Wildlife Management Plan :: management of grassland birds

COVER The vegetation on this property is classified into 7 cover types (Fig. 3 and Appendix B). The property is largely dominated by agricultural land. Approximately 350 ac (141 ha) out of the 410 ac (165 ha) are cultivated for crop production. The dominant four crop types are soybeans, alfalfa, corn, and oats. The overstory consists of white oak (Quercus alba), black walnut (Jugalns nigra), and American elm (Ulmus americana). The shrub layer is sparsely located around the property and contains a lot of blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis), raspberry (Rubus idaeus), serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), American halzelnut (Corylus americana), and staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina). The understory vegetation, located in the wooded areas on the property consists of bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), common plaintain (Plantago major), mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), grasses (Poa spp.), Mosses (Sphagnum spp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), common mullein (V erbacum thaspus). A complete list of plant species can be found in Appendix B. STATUS OF WILDLIFE POPULATIONS: Inventory techniques used to identify wildlife consisted of direct observations, input from the landowner, and signs from the different wildlife species. Common bird species present on the management area were American robin (Turdus americanus), American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), sandhill crane (Grus canadensis), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), bald eagle (Hallaeetus leucocephalus), turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), and red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Direct observations and input from the landowner identified these commonly found mammalian species: eastern chipmunk, (Tamias striatus), eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), coyote (Canis latrans), raccoon (Procyon lotor), red fox Vulpes vulpes), red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus f loridanus), and Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginianus). Within our management property western meadowlarks and badgers are not as commonly found as white-tail deer. Grassland bird species are limited to small parcels of the property due to a lack of necessary habitat. Badgers have been seen on an infrequent basis within the management site. White-tail deer are seen at low densities and have the potential be more abundant with the right management plans. See Appendix C for a complete listing of wildlife species. REQUIREMENTS OF TARGET SPECIES: The first objective of our wildlife plan is to increase the density of the American badger population on the management site. American badgers are commonly found in open treeless habitats and grasslands (Scobie 2002).

Ishmeal and Maya Angelou :: essays papers

Ishmeal and Maya Angelou There are many different views on how people should live our lives. All of these different philosophies come from many different places. They come from religions, people's cultures, and their morals that they have been taught. People live by these rules they were brought into from the day they are born and do not question them. In "A Rock, A River, A Tree", by Maya Angelou and Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn, both attempt to show how humans should live their lives and survive in a community. There way of changing the world is to convince readers to stand up and speak out about how to save the world. Daniel Quinn specificly helps readers to see that our lives are governed by matured laws that humans refuse to acknowledge-- this causing their, our destruction. In Ishmael Daniel Quinn sets the idea of having to think differently by having the book being told my a man who's teacher is a talking Gorilla. The Gorilla's name is ironicly Ishmael. Ishmael teaches captivity which he has been in his whole life and has mastered. As a Gorilla he has a totally different view on the world. He states in many ways that he believes that we must stand up for saving the world. In the beginning of the book Ishmael is talking about Germany before and during World War Two. He talks about how everyone followed the story if they believed in it or not "because the people around you made you captive" by the story by believing in it. Behind that story is another one the makes your mind think that maybe if that one person did stand a few people would realize that it was wrong and stand up too, and maybe the WWII or the holocaust would have never happened. Later in the book they are working on why people are knowingly destroying the world and doing nothing about it . Ishmael tries to explain that they "try not think too searchingly about the world they're leaving their children to cope with." He says that they are "pacified" about the subject. This is Quinn's way of using a scare tactic on the readers, to make us believe we are brain washed and need to rebel. Later in the book there is another story about how men kept jumping off from the edge of a cliff with a flying contraption, believing it will work all the way up until they hit the ground, think in the way that they "made it this far without a scratch".

Shindlers List :: essays research papers

Through out the movie Shindlers List many changes take place. These changes happen in both society and in certain people. During WWII the German Nazi regime enslaved the Jewish communities on Europe. They were used as slave labor or were executed if seen unfit. Even though these atrocities were taking place on a daily basis some people tried to help the Jewish community. Isaac Stern was a member of the Jewish community and he wanted to help his people out as much as possible. He was a great accountant but because of his heritage he wouldn’t be allowed any form of power in Germany. For this he needed Oscar Shindler. Shindler was a very influential person and was very friendly. Even in the beginning of the movie he was able to walk into a room of German officers and walk out best friends with all of them. He was just the kind of man Stern needed. He needed someone with connections in the German government. Shindler may have had all of the connections but he had no money to invest into his business ventures. He spoke to Stern and they agreed upon a deal. Stern and other wealthy Jews would provide the funding and Shindler would provide the connections in the military in order to keep Jews safe in Shindlers factories. In the beginning Stern and Shindlers opinions of each other were strictly business. Both knew what hey had to do and they got the job done. But as time went on both men became very good friends. Shindler offered a drink to Stern after the deal was completed, stern refused it. Stern was under the impression that Shindler was just another Nazi taking advantage of his people. Shindler though that Stern was just another Jew. They both had stereotypes on each other. As they worked more closely together for longer and longer it became apparent that they had great admiration for each other and they both new what a horrible thing the Germans were doing. Later on in the move when they believe they will be separated Stern finally takes that drink from Shindler. A â€Å"master image† from this movie is when the little boy hides in the stalls. It shows very well to what lengths a person would go to survive. When it came down to it everyone that was in his position would do the same in order to make it out alive.

If It Ain’t White It Ain’t Right Essay

When evaluating the immortality of slavery, people oftentimes emphasize the abhorrent, physical abuse endured by Afro-Descendants, and diminish the pernicious, psychological effects they suffered. Chief among the psychological effects manifested from slavery are notions of self-hatred and self-denial. Tragically, Blacks were forced, through centuries of conditioning, to believe, accept, and demand their slave master’s mandate that blackness innately implied inferiority. In Juan Francisco Manzano’s Autobiography of a Slave, Manzano explores these themes through his personal experience as a Cuban Creole mulatto slave. In an arduous fight for freedom, Manzano is raised to believe that the only way to liberation is through a rejection of his Black identity and an acceptance of his White identity. The ideas of self-hatred and denial raise intriguing questions. Is it possible for Black people to achieve real liberation, i. e. substantive democracy and citizenship, through the denial of their Black identity? What kind of liberation is achieved through the acceptance of the idea that part of one’s identity is inherently inferior? This paper suggests that true psychological liberation, substantive democracy, and citizenship cannot be achieved through such a process, and that any system that requires such self-denial and self-hatred serves to reinforce or justify the racist system from which Blacks seek to escape. Identity development occurs during one’s childhood. From an early age, children are told who they are and how they relate to others in the world. During the era of slavery, Afro-descendant children were taught that the only way to salvation, both immediately and in the future, was through a sacrifice of their African roots. Perhaps the most vivid recent example of this occurred in the award-winning film â€Å"The Help† in which a Black maid tells a young White child â€Å"You are smart. You are kind. You are important. † During slavery, Black children were given no such messages. Part of the message Black children were taught was that their blackness was in some way responsible for their slavery. In discussing the common desire for Afro-descendant’s to escape their African heritage, Ivan A. Schulman writes in the introduction, â€Å"To make the leap to the â€Å"master† culture was not an uncommon aspiration in the nineteenth century: Among people of color there existed the general wish to whiten one’s descendants insofar as possible, and distance themselves as much as possible from slavery† (Manzano, 11). Through this desire, Blacks sacrificed their own self worth in favor of their domineering White oppressors. As a young boy, Manzano too yearned to identify with the controlling white culture he inhabited. While discussing his relationship with Dona Joaquina, one of the many women who raised him, he writes, â€Å"She would dress me, comb my hair, and take care that I did not mix with the other black children† (Manzano, 55). Dona Joaquina’s insistence to separate Manzano from his Black heritage is credited to the caste system present among slaves in Cuba. Under this system, pure Black slaves were in opposition to Mulattos. Since Mulattos by definition had at least some White blood, they conjectured that they were superior to their full-blood Black counterparts, and therefore justified in trying to escape their Black identity. Consequently, the caste system served as the primary force that caused Manzano to run away from his plantation. As a result of having his family members and friends detached from his life, Manzano found it paramount to escape his present situation as a Mulatto slave amongst full-blood, Afro-descendant slaves, he writes, â€Å"I saw myself at El Molino, without parents or even relatives, and, in a word, a mulatto among blacks† (Manzano, 133). This passage highlights one result of the denial of Black identity, i. e. complete alienation from one part of the community from which one derives. Through this process, Blacks fundamentally lose their self worth. By refusing to accept and acknowledge their heritage, the significance of the Afro-descendant in society has deeply diminished. Juan Francisco Manzano’s experience is one shared by several Afro-descendants in Latin and North America. Chica da Silva, reputedly the most famous and beautiful Black woman in Brazilian history, is one glaring comparison. Chica da Silva’s was a slave, but her master was so attracted to her that he wanted to marry her and thus free her from slavery. They lived in a luxurious house and had several beautiful children. Among Brazilians, Da Silva was considered to be the pinnacle matriarch. However, the ascendency of Da Silva to fame came with a cost. While discussing Da Silva’s eminence in Brazilian society, Henry Louis Gates writes, â€Å"Chica da Silva was black, yet her rise to power within the community was part of a conscious whitening effort. She acted like she was a white woman† (Gates, 34). In order for Chica da Silva to be accepted as a valorized figure in Brazilian society, she had to forego her blackness. Furthermore, Maceo’s story serves the same purpose. A Cuban Creole, Maceo is revered for his courageous efforts as commander of the Cuban army during Cuba’s fight for independence. Through his courageous efforts, Cuba was finally able to break away from centuries of subjugation by Spain and be an independent nation. The fact that a Black man led Cuba to independence is remarkable and noteworthy, especially given that this occurred in 1898, only twelve years after slavery was abolished in Cuba. But was Maceo actually Black? While discussing Maceo’s legacy among Cubans after his death, Gates writes, â€Å"The researchers didn’t try to diminish his legacy, but they sought to valorize the European part of his genetic heritage. They explained that although his bone structure was that of an African, the measurements of his skull affirmed that his brain was that of a white man. If Maceo was a superior man, then he couldn’t be Black† (Gates, 195). The notion of a Black man as a quintessential heroic figure in Cuban history is automatically discredited. Since Blacks were going to be the majority, this stripping of one’s Blackness was paramount in order for Whites to maintain control. Moreover and most importantly, Maceo’s story set a precedent that if wealthy White’s had children who looked Black, they did not have to accept their status as Black Cubans. Thus prioritizing class over race. To this end, Blacks escaped their African roots not only psychologically, but physically as well. Within the social context of the Dominican Republic, the concept of beauty is analogous with Whiteness, particularly in the case of hair. While discussing the intersection of hair and identity in the Dominican Republic, Cassandra Badillo writes, â€Å"†¦a white woman’s hair is described blonder. Whether it is curly or straight, black or brown, it is said that she is blonder. About the â€Å"others,† it is said that they have bad hair and that’s all–bad hair has no color† (Badillo, 36). The bad hair attributed to the â€Å"others† has several catastrophic consequences. Black women in the Dominican Republic habitually straighten their hair so that they can be White. As a result, they contract blisters and burns, permanently damaging the condition of their scalp. Still, even though Blacks go through the physical anguish of straightening their hair, they do not fully whiten themselves. Badillo writes, â€Å"straightening does not whiten a woman, straightening is about self-denial† (Badillo, 37). Through the process of hair straightening, Blacks dismiss their African identity. While discussing the problems of hair straightening, Badillo writes, â€Å"†¦the problem is not changing hair per se, but rather in the power relations it expresses and in the attitudes of domination it reflects† (Badillo, 36). Hair straightening operates in a way that camouflages and normalizes subordination and privilege. In doing this, Black women lose their autonomy and subjectivity, limiting them to formal or procedural forms of democracy and citizenship, thus suspending any chances of substantive salvation. The troublesome notions of self-denial and self-hatred too have plagued me. During high school, from my peers’ point of view, I was perceived as another Carlton Banks, the foil for Will Smith’s character in â€Å"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. † Although on the surface Carlton seems like an admirable Black character—gets good grades, dresses sophisticatedly, and speaks well, further reflection leads one to believe the contrary. Despite the fact that he dresses well and speaks correctly, personality traits that are not in congruence with most depictions of African Americans, at the end of the day, he still seeks the approval of those he perceives in authority (whites), and also has no real sense of self-respect. Now, I can truly say that I have evolved out of this condition. As an active member of the Black Students Alliance, I have recognized that my heritage is nothing to be ashamed of. I now realize that up until this point in my life, I have been lied to. These lies were framed in language that stated everything Black meant ugly, evil, and sinister, and everything White meant pure, high, and clean. This could not be any further from the truth. Now when people say, â€Å"Say it loud! † I reply, â€Å"I’m Black and I’m proud! † I have discerned the importance of not only accepting, but also celebrating one’s Black identity. In order to address the perils of self-denial and self-hatred, there is no other way. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , â€Å"If the Negro is to be free, he must move down into the inner resources of his own soul and sign with a pen and ink of self-assertive manhood his own Emancipation Proclamation. †

Disconnection in the Midst of Connectivity

The revolutions in the area of information and communications technology have brought the world closer. Literally, the world has shrunk because people from Europe can readily communicate with people from Asia; a daughter in the United States can easily contact her parents in South America. The mobile phone networks, the chat rooms and instant messengers in the internet, together with e-mail have significantly lowered the cost of inter-continental communications and have literally transcended space and time.In addition to this revolution, there is also a great deal of developments in the technologies available to humans in doing their chores and conducting their businesses. Even the simplest task can be automated and would require only a touch of a button for it to function. Washing machines, refrigerators and all sorts of electronic gadgets and equipments have indeed made life easier. This is especially true in the case of developed countries where these technologies are readily avai lable.Life has no hassles and lifestyles have become as easy as pushing another button on the remote control of the television. In less developed countries, however, this is not the case. The tendency is for them to rely on traditional means of doing things and conducting their business. Most of these countries in Asia, Africa, and South America doe not have access to most of these new technologies. As a result, they still tend to use their own bodily strength in conducting their businesses and going about their daily lives.For example, in farming, people from less developed countries use their own muscles and animals to till the soil and harvest their agricultural products later on. On the other hand, those in the developed countries tend to use heavy machinery to conduct the same set of activities. Has the use of technology led people and society to become lazy, apathetic and disconnected to the rest of the world? What about individuality? Has it been enhanced or is it being chall enged by these new technologies? As the world is shaped by these technologies, will individualism be melted into a smorgasbord of collectivity?Connectivity, Individuality, and the â€Å"Global Village† Marshall Mcluhan (41a) declared that the world has become a â€Å"Global Village†. He said this statement back when the use of the internet is not yet as widespread as it is now. This global village will come about as humans become increasingly dependent on electronic media and other forms of electronic technologies. Through this â€Å"electronic interdependence, the visual culture created by the coming of the printing press and the publication of books, humans will come to use electronic media more and more.Through the increasing popularity and acceptance of electronic media and the culture it develops, a new age will come in which humans will develop a collective consciousness and identity and individualism will be integrated into this collective consciousness. McLuha n declared his thesis in the early 1960s, back when the Internet revolution has not yet started climbing its ascent. This is due to the utilization and because of the message propagated by media since according to him â€Å"the medium is the message† (McLuhan, 20b).He also gave warnings that this global village, if its citizens were not aware of the impact of media and its effects on them as persons, then terror, totalitarianism or anarchy will reign in this village. Technology is, in itself, free of normative standards. When it is used towards certain ends, then it becomes an important tool in shaping the concept of the individual about himself, the relationship of other people to him, and how he stands in relation to the society that he lives in.McLuhan assumed that print technology is the bastion of individualism and that if it were rendered in electronic format, its effects on individualism would also change. (McLuhan, 158a). How do these new technologies increase the con nectivity of people around the world? According to Alstyne and Brynjolfsson (4), the speed of the transmission of data and communications has become very quick. In addition, millions of people have access to them, thus increasing the connectivity between and among people all over the world.Although this is the case, the capacity of individuals in absorbing and interacting with so much information is limited. The creation of a more or less uniform social consciousness based on connectivity is simply impossible. There are around 33 million articles and web pages in the Internet in May 1996 according to AlaVista (Alstyne & Brynjolfsson, 4). Transcending the Nation: Emergence of New Imagined Communities Benedict Anderson (6) in his book that sought to describe the nation and why people were so attached to it described the nation as an imagined community.This community was conceived in the minds of people with powerful bonds and relationships that are usually defined by religion, race, o r language. Anderson traced the development of the nation as an imagined community and pointed out that the printing of books in the people’s vernacular and the industry of publication or â€Å"print-capitalism† is instrumental in the emergence of this imagined community. The result of the diffusion of this medium of communication is that people across geographical areas bound by common languages started to drew together and conceptualize themselves as members of a community, albeit an imagined one.It should also be remembered that during the period of the rise of nationalism, the divine right of monarchs to their thrones were being challenged. Later, colonized people were also revolting against their colonial masters in a bid for independence and autonomy. As such, the common struggles, common language, and other commonalities brought these people together through the print media (Anderson, 7). Although it could be surmised that the people in the nations described by Anderson were still individuals, they were bound by a collective consciousness that led to the development of the nation.From the explanation of Anderson regarding the role of print media in developing imagined communities; as well as the discourse of McLuhan regarding the effects of the changes in the print media, it can be concluded that print media and more recently, electronic media have a huge impact in creating a collective consciousness. The problem of today’s electronic media, especially the internet, is that the message is diverse and there is no single coherent message that is being promoted.Rather there is a hodgepodge of messages and millions of files, most of them are unrelated (Alstyne & Brynjolfsson, 5). Given the bulk and diversity of topics in the World Wide Web, Alstyne & Brynjolfsson (5) have argued that what is happening is that there is a â€Å"cyber-balkanization† and fragmentation of internet and technology users according to their interest. As s uch, there are various cliques and groupings of individuals that keep out others who do not share the same interest with them.On the other hand, Pack (16) conjectured that the television is very powerful in shaping the perceptions and understanding of people about the world. Since most of the people of the world are exposed to the television, the advertisements, the shows and even the news reports among others are instrumental in the development of new imagined communities based on interest. Communication and Disconnection As people learn to communicate better in the setting of information and other communication technologies, there is a tendency for people to lose their non-verbal and non-linguistic communication skills.Because of the large amount of time spent by individuals in communicating online or using various information and communication technologies, they spend less time interacting with others, and thus might lose other non-verbal communication skills. This will be a sign ificant loss for society if information and communication technologies hamper the traditional means of communication of individuals in the society. Conclusion Information and communication technologies, as most products of science and innovation, have contributed to an easier lifestyle.However, there are tradeoffs to this. The traditional means of communication are being undermined by the excessive use of these technologies. In addition, the internet, the television and similar technologies are giving rise to new kinds of imagined communities based on common interest and pursuit. These imagined communities, however, lack a single coherent message in comparison to the â€Å"print-capitalism† discourse of Anderson (7) that gave rise to nations as imagined communities.Instead, what is present are a lot of several seemingly disconnected messages that bind certain groups of people across geographies through the process of â€Å"cyber-balkanization† as described by Alstyne & Brynjolfsson (4). In certain aspects, there is also an empowerment of individuality in information technology, especially in the Web 2. 0 technologies that seek to give more preference to the way that individuals conduct their computing and extend their presence online (O’Reilly, n. p. ).In the ending of Big Brother (Orwell, n.p. ) the characters in the novel were subjected to extensive brainwashing through the media—visual, print and even coercion. The novel also showed the potent power of media in propagating a message, even a wrong one at that. Such a scenario, however, is unlikely to happen with the current information technologies available since there is no centralized group or person controlling these technologies. Technologies may have had negative effects on the communication skills of people yet individualism is here to stay.

Orion System Essay

I. INTRODUCTION The basic resource of any organization whether it is business, non business government or nongovernment is human’s physical and mental ability. One of important duties of manager is to motivate these forces to achieve organization objectives. Generally, motivation is categorized into physical, social and mental motivation. Physical motivation is referred to the needs of individuals in work environment like well fare facilities (adequate work area, climate, light, etc.) Those human needs which are associated with behavior of others and manager in particular and satisfy social needs are referred to as social motivation. The needs that lead to mental satisfaction are mental motivation (http://www.irjabs.com/) 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Motivation is not directly observable (it is internal to each employee), it is personal (what is arousing differs and how behavior is directed is often different), however the process is common and it is goal directed. There are different theories of motivation. Early theories of motivation and Contemporary theories Of motivation and also they are classified as Content theories and Process theories. A Classification of Motivation Theories (Content vs. Process) Motivation theories can be classified broadly into two different perspectives: Content and Process theories. Content Theories deal with â€Å"what† motivates people and it is concerned with individual needs and goals. Maslow, Alderfer, Herzberg and McCelland studied motivation from a â€Å"content† perspective. Process Theories deal with the â€Å"process† of motivation and is concerned with â€Å"how† motivation occurs. Vroom, Porter & Lawler, Adams and Locke studied motivation from a â€Å"process † perspective. 1). CONTENT THEORIES MASLOW’S (NEED HIERARCHY THEORY NOTE): An individual moves â€Å"up the steps† of the hierarchy. â€Å"Lower order† needs are satisfied externally (i.e. physiological and safety) while â€Å"higher order† needs are satisfied internally (i.e. social, esteem, and self-actualization) THEORY X & THEORY Y MCGREGOR BELIEVED (Theory Y assumptions were more valid than Theory X)and proposed such ideas as participative decision making, responsible and challenging jobs, and good group relations as approaches that would maximize  an employee’s motivation. TWO-FACTOR THEORY :_Intrinsic factors are related to job satisfaction, while extrinsic factors are related to job dissatisfaction. THE ERG THEORY Alderfer’s theory — Existence, Relatedness, and Growth. †¢ Existence refers to our concern with basic material existence requirements; what Relatedness refers to the desire we have for maintaining interpersonal relationships; similar to Maslow’s social/love need, and the external component of his esteem need. Growth refers to an intrinsic desire for personal development; the intrinsic component of Maslow’s esteem need, and self-actualization ((Robbins and Judge,2007) Alderfer’s ERG theory differs from Maslow’s Need Hierarchy insofar as ERG theory demonstrates that more than one need may be operative at the same time. ERG theory does not assume a rigid hierarchy where a lower need must be substantially satisfied before one can move on. ACHIEVEMENT NEED THEORY David McClelland is most noted for describing three types of motivational need, which he identified in his 1961 book, The Achieving Society: achievement motivation (n-ach) authority/power motivation (n-pow) affiliation motivation (n-affil) ( david mcclelland, http://ozgurzan.com) INCENTIVE THEORY Incentive theory suggests that employee will increase her/his effort to obtain a desired reward. This is based on the general principle of reinforcement. The desired outcome is usually â€Å"money†. This theory is coherent with the early economic theories where man is supposed to be rational and forecasts are based on the principle of â€Å"economic man†. 2.)PROCESS THEORY EXPECTANCY THEORY The strength of a tendency to act in a certain way depends on the strength of an expectation that the act will be followed by a given outcome and on the attractiveness of that the outcome to the individual. The theory focuses on three relationships )1 . Effort-performance. 2. Performance-reward. 3. Rewards-personal goals. ((http://ozgurzan.com) GOAL THEORY IN 1968 Edwin Locke proposed Goal Theory, which proposes that motivation and  performance will be high if individuals are set specific goals which are challenging, but accepted, and where feedback is given on performance. The two most important findings of this theory are: Setting specific goals (e.g. I want to earn a million before I am 30) generates higher levels of performance than setting general goals (e.g. I want to earn a lot of money). The goals that are hard to achieve are linearly and positively connected to performance. The harder the goal, the more a person will work to reach it.(ibid) ADAMS’ EQUITY THEORY Adams in 1963, Equity Theory suggests that if the individual perceives that the rewards received are equitable, that is, fair or just in comparison with those received by others in similar positions in or outside the organization, then the individual feels satisfied. Adams asserted that employees seek to maintain equity between the inputs that they bring to a job and the outcomes that they receive from it against the perceived inputs and outcomes of others. (http://ozgurzan.com) 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The problem to be analyzed in this research paper is the reasons why workers are not motivated unsatisfied and unproductive? The main concern that employers or organizations are paying attention to is on how to enhance productivity of their employees. Productivity can be affected by many different variables. Out of that employee’s motivation is the basic aspect. Different organizations employing both the financial and non-financial incentives of goal setting theory of motivation; describe whether both types of incentives affect the productivity profile but that method is motivated for a shorter period. A positive attitude can help to build strong relationships as well as create increased motivation. If you have a goal in mind that you are having a hard time finding motivation to meet, try having a positive attitude. Although it may seem challenging at times, try these easy tips in order to be more positive each day.( James Clear. http://www.solveyourproblem.com) Therefore, this behavioral, attitudes, and opinions are collected from secondary data. The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between positive  thinking and motivation. RESEARCH QUESTION To describe contemporary theories of motivation? To identify how to motivate employees To describe the relationship of positive thinking and motivation? To identify the source of positive thinking? To recommend solutions to increase motivation ? 1.3 OBJECTIVES Now days in any organization there is a problem of lack of motivation at the result low productivity, high turnover and absenteeism. Motivating employees is crucial for an organization. Employees lacking motivation can be disadvantageous for all kinds of organization.- GENERAL OBJECTIVE The General objective of the study is to know and apply the essence of motivation to increase Productivity and efficiency Specific objectives are; To motivate employees to be efficient & productive To encourage warm relationship harmony in working environment To encourage creativity & positive work attitude To be able to cope with work stress To have a healthy body & mind to carry out daily tasks efficiently. 1.4 DEFINATION OF THE TERMS MOTIVATION :- As Sasso defined in wikiversity† Motivation is directed energy toward a behavior which is constant and strong. This behavior aims to achieve a particular goal and is able to begin, continue, change course and cease. Both external and internal motives provide this direction and energy. These motives are made up of an individual’s needs, cognitions, emotions and external events’’ .(Remez ,Sasso,Wikiversity) Positive thinking:- An individual having positive expectancies for their future (Scheier & Carver, 1993). This positive mindset is said to begin from childhood, where it is learned form modeling the behaviour of parents and peers (Snyder & Lopez, 2007). This type of thinking is directly linked to motivation. Selfe respect Self respect is very important because you are able to exert honesty, confidence and integrity. You also get to earn respect from other people as well as favors’ and love because of the fact that you love yourself first. ( http://www.ask.com/question/why-is-self-respect-important) 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The significance of this study will be to gather information that will aid management to comprehend features of high staff absenteeism and turnover experienced by the organizations. The end results may permit the organization to be in an improved position to develop staff retention strategies aimed at increasing productivity. 1.6 THEORETICAL FRAME WORK The essence of motivation is positive thinking. 1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY Due to lack of material and shortage of time the study was limited on an overview of Eastern can tries and analyzes only Japan’s case of motivational scheme. 1.8 RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODOLOGY Methodology The study uses secondary data .The secondary data source is extracted from literatures on the subject matter from different websites, journals, books, etc. The secondary data contributes towards the formulation of background information and helps the researcher to formulate new theory from it. Research design The research designed to analyze motivational system of Eastern and western can tries in respect to their culture. From Eastern side Japan’s management philosophy has been taken as a bench mark For motivation factor. Data analysis method The data analysis method is through document review analyzed and interpreted by comparing with the standard literature review to draw appropriate finding, conclusion and recommendations. It is qualitative method. II. LITERATURE REVIEW The trick for employers is to figure out how to inspire employee motivation  at work. To create a work environment in which an employee is motivated about work, involves both intrinsically satisfying and extrinsically encouraging factors. Employee motivation is the combination of fulfilling the employee’s needs and expectations from work and the workplace factors that enable employee motivation – or not. These variables make motivating employees challenging. Employers understand that they need to provide a work environment that creates motivation in people. But, many employers fail to understand the significance of motivation in accomplishing their mission and vision. Even when they understand the importance of motivation, they lack the skill and knowledge to provide a work environment that fosters employee motivation. As you can imagine, a mentally healthy person is more likely to think in a positive manner. Positive thinking, like optimism, can be defined by an individual having positive expectancies for their future (Scheier& Carver, 1993). This positive mindset is said to begin from childhood, where it is learned form modeling the behaviour of parents and peers (Snyder & Lopez, 2007). This type of thinking is directly linked to motivation. This is because the behaviors and decisions that individuals make, as well as expectations of what may occur are directly influenced by one’s cognitions. A positive thinker will set attainable goals and attempt to achieve these despite their complexity. However, this same person will also know when to separate themselves from a goal when it is too far out of reach (MacLeod & Moore, 2000). While motivation can often be used as a tool to help predict behavior, it varies greatly among individuals and must often be combined with ability and environmental factors to actually influence behavior and performance. Understanding what motivates an organization’s employees is central to this study.( http://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz) Motivation of an individual is also influenced by the presence of other people. Social psychologists have been active in discovering how the presence of others in a given situation influences motivation. Finally, motivation is sometimes also approached from a more philosophical direction. That is, analyses of motivation are understood, at least in part, by examining the particular philosophical  point of view espoused by the theorist.( Adam,January19,2011) 2.1 MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES 2.11) MOTIVATION THEORIES FROM BEHAVIORAL ECONOMIST In 1759,Smith had proposed a theory of human behavior that looks anything but self interested.In his first book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Smith argued that behavior Adam. Smith argued that behavior was determined by the struggle between what Smith termed the â€Å"passions† and the â€Å"impartial spectator.† The passions included drives such as hunger and sex, emotions such as fear and anger, and motivational feeling states such as pain. Smith viewed behavior as under the direct control of the passions, but believed that people could over ride passion-driven behavior by viewing their own behavior from the perspective of an outsider—the impartial spectator—a â€Å"moral hector who, looking over the shoulder of the economic man, scrutinizes every move he makes† (Grampp, 1948, p. 317). 2.12 )CONTEMPORARY MOTIVATIONAL THEORIES. 1) ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION THEORY Atkinson &Raynor (1974) Key components: The expectancy of success / Need for Achievement / Fear of failure Achievement motivation is determined by conflicting approach and avoidance tendencies. Positive influences include the expectancy of success, the incentive values of successful completion and a need for achievement. Negative influences the expectancy of failure, the incentive to avoid failure and the fear of failure. 2. ATTRIBUTION THEORY Weiner (1992) Key components: Attributions about past successes and failures Causal attributions are a person’s explanations as to why past successes and failures occurred, and these have consequences on the way they initiate future actions. Most commonly, people attribute failure to a lack of ability on their part, rather than to insufficient effort. 3.SELF-EFFICACY THEORY Bandura (1997) Key components: Perceived self-efficacy Self-efficacy concerns a person’s assessment of their ability to carry out a given task. Consequently, their sense of efficacy will influence the choice of task they choose to carry out, as well as the amount of effort they put in and the level of persistence displayed 4)EXPECTANCY-VALUE THEORY Eccles&Wigfield (1995) and Brophy (1999) Key components: The expectancy of success / The value attached to that success The two key factors which influence the motivation to perform are a person’s expectancy to succeed and the value they place on having succeeded in doing that particular task. A person will be more highly motivated when both of these are developed. 5. SELF-WORTH THEORY Covington (1998) Locke & Latham (1990) Key components: Goal properties include specificity, difficulty and commitment The driving cause of human activity is purpose. So, for any action to take place, goals must both be set and pursued by choice. If an individual is committed to the goal, the goal needs to be Key components: Perceived self-worth People are naturally inclined to behave in ways that enhance their feelings of personal value and worth. If anything threatens these perceptions, the resultant face-saving behavior may manifest itself in many unique ways. 6. GOAL SETTING THEORY  specific and sufficiently difficult to lead to the highest level of performance. 7. GOAL ORIENTATION THEORY Ames (1992) Key components: Mastery goals and performance goals Mastery goals focus on the learning of content. Performance goals focus on demonstrating ability and getting good grades. Mastery goals are better because they tend to lead to a preference for challenging work, to intrinsic interest in learning activities and to positive attitudes towards learning. 8. SELF-DETERMINATION THEORY Deci& Ryan (1985) and Vallerand (1997) Key components: Intrinsic motivation / Extrinsic motivation A person’s intrinsic motivation is concerned with the doing of something for its own sake, in order to derive pleasure and satisfaction. This may be the joy of doing an activity or the satisfying of curiosity. A person’s extrinsic motivation is concerned with the doing of something as a means to an end, i.e. there will be some reward at the end of it all, or to avoid punishment. Motives can be placed along a continuum between self-determined (intrinsic) and controlled (extrinsic) form of motivation. 9)THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR Ajzen (1988) and Eagly&Chaiken (1993) Key components: Attitudes / Subjective norms / Perceived behavioural control Attitudes exert a direct influence on a person’s behaviour because a person’s attitude towards the goal will influence their responses to that attaining that goal. Things that can influence this are the person’s subjective norms (the perceived social pressures to achieve the goal) and also perceived behavioural control (the perceived ease or difficulty of performing the behaviour). ( 10). SOCIAL MOTIVATION THEORY Weiner (1994) and Wentzel (1999) Key components: Environmental influences A large proportion of motivation is actually derived from the socio-cultural context rather than from the individual. Key words: Motivation, positive thinking, Self respect. 2.2 WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTIVATION Motivation offers several importance to the organization and to the employees: ? Higher efficiency ? Reduce absenteeism. ? Reduces employee turn over. ? Improves a corporate image. ? Good relations. ? Improved morale. ? Reduced wastages and breakages. ? Reduced accidents. ? Facilitates initiative and innovation 2.3 HOW TO MOTIVATE EMPLOYEES 2.31 BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT MAKES US EFFECTIVE CAUSE MOTIVATION After more than a century of research and argument, motivation researchers and practitioners now begin to agree that motivation is the result of our beliefs about what makes us successful and effective. We all value the goals, working conditions and incentives that we believe will contribute to our success. We avoid situations that will prevent us from achieving our goals. For example, money and/or recognition are nearly universal motivators because they are widely perceived as indicators and facilitators of success for many, perhaps most people. Whether we call motivational tools â€Å"reinforcement†, â€Å"incentives†, â€Å"drivers†, â€Å"inducements† or by some other quasi-technical name, they only motivate when they are perceived as effective. Conversely, we .avoid conditions that we think will delay, inhibit or prevent the attainment of objectives. (Richard E. Clark1 R. E. 2003) 2.32. MOTIV ATIONAL FACTORS There are several factors that motivate a person to work. The motivational factors can be broadly divided into two groups: (http://managementconsultingcourses.com) I. MONETARY FACTORS: ? Salaries or wages: salaries or wages is one of the most important motivational factors. Reasonable salaries must be paid on time. While fixing salaries the organization must consider such as : †¢ Cost of living ,†¢ Company ability to pay &†¢ Capability of company to pay etc, ? Bonus: It refers to extra payment to employee over and above salary given as an incentive. The employees must be given adequate rate of bonus. Incentives: The organization may also provide additional incentives such as medical allowance, educational allowance, hra ,allowance, etc. ? Special individual incentives: The company may provide special individual incentives. Such incentives are to be given to deserving employees for giving valuable suggestions. II. NON MONETARY FACTORS: ? Status or job title: By providing a higher status or designations the employee must be motivated. Employees prefer and proud of higher designations. ? Appreciation and recognition: Employees must be appreciated for their services. The praise should not come from immediate superior but also from higher authorities. ? Delegation of authority: Delegation of authority motivates a subordinate to perform the tasks with dedication and commitment. When authority is delegated, the subordinate knows that his superior has placed faith and trust in him. III.WORKING CONDITIONS : Provision for better working conditions such as air-conditioned rooms, proper plant layout, proper sanitation, equipment, machines etc, motivates the employees. ? Job security: Guarantee of job security or lack of fear dismissal, etc ? Job enrichment: Job enrichment involves more challenging tasks and responsibilities. For instance an executive who is involved in preparing and presenting reports of performance, may also asked to frame plans. ? Workers participation: Inviting the employee to be a member of quality circle, or a committee, or some other form of employee participation can also motivate the work-force. ? Cordial relations: Good and healthy relations must exist throughout the organization. This would definitely motivates the employees. 2.31 MOTIVATION THEORIES ARE CULTURE BOUND †¢ Note that most theories were developed in the US. Many theories do not always work around the world (e.g., equity theory). However, many do (e.g., having interesting work). Motivation has cultural influence Eastern thinking accepts that in life, both good and bad events will occur. Rather than seeing these misfortunes as a challenge, these problems are seen as potential triumphs. When confronted with obstacles, easterners appear to take on a problem solving approach, seeking to find meaning in the positive and negative that enters their lives. Unlike Western thinking which seeks physical rewards in life, Easterners seek spiritual rewards in the afterlife and attempt to lead a more fulfilling life in doing so . The intrinsic motivation to achieve optimum cognitive functioning is highlighted in Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism. (Snyder & Lopez, 2007). WESTERN AND EASTERN CULTURE WESTERN CULTURE EASTERN CULTURE Logical and reason-centered, individualistic thinking. A more holistic, idealistic, and group thinking approach to problem solving Viewing work as a necessary burden. Viewing work as a challenging and development activity. The avoidance of risk taking and the feeling of distrust of others. An emphasis on cooperation, trust, and personal concern for other The habit of analyzing things in such great depth that it results in â€Å"paralysis through analysis.† Cooperation built on intuition and pragmatism. An emphasis on control An emphasis on flexibility www.selfdeterminationtheory.org/†¦/2001_DeciRyanGagneLeoneEtal.pd. Motivational concept from western attitude and from eastern attitude. INCENTIVES AND CULTURE Use of financial incentives to motivate employees is very common Countries with high individualism When companies attempt to link compensation to performance Financial incentive systems vary in range Individual incentive-based pay systems in which workers are paid directly for their output Systems in which employees earn individual bonuses based on organizational performance goals MANY CULTURES BASE COMPENSATION ON GROUP MEMBERSHIP Such systems stress equality rather than individual incentive plans An individually based bonus system for the sales representatives in an American MNC introduced in its Danish subsidiary was rejected by the sales force because It favored one group over another Employees felt that everyone should receive the same size bonus Indonesian oil workers rejected a pay-for-performance system where some work teams would make more money than others Workers in many countries are highly motivated by things other than financial rewards The most important rewards in locations at 40 countries of an electrical equipment MNC involved recognition and achievement Second in importance were improvements in the work environment and employment conditions including pay and work hours. MANAGERS EVERYWHERE USE REWARDS TO MOTIVATE THEIR PERSONNEL Some rewards are financial in nature such as salary raises, bonuses, and stock options. Others are non-financial such as feedback and recognition. Significant differences exist between reward systems that work best in one country and those that are most effective in another. WORK CENTRALITY The importance of work in an individual’s life can provide important insights into how to motivate human resources in different cultures Japan has the highest level of work centrality Israel has moderately high levels The United States and Belgium have average levels The Netherlands and Germany have moderately low levels Britain has low levels VALUE OF WORK Work is an important part of most people’s lifestyles due to a variety of conditions Americans and Japanese work long hours because the cost of living is high Most Japanese managers expect their salaried employees who are not paid extra to stay late at work, and overtime has become a requirement of the job There is recent evidence that Japanese workers may do far less work in a business day than outsiders would suspect JOB SATISFACTION EU workers see a strong relationship between how well they do their jobs and the ability to get what they want out of life U.S. workers were not as supportive of this relationship Japanese workers were least likely to see any connection This finding suggest difficulties may arise in American, European, and Japanese employees working together effectively. 2.4 POSITIVE THINKING AND MOTIVATION Motivation avoids clashes and non-cooperation and brings harmony, unity and co-operative outlook among employees. Managers have to work as motivators of their subordinates. For this, effective communication, proper appreciation of work done and positive encouragement are necessary and useful. Motivation is inspiring and encouraging people to work more and contribute for achieving the objectives of the company. The creation of the desire and willingness to perform the job efficiently is known as motivation. positive thinking and motivation influence one another. Not only is this seen physiologically, but it is also witnessed in relation to coping styles, well-being, learned optimism, positive psychology and religious beliefs. Motivation is able to help individuals achieve their goals of changing how they think, improving their mental, physical and everyday functioning as a result. Positive thinking however, can also motivate the individual to achieve their goals. This is highlighted through a person’s coping mechanisms and by their religious beliefs. In conclusion, this chapter has outlined how positive thinking motivates the individual as well as what motivates an individual to think positively in the first place. 2.4 HOW TO DEVELOP POSITIVE TINKING Positive thinking isn’t a natural ability, as for thats why you are here. Positive thinking is a strength, a very useful strength that will help you onto the path of success. With time, and effort, positive thinking will be your own strength, to pretty much open a whole new path to the outlook on  life. Positive thinking is contagious. People around you pick your mental moods and are affected accordingly. Think about happiness, good health and success, and you will cause people to like you and desire to help you, because they enjoy the vibrations that a positive mind emits. Learn more about yourself. A lot of times you’re just limiting yourself and your full capabilities. Try new things and stay active. Staying active and doing things new will help develop positive thinking techniques in your life. Face the things that scare you. Fears have the ability to create doubt in our minds. Doubt leads to negative thinking. Once you start facing the fears in you life, you develop more confidence.( eHow http://www.ehow.com) Associate yourself with people who think positively. Always sit and walk with your back straight. This will strengthen your confidence and inner strength. Walk, swim or engage in some other physical activity. This helps to develop a more positive attitude. 2.5 THE BENEFIT OF POSITIVE THINKING Positive attitude manifests in the following ways: Positive thinking. Constructive thinking. Creative thinking. Optimism. The motivation and energy to do things and accomplish goals. A attitude of happiness. A positive frame of mind helps in a lot of ways, such as: Expecting success and not failure. It makes you feel inspired. It gives you the strength not to give up, if you encounter obstacles on your way. You regard failure and problems as blessings in disguise. Believing in yourself and in your abilities.> You show more self-esteem and confidence. You look for solutions, instead of dwelling on problems. You see and recognize opportunities. The benefits of a positive attitude: This might seem like a repition of the above, but it helps to make this message clearer. It helps you achieve goals and attain success. It brings more happiness into your life. It produces more energy. Positive attitude increases your faith in your abilities, and brings hope for a brighter future. You become able to inspire and motivate yourself and others. You encounter fewer obstacles and difficulties in your daily life. You get more respect and love from other people. Remez Sasson, http://www.successconsciousness.com) IT CAN MAKE YOU MORE RESILIENT Resilience refers to our ability to cope with problems. Resilient people are able to face a crisis or trauma with strength and resolve. Rather than falling apart in the face of such stress, they have the ability to carry on and eventually overcome such adversity POSITIVE THINKERS COPE BETTER WITH STRESS When faced with stressful situations, positive thinkers cope more effectively than pessimists. In one study, researchers found that when optimists encounter a disappointment (such as not getting a job or promotion) they are more likely to focus on things they can do to resolve the situation. POSITIVE THINKING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEAlth Not only can positive thinking impact your ability to cope with stress and your immunity, it also has an impact on your overall well-being.(kende cherry, http://psychology.about.com/bio/Kendra-Cherry-17268.htm REFERENCE Adam .http://www.teachthemenglish.com/2011/01/10-contemporary-motivation-theories-and-h EL Deci (- ‎2001) ow-they-explain-why-your-students-just-arent-into-it/ Davidmcclelland,http://ozgurzan.com/management/management-theories/theories-a bout- motivation/ EHow , http://www.ehow.com/how_5702659_develop-positive-thinking-techniques.html Richard E. Clark1, http://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/study-with-us/study-resources-for-students/goals-and-motivation/strategies-to-increase-your-motivation/ Richard E. Clark1 R. E. 2003) Fostering the work motivation of individuals and teams. Performance Improvement, 42(3), 21- RemezSasso,Wikiversity,Motivation and emotion‎ Remez Sasson, http://www.successconsciousness.com/positive_attitude.htm Scheier, M. F., & Carver C. S. (1993).On the power of positive thinking: the benefits of being optimistic.American Psychological Society, 2, 26-32. doi: 10.1111/14678721.ep10770572 Snyder, C. R. & Lopez, S. J. (2007) Positive psychology the scientific and practical explorations of human strengths. London, UK: Sage. MacLeaod, A. K., & Moore R. (2000). Positive thinking revisited: positive cognitions, well-being and mental health. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 7, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0879(200002) kende cherry, http://psychology.about.com/bio/Kendra-Cherry-17268.htm †¦Robbins and Judge, â€Å"Organizational Behavior†, 12th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. D. Jones, â€Å"Firms spend Billions to Fire Up Workers – With Little Luck†, USA Today, May 10, D. Jones, â€Å"Firms spend Billions to Fire Up Workers – With Little Luck†, USA Today, May 10, 2001 T.R. Mitchell, â€Å"Matching Motivational Strategies with Organizational Contexts†, Research in Organizational Behavior, vol. 19, pp 60-62 P.C. Early, P. Wojnaroski, and W. Prest, â€Å"Task Planning and Energy Expended: Explorations of How Goals Influence Performance†, Journal of Applied Psychology, Feb 1987. J. Greenberg and S. Ornstein, â€Å"High Status Job Title as Compensation for Underpayment: A Test of Equity Theory†, Journal of Applied Psychology, May 1983. January 19, 2011 by Adam.http://www.teachthemenglish.com/2011/01/10-contemporary-motivation-theories-and-how-they-explain-why-your-students-just-arent-into-it/

Euthanasia & Mercy Killing and the World Today

Euthanasia can be described as one of society's more widely and hotly debated moral issues of our time. Active euthanasia, by definition, is â€Å"Doing something, such as administering a lethal drug, or using other means that cause a person's death. † Passive euthanasia, which seems to not be debated as heavily, is defined as â€Å"Stopping (or not starting) some treatment, which allows a person to die, the person's condition causes his or her death. † I have chosen to look more closely at the issue of active euthanasia, while applying Kant†s standards to the issue. Those who support the practice of active euthanasia might argue that helping the terminally ill to bring about their own deaths, allowing them to determine the how and when, is not only humane, but also allows the person who is simply living to die to maintain dignity by orchestrating their own end, thus letting them die at peace, rather than suffer to the end, perceiving themselves to be a burden and/or disgrace, to those they love. According to recent polls, many people would agree, but the question is, have they taken a close look at the ethical debate? Those who are against active euthanasia would say not, and would argue that by participating in the practice of active euthanasia, one is â€Å"playing God,† or perhaps, even worse, that they are not acting out of mercy, but rather out of selfishness, attempting to lessen their own burden. If this were the case, the act is nothing less than cold-blooded murder. Murder is defined as; â€Å"The unlawful, premeditated killing of one human being by another. † Euthanasia remains unlawful as of today, and the act of euthanasia is premeditated, thus whether for the purpose of mercy or not, euthanasia is by definition, murder. According to Kantian perspective and the Holy Bible, murder is both a sin and a crime, therefore we should not participate in the practice of euthanasia, because it is murder, and it is the wrong thing to do. The euthanasia debate raises many questions. Questions such as; For whose benefit is the murder actually taking place? Should we allow family members to make a life-or-death decision on behalf of a loved one who may never have expressed a desire to die, simply because they could not vocalize a will to live? If a person should be suffering with an illness of which there seems no hope of recovery, yet they are unable to make a choice for themselves how do we know what that person would voluntarily choose? Is it our right to decide whether or not they have a desire to live? If we ourselves are not in the position of the individual whose life and/or death is being decided, we cant possibly know or understand what their will is, what they would opt for personally, or even whether or not they can comprehend what is happening. Thus, the decisions we are making find us â€Å"playing God,† and assuming that our decisions are always in the best interests of another. Without knowing for sure what the individual would have chosen, we may well have gone against their will, and thus have committed murder. Some would argue that the practice of euthanasia is used as a last resort, when the individual can no longer manage the pain of their illness. However, that argument can be rebutted by an observation made by a proponent of a movement similar to Right to Die. Dr Pieter Admiraal, a leader of a movement to legalize assisted suicide in the Netherlands, stated publicly that pain is never justification for euthanasia considering the advanced medical techniques currently available to manage pain in almost every circumstance. Thus the pain does not justify death, but rather it justifies the need for more money to educate health care professionals on better pain management techniques. Shouldn†t we look into a suicidal persons emotional and psychological background before we conclude that his or her suicide is acceptable because they are going to die anyway? We ought to take into consideration, the statistics which tell us that fewer than one in four people with terminal illness have a desire to die, and that all of those who did wish to die had previously suffered with clinically diagnosable depression. 6 If we choose to overlook these statistics, and others that tell us that psychotherapeutic treatments are not only available, but equally successful among people with terminal illness, as among people without7 then we are indeed cutting that person's life short, and thus one again, committing murder. If a physically healthy person who suffered with depression were to approach us with thoughts of suicide, we would comfort them, seek treatment for them, and provide as much as we were able, to see that they got the reassurance and the psychological or emotional help that they needed. Certainly we would not tell them that the choice was theirs and hand them a gun. Why then do we not do the same for those suffering with a physical illness? Further statistics tell us that the chances for living a happy life are often greater for a person who has attempted suicide, but are stopped, and provided with the help they need, than for individuals suffering with similar problems, who have never attempted suicide. It would serve us well to take notice of these statistics. We ought to be making every effort to find alternatives to euthanasia, and help people with their problems, instead of helping them to end what very well could be a happy life. One must also ask why some doctors would fight so vigorously to legalize the practice of killing the terminally ill, while others maintain that there are many alternatives available that may offer a satisfactory and comfortable quality of life for those suffering from severe illness. Is it possible that some doctors are â€Å"selling death† for reasons other than compassion? If the possibility exists for this to be the case, than we ought to expect some doctors to abuse the system, as well as the rights and best interests of the patient, in order to better themselves financially, or otherwise. I personally believe that it would be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, to legislate a point of illness or disability where euthanasia would be considered legally or ethically acceptable. To do so would be saying that all disabled or terminally ill patients have no chance for a happy and fulfilling life. I believe that we are taking quite a risk when we bring about another person's death willfully, thus assuming that we have the ability to look into the future and deem their life unlivable.