Is the term ‘Green Logistics’ an oxymoron Essay

Is the term ‘Green Logistics’ an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a term in which contradictory words appear in conjunction with one another such as bitter sweet or a deafening silence. In an attempt to answer this question we must first define what the term ‘Green Logistics’ means. When the term is broken down into its composite parts ‘logistics’ is simply defined by Murphy and Wood (2011) as the part of the supply chain which plans, implements and controls both the forward and reverse flows of goods, services and information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in an efficient and effective manner. However, the term ‘green’ is much more equivocal when defined in a business sense. In 1996 McDonagh and Prothero proposed that there are several dimensions of ‘Green’ which not only cover ecological, sustainability and conservation issues but also political, corporate social responsibility, fair trade and equali ty matters. Since these topics are very broad it is hard to define ‘Green’ in a logistics sense. As a result of this uncertainty over the definition of ‘green’, it is helpful to look at the definition of ‘Green’ on a consumer product level. Ottman (2006, p.24), suggested that while all products inevitably have some effect on the environment, ‘Green’ products are those which aim to minimise this impact by conserving energy and resources and limiting pollution and waste. This definition builds on Reinhardt’s (1998, p.46) view that a ‘Green’ business â€Å"creates products that provide greater environmental benefits, or that impose smaller environmental costs, than similar products†. When we combine these definitions we can view ‘Green Logistics’ as the activities which facilitate the forward and reverse flows of goods, services and information through a supply chain in a way which is not only efficient and effective in achieving organisational goals but also aims to minimise the environmental impact and promote sustainability. When we define and consider ‘Green Logistics’ this way, I believe the term is not an oxymoron and when aligned with an appropriate higher level corporate strategy can actually a major competitive advantage for organisations who are able to achieve it. The body of this essay will provide practical examples of organisations who are successfully using the concepts of ‘Green  Logistics’ to not only minimise environmental impacts but also create and maintain a competitive advantage against competition. One concept which is becoming more prominent in ‘Green Logistic’ networks is the  practice of reverse logistics. Reverse logistics can be simply defined as goods flowing backwards through the supply chain from the consumer to the producers and suppliers. Tompkins (2010) provides multiple ‘Green’ benefits which arise from practicing reverse logistics such as increased sustainability throughout the supply chain and reduced waste product s, as well as producing an increased level of customer service through after-sales support. An example of reverse logistics in practice is the South Australian Government’s policy of paying 10 cents for every glass, plastic and tin container returned to collection depots. By doing this the Government is able to facilitate the recycling of materials which ultimately has a positive benefit on the environment. This provides a clear example of how logistics processes can be ‘Green’ by promoting greater environmental benefit than similar products existing in different logistics chains. An Australian Associated Press article revealed that in 2010, 80 percent or 49,800 tonnes of all containers are recycled in Australia which reveals both obvious environment and financial benefits arising from the practice of green logistics. Another common and relatively simple way for organisations to ‘Green’ their logistics processes while also reducing financial costs is to redesign their logistics chains with increased considerations for route optimisation and collaboration throughout the supply chain. Blanco and Cotrill (2013) make apparent one example of this through a case study of the agricultural cooperative Ocean Spray (based in New Jersey with a distribution centre in Florida) and competitor Tropicana who is based in Florida with a distribution centre in New Jersey. Tropicana’s third party logistics provider approached Ocean Spray and suggested that instead of Ocean Spray delivering to their distribution centre via road, they make use of Tropicana’s rail links between the two cities and utilise the empty train carriages returning from New Jersey to deliver to their distribution centre in Florida. This agreement allowed Ocean Spray to lower both their logistics  costs and environmen tal emissions and saved Tropicana the cost and emissions associated with returning empty rail carriages to Florida. Apart from the physical movement of goods, a firm’s logistics operations also incorporates warehousing strategies. The storage of goods may be overlooked when considering the environmental impacts of logistics chains. Figure 8.1 taken from McKinnon et al. (2013) shows the increasing usage of warehousing and its associated impacts. McKinnon et al. (2013) also proposed three ways in which firms can reduce the environmental impact of warehousing practices. Firstly firms should improve the energy efficiency of the lighting  and particularly heating methods used in warehouses (as shown in figure 8.4. McKinnon, 2013). Secondly, firms can harness green energy to generate energy from low carbon emitting or renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind and biomass. Finally, and most importantly, firms should design sustainability into their warehouses, meaning that the buildings not only produce green energy more efficiently but also use less of it. If an organisation is successful in doing this it is able to not only fulfill the logistical goals of operating efficiently and effectively but also minimise impacts on the environment. While reverse logistics, route optimisation and energy efficient warehousing strategies are only a small example of ‘Green Logistic’ practices, which also include environmental packaging considerations, paperless order processing and improvements in vehicle energy efficiency, these practices may be ineffective in achieving ‘Green’ outcomes unless the corporate strategies of the organisation also align. Reinhardt (1998) suggests that for an organisation to establish environmentally friendly practices as a competitive advantage it must first consider whether this strategy is viable in the industry in which it operates. If a firm does consider environmental product differentiation an option it must then ensure customers are willing to pay for environmental quality, establish and convey the environmental benefits of its product and finally these benefits must be defendable against imitation competition. Only then can an organisation enjoy the benefits of a growing green trend in consumption (Peattie, 2010). If this is strategy alignment is adopted and maintained by an organisation, then ‘Green Logistic’ practices can provide substantial competitive advantages for the organisation while reducing impacts on the environment. Modern organisations can no longer afford to view ‘Green Logistics’ as an oxymoron and perhaps Henry Ford’s (1903) famous oxymoron â€Å"A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business† may be more applicable. References: Blanco, E & Cotrill, K, 2013, ‘Delivering on the promise of green logistics’, MITSloan Management Review, December 2013. McDonagh, P & Prothero, A, 1996, Green management: A reader, The Dryden Press, London. McKinnon, A. Browne, M. Whiteing, A. 2012, Green logistics: Improving the environmental sustainability of logistics, Kogan Page, London. Murphy Jr PR & Wood, DF 2011, Contemporary Logistics: International Edition, 10th edn, Pearson, Boston. Ottman, J, 1997, Green marketing: Opportunity for innovation, TC / Contemporary Books, Lincolnwood. Peattie, K, ‘Green consumption: Behaviour and norms’, Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 35, Issue 1, pp. 195-228. Reinhardt, F.L. 1998, â€Å"Environmental product differentiation: Implications for corporate strategy†, California management review, vol. 40, no. 4, pp. 43-73. Tompkins, J, 2010, ‘Reverse logistics is not the reverse of logistics’, Material Handling and Logistics, November 2010. ‘Big jump in container recycling in SA’, AAP General News Wire, July 22, 2010.

Thorn Queen Chapter Five

I fully intended to make good on my promises, and in Tucson the next day, I began acquiring an odd assortment of goods that I hoped might improve the Thorn Land's situation. Admittedly, they were kind of lame, but I figured I had to start somewhere and was rather proud of my attempts when I finished. I was sitting down in front of the TV with an early dinner that night when Kiyo walked in, clad in his white vet's coat. Naturally, all the animals lifted their heads or actually walked over to him in greeting. If I hadn't been balancing a plate of ravioli on my lap, I would have leapt up and run into his arms. Instead, I gave him a dazzling smile, one that grew larger when I saw he carried a bouquet of flowers. â€Å"I would have been here sooner,† he said, tossing the coat onto a chair. â€Å"But I had an afternoon shift.† â€Å"Hey, I'm just happy to see you at all. I figured you'd still be busy with baby stuff.† â€Å"Nope.† He sat down in a chair opposite me and laid the bouquet down on the coffee table. â€Å"You were amazing there, you know.† â€Å"If by amazing, you mean shoddily dressed and leading on gentry princes-then, yes. Yes, I was. What are those for?† I gestured with my fork to the flowers-an arrangement of brightly colored gerbera daisies. â€Å"Do I need a reason? Aside from you being awesome?† I swallowed the piece of ravioli I'd just chewed. â€Å"Of course there's a reason. There's always a reason. We've talked about this before.† He gave me a lazy, dangerous smile, propping his head up on his elbow as his dark eyes assessed me. â€Å"Right. Standard practices in courtship and mating. Gifts given as subtle suggestions. ‘Here, take these plant sex organs.' Hint, hint.† It was an old joke between us. â€Å"Fortunately, in your case, you don't need to be that subtle. I already know you want sex.† â€Å"True, but I wanted to clear up any doubts. Besides, you've been so great lately†¦I don't know. I just wanted to do something nice. Figured we could have a fun night-although, you're dashing my dreams of taking you out to dinner with the way you're inhaling that ravioli.† â€Å"Sorry,† I said through a mouthful of food. â€Å"I've got a job tonight, so I had to eat early.† His eyebrows rose. â€Å"What kind of raw deal is this? I get off work so I can take you out on the town, and you've got to go into work now? Why can't you have Lara schedule you day jobs?† â€Å"Because I was busy today with Thorn Land business.† Kiyo gave me a wary look. â€Å"Hey, don't judge me,† I warned. â€Å"I wasn't actually over there. But I kind of found out recently that people are starving and going without water.† â€Å"Yeah. I've heard that.† Now I was the one with the incredulous look. â€Å"You knew and didn't tell me?† â€Å"Don't jump all over me! I figured you had people to deal with it. And probably those people had people.† â€Å"Yeah, well, all of those people are having a little trouble. In fact, I've got to go back tomorrow to help round up some brigands.† â€Å"Did you just say ‘brigands'? That's very†¦I don't know. Very 1683.† â€Å"Well, whatever they are, they're a pain in the ass and possibly abducting girls.† I gave him a quick recap. â€Å"You want to go with me and help?† He shook his head ruefully. â€Å"You know, I came here hoping to spend time with you. Instead, I find out you've got a job tonight and are playing sheriff tomorrow.† â€Å"Would it help if I wore a cowgirl outfit?† â€Å"It might.† He came over to sit beside me and kissed my cheek. â€Å"And yes, I'll go tomorrow. I'll even go tonight, if you want the company.† â€Å"You see? We are spending quality time together.† â€Å"I just hope there's some quality time in bed later to help make up for it all.† â€Å"Well,† I said haughtily, setting my plate on the table, â€Å"that depends on you, huh? I have no doubts about my quality.† He put a hand on my thigh and brushed his lips against my neck. â€Å"Oh, Eugenie. Don't push your luck here,† he growled, â€Å"or you might be late for work.† I grinned and answered by way of a long, deep kiss that probably would have turned into more if my appointment hadn't been so close. That, and we also heard Tim coming in the back door. He never took it very well when he found Kiyo and me in a compromising position. The two of us drove over near the university, to a quiet residential neighborhood that was split evenly between single-family residences and crowded houses shared by students. As we pulled up in front of a narrow two-story home in need of a new paint job, Kiyo frowned. â€Å"That microbus looks really familiar,† he said, eyeing the driveway. â€Å"Really?† I asked innocently. We got out of the car and approached the house. When we'd cleared the microbus, Kiyo paused to look at its slew of bumper stickers. Question Authority and Roswell or Bust! were only a few. He gave me a sharp, accusing look. â€Å"Eugenie, did Wil Delaney move?† â€Å"Nooo,† I said slowly. â€Å"But this is a friend of his.† Kiyo groaned. â€Å"If I'd known this, I would have stayed home. That guy is insane. And wait-did you just say he actually has a friend?† â€Å"A friend with a legitimate problem. And you can always go wait in the car.† Kiyo said nothing, merely steeling himself as we approached the door. Wil Delaney was a former client of mine. He was a conspiracy theorist who almost never left his home and whose sole income depended on a blog he ran that furthered his ideas on the government, aliens, mind control, genetic manipulation, and a whole host of other wacky premises. He was quite possibly the most paranoid person I'd ever met. He was also Jasmine's half-brother. It was how we'd met. He'd been the one to hire me to go find her in the Otherworld, long before I'd known anything about Storm King and the prophecy. Apparently, Wil and Jasmine's mother hadn't been so virtuous and had cheated on Mr. Delaney a lot-even with gentry warlords. About a dozen locks unclicked before we were allowed into the house, which was almost as many as Wil had at his own home. The person who greeted us was a woman, a very young one. She was short with plump cheeks, cropped brown hair, and pink cat-eye glasses. â€Å"Is this her?† she asked. A moment later, Wil's head peered around the doorway's side. He looked the same as last time: pale blond hair in need of cutting, glasses, and skin that never saw the sun. â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"Who's the guy?† asked the woman suspiciously. â€Å"Her boyfriend. He's cool. Cairo.† â€Å"Kiyo,† I corrected. I held out my hand to her. â€Å"You must be Trisha.† â€Å"I prefer to be called Ladyxmara72,† she said. â€Å"Because really, we're all just anonymous faces in this society, as far as the government is concerned. Plus, Ladyxmara72 is one of my World of Warcraft character names. Ironic that a virtual society like that can be more honest and egalitarian than our own. Or maybe†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She paused dramatically. â€Å"It's not so ironic.† Wil stared at her adoringly. Beside me, Kiyo made some sort of strangled noise. They led us inside a home nearly as dark as Wil kept his. I guessed Trisha-I refused to call her Lady-whatever-worried about the same issues with radiation that he did. Her home was neater, however, and bore slightly more feminine touches, like furniture that matched and a few scented candles. The candles appeared to be homemade, undoubtedly so they wouldn't poison the air with artificial scents or be laced with trackers that the government could use to listen in on Trisha's conversation. â€Å"So,† said Trisha as we entered the living room. An episode of The X-Files was paused on the TV. â€Å"You're here to take care of the alien problem.† â€Å"I'm here to-what did you say?† I looked back and forth between Wil and her. â€Å"Aliens,† she said. â€Å"My house is infested with them.† I peered around, half-expecting to see E.T. hanging out on the loveseat. All was empty and still. â€Å"I don't really understand. Didn't Wil tell you what I do?† â€Å"We don't know for sure that they're aliens,† he said hastily. â€Å"But there is something here.† â€Å"Of course they are!† she exclaimed. He cowered a little under her glare. â€Å"I've seen them looking in the windows-just like on that documentary.† Immediately, his chagrin turned to outrage. â€Å"Oh, come on! You know that's a hoax. The evidence is overwhelming.† â€Å"The hell it is! There's no way anyone could fake that kind of-â€Å" â€Å"Um, hey, you guys?† I said. â€Å"Can we just get this taken care of? Tell me more about the ali-whatever. Have you both seen them?† They nodded. â€Å"They're short with big eyes,† Trisha said triumphantly. â€Å"But they wear paisley suit coats,† added Wil. â€Å"And they do chores at night.† â€Å"Doesn't sound so bad to me,† murmured Kiyo. â€Å"Why get rid of them?† â€Å"Kobolds,† I said after a moment's thought. â€Å"You've got kobolds.† â€Å"There is no known planet by that name,† argued Trisha. I sighed. â€Å"Just take me to your basement.† Trisha led us through the house, and Wil drifted over beside me. â€Å"Isn't she amazing?† I swear he was on the verge of swooning. â€Å"Your first girlfriend?† I asked. â€Å"How'd you know?† â€Å"Instinct.† Engaging Wil in conversation was always dangerous, but seeing as he never left the house or had much social interaction, I just had to ask the next question. â€Å"How'd you guys meet?† â€Å"On a forum. We were both in this thread and kept arguing about whether there was a government connection between the overdoses of Marilyn Monroe and Heath Ledger, and then we-â€Å" â€Å"Okay,† I said, grimacing. â€Å"That's enough. Really.† We reached the basement door, and Trisha started to go down. â€Å"Don't,† I warned. â€Å"You guys need to stay up here.† I gave Wil a stern look. â€Å"Don't let her down there until we're done. You of all people know I'm not fucking around.† Wil blanched further-if that was possible-and gave a hasty nod. Wil had traveled with me to the Otherworld and fully understood the perils of my job. I could hear Trisha arguing with him as Kiyo and I descended the stairs, yet somehow, Wil managed to do his job and keep her away. â€Å"I never thought it was possible,† said Kiyo, once we were out of earshot. â€Å"He's found and fallen in love with someone exactly like him. I guess there really is someone for everyone.† â€Å"She's a little more assertive than he is, I think.† â€Å"Good. He needs it.† â€Å"On the bright side, this'll be cake. Kobolds aren't an issue.† Kiyo nodded his agreement but wrinkled his nose when we reached the bottom of the steps. â€Å"They're bad-smelling ones, though.† The basement wasn't finished and bore the usual clutter one found in such places. Lots of hiding spots for kobolds. I pulled on a hanging chain, and a bare bulb offered meager illumination. Taking out my wand, I extended my arm and swept the whole basement. â€Å"By the earth and fire you serve, I command you to reveal yourselves.† Shamanic magic tingled from me, through the wand and its gems, and into the room. A moment later, three forms materialized. They were about three-feet high, male, and hardly resembled the big-eyed aliens popular in modern culture. These guys were wizened, with patchy yellow hair. Wil's comment about the paisley coats wasn't entirely accurate either. One wore plaid. â€Å"Why did you call us out?† the one in plaid demanded in a high-pitched voice. â€Å"We haven't done anything to you. We haven't done anything to anyone.† â€Å"You guys, you can't stay here,† I said. â€Å"Not in this house. It's not yours. This world isn't yours.† I was a stickler for world ownership. â€Å"We're helping,† argued one of the paisley ones. â€Å"Do you know how messy these people are? Books and paper everywhere.† If Trisha's house had resembled Wil's before the kobolds arrived, I could well imagine it. Kobolds were kind of like benign goblins, originating in northern Europe and rarely given to maliciousness unless provoked. My hope was that they could simply be talked into leaving. â€Å"That's really nice and all, but I mean it: you can't stay here. I've got to send you back to the Otherworld. Give me a hard time about it, and I'll make it the Underworld.† The plaid one scowled. â€Å"You're as cruel as they say, Eugenie Thorn Queen. We've done nothing to deserve this.† I tried not to scowl right back. Before learning about my gentry blood, I'd often conducted shamanic business under the pseudonym Odile Dark Swan. It was what Otherworld denizens had known and feared me as. I wasn't thrilled to know that no part of my identity was a secret anymore. â€Å"You guys, I am not screwing around. You know who I am. You know what I can do, so stop wasting time.† Wand still in hand, I began to channel an opening to the Otherworld. â€Å"You can't take on both of us, let alone one.† â€Å"No,† agreed the other paisley one. â€Å"But he can.† â€Å"He-ahh!† Furry hands reached around from behind me just seconds after Kiyo exclaimed, â€Å"Eugenie!† Kiyo was normally on high alert but had been as cocky as me about dealing with the kobolds. His attention had been on them, and he hadn't sensed the other threat lurking in the basement. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Kiyo had scented this creature, if the odor emanating from its hands and arms was any indication. He just hadn't made the connection. I still didn't have a good look at my furry-armed captor, seeing as I was still struggling to break free of its grasp. Kiyo was on it in a flash, needing no weapons save his own brute strength. His hands closed around the creature's arms, and he managed to pull them loose enough for me to slip out of its grip. Once free, I was able to get a good look. It was a†¦ Huh. I wasn't really sure. It was furry, brown, and tall, with rounded ears like a mouse or bear and hooves like a deer and a whole other assortment of random animal parts. It gave a strangled roar of displeasure, and I braced for it to turn back on me. Usually, that was how it worked. Creatures who came after me usually had one of two goals: either rape me on the spot or kill me to prevent me from fulfilling the prophecy. But Smokey the Bear, or whatever it was, was going after Kiyo, ignoring me while the kobolds watched gleefully. Kiyo socked the creature hard in the chest, and I noticed a faint ripple of light spread through it that faded quickly. Smokey then returned with a punch that took Kiyo hard in the face and sent him toward the wall. It was hard, too-that punch had been meant to kill. Kiyo's reflexes were too fast, though, and he caught himself before his skull could smash against the solid concrete. I leapt into the fight then, pulling out my Glock. I'd loaded it with silver bullets earlier and was glad I'd done so. I got off a couple of shots into the monster. Each time, I saw its form ripple, but it still didn't come after me. It was too intent on killing Kiyo. The two grappled further, and I continued firing, knowing I had to be weakening it. Nonetheless, one lucky blow knocked Kiyo off his feet and onto his back. The kobolds cheered when he remained still. Me, I screamed in rage, taking my wand in my other hand and facing the furry monstrosity head-on. It attempted no killing blows on me and merely kept trying to get a hold of me as I fired and began the banishing words. Suddenly, Kiyo was on his feet again, thrusting himself between us. â€Å"Stay the hell away from her!† he snarled. I saw all the muscles in his body tense and had a feeling he was on the verge of shape-shifting. Smokey looked angry and turned into full assault mode again. â€Å"Get out of the way,† I said. â€Å"I've got him.† â€Å"I'm not letting him lay a hand on you,† retorted Kiyo, eyes fixed on his foe. A flash of gold glimmered in Kiyo's eyes. Gold like a fox's. â€Å"He's not trying to kill or rape me,† I argued, as Kiyo dodged another crushing blow. â€Å"He wants to subdue me-you he wants to kill.† But Kiyo was dead set on protecting me, and I finally decided he'd be safest if I hurried up and just finished the banishing rather than attempt to protect him. Firmly channeling my power into the wand, I again began opening a gate to the Otherworld. As I did, though, I kept thinking about those ripples I saw when I'd attacked the beast, like it couldn't quite stay together. An idea struck me, and rather than direct the banishing magic into ripping open the fabric of this world, I directed it toward Smokey-or, rather, toward the Otherworldly magic holding Smokey together. Kiyo sprang away from the fight, realizing what I was going to do. Sure enough. A spiderweb of light suddenly covered the monster, fragmenting his form. With the wand, I destroyed the magical bonds, and suddenly-he exploded. But not like Aeson had exploded. It was more like he fell apart. Gone was the large, hulking, furry form. Instead, scuttling on the ground was a swarm of woodland creatures: mice, rabbits, a deer, and a couple of ducks. The mice and rabbits immediately scurried into whatever nooks and crannies they could find. The ducks looked confused. The deer ran up the stairs. With the banishing magic already started, it was easy to complete the actual opening to the Otherworld and send the kobolds through. Just before they vanished, Kiyo leaned toward them-keeping out of the magic's way-and fixed them with a dark, angry expression. The blood on his face from the fight only added to his fearsome appearance. â€Å"Tell whoever sent you here to leave her the hell alone, or I will come after him myself and rip him apart limb by limb. And I'll do the same to you guys while I'm at it. None of you are ever going to lay a hand on her again,† he growled. The kobolds' faces reflected true fear as they disappeared from this world. Silence fell, aside from the quiet and confused quacking of the ducks who still didn't know what to do with themselves. â€Å"Well,† I gasped. â€Å"That was one of the more convoluted schemes I've seen yet.† Would-be rapists often did attempt to distract me with a seemingly ordinary banishing and then would swoop in unexpectedly. This person had sent the kobolds to lure me out and then that woodland conglomeration to actually subdue me and bring me back as a war prize. Kiyo, as an obstacle to that plan, had had to be eliminated first. I took in his ripped shirt and blood. â€Å"Are you okay?† â€Å"Fine, fine,† he said, wiping his face. â€Å"It's superficial. What the hell was that?† â€Å"Some monster that a gentry put together with magic. Bound all those animals into one stronger form and ordered it after me.† â€Å"Will it come back together?† â€Å"No. I broke the bonds, and they're all spreading apart anyway.† â€Å"Um, Eugenie?† Wil's voice suddenly rang down the stairs. â€Å"Is everything okay down there? A deer just ran through the living room†¦.† Kiyo and I both decided later that it was a good thing Smokey had disbanded like he had. Otherwise, if they'd seen his full form, Trisha and Wil would have had enough Bigfoot material for their forums to last until the next century. Goodness only knew what kind of threads and rumors this event alone would start. Trisha paid me in cash once we frisked the deer out of the house, and I told her she was on her own for the other animals in the basement. As we were leaving, Wil briefly caught me alone, his goofy, paranoid expression replaced by a much grimmer one. â€Å"Have you found Jasmine yet?† he asked in a very soft voice. I bit my lip. No matter how absurd I thought Wil was, whenever I saw how much Jasmine's disappearance grieved him, it broke my heart. I'd never told him the truth of her heritage. The only information I'd given him was that she was on the run and hadn't been kidnapped. I thought he'd take comfort in knowing she wasn't being held against her will, but it hurt him to think she didn't want to be with him. He truly loved his sister, no matter how much she despised the human world. It was really quite sad. â€Å"No, I'm sorry. I really am.† His face fell further, and he gave a weak nod. â€Å"Yeah. I figured. I know you'll keep looking, though. And you'll let me know if you find her?† I tried to give him a reassuring smile. â€Å"Sure.† The truth was, I didn't know if I would tell him. It all depended on what state I found her in. If I found her pregnant and bent on conquering the worlds†¦well, I wasn't entirely sure what I'd do then, but one thing I felt certain of was that there was no way I was ever going to let her return to this world.

Modern or Herbal Medicine, which is better?

The United States is a country which revolves around innovation, inventions, and furthering our society to make a profit. Many people come to America to work, and make money. One very profitable, and very popular industry is drugs. From illegal to legal, completely natural to completely synthetic, the list of drugs is endless. Large drug companies produce many drugs daily. Some of these drugs make it to the consumer market, and others are rejected. Drugs can be very costly, and at the same time very dangerous. Every time an advertisement for a new drug arises, the list of side effects are endless. I will center my paper on the history of medicine, and compare natural medicines versus modern medicines. Is one truly better than the other? Any problem somebody might have, the doctor will have a pill to fix it. How bad are these pills? And could natural state forms of medicine be better? Medicine, and other forms of medicine, came about many centuries ago. Even before the Romans and the Greeks, each society of people had their own forms of healing. Although these forms differ drastically from our modern medical practices, they did have benefits. Back in the time of the Romans, there was no germ theory, and they simply believed that illness occurred from not keeping a healthy body and mind. They did not make any connections between diseases and germs, but they did try to stay physically fit. A well known Roman named Celsus once said â€Å"A person should put aside some part of the day for the care of his body. He should always make sure that he gets enough exercise especially before a meal† (Medicine in Ancient Rome 7). The Greeks and Romans shared some of the same concepts on health, and even traded slaves that were known as the doctors of the day to be used in each household. Although they did not use much in the way of medicine, their persuasion on public health was beginning to start a medical revolution. The Romans large focus on public sanitation and staying healthy would later give a boost to medical advancements once each society of people has become more advanced. Advancements in medicine and technology seem to be divided by country. For the Americas, physicians and other medical enthusiasts began finding and iscovering cures for diseases which would later turn into our modern medicine with pills and injections for almost anything. China was another big player in the medical field, and their focus seemed to be more on natural medicines. As time goes on, whether each culture had a stronger focus on natural medicines or modern medicines, both topics seemed to have blended into each society. M odern medicines are more widely used today than most herbal remedies, and this may be from the convenience, the benefits, the wide availability, or just because it is what we are used to. Most people today if asked what herbology is, they would be clueless. People may look at the study of natural remedies as â€Å"primitive† or â€Å"ineffective†, but in reality it is the center stage for what our modern medicines have become. According to Dr. John R. Christopher, a 30 year veteran herbalist, â€Å"in 1965, over 130 million prescription drugs were written which came from plants†¦ that over 75% of the hormones used in medicine today are derived completely from plants† (Herbs vs. Modern Medicine 3). According to dictionary. com, herbology is the study or use of the medicinal properties of plants. Herbology predates any other forms of medicine, even before humans written history. This has been proven with the discovery of a neanderthal found in Shanidar Cave, Iraq. A neanderthal, which is just before humans in our evolutionary line, was buried approximately 60,000 years ago surrounded by great quantities of pollen of multiple plants. The astonishing part about this discovery, is 88% of the substances found in the burial are still used in modern herbal remedies (Solecki 880). Natural remedies have proven highly successful in China over time, with much credit given to the Yan Emperor, or Shennong. He was given the name Shennong because it means â€Å"the divine farmer†. Throughout his life, he tasted hundreds of plants to discover medicinal purposes, and was very influential upon his people to encourage farming. He was credited with discovering hundreds of medicinal and poisonous plants, which were later published in The Divine Farmers Herb-Root Classic. This publication lists 365 medicines derived from minerals, plants, and animals, and is one major reason why Chinese herbology has been so successful (Historical Figures 1-3). With such an extensive time-line using natural medicines, why has our society taken such a drastic turn to newly synthesized drugs? Synthesized drugs are the golden egg of the modern medicine of today. Modern medicine has many parts to it, but the two main parts I see important are the drugs, and the procedures. As advanced as our society is within the medical field, there is much to be hidden. With herbology, many of the discoveries of new medicinal plants and substances were literally from self experimentation, such as the work of Shennong. With western modern medicine, it is not just that simple; they do not just use natural plants and minerals. With the help of modern technology and years of medical advancements, scientists can pinpoint certain compounds, and tweak them in the lab to get the desired effect of the drug. Much credit needs to be given to the people who develop drugs, because they do have positive outcomes for treating and curing diseases/illness. However, if you ever watch a commercial for a new drug, at the very end they read off the side effects very fast, and sometimes the negatives outweigh the positives. Given that Americans love money and the commodities that can be acquired with money, drug companies are truly out for the profit to be made on drugs. For example, think about Ian Read. He is the new CEO of Pfizer, the worlds largest research based pharmaceutical company. He made a grand total of twenty five million dollars in 2011. Pfizer has been recognized in many countries for being green, efficient, and a great work environment for employees. They are largely recognized for the drug maraviroc, which is used to treat HIV successfully (FiercePharma 1). Although this company is successful in making drugs, do they do it for the money or to help people? To answer this, we can take a look at Ian Read again. What does he enjoy more: helping sick people, or getting that 25 million dollar paycheck? The answer is obviously money, because he is cutting the companies budget by 1 billion, including dropping 4200 employees, and cutting severance packages (FiercePharma 2). Nothing about Ian in any description of him shows him actually helping people, because his company is so large he only has time to focus on the money. The ethics of large drug companies in western medicine are flawed terribly. Ian Read is a good example from drug industries of modern medicine practices because he is widely known, and the company he controls is looked at as a â€Å"better† drug company. But just to show the flaws in this, take a look at David Winston; the founder of Herbalist & Alchemist. With almost 40 years of training in Cherokee, Chinese, and Western herbal traditions. He has had a clinical practice for over 30 years and is a herbal consultant to physicians throughout the USA ad Canada. President of Herbalist & Alchemist, Inc. an herbal manufacturing company, he is also founder/director of David Winston's Center for Herbal Studies, which features highly respected Two-Year Clinical Herbalist Training Program. He is an internationally known lecturer and teaches frequently at medical schools, symposia and herb conferences (Herbal Therapeutics 1). David, unlike Ian Read, is very active in his studies. He is c onstantly teaching others, and practicing what he teaches. A web search for David will show his accomplishments and how much he is devoted to natural medicine. However, a web search for Ian brings up everything money related to his business. These two individuals differ greatly in the field of medicine, and expose the beliefs and goals of both sides of medicine. Differences aside, they both work towards the same goal; healing. Western medicine and herbal medicine can be looked at as brother and sister. A brother and sister share the same bloodline, as does western and herbal medicine. However, the shared â€Å"bloodline† for modern/herbal medicine would be the active chemicals and compounds in the drug/herb. Many drugs that are created in a lab are derived from a compound found in nature. For instance, compare the drug quinine of western medicine to Peruvian bark of herbology. The drug quinine is derived from Peruvian bark, although it has been slightly modified in a lab. Both of these are used to reduce fever, specifically malarial fever. However, if you take too much quinine, you can go deaf or die. If you use too much of the Peruvian bark, there are no side effects. The tweaking of a natural substance in a lab to create a smaller more convenient drug may have the same healing properties of the natural substance, but there will be side effects (Herbs vs. Modern Medicine 7-10). When comparing two medicinal substances, whether a drug or an herb, one factor affects its use; culture. Western culture differs greatly from that of other countries. Americans live for today, and whatever happens tomorrow happens. When the subject of medicine is brought up while comparing different societies of people, it truly shows why each society chooses their methods. The American way of life is full of commodities and luxuries not needed for survival, and it is what we have grown accustomed to. Our thought process is lineal, being that all we look forward to is progress. The care for nature and the environment is not one of our biggest priorities, because we are too busy focused on furthering our society. Now when looking at Chinese herbalists, the Aztecs, the Cherokee, or any other people who practices natural medicine, the thought process is completely different. As opposed to the linear thought of the west, they portray more of a circular thought process. The value and importance of life is completely different within these cultures. Lifestyles differ greatly because they hold a higher respect for nature, and thoroughly care for the environment. Western thought is highly affected by our high technology society, because we live life so fast. Naturalists on the other hand, native Indians, and many other cultures whose society isn’t as advanced have a more simplistic view on life. What an American takes for granted, others may greatly appreciate. These different thought processes affect every part of each different culture's lifestyle, even down to each different form of healing. Western culture is so fast paced and careless that even taking a simple drug for an illness can be taken for granted. When we get sick, we can go to the nearest drug store a block or two away, and get the necessary drugs. They are prepackaged, and ready for consumption. Even for a simple headache, the average American will just take an aspirin. On the other hand, an herbalist may use the bark of a white willow, containing a natural form of aspirin (Herbs vs. Modern Medicine 11). Modern medicine in the west has become so successful because of the convenience, and it fits perfectly with our linear thought process. Indigenous people of underdeveloped countries who still currently practice herbology as their primary form of medicine hold completely different values on life; nature is highly respected, and there is more of a focus on people and nature. Money and commodities play a lessor role, and it is almost as if life is more simplistic. Natural medicines are so successful in these cultures because with such a large focus on nature in their daily lives, herbology fits in perfectly. These two completely different cultures and ways of life can be looked at in two ways; constructive and destructive. Modern medicine is destructive in many ways, from acquiring the medicinal compounds, creation of the drug, the testing process, and the final effect the drug has on a person. From a naturalist's perspective, it is destructive ecause many natural things are altered in the process, and ethics can be questioned. The entire process of creating drugs is just that of a culture who simply does not care about anything but the product. Any new drug to come to market has to go through many obstacles before it may become available to the public, and this includes experimentation and testing of the drug. â€Å"Much of conventional medicine has alw ays been based on a lie, or a series of lies. Babies feel no pain. Lab rats feel no pain. Monkeys are not conscious beings. Health knowledge is gained by dissecting living beings and identifying their parts. Take your pick† (The Dark History of Modern Medicine 8). It is this testing of the new drugs on animals and living things that brings ethics into question. Although they have to follow rules set by our government, who is really watching what they do? But most people wont think twice about it, because all they care about is getting their prescription filled, instead of thinking of what has been done in the process of making their prescription. This is very destructive because animals are unwillingly subjected to these drugs, with uncertain outcomes. It is also destructive, because the drugs produced do have side effects. Side effects can range from something as small is getting a little drowsy, to death. Little about the process of creating drugs is beneficial to nature or the environment, and although it may help a person with sickness, there are still drawbacks. Natural medicine on the other hand is constructive because it is solely based on nature. Whether somebody grows their own herbs for medicine, or finds them out in nature, nothing is hurt in the mean time. Most of the testing of herbs and their medicinal benefits have been from people willing enough to take them personally, completely getting rid of the need for animal testing. Medicine in a natural state is also very beneficial because there is not a list of side effects, and typically can cure the same illnesses. From the facts on both of these forms of medicine, natural medicine appears to have way more benefits and positive outcomes for nature and people, however there are some drawbacks. How readily available are these natural cures? It varies by country, and in the United states availability of all the herbs and remedies the Chinese use are not so easy to come by. Modern medicine is attained much easier, and there is a much larger supply. Master herbalists can be found as easily as it is to find a drug store, but they are more scarce. Also, credibility can be questionable of most of these herbalists because most are self employed, and there are fewer regulations concerning natural remedies. The benefit of modern medicine is convenience for the general public, because instructions are given for each drug, its uses, benefits, and side effects. With natural remedies, you have to put a lot more trust in the doctor, because natural plants do not come with fine print on them, nor can they promise to have the same medicinal power consistently. How the herbs are grown, stored, and cared for can affect the final outcome, and sometimes to cure a certain problem using natural remedies, it takes a few tries in combination with time. Pills have grown to dominate the medical field for many reasons, for better or for worse. Unless western thought changes completely, or drug companies somehow run out of funding, modern medicine will continue to dominate over natural remedies. Herbs are more safe for curing/healing isolated problems within the body, but modern medicine is much better for helping cure and control widespread diseases and illnesses. It would be hard to come to a conclusion on which is better, because there are so many aspects to medicine. When it comes to the benefit of the environment and the people included, natural remedies prove to be much more valuable. They do not only work hand in hand with nature, but the ethics and morals behind the study of natural medicine is more complete and has proven through history to be very successful in participating cultures. Modern medicine offers a quick fix to an illness and coincides with western thoughts and ways of life, but dedication to natural remedies has proven to offer a lifetime of wellness while keeping people aware of the benefits of nature. So is one better than the other? Each culture would have a different viewpoint on this. Instead of picking a side, would it be possible to combine them? If you mix something destructive with something constructive you can reach equilibrium and balance. Is such a feat attainable in the world of today?

Emergency Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emergency Management - Essay Example Consistent testing and maintenance of warning systems will help a lot to minimize physical damages and loss of life too. (Emergency Management) Emergency services are organizations which work to ensure the safety of the public, by addressing emergency situations. So it must act to its best in providing information about upcoming events to the public. For this, emergency services must adhere to thoughtful risk communication strategy. It should drive out the fear of public upon certain serious crisis. As well as, make the public believe that the risk existing is low, so that the public could stay with ease. Another important thing is that the emergency services should be in a position to provide accurate as well as quick information. To put it in a nut shell, it should not simply alert and alarm people but educate and inform them about the issue. It should make the public understand, no matter how complex the issue may be. (Emergency Management) The support and cooperation of the public could be well attained only through making them understand the intensity of the situation. If the public is threatened or misguided, then they may not response properly during the crisis. Once gained the hope of the public, we need to do rehearsal of emergency cases. For this the help of emergency response team could be sought. (Lindel, Pratter and Perry) While working within the NIMS, at times necessity may occur such that we need to bring in outside organisations for help. The National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) provides consistent mechanism to effectively prepare for emergency incidents. It can contact other organisations or associations such as public health agencies or EMS organisations in regard with the availability of their training. NIMS integrate the MRC unit and the community’s existing public health and medical service infrastructure. Thus it strengthens the integral component of the emergency response system. (Lindel, Pratter and Perry) Evaluation

Online Journalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Online Journalism - Essay Example The main source of journalists and online reporters for the internet medium is the Online News Association which has 800 members. The different forms of online journalism pertain to forums, discussion boards, epapers, online news boards as well as blogs and RSS feeds. The nature of the medium and the ease of information dissemination on the internet have made it a very competitive field for online journalism. The internet is in fact challenging the traditional form of reporting and journalism as the classified advertising as well as advertisements are shifting to the online medium for newspapers. Aside from this the niche as well as general scope of journalism online makes it much more appealing for readers than the hardcopy based newspapers and magazines. People even consider online journalism to be broader in scope, more informative as compared to those conducted through the traditional medium. There is more freedom of speech online, as official journalists as well as volunteers can provide information on various topic. Aside form this online journalism is also considered to be less biased as compared to the traditional medium for journalism. According to Cohen as per her article in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media in 2002, online journalism is depicted as a form of journalism which is entirely driven by the market. However, opposition to the benefits of online journalism and its advantages the form of journalism also is considered to be of temporary nature, with the news structure being more random than properly structured. Advantages of Online Journalism As mentioned earlier, the advantage of online journalism pertain to the fact that the online medium is less biased than the traditional medium for journalism, has more information and is more specialized for the niche market of readers. However the most significant benefit that is reported for online journalism is the real time dissemination of information and the immediacy. The publishers in the online medium have the opportunity and the facility to publish news about news and events as it happens. "Other advantages of online journalism relate to other medium-specific characteristics. The incorporation of multimedia elements makes news websites more informative and entertaining. Hyperlinks, blogs and discussion forums allow web-users a more hands on experience, allowing them to be participants in the news process. The archiving ability of news websites is also a great advantage as it provides an extensive research resource to the public." (Rayment, 2004) Other benefits of online journalism also include the positive effect it has on the social and the culture of the people in the regional and global community. Moreover the online news channel is available to the readers twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, making it one of the most accessible medium for disseminating news and opinions. Aside from this the journalism on the online medium also allows the people to access news and opinions which are regional as well as global in nature providing them an increased scope of information and knowledge. The ease and the convenience provided through the online nature of the online journalism is the biggest advantage that is available to readers as well as information publishers in the world of today. This is because people can access epapers as well as forums and new boards

Critically analyse the significance, both strategically and Essay

Critically analyse the significance, both strategically and operationally, of the use of databases in an area of administrative, or economic, or social activity 01292 - Essay Example A brief summary regarding the evolution of database in the commercial world has been included. Additionally, the use of databases and their contributions towards managing information has been analyzed. Modern day organizations irrespective of their type, size and nature of activities, depend heavily upon databases for managing the day to day information transmission needs. Accurate data recording and updating is crucial in achieving organizational success. Databases are largely maintained in organizations for tracking sales, movement of materials, maintaining invoices and accounting reports. Computerized networks and systems are essential for preparation and maintenance of databases (Watson and Hewett, 2006). Databases not only facilitate information storage but also assist in promoting the relationships that exists between employees, mangers and other external factors. Organizational databases are developed and maintained in a manner such that all related parties of the business can access it at any given time. Databases form an important source of information for taking managerial decision making. The manner in which an organization stores information determines how quickly they are able to perform tasks, provide information to clients and consumers and provide directions to employees. The most common types of databases which organizations use are Oracle, Microsoft Access, SQL, Paradox and DB2. The type of database an organization selects to maintain depends upon its requirements and nature of data (Hoffer, 2004). Broadly, databases can be of two types: desktop and server based database. Desktop databases are mainly related to single user applications. Server databases are based on multi user applications and are based on mechanisms which promote reliability and data consistency. Such databases require high performance servers and speedy network access. Hence

Causes of building collapes Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Causes of building collapes - Term Paper Example This means that as long as there are natural disasters, the risk of building collapse will continue to be recorded. This point is made against the backdrop that in most cases of natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, almost all types of buildings collapse including short buildings and skyscrapers alike. What this teaches is that natural disasters perhaps have the worse effect or impact on building collapse. Having said this, it would also be appreciated that even when an ordinary building and skyscraper all fall, the impact that will be created in the two can never be said to be the same. This is because the extent of loss that will be recorded with the falling of a skyscraper in terms of lives and property will certainly be more than what will be recorded with a shorter building. What this teaches is that as far as natural disasters as cause of building collapse are concerned, it is important to ensure that areas that are noted to be disaster prone will not be clustered with skyscrapers and other tall buildings. Using the 27 February 2010 Chile tsunami as an example, Palermo et al (2013) made a new revelation on the extent of resilience that different buildings endure in the case of natural disasters such as tsunamis. The outcome of the tsunami revealed that there are two major types of buildings which are engineered buildings and non-engineered buildings. These categories are found in both high-rise buildings and shorter buildings. In the case of engineered residential buildings, natural disasters such as tsunamis are found to have very minimal impact. This is because such modern engineered buildings generally exhibit high levels of resilience to the disasters, being affected only in areas of non-structural components. On the other hand, not the same can be said of non-engineered buildings, especially residential buildings. This is because with such buildings, the impacts of natural disasters are not only experienced with