Effective Communication Paper Essay

One way to share information and ideas is by working in teams. â€Å"A team is a small group of people with complementary skills, who work together to achieve a shared purpose and who hold themselves mutually accountable for its accomplishment† (Lombardi & Schermerhorn, 2007, p. 76). â€Å"Teamwork is essential in the provision of healthcare. The division of labor among medical, nursing and allied health practitioners means that no single professional can deliver a complete episode of healthcare† (Leggat, 2007, p. ). Through teamwork, people work together to accomplish the goals set forth by members of the team or organization. Teamwork requires leadership, commitment, and understanding. Through these aspects, team members can learn how to operate together, achieve high levels of task performance, and membership satisfaction. When team members work together they can pull their resources together and come up with the best outcome possible for any problem they may have or goal they want to achieve. Working in teams also has a huge impact on individuals’ needs, attitudes, and performance. Teams can be good for members and the organization and provide benefits, such as â€Å"increasing resources for problem-solving, fostering creativity and innovation, improving the quality of decision making, enhancing members’ commitments to tasks, raising motivation through collective action, helping control and discipline members, and satisfying individual needs as organizations grow in size† (Lombardi & Schermerhorn, 2007, p. 6) They may feel that their ideas are the best because of more training or experience. Others may just feel like being on a team is not a good for them because they can work better alone.   In a healthcare environment teamwork can be applied to benefit the organization and patients. Managers are responsible for choosing individuals they see best fit for working together to achieve the maximum goals for the organization. In a healthcare setting individuals specialize in many areas. When patients have multiple illnesses or injuries, nurses, doctors, and specialists can work together, pull resources from all areas, and share their knowledge to achieve the best results for treatment plans so the patient always receives the best care possible. One downfall would be putting a couple of specialists in the same field together and them not agreeing on the same treatment. This could delay treatment for the patient while the team is trying to decide on what to do for the patient Technology can have a great impact on the success of teamwork. While the team members are sharing their knowledge of the issues at hand, the Internet is readily available as a resource tool. If any questions arise about success rates, techniques, treatments plans or options, or side effects, the team members can research the information to make the final decision. They may also look at the history of the patient through electronic medical records to see if any previous issues would be the cause of new symptoms, the patient has any medical allergies, or to see if any treatment plans did not work for the patient in the past if the issue is a recurring one.

Proposal of Divorce

Proposal: Divorce The topic I will be discussing in my paper is on Divorce and the affects it has on the household. To me this topic is significant because my parents were separated. Although they were never married, it seems as though the affects of divorce are similar. In society, this topic is significant because today, divorce happens all the time. It seems as though it is just as popular as getting married. When divorce is brought to society’s attention it is looked at many different ways.Some people analyze it as a good thing. â€Å"If they weren’t truly happy, then its best to go their separate ways†. Other viewers in society such as priests and ministers tend to take a different view. â€Å"They were brought together by God. They took a vow; ‘Until death do we part’, and although it’s not a sin, it is looked down upon†. Different views on the topic of divorce seem to have one idea in common: the affect it has on the household.Di vorce is a very tough process and can be very strenuous on the kids in the family. While researching this topic I plan to go to a church group that may help deal with the issues involved in divorce. I also plan on investigating the different organizations that help the family and kids recover from the separation of their parents. Online, there are studies and research done on the affects that a divorce has on the family that I will be taking a look at.Throughout the duration of writing this paper I plan to research my topic as much as possible. Research can take up to a matter of days or weeks. However, this paper does have a deadline and I am sure I will not achieve 100% of the information that an actual research might use. I will research this topic as much as I need to for as long as I can to get an accurate reading on the topic of Divorce and the affect it has in the household. Because I am the only researcher for this topic, there will be a lot to do.This includes: gathering ge neral information, going to different places that help kids of divorced parents, pull all the information together and write a paper that explains the effects that divorce has on the household. I feel that this paper will help those around me look at divorce in a different way. Some may change their view, while others may stay the same. I just have to get the facts on both sides and present it to them so that people can truly understand the effects that divorce has on a household.

An Evaluation on Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores

An in-depth comparison of two corporations: Target and Wal-Mart. This paper examines the large store discount general merchandise market through the comparison of Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores. The paper is packed with facts and statistic on the corporations investments, bank loans and markets. The papers author asks the question of which company is best to invest in and who is the better employer. This paper is written in outline format with a clear and direct method of presenting information. Table of Contents The Large-Store Discount General Merchandise Market Investment Decisions Lending Decisions Employer Overview Of Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc Investment Decisions Employment Appendix Bibliography Outline 1. The companies being analyzed are Target Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. They are general merchandise retailers. They compete in the large-store general merchandise market, especially in the discount store segment and the US geographic market. 1.1. Target Corporations Store Brands in multiple formats are Target, Super Target, Mervyns, Marshall Fields, Target Direct and Target Visa. Target operates 1409 stores in 47 states in the United States and is currently the No.3 discount retailer in the US market. 1.2. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc has several Store Brands: Wal-Mart currently operates 2295 Wal-Mart Discount Stores; 1521 Supercenters; 564 Sams Clubs and 34 Neighbourhood Markets in 9 countries outside the US Argentina; Brazil; Canada; China; Germany; South Korea; Mexico; Puerto Rico; United Kingdom. Wal-Mart is today the worlds largest retailer (and company measured by revenue) and occupies the No.1 position in the US General Merchandise Retail Market.

The Sleaze Factor during the 1988 Presidential Campaign Term Paper

The Sleaze Factor during the 1988 Presidential Campaign - Term Paper Example In the 1984 presidential elections, the democrats had nominated Walter Mondale to lead them in the presidential race; he however failed to be elected. The democrats therefore devised new ways, which would help them win the next election. The democrats won back the senate after president Reagan was mentioned in involvement in Iran-contra, their hopes raised that they would win presidency (Kathleen). The party leaders recruited Mario Cuomo who chose not to run for the presidency. Gary Hart the Colorado senator had shown some interest in presidency, however questions concerning extramarital affairs arose and, this tarnished his name in the campaign. The media termed him as a reputed adulterer and wife beater. He however did not give up on his campaigns. Joe Biden was also part of the race in 1988 presidential elections but Neil Kinnock accused him of using his speech illegally with only slight alterations. This led him to withdraw from the presidential pursuit. Bush was tied to scandals from the Reagan administration, which included the Iran-contra; the Dukakis camp had attacked them (Lafeber 268). Governor Dukakis was criticized that he was uninformed on matters pertaining to the military. This move devastated his public relations; Bush used this to damage his campaigns and explained that he would not make a good commander-in-chief. Republican Willie Horton attacked Dukakis that he had failed to clean up the pollution on the harbor (Lafeber 269). Rumours also spread in the media that Dukakis wife had burned the American flag to protest against Vietnam War. 1.1 Impacts of the Sleaze Factor and the Role Played By Media The first man nominated by the democrats for the presidential race did not have the qualities to suit him to be in the Whitehouse. Many mocked him that his qualities would only make a Babylonian priest and not a president. American presidential elections have always relied on the use of patriotism the republicans had appealed that Michael Dukakis was not liberal and did not consider patriotism as an important factor. Al gore campaigned as a presidential aspirant as a democratic candidate in 1988, however, he did not succeed. He was highly criticized for attacking fellow politicians, Jackson and Dukakis. These accusations brought about political scandals, which damaged the reputations of the presidential candidates. Each candidate had a nasty thing to say about the others; this however, did no help them to win. It actually confused the voters who had a task in selecting the person who would represent them as their president. George bush however won the elections despite the fact that he was accused of being associated with the Iran-Contra affair. The media played a great role in the in the investigative reporting of dishonesty and scandals facing the presidential candidates. They act as public watchdogs representing the public interest. The 1988 presidential campaigns used media to tarnish each other’s names. The media te nds to focus so much on negative campaigning rather than positivity. Most of the politicians used attack advertisements as their political strategies; they were so prevalent that it was termed as the year of negativity. 1.2 Sleaze as a Form of Campaign

Egonomics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Egonomics - Assignment Example The nature and pattern of human consumption has evolved significantly over the years with a significant move away from goods produced under mass production (initiated by the car maker Henry Ford) towards specialized production and finally customized production. It is not surprising that the focus of many companies today is no longer just the provision of an exceptional quality product or service but one which caters to niches and has the capability of being adapted as per individual requirements of the customer. In other words, personalization and the creation of unique customer experiences has become the new source of gaining competitive advantage in the midst of largely undifferentiated products and services. To set themselves apart from the crowd, consumers are increasingly flocking towards products that others do not have. This is because, as humans, our behavior is more often â€Å"irrational† than rational and that various purchases cannot be explained in the light of ae sthetics, utility of performance. In other words, the fact that most of engage in building and sustaining our self-esteem and self-confidence means that we often pay a price much higher than the actual worth of the product just for the sake of its exclusivity or limited availability. One such example is that of the recent launch of limited number of exclusive Apple iPhone 24 carat gold handsets that cost a fortune ($2853) to consumers (Trivedi).The pricing reflects the exclusivity of the product which, most consumers may find as a cushion to their self-image. Similarly, the LeBron James Limited Edition watch by Audemars Pigue is designed to cater to enthusiasts who would like to own this $51,500 watch (Adams) as a status symbol and to set them apart from the crowd. The high price reflects the (monetary) worth of the owner/consumer which is consistent with psychology that suggests that human beings are prone to engaging in impression management or casting favorable impressions of one self in the society. Furthermore, considering that humans have imperfect knowledge about themselves, they constantly strive for feedback from others (through praise of appreciation) to boost their perception of themselves. An example is of a customer who is praised by his friend for wearing a $51,500 watch and who receives increased attention from others by virtue of this valuable possession. This can be referred to as â€Å"personal branding† or differentiating yourself from other brands or individuals. In other cases, the same may be considered as a â€Å"requirement† as per social benchmarks (Benabou and Tirole). For instance, an individual attending high profile dinner of delegates may consider it as a disgrace to his self-worth to wear anything less than a custom-made designer outfit or designer shoes. Keeping these trends in view, it is no wonder that companies are looking towards the personalization of their service offerings as well. This is commonly known as o ne-on-one marketing or micro-targeting whereby promotional tools such as the e-mail, internet, direct mail, special events and others are used to target customers with specific psychographic profiles or lifestyles. For instance, HSBC posted banner ads on its websites that were highly personalized meaning that the bank offered special â€Å"offers† depending on the account balance of the customer and the content

Reflective report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Reflective report - Essay Example These included self confidence, the levels of conservatism exuded, assertiveness, as well as risk taking. The other aspect that was considered was the attitude of the diners. The objective was also to profile the complainers against the non complainers in terms of choice of action that the former decides to take. Other than, the objective sought to establish the relationships that lies between the aforementioned factors. Lastly, the study sought to come up with what would be termed as an appropriate complaint behavior from the Chinese diners. The essay was evaluated by my professor. From the evaluation, the comments that were received were very positive. In fact, the evaluation insinuated that the research had been collectively conducted in a successful manner. The ideas that were focused on in the essay showed consistency as well as a well thought outline. In fact, the final grade that I was assigned from the evaluation shows that it was a successful study. In the feedback that I re ceived, however, there were some points that were raised by the instructor. For instance, there was the recommendation that I adopted a language which would easily be understood by everyone. The criticism was that I should be coherent in explaining some of the issues raised in the course of the essay. Being a dissertation on management, the focus on the anticipated course of action that Chinese diners would take should be brought out clearly from the start of the essay till the end. Otherwise, the essay is relatively well written and well researched. It gives the necessary information on the topical subject. In the case of a viva in the mid ear,my performance in terms of the essay would not have been bad. In fact, I would rate my essay as good. This comes from many factors which mainly relate to a personal evaluation on the essay done. In reference to providing good answers to the questions provided, it is assertive to state that the essay covered well the questions that were highli ghted in the course of its research. The topics were discussed in view of how relevant they are in the current society. Section 2 The second essay was on a study that was conducted to affirm how relevant CCB was in terms of modern day marketing. In the days gone by, it was the norm. However, in recent years things had changed. Consequently, the study was relevant and was about perfect timing in terms of the predicament. In reference to CCB, research has been carried out under different times in many countries but the information that was availed was not sufficient s of being specific to the developing markets found in countries such as those in Asia. This should bear in mind that countries such as China have a peculiar trait in that their culture as well as religious composition shows homogeneity. The evaluation of the essay was done by my professor. I view of the grading system that is currently used, I would say that the essay was quite precise in highlighting the essence of CCB i n modern day marketing. The issues that were worth praising from my essay is how the ideas that formed the argument were brought out well and clear. The argument was presented in a way that showed either a deep understanding of the topical subject or a well researched work. That is what made the instructor be impressed by my work. However, in as much as the essay showed exemplary understanding of

Child Abuse Laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Child Abuse Laws - Essay Example Statistics on child abuse in the UK are very alarming. In a period of one year between 2012 April and March 2013, the police recorded 23000 sexual offences against children. On average, at least one child is killed every week in the hands of an adult through physical abuse in the UK. In 2012, the police forces in England and Wales reported about 28000 cases of children running away from care as a result of constant abuse while the Sex Offenders Register for sexual offences against children recorded 2980 cases. Another shocking statistic is that about 34% of cases of child abuse are left unreported to authorities. This makes it difficult to tackle this problem.In order to adequately protect children from abuse, it is necessary to understand the factors that cause or threaten to cause abuse among children. There are various causes of child abuse. Studies show that children from violent parents who are constantly engaged in domestic violence are also likely to experience abuse from the parents. Children who get unintended pregnancies are also likely to experience abuse and neglect from their parents (Balliere & Tindall, 2003). In other cases, children with severe or moderate disabilities often have a higher rate of falling victims to abuse. Parents with a history of substance abuse are also likely to subject their children to abuse. Recent studies also indicate that children in the custody of non-biological parents, for instance those living with step parents, are 100 times more likely to face abuse. Child abuse has a wide range of effects on the children, some of which may be long term and may persist in to the adult life of the children. A recent research study dubbed Hidden Costs in Health Care: The Economic Impact of Violence and Abuse, makes the case that child abuse also has greater effects on the wider societies economic prospects. The report states that child abuse forms a greater part of expensive and costly public health policy which can be avoided with appropriate child protection legal frameworks. Some of the effects of child abuse on children include both physical and psychological effects. Child victims of abuse are exposed to a lot of physical injuries including bone fractures and may develop higher chances of contracting cancer. In some cases these physical damages may be temporary while in other cases they may persist in the long term. Among some of the permanent or long term physical infections on children as a result of abuse include brain impairments, shaken b aby syndrome, and poor physical health. Psychological effect

Prevention and Control of Diseases and Health Conditions Case Study

Prevention and Control of Diseases and Health Conditions - Case Study Example The prevalence of disease is a vital consideration in screening activities. In this context, it can be stated that as the prevalence increases, the predictive values are affected. However, the increased prevalence of cancer has low influence on sensitivity and specificity (Petticrew et. al., 2000). In conclusion, it can be stated that recognizing the epidemiology of transferrable diseases is vital for appropriate administration of medical care. The transferable diseases represent significant demand of screening tests which should be executed carefully in order to develop proper treatment. False screening not only results in increased anxiety, but can also give rise to delays in treatment or faults in the treatment program for patients (Fos & Fine, 2012). Malur, P. R., Desai, B. R., Anita, D., Geeta, D., Bhavana, S., & Pallav, G. (2009). Sequential screening with cytology and colposcopy in detection of cervical Neoplasia. South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1(3), 45-48. Petticrew, M. P., Sowden, A. J., Lister-Sharp, D., Wright, K. (2000). False-negative results in screening programmes: systematic review of impact and implications. Health Technology Assessment, 4(5),

Assignment 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Assignment 7 - Essay Example Studies show that the number of protests has increased at higher rate in the past three years. The State of Washington alone reported approximately 20 protests of this kind in the year 2006 (Zeigler 1). Organizations can avoid protests in various ways including maximization of competition by an agency. Agencies can maximize competition by making the process to be open while avoiding biases. Keeping the process open involves informing the public clearly about what an agency intends to do during the bidding process. All the bidding processes should be clearly documented. An organization should also ensure that all the processes listed in the document are followed. Transparency is vital in any bidding process. It can be enhanced by publishing the written procedures and policies. This can also serve as evidence against future protests. While keeping the process open it is important for an agency to ensure that specifications or requirements are not costly and restraining. The other recommendation for preventing the protest includes offering supplier training. Most protests occur due to failure to offer supplier training. Supplier training enables suppliers to gain knowledge and skills on how to offer procurement services in ethical ways. The other strategy of avoiding the protest includes being in charge. It involves accountability of the agency in the award decision making and writing procedures. Many agencies fail because they heavily depend on experts in technical assistance and evaluation processes. Experts are helpful, but agencies should only seek advice instead of making them in charge of the entire process because the purchasing lead usually makes the final decisions since they are the ones who sign the award and accept accountability even if decisions were made based on the experts’ recommendations. Protests can also be avoided by specifying the roles of both parties. This helps in preventing the public from protesting

Hawaii Weddings Essay Example for Free

Hawaii Weddings Essay Wedding Style in Hawaii Like most of the rest of the world weddings, in Hawaii symbolizes tradition and cultural elements in a colorful and beautiful place intended to bring fortune, luck and happiness to couples who are going to be for the rest of their lives together. Hawaiian brides, traditionally wear a Hawaiian dress called holoku. A holoku is a wedding dress with flowers and in her hair as well. Men usually wear a white shirt, white pants and a colorful sash. Casual foot wear is permitted, unless if the wedding is inside a house, footwear may be avoided. Another Hawaiian symbol for wedding eremony is the leis. Leis are a traditional flower garlands worn around the neck. Two main leis made of fragrant flowers and green leaves are especially made for the groom and bride. These main leis represent the peoples relationship with nature as a traditional aspect. The brides lei have white Jasmine and the grooms lei have Lima. Also, both the mother-in-laws wear especially made leis which have an abundance of jasmine. The weddings are announced by three blows ofa conch shell in a consecutive manner. This conch shell represents the summoning of God to support the ceremony. Fireworks also are part of the weddings symbolizing the pushing of evil away. The performance of dance called pandango is required, its also performed in many weddings and its often called the money dance, encircling the couples with a strong of taped money. Cultures around the world has affected Hawaiian weddings as well, as one of the influences is the wedding cake. Hawaiian wedding cakes are usually made of wheat flour, symbolizing the beginning of a new relationship together. This relationship is further strengthened by sharing the knife for cake cutting and presenting the first slice to each other.

General Studies Essays Use of Torture

General Studies Essays Use of Torture Can the Use of Torture be Justified? This report aims to, in the first instance, define torture. It then examines the history of torture and looks at international law that relates to torture.  Ã‚   The main part of the study analyses ethical theories in relation to torture and uses these ethical viewpoints to examine whether or not torture can be justified in any circumstances.   In addition, the Algerian War and the Iraq War will be used as case studies to further discuss the ethical issues surrounding torture.   Conclusions will be drawn and the author’s answer to the question ‘can the use of torture ever be justified?’ will be given, based on the findings in the rest of the report. Limitations of Study This study has its limitations.   First of all, only two case studies are used.   There are numerous cases of torture throughout the world and throughout history that could be utilised.   In doing so, perhaps a different conclusion would be made.   As torture is such an emotive subject it is difficult to ensure that the facts are truly represented.   Before the nineteenth century some countries publicly acknowledged torture as an instrument of judicial inquiry, however today the vast majority of countries where torture is practised will blankly deny any knowledge of it.   This, of course, makes a study of torture difficult. In addition, as will be seen, there are numerous, conflicting ethical theories that can be applied to the topic of torture.   A person’s personal beliefs will influence how much credence they give to each viewpoint.   Consequently, the author’s opinions are likely to differ from the reader’s.   Definition of Torture Torture has a widely understood definition of causing someone severe pain or mental anguish, usually in order to gain some information from the person being tortured, most usually a confession.   Amnesty International state that ‘torture is the systematic and deliberate infliction of acute pain in any form by one person on another, in order to accomplish the purpose of the former against the will of the latter’ (Klayman, 1978, p482).   This definition encompasses both physical and mental pain.  Ã‚   It also notes that torture has a purpose, and does not allow torture for the sake of the torturer’s amusement.   The Commission for the European Convention on Human Rights defines torture simply as ‘deliberate inhuman treatment causing very serious or cruel suffering’ (Morgan Evans, 1999, p95).   It offers examples of forcing people to adopt a stress position in rooms where there is a continuous loud hissing noise, hooding, and deprivation of food and water. The Commission for the European Convention on Human Rights’ definition is the author’s preferred definition.   This is because it defines torture, not by the torturer’s intentions, but by the effect the treatment has on the tortured.  Ã‚   A Brief History of Torture The word torture often conjures up images of medieval torture instruments such a branding irons and head screws.   From the mid fourteenth century to the end of the eighteenth century torture was an accepted practise by armies, judicial systems and even churches (Maran, 1989, p vii).   Public opinion changed in the nineteenth century, but torture continued to be carried out.   Once the torture of Jews by the Nazis in the Second World War became public knowledge, numerous international laws were bought into effect to prevent the use of torture.   However, torture still continues to this day, but as its use is still widely condemned, details of torture are either kept non-public, are down played or justified by manipulation of public opinion.   So called civilised countries are just as likely to be the perpetrators of torture today as countries with a known poor human rights record (Kellaway, 2003, p34).  Ã‚  Ã‚   The International Context of Torture International law currently absolutely and unequivocally prohibits torture in all circumstances.   There are many international laws and conventions that define torture as a crime against humanity.   These include The European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and the European Convention on Human Rights.   These two pieces of law are intended to work side by side. The UN Committee Against Torture is a body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention against Torture and other torture related law.   All member states are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights). Ethical Theories Applied to Torture There are many and varied ethical theories that could be applied to the question, ‘can the use of torture ever be justified?’   Theories that conclude that torture is never acceptable will be examined first. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) developed Kantian Theory. It is based on the belief that reason is the final authority for morality.   A moral act is an act done for the right reasons (Lovell Fisher, 2002, p314).   Kantian Theory is closely related to the doctrines of all major religions, the Bible states ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.   At the centre of Kantian ethics is his categorical imperative, which is a set of universal rules that outline ‘that only the good will, a will to act out of a sense of duty, has unqualified moral worth’ (Pojman, 1998, p194). Using deontological theory, whereby actions are intrinsically right or wrong, torture can be seen to be unacceptable, whatever the circumstances and consequences.   Deontologists hold that one cannot undertake immoral acts like torture even if the outcome is morally preferable, such as the early ending of a war or the saving of lives. Edmund Burke, the late eighteenth century writer and politician, accused the British of suffering from what he termed geographical morality (Lee Smith, 2004, p16).   ‘Geographical morality’ is when people are prepared to be shocked by and to condemn torture in other countries while condoning its practice by their own authorities.   The British are not the only ones to be guilty of this, many countries, especially in the West can be accused of ‘geographical morality’.  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, there are many other theories that show that torture could be morally acceptable in some situations. John Stuart Mill (1808-73) put forward an ethical theory known as utilitarianism. Utilitarianism can be summed up in the phrase, ‘everyone should act in such a way to bring the largest possibly balance of good over evil for everyone involved’ (Almond, 1988, p127).   Using this theory, torture can be justified if it brings about a greater good for a greater number of people.   The ends justify the means.   Using Utilitarianism Theory, if the torture of one person means that several people are located and rescued from a dire situation, then that torture is justifiable.   Consequentialism offers the idea that torture is justifiable if the consequences of the torture are morally right.   Consequentialism is an ethical view that establishes the rightness or wrongness of actions by the good or bad produced by its consequences.   Interlaced with the question ‘can torture ever be justified?’ is the question ‘can war ever be justified?’   As torture is an agent of war, this seems appropriate.   Just War Theory can be used to justify torture on the grounds that it is acceptable in response to certain situations.   St Thomas Aquinas (1225-74) described ‘jus ad bellum’, the conditions that he believed has to be met for war to be justified.   War has to be ordered by a legitimate authority, it must be waged for a just cause and the intention of those who wage war should be the triumph of good over evil (Almond, 1998, p197).   Of course, the problem with utilising this Just War theory is that fulfilment of the conditions is subjective.   However, it is possible that torture could be morally justified using the Just War Theory if it was carried out by a legitimate government whose general aim is good and with the best of intentions. The concept of proportionality is found in Acquinas consideration of the Just War Theory. He argued that warring activity should be proportionate to the aggression made and therefore not excessive to that aggression.   This would imply that torture, an extremely aggressive warring activity, would be ethically acceptable in response to extremely aggressive actions.   It can be argued that the intentions of a torturer make a difference to the moral value of the action of torture.   In consequentialist theories of ethics, intention is important, as intention is what you hope to achieve by the action.   For Kant, intention can make all the difference between morally correct behaviour and morally incorrect behaviour.   Ideology can play a part in legitimising the use of torture.   Ideology is the body of ideas and beliefs of a group, possibly religious, or nation (Maran, 1989, p11).   If the ideology of the tortured is believed to be morally wrong and the act of torture prevents the spread of this ideology then torture can be deemed to be justified. So, in conclusion, there are ethical theories that both state that torture can never be justified and those that state it can be, in different, varying circumstances. Case Study: Torture in the Algerian War (1954-1962) The Algerian War lasted from 1954 to 1962.   The war was the final part of the process of the decolonisation of Algeria from France.   The war was one of the 20th Centurys bloodiest colonial struggles, and it continues to be the object of intense controversy, especially in France (BBC News, 2001).   It is now public knowledge that the French utilised torture against some Algerians.   This torture has been widely condemned in recent years.   However morality has a historical dimension and the morality of today cannot be used to judge the actions of fifty years ago.  Ã‚  Ã‚   In 1955 a French civil servant, Williaume, was sent by the French government to investigate allegations of torture in Algeria by French military personnel. His report failed to unequivocally condemn the torture that he discovered (Nacquet, 1963, appendix). As a result, the period 1955 to 1962 saw an increase in the amount of torture, not only through Algeria, but also in France itself Paul Aussaresses, a retired French general is quoted as saying â€Å"as far as the use of torture is concerned, it was tolerated, if not recommended.† Aussaresses is unusual in that he openly talked about and wrote about the act of torture and his participation in it.   Although many others have reviewed the use of torture in the Algerian War, Aussaresses is one of the few who were involved and can give first hand accounts.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore his comments that defend the use of torture will be used to form the basis of this part of the report.  Ã‚   Torture, Aussaresses said, was sanctioned at the highest level because of the need to extract urgent information from the enemy.   â€Å"It was a matter of stopping actions which were being prepared for deeds causing the deaths of my fellow French and Algerian citizens,† he said.   He claims to have stopped Algerian bomb makers from killing French civilians by extracting confessions though electric shocks and suffocation. (BBC News, 2001).   Aussaresses seems here to be using Mill’s Theory of Utilitarianism to justify the torture that occurred; he believed it bought about a greater good for a greater number of people.   Whether or not this torture can be considered justified in the light of his comments depends on whether or not the torture did indeed stop other deaths, and of course, whether the reader subscribes to the Theory of Utilitarianism.   Sources note that the effect of the torture of Algerians by French was a retaliation whereby Algerians took part in ‘killing and raping collaborators, rivals and settlers’ (Joly, 1991, p36).   So, in actual effect the torture that Aussaresses describes as the catalyst for saving lives, actually served to result in more life loss.   Therefore, regardless of the beliefs of the author or reader regarding the Theory of Utilitarianism, in this instance the act of torture was not justifiable on the grounds that it bought about the largest possible balance of good over evil for everyone involved. Aussaresses is also quoted as saying â€Å"the men I executed were always men guilty of blood crimes. They had blood on their hands.   I would do it again today if it were against Bin Laden† (BBC News, 2001).   Aussaresses seems to be utilising the concept of proportionality from Acquinas’ Just War Theory to justify the acts of torture and killing here.   He believes his acts were justified as they were in proportion to those perpetrated by the Algerians involved.   However, it is the author’s opinion that the concept of proportionality has no place in ethical thinking.   The old adage ‘two wrongs do not make a right’ is very topical here.   Indeed, may proverbs lead and guide ethical thinking.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Torture cannot be justified because other crimes have been committed by those tortured.   It can be questioned, what right did Aussaresses and his contemporaries have to dish out this punishment?   If people had committed cr imes they should have been tried in a court and justice meted out in that manner.   French people were led to believe that France was ‘crusading for the defence of Western values against the barbarians of the East’ (Hoffman, 1963, p.85).   It is clear, then that ideology was used as a justification to the public of the acts of torture that occurred.   However, the author subscribes to the theory that this justification is flawed due to ‘geographical morality’ as discussed earlier.   I believe this justification was simply used to ensure the public accepted the practise of torture.   Case Study: Torture in the Iraq War (2003 onwards) There has been some conflict in Iraq for the past couple of decades.   For the purposes of this paper the latest Iraq War, commencing 2003 and still continuing will be considered.   This war is a useful case study as it demonstrates, in these more recent times, when torture is seen to be less and less acceptable, how it both still occurs and is justified in different terms to previously.   There is much discourse as to whether or not the Iraq War itself is justified, so the use of torture as part of it questioned considerably.   Using Aquinas’ Just War Theory, the Iraq War is unjust and therefore any torture taking place as part of it is also so.   The War is not believed, by the author to be just as it does not Aquinas’ third condition, that those waging the war are dong it simply to triumph good over evil. There is no doubting that both American and British troops have been involved in some kind of torture of Iraqi nationals.  Ã‚  Ã‚   A Red Cross report, the Armys own Taguba report (British Red Cross, 2004), even the photographs published in newspapers all point to this.  Ã‚   In Camp Bucca during the period August 2003 to February 2004 the following acts have been reported; forcibly arranging detainees in various sexually explicit positions for photographing, and punching, slapping, and kicking detainees, amongst others (Observer, 2004). There is an aspect of ideology being used to justify torture.   It has been noted that the media portrays Islamic people as those who ‘will stop at nothing, including disgraceful acts of terrorism, to disrupt Western values’ (Lee Smith, 2004, p 215).   However, it is the author’s opinion that this does not justify torture.   It is also the author’s opinion that information gained through torture is likely to be unreliable due to this very fanaticism, and therefore make the ‘purpose’ of torture unobtainable. The Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill is the emergency legislation that was created in response to the US terror atrocities on September 11th 2001.  Ã‚   It has been accused of eroding civil liberties.   It has contributed to a heightened sense of vulnerability in the British public and perhaps, in part, although not its aim, it has contributed to making the mistreatment and torture of Iraqis more acceptable.  Ã‚   Bin Laden has been vilified in Western press and the torture of Iraqis can be seen as proportional to the atrocious acts committed by Bin Laden and his followers.   There is a real sense of ‘geographical morality’ in the justification of torture by the US and the UK.   When videos of kidnapped Westerners being tortured are viewed, there is universal damnation in the West, but Western personnel behind closed doors are practising similar acts. Conclusion This paper has explored the issue of torture and discussed whether or not is can ever be justified.  Ã‚  Ã‚   The definition of torture, a brief history of torture and the international context of torture have been discussed.   The main part of the report has dealt with the question ‘is torture ever ethical?’ by first exploring ethical theories in relation to this question, and then applying relevant theories to tow case studies, the Algerian War (1954-1962) and the Iraq War (2003 onwards).   It is worth noting that the justifications offered for torture in both cases were very similar, despite the two occurrences being fifty years apart.   Finally, the author would like to offer their opinion and draw to a conclusion the debate offered by the question ‘can torture ever be justified?’   It is the author’s opinion that torture can never be justified and can never be considered the ethically correct thing to do.   There is no ethical theory offered in this paper that the author subscribes to that can correctly be applied to any of the justifications offered in the two case studies used.   Not only that, but torture does not fulfil its intended purpose of gaining useful information and it often brings about more barbarity. 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