Drug Abuse Should Be Considered A Brain Disease - 1360 Words

Drug misuse and abuse has fueled a controversial issue to arise amongst physicians, psychiatrists, and general citizens. Sally Satel, a methadone clinic psychiatrist in Washington D.C., wrote an interesting article titled â€Å"The Human Factor† in which she discusses the debate on whether drug addiction should be considered a brain disease or not. Satel believes that treatment for addicts should focus on treating them as humans with control over their lives, as opposed to treating them as people with an uncontrollable disease. Satel first addresses the social and economic consequences in the United States resulting from drug abuse. Annually, it accumulates over $200 billion dollars in expenses, $129 billion in lost workplace productivity costs, and $16 billion in healthcare costs. Altogether, it adds up to 3% of the total Gross Domestic Product. The U.S. government puts forth an effort to cut drug abuse through two different methods: supply and demand reduction. Supply reduct ion deals with limiting the availability of the drugs themselves, while demand reduction tries to prevent drug use from starting and also treat drug abusers who have already become accustomed to drug use. Then, Satel reveals that her job in the methadone clinic is to help heroin addicts with treatment and keep them from returning to heroin. She claims the most significant issue is getting addicts and former addicts to stop desiring the drug. In opposition to Sally’s belief, the National Institute on DrugShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Drug Addiction1074 Words   |  5 PagesDrug abuse is a rampant problem in the United States. Drug usage and consumption has grown over the years. Drug addiction is a dilemma that has greatly increased among our current day society. Addiction is a serious problem. This can be defined as continued involvement with a substance or activity despite ongoing negative consequence. Narcotics like marijuana, heroin, crystal meth and crack cocaine are gen erally called drugs. Men and woman either take these drugs orally or inhale them. Drugs, otherRead MoreDrug Addiction1473 Words   |  6 PagesIs drug addiction is a disease, not a choice? Or it is a choice and not a disease? Drug Addiction has become a serious issue in society today, with an increase in controversy leading towards the topic of whether drug addiction is a disease or a choice. Addiction and disease are two different things and understanding them is very important when it comes to drugs and how it affects the mind and body. Several people tend to jump the gun and think that drug addiction is a disease, when in fact it isRead More Understanding Addiction Essay1055 Words   |  5 Pagesbe solved with social solutions, i.e. incarceration. But, scientific evidence argues otherwise: addiction is a brain disease. â€Å"The World Health Organization has defined addiction as ‘A state, psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting in the interaction between a living organism and a drug, characterized by behavioral and other responses that always include a compulsion to take the drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experience its psychic effects, and sometimes to avoid the discomfortRead MoreThe Disastrous Effects Of Parental Drug Addiction On Children1478 Words   |  6 PagesThe Disastrous Impact of Parental Drug Addiction on Children Drug addiction is a serious issue in not only America today, but globally. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, substance addiction is a â€Å"chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite the harmful consequences† (â€Å"What is drug addiction?†). Drug abuse affects not only the user, but those around the user as well. The actions of a drug user place a significant amount of worryRead MoreThe Effects Of Drug Abuse Among Adolescents1423 Words   |  6 PagesDrug abuse among adolescents is a growing problem in the United States with a staggering amount of teens falling victim to the vicious cycle of drug abuse. Teens are subjected to pressure from their peers and have the misconception that using drugs are cool and free of consequences. Therefore, teens begin to experiment with drugs and alcohol at an early age and often times don’t think about the negative stigma associated with drug abuse. Un fortunately, even casual use of drugs and alcohol canRead MoreAddiction : The Problem Of Addiction Essay1198 Words   |  5 Pagesdependence and abuse are often used interchangeably with addiction, addiction is a disease that deserves recognition as a separate entity. Historically, addiction’s definition has mistakenly seemed to include an element of choice; the addict chose to do it to themselves, so if they could just get a hold of themselves, set their mind to it and quit cold turkey, their addiction would suddenly disappear. Studies have shown however, that â€Å"addiction is a complex condition, a chronic brain disease that is manifestedRead MoreArgumentative Essay Addiction1629 Words   |  7 Pagesaddiction receives little to no treatment. According to the article Treating Addiction as a Chronic Disease, †Health officials estimate 22 million people in the U.S. abuse alcohol or drugs or both and only around 10 percent of them are in treatment.† Deciding whether addiction is deserving of jail time or necessary treatment is a huge controversy in our world today. Will naming addiction as a disease end the stigma of addicts and provide a better environment for them to seek help? Addiction hasRead MoreEssay On Addiction And Alcohol810 Words   |  4 PagesDiscussion Drug and alcohol addiction can be described as a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, and difficult to control use of these substances despite harmful consequences to the drug addict and those around them. Addiction is a brain disease since the abuse of drugs and alcohol results to changes in the structure and function of the brain which challenges a persons ability to resist the desire to take the drugs or even to control the number of drugs or alcoholRead MoreDrug Addiction777 Words   |  4 Pages Is drug addiction a choice or a disease? This polemical topic has been in the media for many years and has provoked many debates to ascertain the whole thing. Many researchers have concluded being a drug addict is a disease that is only cured by â€Å"feeding the habit†. Conversely, there are researchers who assert that drug addiction is just a choice. Having thoroughly taken into consideration both sides of the arguments and doing my own research, my stand remains that being a drug addict is undisputedlyRead MoreThe Problem Of Drug Addiction952 Words   |  4 Pagestaking drugs can vary and while the action itself is voluntary: the eventual drug addiction is essentially involuntary. Drug addiction is a complex and chronic disease, a brain disease, which changes the way the brain functions. Drug addiction, much like chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, disrupts healthy, normal functioning organs. This has harmful consequences that are both preventable and tre atable (Branch, 2011, pp.263-265). Drug addiction is considered a brain disease as drugs

Comparison Between Schools And Prisons - 1732 Words

Schools Vs Prisons The United States prison population has grown from approximately 500,000 to 2.3 million people in three decades. The us spends almost $70 billion dollars yearly to put adults in prison and jails. They also put 7.3 million people on probation and parole. California has the largest prison population rate in the country, with more than 170,000 people behind bars. More than a billion dollars is spent every year to incarcerate people from a community in Los Angeles . 40% of students expelled from schools each year are black. 70% of students are involved in â€Å"in school† arrest. 2 x black and latino students are twice as likely to not graduate than white students 68% of all males in federal prison do not have a high school diploma The yearly cost to incarcerate one child is $88,000 and the yearly cost of public education for one child is $10,600 The school-to-prison pipeline is exactly how it sounds it is a system that pushes students out of classrooms and into jail. In kensington droup outs , unemployment, Poverty, and Crime 13,000 young adults between the ages 20 - 24 3,000 high school dropouts 23 philadelphia schools were closed Pennsylvania spends at least 463.8 million more on prisons than schools. Benefits to students Free health care (no) Internet access (yes) Weight room (no) Cable television (no) Access to library (yes) Free sports programs (no) Computer lab (yes) Laundry services (yes) Funding to earn a degree (no) free housing (no) threeShow MoreRelatedA Brief Comparison of Jails and Prisons785 Words   |  3 PagesBrief Comparison of Jails Prisons A Brief Comparison of Jails Prisons It is common knowledge that one of the primary penalties of violating the law is incarceration. Civilians, those who are not in the business of law enforcement, and even some professionals in the criminal justice field, throw around the terms jail and prison quite often, using them interchangeably. Jails and prisons are not the same. This paper will elucidate some of the primary differences between jails and prisons as wellRead MoreJuvenile Crime And Juvenile Offenders988 Words   |  4 PagesJuvenile crime is at its lowest level since 1987, falling 30% between 1994 and 1998. Therefore it is only fair to acknowledge that the criminal justice system has made tremendous strides in it’s treatment of the typical juvenile offender. For example, there was once a time when there was no separation between the treatment of both juvenile and adult offenders. Meanwhile today we have separate courts for juveniles and adults which I feel is a step in the right direction because it enforcesRead MoreDrug Decriminalization And Its Effects On America1543 Words   |  7 Pagesopium for diseases and issues relating to gastrointestinal issues and eye abnormalities (McGovern, et al.). Whether drugs were used for recreational purposes or for medicinal uses is left in the history. Prohibition in the United States occurred between 1920 and 1933. During this time period, the sale of alcohol was prohibited. Prior to legislation outlawing alcohol, drug related crimes to alcohol were at a lull. As claimed by Connor Boyack, â€Å"the federal 3prison population increased by 366 percent†Read MoreThe Major Relationships Of Criminal Behavior1532 Words   |  7 Pagesare all conflicting. Knowing the relationship between the two can allow us to know what ages are most likely to do certain crimes and what ages are most likely to do crime in general. That will allow us to prepare age groups and teach them right from wrong. If we know a person at 18 years old is most likely to perform a certain type of crime we can correctly educate people around that age about crime and re-teach right from wrong. Whether it is in school or neighborhood programs, we can correctly prepareRead MoreRehabilitation of Sex Offenders1113 Words   |  5 Pagesreport being sexually, emotion ally, or physically abused as a child in comparison to other offenders. There are also other factors besides abuse that must be taken into consideration. A recent study on female sex offenders by Roe-Sepowitz and Krysik (2008) states, â€Å"the data reveal that many of the 118 female juvenile sex offenders came from chaotic and disorganized families and had poor parental supervision and serious school and mental health problems†. As Becerra-Garcà ­a, Garcà ­a-Leà ³n and Egan (2012)Read MoreThe Civil Rights Act Of 19641689 Words   |  7 Pagesparticular, Chicago, the third largest city in the United States, poses interesting dynamics concerning this question. For one, the city consistently has high crime and murder rates in specific areas, while other parts of the city show low rates in comparison. One researcher Richard Reeves states, Even in a country marked by high levels of segregation, Chicago stands out (qtd. in Luhby). Therefore, many would agree that laws prohibit ing segregation didn’t necessarily get rid of it. These laws, suchRead MoreThe Hispanic Education Crisis998 Words   |  4 Pages More and more research has uncovered magnanimous evidence that our education system is failing the students and thus creating a pipeline away from success and higher education and into gangs, prison and poverty. From 2011-12 alone Latinos made up almost a quarter of the enrolled students in public schools, Hispanic status dropout rate was 13% (higher than both African Americans at 8% and Whites at 4%), and 5% of all doctoral degrees conferred were earned by Latinos. (NCES, Digest of Education StatisticsRead MoreWe Can Not Deny Society s Progression Of Social Equality Essay1187 Words   |  5 PagesCA over the course of three years. During the three years he noticed the young men he shadowed were continually stopped and questioned by police. Rios also noted the lack of educational support by school faculty. The forty males studied reported some fo rm of negative involvement with police and school officials. What seems clear in how these young males are treated by authority figures is how they are stereotyped by society. Race is the most prominent factor, along with gender, economic backgroundRead MoreClassification of Gangs847 Words   |  4 Pagesapproaches to classifications of gangs and evaluates how these classifications provide specific insights or information about gangs in a community. Discussion In order to evaluate classification of gangs, the foremost task is to determine difference between a gang and a team. A team is a group of individuals who partners for a common (Egan Beadman, 2011). The concept of team is mainly used in organization and sports to describe a group of people working or playing together. A team is rather formalRead More Educational Programs In Prisons Essay1242 Words   |  5 Pages Educational Programs in Prisons nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å"It is not a surprise to see that prisoners all have a low education level. I guess a more educated person has enough sense not to be involved with crime†¦the relationship between crime and education is easy to see when viewing these facts† (Cordes 1). This is the view of most people when asked why people are in prison. People simply say that criminals were ill educated. As hard as we may try, we cannot do a lot about what happens before

Hotels and the Environment Free Essays

string(102) " shed light on the work that has already been done in this field by various hotels and organizations\." HOTEL INDUSTRY AND THE ENVIRONMENT By VASUNDHARA TANWAR LITERATURE REVIEW When we talk of hotels we never think that something like that could have an impact on the environment and people would spend millions of rupees and infinite number of hours to deal with this so called impact. However this is absolutely the case. The seemingly small problem is literally taking the world by storm. We will write a custom essay sample on Hotels and the Environment or any similar topic only for you Order Now So much so that national governments, hotels and even the UN are taking steps in order to find solutions to this problem. Extensive research has been done in the recent years by economists and scientists etc to come up with the most sustainable ways to run hotels since the degradation of the environment is a major concern worldwide. Papers like â€Å"An analysis of environmental management, organizational context and performance of Spanish hotels† by M. J. Alvarez which addresses the factors that determine the deployment of environmental management practices and its effects on firms’ financial performance have been published. Results find support for the notion that age of facilities, size, chain affiliation, stakeholder environmental pressures, and their use of operations management techniques exert a lasting influence on the degree of implementation of environmental management practices by hotel firms. Moreover, findings show a positive relationship between environmental management practices and firms’ financial performance. Various other economists in different countries have drawn similar conclusions. The United Nations environment programme also published a guide â€Å"how the hotel and tourism industry can protect the ozone layer†. Environmental Good Practice in Hotels, published by UNEP IE and the International Hotel Restaurant Association (IHRA), presents 15 case studies selected from the IHRA annual Environmental Award. The case studies document environmental programmes initiated by independent hotels and international chains across the globe – in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. Action areas include environmental policy, design and construction, water, energy, waste, emissions, purchasing, staff training, and guest communication. The range of environmental initiatives featured is extensive, from simple recycling easures to water conservation using the latest technology, and from resorts built to strict environmental guidelines, to small hotels where the personal commitment of the general manager drives environmental activities. All case studies highlight the environmental and economic benefits gained by the actions taken. Also included are examples of environmental initiatives take n by national hotel associations, and a list of sources on environmental management publications and programmes in the hotel industry. These are just some examples of what is being said and done by organizations that observe what is going on. The actual participants, the hotels, are also not far behind. Many hotels have come up with various innovative ways to contribute to the betterment of the environment. Some of them have won various awards for this very purpose. Hotels now days strive to achieve the ECOTEL ® certification which is primarily the hallmark for environmentally sensitive hotels. One of the pioneers in such activities would be the orchid group of hotels. However, there are others that strive to achieve excellence in this cause and some have been quite successful too. INTRODUCTION Most countries rely heavily on the services sector for its growth. A major part of this sector is tourism. Tourism is one of the leading growth sectors of the economy and brings in billions of dollars for developing countries. When we talk about tourism we can hardly isolate it from talk of hotels. Hotels in a sense are synonymous with tourism and one cannot be talked about without reference to the other. The growth of the tourism industry has greatly increased the amount of stress on the environment. Now each individual has varying degrees of impact on the environment which largely depends on the personal choices made by individuals and is scattered world over. The same is true for hotels. They have an effect on the biodiversity right from its conception. This makes it imperative for us to study exactly how and where do hotels affect our environment, what can be done to reduce this impact and how aware is the current generation of hotels regarding this issue. Taking the example of India we see that as a result of increasing tourism in Goa, developers built several hotels. The hotels soon drew up to 66,000 gallons of water per day from wells and other local sources. Many of the wells and rivers the community had relied on went dry. This is a common problem in many areas where tourism runs into the limits of natural resources. With various such instances in several parts of the world today, ECOTOURISM—tourism that is nature-oriented and environmentally focused—is growing rapidly. This represents a growing market for environmentally friendly options in the tourism industry. Ecotourism aside, many in the hotel industry have recognized the negative impact their business activities have on the environment and have taken action to alleviate those impacts. Environmentally responsible business practices dovetail well with the newfound popularity of ecotourism. They harmonize tourism and environmental sustainability. This awareness has given rise to what can be called the â€Å"GREEN HOTELS†. The term â€Å"green hotels† describes hotels that strive to be more environment friendly through the efficient use of energy, water, and materials while providing quality services. Green hotels conserve and preserve by saving water, reducing energy use, and reducing solid waste. They have seen benefits such as reduced costs and liabilities, high return and low-risk investments, increased profits, and positive cash flows. Identifying these benefits and incentives has allowed the popularity of green hotels to grow. Hotels are consistently becoming greener. The most costly and wasteful use of resources in hotels are usually in the consumption of nonrenewable energy, excessive water use, and the generation of waste. Through this paper we would try to point out the complex nature of the impact that hotels have on our environment and the steps that can be taken in order to minimize this impact as much as possible. We would also like to shed light on the work that has already been done in this field by various hotels and organizations. You read "Hotels and the Environment" in category "Papers" Many organizations have done commendable work in trying to reduce their ecological footprint and have, in some sense, become pioneers and inspiration for others. For instance, the orchid group of hotels is pretty known for the kind of work it does. IMPACTS Tourism has a fairly large environmental footprint. Hotels, being at the heart of it, shoulder the responsibility for this. The following table shows that hotels are responsible for 21% of total emissions generated by tourism industry. These just constitute one part of their impact which in reality has many layers and levels to it. The hotels have an impact on the biodiversity at each stage of its life cycle, right from planning to its closure. These impacts could be summarized as follows: At the planning stage, the most important issue in determining the level of impact that a hotel will have relates to choices about its location and design. Even the most sustainably operated hotel will have major impacts if it is built in a biodiversity-sensitive area. Choices about the materials that will be used to construct the hotel, where those materials will come from and the total physical footprint of the hotel will also influence how significant its impacts will be in the operational stage. At the construction stage, impact is determined by the size and location of the area cleared for development and where construction activities are taking place, the choice of construction methods, the sources and amount and type of materials, water and energy used to build the hotel, the location of temporary camps for construction workers, inadequate storage facilities for construction materials, the amount of construction waste that has to be disposed of, and other types of damage such as surface soil erosion or compaction caused by construction activities or disruption of natural water flows and drainage patterns. In the operational stage, a hotel’s impact comes mainly from the energy, water, food and other resources that are consumed in running the hotel, by the solid and liquid wastes it produces, by the way its grounds are managed, and by the direct impacts of its guests. In addition, regular renovation and replacement of furniture, appliances and facilities can cause impacts through purchasing choices and increased waste generation. Using energy and water more efficiently, using organic and sustainably produced food, reducing, treating and disposing of waste appropriately, making sustainable purchasing decisions and managing gardens with natural-style plantings can all help a hotel to reduce its adverse impacts on biodiversity. Similarly, a hotel’s relationship with host communities not only affects the sustainable operations of the hotel but also the use of environmental resources by communities themselves. At the closure stage, a hotel’s impacts come from the disposal of materials removed from the hotel to refurbish it, convert it for other uses, or demolish it, nd from the work involved in these activities. It may be possible to reuse and recycle some materials, but there may also be some toxic materials, particularly from older buildings, which will require careful handling and management. A responsible hotel operator should also foresee supporting activities of ecological restoration as requir ed. Responsible siting and design, the effective management of energy and water consumption, and the proper disposal of wastewater and solid waste are important challenges for any hotel hoping to improve the sustainability of its operations. Now even though a hotel has environmental impact through different stages of its lifecycle the most easily cited and the longest running impact that they have is at their operational stage since once a hotel has been built, it stays in the business for very many years under normal circumstances. The day to day running has impacts which are a lot times ignored in the overall picture. This mostly becomes the case because individually, hotels do not have a significant impact on the environment. Collectively however, they can be very wasteful and use huge amount of resources. It has been estimated that seventy-five percent of hotels’ environmental impacts can be directly related to excessive consumption. This is wasteful in terms of resources and creates unnecessary operational costs. The three key areas of environmental impact are energy, water, and waste. Energy – Excessive energy use is extremely costly and with minor adjustments, it can lead to massive cost savings. According to Gossling et. al. (2005), â€Å"the average energy consumption per bed per night in hotels might be in the order of 130 Mega joules. Hotels generally use more energy per visitor that local residents, as they have energy intense facilities, such as bars, restaurants, and pools, and have more spacious rooms. Studies have determined that a hotel emits an average 20. 6 kg of carbon dioxide per night. Waste – A study conducted by Bohdanowicz(2005) also indentified that hotels are not only resource intensive and that waste generation is on e of the most visible effects on the environment. One estimate identified that â€Å"an average hotel produces in excess of one kilogram of waste per guest per day†. Approximately thirty percent of waste in hotels can be diverted through reuse and recycling. Water  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Tourists and residents alike require a clean and dependable supply of water for survival including drinking, cooking and cleansing. However, water is integral to the amenities usually expected by tourists, such as swimming pools, landscaped gardens, and golf courses. Water also supports industries such as agriculture that support the tourism industry (Pigram, 1995). Thus, tourists demand more water than local resident s on a per capita basis (Essex, Kent ; Newnham, 2004). It has been estimated by Salen (1995) that 15,000 cubic meters of water would typically supply 100 rural farmers for three years and 100 urban families for two years, yet only supply 100 luxury hotel guests for less than two months (Holden, 2000). In dryer regions, tourists’ water consumption can amount to 440 liters a day per tourist, which is almost double the average amount of water used by residents in Spain (UNEP, 2008). In destinations that do not have the required infrastructure and systems to manage these impacts, severe degradation of the environment can occur. The following table summarizes the environmental impact of the day to day workings of any hotel Service/Activity| Description| Main Environmental Impacts| Administration| Hotel management Reception of clients| Energy, water and materials (mainly paper) Generation of waste and hazardous waste (toner cartridges)| Technical Services| Equipment for producing hot water and heating Air conditioning Lighting Swimming pools Green areas Mice and insect extermination Repairs and maintenance| Energy and water consumption Consumption and generation of a wide range of hazardous products Air and soil emissions Generation of waste water Pesticides use| Restaurant/bar| Breakfast, lunch, dinner Beverages and snacks| Energy, water and raw materials consumption Packaging waste Organic waste| Kitchen| Food conservation Food preparation Dish washing| Consumption of energy and water Packaging waste Oil waste Organic waste Generation of odours| Room Use| Use by guests Products for guests’ use Housekeeping| Energy, water and raw materials consumption Use of hazardous products Generation of waste packaging Generation of waste water| Laundry| Washing and ironing of guest clothes Washing and ironing of hotel linens| Consumption of energy and water Use of hazardous cleaning products Generation of waste water  | (Graci, 2009) This gives us a clear enough picture of the ecological impacts of hotels. Thus it becomes imperative that each hotel recognizes them and takes initiative to curb these impacts. With the growth of the tourism sector all over the world and with more and more hotels coming up each day these small things become issues of epic proportions when looked at collectively. In a time when our environment is in a very fragile condition one can’t ignore such a situation. The sooner hotels realize this the better it would be. However, these issues were not even brought to light till very recently. The annual hospitality consultants’ conference in 2007 did not even mention any of the environmental issues that plagued hotels in their top 10 problems of the industry. BEST PRACTICES There are many green practices that hotels can implement and they also help save unnecessary costs. There can be many ways in which a hotel can reduce its footprint. Some of them can be: * Not discharging waste in water bodies – prevents pollution. * Recycling Use of compact fluorescent lights – saves energy. * Reuse of linens – saves water, detergent, energy and greenhouse gases. * Low-flow shower systems – saves water and energy. * Local products – save transportation costs. * Installation of green roofs – saves energy. * Installation of solar heaters or other renewable energy source – saves energy. These points are jus t a brief outline to what can really be done in order to go green. The possibilities as such are endless. There are some more sophisticated and cost heavy methods that can also be undertaken. BENEFITS OF GOING GREEN Cost benefits Financial savings are one of the most significant factors that influence the implementation of environmental initiatives in a hotel. This is especially evident for hotel businesses that operate in a highly competitive market and where the cost of energy, water and waste disposal are high. Hotel operators that can maximize their efficiency and reduce waste will be more cost-effective than their competitors. Hotels also use large amounts of energy to keep guests cool in hot temperatures, and equally large amounts of energy to keep them warm during the winter. In some destinations, hotels place an additional, sometimes unsustainable demand on local water resources and generate large quantities of food and packaging waste. Despite the setup costs and the possible lengthy return on investment associated with environmental initiatives, the economic benefits usually outweigh the cost of implementation. Starting with projects that are less capital intensive – such as retrofitting light bulbs, energy metering, and training staff to be conscious of energy use – can lead to substantial cost savings. Competitive advantage Green programs can provide a competitive advantage to leaders as long as green activities continue to be voluntary. Over time, however, green practices in the hospitality industry will become a baseline requirement, particularly as the cost of non-renewable energy continues to rise, regulatory pressure increases, and consumers become more demanding. Therefore, hotels with business models that revolve around green practices will have the strongest opportunity to achieve a competitive advantage by being ahead of the emerging sustainability curve. Employee retention Employees are identified as one of the greatest benefits of going green. Employees, like hotel guests, are increasingly sophisticated and â€Å"tuned† into current thinking in society and are far more likely to identify with an employer whose principles and practices are aligned with their values. Environmental programs have proved to be an effective means of generating enthusiasm and motivating staff to work as a team to achieve a common purpose. Many hotel companies use environmental programs as a staff incentive – the financial savings earned are translated into cash or other rewards such as in-house events or trips. Employee turnover rate in the hotel sector is relatively high therefore increasing the retention rate will also save the business money in training of new staff. Customer loyalty There has been a shift in the expectations and demands of consumers. The typical hotel guest of today is more sophisticated and to varying degrees is likely to be concerned about environmental issues such as recycling bottles, cans and paper at home as well as making greener lifestyle choices, such as organic food or fuel-efficient vehicles. Many guests however, make their decision to stay at a hotel facility based on location, amenities, and service. The implementation of environmental initiatives may play a smaller role in a guest’s choice of a property. The influence from customers however occurs when their level of awareness increases and they come to expect environmental practices such as recycling. Despite first-time guests basing their decisions on location, amenities and service, customer loyalty may increase once they have experienced a hotel which has demonstrated a level of environmental commitment. Regulatory compliance Hotels must anticipate future regulatory changes and implement initiatives to mitigate the possible costly effects of emerging regulation. Savvy businesses are aware that regulations do not have to be a negative restraint on their daily operations – in fact, they can offer opportunities to gain an advantage over competitors. Some environmental regulations are good for economic competition as they stimulate innovation that can offset the cost of compliance. By implementing measures in the face of societal and egulatory pressures, unexpected, but substantial cost savings as well as potential new areas of profit may be found. The hotel industry worldwide is increasingly being regulated for waste, water, energy use and greenhouse gas emission. Being aware of pending rule changes will allow you to adopt measures in advance, and avoid potentially higher future costs which may be associated with compliance. Risk management Risk minimization is now viewed as incr easingly intertwined with good corporate social responsibility and governance. Managing risk is as much about minimizing the potential damage from decisions and actions taken from within a company as it is about managing external exposure. Traditionally, a hotel’s risk management strategy has been focused on health and safety concerns around food and water, pest infestation, fire or water damage, outbreaks of disease, and guest security and safety. In recent years however, environmental and social issues are emerging as a key risk issue for the lodging sector. Environmental risks include: * Water and land contamination. * Air and noise pollution. Supply chain environmental practices. * Waste management. Environmental risks also have an impact on the cost of capital for businesses of various types and sizes, and may affect the value of a company over the long term. In addition, the investment community is increasingly regarding excellence in environmental management and performance as an indication of the quality and aptitude of management in general. Som e insurance companies and lenders are beginning to selectively adjust their rates based on environmental criteria stipulated by ethical funds. Companies that integrate the environment into their business decisions and reduce their environmental risk and potential liabilities are in a better position to secure investment and reduce their financial and reputational market exposure (Graci and Dodds, 2009). Cause it’s the right thing to do! Beyond regulation and compliance, many environmental and social initiatives are voluntary. Whether driven by cost savings or a principled strategy, the hotel industry is recognizing the environment, the community and their human capital as a valuable resource to be protected. Long-term business sustainability will depend on this. Many hotels have implemented social initiatives and corporate social responsibility (CSR) into their regular day-to-day practices. Corporate social responsibility in the hotel industry ideally exists in human resources management, the local community, and through promoting and practicing environmental initiatives and is heavily influenced by internal and external forces. CSR has been widely expanding throughout the hotel industry, mainly to prove that corporate unethical behavior is no longer a problem. Thus, hotels are embarking on being ethical through social initiatives by protecting and supporting communities, their human resources, and by implementing environmental initiatives. Many international and local hotels are becoming involved in corporate social responsibility in order to extend their brand knowledge to different types of audiences, to gain employee retention and improved competitive advantage, and lastly because it is â€Å"the right thing to do†. Sixty-five percent of the top 100 companies in the world employ some sort of corporate social responsibility statement featured on their websites. Several multinational companies have gained a very negative brand reputation based on their past unethical practices. Larger companies have been criticized as being the main culprit in releasing excess greenhouse emissions, climate change, environmental devastation, and unfair treatment of employees. Due to such criticisms and negative publicity, many businesses have increased the focus on corporate social responsibility. HIGH ACHIEVERS When it comes to hotels that are environmentally sustainable the first name that comes to mind is the Orchid group of hotels. The Orchid  became Asia’s first Five Star hotel to win the ECOTEL ® certification shortly after opening in May of 1997 and today (January 2011) is the only Hotel in the World to win over  80  international / national awards in 13 years from inception. Under the management of  The Orchid  Owner Vithal Kamat, the hotel has earned more environmental accolades than any other hotel in the world. With this latest achievement,  The Orchid  becomes one of only six hotels in the world to maintain top-level, â€Å"five-globe,† ECOTEL ®-Certification. Though orchid group is a pioneer in environmentally friendly hotels, others ave also done substantial work. The fern group of hotels in India being one of them. The Uppal in New Delhi, Seasons in Pune etc are other ecotel hotels. Various international hotels are also actively involved in such projects that put environmental sustainability at its fore. In conclusion it can be said that though environmental sustainabi lity is big problem that is plaguing the hospitality industry, it’s still not too late to correct the situation. References * www. uneptie. org * http://www. concepthospitality. com * Accor 2010, ‘Child Protection’. Retrieved February 04, 2010 from  http://www. accor. com/en/sustainable-development/ego-priorities/child-protection. html * Alexander, S 2002, Green Hotels: Opportunities and Resources for Success. Portland: Zero Waste Alliance. * Bohdanowicz, P 2005, ‘European Hoteliers’ Environmental Attitudes: Greening the Business, Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 188-204. * Bohdanowicz, P 2006, ‘Environmental Awareness and Initiatives in the Swedish and Polish Hotel Industries – Survey Results’ International Journal of Hospitality Management, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 662-668. * Bohdanowicz, P. and Zientara, P. 2008, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility in Hospitality: Issues and Implications. A Case Study of Scandic’ Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 271-293. * Brebbia, C. A. and Pineda, F. D. 2004, Sustainable Tourism. WIT Press, Boston. * Claver- Cortes, E. , Molina-Azorin, J. F. P ereira-Moliner, J. , Lopez-Gamero, M. D. 2007, ‘Environmental Strategies and Their Impact on Hotel Performance’ Journal of Sustainable Tourism. , vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 663-679. * Dodds, R. 005, Barriers to the Implementation of Sustainable Tourism Policy in Destinations. University of Surrey School of Management, Surrey. * Essex, S. , Kent, M. , ; Newnham, R. 2004, ‘Tourism development in Mallorca: Is water supply a constraint? ‘ Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol 12, no. 1, pp. 4-28. * Fairmont Hotel and Resorts 2001, The Green Partnership Guide. A Practical Guide to Greening your Hotel, 2nd edition, Toronto * Fairmont Hotels and Resorts 2008, Corporate Responsibility. Retrieved February 04, 2010, fromhttp://www. fairmont. com/EN_FA/AboutFairmont/enviroment/Awards/CorporateEn How to cite Hotels and the Environment, Papers

School Prayer Question Essay Example For Students

School Prayer Question Essay Contrary to the claims, students have the Constitutional right to pray inschool, either individually or in informal groups so long as the prayer is notorganized by the school. But if the students only knew what they were reallydoing by praying in school. II. First of all they are going against the Bible. As to quote, Matthew 6:5-6: And when you pray, do not be like thehypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the streetcorners. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and praySo as you can see those who pray in places such as the cafeteria, middle of thehall or things of that nature is actually going against the bible. Now I am notsaying that a person should not pray in schools, but they should do it just asthe Bible says in a personal place. If a student cant find a personal place,and have an undesirable need to pray, they need to not make a big deal out ofit. Praying as put in the Bible is a personal experience between that person andGod. Not an event to be proclaimed up and down the hallway. III. Another problemthere is with praying in schools is the fact that there are some students whodont believe in God. The purpose of a democracy is to have the majority decidebut yet always respect the rights of the minority. Some administrators,teachers, parents, and most importantly, kids, just feel uncomfortable when itcomes to religion. Several factors could be attributed to this problem, from toomany religions and religious theories to religious pressure to lack thereof. Butwhatever the reason some people feel offended by seeing these students pray. They think that their rights are being infringed upon. Well in example, if ashirt some student is wearing offends a person they tell someone about beingoffended. Someone else is also offended and so they tell someone. These 2 peopleinfluenced by what they have heard tell more people. This chain reactioncontinues until that kind of shirt is not allowed in schools, in exampleMarilynn Manson shirts. The minority there is the students wanting to wear theshirts; the majority is the people offended by it. The majority spoke and theminority is told to fallow. But now it is the minority being offended no onecares to do anything about it. IV. The last problem I have are the advocates ofschool prayer say that without it there is moral decline, blaming the absence ofschool prayer for everything from low SAT scores to teenage pregnancy. But itjust wont work. In fact, legislated school prayer would make things worse. Fora school to require students to recite, for example, a Christian prayer would give Christianity a special status, implying that other religions are somehowinferior. One religion would be pitted against another, conflicts would arise,and intolerance would grow. The only palatable compromise in a directed publicschool prayer would be a watered-down prayer that would be meaningless to thedeeply religious and an infringement on those who follow no religion. Some ofour senators are trying to pass an amendment in have school prayer required. Butthe First Amendment begins Congress shall make no law respecting anestablishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof Ifwe were to have this school wide required prayer we would be in essanceestablishing a religion. And even though what they are trying to pass is aconstitutional amendment it goes against on of the main things our forefatherscame here for. The First Amendment is one of the finest laws man has everwritten. For over two hundred years, it continues to mean exactly what it wasoriginally intended t o mean: Religion and other fundamental rights should remainbeyond the reach of majorities and governments, and certainly not subjected tothe political whims of Congress. .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 , .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .postImageUrl , .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 , .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920:hover , .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920:visited , .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920:active { border:0!important; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920:active , .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920 .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u536995e3e9ffea91b63429835b145920:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Medical Devices FDA EssayBibliographyFAQ. Prayer in Schools. http://www.atheists.org/schoolhouse/faqs.prayer.html. Downloaded December 16, 1999 Maryland teen walks out of Graduation overPrayer. Prayer in schools. http://www.freedomforum.org/religion/1999/5/28mdgradprayer.aspDownloaded December 16, 1999 Smudge Report. Bible verse. http://www.smudgereport.com/longstories/prayer.htmlDownloaded December 16, 1999 Bible Belivers should oppose schoolprayer. School Prayer. http://users.cnmnetwork.com/lotl2k/prayer.htmlDownloaded December 16, 1999 The Bible and Public Prayer. PublicPrayer. http://www.religioustolerance.org/prayer.htm. Downloaded December 16,1999Religion