Abortion Essays (925 words) - Abortion Debate, Fertility, Abortion

Abortion Abortion is one of the most controversial issues discussed in today's society. This issue has caused a great deal of turmoil in the world. Some protestors have even killed other human beings over the issue. People's religion has had some input on this issue, but this should not be the only factor when looking at this serious controversial debate. There are many questions that one must ask him or herself when deciding to be either for or against abortion. In this position paper I am going to talk about some issues that may not be black and white. My position on this issue is against abortion, and I am going to attempt to show that. Abortion is wrong in many instances. It is wrong anytime except in the case of a dying mother, incest or rape. It is wrong because people choose to have sex. They know the consequences before they had sex. For example, a person is playing Russian Roulette. This person knows that there is a possibility that they may die from this. In the case of pregnancy, the people that choose to have sex, they know that there is a chance at getting pregnant. The people that have an abortion when they have become pregnant by there own choice, not by incest, rape or threatening the mother's life, are using it as a birth control method, which is wrong. One of the major issues is determining whether or not the fetus is a person, and if so, when? My view is that it becomes a person at the time of conception. At that specific time, it has 46 chromosomes and is determined whether or not is it going to be a boy or girl. Furthermore, all other characteristics are decided at that moment. One of the issues discussed in class was the time of conception. A point mentioned in class was that any time a sperm or egg was destroyed or killed, then abortion was occurring, for example, masturbation or menstruation. The point that is trying to be made is that if killing the fetus at conception is wrong, which has potential to be a person, then killing the things that have potential to become a person, like sperm and eggs, is wrong also. I do not agree with this point. My reasoning is the sperm or egg does not have all 46 chromosomes, it has only half. Half of the chromosomes does not make a person. Alone, the sperm or egg cannot become a person, but at the time of conception it is possible. I cannot sufficiently rebut the idea of the potentiality of the sperm or egg. I do understand that these both have the potential to become a person. A point related to the previous one is the use of contraceptives. The use of contraceptives brings up the issue of why aren't these as wrong as an abortion. This raises again the idea of the potentiality of a person. As I previously mentioned, I do not see something with half of the chromosomes needed to become a human, a human. John Noonan says that the fetus is a person, therefore it is wrong to kill it. The problem with this is that all people do not believe a fetus is a person, therefore it is okay to kill it. For example, Mary Anne Warren does not believe the fetus is a person. She thinks that there are certain traits or characteristics that an organism must have in order to be characterized as a person. These are: (1) "consciousness (of objects and events external and /or internal to the being), and in particular the capacity to feel pain; (2) reasoning (the developed capacity to solve new and relatively complex problems); (3) self motivated activity (activity which is relatively independent of either genetic of direct external control); (4) the capacity to communicate, by whatever means, messages of an indefinite variety of types, that is, not just with an indefinite number of possible contents, but on indefinitely many possible topics; (5) the presence of self-concepts, and self awareness, either individual or racial, or both." The problem with these traits as determining the time at which a fetus becomes a person is that these traits describe things that are not just human, but also children that are two and three years of age. For instance, these characteristics say that a new born baby that is alive and breathing on its own, is not a person and therefore it is okay to kill

Financial Statement Valuation of Continental and Southwest Essay Example

Financial Statement Valuation of Continental and Southwest Essay Example Financial Statement Valuation of Continental and Southwest Essay Financial Statement Valuation of Continental and Southwest Essay Although the industry is optimistic about the future and is well positioned to move forward, the reality is that events beyond the airlines control could easily push them off course, for example: Fuel spikes Recessions Exogenous shocks such as terrorism and natural disasters and the sharp rise in oil rises after Hurricane Strain appears to be the general cause of death of many airlines. Strategy Structure: Goals Objectives: Companies articulate their long-term goals and objectives to compete within the market environment. Southwest seems to be outperforming goals even in an ever changing and challenging market environment. This above average growth is due to their low operating structure. This competitive advantage allowed the company to become profitable for its 34th consecutive year (2006). Southwest has the lowest costs adjusted for stage length, on a seat mile basis of all the major airlines (see Generic Strategies section for low cost factors). Continental Airlines, although still a leader in the industry, seem to have a less efficient operating structure than Southwest. Intention l, acknowledging ten Increasing competition Trot low cost carriers as well as large network airlines using bankruptcy laws to dramatically lower their costs, updated their Go Forward Plan to allow the company to compete and operate efficiently and effectively. Continental Airlines returned to profitability in 2006 after suffering losses for the two previous years. Governance: Both Southwest Airlines and Continental Airl ines are subject to the same external industry regulations such as the Aviation Security Act, the International Air Transportation Competition Act and various regulations by the D. : O. T. In the U. S. Both companies comply with U. S. GAP. Each company has its own set of internal controls to ensure that operations are continued in an efficient and legitimate manner. Refer to the other issues section for an analysis of each companys corporate governance structure. Risk Framework: A company can never eliminate all risk and is exposed to a certain amount of UN- diversifier external risk. The best a company can do is to try and reduce its exposure to these risks and have a framework in place so the risk will have a minimum impact. Many factors could affect each firms ability to control its costs including the price and availability of fuel, employee hiring and retention rates, regulatory requirements, competition, security concerns, changes in economic conditions (consumer preferences, disposable income, interest rates etc). Organizational Structure: Each firm has a different route structure. Both firms seem to be steered by good management, Southwest with a very innovative approach, and, the Continental management team who steered the company back to profitability in 2006. Southwest seem to have a superior operating structure which gives them their low cost advantage. Managing For Value: Financial Assets: Southwest Airlines had fuel derivatives in place for over 70% of their expected fuel needs in 2006. In contrast Continental Airlines hedged approximately 30% and 10% of projected fuel requirements for the first and second quarters of 2007 in 2006. Southwest Airlines aggressive hedging strategies is a source of their competitive advantage, however in the current environment of ever rising fuel prices it would appear that this source of competitive advantage may not be sustainable as this strategy may be easily imitated by competitors. Continental Airlines engaged in forward contracts in 2006 to hedge approximately 48% of projected GAP denominated scofflaws for 2007 and 32% of projected Euro denominated scofflaws Tort 200/ I Nils strategy amalgamates ten companys exchange rate rills never Walt current U. S. Trade deficit and a weakening dollar it seems somewhat unnecessary to hedge these stronger currencies. Intangible Assets: Southwest Airlines has various leases with respect to airport owned gates, terminal assenter service facilities at each of the airports it serves and land on a long term basis for its maintenance centers. Similarly Continental has various aircraft leases and other leases in relation to real property, airport and terminal facilities, maintenance facilities, training centers and general offices. The company also has airport routes and operating rights which represent gate spaces and slots and an investment in Coop Holdings worth $mom and an investment in Holdings shares worth $mom. Physical Assets: Southwest Airlines has a fleet of 481 Boeing 737 aircrafts of which 388 are owned. Southwest also owns three of its reservations centers and its maintenance, training centre and corporate headquarters buildings at Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby, Phoenix Shy Harbor and Chicago Midway. Continental owns a total of 140 mainland jets and 18 regional Jets. Substantially all of the aircrafts and engines owned are subject to mortgages and a significant portion of their spare parts inventory are also encumbered. Innovation: Southwest Airlines were the first major airline to introduce a tickles travel option. The company also extended online check-in facility to 24 hours prior to departure. Furthermore online boarding passes are available through www. Southwest. Com Continental Airlines introduced the Presidents Club which is a private membership club that offers a quiet area where travelers can work or relax. Similarly to Southwest Airlines, Continental Airlines offers online check-in to all passengers up to 24 hours in advance of flight departure. Brand and Intellectual Assets: Southwest Airlines is renowned for its low cost initiative through its point to point systems and various other cost reduction operations, it is a company where low cost fares are guaranteed.

If assisted suicide is to be permitted, it is essential that Essay

If assisted suicide is to be permitted, it is essential that parliament decides on legislation which, apart from the permission - Essay Example Passive euthanasia on the other hand is not by performing the act itself, but allowing someone to commit suicide. Passive euthanasia therefore is much easily accepted as compared to active euthanasia. Euthanasia by omission is the act wherein a person intentionally hastens the death of someone by not providing normal needs like food and water, and other needs that could prolong life. There also different classifications of euthanasia, there is voluntary, involuntary and non-voluntary. Euthanasia is voluntary if the patient made the request to die. If a patient for example made no actual request due to the incapability to express it, either by the severity of illness or unfit mental state, then it will be non-voluntary. The third classification is when a patient expresses a desire to live but is killed or allowed to die anyway; it is then called involuntary euthanasia. However, there are opposing views on passive euthanasia. Many claims that this type does not intend to take life and is therefore cannot be classified as such. Failure to treat a patient due to the knowledge that it will not help the patient and stopping treatments that are not effective and is not wanted or just proves to be a burden to the patient are in this category, 1 as well as giving fatal doses of pain-killers due to the patient’s need for it to alleviate pain. These practices are in fact considered as good medical practices by the law when done right. England is probably one of the latest to tackle the ethical issues regarding assisted suicide. A number of nations in Europe such as Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg have legalized different forms of physician-assisted suicide in the past few years. In the U.S., the state of Oregon has also legalized this practice, by permitting doctors to prescribe fatal doses of medicine to mentally capable but fatally ill patients. The current law in England pertaining to assisted suicide, under the 961 Suicide Act, entails that encouraging or a ssisting in a suicide can face up 14 years of imprisonment. Unfortunately, it has been found that more than a hundred United Kingdom citizens opted to travel to other places in order to end their lives.2 Recently Debbie Purdy, a patient with multiple sclerosis appealed to the House of Lords which ruled after the hearing, that there is a need for greater clarity. Purdy wanted to know if her husband will be prosecuted if he will help her to go abroad to die. Draft guidance was published by Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, soon after, acting out of his own free will and despite his lack of authority to change the law. The draft though has been taken into effect right away. Starmer laid down factors that could possibly influence the possible prosecution of a person which has now been updated after a consultation that received approximately 5000 submissions. Factors that are to be considered before prosecution includes whether the patient made a voluntary decision, if i s well-informed and if he is settled with the action to be undertaken. The motivation and agenda of the accused must also be emphasized, acting entirely out of compassion and not for any financial purposes or gain of it. The set of guides are intended to make individuals with a death wish dwell on whether the person they are asking help from will need to face prosecution or not. However, this guide offers no guarantees