Modern society and causes of social change

Modern society and causes of social change If the human balance of nature is essentially a matter of matching persons with activities, anything that disturbs that balance leads to social change- (Bryant Peck, 2007; 449) In a continuously developing world particularly with reference to the current global ideal of what we now call a modernised society, the concept of social change may be identified as the influence perpetuating the pandemic. Social change in this instance is described as the adjustment in the basic structures of a social group or society (Giddens, 2006). According to Giddens (2006) social change is an ever-present phenomenon in social life, but has become especially intense in the modern era due to efforts to restore social balance. Hence, the outcomes of these efforts of social change may be reflected in a positive or negative light. In essence if social change is the perpetuating factor of a developing society, then the trigger of its influence must come from some sort of threatening social event. These events may vary in form. Natural disasters are thus recognised as not only an environmental, yet a societal event as well that poses a threat for social change, arising from the soci al consequences that they bring about. This essay will therefore aim to discuss the impact of social change on the environment and describe the social consequences of natural disasters, with reference to case studies to provide evidence. The onset of social change as mentioned above is triggered by social events. Subsequently those socially threatening events are triggered by the victims themselves. In this case human beings are not only the victims yet also the perpetrators of critical social events which predispose social change. There are many elements and dimensions that need to be considered when addressing the intricate concept of social change. The first is that social change has consistent characteristics (Macionis, 1996). In this sense according to Macionis (1996) the first characteristic is that social change happens everywhere, though differs from place to place. For example the United States would experience faster change due to its advanced technology in comparison to a third world country that does not have these advances. Another characteristic is that social change is sometimes intentional but often unplanned (Macionis, 1996). In this context one would draw attention to technological developments and the levels of advantages and disadvantages. For example in the transportation industry, the invention of the airplane was developed in order to increase trade and speed travel. Though, when it was developed it was probably not realised how this invention would affect societies and families in the future. Accordingly, we now suffer with the devastating consequences of global warming of which the advances in transportation have contributed. In addition social change also generates controversy (Macionis, 1996). In this case the conflict theory is reflected whereby social change emerges due to conflict amongst race, class, religion etc. Karl Marx in particular believed that class conflict sparked change and the conflict theory draws on the works of his communism approach reflected in his perspective of the class system. Lastly, some social changes matter more than others do (Macionis, 1996). For example the invention of computers was more important than the invention of cabbage patch dolls (Macionis, 1996). The causes of social change arise in cultural, conflict, political, economic, environmental and ideational contexts. Yet, combined the causes form the globalisation pandemic. Globalisation may be describe as the process of increasing the connectivity and interdependence of the worlds markets and businesses (DFAIT, 2002). The ever-increasing interdependencies among nations in resource exploitation, production (including out-sourcing) and marketing and the need to remove obstructions to this interdependency are driving forces behind the rush for globalisation (Rahman, 2002). These interdependencies cause a need to develop and, in marketing terms, this need becomes a demand thus as the demand increases so does the production. Consequently as the production increases the advances in the particular products increase to ensure better quality and so the process continues. This has continued to the point where we now have genetically modified foods to feed a growing population and the process of cloning. It is these particular advances that are now the reasons for many of the environmental problems that have occurred recently. Hence, the point made on the notion that social change forms part of a cycle. According to (Rahman, 2002) these global forces have produced rapid social change which is often marked by more inter and intra-regional disparity, environmental and ecological crisis, social disintegration, conflict and violence. Local population growth and natural disasters further aggravate the magnitude of human hardship (Rahman, 2002). This hardship occurs due to the use and limited availability of the resources which is usually used to generate the products that globalization exploits. These hardships arise because humans, like all organisms on Earth, interact with both the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in their environment (Richmond, 2002). This interaction has devastating effects on the environment. As Richmond (2002) explains, environmental degradation happens when a potentially renewable resource (one of the biotic or abiotic factors humans need and use such as soil, grassland, forest, wildlife or fuel) is extracted at a rate faster than the resource can be replaced, and thus becomes depleted. According to Richmond (2002) if the rate of use of the resource remains high, the resource can become non-renewable on a human time scale or even become non-existent. Evidence occurring throughout the twentieth century shows that agriculturally productive land has been extensively modified to make it even more productive (Richmond, 2002). This includes the widespread use during the twentieth century of chemical fertilizers (often produced from oil) pesticides, and extensive irrigation (Richmond, 2002). As Richmond (2002) emphasises to supply the needs of extensive irrigation, surface water has been diverted and many wells have been drilled seeking more subsurface water. At the same time that industrial agriculture was growing, agriculturally productive land was being lost to urban development and industry (Richmond, 2002). In the twenty first century, competition for remaining land and water resources is expected to continue to increase (Richmond, 2002). These particular problems are contributory causes of globalisation and can lead to natural hazards. Natural hazards, which is defined as a threat of a dangerous magnitude of a natural process, have the potential to cause a number of primary and secondary phenomena (Chen, 2005). According to Chen (2005) primary phenomena are the natural hazards themselves this includes tropical cyclones, floods, storms, droughts and earthquakes. The secondary phenomena comprises of the vulnerabilities of the elements at risk such as populations, infrastructure, economic, political and social activities, which make them more susceptible to being harmed or damaged by a hazard event (Chen, 2005). The secondary cause results from the dependency of the primary. For example the devastating and seemingly arbitrary nature of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina can reinforce the popular notion that such events are random in their social dimensions. There are many aspects of social dimensions that get affected and these occur abruptly due to the unpremeditated impact of natural disasters. In the case study based on Hurricane Katrina, among New Orleanians who were employed at the time of the storm, only a quarter reported having the same job one month later, compared with over two-thirds of respondents from outside the city (Elliot Pais, 2006). This shows that the natural disaster brought about unemployment which is considered a social issue. Based on the same study by Elliot Pais (2006) it was concluded that when such disasters do occur, individuals understandably become stressed. The results of the Hurricane Katrina Case study also show that for all three indicators of stress (current, short-term, and long-term) proved to be remarkably consistent (Elliot Pais, 2006). They show that race, not class, had a strong influence on post-disaster stress associated with Hurricane Katrina, with blacks generally reporting higher stress levels than whites, all else being equal (Elliot Pais, 2006). Moreover, this racial difference increased further into the future when respondents are asked to look five years ahead (Elliot Pais, 2006). For example, the average black-white differential in stress was greater when respondents are asked to look five years ahead than when they were asked to look only a few months ahead (Elliot Pais, 2006). This provides evidence that natural disasters have social impacts yet is not the driving force behind political change. Instead the politics and ethical issues arise from the mind-sets of the victims themselves arising from the current social systems implemented prior to the disaster. The very same study proved that when these disasters occur, individuals are intensely personally affected and prior research suggests that this stress tends to be higher in technological disasters than in natural disasters (Erikson, 1994; Freudenberg, 1997; Norris et al., 2001). This pattern is pertinent to Hurricane Katrina because many observers now view events within the City of New Orleans as primarily a technological disaster (levee failure) and events outside the city as primarily a natural disaster (wind, rain, and storm-surge destruction) (Elliot Pais, 2006). This proves the correlation between man made global advances and natural disasters. In another study conducted in Ethiopia on the effect of the severe prolonged Ethiopian drought of 1998-2000 presents a second kind of disaster experiment (Carter, Little, Mogues, Negatu, 2007). Direct destruction of assets was modest, but the income losses of repeated crop failures in some locations forced households to choose between preserving assets, or selling them to maintain current consumption and health v(Carter et al, 2007). This particular example suggests that natural disasters puts its victims into a life threatening position of decision yet that decision is forced upon by a global economy. Hence, in order for survival individuals are forced to resort to modern consumptions and become part of the modern economic system. This occurs due to the premise that most land is owned by those who have the most wealth and power. Individuals who are in poverty are therefore unable to build their villages on these lands, though those who have some kind of wealth have an advantage to rebuilding a living. In the case of the recent earthquake in Haiti crisis, political instability and violence seem to have intensified over the last two decades (Daumerie, 2010). While the influence of population on political stability and security is certainly not a simple cause-and-effect relationship, a very youthful age structure can potentially exacerbate the development challenges faced by a nation and, in turn, accentuate political instability (Daumerie, 2010). In Haiti, 15 to 29 year-olds comprise 50 percent of the population, and entering the labour market proves very challenging for them (Daumerie, 2010). As Daumerie (2010) suggests between 45 and 55 percent of youth in their twenties are either unemployed or inactive. Girls perform hard, unpaid work in the household and in some cases engage in paid sexual activity (Daumerie, 2010). As noted by Steve Laguerre of Catholic Relief Services, We have a lot of cross-generational sex between young girls and older men who can provide for them. (Daumerie, 2010;2). According to Daumerie (2010) young boys substitute this by engaging in illegal activities, which in the data are reported as inactivity. Eighty percent of violent crimes in the Caribbean are committed by men, the majority of whom are under age 35 (Daumerie, 2010). The case of Haiti reveals political, economical and social issues that have arisen from the natural disaster. The victims in poverty are forced to resort to desperate measures and the youth is devastatingly affected by this. According to Daumerie (2010) in the capital Port-au Prince, dozens of gangs wander the slums and kill, steal or beat with freedom, while controlling different parts of the city. For a population of less than ten million (half of them children), surveys report 209,000 small arms and light weapons distributed among a horde of armed groups, including criminal and youth gangs, resistance fronts, death squads, prison escapees, political groups, self-defence militias, private security companies and children (Daumerie, 2010). With a succession of military officials rising to power in recent years, international aid was largely suspended and the Haitian army was left with little capital to reimburse its soldiers, who began to use their weapons against citizens for their own gains (Daumerie, 2010). Later, the drug trafficking trade also contributed to the proliferation of violence as Haiti was used by the Colombian cartel as a trans-shipment point for cocaine (Daumerie, 2010). Armed criminal group violence has intensified radically since the last military overthrow in 1994 and have become more brutal since 2000 (Daumerie, 2010). One can elicit that the use of weaponry and violence poses disastrous effects on the physical environment. According to Enzler (2006) the use of weapons, the destruction of structures and oil fields, fires, military transport movements and chemical spraying are all examples of the destroying impact war may have on the environment. Air, water and soil are polluted, man and animal are killed, and numerous health affects occur among those still living (Enzler, 2009). The use of warfare thus contributes to the damaging effects of global warming experienced all over the world today. Hence the notion that the victims impose harm on the environment. In conclusion humans are continuously faced with social change due to the fact that they are continuously changing their way of life. By continuously changing the way of life by modernized means we are changing the life of the living environment itself. The globalisation pandemic is evidence of this. As we continuously develop these advances in production and ways of living we are destroying the balance of nature. When this balance is disrupted natural disasters occur and hence social change emerges. This brings about a cycle where human action and nature are dependent upon one another. Social change in its current state needs to be directed in a positive light where balance is restored. Perhaps this balance will only be renowned when human action is directed toward positive outcomes.

The anti-smoking media campaign among adolescents

The anti-smoking media campaign among adolescents INTRODUCTION In the 20th century, smoking has been established as the leading cause of many preventable diseases (i.e. cancer) and deaths. Antismoking ads started in the 1967, when FCC required broadcasters to air one antismoking message for every three cigarette (Siegal 1998). At first these ads were free until it became effective to the audience that it eliminated the free advertisings. Throughout these years, it provided a worldwide dispute to health of the community. Liu reports: â€Å"Since Minnesota introduced the first paid anti-smoking media campaign in 1986, many other states have used a proportion of their cigarette excise tax revenue to fund large-scale anti-smoking advertisement through the mass media. Those media campaigns try to provide the public with health information about the harmful effects of smoking on health, and, therefore, change peoples smoking behavior, based on the theoretical hypothesis that more informed people are more likely to choose healthy lifestyle† (Liu 2009, p.29). Constantly, advertisers are creating advertisements, such as billboards, commercials and other interesting promotions, for anti-drugs and anti-smoking. It is found in many different places that can be simply seen by the public, preferably among adolescents and teenagers, to get their attention. For example, â€Å"Florida has reported that its Truth advertisements attacking tobacco firms are effective, on the basis of surveys showing 40% and 16% declines in smoking among middle and high school students in the state, respectively† (Penchman 1999, p.2). Recent studies have argued various points that these ads are not working for our city and future generations. Clearly, the government is clearly spending a lot of money for these advertisements but past presidents such as, George W. Bush, tempted with the idea to cut spending because of no concrete answer for a positive outcome. In addition, news media in different markets indicated that teenagers are using more marijuana because of these popular ads that they are constantly seeing in the media. For example, many adolescents feel that marijuana is fashionable drug among their peers because it is popular usage in media such as movies, commercials and many other outlets. Not all people involved in media have agreed with this statement. Others have disagreed with their counterparts and stated that these advertisements are actually working for many people. Research studies done in the past have proved that these advertisements have been a significant positive change for less use of drugs among society. Recently, these advertisements have been getting realistic to the point that it might scare potential users away. In addition, past surveys have been conducted which stated that majority of the people that seen these types of ads are trying to quit from destroying their health. Research studies that found some type of evidence for the success of these media campaigns such as, reducing cigarette consumption and drugs use among adolescents and adults shows that several governments have cut the spending on their control programs. The lost of funding has been in use in other areas such as the recent hit of the economic recession which could have a serious influence on the future success of antismoking and anti-drug control initiations. In addition, policy makers have stated that there is a lack of evidence that these messages are working. This topic brings back to the debate that these ads are producing cigarette use instead of stopping it. â€Å"Many researchers have different ideas on whether advertising for antismoking should be used for tobacco use prevention, which depends on both its effectiveness and cost-effectiveness† (Pechmann 1999, p.2). Currently, theyre no significant evidence that these ads are actually working media. Others are confused if these ads are wasting taxpayers money and not benefiting our society. â€Å"For instance, significant amount of research has been done on this topic and little conclusive evidence of a direct link between advertising-only interventions and reduced adolescent smoking dominance. However, I do agree there is an indirect evidence for the effectiveness of antismoking and antidrug advertising† (Pechmann 2003, p.16). â€Å"Mass communication media play such a significant role in contemporary society, that we could not conceive it without their presence† (Televisa). Since the introduction of media, smoking was brought into new heights and established new audience to attract. Tobacco companies have taken advantage of the media, which they have, supplied billions of dollars on advertising of tobacco. These companies make smoking glamorous, fun and â€Å"cool† to the public. Along with the advertising in media, many include general surgeon message, which is in fine print that many viewers do not notice the health concerns of the use of cigarettes. Recently there has been a surge of cancer among people that antismoking campaigns have been created to end or to put a stop on these glamorous ads and tobacco companies. The opposing ads demonstrated the negative aspects of smoking, which is mainly targeted for adolescents along with statistics on the mortality rate cause by smoking. Along wi th tobacco advertising, parents were another influenced for young adults to start smoking. The rival ads such (thetruth.com) started to use parents, whom do not smoke, as the anti-smoking and anti-drug gear towards the adolescents. Over the past seven years, television ads have gotten increasingly graphic and even gruesome. In recent months, television ads have gotten more graphical which has been taken a page from a horror movie. These ads are trying to hit an objective goal of having 20,000 smokers to stop the routine. In addition, New York City has raise up the prices on its pack of cigarettes up to $10. Along with habit, it is costing New Yorkers $250 a month just on smoking cigarettes which can use that money for other needs. The government wants to reduce people from smoking and its trying its best to achieve its goal. New York Officials claim that the ads are fighting â€Å"fire with fire† when comes to widespread cigarette advertising. For instance, â€Å"The National Cancer Institute reports cigarette manufacturers spend some $37 million a day on average to hawk their product, a whopping $13.5 billion per year† (Inbar). The message that these anti-smoking campaigns are doing is expressing that someone might suffer and die from smoking but also, it may wreck someones family. In the present-day, media depicts drug use and smoking as a popular craze to do. Televisions shows and movies depict drugs and smoking as a good habit and do not state any negative consequences on the use of it. Todays audience watches these shows and movies, which get the sense that smoking and using drugs is a â€Å"cool thing to do†. For example, HBOs television â€Å"Bored to Death† and 90s cult classic movie, â€Å"Half-Baked†, depicts characters that continuous smoking marijuana throughout the whole act. Throughout these programming, it does not stated any negative aspect from smoking marijuana but instead glamorous as a drug that can be use for relaxation. Television ads depict the negative aspects of marijuana and cigerrette use as someone whom can lose their concentration, vision and can cause serious damage to their brain cells. According to Variety, Triplett writes, â€Å"A senior lawmaker, Ed Markey (D-Mass.), wants more action from Hollywood against smoking, and the Motion Picture Association of America pledged to try opening a direct dialogue on the issue. Markey wants to ask MPAA topper Dan Glickman to improvise on the following: Including antismoking public service announcements on DVDs. Certifying that no one involved during a production received anything of value for using or displaying tobacco in the film and eliminating tobacco brand imagery from movies† (Triplett). If adolescents see their favorite actors or actresses smoking, it will lead them to believe that smoking is a good thing to do or not harmful. But these changes in the movie industry will try to eliminate smoking from their movie scenes to not influence anyone about smoking. It is great idea because many adolescents look up to these celebrities as role models. INTERVENTION The intervention to reduced smoking habits has been on the community and its two aims. The reasons for the campaigns are to highlight the dangers of smoking in terms of health and to reduce the amount smoked and potential smokers in the community. The statewide tobacco prevention and education campaign launched to target audience from ages 12-17 to inform them about the harsh realities of smoking. The campaign was created along with group of teen advisors whom themselves were smokers or knew someone that smoke to get the best perception to help succeed with these ads. The funds come from tobacco tax dollars that purpose is to be used for prevention efforts. The idea for this campaign is the let the audience know that smoking can be addictive and hard to quick. Not all of the campaigns are true, as it seems. For example, Baram writes about a famous controversial spokesperson for antismoking campaign but continue to smoke after he filmed a commercial about the harm that smoking can do for a human body. Baram writes: â€Å"Skip Legault, with his tale of two heart attacks, strokes and an amputated right leg, has become the star of anti-smoking posters and commercials blanketing New York since December. But the 48-year-old former repairman isnt getting the message Legault said he still smokes up to a full pack of Marlboros every day. I cant stop smoking, Legault told ABCNEWS.com. Ive been smoking since I was 8, and Im afraid to quit. ABC†. This case of Skip Legault made national headlines because of the issue of quitting smoking is much harder than it seems† (Baram 2008). Even, addictive smokers admit that it is hard. Many people believe that they can quit on their will but it is different. The chemicals drive these smokers to smoke more because of the addiction. A marketing campaign that has been successful in getting its message across is thetruth.com. The 1997 Settlement Act mainly funded the company. It has been the number one protestor against smoking. The anti-smoking campaign consists of several ways to reach to the massive amount of audience. Each way is to attract audience on the hazards that smoking can happen to an individual. The ads are in English and Spanish, which include television ads, radio ads, posters, cinema advertising, online media, social media, and Internet advertising and original websites. FUNDING Before 1988, mass media campaigns relied on free advertising through public service announcements or short-term funding for specific campaign (Siegal 1998). These ads were not aired during prime time, which made little progress towards reaching the mass audience. The ads were heavily dependant on donation of advertising time by broadcasters. In 1988, the use of mass media for antismoking changed by voters in California approved Proposition 99. This election required that tobacco companies donated 20% of their revenue for the state to provide educational programs and increased of the state cigarette tax by 25 cents. As Warner reports, â€Å"The purpose is to demonstrate that, with various combinations of policy changes, mass media information, and smoking cessation programs, smokers can be encouraged to stop smoking, and young people can be prevented from starting to smoke† (Warner 1982, pg.378) A court settlement that changed everything for antismoking media is 1997 settlement. The background begins,in August 1997, when the Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles made an historical out of court settlement among all tobacco companies at that time. The massive payout of $11.3 billion dollars is the considered the day that the straw that broke Joe Camels back† (Grossman 1997 p.290). This settlement led to the creation of thetruth.com whom is an advertising company that campaign against smoking. In addition, the money was used to compensate the state for public health costs caused by smoking-related illnesses.† The main goal of this settlement is to provide a way to lower down the use of cigarettes among young adults and give a helping hand to adults to quit smoking. The main idea of the settlement is to educate non-smokers about the effects of smoking and the harm of its chemicals. In â€Å"Cigarette Taxes†, Grossman reports that the agreement calls on tobacco companies to: Pay billions of dollars for a host of public education and health programs; Reimburse states for the cost of treating tobacco related illnesses; Set aside a multi-billion dollar fund to compensate smokers who win individual lawsuits against the tobacco companies; and Severely curtail marketing and advertising cigarettes, especially to teenagers. All of theses changes made a significant progress in the campaign against smoking. Since the settlement, smoking has been a decline for many users as they reported that the main reason to quit were due to the informercials and mass media adverstiing. The adversiting has faced some roadblocks in the process of succeeding. For example, in 1992, Gov. Wilson suspended Californias media campaign for other purposes. In 1995 and 1996, he censored and pulled other commercials that went against tobacco companies. The motivated behind this act still remains unsolved but it would not be surprise if he were supporting tobacco companies in some form of way. Another example, Siegal reports, in 1996, Assembly Speaker Curtis Pringle introduced a bill that would have restricted the media campaign to messages dealing with health and disallowed spots attacking the tobacco industry (Siegal 1998). TYPES OF CAMPAIGNS In March of 2009, the New York State Department of Health released ads for antismoking which cost $1.2 million from the states budget. The campaigns are featured in medical journals, newspapers and other publications such as the Internet. These ads are encouraging healthcare providers to make quitting a main concern with their patients who smoke. These ads were photo-shopped that featured images of patients with oversized ears to demonstrated that smokers are willing to listen from their doctors about the hazards of smoking. The reason for these ads is to attract healthcare workers because many adolescents go for their annual physical exam. Somehow, adolescents interact with doctors and nurses and are convincing to help these young adults to stop or before they start smoking. In earlier years of advertising, anti-smoking groups and health departments have attempted to oppose the advertising of tobacco by creating their own ads to emphasize the negative effects of smoking. The commercials included smoking cessation, the increased risk of lung cancer and other hazards problems that were seen passive for other public members. However, over the years, the ads have become more aggressive and more combative against smoking. Now these ads are focused on decreased physical attractiveness such as erectile dysfunction and graphical messages such as losing fingers and black lungs. These campaigns are much targeted to the younger crowd than its predecessor. Around the globe, smokers know that smoking tobacco is bad for their nature but they continue to do it regardless of their hazards that come along with it. Current smokers that I have met stated that the number one reason that they cannot stop smoking because of they are addicted to smoking and/or the use of tobacco. Many smokers are addicted to the scent and the nicotine, whom several years ago, the tobacco companies have tried to cover it up to make more money of it. Nicotine is a stimulant form of factor that has been considered one of the worst addictions to break compare to cocaine and heroin use. It is not the only chemical involved with cigarettes but along with 4,000 chemicals is involved which can make an individual much harder to quit. Aside from the fact that cigarette smoking can damage the health of the one smoking but it can also pose serious health risks to other people in the surrounding area. A person that smokes within distance can promote second hand smoke to his peers. This situation can lead to others to walk away from the venue and/or to move away from the entire scenery. Since Mayor Bloomberg was elected, he banned all types of smoking in nightclubs; restaurants and other public places to decrease second-hand smoke and increased businesses for these places that people avoided because of the tobacco smell. Smokers should be educated on their smoking can be to those people around them, including children. This is one of the reasons that anti-smoking campaigns focused on. The campaigners wanted to stop second hand in the neighborhood to prevent cancer and asthma. The campaign for the anti-smoking will try not to use propaganda but instead promote facts about the hazards of smoking. The posters for the campaign against smoking are with feature graphics that is within accepted limits for the culture that it is intended as not to attract negative publicity. The ads do not have any racist overtones or anything that will offend the mass public. The campaign was design to attract peoples attention regardless of race, color, age, and sex. The preferred approach for advertisers is arousing fear because nothing is as vivid as violence and nothing translates as to film as horror. The tendency of media to control against open-mindedness is one of the dominant themes in media criticism. The only aim of the campaign is to distribute as much promotional campaign against smoking as possible within a very limited area. In reference from thetruth.com, they have listed celebrities and well-known actors to get the message across to viewers that smoking is not â€Å"cool†. The anti-smoking group believes that having celebrities and other well-known faces will attract a bigger audience than having a request from the government and its surgeon general. There are several message theme labels that are use in anti-smoking advertising across the border. Based on Penchmanns recent research, â€Å"The message theme labels are the following: disease and death (Smokers suffer from health effects), endangers others, (second-hand smoke), cosmetics, (unattractive side effects), smokers negative life circumstances (loser lifestyle), refusal skills role model (role models do not smoke), marketing tactics (image advertising), selling disease and death (tobacco firms use manipulation and deception to sell a product that causes harm), and substantive variation (several messages use to spread one meaning)† (Penchmann 1994, p.240). Each message theme is use in their ways by marketers and campaigners. It has proved that all of them methods none have made the effort that the â€Å"shock method† has produce. Since 2007, the New York City Department of Health launched a series of anti-smoking campaigns which included smokers quit hotline and free nicotine patch and gum clinics in certain areas at certain times throughout the year. The television ads promoted the damage smoking can do to the body. These ads were noted for their graphic nature as well as their effectiveness. Since 2008, a second series of ads launched that can be seen nearly in every subway train station. It is about â€Å"Marie† a Hispanic Middle-Aged woman whom describes the amputations and pain she has undergone in relation to developing a disease that was the effects of smoking cigarettes. Each day routine smokers die from smoking related diseases each day. In a single cigarette 4700 cancer-causing chemicals are found which are have general surgeon messages pasted on the cigarette cartons. Despite the warnings, smokers continue to smoke. Some of these chemicals include acetone, ammonia, formaldehyde and arsenic. It is disgusting that people are putting these chemicals in their bodies and lungs daily. It is a suicide waiting to happen. Earlier times, Men were to consider smokers more than women. Times have changed and now more women smoke to deal with stress or problems. In addition, social influences such as friends and partygoers are most likely to smoke. Most modern women today will agree that the demand and multiple roles they have taken on have grown over the years. It is no small wonder that many have turned to cigarettes to deal with stress. EFFECTIVENESS Although the main goal of anti-smoking media campaigns is to quit smokers to quit smoking, little evidence suggests that the role of these campaigns are helping to stop. The campaigns can provide a new insight for young people such as non-smokers and those smokers wanting to quit to lead a normal life. These campaigns cost less money than sending someone to be hospitalized or suffer severe consequences because of smoking. It is a healthier and more prosperous future for our younger generation but not all of antismoking ads are effective. Research study has shown that the most successful campaigns are exposing the tobacco industrys manipulation on young adults; focus on themes of second hand smoke and cigarette addiction (Siegal 1998). Campaigns that simply say, â€Å"do not smoke† are the least successful because it not reinforcing adolescents to experience making decisions and the ability to grow up. For example, â€Å"most adolescents want to appear mature, independent, sav vy, attractive, and cool, and many think that not smoking will help them realize these goals. Smokers Negative Life Circumstances messages suggest that smoking is a barrier to achieving [these] goals (Penchmann 2003, p.10). These ads are effective in their own ways that likely to change someones thoughts on the idea of smoking. STATUS AND IMPACT The question is, â€Å"Does anti-smoking ads work?† It is a tough question to answer because there is no direct link that it does work. As Ms. Garcia, whom I interviewed, stated that â€Å"these aids are not working and the campaigners should find other ways to attract its audience.† The antismoking ads offer two ways that it can spread it messages. The messages are if a person smokes than that person would not succeed in life and if you do not smoke, you would be successful in life. The Tobacco remains one of the most widely abused substances. After writing this report and reading other research articles related to this topic, I found there is at least a connection with anti-smoking campaigns and decreased use of smoking among adolescents. For example, smoking is at historically low among groups of ages over 12 years old compared to the late 1990s when the campaign started. Many people believe because of the increased advertisements and its graphical nature has made i nfluenced in these changes. Most of the advertisements are found on during times that young adults are at home usually after school programming to get their attention. Before, it used to seen at various times of day. I believe it has made impact among our future generation and as long the government keeps pumping money into the campaign, I feel lower down smoking use but never fade it away. These ads had made an impact in society. When people are asked about these anti-smoking ads, their first impression is to mention the graphical nature that it has. Even younger adults have stated that, â€Å"if their lungs are going to turn black because of smoking, might as well not even start†. But not everyone agrees that these ads are effective, as it seems to be. For instance, Pearman Parker writes, They can [be effective], though, when they reinforce the perception that their close friends listen and respond to the campaigns.† In addition, Parker reports that the ads have been effective on younger teens but not towards adults. Parker writes, â€Å"Adults know it is unhealthy and knows what can happen to them but that does not change their behaviors.† Overall, anti-smoking has made big impact since 1998 with its â€Å"shock method†, it keep evolving and changing as time goes by. The ads that are picture in the campaign can be viewed as personal testimonials from smokers whom are having the negative side effects from smoking. In these ads, real people tell their own stories about the negative impacts that have cause throughout their lifetime. The main message to get across the audience is provide a sadness or fear mood. Teenagers are more bound to learn from personal testimonials because it provides some sort of realness to the picture of the negative effects of smoking. CONCLUSION: POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS According Penchmanns recent study done in 2002, â€Å"our findings to date suggest that tobacco-marketing (anti-industry) advertisement may not be especially effective with adolescents, though such advertisements are popular, in part because of the apparent success of the Florida Truth campaign.† It has been proven that The Truth Campaign has been the most successful in decreasing smoking habits among adolescents. Anti-smoking campaigns have other free options to promote their cause against smokers and the tobacco industry. The funds that the campaigners get can be use to provide free addiction clinics and research studies to help smokers on how to quit. As newspapers are fading away such as, their revenues have fallen 23% over the last two year (The State of News Media). Anti-smoking campaigns can push for interactive ways using social media and social networking. They can promote and advertise on MySpace, Twitter and Facebook to get users to join the campaign and give awaren ess of the health hazard on tobacco. For instance, social networking can reach to the other audiences especially to the crowd that attracts the most of its first-users are the adolescents. Another way of social media that antismoking campaigners can use is YouTube to gain more audiences. According to Hempel, â€Å"YouTube is the largest video platform in the world (Hempel 37).† People behind the campaign can run concepts such as viral campaigns with homemade videos. The adolescent group is the most users of social networking and the anti-smoking campaign can promote their product with graphical ads that can catch their eyes. Using social media will be a great way to interact with young adults. For example, using Facebook Connect, the creators can create an ad that collects the users information and create a video on the hazards of smoking tobacco with the information use of the viewer. Only the viewer will get to see the commercial ad to avoid controversy with others watching it unless the person wants to show to the mass. In conclusion, anti-smoking advertisements have been a great topic to cover throughout the research. It has its positives and negatives on certain areas that affect various groups throughout the New York State and the nation as a whole. Many researchers oppose that the campaign has not been working because of the massive funds that the government invested since the 1997 settlement. In addition, many campaigners agreed that the campaign is positively proceeding to a certain extent because of the decline of smoking users have gone down. The percentage is not big but it shows that it is effective. The question to answer is what is the status and impact on adolescents by the anti-smoking campaign? The status is the campaign is still trying to attract adolescents not to smoke and the impact has that many young adults have been listening to these ads especially of the shock method nature of it. Will it succeed to stop people from smoking? The true answer is no because of the addictive chem icals involved in tobacco will make smokers hard to quit. As Penchman writes, â€Å"It is conceivable that advertising that is ineffective on its own becomes effective when combined with other effort.† The campaign needs to develop a strategy to help people to quit. As Ms. Karp from MSNBC reports, that the Internet outlet is the best source to use to expand advertising strategy. For instance, withdrawal clinics, nicotine patches, non-for-profit outpatient treatment can help smokers in many places that the campaign is not helping. Overall, the anti-smoking is making an impact among all people and the status of campaign will become stronger because it is here to stay. Bibliography 2009 Join us in our Anti Smoking Campaign because Its Time To Quit Smoking Healthy Living on Shine. Astrology | Horoscopes, Celebrity Horoscopes, Chinese Astrology, Compatibility Tools, and Gift Guides on Shine. Web. 01 Nov. 2009. . Baram, Marcus. Star of Anti-Smoking Campaign Still Puffs. ABC News. 11 Jan. 2008. Web. . Note: The article helps me understand it is hard to quit smoking. The fellow interviewed in the article was seen in an antismoking ad early in the year but still smokes today. The author writes about the hardships of quitting smoking and advertisements are not what it seems to be. Berger, Arthur Asa. Media and Communication Research Methods. SAGE 2000. Pgs 3 173. CBC. Anti-smoking campaigns apparently have little effect on youth. CBC.ca. CBC News. Web. 01 Nov. 2009. . Note: The article is based from Alberta, Canada. This website was helpful because it gave a different point of view from the ant-smoking campaign. It helps me understand the two sides from the debate and on the reasons on why it is not working. Elhart, Mary. Statewide Anti-Smoking Campaign Takes New Approach in Curbing Teen Smoking | Reuters. Reuters.com. Arizona Department of Health Services Bureau of Tobacco Education Prevention, 16 Feb. 2009. Web. 01 Nov. 2009. . Note: The author of this article discusses new ways that the antismoking campaigns can evolve. The author mentions different areas where the campaign is lacking and to make it stronger to decrease smokers. Grohol, John. Scare or Disgust Work Best in Anti-Smoking Ads | Psych Central News. Psych Central. 17 Nov. 2008. Web. 01 Nov. 2009. . Note: Grohol discusses the â€Å"shock method† message that can be seen in antismoking advertising. It is helpful because it mentions different ads in their shock message. The shock method is one of the most effective techniques found in advertising. Grossman, Michael and Frank J. Chaloupka. â€Å"Cigarette Taxes: The Straw to Break the Camels Back† Public Health Reports (1974-), Vol. 112, No. 4 (Jul. Aug., 1997), pp. 290-297. Association of Schools of Public Health Hall, Nicholas G., John C. Hershey, Larry G. Kessler, R. Craig Stotts. â€Å"A Model for Making Project Funding Decisions at the National Cancer Institute† Vol. 40, No. 6 (Nov. Dec., 1992), pp. 1040-1052 Source: Operations Research,

The Development of Action in Kate Chopins The Storm Essay -- Chopin S

The Development of Action in The Storm "The Storm" by Kate Chopin is about a storm that passes through a coastal townin the Southern United States. The story charts the different phases of the storm, and then associates the character interaction with each phase. The tension between characters increases as the physical aspects of the storm become more violent. This essay will outline the development of the storm and coincide character relationships with the outline. The passing of the storm is the central action in The Storm and this essay will analyze the affect it has on the story as a whole. The storm is noted in the first line of the story. The stillness in the air alerted even Bibi, the boy, of the incoming weather. We find that both the boy and his father are worried about Calixta, the female head of the household. Bobinot is the husband and father. The mounting conditions make him think of his wife at home, and the sanctity of a strong marriage in contrast with the turbulence of a storm; he buys her a can of the shrimp that she is so fond of, a type of security for times when conditions are adverse. (Stanford, 665) Calixta is at home; her work has left her unaware of the gathering clouds. The next mention of the physicalities of the storm comes along with a stranger on a horse. The reader learns that the animals are huddled away from the storm, leading one to believe that the sense of changing weather is instinctual and that creatures will behave instinctually. Just as the stranger is to voice an opinion that would break a dangerous chain of event ... ...ions were perfect for a storm. Chopin does show humans with power over these conditions, when Alcee must fight his instinctive desires and leave Calixta for example, even though in most respects she treats the lustful urges encountered by Calixta and Alcee as uncontrollable and unavoidable as a storm. Chopin wanted to show that human nature is still a part of nature and that humans still must cater to Mother Nature s whims. The storm in this story is not essential for Chopin to get her point across, though it is a very strong backbone to carry her idea. She could have chosen several natural occurrences. Storms are traditionally literarily friendly and that humans have a certain fascination with storms. In closing, the different phases of the storm in this story is a good guideline for matters of the heart.

Music in the Information Age :: mp3 digital music

The idea that music is information tends to turn people's heads. The art of information stands as the largest growing field in both business and society. How does the age-old art of music fit into this category? Can music even be considered information? The rising popularity of mp3's proves that people value music as a source of information. Hundreds of groups are advertising their band on the web at mp3.com, from popular music groups to those struggling to make a name in society. The web sites serve as a vehicle for bands to display their message to the public in an uncensored atmosphere. This atmosphere cannot be presented solely through record labels because the labels monitor what the public sees. Music speaks to the public through its words and sound. Musicians use the web as a source to present the information their music holds. Music as a form of information implies that music has the ability to influence those people who listen. The record label gives the public a chance to purchase compact discs and tapes, to attend music concerts and to acquire paraphernalia to support the band. However, record labels restrict a band's ability to present a true, unveiled, and strong message. The labels keep a music group in a position where the group will attract the highest number of "customers" or "followers." As a result, the web opens a field of free advertising for these label connected groups. One of the biggest users of the web is Public Enemy, an old rap group who holds strong views. Their web site draws attention to different issues of politics and racial equality, issues that would be difficult to present with a record label dictating the ultimate end product for a band. Public Enemy, themselves, states on their site (www.public-enemy.com) that their next tour is "More than a tour, this is a campaign." The acce ss to a huge source of information, the internet, allows the group to present true reasons for their performances. These reasons can get lost in the process of marketing, but Public Enemy grasps onto the meaning of their music, to address political issues that surround society. Their ability to advertise would seriously decrease without the use of the web. It remains the strongest and quickest vehicle for bands to release the image desired by their music to the greatest number of people. As a result of the freedom of music and its message, the road of communication widens.

Humans and Nature: The Sad Truth about the Relationship between Humans

Since the shift into the Holocene era with the rise of sedentism throughout various millenniums across six continents to present day human ingenuity, respect and attention towards the site gradually declined as technologies advanced human capability and chances of survival. Digging deep in time back to the ancestral hunter-gathering tribes of southwestern France in the Caves of Lascaux, where the site was the structure itself, shifting towards the Anasazi of Mesa Verde who created a structure utilizing the site, finally ending with modern day commercial chain buildings stamped onto landscape with neither respect nor consideration of natural landform and the grim outlook for the city of New Orleans, these sites offer insight to the nulling of human reverence to Earth as technology replaces the necessity for natural provisions. Evolution among ideas and communities both on a communal and global scale show the rising ignorance of Earth throughout history. Although co ntemporary sites break from this shift towards a product over placement, the overall generalization of architecture must recognize this change to shed light for a future of reinvesting in the earth’s protection and prolonging of humanity. Rewind the historical clock 19,000 years ago when anatomically correct, coherent humans first set out to alter the natural world’s many caverns and crevices such as in the Caves of Lascaux. In Paleolithic times when the formation of complex languages and cognitive skills replaced instinctive traits of nourishment, shelter, and procreation, so too did the formation of non-domestic ancestral sites. Archeologically, structures in prehistoric sites are either debunked as domestic or non-domestic, usually associating... ...history. Hurricane Katrina acts as a message to humanity across the globe, architecture must recognize this numbness and utilize the features of the Earth to rekindle light for a future within Earth’s protection and prolonging of humanity. Works Cited Ingersoll, Kostof. . World Architecture, A Cross-Cultural History. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 2013. print. Varien, M. . Sedentism and Mobility in a Social Landscape: Mesa Verde & Beyond. Arizona: The University of Arizona Press, USA, 1999. print. Venturi et al. . LEARNING FROM LAS VEGAS: THE FORGO'rI'EN SYMBOUSM OF ARCHITECTURAL FORM. Massachusetts: The MIT Press, USA, 2013. print. Williams, R. . Keywords, a vocabulary of culture and society. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 1976. print. 1 The Citation referring to Brush and Turner comes from a cited source in Varien, M’s book.

Company Profile Bigmak Essay

For every story of triumph and success there’s always a powerful belief: â€Å"To accomplish great things, one must not only dream,, but also act, not only plan but also believe† – There once a couple who have dreamt big and believed anything is possible, with one grinder and pieces of margarine cap used as pattern for making patties and with hard work and faith in God- the key ingredients of which lead us to this success story. In 1980, Mr. Francis Bulado Dy, a native from Mauban, Quezon after being married to Ms. Edna Beltran Aycardo had started their married life in the island of Burdeos, Quezon, the hometown of Ms. Edna Aycardo. Having a clichà © in business that runs through their blood, the couple had continue the established business of Ms. Edna Aycardo when she is still single the ENJ Merchandising. The business is basically into retailing and wholesaling business of food commodities, household needs, hardware which includes a small pharmacy, as Mrs. Edna Dy being a licensed pharmacist. In 1982, as an added business in the island and Mr. Francis Dy’s background to this field of the business, Pacific Copra Trading was formed. The copra dealership business has currently three (3) branches on Polilio, Mauban and Burdeos, Quezon. In 1984, having gifted with business acumen certainly had not stopped them from venturing into other business. When they transferred residence to Lucena City, Quezon for the education of their eldest son, Mark Francis Dy, they wanted to start another business venture in line with food. As currently a fad or food craze at that time, business relating to burgers and hotdogs sandwiches is what they wanted to go into business next. Mr. Francis  Dy likes to formulate his own products that would look more competitive and desirable to meticulous sandwich aficionados and will excel in taste. Firstly, he must create a good business name. The supposed company name must have a name recall that people can easily remember. He wanted the corporate name to be common and certainly related to the nature of business. As creative as he is, he was able to create an appropriate and eyecatching company name. The LC. BIG MAK BURGER was born. The name was derived from Mr. Francis DY’s parents name, Maxima And Kimsuy, and added the word BIG which connotes big buns and patties. To distinguish the origin or home of the business, which is in Lucena City, the word, L.C. was added. BURGER signifies the products being sold. On November 8, 1984, they established the very first van outlet located at Quezon Avenue corner Rizal Street in Lucena City. The second van outlet was launched on February 17, 1985, which was positioned at Quezon Avenue corner MS Enverga Street, 400 meters away from the first van. LC Big Mak Burger then chained to Gumaca, Batangas and as far as Bicol region. There is a need to have some changes and improvement on the production and the company started to hire food consultants and technologists to make sure that the taste suits the customers. It was successful, as sales have doubled. On March 18, 1988, after more or less four (4) years of hardship and sacrifices came the inauguration and blessing of a newly constructed Big Mak U-shaped building. This building became the new office and production area. At this time, the LC Big Mak Burger, Inc. had thirty (30) outlets that served the public from Lucena City to San Pablo and other various towns of Quezon, Batangas, Laguna and and eventually had gone up to more than 100 outlets in Calabarzon areas. Starting the year 1988 and for the succeeding next five (5) years, LC Big Mak Burger, Inc. ventured into more branches in Metro Manila and nearby towns of Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan. Neopolitan areas covered more than 50 outlets. Going to the North up to Tarlac, La Union and Ilocos. Expansion has widespread that it covered sideways of the eastern part of Luzon to Isabela and Cagayan. Total outlets established were more than 200 outlets. Within these five (5) years of operation, LC Big Mak Burger, Inc. has covered the entire Luzon. These expansion programs were brought rapidly by the profitable venture and increased sales. The company acquired properties in Tarlac, Isabela and in Quezon City, which housed the branch offices, bakeries and depots. Several food centers were also opened on these periods. During the same period, due to the continuing expansion coverage of area of operation, the demands for additional delivery and transport service was needed. The management created a trucking and motor pool service to support its operation, thus the MDL Trucking Services (which was named after their 3 children, Mark, Dave & Lei) was created. In 1995, Due to the continued volume sales and demand, the company required to put up a much bigger manufacturing plant that could produce higher volume quantity. The construction of the manufacturing plant started and the plant was named Southern Processing Corporation (SPC). It was inaugurated on February 18. 1996. The management acquired modern equipments, tools and other machineries which will make the production much faster and efficient so as to sustain our inflating product demand. Aside from the productions intended for L.C. Big Mak Burger, Inc. consumption, the plant also serves the public by creating a sales arm called the Southern Delights. It has wide varieties of meat products from siopao, siomai, lucban longganisa, ham, bacon, and different kinds of hotdogs, beef patties, tocino, corned beef, tapa and other cold cuts. LC Big Mak Burger, Inc. started to hire additional qualified staff mostly in 1995. This is in preparation for the expansion program that will be launched starting 1996. With the modern facilities of the plant, the company can now expand down to the Southern part of the Philippines – Visayas islands. Thus, in 1997 the company expands initially to Cebu City with 50 outlets, followed by the expansion at Tacloban City with another 50 outlets and lastly in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental with another 50 outlets. The company acquired properties in Tacloban and Cebu. During the same period, they have  also created the BIGMAK Catering Services. As the demand grew and the couples fashion for food, service and untiring innovations they have decided to expand and start a new business, thus a banquet hall named Queen Margarette Court was established. It would cater and service the needs for events, functions, conventions, celebrations and other type of affairs not only to public demands but also its own conglomerate’s affairs. The Court got the public’s approval as shown by its fully booked listings. It had initially 3 big and 3 mini functions rooms with modern facilities and amenities. Likewise, a manpower agency was opened to primarily hire crews, staffs and personnel for the existing businesses. It was opened to serve the needs of the company and later served also the public as well. The demands were high that another two (2) companies were created, one is the Gain Manpower Services and another after which was created, the CARES. These are all manpower and placement agencies. As an added expansion, it was on 1999 Queen Margarette Hotel was inaugurated. It has 43 air conditioned suites and rooms with modern amenities such as pool, mini bar, Jacuzzi and other facilities of a modern hotel. It was tagged as the Best and the Finest in the Southern Tagalog region. Currently, there are a total of 65 rooms at the hotel or an addition of 12 luxurious rooms on the third floor. The fourth floor hosts four (4) additional function rooms which houses conference rooms for conventions and meetings, other functions and various hotel facilities & other services. Also in 2002, several businesses relating companies where built to make the mother business operates smoothly and to make other existing companies benefit from the facilities it offers. The Pacific Ocean Transport Corporation was inaugurated in February 18, 2002, as its two cargo lines MV Emerald and MV Little Mermaid are shipping to and from Polillo, Mauban & Burdeos transporting copra and other selling merchandises. It helped the existing Pacific Copra Trading and the ENJ Mega Store expand rapidly due to accessibility provided by the shipping business. From there on to the present, there were various developments and enormous progress that have had happened to the company. A lot of improvements were done. Currently, there  are 12 branch offices nationwide under company owned properties. On 2009, Southern Swine Paradise & Farm, Inc. was blessed and inaugurated. Its business is engaged on raising swine, hogs and other poultry and domestic animals for the purpose of supplying meat needs to local consumers. For more than two decades, LC. BIGMAK BURGERS INC. had been in the food service by providing the Filipino people with high quality, great-tasting and affordable products all over the country. It has over 800 outlets nationwide. It continuously grows as like the sandwich in infinite in number sold as it has been miraculously and continuously patronized by local consumers. The blessings of God are like showers from heaven that falls to the couple. They have been chosen by God to share these blessings to a lot of people. These blessings should be shared and not to be wasted to a haste. Let us all be thankful to HIM for all these graces. We can achieve our vision through: 1. BOUNDLESS TERRITORY – we intend to expand our business in areas which we think is viable to the company. We recognize no limits in boundaries. Our priority is to penetrate the whole Philippines and finally we can tap the global market. 2. EXCELLENT VALUE FOR CUSTOMERS – we view our customers as our most important corporate assets. They are the essence of our being in existence. They deserve only the best value we can give. A combination of quality product, reasonable price, convenient, fast and friendly service. We believe that creating value for our customers is the best way to create value for the corporation. By providing only the best for our customers, L.C. Big Mak Burger, Inc. is destined to be recognized as one of the leaders in the food chain industry. 3. SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY – L.C. Big Mak Burger, Inc. recognizes its responsibility to society. Its business, activities and policies are aligned with that of government institutions. It support government programs on nation building and economic progress. Likewise, L.C. Big Mak Burger, Inc. shares its blessings with the Filipino people through its community outreach program. 4. TOP QUALITY PEOPLE – L.C. Big Mak Burger, Inc. employs only the top quality people. There is no compromise for mediocrity. We regard our highly qualified employees as our most valuable resources. Without them, we will not be able to reach our objectives. In return we would like to make all employees feel secure in their jobs, to promote their total welfare and to ensure their growth both as a professional and as a person. We hope to achieve this by providing them with healthy working environment, professional organizational mechanism, as well as above average wage and benefits compensation packages.

Parents Should Have a License to Have Children

Question of Policy: 13. Parents should have a license for having children. I think so. It's pretty ridiculous that anyone can procreate and keep the kids, but you have go to through red tape, often for years! , to adopt. Everyone should be required to take parenting classes through an unbiased (aka non-religious) source, like a hospital. I say non-religious because the discussions will undoubtedly change to moral rearing, when the biggest problems are with physical and logical raising. I have no problem with kids being raised with religion, of course.Now, we can't control people getting pregnant unless we have mandatory sterilization of some people–but, we really couldn't do that with our rules on medicine (and people change as they age). However, the moment you go to your doctor for your first appointment, you should have to sign up for those parenting classes. If you really want the kids, you will make time for the classes. I don't really care how busy you are. I'm in class or working for about 12 hours per day, and if I got pregnant, I would make the damn time because it would be for the well-being of my children. Pro- 1.Less accidents (parents are informed of different precautions with children). 2. Precursor for disease prevention (blood tests could determine diseases) 3. Will baby be raised in a psychologically stable environment? (If one of the parents is a sexual offender, parental rights will not be allowed). 4. May lead to less crime (Offenders are often known to be raised in a deviant environment). Con- 1. The population-replacement level is already low. 2. It interferes with our right to reproduce. 3. It is costly (doctors will have to operate on every woman, and be able to reverse the process). . How are you going to control sexual behavior? * 5 years ago * * * No. * 5 years ago * Report Abuse 0%Â  0Â  Votes * Verity No, and here's why: 1. While it feels logical on some level, the administrative challenge of determining fit parents is mind -boggling. Does it require a financial means test? A psychological evaluation? A visit to a marital counselor to ensure a stable marriage? Even the lowest bar – say, attending a few hours of parenting clases, which most hosptials encourage and offer at low or no cost – requires making judgements about culture and values that are dicey. . The absolute truth is that parents can look good on paper and fail in practice, and vice versa. One of the best moms I know was 20, unmarried and employed as a cashier when her daughter was born. Nothing in her history suggests she'd be so competent and loving, but there it is. And plenty of well-heeled, highly educated men and women – myself included – struggle with the transition. Parenting licenses would likely be tainted by the same accusations facing our legal system – do the affluent have an advantage? Is that just? 3.Since the act of conceiving a child occurs far outside the reach of the law, how would we re gulate it? Would women be forced to take pregnancy tests? That's a funny twist in the abortion debate, actually. Is there a right to choose to become a parent, and if so, can the state stop you? Would men and women who fail a licensing test be obligated to take birth control? What if they're morally opposed? (After all, you may opt out of military service for religious and moral objections, if they can be confirmed by church membership or a similar proof. ) 4. What happens to the kids born to unlicensed parents?Are they forcibly taken away from their parents? Who gets them? Again, there's a potentially ugly social justice issue there – poor children, possibly of color, being given to affluent parents, possibly white, because we define adequate parenting by a standard that doesn't apply universally. (When a friend adopted a second child, she learned that each child had to have his own bedroom. In a pricey city, if we have a second kid, there's no way they'll both have their ow n rooms – but if the state is imposing rules, they may well favor the affluent in ways that are unjust – or bizarre. 5. Assuming unlicensed parents have children, how will the state pay for costs associated with those children's care? Most states' youth and family services offices are already woefully underfunded and many are tragically ineffective. 6. It will become a pricey and chaotic legal battleground. Some will want same-sex couples to be refused parenting licenses; others will argue that unwed parents are undeserving. The court battles will cost millions, and will probably not result in substantially better parenting.In the end, I think that's really the challenge – will the licensing process create better parents? Licensing is a one-time act, and an all or nothing proposal. You get the license or you don't. But parenting doesn't work like that. It's a gradual process, with days where we get it right and days when we just plain screw up. You can license a driver because there are, in general, a finite set of circumstances you must be prepared for behind the wheel. Parenting licensure could never be that simple, and so it is doomed. Good luck!