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Global Issue The way technology is essential to our everyday life
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Global Issue: The way technology is essential to our everyday life
The world is today becoming extremely globalised, and this is mostly as a result of technology. In turn, society has been affected in an immense way. Technology can be either harmful or beneficial to society, depending on how it is used. In every culture, in the world, there is the use of technology to some extent, and in turn, peoples live have changed. Through globalization, technology is now in use by many people, and it makes them connect with each other.
This paper sees to give a critical analysis concerning technology, which is a global issue. Furthermore, it seeks to find out how life has been affected by technology, as well as the dangers associated with it.
Critical analysis of technology as a global issue that affects everyday life
The introduction of internet technology has changed life in many ways. It is extremely difficult to count the magnitude of its impact. Moreover, business and the global world trade have become reliable, easier and faster. Business people from different parts of the world are now able to carry out transactions and communicate via the internet. For example, a business man dealing in selling shoes, in China, can easily market his products to a customer in Australia. They do not need to travel to each other’s country as the internet provides them with a forum, which makes them conduct business easily. People can now purchase airline tickets from the comfort of their homes and payment is through the existing on line facilities. In fact, in modern times, businesses that are not making use of technology do not have the competitive advantage like those that have technology. Technology ensures that businesses become globalised and in turn, increase profitability levels, through having a wide customer base.
The educational sector is one that is globalised, due to the extensive use of technology. In turn, it has changed the lives of people by making the quality of education improve. In most modern interactive classrooms, one cannot fail to see projectors and 3D images. It becomes easy for students to access knowledge using various options. Teaching has even acquired a new dimension, as technology has brought about the use of the internet, PowerPoint presentations, as well as computers. It is now possible for a student in Africa to study in a virtual classroom with other students in the United States. So long as the student from Africa has the right technological equipment they can acquire their education on -line. This system of learning is beneficial as students from various parts of the world can interact on- line. In turn, this fosters the process of globalization, as ideas are transferred from various people despite being in different locations.
Communication is another global issue, which has been affected by technology. In fact, communication has been revolutionized by extreme technological developments. Examples are websites for social networking such as Twitter and Facebook. They have taken over the traditional method of communicating whereby, people used to talk on a face-to-face basis. As a result of this technology, people from various regions can interact quite easily. Also, some people have taken advantage of the social websites to engage in social media marketing. It is not a rare sight to see people advertising their products on Facebook, as it is cheap and convenient method. In turn, it is possible for American products to be found in various markets such as Asia and Africa. The latter is a way of making sure that globalization is enhanced technology and in a positive way. Moreover, on -line dating is fast catching the attention of many people and people are earning a lot of money from it. In this case, technology allows for people to communicate in a more ‘friendly’ environment. This method of dating is preferred by many people as they believe it is an easy way of meeting potential partners. This issue is global as it affects the people who are members of such websites. This is a global issue that has been brought about by technology and it has benefited many people.
On the other hand, technology as an issue that is global has been harmful in some ways. For example, it has increased the number of fraud cases quite significantly, and many people have lost their money to fraudsters. The latter often have exemplary technology skills, and find it easy to steal from people through hacking into the accounts or even their ATM’s. This is an issue of significant concern all over the world as its impact is being felt all over. The other problem that has been caused by technology and is global is that some people are now addicted to the internet. Psychologists are worried that this is a problem that has the potential of affecting the health of many internet users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technology is a vital tool in everyday life as, without it, life would be hard. Furthermore, it is associated with global issues such as communications, education, and business, among others. People should use technology wisely, in order to make sure its impact is not negative, but positively.
Global Industrial Food System
Global Industrial Food System
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Table of Contents
TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653162” Abstract PAGEREF _Toc381653162 h 3
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653163” Introduction PAGEREF _Toc381653163 h 3
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653164” Supply chain PAGEREF _Toc381653164 h 4
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653165” Quality control PAGEREF _Toc381653165 h 5
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653166” Production planning PAGEREF _Toc381653166 h 6
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653167” Case study analysis-Marel Fish PAGEREF _Toc381653167 h 6
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653168” Situation before methodology PAGEREF _Toc381653168 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653169” Situation after methodology PAGEREF _Toc381653169 h 7
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653170” Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc381653170 h 9
HYPERLINK l “_Toc381653171” References PAGEREF _Toc381653171 h 10
AbstractThe global industrial food system simply represents channels through which food passes before reaching the end user. The discussion will be structured in form of a report. This report will outline the mode of packaging and preparing food before entry into the market. The report will explain how the chain moves from one step to the next and how the products reach the market. The report will be detailed as possible. This will offer more information to the users of the report. The report will ensure that information about various steps of the chain is clearly brought to the fore. The strategies used in fish preservation will be highlighted in order to get a clear picture of the situation on the ground. A comprehensive and clear cut approach will be used in enhancing the structure of the report.
IntroductionThe global industrial food system is composed of channels through which food passes before hitting the market (Berkel, 2014, p. 30). According to analysts, the global industrial food system is a perfect example of how food comes a long way before reaching consumers. Consumers go on with the business of consuming foods like fish and may sometimes not get a clear picture of the processes through which the fish passes. It is worth noting that the global industrial food system runs on a platform full of steps and procedures aimed at making food available to the consumer market. The procedures are meant to develop a better and consolidated mechanism of supplying foods like fish. Therefore, the food supply system is composed of a well refined and articulated system of preparing food before reaching the consumer market. “The consumer market is considered as highly dynamic” (Berkel, 2014, p. 34). This has seen those involved in the supply of food on a global scale embark on developing the right channels for the system. In addition, a lot of careful considering and making tough choices is involved in the system development.
Supply chainSimply put, a supply chain ensures that all links are properly functioning right from production to the final consumer. The first step with regards to this is obviously the marketing system. This includes all links between suppliers and users, and includes all mechanisms, operators, services and interchanges which determine relationships between physical products and producer earnings. A marketing system that is well functioning gives consumer preferences, information on prices, trends and market situation (Marchello, 2014, p 45).
The supply chain is marked by the receipt of fish produce from primary sources. “In this case, the company receives obtains fish produce from different suppliers” (Marchello, 2014, p. 47). The suppliers are guided and advised on how to observe the standards. For example, suppliers to Fish Food inventories are expected to supply the company with fish produce with no chemicals. The idea behind this requirement is to obtain fish produce that meets the demands of the market. According to researchers in the food market, consumers prefer fish produced under the right conditions. This is an indication that there are standards which ought to be met. The supply chain at Fish Food Inventories has undergone a number of changes aimed at making the latter more effective. An effective supply chain is more profitable and maximizes on the distribution system. The changes enacted on the supply chain are a manifestation of the need to supply the market in the right way. The market system should always be fine- tuned in order to maximize on long term benefits of the market (Marchello, 2014, p. 67).
Quality controlQuality control, simply put, is quality maintenance that ensures customer satisfaction is ensured in a manner that is economical. This includes steps such as process specification, product specification, and process control. Process specification largely benefits the producer, whereas product specification describes what is wanted by the customers. Process control involves the process being checked to ensure correct functioning of all operations.
Thanks to the quality control approach, the company has been able to attain myriad strides in the consumer market. The first benefit of quality controls is trust in the market. The market has received and appreciated products from the company in the last couple of years. Making a leap in the industry has been helped by high quality products. “The motive of controlling quality has sent the right message to the market”. Thus, the market has become confident with regards to products offered by the company. Trust is an important aspect when it comes to making a leap in the market. Without trust, it becomes hard to convince the market about the authenticity of products. The quality control strategy employed by Fish Food Inventories has been timely in the sense that the market was ready for a new start. Quality controls introduce a fresh breath of stability to the company. This is illustrated by a better outlook for the company in the days ahead (Berkel, 2014, p. 27).
Production planningThe production planning at Fishes Inventories has made progress. A look at facts on the ground reveals that the company has been on the forefront in terms of planning production. “Planning the production process is not easy as it requires a sense of collective action and cooperation from different ranks of a production chain” (Marchello, 2014, p. 39). Therefore, Fish Foods has been upbeat about setting a consolidated production planning system that is in line with the market system. Time and again, the market system keeps on changing. This shows that production patterns ought to change with time in order to make sense of the realities in the market. For example, fishes Inventories has created a database meant for collecting and relaying information in real time (Tawari, 2011, p. 44).
This mechanism is aimed at getting a clear picture of how the market system works. There is also a correlation between production planning and cost constraints. Cost constraints are preceded by production planning since the latter is dependent on how well production is leveraged within the wider consumer market ecosystem. “The management should strive to leverage the company in order to make a difference in the consumer market” (Berkel, 2014, p. 33). These efforts should not be relented as they provide a better path for the company in the consumer markets.
Case study analysis-Marel FishThe global industrial food system can be illustrated by Marel. Marel is a food company that sells food products on a global scale. The food produced at Marel is composed of fish products delicacies preferred by people living in the urban areas. The growth and development of the company has been extra ordinary. “The company takes advantage aspects such as quality control and production planning to advance its objectives” (Tawari, 2011, p. 49). This is the reason why the company has made numerous strides in the previous years.
The supply chain system of the company is composed of various segments required for assessing the movement and development of products. The chain is also composed of other segments solely responsible for thrusting the required components. There is a lot of hard work required in terms of developing the supply chain at the company. The supply chain of Marel defines how the company handles the market in the long haul. According to credible sources, Marel has embarked on continuous review of products in a bid to make the right moves in the market (Tawari, 2011, p. 54).
Situation before methodologyThe management at Marel was fond of using old practices associated with the supply chain and quality controls. “Before the establishment of this methodology, it is vital to note that the company had not come to terms with the reality of modern supply systems” (Tawari, 2011, p. 51).
The case of Marel is a classic example of how companies score low in terms of incorporating the required systems of undertaking operations. Marel had not incorporated new techniques of managing operations. For example, the production planning model of the company was marred with many cases of waste and cost overruns. The company could not meet most of its objectives within the given time threshold (Tawari, 2011, p. 55).
Situation after methodologyThe situation after methodology was composed of a more focused and articulate business platform that took advantage of new techniques of doing business. It is important to note that Marel was ready to change the course of things. This was not an easy task given the level of sacrifice adopted by the company. Making changes within the supply framework of any organization is not easy and requires bold efforts from all corners of the company. The first issue that the company addressed was the supply chain (Pel, 2014, p. 37).
The supply chain of the company was reformed in order to create more room for diversity and consumer interaction. “It was realized that the consumer market was the most important aspect when dealing with the supply chain” (Pel, 2014, p. 43). After sometime, the company was able to deliver on the promise of satisfying the conditions of the market. As noted in the opening section of this discussion, the consumer market is highly volatile and requires a proactive approach.
EMBED Excel.Chart.8 s Sourced from: Astro.uchicago.edu. (2014). How to make a graph. [online] Retrieved from: http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/outreach/resources/other/howtograph.html [Accessed: 4 Mar 2014].
The chat above shows the sales of Marel. The first two qourters show Marel before methodology and the last two qourters show Marel after methodology.
ConclusionDistributing fish supplies is no easy task. On a global scale, the idea of diverse and complicated consumption patterns is real. It is therefore the role of the company to learn the new patterns of consumption and think of better ways of doing business. The case of Fishes Inventory shows how and why companies ought to be aggressive. This is the only way for businesses and organizations in the long term. “A lot of education and investment is required in the field of supplies and logistics” (Berkel, 2014, p. 40). This is because the latter constitutes a larger section of the business platform. The future is definitely going to be different from the current situation. Thus more interest should be directed to the future. This is enough reason for companies to invest in the future.ReferencesAstro.uchicago.edu. (2014). How to make a graph. [online] Retrieved from:http://astro.uchicago.edu/cara/outreach/resources/other/howtograph.html [Accessed: 4Mar 2014].
Berkel, B. M.-v. (2014). Preservation of fish and meat. Agrodok 12 .
Marchello, M. (2014). Preservation of Game Meats and Fish. Food and Nutrition.
Ohio State University. (2014). Home Preservation of Fish. Family and Consumer Sciences.
Pel, V. (2014). Simple Methods of Fish Preservation. Quarterly Bulletin.
Quang, N. H. (2010). GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING AND PRESERVATION OF FRESH
FISH. The United Nations University.
Tawari, C. (2011). Traditional Fish Handling and Preservation in Nigeria. Asian Journal of
Agricultural Sciences.
Global Health Initiatives
Global Health Initiatives
Introduction
Global health initiatives are organizations that fund other organizations that implement programs and research on global diseases. These initiatives are one of the benefits of globalization. GHIs provide additional resources to health efforts on a global scale. GHIs source for funds and disburse them to organizations all around the world that deal with major global diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. These initiatives have majorly contributed in saving lives of millions of children and adults and help in improving health of affected citizens worldwide. Examples of global health initiatives include Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, Roll back malaria and Stop TB. All global health initiatives aim to address health-related Millennium development goals.
Defining global health governance requires one to split the term into two, namely global health and governance. Global health is the collaborative trans-national promotion of health (Beaglehole and Bonita, 2010). This is an area of study whereby priority is placed on health issues that surpass national borders and governments and focuses on improving health for everyone worldwide. It promotes health issues and the solutions to overcome diseases. It involves inter-disciplinary collaboration as it involves both health and non-health disciplines. In addition, global health strengthens systems that are mandated with delivering health services. Governance is the defined set of actions adopted by a society to exercise power in response to challenges. Global health governance encompasses a number of regulations that deal with international problems in health.
This essay discusses the impact of global health governance on global health initiatives. The paper begins with a section on elements of global health governance. This is followed by a section on the impact of global governance on GHIs.
Elements of Global Health Governance
There are three elements of global health governance (Dodgson et al, 2002). The first being deterritorialization which involves the promotion of health across countries and geographical borders. Countries should not be left out of health promotion because of their political stands or geographical positions. The second element is the adoption of determinants of health from a multi-sectoral perspective. Several sectors have a broad impact on human health, for instance natural environments, trade and agriculture. These non-health sectors should be incorporated in the espousal of determinants of health. The third element entails the involvement of formal and informal actors. Various parties act as stakeholders to global health governance. At the centre are the World Bank and the World Health organization (WHO) who provides finances and health expertise, respectively. Other stakeholders are made up of organizations from civil and private sectors, for instance United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and other Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Many scholars are of the same opinion that public and private actors are essential in administering global health (Aginam, 2007).
Global Health Initiatives (GHIs)
Global Health Initiatives are known to fund disease-specific interventions. The funds provided by GHIs are mostly used in research and implementation programs in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Global health funding has increased dramatically over the past decade. According to the World Bank (2007) global health funding has increased from US$ 2.5 billion to US$14 billion from 1990 to 2005. The initiatives pride themselves in having great influence in averting preventable deaths due to various diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDs. GHIs also increase coverage of interventions with an aim to reach those individuals who are most in need. In addition, GHIs increase access of health goods and services by scaling up cost-effective interventions. There are currently approximately 100 GHIs in the world.
Global health governance permits different GHIs to form partnerships. An example of such a partnership is the Health 8. This alliance has eight members namely United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), GAVI, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Global Fund, United Nations Joint programme on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (UNAIDS) and WHO. Another partnership called International Health partnership (IPH) was launched in 2007. It comprises of several member countries and GHIs whose aim is to achieve the Millenium Developmental Goals (MDGs) that are health-related.
For a long time, governance on global health has been led by WHO, World Bank and other agencies for instance USAID and Department of International Development (DfID). A new group of initiatives, Global Health Initiatives, are striving for influence in global health.
The subsequent sections and paragraphs provide examples of Global health initiatives that have had a massive positive impact worldwide. Elements of global health governance that enable GHIs to implement their programmes are also discussed.
US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
Global health governance permits global health initiatives to deal with international problems in health. HIV/AIDS is a serious viral global disease that mainly affects individuals in Africa and South Asia. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is an initiative that was founded by former U.S. President George W. Bush. The initiative was established in 2003 with an aim to fight the HIV/AIDS scourge. Majority of the deaths in sub-Saharan Africa are HIV/AIDS related deaths. In 2006, the initiative provided antiretroviral therapy to approximately 800,000 to persons with the disease (Institute of Medicine, 2007). In addition, 4.5 million persons were provided with care and support.
One of the elements of global health governance that has been adopted by PEPFAR is deterritorylisation. Global health governance allows initiatives and organizations to work across borders to promote health initiatives. PEPFAR has implemented programs in 15 countries worldwide, with 12 of these countries in Africa. The initiative supports prevention programs as well as implementation programs. Another characteristic of global health governance that has been embraced by PEPFAR is partnerships with health and non-health sectors. PEPFAR promotes public-private partnerships (PPP). The institution is works hand in hand with other actors namely the public and private sector. PEPFAR private sector partners include private businessmen, foundations among others. These partnerships are important funding sources as they contribute to monies that will be sued in prevention, treatment and care of people living with HIV/AIDS.
Recently, in August 2012, PAPFER partnered with three organizations to significantly reduce the cost of a tuberculosis rapid diagnostic test. The three partners who signed an agreement with PEPFAR include Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNITAID (that purchases drugs for HIV/AIDS) and USAID. Tuberculosis has been documented to be the leading cause of deaths among HIV/AIDS patients. Thus reduction of purchase of a tuberculosis diagnostic kit will greatly help in the diagnosis of the disease among people living with HIV/AIDS.
Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) is a global health initiative that raises funds to finance Governments. It was founded in 2002 but its birth was in the year 2000 at a global G8 summit in Japan. WHO and UN agencies realized the need to have a united body that funds programs that fight major global infectious diseases. The funds are used to promote research and implementation programs in three major global diseases namely HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The finances are used in programs that prevent, treat and reduce deaths caused by the three diseases. Through global health governance, GFATM is enabled to deal with three international health problems. To date, GFATM is the largest body that funds HIV/AIDS programs worldwide.
GFATM works in partnership with the private sector and governments. The private sector consists of private businessmen and foundations. Donor governments that provide funds to Global Fund include U.S.A., U.K., Germany, France, European Commission, Japan among other European countries. This partnership fosters global health governance and enables The Global Fund to operate in its maximum capacity.
The Global Fund grants money to Governments who then decide on how best to use the money to implement their country programmes. The GHI funds approximately 151 countries and over 1,000 programs worldwide.
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI)
The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization is an initiative that aims to save lives of children by providing vaccine product and improving access to immunization. The organization was launched in 2000 with a goal of funding vaccines to be administered to children in developing countries.
GAVI is also a public-private health partnership. The alliance comprises of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, World Bank, developing countries, UNICEF, public health institutions, the vaccination industry among other bodies. Global health governance is characterized by institutional and political relations. This is particularly articulated by GAVI.
The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation was the first partner to give funds to GAVI in 1999. The power of GAVI is in its partnership with the private and public sectors. The initiative relies heavily on civil societies to ensure immunization services reach the poorest countries and individuals. The initiative also relies on UNICEF to procure and supply the vaccines. GAVI also partners with developing countries such that they contribute to their vaccine costs. Since its initiation in the year 2000, GAVI has managed to avert 5.5 million deaths. The vaccines that the alliance administers include vaccines against childhood meningitis, hepatitis B among others.
Roll back Malaria
Roll back malaria like all other GHIs comprises of a partnership. It is a global partnership whose aim is to combine efforts to reduce malaria morbidity and deaths globally. The initiative calls upon partners to mobilize resources and unify action against malaria. The partnership base comprises of about 500 partners who include academic institutions, developing countries, foundations, research institutions, malaria endemic countries among others. RBM was founded by the WHO, UNICEF, and World Bank in 1998. It aim was to reduce the malaria burden in half by the year 2010. Partnerships are an important characteristic of global health governance that has successfully been adopted by Roll back malaria. Global health governance presents the opportunity for GHIs to pool together resources and expertise in various health sectors. The main strength of the Roll back Malaria is in its diverse expertise from partners.
Approximately 90% of the world’s malaria burden is in sub-Saharan Africa. This is majorly the region that RBM concentrates its efforts. RBM’s main target group includes pregnant women and children under the age of five years. The initiative aims to increase the use of malaria interventions. These interventions include use of insecticide treated mosquito nets, prompt access to malaria treatment, and prevention of malaria in pregnancy.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill and Melinda Gates’ Foundation (BMGF) was founded in the year 2000. The foundation funds research institutions and organizations whose focus is on malaria, HIV/AIDS, maternal health, and immunization. BMGF funds other global health initiatives for instance Roll back malaria, Global alliance for vaccines and immunizations and Global Fund. As much as they fund other GHIs, BMGF also work in partnership with them.
The foundation has prided itself in funding innovations in various health sectors. It has been in the forefront for development of new vaccines for infectious diseases like malaria. Through global health governance, BMGF funds institutions all over the world.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, global health governance includes several regulations that deal with international problems in health. Global health initiatives mobilize funds that are used to prevent and control diseases in low and middle income countries. Global health governance promotes health initiatives across national borders. This enables global health initiatives to carry out their activities in any country in the world. Global health governance is a concept that involves formal, informal and non-health actors. Many GHIs are funded by donors from both private and public sectors. The private sector can be composed of foundations and private businessmen while public sectors are governments. GHIs are characterized by partnerships and associations which is an element of global health governance. Different organizations come together to gather resources that will promote health initiatives worldwide.
Global health governance presents the opportunity for GHIs to pool together resources and expertise in various health sectors. This is presented by various GHIs like Roll back malaria whose partners have various skills and expertise that enrich their contribution to the initiative. All GHIs in the long run aim to address Millennium development goals.
References
Aginam, O., 2007. ‘Global governance’. In: S. Galea, ed. Macrosocial determinants of population health. New York: Springer, Chapter 7.
Dodgson, R., Lee, K. and Drager, N. (2002). Global Health Governance: A conceptual review. Geneva: World Health Organization and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Fidler, D. 2007. ‘Architecture amidst anarchy: global health’s quest for governance’. Global Health Governance, 1 (1), 1_17.
Institute of Medicine. 2007. PEPFAR Implementation: Progress and Promise. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Robert Beaglehole, R. and Bonita, R. 2010. What is Global health? Global Health Action, 3: 5142.
World Bank. 2007. Healthy Development: The World Bank Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results. Washington, DC: World Bank. Version: 22 February 2007.