Alternative Courses of Action Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Alternative Courses of Action - Essay Example An example one has gone through in gathering and evaluating information from a number of sources prior to making a decision would thereby be presented as follows: As one was pursuing a Business Management Degree from 2007 to 2011, it was deemed crucial that to assist in supporting one’s academic requirements, there is a need to find employment where one’s knowledge, abilities, and skills would be appropriately used and developed. Finding the preferred job according to one’s academic background, competencies and skills that would fit the requirements of the position is an example of a situation that necessitates gathering and evaluating different options and where ones decision would actually depend on the organizations which would relay a positive response to one’s job application. After two years of studying, one sought possible employment in fields seeking positions that do not require specific educational qualifications but where minimum criteria could be immediately met. There were positions open for Care Assistants or for Customer Service Representatives. Since these two positions were preferred, these became one’s alternative courses of action: to choose applying for a Care Assistant job or to select a Customer Service Representative Job. To gather pertinent information needed to analyze these options, one searched online sources of job descriptions, average annual income, locations of employer, the skills and educational requirements. Both positions offer basically the same salary ranges ( £15,000 per annum) but the job descriptions and responsibilities are contrasting. Care assistants focus on â€Å"provides help and support to people with limited mobility or other care needs.

International trade Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

International trade - Essay Example The major types of jobs that I have been seeking from various potential employers are business oriented as per my qualification and academic credentials. Before I started looking for part time employment, my first step was to seek information about recruitment process. The major recruitment processes that employers use are identification of vacancy or need, specifying the job, advertisement of the specified job, managing the response of job seekers, shortlisting, planning for the interview, conducting interviews and making decision on who to recruit. When recruitment processes are taken into account, my areas of interest are how the employment agency identifies and advertise its vacancies, managing responses to job applications, how it plans and conducts the interviews and the appointments formalities (Garner & Alty,2001,p.72). Currently, most of job vacancies are usually advertised through media outlets. However, some job vacancies may be advertised through social networks in social arenas such as clubs, churches and family gatherings. Everyday, I go through job advertisements in the media in order to get a vacant position that fits my academic credential. My academic qualifications are bachelor of business management major and diploma in marketing. I always look for business and marketing related vacancies, check the level of work experience needed and other miscellaneous skills such as advanced computer skills. The media outlets that I use when searching for jobs include daily newspaper job advertisements, internet advertisement through job sited such as linked, and television job advertisements. I am active in social interactions especially with professionals and so I use the social networking opportunity to inquire about job opportunities. In my view, searching for job vacancies in different outlets h as been assisting me in locating many job vacancies, which I apply and get positive feedback and in some cases, employment opportunities. When one applies

Mule Killers Essay Example for Free

Mule Killers Essay â€Å"Mule Killers†, 2004 by Lydia Peele is the gripping story of love and the difficulties around it. It deals with issues such as fatherhood, friendship and marriage, including the conflicts surrounding these. Lydia Peele presents the story of a father telling his son, who is the narrator, an anecdote from his early life. The anecdote is an unhappy love story of the narrator’s father’s love life, and the relationship to the narrator’s grandfather. In a story with its roots in rural America, a much deeper story appears. This is a story of love, hope and the decisions of life. It is the story of the struggles and difficulties that are a part of life. The story, set in the countryside of the USA, presents a group of interesting characters with strong personalities, that each have their way of participating to the story. It is especially the father and the grandfather that have great significance to the Lydia Peele’s short story. The grandfather is presented as a man who is afraid of letting go of his usual surroundings and habits. This is seen on line 77-78, page 4. The grandfather tells the father: †You’re gonna see a future I can’t even stretch my mind around. Not any of it. I can’t even begin to imagine†. The fact that he has such difficulties imagining the future, points towards the conclusion that he would rather live in the present. He would rather live his old fashioned life and not worry about the future. The grandfather’s way of thinking seems old fashioned and generally conservative. When his son explains how he accidentally impregnated a young woman, without having any intentions of marrying her, the conservatism shines through. The grandfather replies on line 86-87, page 4â€Å"This is wrong†¦You got no choice but to take care of it. This is wrong†. The two different worlds of son and father clash, and the true differences are shown. Even though father and son look upon the world with different points of view, the son still has massive respect for his old man. His father is actually his role model, which is also shown throughout the text: â€Å"My father has his father’s height, and he carries it apologetically†(line 7, page 2). The word â€Å"apolegitacally† points towards the fact that the son is aware of the superiority that his father possesses. The son has difficulties living up to his father and his way of life. He wants to possess his father’s ability to show no emotion and how to be â€Å"a real man†. He hides the feelings that strong men traditionally do not feel: He is trying hard to keep certain things inside his chest: things like fear, sadness, and uncertainty†. (line 7-9, page2). This could very likely be a typical trend of the time and environment that the story takes place in. The final main character in the anecdote is the narrator, who is the son to the young man with love problems in the short story. The son is a first person narrator, so the point of view is limited to him. His main function is to tell the story. An actual presentation of his personality is not included. As stated earlier, the setting has great importance for the personalities of the main characters in the story. The setting is in Nashville, just before industrialization modernized the farming life with tractors. The father in the story carries typical traits of a farmer dedicated to old norms, such as no illegitimate children. A possible explanation of this could be that the state of Tennessee is located in the Bible belt, which is known as a highly religious area. There are also other elements of the setting that point out the religious beliefs that the two main characters have: â€Å"At church she always sits with the same girl† (line 14), page 2. The use of the adverb â€Å"always† proves that the son and father attend church on a regular basis. Whilst reading â€Å"Mule Killers† several obvious themes jump out on the page. The main theme seen in the short story is the generational difference between father and son. As stated earlier, the father tries to hold on to his old norms and principals, whereas the son believes in a modern way of life. The difference is illustrated when the son decides not to marry the girl whom he impregnated. The father regards this as uncaring and irresponsible. The views of the son seem to relate to the modern world of today. It becomes more and more ordinary to have a baby outside of marriage without the intentions of helping the mother nurture the child. A specific example is seen in MTV’s â€Å"Teenage Mom† television program where several teenage girls give birth. The program also shows the way the father typically tends to leave the mother after birth. If this had happened in the time where the â€Å"Mule Killers† takes place or prior to it, it would have had major consequences for the father of the child. One can therefore conclude that the times constantly change and some people will always be â€Å"caught† in the past, which in this case is the father. This could also be a possible message of the story. The message could be that norms change throughout history, but not all people follow the change. Regardless of this, it is still important to respect the people who have a hard time dealing with the future. Lydia Peele manages to take the reader on a journey of love and the relationship between the narrator’s father and grandfather. She also shows the reader the different norms and beliefs that the two generations have, and the clashes than can rise to the surface due to this. She also presents the stereotypical religious middle class farmer at this time. This is done by using a small farmer town located in the Bible belt as a setting. The short story is a touching and mind bobbling tale portraying the relationship between two sets of father and son. It tells the tale of the relationship between the narrator’s father and grandfather. The relationship between the narrator’s father and grandfather is presented as a relationship built on a general respect for the elderly. The narrator’s father respects the grandfather since he listens to what he says, and obeys the rules that the grandfather upholds. It is also the tale of how the setting, which is the farmer community in the US during the industrialization, has a major importance for the outcome of the story. The highly religious setting is represented in the Narrator’s grandfather’s point of view regarding childbirth. All in all the short story shows the difficulties surrounding love and how to deal with it in a sensible matter.

Asylum Seeking Families In The Uk Social Work Essay

Asylum Seeking Families In The Uk Social Work Essay Asylum seeking families come to the UK with high hopes for their future and are often seeking protection from a perilous past. They are exposed to destitution, poor health, depression, physical assault, sexual harassment, loneliness and stress and family breakdown. The children of asylum seekers are vulnerable and in need of considerable support (Fitzpatrick, 2005). Young asylum seekers are often torn violently from their past life and forced into a new environment where they do not understand the legislation and the rules of social life. In the current climate of antagonism they face suspicion and mistrust (Sales, 2007). The 1951 Geneva Convention is the basis for international refugee law. It provides the right to make an individual asylum claim and protection from being returned to face danger. Those seeking protection go through a formal process to establish whether they fit the definition of a refugee (Sales, 2007). Asylum seekers live below the minimum benefit levels other hous eholds would receive and are clearly very poor but New Labours pledge to eradicate child poverty altogether by 2020 does not include the children of asylum seekers (Reacroft, 2008). The 2004 Children Act and Every Child Matters (DfES, 2004) identify five broad outcomes for every child, whatever their background or circumstances to have the support they need, however children who are subject to immigration control are systematically excluded from some of the measures proposed to deliver the five outcomes related with the Every Child Matters framework (Crawley, 2006). The tensions between policies for safeguarding and protecting children and controlling immigration is evident in policy and practice. This dissertation is an attempt to investigate the governments response to asylum seekers with reference to child poverty. The dissertation also attempts to consider the impact and implications for social work practice as social work professionals become entwined within processes which mon itor and control those subject to immigration controls. The first chapter will provide a historical background into the arrival of asylum seekers and concerns associated with them. The movement of people geographically is part of human history and controlling it a moderately recent phenomenon (Hayter, 2000). Calls for controls have always been posed, from the 1905 Aliens Act, through to the Asylum and Immigration Act 2006. The arrival of international migrants in to the UK is no new occurrence. This chapter will explore the governments response to groups of refugees and how it has changed through the years. Chapter two will examine asylum legislation and policy, focussing on its impact on children. It will also focus on child welfare legislation. Since 1989 more immigration legislation has passed through the UK Parliament than at any other time during history (Rutter, 2006). Since 1993 and particularly since 1996, asylum seekers are very high on the governments political agenda and therefore a vast number of policies have been implemented . Britain has become one of the leading proponents of the EUs increasing restriction toward asylum seekers and refugees in the last decade (Joly, 1996). Tighter pre-entry deterrent measures have been implemented, with a regime of welfare disentitlement and social exclusion for those who have managed to gain access. This chapter will focus on the radical change of policy on immigration with particular focus on New Labour and their focus on unwanted migrants. Chapter three will investigate the tensions that have arisen with regards to the government paper Every Child Matters and the immigration policies. UK policy and practice in many other areas is based upon the notion that children should be treated differently from adults because they are children. By contrast, children who are subject to immigration controls are currently treated as migrants first and foremost (Crawley, 2006). Local authorities are encouraged by recent policies to exclude children of asylum seekers from the Children Act 1989 as part of the wider government purpose of controlling immigration. Chapter four will explore the tensions for social workers. Social workers who should be protecting and supporting children are required to act as if they are immigration officials. Social workers are poorly trained in issues of immigration and are not encouraged to view asylum seekers as service users (Collett, 2004). The role of the social worker in the lives of asylum seekers w ill be assessed as will asylum seekers experiences of oppression. The final chapter of this dissertation will provide a conclusion, containing a critical assessment of the implications of the discussions for contemporary/future policy and practice. Chapter 2 A brief history of asylum in Britain Asylum achieved a great political profile in Britain during the late 1990s. In order to fully understand the issues and concerns of asylum, an awareness of the historical background of asylum seekers will be focussed upon throughout this chapter. The concept of asylum or refuge has existed in the UK since the Middle Ages. However the first piece of legislation to preserve the notion of asylum in British law was the 1905 Aliens Act. The act defined those who would be excluded from restriction much more cautiously and it was eventually approved through parliament. The 1905 Aliens Act set the outline for rest of the century and ensured that the British welfare state, far from being universalistic, are narrow, exclusive and nationalistic. (Cohen, 2002). The London County Council seemed to have taken a hostile attitude towards Jewish refugees fleeing Nazism in the 1930s. This was on the foundation that refugees were a drain on the local authority administered welfare. Immigration controls ensured that few refugees managed to gain entry to the UK and those which managed to did so on the accepting that the jewish community would take upon collective financial responsibility (London, 1999). Such a financial undertaking could not be sustained and the government was eventually forced into providing some assistance . As the circumstances of European Jewry deteriorated, the British Governments behaviour did not alter fundamentally. Britains overall response to the difficulty of Jews was characterized by caution and pragmatism subordinating humanitarianism to Britains self interst (Friedman and Klein, 2008). Jewish refugees were also associated with supposedly criminality and lack of hygiene. As Jewish refugees became linked with the social problems of urban life, attention was directed on their likely social cost. Recently created immigration officers now needed to make judgements about who was likely to be a burden on the rates. It becomes apparent at this time the need to let in only those who will be economically useful to the British nation and those not likely to need welfare (Hayes Humphries, 2004). Between November 1938 and September 1939, the numbers of Jewish refugees entering Britain were in excess of 40,000 (Stevens, 2004) and by the start of the war, about 80,000 refugees had come to Britain, including 10,000 unacompanied children on the kindertransport The reality that Britain took in these Jewish refugees has an iconic significance for its self definition today as a generous and hospitable nation. The anniversaries of the Second World War has been on Britains heroic role, not only in defeating the Natzis but in providing a place of safety for Jewish refugees. However there was significant resentment towards the refugees from all the divisions of society, particulary the press (Friedman and Klein, 2008). An editorial in the Sunday express in 1938 stated: [But] just now there is a big influx of foreign Jews into Britain. They are over-running the country. They are trying to enter the medical profession in great numbers. They wish to practise as dentists. Worst of all, many of them are holding themselves out to the public as psychoanalysts. There is no intolerance in Britain today. And by keeping a close watch on the causes that feed the intolerance of the Jews in other European countries, we shall be able to continue to treat well those Jews who have made their homes among us. Conflict also came from professional and trade bodies. Jewish refugee doctors coming over to Britain had a difficult time and negative attitudes were also found in the foreign office. Common anti-Jewish prejudice was influential in preparing government policy (Friedman and Klein, 2008). Following the end of the second world war the shortage of labour required many European countries to look to Asia, the Caribbean and Africa for workers to rebuild the continent. Britain, looked towards its old colonies and in the 1940s and 1950s many African-Caribeean, Southeren Asian and African people entered Britain (Okitikpi, 2003). Unlike the Jews before them, these black immigrants had citizenship rights as well as a strong idedological connection. However these citizens were treated as short-term visitors, migrant workers and it was hoped that they would return home and not require the benefits of long term settlement (Hayes Humphries, 2004). By the 1960s and the 1970s the enactment of successive excluding immigration and nationality acts certified the tightening of the immigration rules in order to decrease the flow of migration into Britain (Hiro 1992; Seddon, 2002). In 1978 Margeret Thatcher expressed her thoughts about the swamping of Britain by immigrant culture,it is apparent that the old racist xenophobia was not far under the surface, such a logic was implicit in the way an alleged popular opinion against immigration was used to build support for new nationality laws in Britain which was pursued by the Thatcher government (Baumgartl and Favell, 1995). Towards the end of the 1980s there was an increase in the number of asylum- seekers arriving in Britain. Between 1981 and 1988, the average number of asylum-seekers arriving each year in Britain was less than 4000 increasing in 1989 to 11,640 and it reached a peak in 1991 to 44,840 asylum applications (Bloch, 2000). The year 1989 marked a turning point, with the start of an asylum migration of Turkish Kurds, Somalis, Anggolans and Congolese. The government viewed asylum as a policy problem (Rutter, J, 2006). The media and public opinion. Conclusion It is easy to forget that the arrival of large numbers of Jewish refugees was regularly met with a less than rapturous welcome by the Government, trade unions, certain newspapers and indeed sections of the Jewish community itself. chapter 3 Legislative Asylum achieved a great political profile in Britain during the 1990s. Until the 1990s, Britain had no specific asylum legislation (Sales, 2002). The Asylum and Immigrations appeal Act 1993 was the first act, concerned predominantly with controlling entry. It created processes for dealing with asylum applications, introduced restrictions to social housing for asylum seekers and benefits for asylum seekers were set at seventy percent of income support. An asylum seeker would only be housed in temporary accommodation while his/her asylum claim was being determined. This is a lengthily process and can sometimes take years. Asylum seeker families can be kept in inadequate housing for lengthily periods, with no security, subject to sudden moves, resulting in difficulties in securing school and nursery places and being able to register with a GP (Fitzpatrick, 2005). The Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 also restricted the social rights of asylum seekers. The act withdrew cash benefits for asylum seekers and introduced vouchers following court judgement that local authorities should provide necessary subsistence for destitute asylum seekers. Adults were not allowed to receive cash, but were housed and given subsistence in kind and in the form of vouchers (Sales, 2002). The labour Party came into power in May 1997. It assured to alleviate the pressure on local authorities and began a review of the system for asylum seekers. The result was the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (which came into effect in April 2000). This Act was more draconian than any other measures introduced by the previous Conservative government (Fitzpatrick, 2005). The Act confirmed that with exceptions contained in regulations, everyone subject to immigration controls is to be denied council housing and a range of non-contributory benefits. These benefits comprise the core, means tested benefits of last resort (income support, income based jobseekers allowance, council tax benefit, housing benefit, a social fund payment) and family and disability benefits ( working families tax credit, child benefit, severe disablement allowance, invalid care , attendance allowance, disabled persons tax credit, disability living allowance). In addition, the act disentitles those subject to controls from National Assistance Act and Children Act support, solely on the basis of destitution (Cohen, 2002). The Act gave a series of new powers to the Home Secretary, mainly in relation to appeals (Chatwin, 2001: 7) and extended the powers of search and arrest and detention of asylum seekers. The most controversial clauses concerned the extension of the voucher scheme to all asylum seekers and compulsory dispersal. The local authorities direct role in supporting asylum seekers ended and was replaced with NASS (National Asylum Support System). NASS operates on the presumption that the mass of asylum seekers are undeserving and bogus, while the minority granted Convention status are the deserving (Sales, 2002). Vouchers Asylum seekers who receive section 4 support are entitled to free temporary accommodation and thirty five pounds a week in vouchers provided by accommodation providers. No change can be issued for these vouchers. Vouchers come in a variety of forms, such as paper vouchers, luncheon vouchers and card gift vouchers (where credit is loaded onto a plastic card and deducted as it is being spent). Luncheon vouchers are accepted in more than one shop, whereas paper vouchers and card gift vouchers limit the person to shopping in certain shops. Long distances may have to be travelled to collect these vouchers from the post office and when using the vouchers difficulties can arise in the shops. Shops that accept vouchers are more expensive than other shops and markets not participating in the scheme, shop staff may not always recognise or know how to process vouchers (British refugee council, 2008). A study from the home office (home office, 2001) which was used as evidence about the operation of the voucher scheme when it was reviewed in 2001, found out about asylum seekers experiences of using vouchers. 205 asylum seekers completed questionnaires which were translated by trained interviewees. In depth interviews were also conducted with asylum seekers. Many asylum seekers completing the questionnaire reported they felt embarrassed when collecting the vouchers because they perceived that people were looking at them. Asylum seekers also felt embarrassed when other people complain about the asylum seeker in the queue as delays have occurred. Many asylum seekers also felt distressed about the difficulty they have adding up the shopping and knowing which vouchers to use. The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 This Act allowed for asylum seekers to be accommodated in large accommodation centres, with sites containing about 800 people, asylum seekers would receive health care, full board and education. Regardless of being expensive to build, the Home Office was clear on its justification of the new centres as a means of preventing asylum seekers from working illegally (Home Office, 2002). By the end of 2002 the Home Office identified eight prospective accommodation centres, the planning applications for these centres proved to be a focal point for anti-asylum campaigns. Another focus fo ant-asylum campaigners was the publication of quarterly asylum statistics. This occurrence became a radicalised ritual. The Home Office published its data and the tabloid media responded with articles on the growing issue of asylum seekers. But in concentrating on the crisis in numbers the government creates an image of hordes of people seeking to enter the UK (Rutter, 2006). The legislation also enables NAS S benefit to be withheld from a person who fails to make a claim for asylum as soon as possible when entering the country. Initially this power applied only to single asylum seekers, but has been extended to families. This has led to many people being left without any means of support and homeless. Local authorities are prevented by the legislation from providing support to failed asylum seekers. This excludes vulnerable children who may be at risk from accessing support from social services (Fitzpatrick, 2005). Asylum and Immigration (treatment of claiments) Act 2004) This particular Act contained 50 sections. The Act was nearly twice as long as when it was first presented to parliament. The legislation allows for asylum seekers to be moved to a third world country (of which the asylum seeker is not a citizen) without having a right to appeal or entering the thorough determination procedures (Refugee Council, 2004). The legislation also provides electronic monitoring of asylum seekers who appear over 18. This was suggested by ministers as a humane alternative to detention (Rutter, 2006). Furthermore the legislation widens the existing power to deny support from asylum seekers who fail to claim asylum immediately when entering the UK. NASS benefit may then be withdrawn from failed asylum seekers who refuse to return home. Parents may then have to consider leaving the UK and returning to a place of danger or the possibility of having their children removed from them. Asylum and Immigration Act 2006 Although the number of asylum seeking applications had decreased at this point, the government aimed to enhance the immigration system in line with their objectives of stronger immigration controls. This is achieved by introducing civil and criminal penalties of up to  £2,000 per illegal employee and a possible 2 year prison sentence for those who knowingly employ an illegal worker. Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 The legislative changes in this Act are projected to compliment the Australian stle points based system introduced for immigration. The detention of children still remains at this point. Child poverty Act 2010 Every Child Matters In 2001, the opening of the public inquiry into the death of a child abuse victim Victoria Climbie led to the government paper Every Child Matters (DfES, 2003). The chair, Lord Laming assured that it would mark a turning point in the protection of vulnerable children. The inquiry report (Laming, 2003) made 108 recommendations and seeked to ensure that children do not fall through the safety net of protection. It identified five broad outcomes for children. These are to be healthy, to stay safe, enjoying and achieving, contributing to society and achieving economic well being. They aim to provide children and young people with support, sharing, promote better information and a comman assessment framework for professionals to certify clear accountability and to establish multi-disciplinary teams based around universal services. The Laming inquiry is significant to the situation of asylum seekers. Victoria Climbie, who came to the UK with her great aunt was tortured and neglected and eventually died in horrifying circumstances. Victoria was not an asylum seeker, she and her Aunt were French nationals but their immigration status excluded them from claiming benefits and housing under the habitual residence test. It is apparent from Lord Lamings report that it was the issue of accommodation and financial support that brought Victoria to the attention of social services. The government however subsequently introduced legislation to prevent EU nationals and asylum seekers in the same position as Victoria Climbie from accessing this type of help from social services (Fitzpatrick, 2005). It would appear that asylum seeker children are not treated as children in the general population and their immigration status is viewed first and foremost, rather than the fact that they are children and that every child in the U K should matter, regardless of their immigration status. Chapter 4 Tentions This chapter will attempt to assess the governments assurance that every child matters in the UK and how far this is extended to including asylum seeking children. There are a number of pieces of legislation that are of concern to asylum seekers and legislation that appears to exclude them. Section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claiments, etc) Act has been a severely controversial provision which gives the Home Office powers to terminate all welfare support to failed asylum seekers. The tension between policies for safeguarding and protecting children and controlling immigration is evident in policy and practice. Every child matters As discussed in the previous chapter, in 2004 the government published Every Child Matters: Next Steps (DfES 2004) a green paper on childrens services, followed by the children Act 2004. The green paper and legislation was prompted by the inquiry into the murder of eight year old Victoria Climbie. Prior to her death, Victoria Climbie and her carers had extensive contact with social services, the police and hospitals, all of whom failed to share information with one another and ultimately failed to intervene to protect Victoria Climbie (Lord Laming, 2003). The Every Child Matters (ECM) framework aims to bring about root-and -branch reform of childrens services at every level to ensure that all children and young people achieve five main outcomes. The governments aim, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have te support they need to: Be healthy (physically, mentally, emotionally and sexually), to follow a healthy lifestyle and choose not to take illegal drugs; Stay safe (from maltreatment, neglect, violence, sexual exploitation, accidental injury and death, bullying and discrimination, crime and anti-social behaviour in and out of school and to have security, stability and to be cared for; Enjoy and achieve through learning by being ready for school, attending and enjoying school, achieving stretching national educational standards at primary and secondary school, achieving personal and social development and enjoying recreation; Make a positive contribution to society by engaging in decision making and supporting the community and environment, engaging in law abiding and positive behaviour in and out of school, developing positive relationships and choosing not to bully or discriminate, developing self confidence and successfully dealing with significant life changes and challenges and developing enterprising behaviour; and Achieve economic well-being by engaging in further education, employment or training on leaving school, being ready for employment, living in decent homes and sustainable communities, having access to transport and material goods and living in households free from low income. The ECM framework is considered a positive step in improving childrens services however there is a view that immigration controls take prority over welfare consideration. The UKs Reservation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), confines the application of the principles of the CRC in the instance of children and young people who are subject to immigration control, has been in place since the convention was confirmed in 1991 and has been criticised by parliamentary committees in the UK and the international monitoring body for the CRC which states: The committee is further concerned that..the ongoing reform of the asylum and immigration system fails to address the particular needs and rights of asylum-seeking children and recommended that the government: address thoroughly the particular situation of children in the ongoing reform of the immigration and asylum system to bring it into line with the principles and provisions of the convention. Committee on the Rights of the child (2002) Concluding Observations on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Paragraph 47 and 48(g). Whilst the Reservation has been present for some time, the difference with the existing approach is the extent to which local authorities and others accountable for providing protection and support to children and their families have been encouraged to prevent children subject to immigration control from the provisions of the Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004 and the CRC. Consequently, the two systems with which children subject to immigration control are most affected immigration and social services- are gradually more at odds with one another. As they have competing objectives and aims, each has tried to compel the other to behave differently (Crawley, 2006). Social service departments have tried to provide support and improve the worst effects on children within hostile practical and political contexts. This position has produced complications for local authorities who are not fully reimbursed for these costs and for the children and families who do not get the thorough protection they need. Imperative questions are raised about the extent to which social services departments can be expected to provide on their duty under welfare law and at the same time participate in the role in controlling immigration. Accompanied asylum seeking children have less rights than citizen children as they are supported through NASS and do not usually have access to child welfare benefits or the provisions of the Children Act, although they do have the right to health care and legislation. Unaccompanied children and the question of age. An unaccompanied minor is a child under 18 years of age who has been separated from both parents and is not cared for by an adult, who by law or custom, is responsible to do so (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 1997). Children who are separated from their parents or carers and who try to claim asylum in the UK battle to negotiate an asylum system designed for adults and a child protection system focussed on children who live in their own community within their own families (Crawley, 2006). Many unaccompanied young people find their plea for asylum to be disbelieved. Those who should slot into the care system as children find their application challenged by immigration officers who class them as adults. Age is key in determining the treatment of young asylum seekers. Many asylum seekers do not have the correct documentation and there is no reliable medical test. The burden of proof is with the applicant (Mitchell, 2003). Age determines the treatment of asylum seekers by s ocial services. Many social services departments remain hesitant to treat 16 and 17 year olds as children in need and often treating them with suspicion (Morris, 2003). Many are supported under section 17 of the 1989 Children Act, often in poor quality bed and breakfast accommodation. The organisation Save the Children, reported concerns about children living with adults not known to them, some were placed in hostels with adults who suffer mental health or drug problems (Mayor of London, 2004). A child whose age is unclear will also be treated as an adult for the purpose of asylum determination procedures. Reasons as to why it is unsafe for a child of his or her origin to return back to their country will not be taken into account when assessing the asylum claim. The fast tracking of age disputed cases can result in vulnerable children being returned back to their country of origin with no appropriate reception arrangements in place and without the assistance of an in-country appeal (Crawley, 2006). Home Office statistics on age disputed applications were published for the first time in 2005 and indicate that in 2004, 5,335 asylum applications were made by individuals who stated that they were less than 18 years of age. Of these, nearly half (44%) were age disputed and treated as adults (Home Office, 2005). This implicates the support and welfare that is made available to them. Clearly there are powerful child protection arguments for ensuring adults do not find their way into the care system.. However if a child is incorrectly identified as an adult they can be forced into adult asylum and accommodation arrangements, including detention or dispersing them to an area in the UK where they have no contacts or support and will not be subject to child protection procedures or be entitled to leaving care services. Section 9 Section 17 of the Children Act obliges practitioners, wherever possible, to provide services for children and their families with the aim of promoting the up bringining of children in their families. It makes clear that the welfare of a child is paramount and that a childs interests are best served within its own family. However local authorities are openly prohibited from using Section 17 of the Children Act to provide support to children and families made destitute as a result of Section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claiments, etc). Local authorities then have little choice but to separate children from their families and support them in local authority accommodation under setion 20 of the 1989 Children Act. The governments stated justification for implementing section 9 has been disputed. All the evidence implies that improving the scope and quality of voluntary removal schemes, rather than making families destitute, would be a more successful way of encouraging v oluntary removal (Cunningham and Tomlinson, 2005). The Home Affairs Select Comittee (HASC) rebuked the Home Office for pushing ahead with such contentious legislation. The HASC questioned the Home Office Minister, Beverley Hughes, on the proposals on 19th November 2003. Whilst she began by declaring that it was not at all the governments intention to make people destitute, her testimony offered little reassurance. David Winnick, one of the Select Committees Labour MPs, asked whether it would be fair to describe the policy as starve them out? Whilst Hughes denied this when asked whether the government intended to deny families every form of support and allow their children to be taken into care, she replied, Yes, that is what we are proposing (HASC, 2003: Evidence pp. 8-9). In short, some of the most vulnerable children in the world are routinely denied basic protection

The Justification of Reverse Discrimination in Hiring Essay -- Literar

In â€Å"The Justification of Reverse Discrimination in Hiring,† Tom Beauchamp displays statistics of underrepresented races and genders in institutions. The inequality is due to the underlying persistent racism originating decades ago. It has been pervasively executed despite federal laws for equality. The expectation for a level-playing field is not a reality, as statistically show with underrepresented African Americans (1. Beauchamp, CC2011, p 0228). Beauchamp points out that at first sight, reverse discrimination appears immoral, because it crafts a prejudice for one race over another. However, he asserts that this inference is not applicable in the real world where ubiquitous prejudice still exists as indicated by statistics. Because we currently do not have an equal playing field, humans are morally obligated to do whatever it takes to achieve it if they aspire for an ideal equal society (2. Beauchamp, CC2011, p 0226). In order to be liberated from discriminatory prac tices, society must practice reverse discrimination, as it is morally justified for the greater good in the end. Once the equal playing field is reached with the addition of minorities through preferential treatment, reverse discrimination becomes unnecessary. James Rachels bases his moral reasoning for reverse discrimination on what people deserve. Although he is conscious that reverse discrimination appears unfair to those directly affected, he proposes that fairness is dependent on desert. What an individual deserves lies on the effort and willpower for achievement (3. Rachels, CC2011, p 0201). Therefore, it is morally acceptable to execute preferential treatment towards a deserving individual if he or she put in more effort. Rachels’ moral reasoning for sup... ...nforce the negative stereotype that minorities who got in, had an unfair racial advantage. Therefore reverse discrimination has even worse consequences that rise from the glorified end result Rachels suggests with role models. Additionally, I would contend that effort is too subjective to quantify when both parties have distinct unearned disadvantages. Caucasians face different kinds of hurdles such as psychological pressure to succeed and increased competition at better schools, making it more difficult to get good grades. Rachels’ argument is not universal to all situations. This makes reverse discrimination morally wrong when it generalizes Caucasians from disadvantaged backgrounds, to intrinsically possess advantages. Justice is still not met if the policy cannot extend to all circumstances, making even the moderate form of reverse discrimination unfair.

Jim McMahon :: essays research papers

The book that I read was "McMahon" by Jim McMahon. This biography was mostly about Jim McMahon's 1985 football season. McMahon was the quarterback for the Chicago Bears. He started eleven times out of the thirteen games he played in. McMahon emerged as one of the NFL's top quarterbacks while earning his first Pro Bowl appearance. He averaged 64% completion the first five weeks before injury had began at San Francisco on October 17, 1985. He threw a career high 15 touchdown passes. He threw 9 of them in the first four games. McMahon led the team with a 5.4 yard rushing average. He missed three games between November 10 through November 24 with shoulder tendonitis. He didn't start against the Vikings on September 19 due to a stiff neck. He entered the Vikings game in the third quarter and put on one of the best shows of the NFL '85 season, throwing touchdown passes on the first two plays and three in just no and a half quarters to turn a 17-9 deficit into a 33-24 win. M cMahon was named NFC offensive player-of-the-week in the season opener after 23 of 34 for 274 yards, two touchdown effort in 38-28 win over the bucs. He passed for season-high 292 yards at Tampa on October 6. McMahon completed 13 of 19 passes for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns; caught a touchdown pass from Payton and rushed for 36 yards against the Redskins on September 29. He threw 3 touchdown passes in playoffs and scored the first touchdown against the Rams on a 16 yard run. He didn't throw any interceptions in 3 post-season games in 66 attempts. Jim McMahon's Super Bowl performance included 12 of 20 for 256 yards. Jim McMahon had plenty of obstacles that he had to overcome in his 1985 season. One obstacle he had to overcome was his shoulder tendonitis. When he was out for three games. Another obstacle that he had to overcome right before the Super Bowl was a really bad sore on his butt. Pain killers and medicine wouldn't work. So he found a guy that used needles to relieve the pain. He was using that method and it was working, the sore was going away. The team had to leave to go get ready for the Super Bowl so they had to fly him to that town. The head guy said that the person couldn't go on the team plane because he wasn't one of the team trainers.

Described by Dickens Essay

The extended metaphor at the end of the first chapter depicts the children as â€Å"vessels† or jars, to be filled to the top with facts until they are full. The metaphor portrays the children as inanimate objects, which shows the reader the arrogance of Gradgrind:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Vessels then and there arranged in order ready to have imperial gallons of facts poured into them until they were full to the brim.†Ã‚  Dickens describes them as if they are empty and know nothing. Therefore they have to learn facts whether they like it or not. The short sentences and repetition in the sentences of the opening of the second chapter aids the description of Gradgrind as it shows the reader there is no manipulating this man and what you see is what you get. He will never change his mind.  The extended metaphor,† a kind of cannon†¦away† shows the reader Gradgrind’s idea of how children should be properly educated. He believes that imaginations are â€Å"to be stormed away† and children should mature through facts. He is described like a cannon â€Å"loaded to the muzzle with facts† this shows the harshness of his character and the machine-like qualities he holds. Sissy Jupe is described by Dickens as â€Å"dark-eyed and dark-haired† her skin is tanned as Sissy has grown up with the circus she has an interesting background and a creative imagination; she is not just â€Å"filled with facts†. The colour of her eyes and hair reflects her traveller background. Whereas, Bitzer is described by Dickens as â€Å"light-eyed and light-haired.† His skin seems to be white, in contrast to Sissy’s tanned complexion. This description shows the harshness of the Victorian education system, on his appearance. The audience has no sympathy for the coldness of his character even though he is seen as â€Å"a model pupil from a model school† by Gradgrind, who has forced out any imagination Bitzer had and filled him with facts. His description of a horse compared to Sissy’s attempt shows the reader the machine-like almost robotic manner in which he is able to reel off facts: â€Å"Quadruped. Graminivorous.†Ã‚  His character is the opposite of Sissy. Gradgrind refers to her as a number, yet to Bitzer by name, as Sissy has only been at the school for a short time, but is referred to as â€Å"Girl number twenty† as she is new to the school her education is not as Gradgrind would like it to be, this in turn alienates her.  During the fifth chapter, we meet the characters Sissy and Bitzer again as their chase come to a halt when they bump into Gradgrind. After explaining why she was running, Gradgrind comments, as he cannot understand why Sissy should be run after: â€Å"‘Run after?’ repeated Mr Gradgrind. ‘Who would run after you?'†Ã‚  Gradgrind does not know Sissy, and sees her as an outcast. He does not see why she should be run after, and cannot understand why someone would want her. His question is answered when Bitzer enters in the next paragraph. He is described as â€Å"the colourless boy†. This creates lack of empathy in the reader towards Bitzer and how he has been manipulated by Gradgrind and the school. As Bitzer is running after Sissy, although described as without fancy (colourless), he still is a child as he was pulling faces to scare Sissy. Once escorted by Sissy to her home, we see Sissy’s fears of Gradgrind through the way she talks to him. She also seems embarrassed by the state of her home:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"This is it, sir, and – if you wouldn’t mind, sir – this is the house.†Ã‚  Sissy’s politeness to Gradgrind, as well as showing a well-mannered child also show how nervous she is around him, and the fear she has of him. Sissy is frightened of Gradgrind as she sees that as she is from a poor lifestyle, because of the shabbiness of her home, she will not be allowed to continue her studies, as those with a proper education will do better in the future. The audience empathises with Sissy because of this. In conclusion, Gradgrind has a stern manner and is very controlling of his pupils and his children because he is a very hard character he is â€Å"a man of realities.† Bitzer is a machine-like character; his white face reflects the coldness of his life with only facts in it. This contrasts to Sissy’s character, which is imaginative, because she lacks the proper formal education Bitzer has received. â€Å"Hard Times† is based on, and shows, Dickens’s view of rejection, to the callous determination of Victorian greed. The audience empathises with Sissy the most as her character seems to be lost and the most fragile. The audience do not empathise with Gradgrind because of his stern and cold nature, which, as Bitzer becomes a model student, causes the audience to empathise with neither of the two characters.