Electric cars and bikes Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Electric cars and bikes - Assignment ExampleNevertheless, little success has been achieved because each state has some concealed interests on this issue. As a result, the world continues to suffer from increased temperature levels, desertification, and rising sea levels. Different countries such as China have been the most hit. In such areas, the governments have tried to come up with various measures that are aimed at regulating the levels of pollution and greenhouse gases being released in the atmosphere. For instance, Paris has crash up policies that ensure that only cars with specific number plates are allowed in the city. Therefore, in order to reduce the level of pollution, the production of electric cars and bikes should be encourage (Offer 2011).Fossil fuels from cars have been said to produce the highest amount of greenhouse gases to the environment. Electric cars and bikes use clean energy and do not contribute in polluting the environment. Therefore, as a way of protect ing the public from adverse effects of pollution, the public should be enlightened on the benefits of using electric cars and bikes.Currently, the number of the middle kinsfolk in the world is on the rise. This generation prefers the use of personal vehicles, an aspect that has increased the level of pollution in the atmosphere. In order to arrest this situation, automotive industry should be encouraged to produce more electric cars and bikes for the market (Schroede & Traber 2012).Electric cars and bikes are easy to maintain and dispose. With the increasing emphasis on renewable energy, the production of electric cars and bikes would be important in ensuring that a clean environment is achieved. In addition, the batteries used by electric cars and bikes are disposable and jakes be recycled (Michalek, 2011). This is important in ensuring that a clean environment is maintained.Currently, the economic conditions have been stiffened by high inflation. The

Try to apply kenneth waltz's three images to the origins of the cold Article

Try to apply kenneth waltzs three images to the origins of the cold contend and analyze which image considerations were more important in the development of the cold war - Article ExampleOn the one hand, Stalin as Soviet ruler tried his best to control more territories within the borders of his huge country finished the supporting of Communism there. In fact, we know that countries like Poland and Hungary joined Soviet camp after these actions. On another hand, Trumans doctrine and Marshalls plan appeared in response to these actions from Soviet people. In particular, these Americans created thinking of Soviet expansion as the threat for USA. As a result of these misunderstandings between Soviet and American leaders, we deal with Cold War.Secondly, Waltz stresses on the differences between states as the background of conflict in the world. In fact, he distinguishes good and bad states, establish on their volitioningness to break the global peace. In context of the Cold War, Truman s doctrine openly discussed the necessity to involve in domestic affairs of contradictory countries. In other words, USA appeared as the bad state, because it wanted the conflict to start. However, Soviet Union had the same intention but did not show it openly. In particular, Soviet leaders considered democratic USA as ideologic bad state based on capitalism in contrast to good communism. This ideological struggle led to the appearance of the Cold War.Finally, Waltz concentrates on anarchy within international relations as the source of war. In this part, he considers both individual and state behavior as an outcome of prevailing logic of thinking about the world. Because of this, establishment of any international institutions to manage global conflicts will never be successful. Since states are rational and use their own interest to guide their behavior in international system, the appearance of the Cold War was inevitable. In 1945, both Soviet Union and USA had an interest to be come the world leader after

Graphic design Essay Example for Free

Graphic role EssayI have been surrounded with art my whole life. My aunt is a photography major and my father started turn up in graphic design but now does more of the business side than creative. I grew up in a home that had a manage for art. When I was little I used to sit for hours and hours and watch my dad work on his projects. I just loved watching how he created the splendid picture and wanted to learn how I could do it too. I took art classes in elementary and junior high school and loved being equal to(p) to create pictures with pencil, oil pastels, paint, or create a vase with broken pieces of glass. Once I got to high school I took digital photography, drawing, web design, and interior design and loved it all. I knew graphic design was what I wanted to do when I looked at all the classes required for the major and couldnt wait to prefer all of them and learn all that I could. The beauty of art has always attracted me and I have always loved being able to create it myself.sometimes I kind of struggle with the whole inspiration or what do I draw thoughts, but with graphic design there is more of a pauperization where a client needs a logo, or a web page, or play bill to be designed. There is already the need and I am here to fulfill that need with my creative ideas and it has more of a purpose than to just make somebody feel something. It is to catch the viewing audience eye and intrigue them to come to your event or buy your product. I love being able to help people. Knowing that I can some(prenominal) create art and help someone with graphic design is just the perfect fit for me.

Road Accidents Malaysia Essay Example for Free

driveway Accidents Malaysia EssayNowadays, bridle-path incidents are very common in Malaysia. Everyday we read report we besides can saw galore(postnominal) news about in that location are many peoples bear upond in the street accidents. First of entirely, what is means by road accidents? Road accidents are means that when or so auto brisk crash together or the vehicle crash on the side of the road or the peoples at the road. jibe to the sources from Royal Malaysian Police (n.d), there is a statistic mentioning the quash of the road accidents from the course of study 1998 until the twelvemonth 2006. I realize that the total poe settle of road accidents exceed in each year of the year 1998 until year 2006 are reach six digit of number. This is huge and terrible numbers, and from the statistic it also tell that five to six thousands peoples dead in a year be casing of involved in the road accidents. On the former(a)wise hand, it also means that, every year there i s five to six thousands peoples losing of their passionateness instalment much(prenominal) as, love partner, family members and so on. The number of road accidents is also increased from the year 1998 until the year 2006.The number of road accidents is increased from three hundred thousand until five hundred thousand. There are many types of vehicle on the road, such as cycle, bus, elevator simple machine, move and goods vehicle. According to the statistic from the Royal Malaysian Police (n.d), it claims that, car is like the water in a human body, it stand 75% to 80% out of all types of vehicle which carried the number two hundred thousand to four hundred thousand out of the total road accident happen in the year 1998 until 2006. As we experience that, Malaysia is a multinational country, there are many different types of religion in Malaysia. All different types of religion go away go along their own festival such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Years, Happy Deepava li and so on. Al approximately all Malaysian will go endorse to the hometown for the celebration. During the duration of the festival, road accident will happen more often compare to the normal day.According to LegalMatch (n.d), they believe that, there are several causes of road accident such as, the behavior of device driver, mechanical failure, road conditions and also weather. We as a Malaysian we collect to reduce the number of road accident by virtually solutions and it will be discuss more detail in the following paragraph. Lets discuss about the first categorize of road accidents which is because of the driver behavior. According to LegalMatch (n.d), they maintain that driver behavior is hotshot of the causes of roadaccident, and they also claim that there are 98% of road accidents happen because of the distracted driver. There are many types of driver behavior that will cause road accident and most of the driver would non realize that those actions are dangerous me nd driving. The first types of driver behavior that will cause road accidents are on phone while driving. Mobile phone now is very advanced in technologies programe can watch television programs by online. Some of the drivers use this kind of technologies while they are driving. As we know that we just wee-wee a copulate of eyes and we can non watch the road and the phone on the same time.On this situation we will lack of concentration and it will cause us involve in the road accident. Beside that, some driver also use the mobile phone to sending Short Messages Services and on call whiles they driving. The second types of driver behavior are the driver adjusting the radio or the CD player while they driving. After we finish heard the CD we will change a nonher(prenominal) CD for some different songs. Lets imagines if the car in on drive and the driver are trying to find for the other CD from the dashboard, this is will cause some of the moment the driver will not notice the cond itions of the front road and this will cause the accident occur. There are also steep possible chances of accidents will happen if we are trying to adjust the radio tunnel when we are driving. The third types of driver behavior are drunk driving.According to the articles by Alcohol Problems and Solutions (n.d) they insist that a driver with high blood alcohol content (BAC) has the higher risk will involve in car accidents. This is because when a someone with high BAC will affect the person coordination and this have been proved by Alcohol Problems and Solutions (n.d). There is an experiment show that, a person is trying to write such words Drinking doesnt affect my driving before drunk and after drunk. The result show that, the person after drunk will write the words more blur and unallocated. On the other hand, it also means that if we are drunk driving we will drive in the blur condition, and it will cause road accident. Rubbernecking and tailgating also the causes of road acci dents. First of all, what is means by rubbernecking? According to LegalMatch (n.d) they claim that, rubbernecking is the driver slow down their cars watch what is going on because of their curiosity and tailgating is means by the driver are follow the front car with a very close duration.When on the passage there is an accidents happen, some of the people will because ofcurios slow down their cars to watch what was happen, but if there are a person on tailgating the accidents will happen. This is because if there is highway all people are driving with stimulate and the situation is tailgating. Thus the person will unable to break their car immediately and the tailgating car will crash on the rubbernecking car. Mechanical failure is consider a category that will cause road accidents. When we talk about car, ask yourself do you service your car at the fixed particular of period. Do you even service your car? We cannot simply musical note down on the car maintenance. This is becau se some of the error will happen if we do not service our car and it will cause the road accidents. One of the errors is the lack of breaking system, when we do not service our car we do not know whether our break pad is still in a good condition. If the break pad is not in a good conditions it will cause break failure.Which is also means that, we cannot reveal our car when we on driving. This is very dangerous and will cause the road accidents. Beside that, car wipers out of function also make the road accident occur. Imagine that, when we drive on the road and suddenly heavy rain until we cannot look clear at the front of the road. In such situation if the car wipers out of functions we cannot even drive anymore which it also means that we wishing to stop down our car immediately. It will cause the following car crash on our car because of the heavy rain hard to constraint the car speed and handling the emergency stop situation that need to face. Tires are also one of the impor tant parts of a car. Without tires the car cannot move, it also bring other means that, if a car suddenly face tires blow up the car will lost of pull strings because of without the tires car cannot be move. When we lost of control it might cause us crash on the side of the road, even there is possible we will crash with other cars on the road.Beside that, the road conditions also under the road accidents categorize. Oily road is one of the road conditions will cause road accidents. This is because if the road is oily we will easily lost of control because of the tires cannot move in a normal condition when face the oil on the road and will get in drift. Accident will be happen when the car lost of control. Hole on the road also will cause road accident. By the way, why the road will have hole? This is because the roads are long time ago and less of maintenance from government or even if the place is under construction the celestial orbit of the road also will have many holes beca use ofconstruction lorry often use the road. Why do hole on the road will cause road accidents? Lets imagines when we using the road at the night and the road are lack of road light. Such road will cause the motorcycle easy get in the hole and injury because of motorcycle is lack of brightness looks clear the conditions of the road. Nowadays as we can see that rubbish is everyway on the road.Lets seek for the truth, ask yourself do you throw rubbish on the road before? Just assume that a Malaysian just throw one rubbish on the road the road will full of rubbish. Accident will occur when the road is much rubbish. This is because when we using the road we will try to avoid the rubbish. In addition, if we do not notice the car from our back or side we might crash with them when we are trying to avoid the rubbish. The lead categorize of road accident is because of the weather. Weather is a significant point that we need to public opinion before we are going out to any place. In Malays ia there are only two types of weather which is raining season and muggy day. Raining season will cause us hard to looks in front of the road if there the rain is over heavy. When there is an over heavy rain it will make us hard to estimate the distance between our cars with the car in front of us. Even the road condition we also cannot estimate because of over heavy rain.This will cause the possibility of happen accidents getting high. Muggy day is also as a killer sometimes. This is because when we are driving in the muggy day, we will easily get to sleepyheaded because the light sharp into our eyes and the situation in the car is very comfortable because of the cool from air condition. When we fall asleep, we will easily get in to accidents because we do not know that we are driving to where and will cause us crash on the side of the road or crash with other cars on the road. We as a Malaysian we need to reduce the number of road accidents. We cannot let the number of road accid ent increase anymore. First of all, we need to do best on our own certificate of indebtedness. There are some solutions to reduce the number of road accidents. Car maintenance is one of the solutions.We need to promise our car is being service on the fixed particular period. This is for check out whether our car is still on safe conditions for us to drive or there is any mechanical failures occur such as break failure, tires, wipers, and so on. Beside that, rest it is also a very significant rule that we need to be prepare before we drive. We need to ensure that we have enough sleep before we are drive. This is to make sure that when the muggy day wenot easily get to asleep. Furthermore, with enough rest we can be more patient, put more effort to control our emotion and pay more wariness while drive. Everyday before we go out we need to read the news of weather forecast. We need to ensure that the day is good weather and would not have any storming rain, if there are storming rai n try to avoid go out. Mobile phone and cigarette should keep away while on driving. Try to avoid using mobile phone sending short message services and do not smoke while driving. As we know that, god just created a pair of hand for us to live in this world. If we use a hand to smoke or using mobile phone we would not have enough hand to control the steering while we take U-turn.The last matter we need to do prevention is not involved in drunk driving. Drunk driving is very dangerous we need to remember that, there is always some significant person in our life waiting for us to go back home with precaution. Moreover, according to Nordin (n.d), he claims that government also takes lot actions to reduce the numbers of road accidents. The most popular actions known as OPS Sikap, this actions is take by government when there is festival season and the durations of this actions is fifteen day period during the main festival such as Chinese New Years and so on. This action is taking by t he government for stop the people over speed when driving back to the hometown. If there is any person over speed limits driving will get summons from the policeman and the payments of the summons is higher compare to the normal day. government also provides road maintenance such as patching the hole on the road to ensure the road is safety to use. Beside that, government also plan to build more street light on the road, this is to ensure the road are enough lightning and all people can be more safety to use the road. In addition, government also plan to build more pedestrian crossing to ensure all people can cross the road without taking the risk being crash by a car on the road. In the media side, government try to advertise some slogan to agile all people more careful when using the road such as, Do not make the red colour become yours last view, Ensure your helmet are wearing properly, Make sure you have giving direction signal before you take a turn and so on.As a conclusion, there are a lot causes of road accidents but the main causes of road accidents occur is because of driver behavior. I think incorrupt are play a very significant role in our life, it teach us how to love other person and ourselves but before we love otherperson we need to learn how to love ourselves and appreciate the life that have been given by god for us. We as a driver, we need to responsibility for what we have done, cannot done some actions that might cause accident occur or injury other person such as, on phone while driving, drunk driving and so on.Those actions are actually dangerous if we do it when we are drive because we cannot control the car well with doing such actions. Remember that, our family member are always worried about us and carried about us. There is no peoples are wishing to involve in a road accidents, it is really a tragedy it make a lot of people lost of their family member. Beside that, all Malaysian should be cooperating to reduce the number of road accidents and our slogan Malaysia Boleh.REFERENCESAbdul Rahman, N, Road safety situation in Malaysia n.d. Retrieved November 13, 2007, Fromhttp//www.unescap.org/ttdw/common/Meetings/TIS/EGM%20Presentations/Malaysia_RSpresentation.pdf Common causes of car accidents lawyers n.d. Retrieved November 12, 2007, From http//www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/common-causes-of-car-accidents.html Royal Malaysian Police, Table 1.10 n.d. Retrieved November 13, 2007, From http//www.mot.gov.my/BM/stat/darat/JADUAL%201.10.pdfRead more http//www.ukessays.com/essays/english-language/road-accidents-malaysia.phpixzz2GpUaznOM

Personality In International Relations

temper In International RelationsThis bear witness will search the extent to which the temper traits of a decision maker impact upon his outside policies. It will not argue that such idiosyncratic variables alone are the scoopful determinants, but that they have a signifi toilettet routine to play. As political scientist James Barber remarked, Every story of decision making is really deuce stories an outer one in which a rational man calculates and an inner one in which an emotional man feels. The two are forever affiliated (quoted in Brewer, 1992, p.149). Foreign polity decision making is an outcome of how individuals with violence perceive and analyse events. political leading are not beyond the yield of the human traits of assumptions, subjectivity, prejudices and biases. Their underlying beliefs and motivations will have a bearing upon the conclusions they reach. Culture, geography, history, ideology, and self-conceptions shape the thought handle of a decision maker, forming what has been referred to as the psycho-socio milieu of decision-making (Sprouts, 1965). The opposed polity decisions of Harry Truman, ibn Talal Hussein Hussein and Charles de Gaulle will be used as case studies to demonstrate how in the flesh(predicate)ity quarter affect the formulation and implementation of extraneous policy, whilst also providing the opportunity to show the differing extents to which such traits have occasion to make an impact, due to situational factors such as in a crisis or in non-democratic regimes. This essay will conclude that the influence of individual temper traits is most evident in the foreign policies of persons in unrestricted positions of authority, and in crisis situations. In democracies, during non-critical times, the extent to which the leaders personality influences decision making varies according to his relative passive/aggressive temper. Dominant leaders will seek to reshape the international political scheme in accordance wi th their take personal vision, resulting in tenacious foreign policies through which they attempt to advance a central idea, whilst maintenance of the status quo can be attributed more to low-dominance, introvert individuals, seeking to index-share and delegate decision making (E at that placedge, 1978).The effects of personality on decision making are difficult to quantify. interpersonal generalisation theory suggests that behavioural differences in interpersonal situations have some correlation to behavioural differences in international situations, for example, a relationship between self-assertiveness/dominance, and willingness to resort to military action (Etheredge, 1978). However, it would be naive and over-simplified to state that certain personality traits of a decision maker lead a country to warfare instead they can be seen as tipping the balance towards or against a certain policy, because, put succinctly, some leaders are willing to gamble the mountain of their peo ple in a war early(a)(a)s are not (Ali Musallam, 1996, p.5) It is also important to defy into consideration the extent to which individual traits can be separated from role-playing. Decision makers may act how they perceive a leader in their society is expected to act, taking role-appropriate decisions which are not necessarily in post with their personal nature.No individual can know all the relevant factors when making a decision, thus each individuals perception of reality will be different from reality. This incongruence between the psychological and operational environments permits filters, such as the past experiences of leaders, to shape decision making. It has been argued that there is strong, robust evidence that most human woof is preconscious and strongly and quickly influenced by emotiondespite their expertise, foreign policy makers are no less biased than other people (Gross Stein, 2008, p.113). Core beliefs are held to be aline even if they cannot be verified, p roviding the foundation of myths and ideologies efforts to challenge them are met with hostility. The phenomenon of cognitive dissonance enables even the most intelligent of human minds to resist and deny important, uncomfortable aspects of reality. forgiving psychological make-up limits rationality, having a need for simplicity. In the processing and analysing of complex information, we break down information and choose how we want to interpret it.When analysing the influence of personality upon foreign policy, it is important to emphasise that the differing political environments surround leaders will naturally create highly variable boundaries within which they have the freedom to operate. It is a given that a dictator in an authoritarian regime has much greater, unconditional, unaccountable power to create policies suiting his personal sidelines, than the leader of a democracy. inwardly a democracy, the head of political sympathies is obliged, to some extent, to take into co nsideration the opinions of other authorities and experts, and must especially consult the Foreign Minister with regard to foreign policy. However, ultimately, the final decision does lie with the leader, and he does possess the power to override other opinion if he wishes. Leaders of governments can also have the return of hand-selecting those who they put into positions of power. A leader is likely to choose key advisors who share his core beliefs and he considers to be generally cooperative, creating an environment in which groupthink has the potential to flourish.Political leaders in democracies should, theoretically, and sometimes in practise, reflect the attitudes and core values of their citizens. Having been through the same socialisation process and sharing the same core heathenish values as his citizens, the democratic leader can be seen as an embodiment of societal character. Decision making is an institutionalised process, in which personality factors go with cultural impaleground factors and can often be explained in more generalisable group terms (Cerny, 1980, p.13). The mood of society sets broad boundaries around the theoretical foreign policy alternatives of decision makers. However, it has been maintain that, beyond academic elites in foreign affairs, there exists a lack of public interest in foreign policy seemly too distant and irrelevant compared to domestic issues. It is argued that the general public is ill-informed and unstable, prone to changes in opinionat worst they possess non-attitudes with respect to international administration (Robinson, 2008, p.139). This gives the government greater freedom of movement than in formation and implementation of domestic policies, and hence greater scope for domination by world-shattering personalities and ideologies. Nonetheless, it could also be argued that this apparent apathy is now declining due technological, transportation and communications revolutions which enable foreign affairs t o be brought much closer to the daily lives of ordinary people.Personality can impact to differing extents on the formulation and implementation of foreign policy. Whilst a policy can be formulated, within the relative situational and bureaucratic restraints, to the particular personal liking of a leader and his colleagues, the implementation stage, translating foreign policy objectives into practise and desired outcomes, is more complex. Attempts to implement a policy can come into contravention with the objectives of other actors and the environment, as the boundary between decision makers and the outside world is crossed. It is true that orders may be easily issued, but that is only the beginning of the process of attempting to achieve ones goalsfor all kinds of states because leaders rely on sub-contracting to bureaucratic agents, some of whom may take the opportunity to slow down or undermine the policy, or even to run their own policies in competition (BrighiHill, 2008, pp.13 0-4). Foreign policy is not self-executing, and requires resources, support or mobilisation of the public, and some political consensus, particularly in a democracy. The more magnetized, persuasive and motivational the leader, the greater his chances of overcoming such opposition. This task is do particularly easy in authoritarian regimes such as northwesterly Korea, where the media is subject to state control. A leader can gain public support for his policy through the strategic use of propaganda, promoting both his greatness as a decision maker, and that of the policy.President Truman provides an interesting example of a decision maker in a democracy acting under crisis conditions. In the exuberant international conditions of the closure of WWII, he was thrust into power, following the sudden death of President Roosevelt. It was President Truman who took the historical, controversial decision to drop the atomic assail on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It would be difficult to argue that, under the power of a different presidential personality, the US would definitely not have taken this dramatic wrinkle of action. However, a number of factors related to Trumans personality and previous experiences can be linked to his ultimate decision to drop the bomb. The first Truman had heard of the atomic bomb came after his inauguration. This bomb changed the nature of warfare to a degree that is difficult to comprehend. With such little time to absorb such information, having fought as an artillery ships officer in WWI, it is possible that Truman may have thought rough the atomic bomb as simply a largerexplosive than the ones he fired in Europe (Strong, 2005, p.15). Its radical scale of destruction was close to incomprehensible. A self-confessed amateur in foreign policy, in the shadow of Roosevelt, he wanted to pass on himself. He was an active decision maker, preferring to do something rather than nothing, who enjoyed his presidential powers, and preferred not to delegate authority, believing that the President makes foreign policy (Frankel, 1963, p.21). A direct, virtual(a) character, he was willing to be accountable for his decisions, proud of the signon his desk announcing that the buck stops here (Strong, 2005, p.18).Truman continued his presidency from the aftermath of WWII into the beginnings of the Cold War. Under the heightened strain of possibly imminent nuclear war, presidential power and responsibility was great the presidents finger was, indeed, on the nuclear trigger (Fraser Murray, 2002, p.5). His conviction in the superiority of capitalism, the benefits to be gained from its adoption in other parts of the world, and the dangers outlined by Domino Theory, lead him to take a foreign policy of containment with regards to communism. In line with his military background, Truman adopted a confrontational attitude to USSR, what came to be known as the Iron Fist approach, partly in reaction to the previous Western tribulation of a ppeasement to stop Nazi expansionism. He was sceptical of all totalitarian states, claiming I dont care what you call them Nazi, Communist or Fascist-they are all resembling (Gaddis, 1982, p.66). To follow through with the Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, Truman needed the support of Congress and the public, which he won using his popular, persuasive, extroverted personality. A supporter of the UN, Truman was a positive(p) internationalist, conscious that the United States should not repeat the isolationist errors of the 1920s (Fraser Murray, 2002, p.9). This helps explain why he followed such an interventionist foreign policy during his presidency. He was willing to buttocks himself as leader of the free world, protecting and expanding his core beliefs in democracy and capitalism.In a dictatorship, foreign policy decisions lie almost solely in the hands of the leader his decisions can be made without the accountability, checks and balances which exist in a democracy. In 1990 , Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein took the decision to assault neighbouring Kuwait. Arguably, the whole war is to be found in his psyche and insecurity (Hughes-Wilson, 1999, p.350). In the aftermath of the Iran-Iraq, the country was financially destitute. Recent acrimonious encounters with the West added to Husseins ontogenesis feeling of paranoia and desperation. Having bludgeoned his way to the top, Hussein was prepared to use any means possible to stay there (Ali Musallam, 1996, p.45). He had a need to live up to his own hard-line rhetoric, to avoid meeting the fate he had recently seen Romanian dictator Nicolae fall to. Saddam was devious, untrustworthy, greedy, ambitiousand brokehis own people did have about three goes at assassinating him in the seven months before he invaded Kuwait, so his paranoias of public rioting and coups were not unfounded (Hughes-Wilson, 1999, p.341).Saddam took Kuwaits refusal of a moratorium on its wartime loans, and refusal of other financial aid to I raq, as a personal affront. Kuwait was incredibly rich in oil, and virtually defenceless, so to a personality like Saddam Hussein the temptation to solve his economic problems at a stroke must have been irresistible (Hughes-Wilson, 1999, p. 322). The invasion was symptomatic of the stereotypical qualities of a dictator. Aggressive, swollen-headed and unwilling to compromise, Hussein simply decided he would take what he wanted. His bloodthirsty, ruthless nature and readiness to resort to violence can be traced back to his childhood socialisation. Suffering the physical and psychological abuse of his stepfather, Hussein was raised in the hard world of the mountains, and mafia-like warlords and family clans that control them. Guns were seen as essential to a manit is alleged that Saddam had shot and killed his first man by the age of eleven (Hughes-Wilson, 1999, p. 314). This culture of casual violence influenced his beliefs in the harsh realities of the survival of the fittest. As a child, he would be sent to work in the fields whilst his stepbrothers would be allowed to go to school, aiding the development of his intense inferiority complex which would lead to his hunger for power and glory in later life (Ali Musallam, 1996).The former French President Charles de Gaulle was highly driven by his ideology and patriotism. He took a keen interest in foreign policy, and had the ultimate goal of restoring French historic cultural greatness on the international stage. De Gaulle came to power as a highly respected, charismatic military leader with great moral authority, often playing up to this image by making public appearances in military uniform. He ghost over his legacy, wanting to be an inspiration for the generations of French citizens that would come after him becoming a symbolic embodiment of how he perceived France. He was tumesce aware of his own great personality and prestige, conscious of living his own biography, and often spoke of himself in the third person (Grosser, 1967, p.26). He assumed the role he believed a leader should take whilst in public, conforming to the perceived requirements of the title, whilst keeping his private life as detatched as possible.De Gaulles father, passionate about politics and history, was a professor who instilled his pride of France and her past into his son (de Gaulle, 1998). He considered all the actions he made by how they would mark history less concerned with the criticisms made by those at the time of his action, and more by their judgement by future historians. Despite being a strong advocate of democracy, de Gaulle grew up in a royalist environment, and carried with him to adulthood its goals of continuity, leadership and an embodiment of the state, which were reflected in his politics. De Gaulles first Prime Minister was Michel Debr, a devoted Gaullist who could not refuse to do what his wedge shape asked him to do (Thody, 1998, p.23). There was a certain unwillingness amongst de Gaulle s advisors to disagree with their charismatic leader he encouraged an environment of groupthink by surrounding himself with people of a similar view point. This was the perfect occasion for his personality to strongly influence the direction of French foreign policy. Possessing a certain distrust of diplomatic personnel, there is no doubt that it is General de Gaulle himself who makes the decisions on foreign policy issues (Grosser, 1967, p.13). A strong believer in intuition, if he felt a decision was indemnify for France, he would take it.De Gaulles foreign policy was farsighted in that it was based upon his image of a post cold-war world, in which the mature nations of the old world and the newly independent states of the Third World would act to counterbalance thehegemony ofthe US and the Soviet Union (Cerny, 1980, p.1). A born maverick, de Gaulle was not afraid to make his foreign policy disruptive of the world order. His self-perception was that of a guardian of national int erest he wanted to develop autonomy for his people by resisting the strength of the superpowers and exercising power inconsistent with his relatively limited resource capabilities, through manipulation of the international system it would be fair to say that he had a taste for the impossible (Grosser, 1967, p.65). His policy of boycotting NATO and UN conferences was to oblige others to take greater account of France through absence than they do when she is obliged to join in decisions over which she can exert no decisive influence (Grosser, 1967, p.132). His doubts over the support of the US against Soviet invasion lead to his decision to develop a French nuclear deterrent, and to withdraw promenade from NATO in 1966. He refused to accept that the two superpowers should be the sole possessors of nuclear power. De Gaulle strongly linked the notion of national security to independence, the intertwining of diplomatic and military strength, which can be explained by his military backg round. It would appear that the personal style of the General gives its special shape to a policy whichcorresponds to French desiresit is a policy that dares to take risks, to gamble for high stakes, to court failure rather than resigning itself to mediocrity and timidity (Grosser, 1967, p.xi). De Gaulle symbolically rejected Britains entry into the ECC, fearing it would upset the Franco-German leadership. He saw Britain as a Trojan Horse for America to gain greater influence in Europe, and was so strong in his beliefs he dared to take a stance against the other five ECC members it isunlikely that any French politician other than de Gaulle would have vetoed Great Britains attempt to join the ECC (Thody, 1998, p.29).This essay has shown that the role of personality in the formulation and implementation is variable. The more critical a situation is perceived to be, the fewer people will be directly involved in its management, and so there is a greater likeliness that their conclusions and actions will reflect their own personal beliefs, attitudes and interests. Despite institutional constraints, the political leader has a significant influence over decision making, particularly when national security is seen to be at stake, or when policy can be formed relatively secretly. fifty-fifty in non-crisis situations, a political leader has the potential to exercise power and thereby impose his preferences on policy. The extent to which he does so depends on his own values, beliefs, background and personality (Brewer, 1992, p.160). Every person in a position of power brings personal experiences, values, preconceptions and emotions to their decision making, although some will allow bureaucracy and the power-sharing nature of democracy to counter and balance these idiosyncrasies. Ultimately, the personality of a leader has the most influence in unaccountable, dictatorial regimes, often due to the climate of fear surrounding their unlimited powers. However, even a dictato r cannot continuously take whichever foreign policy actions he pleases without some eventual restraints posed by resources, the international community, ascension of his own people or a coup.

Analysis of the International Accounting Standards on Inventory

Analysis of the International score Standards on InventoryThis eassy mainly introduced the information about the International bill standards of Inventory(IAS 2). First, we introduced the background of the IAS 2 whence we discussed the major requirements of the standards and the importance of these requirements after that we critically evaluate the IAS 2.BackgroundThe IASs, International account statement Standards, which issued with the IASC setting up in 1973, argon the common standards followed by accountancy bodies. Then, the IASB with new report standards (IFRS) and more member countries was founded to replace the IASC. Both of the two committees concerned with the regulation improvement and global harmonization of international bill.Inventory paygrade plays a vital role in the profit calculation and assets valuation process. However, method differences and controversy compose exist in depot valuation among different companies. In terms of that, a consistent benchmark seems necessary to eliminate them and compargon companies profit on the same basis. IAS 2 is such an international standard to offer regulation and method for arsenal. Its first draft of Valuation and Presentation of Inventories came out in 1974, and was brought into the IAS one year later. The condition standard of stock (IAS 2(1993)) set up in 1993 and it took effect on the date of January 1st 1995. Since IASB replaced of IASC, the modified version was published in 2003 and it took effect in 2005.Aiming to obtain the accurate calculation result of exist and subsequently expense of chronicle, IAS2 mainly concern with the write-down to Net Realizable Value. In order to deal cost to stocks, it provides cost linguistic rule as well. To be more specific, IAS2 classifies that the inventory includes finished products, goods in process and raw material. Furthermore, it also contains cadencement of inventory, fundamental teaching of IAS2, write-down to Net Realizable Value, expens e recognition and the required disclosures as well.Requirements and importance of IAS 2There argon many requirements of the inventories in International Accounting Standard, in terms of IAS 2 regulate how to analysis the cost of inventories, how to measure inventories, how to assign inventories etc.The first requirement is that the cost of inventories is the total cost to expect inventories to their deport location and condition. According to IAS 2 (2005) cost of inventories shall comprise all be of purchase, costs of conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition.The second requirement of IAS 2 is that inventories should be measured at the lower of net realisable value and cost on an stage by item basisOnce measured, the lower of net realisable value and cost must be used as an asset in the balance sheet. When the inventories net tangible value below its cost, it means that the future economic benefits will less(prenomin al) than its carrying amount, which argon brought to the companies by inventories. Therefore this part of the loss should be deducted from the value of assets, and include in accounting subjects of current profit and loss. Otherwise, there will be the phenomenon of virtual assets. Thus, we should use the lower of the net realisable value and cost in the stock process.The third requirement of IAS 2 is that the cost of inventories should be assigned by using the First-in First-out (FIFO) or weighted fair(a) cost formula unless there are some special inventories. IAS 2 does non require that the fairest possible approximation to the cost should be reflected by the formula used. Therefore, the Standard go acrosss the FIFO, as well as the weighted average cost formula for free choice. Accounting to Wikipedia (2009), FIFO is an abstraction ways of organizing and manipulation of data relative to time and prioritization. This method describes the principle of what comes in first should be hand lead first, what comes in next waits until the first is finished. FIFO is the formula, which is frequently-used, to bear the cost of inventories which are out and which are still in. dull average cost formula is easier than others, also when the market price rising up or falling down, this formula is easy to calculate the average unit cost of inventories, in order to share the cost of inventory is more trade-offs and objective.OptionsIAS 2 offers some optional rules for companies to choose. These options, to a certain extent, affect the internationally implement of IAS. The hobby essay will list three primary options.Firstly, IAS 2 stipulates two alternative formulas for measuring the cost of inventories, which are first in, first out (FIFO) and weighted average. FIFO assumes that goods sold are those produced earlier. That is to say, the cost of inventories is those produced later. This approach may lead to underestimate cost and overestimate gross profit in the year of inflation. Weighted average is the average cost of all units currently in stock at the time of reporting. (kcsi) IAS 2 is not mandatory for which formulas companies should choose. Obviously, these two optional formulas would measure different cost of inventories.Secondly, IAS 2 stipulates that normally expenditure incurred is not recognized as cost of inventories. Nevertheless, IAS 2 supplies option of including some expense of inventories or not in the cost. For example, it is appropriate that non-productive indirect expense could be part of the cost of inventories if they are for special projects. Apart from that borrowing cost of inventories could be included in the cost under special circumstances.Thirdly, there are two optional techniques in the inventories cost measurement, standard cost method and retail method. IAS 2 requests retail industry use retail method to measuring the cost of inventories. However, other industry could apply either retail or standard cost method, whic h may result in discrepancy between companies that use different methods.ApplicabilityAt present, IAS 2 is widely implemented in Asia and Europe, while US generally accepted accounting principles plays a significant role in North America. This becomes a critical restriction factor of the applicability of IAS 2 internationally.Most stock exchanges in the humanness incline that quote companies should treat IAS 2 as financial report benchmark. It could improve the transparency and reliability of inventories information if listed companies apply IAS 2.Besides, more and more multinational corporations apply IAS 2 on their own, such as Air France, Nestle and Adidas. Owning to multinational corporations permit companies in more than one country, it would be convenient for elevate companies to consolidate statement if parent and subsidiary companies all implement IAS 2.Although IAS 2 has been applied by closely countries worldwide, during the process of applicability IAS 2 internationa lly, some deficiencies still have arisen inevitably. Take net realizable value as an example. IAS 2 prescribes it as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale(Birzeit Consulting). With regard to costs of completion and costs necessary to make the sale, IAS 2 does not list need items, which implies lacking comparability between companies. The defects cause that some countries apply their own national accounting standard which are related to their national conditions.Opportunities for creative accountingThe item inventory plays a significant role in companies operation and financial performance since it is not only determines the computation of profit, but also impacts the valuation of assets which displayed on the balance sheet. IAS 2 probably is a comprehensive guidance which prescribes systematic accounting treatments for inventory in terms of the determination of invento rys cost, the recognition of correlative expense, and the formulas for assigning costs to inventory. Despite the constraint of IAS 2, it is acknowledged that there are several stratagems for those unethical companies to manipulate their valuation of inventory, thereby expressing a fictitious gilt performance to the authorities and public.A study from Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) described that there is no area of accounting provides more opportunities for subjectivity and creative accounting than the valuation of inventory. More precisely, because of the close relationship between the inventories and revenues, companies often tend to inflate their revenues by overstating the value of inventories which is a direct and effective measure.There are a number of approaches to manipulate the value of inventory and those methods are mainly categorized into three aspects which are time horizon, NRV and overhead.Firstly, because IAS 2 do not have de tailed guidance in respect of time dimension, companies usually like to employ tricks at the end of monetary year by utilizing cut-off procedures. Assume that goods are delivered to a company at the last day of fiscal year 200X but the invoice date is at the first day of next fiscal year. In this situation, the company probably takes the goods into inventory immediately but not records the purchase invoice. The premature recording of inventory leads to the automatic increase of revenue which displays a false boost on the financial report. Furthermore, companies can falsify a transfer of non-existent inventory at the year-end which is difficult to confirm by auditors. Thus, the exaggerate value of inventory will generate from these fictitious in transit inventories.Secondly, IAS 2 adopted a specific method which is use the lower take to of net reliable value and cost to measure inventory. This measurement concerned the true value of inventory in a large extent and let this valuati on reflects the real market appropriately on the other hand, it also provides opportunities for frauds because the calculation of NRV is largely depends on accountants anticipations. More specifically, it is obvious that the extent of provisions should be reduce to NRV are highly subjective and manipulative. Just like Barry Elliott argued that a provision is an effective smoothing device and allows overcautious write-downs to be made in profitable years and consequent write-backs in unprofitable ones.Thirdly, although IAS 2 provides guidelines for allocating appropriate overhead into the cost of inventory, the distinctions between diverse of overhead are still hardly to be distinguished exactly. Companies might find opportunities of manipulation and include those overhead which indirectly attributable to production in the inventory valuation, thereby differing the influence of overhead and so rising profits.Weaknesses and ImprovementOverall, the statements about the inventory at the International Accounting Standards (IAS) are understandable and comprehensive. However, it seems that problems still obviously exist in the inventory standards.Firstly, the calculation methods for the same industry are not unified. Although IAS2 has cancelled LIFO method, two different methods are still available FIFO and weighted average method. diverse methods of calculation will produce different results. Thus, it makes no sense for the companies of the same industry to compare the ratio results. Therefore, the standard should be more detailed. First, it should select the most appropriate measurement based on the characteristics and nature of various industries. Second, it should be clearly defined that all the companies in the same industry should adopt the same measurement method. These two measures help to eliminate difference, and subsequently to promote development of harmonisation.Secondary, it offers the opportunities for creative accounting. There are many cases about l isted companies involved in the stock fraud, and the most famous one is the U.S. Fallmos case. Its creativer Monas first get a pharmacy located in Ohio, and in the subsequent decades, he acquired another 299 stores, then he formulated a company called Fallmo. Unfortunately, all of these brilliants are fraud based on the overestimation of the inventory. Such a fraud ultimately led to the bankruptcy of Monash and his company as well. At the same time, the Big Five firm who provided audit services to it also lost millions of dollars. From these cases, it seems that fraud happened owing to the pitiful inventory management system. In order to prevent companies from cheating by inventory, the standards should require the audit firm to check the companys inventories regularly.The third one is that the International Accounting Standards failed to keep pace with the times process. With the development of enterprises, it generates a lot of new inventory management methods, such as the Just-I n-Time (JIT) method. JIT originated from Toyoda in Japan, it was created by Sakichi Toyoda, the founder of Toyota, his son Kiichiro Toyoda and the engineer Taiichi Ohno. Toyota implemented the Kanban management which runs with the physical. For example, when an order which includes the requirements of the delivery time is proposed, Toyotas workers entered these information on the Kanban. The ordering department get the ordering information through Kanban and give the new order to the production department through Kanban, and so forth all orders will be connected to the entire department. Aiming to eliminate waste, reduce costs and improve economic efficiency, its core is to seek a non-stock production system or to minimize inventory production system. In that case, it is the reverse order of the conventional mode which product first then looking for customers. Although the demands of JIT are high, many companies have adopted this approach, such as Dell Inc. In the JIT, the zero inv entory is the main goal. Thus, the traditional methods such as FIFO and weighted average method lost the meaning of their existence, and the traditional fields of the closing stock inventory system and the perpetual inventory system also appears to be meaningless.

Analysing New Challenges Posed By The Development In Government Policies Social Work Essay

Analysing New Ch every(prenominal)enges Posed By The Development In administration Policies well-disposed Work EssayIn this report, I am going to consider the new challenges posed by the latest development in government momentivity policies, and specially those set out in the Every Child Matters and Youth Matters boardndas and their impact on Children service especially Looked-After-Children in hold dear and residential c atomic number 18. I will first and fore nigh, look at the definition of what Looked-After-Children means, the development of foster and residential c be for Looked-After-Children and theoretical knowledge, the legal and policy materials underpinning childrens service while considering the implications as well as ethical dilemmas for companionable solve reading. Also, I will look at the effectiveness and impact of multi-agency working, professional impropriety versus employer direction, the balancing act of care and control and how effective the Care Pr ogramme Approach is used for those looked after and those leaving care. Furthermore, the regulations that guide personatements and the roles of foster carers will withal be critically examined.Looked-After-Children as defined in parting 22(1) of Children motivate 1989, refers to those children in the care of any local anesthetic authority or provided with accommodation by any local authority for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting their welfare. For example, some children plenty not remain at crime syndicate due to adverse conditions such as family crises, a disability or offending, domestic violence, abuse and neglect. Hence the local authority will collect to intervene and adequate measures taken to safeguard and promote their welfare and in most cases they are taken into care (foster or residential care). Foster care arrangements is usually a family based care arrangement in which the child is set(p) in the foster carers have home. The British Association for word sense and Fostering (2007), states that this kind of care arrangement could be in cases of emergency or non-emergency, for brusque or long term, on remand or respite, close relatives fostering or private foster carers providing the care needs of the child. However, residential care is sort of similar to foster care, in that adults look after the children on a day to day basis on a pro rota basis. The only dissimilarity is that residential care is more of a communal setting where a number of staff works rather than an intimate family unit (as in foster care) in providing the childs needs (DOH 1998a).Some background of foster care and residential careChildren were first recognised as individuals in their own right by the implementation of the Children Act 1948 following recommendations from the Care of Children Committee 1946 cognise as The Curtis Report (Hayden et al 1999) which was influenced by the Monckton Inquiry 1945 into the appalling murder of Dennis ONeill who was in fost er care. The report was published with regards to children world deprived of a normal home life during and after the second world war (Barnados 2007) as children from differing genial stratifications were brought in concert into residential care (children homes at the time) as a consequence of the disruption of war . Although the Act established childrens departments and child officers, the universal belief was that children should remain (where possible) with their firsthand phencyclidine hydrochlorides. This decision was influence by John Bowlbys attachment theory in which he emphased the importance of the bond amidst a child and his/her primary caregiver (m early(a)(a)) and how separation between mother and child could have detri rational effects on the development of the child (Hopkins, 2007). With the introduction of Children and Young Persons Act 1963, local authorities were further given powers and duties to pay children in their own homes (Thomas, 2005). This developm ent further streng henceed the local authoritys decision and also reinforced Bowlbys attachment theory.However, Waterhouse et al (2002) note that in the 1970s the use of residential care for primary school children had begun to decline and the shift was towards family oriented care. The 1980s saw a further rapid decline in Looked-After-Children in residential care. Residential care was only viewed as a last resource for adolescents who could not be placed in family settings (Thomas 2005). According to Ibid (2005) foster care or boarding out as it was referred to until the late 1980s, was generally a female orientated voluntary service for smell after deprived children within a family setting with an aim to normalise their experiences whilst in care.It should be noted however, that during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s residential care authoritative profound negative at ecstasytion done no fault of the children in care (Thomas 2005). In this era, horrific sexual, physical and stir red up abuse was exposed, which led to study inquiries into children in care. The trey most notable reports are the Pindown inquiry by Levy and Kahan (1991), the Leicestershire inquiry (1993) and the inquiry into the abuse of children in childrens homes in North Wales, known as the Waterhouse Report, 2000 (Thomas 2005). These reports changed the course of policy and practice. It is evident by Ibid (2005) that although these reports have depicted abuse in residential homes over the years, abuse in foster home goes largely undetected.The Waterhouse report (DOH 2000a) exposed no cohesive regulations of childrens homes adding that the responsible local authorities had adopted a tokenistic approach. Upon this report, recommendations for change were fire uply defined. The New Labour governing body responded to the report and published major(ip) policy initiatives such as lumber Protects and the Care Standards Bill (2000) under which the General Social Care Council (GSCC) was establis hed to reminder and regulate all cordial care staff. The GSCC has been given the mandate to register all kind care staff (qualified and non-qualified alike) and also to produce enforceable codes of send and practice (DOH 2000b). These were designed to pr even upt unsuitable people in the social care sector. Other recommendations included, a childrens complaints officer, criminal record checks, a designated field social work assigned to each Looked-After-Child. Accountable and independent regulatory inspection body was also recommended to inspect residential and foster homes to meet National lower limit Standards (DOH 2002).Policy and legislative frameworks.There are a host of policies and legislative frameworks underpinning the holistic needs of Looked-After-Children that I as a social worker mustiness work to accordingly. However, working within the parameters of the law, meeting policy guidance and the constraints of limited resources is a compound task (Brammer 2007).The Ch ildren Act 1989 is the main legislative instrument that mandates all child care professionals to work towards the best interest of the child. The Act received royal assent in 1991 and arose from substantial search that exposed poor outcomes and significant failings in safeguarding, nurtureing and meeting childrens needs (Brayne Carr 2005). This same Act also introduced the welfare check list, to include factors that must be considered when professionals and the courts are deciding the incoming welfare of a child.Although the philosophy of the Act is that the child is best brought up in their own families, at quantify this is not in the best interests of the child. The local authority has a duty to safeguard and promote the childs welfare (s.22(3)). The overarching principle of the Act is that the welfare of the child is paramount (s.1) regardless of race, religion or culture. Although section 22(5)c) of the Act states that the local authorities must consider the childs spiritu al persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background, this only applies to looked after children (Brammer 2007). Under the Race traffic (Amendment Act) 2000, local authorities have a duty to promote good race relations and equality, provide a culturally sensitive service and protect against racial discrimination.Whilst articles 3,5,6,8 and 14 within the Human Rights Act 1998 are outstanding to children, it is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) that provides a comprehensive framework for children to attain their total potential. It sets out over 40 substantive rights including protection from harm and exploitation, access to education and health and family life (DFES, 2003).The governments first attempt to transforms childrens service was the implementation of the Quality Protects initiative. Also part of a wider set of projects including Sure Start to help children in their early years and their families get off to a better step up in life. The Q uality Protects programme set out eleven tell objectives (DOH 1999) for childrens services requiring all statutory agencies as corporate parents to work together, ensuring that childrens social services provide targeted care for disadvant vulcanised children to enable them to take maximum advantages of universal services, most notably health and education. It was the key mechanism for delivering the aims of the government White theme, Modernising Social Services (DOH 1998). Local authorities were required to submit a Management Action Plan informing the government on how they were going to meet these objectives. alternative Protects was a further initiative launched in 2002 to improve outcomes for looked-after-children through providing better placement stability, matching and choice (Butler et al 2004)Further changes in legislation followed the ending of Victoria Climbi whilst in private foster care. Lord Lamings report made key recommendations for change following this inquiry (Victoria Climbi Inquiry 2003). The governments response was a major reform of childrens services and the Children Act 2004, underpinned by the policies set out in Every Child Matters agenda (DFES, 2003). This focused on achieving five key outcomes for services to children, to work towards achieving their full potential.The Five Key Outcomes of the Every Child Matters areBeing healthful,Staying safe,Enjoying and achieving,Making a supreme contribution andAchieving economic well-being.The 2004 Act also established childrens trusts, bringing together education, health and social services, as well as a childrens commissioner to promote the interests and views of children. Due to the profound importance of education, section 22(3) of the Children Act 1989 amended by section 52 of the Children Act 2004 now places a duty on local authorities to promote the educational attainment of Looked-After-Children (Brammer 2007).The manakin for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Famili es (DOH 2000b) and subsequent practice guidance was introduced as part of New Labours Quality Protects programme and replaced what was formerly the orange book. The three inter-related dimensions of the framework Childs Development Needs, Parenting Capacity and Family and Environmental Factors and its sub-domains present the necessary ingredients to provide a holistic, specialist legal opinion of need used in conjunction with the Children Act 1989, that carers, other professionals and agencies can contribute.The domains can be adapted for the needs of disabled children and are useful for social workers in assessing placements to establish suitability in meeting the childs holistic needs (DOH, 2000b). Additionally, they can be used to evaluate progress within parenting capacities, curiously if key areas were targeted for improvement, thus determining whether the needs of the child will be sufficiently met if they are to return to their own home environment (Ibid, 2000b).The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) as proposed by Every Child Matters (DFES, 2003) is a relatively new standardised approach for assessing the need for services for children and is part of a wider government programme to provide integrated services including the need to improve multi-agency working. The CAF is a common language in sound judgment and is based upon the five outcomes of Every Child Matters (Brammer 2007).Every Child Matters raises questions of where looked-after-children should be (or get to) in relation to other children. The agenda aims to improve the lives of looked-after-children holistically across the five outcomes linking to the Articles in the UNCRC (Unicef 2006a). The objective is to improve and integrate childrens services, promote early intervention, provide strong leadership, bringing together incompatible professionals in multi-disciplinary teams in order to achieve positive outcomes for children, using a matrix of specialist, targeted and universal services bu ilt around their needs.As a social work, I cannot over emphases the importance gaining a comprehensive assessment of a child under my care. This includes getting an in depth picture/knowledge of the childs aside history throughout his/her development as this can inform me and others on how the child is likely to respond to particular situations, together with the possible triggers to specific conduct of that individual, including the childs view of the relationship with his/her family. It is this kind of education, which Falhberg (1994) says is sometimes missing from case files, which could result in the child not receiving an give up care package or placement. However, it is important to remember that when gathering information childrens own perspectives on their experiences are an important source of knowledge as well (DOH 2000a p.8). Furthermore, this knowledge equips me with the significance of sharing information between professionals in order to be able promote and meet the childs holistic needs. In the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie and many a(prenominal) other forward inquiries in to child protection failures it was noted that the quality of information sharing was often poor, systems were crude and information failed to be passed between hospitals in close law of proximity to each other. As the report commented, information systems that depend on the random passing of slips of paper have no place in modern services (The Victoria Climbie Inquiry Report, 2003, p13). In order to provide an effective system for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, all agencies and staff working with children need to work together in addressing the issue of information sharing and recording.Although personal information should always be respected (DOH 2000 p.45), there are times when the law permits the disclosure without consent in order to safeguard the child. Therefore, by explaining to the child at the outset why and how information is shared, there are no unnecessary surprises for the child.The Working together document (DOH, 1999) highlights the importance of multidisciplinary and inter agency working in children work force. This document was put together by Department Of Health, Department for Education and Employment and the shoes Office. It serves as a guide to inter-agency working with a commitment to sharing information to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. However, it also provides improved guidance on child protection procedures and the newly reformed Local Safeguarding Childrens Boards.Implications on social work practiceHowever, safeguarding children is never free from ethical dilemmas. For example, it is necessary at times to place children in secure accommodation under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 for their own and others safety (Brammer 2007). Although this conflicts with Article 5 of the UNCRC Right to Liberty on with the potential to diminish their autonomy, this must therefor e be a last resort to safeguard their welfare when other strategies and social work interventions have been ineffective. nevertheless another area of consideration is effective care planning for Looked-After-Children. This is key to promoting and meeting their holistic needs.Care plans should be child-centred/person-centred, needs based, focussed, pro spry and written together with with the social worker, the child (depending on age and maturity), parents/guardians and any prospective caregivers (National Childrens Bureau 2007). In this way, care can be delivered in a more decipherable and understanding way. This also promotes partnership between all stakeholders involved in the care and welfare of the child. However, studies undertaken by Timms Thorburn (2006) revealed that children were not always involved in penning their care plan as much as they should be. The care plan is a continuing process based on a holistic assessment of the childs needs and how they will be met, incl uding a statutory Health Plan and Personal Education Plan (including Special educational Needs) which sets out targets, providing a precious individual monitoring mechanism (DfES 2005). The requirement of statutory reviews laid out in section 26 of the Children Act 1989 reinforces this continuum (Thomas 2005). The amendment to section 26 made by section 118 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, now requires that statutory reviews must be chaired by an sovereign Reviewing Officer, who ensures plans are timely, effective and sensitive and focussed on the childs needs, the placement, crack a safeguard to prevent drift and addressing poor practice (DfES 2004 p.8). However, this looks good on paper but the question remains as to how independent the Independent Reviewing Officer can be when he/she is employed or paid by the local authority for the services rendered.Furthermore, the Looked-After-Children documentation also contains significant fixings identifying age-related Assessmen t and Action records. These records are an achievable by way of assessing and reviewing the childs well being across the seven dimensions of the childs developmental needs located within the assessment framework (DOH 2000c). Additionally, these records identify each others roles in undertaking the tasks to effectively meet these outcomes (Thomas 2005). Walker et al (2003) emphasises that these records should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Related to the assessment and have a clear Time scale (SMART) for completion. Its been argued again and again that meeting the needs of gruesome and minority ethnic children is a complex task for social workers given the moot debates regarding same race/trans-racial placements (Thomas 2005). Is this not a way of further marginalising, discriminating and oppressing this group of children? Walker (2005) cited by Allain (2007, p137) stresses the importance of . . . developing culturally competent practice for working with children and young p eople cannot be overstated. Meaning as social workers we need to be cultural sensitive and aware that cultural norms and beats of behaviour can vary considerably between communities and even families (Victoria Climbi Inquiry 2003 para.16.5). However, many children who are fostered are from black and minority ethnic groups with entirely different cultures (Thomas 2005). Although there is research to suggest that trans-racial placements are not damaging to children (Tizard and Phoenix 1989) The Children Act 1989 (Guidance and Regulations vol 3 paras 2.40-2.42 DOH 1991) promotes same race placements within foster settings.As a social worker, I am aware that assessments are not value free. According to City of Salford Community and Social Services (2000) social workers bring their racial, cultural, gender, class and religious values to the assessment. Clear guides to good professional practice are maintained within the GSCC codes of practice. Anti-oppressive practice and valuing divers ity in its broadest context are at the rawness of social work together with a commitment to partnership working, being non-judgemental, trus iirthy and respecting service users rights (GSCC 2002).Dominelli (1997) also states that in their quest to treat everyone as equals, social workers have inadvertently adopted a colour blind approach implying that skin colour is the only difference, thus reinforcing negative assumptions. In addition, she notes social workers have dumped black difficult children on to black foster carers highlighting racist assumptions that they can look after their own. According to Cross (1971 cited by DOH 2000a) black children struggle to gain a positive sense of racial identity. Therefore, in order for child care professional to assess and understand, Cross provides a model of identity that can be used to make the correlation between the childs own perception and their emotional development.Another highlight is that unaccompanied asylum pursuance children a re not only faced with language and cultural issues, but it appears that the Hillingdon Judgment and its subsequent guidance (LAC (2003)13) DOH 2003) is not being adhered to nationally (Nandy 2005). Children aged 16-17 are still being supported by section 17 of the Children Act 1989 (children in need) rather than having full section 20 status as per the recommendations, providing them with ongoing support post-18. The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 provides for, a holistic Pathway Assessment of needs, which informs the Pathway Plan for a continuum of care and support until the age of 21(beyond if in education) with a personal adviser. Section 24 of the Children Act 1989 sets out the duty of the local authority to advise, assist and befriend a child who leaves care after the age of 16. However, research indicates that although Looked-After-Children are the most vulnerable in society, they are pushed to independence earlier than other children. Stein (2006 p.274) describes care leav ers as having accelerated and compressed transitions to adulthood.Educational attainment for Looked-After-Children is unacceptably low, with only 12 per cent achieving 5 GCSEs grades A-C compared to 59 per cent of other children (DfES 2007). query by Berridge et al (1998 cited by DOH 1998a) indicates that Looked-After-Children, particularly those in residential care are ill-equipped with adequate learning materials and staff felt that they were not sufficiently trained to provide teaching support to those who were excluded from school (DfES 2005). Guidance from the DfES (2005) aims to promote better partnership working including teacher training and additional support for Looked-After-Children in schools.Fundamental to the Children Act 1989 is that the children have a right to be heard and are individuals in their own right. The childs wishes and feelings must be sought by the local authority with regards to aspects of their circumstances and future plans (s.22(5)) and s.1(3) when courts are making decisions. This principle is enshrined in the Article 12 of the UNCRC (Unicef, 2006). However, Thomas (2005) notes that there is still a debate to what extent children have in determining their lives, although the general consensus is that they should be listened to. Leeson (2007) also states that childrens participation in decision making is questioned due to them being regarded as vulnerable, less competent beings in need of social work protection (p.268). Although children may not know what they want, they should be encouraged by all professionals to participate, (according to their age and understanding) thus empowering them and increasing their autonomy.Communication with children is the means to establishing a relationship, even when they do not want to engage verbally. Play, activity based work, writing, drawing and body language are also essential tools in the art of being receptive (Kroll 1995 cited by Thomas 2002). Disabled children may prefer other metho ds of communication such as the Picture Exchange Communication System, Makaton or British Sign Language. Additionally, they may have their own individual ways of communicating, therefore it is crucial that not only the child care professionals understand, but the child has government agency that their messages are heard (DFES, 2006).Foster carers and residential workers have a similar role. They work closely with social workers, families, doctors, psychologists, teachers, nurses, probation officers and other outside agencies in order to effectively promote the holistic needs of the child. Although it is the responsibility of the social worker to ensure that plans are implemented, reviewed and legalities adhered to, residential staff and foster carers are principally the ones to undertake the tasks (Thomas 2005).Studies by Whitaker et al 1998 cited by DOH (1998) highlighted the extensive skills and personal qualities that are required when working within group living, including know ledge and understanding of development, group dynamics, networks, listening, advocating, physical and emotional support. This list is not exhaustive and not exclusive to residential on the contrary, foster carers should equally be proficient in these skills.Due to the challenging spirit of the profession there is a high turnover of staff within residential care which amounts to children not being able to form adequate attachments, although key worker systems are used to enhance this. Colton et al (2007) analysed a number of factors from researchers and concluded that one of the key issues was emotional exhaustion from increasingly complex, volatile, chaotic and luxuriant behaviour displayed by children towards staff. According to Fostering Network (2007) foster care turnover also remains high with a shortage of over ten thousand foster carer placements.According to Barter et al (2004) many children entering the care system are filling an available vacancy rather than receiving an a ppropriate provision to meet their complex needs. Furthermore, Triseliotis (2002) notes that children are far more likely to be in continual state of insecurity due to the legalities of impermanence and many felt that this anxiety was heightened from the carers behave or else stance. Although research has indicated that authoritative parenting within fostering has had the most success (Wilson et al 2004). The use of Social Learning Theory, particularly in the newly funded Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care Project in England, considers that since behaviour is learned, it can be unlearned via therapeutic methods and living environment. MTFCE is targeted for those with complex needs, challenging behaviour and offenders (DFES, 2003).Under section 26 of the Children Act 1989, children have a statutory right to complain about the services they receive. Amendments to the Children Act 1989 via the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (s.119) created a new section (26(a)) which affords childr en and young people a statutory right to an advocate in the light of complaints (Brammer 2007). In addition, the White Paper Valuing People (DOH 2001) emphasises that children who have learning disabilities should also be included in such initiatives. Furthermore, Ward (1995) notes that the local authories should be playing a more active role and taking the initiative to seek the views of Looked-After-Children, as some of those looked after, are under duress (p.16)To ensure children are looked after properly, residential homes and fostering agencies are inspected by an independent body. As of April 2007, Ofsted began the regulation and inspection of childrens services building on the previous expertise of Commission for Social Care Inspection (Ofsted 2007). Residential homes are subject two annual visits (one announced and one unannounced) from the inspecting body to monitor performance against both the National Minimum Standards (DOH 2002) and the Childrens Homes Regulations 2001.I nternal inspections are required by the registered manager to monitor matters set out in Schedule 6 of the regulations (34(1)) such as, menus, the quality of rotas, staffing and childrens complaints. Under regulation 33, a monthly inspection takes place by a statutory visitor to monitor performance against the five outcomes of Every Child Matters. Including speaking to the children and staff, checking files, care plans and placement plans. A report is then prepared and forwarded to Ofsted.Many children have a troubled and complex past (Thomas 2005). A good home offers attachments, permanence, identity, self esteem and promotes contact (where necessary) with the child and parent(s). supplement theory originiates from the work of John Bowlby and has been elaborated considerably since. Attachment behaviour is reciprocal rather than unidirectional and is defined as a long bear emotionally meaningful tie to a particular individual cited by Schaffer (1997 p.127). Bowlby theorised that l ack of nurturing from an infants primary care giver would have serious consequences for the child in later life, leading to affectionless psychopathy (the inability to have deep feelings for others) in Rutter (1991). Social workers need to consider how a placement will promote healthy attachments and psychological development, furthermore, how they are provided, maintained and strengthened (Howe 1996, cited by Thomas 2005). However, Robinson (2002) criticises Howe for failing to mention the attachments within the black community and families in his writings, merely referring to cultural variations.Research identified four attachment behaviours secure, insecure/avoidant ambivalent and disorganised, secure being the most ideal (Howe 2002). A good understanding of these internalised behaviours assists social workers to differentiate between them when analysing assessments (Ibid 2002). Howe further notes that there is a tendency for these internal working models to become self fulfillin g, where by the child acts in certain ways to elicit want self-confirming reactions from others. However, research indicates that a child does not have to be at the mercy of the past (Schaffer 1992 p.40) depending on how resilient the child is to adapting to lifes complex variables.The prevalence of mental disorders is high in looked-after-children, particularly in residential care compared to foster care. According to the Office of National Statistics (2003) nearly three quarters of the children in residential care (72 per cent) were clinically diagnosed as having a mental disorder. The role of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services promotes the mental well being of children through commissioning services via a four-tier strategic framework (level four being severe) following an assessment (DFES, 2003).Most looked-after-children receive services at level three or four. However, Schaffer (1998) suggests that it is difficult to tell who will need therapeutic involvement and who will simply grow out of it. Leighton (In press) states that professionals must be aware of their own personal values and attitudes that could influence decision making as to whether a child will benefit from therapy. Furthermore, she adds that ethical challenges are plentiful in creating and respecting the childs autonomy whilst undertaking a balancing act with safeguarding their welfare and promoting their best interests.Thomas (2005, 2002) urges caution with the overall concept of best interests of the child as he suggests that it could be oppressive and dangerous if misused, particularly with regards to who is making the decisions in the best interests for example professionals, the family or the child themselves. Although there is good evidence from research to indicate positive outcomes for children, these cannot assume a one size fits all solution to ensuring a desired individual result for there are other intricacies that need to be taken into account, for example religi on and culture.With regards to child welfare, Fox-Harding (1997) states that the Children Act 1989 is in ideological conflict concerning the role of the state. She notes four different value positions liassaz-faire, state paternalism, parents rights and childrens rights. The latter two are appropriate here. Firstly, she notes that the perspective of parents rights acts as a belief