the meeting ended and offered to give me further insight to addiction and recovery. I could see that some members have been attending longer than others by how comfortable they appeared to be. Overall, there was an obvious sense of community amongst this group. Self-Reflection of the Vision of Hope Group This group had a very relaxed feel to it. Many of the individuals had grown very close with one another and created a sense of family. Because of this, it was easy to feel at ease when joining this group. I felt that some of the members were also members of the church that this meeting was held in. The group, as a whole, encouraged me to recommend this meeting to anyone I knew in need of support. Description of Narcotics Anonymous meeting The Narcotics Anonymous meeting is held at the United Methodist Church on Church Street in Port Huron. I attended the meeting on Saturday, October 15th 2016 at 8pm. This meeting is held weekly and is an open group. The meeting was held in the basement of the church. There was a long rectangular table set up with chairs around it at one end of the room. At the opposite end of the room there was an attached kitchen with a counter separating the two rooms. On the counter there was a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cookies. On the main table where people sat, there were copies of the Narcotics Anonymous handbook. The group had around twenty five people in attendance. The ages of the group ranged between people in their twenties to people in their mid to late fifties. There was a white board with a circle drawn on it that had a diamond in the center. Below that were three simple words that read Just for Today. Components of the Narcotics Anonymous meeting At this meeting the group leader discussed the twelve steps of NA. The focus of the meeting that particular day was step six, Group conscience is the spiritual means by which we invite a loving God to influence our decisions (Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc, 1991). The group leader talked about addiction being more powerful than the individual and that its important to hand themselves over to a higher power. This was a very spiritually based meeting. As the members each took turns speaking it was clear to see that they were pained by the way addiction has taken over their lives. They talked about the comfort they gained from knowing they are not alone in their fight against addiction. Many spoke of stressful situations triggering cravings for drugs. Feelings about the Narcotics Anonymous meeting Attending this group meeting felt much different than the AA meetings I had attended. The members in this group appeared pained as they spoke of their addiction. I felt helpless hearing their stories and wished I could do something to ease their pain. They placed a lot of emphasis on goals and the need to strive for them in order to conquer addiction. Goals work best when broken down into manageable steps (Kim T. Mueser, 2003). Thoughts about the Narcotics Anonymous meeting This group was as supportive as the others I attended, but the feeling was more somber. My thoughts are that those addicted to substances other than alcohol may feel more hopeless in living a normal life. The connections between the members in this group were not as strong as I had seen in AA groups, perhaps due to the different struggles they all face. There was evidence, however, that they appreciated having a place they can talk about their addiction without judgement from others. Interaction with Narcotics Anonymous meeting Most of the people in attendance spoke to the group and told their story. Each person discussed their addiction and described how it has impacted their life. Some had shown further progress than others in their recovery. The group leader was understanding and yet objective. He was very good at keeping the momentum of the meeting going. When the meeting was finished some members remained and spoke to the group leader for additional support. Self-Reflection of the Narcotics Anonymous meeting This was a difficult meeting to attend. The sense of hope wasnt as prominent within this group. There was a lot of encouragement from the group leader and from some of the members, but it lacked in additional outside resources for others to look into. I felt like there needed to be more motivation given, possibly hearing more success stories. Conclusion Having attended the three different meetings I can clearly see the benefit to support groups. There is an unlimited supply of support given to one another both inside the meetings and out. Everyone I met had a different background, different lifestyle, and different story to tell. Addiction isnt prejudice. People of all ages and walks of life can come together and offer unity and family to help one another in their battle against addiction. I learned that there are different types of meetings and that with a little bit of time, an addict can find one that fits them and gives them the amount of support and encouragement they need. References Gossop, M. S. (2008). Attendance at Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, frequency of attendance and substance use outcomes after residential treatment for drug dependence: a 5-year follow-up study. Addiction, 119-125. Kim T. Mueser, D. L. (2003). Integrated Treatment for Dual Disorders. New York: The Guilford Press. Linda, F. K., Fisher, M. (2003). Participation in community life by AA and NA members. Contemporary Drug Problems, 875-904. Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (1991). Retrieved from Narcotics Anonymous: www.na.org Shealy, S. A., White, L. A. (2013). INTEGRAL EVOLUTIONARY RECOVERY: Revisioning the Twelve Steps through a Kosmocentric Lens. Journal of Integral Theory and Practice, 66-81.