Scenarios of Labor Relations in Bangladesh Essay Example for Free

Scenarios of Labor Relations in Bangladesh Essay In the context of Bangladesh, one can say that the country is not too poorly served by labour laws and their regulations on the employers. Trade union practices providing collective bargaining of workers with their employers are generally allowed in the industries and services here. Labour courts in Bangladesh promote and protect workers rights and enforce laws such as compensation to be paid to workers by employers for the breach of labour laws on their part. Bangladesh is a signatory nation associated to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and remains committed on the whole to ILO policies. However, trade union practices in Bangladesh seem to be in existence in the countrys older industries and services with new ones-particularly the export oriented garments industries-remaining largely unserved by trade unions. But there are also powerful arguments in favour of such exemptions. The garments industries could never have come to their present number or employ the record number of workers as they do, if they were burdened by demands from workers and lost their competitiveness as a result. The example of the garments industries also demonstrates that it should be a prudent course for eligible workers in this country to first find employment in sectors like the garments industries than to restrict the flourishment of such emerging work opportunities by attempting to introduce trade unions in them too early in the day (The New Nation, 2004). It should be advantageous for workers to put less emphasis first on orthodox trade union practices and accept less regulation on the employers so that they feel encouraged to expand business activities. This should maximise employment creation which should go in the favour of unemployed workers when unemployment is a huge problem in Bangladesh. More employment and some income should be a better choice for the countrys workforce with its vast number of unemployed than no employment and no income from too much of trade unionism. Thus, there is a need for responsible trade unionism in the country if there exists a genuine interest among workers leaders to best advance the longer term interests of their followers. Of course, it is not meant that pressure for better looking after the welfare needs of workers ught not to be there when the new enterprises graduate into stronger entities and, thus, become able to smoothly accommodate reasonable demands from their workers (The New Nation, 2004). Many of the countrys garments industries, for instance, would not lose their competitiveness or experience any major reduction in their profits or the control over their workers by allowing the worke rs certain basic rights, such as a weekly holiday, casual leave, a bearable increase in their wages and safe conditions of work in the factories (The New Nation, 2004). From the governments side, the role expected most is imparting of training and education free of cost to workers. The same should increase their productivity and skills which would be invaluable assets in the work places. Governments in many countries play the desired role of training and educating as many workers as possible and look upon government spending on these areas as long term investment on economic growth. The Government in Bangladesh needs to adopt and pursue vigorously similar policies (The New Nation, 2004). . 2. Trade union rights in law: 2. 2. 1. Many restrictions: The Constitution provides for the right to form or join unions. There are many restrictions, however. Before a union can be registered, 30 per cent of workers in an enterprise have to be members and the union can be dissolved if its membership falls below this level. The ILO has informed the government that this is a clear barrier to freedom of association and recommended the law be amended, but that advice has been continuously ignored. Unions must have government approval to be registered, and no trade union action can be taken prior to registration. Unions can only be formed at the factory/establishment level, with some exceptions (such as private road transport, private inland river transport, tea, jute bailing, bidi production) where union formation can take place based on geographic area. There can be no more than three registered trade unions in any establishment. Membership in a union is restricted only to workers currently working at an establishment, meaning that severance from employment also results in the end of a worker’s membership in the union. Candidates for union office have to be current or former employees of an establishment or group of establishments. The Registrar of Trade Unions has wide powers to interfere in internal union affairs. He can enter union premises and inspect documents. The registrar may also cancel the registration of a union, with Labour Court approval (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). . 2. 2. Exclusions from union membership: Under the Industrial Relations Ordinance (IRO), workers in the public sector and state enterprises may not belong to a trade union, with the exception of railway, postal and telecommunications workers. Members of the security forces are also denied the right to form unions. Teachers are also forbidden to form trade unions, in either the public or private sector. Managerial and administrative employees can form welfare associations, but they are denied the right to join a union (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). . 2. 3. Right to strike not recognized: The right to strike is not specifically recognised in law. Three quarters of a union’s members must agree to a strike before it can go ahead. The government can ban any strike if it continues beyond 30 days (in which case it is referred to the Labour Court for adjudication), if it involves a public service covered by the Essential Services Ordinance or if it is considered a threat to the national interest. In this last case, the 1974 Special Powers Act can be used to detain trade unionists without charge. The government may ban strikes for renewable periods of three months. Sentences of up to 14 years’ forced labour can be passed for offences such as obstruction of transport. Strikes are not allowed in new establishments either owned by foreign investors or established as joint-ventures in collaboration with foreign investors for a period of three years from the date the establishment begins commercial production (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 2. 4. Compulsory conciliation and court referral procedures: The labour law requires that parties to an industrial dispute must follow procedures (such as request conciliation, serve notice of a strike or lock-out, or refer the dispute to the Labour Court for settlement) within a specified period or the labour dispute will be considered legally terminated. The issue or subject of an industrial dispute which is terminated in this manner cannot be raised for a calendar year after such termination (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). . 2. 5. Collective bargaining limited: Only registered unions can engage in collective bargaining, and each union must nominate representatives to a Collective Bargaining Authority committee, which is subject to approval by the Registrar of Trade Unions. The National Pay and Wages Commission, whose recommendations are binding, sets public sector workers’ pay levels and other benefits (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: B angladesh, 2007). 2. 2. 6. EPZ Law – significant restrictions continue: The EPZ Trade Union and Industrial Relations Bill 2004 provided for the formation of trade unions in EPZs from 1 November 2006. The ILO Committee on Freedom of Association recommended numerous amendments to the law to bring it into compliance with Conventions no. 87 and 98 which Bangladesh has ratified. The government of Bangladesh has fundamentally failed to take any appreciable steps to comply with the ILO CFA’s ruling. The law foresees the phased introduction of freedom of association, providing for a different type of workers’ organisation at each stage. However, the law does not go so far as to say that trade unions with full associational rights will be allowed to exist in EPZs after the last stage outlined, which will be after 1 November 2008 (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 2. 6. Stage one – worker representation and welfare committees: Until the end of October, workers in Bangladesh’s EPZs were still operating under the first stage of the law. They were only allowed to set up Worker Representation and Welfare Committees (WRWC). The law requires all enterprises in the EPZ to have one WRWC, whose elected representatives have the power to negotiate and sign collective agreements on a limited set of topics but not to strike or organise demonstrations. However, workers and labour activists in Bangladesh reported that in 2006 employers generally refused to enter negotiations or sign an agreement with a WRWC. Under the law, all WRWCs were supposed to cease to exist on 31 October 2006, unless he employer gave an explicit agreement that the WRWC should continue (which they would in practice only do in the case of compliant WRWCs). (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 2. 7. Stage two – workers’ associations: The second stage of the law provides that a trade union, referred to as a Workers’ Association (WA) in the law, can be organised provided over 30 per cent of the workforce reque sts that the association should be set up. More than 50 per cent of the workers in the factory must vote affirmatively for the WA to be formed. This was scheduled to start on 1 November 2006 but in practice there were significantly delays, notably because the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) did not provide the necessary forms for applying to set up WAs. In new enterprises that start operations after 1 November 2006, workers are not permitted to form an association for the first three months after the commencement of commercial activities. Only one federation can be formed per EPZ, and over 50 per cent of the registered WA in the zone must vote to affiliate before a federation can be formed. The BEPZA Executive Chairman also has almost unlimited authority to deregister a Workers’ Association, should he determine that the WA has committed an unfair practice, contravened any part of the WA’s own constitution, violated any aspect of the EPZ Law, or failed to submit a report to him. Essentially, the law has made illegal the right of workers to talk about unions in their workplaces or to engage in pressure tactics to persuade recalcitrant employers to sign a collective agreement. Finally, the law explicitly forbids any strikes in the EPZs until 31 October 2008. (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 2. 8. Frequent bans on assembly: The law allows the government to ban any public gathering of more than four people, ostensibly only in cases where public order or public health are at risk. In fact, the government applied this banning power much more indiscriminately. (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 2. 9. Labour appellate tribunal created: The new labour law created an avenue for all the judgements, awards and sentences of the Labour Court to be appealed to a Labour Appellate Tribunal. Previously all such appeals had to be taken up by the Supreme Court, resulting in significant delays in reaching a final legal verdict for labour cases (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. Trade union rights in practice: The trade union movement is relatively weak in Bangladesh. This is partly owing to the multiplicity of trade unions and partly owing to the considerable intimidation imposed in practice, especially workers’ fear of losing their jobs should they show any sign of union activity. The right to freedom of association and to collective bargaining at the workplace is not respected in the garment sector or on the tea estates. Where unions do file applications for recognition, their registration is often delayed long beyond the 60 days foreseen by law. 2. 3. 1. Strike bans: The government makes regular use of the Essential Services Ordinance in order to ban strikes. The government’s use of this order was continuously applied over the past four years to the Power Development Board, the Dhaka Electric Supply Authority, the Chittagong Port Authority, Biman Airlines, and the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. 2. Restrictions on bargaining and union meetings: Since 2003, the government has banned any collective bargaining in jute mills during production time. Only pro-government supporters are allowed to hold meetings during work time and unions not affiliated with the government’s labour grouping are not allowed to hold protests even on their day off (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. 3. Employers take advantage of legal loopholes: Private sector workers are discouraged from undertaking any union activity. The Industrial Relations Ordinance gives considerable leeway for discrimination against union members and organisers by employers. Workers who try to create a trade union are not protected before registration and are therefore often persecuted by their employers, sometimes by violent means or with the help of the police. The names of workers who apply for union registration are frequently passed on to employers who promptly transfer or dismiss them, particularly in the textile sector. Even after registration, workers suspected of carrying out trade union activities are regularly harassed. One popular ploy is to dismiss a worker for misconduct, as they are then no longer entitled to become a trade union officer. A complaint to the Labour Court is of little use given the underlying corruption and serious backlog of cases which, in some instances, can stretch back more than several years (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. 4. Export processing zones – anti-union employers: Employers in the EPZs have been consistently hostile towards trade unions, claiming that many of the companies would be ruined and jobs would be lost if they had to have unions. Some employers in the zones take advantage of the absence of trade unions to commit violations of international labour standards, such as sexual harassment, physical violence, unpaid overtime, child labour, non-compliance with minimum wage regulations and deplorable safety conditions. Despite protections for WRWC committee members provided by the EPZ Law, discrimination against leaders of active WRWCs was reported in 2006, and an undetermined yet significant number of these leaders and activist members have been terminated with permission from the BEPZA in processes that workers claimed were biased and unfair. Since there is no dispute resolution mechanism or tribunal for workers, except to appeal to the BEPZA, workers in the EPZs had few other options but to protest. After 1 November 2006, those factories with WRWCs turned their attention to frustrating efforts of the workers to form Workers Associations, again employing a series of tactics including harassment, intimidation, and termination of leaders (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. 5. Failure to set up industrial dispute resolution mechanisms in EPZs: Although the EPZ law provides for the establishment of an EPZ Labour Tribunal and an EPZ Labour Appellate Tribunal, a full two years after the passage of the EPZ law, these two tribunals have yet to be established (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. 6. Garment industry anti-union: Textile workers outside the zones fare no better. An estimated two million women workers toil for 3,300 employers to make clothes for export in Bangladesh. Workers are regularly sacked, beaten or subjected to false charges by the police for being active in unions. The General Secretary of the United Federation of Garment Workers (UGFW) has been arrested more than a dozen times. Meanwhile, the country’s garment workers are among the lowest paid in the world. They work long hours with very little leave, and face physical, verbal and sexual abuse (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. 7. Employer negligence and government indifference kills hundreds of workers: Negligence by employers and the authorities have had appalling consequences that a strong, vigilant trade union could help to avoid. Based on its analysis of publicly available sources, the respected Bangladesh Institute for Labour Studies found that in 2006 there were 845 workers killed and 3018 injured by occupational accidents. The ready-made garment sector led the way in its toll on workers, with 141 killed, and 1578 hurt or maimed (Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union: Bangladesh, 2007). 2. 3. 8. Ship recycling industry effectively prohibits unions: The Bangladeshi ship recycling industry is based at Chittagong Port. Workers are employed on an as-needs basis, have no contracts and do not sign any documents which could link them to a specific yard. Thus workers have no legal recourse in the event of a dispute. Largely owing to the fear instilled in them – through violence and the precariousness of their employment situation workers have no way of standing up for their rights or even claiming their dues. Any claim would provoke instant dismissal. Unions are de facto forbidden on the sites and union organisers find it very difficult to gain access.

Eumenides vs. The Haunted :: essays papers

Eumenides vs. The Haunted Throughout time there has been a universal question that does not yet yield a universal answer: whether or not it is right to avenge the murder of another by killing the killers. In both â€Å"The Haunted,† the third play from Eugene O’ Neill’s trilogy â€Å"Morning Becomes Electra,† and â€Å"Eumenides,† the third play from Aeschylus’ trilogy â€Å"The Oresteia,† the respective sons are directly or indirectly responsible for the deaths of their mothers after their mothers intentionally murder their fathers. In â€Å"Eumenides,† the third play of The Oresteia Trilogy,† Orestes kills his mother Clytemnestra in cold blood and feels no remorse for his action. In â€Å"The Haunted,† the third play in â€Å"Morning Becomes Electra,† Orin expresses incredible guilt for the death of his mother, Christine even though he does not physically kill her himself. It is clear that Orestes believes that it is right to avenge the killing of another through the death of the killer and that Orin regrets his actions and does not believe vigilance is justified. In Aeschylus’ â€Å"Eumenides,† Orestes believes that his murdering of his mother is well justified by the fact that she murdered his father. Orestes is completely guilt-free after the murder and feels like he did the right thing. Orestes did not have a close relationship with his mother, and resented her for sending him away. Orestes feels that it is his responsibility to avenge his father’s death. Though Orestes is put on trial for the murder of his mother, he continues to proclaim that the murder of his mother was justified, claiming he was encouraged by the god Apollo to murder his father. Cassandra, who had been cursed by Apollo to be a seer who would never be believed, envisions the death of Agamemnon and herself. It is in this vision that she sees an avenger who will come about and bring justice to the murdered victims: â€Å" We will die, but not without some honor from the gods. There will come another to avenge us, born to kill his mother, b orn his father’s champion. The gods have sworn a monumental oath: as his father lies upon the ground he draws him home with power like a prayer.† This vision proves to be very important when speaking about the innocence of Orestes and his heroism as well. Before the incident even takes place, we know that the gods have destined Orestes to avenge his father’s death.

Conclusion

My name is Frederica Krebs. I am a 29-year-old free-lance journalist. I write about all things happening in Germany, and then sell them to newspapers and magazines all over the world. I am the only son of a World War 1 hero, and my mother who dollies me. I am divorced with one son who resides with his mother. I'm young, blonde, blue-eyed, strong, and pure German. I'm what you would consider Hitler ideal German to be. Rather than believing In the Whimper republic, I believe In democracy.I consider he Whimper republic to be week and helpless. I do not Like what these groups of thugs who call themselves â€Å"Nazis† are trying to do. I mean they are trying to blame the war on the Jews, communists, and the liberals. Saying how Hitler will bring the Germans back to their farmer greatness. My own father agrees with the Nazis, he is already eager to rid the country of foreigners and especially Jews. But he doesn't know that I have a Jewish girlfriend, named Anna. Also my wife is rais ing our son to become one of these criminals.He is only five and already belongs to some Nazi out organization. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that these people don't do anymore damage to our country. Second Entry February 27,1933 what they believe in but what he believes in. I on the other hand will not give in and choose not to take the oath and make a stand for what I believe in. I will try and contribute to working to defeat Hitler as much as I can. Since I am a Journalist I can write about all the bad things happening to our country.After writing about these events I will sell them to newspapers and magazines all over the world, so they would now how much of a threat Hitler is not only to the people of Germany but also to the world. Third Entry May 10,1933 Today is the day of the book burning kids running around yelling like the burning of the books doesn't even bother them, they don't know how much books would help them because their young children doing what they th ought was right. The Nazis and police are knocking on people's doors and confiscating their books, I know a lot of people who don't agree with this but don't want to put the lives of their family in danger.Me being a Journalist I do not agree with this one bit not having books would hang how we think so we wont have our own opinions, we would all have the same thoughts because we are only allowed to read similar books. I will have to go to this book burning later this evening and I will have a decision to make whether I want to participate in this and throw a book into the fire or try and stop them from throwing the books, so as I have returned you know I have made the decision to Join in on the burning.A little boy came up to me and tried to put a book in my hand, as I refused a soldier walks up and stands right behind the boy staring at me and says, if you have rust in what Hitler is doing you will take the book and throw it in. I did not want to get arrested and loose the chance of spreading the word to the world about what's happening here so I took the book and tossed it. It was a very hard thing to do but I did it for the sake of my country. Fourth Entry August 1,1936 I am here in Berlin for the Olympic games to support my country of course. I walk into the stadium.There are so many people but not Just Germans other nationalities are here to cheer on their country. I feel as if everywhere like they were watching my every move. I also notice some American reporters were also there, maybe this is my chance to get out to the world about what was happening here. The people here would know nothing about what's going on here because Hitler had all the the people from other countries. I hope I could have a chance of speaking with one of the U. S reporter but its not going to be easy with all the AS officers around watching.If they see me attempting to talk to the reporters I will be arrested and punished maybe even killed. I have decided that trying to talk to the reporters would be too risky so I will not try and talk to them. Because if I get arrested I would leave my girlfriend who is Jewish alone and could possibly get taken away, and my father would find out that I was going against Hitler and he believes in what Hitler is doing. If I got caught it could also put my family in danger who knows what Hitler would do with them.Fifth Entry September 29,1936 Today I am having a private dinner with Josef Gobbles a friend and worker of Hitler. Gobbles is also a Journalist but he is one for the Nazi party and has been since 1926. I wanted this meeting because if I could get a Job as a Journalist for the Nazi party, after I earn their trust I could easily get the word out to the world and the would never suspect it was me. At the dinner we discussed my believes to be on that Hitler is doing and what they expect of me as a Journalist.When I looked at Gobbles I would have never thought he would be in the Nazi party because he was a total opposit e of the perfect German that Hitler described. He was small, dark and crippled with a permanent limp. After I saw him I knew I could get the Job because I was the perfect German that Hitler described, and why would they turn down a reflect German. I would also be able to keep my girlfriend unharmed if I Join the Nazi party. At the end of the dinner he said he would like to offer me a Job to work with him as a Journalist, so I shook his hand and gladly accepted.Sixth Entry November 10,1938 It's all starting today what the newspapers called Charlatanic: the night of broken glass. I look outside and see all Jewish businesses being burned down, or severely damaged. Not only are their businesses being destroyed they are being pulled out from their homes a lot of the times dragged out and beaten. The Nazi mobs were Sioux towards them worse than eve seen before sometimes beating the Jews in the city by the hundreds. I have a choice to make, do I try and save my girlfriend and risk being ca ught or do I Just give her up to them and never see her again.I can't do that to her I need to find a place for her to hide a place they would never think to look here. The mob is almost to my house I have to think quickly or I will loose her to those monsters. I told her to go outback and under the stairs outside there's an opening because he was the one that put in the newspaper to do this so all he would do is urn me in. As I started to calm door I hear a knock at my door but there was no shouting I open it and before my eyes was a family, a Jewish family that had escaped and asked for my help.I had to think but think quickly cause the mob was only down the street, so I told them to go where I had told my girlfriend to o and wait till I came and got them. The mob was finally at my door they asked if I had any Jews in here I said no. The people barged in and started to raid my home they finally left after ten minutes of searching and found nothing, my home a mess but they found no thing. Seventh Entry November 1 2, 1938 I have moved away from my old home to try and get away from all the madness.I still have work so ill Just do the work from here I live near Auschwitz Brinkmen. Life here is good for me but little did I know when I moved out here that I moved near a camp. In the beginning, I thought ghettos were for Just the poor, now I know that the Germans were forcing the Jews to live there and then moving them to concentration camps. I can go for a walk and see this camp and see the people in it but I can't do anything to help them. I see the labor they have to do, they look all sluggish and beat, you can see the guards yelling and beating them when they stop working.I see groups of young kids, elders, and weak go into these buildings while being escorted by troops so they couldn't run, the guards close the door and the group would never come out. I knew what had happened to them but I never knew how it was happening. I know these types of things IM Just a writer. It is hard to watch this all happening wishing I could do something but risk being killed myself and loosing the trust of Gobbles. Eighth Entry November 4,1943 I have witnessed the massacre, now I have lost the little respect I had for the German soldiers, Hitler, and Hammier.Hammier doesn't care how many Jews die because of his success. Being a Journalist I had to be to there witnessing a side I had never seen before of these soldiers and leaders. I saw dead bodies on the ground lined up in rows like they were in an assembly line. But the worst was I actually seeing the killings, they had them line up and like a firing squad they shot them in the neck. Some of the people were even still alive after they were shot and they Just feet them there.But even if you turn around to try and look away there were more trucks full of more Jews waiting to be slaughtered. The sad thing was it wasn't Just clothes so they were killed naked. More and more trucks come and go, unloading then k illing the defenseless they were weak and hungry. This is one of the worst things I had ever seen. Ninth Entry October 8,1944 â€Å"First they took the land Then they took the people Then they took me and there was no one left The demons in disguise Creating chaos in every direction What we sure can do Never let this pain happen again. Conclusion My name is Frederica Krebs. I am a 29-year-old free-lance journalist. I write about all things happening in Germany, and then sell them to newspapers and magazines all over the world. I am the only son of a World War 1 hero, and my mother who dollies me. I am divorced with one son who resides with his mother. I'm young, blonde, blue-eyed, strong, and pure German. I'm what you would consider Hitler ideal German to be. Rather than believing In the Whimper republic, I believe In democracy.I consider he Whimper republic to be week and helpless. I do not Like what these groups of thugs who call themselves â€Å"Nazis† are trying to do. I mean they are trying to blame the war on the Jews, communists, and the liberals. Saying how Hitler will bring the Germans back to their farmer greatness. My own father agrees with the Nazis, he is already eager to rid the country of foreigners and especially Jews. But he doesn't know that I have a Jewish girlfriend, named Anna. Also my wife is rais ing our son to become one of these criminals.He is only five and already belongs to some Nazi out organization. I will do whatever it takes to make sure that these people don't do anymore damage to our country. Second Entry February 27,1933 what they believe in but what he believes in. I on the other hand will not give in and choose not to take the oath and make a stand for what I believe in. I will try and contribute to working to defeat Hitler as much as I can. Since I am a Journalist I can write about all the bad things happening to our country.After writing about these events I will sell them to newspapers and magazines all over the world, so they would now how much of a threat Hitler is not only to the people of Germany but also to the world. Third Entry May 10,1933 Today is the day of the book burning kids running around yelling like the burning of the books doesn't even bother them, they don't know how much books would help them because their young children doing what they th ought was right. The Nazis and police are knocking on people's doors and confiscating their books, I know a lot of people who don't agree with this but don't want to put the lives of their family in danger.Me being a Journalist I do not agree with this one bit not having books would hang how we think so we wont have our own opinions, we would all have the same thoughts because we are only allowed to read similar books. I will have to go to this book burning later this evening and I will have a decision to make whether I want to participate in this and throw a book into the fire or try and stop them from throwing the books, so as I have returned you know I have made the decision to Join in on the burning.A little boy came up to me and tried to put a book in my hand, as I refused a soldier walks up and stands right behind the boy staring at me and says, if you have rust in what Hitler is doing you will take the book and throw it in. I did not want to get arrested and loose the chance of spreading the word to the world about what's happening here so I took the book and tossed it. It was a very hard thing to do but I did it for the sake of my country. Fourth Entry August 1,1936 I am here in Berlin for the Olympic games to support my country of course. I walk into the stadium.There are so many people but not Just Germans other nationalities are here to cheer on their country. I feel as if everywhere like they were watching my every move. I also notice some American reporters were also there, maybe this is my chance to get out to the world about what was happening here. The people here would know nothing about what's going on here because Hitler had all the the people from other countries. I hope I could have a chance of speaking with one of the U. S reporter but its not going to be easy with all the AS officers around watching.If they see me attempting to talk to the reporters I will be arrested and punished maybe even killed. I have decided that trying to talk to the reporters would be too risky so I will not try and talk to them. Because if I get arrested I would leave my girlfriend who is Jewish alone and could possibly get taken away, and my father would find out that I was going against Hitler and he believes in what Hitler is doing. If I got caught it could also put my family in danger who knows what Hitler would do with them.Fifth Entry September 29,1936 Today I am having a private dinner with Josef Gobbles a friend and worker of Hitler. Gobbles is also a Journalist but he is one for the Nazi party and has been since 1926. I wanted this meeting because if I could get a Job as a Journalist for the Nazi party, after I earn their trust I could easily get the word out to the world and the would never suspect it was me. At the dinner we discussed my believes to be on that Hitler is doing and what they expect of me as a Journalist.When I looked at Gobbles I would have never thought he would be in the Nazi party because he was a total opposit e of the perfect German that Hitler described. He was small, dark and crippled with a permanent limp. After I saw him I knew I could get the Job because I was the perfect German that Hitler described, and why would they turn down a reflect German. I would also be able to keep my girlfriend unharmed if I Join the Nazi party. At the end of the dinner he said he would like to offer me a Job to work with him as a Journalist, so I shook his hand and gladly accepted.Sixth Entry November 10,1938 It's all starting today what the newspapers called Charlatanic: the night of broken glass. I look outside and see all Jewish businesses being burned down, or severely damaged. Not only are their businesses being destroyed they are being pulled out from their homes a lot of the times dragged out and beaten. The Nazi mobs were Sioux towards them worse than eve seen before sometimes beating the Jews in the city by the hundreds. I have a choice to make, do I try and save my girlfriend and risk being ca ught or do I Just give her up to them and never see her again.I can't do that to her I need to find a place for her to hide a place they would never think to look here. The mob is almost to my house I have to think quickly or I will loose her to those monsters. I told her to go outback and under the stairs outside there's an opening because he was the one that put in the newspaper to do this so all he would do is urn me in. As I started to calm door I hear a knock at my door but there was no shouting I open it and before my eyes was a family, a Jewish family that had escaped and asked for my help.I had to think but think quickly cause the mob was only down the street, so I told them to go where I had told my girlfriend to o and wait till I came and got them. The mob was finally at my door they asked if I had any Jews in here I said no. The people barged in and started to raid my home they finally left after ten minutes of searching and found nothing, my home a mess but they found no thing. Seventh Entry November 1 2, 1938 I have moved away from my old home to try and get away from all the madness.I still have work so ill Just do the work from here I live near Auschwitz Brinkmen. Life here is good for me but little did I know when I moved out here that I moved near a camp. In the beginning, I thought ghettos were for Just the poor, now I know that the Germans were forcing the Jews to live there and then moving them to concentration camps. I can go for a walk and see this camp and see the people in it but I can't do anything to help them. I see the labor they have to do, they look all sluggish and beat, you can see the guards yelling and beating them when they stop working.I see groups of young kids, elders, and weak go into these buildings while being escorted by troops so they couldn't run, the guards close the door and the group would never come out. I knew what had happened to them but I never knew how it was happening. I know these types of things IM Just a writer. It is hard to watch this all happening wishing I could do something but risk being killed myself and loosing the trust of Gobbles. Eighth Entry November 4,1943 I have witnessed the massacre, now I have lost the little respect I had for the German soldiers, Hitler, and Hammier.Hammier doesn't care how many Jews die because of his success. Being a Journalist I had to be to there witnessing a side I had never seen before of these soldiers and leaders. I saw dead bodies on the ground lined up in rows like they were in an assembly line. But the worst was I actually seeing the killings, they had them line up and like a firing squad they shot them in the neck. Some of the people were even still alive after they were shot and they Just feet them there.But even if you turn around to try and look away there were more trucks full of more Jews waiting to be slaughtered. The sad thing was it wasn't Just clothes so they were killed naked. More and more trucks come and go, unloading then k illing the defenseless they were weak and hungry. This is one of the worst things I had ever seen. Ninth Entry October 8,1944 â€Å"First they took the land Then they took the people Then they took me and there was no one left The demons in disguise Creating chaos in every direction What we sure can do Never let this pain happen again.

Response to Don Marquis’ “Why Abortion Is Immoral”

Don Marquis' â€Å"Why Abortion is Immoral† In his essay â€Å"Why Abortion is Immoral,† Don Marquis argues against the morality of abortion on the premise that the value of a fetus' future is so great that it is immoral to take that potential future away from it. Essentially, he contends, abortion is tantamount to murder: killing an individual is prima facie wrong because the loss of the goods of one's future is the worst loss a human can suffer. He calls this potential future a â€Å"future-like-ours,† which is the basis for his contentions.In the next few pages I will delineate the general progression of his argument, and later, will evaluate the plausibility of said argument. Though Marquis makes both logical and compelling claims, there are several concerns and weaknesses that arise from his argument that must be considered. Marquis establishes his argument with the exploration of why killing humans is wrong, in any case. The clear answer, he says, is that k illing is wrong because of its â€Å"effect on the victim† (Ethical Issues in Modern Medicine, 558).Taking one's life deprives the victim of â€Å"all the experiences, activities, projects, and enjoyments that would otherwise have constituted one's future,† and this is the greatest loss that any human can suffer (558). This theory of wrongness can account for why it is also wrong to kill infants and young children, whereas other theories that make narrower claims (e. g. â€Å"It is prima facie wrong to kill only rational agents) do not stand in such cases. There are obvious implications concerning the ethics of abortion with this theory in place.Marquis contends that â€Å"The future of a standard fetus includes a set of experiences, projects, activities, and such which are identical with the futures of adult human beings†¦ † (559). It follows then, that because it is wrong to kill humans, it is also wrong to kill potential humans, and so abortion is prima facie seriously wrong. Fetuses have a viable, valuable future, which Marquis calls a â€Å"future-like-ours. † So, he adds, whether one has â€Å"immediate past experiences or not† does not matter when it comes to killing, because it is the value of the potential future that must be taken into onsideration (561). Marquis goes on to refute other theories of wrongness of killing. One such example is that valuing one's future implies a valuer, but fetuses obviously cannot value their futures, and so their futures are not valuable to them. However, Marquis counters this notion by providing us with an example: one may think during a time of despair that his â€Å"future is of no worth whatsoever,† but he is wrong to think so because â€Å"others rightly see value†¦ in it† (561).So, just because a fetus cannot appreciate its own future, we are aware of the value of its potential future, so abortion is still wrong. Other claims put forth that to be an actu al victim, one requires mentation. However, we still recognize that it is wrong to kill those that are unconscious or in a coma (who have prospects of emerging out of their states), so it follows that mentation is not a necessary condition to be a victim. Marquis' refutations provide for his very strong and compelling argument against abortion.I will grant Marquis that his progression of logic is rational; if a fetus were allowed to fully develop, it would indeed become a sentient being with the capacity of enjoying a prosperous future. However, some ambiguities arise as a result of his claims and it is difficult to say how Marquis would respond. The first concern I would like to address regards the case of a fetus with a debilitating disease. With today's technology, it is quite easy to detect any abnormalities in a fetus very early on in the pregnancy.Say, for example, a couple finds out that their fetus has some sort of affliction that will make him terminally ill. They want to a bort the fetus because they cannot stand the notion of bringing a child into the world that, although sentient and rational, will have a markedly reduced life span and suffer greatly throughout whatever life he has. How would Marquis respond in this case? He might argue that though the child will suffer, he still has a potential future in which he formulate goals, and have experiences and projects.However, we must note that during his argument, Marquis says â€Å"If the patient's future is intolerable†¦ we want our account to allow killing the patient† and that â€Å"it is the value of the patient's future which is doing the work in rendering the morality of killing the patient intelligible† (561). Obviously, a quandary arises. Does the fetus in our example have a future that is less valuable than that of a normal one? Can we justify aborting this fetus, because although he will be rational and most likely capable of having experiences, the scope of his suffering will be exceedingly great?Are we in any sort of position to prescribe the value of someone else's future without knowing exactly how it will play out? So while it is plausible that Marquis would still argue from an anti-abortionist stance due to its potential future, this decision will very probably not sit well with the parents who have to watch their child suffer throughout his shortened life. This is one ambiguity that exists in Marquis' argument that has no easy answer, and is worth noting. We must recognize that cannot say with such conviction that we know what a future-like-ours entails.It seems presumptuous to assert that a future-like-ours is always a positive thing; how can we account for the fetus in the previous example, or an inner-city child essentially having to raise himself because his parents are absent? What about the child who is stuck in a situation with abusive parents, with no one to turn to for help? Though I grant Marquis the soundness of his general argument , and the premise that all fetuses have a potential future, we cannot infer from this claim that this future will necessarily be a positive one.It becomes a murky and essentially taboo dilemma to even ask if the lives of these children are worth living, and if they would have been better off being aborted in the womb. Marquis may still claim that every fetus has a right to life no matter what, but because he does not consider these cases in his argument, it is worth noting that the answers might not be so straightforward and that more complicated cases do exist. The main concern I would like to note regarding Marquis' argument is that he does not once consider the rights of the mother and the value of her future.Although Marquis treats the fetus as an independent being, we must at least recognize that the fetus' life depends on its mother's: it receives all of its nutrition from her and it develops in her womb. So, how would Marquis respond to a situation in which the mother will su rely (or even has the remote chance) of dying in childbirth, even if the fetus will not? Here, we have two potential futures contesting each other, because this is a one or the other situation – either the fetus must die or the mother will in delivering it.Similar to the example mentioned previously of the sick fetus, it is not easy to simply prescribe one of their futures with more value than the other one. An anti-abortionist could possibly make the argument that the fetus' life should be saved because it has a longer future to attain, since the mother has already lived a significant portion of her life. However, one could contend that because the mother is already a sentient, rational being and already has goals and projects set in place for her life, her right to life should take precedence over the fetus, who still has no capacity to value its future.To take away the future of the mother would be more cruel than to take it away from the unaware fetus. Furthermore, what a bout a situation in which the mother is a teenager, and adoption is out of the question? Say, for example, she has to drop out of school and get a low-paying job, and struggles greatly for a significant amount of time trying to provide for herself and her baby. What has happened to her future-like-ours? Both the mother and the child are in dire situations, and it is obvious that the mother would have been in a better current situation had the fetus been aborted, as uncomfortable as that contention may make us.The case of the child, however, is much more complex because again, it is difficult to weigh his suffering with his capacity for potentiating a future. I would not like to argue one way or another, but would simply like to note that it is unclear how Marquis would respond to these predicaments and should have noted such in the essay. As I conclude enumerating the ambiguities that arise from Marquis' contentions, I would like to consider the hypothetical case in which Marquis di d allow for an abortion, in, for example, the case of the fetus that has some sort of debilitating disease.He might contend that the inevitable suffering in the fetus' â€Å"future-like-ours† outweighs the positive value of his potential future, so an abortion in this case would be permissible. However, what does this do for the integrity of the future-like-ours argument? If we can begin to make exceptions like this, where can we draw the line of what constitutes a â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad† future-like-ours? If Marquis begins to allow for such xceptions, it seems to diminish the value of his theory as a whole, because it connotes that the futures of some fetuses are less valuable than others even if they are both capable of having potential experiences, dreams, projects, etc. On a broader and related scope, if an anti-abortionist who argues on the sanctity-of-life theory makes an exception for the abortion of a fetus who was the product of a rape or is in a situ ation where the mother cannot provide for it, it invalidates their entire premise. Both fetuses are innocent and have equal rights to their future.So, if Marquis did make an exception, it would compromise the integrity of his argument. Marquis makes very compelling and interesting claims in his essay, and takes a novel approach in the controversy over abortion. He uses a strong premise that is not too broad or too narrow in scope, as some anti-abortionists and pro-life activists end up doing in their reasoning. However, as mentioned above, ambiguities do arise from his argument, the most significant of which being the consideration of the mother's right to a future.With this considered, it becomes clear that a â€Å"future-like-ours† may not be as clear-cut of an idea as Marquis would like us to think. The essay would have been stronger and more lucid if Marquis considered â€Å"futures-like-ours† that are not exactly futures like ours. By virtue of the sheer breadth a nd variety of experiences that humans experience as a species, it is much more difficult to define a future-like-ours than Marquis delineates in his essay.

Stakeholder Society essays

Stakeholder Society essays Social equality has long been a dream of many Americans. It would be wonderful to live in a society where everyone had equal or nearly equal opportunities, but the United States will never be the land of equal opportunity because it is just not going to happen because we have been socially stratified for too long to ever be equal. However, as Ackerman and Alstott propose in The Stakeholder Society, we may be able to offer Americans an equal monetary offering from the government, but is this going to work? Ackerman and Alstott propose to simply raise taxes 2% and give every American eighty thousand dollars sometime in there twenties, considering that they are stable minded and graduated from high school. Recipients would not receive the eighty thousand dollars in one lump sum, but over a period of a few years. When the recipient dies, if they have sufficient funds, they repay the eighty thousand dollars back to the government where it will be used for redistribution. At first, this sounds like a great idea, however, there are many underlying problems. First of all, there are way too many irresponsible people who will blow their money on toys such as new cars, electronics, or on drugs and become drug addicts. Giving a check for twenty thousand dollars to a twenty-five year old and telling them that they can do whatever they please with it is pretty brave. Giving large handouts will also teach people to spend irresponsibly and not manage their money. They will not know what to do when the money runs out and they are still earning seven dollars an hour at some job that they hate. Instead of giving any twenty-some year old American eighty thousand dollars, I believe the government should provide a program to provide funding government funding for college. Every American should be able to go to college for free. This is the time when many people accrue large debts through loans and living expenses bu ...

Case Study Fast Fashion Essay Example for Free

Case Study Fast Fashion Essay After two decades of fast fashion popularity, retailers and consumers have come to realize one of its biggest issues, its impact on the environment. Can fast fashion and sustainability work together? The affordability of Fast Fashion is one of the main reasons for its high demand. Lack of authenticity or Intellectual Property. Fast Fashion has forced retailers to desire low cost and flexibility in design. Lack of quality in production Rapid production prevents consumers to get an idea of what’s to expect. (Forecasting) Excess of production. Wastes of these products from the retailers and consumer harm the environment. Reveals what is exposed in runways and fashion shows ahead of time. Fast fashion exploits the young consumer by incentivizing impulse behavior. Consumers are getting used to buying more frequent. Due to such rapid turnover, there’s a lack of exclusivity. Step 3 1. Higher quality, lower quantity. Pros Better option for repair: The customer will rather repair a good quality garment than can last than an inexpensive low quality one. Customer satisfaction: Consumers will be happier with a better value product. Long life: Products that are of better quality will definitely last longer so the consumer wont be forced to dispose. For the retailer, there is a great possibility they may attract a variety of new consumers that do appreciate superior quality. As a result of lower quantity, garments will stand out by look fresher and spacious on the sales floor. Cons Retailers may suffer fewer sales. There is a possibility they may lose some of their usual customers. Fewer options, now that there is a lower quantity. Higher quality means it wont be as affordable for the consumer as it used to be. Companies may have to reinvent themselves and state the fact that they are now enhancing the quality of their products. Consumer will be unwilling to compromise on price. Pros Consumer will be satisfied with having a say in the creation of its particular product. This idea will attract and motivate many more consumers. It’s innovative and fun for the consumer. The design will be personalized and the consumer will want to keep. Cons May require more shopping time for the consumer Products may not be as inexpensive now that the retailer will cater to every individuals needs. Consumers of fast fashion may be disappointed that there will now be less variety. Consumers may not adapt to this idea and reject it. 2. No more wasting, get compensated! Recycle and Reuse. The system involves customers bringing all the used items back to the stores and getting compensated with either a discount or a minimal refund. This is to incentive the customer to care more instead of wasting and harming the eco-system. Pros Companies will be take back used garments and send them off to countries in need. Companies will be able to reuse and reproduce them. Customer’s ability to help other in need is facilitated by the companies they have purchased from. Customers get an incentive to bring items back after knowing they also get a discount/store credit/ refund. Case Study Fast Fashion. (2018, Oct 15).

Organizational Culture In The Toyota Company Case Study

Organizational Culture In The Toyota Company - Case Study Example When Toyota built plants in the west, they attempted to copy Toyota’s production system details without studying the difference between how workers in the East felt about their work compared to their Western counterparts. This difference can be referred to as employee engagement. Western employers have begun to realize the huge value to be realized from engaging their workforce. However, apart from running surveys aimed at discovering how engaged their employees are, not many are aware of how to synthesize engagement. When Toyota’s cars were recalled, those recalled had been made in the West. The recalls did not happen to vehicles manufactured in the East since the employees could have spotted them due to their engagement. Employees in the West might have noticed the faults, but due to their disengagement, did not report it. Negative reports regarding Toyota came to such functions as customer satisfaction, risk analysis, and government. The corporate culture at Toyota needs increased evaluation instead of making assumptions that their culture is aligned to that of the West. Their corporate culture bred leaders whose most pressing concern was saving face, which led to the postponement of making the recalls. These problems have proved to be problematic for Toyota because they do not dismiss a worker because of temporary absence resulting from illness or injury. Additionally, the scope of this provision granting increased protection to officials of the unions, as well as members, should see an increase due to the initial adverse action cases brought before the appellate court. If, as claimed by the unions, those dismissed happen to be union representatives, then Toyota is in for a rough ride. Toyota has been swamped by this culture clash because of the lack of communication and consultation. Traditionally, Toyota has prided itself on its communicative skills with its workforce and its exemplary teamwork.