Human Resourcing Planning in Global Brand

Human Resourcing Planning in Global Brand Introduction The report on Human Resource Planning focuses on the HR plan followed by one of the leaders in global IT services, the Wipro.The Company has booked itself a decent position in the niche market category of consumer goods, business process outsourcing services, product engineering services and illuminating solutions. The report tries to analyze the importance of a well structured human resource planning system in a multinational company like the Wipro.The need for a carefully constructed legal and organizational framework for the employment of staff, and the need for a very effective grievances system has been closely studied in this report. A sincere attempt has been put in to identify and understand the detailed recruitment process of staff. Wipro provides an ideal platform for organizations seeking IT solutions because of its strong human resources, superior performances and sincere commitment towards quality ensurement.It provides business and technology consultations services to a number of organizations worldwide. About the company Wipro stands for Western India vegetable Products ltd.It began its operations in 1945 as a vegetable oil manufacturer in Amalner,India.The company has its equity shares listed in India(both in National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange)and also in US(New York stock exchange) . Wipro has its services spread over wide horizon of activities. Some of which are manufacturing, media, healthcare, telecom, transportation, aerospace, automotive, communication, energy, pharmaceuticals, financial and banking services, insurance, and technology. It has over 800 plus clients and about one lakh associates from 70 different nations. It maintains more than seventy two outlets and employs ninety six thousand people over fifty five nations. Wipro is the third largest R D service provider in the world. It keeps track of all the latest developments in the technological field. It believes that such latest technological innovations has an important bearing on the competitive strength of the concern.Wipro can be termed as a leading vendor of enterprise technology. It is because of its strong brand power that Wipro is now able to reach new heights. Need Importance of Human resource planning The term human resource embraces the entire workforce in an organization form the top level to the bottom level. Human resources are considered to be the most important asset of an organization. The success of every organization depends on the efficiency of its manpower. The increasing global competition, rising customer demands, shortage of skilled and able workers has all contributed towards increasing the relevance of human resources in this era (Webb, 1989). The HR department of every organization should learn how to manage the employee performances effectively. Human resources are the power house of any organization and it is very much essential to nurture them through proper planning and management. The problem is how to utilize and manage these resources to deliver maximum results. Human resource planning is an effective technique of empowering the people with competitive skills required for business management. It is a systematic process through which the need and availability of human resources for accomplishing the organizations strategic objectives are identified and assessed (Mathis Jackson, 2007). HR planning is concerned with determining whether the organization contains the right number of employees, with right skills and competencies in the right place at the right time. The HR plan should contain a detailed study of the skills, talents, knowledge, competency, experience and creativity of its employees. This informations forms the basis for taking optimum career decisions like promotions, de-promotions, dismissals and transfers. Apart from studying the capabilities of its own employees HR plan also assesses the external environment for meeting the labor supply requirements of the organization. It involves forecasting of future manpower requirements of the company and making necessary moves to fill in the vacancies. The HR strategies must be in consistent with the organizational objectives. In any organization it is essential to link the human resource plans with its business strategies and objectives (Rothwell Kazanas, 2003). The HR plans have great impact on the strategic plans of the company. The aim of HR practitioners is to coordinate and align their efforts with the strategic planners. The business objectives can be closely related with the HR objectives as HR is an important part of the organization. Easy attainment of goals is possible only though combined human effort. HRP at Wipro HRP tries to highlight the means through which people are appointed and developed to increase the organizations efficiency (Armstrong 2006).HR plans estimates the number and kind of employees that an organization would require to perform its jobs efficiently and effectively. Following are the important HRP goals in Wipro: Determining the future staffing needs . Accepting and adopting the changes in the internal and external environment. Optimum and efficient utilization of existing workforce. Systematic procedure for advancement of employees. The figure given below shows the HR planning process followed in Wipro Estimating manpower Required Recruitment process Development and training of Selected candidate Promotions and transfers Fixing of payment scale Here the HR planning system is broken down into different phases and arranged in the hierarchical order. Recruitment process Recruitment is the process of inviting applications from suitable candidates and selecting the best candidate from amongst them. The aim of recruitment is to create a pool of applications (Aswathappa 2005).It involves searching various sources to find suitable candidates and persuading them to apply for the jobs. Recruiting is the term applied to the phase of personal management that involves reaching out and attracting a supply of people from which to select qualified candidates for job vacancies. An effort is made to attract potential employees with the necessary characteristics for the jobs available (Megginson, 1981) So recruitment means to finding and encouraging prospective applicants to fill up the vacancies in the organization. Recruitment can be made within the organization or from external environment. There are two sources for recruitment: The external source and the internal source. The internal recruitment can be done through promotions, transfers, employee recommendations and references. Whereas the external means for recruitment includes advertisement, campus recruitments, employment exchanges and agencies. In wipro the recruitment process follows three important stages. They are:- Stage I Written test, Stage II- Personal interview, (Stage II consist of two parts) (i)Interview to test the technical skills (ii) Interview to test the HR knowledge. Stage III Placements Stage I Written test Here the applicants shall be required to undergo a written test. It shall include questions to test the aptitude of the candidates. Sometimes the applicants might have to face verbal questions too. Stage II Personal interview Technical interview comes first in stage II. Technical interview is conducted to assess thee basic technical knowledge. The elimination process starts from here. The applicants shall be selected to the next stage on the basis of the performance. The next is the HR interview. Here the interviewers shall include some general questions like asking the candidates to give a self assessment, asking about their ambitions, family background, their knowledge regarding the company etc. A group discussion may also be conducted to assess the communication skills and vocabulary of the candidates. The filtering process shall be completely depending on the individual performance of the candidates in the above stages. The final stage is the placement of employees. Placement implies accepting the selected candidate and placing him in the post for which he has been appointed. It is concerned with matching the selected candidates with the jobs. Once a candidate clears all the stages the Manager (HR) shall provide him with the employee code number. He/she has to agree upon the terms and conditions of appointment and shall submit their joining letter. After recruitment the newly elected candidate must have to undergo compulsory training, to make them well equipped and familiar with the organization. The talent transformation department of Wipro takes care for this. The following illustration shows in detail the recruitment process followed in Wipro:- Recruitment process Written test Technical Interview HR Interview Placement Personal Interview Measures taken by the company to promote employee welfare Wipro considers its human resource as one of their most priced asset and hence has taken every precaution to make sure that they retain their employees and strengthen their commitment. It has launched various welfare measures for its employees. Such as educational facility for their children, medical reimbursement, housing finance, recreational facilities, insurance policies and canteen facilities. Among these, promotional opportunities play a very important role in making employees happy. Promotion means advancement from the current post to a higher post. Promotions offer better status and payment to the employees in the concern. Opportunities for advancement shall be based on the performance of the employees. Understanding grievances of employees A well structured grievance system is essential for effective identification and redressal of employee grievance. Such an efficient grievance system is a must for ensuring employee satisfaction and better labor relationship (Durai, 2010).It is a prerequisite for every organization to ensure quality employee performance. According to Wagen (2007) a grievance process should consider the following aspects: The process must be duly agreed by everyone in the company. The process must be communicated in English. The procedure followed for filing the complaint must be unambiguous. An objective approach must be followed while dealing with the complainants. Confidentiality must be followed wherever it is necessary. The entire process must be clearly documented. The grievance procedure to be followed is stated below (Selwyn 2006):- i. The employee shall specify his grievance or complaint (in writing) and a copy of the sane shall be forwarded to his employer. ii. The employer shall call upon the employee to attend the meeting where the matter is going to be discussed. The employee has to ensure his attendance. Once the meeting concludes the employer shall inform the employee about his decision with regard to the grievance. The employer must inform the employee his right to make an appeal if he is not satisfied with the judgment. iii. The employee should communicate his intention of making an appeal to his employer. Accordingly the employer shall again call a meeting to discuss on this matter. The employee should take every effort to ensure his attendance. After the hearing the employer shall convey his final decision to the employee. Wipro maintains a very effective grievance system. The grievance process followed by the company contains all the necessary ingredients as discussed above. By following such a system the company is able to easily resolve employee conflict and maintain a peaceful environment. Disciplinary process in the company Discipline is an indispensable factor in human resource planning in a large organization like Wipro.Discipline ensures strict adherence to the procedures, plans and rules of the company. Absence of discipline can bring utter chaos and confusion within the organization.Wipro follows a strict and fair disciplinary system. Following are the important questions raised during the disciplinary procedure of the company: What acts of offence, violation, misconduct have been done by the individual? Did such act amount to breach of code of conduct? The impact of the offence. Is the offence in anyway related to the job performance of the employee? In case of minor offences the employees shall be given warnings or memos. But if such act of offence has affected the company in a grave manner the employee shall be dismissed immediately. Acts of deceit, willful suppression or destruction of important information, willfull negligence of duty, causing personal injury or accidents shall invite dismissal with immediate effect. The dismissal procedure includes: 1. Issuance of sufficient show cause notices 2. Providing an optimum opportunity to be heard 3. Ensuring the presence of the individual during the hearing 4. Permitting the employee to present witnesses 5. Hearing of the witness account 6. Recording of all the procedures and decisions taken in the meeting by the officer in charge 7. Announcement of the decision It should be noted that the presiding officer be impartial and fair in his decisions. IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYEE WELFARE ORGANISATION What is ACAS? ACAS means Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service. It was established in the year 1975 under the Employment Protection Act. The purpose of ACAS is to ensure better working life and improve the labor relations. ACAS is directed towards solving of employee problems and raising their standard of performance by conducting quality education and training programs for them. ACAS plays three important roles in improving the employee relations (Currie 1997).They are:- 1. Advisory role: ACAS can be viewed as an advisory body as it offers advisory and consultation services to the organization and employees who feel that they have been overlooked or unfairly treated. Through the informations contained in the code of conduct issued by ACAS, it shows an organization the need to maintain a fair grievances and disciplinary system. Many organizations have adopted the principles of ACAS. 2. Role of Conciliation: Here ACAS tries to resolve employee conflicts before the issue reaches the hearing phase. The conciliation officer tries to guide and make both the parties understand the probable outcome of a tribunal. 3. Role of Arbitrator:-In common practice, the employee conflicts are solved within the organization. But the need for an arbitrator arises when the internal dialogues fail to settle the issue. Most of the organizations prefer ACAS to don the role of arbitrator. While acting under this role ACAS may appoint an arbitrator or even form an arbitration board. Such decisions shall be based on the complexity and relevance of the issue. ACAS codes and principles mainly stresses on the importance of maintaining discipline in the organization(Taylor, 2005).ACAS has set specific codes and procedures to be applied on the disciplinary system and dismissal process of the company. Following are the important points covered by the ACAS code in this respect:- Every company should maintain specific and systematic disciplinary procedures and these procedures must be kept with the company in the written form. The name and designation of the person authorized for taking disciplinary actions must be separately stated. The procedure must precisely state the grounds on which disciplinary actions shall be evoked against the defaulting employee or employer. The employee has to be informed about the complaint raised against him. And he should be provided with a reasonable opportunity of being heard. The company should have fair warning system. Proper warnings have to be raised whenever it is necessary .An opportunity must be given to the employees to correct their actions. Every employee has the right to appeal. The company should have a well structured complaint redressal committee before whom the employees shall appear. The employees have the right to representation. Any employee or member of the trade union can accompany the employee during the hearing. Hence ACAS plays a very important role in ensuring a fair and effective grievance and disciplinary system in an organization. Employment Tribunal The Employment tribunals were introduced in the year 1964 for the first time under the Industrial Training Act (Pettinger 1999). Employment tribunal is another important organization which plays a very important role in promoting employee welfare in the industry. They deal with safeguarding employee rights. The tribunal is empowered to give a fair trial to the employees who have been unfairly dismissed (Chandler, Waud 2003). If an employee is dismissed on the basis of any incorrect informations or if he has been denied the right to appeal then the employment tribunal (if the employee is able to prove his innocence) shall dismiss all the allegations against him. Person, persons or bodies like labor unions filing the case to the employment tribunal is termed applicants. And the other party (employer or the company) against whom the case has been filed is termed respondents. The applicants as well as the respondents have the right to present witnesses to their support. The tribunal may require each of the parties to produce necessary documents or evidences while conducting the trial. The decisions shall be taken on just and equitable basis. Two remedies are available to the employees who have been unfairly dismissed. One is to seek re-engagement and the other is to claim compensation. The employment tribunal has the power to issue orders for re-engagement and awarding compensation for the aggrieved employee. The tribunal has been setup to provide a platform for easy settlement of disputes between the employees and the employers (Pettinger 1999).In this manner employee tribunal tries to solve the grievance of employees in a very effective manner. It stresses on the fact that no employee shall be dismissed unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity to prove his innocence .The ultimate objective of the tribunal is to promote and protect employee welfare and rights through fair trials. Apart from the tribunal, the Trade Unions, welfare organizations formed by the employees themselves, government agencies set up under various statutes are in the continuous process of protecting the rights of employees and increasing their job satisfaction. They ensure that the employee grievances are met in a satisfactory manner and a fair and just disciplinary process is followed by the concern. SUMMARY The report on Human Resource Planning tries to highlight the importance of human resources and the need to effectively plan and manage the human resource in a large organization like the Wipro. Human resource planning is concerned with determining whether an organization has the right number of employees, in the right place at the right time. The report goes through the various phases of human resource plan followed by Wipro.The HRP goals of the organization have been clearly stated in the report. The various stages in the recruitment process of the company have been well explained with the support of a detailed illustration. The report also explains the importance of having a well planned and systematic grievance and disciplinary system in an organisation.The disciplinary process followed by the company has been studied in detail. The dismissal procedures have been clearly mentioned in the report. The report attempts to bring out the importance and impact of various employee welfare organizations like ACAS and the Employment tribunals. The principles and procedures specified by the ACAS and the tribunals must be considered while developing the grievance and disciplinary process. CONCLUSION On the basis of the report we arrive at the conclusion that Human Resource Planning is an indispensable part for any organization. An organization enjoys the following advantages of having a well built HR planning system. They are:- It helps in estimating future manpower requirements of the organization. Scarcity of employees An entity contains a number of jobs requiring highly specialized knowledge. And there is a shortage of skilled employees.HRp helps to identify such talents and ensures adequate supply of such talented employees thereby alleviating the problem of shortage in the organization. Trying to cope up with the changes With frequent changes and development in field of technology, market conditions etc, it demands more sophisticated operations. And an effective HRP tries to solve this problem by supplying the right person with right skills. Growth and development Employees leave the organization due to various reasons like death, retirement, dismissals, transfers etc, and it is necessary that these gaps have to be filled. Through proper HR planning such problems due to growth and development can be dealt effectively. It understands manpower requirements and takes suitable actions to supply the right kind of persons, considering the current business operations and future activities of the organization.

Geopolitics in humanitarian action Essay

The analysis of how political decisions are conditioned by geographical settings is the subject matter of geopolitics. In purely spatial terms, geopolitics is the study of boundaries and areas. In conceptual terms, geopolitics comprises the study of international relations and the outcome of power struggles, at local and global scales. It explores events such as the emergence of new states, the fragmentation of countries, and regional conflicts affecting several countries. The most important and long-lasting geopolitical event of the 20th century is the Cold War. The international humanitarian system has witnessed a dramatically transformation since the end of the Cold War, and even more so since the â€Å"war on terror†. To understand humanitarian intervention in contemporary complex emergencies, the course will analyze the humanitarian action and the changing geopolitical system. We will discuss many of the fundamental debates concerning the nature, effectiveness and evolution of the humanitarian actions, the different humanitarian actors and the accompanying political dynamics that arise in variety of regional contexts. Among other issues, students will critically analyze the relationship between aid and conflict; concepts of neutrality; relationship to military intervention; among others. We will use case studies to understand the growing complexity and the political weave of actors and influences affecting all those involve in humanitarian action and the changing operating environment. The course will encourage students to consider what is or could be the international community‘s ―carrying capacity for response in a future of small-scale and regional wars producing humanitarian crises in the years to come. Finally, the course discussion will focus in on models of cooperation among actors that empower rather than marginalize those populations and communities trapped in conflict, displacement and deprivation. Course general objectives This course examines the evolution of the humanitarian action in relation to changes in the international system. The students will be able to: a) Analyze the political economy of conflict and humanitarian assistance; b) Analyze the evolving nature of conflict in the international context; c) Understand the evolving architecture of the international humanitarian system; d) Analyze contemporary aspects of security and conflict, the concept of state sovereignty, and the uneven geopolitics of humanitarian action; e) Explore major debates and controversies of contemporary humanitarian action. Methods of assessment Grading will be based on the following marks: VG or G (Distinction or Pass) as well as ECTS grades. Grading will be a combination of the in-class team oral presentations (40%), a written final essay (50%), and the active participation of students in class (10%). The groups will be integrated by 5 or 6 students each. They will present to the class one selected humanitarian intervention case in 30 minutes with 15 additional minutes for questions and answers. All members of the group should participate. Presentations will be scheduled the first day of the course. The humanitarian intervention recommended for presentations are: Syria, Iraq, former-Yugoslavia (Kosovo), the Horn of Africa, Ruanda, Afghanistan and Sudan. We can discuss other humanitarian interventions. This course is heavily participatory. For this reason, presence and active participation will be expected at all sessions. Participation shall reflect critical analysis and reflection based on readings. The final written essay will be submitted during the IX Session of the course (Friday 22 November). The professor will explain the essay ´s topic in the beginning of the course. The essay consists of a maximum of 2500 words. Preparation for class includes readings from books, articles, and websites. Classes are a combination of lecture, discussion, presentations, and videos. Sessions overview Session I: Mon 4 November, 10-12 Room TBA Introduction: Overview of course and topics presented; course requirements and expectations. Objectives: 1. Review of Syllabus; 2. Discussion of course requirements; 3. Selection of oral group presentations. Session II: Wed 6 November, 10-12 Room TBA Geopolitics: Overview Conflict analysis and the political economy of violence Objectives: 1.- Understand the changing dynamics of conflict in the international system; 2.- Develop alternative means of analyzing conflict and understanding the impact of conflict; 3.- Understand the interaction of humanitarian programming and conflict. Session III: Fri 8 November, 10-12 Room TBA International and regional organizations in the global system Objectives: 1.- Understand the role of governmental and non-governmental actors in the international system; 2.- Discuss the role of security institutions: What is the role of NATO, UN, UE, OAS and the other regional organizations in dealing with interstate and intrastate conflicts? Session IV: Mon 11 November, 10-12 Room Eng TBA The evolving nature of humanitarian crisis Objectives: 1.- Understand the changing nature of humanitarian crises; 2.- Analyze the implications for state sovereignty of International humanitarian action. Session V: Wed 13 November, 10-12 Room TBA An introduction to humanitarian action and the evolving architecture of humanitarian intervention Objectives: 1.- Describe the historical evolution and trends in humanitarian action; 2.- Understand the normative foundations of humanitarian action; 3.- Understand the normative frameworks that have guided humanitarian action. Session VI: Fri 15 November, 10-12 Room TBA Main players and actors in humanitarian action Objectives: 1.- Understand the definitions, types and organization of humanitarian agencies. Session VII: Mon 18 November, 10-12 Room TBA The contemporary operating environment Objectives: 1.-Explore the major debates and controversies of contemporary humanitarism Presentation of 2 Case Studies Session VII: Wed 20 November, 10-12 TBA The future of humanitarian action 1.-Understand a complex political emergency and its consequences; 2.-Identify recent trends in humanitarian action. Presentation of 2 case studies Session IX: Fri 22 November, 10-12 Room TBA Final discussion on models of cooperation among diverse actors that empower rather than marginalize vulnerable populations and communities trapped in conflict and humanitarian action. Presentation of 2 case studies and final essay submission. Literature List Books required: Walker, Peter & Daniel Maxwell. Shaping the Humanitarian World. New York: Routledge, 2009 http://www.amazon.com/Shaping-Humanitarian-World-Global-Institutions/dp/0415773717#reader_0415773717 Electronic resources: Anderson, Mary. The Do No Harm Handbook. Cambridge, Local Capacities for Peace, Project, 2004. Accessible on: http://www.cdainc.com/dnh/docs/DoNoHarmHandbook.pdf Barnett, Michael. Humanitarianism transformed. Perspectives on politics, Vol. 3, No.4 (Dec., 2005), pp. 723-740. Accessible on: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3688176 Bellamy, Alex. The Responsibility to Protect—Five Years On. Ethics & International Affairs Vol.24 (2), 2010, pp. 143–169. Accessible on: http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/Bellamy.pdf Collinson, Sarah, Samir Elhawary and Robert Muggah. States of fragility: stabilization and its implications for humanitarian action. Disasters. Vol. 34 Supplement, 2010, pp. 275−S296. Accessible on: http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/docs/5978.pdf Klare, Michael. The New Geography of Conflict. Foreign Affairs, Vol.80, No.3 (May-Jun., 2001), pp. 49-61. Accessible on: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20050150 Moore, Jonathan. Deciding Humanitarian Intervention. Social Research, Vol. 74, No. 1, Difficult Choices (SPRING 2007), pp. 169-200. Accessible on: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40971894 Rieff, David. Humanitarianism in crisis. Foreign Affairs, Vol.81, No.6 (Nov-Dec 2002), pp. 111-121. Accessible on: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20033348 Chapters of books recommended: Bellamy, Allex. †Humanitarian Intervention in world politics† in Baylis, John et al. The globalization of world politics: An introduction to international relations. Oxford: Oxford university Press, 2008, pp. 522-538. Duffield, Mark. †Global Governance and the New Wars† In Duffield, Mark. Global Governance and the Causes of Conflict. New York: Zed book, 2002, pp. 108-136. Keen, David, †Going to War: How Rational Is It? in International Committee of the Red. Cross, War, Money and Survival. Geneva, 2000, pp. 28-31. Kupchan, Charles A. †Empires and Geopolitical Competition: Gone for Good† in Crocker, Chester et al. (eds.) Turbulent Peace: The challenges of managing international conflict. Washington: United States Institute of Peace, 2001,pp. 39-52. Spearin, Christopher. †Humanitarians and mercenaries: Partners in security Governance?† in Krahmann, Elke. New threats and new actors in international security. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, pp. 45-68 Rufin, Jean-Christophe †The Economics of War: A New Theory for Armed Conflicts† in International Committee of the Red Cross. War, Money and Surviva, Geneva, 2000, pp. 22-27 Recommended reports and electronic articles: ICISS. The Responsibility to Protect. Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty. New York, UN, 2001. Accessible on: http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/ICISS%20Report.pdf The Sphere Project. â€Å"Humanitarian Charter & Minimum Standards in Disaster Response† http://www.sphereproject.org/content/view/27/84/lang,english/ de Torrente, Nicolas. Humanitarian Action under Attack: Reflections on the Iraq War. Harvard Human Rights Journal. Vol. 17(1), 2004, pp. 1-30. Huysmans, Jef. Shape-Shifting NATO: Humanitarian Action and the Kosovo Refugee Crisis. Review of International Studies, Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 2002), pp. 599-618. Accessible on: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20097813 Weiss, Thomas and Peter Hoffman. The Fog of Humanitarianism: Collective Action problems and Learning-Challenged Organizations. Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, Vol.1 (1), 2007, pp. 47-65 Useful Humanitarian websites: Relief Web http://www.reliefweb.int Alert Net http://www.alertnet.org Collaborative learning project http://www.cdainc.com/cdawww/default.php United Nation Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. http://www.unocha.org/ World Food Program: http://www.wfp.org The Humanitarian Policy Group www.odi.org.uk/hpg/ The Humanitarian Practice Network www.odihpn.org/ The Sphere Project http://www.sphereproject.org/ Action Learning Network for Accountability http://www.alnap.org/ And Performance (ALNAP) The Humanitarian Accountability Partnership www.hapinternational.org/ International (HAP-I) People in Aid www.peopleinaid.org/ Websites of major humanitarian agencies UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian http://www.unocha.org/ Affairs (OCHA) International Committee of the Red Cross http://www.icrc.org/ International Federation of Red Cross and http://www.ifrc.org/ Red Crescent Societies Mà ©decins sans Frontià ¨res http://www.msf.org/ The World Food Programme http://www.wfp.org/ Oxfam http://www.oxfam.org/ World Vision http://www.wvi.org/ CARE http://www.care.org/ Journal of humanitarian Assistance: http://jha.ac Videos: Kofi Annan: Center of the Storm, PBS Video, 2002

How the Climate Changes the Environment Essay

The American Heritage Dictionary defines the environment as â€Å"The combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organisms† (â€Å"Environment† 2004). The world climate affects every living organism. The climate is part of the environment. Since climatic change will affect other physical conditions, changes in the climate will affect the rest of the environment. Climate is defined by the Random House on line dictionary as â€Å"The composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years. † (â€Å"Climate† 2007). In the scientific community, climate is defined as the mean weather pattern over a large time frame, such as 30 years (Helmuth, Mieszkowska, Moore, Hawkins 2006). The climate affects what organisms can survive and flourish in a given locale. For example, birds migrate south for the winter so that their environment includes a warmer climate. They migrate back during the summer so that they can enjoy a more moderate climate during those months. If this natural climate cycle changes, there may be no impetus for migration. The climate that we observe is driven by solar energy. The green house effect is a natural occurring process. Heat from the Sun is trapped by greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere. Some of this heat is re-radiated down to the surface, warming the Earth. Without the greenhouse effect, the mean temperature on the surface would be about zero degrees F. Instead, with the greenhouse effect, it is 57 degrees F (NOAA 2001). Obviously, our environment would be vastly different if the mean temperature was zero degrees F. HOW THE CLIMATE CHANGES THE ENVIRONMENT Page 2 of 5 The climate is changing. Global surface temperatures have increased by about . 6 degrees centigrade since the late 1800’s; with half the increase occurring in the last 25 years (NOAA 2001). With this increase comes a decrease of about . 3% of the artic sea ice (NOAA 2001). This is consistent with the temperature increase that has been observed. Over the next 100 years, the estimate for the mean global temperature increase varies from 2. 3 to 10. 1 degrees F. At the extreme, this would equate to a mean temperature of 67 degrees F, or an increase of 17% (Karl 2001). Computer models show that the Earth is becoming wetter and warmer. Over the next 100 years, rainfall will increase in the tropics and mid latitudes. If rainfall increases enough, then the salinity of the oceans will be reduced (Burroughs 1999). This could affect the Great Ocean Conveyor, the circulation process that brings warm water and energy from the tropical regions into the Northern Atlantic. Modeling shows that the Conveyor is very sensitive to rain water runoff from the continents. Small variations in the input of fresh water into the system may change the currents, and thus significantly alter the climate in the Americas and Europe (Burroughs 1999). The amount of impact that humans have on the climate has also been debated. For the first time, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network, stated that global warming was â€Å"unequivocal† and caused largely by the burning of coal (Associated Press 2007). Natural agents alone cannot explain the climatic warming trend. Computer modeling has shown that a significant amount of the warming is human caused (Karl 2001). Since the temperatures are forecast to continue to increase, the amount of climatic change will also increase. HOW THE CLIMATE CHANGES THE ENVIRONMENT Page 3 of 5 The changing climate will affect the environment. Human habitation in coastal zones will be greatly affected. The forecasted temperature increase of 10 degrees F mean temperature would equate to a sea level rise, at the extreme, of about 35 inches by the year 2100 due to melting of the polar ice and runoff from the melt of glaciers (Karl 2001). A more extreme calculation puts 100 million people a year being flooded by rising sea levels by 2080 (Borenstein 2007). If the rise in temperature reaches 14 degrees F, the West Antartic ice sheet could collapse, with the resulting rise in sea level of 47 inches per century from that alone. The resulting flood would encompass a large part of Florida, including Miami, and the Atlantic seaboard. Internationally, large population centers such as Ho Chi Min City would be flooded (Burroughs 1999). Indeed, some research has shown that some fragile habitats could be even more drastically and rapidly affected. It has been shown that the environmental stresses caused to intertidal organisms by climate changes affects them faster then terrestrial organisms (Helmuth, et. al. 2006). In fact, the change in climate can lead to extermination of some intertidal organisms. If these are prey, then the environment will change for the predators, resulting in reduced populations or migration (Helmuth, et. al. 2006). The change in climate will also affect food production. In developed countries, the effect will be to a much lesser degree, at least for the foreseeable future. More food will be produced as the temperatures continue to rise. Soybean and rice yields are expected to rise in Latin America. Northern latitudes will see a longer growing season, resulting in higher output (Borenstein 2007). By 2050, the effects of the climate change on food production will be negligible (Burroughs 1999). HOW THE CLIMATE CHANGES THE ENVIRONMENT Page 4 of 5 In developing countries the effects will be much more pronounced. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated that the severest impact of global warming food shortages would be in the sub-Saharan countries of Africa (Pullella 2005). Lower latitudes will have reduced food production. The rapid crop development along with rising heat and the need for more water will result in lower yields (Burroughs 1999). By the year 2080, 600 million people may go hungry because of the climate change (Borenstein 2007). Those populations that can would attempt to migrate to more fertile land. This will place an economic and political strain on the nations that are losing population and those who would accept these environmental refugees. Large scale movements of populations would place a burden on the food supplies on neighboring countries, possibly affecting the food production. A true risk of local overpopulation would exist, changing the environment for all who reside there. Water shortages are also a threat in the developing nations. In less than 20 years, hundreds of millions of Africans and tens of millions of Latin Americans will be short of water. By 2080, the water shortages may effect up to 3. 2 billion people (Borenstein 2007). The sea level rise will also affect the quality of water. Saline intrusion, contamination of water supplies, and the need for an increased water supply for agriculture to offset the temperature change all will have a negative impact (Burroughs 1999). The climate change will also affect the health and welfare of both human and other organism’s populations. With the change in the environment there will come a change in distribution of insect carried diseases (Burroughs 1999). There has already been a resurgence of malaria world-wide over the past 20 years. By 2100, due to the change of climate, malaria is expected to affect 50-80 million more people a year. The distribution of malaria will extend into HOW THE CLIMATE CHANGES THE ENVIRONMENT Page 5 of 5 Eurasia, Northeastern Canada, all of Australia, and even into the southern coast of Alaska and the coastal regions of the northwestern United States and Canada (Burroughs 1999). Higher temperatures not only increase the insects range and numbers, but also how often they bite and how infectious they are (Burroughs 1999). Other insect borne diseases will extend their range. Dengue, also carried by mosquitoes, will extend into non-endemic areas. Rodents will also extend their ranges and bring insects that carry diseases like the Plague and Hantavirus with them. The warmer temperatures will reduce the rodent’s mortality, further increasing the spread of disease (Burroughs 1999). Lyme disease will also have an increased range of occurrence as the ticks responsible are able to survive in a larger habitat (Burroughs 1999). Other diseases will also flourish. As the amount of water is reduced in developing countries, diseases such as cholera and diphtheria will become more prevalent. Increased exposure to ultraviolet light will cause an increase in the occurrence of skin cancer, ocular disease, and weakened immune systems (Burroughs 1999). The changing climate will indeed change the environment on a global scale. All aspects of the environment, from insect range to food production, sea level to water supply, will be affected in some way. These changes will be far more pronounced in developing nations then developed ones. The ability to adapt to these changes will also be affected by the economic status of the nations involved. References Associated Press. (2007, February 28). Scientists Urge Global Action On Clean Energy. New York Times, p. A8. Borenstein, S. (2007). Warming Report to Warn of Coming Drought. Retrieved March 11, 2007, from Yahoo! News. Website: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070311/ap_on_sc/climate_report

Essay on Our Posthuman Future The Philosophical Implications

Introduction This essay is about the philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and it will delve deep into the question of the many philosophical implications of AI. In this paper, I will argue that a machine being able to think and the possibility of an emerging post human future due to the hypothetical invention of AI has philosophical implications for the future of humanity. The intersection of strong and weak AI with human consciousness is also explored through the examples of IBM’s AI systems such as Watson and Deep Blue. Overall, the aim of this essay is to examine the philosophical implications of the emerging post human future. Before launching into the full-fledged discussion, it would be in the fitness of things to clarify†¦show more content†¦While we can make machines play chess and Jeopardy with success and in many ways much better than a great percentage of the human population but can we also make machines that are emotional, prone to aesthetics, and r esponsive to the finer aspects of human existence? These are some of the themes that are explored in detail in this paper. Can Machines Think? This section examines the question with reference to the examples of IBM’s Watson and Deep Blue supercomputers and explores strong and weak AI compared to human intelligence. The overarching theme in this section is to discuss the intriguing question as to whether machines can think. First, we need to define as to what is meant by machines having the ability to think. The process of thinking is a matter of great importance to cognitive scientists and researchers who are engaged in studying the nature of human thinking and problem solving. The first definition of what it means to think is that of the Enlightenment Philosopher, Thomas Hobbes who posited, â€Å"Thinking was nothing more than reckoning† (Mays, 1952, 159). Next, the other philosophers like Kant, Leibniz, and Hume postulated that thinking is an extension of one’s mind, which is echoed by Descartes (widely regarded as the pioneer of cognition) who stated, â€Å"I Think, Therefore I am† (Mays, 1952, 161). This leads us to the premise that the human mind is akin to a computer, which derives its intelligence from calculation that is similar toShow MoreRelatedCartesian Dualism And Transhumanism : Theories Within Their Time Contexts1510 Words   |  7 Pagesand Kovach 1972.) By making the distinction between reality and our perception of reality through consciousness, and being aware of the â€Å"self,† it allowed for the study of humans as an attempt to make his theory objective. This made psychology a practise, and is a huge strength of Descartes dualism (Leahey 2004.) However, due to Descartes reliance on doubt as a way of explaining and supporting his theory, this led to many philosophical psychologist doubting existence of the external world, for exampleRead MoreTechnology Is The Most Likely Possibility For A Utopia Within The 21st Century2064 Words   |  9 Pagesthe potential technology brings, there is also a worryingly large chance that we could wipe ourselves out. In this essay, I will be talking about the pros and cons of these technological advances from a philosophical view in the context of utopia, and trying to decipher whether a technological future is all that humanity hopes it will be. For those looking for a techno-utopia, the lure of transhumanism is understandable. By using machines in order to enhance and progress humans, transhumanism representsRead MoreNew World Order in Conspiracy Theory13987 Words   |  56 Pagesradical right-wing ideology articulated by British post-Third-Position  activist  Troy Southgate, called for a  insurrection  against, and  secession  from, the Zionist, capitalist New World Order.[15][16]  National-anarchists see a convergence in the near-future between the  decentralist left  and  decentralist right  rising to combat the political and economic  centralization  of the New World Order.[17] After the  turn of the century, specifically during the  financial crisis of 2007–2010, many politicians and