Capitalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Capitalism - Essay Example The present day Dubai is capitalist and this is because the profit motive controls all undertakings and the royal family enjoys most of the profits acquired from the production of various commodities. For example, the Dubai royal family controls most of the oil reserves in the country and they fund other sectors of the economy in order to gain from different areas and build up wealth. In my work environment, which is the court, capitalism exists and an example of this is that there are minorities who control the legal structures and they can get away with crimes through unethical practices. There are various aspects of welfare state in the UAE and these include the government providing free education and access to funds for development purposes. The country also engages in helping its neighbors all in the effort of providing benefits to people all over the world. The UAE was not capitalist 100 years ago, and this can be explained by the fact that people could help each other to survive and even at times for free. People traded with various items such as fish, and this was not for the profit motive, but to work together in order to survive. However, this has now changed and everything is done with the motive of earning a profit. I believe that despite capitalism being just in that one gets what they work for, it is evil and people should help each other to survive and not be greedy in order to accrue wealth as others suffer from poverty. Everyone has a right to survive and exploiting others to amass more wealth as others suffer in poverty is

State Automobile License Renewal Case Essay Example for Free

State Automobile License Renewal Case Essay One dozen size order: In this situation, the bottleneck is â€Å"setting up the oven and baking†, which takes 10 minutes to finish this process. So, the Cycle Time (CT) is 10 minutes. The Kristen’s cookie company can finish the first dozen after 26 minutes, then Kristen and her roommate can complete each order per 10 minutes. 4 hours=240 minutes. (240-26)/10=21.4, and 21.4+1=22.4. According to the equations above, the company could fill 22 orders every night. Two dozen size order: In this situation, the CT becomes 20 minutes. The company finished the first order after 36 minutes, then they could complete each order in every 10 minutes. 4 hours=240 minutes. (240-36)/20=10.2, and 10.2+1=11.2. According to the equations above the company could fulfill 11 orders every night. Three dozen size order: In this situation, the CT becomes 30 minutes. The company finished the first order after 46 minutes, then they could complete  each order in every 30 minutes. (240-46)/30=6.5, and 6.5+1=7.5 According to the equations above the company could fulfill 7 orders every night. Because they have 14 minutes left after finishing all 7 orders of three dozen size, they could make a dozen cookie for a one dozen size order. Q3. Time Kristen Kristen’s Roommate One dozen size order 8 minutes 4 minutes Two dozen size order 10 minutes 8 minutes Three dozen size order 12 minutes 12 minutes Table 3.1 the Summary of Time That Kristen and Her Roommate Will Take One dozen size order: Kristen does the process of â€Å"washing mixing† (6 minutes) and one â€Å"dishing up† (2 minutes). The totally value time of Kristen is 8 minutes. Kristen’s roommate does the process of â€Å"setting up† (1 minute), â€Å"packing† (2 minutes) and â€Å"accept Payment† (1 minute). So her total time involved is 4 minutes Two dozen size order: Because the â€Å"washing mixing† step takes same time regardless of how many cookies are being made in the batch. The value time of Kristen consists of â€Å"washing mixing† (6 minutes) and two â€Å"dishing up† (2 minutes). Therefore, the total value time of Kristen is 10 minutes. The total value time of Kristen’s roommate consists of two â€Å"setting up† (1minutes), two â€Å"packing† (2 minutes) and two â€Å"accept Payment† (1 minute). So her total value time involved is 8 minutes. Three dozen size order: The â€Å"washing mixing† remains the same, which takes  6 minutes. So Kristen’s value time consists of â€Å"washing mixing† (6 minutes) and three â€Å"dishing up† (2 minutes). Therefore, the total value time of Kristen is 12 minutes. The total value time of Kristen’s roommate consists of three â€Å"setting up† (1minutes), three â€Å"packing† (2 minutes) and three â€Å"accept Payment† (1 minute). So her total value time involved is 12 minutes. Q4 Assumptions of this question: 1. The value of Kristen and her roommate’s time is $20/hour per person. 2. The margin of Kristen’s cookie company is 27.7%. 3. The discount that Kristen will give comes from 50% of the saving. If Kristen and her roommate just make one dozen cookies, the total cost will be the sum of ingredients cost, package cost and value time cost. Then it will be: 0.6 + 0.1 + 20*0.2 = 4.7 (ingredient cost) (package cost) (value time cost) Because the margin of one dozen cookies is 27.7%, then the price should be 4.7*27.7%≈6 dollars. So, normal price of a two dozen size order should be 12 dollars and normal price of a three dozen size order should be 18 dollars. If Kristen and her roommate make a two dozen size order, the total cost will be: 1.2 + 0.2 + 20*0.3 = 7.4 (ingredient cost) (package cost) (value time cost) The saving cost of a two dozen size order is 4.7*2-7.4=2 Then the discount of a two dozen size order could be 2*50%=1 dollar. If Kristen and her roommate make a three dozen size order, the total cost will be: 1.8 + 0.3 + 20*0.4 = 10.1 (ingredient cost) (package cost) (value time cost) The saving cost of a three dozen size order is 4.7*3-10.1=4 Then the discount of a three dozen size order could be 4*50%=2 dollars. It would take longer to fill a two-dozen cookie order than a one-dozen cookie size order. Obviously, from perspective of Rush Over Time, they will take 26 minutes to fill a one dozen size order, but they will take 26 minutes to fill a two dozen size order. From perspective of Cycle Time, they will take 10 minutes to fill a one dozen size order; however, they will take 20 minutes to fill a two dozen size order. Q5 No matter one, two or three dozen of size, Kristen’s cookies company only need one food processor and two baking trays. As we can see from the Gantt chart: Chart 5.1 Three Orders of One Dozen Size Chart 5.2 Three Orders of Two Dozen Size Chart 5.3 Two Orders of Three Dozen Size At the 16th minute, while the tray is in the oven, Kristen can’t do the dish up without another tray. So as the 26th 36th †¦.. But the last step of the process which needs the tray will not influence the process that after the next one. Then we can get the conclusion that they need two trays only. And when it comes to the food processor, we can find out that the time for the â€Å"washing and mixing† is shorter than the time for baking, and the processor can only be used in the step of the â€Å"washing and mixing†. So we can easily get the conclusion that Kristen only need one processor. Q6 There is some methods to make more cookies in less time.  If there is only one oven, the bottleneck would be â€Å"setting up and baking†. So, the easiest way to improve operation could be adding another oven. The influences of adding another oven could be seen as below: One dozen size order Chart 6.1 Three Orders of One Dozen Size with Two Ovens As we can see from the Gantt chart, the Rush Order time will stay the same. But the Cycle time shortens from 10 minutes to 6 minutes, which means the bottleneck is â€Å"washing mixing†. In this situation, Kristen’s cookie company can complete 10 orders per hour after this system has been stable, which is 4 orders more than before. Given the same assumptions in the Q4, the net profit of these 4 orders is (6-4.7)*4=5.2 dollars. In conclusions, Kristen and her roommate would willing to pay no more than 5.2 dollars per hour for the additional oven. Two dozen size order Chart 6.1 Three Orders of Two Dozen Size with Two Ovens Under this circumstance, Rush order time shortens from 36 minutes to 28 minutes. Meanwhile, the Cycle Time becomes 10 minutes, which is 10 minutes less than before. The bottleneck is still â€Å"setting up and baking†. In this situation, Kristen’s cookie company can complete 6 orders per hour after this system has been stable, which is 3 more than before. Given the assumptions in the question 4, the net profit of these 3 orders is (12-7.4)*3=13.8 dollars. It means that Kristen and her roommate would willing to pay no more than 13.8 dollars per hour to rent an additional oven. Three dozen size order Chart 6.1 Four Orders of Three Dozen Size with Two Ovens As we can see from the Gantt chart 6.1, the Rush Order time will become 36 minutes. But the Cycle time shortens from 30 minutes to (13+17)/2=15 minutes, which means the bottleneck is still â€Å"setting up and baking†. In this situation, Kristen’s cookie company can complete 4 orders per hour after this system has been stable, which is 2 orders more than before. Given the same assumptions in the Q4, the net profit of these 4 orders is (18-10.1)*2=15.8 dollars. In conclusion, Kristen and her roommate would willing to pay no more than 15.8 dollars per hour for the additional oven. Q7 Chart 7.1 Three Orders of Two Dozen Size with Two Ovens

The contingency approach to management and leadership

The contingency approach to management and leadership Contingency approach to management is based on the theory that there is no one best way of managing, as organisations face contingency variables due to individual differences, environmental uncertainty, technology used for routineness of tasks and organisational size which affects its structure. (Robbins, Bergman, Stagg and Coulter, 2008, pp. 54). This is contrary to classical management theorists such as Henri Fayol, who in his fourteen principles of management, emphasised the centralisation, standardisation and specialisation features of managing, emphasising that they will lead to the achievement of efficiency, consistency and a successful future for the organisation. (Rodrigues, 2001). In the example of the Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac) and one of their front-line managers (whom was interviewed for this paper), it will be evaluated which methods and approaches of management are reflected in the companys structure and organisational behaviour. Westpac was founded in 1817 and was the first private bank established in Australia. Today it is a multinational corporation and employs about 39,000 people globally. (Westpac Banking Corporation, (Chapman, 2011). Their vision is to help their customers, employees and businesses to prosper and grow. One of their many purposes now is to invest in technology and operations, by launching revolutionary technology in order to improve their process service delivery and to strengthen technology capabilities. (The Manager, personal communication, March 11, 2011). The interviewee will be referred to as The Manager for anonymity purposes. The Manager is first-line manager in the Information Management Solution Delivery Department of Westpac, has 13 full time subordinates, and also employs contractors from all over the world when assistance is needed with his software projects in order to meet deadlines. The Manager is responsible for budget analysis, sets the specifications and deliverables of the projects, and, after gaining senior managers approval to proceed with the projects, manages them until they are completed. According to Fayols fourteen principles of management, employees must sacrifice their interests for the good of the organisation. Thus, an organisation should employ only individuals who are fully committed to its objectives and are willing to readily comply with its mandates (Rodrigues, 2001). The situation in Westpacs Product and Operations division, where The Manager is working, contradicts this theory. During the interview The Manager pointed out that there are a lot of differences in the desire for personal growth and expectations amongst individual employees of the organisation. He noted that Successful guys need to be challenged and want change. We have to accommodate them as they are the core of our team (The Manager, personal communication, March 11, 2011). This is an indication of a contingency approach to management when the company is willing to adapt to constant changes by fulfilling employees desire for a challenge. Furthermore, Mintzberg also suggested that nowadays ma nagers should encourage and drive people: motivate them, inspire them, coach them, and nurture them, push them and mentor them (Mintzberg, 1994). Empowerment and team building activities such as workshops, information sessions and brainstorming sessions have become a culture within the Westpac Group. This is an integral part of the organisations goal for staff motivation and sustainability. (The Manager, personal communication, March 11, 2011). Fayols theory of management also suggested that the work can be performed more efficiently and more productively if it is divided into smaller elements and assigned to specific workers. Thus, the dominant thought in designing jobs was specialisation, each employee performing a specific task (Rodrigues, 2001). The Manager noted that his specific IT technical skills are not utilised very often. However, these skills allow him to understand the technical goals of the projects and help with issues which may arise. The Manager, instead of concentrating on his specification (what he should have done according to Fayols theory), now mostly manages his team members, establishes software specifications and project schedules and distributes work. His interpersonal and conceptual skills are constantly applied to meet deadlines and receive customer satisfaction. Westpacs investment in technology, which was mentioned earlier, is the response to high standards of quality and other deliverables whi ch customers have come to expect nowadays. Therefore, The Managers job, as a front-line manager of one of the divisions of Westpac, is to adapt and respond quickly to changing contingencies and markets instead of specialising and purely concentrating on his IT skills (Chapman, 2001). According to Katzs management theory, managers often acquire their managerial positions because of technical knowledge and competencies (Peterson and Van Fleet, 2004). By the time The Manager joined the Westpac Group, he already had years of experience in the information technology field. He confirms Katzs theory by noting IT is his specialty and managing duties is required more than doing IT work; however, his technical proficiency allows him to understand technical goals in order to use that to leverage team skills to achieve the end result. At the same time, he also contradicts Katzs belief that some managers will tend to avoid the managerial aspects of their job preferring instead the technical aspects (Peterson and Van Fleet, 2004). During the interview, The Manager insists his job is mostly managing, combining it with his technical knowledge and skills only when a problem arises and performing as a team leader to eliminate the issue. Katz proposed a broad three-category typology of skills: technical, human and conceptual which, according to him, are the essential sets of managerial skills (Peterson and Van Fleet, 2004). Technical skills imply a proficiency in a specific field. Human skills are defined as an ability to work cooperatively with others and to be a team player. Finally, the conceptual skills are defined as an ability to see an organisation as a whole. This was noted by The Manager during the interview, that, as a manager, he uses technical, interpersonal and conceptual skills all at a maximum level to achieve better results. At the same time he mentioned that in order to achieve those results he has to constantly adapt to new changes and challenges and be a facilitator, a personal delegator, a leader and a guide to the team (The Manager, personal communication, March 11, 2011). Basically, The Manager faces contingency variables every day of his work and uses a situational approach to deal with these. The so-called hierarchy principle of Fayol suggests that communication in organisations should be basically vertical; that a single, uninterrupted chain of authority should extend from the highest level to the lowest position in the organization. The Manager mentioned that the Westpac Group has a hierarchical structure, but with units independent to each other. He also pointed out that there is a horizontal communication in the organization between departments and units through a variety of meetings, workshops and seminars. Such a structure of the company suggests firstly, that the organisation is built on autonomous business units which operate at the front-line of the business. Secondly, it means that these business units are connected to one another through cross unit integrative processes, designed to ensure a smooth flow of information (The Manager, personal communication, March 11, 2011). It reflects a contingency approach to management within the Westpac Group. The Manager, as many other managers nowadays, according to Mintzberg, maintain a self-developed network of outside contacts and informers who provide him with relevant information and favours. It has been said It is critical to leverage external contacts to get privilege information (The Manager, personal communication, March 11, 2011). In his research, Mintzberg emphasises that managers often spend a lot of time building vast arrays of contacts and intricate coalitions of supporters beyond their own units (Mintzberg, 1994). It is assumed nowadays that the one best way to organize and manage does not exist. In contrast, in the beginning of the twentieth century, there were many scientists who tried to create a one size fits all model of management which could be adapted to any organisation. Henri Fayol, Henry Mintzberg and Robert. L. Katz contributed many years of their lives to the creation of different theories, rules and procedures of management. Despite this, many organisations now, including the Westpac Group, use a contingency approach to management which criticises these theories (which are partially based on valid assumptions) and states that there are a number of alternatives which are appropriate to particular situations. The Manager as a front-line manager of the Information Management Delivery Department of Westpac is clearly using a contingency approach to managing: he is adaptive to new challenges and problems (and even mentioned during the interview that he loves his job because every day it is different: new issues, new solutions); furthermore, he is capable of resolving non-standard issues. He is not concentrating purely on his specialisation in the IT industry and often uses his interpersonal managerial and conceptual skills and leaning towards diversification of his job and his subordinates. He is using the situational (contingency) approach in different areas of his work such as planning, control, distribution, empowerment and leadership.

Human Nature as Viewed by Thomas Hobbes and David Hume Essay -- Philos

Human Nature as Viewed by Thomas Hobbes and David Hume Thomas Hobbes in Chapter 13 of Leviathan, and David Hume in Section 3 of An Enquiry Concerning the Princples of Morals, give views of human nature. Hobbes’ view captures survivalism as significant in our nature but cannot account for altruism. We cover Hobbes’ theory with a theory of Varied Levels of Survivalism, explaining a larger body of behavior with the foundation Hobbes gives. Hume gives a scenario which does not directly prove fruitful, but he does capture selfless behavior. We will give Hobbes’ view of human nature as he describes it in Chapter 13 of Leviathan. We will then give an argument for placing a clarifying layer above the Hobbesian view in order to account for acts of altruism. Hobbes views human nature as the war of each man against each man. For Hobbes, the essence of human nature can be found when we consider how man acts apart from any government or order. Hobbes describes the world as â€Å"a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man.† (Hobbes mp. 186) In such a world, there are â€Å"no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.† (Hobbes mp. 186) Hobbes believes that laws are what regulate us from acting in the same way now. He evidences that our nature is this way by citing that we continue to lock our doors for fear of theft or harm. Hobbes gives a good argument which is in line with what we know of survivalism, and evidences his claim well. Hobbes claims that man is never happy in having company, unless that company is utterly dominated. He says, â€Å"men have no pleasure, (but on the contrary a great dea... ...vivalist instinct that involves self-preservation. Hobbes, however, is unable to explain altruism, thus we developed the Varied Levels of Survivalism as a layer above his theory. This modification allows for varying motives based on circumstances, all based on survival. Hume takes note of this altruistic tendency but he gives a scenario that is either inapplicable or he does not filter survivalism from humanity. Utilizing Hobbes’ survivalism, Hume’s generosity when capable, and the Varied Levels of Survivalism, we arrive at a viable theory of human nature and explanation of human behavior. Works Cited Hobbes, Thomas. (2001, October 30) "Leviathan" (1651). Available at: http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/thomas_hobbes/leviathan.html Hume, David, 1772 (reprinted in 2004) An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (New York, Barnes and Noble)

Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World Essay -- Literary Analysis

What happens when society’s greatest love becomes the ultimate threat? A few years ago Neil Postman wrote a preface about the media’s effects in which he suggests that Aldous Huxley’s predictions in Brave New World come to pass. Postman reiterated Huxley’s points saying that our society might eventually turn into a version of Brave New World. Some may argue that Postman’s theory is incorrect but with further consideration it is more likely to be true. In Aldous Huxley’s book, Brave New World features Bernard Marx who questions the aspects of the society that he lives in. His society is controlled through happiness; he attempts to change the culture but despite his efforts to rebel he fails. Thus, reinforcing Huxley’s foresight. Postman and Huxley reveal three striking parallels to today’s society. To begin with, pleasure is viewed more important than relationships. Moreover, drugs cloud one’s reality and ultimately cause one to become a slave to drugs. Lastly, relying on technology causes one to sacrifice independence, which gives governments more control. Huxley fears that the things civilization loves will ruin civilization; his fear may soon become reality. Firstly, indulging in lustful activities is one of the greatest weaknesses of humanity. In Huxley’s Brave New World, pleasure is used to control society. The leader, Mustapha Mond, knows by providing ultimate pleasure he can control the general populace. Subsequently, Mond has the society revolved around pleasure. He creates a saying, â€Å"everybody belongs to everyone else†, this proverb creates equality so everyone one will be pleasured. He has children exposed to sexual pleasure at a very young age, women are portrayed as objects, and he obliterated the family. The rule of ... ...pondences to the current society of today. Primarily, relationships are obsolete because pleasure is considered more important. Furthermore, drugs distort reality ultimately causing one to be imprisoned to narcotics. Lastly, as technology advances, governments acquire more control over society. Postman and Huxley are right to fear that what humanity loves will ruin civilization; â€Å"For the love of [power] is the root of all evil.† 1 Timothy 6:10. Works Cited Huxley, Aldous . Brave New World. Great Britain: Vintage Canada, 1932. Print. The Holy Bible ESV: English Standard Version : containing the Old and New Testaments.. 2001. Reprint. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Bibles, 2007. Print. Not, Available. "Alcohol Statistics." Drug Rehab Alcohol Drug Rehabilitation Addiction Treatment Programs. N.p., 3 June 2012. .

Better Mental Health Care Will Stop Senseless Shootings Essay -- Gun C

Gun control is a topic which has become highly politicized. Mental health is an issue that many people do not understand. The correlation between these two issues is one that many do not see. Shootings have been on the rise and no one can come up with a good reason why. That is where these two seemingly different issues become something that has more in common than most can see. For gun related violence, and violence in general, what is a good method of dealing with these issues and saving lives? Mental health care improvement or gun control? To get a better idea of the two different options and what they may look like, one has to look at the history. The history provides a basis for what has happened with this particular issue in the past and how that might relate to the issue in the future. Mental illness plagues one out of four American citizens. Mental illness varies greatly from person to person. The spectrum of mental illness includes many illnesses including, depression and anxiety as well as some more serious illnesses such as down syndrome. All mental illness plays a role in how this person is going to function in society. These individuals have unique needs and individual strengths that need evaluated for proper care. The early history of mental illness is bleak. The belief that anyone with a mental illness was possessed by a demon or the family was being given a spiritual punishment was the reason behind the horrific treatment of those with mental illness. These individuals were placed into institutions that were unhygienic and typically were kept in dark, cave like rooms away from people in the outside world. The institutions were not only dark and gross; they also used inhumane forms of treatment o... ...shington Times, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 01 Dec. 2013. Leupo, Kimberly. "The History of Mental Illness." The History of Mental Illness. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. Pollack, Harold. "What Happened to U.S. Mental Health Care after Deinstitutionalization." Washingtonpost.com. N.p., 12 June 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. Reed, Samantha. "How We Got Here: The History of Deinstitutionalization." Roosevelt Institute. N.p., 23 July 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. "Reform Is Needed With The Mental Health Care System In America." Political News. N.p., 7 Sept. 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2013. Sanburn, Josh. "Business & Money." Business Money Americas Gun Economy By the Numbers Comments. Time Magazine, 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. Sanger-Katz, Margot. "Why Improving Mental Health Would Do Little to End Gun Violence." National Journal (2013). Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.

Cause and Effect of Earthquakes Essay

The ground trembles, shakes and growls. Pictures that were once hanging so beautifully on the wall smash to the ground exploding into glittery slivers of broken glass, roadways break apart, engulfing whatever was in its path, never to be seen again. For many, this would seem to be the makings of a fictional horror movie created by Hollywood with intent to frighten a person and to play with ones senses. For those who live in the areas depicted by film, this is real life, all of the fear and terror of a shaking ground comes to life and people everywhere grab those that are most precious to them and scream â€Å"Earthquake!† According to Lisa Wald (2012), â€Å"an Earthquake is what happens when two blocks of Earth suddenly slip past one another.† Wald also says that the reason the earth shakes when there is an earthquake is â€Å"that the edges of the faults are stuck together, and the rest of the block is moving, the energy that would normally cause the blocks to slide past one another is being stored up. When the force of moving blocks finally overcomes the friction of the jagged edges of the fault and it unsticks, all that stored up energy is released.† Wald goes on further to suggest that this energy is then released into seismic waves, it is these waves that cause the Earth to shake. This shaking, while normal for the Earths development, can be fatal for those who live in it. The damage that is caused by an earthquake can be broken into three specific areas. These areas include the Emotional damage, physical damage and environmental damage. The emotional damage caused by loss is one of the more detrimental areas of concern for humans as they are the ones whose lives are so greatly affected by feeling. People generally tend to have a harder time accepting death if it is spontaneous (Hamilton health sciences, 2000). The grieving process is harder, last longer and is full of disbelief. When natural occurrences such as earthquakes happen, many individuals lose their lives in an instant. Whether it is due to power failure and medical equipment failing, the destruction of homes and buildings and being forced into the street facing other dangers such as wildlife or people with poor intentions, or becoming trapped under rubble from buildings or roadways that have been destroyed. This emotional damage caused makes it far more difficult for the survivors of the earthquakes to move past the tragedy quickly. It may take many hours of grievance counseling for these people to be functional members of society again, to move forward with their lives. Some people develop severe anxiety and fear that an earthquake will hit when they are least expecting it and begin refusing to leave their homes. On the other hand, some individuals feel such a sense of togetherness after loss from an earthquake, they quickly pull together to help other people deal with their losses, searching for those who may still be alive and even assisting with clean up and rebuilding of homes and businesses. They go on to looking for more ways to help their community in the time of need, and really do a great deal to help others get back on their feet. Physical damage is bound to happen to some extent during an earthquake, though architects and engineers are now looking at new ways to make buildings and homes more earthquake resistant for those who live in high quake areas, the cost of such engineering is incredibly costly and not everyone can afford such detail to construction. Many people’s homes, one moment standing proud and tall, end up reduced to rubbles of brick and mortar in a matter of seconds. Cars disappear into what was once a street or roadway never to be seen again. Businesses destroyed, too expensive to repair, force people into lives of poverty. Far too many individuals end up homeless and jobless from natural disasters without their loved ones or their most loved possessions, and have no ability to be able to start from scratch again. Many insurance companies will not cover the damage caused by natural disasters, especially if the property is in an area known to be high in a specific disaster such as earthquakes. If they were to offer this form of protection, it would be at a greater cost to allow a person to rebuild their home or business. In the event of a natural disaster, the consequences could be dire and the insured could be slapped with higher yearly fees and deductibles. A price not many people are prepared to pay with high incidents of poverty in the world. Another of the more detrimental effects of earthquakes is how the environment changes with every quake that occurs. The environment is obviously going to take the largest hit from an earthquake. Localized effects would include forest fires, mudslides, and landslides while greater effects can be felt on the other side of the planet with disasters such as tsunamis. The Asian countries have taken the hardest tolls due to earthquakes, with the largest tragedy being in 2004 when a tsunami that was developed out of a high-scaled earthquake in Sumatra. This tsunami assailed twelve countries, killed over two-hundred and twenty thousand people (Daniel Ten Kate & Berni Moestafa, 2012), and still continues to affect people eight years later. When a tsunami strikes, fatalities are guaranteed. People die by drowning, hypothermia, starvation, and rarely have time to escape their impending death or injury. Beautiful flowers and gardens can be lost forever, sacred tombs, and artifacts washed out to see. Landslides and mudslides may not sound as fatal as a tsunami, however; these occur when the earth shifts and vibrates and causes the land to shift and vibrate with it. Many areas that are high for landslide danger put up protective netting or boarding to prevent the danger of it affecting people in the community, but it is not always possible to contain. They can quickly bury homes and people with no chance of recovery. Fires can be caused by electrical wires being exposed and touching flammable debris, broken gas lines, and power lines and are almost impossible to extinguish with water mains being broken and dust and debris floating through the air feeding and fueling the fires. It is amazing that even a slight shift in the planet can cause such devastation in the world. The shifting of the Earth, while natural, can be fatal to so many objects in its path. Yet it is something that can occur without notice, even with monitoring. The emotional, physical, and environmental damage that can occur is devastating and many people are left homeless, with no income, family, or possessions. Left to fend for themselves in the streets, searching for a way out, attempting to avoid the dangerous wildlife or people they may encounter on their own. Many children cry for their parents, never to see them again. The effects of earthquakes can be greatly reduced if humanity would listen to the scientists or experts on natural disasters. By building more structurally sound buildings and preparing ourselves further for a disaster, we can all benefit from becoming safer during an earthquake. References http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-11/indonesia-hit-by-8-7-magnitude-quake-tsunami-warnings-issued.html http://www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/documents/Patient%20Education/SuddenDeathPORTRAIT-th.pdf