Cultural Behavior Essay

Culture is a very important factor that should be determined in every occasion, across the globe. Knowing once culture enhances the spirit of solidarity through understanding one another despite the differences of nationality. It creates communication and it clears the communication. One of the biggest problems today is the miscommunication of people despite the advancement in telecommunication industries that delivers a wider range of means of communication. One might ask what culture could do; obviously it can create good rapport between people and between nations. Having a cultural intelligence is a plus factor but it doesn’t mean that, a person without it can never mingle with a person with a different culture. Cultural intelligence entails a lot of things, most importantly it can help-us manage cross-cultural differences moreover it can help eliminate racism. To be specific, cultural intelligence can lower the cultural barriers caused by the terms, ‘us’ and ‘them’ and this allows you to predict what ‘they’ are thinking and how they will react to your behavior patterns through becoming aware with the cultural differences as well as its similarities; and it harness the power of cultural diversity. In our world today that is fast-paced, companies and their business managers who interact with employees, customers, partners, competitors, among others who are diverse cultural intelligence is important. Hosting an international conference of sorts will not be possible without knowing who the participants are. Making a successful affair with other countries means tapping their soft spot. That is possible by studying what please them and respecting what they believe in, not only that, but their practices, values, expectations, attitudes, and ideologies. Those can be boiled down to one thing, knowing the culture because it is the â€Å"lens† through which you view the world. It entails the centrality of one’s attention, the perception and the expression. In this paper, there are two countries that should be given importance of – Brazil and Turkey. The former is known for their expertise in playing football while the latter is known for their good-looking men, as I would put it. BRAZIL, â€Å"The Land of Contrasts† This country is the fifth largest country in the world, and the largest nation in Latin America. Having the culture name of Brazilian, and their people are called depending on gender – Brasileiros for boys and Brasileiras for girls. In the late sixteenth century Portuguese introduced a Romance language called Portuguese, then this language is now the widely-spoken language in the country. Roman Catholic is the predominant religion. The Brazilians prides in themselves being democratic with race, they do not have prejudices over the different citizens that reside in Brazil. This ideology shapes their perception in terms of cultural behavior. This is not an assessment of complete non-existence of racial discrimination, but compared to other nations like the United States, in Brazil the expression is far more subtle and discreet. To add proof, the word â€Å"jeito† is familiar in Brazil which means that nothing is set in stone. Aside from those verbal greetings, there are things that should be learned about Brazil. One of this is their body language because becoming aware of this could help a person avoid any trouble in this country. For some countries, okay or OK hand signal means an approval or giving a nice reaction to other person but in this country it is a rude gesture. For example, in the Philippines the okay hand signal can brighten someone’s day, it is a simple gesture but it could mean a lot of positive meaning. Some politician even uses this for their campaign during election. When a Brazilian expresses appreciation, s/he may appear to pinch his/her earlobe between thumb and forefinger while to other counties it could mean that a person is shy or ashamed of something s/he has done. The â€Å"fig† is placing the thumb between the index and middles finger. This indicates a sincere invocation of luck towards another person. When the fingertips were flicked underneath the chin it means that the person doesn’t know the answer. But for other countries it indicates that the person is thinking or in a deep thought. It is common practice to almost every country to have privacy, may it be about personal life or whatever. Privacy is a concept of personal space. This is an event the Brazilians do not seem to care because lack of space is what they are used to. A crowded place is an appealing space for them. Touch and physical expression is evident in their culture. Being informal can be seen with the way women and men easily express their emotions through touch. There is a saying that time is gold. It applies to most of the countries around the world, especially in this time and age where you have to keep up with the fast-changing world. When it comes to time and work, some regions are casual about it. There are two cities in this country that are strict when it comes to following time especially business meetings. These are San Paulo and Rio, as for the latter, personal and social events are the things considered casual. Main meal happens at midday while light meal happens at night. Having good manners and etiquettes or the lack of it is a big issue. It shows how a person was raised and it shows ones upbringing. It is also important because it deals with a person’s reputation and his/her identity. When entertained into someone’s house, the guest should send flowers saying â€Å"Thank You† to the hostess, for it shows politeness. This shows the satisfaction and appreciation of the hospitality a hostess have shown. This is also a way to build a good impression. However, one should take note of the color of the flower to be given because purple-colored flowers are for funerals alone but it is fine to send out color violet. Saude (Sah-OO-Day) or Viva (Vee-va)are words that expresses â€Å"cheers† during toasts. Hello and goodbye, use good eye contact while handshaking and make sure that you handshake with everyone present. Stay away from phases such as, â€Å"Is it true that everyone in Brazil is either very rich or very poor? † It is very likely you will be talking with someone that isn’t either one. Brazilians usually address teachers, doctors, priests, and other professionals using their title followed by their first name—Professor Joao, Doutora Maxine or Presidente Henrique. Making a successful business in Brazil means adhering to their business custom, this helped a lot because as I have said before it can make you close to your â€Å"would-be business partner. † To have an â€Å"executive† connotation, wearing a three-piece suit is advised because office workers are associated with two-piece suit. Wearing conservative attire with manicured nails are important for women who are transacting business. In making appointments, make it in two weeks advance and â€Å"out of nowhere† calls are not good especially at business and government offices. This could mean impoliteness that would lead to the impression of disrespect to the concerned person or people. The key to business success in Brazil is to be prepared in committing long term resources, may it be money or time. In every business meetings, their standard operating procedure is that the host starts the business discussions and it usually begins with small talks. TURKEY The official name is Republic of Turkey, and its capital is Ankara. Turkey is a crossing between two unique cultures from the European and Middle Eastern boundaries. The society is characterized with nationalism patriotism. A combination of traditional and modern views, the society attributes significantly to their ancestors. The rapid modernization of the country had contributed to the success of its market. One of the nice things about people of different nationality is that they have the unique form of greetings. It is normal to greet the Turkish with â€Å"Asalamu alaykum† which means peace be upon you, and the common reply to this is, â€Å"Wa alaykum salam† or peace be with you. It is normal to every tourist or every visitors of foreign land to know the hidden meanings of body language of the people in that particular country. That is an advantage so that a person would know what or what not to do. It is customary to greet Turkish counterparts with a handshake, failure to do so may be considered rude. Women are expected to extend their hand first as the men awaits this gesture. An eye contact with Turkish counterparts while speaking depicts sincerity. When the thumb is placed between first two fingers it signifies insult and the person doing it is being rude. Wagging the head in the US means â€Å"no†, but in this country it means â€Å"I don’t understand†. Personal space does not matter to Turks in fact they consider it as unfriendly. That is why backing away when a Turks stand close to you is not good. This shows aloofness that could trigger to becoming indifferent. Turks have a â€Å"polychromic time†, they are multitasked that they do several activities at the same time and continue several conversations about different topics. They can surely keep up with busy schedule because they manage to do one thing at the same time. This also shows that the Turks are good in dividing their attention, it also shows that they are good in doing rush works and other stuff. Reputation precedes a person’s identity. Making a reputation is through the guidelines of having good manners in almost everything a person does. This also means having respect to other people and showing appreciation of ones culture. Respecting and paying courtesy to an elderly or the eldest person when arriving at a gathering or room is advised in this culture. Age is highly given importance in this country. Age signifies wisdom and respect from the society. In this country, public display of affection id discourages and is considered inappropriate. For establishing business in Turkey, there are business rules and regulations. These should be strictly followed if a businessman wants to make it big in this country. Turkish people celebrates the Turkish holidays, like the Ramadan (fasting period) and months like July and August are considered as annual holidays of Turkish business men. These dates should be avoided as the celebration is most considered rather than business ventures. It is important to schedule business appointments in advance to ensure that you avoid Turkish holidays. Punctuality is also important for the Turkish people. In all business contexts, when one should be late, he or she must immediately inform the persons concerned immediately. Islam also extends its influence in the society as all appointments and meetings should fit the 5 daily prayer times. The Turks prefer to do business with people they know and establish personal relationships with them for future benefits in their business ventures. Bibliography Bibikova Anastasia and Vadim Kotelnikov. Cultural Intelligence: Knowledge, Arts, & Skills. http://www. 1000ventures. com/business_guide/crosscuttings/cultural_intelligence. html http://www. cia. gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/br. html Nicol, Joni. Brazil. http://www. cyborlink. com/besite/brazil. htm Gorrill, Jodie R. A Turkish Culture Overview. http://www. communicaid. com/turkey-business-culture. asp

Nursing Care Study Essay

The aim of this nursing care study is to demonstrate that, as a student nurse, the writer is capable of developing and delivering the skills needed for assessing and addressing each individual patient’s care needs. Included in these set of skills, is the ability to develop critical thinking, decisive decision making and the ability to reflect on events so as to become a better health care provider. The patient in which the writer will discuss was based upon an eighty three year old man, pseudonym Mr. Scott who was admitted into accident and emergency via a referral from his general practitioner presenting with exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a history of congestive cardiac failure (CCF). On admission to accident and emergency Mr. Scotts’ team took arterial blood gases, ordered a pulmonary function tests and a chest X-ray. Prior to the exacerbation of Mr. Scotts’ condition he regularly attended a cardiac clinic due to being a long term sufferer of congestive cardiac failure and also attended pulmonary function clinic for tests (pulmonary function tests). Through these clinics Mr. Scott was educated on his medications and current condition. On admission of Mr. Scott, the writer decided to use the frameworks Roper Logan and Tierney (2000); Orem’s Self Care Framework (1995) and Gibbs (1988); which incorporates each tool of assessment known as, plan, implementation, evaluation, educate and reflection. Using the above frameworks, an improvement of Mr. Scotts’ current exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was seen to have been resolved and a new evaluation of Mr. Scotts’ care was developed. The chosen tool of reflection used is known as the Gibbs cycle of reflection. The writer applied this tool in order to evaluate the patient care. The rationale behind this was to attempt to fully understand reflection so as to apply this to everyday practice, thus improving as a student nurse. The Gibbs cycle involves a description of the incident, feelings and thoughts experienced plus the evaluation and analysis of the incident, conclusions and action plan (Gibbs, 1988). According to Barnett (2005) using a tool of reflection, to give an account of experiences in the clinical setting can aid the nurse to analyse and explore their feelings regarding patient care. Main body Eighty three year old Mr. Scott was admitted to accident and emergency with a referral from his general practitioner, presenting with a recurrent upper respiratory tract infection and a history of exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive cardiac disease. Due to his history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Mr. Scott was sent for a chest x ray to assess the deterioration of his lungs due to his condition. (Alexander et al. 2009) Post admission into accident and emergency, Mr. Scott was sent to St. Pat, Thomas, Johns’ ward where the writer was working at the time as a student nurse. The writer found, when assessing Mr. Scott, that he lived alone, locally, was a widower of ten years and had two daughters who also lived near by. Although Mr. Scott had many concerns, he also had a good social network such as the support of family and a home help package of six hours a week, which included meals on wheels. The local public health nurse also called to see Mr Scott on a social capacity. Presently the main health concerns which faced both Mr. Scott and his family were; the deterioration of his dyspnoea, related to his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pressure ulcers, due to developing pressure ulcers while in hospital in previous years and anxiety from both Mr. Scott and his family due to the unknown. Reassurance was given and they were explained what care he was to receive. Issue # 1 Breathing. The key feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Barnett, 2009) is that of experiencing breathlessness. Being breathless for most patients can be both a stressful and frightening experience, which can raise anxiety levels. In past studies, men predominantly more than women were found to be affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); but in a recent study carried out by Meilan et al. (2007); research has found that cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are increasing in women world wide. The care Mr. Scott received was split in two, short term and long term care; both of which were constantly re-evaluated to maximise efficiency and quality of care. As part of the short term care plan the writer ensured that the bedside was set up with suctioning equipment help prepared for potential complications. To avoid complications, for example tachypnoea (rapid breathing) which is found to be an early indication of respiratory distress (Jevon and Evens 2001); the golden rule of thumb, depth and rate of breathing was monitored and recorded accurately (Jevon, 2010). Further reducing the risk of complications occurring, Mr. Scott was encouraged to sit up in a semi fowler position while enduring deep breathing exercises enabling him to breathe with greater ease and comfort. The rationale behind this was supported by a study carried out by Duggan et al. (2005). The long term goal was to ensure that an oxygen saturation level between 88%-94% is maintained (Alexander et al 2009). To monitor oxygen saturations levels, a pulse oximeter was place on Mr. Scott’s finger. The rationale for this is to detect oxygen absorption of haemoglobin (Plaice &Graham, 2000). A study carried out by Groeben (2003) shows that administering high concentrations of oxygen to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will reduce the respiratory drive, resulting in respiratory depression. This finding gives rationale to why a low flow of oxygen therapy is given to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Humidification was added to Mr. Scotts’ oxygen therapy to warm and moisten the gas (Jevon and Ewens 2001) promoting secretions while enhancing patient comfort (Woodrow 2005).The rationale for this is that oxygen is known to dehydrate exposed membranes in the upper respiratory tract. Issue #2 Pressure ulcers. According to Lawrence et al (2010), every individual’s skin changes with time, this is a normal process of ageing. With this change comes a decrease in its elasticity and turgor, therefore with age one has to ensure that vital care of skin is given in an attempt to avoid skin breakdown. Due to Mr. Scott being an elderly man of eighty three, the writer was concerned about skin integrity. A tool known as the water low score was used in order to assess the likelihood of Mr. Scott developing any pressure ulcers during his stay in the hospital (Whiteing 2009). As Mr. Scott had developed pressure ulcers in a past experience, he would have an increased chance of a re-occurrence. In an attempt to prevent this situation the writer requested that Mr.Scott be nursed on an air mattress. (Stafford and Brower 2009). Issue #3 safety and delerium Anxiety is an emotional state influenced by past experience, which exists at a given point in time with a level of intensity related to an upcoming perceived threat (Passer and Smith 2007) The provision of information is extremely important to the patient as studies from, Biswajit et al. (2009) has shown that an informed patient with a good understanding of their condition reduces anxiety. Harvey (2002), recommend shared control in patient-practitioner interactions in that patients effectively participate in controlling important events. After liaising with Mr Scott’s’ medical team regarding his anxiety, a low dose of Alprazolam brand name Xanax 5mg, was charted and given in an attempt to relieve his anxiety. Alprazolam reduces anxiety within patients (De Witte, et al 2002). Medical care administered On admission to the ward Mr. Scotts’ medical team ordered pulmonary function tests. These tests determine what type and extent of restriction the patient is experiencing (Alexander et al 2009); furthermore indicating any increase/decrease in their condition (Daly 2009). Arterial blood gasses were checked in order to determine the amount of O2 to be administered reducing the risk of hypoxia. The rationale for taking arterial blood gases was to determine the bloods Ph and the O2 levels circulating within the blood. (Alexander et al 2009). A sputum sample was also attained from Mr Scott and sent to the lab for culture and sensitivity testing to trace which bacteria is present in the sputum so as to treat the infection (Gray et al 2008). Through reflection the writer recalled that oedema may be present in the lower extremities secondary to Mr. Scotts history of congestive cardiac failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and recorded the findings. The rationale for this was that, Mr. Scott suffered with congestive cardiac failure which increased the risk of developing oedema while in juxtaposition, putting increased pressure on functioning internal organs (Morley et al. 2009). During the writers assessment of Mr. Scott it appeared that he was suffering from a sudden onset of dyspnoea, (laboured breathing). Using critical thinking, the writer administered oxygen therapy at maximum of twenty four percent and immediately informed Mr. Scotts’ team on his condition. The rationale behind administering low dose O2 is due to the fact that the hypoxic drive can be decreased by administering a large dose of O2 leading to respiratory failure and the worsening condition of the patient, (Simmons et al. 2004). Using the Gibbs reflection cycle, the writer believes students should be under constant supervision in order to attain the knowledge of administering O2 to patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The medical team looking after Mr. Scott prescribed an antibiotic called Tazocin (4.5grams three times a day) to be given intravenously. The rationale for administering this antibiotic was to attempt to fight any infection that the patient may have developed. Also prescribed for Mr. Scott was a steroid and bronchodilator. The rationale for charting a steroid and bronchodilator was that, they are found to decrease inflammation in the air way and also to open up the airway (Greenstein et al 2009). Due to Mr. Scotts’ condition he was a long term user of oral Corticosteroids. Studies (Walters et al. 2008) have shown that, corticosteroids reduce the need for additional medical therapy while, also shorting hospital stay. On previous reflection (Gibbs 1988) as a student nurse, the writers’ knowledge developed due to reflection from previous patient care. The writer knew that due to Mr. Scott being on steroids, his blood sugar levels needed to be checked once a day as to ensure it stayed within the normal range. The rationale behind monitoring Mr. Scott’s’ blood sugar once a day was due to the side effects that are directly related to the administration of corticosteroids. Such side effects are as mouth ulcers, weight gain and increased skin thinning (mayoclinic.com). The writer encouraged Mr. Scott to rinse his mouth out with water post administration of oral steroids to reduce the development of oral ulcers or a candida infection of the mouth, (Greenstein et al 2009). The Roper, Logan, Tierney (RLT) 2000 nursing framework aided the writer in focusing upon the care study. This model encompasses key factors such as social status, environmental factors as well as the physical/ psychological factors which influence people in their daily lives (Roper et al 1991; 2003, Newton 1991). This model is designed to be adaptable to any patient and not for the patient to adapt towards the model of nursing; therefore it allows the nurse to care for each patient on an individual level (Roper et al 2000). Nursing can therefore be defined through this model in terms of helping people to prevent, alleviate, solve or cope with problems (actual or potential) when relating to the activities of daily living, (Roper et al. 1990). Conclusion Although the Roper Logan and Tierney’s’ model of nursing covers a holistic view, a model known as the Orem’s Self Care Framework according to Fawcett (1995) concentrates on the individuals’ self maintenance and regulation through a type of action known as self-care. This model could be seen as beneficial to Mr.Scott as a patient whom has been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a main part in maintaining good health is a good understanding/ communication, knowledge and education of how to care for ones’ self (Eva et al. 2009). The aim of this piece of work was to assemble while using tools of assessment an individual care plan. This was to be drawn up together with the patient and the writer so the system of care would be of an individual status. The writer also aimed to demonstrate that with critical thinking and decisive decision making the patient involved received intervention when needed. As the writer worked on the ward mentioned a strong therapeutic relationship had been built between patient and student nurse, this allowed the patient to feel at ease when asking questions regarding his condition enabling the writer to educate the patient at a higher understanding. Upon Mr. Scott’s discharge he expressed a better understanding of his knowledge about his condition, he also felt that if or when he experienced another exacerbation he would not feel as anxious and be better able to cope with it. Hearing this as a student nurse the writer felt that it had enhanced professional development for further nursing practice. Reference List: Alexander, M.,Fawcett, J., Runciman, P.2009. Disorders of the Respiratory System IN: Edmond, C., Mc Clean, I., Mc Clean, J., Wilson, L.(eds.) Nursing Practice Hospital and Home. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Livingstone. Alexander, M.,Fawcett, J., Runciman, P.2009.Nursing Practice Hospital and Home. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Livingstone. Barnett, M. 2005.Caring for a patient with COPD: a reflective account. Nursing Standard.[online].19, (36),pp41-46. Available from: http://web.ebscohost.com.remote.library.dcu.ie/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer. [Accessed 06 march2010]. Biswajit, C., Mohammed, I., Salaiman, M., Davies, L., Calverley, P., Warburton, C., Angus, R. 2009. A Study of patient Attitudes in the United kingdom Toward Ventilatory Support in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Journal of palliative Medicine. 12 (11), pp1029-1035. Daly,ML. 2009. Stopping A COPD Flare-up: quick action reduces a patient on the verge of respiratory failure. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 40 (8), p40. Duggan, M. Kavanagh, B. (2005). . Pulmonary atelectasis: A pathogenic perioperative entity.. Anesthesiology. 102 (4), 838-854. Fawcett, J. 1995. Analysis and Evaluation of Conceptual Models of Nursing. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: F.A Davis Company. Gibbs G. (1988) Learning by Doing: a guide to teaching and learning methods. Further Education Unit. Oxford Polytechnic. Oxford. Gray, RD., MacGregor, G., Noble, D., Imrie, M., Dewar, M., Boyd, AC., Innes, JA., Porteous, DJ., Greening, Ap. 2008. Sputum Proteomics in Inflammatory and Suppurative Respiratory Disease. journal of Respiratory and Critical care medicine. 178 (5) pp444-452. Greenstein, B., Dinah, G., Trounce, J. 2009. Trounce’s Clinical Pharmacology for Nurses.8th ed. Toronto: Churchill Livingstone. Groeben, H., Meier, S., Tankersley, G., Mitzner., Brown, H. 2003. Heritable differences in respiratory drive and breathing pattern in mice during anaesthesia and emergence. Journal of Anaesthesia. 91 (4),pp541-545. Harvey, N. 2002. Effective Communication. Dublin. Gill and Macmillan. Jevon, P. & Ewens, B. (2002). Monitonng the Critically III Patient. Oxford: Blackwell Science. 150-170. Jevon, P. 2010. How to Ensure Patient Observations Lead to Effective Management of Altered Consciousness. Nursing Times. 106 (6), pp16-22. Jevon, P. Ewens, B.. (2001). Assessment of a breathless patient. Nursing Standards. 15 (16), 48-53. Lawrence, H., Plawecki, J., Amrhein, D., Zortman, T. 2010. Under Pressure Nursing Liability and Skin Breakdown in Older Patients. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 36 (2), pp23-25. march 2010]. Mayo Clinic.com. (Homepage). [Online]. Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/steroids/HQ01431. [Accessed 26 March 2010]. http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com.remote.library.dcu.ie/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD001288/frame.html. [Accessed 18 February 2010]. MeiLan, K., Postma, D., Mannino, D., Giardino, N., Buist, S., Curtis, J., Martinez, F. 2007. Gender and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. [online]. 176. pp1179-1184. Newton, C. (1991). The Roper, Logan, Tierney Model in Action.. Macmillan: Basing Stoke. 112-130. Passer, M., Smith, R. 2007. Psychology the science of the mind and behaviour.3rd ed. New York: Mc Graw Hill. Pendleton, D. Schofield, T. Tate P. Havelock P. (1984). ) The Consultation: .An Approach to Teaching and Learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 213-34. Plaice, J. & Graham, P (2004) Nursing care of a patient with Cystic Fibrosis. Journal of School of Nursing. 20 (1) 6-7. Rennard, S. 1999. Inflammation and Repair Processes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. American journal of Respiratory and Critical care medicine. 160 (5), pp 12-16. Roper, N., Logan. W, & Tierney, A (2000). The Elements of Nursing; a model of living.. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 201-22. Roper, N., Logan. W, & Tierney, A.. (1990). The Element of Nursing . 3rd ed. Edinburgh: Livingstone. 230-60. Simmons, P., Simmons, M. 2004. Informed Nursing Practice: The Administration of Oxygen to Patients with COPD. Medsurg Nursing.13(2) pp82-86. Smeltzar, S., Bare, B., Hinkle, J., Cheever,K.2008.Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing.11th ed. New York.Lippincott. Stafford, AB., Brower, J. 2009. Effectiveness of Static Air Mattress Overlay and Static Air Seat Cushion For The Prevention Of Pressure Ulcers. Journal of Wound Ostomy & continence care. 36(2),Pp 50-53. The cochrane collaboration. 2009. Surgical Decompression for Cerebral Odema in Acute Ischaemic Stroke. The cochrane library. Walters, J., Gibson, P., Wood-Baker, R., Hannay, M., Walters, E. 2008. Systemic Corticosteroids for Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. [Online]. Available from: http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com.remote.library.dcu.ie/cochrane/clsysrev

Religion in Brazil Essay Example

Religion in Brazil Essay Example Religion in Brazil Essay Religion in Brazil Essay Brazil, or  officially the  Federative Republic of Brazil is the largest country in both  South America  and the  Latin America  region. It is the worlds fifth largest country, both bygeographical area  and  by population over 190 million people   It is the largest  Lusophone, or portugese-speaking,  country in the world, and the only one in the Americas. Religion plays a major role in the lives of most of the people in this largest South American county. Here are some interesting Brazil facts: Around ninety percent of this population identifies with some sort of religion,   making it more religiously inclined than any other South American country. Only around 1% of its population do not believe in a God, or a supreme being in some form or another. The Brazilian Constitution of 1889 declared that there was no  official  religion in Brazil, so everyone was free to believe as they liked. That’s why, just like the USA, Brazil can practice freedom of religion according to the newest constitution that was adopted in 1988. Brazil’s religious make-up can be traced to the diverse groups of people who came in various forms – natives, invaders, immigrants, and slaves. In terms of Christian religions, the main churches in Brazil are: Catholic Protestant Methodist Episcopal Pentecostal Lutheran Baptist Its religious inclination is also extremely diverse, despite the fact that around three-quarters of the population claim to be Roman Catholics. In fact, there are more Catholics in Brazil than in any other country in the world. The Portuguese brought with them, not just the language (this  medical tourism   hub is the only  country  inSouth America  not dominated by Spanish), but also Roman Catholicism. Catholicism was introduced to Brazil when the European settlers arrived with the aim of ‘civilising’ the local native people. They built churches and brought religious leaders into the country to teach young and old alike the doctrines of Catholicism. During the 19th century, Catholicism was made the official religion of Brazil. This meant that Catholic priests were paid a salary by the government, including them in the political affairs of the country. As such, Catholicism became an integral part of the management and administration of Brazil and its people. Many of the Brazilian festivals are based on the Catholic religion. Protestantism is the second largest branch in Brazil religion. Those who are Christian but not Catholic are considered Protestant. Only about 15% of Brazilians claim to follow a Protestant faith of some kind. There are many branches of Christianity in Brazil. Among them the most popular are Baptist, Methodist, Neo-Pentecostalists, Old Pentecostalists, Presbyterian, Anglican and Episcopal Churches. Other Protestant beliefs and offshoots that make up smaller portions of Christians are Kardecist, Lutherans. The largest population of Protestants are found in North, Central-West and Southeast Brazil. The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  is the third largest Brazil religion. They boast a membership of over one million one hundred thousand with almost two thousand congregations and 309 family history centers. Five temples are stretched across Brazil. Jehovahs Witnesses  is the fourth largest religion in Brazil. They have over 700,000 members. Eastern Orthodox  makes up the fifth largest religion in the country with over 500,000 members that came over with their Armenian, Greek, Lebanese, Russian, Syrian and Ukrainian immigrants in the past one hundred years. When the Portuguese landed in Brazil, the  country  was populated by native  Indians who had their own traditional religious practices. In the regions just north of Bahia, indigenous tribes still practice the Catimbo religion; a sect that is heavily influenced by spirits, shamanism, and omens. When African slaves began to be imported into Brazil, they brought with them their religious practices, many of which involved invoking the gods through chants or dances. Over time, these Afro Brazilian religious practices began mingling with Catholic and Protestant influences to create synthetic religions. Some of the more  popular  exponents  include  Candomble, which has a huge following in urban centers like  Rio de Janeiro, and Umbanda. Spiritism is also one of the significant, although minor, religions in Brazil. Spiritistic practices are based largely on ancient Amerindian cultures as well as the influence of the African cultures and customs that were introduced centuries ago, when slaves were brought over to Brazil from the ‘Dark Continent’ of Africa. Such tribes and cultures were particularly inclined towards the worship of spirits since they had not been influenced by more structured notions of creation, which hailed from a reliance on the teachings of Bible. The religions or belief systems found in Brazil other than the ones above include: * Muslims * Methodists * Episcopalians * Buddhists * Ayahuasca * Afro-Brazilian religions Xango, Batuque, Umbanda, Tambor de Mina * Hinduism * Islamists * Shinto believers * Judaists * Rastafarian * Brazil Religion Makes the Country Unique Every part of the country has been uniquely shaped by the religion practiced there. Celebrations, festivals, traditions, and customs are all practiced due to some religious or spiritual beginnings and purposes. For example, During the Holy Week before Easter, several Brazilian cities will celebrate Corpus Christi by artistically creating mosaics or carpets on the streets using mediums like flour, flower petals, shavings of wood, and coffee grounds. The results are stunning and a memorable way to celebrate this holy time of the year. The music, dancing, chanting, singing, or other activities all stem from one faith or another and make the people who they are. The entire culture of the Brazilian people is intertwined with religion or faith in some way. No wonder theyre such an amazing, diverse, and wonderful people!

Essay on Doms Stuff

Essay on Doms Stuff Essay on Doms Stuff Case 1-1 Google 1. How does the changing environment for business affect Google ability to communicate in this situation? a. The main environment problem I feel is that they are going to a country in which there is already search engine that many in China use. So they will have a tough competition right when they get there. Also the control that the government has on its people is a little different than here in the U.S; we can search what ever we want, but the people of China can not and will be shown others pictures instead of what they are looking for. They will have to really think about what they created the company for and make sure they do not become a money making machine without a heart. 2. Where is the company most vulnerable from a communication standpoint? a. They seem to have a weakness when is the most important for them to speak up for themselves. Especially when they where asked to meet about their status with their company and what they where doing in China they did not show up to the meeting. Also they might go against their slogan â€Å"Don’t be Evil† which will be hard for them to explain to the many users why they went against it. 3. What is the main problem for the Google Company that they have to deal with? a. I think the main problem that Google has to deal with is their initial slogan â€Å"Don’t be Evil† that they will ruin, if they where to become more corporate and not true to themselves and their goal. If they where to go and invest into the Chinese market with all the censorship the government puts on their

Aim Of Molecular Gastronomy Media Essay

Aim Of Molecular Gastronomy Media Essay The art of cooking is as old as humanity and cooking is such an important part of our world which obviously needs scientific attention. Although science has contributed to food safety, hygiene and nutritional aspects, little has been done towards innovation and invention of new dishes. The ancient Greek words, gastro means stomach and nomos means law, collectively termed as gastronomy, which in contemporary hospitality industry means food and culture. It generally refers to the study of relationship between food and culture with interdisciplinary approaches. This literature attempts to explain molecular gastronomy, its origin and evolution, along with its relevance and contributions to the contemporary hospitality industry. Cooking and gastronomy Even though molecular gastronomy has attracted media attention for quite a while, still there is confusion about the true meaning of the term. To explain this, cooking and gastronomy has to be distinguished first. Cooking is the preparation of raw food into edible, whereas gastronomy is the knowledge of whatever concerns man’s nourishment. Gastronomy is about chemical and physical transformation behind the preparation of any food, for example, the reason behind egg white puffs up when whipped or mayonnaise becomes firm. (This, 2006). According to HerveThis, the science of food is not new but dates back to second century BC, when preparation of meat stock-the aqueous solution obtained by thermal processing of animal tissues in water-has been of great interest. Since then, scientists have been interested in food and cooking which gave way to molecular gastronomy. If culinary history is scrutinised, it will be clear that, initially food experts studied the culinary science to steer clear of blind assumptions and unscientific ways of cooking. But today, the science of food has reached its extreme in the form of molecular gastronomy, which chemically examines the food and cooking in its molecular level to give a new face for cooking and change the total concept of commercial cooking in near future. Molecular gastronomy The scientific discipline dedicated to culinary industry and to gastronomical phenomena in general has been called ‘molecular gastronomy’ the late Nicholas Kurti and HerveThis (This, 2005). Molecular gastronomy can also be defined as a field that attempts to improve the culinary techniques through understanding the composition and chemical transformations occurring in food during the process of cooking (Ankeny, Year Unknown). Gastronomy or molecular gastronomy is the science just like any other science in the world, which studies the cause and effect of anything that happens during cooking including the structural difference in same cooking ingredients of different quality, which have an effect on the final product. If we can answer the question, we can correct a mistake, use this knowledge to improve the cooking process or even invent new dishes or ways to prepare food. For example, if we know that when an egg is cooked, water evaporates, the proteins denature and polymerize to enclose water, we can even use substitute methods to cook it, like adding alcohol to it, which denature the egg proteins and gives the same result. Molecular gastronomy also deals with the study of human senses and perception of taste, aroma, texture and temperature, in short, the sensory science known as chemesthesis (berham et. al, 2010). It studies the perception of senses in molecular level in order to understand how different dishes are perceived as awful, average, good or delicious, when they are made of similar ingredients. Although chemesthesis of human beings are the same, people of different genre appreciates different types of food. For example westerner’s cooking style is entirely different from Asians, and while Asians appreciate spicy food, most westerners do not.

My previous personal statement needs to be rewritten a bit and there Essay

My previous personal statement needs to be rewritten a bit and there are some things that should be added to it - Essay Example I am particularly interested in integrating my knowledge of the Russian-speaking world with my studies, as Russia is one of the worlds most exciting emerging markets. I am enthusiastic about expanding my knowledge in the current affairs, more so in the context of business and economy. In several occasions I try my level best to secure some little time off my academics and just read some periodic publications such as The Economist. Steve Jobs, the Apple Inc. co-founder, is one person that has greatly shaped my business perspective and attitude towards life. After reading his story in one of the Economist publications, I have come to develop an interest of reading biographies, autobiographies, and stories about remarkable innovators and business leaders of our time. The time I have spent reading through these publication has been beneficial as it has served to complement the theoretical knowledge acquired in class. For instance, I was fascinated when a story about the current dispute involving Tesco’s and Sainsbury over price comparison promotions. This dispute helped me appreciate the role of ethics in business operations. Other activities that I enjoy doing are mingling with people and just get to understand their perspective about various issues in life. I love sports such as football and skiing. Engaging in these activities have not only taught me the beauty of hard work, perseverance, and practice, but have also taught me how to work within a team as well as lead a team. Knowledge and experience are two things I most treasure in career advancement. It is because of this reason that I am currently furthering my studies to at least bolster my understanding of various issues in business. Previously, I have worked at Technoservice, Moscow, alongside strategists who at that time were investigating ideas on how to introduce off patent car

International and comparative criminal justice Essay

International and comparative criminal justice - Essay Example This is the way things should be. It is unacceptable for the police to contaminate evidence or obtain it through duress. However, its actual exclusion should rest at the discretion of a judge. This is the correct law and is followed in many common law jurisdictions, while it is less prevalent in civil law jurisdictions. In the course of this essay the rationale for this rule will be examined as will a number of cases and statutes relating to it. It is first important to discuss context. Crime has been an unfortunate aspect of human existence from the beginning of time. Each civilization and country has had to determine a method for dealing with it within their own moral vision. Different approaches to dealing with crime come from different values systems. Everyone is different and believes in different things. For people that believe a criminal is a product of his environment and is not personally responsible for committing of crime, it is likely that resources will be used on rehabi litation and treatment. Imprisonment will play a less important role. But for those who believe individuals are responsible for the things that they do and that if they intend to commit crimes they should be punished, the emphasis is likely to be on punishing or detaining the criminal. These different values play a role in determining how evidence is excluded. These two ways of dealing with crime can be broken up into two models. One will be likely to exclude contaminated evidence in order to preserve the human rights of the criminal, the second model would be much less likely to exclude evidence1. The first is the famous due process model present in most developed countries. The main idea of this model is that an individual should not be deprived of their human rights, even if it is clear that he or she has committed a terrible crime. To put someone in prison is to take away the criminal’s right to liberty. That is a very serious thing. The process must be scrutinized to ens ure that everything is done by the book. At its heart the due process model is the idea that the system would rather see ten guilty people go free than one innocent person in prison. The result of this model is many hours of painstaking work checking evidence and a long time-line of the court case moving slowly through the system. Because, historically, the legal system railroaded individuals by planting false evidence and by abusing human rights, we must be very careful when examining evidence. Permitting contaminated evidence into the legal system would encourage law enforcement officers to commit illicit acts. The due process model would strongly argue to exclude evidence obtained in the course of an abuse of human rights. The second way of looking at criminal justice regarding evidence is the crime control model. This model puts a high value on locking up guilty people. Its aim is to protect society and it tries to do this by detaining as many people as it can as quickly as it c an. Typically, in this model more money is spent on policing and deterring and prosecuting criminals as quickly as possible so that the police and prosecutors can start again quickly on the next group of criminals. If it happens that an innocent person is