Sunday, January 26, 2020

Stereotyping In Advertising In Mauritius Media Essay

Stereotyping In Advertising In Mauritius Media Essay This study will concentrate on the females attitude towards stereotyping associated with women in advertising. The controversy over the portrayal of women in advertising continues today. More and more, women are taking on a broader role and responsibilities in society. However, as we cross the threshold of this new decade, there is a significant question that needs to be answered. While the debate over whether or not advertisers portray women realistically bear on, the fundamental concern is how women feel and respond to the portrayal of females in advertising, despite of the action or inaction of advertisers to effect change. Do females believe that advertisers portray women in realistic ways or do they believe they are shown in stereotypical roles of housewives and/or sex objects? This study examines the attitudes, feeling and perception of female consumers toward the portrayal of women in advertising. Purpose of research The purpose of this study is to analyse Mauritian females attitude towards the stereotyping of women in advertising. More specifically, the primary goals of this study are: (1) To investigate about womens perceptions in relation to the stereotyping of females in advertising. (2) To examine if women believe that advertisers depict females in stereotypical roles of housewives and/or sex objects. (3) To explore the veracity of Cultivation Theory on Mauritian females. (4) To find out whether stereotypes have harmful effects on women themselves. (5) To investigate if the stereotyping of women in advertising affect the purchasing pattern of females. Research questions A vital step toward providing a sound theoretical foundation for the research project is the development of concrete research questions and hypotheses. This process typically begins with a preliminary review of the existing literature for your topic. A research question poses an affiliation between two or more variables but phrases the relationship in terms of some question. -What group of females considers that women are being stereotype in advertising? -What type of portrayal of women in advertising is offensive to females? -What is the miss-representation of women in advertisement? -Do females consider that advertising suggest that women primary occupation is as homemakers? -Do female consider that women are portrayed as sex objects? -Do females feel that advertising does not really show women as they really are? -Are females persuaded to buy products or services if they are being advertising by women? -What are the negative effects that females experience when they are stereotyped in advertising? Hypotheses Once the research questions are firmly established the next step is to develop a set of hypotheses based on the questions posed by the study. A hypothesis is a declarative statement that attempts to predict the relationship between two or more variables based on statistical consideration. Hypotheses are numeric estimates of population value based on data collected from samples. Testing of hypotheses employs statistical procedures in which the investigator draws inferences about the population from a study sample. In this study of Understanding females attitudes towards womens stereotyping in advertising in Mauritius, the hypotheses are as follows: Ho-Women believe that advertisers depict females in stereotypical roles of housewives and/or sex objects. H1-Women do not believe that advertisers depict females in stereotypical roles of housewives and/or sex objects. Ho-Stereotypes have harmful effects on women concerning their body image. H1- Stereotypes do not have harmful effects on women concerning their body image. Ho- Stereotyping of women in advertising affect the purchasing pattern of females. H1- Stereotyping of women in advertising does not affect the purchasing pattern of females. Chapter 2 Overview of Literature Review This chapter reviews the related literature that will include articles related to stereotyping of women in advertising, factors leading to stereotyping of women, how women are portrayed in advertisement, and how advertising influences females perception and behaviors. It will also examine the theoretical framework that will be used for the study presented in this research paper. Literature Review Introduction It has been argued that advertising over the yesteryears has not presented a pragmatic illustration of women and their roles in society. It is harmless to state that stereotypes exist and are a part of our lives. The advertisements from the 50à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²s are not opposed from the advertisements broadcasted today in the present; reminiscing women where they belong: in the home, cleaning, mopping, baking and cooking, parenting, fostering, and looking sexually attractive. Stereotyping of Women in Advertising Stereotyping of women has been a main concern with media researchers. Studies have dealt with the portrayal of women in all forms of media. A close assessment of the literature on stereotyping of women in media revealed that each of these studies had its center of attention on at least one or more of the following categories (Shrikhande; 2003): 1) Women portrayed at domicile and with family 2) Women and occupation 3) Women and their age 4) Women and their physical appearance or attire 5) Women as product representatives or as product users 6) Women and stance The community acts according to these portrayal because they are considered socially acceptable. For instance, when people think of an advertisement for a household cleaner, what comes to mind, most likely, is a woman. It is also likely that the picture in peoples minds corresponds closely to what researchers have called the happy housewife stereotype. This is a stereotype that has been associated with the image of women in most print and television advertisements. Media is very effective at creating stereotypes because they are sometimes the only source of information we have about other groups and they often represent a distorted view of those groups (Straubhaar 2004). No matter what type of life a women lives, there will always be a certain stereotype about her within society. Women in commercials are confined into what roles they can play on television commercials. In most advertisements in which women act in, the commercial is set out to capture the interests of stereotypical womens hobbies and interests. A stereotype would be best described as when one ignores diversity and makes sweeping generalizations about a groups values, behaviour, and beliefs (Straubhaar 2004). Advertisements remain replicated in obsolete gender stereotypes by portraying women as having an ideal body image, eating disorders and acting as sex symbols. The debate over the portrayal of women in advertising continues today. One of the harshest criticisms of the way in which women are portrayed in television and print advertisements is that women are shown in an extremely contracted range of roles, with descriptions concentrated on the conventional occupations of housewife, a mother and secretary. Many studies have found support for this criticism (Bardwick et al., 1967; Courtney et al., 1971; Dominick et al., 1972; Ferrante, Haynes, Kingsley, 1988; Gilly, 1988; and Knill et al., 1981). Factors leading to stereotyping of women Early attitudes towards women Women have always been regarded as a creative source of human life. However, history reveals that they have been considered not only intellectually inferior to men but also a main cause of temptation and evil. For instance, in the Greek mythology, it was a woman, Pandora, who opened the forbidden box and brought plagues and misery to mankind. Early Roman law described women as children, forever inferior to men (Womens International Center, 1995). Ancient Christian theology conserved these conceptions. St. Jerome, a 4th-century Latin father of the Christian church, said: Woman is the gate of the devil, the path of wickedness, the sting of the serpent, in a word a perilous object. Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century Christian theologian, stated that woman was created to be mans helpmeet, but her unique role is in conception . . . since for other purposes men would be better assisted by other men (Womens International Center, 1995). In the East, the approach toward women was at first more favorable. In early India, for instance, women were not deprived of possessions rights or human freedoms by marriage. But after the evolution of Hinduism in India about the 500 BC, obedience of women toward men was compulsory Women had to walk in the rear of their husbands. Women could not have possession of property, and widows were not allowed to remarry (Womens International Center, 1995). In the fourteenth centuries women acquired more status when they were allowed to educate themselves and earn mastership in a variety of trades. Unfortunately womens status suffered a blow during the Renaissance as there were more restrictions on womens sexuality and political rights. Although women were learned and able to act as rulers, the dropping position of working women amplified the significance of womens contribution to the family. During the reformation womens status as wives and mothers was increased and they were controlled by their husbands (Womens International Center, 1995). Cultural images of women Merriam Webster defines culture as the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group. Culture ideas, symbols, norms and values occupy a major role in the conception of women images and the demarcation of gender roles. To understand the images of femininity the Indian society can be taken as an example. India, a heterogeneous society, demonstrates incompatible women images. The standardize model image of Indian womanhood has disclosed significant consistency. Images of women have not remained stagnant and have been subject to various metaphors. Nevertheless, some basic models have prevalent approval. Diverse cultural images of women: Pativrata- absolute devotion to husband, glorified motherhood, Bharat Mata Image. The insight of diverse categories of women is specifically formed by the commonly accepted female images and stereotypes in the society (Bhargava 2009). Moreover, at the interpersonal stage within the family situation, these images are often imposing in a variety of ways. Indian girls grow up with deep rooted sense of apprehension and anxiety which not only confines their social mobility in the everyday life but also often psychologically cripples them to confront the afflictions of life in general and oppose gender based discrimination in particular. These gender divisions, flowing nearly straight from the popular imagery fostered these images in most Indian families. It can be stated that possibly most significantly; these images leave a profound imprint upon womens self-perception (Bhargava 2009). Women in advertisement Advertising has been a major goal of attack and investigation. The fundamental enlightenment for the significant focus on sex role portrayal in advertising lies in the close relationship, which prevails among advertising, the consumer goods industry and the vital economic role of women as consumers. Usually it is exhibit in advertisement a womans ambition in life is to magnetise and achieve a man:-women are publicised in advertising as forever young and attractive. They are repeatedly depicted as sexual objects. Women in advertisements are constrained to the home and isolated from other women outside home, man is her preferred partner. Domesticity is the next role of two dimensional image of femininity in advertising (Bhargava 2009). Moreover, there are open obscene advertisements relating to sexual stereotypes that are established in different media. The Indian description of sex stereotyping would have all women carrying themselves like legendary sita and savitri- docile, submissive, sacrificing, emotional, fearful, and incompetent of coherent action, their most important duty being wives, partners and mothers. What is being canvas here is gross counterfeit modern lifestyle which is detached from the common Indian womans struggle to survive completely negating and never inquiring her reality (Bhargava 2009). Stereotyping of women in Television Commercials One of the earliest studies that discussed about the image of women in television commercials was by Bardwick and Schumann (1967). Bardwick and Schumann (1967) examined male and female role portrayals in television commercials and settled on the fact that women are portrayed first and foremost as homebound or as housewives. Courtney and Whipple (1974) analysed the stereotyping of women in television commercials and identify major distinctness between men and women. Women were over-symbolised in advertisements for cosmetics and were less likely to appear in advertisements for cars, trucks and related products. 75 percent of all advertisements using women were for products found in the kitchen or bathroom, strengthening the stereotype that a womans place is at home. Women were typically portrayed in house settings rather than business settings in contrast to men. Women were represented as reliant on men and were looked at above all as sexual objects. Courtney and Whipple (1974) described sexual objects as, where women had no role in the commercial, but emerged as a piece of decoration. Researchers found that 87% of voiceovers were male and only 6% of voiceovers were done using females (Courtney Whipple, 1974). Later studies confirmed this (Culley Bennett, 1976; Dominick Rauch, 1972; Lundstorm Sciglimpaglia, 1977; McArthur Resko, 1975; O.Donnell O.Donnell, 1978; Schneider Schneider, 1979). Women were most prone to be characterised not by job-related or other types of roles, but in roles that defined them in terms of their relationships with others, i.e. as spouse, girlfriend, parent or friend (McArthur and Resko, 1975). Moreover, it was discovered that women were portrayed as product users in 86% of advertisements and as product authorities in only 14% of the commercials, compared to men who were depicted overwhelmingly as authorities (McArthur and Resko, 1975). Browne (1998) analysed sex role stereotyping in television commercials aimed at children in the United States and Australia. Her results are in general parallel to those of earlier studies and point out significant gender stereotyping (Macklin Kolbe, 1984; McArthur Eisen, 1976; Sternglanz Serbin, 1974). Her outcome specify that boys appeared in greater numbers in the television commercials, were assign more dominant, dynamic and aggressive roles compared to girls. Gender role reinforcement was detected at the level of body language and facial expressions; girls were portrayed as reserved, giggly, improbable to assert control, less active and helpful. Stereotyping of women in Print Advertisements Chafetz, Lorence and Larosa (1993) analysed six trade publications to evaluate if there had been an impact in female participation in professional vocations and whether an editorial personnel with more women has helped reduce gender stereotyping of professional women. Chafetz, Lorence and Larosa (1993) found that greater relative numbers of women in the occupation over time and an increased share of women in the editorial staff have resulted in portraying women as professionals, confident, independent and attractive. Gender composition of editorial staff had a consistent and a positive effect on how women are portrayed in advertising. However, women are still portrayed less favorably in male-oriented professional publications. Chafetz, Lorence and Larosa.s (1993) findings also suggest that the non-advertisement visuals appear to be conveying a decreasing level of gender stereotyping, because such visuals often appear with stories about work being done by those who practice the target ed occupation or are closely related to it, hence encouraging gender equitable treatment. Perception about womens stereotyping in advertising The Womens Liberation Movement put pressure on marketers to cautiously study how women were portrayed in advertisements. Many studies (Courtney Lockeretz, 1971, Wagner Banos, 1973) analysed womens role in advertising, but they are mainly content analyses. Wortzel and Frisbie found that there was no consistent preference for a specific role for all product categories. Women tended to choose their preferred role based on the class of the product being advertised. In addition, it was found that women with positive attitudes toward the movement, considered modern or progressive, did not reject traditional female role portrayals. Women were satisfied and accepting of traditional role portrayals in advertisements, regardless of their thoughts on Womens Liberation. Studies indicated that for both traditional and modern women, more favorable attitudes resulted from consistency between the ad role portrayal and their role orientation. The most favorable attitudes were from traditional women exposed to the traditional role portrayal. The least favorable attitudes were found by modern women who viewed the traditional role portrayal (Leigh, 1987). Mode rn woman is supposedly more free with choices to exercise and this is apparent in the slick advertisements where women have free body language and seem more open, articulate and more sexual (Aruna, Nidhi Kotwal Shradha Sahni, 2008) Females perception about stereotyping of women in advertising A Canadian research carried out by Susan DeYoung and F.G. Crane shows that that a more realistic portrayal of women in advertising is not only desirable but fundamental in a modern marketplace. Women do not only want a more realistic portrayal but believe that they deserve it (Susan DeYoung and F.G. Crane, 1992). A predominantly imperative finding in this study is the fact that the attitudes held by women cut across age, income, education and marital status categories. Therefore, advertisers cannot simply overlook complaints about the portrayal of women in advertising to a small group of liberal feminists. The concern seems to be widespread. This study is a replication of an American study which was conduct 10 years ago prior to the Canadian study. The following table shows the attitudes and perception of women towards stereotyping of women in advertising. CANADIAN STUDY 1990 VERSUS AMERICAN STUDY 1979 Percentage agreeing with statement Canada 1990 US 1979 1. Advertising suggests a womans place is in the home 51 60 2. Advertising I see does not show women as they really are 77 60 3. Advertising suggests that women are dependent on men 51 50 4. Advertising shows women mainly as sex objects 80 60 5. Advertising suggests women do not make important decisions 63 82 6. Advertising suggests women do not do important things 46 60 7. I am more sensitive than I used to be to the portrayal of women in advertising 54 55 8. I find the portrayal of women in advertising to be offensive 50 60 9. If a product I buy is advertised in a way that I find offensive to women, I would stop buying it 51 31 10. If a new product uses advertising that I find offensive to women, I would not buy it, even if it was a good product 48 28 Source: Females attitudes toward the portrayal of women in advertising: a Canadian study 1992 Theoretical Framework Cultivation Theory Cultivation theory also referred to as the cultivation hypothesis or cultivation analysis was an approach developed by Professor George Gerbner, dean of the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania (Chandler, 1995). The purpose of the Cultural Indicators project was to identify and track the cultivated effects of television on viewers (Buchanan et al, 2010). A research by Buchanan (2010 cited by Miller 2005) showed that they were concerned with the effects of television programming on the attitudes and behaviours of the American public (Buchanan et al, 2010). There are various communication theories, but Gerbners Cultivation Theory is above all pertinent to numerous situations. It focuses on the suggestion that television plays a fundamental role in viewers perceptions of the humanity by touching attitudes, beliefs, and ways of thinking (Lindquist, 2006). Thus it is harmless to state that through television, people are exposed to various advertising that are typically stereotyping women in a negative manner. The severity of these effects depends on the amount of television an individual watches each day (Lindquist, 2006). Gerbners Cultivation theory suggests that television can alter or cultivate a viewers perception of social reality (Buchanan et al, 2010). It is harmless to state that according to Gerbner, a viewers belief of reality is shaped by the amount of continual exposure to television combined with media messages over a long period of time. Application of the Theory to the Study An extremely widespread problem in our society today is the misconstrued perception many women and adolescent girls have about their bodies. The media portrays thin bodies as being beautiful and desirable, yet most of the women on television and in advertisements can be considered to be dangerously underweight when looking at them from a medical perspective (Lindquist, 2006). Consumer culture and media imagery have a pervasive and powerful influence on girls at a critical developmental stage; American girls are socialized to cement and signal identity through visual symbols that include visible consumption of prestige goods or a particular body presentation that conforms to cultural aesthetic ideals (Becker, 2004). A research by Becker (2004 cited by Gordon 2000 and Pipher 1994) suggest that there are several reasons to believe that adolescence places girls at particular risk as participants in consumer culture. For instance, many have suggested that adolescence is a time when American girls are challenged by simultaneous conflicting cultural demands to maintain both a trajectory of achievement and the requirements of female roles; such conflict, if severe and unresolved, may manifest in a variety of difficulties, including an eating disorder (Becker. 2004). The concept of mainstreaming that Gerbner discusses can be linked to this problem regarding females and poor body image. According to the Cultivation Theory, heavy viewers of television will experience the effects of mainstreaming, where their attitudes and opinions are essentially created by information and portrayals they receive from the television. In the media where womens beauty and body perfection are defined by emaciated figures, it is only natural that heavy-viewing females begin to have their attitudes shaped by this ideal. They begin to be affected by the reality constructed on the television more than the reality of the world around them. It has been discovered that heavy-viewing young women glamorize weight loss and dieting due to what they see on the television (Harrison Hefner, 2006). In fact, the study found that television viewing [is] linked to subsequent increases in eating pathology (Harrison Hefner, 2006). Another example of this idea is a study that was conduc ted in which the impact of television being introduced to young women in a rural community in Fiji was investigated. The young womens opinions about their bodies in terms of weight had been drastically influenced by the television and had urges to reshape their bodies in order to fit in with the ideals that were presented to them through the television (Lindquist, 2006). Limitation of The Cultivation Theory to the study Even though this theory provides us with a unique way of looking at television as a highly influential part to stereotyping of women in advertising, it omitted some aspects that also seem to have an impact on the perception of people. The Cultivation Theory ignores the influence of other forms of media, such as commercials, magazines, newspapers, music, advertisements, and many others (Lindquist, 2006). Relating back to the issue of womens obsession with thinness, it has been discovered that both print and electronic media exposure are associated with an increased drive for thinness (Harrison Hefner, 2006). Commercials, magazines, and printed advertisements are heavily lined with figures that maintain the negative body image that many women have. While these aspects of the media are most likely cultivating similar attitudes that are produced by the television, it is possible that they have some sort of other effect on womens perceptions of themselves. The attitudes that have been co nstructed for people by the media cannot be based solely on television. Female Body Image and the Mass Media Perspectives on How Women Internalise the Ideal Beauty Standard Mass medias use of unrealistic models sends an implicit message that distorts the healthy body image and it makes it thorny for females to attain any stage of satisfaction with their physical appearance. There has been a plethora of study to show that women are negatively affected by regular exposure to models that execute the unrealistic media ideal of beauty; nevertheless, it is not clear how these images in fact come to affect womens satisfaction with their physical appearance (Serdar [no date]). Female Body Image Body image is a complicated aspect of the self-concept that concerns an individuals perceptions and feelings about their body and physical appearance (Cash Pruzinsky, 2002). Females of all ages seem to be particularly vulnerable to disturbance in this area; body dissatisfaction in women is a well-documented phenomenon in mental health literature. Researchers have called females concerns with their physical appearance normative discontent; implying that body dissatisfaction affects almost all women at some level (Striegel-Moore Franko, 2002, p. 183; Tiggemann Slater, 2004). Females have been found to experience dissatisfaction with physical appearance at a much higher rate than males (Striegel-Moore Franko, 2002), and women of all ages and sizes display body image disturbance. It appears that body dissatisfaction is more closely linked to appearance-related cognitions than physical reality. People are at higher risk to display disturbed body image if they hold dysfunctional belief s and cognitions about their physical appearance, regardless of body mass (Butters Cash, 1987). Concerns with the development of disordered eating are an especially vital issue because such patterns have been found to be a major predictor of clinical eating disorders. Body dissatisfaction and preoccupation with food, shape, and weight are some of the core features in the diagnostic criteria of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Estimates of the prevalence of such disorders vary, but most state that 3% to 10% of females ages 15 to 29 could be considered anorexic or bulimic. Most individuals who develop an eating disorder start with what is considered typical dieting behavior. With increasing numbers of females reporting disturbed body image and engaging in dieting behavior, there has been a significant level of concern about the increasing incidence of eating disorders. This is especially true of individuals who display early signs of body image disturbance and disordered eating (Polivy Herman, 2002). Images of Women in the Media Images in the media today project an unrealistic and even dangerous standard of feminine beauty that can have a powerful influence on the way women view themselves. From the perspective of the mass media, thinness is idealized and expected for women to be considered attractive. Images in advertisements, television, and music usually portray the ideal woman as tall, white, and thin, with a tubular body, and blonde hair (Dittmar Howard, 2004; Lin Kulik, 2002; Polivy Herman, 2004; Sands Wardle, 2003; Schooler, Ward, Merriwether, Caruthers, 2004; Tiggemann Slater, 2003). The media is littered with images of females who fulfill these unrealistic standards, making it seem as if it is normal for women to live up to this ideal. Dittmar and Howard (2004) made this statement regarding the prevalence of unrealistic media images: Ultra-thin models are so prominent that exposure to them becomes unavoidable and chronic, constantly reinforcing a discrepancy for most women and girls between their actual size and the ideal body (p. 478). Only a very small percentage of women in Western countries meet the criteria the media uses to define beautiful (Dittmar Howard, 2004; Thompson Stice, 2001); yet so many women are repeatedly exposed to media images that send the message that a woman is not acceptable and attractive if she do not match societys ultra-thin standard of beauty (Dittmar Howard, 2004, p. 478). In recent years, womens body sizes have grown larger (Spitzer, Henderson, Zivian, 1999), while societal standards of body shape have become much thinner. This discrepancy has made it increasingly difficult for most women to achieve the current sociocultural ideal. Such a standard of perfection is unrealistic and even dangerous. Many of the models shown on television, advertisements, and in other forms of popular media are approximately 20% below ideal body weight, thus meeting the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa (Dittmar Howard, 2004). Research has repeatedly shown that constant exposure to thin models fosters body image concerns and disordered eating in many females. Almost all forms of the media contain unrealistic images, and the negative effects of such idealistic portrayals have been demonstrated in numerous studies. Schooler et al. (2004) found that women who reported greater exposure to television programming during adolescence were more likely to experience high levels of body image disturbance than females that did not report such levels of exposure. In addition, certain types of programming seem to elicit higher levels of body dissatisfaction in females. A study done by Tiggemann and Slater (2003) found that women who viewed music videos that contained thin models experienced increased levels of negative mood and body image disturbance. Music videos seem to send a particularly direct message that woman should live up to the sociocultural ideal; women portrayed are almost always direct representations of w hat our culture considers beautiful. In addition, music television is an increasingly influential form of media, especially for adolescent and college females. Mainstream magazines and advertisements are another potent source of idealized images of women. This is disturbing because many women, especially adolescents, have been found to read such material on a regular basis. Findings of one study indicate that 83% of teenage girls reported reading fashion magazines for about 4.3 hours

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Climate Change in Vietnam

HCM CITY UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY (HUTECH) FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT & BIOTECHNOLOGY HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE CHANGE CONTENTS I. CLIMATE CHANGE I. 1. Greenhouse gas emission I. 2. Manifestation of climate change in Vietnam II. IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMY II. 1. Impacts on ecosystems II. 2. Impacts on the economy II. 2. 1. Impacts on agriculture and aquaculture II. 2. 2. Impacts on the energy sector II. 3. Impacts on other economic sectors II. 4. Impacts on society I. CLIMATE CHANGE: I. 1.Greenhouse gas emission: Greenhouse gas emission (CO2, CH4, N2O) has continuously increased globally since the industrial revolution, especially due to human’s activities including the exploitation of fossils for industrial and agricultural production and transportation. Greenhouse gas accumulated over an extended period causes a greenhouse effect, which raises the global temperature. The level of greenhouse gas per person in Vietnam is lower than the worldà ¢â‚¬â„¢s average level (Table 1. ), but Vietnam is one of the countries that is most affected by climate change. Table 1. 1. Estimated greenhouse gas emmission level per person Unit:  Tons  of  CO2  equivalent/person | Year 2004| Year 2010| America *| 20| 21,6| Europe *| 11| 11| The world’s average *| 5| | China *| 4| | Vietnam **| 1,5| 1,6| Source:  (*)  Climate  Change  101:  Understanding  and  Responding to  Global  Climate  Change,  2007 (**)  Estimation  in  Vietnam  Initial  National  Communication  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Under  the United  Nations  Framework  Convention  on  Climate  change,  MoNRE,  2003Vietnam conducted a greenhouse gas emission inventory in 1993 (The first national inventory notice, 2004), in 1998 (Greenhouse gas emmision inventory report, 2008) and in 2000 (The second national notice, 2010). The inventory result showed that the total greenhouse gas emission in 2000 was 150. 9 million tons of eq. C O2. The emission structure has changed however compared to the previous years. The proportion of emission compared to the total figure has increased in the sectors of waste, energy and industrial processes (Diagram 1. ). Diagram 1. 1. The evolution of GHG emission of each sector in 1993,1998,2000 The inventory result in 2000 showed that agriculture was the biggest source of emission with 65 million tons of eq. CO2 (accounting for 43. 1%), which was followed by the energy sector (35%). But the agricultural emission proportion compared to the total emission reduced against the previous 2 inventories. GHG emission inventory research in sectors showed that only forestry and land use restructuring were able to absorb and reduce CO2.CO2 absorption by the forests and other kinds of land coverage was 75. 74 million tons of eq. CO2, and by soil 90. 85 million tons of eq. CO2. Totally, GHG emission from agriculture and land use restructuring was 15. 1 million tons, accounting for 10% of the t otal emission. There is much scientific evidence showing that the earth is heating up due to increasing GHG emission and global climate change is taking place rapidly and with significent impact. Thus, if GHG emission continues to increase, the impacts of climate change will be more serious.Countries, that have long coastlines and are located near the equator like Vietnam will have to face great impacts from climate change. I. 2. Manifestation of climate change in Vietnam: Climate change is taking place and causing great changes, which are shown in extreme and unusual weather phenomena experienced recently such as increasing temperature, strong storm, heavy rains, floods, drought, and rising sea level etc. Temperature: Over the last 50 years (1958-2007), the annual average temperature in Vietnam increased from between 0. – 0. 7 °C. The temperature in winter rose faster than that in summer and the temperature in the north rose faster than that in the south. In 2007, the annu al average temperature in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang were higher than the average figures in 1931 to 1940 by 0. 8 -1. 3 °C and higher than that in 1991 – 2000 by 0. 4- 0. 5 °C (Source: The National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change, MONRE, 2008). Rainfall: In each region, there was no big change in the annual average rainfall in each period and in different locations.However the annual rainfall reduced in the Northern climatic zones and increased in the Southern climatic zones. The national average rainfall over the last 50 years (1958 – 2007) reduced by 2%. However, rainfall pattern within the year changed with a negative trend: increasing in the rainy season and reducing in the dry season. Cold air: The number of cold spells that affected Vietnam reduced remarkably over the past 2 decades. However, unusual manifestation appeared more regularly.The latest one was a chilly cold spells that lasted for 30 days in January and February in 2008 in the Northern region. (Source: The National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change, MONRE, 2008). Storm: In the recent past 5 to 6 decades, the frequency of tropical cyclones on the East sea increased by 0. 4 storm per decade; the frequency of tropical cyclones affected Vietnam increased by 0. 2 storm per decade; in recent years, high intensity storms appeared more regularly. The storm’s orbit trended southward and the stormy season ended later. Many storms travelled unusually and irregularly. Source: Vietnam’s second notice to the UN Convention Frame work on Climate Change, MONRE, 2010). Sea level: Monitoring data at Marine Observatories along Vietnam’s coastline showed that the average rise in sea level was 3mm/year (from 1993 – 2008) equivalent to the world’s average rate of increase. Over the last 50 years, sea level at Hon Dau marine observatory rose by 20cm (Source: The National Target Program to Respond to Climate Change, MONRE, 2008). II. IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIO-ECONOMY Climate change is one of the biggest challenges for human beings in the 21st century.Climate change will cause serious impacts on production, life and environment globally. Increasing temperature and rising sea level causing flooding together with saline water sources that negatively affects agriculture will increase industrial risks and negatively impact future socio-economic systems. II. 1. Impacts on ecosystems: Sea water rise, more high-intensity natural disasters, sediment levels and saline level increases all have impacts on natural ecosystems. Rising sea level accelerates the landslide rate in the coastal areas and river mouths.It leads to the disappearance of mangrove forest such as the mangrove forest east of the Ca Mau cape, which is the natural habitat of many species. Rising sea level also floods the coastal areas, which has an impact on the growth of mangrove trees, especially those that are able to retain si lt banks and thus raise the level of the coastal areas, such as Avicennia, Sonneratia alba. Due to the impacts of climate change, natural forest ecosystems such as the dry dipterocarp forests, verdurous forests and deciduous forests have all reduced in acreage.The boundary of primeval forests and secondary forests can also change as a result. The dry dipterocarp forests will expand to the north; deciduous forests of drought tolerant plants will grow more strongly. High temperature can also lead to the extinction of some kinds of fauna and flora. Some kinds of plants such as aloe wood, textured wood and siadora Vietnamese, etc, can become extinct. Hundreds of animal species and plants have to change their habitats and life spans to adapt to climate change. II. 2. Impacts on the economy:Climate change has sizably impacts on some economic sectors, which indirectly put pressure on the environment II. 2. 1. Impacts on agriculture and aquaculture: Rising sea water and salt water intrusion in the Mekong River Delta and some areas in the Red River Delta, which are major agricultural hubs, threatens agricultural production and national food security. Salinity of 1†° has intruded landward by 50-60 km and salinity 4†° (harmful to plants) has intruded by 30-40 km from the river mouth. Source: The Southern Institute of Water Resources Research, 2008). The Mekong River Delta, which has 1,77 million ha of saline land, accounting for 45% of the total area, would be the most affected in the country. If sea level rises 30 cm, salinity of major branches of the Mekong River Delta would intrude by a further 10km. ESTIMATED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO VIETNAM According  to  the  climate  change  scenerio,  if  sea  water rises  by  1m,  the  Mekong  river  Delta  will  be  40%  flooded land,  Ã‚  Red  Ã‚  river  Ã‚  Delta,  Ã‚  11%,  Ã‚  and  Ã‚  Ho  Ã‚  Chi  Ã‚  Minh  Ã‚  City,  Ã‚  over 20%.Nearly  10-12%  ofà ‚  national  population  will  be  directly affected  and  the  loss  of  Vietnam’s  GDP  is  estimated  at  10%. Source:  Vietnam  Insitute  of  Meterology  Hydrometeorology and  Environment,  MONRE,  2010 ESTIMATED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO VIETNAM According  to  the  climate  change  scenerio,  if  sea  water rises  by  1m,  the  Mekong  river  Delta  will  be  40%  flooded land,  Ã‚  Red  Ã‚  river  Ã‚  Delta,  Ã‚  11%,  Ã‚  and  Ã‚  Ho  Ã‚  Chi  Ã‚  Minh  Ã‚  City,  Ã‚  over 20%. Nearly  10-12%  of  national  population  will  be  directly affected  and  the  loss  of  Vietnam’s  GDP  is  estimated  at  10%. Source:  Vietnam  Insitute  of  Meterology  Hydrometeorology and  Environment,  MONRE,  2010Increasing temperature would have impacts on productivity, increase the risk of diseases and change the plant structu re, which would cause food insecurity. Scientists have said that if the temperature increases 1 °C, it will affect 25% of productivity, such as rice at 10%, corn 5-20%, (would be 60% if the temperature rises 4 °C). The boundary of tropical plants will change toward higher mountain areas and northward. Increasing temperature affects the metabolism, growth rate, reproduction and seasonal crops of aquatic creatures, which are also prone to get diseases and be more exposed to toxic chemicals.Tropical fish (of low commercial value excluding tuna) would increase, while sub-tropical fish (high commercial value) would reduce. The oxygen content in water reduces sharply at night, which makes many kinds of shrimp and fish die or be stunted. II. 2. 2. Impacts on the energy sector: When the temperature increases, energy consumption of some production sectors and domestic consumption also increases as they use more electrical devices: fans, air-conditioners, industrial cooling systems, etc, as well as pumping water for plants.A study by the Energy Institute, the Ministry of Industry and Trade shows that when the temperature in summer rises 1 °C, additional electricity charged from 9 am to 4pm increases higher than in other hours by 2. 2%/year, meaning electricity consumption would increase by 1%, especially in domestic, commercial and service sectors. When the temperature increases, the thermal cycle output of steam turbines reduces, which wastes fuel. When the temperature increases 1 °C, coal consumption of a 300 MW coal-fired thermal power plant would increase 0. 5%, equivalent to 4,500 tons/year.For a gas-turbine power plant, when the temperature increase 1 °C, generating capacity will reduce the productivity of a 250 MW gas-turbine by 0. 5%, which loses 7. 5 million kWh annually. Unusual storms and floods and rising sea level would also negatively affect the electricity operation, transmission and distribution systems, oil rigs, oil and gas pipelines to the m ainland, and oil up-loading to storage tanks. Besides, due to unusual heavy storms, reservoirs of hydro-power stations could not effectively regulate water which increase risks to the lowland area.Rains and storms would cause landslides and destroy dykes and hydropower system, which would impact the environment on a large scale. II. 3. Impacts on other economic sectors: Storms, heavy rains and floods which increase in intensity and frequency, would damage and destroy infrastructure and facilities and damage the natural and social environment seriously, sometimes even to the extent where it is unable to recover. Rising sea level would make some beaches disappear, while others would adjust by shifting landward.It would affect cultural and historical sites, natural reserves and eco-tourism sites. Increasing temperature and shorter time of low temperature would reduce the attraction of mountain resorts, while the tourist season at the coast would last longer. (Source: Climate change imp acts on Vietnam). Construction and industrial clusters/zones built in the plains would face higher risks of flooding and difficulties in rainfall drainage as well as flooding caused by rising river and sea levels.Extreme weather conditions and natural disaster increase would reduce the durability of materials, devices, facilities and infrastructure. II. 4. Impacts on society: Climate change has direct and indirect influences on society and the community’s health. Unusual climate manifestation, prolonged cold and hot spells, increasing or reducing temperature have negative influences on people’s health.Climate change also cause epidemics and other sources of diseases to occur and spread more widely such as type A influenza H1N1 virus, type A influenza H5N1 virus, diarrhoea, cholera, and other kinds of tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, dermatological diseases, sore eyes and poisoning. CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASES THE NUMBER OF DISEASE IN FECTED PEOPLE If  Ã‚  the  Ã‚  global  Ã‚  temperature  Ã‚  increases  Ã‚  from  Ã‚  between 3  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Ã‚  5 °C,  Ã‚  around  Ã‚  50  Ã‚  to  Ã‚  80  Ã‚  million  Ã‚  people  Ã‚  worldwide will  face  the  risk  of  getting  malaria  every  year. Source: Report  of  Action  Aid). Official  statistics  of  a  WHO  survey  in  2000  showed that  Ã‚  global  Ã‚  warming  Ã‚  was  Ã‚  the  Ã‚  cause  Ã‚  of  Ã‚  an  Ã‚  additional 155,000  Ã‚  deaths  Ã‚  in  Ã‚  low-income  Ã‚  countries,  Ã‚  due  Ã‚  to  Ã‚  its impact  on  food  productivity  and  malnutrition,  diseases such  as  diarrhoea,  malaria  and  flood  related  incidents. 85%  of  the  deaths  were  under-5  children  in  low  income countries. Source:  Asia  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Europe  conference  on  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sharing  experience  on responding  to  global  clima te  change  and  emerging  diseases, Hanoi,  2009CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASES THE NUMBER OF DISEASE INFECTED PEOPLE If  Ã‚  the  Ã‚  global  Ã‚  temperature  Ã‚  increases  Ã‚  from  Ã‚  between 3  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  Ã‚  5 °C,  Ã‚  around  Ã‚  50  Ã‚  to  Ã‚  80  Ã‚  million  Ã‚  people  Ã‚  worldwide will  face  the  risk  of  getting  malaria  every  year. (Source: Report  of  Action  Aid). Official  statistics  of  a  WHO  survey  in  2000  showed that  Ã‚  global  Ã‚  warming  Ã‚  was  Ã‚  the  Ã‚  cause  Ã‚  of  Ã‚  an  Ã‚  additional 155,000  Ã‚  deaths  Ã‚  in  Ã‚  low-income  Ã‚  countries,  Ã‚  due  Ã‚  to  Ã‚  its impact  on  food  productivity  and  malnutrition,  diseases such  as  diarrhoea,  malaria  and  flood  related  incidents. 85%  of  the  deaths  were  under-5  children  in  low  income countries.Source:  Asia  Ã¢â‚ ¬â€œÃ‚  Europe  conference  on  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Sharing  experience  on responding  to  global  climate  change  and  emerging  diseases, Hanoi,  2009 Being aware of the climate change impacts, Vietnam’s Government has joined and ratified the UN Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol. After 2 years of implementation of the National Target Program on Climate Change Response, Vietnam has achieved initial noteworthy results. Ministries, sectors and localities have been preparing their Action Plans to respond to Climate change based on the premise of the National Action Plan.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Group Communications Essay

Three videos of different group and team interaction will be reviewed for this paper. After they have been viewed they will be discussed on matters of the relationship between group members, member diversity and communication style. The first case study to be reviewed is: Helping Annie. In this video a school nurse has called a meeting with a psychiatrist and a social worker to discuss the case of a High school student, Annie, who possibly suffers from depression and an eating disorder. Right off the bat the school nurse is interrupted by the psychiatrist before she can finish giving the background information on Annie. He wants facts immediately not â€Å"impressions.† He makes a quick decision as to her problem and her treatment within minutes of their meeting and seems to believe that they are done, no more needs to be said. The Social worker does not agree with his decision and offers a counter solution but is again interrupted by the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist wants to use medication and the Social workers wants to first talk to Annie and see if they can understand what the teenager is going through. The psychiatrist sees this as a total waste of time. There does not seem to be any real facilitator of these meeting, and no one points out the psychiatrist’s constant interruptions of the social worker but the social worker herself. The school nurse is totally intimidated into silence by both of their behaviors. The psychologist seems to have the communication traits of what the test calls thinkers, and the Social worker has the traits of a feeler. According to the text, Thinks are task-oriented. They take pride in their ability to think objectively and logically, regardless of if those thoughts are correct. (Reeve, 2007, Ch. 3, pg.69, para.2) Feelers are people-oriented. The psychologist is very direct and analytical. He seems to want to remove any feelings or humanity from Annie’s case while the social worker is taking a more subjective, humane approach to Annie’s problems and is obviously more concerned with the girl’s well-being than a quick fix. The diversity that exists in this group is both gender and class. The group consist of two women and one older man, the older man, the psychiatrist,  seems to believe that the social worker and school nurse are not in the same class as he, his age, experience and profession making him superior to them on all levels, therefore, their opinions are not worth considering. This diversity is a hindrance in their communication because the psychologist is not listening to the two women and continues to interrupt them because â€Å"he doesn’t have much time here.† If using a high context perspective the viewer could draw the conclusion that the psychologist does not agree with the social worker by watching his nonverbal behavior such as his gestures and facial expressions. In a high-context culture little meaning is expressed through words. Meaning can be conveyed through status such as age, gender, education or title. (Reeve, 2007) One method that could have been used to improve communications would have been to have a facilitator present to ensure that each party had the same amount of time to express his or her opinions. Another improvement would have been a change of setting from the informal setting to a more professional seating arrangement that may have helped foster communication between all parties present, such as a round table or face to face seating. The second video reviewed is: Planning the Playground. The group consists of three males and two females; three Caucasians and two minorities. The video case opens with two new members, one a younger male, Ray and one older woman, Betty, meeting the team for the first time. There seems to be two slightly awkward moments when Ray first only offers to shake the hands of the men at the table and when he has trouble pronouncing the name of the minority female Iesha. The moment was defused quickly when Iesha decided to make a small joke about her name to ease the tension and held out her own hand in greeting. Betty seemed uncertain about speaking and said she only joined the team to make friends. Communications between the team started out stiff and slow but by using â€Å"team talk,† (the nature of the language that group members use as they work together. Not only does team talk enable group members to share information and express opinions, but analysis of team talk also â€Å"reveals where the team is coming from and where the team is headed.) (Reeve, 2007, Ch. 5 pg. 124, Para. 2), team leader David kept the discussion flowing and moved it to the reason they were there. The role the diversity of the group played in their communication was the different  experiences each had to bring to the discussion. Iesha obviously liked research and set numbers and offered not only a sound dollar amount to strive for but reasoning behind it. Ray countered that he thinks the amount should be higher but offered no real reason as did Phil who wanted the amount lower. After deciding to compromise they moved to fundraising. The immediate response to Betty’s suggestion of having a Bake sale was obvious. They did not take her input seriously at all but again the team leader chimed in before their dismissive attitude could be considered rude an d insulting. Diversity was also not a strong hindrance to the group even though the potential was there. Conflict management techniques were used by the group by expressing interest in solving the problem and keeping their tone and language non-threatening, using phrases like â€Å"well, yes but let’s look at it from a different angle† or â€Å"that’s a good idea but may not be exactly what we need now.†The use of team speak was a very effective communication tool that kept the team focused and on track. Another important tool that was used was nonverbal. The seating arrangement at the table permitted members to have their personal space but still be able to have direct eye contact. According to Reeve, each person’s choice of seating position in groups has a direct effect on interaction and influence. A number of studies have demonstrated that group members prefercorner-to-corner or side-by-side seating for cooperative activities. Such an arrangement allows them to be close enough to share materials. (Reeve, 2007, CH. 5 pg. 138, Para 1) The team in thi s case study did show good communication skills on the whole but the one improvement would have been to ensure that before the meeting took place, that each member understood what the reason for the meeting was. The last video reviewed is Virtual Communication. This video is a presentation of three people meeting as a team via conference call. The third unseen member is not listening to what is being said by the manager or his coworker. This is obvious because when they ask him a question he pauses or stutters, then repeats something that neither of the other participants actually said. Listening is important in any group so that you can be sure to get all the available information as well as know exactly what is  expected of you. This is even more so in the virtual business work when team members are not actually sitting face to face. Charlie is neither listening to what is being said or to the messages that were contained in Ellen’s email or voice mails to him. According to the text, Effective listening in virtual groups requires adapting to a different medium of expression Your only adaptation is making sure that your microphone is on or off at appropriate times. In an email disc ussion, however, you can neither see nor hear participants, but you still must â€Å"listen† to their messages. (Reeve, 2007, Ch.6, Pg,.168)The disadvantage of group meetings using a virtual medium is that you can fake listening by answering â€Å"I agree† or a non-committal sound. You can also pretend you didn’t hear something that you don’t want to address as Ellen does in this video when Charlie tries to place the blame on her. Charlie did not effectively use any of his listening skills while on this call. It was apparent by his distracted â€Å"non-answers† that he was not listening. The entire fault is not necessarily Charlie’s; it is not known if he ever fully understood what was expected of him from the first meeting. If he had at any time used one listening skill such as paraphrasing he might have had enough clarification to get his assignment done in time. Paraphrasing is a form of feedback that one lets the speaker know you are listening and gives them the opportunity to clarify their statement. Paraphrasing can be used for multiple purposes such as: To ensure comprehension before evaluation; to reassure others that you want to understand them; to clear up confusion and ask for clarification; and to help other’s reach their own conclusions. (Reeve, 2007) References Engleberg, I. Wynn,D. 2007. Working in Groups: Communication Principles and Strategies (4th ed.) Allyn & Bacon Publishers. The Collaboration Tool Box. 2002-2003. MIT. Online resource. Retreived online January 12, 2009 from http://web.mit.e

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Food Insecurity Among The United States - 907 Words

With the various reading this past week, I believe the government is doing enough, as much as they can to aid in the issue with food insecurity among its citizens. There are so many programs that cater to families and individuals in need. Especially women and children. Social welfare program, such as W.I.C, TANF, General Assistance, food pantries run by the government, etc. all work in efforts to eliminate food insecurities in homes across America. I believe the government is not at 100% percent responsible of the high percentage of food insecurities in America. People and families are at fault as well. I believe life is full of choices, when people do not make the right choices, or problems happen within a person life, such as losing a job or losing a loved one. This losses have high impacts at forcing families and individuals into food insecurities and tough spots in their life. The government should not be held responsible I believe for foreseen occurrences within a person’ s life. The government aids thousands of families with meals, money, clothes, childcare and other services that will help the families back on their feet. I do not believe the government should have full responsibility over a person wellness, the person in my opinion can become accustomed to the assistance of the government, and depend on the government for much of their assistance. I live in a rural, urban community, many of the population in my community relay on government assistance in some form. IShow MoreRelatedFood Security Is A Basic Human Right, Essential For Life729 Words   |  3 PagesFood security is considered as a basic human right, essential for life. It exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for a healthy and active lifestyle [Food Agricultural Organization (FAO), 1996]. Food insecurity can refer to not having sufficient food; experiencing hunger as a result of running out of food and being unable to afford more; eating a poor-quality diet asRead MoreHunger Is A Physiological State1315 Words   |  6 Pagesthat they need help. Hunger vs. Food Insecurity According to a journal written by Sarah Strickhouser, â€Å"Hunger is a physiological state, hunger describes the physical pain and discomfort an individual experience, food insecurity is a social, cultural or economic states and as such, is simpler to conceptualize and measure† food insecurity is a much bigger problem, and exceeds the standard definition of â€Å"hunger.† Even when the elderly has food, the quality of the food does not meet their nutritionalRead MoreFood Insecurity And Its Effects On Health1258 Words   |  6 PagesFood insecurity is defined as â€Å"limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.†1 Food insecurity data found that in America, 12.7% of households were food insecure at some point and 5% of households had very low food security in 2015.2 The prevalence of food insecurity in Ohio was greater than the national avera ge in 2015, with 16.1% of households reporting food insecurity.2 TheRead MoreFood Insecurity At The United States Essay825 Words   |  4 Pages2014, 48.1 million households in the United States were food insecure? (Feeding America, 2016) Additionally, household with children reported higher rates of food insecurity compared to households without children. According to new research, a great proportion of college students are suffering from food insecurity (Hughes et al., 2011; Patton-Lopez et al., 2014). According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is defined by â€Å"the state of being without reliable access to sufficientRead MoreFood Insecurity Is Not Associated With Children With Disabilities1116 Words   |  5 PagesFood Insecurity in U.S. Households That Include Children with Disabilities Food insecurity refers to â€Å"the lack of adequate, nutritious, and safe foods, typically due to financial resource constraints† (Bickel, et al. 43). Food insecurity is not associated with the overall diet quality. Envision not knowing when or where the next meal will be coming from. â€Å"Improving household food security is a chance for society to help enhance the outcome of families that struggle with food insecurities.† MakingRead MoreThe Social Determinants Of Food Deserts And Food Insecurity Essay1680 Words   |  7 PagesThe Social Determinants of Food Deserts and Food Insecurity Diverse groups in American society are often the most marginalized and therefore the most vulnerable to issues that undermine the fair and uncomplicated pursuit of health and wellbeing. One of those issues is the lack of access to affordable healthy food and, in many cases, the inaccessibility to food in general. Areas where affordable and healthy foods are largely unavailable are called food deserts and the members of the diverse groupsRead MoreDiabetes in the Latino Community1648 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Diabetes is a prevalent health disparity among the Latino population. Diabetes is listed as the fifth leading cause of death among the Latino population in the website for Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, in 2009. According to McBean, â€Å"the 2001 prevalence among Hispanics was significantly higher than among blacks.† (2317) In other words among the Hispanic or Latino community, there is a higher occurrence of diabetes as compared to other racial/ethnic groups such as BlacksRead MoreFood Insecurity And Hunger Among Children795 Words   |  4 Pages2017 Food Insecurity Many people don’t realize the sever issue that hunger can bring to their community, only because of the lack of knowledge on the situation. Food insecurity is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. Hunger is a feeling of discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat. Food and hunger are some of biggest social and public health issues people are dealing with in the United States. OverRead MoreThe Food, Conservation, And Energy Act Essay1369 Words   |  6 PagesThe Food, Conservation, and Energy Act The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act was passed on May 14, 2008 after a historical veto by the President led to an override by Congress to enact the new farm bill into law. The new bill contained numerous provisions in order to truly reform efforts to establish farm and food safety throughout the United States. This paper will focus on the provision that led to the renaming of the Food Stamp Act and Program as well as the act’s plans to allocate more thanRead MoreSummary Of A Place At The Table 993 Words   |  4 Pagesasking and begging for food in the streets. However, what we fail to understand is that hunger is closer to us than what we think. A fellow co-worker or perhaps even the next door neighbor may be an example of someone who suffers from food insecurity. Food insecurity is when a person does not know when or where the next meal will come from. Food insecurity is most likely to develop in food deserts, a place where there is little to no fruits, vegetables and whole healthy foods. The documentary, A Place