Effect of Stigma on Mental Health

Effect of Stigma on Mental Health From thousands of years, debate has been going on among practitioners how to treat mental illness. Several modifications have been done from burning, chaining, locking them in homes and drilling their heads to unchaining and treating them like humans (Foerschner, 2010). But the nurses who work in mental health setting still face the problems in delivering care in a stigma free environment in order to promote the health of mentally ill patients (Stuart, 2009). For such mentally ill clients we need to accept their behavior rather than stigmatization (Angermeyer Matschinger, 2003). Stigma is a â€Å"collection of negative attitudes, beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors that influence the individual, or the general public, to fear, reject, avoid, be prejudiced, and discriminate people† (Gary, 2005). The reason behind selection of this topic is that to accepting mentally ill patient with the intention of promoting their health. In West, stigma to mental illness is properly recognized, equally managed and prevented. Yet, in Eastern cultures, being mentally ill is still seen as a mark of dishonor for family, mental health patients are still stigmatized and socially isolated and supposed as being haunted by evil spirit or jinn (Naeem, Ayub, Javed, Irfan, Haral Kingdon, 2006). Additionally, mental health is considered to be the most avoided field in Pakistan due to the stigma attached to it (Qasim, 2012). Not so long I have being in psychiatric setting where we all were sitting in cafà © having our break together, suddenly a man in brown traditional clothes with leather jacket wearing black goggles ask one of our colleague if he want some tea? he answered â€Å"no†, that person sat on nearby table and ask waiter to bring one zinger burger. While noting his getup which was not according to weather and unusual behavior, my colleague abruptly ask our faculty â€Å"Ma’am is he mad or what? After hearing those words that patient suddenly pushes his chair and leaves the cafà ©.† This is how people unintentionally target psychiatric patient by hitting their self-esteem rather accepting them as a part of society and understand there awkward behavior as a part of their illness. In a society stigma marks a boundary between â€Å"normal† and â€Å"outsider,† and between â€Å"us† and â€Å"them† (Link Phelan, 2001). Question is how we can break this boundary of discrimination which is causing barrier to recovery of mentally ill clients? The case scenario will now be analyzed on a social cognitive model explains how public and self stigma are formed and maintained. There are 3 components that structure this model are: stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination. Social psychologists see stereotypes as information learned by society (Augoustinos, Ahrens, Innes, 1994; Esses, Haddock, Zanna, 1994; Hilton von Hippel, 1996; Judd Park, 1993; Krueger, 1996; Mullen, Rozell, Johnson, 1996). Without thinking we quickly create expectation and impression of people who fit in to a stereotyped group, (Hamilton Sherman, 1994) just like my colleague label that person as ‘mad’. Prejudice endorse people may show a negative reactions by supporting their learned negative stereotype. (Devine, 1988, 1989, 1995; Hilton von Hippel, 1996; Krueger, 1996). Prejudice may lead to discriminatory behavior (Weiner, 1995) just like my colleague discriminate that person as one who is not following societal norms and discriminate his behavior from normal to abnormal (for social cognitive model refer appendix fig 1.). Being stigmatized has several harmful effects on the individual, the immediate family and the community too. At first in the name of honor or embarrassment, the individual and family doesn’t reach the health care provider for treatment options. It also cause non-adherence to effective treatment regimen. Self stigma is another effect resulting in low self esteem, negative self perception and self care when a person internalizes the discriminatory behavior and societal stigmatizing attitude. Lastly stigma has also affects the attitude of health care provider. Study has shown that in hospital setting nurses display punishing attitude and use unacceptable manner for treating them, like unnecessarily retraining them (Pinto-Foltz Logsdon, 2009). To reduce stigma and discrimination against people with mental health disorders the largest ever program was launched in England on Jan 21, 2009, called Time to Change. By referring social cognitive model this program aims to show that change is possible that would bring hope to people who are deleteriously exhausted by discrimination (refer appendix fig 2.) (Henderson Thornicroft). A few procedures for stigma decrease are accounted in the literature. These interventions and techniques might be used at diverse levels: the intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational/institutional, group, and governmental/structural (McLeroy et al, 1988; Richard et al, 1996). Firstly, intrapersonal level has always remained a primary focus to change the behavior of an individual. Interventions are done to change the individual’s knowledge, behavior, attitude, self concept, enhancing self esteem, coping skills, strengthening, and financial support. We can carry out these interventions via indiv idual counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Self help advocacy and support groups (Heijnders Van Der Meij, 2006). Secondly, intervention at interpersonal level deals with the impact of social gathering and social support on the health of mentally ill client. The interpersonal environment of the patient includes their family, friends and work environment. They intend to build connections between patient and his/her interpersonal environment in order to restore or promote their health. This could be carry out through Care and support by family, Home care teams, and Community-based rehabilitation (Heijnders Van Der Meij, 2006). Furthermore, the organizational level also being used in order to change the perception of public towards stigma and its effect on individual. This could be accomplished through training programs and institutional changes which increase knowledge of the disease and effect of stigma on the lives of mentally ill clients (Heijnders Van Der Meij, 2 006). Additionally stigma reduction can be intervene at community level whose aim is to increase knowledge about mental illness and stigma attached to it. For stigma reduction campaign, education is often used as a first step and it may combine with the other strategies as well. Educational interventions may include presentations, discussions, simulations, audiotapes, and movies, focusing specific populations (Heijnders Van Der Meij, 2006). Lastly, on governmental level work can be carried out in order to structure such policy which aims to protect the rights of the people who are suffering from stigmatizing illness (Heijnders Van Der Meij, 2006). The World Health Organization (WHO) argued that ‘policies on discrimination, access to prevention and care, confidentiality of care and individual’s rights can make a significant impact’ (2002). In Conclusion it is recommended that client’s dignity and safety should remain paramount at all times. To break the chain of stigma the social cognitive model should be vigilantly applied in psychiatric setting. Patient-centred approach is required, which starts with intrapersonal level, which gives power to affected person to development self esteem and stigma reduction related programs at other levels. â€Å"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so† (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 2 Scene 2).

Determining the Mole Ratios in a Chemical Reaction Essay

The purpose of this lab was to determine the mole ratios of the reactants hypochlorite ion (OCI ) and thiosulfate (S O ) when reacted in a chemical reaction. A chemical equation gives the mole ratios of the reactants and products involved in the chemical reaction. When some formulas of the products are not known, experimental measurements can be made to determine those ratios. During this reaction, hypochlorite ions oxidize the thiosulfate ions according to the unbalanced and incomplete reaction below. A OCI + B S O products The reactions are all exothermic, so the heat produced will be directly proportional to the amount of reaction that occurs. There’s an objective of this experiment and its †¢Measure the enthalpy change of a series of reactions †¢Determine the stoichiometry of an oxidation-reduction reaction in which the reactants are known but the products are unknown Materials †¢Lab Quest †¢Lab Quest App †¢Temp. Probe †¢Two 10mL graduated cylinders †¢Two 25mL graduated cylinders †¢Two 50 mL graduated cylinders †¢Three 250mL beakers †¢0.50 M sodium hypochlorite, NaOCI †¢0.50 M sodium thiosulfate, Na S O †¢0.2 M sodium hydroxide, NaOH †¢Styrofoam Cups Procedure Submitted as the carbon-less copy of the pre-lab outline (see attached) Results and Discussion During this experiment we first, prepared the solutions of the reactants in which the concentrations are known. Second, we mixed the solutions a number of times using different ratios of reactants. Third, the change of temperature is the property that needs to be measured. All the reactions are all exothermic, so heat that’s produced will be directly proportional to the amount of reaction that occurs. The experiment was designed so that the volume of solution is a constant for all measurements, the temperature change will also be proportional to the quantity of reactants consumed. The total number of moles of reactants is also kept a constant for the series of measurements. Considering that each measurement is made with a different mole ratio of reactants. The optimum ratio (determined after the results of the trials are graphed) is the stoichiometric ratio in the equation, which concludes that it should consume the greatest amount of reactants, form the greatest amount of products, and generate the most heat and maximum temperature change.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Business Law Essay

Introduction Our assigned topic deals with a phenomenon that has taken the corporate world by storm rather recently, particularly in Pakistan. It entails the dilemma that every corporation faces when they have to make decisions regarding the firm’s profitability and their corporation’s social responsibility. The term â€Å"corporate social responsibility† came into common use in the late 1960s and early 1970s after many multinational corporations formed the term stakeholder, meaning those on whom an organization’s activities have an impact. It was used to describe corporate owners beyond shareholders. The field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has developed exponentially in the last decade. Nevertheless, there remains a lingering debate about the legitimacy and value of corporate reaction to CSR concerns. There are different views of the function of the firm in society and disagreement as to whether wealth maximization should be the sole goal of a corporation. An escalating number of shareholders, analysts, regulators, activists, labor unions, employees, community organizations, and news media are asking companies to be accountable for an ever-changing set of CSR issues. There is rising demand for transparency and growing expectations that corporations measure, report, and continuously improve their social, environmental, and economic performance. According to Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), corporate social responsibility is defined as â€Å"achieving commercial success in ways that honor ethical values and respect people, communities, and the natural environment.† Each company is at variance in how it implements corporate social responsibility, if it does so at all. The differences depend on such factors as any particular company’s size, the particular industry involved, the firm’s business culture, stakeholder demands, and how historically progressive the company is in engaging CSR. Some companies focus on a single area, which is regarded as the most important for them or where they have the highest impact or vulnerability—human rights or the environment, for example—while there are others who endeavor to incorporate CSR in each and every one facet of their operations. For successful execution, it is fundamental that the CSR principles are part of the corporations’ values and strategic planning, and that the management and employees, both are committed to them. Furthermore, it is important that the CSR strategy is aligned with the company’s specific corporate objectives and core competencies. As CSR comes into contact with many of the problems conventionally addressed by government, like human rights and community investing, there is strong censure that societal problems are best solved by freely elected government bodies as the resources of a corporation are poorly matched for addressing those social problems, and therefore, it is argued, they should not be misallocated. According to Friedman (1970), in a free society, â€Å"there is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud.† The idea is that the state should address social problems, supported by the argument that an executive, by taking money and resources that would otherwise go to owners, employees, and costumers, and allocating them according to the will of the minority, and will fail to serve the interests of her or his principal. In this way, the executive imposes a tax and spends the proceeds for â€Å"social† purposes, which is insupportable, since she or he has neither the skills nor the jurisdiction to do so. On the other hand, there are many demands by others for corporate adoption of the CSR principles. Although the government is chiefly responsible for addressing those issues, the contribution of private firms can be substantial. There is also the argument of the shifting balance of power. According to the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), of the 100 largest global economies, as indicated by their respective GDP, 51 of them are US corporations, and only 49 are nation states. So economic supremacy has shifted to the corporations; they, therefore, should have an increasing role in and accountability for addressing social problems. For example, the government sets the regulations and the minimum standards for the workplace, but a company can further improve the work environment and the quality of living of its employees. A firm cannot stay oblivious to the problems of the environment in which it functions. The poverty of a nation state’s citizens, political unrest, and the exhaustion of natural resources can have destructive effects for a corporation. For example, resources that are inputs in the production process and which, at the foundation of the industrial revolution, were plentiful are now scarce, polluted, or diminishing in many regions of the entire planet. As one would expect, this imposes an extra cost to the corporations and may force them to reposition or to cease operations. From one perspective, companies may be poorly equipped to address some of the social or environmental problems, but from another perspective, no matter how poorly equipped, companies may still be best positioned to improve the problems. Undoubtedly, adopting the CSR principles involves costs. These costs might be short term in nature or continuous outflows. They may involve the purchase of new environmentally friendly equipment, the change of management structures, or the implementation of stricter quality controls. Since being socially responsible involves incurring costs, it should generate benefits as well in order to be a sustainable business practice. A corporation could not continue a policy that constantly generates negative cash flows. The shareholders invest their money in a corporation, expecting the highest possible risk adjusted return. Therefore, being socially responsible should have bottom-line benefits in order to be sustainable. Socially responsible corporate performance can be associated with a series of benefits with the final outcome. But in a lot of cases, it seems that the time frame of the costs and benefits can be out of alignment—the costs are in the near future, whereas the benefits are not often realized until long periods of time have lapsed. Nevertheless, many benefits can be identified. Firstly, socially responsible companies have enhanced brand image and reputation. Consumers are often attracted towards brands and companies with good reputations in CSR related issues. Therefore, a corporation’s brand equity is automatically enhanced. A company regarded as socially responsible can also benefit from its reputation within the business community by having increased ability to attract capital and trading partners. However, reputation is hard to quantify and measure; it is even harder to measure how much it increases a company’s value. But since companies have developed methods to measure the benefits of their advertisement campaigns, similar methods can and should be able to be applied in the case of corporate reputation. Socially responsible companies also have less risk of negative rare events. Furthermore, companies that adopt the CSR principles are more transparent and have less risk of bribery and corruption. In addition, they may execute stricter and, thus, more costly quality and environmental controls, but they run less risk of having to bear in mind defective product lines and pay heavy fines for excessive polluting. They also have less risk of negative social events which damage their reputation and cost millions of dollars in information and advertising campaigns. The scandals about child–labor and sweatshops that affect the clothing industry are two fine examples. Thus, socially responsible businesses should have more stable earnings growth and less downside volatility. Since companies that adopt the CSR principles carry less risk, when valuing those companies, a lower discount rate should be used. In the company valuation this lower tail risk should be taken into account. There are also other cases in which doing what is good and responsible converges with doing the best for the particular business. Some CSR initiatives can dramatically reduce operating costs. For example, reducing packaging material or planning the optimum route for delivery trucks not only reduces the environmental impact of a company’s operation, but it also reduces the cost. The process of adopting the CSR principles induces executives to reconsider their business practices and to seek more efficient ways of operating. Companies perceived to have a strong CSR commitment often have an improved ability to attract and to retain employees (Turban & Greening 1997), which leads to reduced turnover, recruitment, and training costs. Employees, too, often evaluate their companies CSR performance to determine if their personal values conflict with those of the businesses at which they work. There are many known cases in which employees were asked, under pressure of their supervisors, to overlook written or moral laws in order to achieve higher profits. These practices create a culture of fear in the workplace and harm the employees’ trust, loyalty, and commitment to the company. Companies that improve working conditions and labor practices also experience increased productivity and reduced error rates. Regular controls in the production facilities throughout the world ensure that all the employees work under good conditions and earn living wages. These practices are costly, but the increased productivity of the workers and improved quality of the products generate positive cash flows that cover the associated costs. Thus, firms may actually benefit from socially responsible actions in terms of employee morale and productivity (Moskowitz, 1972). Literature review CSP is a global concept that encompasses those of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsiveness. It provides a coherent framework to explore business-society relationships by looking at the social impact of corporations with business criteria of performance measurement, such as quality, efficacy, effectiveness, innovation (Carroll, 1991; Wood, 1991). The challenge for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in developing countries is framed by a vision that was distilled in 2000 into the Millennium Development Goals—‘a world with less poverty, hunger and disease, greater survival prospects for mothers and their infants, better educated children, equal opportunities for women, and a healthier environment’ (UN, 2006: 3). The penetration of the social realm into corporate strategy has gathered momentum in the last years. The movement for CSR has â€Å"won the battle of ideas† (Crook 2005). By now, most well managed companies have adopted th e practices and certifications mandatory in their industries, having gone through what Zadek (2004) calls the â€Å"defensive† and the â€Å"compliance† stages of CSR. Managing the social and environmental footprint of economic activity is generally accepted as part of the cost of doing business. But much remains to be done. If companies are to move their CSR activities from satisfying behavior and take their commitment to society and the environment to the next level, they will need to rethink their current approaches to CSR, tapping into the creativity of every individual. CSE, like all entrepreneurship, is not about managing existing operations or CSR programs; it is about creating disruptive change in the pursuit of new opportunities. It combines the willingness and desire to create joint economic and social value with the entrepreneurial redesign, systems development, and action necessary to carry it out. Accelerated organizational transformation faces a host of obstacles well-documented in the change management literature. Some people argue that media pressures the corporate managers and directors to behave in ways that are â€Å"socially ac ceptable†. Sometimes this coincides with shareholders’ value maximization, others not (Zinagales, 2002). Although there are several contested notions of what CSR should be and how it should work, there is some agreement upon what it broadly entails. A number of concepts and issues are subsumed under the heading of CSR, including human rights, environmental responsibility, diversity management, sustainability, and philanthropy (Amaeshi & Adi, 2006), meaning that it is a complex area with an interdisciplinary focus. It is generally agreed that CSR involves corporations voluntarily exceeding their legal duties to take account of social, economic and environmental impacts of their operations. Consideration of the social, economic and political context demonstrates how CSR forms part of a wider strategic direction being taken internationally with regard to market relations and the pursuit of a range of objectives and goals. The context is in part provided by concerns about the numerous examples of irresponsible behavior on the part of corporations, ranging from colluding with oppressive regimes and in the overthrowing of governments (Alston, 2005) to issues relating to working conditions and the impact of unethical marketing practices (Richter, 2001). Such examples have demonstrated the need for the worst excesses of business to be curbed. The globalised economy is understood to raise important issues for businesses and governments due to changes in patterns of production and consumption. In particular it is noted that the manufacturing of goods is â€Å"highly mobile† (Cassell, 2001:263) and that supply chains are often dispersed in various countries, creating difficulties in terms of legislation and regulation. Moreover, economic globalization presents challenges to the ability of states to protect people’s rights (Cassell, 2001). The notion of corporate social responsibility is part of the ‘third way’ (Gond & Matten, 2007), where the role of the state is now to provide â€Å"steering for the promotion of social development and social justice† (Giddens, 2001: 6). There is increased involvement of the private sector in traditionally statutory provision through privatization and public/private partnerships (Meehan, 2003). Economic policies have created a need for markets and business to self-regulate in order to continue to pursue an international free market economy, but also to ensure sustainability of economic, human and other resources, and of the environment. CSR is seen as a solution to these problems of regulation. The private sector is increasingly seen as a key player in the achievement of many national and international strategic objectives for governments, which is also enabled by CSR. Methodology To gather information, we used secondary research as our main source of information. Various academic journals and internet sources were pursued to cater to the important aspects of the given topic. Moreover, since we thoroughly researched this topic, personal opinions were formed and using those and logic, we justified our opinions accordingly. How can business persons act in an ethically and socially responsible manner and at the same time make profits? Suppose clear-cutting is profitable and legal, but is nonetheless regarded as environmentally irresponsible under prevailing social norms. Can management of a timber corporation decline to clear-cut its timberland even though that sacrifices profits? One might be tempted to evade the question by claiming that being environmentally responsible is profitable in the long run, either because it preserves the forest for future harvesting or because it maintains a public goodwill that aids future sales. But suppose, in an incautious moment, management admits that the present value of those future profits from not clear cutting cannot hope to match the large current profits that clear-cutting would produce. Or, more realistically, suppose a takeover bid by a firm known to clear-cut establishes precisely that proposition by offering far more than the stock price that reflects the current stream of profits. Can management reject the profitable takeover bid on the grounds that it will lead to socially undesirable clear-cutting? The answers to these questions will challenge the canonical law and economics account on corporate social responsibility, which goes something like this. Unless modified by statute, traditional fiduciary duties require corporate managers to further the interests of shareholders, and thus require them to maximize corporate profits subject to the obligation to comply with independent legal constraints. Ethics and social responsibility are very important values in business ventures. This is particularly essential in decision making process. Ethical conscience reminds business persons to make trustworthy and profitable business decisions. Likewise, the social responsibility component requires business persons to make entrepreneurial decisions that can enhance benefits and repelling harms to the stakeholders. The canonical law and economics view holds that corporate managers do and should have a duty to profit-maximize because such conduct is socially efficient given that general legal sanctions do or can redress any harm that corporate or non-corporate businesses inflict on others. If certain conduct imposes excessive harm on others or merits taxation, then an independent law should regulate and impose liability or taxes whether or not the actor is a corporation, and if the conduct does not impose any impermissible harm or merit taxation, then the most socially desirable thing for corporations to do is maximize profits. Other stakeholders could either legally protect themselves by contract with the corporation or have their legal protection provided by judicial gap-filling of such contracts. Part of what makes this account canonical is that it helps define the boundaries of the corporate law field. It leaves corporate law scholars free to ignore issues about any effects the corporation may have on the external world as topics best addressed by other legal fields, and to focus on more tractable models about which corporate rules would maximize shareholder value.

Media Censorship essays

Media Censorship essays Today there is much controversy over whether there should or shouldn't be censorship of the media. Censorship should not be imposed on citizens by the government or other agencies; adults have a right to view or listen to what they choose. Additionally, if children's media is censored, parents are the ones to monitor and regulate it. Parents should monitor children's viewing of television and also what they hear on the radio, CD's, and tapes. Censorship includes the examination and blocking of books, periodicals, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other communication media that is shown to, or available, to the public. Media censorship is sometimes put into place because content is immoral or obscene, heretical or blasphemous, seditious or treasonable, or injurious to the national security. It is supposedly is used for the protection of the family, the church, and the state. Additionally some religious groups, opposed to the violence shown in different types of media, say censorship works. However, still more that believe in civil rights believe that it is an unnecessary violation of the right to freedom of speech for all humans. Censorship of the media for children is necessary, but should not be handled by government or other groups. Instead it should be directed and controlled by parents with or without children. Censorship for children is necessary because the average American view's 100,000 acts of violence on TV before reaching the age of thirteen. Many of the violent acts are presented news stations which are stations parents or adults watch to find out information about weather, and road conditions, or anything that can help with daily life. If the government were to bring censorship to these stations adults would not see the news reports in their area or around the world. For this to be avoided, the government must leave censorship to parents. To facilitate parent's exercise of viewing cens...

Ethics of Death Penalty essays

Ethics of Death Penalty essays Throughout the ages, the death penalty has been used as one of the severe ways to punish or deter people from breaking all range of laws from petty theft to murder; and many times as to set forth an example of a consequence when an individual betrays communal entity such as nationality and kindred. Evidently, the capital punishment is the ultimate punishment, for the determined offender is given no opportunity of repentance or rehabilitation. Over the years in the United States, the standards for sentencing the  ¡Ã‚ °ultimate ¡ punishment has changed. The constitutionality of the death penalty is a highly controversial issue leading to seemingly circular arguments. Both the pro and the anti capital punishment viewpoints can be justified in legal scope, however the validity of the death penalty policy can be further examined. The death penalty satisfies the public ¡Ã‚ ¯s need for retribution, relieves the anguish of the victim ¡Ã‚ ¯s family, permanently removes the actual incorrigible criminal from society. The capital punishment can be justified in many ways. In 1976 the US states began creating a bifurcated(dual) trial procedure that would legally allow imposing the death sentence. The states did so in response to the 1972 (Furman vs. Georgia) supreme court decision which ruled that death penalty statutes were too vague and ambiguous, thus unconstitutional and illegal. The notion of the capital punishment dates back thousands of years back to the primal justice system. For example, many western cultures embrace the Holy Bible as their moral and ethical foundation. God set forth his words as a guide by which to live our lives. God ¡Ã‚ ¯s commandments are eternal. Even though one of the ten commandments states  ¡Ã‚ °Thou shall not kill ¡, there are many incidents in the old testament wh ere the book promotes  ¡Ã‚ °an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth ¡ principle as also set forth in the ancient book of Hamurab...

Fossil Inc. clothing and accessorys Legal Structure Essay

Fossil Inc. clothing and accessorys Legal Structure - Essay Example a  partnership  ran by two or more people.  Also, another option is an incorporated company where business activities  are incorporated  into a company, which bestows  life  on business as a separate legal person (Mancuso 4). The Fossil inc. Clothing and Accessory is a  design, development, marketing and distribution, company that focuses on consumer products predicated on fashion and  value  such as sunglasses, watches, and leather goods among others, for retail sale on an international basis. Fossil Inc. is an incorporated  business  since it  is formed  on a corporation. Incorporating a business provides a liability  protection  and  considerable  tax advantages. The business can  move  on despite the death or bankruptcy of shareholders or  management. Moreover, it offers the best  means  of  expansion  and the provision of  outside  investors. Fossil Inc.  is under the ownership  of two brothers; Tom and Kosta Kartsotis who own about 30% of Fossil stock. In 1993, the Fossil Inc. sold 20% of the company to investors, but Tom retained 40.5% control over the  company  while his brother retained 18.8% ownership. According to Richardson (1), initial public offering of  stock  (public ownership) yielded $19 million, which Fossil Inc. used half of it to reduce the company’s  debt  and the other half to be kept as working capital. Additionally, in 1993, Fossil Inc. had  several  subsidiaries in Europe, led by Fossil Europe GmbH i.e. the company’s  primary  European  operation  in Germany. Other subsidiary companies of Fossil Inc. included Fossil Italia SRL and Fossil France SARL, which served as Fossil’s marketing, as well as distribution entities in those countries.  In addition, Fossil B.V., formed in 1993, stood as a company holding for the three European subsidiaries, where Texas-based Fossil Inc. controlled 70 per cent of the newly formed European holding Company (International Directory of Company Histories 1). In 1994, Fossil Inc. was able

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep - Essay Example What it is to be human is a recurring dilemma that the characters in Do Androids Dream? try to make sense of; and through their actions and the plot itself, the author and readers also navigate this problem. Reaction to the world around them, specifically the display of empathy, is seemingly the most definitive marker of the â€Å"humanness† of human beings. However, one finds that by the end of Do Androids Dream?, this assumption has been turned around on its head and back again many times over. Rather than provide an easy template of humanity for us to accept, Dick uses this novel to instead ask the right questions. The most obvious and repeated assumption is that empathy is what differentiates humans from â€Å"andies† – i.e. androids or humanoid robots that have been created in the post-apocalyptic setting of the novel to help in the process of emigration of humans to Mars. This is reflected in the popular religion: â€Å"Mercerism†, the foundation of which lies on an empathetic worldview and the acceptance of collective experience. Even humans who are relegated to the fringes of society because of their low IQ – â€Å"chickenheads† or â€Å"antheads† – also accept this view of the world. ... Isidore’s need for companionship runs so deep that even though he recognizes that the renegade andies are exploiting him when they take cover in his apartment he lets them stay and even tries to protect them from the bounty-hunter. The androids themselves recognize this quality as that elusive human quality that they cannot achieve. Roy Baty, the leader of the rebel androids, despite his scornful demeanor reveals his longing to experience this at several times, exulting ultimately when Mercerism is declared a fraudulent belief system. Empathy-testing is also the most practical way of detecting androids and â€Å"retiring† or killing them before they can pose any harm to the humans remaining on Earth. As later revealed by Deckard’s rival bounty-hunter Philip Resche, tests other than the Voigt-Kampff Empathy Test, are not nearly as successful in identifying androids. This then is the dominant narrative: Humans empathize, androids do not. However, this statement is not as uncomplicated as it may seem. Firstly, there is the question of being able to duplicate this kind of empathy. As the testing of Rachael Rosen in the first instance proves, even Deckard, for a while, is unable to recognize Rachael as an android when he is fed the story about her having been raised on another planet and therefore being not too adept at empathizing with other humans. Deliberate manipulation of the empathy test can also be done by prevaricating, like in Luba Luft’s case. Luft, who is an android, deliberately refuses to answer questions directly to prevent the test from giving accurate results. Secondly, there is also the question of inherent anomalies in this testing system. As Deckard’s boss, Bryant, warns him at the start of his quest for the six