The Practice And History Of Alchemy Chemistry Essay

The Practice And History Of Alchemy Chemistry Essay Alchemy, derived from the Arabic word al-kimia (ØلكÙÅ  Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒâ„¢Ã…  ÃƒËœÃƒËœÃ‚ ¡, ALA-LC: al-kÄ «miyÄ ), is both a philosophy and an ancient practice focused on the attempt to change base metals into gold, investigating the preparation of the elixir of longevity, and achieving ultimate wisdom, involving the improvement of the alchemist as well as the making of several substances described as possessing unusual properties. The practical aspect of alchemy can be viewed as a protoscience, having generated the basics of modern inorganic chemistry, namely concerning procedures, equipment and the identification and use of many current substances. Alchemy has been practiced in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), India, Persia (modern Iran), China, Japan, Korea, the classical Greco-Roman world, the medieval Islamic world, and then medieval Europe up to the 20th century and 21st Century, in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2,500 years. HISTORY What existed before modern Chemistry? After the death of Alexander the Great of Macedon (323 B.C.), much of the conquered territories in the Persian Empire that were located in the Middle East and northern Africa, began to dissolve. Ptolemy, one of Alexanders generals, established a kingdom on the coast-line of Egypt. As its capital, Alexandria was considered to be one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world at that time; Ptolemy and Ptolemy II founded the Temple to The Muses, otherwise known as The Museum, to continue scholarly activities and studies of the day. The Museum could be considered an equivalent to a university or a research institution by todays standards. At the Temple of The Muses, Greek philosophy, considered to be the basis for western-scientific ideas and reasoning, fused with local Egyptian khemeia, the ancient art, religion, and ceremonies of embalming the dead to create Greek-Egyptian khemia. Because the art of khemeia had been shrouded in mysticism, religion, and the secretive language of obscure symbols, common people were afraid of the practitioners and their seemingly dangerous yet powerful knowledge of chemicals. There were two major unfortunate byproducts of Greek-Egyptian khemeia that were a result of these cryptic practices and obscure languages and symbols. First, the secretive nature of this field slowed its progression so that no one could profit from anothers mistakes or learn from anothers brilliance. Secondly, anyone who spoke in the obscure languages and symbols of Greek- Egyptian khemeia couldnt be understood, so just about anyone who could make up nonsensical words could pass as a scholar. As time passed, Greek-Egyptian khemeia began to fall further into obscurity, where shadowy practices of wizardry, magic, and sorcery seemed to flourish in mysticism. Of these, a Greek- Egyptian by the name of Bolos of Mendes (c. 200 B.C.) promised a tool which would allow for ways of turning common metals, such as lead and iron, into gold and silver. Although it was not completely understood how this would be done, this tool, referred to as The Philosophers Stone, was the dream of many. Although The Philosophers Stone has never been found, the actual search for it has assisted in the study of metallurgy and methodologies of modern day chemistry by refining many of the practical laboratory techniques, skills, and glassware that are still used today, such as those used in distillation, filtration, crystallization, coagulation, evaporation, and extraction. In 4th century A.D., because Roman Emperor Diocletian feared that a cheap source of silver and gold could bankrupt the already shaky Roman economy and Pope Zosimuss recognition that Greek-Egyptian khemeia was a practice of pagan learning, little was done to stop the destruction of the Alexandrian Museum and its libraries by Christian riots. As a result, the study of Greek-Egyptian khemeia went underground and would remain as a hidden practice until the 7th century, where it emerged in the middle-east. In the early 7th century, Arabic tribes unified and began to conquer much of the middle-east, western Asia, and northern Africa. These conquering armies soon began to march on Eastern Europe, where the inhabitants of Constantinople, with the help of a khemeia practicing Greek-Egyptian named Callinicus, used Greek fire as a form of defense against the intruders (670 A.D.). Greek Fire, a flammable mixture of sulphur, namptha, and quicklime, was placed into a bronze tube, mounted on a castle wall or the bow of a ship, and was lit by a torch to spout fire at anyone who approached. Although this method was able to stave off some of the attacks by land and sea, the Arabic forces soon gained control of Constantinople, discovered the philosophy of Greek science, and began to utilize the practices of Greek-Egyptian khemeia for their benefit. In Arabic, Greek-Egyptian khemeia was translated into the term al-kimiya, flourishing not only as a science of metallurgy, but with the guidance of Jabir ibn-Hayann (c.760-815A.D.), its use in medicine as well. It was Al-Razi (c.850- 925A.D.), however, who perfected the use of plaster of Paris in mending broken bone, His meticulous ability to logically organize his notes and writings showed the importance of clarity with laboratory procedures to the point where he became the first to document and describe the comparisons between smallpox and chickenpox. Many of his works were translated into Latin nearly 600 years later and made an impact on lab methodologies of performing medicine and other experimental research that are still used today. With all of the practical aspects that al-kimiya had to offer, it always had a way of returning to the mystical and what we may refer to today as non-scientific practices. Not only was there a search for The Philosophers Stone, but with a broadened focus on medicines within al-kimiya, finding a single cure for all sicknesses, The Elixir or Life, and discovering a potion for maintaining youth, The Fountain of Youth, became some of the new mystical treasures. With these new promises of magical discovery, al-kimiya remained in a shroud of mystery and the study of chemicals was still considered a dark craft. As western European Crusaders clashed with Arabic Armies in the southern and eastern Europe, an intermingling of ideas and different cultures gave way to growth and appreciation of Arabic arts, science, and mathematics in the west. By the time the last Moorish strongholds in Western Europe were pushed from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century, it became ever so clear that the Latin translations of Arabic sciences and mathematics would forever change the west, thus bringing a close to The Medieval Ages and an opening to the Scientific Renaissance. Known as alchemy, by the Latin translation from the Arabic term al-kimiya, its practice thrived in Europe after being gone for nearly 800 years. Although it was still considered pagan learning in some circles, it thrived in underground communities where the search for the three mystic treasures of The Philosophers Stone, the Elixir of Life, and the Fountain of Youth continued. As Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493-1541A.D.), better known as Paracelsus, studied the medical works of earlier alchemists, in particular Al-Razi, he believed that searching for cures by alchemical means could have a large impact on medicine, also. Until Paracelsus, only organic plant preparations were used for cures and remedies in treating diseases, but he believed that minerals synthesized in the lab were the key to the future of health care. Although he gained many followers, his efforts wouldnt be recognized by traditional European medicine, since he was considered an alchemist. In fact, it would be well over a century after his death until others would recognize his efforts and put them into practice. One of Paracelsus followers and fellow practitioner of alchemy, Andreas Libau (1540-1616A.D.), wanted to bring more clarity and rationality to this field. In 1597 he published ALCHEMIA, which summarized medieval achievements of alchemy, writing with clarity and with minimal mysticism. When theories based upon mysticism were unavoidable, he would reluctantly include them and refer to them as Paracelsians. This book was revolutionary for the field of medicine, the emerging field of a more scientific-based alchemy, and for western science in general because it was one of the first known attempts in separating scientific facts of chemistry from mysticism. Like Al-Razi, Andreas Libau set a standard for alchemists by documentation of important laboratory methods and skills in the preparation of medicinal chemicals within his publications, explaining how mineral salts and acids could be used as curing ailments. It wasnt until Johann Rudolf Glauber (1604-1668A.D.), however, that laboratory method and procedures would lead to the synthesis of Sodium Sulfate, Na2SO4 .10H2O(s), also known as Glaubers Salt. He found that it not only made a mild laxative for medicinal purposes, but when produced in mass quantities it could be commercialized to the general public to make a profit. Etymology The word alchemy derives from the Old French alquimie, which is from the Medieval Latin alchimia, and which is in turn from the Arabic al-kimia (ØلكÙÅ  Ãƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒâ„¢Ã…  ÃƒËœÃƒËœÃ‚ ¡). This term itself is derived from the Ancient Greek chemeia (à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±) with the addition of the Arabic definite article al- (ØÙ„Ùâ‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ½).It used to be thought that the ancient Greek word was originally derived in its turn from Chemia (ÃŽÃŽÂ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±), a version of the Egyptian name for Egypt, which was itself based on the Ancient Egyptian word kÄâ€Å"me (hieroglyphic Khmi, black earth, as opposed to desert sand). Some now think that the word originally derived from chumeia (à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ãƒ Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±) meaning mixture and referring to pharmaceutical chemistry. With the later rise of alchemy in Alexandria, the word may have been mistakenly thoug ht by ancient writers to derive from ÃŽÃŽÂ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±, and thus became spelt as à Ã¢â‚¬ ¡ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ·ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¼ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ µÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ¯ÃƒÅ½Ã‚ ±, and the original meaning forgotten. The question of the etymology of the word alchemy is still open, and recent research indicates that the Egyptian derivation of the word may be valid. Alchemy as a philosophical and spiritual discipline Alchemy became known as the spagyric art after Greek words meaning to separate and to join together in the 16th century, the word probably being coined by Paracelsus. Compare this with one of the dictums of Alchemy in Latin: Solve et Coagula   Separate, and Join Together (or dissolve and coagulate). The best-known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold (called chrysopoeia) or silver (less well known is plant alchemy, or spagyric); the creation of a panacea, or the elixir of life, a remedy that, it was supposed, would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely; and the discovery of a universal solvent. Although these were not the only uses for the discipline, they were the ones most documented and well-known. Certain Hermetic schools argue that the transmutation of lead into gold is analogical for the transmutation of the physical body (Saturn or lead) into (Gold) with the goal of attaining immortality. This is described as Internal Alchemy. Starting with the Middle Ages, Persian and European alchemists invested much effort in the search for the philosophers stone, a legendary substance that was believed to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. Pope John XXII issued a bull against alchemical counterfeiting, and the C istercians banned the practice amongst their members. In 1403, Henry IV of England banned the practice of Alchemy. In the late 14th century, Piers the Ploughman and Chaucer both painted unflattering pictures of Alchemists as thieves and liars. By contrast, Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, in the late 16th century, sponsored various alchemists in their work at his court in Prague. It is a popular belief that Alchemists made contributions to the chemical industries of the day-ore testing and refining, metalworking, production of gunpowder, ink, dyes, paints, cosmetics, leather tanning, ceramics, glass manufacture, preparation of extracts, liquors, and so on (it seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the water of life, was a fairly popular experiment among European alchemists). Alchemists contributed distillation to Western Europe. The double origin of Alchemy in Greek philosophy as well as in Egyptian and Mesopotamian technology set, from the start, a double approach: the technological, operative one, which Marie-Louise von Franz call extravert, and the mystic, contemplative, psychological one, which von Franz names as introvert. These are not mutually exclusive, but complementary instead, as meditation requires practice in the real world, and conversely. Several early alchemists, such as Zosimos of Panopolis, are recorded as viewing alchemy as a spiritual discipline, and, in the Middle Ages, metaphysical aspects, substances, physical states, and molecular material processes as mere metaphors for spiritual entities, spiritual states, and, ultimately, transformations. In this sense, the literal meanings of Alchemical Formulas were a blind, hiding their true spiritual philosophy, which being at odds with the Medieval Christian Church was a necessity that could have otherwise led them to the stake and rack of the Inquisition under charges of heresy. Thus, both the transmutation of common metals into gold and the universal panacea symbolized evolution from an imperfect, diseased, corruptible, and ephemeral state towards a perfect, healthy, incorruptible, and everlasting state; and the philosophers stone then represented a mystic key that would make this evolution possible. Applied to the alchemist himself, the twin goal symbolized his evo lution from ignorance to enlightenment, and the stone represented a hidden spiritual truth or power that would lead to that goal. In texts that are written according to this view, the cryptic alchemical symbols, diagrams, and textual imagery of late alchemical works typically contain multiple layers of meanings, allegories, and references to other equally cryptic works; and must be laboriously decoded in order to discover their true meaning. Psychology Alchemical symbolism has been occasionally used by psychologists and philosophers. Carl Jung reexamined alchemical symbolism and theory and began to show the inner meaning of alchemical work as a spiritual path. Alchemical philosophy, symbols and methods have enjoyed something of a renaissance in post-modern contexts. Jung saw alchemy as a Western proto-psychology dedicated to the achievement of individuation. In his interpretation, alchemy was the vessel by which Gnosticism survived its various purges into the Renaissance, a concept also followed by others such as Stephan A. Hoeller. In this sense, Jung viewed alchemy as comparable to Yoga of the East, as and more adequate to the Western mind than Eastern religions and philosophies. The practice of Alchemy seemed to change the mind and spirit of the Alchemist. Conversely, spontaneous changes on the mind of Western people undergoing any important stage in individuation seems to produce, on occasion, imagery known to Alchemy and relevant to the persons situation. His interpretation of Chinese alchemical texts in terms of his analytical psychology also served the function of comparing Eastern and Western alchemical imagery and core concepts and hence its possible inner sources (archetypes). Marie-Louise von Franz, a disciple of Jung, continued Jungs studies on Alchemy and its psychological meaning. Alchemy as a subject of historical research The history of alchemy has become a vigorous academic field. As the obscure hermetic language of the alchemists is gradually being deciphered, historians are becoming more aware of the intellectual connections between that discipline and other facets of Western cultural history, such as the sociology and psychology of the intellectual communities, kabbalism, spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, and other mystic movements, cryptography, witchcraft, and the evolution of science and philosophy. Modern connections to alchemy Persian alchemy was a forerunner of modern scientific chemistry. Alchemists used many of the same laboratory tools that are used today. These tools were not usually sturdy or in good condition, especially during the medieval period of Europe. Many transmutation attempts failed when alchemists unwittingly made unstable chemicals. This was made worse by the unsafe conditions in which the alchemists worked. Up to the 16th century, alchemy was considered serious science in Europe; for instance, Isaac Newton devoted considerably more of his writing to the study of alchemy (see Isaac Newtons occult studies) than he did to either optics or physics, for which he is famous. Other eminent alchemists of the Western world are Roger Bacon, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Tycho Brahe, Thomas Browne, and Parmigianino. The decline of alchemy began in the 18th century with the birth of modern chemistry, which provided a more precise and reliable framework for matter transmutations and medicine, within a new grand design of the universe based on rational materialism. Alchemy in traditional medicine Traditional medicines involve transmutation by alchemy, using pharmacological or a combination of pharmacological and spiritual techniques. In Chinese medicine the alchemical traditions of pao zhi will transform the nature of the temperature, taste, body part accessed or toxicity. In Ayurveda the samskaras are used to transform heavy metals and toxic herbs in a way that removes their toxicity. These processes are actively used to the present day. Nuclear transmutation In 1919, Ernest Rutherford used artificial disintegration to convert nitrogen into oxygen. From then on, this sort of scientific transmutation has been routinely performed in many nuclear physics-related laboratories and facilities, like particle accelerators, nuclear power stations and nuclear weapons as a by-product of fission and other physical processes. In literature Sir Thomas Malory uses Alchemy as a motif that underlies the personal, psychological, and aesthetic development of Sir Gareth of Orkney in Le Morte dArthur .Sir Gareths quest parallels the process of Alchemy in that he first undergoes the nigredo phase by defeating the black knight and wearing his armor. After this, Gareth defeats knights representing the four elements, thereby subsuming their power. In fighting and defeating the Red Knight (the overall purpose of his quest) he undergoes and passes the rubedo phase. Gareth, toward the end of his quest, accepts a ring from his paramour, Lyoness, which transforms his armor into being multicolored. This alludes to the panchromatic philosophers stone, and while he is in multicolored armor, he is unbeatable. A play by Ben Jonson, the Alchemist, is a satirical and skeptical take on the subject. Part 2 of Goethes Faust, is full of alchemical symbolism. According to Hermetic Fictions: Alchemy and Irony in the Novel (Keele University Press, 1995), by David Meakin, alchemy is also featured in such novels and poems as those by William Godwin, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Emile Zola, Jules Verne, Marcel Proust, Thomas Mann, Hermann Hesse, James Joyce, Gustav Meyrink, Lindsay Clarke, Marguerite Yourcenar, Umberto Eco, Michel Butor, Paulo Coelho, Amanda Quick, Gabriel Garcà ­a Marquez and Maria Szepes. Hilary Mantel, in her novel Fludd (1989, Penguin), mentions the spagyric art. After separation, drying out, moistening, dissolving, coagulating, fermenting, comes purification, recombination: the creation of substances the world until now has never beheld. This is the opus contra naturem, this is the spagyric art, this is the Alchymical Wedding. In Dantes Inferno, it is placed within the Tenth ring of the 8th circle. In Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, there are several references to Nicholas Flamel, and a stone that could turn metal into gold and create an elixir of immortality was sought after by both the villains and Harry and friends, for different reasons. In contemporary art In the twentieth century alchemy was a profoundly important source of inspiration for the Surrealist artist Max Ernst, who used the symbolism of alchemy to inform and guide his work. M.E. Warlick wrote his Max Ernst and Alchemy describing this relationship in detail. Contemporary artists use alchemy as inspiring subject matter, like Odd Nerdrum, whose interest has been noted by Richard Vine, and the painter Michael Pearce, whose interest in alchemy dominates his work. His works Fama and the Aviators Dream particularly express alchemical ideas in a painted allegory. The Rise and Demise of Phlogiston, the Birth of Modern Chemistry, and the importance of Measurement Chemistry (1600A.D. to present) Originated and published by J. J. Becher in the late 17th century journal Opuscula Chymica Rariora, roughly translated as The Work of Rare Chemistry, it was known as the first attempts to explain chemical burning and rusting. Becher said that many common day materials contained a substance called phlogiston, translated from Greek, meaning to set on fire. G. E. Stahl, a medical doctor of the same time period and a proponent of phlogiston, explained in a separate publication that: all inflammable objects contained phlogiston which made it possible for them to burn, and as the object burned, phlogiston was poured out into the air. Wood and coal contained a great deal of it, the ashes left after burning did not. Since communication of scientific discoveries was now common place, Stahl supported his theory with meticulous laboratory procedures and qualitative observations. Some of the qualitative observations he made while burning phlogiston rich substances are listed below: 1. Flames extinguish in airtight space because air becomes saturated with phlogiston. 2. Charcoal leaves little residue upon burning because it is nearly pure phlogiston. 3. Mice die in airtight space because air saturates with phlogiston. Phlogiston was considered to be a massless or near massless substance, since no measurement device had ever existed that could experimentally measure it. Because of this inability to quantify the mass of phlogiston, qualitative experimentation, which was limited to the description of the five human senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch, was the only way in which the phlogiston theory could be supported. Another qualitative evidence of phlogiston theory was the white powder residue or rust that was found on the surface of tin after it was heated in the air. Also referred to as calx, meaning limestone, it was believed that this is what remained after phlogiston left the tin metal. Working from previous tin experiments, Antoine Lavoisier (1743- 1794A.D.), a master of building precision instrumentation, attempted to determine the mass of phlogiston with a mass balance that he had manufactured. After evacuating air from a glass vessel that contained tin Filings, he then sealed and began to heat it on his precision mass balance. If the phlogiston theory were correct, he could open the vessel let the phlogiston escape, and finally quantify a value that had eluded scientists for 5 decades. As Lavoisier opened the heated glass vessel, he instead measured a small increase in mass, which went against the phlogiston theory altogether. Although other scientists who held steadfast to the phlogiston theory would make rebuttals that phlogiston must then have a negative mass, these attempts would fall short as other experiments that utilized precision measurements began to compile. For the first time in history, Lavoisier showed that a carefully designed experiment using precision measurement technology could be used as evidence to disprove a theory. More important than disproving the phlogiston theory was the realization that precision instruments yielded important quantitative information about the field of chemistry. Less than a decade later, Lavoisier published his Elementary Treatise of Chemistry (1789), which is considered the first modern chemistry textbook. In it, one could find a well documented view of The Law of Conservation of Mass and the rejection of the existence of phlogiston, along with various new chemistry theories and laboratory techniques that relied upon BOTH qualitative descriptions and quantitative measurements with the help of measurement technology. It not to say that Lavoisier had all the correct theories within his treatise, but rather that the field of modern day chemistry would emerge, depending more heavily upon precision measurements of chemical phenomena rather than the mystical notions of alchemy, like phlogiston and the three mystic treasures.

Responding to the Ethical Challenges faced by Nike Essay

1.The company (Nike) lacked the ability to monitor the working conditions of their suppliers’ factories. Due to the fact that competitor companies were buying in on their suppliers they didn’t have an advantage or edge to monitor the poor working conditions in these factories. They were disparaged upon by the UN and NGO’s for having their products manufactured in countries where working conditions were poor and there was no monitoring of proper treatment of employees and enforcement of Human Rights. The Korean suppliers, who represented Nike, were accused by labor activist and NGO’s of  being abusive to workers. This by itself was against â€Å"The Nike Code of Conduct.† 2.The Nike Corporation also faced issued with NGO’s and labor activists about paying workers low wages in Indonesia. Their Korean suppliers didn’t not pay workers the minimum wage and tried to cheat the Indonesian government by pleading economic hardship, so that they wouldn’t have to pay the workers a mere $ 1.00 US equivalent pay. When accused of what was occurring, a general manager didn’t think that it was the company’s function to monitor labor violations. However in a major turnaround and I am sure after that manager being reprimanded for that statement and disregard for the company’s ethics, they instructed the Indonesian suppliers to increase the workers pay. 3.They faced problems with Child Labor in Pakistan. In June of 1996, Life Magazine put Nike in the midst of misery, which caused an array of accusations about child labor. They published a photo of a 12 year old boy, stitching a soccer ball. Sialkot a city in Pakistan produces soccer balls for Nike and their competitors. However, due to the uproar by NGO’s, trade unions and consumer groups they prompted to impose sanctions against the purchasing of this product by the company. The company in turn, took a big hit and learned a lesson in globalization, human rights, international labor laws and their corporate responsibility. 4.Their operations in Vietnam posed some environmental, health and safety issues. One of their Korean contractors (again) operating in Vietnam was faced in a dilemma where and NGO help spur an audit by Ernst and Young which found high levels of Toulene, which is very hazardous chemical that causes damage to the CNS, liver, kidney and causes eye and skin irritations. The chemical was released in the plant which posed a threat to the health of workers. Employees were not given proper PPE. This was in direct violation of OSHA standards and also again, â€Å"The Nike Code of Conduct.† 5.Nike’s negative outlook to their stakeholders about their suppliers posed a serious threat to the organization. Even though their suppliers were the ones that were involved in these ethical issues, it still reflected on the company. Consumers are concerned only with a brand and not a supplier behind the brand. Also, Nike was responsible for their suppliers’ actions due to them not monitoring their working standards, payroll, human rights etc. Due to all the negative media, NGO and consumer attention, it caused Nike to loose some contracts with various universities supply them with uniforms, equipment and footwear etc. In response to my friend’s questions about the validity of the claims that are against Nike, I would first have to tell him that I value the integrity of my employer. But since this question asks me what I would say privately, and we are close friends, I would be somewhat try honest to him, and tell him how I felt, only because the information that was stated in these claims were made public due to avid media coverage and the audit conducted by Ernst and Young. Being that the claims are valid I would tell him about my feelings based only on the information available to the public. I would initially ask him to tell me how much he knows and then based on that make an analysis of the situation, and think about ethically what I am privy to say or talk about, being that I am still employed with the organization and the terms of which we uphold or code of conduct. I would address each argument specifically based on the allegations that we are faced with to the best of my knowledge and maintain a clear and concise goal of keeping in mind my reliability to my employer. Being that we are being blamed for infractions carried out by a supplier I would let my friend know that, we were not aware of the situation at hand at the moment but we are looking into it because we support Human Rights, Child Labor laws, Unionization and fair wage system. Our corporate code of conduct, â€Å"The Nike Code of Conduct† is available to anyone who wishes to know about it, so I would tell my friend that this is what our company stands by and since my employment with the company I have known that they are in effect and enforced. Being that we were not able to physically be present in Indonesia, Pakistan and the other countries of which this accused supplier has  committed these Human Rights violations on employees, and stress again that we were unaware of th e situation, how can we be blamed. I will also be sure to reinforce to him the fact that he should know that when the media gets a hint of information that could lead to the allegations of a multi-billion dollar organization how they could make an â€Å"ant look like an elephant.† Also, upon learning of such violations and treatment of these workers, my organization stepped in and not only reprimanded this supplier for trying to cheat the government of Indonesia out of paying minimum wage, but also to the workers. Based on our coalition with NGO’s and our commitment to corporate responsibility I would be sure to inform him that we have created teams such as an action team to monitor environmental, health and safety issues. We also developed teams to monitor the labor rules and working conditions of the workers of our suppliers in these third world countries. Hence, if we fell short on our monitoring tactics, our involvement with labor activists, NGO’s and the UN will make sure that we manage our mistakes that were made due to these allegations. Being that this is my close friend, I have to keep in mind that I am an employee first to this company and while I am employed there. If I say the wrong thing, or he perceives it in the wrong way I could stand to loose my job or possibly be deemed a whistleblower to the organization. Regardless of the fact, Nike was blamed indirectly for these violations but they still took the responsibility to try and correct their mistakes that the organization should have been aware of. I am sure that if my friend is a â€Å"good friend† they would or should understand that I cannot violate my principles. Other than that based on the support of the allegations made to the company I am sure he would be more educated now that I gave him my insight on the claims. The triple bottom strategy that I would suggest that Nike employ would be being more conscientious to environmental, health and safety issues, ethical issues with regards to their stakeholders and share holders (internal and external) and Human Rights. Although their corporate code of conduct addresses this, they need to reinforce their standards to avoid the type of situations that was discussed in this case study. In reference to IKEA approach to their ethical practice, had Nike been more  observant about the issues with the supplier after the first incident occurred the others could have probably been avoided. When IKEA learned of what was occurring with the supplier towards the working conditions, environmental issues and the Human Rights Violations regarding Child labor, they stepped in to rectify the situation immediately. Nike only did so after labor activists, NGO’s and trade unions etc got involved. From my analysis of things, they should have been more proactive rather than reactive. Starbucks approach to things was somewhat similar to IKEA, but Starbucks stressed their commitment to social responsibility by way of thinking about their stakeholders. Nike on the other hand, seemed to be more dedicated to their shareholders the production of merchandise. They did accomplish being a multi-billion dollar company in a short space of time, but at what expense? It came with huge repercussions of Human Rights violations in the form of child labor and underpaid workers. They didn’t address these issues in the right manner, something that Starbucks did and overcame the allegations against them. Nike needs to delegate these issues in their organization accordingly to enforce labor laws and environmental laws to their suppliers. In this case study, the supplier was based in Korea, but had operations in Indonesia, Pakistan and other third world countries. They went into these countries, tried to manipulate the government by way of cheating them into allowing workers to get below minimum wage. Also, standards in the workplace were not enforced in the proper manner. The organization needs to supply workers with the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is mandated by Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). The company also needs to maintain a proper relationship with the different NGO’s, labor commissions, trade unions and consumer activists in these countries. This can aid them in the monitoring processes of these suppliers to ensure that issues are being handled in the right way. It can also help save costs that the company pays to monitors, for example contractors. Nike can implement the money they save into a program that handles the ethical issues of workers, because I am sure they don’t have a human resources  department and an ethics commission to contact with their matters of concern. I am sure that this could increase their productivity employee. Hopefully the company learns from their past mistakes that they should not only be concerned with their shareholders but about the stakeholders as well. I believe that external and internal customers make up a business or organization and each has a vital role to play in it success or downfall. In this case, lack of attention to the working conditions and wages of the workers (shareholders could probably led to the ultimate downfall of the company. Nike has many competitors that can slowly overtake them in the consumer market. Human rights play a major role in consumer decisions in the 21st century. Evidence of this was found in the study whereby when the consumer activists learned about what was going on they boycotted purchasing the soccer balls due to child labor. References Locke M. Richard et al. (2002). The Promise and Perils of Globalization: The Case of Nike. Retrieved from http://www.caseplace.org/cases/cases_show.htm?doc_id=274259 Bartlett A. Christopher et al. (2006). IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor (A). Retrieved from MGT 213 Ethics and the Market Place – Northeastern University (Course Material) Argenti A. Paul. (2004). Collaborating with Activists: HOW STARBUCKS WORKS WITH NGOs. Retrieved from MGT 213 Ethics and the Market Place – Northeastern University (Course Material)

The Abstract Essay Samples Pitfall

The Abstract Essay Samples Pitfall The Battle Over Abstract Essay Samples and How to Win It Abstract essay samples are normally short, written in about a couple of paragraphs. Essay abstract examples begin with the function of the writing. In the event the Abstract is poorly written or if it's boring then it's not going to encourage a possible reader to devote the time reading your work. Instead, the abstract will incorporate the key points mentioned in the essay in addition to any conclusions that are drawn. The cost of an essay depends upon the quantity of effort the writer has to exert. Our writers have specialized in a wide selection of subjects. If your grasp of language isn't richly idiomatic, writing abstracts or any different type of essay can be hard. Now you are ready to get started writing your own annotated bibliography. Familiar essay writing is a trying undertaking which is the reason why many students don't submit a great version of it. By the moment you complete the essay writing procedure, you will know what things to utilize in abstract to perfectly describe your work. Luckily, you have our top-class group of writers who can assist students and teach them how to select the most suitable essay direction. Therefore, many students and employees decide to get cheap essay rather than writing it themselves. Abstract Essay Samples Secrets If you're writing an informative abstract, you are going to describe the outcomes of your research. It's safe to conclude an informational abstract communicates particulars of the lab report or experiment. In the event the research isn't complete yet, you can consist of preliminary outcomes or theory about the possible outcome. If relevant, it's possible to briefly make suggestions for additional research. The Fundamentals of Abstract Essay Samples Revealed There's no shortcut on the best way to compose an abstract for a lab report. Descriptive Abstract A descriptive abstract indicates the sort of information found in the job. The abstract should tell a condensed version of the entire story, and it should only consist of information that may be discovered in the primary text. As stated in the former section, the abstract you write depends upon its goal. The True Meaning of Abstract Essay Samples Naturally, before you may write an abstract, you require a paper to summarize in it. If you don't do that, it's said you've plagiarized the paper. Following that, you proceed through the paper and compose the abstract. Think about an abstract as a highly condensed overview of your whole paper. Abstract writing is just one of the important processes involved with writing a research paper. Ideally, you need to focus on introducing facts and making sure a reader will find the obvious picture of the topic presented by means of your research paper. In addition, your cover and bibliography pages are prepared at no cost. Before writing the abstract, you want to first identify the main reason why you will need to write this, and the role of writing the full paper. Without regard to the fact your familiar essay reflects your own ideas and ideas it still needs to stick to a particular structure and organize your paper in the right way. Academic papers can't contain any signals of plagiarism. To compose a strong argumentative essay, students should start by familiarizing themselves with a number of the common, and frequently conflicting, positions on the research topic so they can write an educated paper. It's well worth noting that the kind of abstract a student writes strongly depends on the sort of paper. Want to Know More About Abstract Essay Samples? For instance, women judges shouldn't be reduced to women. If you must compose an abstract, it's not any reason to panic in any way. In some instances, you can reach a place where you are able to give up. Besides some elements your abstract has to contain, there are a few things you ought to avoid.

Men versus Women - 1650 Words

Whenever you ask a man who is supposed to be the head of the house, 9 times out of 10 he will say that men are supposed to be. Some Men believe that they are the ones who are supposed to run everything and the women are just supposed to follow them. However, throughout this whole interpretation the women are supposed to act like dogs and supposed to just follow them around and listen to whatever they say. Most men think this way and it is very true in their heads and they feel the need to generalize all women and put women into the place where they belong. They do not see any distinguishing factors to make women any different. They think they all look the same and act the same way. In the play, â€Å"A Doll’s House†, by Henrik Ibsen it tells of a family and roles each gender is supposed to have between the man and woman. You can see the husband is constantly belittling her and showing her that she does not belong where she is. Helmer, the husband, feels the need to put Nora, the wife, where she belongs. He feels that he has a certain masculinity to him that he must keep up and flaut. To show that he is the one making money and he needs to be the head of the household. Not all households are the same, some men feel the need to be the head of a household and become the â€Å"breadwinner† because that is what society portrays and that is the role most men display trying to prove their masculinity and enforcing gender roles. Women were viewed as being below men and having to adapt toShow MoreRelatedDiscount Or Equality Men Versus Women Wage Disparities Essay1503 Words   |  7 PagesDiscount or Equality Men versus Women Wage Disparities According to statistics, there are disparities with pay in the workplace. Men are paid more in wages, comprehensive packages, and benefits than women who performed the same job responsibilities and roles in the workplace. The big question is why are women being unvalued? Since, this is a common practice in the workplace, is this fair to both genders and is this the most favorable outcome for the greatest number affected by this businessRead MoreGender Roles, Religion, And Overall Treatment Of Men Versus Women During Slavery1707 Words   |  7 Pagesterrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women. Superadded to the burden common to all, they have wrongs, and sufferings, and mortifications peculiarly their own.† ( Harriet Brent â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† page 119). Gender played a key role in slavery and after reading â€Å"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl† it is obvious that women in slavery received far worse treatment t hen that of men. Not to take away the incredible injustices that were dealt upon men during slaveryRead MoreThe Society Today, People Still Belittle Women And Treat Them Like Second Class Citizens1457 Words   |  6 PagesBruce Guu Raven Pfister Communication 412 5 May 2015 Theme Analysis In our society today, people still belittle women and treat them like second-class citizens. Women are just as important as men, if not better, and should be treated equally in society. I do acknowledge the fact that we are living in a heternormative society put upon us in the United States. As a heterosexual male, I see the bias, prejudice, and injustice that go toward gays, lesbians, transgenders, and woman. Even though some sayRead MoreComparison Between The Bacchae and The Medea1010 Words   |  5 Pagesterms, such as good versus bad. Binary opposition is used to present both sides of a contrast (Marvin, 1). In The Bacchae and the Medea, Euripides used binary opposition to highlight the central themes. The significant binary oppositions that are used are men versus women, foreigner versus citizen, and god versus man. The contrast between men versus women is an important opposition in both plays. The women in the Greek society have no control of their life; the men are in control (BarlowRead MoreLeadership Prejudices of Men and Women in the Workplace Essay1592 Words   |  7 Pagesprejudices of men and women in the workplace. The age-old debate of inequality for women in executive position will now be examined through online periodicals that show gender stereotypes in the workforce, different strategies men and women use to break the glass ceiling of the workplace, a focus on the interactions and reactions of a male Chief Executive Officer (CEO) versus a female CEO, leadership prejudices among women and women, and various studies regarding leadership of men and women. Because ofRead MoreWomen And Employment Is Unfair1556 Words   |  7 Pagessociety women have more access to doing the same thing as men such as working in higher positions. However, women are getting paid fifty five cen ts of every dollar that men make. The way society treat women with employment is unfair because as women we do the same work or sometimes twice as more. Even though time have change equality for the workplace only change by 6% of a 100% scale. We as individuals have so much work to do when it comes to improving our workplace not for just men but women too.Read More The Fight for Equal Education: The Book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi1456 Words   |  6 Pagesthere are some rights that are undeniable to humans, it is not always the case that they are made available. This is especially prominent for the rights of women, who since the domestication of plants and animals have been sent to the bottom of society, and used to carry out the purpose of men. One way in which men have taken the power away from women is by taking away their education, and in turn their ability to develop independently and to be. functional parts of society. In her book Persepolis, MarjaneRead MoreGender, Gend er And Gender Stereotypes1582 Words   |  7 Pagesshows how early on humor preference is introduced. The jokes were presented to the children in the form of drawings. Taken from the text; â€Å"The pairs included the following comparisons: boy- versus girl-victim, son- versus father-victim, son- versus mother-victim, daughter- versus father-victim, and daughter- versus mother-victim†(McgeeLloyd925). The findings concluded that both the boys and girls in this experiment did not care about the gender as long as the victim of the joke was not a child, thereforeRead MoreMarriage Essay : The Merchant s Tale 985 Words   |  4 Pagesmatrimony. The corruptness of societies views on marriage lead to a loveless marriage. Chaucer reflects on how much societies views influenced marriages in the 1300’s; he shows this by using conflicts in marriage of man verses himself, women versus herself, and man versus women. Marriages in the 1300’s have to deal with the conflict of man verses himself due to the roles and powers society believes a man should full fill instead of the way a man wants to operate. â€Å"The Merchant’s Tale† illustrates throughRead MoreSalvage The Bones As A Feminist Critic Changes Your View On The Story986 Words   |  4 Pagespoint of view, my thought about why Esch is not feminine changed. In Peter Barry’s book on page 128 at the bottom is a section called â€Å"What feminist critics do†. Number seven on that list stuck out to me, it says, â€Å"Raise the question of whether men and women are ‘essentially’ different because of biology, or are socially constructed as different†. That question made me think of Esch, is Esch different because of biology or was she socially constructed differently? When you think about if Esch’s mom